Environmental Assessment Report - Asian Development … · Environmental Costs and Benefits 37 3. Environmental Management Plan 39 ... Wudu District of Longnan prefecture (K433+200

Summary Environmental Impact Assessment Project Number: 38174 May 2006

People’s Republic of China: Southern Gansu Roads Development Project

Prepared by [Author(s)]

[Firm]

[City, Country]

Prepared for [Executing Agency] [Implementing Agency]

Prepared by Gansu provincial government for the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The summary environmental impact examination is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB’s Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature.

Environmental Assessment Report

CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (as of 12 May 2006)

Currency Unit – yuan (CNY)

CNY1.00 = $0.1248 $1.00 = CNY8.0140

ABBREVIATIONS

ADB – Asian Development Bank CCE – chief construction engineer COD – chemical oxygen demand EA – executing agency EIA – environmental impact assessment EIAT – environmental impact assessment table EMP – environmental management plan EPB – environmental protection bureau EPCC – Environmental Protection Center of Ministry of Communications GCRC – Gansu Provincial Road Development Company GHAB – Gansu Highway Administration Bureau GPCD – Gansu Provincial Communications Department GEPB – Gansu Provincial Environmental Protection Bureau GSDI – Gansu Provincial Survey and Design Institute GTAB – Gansu Provincial Transportation Administrative Bureau GWRB – Gansu Water Resource Bureau IA – implementing agency IEE – initial environmental examination LMCB – Longnan Municipal Communication Bureau LTAB – local municipal transportation administrative bureau PPTA – project preparatory technical assistance PRC – People’s Republic of China RP – resettlement plan SEIA – summary environmental impact assessment SEPA – State Environmental Protection Administration SEPP – soil erosion protection plan TSS – total suspended solids WRB – water resource bureau

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

dB(A) – A-weighted decibel g – gram Ha – hectare kg – kilogram km – kilometer km2 – square kilometer l – liter m – meter m3 – cubic meter mg – milligram t – ton

NOTE

In this report, “$” refers to US dollars.

CONTENTS

Page

MAPS I. INTRODUCTION 1 II. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT 1 III. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT 2 A. Physical Environment 3 B. Ecological Environment 5 C. Social and Economic Development 7 IV. ALTERNATIVES 8 V. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES 10 A. Physical Environment 10 B. Ecological Environment 19 C. Sociocultural and Economic Development 20 D. Possible Change in Alignment 22 E. Environmental Impacts of Local Roads 23 F. Environmental Impacts of Freight and Passenger Centers 25 G. Environmental Impacts of Bus Terminals and Stops 27 VI. ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT 27 VII. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 29 A. Objectives 29 B. Mitigation Measures 29 C. Implementing Organization and Responsibilities 29 D. Inspection, Monitoring, and Reporting 30 E. Correction and Improvement of Mitigation Measures 30 VIII. PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS AND DISCLOSURE 30 IX. CONCLUSIONS 33 APPENDIXES 1. Summary Soil Erosion Protection Plan 34 2. Environmental Costs and Benefits 37 3. Environmental Management Plan 39 SUPPLEMENTARY APPENDIXES (available upon request) A. Initial Environmental Examination for Local Road Component B. Initial Environmental Examination for Public Transport Center Component

I. INTRODUCTION

1. This summary environmental impact assessment (SEIA) describes possible environmental impacts, and it recommends mitigation and monitoring measures for reducing adverse impacts related to construction and operation of the Gansu Roads Development Project (the Project) in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). This SEIA is primarily based on (i) the full environmental impact assessment (EIA)1 prepared by Environmental Protection Center of Ministry of Communication (EPCC, 2005) during preparation of the feasibility study, (ii) the project feasibility study2 prepared by Gansu Provincial Survey and Design Institute (GSDI, 2005), (iii) field surveys and public consultations by the consultant of the project preparatory technical assistance (PPTA),3 and (iv) the work4 of the technical assistance team under PPTA. During SEIA preparation, initial environmental examinations (IEEs) were conducted by the technical assistance team for seven local roads, three freight and passenger centers, township bus terminals, and village bus stops. The conclusions of the IEEs are also summarized in this SEIA. The IEEs for seven local roads and transport centers and bus stops are in Supplementary Appendixes A and B.

II. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT

2. The Project is located in the southern part of Gansu Province in the northwestern region of the PRC (Map 1). The project area, defined as the area of counties and municipalities through which passes the expressway and seven local roads, covers Wudu district, as well as Wenxian, Lixian, Kangxian, and Chengxian counties of Longnan prefecture. The project area is characterized by hilly and mountainous terrain with limited accessibility and widespread poverty. The proposed expressway is an important section of the Lanzhou–Haikou national expressway, and it plays an important role in linking the northwest, southwest, and south PRC. It also serves as an important gateway to coastal areas.

3. The Project includes three main components: (i) constructing a new, 134 kilometer (km) four-lane expressway; (ii) upgrading seven local roads; and (iii) transportation service centers that include three freight and passenger centers, 100 township bus terminals, and 300 village bus stops.

4. Wudu–Guanzigou Expressway. The expressway starts at Xiping, Liangshui Town, Wudu District of Longnan prefecture (K433+200 of the existing National Highway [NH212]) and ends at Guanzigou, Wenxian on the border between Gansu and Sichuan Provinces (K705+540 of the existing NH212). The expressway includes 7 interchanges, 62 tunnels with total length of more than 37 km, 178 bridges with combined length exceeding 54 km, and 141 culverts. Because construction and operation of the expressway may cause environmental impacts from activities related to earthworks and vehicle transportation, mitigation measures should be properly implemented.

1 Environmental Protection Center of Ministry of Communications (EPCC). 2005. Environmental Impact Assessment

Report for Wudu to Guanzigou Expressway. Beijing. The EIA is planned for approval in June 2006. 2 Gansu Provincial Survey and Design Institute (GSDI). 2005. Feasibility Study for Wudu to Guanzigou Express.

Lanzhou. 3 ADB. 2005. Technical Assistance to the People’s Republic of China for Preparing Western Roads Development

Project. Manila. 4 ADB. 2006. Technical Assistance Consultant’s Final Report for Western Roads Development Project (Gansu).

Manila..

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5. Construction of the expressway is expected to start in September 2007 and be completed by 2011. Some 3,000–4,000 people are expected to work approximately 300 days per year over a 4.25-year construction period.

6. Upgrading of Seven Local Roads. Seven local roads, totaling 357 km, were proposed as a part of the Project for poverty reduction and local economic development. Of these, 49 km will be new construction and those remaining will be upgraded. These activities will not have significant adverse environmental impact. The improvement of seven local roads will benefit about 0.91 million rural and urban residents in the area covering Wudu District, as well as Wenxian, Kang, Li, and Cheng counties.

Table 1: Local Road Components under the Project

Project Name Length

(km) Upgrading Works Technical Standard

after Upgrading Wudu–Lixian 141 48.6 km of new road construction, upgrading of

remainder Class III (107.7 km), Class IV (32.9 km)

Sijiaba–Changheba 47 Improvements include drainage system, constructing new bridges and culverts, and setting up traffic signs.

Class III

Baihegou–Wangguan 49 Improvements include drainage system, constructing new bridges and culverts, and setting up traffic signs.

