E1659 Gansu Cultural and Natural Heritage v. 1 Protection and Development Project Public Disclosure Authorized Consolidated Environmental Assessment & Environmental Management Plan Public Disclosure Authorized Volume I Public Disclosure Authorized World Bank Financed Gansu Cultural and Natural Heritage Protection and Development Project Management Office July 20, 2007 Public Disclosure Authorized 1 Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................4 1.1 BACKGROUND...................................................................................................................4 1.2 OBJECTIVES......................................................................................................................5 1.3 BACKGROUND...................................................................................................................5 1.3.1 Classification of the Project ......................................................................................5 1.3.2 Preparation of the EA................................................................................................5 1.3.3 Methodology of the Environmental Assessment...................................................6 1.4 LAYOUT OF THIS REPORT.................................................................................................7 2 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT.............................................................7 2.1 PROJECT DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE AND COMPONENTS ..............................................7 2.2 COMPONENT 1 – PROTECTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF PRIORITY SITES.......................8 2.3 COMPONENT 2 – INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING AND CAPACITY BUILDING .............11 2.3.1 Project Design ..........................................................................................................11 2.3.2 Training......................................................................................................................11 2.3.3 Study on Gansu Provincial Tourism Industry Development..............................11 2.3.4 Tourism Marketing Information for Scenic Areas................................................11 2.3.5 Project Implementation Management and Project Procurement ......................12 2.3.6 Site-specific Institutional Strengthening and Training ........................................12 2.4 IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS................................................................................12 2.5 BUDGET ..........................................................................................................................13 3 POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT .........................................................................14 3.1 CHINESE INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT ................................................................................14 3.1.1 Authorities Responsible for Environmental, Health and Safety Management..........................................................................................................................14 3.1.2 Authorities Responsible for Tourism Management, and Cultural and Natural Heritage ....................................................................................................................17 3.1.3 Applicable Laws and Regulations .........................................................................17 3.1.4 Environmental Quality and Discharging Standards ............................................21 3.2 WORLD BANK SAFEGUARD POLICIES ............................................................................22 4 BASELINE CONDITIONS...................................................................................................24 4.1 ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS IN GANSU PROVINCE ....................................................24 4.1.1 Location.....................................................................................................................24 4.1.2 Topography and Physiography..............................................................................24 4.1.3 Climate ......................................................................................................................24 4.1.4 Hydrology ..................................................................................................................25 4.1.5 Natural Habitats and Ecology ................................................................................26 4.1.6 Air Quality..................................................................................................................27 4.1.7 Solid Waste Disposal ..............................................................................................27 4.1.8 Wastewater Management.......................................................................................27 4.1.9 Health and Safety ....................................................................................................28 4.2 BASELINE CONDITIONS AT THE NINE PRIORITY SITES...................................................28 5 CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE........................................................................29 5.1 OVERVIEW ......................................................................................................................29 5.2 PROJECT CONCEPT........................................................................................................29 5.3 HERITAGE VALUE OF THE NINE SITES ...........................................................................30 5.3.1 Yardang National Geological Park ........................................................................30 5.3.2 Suoyang City ............................................................................................................32 5.3.3 Jiuquan Museum........................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. 2 5.3.4 Wei Jin Folk Culture Park .......................................................................................32 5.3.5 Jiayuguan Great Wall..............................................................................................32 5.3.6 Maijishan Scenic Area.............................................................................................34 5.3.7 Lutusi Ancient Government Complex Site ...........................................................34 5.3.8 Shi Chuan Ancient Pear Orchard ............................ Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.3.9 Qingcheng Ancient Town........................................................................................36 5.3.10 Yellow River Stone Forest Park ........................................................................36 5.3.11 Mati Temple Scenic Park ...................................................................................36 6 PLANNING AND ASSESSMENT OF ALTERNATIVES................................................38 6.1 PLANNING AND ASSESSMENT AT THE PROGRAMME-LEVEL...........................................39 6.1.1 Sub-component Screening.....................................................................................40 6.1.2 Strategic Overview Study .......................................................................................41 6.1.3 Safeguards Review Study ......................................................................................41 6.2 PLANNING AND ASSESSMENT AT THE SUBCOMPONENT LEVEL.....................................42 6.2.1 Heritage Master Plan Review ................................................................................42 6.2.2 Preparation of Environmental Assessment and Environmental Management Plans .............................................................................................................42 6.2.3 Feedback from the World Bank Task Team ........................................................45 6.3 ADDITIONAL ALTERNATIVES ...........................................................................................46 7 PREDICTED IMPACTS .......................................................................................................46 7.1 OVERALL BENEFITS AND IMPACTS OF THE PROJECT ....................................................46 7.1.1 Overall Benefits........................................................................................................46 7.1.2 Risks of Adverse Impacts .......................................................................................47 7.2 SPECIFIC RISKS LIKELY AT ALL SITES ...........................................................................48 7.2.1 Visual impact ............................................................................................................48 7.2.2 Disposal of solid waste and construction waste..................................................48 7.2.3 Procurement of materials from sustainable sources ..........................................49 7.2.4 Unsustainable groundwater and surface water extraction.................................49 7.2.5 Pollution of local surface water courses with wastewater..................................49 7.2.6 Risk of injury to workers and the public................................................................49 7.2.7 Land take ..................................................................................................................50 7.3 SPECIFIC RISKS APPLYING TO INDIVIDUAL SITES..........................................................50 7.3.1 Jiayuguan Great Wall..............................................................................................50