Economic Community Communauté Economique Of West African States Public Disclosure Authorized Des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest General Secretariat / Secrétariat Général ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT STUDY on the MAN (Côte d‟Ivoire) - SANNEQUILLE (LIBERIA) - NZÉRÉKORE (GUINEA) - Public Disclosure Authorized BUCHANAN (LIBERIA) - MONROVIA (LIBERIA) - BUMBUNA (SIERRA LEONE) - LINSAN (GUINEA) INTERCONNECTION PROJECT Public Disclosure Authorized FINAL ESIA REPORT (LIBERIA SECTION) Public Disclosure Authorized December 2011 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Study Environmental and Social Environmental & Social Resettlement Action Impact Assessment Management Plan Plan (RAP) Report (ESIA) Report (ESMP) Report Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Report: This report contains the results of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA). The ESIA is a formal process to predict the environmental consequences of human development activities and to plan appropriated measures to eliminate or reduce adverse effects and enhances positive effects. Environmental & Social Management Plan (ESMP) Report: This report contains the measures to be taken during the implementation and operation of a project to eliminate or offset adverse environmental impacts or to reduce them to acceptable levels, and the actions needed to implement these measures. Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) Report: This report contains the resettlement action plan which is based on up-to-date and reliable information about the proposed resettlement and its impacts on the displaced persons and other adversely affected groups, and the legal issues involved in resettlement. 1 Position: Project Coordinator (Civil Engineer) Name of Firm: Korea Electric Power Corporation Name of Consultant: Byeong Soo, Kwon Profession: Environmental Consultant Years of Experience: 8 Years Years with firm: 15 Years 2 Position: Environmentalist Name of Firm: CEDA CONSULT Name of Consultant: Prof. Sikirou Kolawole ADAM Profession: Chief Environmentalist Years of Experience: 30 Years Years with firm: 18 Years 3 Position: Environmentalist Name of Firm: CEDA LIBERIA Name of Consultant: Samuel W. D. WESLEY Profession: Chief Environmentalist Years of Experience: 12 Years Years with firm: 10 Years Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................... 11 1. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Purpose and obejectives of the proposed Project ....................................................... 2 1.2. Background Information on the proposed Project ...................................................... 3 1.3. Purpose and scope of the study .................................................................................... 4 1.4. Legal and administrative, policy framework and International Requirement ........................ 5 1.4.1. Legal and administrative framework .......................................................................... 6 1.4.2. Policy Framework ....................................................................................................... 10 1.4.3. International Environmental Requirement ............................................................... 11 1.5. Project Categorization .................................................................................................. 13 1.6. Line route selection of the project ............................................................................... 14 1.6.1. Methodology for line route and substation site selection ..................................... 15 1.6.2. Line route selection in the Hotspot areas ................................................................ 17 2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................ 35 2.1. Côte d’Ivoire – Liberia – Sierra Leone – Guinea Interconnection Project ............... 35 2.2. Technical description .................................................................................................... 36 2.2.1. Description and characteristics of the transmission line ...................................... 37 2.2.2. Description and characteristics of substations ...................................................... 38 2.3. Description of activities ................................................................................................ 39 2.3.1. Pre-construction phase ............................................................................................. 39 2.3.2. Overview of constructional phase ............................................................................ 41 2.3.3. Operational phase ...................................................................................................... 45 2.3.4. Summary of project life cycle phases ...................................................................... 47 2.4. Consideration of alternatives ....................................................................................... 48 3. DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ....................................................................... 51 3.1. General description of existing environment ............................................................. 51 3.1.1. Topography, geology and soils ................................................................................. 51 3.1.2. Climate and Air quality ............................................................................................... 51 3.1.3. Noise ............................................................................................................................ 54 3.1.4. Ground and surface water ......................................................................................... 54 3.1.5. Electromagnetic Frequencies ................................................................................... 55 3.1.6. Terrestrial Vegetation ................................................................................................. 55 3.1.7. Wildlife ......................................................................................................................... 56 3.2. Socio-Cultural Environment ......................................................................................... 69 3.2.1. Population ................................................................................................................... 69 3.2.2. Ethnic, Religious and Cultural Heritage ................................................................... 70 3.2.3. Historical resources ................................................................................................... 70 3.2.4. Aesthetics and Tourism ............................................................................................. 70 3.2.5. Infrastructure .............................................................................................................. 70 3.2.6. Education .................................................................................................................... 71 3.2.7. Land Use ..................................................................................................................... 72 3.2.8. Employment/Manufacturing ...................................................................................... 72 3.2.9. Agriculture .................................................................................................................. 72 3.2.10. Public Health .............................................................................................................. 72 3.2.11. Major Gender Issues .................................................................................................. 73 3.2.12. Socio-economic conditions of Affected Counties (Counties information) ......... 74 3.2.13. Socio-economic conditions of Affected Villages (Category II) .......................... 103 3.2.14. Socio-economic Conditions of Properties Affected People ............................... 108 3.2.15. Corporate Social Responsibility ............................................................................ 109 4. IDENTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ................................. 109 4.1. Introduction and Methodology ................................................................................... 109 4.1.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................... 109 4.1.2. Methodology ............................................................................................................. 110 4.2. Results of impact identification ................................................................................. 112 4.3. Pre-constructional phase ........................................................................................... 114 4.3.1. Loss of buildings and land ownership issues ...................................................... 114 4.3.2. Line route survey and substation selection issues .............................................. 115 4.4. Constructional phase .................................................................................................. 116 4.4.1. Constructional noise impacts ................................................................................. 116 4.4.2. Impact on air quality ...............................................................................................