Language: English Original: English PROJECT: ACHWA II HYDRO ELECTRIC POWER PROJECT COUNTRY: UGANDA SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL ASSESSMENT (ESIA) N. Kinoshita – Senior Investment OPSD.3 Task Manager 1985 Officer Ahmed El-Gazzar, Senior Investment Officer OPSD.3 Co-Task Manager 3566 Archie Chiromo, Investment Officer Project Team Frederic Reveiz, Investment Officer Felix Oku Senior Environmental ONEC3 4395 Specialist Division Manager Raubil Durowoju Ag. Division Manager OPSD.3 2322 Sector Director Kokeidja Diallo, Director OPSD 2147 Regional Director Gabriel Negatu , Director EARC 8232 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................................... 3 2. POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK ............................................................................... 3 2.1 UGANDAN POLICIES AND LEGISLATION OF RELEVANCE TO HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT.............................................. 3 2.1.1 The National Environmental Management Policy, 1994 ................................................................................. 3 2.1.2 The National Energy Policy, 2002................................................................................................................... 4 2.1.3 The National Water Policy, 1999 .................................................................................................................... 4 2.1.4 The Resettlement/Land Acquisition Framework, 2002 .................................................................................... 4 2.1.5 The Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995 .......................................................................................... 4 2.1.6 National Environment Act, Cap 153 ................................................................................................................ 4 2.1.7 The Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 1998 .............................................................................. 5 2.1.8 The National Environment (Waste Management) Regulations, 1999 .............................................................. 5 2.1.9 The National Environment (Wetlands, River Banks and Lake Shores Management) Reg, 2001 ..................... 5 2.1.10 The National Environment Regulations (noise Standards and Control), 2003 .......................................... 5 2.1.11 The Water Act, Cap 152 ............................................................................................................................. 5 2.1.12 Electricity Act, 1999 ................................................................................................................................... 5 2.1.13 The Roads Act, 1964 .................................................................................................................................. 6 2.1.14 The Local Government Act, 1997 ............................................................................................................... 6 2.1.15 The Land Act, Cap 227 of 1998 .................................................................................................................. 6 2.1.16 The Historical and Monuments Act, 1967 .................................................................................................. 6 2.1.17 The Fisheries Act Cap 197 ......................................................................................................................... 6 2.1.18 The Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2006 .......................................................................................... 7 2.1.19 The Public Health Act, Cap 281 ................................................................................................................. 7 2.1.20 The Workers Compensation Act, CAP 225 of 2000 .................................................................................... 7 2.1.21 The Employment Act, 2006 and other related Acts .................................................................................... 7 2.2 INTERNATIONAL TREATIES AND CONVENTIONS ............................................................................................................ 7 2.3 DONORS AND FINANCING INSTITUTIONS ...................................................................................................................... 8 2.4 INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK ...................................................................................................................................... 8 3. PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND JUSTIFICATION ................................................................................................ 9 3.1 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ................................................................................................................................................ 9 3.2 PROJECT LOCATION ..................................................................................................................................................... 9 3.3 JUSTIFICATION FOR THE PROJECT ................................................................................................................. 10 4. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................................ 11 4.1 PHYSICAL BASELINE ENVIRONMENT .......................................................................................................................... 11 4.1.1 Noise levels .................................................................................................................................................... 11 4.1.2 Air Quality ..................................................................................................................................................... 11 4.1.3 Soil Studies .................................................................................................................................................... 11 4.1.4 Water quality: ................................................................................................................................................ 11 4.2 BIOLOGICAL BASELINE ENVIRONMENT ...................................................................................................................... 11 4.2.4 Terrestrial vegetation/habitats ...................................................................................................................... 11 4.2.5 Terrestrial fauna............................................................................................................................................ 11 4.2.6 Aquatic ecosystem ......................................................................................................................................... 12 4.3 HUMAN ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................................................................................. 12 4.3.1 Ethnic groups: ............................................................................................................................................... 12 4.3.2 Archaeology and cultural heritage: ............................................................................................................... 12 4.3.3 Resource Use ................................................................................................................................................. 13 4.3.4 Local Economy .............................................................................................................................................. 13 4.3.5 Health ............................................................................................................................................................ 13 4.3.6 Education ...................................................................................................................................................... 13 4.3.7 Infrastructure ................................................................................................................................................ 13 4.4 PROJECT ALTERNATIVES ........................................................................................................................................... 14 4.4.1 Hydropower ................................................................................................................................................... 14 4.4.2 Dam versus weir ............................................................................................................................................ 14 4.4.3 Comparison of Achwa2 HPP with other energy sources using multi-criteria decision tool .......................... 14 5. POTENTIAL IMPACTS ............................................................................................................................................ 16 5.1 IMPACTS ON THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS .............................................................................................................. 16 5.2 IMPACTS ON THE BIOLOGICAL, PHYSICAL AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT ...................................................................... 16 5.2.1 Environmental Flow ...................................................................................................................................... 16 5.2.2 Terrestrial vegetation/habitats .....................................................................................................................