Class III (42 km), Class IV (8 km), subgrade width 7.5 m

Zhaojiaba–Tianchi 28 Improvements include drainage system, constructing new bridges and culverts, and setting up traffic signs.

Class IV

Cheng–Erlangxiang 23 Improvements include drainage system, constructing new bridges and culverts, and setting up traffic signs.

Class IV, subgrade width 6.5 m

Yangba–Ganjiang 33 Improvements include drainage system, constructing new bridges and culverts, and setting up traffic signs.


Honghe–Kuanchuan 36 Improvement includes road pavement, drainage system, one new bridge, 49 culverts, and setting up traffic signs.


Total 357 km = kilometer, m = meter. Sources: Project proposals and feasibility studies for the seven local roads, 2005. 7. Transportation Service Centers and Bus Terminals/Stops. The Gansu Provincial Communications Department (GPCD) prepared a transport development plan for the 11th five-year plan, which would (i) develop one national transport hub (Lanzhou), (ii) develop five provincial transport hubs (Tianshui, Longnan, Zhangye, Pingliao, and Jiuquan), and (iii) upgrade the rural transport centers5 to the standard necessary to support social and economic development. GPCD proposed to integrate into the project scope Lanzhou Freight Terminal and Information Center (including Lanzhou Freight Terminal, Lanzhou Transportation Information Center, and Lanzhou Transportation Control Center), Tianshui Freight and Passenger Center, Longnan Freight Terminal, 100 township bus terminals and 300 village bus stops in Longnan prefecture. The Lanzhou Transportation Information Center and Transportation Control Center will use the existing buildings, and no significant environmental impacts are expected. Therefore, the Lanzhou information and control centers are exempted from this SEIA.

III. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT

8. The environmental impact area is defined as the area within 200 m of the highway with regard to air quality and the aquatic and acoustic environments; and within 300 m for the

5 This plan includes expanding the number of township bus terminals from about 316 at the end of 2005 to about

1,320 by 2010. According to the plan, in Longnan city, a total of 195 Class V and 600 unclassified bus terminals will need to be completed by the end of 2010, with a total estimated budget of CNY127.5 million.

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ecological environment, but extending to 100 m around earth borrow and disposal areas. It also takes in the Yuhe, Wenxian, and Baishuijiang natural reserves. The social environment impact area of the expressway includes Wudu District and Wenxian County.

9. During the environmental survey, a list of environmentally sensitive sites within the project impact area was compiled within the EIA. These include i) 68 residences and 11 schools along the alignment subject to possible air and noise pollution; ii) the Bailongjiang, Luotanghe, and Datuanyuhe rivers as sensitive aquatic environments; iii) the Yuhe, Wenxian, and Baishuijiang nature reserves as sensitive ecosystems (Map 2); iv) sites subject to increasing risk of mudslides, falling rocks, landslides, and soil erosion; and v) sites subject to damage to arable land and vegetation.

A. Physical Environment

1. Topography, Geology, and Soil

10. The Project is located in the southeast of Gansu Province within the Qinling mountainous region. The project corridor passes through three major areas: (i) the Bailongjiang river valley, the bottom of which averages 1.4 km wide; (ii) the Sanhe mountain valley; and (iii) the deeply gullied southeast mountains.

11. The project area mainly consists of Silurian stratum in addition to Devonian, Carboniferous, Jurassic, and Lower Paleozoic strata. The lithology is characterized by the presence of phyllite, slate, shale, sandstone, limestone, and loess silts with well-developed stratification, as well as an interlayering of soft and hard layers.

12. Due to tectonic disturbance and weathering, rocks are crushed, sheared, and weathered. Weathered rocks and widespread loess, in combination with heavy storms, contribute to soil erosion, mudslides, rock falls, and landslides in many parts of the proposed alignment. Soil erosion, mudslides, and landslides are the Project’s main engineering risks. The project design and construction must make every effort to prevent further soil erosion and, where possible, the design should avoid existing mudslides and landslides.

2. Meteorology and Climate

13. The project area is in a transitional area from the northern subtropical humid climatic zone to the semi-humid temperate climatic zone and has four distinct seasons. The annual average temperature is 14.6–14.9° C. The lowest and highest temperatures recorded are 8.1° C and 40.0° C, respectively. Annual average precipitation is in a range of 475-900 mm. Annual average evaporation is high, ranging from 1,744 mm to 2,122 mm. An environmental concern is the intensive precipitation from June to September, often in the form of heavy storms, which will not only restrict construction activities but also increase the risks of siltation, erosion, slope slippage, and mudflows. According to the statistical survey at Beimayu river station, mudflows and landslides can be triggered easily if hourly precipitation is higher than 25 mm,6 due to the unstable geological condition. In the project area, maximum hourly precipitation is recorded at 40 mm, which indicates the high risk of mudflows and landslides in the project area.

3. Air Quality

14. Much of the proposed alignment runs through rural areas and open fields, where there are no significant sources of air pollution. Primary sources of emissions are fumes from passing 6 EPCC. 2005. Environmental Impact Assessment Report for Wudu–Guanziguo Expressway. Beijing.

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vehicles and ground dust. Ambient levels of nitrogen dioxide and total suspended particulates were measured for 3 consecutive days (7–9 December 2005) at three locations, which were selected on the basis that they are representative of air quality along the future expressway corridor. Table 2 suggests that air quality over the project corridor fell well within the PRC’s Class II Air Quality Standard (GB3095-96, as amended),7 with the exception of total suspended particulates at Pipa Town, where the measurement on 9 December exceeded the Class II standard due to windy weather and dusty ground. It can be concluded that the air quality in the project corridor is quite good.

Table 2: Ambient Air Quality Within a 300 Meter Impact Corridor

Nitrogen Dioxide (mg/m3) Total Suspended Particulates (mg/m3)

Sample Location and Kilometer

Daily Average Daily average Cuijialiang – AK17+000–AK18+400 0.090–0.020 0.18–0.28 Pipa Township – AK72+200–AK73+000 0.005–0.010 0.15–0.32 Wangba Village – AK85+450–AK85+700 0.006–0.012 0.12–0.27 PRC Standard GB3095-96 Class II 0.12 0.30 m3 = square meter, mg = milligrams, PRC = People’s Republic of China. Source: EPCC. 2005. Environmental Impact Assessment Report for Wudu–Guanziguo Expressway. Beijing.

4. Surface Water Quality

15. The proposed alignment crosses or parallels the Bailong, Luotang, and Datuanyu rivers, as well as some seasonal creeks. The water quality requirements set by Gansu Provincial Environmental Protection Bureau (GEPB) are to meet the Class III Environmental Quality Standard for Surface Water of the PRC (GB3838-2002) for the Bailong River, Class I for the Luotang River, and Class II for the Datuanyu River. Samples for analyzing pH, suspended solids, total suspended solids (TSS), oil, and chemical oxygen demand (COD)8 were taken twice daily during 7–9 December 2005. The results of sample analysis (Table 3) suggest that the water quality at the sampling locations met the Class I water quality standard. This indicates that the surface water quality of these rivers is quite good due to there being little industry in the project impact area.

