Public Disclosure Authorized [Date] DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND HEALTH IMPACT ASSESSMENT (ESHIA) REPORT FOR OF SPOT IMPROVEMENT INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION OF Public Disclosure Authorized SMALL BRIDGES AND CULVERTS IN EIGHT (8) DISTRICTS IN SIERRA LEONE. Public Disclosure Authorized PREPARED FOR: THE SMALLHOLDER COMMERCIALIZATION AND AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (SCADeP) Public Disclosure Authorized DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND HEALTH IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR THE CONSULTING SERVICES FOR THE DESIGN, PREPARATION OF BIDDING DOCUMENTS, ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFEGUARD IMPACT ASSESSMENT MONITORING AND CONTRACT SUPERVISION OF SPOTS IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION OF SMALL BRIDGES AND CULVERTS IN EIGHT (8) DISTRICTS IN SIERRA LEONE Contents LIST OF ACRONYMS ..................................................................................................................................... 11 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................ 14 CHAPTER ONE – INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 23 1.1 Project Background ........................................................................................................................... 23 1.2 ESHIA Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 24 1.3 Duration of the Works ...................................................................................................................... 24 1.4 Scope of Services............................................................................................................................... 24 1.5 Approach and Methodology ............................................................................................................. 25 1.5.1 Environmental Monitoring .................................................................................................. 27 1.5.2 Reporting (Desk Analysis) ................................................................................................... 28 1.6 Liaison with Authorities and Project Stakeholders ........................................................................... 28 CHAPTER TWO - PROJECT DESCRIPTION ..................................................................................................... 29 2.1 Project Locations ............................................................................................................................... 29 2.2 Project Details ................................................................................................................................... 31 2.2.1 Scope of Work ................................................................................................................................ 31 2.2.2 Feeder Road Design Standard ................................................................................................. 38 2.2.3 Planned Activities for Proposed Feeder Roads Spot Improvement Activities ............................... 39 2.4 Analysis of Alternatives ..................................................................................................................... 40 2.4.1 Without Project Alternative ....................................................................................................... 40 2.4.2 With Project Alternative ............................................................................................................ 41 CHAPTER THREE - LEGAL, POLICY AND ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENT ................................................. 42 3.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 42 3.2 The Road Transport Sector-Policy Guidelines ................................................................................... 42 3.3 Regulatory Aspects ........................................................................................................................... 43 Tel:+23222222814/+23279358141 Email: [email protected] 1 DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND HEALTH IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR THE CONSULTING SERVICES FOR THE DESIGN, PREPARATION OF BIDDING DOCUMENTS, ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFEGUARD IMPACT ASSESSMENT MONITORING AND CONTRACT SUPERVISION OF SPOTS IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION OF SMALL BRIDGES AND CULVERTS IN EIGHT (8) DISTRICTS IN SIERRA LEONE 3.4 The Environmental Protection Act-2008 and the Environmental Protection Agency (Amendment) Act, 2010 ................................................................................................................................................. 44 3.5 The Land Policy, 2005 ....................................................................................................................... 46 3.6 The Local Government Act, 2004 ...................................................................................................... 46 3.7 The Sierra Leone Roads Authority Act, 1992 and its 2010 Amendment .......................................... 47 3.8 The Forestry Act-1989 ....................................................................................................................... 47 3.9 Forestry Rugulation-1989 ................................................................................................................. 47 3.10 The Factories Act-1974 ................................................................................................................... 48 3.11 Cultural Heritage Issues .................................................................................................................. 49 3.12 International Conventions / Guidelines recognized by Sierra Leone ............................................. 49 3.12.1 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ................................................... 49 3.12.2 Ramsar Convention .................................................................................................................. 49 3.12.3 World Bank Safeguards Policies ............................................................................................... 50 CHAPTER FOUR - DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ................................................................... 52 4.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 52 4.2 Study Area ......................................................................................................................................... 56 Summary of Socio-Economic and Bio-Physical Environmental Baseline Conditions .............................. 56 4.3 Western Area Rural District Roads.................................................................................................... 56 4.3.1 Topography and Physiology ....................................................................................................... 56 4.3.2 Hydrology and Drainage ............................................................................................................ 57 4.3.3 Water Sources ............................................................................................................................ 57 4.3.5 Geology ...................................................................................................................................... 57 4.3.6 Biodiversity................................................................................................................................. 58 4.3.7 Ambient Air Quality and Noise Level ......................................................................................... 59 4.3.8 Climatic Condition ...................................................................................................................... 59 4.3.9 Socio-economic Baseline Data ................................................................................................... 59 Tel:+23222222814/+23279358141 Email: [email protected] 2 DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND HEALTH IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR THE CONSULTING SERVICES FOR THE DESIGN, PREPARATION OF BIDDING DOCUMENTS, ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFEGUARD IMPACT ASSESSMENT MONITORING AND CONTRACT SUPERVISION OF SPOTS IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION OF SMALL BRIDGES AND CULVERTS IN EIGHT (8) DISTRICTS IN SIERRA LEONE 4.3.9.1 Cultural sites ........................................................................................................................... 59 4.3.8.2 Education ................................................................................................................................ 60 4.3.8.3 Health ...................................................................................................................................... 60 4.3.8.4 Energy ..................................................................................................................................... 60 4.4 Port Loko District............................................................................................................................... 60 4.4.1 Topography and Physiology ....................................................................................................... 61 4.4.2 Hydrology and drainage ............................................................................................................