Initial Environmental Examination July 2005 People’s Republic of China: Hunan Flood Management Sector Project (Xinhua City Core Subproject) Prepared by SOGREAH Consultants for the Hunan Provincial Project Management Office and 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. Your attention is directed to the “terms of use” section on ADB’s website. 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. PEOPLE REPUBLIC OF CHINA ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK HUNAN WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT HUNAN FLOOD MANAGEMENT PROJECT TA 4324-PRC XINHUA CITY INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION (IEE) JULY 2005 13401501.R4 (E7) ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK - T.A. NO. 4324-PRC HUNAN FLOOD MANAGEMENT PROJECT R4 (E7): XINHUA CITY INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION (IEE) TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................1 1.1. BACKGROUND CONTEXT AND REPORT OBJECTIVES ...............................................................................1 1.2. HUNAN FLOOD MANAGEMENT PROJECT - OVERVIEW..............................................................................2 1.3. XINHUA URBAN FLOOD CONTROL CORE SUBPROJECT ...........................................................................3 1.3.1. OVERVIEW..................................................................................................................................................3 1.3.2. SUBPROJECT PROPONENT.....................................................................................................................5 2. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK ................................................................................7 2.1. PRC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................7 2.1.1. KEY LAWS, GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES........................................................................................7 2.1.2. PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PROCESS UNDER PRC REGULATIONS.......................8 2.2. ADB ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................8 2.3. ADB ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS UNDER A SECTOR MODALITY........................9 2.4. PROJECT AND SUBPROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PROCESS UNDER ADB REQUIREMENTS ..............................................................................................................................................9 2.4.1. ENVIRONMENTAL CATEGORIZATION.....................................................................................................9 2.4.2. PROJECT REVIEW PROCESS ..................................................................................................................9 2.4.3. SUBPROJECT REVIEW PROCESS.........................................................................................................10 3. DESCRIPTION OF THE XINHUA CORE SUBPROJECT ......................................11 3.1. TYPE, RATIONALE AND PURPOSE ..............................................................................................................11 3.2. SUBPROJECT OVERVIEW.............................................................................................................................11 3.3. LOCATION.......................................................................................................................................................12 3.4. CONSIDERATION OF ALTERNATIVES .........................................................................................................16 3.5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION ..............................................................................................................................17 3.5.1. DIKES ........................................................................................................................................................17 3.5.2. DRAINAGE WORKS..................................................................................................................................17 3.5.3. CULVERT GATE.......................................................................................................................................17 3.5.4. PUMPING STATIONS...............................................................................................................................19 3.5.5. DRAINAGE COLLECTOR CHANNEL.......................................................................................................19 3.5.6. RIVER REHABILITATION AND DREDGING ............................................................................................19 3.5.7. BORROW PITS AND SPOIL PILES..........................................................................................................20 3.5.8. BUDGET....................................................................................................................................................20 3.5.9. IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE..............................................................................................................21 4. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT ..................................................................22 4.1 PHYSICAL RESOURCES................................................................................................................................22 4.1.1 TOPOGRAPHY..........................................................................................................................................22 4.1.2 GEOLOGY AND SEISMOLOGY ...............................................................................................................22 4.1.3 CLIMATE ...................................................................................................................................................23 4.1.4 SURFACE WATER....................................................................................................................................23 4.1.4.1 HYDROLOGY AND FLOODING .........................................................................................................23 SOGREAH - July 2005 PAGE I ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK - T.A. NO. 4324-PRC HUNAN FLOOD MANAGEMENT PROJECT R4 (E7): XINHUA CITY INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION (IEE) 4.1.5 AIR QUALITY.............................................................................................................................................26 4.2 ECOLOGICAL RESOURCES..........................................................................................................................26 4.2.1 VEGETATION............................................................................................................................................26 4.2.2 TERRESTRIAL AND AQUATIC WILDLIFE...............................................................................................27 4.2.3 FISHERIES................................................................................................................................................27 4.2.4 PROTECTED AREAS AND NATURE RESERVE.....................................................................................27 4.3 SOCIOECONOMIC CONDITIONS ..................................................................................................................27 4.3.1 DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE.......................................................................................................................27 4.3.2 ECONOMIC PROFILE...............................................................................................................................28 4.3.3 POVERTY PROFILE.................................................................................................................................28 4.3.4 MINORITY PROFILE.................................................................................................................................29 4.3.5 ARCHAEOLOGY, CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL PROFILE ............................................................29 5 SCREENING OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION................................30 5.1 APPROACH TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCREENING.........................................................................................30 5.2 SITING .............................................................................................................................................................30 5.2.1 LAND ACQUISITION AND RESETTLEMENT...........................................................................................30 5.2.2 AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION................................................................................................................41 5.2.3 ECOLOGICAL RESOURCES....................................................................................................................42 5.2.4 HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL VALUES..................................................................................................42 5.2.5 TRANSPORTATION..................................................................................................................................43