Table 3: Average Surface Water Quality Conditions

River Location pH COD (mg/l)

Oil (mg/l)

TSSa (mg/l)

Applicable Standard

Bailong AK38+300 8.30–8.60 ＜10 ＜0.01 24–36 III Bailong AK132+425 8.36–8.48 ＜10 ＜0.01 22–37 III Luotang AK71+400 8.39–8.77 ＜10 ＜0.01～0.0２ 14–20 I Datuanyu River AK128+080 8.39–8.77 ＜10 ＜0.01～0.0２ 14–20 II GB3838-2002 Class I-V

6.00–9.00 ≤15/15/ 20/30/40

≤0.05/0.05/ 0.05/0.5/1

COD = chemical oxygen demand, l = liter, mg = milligram, TSS = total suspended solids. a No TSS limits are specified in the PRC Environmental Quality Standard for Surface Water (GB3838-2002). Source: EPCC. 2005. Environmental Impact Assessment Report for Wudu–Guanziguo Expressway. Beijing.

7 According to Ambient Air Quality Standard of PRC (GB3095-96) and its amendment (2000), ambient air quality

(i) Class I is applied to natural scenic and specially protected areas; (ii) Class II to urban areas and mixed urban, residential, business, and traffic areas; and (iii) Class III to industrial areas. Therefore, Class II should be applied to the project corridor.

8 Chemical oxygen demand is an indicator of water quality that indirectly measures the presence of organic compounds present in water.

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5. Noise

16. Ambient noise levels within 30 meters of the right-of-way should meet the Class IV PRC standard (GB3096-93), which is 70 dB(A)9 for daytime and 55 dB(A) for nighttime. Beyond 30 meters from the right-of-way, the Class II standard should be met (60 dB(A) for daytime and 50 dB(A) for nighttime).10 In addition, according to State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) regulation no. 94-2003,11 for all schools and hospitals, a standard should be applied of 60 dB(A) in daytime and 50 dB(A) at night. The noise levels, measured at nine residential sites and 11 schools as representative receptors (Table 4), ranged from 47.5 to 58.6 dB(A) during the day and from 38.1 to 42.8 dB(A) at night, which was well below the PRC standards.

Table 4: Noise Levels at Representative Receptors within 200 Meters of Right-of-Way

Noise Level dB(A)

Location

Site Name

Distance from Right-of-Way

(m) Daytime Nighttime

BK3+400 Pingshang 25 51.6 40.7 AK17+350 Chuijialiang 51 54.6 41.3 AK26+300 Yajiaoli 24 51.2 40.1 EK42+895 Zhaojiaping 29 47.5 38.1 EK54+100 Yuhuangping 31 51.0 40.2 AK72+630 Pipa Town 21 56.8 43.3 AK85+900 Luotang Town 22 58.6 42.8 AK105+320 Qianshan Village 66 50.1 40.3 AK128+900 Yujiawan 22 53.9 41.9 BK7+150 Jishiba Elementary School 75 56.2 38.2 AK15+050 Dabao Elementary School 92 51.4 40.1 AK32+450 Maba Elementary School 56 53.9 41.2 EK39+550 Jugan Elementary School 89 54.2 40.8 EK51+100 Xiaoshicun Elementary School 105 52.0 39.3 EK54+350 Yuhuang Elementary School 42 51.8 38.4 AK72+580 Pipa Elementary School 22 53.8 41.1 AK85+420 1st floor 118 55.7 42.5 2nd Floor 118 55.9 42.7

Lutang Middle School

3rd Floor 118 56.2 42.8 AK85+530 1st floor 126 55.6 42.1

Lutang Elementary School 2nd floor 126 55.9 42.3

AK90+400 Yuanba Elementary School 146 53.1 41.8 AK128+700 Yujiawan Elementary School 147 53.4 41.5

dB(A) = A-weighted decibel, m = meter. Source: EPCC. 2005. Environmental Impact Assessment Report for Wudu–Guanziguo Expressway. Beijing.

B. Ecological Environment

1. Flora and Fauna

17. The project area is in the transitional zone from the subtropical zone to the south temperate zone. The area is rich in various plants and animals due to the topographic, climatic, and soil differences from the lower parts of valleys to the peaks of the mountains. The major

9 dB(A) = A-weighted decibel. This is a loudness measure typically used for calculating ambient noise levels. 10 SEPA. 1993. Environmental Noise Standard for Urban Area (GB3096-93). Beijing. 11 SEPA. 2003. Regulation No. 9, Noise Standard for Schools and Hospitals for Road Construction Projects. Beijing.

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vegetation is mostly mountain-type, and it includes poplar, oak, birch, and pine. Protected plants and wildlife are located in national and provincial nature reserves12 in the project area.

18. Yuhe Nature Reserve. Yuhe Nature Reserve is a provincial nature reserve. The total reserved area is 74,944 ha, of which the (i) core area is about 16,387 ha, (ii) buffer zone is 29,454 ha, and (iii) experimental area is 29,103 ha. In Yuhe nature reserve, there are (i) 7 plant species identified as being within the first level of nationally protected species, (ii) 29 species in the second level, and (iii) 21 species in the third level.13 Nine species are identified as being in the first level of nationally protected animals (including the golden monkey, takin, and argal), and 42 species are at the second level. The protected animals are mainly found in the core area. At its closest segment, the alignment runs about 2.5 km from the edge of core zone and 0.3 km away from the edge of the experimental zone.

19. Wenxian Nature Reserve. Wenxian Nature Reserve is a Gansu provincial nature reserve. The total reserve area is 221.6 ha, of which the (i) core area is 65.6 ha; (ii) buffer zone is 63.65 ha, and (iii) experimental area is 82.35 ha. This reserve is for the Chinese giant salamander14 and its habitat. The alignment passes within 10 km of the reserve.

20. Baishuijiang Nature Reserve. Baishuijiang Nature Reserve is a national nature reserve. The total reserve area is 223,700 ha, of which the (i) core area is 97,300 ha, (ii) buffer zone is 27,000 ha, and (iii) experimental area is 99,400 ha. The main protected species are the giant panda, golden monkey, and aqntelope, plus there are 67 rare and endangered plants.15 At the closest segment, the alignment passes within 14 km of the edge of the core area and 12 km from the edge of the experimental area.

21. There are no animal species from the national protection lists found within 300 m of the central line of the highway.16 However, three Chinese yew trees (Taxus Chinensis var. mairei), which species is on the first national protection list for plants, were found at segment K65+987, 10 Fargestorreya trees (Torreya fargesii) are 200 m from segment K78 (Lianghe village of Pipa town), and 510 trees of Cupressus chengiana S. Y. Hu are 200 m distant from K111+500. To protect these, the three Chinese yew trees will be relocated, and the Fargestorreya and Cupressus chengiana S.Y. Hu will be fenced and protected during the construction and operation.

