Initial Environmental Examination Project Number: 42135 May 2009 Papua New Guinea: Preparing the Pilot Border Trade and Investment Development Project Prepared by SMEC International Pty Ltd. For PNG West Sepik Provincial Administration This consultant’s report does not necessarily reflect the views of ADB or the Government concerned, and ADB and the Government cannot be held liable for its contents. (For project preparatory technical assistance: All the views expressed herein may not be incorporated into the proposed project’s design. Initial Environmental Examination Preparing the Pilot Border Trade and Investment Development Project May 2009 Ref. TA 7125 PNG ADB TA7125 PNG Pilot Border Trade & Investment Development Report – IEE Report May 2009 Table of Contents ABBREVIATIONS 1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 THE PROJECT ................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA....................................................... 2 1.2.1 Environment Act ....................................................................................................... 2 1.3 ENVIRONMENT POLICY OF ADB ........................................................................................ 3 1.4 RECOMMENDED CATEGORIZATION OF THE PROJECT .......................................................... 4 1.5 PURPOSE AND METHODOLOGY OF IEE .............................................................................. 4 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT ..................................................................................... 6 2.1 PROJECT LOCATION ........................................................................................................ 6 2.2 CONSTRUCTION OF BORDER FACILITIES ............................................................................ 6 2.3 INSTALLATION OF SEPTIC TANKS .................................................................................... 12 2.4 FUTURE ACTIVITIES TO STIMULATE TRADE AND INVESTMENT ............................................. 13 2.5 NEED FOR THE PROJECT ............................................................................................... 13 3. DESCRIPTION OF THE EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ......................................................... 15 3.1 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................................... 15 3.1.1 Meteorology and Climate ........................................................................................ 15 3.1.2 Geology, Topography and Soils .............................................................................. 15 3.1.3 Seismology and Geomorphic Processes ................................................................. 16 3.1.4 Hydrology and Groundwater ................................................................................... 16 3.1.5 Climate Change ...................................................................................................... 17 3.2 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES .............................................................................................. 19 3.2.1 Flora and Fauna ..................................................................................................... 19 3.3 SOCIO-ECONOMIC RESOURCES ..................................................................................... 20 3.3.1 Wutung Village ........................................................................................................ 20 3.3.2 Cultural Heritage ..................................................................................................... 23 4. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS & MITIGATION .................................................................. 24 4.1 DESIGN / PRE-CONSTRUCTION PHASE ............................................................................ 36 4.1.1 Project Disclosure ................................................................................................... 36 4.1.2 Preparing Contractors to Address Mitigation Measures ........................................... 36 4.2 CONSTRUCTION PHASE ................................................................................................. 37 4.2.1 Exposure of asbestos during demolition of existing buildings .................................. 37 4.3 OPERATIONAL PHASE .................................................................................................... 38 4.4 INSTALLATION OF SEPTIC TANKS AND TOILETS IN WUTUNG VILLAGE .................................. 38 4.4.1 Groundwater contamination .................................................................................... 38 4.5 FUTURE ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE TRADE AND INVESTMENT IN VANIMO ................................. 38 5. PUBLIC CONSULTATION ................................................................................................. 40 5.1 IDENTIFICATION OF STAKEHOLDERS ................................................................................ 40 5.2 CONSULTATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS ............................................................................. 40 5.3 CONCERNS ADDRESSED ................................................................................................ 42 6. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING .................................................. 43 6.1 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN ............................................................................ 43 6.2 ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING ....................................................................................... 43 6.3 RESPONSIBILITIES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING ..................................................... 44 6.3.1 Proponent – Border Development Authority ............................................................ 44 6.3.2 Supervising Consultant ........................................................................................... 44 6.3.3 Contractor ............................................................................................................... 44 6.3.4 Environmental Management Officer ........................................................................ 45 6.3.5 Additional Site Personnel ........................................................................................ 45 Page ii ADB TA7125 PNG Pilot Border Trade & Investment Development Report – IEE Report May 2009 7. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................ 54 7.1 FINDINGS ..................................................................................................................... 54 7.2 CONCLUSIONS .............................................................................................................. 54 7.3 RECOMMENDATIONS ..................................................................................................... 55 Figures and Tables Figure 1: West Sepik Province ................................................................................................... 1 Figure 2: Project Location – Vanimo and Wutung ....................................................................... 6 Figure 3: Project Location – Vanimo and Wutung ....................................................................... 6 Figure 4: Detail Plan Border Administration .............................................................................. 10 Figure 5: Detail Plan Wutung Administration ............................................................................ 11 Figure 6: Average temperature and rainfall for Vanimo ............................................................. 15 Figure 7: Predicting degree of inundation by sea level rise of 1 metre. Stippling represents severe inundation, vertical hatching represents moderate inundation (Figure 6 taken from Sullivan 1990). .......................................................................................................................... 18 Figure 8: Vegetation Communities ........................................................................................... 20 Table 1: Environment (Prescribed Activities) Regulation 2002 .................................................... 2 Table 2: 1990 & 2000 Census Figures for West Coast Villages and Growth Rates .................... 21 Table 3: Socio-Economic Indicators of West Coast Population .................................................. 22 Table 5: Summary of Environmental Impacts ............................................................................ 26 Table 6: Summary Benefits and Risks ....................................................................................... 41 Table 7: Community Development Priorities .............................................................................. 42 Table 8: Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan ....................................................... 46 Page iii ADB TA7125 PNG Pilot Border Trade & Investment Development Report – IEE Report May 2009 Abbreviations ADB Asian Development Bank AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome BA Border Administration BDA Border Development Authority DEC Department of Environment and Conservation EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EMO Environmental Management Officer EMMP Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan GoPNG Government of Papua New Guinea HIV Human Immuno-deficiency Virus IEE Initial Environmental Examination