Initial Environmental Examination April 2016 PNG: HIGHLANDS REGION ROAD IMPROVEMENT INVESTMENT PROGRAM Henganofi to Nupuru Road 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. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABBREVIATIONS .................................................................................................................................. 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................ 1 1. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................. 3 A. THE PROGRAM ....................................................................................................................... 3 B. OVERVIEW AND CONTEXT ....................................................................................................... 4 2. POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK ............................................................ 5 A. PAPUA NEW GUINEA ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS .............................................. 5 B. ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK SAFEGUARD REQUIREMENTS ........................................................ 6 3. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT ................................................................................................. 7 A. DESCRIPTION OF THE SUB-PROJECT ....................................................................................... 7 B. PROPOSED SCOPE OF WORKS ................................................................................................ 9 4. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT ..................................................................................... 10 A. PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT ...................................................................................................... 10 B. BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT ................................................................................................... 15 C. SOCIO-ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT ......................................................................................... 18 5. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES ......................... 23 A. DESIGN AND PRE-CONSTRUCTION PHASE ............................................................................. 24 B. CONSTRUCTION PHASE ........................................................................................................ 29 1. Impacts on the Physical Environment 29 2. Impacts on the Biological Environment 43 3. Impacts on the Socio-economic Environment 45 C. OPERATION PHASE ............................................................................................................... 50 1. Operation Impacts on Physical Environment 50 2. Operation Impacts on the Biological Environment 52 3. Operation Impacts on the Social Environment 52 6. ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES ................................................................................................... 53 7. INFORMATION DISCLOSURE, CONSULTATION, AND PARTICIPATION ................................ 54 A. RESULTS OF CONSULTATIONS ............................................................................................... 55 8. GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM......................................................................................... 57 9. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN .................................................................................. 61 A. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ......................................................... 61 1. Department of Works 61 B. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND REPORTING .................................................................... 65 C. EMP AND MONITORING MATRIX ............................................................................................ 68 10. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION ................................................................................ 116 ANNEXES ........................................................................................................................................... 117 CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (as of 29 August 2015) Currency Unit – Kina (K) K1.00 = $0.37 $1.00 = K 2.7 ABBREVIATIONS ADB – Asian Development Bank AMSL – Average Mean Sea Level AP – affected people BCD – bid and contract documentation BOQ – bill of q uantities CEMP – Construction Environmental Management Plan CEPA – Conservation and Environment Protection Authority CSC – Construction Supervision Consultant DBST – double bitumen surface treatment DC – design Consultant DLPP – Department of Lands and Physical Planning DOW – Department of Works EA – executing agency EARF – environmental assessment and review framework EMP – environmental management plan EMU – Environmental Management Unit (in DOW’s PIU) ESSU – Environmental and Social Safeguards Unit (in DOW) EP – environmental permit EHSO – Environmental, Health and Safety Officer (contractor) EPAR – Environmental (Prescribed Activities) Regulation 2002 GoPNG – Government of Papua New Guinea GRC – grievance redress committee GRM – grievance redress mechanism HRMG – Highlands Region Maintenance Group HRRIIP – Highlands Region Roads Improvement Investment Program IA – implementing agency IES – International Environmental Specialist (in CSC) IEE – initial environmental examination LLG – local-level government MFF – Multi-Tranche Financing Facility NGO – nongovernmental organization NRA – National Roads Authority PFR – Periodic Financing Request PIU – project implementation unit (in DOW) PNG – Papua New Guinea QPR – quarterly progress report RE – resident engineer SPS – Safeguard Policy Statement SEC – Secretary of Conservation and Environment Protection Authority RP – resettlement plan 3 HRRIIP: Henganofi to Nupuru Road EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. Background. The Government of Papua New Guinea (the government) has requested assistance from Asian Development Bank (ADB) in financing the Highlands Region Road Improvement Investment Program (HRRIIP) through a multi-tranche financing facility (MFF). The HRRIIP is improving the Highlands Region Core Network (HRCN) in the Highland Provinces of Enga, Southern Highlands, Western Highlands, Eastern Highlands, Simbu, Jiwaka and Hela the first tranche (project) implemented improvement of two road sections and second project is about to commence upgrading and rehabilitation of three sections. Project 3 proposes the upgrading and rehabilitation of another four sections of the HCRN, that includes Henganofi to Nupuru road section. 2. Regulatory framework. The environmental protection framework of the government is based in the Environment Act 2000 and the Environment (Prescribed Activities) Regulation 2002 (EPAR) which categorizes activities and projects that need environmental assessment as “Prescribed Activities” in two schedules according to the anticipated potential environmental impact. Projects that are likely to have significant adverse environmental impact (Level 2 and Level 3) are required to obtain an environmental permit (EP) from the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA) following environmental assessment. In addition to the government requirements, the HRRIIP must comply with ADB’s Safeguard Policy Statement 2009 (SPS). An environmental assessment and review framework (EARF) has been prepared to guide the implementation of, and compliance with, environmental safeguards during Project 3. According to the SPS and understanding of impacts created and mitigated in Projects 1 and 2, the Henganofi to Nupuru Road sub-project in Project 3 is a category B because the potential adverse environmental impacts are site-specific, few if any of them are irreversible, and mitigation measures can be readily designed. 3. Scope and description of the sub-project. This initial environmental examination (IEE) covers the 33.96 km long section of Henganofi to Nupuru Road in the Eastern Highlands Province 3. The works proposed for the upgrading and rehabilitation of the Henganofi to Nupuru Road such as earthworks, establishment and operation of quarry sites and extraction of materials, minor civil works and discharge of wastewater are Level 2 activities under the EPAR and may require an EP depending on the duration and scale of those activities. 4. It is proposed to rehabilitate the existing road and provide a 5.5 meter wide carriageway sealed with DBST and 0.25 meter wide gravel shoulders which will be sealed as necessary to prevent possible scour/erosion. The horizontal and vertical alignments will follow the existing alignments as much as possible with improvements limited to those consistent with meeting stopping sight distance requirements. The rehabilitation and upgrading of the Henganofi to Nupuru Road is estimated at Kina 82,353,282.15. The construction period is expected to be 24 months. 5. Impacts and mitigation. The findings of the IEE are that the environmental impacts of the proposed rehabilitation of the Henganofi to Nupuru Road will be limited to the works corridor, will be of minor scale and can be mitigated and/or managed provided that the measures