2. Land Resources and Land Use

22. The expressway will affect the land use of 12 towns and villages. Total land resource in these 12 towns and villages is 128,131 ha. According to Longnan Prefecture land use zones, (i) cultivated land in these 12 towns and villages accounts for 15.6% of this amount, (ii) orchards for 0.4%, (iii) forestlands for 39.5%, (iv) grasslands for 14.5%, (v) water surfaces for 1.9%, 12 Nature reserves are organized into three zones—the core zone, the buffer zone, and experimental zone—

according to Regulation of Nature reserve issued by State Council of PRC (No. 167). The core zone, which needs to be legally established, gives long-term protection to the landscape, ecosystem, and species it contains. The core zone restricts human activity, except research and monitoring with approval of the authority. A buffer zone surrounds and is contiguous with the core zone. Activities are restricted to research. An experimental zone is an outer transition area where some human activities are acceptable, such as research, education, observation of animals, tourism, pasturage, and breeding for endangered plants and animals.

13 The list of nationally protected species is jointly proposed by the State Forestry Administration and Ministry of Agriculture, and it is approved by the State Council of the PRC.

14 The Chinese giant salamander is the largest salamander in the world. It is fully aquatic, with many adaptations for this lifestyle. It grows up to 1.8 meters in length, although most individuals found today are considerably smaller.

15 Giant panda, golden monkey, Chinese salamander, takin, argal, and others are classified as valuable and endangered animals and are listed in the first level of nationally protected animals.

16 This was confirmed by the officials of the forest bureau and a survey conducted by the PPTA consultant team.

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(vi) residential and industrial land use for 1.6%, (vii) transportation land use for 0.5%, and (viii) unutilized lands for 26.0%. The percentage of unutilized lands is quite high in this affected area, but the possibility of reclaiming these as cultivated land is quite low due to unfavorable natural conditions and a high risk of soil erosion in the case of reclamation and cultivation.

23. Currently the main crops of the project area are Chinese prickly ash,17 corn, wheat, grain sorghum, rice, cotton, oil-seed rape, buckwheat, oats, olives, apples, persimmons, and mandarin oranges.

C. Social and Economic Development

1. Social and Economic Profile

24. The expressway is located in Longnan Prefecture, in the southern part of Gansu Province. The project area of the expressway covers Wudu District and Wenxian County. It has a total land area of 4,863 square kilometers and a population of 0.53 million in Wudu, plus 4,994 square kilometers and a population of 0.24 million in Wenxian County. It borders Sichuan Province and lies within an important transport passage from Lanzhou to Haikou.

25. The agricultural sector remains strong and contributes 35% of the total GDP in Wudu District and Wenxian County, but its predominance is challenged by the industrial and manufacturing sectors. The main cash crops are Chinese prickly ash, Chinese herbs, olives, and walnuts. Chinese prickly ash is widely found in hilly lands, and 90% of the harvest is exported to Sichuan Province. Industry is relatively underdeveloped in Wudu District and Wenxian County, and the main industrial sectors are agricultural products processing, cement, and hydraulic electricity.

26. For historical and natural reasons (due to remoteness and inaccessibility), the project area is one of the poorest in the PRC. Wudu District and Wenxian County are designated poor counties under the State Council’s poverty reduction and development plan. Some 34% of the total population in Wudu District and Wenxian County lives below the national poverty line, with net income less than CNY900 per capita per year. The per capita GDPs of Wudu District and Wenxian County are CNY1,823 and CNY2,158, respectively, which is well below the average per capita GDP of CNY5,953 in Gansu. The per capita rural net incomes of Wudu and Wenxian are just CNY1,209 and CNY1,036, which are much less than the average rural income of CNY1,852 in Gansu.

27. The population’s average low education level and poor transportation are the main bottlenecks limiting economic development in the project area.

2. Natural and Cultural Heritage Sites and Tourism Resources

28. Due to its long history, the project area is rich in historical and cultural heritage sites. Of more than 150 cultural relics, 81 are on the county protective list and 3 are on the provincial list. Natural landscapes in the area are beautiful. The famous cultural relics and natural spots in Wudu and Wenxian include Wangxiang Grottos (Cave), Zhaoyang cave, Shuilian Cave, Yaozai creek, Wufeng mountain, and the nature reserves. The tourist industry is relative undeveloped, however, due to the region’s remoteness and inaccessibility.

17 Berries of Chinese prickly ash (Zanthoxylum bungeanum) are also called Sichuan pepper or huajiao in Chinese. It

is a very important ingredient in Sichuan cuisine. Chinese prickly ash has been selected as one of the most important cash crops for poverty reduction in this area.

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29. Although the proposed alignment has been carefully selected to avoid crossing any cultural relics or scenic spots, it may pass though unknown archaeological sites. Therefore, archaeological surveys are planned and will be carried out before the construction, and due attention for archaeological relics will be given during construction.

3. Mining Resources

30. The project area is abundant in mineral resources. Thirty-four types of minerals, including lead, zinc, stibnite, gold, and copper are found at 445 mineral deposit sites. Among these, the lead and zinc deposit site at Xicheng and stibnite deposit site at Xiheyawe are the second- and third-largest mining sites, respectively, in the PRC. Due to the poor transportation and lack of investment, mineral exploration and processing industries are still relatively undeveloped. Considering the distance from the known deposits, soils from tunnels will not include any heavy metals.

IV. ALTERNATIVES

31. No Action Alternative and Upgrading of NH212. With the rapid growth of the urban and rural economies and expansion of cities, towns, and villages in this area, NH212 now passes directly through cities, towns, and villages. This has led to the establishment of many shops along both sides of NH212. It is now common to find pedestrians, bicycles, carts, three-wheel vehicles, tractors, and automobiles mixed together, crowding the road, and substantially slowing traffic. That increases the potential for accidents. The current topography and unstable geology, characterized by mudflows and landslides, make NH212 impassable from time to time, and these also limit the possibilities for improving NH212 to a Class I or Class II road. Without the Project, the traffic safety situation on NH212 would continue to deteriorate as the traffic increases. The importance of the Project also rules out the no-action alternative, because the expressway links the northwest, southwest, and south PRC and serves as an important gateway to coastal areas.

32. Alternate Transport Modes. Railway transportation from Lanzhou to Chongqing has been considered in the 11th five-year plan. That railway is to improve the railway network and to provide mass transportation between the big cities, especially for coal, oil, and minerals, as well as industrial and agricultural products. The traffic forecast indicates that, even if the railway from Lanzhou to Chongqing is taken into consideration, the traffic volume in this corridor will increase substantially and existing highways will not be able to cope with the situation.

33. Alternative Expressway Alignments. The project alignment is divided into eight segments. Fifteen alternative alignments were studied in the feasibility study for segments I, III, V, VI, and VIII. Section II and IV have no feasible alternative to connect and adjust segment. The recommended alignment was selected in consideration of (i) geological risks, (ii) technical feasibility, (iii) minimized environmental damage, (iv) minimized need for resettlement, (v) conservation of productive agricultural lands, and (vi) construction costs.

34. Field studies and a detailed analysis were made to compare various alternatives based on the above criteria, and geological risks were given the top priority in selecting alternatives. The alignment finally selected is the one in the feasibility study with a length of 133.61 km. A summary of the comparative analysis of the various alternative alignments is in Table 5.

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Table 5: Alternative Comparison for Sections I, III, V+VI, and VIII

Sections

Alignments

Soil Erosion

Water

Quality and Disturbance

Noise

Air Quality

Land Acquisition

and Resettlement

Engineering Geological Conditions

I

A1 Less Less Fewer noise-sensitive points

Insignificant Large amount of land acquisition, but almost no resettlement

High risks of mudflows

B More Crosses twice and in parallel with Bailong-jiang River.

