Initial Environmental Examination Project Number: 42334-014 March 2020 Cambodia: Rural Roads Improvement Project II Prepared by Ministry of Ministry of Rural Development for the Asian Development Bank. This initial environmental examination is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB's Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. ABBREVIATIONS ADB Asian Development Bank APL Angkor Protected Landscape APSARA Authority for Protection and Management of Angkor and the Region of Siem Reap BOD Biological oxygen demand DBST Double bituminous surface treatment EIA Environmental impact assessment EMP Environmental management plan GoC Government of Cambodia GPS Global positioning system GRM Grievance redress mechanism IEE Initial environmental examination HIV/AIDS Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome MCFA Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts MT Motorized transport MOE Ministry of Environment MRD Ministry of Rural Development NTFP Non-timber forest products PDRD Provincial Department of Rural Development PDE Provincial Department of Environment ROW right of way SEO Social and Environmental Office (in MRD) SPS ADB’s Safeguard Policy Statement (2009) TA Technical assistance TSBR Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve UNESCO United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization WB World Bank WEIGHTS AND MEASURES °C Degree Celsius cm Centimeter dB(A) Decibel (with A scale weighting) ha hectare hrs Hours km Kilometer km2 Square kilometer mm Millimeter m Meters m/s Meter per second i CONTENTS I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................................................................................. 1 II. POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK ............................................ 3 III. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT .............................................................................. 4 A. Type and Category of Project ............................................................................ 4 B. Need for the Project .......................................................................................... 5 C. Project Location ................................................................................................ 7 D. Current Traffic Condition ................................................................................... 7 E. Proposed Works................................................................................................ 9 IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT .................................................................. 14 A. Physical Resources ......................................................................................... 14 B. Ecological Resources ...................................................................................... 15 C. Culturally Protected Areas ............................................................................... 19 D. Social and Economic Development ................................................................. 19 V. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES 300.. 21 A. Pre-construction Phase ................................................................................... 21 1. Unexploded Ordnance ......................................................................... 21 2. Grievance Redress Mechanism ........................................................... 21 3. Climate Change and Hydrological Impacts .......................................... 21 4. Encroachment on Historical/Cultural Areas .......................................... 22 5. Disruption to Community Utilities ......................................................... 22 6. Impacts on the People's Plants ............................................................ 22 B. Construction Phase ......................................................................................... 22 1. Encroachment/Damage to Culturally Significant Areas ........................ 22 2. Air Quality Impacts .............................................................................. 22 3. Noise and Vibration Impacts ................................................................ 23 4. Construction and Domestic Waste ....................................................... 24 5. Establishment and Operation of Construction and Workers Camps ..... 24 6. Quarry and Borrow Sites ..................................................................... 25 7. Use of Hazardous Substances............................................................. 26 8. Blasting ............................................................................................... 27 9. Excavation Spoils ................................................................................ 27 10. Bridge Works ....................................................................................... 28 11. Damage to Community Facilities ......................................................... 28 12. Water Quality and Drainage ................................................................. 28 13. Traffic Disruption and Access Obstruction ........................................... 29 14. Soil Erosion ......................................................................................... 30 15. Flora and Fauna .................................................................................. 30 16. Health and Safety ................................................................................ 31 17. Social Conflicts .................................................................................... 31 18. Mitigation Measures at Completion Stage ........................................... 32 C. Operation Phase ............................................................................................. 32 1. Air Quality and Noise ........................................................................... 32 2. Road Safety......................................................................................... 32 ii VI. INFORMATION DISCLOSURE, CONSULTATION AND PARTICIPATION ................. 33 VII. GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM ...................................................................... 35 VIII. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN ................................................................ 35 A. Mitigation ........................................................................................................ 35 B. Monitoring ...................................................................................................... 56 C. Implementation Arrangements ........................................................................ 58 D. Capacity Building ............................................................................................ 60 IX. CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................... 61 LIST OF FIGURES Figure III.1 Location Map of Project Roads ................................................................................ 8 Figure III.2 Location Map of Mekong River Islands ..................................................................... 9 Figure IV.1 Location of Project Roads with Respect To Boundary Of Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve ................................................................................................................................... 17 Figure IV.2 Locations of Project Roads in the Transition Zone of TSBR ................................... 18 LIST OF TABLES Table III.1 List of Project Roads ............................................................................................... 10 Table III.2 List of Additional 28 Project Roads .......................................................................... 11 Table IV.1 Proximity of Project Roads to Tonle Sap Buffer Zone ............................................. 19 Table VIII.1Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures ................................................... 37 Table VIII.2 Environmental Monitoring Measures ..................................................................... 56 Table VIII.3 Estimated Costs for EMP Implementation (4 years) .............................................. 58 Table VIII.4 Responsibilities for EMP Implementation .............................................................. 59 APPENDICES Appendix 1 IEE of Connectivity Improvement for Mekong River Islands Output Appendix 2 Briefing on Flooding of the Mekong Islands Appendix 3 Location Map of Project Roads by Province Appendix 4 Environment Condition Survey Appendix 5 Environment Photos Appendix 6 Socio-economic Data Appendix 7 Grievance Regress Mechanism Appendix 8 Minutes of Consultation meeting on Road No.153 Appendix 9 Location Maps of Additional 16 roads Appendix 10 Public Consultation Meetings iii I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. The Cambodia Rural Road Improvement Project is classified as Environmental Category B and an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) has been conducted as part of project preparation in accordance with the Safeguard Policy Statement 2009 (SPS) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). 2. The Project originally proposed upgrading about 1200 km of existing rural roads from gravel surfaced to permanently paved roads