E1546 ETHIOPIA FEDERAL DENIOCARATIC REPtIBLIC OF v 2 Public Disclosure Authorized PUNf li/r ?bsi fF Review of ROAS AI lT Review of Feasibility Study, Review of EIA, Public Disclosure Authorized of Preparation of Resettlement Action Plan & Review Detailed Engineering Design and Tender Documents for GEDO-NEIENTE ROAD UPGRADING PROJECT Public Disclosure Authorized REVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESMENT REPORIT (Final) OCTOBER 2006 Public Disclosure Authorized SABA ENGINEERING PRIVATF LIMITECi rI-rCArANh 1i14333:94 F '* 143,1 1'.I i1 i4.,1'' 1 14914 1 5 ji", 14 .c(!149Cr4.1 14 i .' , 1' T!- cCrn -mal s3ba engj(ielhoDnel el Aet--site M -aba-engineenng Addis Ababa. Ethnopia , ;; ;;, , . -. '>. ,'-;...- - t' o - 4 Gedo - Nekemt Road Upgrading Project Environmental Impact Assessment PART I REVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT Gedo - Nekemt Road Upgrading Project Environmental Impact Assessment TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ............................................. i EXCECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................... i 1. INTRODUCTION ....................................................... 1 1.1 Background to the Project ................................................... 1 1.2 Structure of the EIA Report ................................................... 1 1.3 Objectives of the Environmental Impact Assessment ................................. 2 1.4 Study Approach and Methodology .............................................. 2 1.4.1 General ........................................................... 2 1.4.2 Review of the Previous EIA Studies ........................................................... 3 1.4.3 Field Surveys, Data Collection and Stakeholders Consultation ............................... 4 2. POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK .......................... 6 2.1 National Policy and Strategies ................................................................ 6 2.1.1 Constitution of the FDRE ........................................................... 6 2.1.2 Conservation Strategy of Ethiopia (CSE) ........................................................... 6 2.1.3 The Environmental Policy of Ethiopia ................................ 7 2.1.4 Sectoral Policies ........................................................... 7 2.1.5 Land Tenure ........................................................... 8 2.2 Environmental Legislation Framework ................................................................ 9 2.2.1 Proclamation on Establishment of Environmental Protection Organs ...................... 9 2.2.2 Proclamation on Environmental Impact Assessment ...................... 9 2.2.3 Proclamation on Environmental Pollution Control ........................ 9 2.2.4 Proclamation on Conservation, Development and Utilisation of Forests ........ 10 2.2.5 Proclamation on Rural Land Administration and Land Use ................................... 10 2.2.6 Proclamation on Oromia Rural Land Use and Administration ............... 10 2.3 Institutional and Administrative Framework ....................................... 11 2.3.1 Federal and Regional Administration .......................................................... 11 2.3.2 Environmental Protection Authority ................................. 11 2.3.3 Environmental Protection Unit .......................................11 2.3.4 Regional Environmental Agencies .......................................................... 12 2.3.5 Ethiopian Roads Authority ....................................... 12 2.4 Ethiopian Roads Authority's Policy Framework .................................... 12 2.4.1 ERA Environmental Procedures Manual ............................. 12 2.4.2 ERA Resettlement/Rehabilitation Policy Framework ..................... 13 2.5 Multilateral Environmental Related Agreements .................................... 14 3. EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION OF THE PROJECT AREA ............... 15 3.1 Physical Environment ...................................................................................... 15 3.1.1 The Project Road .............. ............................................. 15 3.1.2 Topography ................................................. 16 3.1.3 Geology ........................................................... 16 3.1.4 Soils and Erosion .............. ............................................. 16 3.1.5 Climate ........................................................... 19 3.1.6 Hydrology and Water Resources .......................................................... 21 Gedo - Nekemt Road Upgrading Project Environmental Impact Assessment 3.2.1 Vegetation and Wildlife ............................................................... 25 3.2.2 Protected Areas and Sensitive Habitats ............................................................... 28 4. POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, AND AVOIDANCE AND MITIGATION MEASURES ......................................................... 32 4.1 General Considerations of Impact Assessment and Impact Analysis ...................... 32 4.1.1 Road Upgrading Requirements .................................... 32 4.1.2 Field Surveys for Assessment of potential Impacts ............................................... 32 4.1.3 Emphasis on Avoidance of negative Impacts .......................... 33 4.1.4 Influence of Climatic/Environmental and Socio-economic Condition ..................... 33 4.2 Impacts on Physical Environment, and Avoidance and Mitigation Measures ................ 33 4.2.1 Impacts on Land Resources ............................................................... 33 4.2.2 Exploitation of Materials Sources .............................................................. 36 4.2.3 Disposal of Construction Spoils ................................... 37 4.2.4 Impacts on Water Resources and Irrigation Schemes .................... 38 4.2.5 Air and Noise Pollution ......................................... 39 4.2.6 Impediment caused by Cut- and Fill- Slopes ......................................................... 40 4.3 Impacts on Biological Environment, and Avoidance and Mitigation Measures ................ 41 4.3.1 Impacts on Vegetation and Flora .................................. 41 4.3.2 Impacts on Wildlife ............................................ 43 4.3.3 Impacts on Protected Areas and Sensitive Habitats ..................... 44 4.4 Impacts on Social Environment, and Avoidance and Mitigation Measures .................. 45 4.4.1 Traffic Safety Issues ................................................................ 45 4.5 Summary of identified Potential Environmental Impacts .............................. 48 4.6 Mitigation Cost Estimate ....................................................................................... 50 5. CONSIDERATION OF ALTERNATIVES ...................................... 51 5.1 Alternatives Considered by Previous Studies ..................................... 51 5.2 Alternatives Considered by Present Study ....................................... 52 6. ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION PLANNING .................................. 54 6.1 Introductory Notes .............. ........................................................ 54 6.2 Land Requirement .............. ....................................................................... 54 6.3 Construction Activities .......... ........................................................................... 54 6.4 Material Extraction and Transport ............................................. 54 6.5 Handling, Transport and Disposal of Spoil Materials ................................................................... 55 6.6 Establishment, Set-up and Operation of the Work Camp .............................. 55 6.7 Road in Operation .............. ........................................................ 63 7. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN ................................... 64 7.1 General .................................................................................................. 64 7.2 Details for Review of Engineering Design and Tender Document ... .................................................... 64 7.2.1 Engineering Designs ........................................... 64 7.2.2 Planning for Relocation and Compensation .......................................................... 64 7.2.3 Tender Documents ............................................................................................... 65 7.3 Details for Implementation Preparation Phase ..................................... 66 7.3.1 Implementation of Compensation/Rehabilitation Measures ................ 66 7 13 1) Tr J-_ M-, -;-l __9 Gedo - Nekemt Road Upgrading Project Environmental Impact Assessment 7.4 Details for Construction Period ................................................... 66 7.4.1 Compensation for temporary Dispossession of Land ............................................ 66 7.4.2 Supervision of Construction .............................................. 66 7.4.3 Reporting Structure and Schedule during Construction ................... 67 7.5 Details for Road in Operation/Service and Maintenance Phase ............................................... 68 7.5.1 Pre-operation Activities ......................................... 68 7.5.2 Upkeep of the Road ........................................... 68 7.6 Capacity Building and Institutional Set Up ........................................ 73 8. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PLAN ..................................... 75 9. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION ...................................