Passes through villages

Insignificant Less land occupation, but large amount of resettlement

Avoids mudflows and slides by tunnels and bridges.

C Less Similar to B Similar to B

Insignificant Similar to alternative B

Similar to B, but longer length

Recommended alternative: Alternative B

III A3 No significant difference

No significant difference

Minimal Insignificant More Avoids mudflows through a tunnel.

D No significant difference


Minimal Insignificant Less High risks of mudflows

Recommended Alternative: Alternative A3

V+VI A5+H No significant difference



Insignificant More High risks of landslides and a long, deep slope (10 km)

A6+E No significant difference



Insignificant Less Avoids landslides but a long deep slope.

Recommended Alternative: Alternative A6+E

VIII A8 No significant difference



Insignificant Less Shorter length

I No significant difference



Insignificant More Longer and with a long tunnel

Recommended Alternative: Alternative A8 Source: EPCC. 2005. Environmental Impact Assessment for Wudu–Guanziguo Expressway. Beijing.

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V. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES

A. Physical Environment

1. Topography, Geology, and Soil

a. Construction Period 35. Excavation and Filling Activities. The Project will include 62 tunnels with a combined length of approximately 37 km. The Project will require excavating more than 2.24 million cubic meters (m3) of earth and rocks from cut sections of the alignment. About 0.9 m3 of excavated materials and 6.7 million m3 of borrow materials will be used as fill. The estimated amount of waste earth and rock for disposal18 is 1.3 million m3. The excavation and disposal of wastes may affect the ecosystem, natural drainage and agricultural irrigation systems, and water quality, as well as lead to soil erosion. The EIA identified 22 borrow sites. Nineteen of these are located in hillocks where there is little vegetation and no productive farmland or cash crop orchards. Three are in gullies where there are mudslide deposits. In addition, 32 disposal sites were identified. These are located in valleys and depressions that will be out of sight from the road, will not interfere with farmlands or forestland, and will not block existing drainage systems. The following measures will be employed for borrow and disposal sites to protect the environment:

(i) In order to reduce the amount of disposal, use as much spoil from tunneling or cutting as possible as fill for subgrade.

(ii) Strip and stockpile topsoil, and build retaining walls where necessary before dumping.

(iii) Construct intercepting ditches and chutes to prevent outside runoff from entering disposal sites, prevent soil erosion from borrow sites, and divert runoff from sites to existing drainage systems or ponds.

(iv) Rehabilitate disposal sites into grassland, woodland, or farmland after closing. 36. The feasibility study identified 22 sites for procuring rock, sand, and gravel along the road corridor within distances of 0.1–30 km from the alignment. The requirement for revegetation and other restoration measures will be included in contract documentation as the responsibility of the contractors.

37. Temporary access roads to portals, bridge, and disposal and borrow sites will be constructed or upgraded on selected existing village paths. Each contactor will complete environmental screening of any new access road and provide a list of necessary mitigation measures with assistance from the Implementing Agency, Gansu Changda Road Development Company (GCRC). Contractors will maintain the access roads during the construction and transfer these roads to nearby local villages to benefit villagers after completion of the construction. For those not to be used after construction is completed, contractors will restore soil and vegetation.

38. Unstable Geology. The alignment passes through areas with high occurrences of mudflows, landslides, and rockfalls. Excavation and cuts could destabilize entire mountainsides, causing serious erosion, mudflow, and landslides. These could affect the flows of rivers and bring about diversions across agricultural lands and possibly settled areas that could result in massive and rapid erosion. Large increases in TSS levels would affect fish and aquatic insects,

18 In principal, spoil from cutting and tunneling should be used for fill as much as possible, but it could be very costly

to transport excavated materials over long distances.

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and aquatic ecosystems could be affected for several years. To avoid these events, unstable geological sites had been mapped and assessed in the feasibility study, and the alignment was carefully selected either to avoid serious mudflow and landslide areas or to go through them using tunnels or bridges. To prevent potential adverse impacts from less unstable geology, such engineering measures will be built as embankments for resisting landslides, anchor walls with nailing, anti-landslide piles, dams to hold debris, and plastic drainage boards. To prevent mudflows, such engineering measures will be applied as runoff interception and drainage systems to divert runoff from mudflow areas.

b. Operation Period 39. During operation of the project expressway, no significant impacts are predicted other than those resulting from neglected periodic maintenance of protection works in (i) waste disposal areas and erosion prone areas, (ii) revegetated areas along the alignment, (iii) borrow sites, and (iv) spoils sites. To prevent this, regular monitoring and inspections should be undertaken to ensure that drainage and revegetation measures are maintained.

2. Water Quality

a. Construction Period 40. During the construction period, impacts on water quality will be caused mainly by bridge and tunnel construction activities, runoff from unstabilized earthworks, vehicles and equipment servicing, maintenance and cleaning, as well as activities associated with operating construction camps (e.g., sewage and waste disposal). Most of the alignments run parallel with rivers and, in particular, after the Mazijialiang tunnel, with the Luotanghe and Datuanyuhe rivers. These two are designated as Class I and Class II rivers, respectively, by the Gansu provincial government, and no waste or wastewater discharge is allowed into these two rivers.19

41. Bridge, Tunnel, and Road Construction. There is a total of 178 bridges. The key bridges along the route are the Wudu viaduct (Km 17), Gushuizi bridge (Km 37), Daanimao No. 1 Viaduct (Km 40), Luotang River No. 1 Bridge (Km 66), and Luotang River No. 22 Bridge (Km 77). All these are over 1 km in length. All the long bridges are viaducts running parallel to the rivers, usually along the lower terrace. Most of the bridges that actually cross rivers are small (because the rivers are small) except for two bridges across the Bailongjiang that would be in a range of 400–500 m. Most of the cast-in-place and precast piers for supporting bridge decks will go on dry land (terrace or flood plain), but some will be installed in the river water courses, and that may impact on water quality. To protect the water quality, cofferdams will be installed to prevent silt arising during the initial boring operation from mixing with river water. The cofferdams will need to be 0.5–0.7 meters higher than the normal highest water level. When boring spoil is produced, it will be hauled to spoils disposal areas and contained by retaining walls. A vegetation cover will be established at the conclusion of the operation.

42. There are 62 tunnels along the alignment, and tunnel operation will produce wastewater of 200–400 m3 per day for each tunnel. The main pollutant of tunneling wastewater is suspended solids, with a concentration ranging from 800 to 10,000 milligrams (mg) per liter. Wastewater from tunneling will be collected in sediment tanks, retention ponds, and filter tanks to remove silts and then be reused for tunneling operations. At tunnel portals, a suspended solids removal system that includes one sediment tank, one retention tank, and one small filter

19 Clause 4.1.5 of the PRC Integrated Waste Water Discharge Standard (GB8978-1996) states that no discharge

related to the project operation and construction will be allowed into rivers designated as Class I and Class II.

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tank will be installed. The capacity of sediment and retention ponds will be from 250 m3 to 350 m3, depending on the size of each tunnel.

