Environmental and Social Assessment Document October 2014 Federated States of Micronesia Environmental and Social Safeguards Assessment: Yap Component of Palau-Yap-Guam Fiber Optic Cable and Weno, Chuuk- Pohnpei Cable Environmental and Social Examination This Environmental and Social Safeguards Assessment was prepared for the FSM government with assistance from the Asian Development Bank. It is subject to amendment by the FSM government. i TABLE OF CONTENTS ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ........................................................................................................... VI EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................ VII I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 1 A. THE PROPONENT AND PURPOSE OF THE IEE ............................................................................................. 1 B. PROJECT STATUS AND DOCUMENTATION ................................................................................................. 2 C. EXTENT AND BOUNDARIES OF THE IEE ..................................................................................................... 3 1) The Project Influence Areas: Nearshore and Landing Sites ......................................................... 3 2) Coastal and offshore corridors ................................................................................................... 4 D. THE IEE METHODOLOGY ..................................................................................................................... 5 II. POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK ....................................................................... 6 A. PHYSICAL AND ECOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT .............................................................................................. 6 1) Relevant Marine Regulations..................................................................................................... 6 2) Marine Management ................................................................................................................ 7 B. SOCIO-ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT ......................................................................................................... 8 1) Customary Ownership and Marine Areas ................................................................................... 8 2) Legislations on Land Acquisition ................................................................................................ 9 3) Legislation on Cultural Preservations ....................................................................................... 10 C. INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL TREATIES, CONVENTIONS AND AGREEMENTS ................................................. 10 D. ADB AND WORLD BANK ................................................................................................................... 10 III. PROJECT DESCRIPTION ................................................................................................................... 11 A. NEED AND DETAILS ........................................................................................................................... 11 1) Need for Project ...................................................................................................................... 11 B. PROJECT DETAILS AND COMPONENTS OF THE WORK ................................................................................. 11 C. PROJECT LAYOUT AND COMPONENTS OF THE WORK ................................................................................. 13 IV. BASELINE DATA .............................................................................................................................. 15 A. PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT ................................................................................................................... 15 1) Climate ................................................................................................................................... 15 2) Air Quality and Noise .............................................................................................................. 15 3) Topography, Geology, Soils and Hydrology .............................................................................. 15 4) Seismology and Earthquakes ................................................................................................... 16 5) Tides ....................................................................................................................................... 16 6) Deep Sea ................................................................................................................................. 16 7) Hydrothermal Vents ................................................................................................................ 17 8) Seamounts .............................................................................................................................. 17 9) Unexploded Ordinance ............................................................................................................ 18 B. ECOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................................................... 19 1) Mangroves.............................................................................................................................. 19 2) Marine Ecosystem ................................................................................................................... 19 3) Terrestrial Flora ...................................................................................................................... 26 4) Terrestrial Fauna ..................................................................................................................... 26 C. SOCIO-ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................................................ 27 1) Coastal Industries.................................................................................................................... 27 2) Conservation Areas /Marine Management Areas .................................................................... 28 3) Transportation and Infrastructure ........................................................................................... 30 4) Relevant Tourism Industries .................................................................................................... 30 5) Socioeconomic Profile ............................................................................................................. 30 ii 6) Public Health ........................................................................................................................... 33 7) Recreational Resources and Development ............................................................................... 33 8) Cultural Values ........................................................................................................................ 33 9) Human Settlement and Land Use ............................................................................................ 33 10) Archaeological and Historical Treasures ................................................................................ 34 V. ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES ........................................................................................................... 35 A. ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES .............................................................................................................. 35 B. ALTERNATIVE ALIGNMENTS ................................................................................................................ 35 1) Yap ......................................................................................................................................... 35 2) Chuuk ..................................................................................................................................... 38 C. ALTERNATIVE METHODS .................................................................................................................... 40 VI. ANTICIPATED IMPACTS AND MITIGATIVE MEASURES .................................................................... 40 A. PRECONSTRUCTION PERIOD ................................................................................................................ 40 1) Physical Environment .............................................................................................................. 41 2) Ecological Environment ........................................................................................................... 42 3) Social Environment ................................................................................................................. 43 B. CONSTRUCTION PERIOD ..................................................................................................................... 43 1) Physical Environment .............................................................................................................. 43 2) Ecological Environment ........................................................................................................... 44 3) Socio-Economic Environment .................................................................................................. 45 C. OPERATING PERIOD .........................................................................................................................