Sri Lanka Tsunami Reconstruction Program (SLTRP) USAID Contract # 386-C-00-05-00166-00 Environmental Assessment Vocational Education Reconstruction Component December 2006 SLTRPR-0040 In association with EML Consultants, Chemonics International Inc, DEVTECH, FNI, Engineering Consultants Ltd., Lanka Hydraulic Institute, MICD, and Uni-Consultancy Service SRI LANKA TSUNAMI RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION CENTER List of Abbreviations and Acronyms......................................................................................iii Executive Summary.................................................................................................................... iv CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................1 1.1 Overview ...............................................................................................................1 1.2 Site Selection Process ...........................................................................................3 1.3 Purpose of the Environmental Assessment Report .........................................6 1.4 Scope and Objectives of the EA report ..............................................................7 1.5 Definition of the Project Impact Area................................................................8 1.6 Use of Construction Materials ............................................................................8 1.7 Alternatives ...........................................................................................................9 CHAPTER TWO: DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING ENVIRONMENTS ...........................10 2.1 Southern Region: The Natural Environment..................................................10 2.2 Eastern Region: The Natural Environment.....................................................33 2.3 Socioeconomic Environment ............................................................................47 2.4 Socioeconomic Characteristics..........................................................................50 2.5 Other Socio Economic Characteristics.............................................................53 2.6 Socioeconomic Impacts of the Tsunami ..........................................................53 2.7 Conclusions of Socioeconomic Survey ............................................................56 CHAPTER THREE: STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS......................................57 3.1 Introduction.........................................................................................................57 3.2 Southern Province Community Consultations ..............................................57 3.3 Eastern Province Community Consultations .................................................59 CHAPTER FOUR: IMPACT ANALYSIS AND MITIGATION PLAN....................61 4.1 Project Impact Analysis .....................................................................................61 4.2 Mitigation Measures ..........................................................................................69 CHAPTER FIVE: ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN ..........74 5.1 Environmental Management Action Plan.......................................................74 5.2 Recommendations and Conclusions................................................................86 BIBILIOGRAPHY ......................................................................................................................87 Appendix 1: Environmental Checklist ...................................................................................89 Appendix 2: LEED Certification Form....................................................................................97 A.2.1 LEEDS Certification Form: Sammanthurai/Eastern Province.................97 A.2.2 LEEDS Certification Form: Ahangama/Southern Province ....................99 Appendix 3: Relevant Approvals and Applicable Regulations/Laws............................101 Appendix 4: Availability of Construction Materials .........................................................102 A.4.1 Construction materials available in the sites of the Southern region ...102 A.4.2 Construction materials available in the sites of the Eastern region ......103 Appendix 5: Flora and fauna in the Southern region sites...............................................104 A.5.1 List of flora recorded from proposed VTC sites in the South. ...............104 A.5.2 Detailed list of plant species recorded during the field visits................105 Prepared by EML Consultants ii SRI LANKA TSUNAMI RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION CENTERS List of Abbreviations and Acronyms DS Divisional Secretary ELT English Language Training EA Environmental Assessment EMAP Environmental Management Action Plan GN Grama Niladhari GoSL Government of Sri Lanka ICT Information Communication Technology ICTAD Institute for Construction Training and Development JAAF Joint Apparel Association Forum LEED Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design NA Not Available NGO Non Governmental Organization NWSDB National Water Supply and Drainage Board PAR Preliminary Assessment Report OTI Office of Transitional Initiatives PS Pradeshiya Sabha RFP Request for Proposal SDP Skills Development Project SLICTA Sri Lanka ICT Association SLTRP Sri Lanka Tsunami Reconstruction Program UDA Urban Development Authority USAID United States Agency for International Development VERC Vocational Education Reconstruction Component VTA Vocational Training Authority VTC Vocational Training Center Prepared by EML Consultants III SRI LANKA TSUNAMI RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION CENTERS Executive Summary The Sri Lanka Tsunami Reconstruction Program is responsible for the reconstruction and construction of several vocational education centers throughout Southern and Eastern Sri Lanka, which it will carry out through its Vocational Education Reconstruction Component (VERC). Cognizant of the need to understand the potential environmental impacts of construction, and in order to ensure compliance with USAID 22 CFR 216, the project conducted environmental assessments in the nine sites selected for activities (five sites in the southern region and four sites in the eastern region). The findings of the environmental assessments are contained in this document, including descriptions of the physical, biological and socio-economic environments of the selected sites, the impacts that will potentially result from construction of the centers and an environmental management plan to mitigate potential impacts. Potential longer-term impacts, which may occur as a result of the operation of the centers, are also included in this document, as are appropriate mitigation measures. Where possible, measures suggested in the Environmental Management Action Plan (EMAP) promote the adoption of safeguards to proactively avoid impacts, rather than mitigating impacts after they have already occurred. As illustrated in the study, the major environmental concerns in the selected sites in the Southern region include the potential of flooding of the approach road and frontage of the vocational training center in Tangalla, the disposal of waste during construction at all sites, and the potential disruption to adjacent religious, educational and economic activities. Other concerns include the quantity and quality of potable water available for human use in all sites, although this concern should be addressed by the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) projects currently underway. There are no threatened species, habitats or ecosystems within any of the southern sites, and all environmental impacts stemming from the construction in the southern region will be adequately mitigated through the implementation of the EMAP. Major environmental concerns in the sites located in the east include the potential for flooding in the Central Camp site, the disposal of waste during construction at all sites, and the availability of water for human consumption at all sites. Again, NWSDB projects are currently underway, and will likely address concerns related to access to safe water. There are no threatened species, habitats or ecosystems within the impact area of any of the eastern sites. There are no sites of archeological or cultural significance that warrant the introduction of special protection measures. All other environmental issues that arise from construction of VTCs can be adequately mitigated through the EMAP and its recommendations. Prepared by EML Consultants IV SRI LANKA TSUNAMI RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION CENTERS CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Overview The Indian Ocean tsunami, triggered by a massive earthquake off the coast of Sumatra in 2004, wreaked havoc in the region and claimed over 200,000 lives, displaced hundreds of thousands of people, and destroyed billions of dollars of property. The tsunami affected twelve coastal districts in Sri Lanka, representing one of the worst natural disasters in the country’s history. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is supporting Sri Lanka in its endeavor to ‘build back better’ in the aftermath, and the Sri Lanka Tsunami Reconstruction Program (SLTRP) focuses specifically on this task. The tsunami damaged and destroyed infrastructure throughout the coastal areas, including vocational education and training centers. SLTRP has several components focusing