43. Rainfall runoff and surplus spoil from the construction sites will be polluted by silt prior to its stabilization and protection by a vegetative cover. Settlement ponds will be constructed as part of the soil erosion protection plan (SEPP) to ensure that this runoff does not impact directly or significantly on the local water quality, and especially where the alignment is close to the Luotanghe and Datuanye rivers.

44. Soil Erosion. The proposed highway passes through an area that the Gansu provincial government has declared to be a key soil erosion prevention area.20 The soil area to be disturbed by constructing the expressway totals 923.64 hectares. Without soil erosion protection measures, it is estimated that soil loss would be up to 294,181 tons (t), which is 128,446 t more than would occur in the area without there being construction activities.

45. An SEPP21 has been prepared and is summarized in Appendix 1. This is particularly important for the Project, given the great potential for debris flows, mudslides, and high soil erosion. The SEPP includes targets for soil erosion control, mitigation measures, implementation, supervision, and reporting. The SEPP proposes a three-pronged approach to reducing soil erosion that includes soil stabilization, run-on control, and sediment control measures.

46. Soil stabilization is designed to prevent soil particles from detaching and becoming transported in stormwater runoff. Soil stabilization measures in the SEPP include to

(i) preserve existing vegetation where no construction activity is planned or temporarily to preserve vegetation where activity is planned for a later date;

(ii) apply temporary soil stabilization, such as covering with plastic film, geotextiles, or similar materials to subgrade slopes if permanent protection works cannot be carried out in time during the rainy season;

(iii) if necessary, apply erosion control blankets and check dams to control erosion in concentrated flow paths; and

(iv) apply permanent soil stabilization measures, such as vegetation, revegetation, and concrete pavement, upon completing construction, or when closing borrow sites, disposal sites, and temporary access roads.

47. Run-on control measures are for diverting stormwater flows around disturbed soil areas or to convey flows through disturbed areas in a non-erosive manner. Run-on control measures in SEPP include (i) earthen dikes, (ii) surface and slope drains, (iii) lined ditches, (iv) interception ditches, (v) retaining walls to prevent excess earth from entering existing drainage systems, (vi) diverting runoff from road surfaces and slopes, and (vii) preventing runoff from entering into the borrow sites.

48. Sediment control measures are used to further reduce sediment’s entry into the storm drain system or to receive water for preventing water pollution. Sediment control measures in SEPP include de-silting basins or sediment tanks at construction sites where runoff can enter drainage systems or receiving water bodies.

49. Vehicle and Equipment Maintenance and Cleaning. Potential spill and leakage of fuel, petroleum products, lubricants, solvents, and other pollutants related to vehicle and 20 Gansu Provincial Government. 1999. Notice of Declaration of Key Soil Erosion Prevention Area. Lanzhou. 21 The SEPP was planned to be approved in June by the Ministry of Water Resources.

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equipment fueling, maintenance, and cleaning may cause serious water and soil pollution. The following mitigation measures for reducing such risks are proposed:

(i) On-site fueling areas will be selected away from water bodies, particularly from the Luotanghe and Datuanyuhe rivers, and these will be protected by berms or dikes to prevent runoff from entering into and from leaving the fueling areas. The on-site fueling facilities will only be used for equipment that must be fueled on-site, and all vehicles and equipment that regularly enter and leave the construction sites will be fueled off-site.

(ii) Vehicle and equipment wash areas will be properly identified by signs and located away from drainage facilities and watercourses. These will be paved with concrete or asphalt and have berms to contain runoff. They will be equipped with septic tanks to collect and dispose of wash water. All vehicles and equipment that regularly enter and leave the construction sites will be cleaned off-site.

(iii) There are two categories of wastewater resulting from the use of watercraft for bridge construction: one is from cleaning and washing the vessels and the other is disposal of bilge water. The amount of bilge water is likely to be very small, but it will contain a lot of pollutants, such as lubricating oil, petroleum, etc. This wastewater can be taken to and treated by appropriate treatment facilities. The wastewater from washing watercraft will contain silts and smaller quantities of oil. This wastewater will be settled before being discharged into drainage systems and will not be discharged directly to the Luotanghe and Datuanyuhe rivers.

(iv) A handling protocol for construction materials will be prepared and applied. It will, for example, call for materials storage away from watercourses and provision of retention areas in order to contain accidental spills of such toxic, hazardous, and harmful construction materials as caustic and acidic substances, oil and petroleum products, and asphalt materials.

50. Construction Camp Operations. Wastewater from each work camp will be collected in septic tanks. In order to protect sensitive water bodies, especially such as the Luotanghe and Datuanyuhe rivers, camps will not be set up within 100 m of the Luotanghe and Datuanyuhe rivers, and the effluent from septic tanks will not directly discharged into the rivers in accordance with the Integrated Waste Water Discharge Standard of PRC (GB8978-1996). It will be encouraged that effluent from septic tanks will be used for agricultural irrigation or for plant-watering. No-water-flushing latrines will be installed to collect human wastes, which will be dried in a natural way or composted to be used as fertilizers.

51. Work Force Solid Wastes. Work forces will generate solid wastes of 0.2–0.5 ton per day in each camp. The contractor will ensure proper collection, storage, and disposal of wastes, and multi-compartment collection bins will be provided to facilitate the reuse, recycling and composting of solid waste. Wastes will be stored away from water bodies and will be regularly hauled to a suitable landfill or designated dumping site. Appropriate waste storage containers will be provided by the contractors, and agreements will be signed with local villages for waste disposal, where appropriate, through village facilities. These arrangements are to be made prior to commencing works.

52. Impact on the Groundwater Flow and Supply. The preliminary design and final design will use available data to select an alignment that as much as possible avoids impacts on drinking water and irrigation water supplies drawn from underground resources for use by local villages. There may be unforeseen impacts on groundwater movement due to geological conditions, especially the complexity of the karst underground formations in the Mayaziliang tunnel section (AK57+410~AK65+310) if tunnel construction extracts an unexpected amount of

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groundwater. The contractor will take measures to prevent an abnormal level of groundwater extraction, such as pre-grouting. In addition, groundwater levels will be monitored before and during construction of the tunnels. If impacts for groundwater are suspected, adequate action will be taken by the contractor or the Implementing Agency.

b. Operation Period 53. During the operation period, the major sources of potential water pollution are from (i) road surface runoff, (ii) failed erosion protection works, (iii) wastewater effluent from service centers and toll stations, (iv) leachate from solid waste collected at service centers, and (v) accidental spills. The mitigation measures to address these situations during operation of the expressway are as follow:

(i) Due to negligible amount of pollution load,22 roadway runoff has little impact on water quality. It is suggested that roadway runoff drainage be diverted over grassed or pervious areas permitting fine materials to settle, oily water to be retained, and the volume and rate of flow to be reduced. These measures will be especially necessary at the bridges that cross or parallel the Luotanghe and Datuanyuhe rivers, as required under the PRC’s Class I and Class II technical water standards (GB3838-2002).

(ii) Erosion protection works, such as grassed or stabilized slopes, should be inspected at least twice during the first year of the expressway’s operation to ensure that they are maintained properly and function well as designed.

(iii) According to the current plan, there will be 3 service centers (including 1 administration office in the Wudu service center), 9 toll stations, and 10 tunnel offices along the expressway. A sewer system with a biological treatment process is proposed for treating wastewater generated from each service area, while toll stations and tunnel offices are to have septic tanks or settlement tanks. The effluents from Luotanghe service center will not be allowed to directly discharge into Luotanghe River (footnote 19, and it will be encouraged that these will be used for agricultural irrigation and plant-watering around the service center or diverted to a grassed area. Sewage treatment facilities at all the service centers should be monitored regularly to ensure that wastewater (a) is properly treated, (b) meets the Class I of the PRC discharge standards (GB 8978-1996) before leaving the site, and (c) is not leaking from the sites.

(iv) Management practices of solid waste disposal should be monitored to ensure that waste is properly stored, reused, and recycled so as to prevent any leakage which may pollute the environment.

3. Air Quality

a. Construction Period 54. During construction, the air pollution sources are (i) dust caused by aggregate preparation and concrete mixing plants,23 pile driving, materials storage, transportation of the borrow material and excavation spoil, and soil dust from disturbed and uncovered construction area (construction area refers to the spaces where construction activities take place); (ii) emissions from asphalt melting and mixing; and (iii) vehicle emissions from truck traffic and 22 The pollutant concentration of initial runoff can be very high, but a very small amount of runoff is easily absorbed by

soils before flowing into receiving waters. 23 Due to the remoteness of the site, it is anticipated that localized batching plants will be established to provide

concrete for piers and abutments for the number of very large bridges and culverts to be constructed.

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heavy equipment operation at the construction site and on the roads to and from the borrow and disposal sites. The impacts from these emissions are limited to the area within 300 meters downwind from the sources.24 The mitigation measures to overcome these localized, potentially adverse impacts include the following:

(i) Material storage sites, mixing stations, and asphalt plants will be set up more than 300 meters downwind from the nearest settlement or school.

(ii) Dust suppression equipment will be installed on the mixing plants. Construction roads, construction areas, and areas adjacent to mixing plants will be watered on a set daily schedule (considering weather conditions) by using water trucks. In the dry seasons, the areas will be watered at least twice a day.

(iii) Trucks transporting fine materials, especially from borrow areas and material storage site will be covered by canvas to prevent dust emission.

(iv) Vehicles should be properly maintained and pass the annual inspection test supervised by GEPB.

b. Operation Period

55. During operation, air pollution will be mainly from vehicle emissions, and the main pollutant will be nitrogen dioxide. A number of previous EIAs and project completion monitoring and audit reports for road projects in the PRC have revealed that the impact of expressways on air quality is localized within 20–60 meters from the central lines of highways. Considering that the baseline of nitrogen dioxide in the project impact area is quite low and that the PRC will enforce much stricter vehicle emission standards (para. 61), therefore, no significant impacts on air quality will be expected during the operation period.

56. The Project includes 62 tunnels with a combined length of 37 km. To prevent pollution inside the tunnels and near tunnel portals, ventilation systems and dust traps will be designed in accordance with relevant PRC standards.25 For Majaziliang tunnel, (about 7.9 km long) vertical ventilation wells will be installed to enhance the ventilation system.

4. Noise

a. Construction Period 57. A significant increase in noise levels is expected during construction. Primary sources of noise will be the various construction and transportation activities. Construction activities will involve operation of bulldozers, graders, stabilizers, concrete mixing plants, drills, stone crushing and screening plants, rollers, and other heavy machinery. While noise levels may be severe, they will be temporary and localized. It is estimated that noise intensity from these activities will be in the range of 70-85 dB(A). In such case, they will meet the PRC’s standards26 up to 150 meters away from the sources during the day and 480 meters during the night. The

24 According to relevant testing in PRC ADB. 2005. Summary Environmental Impact Assessment of Hunan III Project.

Manila, the total suspended particulate concentration in the air is 8.849 mg/m3 at a distance of 50 m downwind of an asphalt mixing station, 1.703 mg/m3 at 100 m, and 0.483 mg/m3 at 150 m. At about 300 m downwind, the Class II standard can normally be met. For asphalt melting sites, monitoring results of similar projects indicate that at 100 m downwind, benzopyrene concentration is 0.00936 µg/m3, which complies with the 0.01 µg/m3 limit of GB3095-1996 Ambient Air Quality Standard. Also based on several similar ADB projects in the PRC ADB. 2004 Summary Environmental Impact Assessment of Hunan Road Development II Project. Manila, it is suggested that the limit of influence for such activities should be set at about 300 m downwind from the source.

25 MOC. 2004. Technical Guidelines for Highway Tunnel Design (JTGD70-2004) and Specifications for Design of Highway Ventilation and Lighting (JTJ26.1-1999), Beijing.

26 SEPA. 1990. Noise Limits for Construction Sites (GB12524-90), Beijing.

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actual situation could be more severe if several activities occur simultaneously. Blasting, particularly for borrow, cut, and tunneling construction, is expected to occur frequently. That will create periods of severe noise peaks of more than 100 dB(A) up to 1 km from a blast site. In addition, large amounts of borrow and waste material will be transported to and from the construction sites. This is likely to take place frequently during the 12–13 hours per day work schedule for the construction season of 300 days per year over 4 years. As a result, villages through which haul roads pass or which are adjacent would frequently experience noise at the level of 70-80 dB(A). The topography through which the expressway passes is very mountainous and there are minimal opportunities to construct alternative haul roads to avoid passing near villages. Activities with intensive noise levels will not only have an impact on the residences nearby, but may be injurious to the health of construction workers operating the equipment. Therefore, mitigation measures are essential for construction activities to meet the PRC’s construction site noise limits and to protect sensitive receptors. These are as follow:

(i) Equipment generating low levels of noise will be utilized as a first priority, and all machinery should be properly maintained to minimize noise. Noise reduction devices or methods should be applied where piling equipment is operating within 500 meters of such sensitive sites as schools.

(ii) The sites for rock crushing, concrete mixing plants, and like activities will be located at least 1 km away from such sensitive areas as residences, schools, and hospitals.

(iii) To reduce noise at night, the operation of machinery generating high levels of noise, such as piling, will be restricted to between 0600 and 2200 hours in accordance with PRC regulations.27 The movement of heavy vehicles along urban and village roads will also be restricted to between 0600 and 2200 hours.

(iv) If there are schools nearby, the construction unit will come to an agreement with schools regarding heavy machinery work to avoid any unnecessary disturbance. If there are construction activities that must be continued during the day and night, the construction unit will come to an agreement with residents nearby and may give compensation to the most severely affected residents.

(v) Blasting will be carried out only with permission of the construction chief engineer, according to a preestablished schedule that will also be made known to all people within 200–500 m of the blasting site in all directions, depending on the total charge used. Blasting mats will be used to reduce flying debris and assist in suppressing noise.

(vi) Construction sites near sensitive areas will be monitored both regularly and irregularly by contracted environmental supervisors. If noise standards are exceeded, equipment and construction conditions will be checked and mitigation measures will be implemented to rectify the situation.

(vii) A unit for dealing with complaints from nearby residents will be set up to facilitate communication with residents and to solve any conflicts between the construction unit and nearby residents.

b. Operation Period

58. During the operation phase, noise will be generated by passing vehicles. Traffic noise forecasts for both sides of the project road have been carried out based on traffic volumes predicted in the feasibility study. These results show that daytime and/or nighttime noise levels 27 Some construction activities generating high levels of noise are forbidden during the night by Noise Limits for

Construction Sites (GB125232-90). Standard for Environmental Noise in Urban Areas (GB3096-93) suggests the night and day period be defined according to local life pattern and be consulted with the local environmental protection bureau. The EIA considers the period from 2200 to 0600 as nighttime.

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exceed the PRC standards28 by more than 1 dB(A) at five of 79 sensitive receptor locations in the initial period of operation, at 25 receptor locations in the medium term, and at 34 receptor locations in the long term. In the short and medium terms, most sites will only very slightly exceed the PRC noise standard (by less than 3 dB(A)). Therefore, ambient noise monitoring will be mandated to determine whether mitigation measures will be required. Monitoring will be conducted twice annually, for 2 days on each occasion. Mitigation measures will be implemented if infringements of the PRC standards are observed.

59. The following noise attenuation measures specified in the Design Specification for Highway Environmental Protection (JTJ006-1998) will be examined and implemented as needed:

(i) Provide options to construct noise barriers and other forms of screens, such as building berms or relocating the facility. If the monitoring results indicate infringement of the PRC standard or regulations, then affected people will be given the choice of either relocation or barriers.

(ii) Restrict new dwellings of any kind from locating within a 100 m band on either side of the highway.

(iii) Plant varieties of tree and shrub species as soon as possible after construction is completed in any construction working zone and within the 50 m wide right-of-way such that by July 2011, or earlier, a fully developed tree and/or shrub barrier is growing.

5. Transport of Hazardous and Toxic Materials

60. During 2002–2004, according to data provided by local traffic authorities, traffic accidents occurred an average 12 times per year on NH212 between Wudu and Guanziguo, and 54% of the accidents were fatal. Cargo transportation accounts for 32.98% of total traffic volume, and 3.98% of the cargo transportation is associated with transport of hazardous goods. Therefore, the estimated average risk of an accident involving hazardous materials on NH212 between Liangshui Town and Guanziguo is 0.16 per year. The risk of a hazardous material spill is 0.048 per year, if one assumes that spills would likely occur during 30% of the hazardous materials accidents. For the expressway, the traffic accident rate with dangerous cargo vehicles is estimated mainly based on (i) the existing traffic accident rate, (ii) reduction of the traffic accident rate due to the expressway’s improving the road condition, (iii) percentage of dangerous freight transportation vehicles on NH212, and (iv) predicted traffic volume and length of each section of the expressway. The annual accident rate associated with the transport of hazardous goods on the proposed expressway has been estimated statistically to be 0.086 per year in 2011 and 0.23 per year in 2025, thus yielding an average spill rate of 0.025 per year in 2011 and 0.069 per year in 2025. Stating these rates in the inverse, the probability of an accident related to hazardous materials is 1 in 40 in 2011 and 1 in 14.5 in 2025. Taking the same approach, the probability of an accident resulting in a hazardous material spill associated with river bridges is 1 in 106 and at tunnels it is 1 in 150 in 2011. For 2025, these probabilities rise to 1 in 38 at bridges and 1 in 55 at tunnels. Considering the potential impacts of hazardous material spills, especially on the Luotanghe, Datuanyuhe, and Bailongjiang rivers’ ecosystems, an emergency plan will be prepared by an experienced consultant contracted by GCRC. The plan will be reviewed by GEPB and traffic authorities and approved by GPCD. At that point, a written plan will be completed by GCRC that defines (i) who has authority to act, (ii) what

28 Refer to the Standard for Environmental Noise in Urban Areas (GB3096-93) and SEPA. 2003. Noise Standard for Schools and Hospitals for Road Construction Projects (Regulation No. 4). Beijing.

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actions are needed to deal with a spill, and (iii) who will implement these actions. The plan will be transferred to the expressway’s operating entity. The plan will be developed during project implementation and finalized before operation.

6. Vehicle Emission

61. With rapid economic development and growth in vehicle numbers, vehicle emissions have come to represent one of the major air pollution problems. To mitigate the impact of vehicle emissions in general, GEPB will follow the national vehicle emission control strategies specified by SEPA:

(i) Enforce stricter emission standards, including step III of GB 18352-3-2005 and GB 17691-2005 by July 2007, and step IV by July 2010.29 These standards are equivalent to steps III and IV, respectively, of European Emission Standards. By adopting steps III and IV, emissions for new vehicle can be reduced to around 50% and 30%, respectively, of the emissions under the current standards, which are equal to step II of the European standards.

(ii) Enforce an inspection and maintenance program for all existing vehicles, including annual emission checks and roadside testing. Emission control devices are required to be repaired, updated, and installed if the vehicle cannot meet the required standards.

(iii) Encourage use of alternative or cleaner fuels. (iv) Retire obsolete vehicles.

62. In order to reduce any adverse air quality impacts from vehicle emissions related to the expressway operation, the operating entity will pursue the following measures in cooperation with GPCD and GEPB:

(i) Motor vehicle emissions control provisions will be included in the tendering documents for gas stations along the expressway, such as gasoline, diesel, and compressed natural gas refueling facilities. Contractors who include such cleaner fuel stations in their bids will be considered favorably and given preferential consideration, if all other conditions are the same among the bidders.

(ii) Similar provisions will be included in the tendering documents for bus companies operating between Liangshui Town and Guanzigou. Those bidders proposing buses with cleaner fuels and who have installed better emissions control systems will be given preferential consideration, if all other conditions are equal. Bus companies that cannot meet the provincial emissions control standards will be refused the opportunity to bid for expressway bus services.

(iii) The expressway’s operating entity will engage a qualified environmental monitoring institution to monitor ambient air quality along the expressway—particularly at sensitive receptors, such as schools, hospitals, and residential sites. The monitoring will be used to determine whether any mitigation measures should be included in the vehicle emission control program.

(iv) Training programs will be provided during project implementation to strengthen the capacity of GPCD and GCRC regarding general knowledge, various programs, mitigation planning, and other relevant aspects of motor vehicle emissions control.

29 PRC SEPA. 2005. Limits and Measurement Methods for Emission from Light-Duty Vehicles (III, VI) (GB18532-3).

Beijing; PRC SEPA. 2005. Limits and Measurement Methods for Exhaust Pollutants from Compression Ignition and Gas Fueled Positive Ignition Engines of Vehicles (III, IV, And V) (GB17691). Beijing.

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63. In comparison with NH212, the travel distance from Liangshui Town to Guanzigou will be shortened by about 50%, or 136 km. As a result, estimated emissions of nitrogen oxides will be reduced by 1,929 t in the first year of operation30 and by 1,951 t in 2031.31 This is due to fuel savings and it represents roughly a 38% emission reduction in comparison to the case without the expressway. Assuming a carbon dioxide emission factor of 216 grams (g) per km, CO2 reduction due to the shortened distance can be roughly estimated at 2.9 million tons over 20 years of operation.

B. Ecological Environment

64. Flora and Fauna. As cited in para. 21, several trees of protected species have been found in the mountainous area of the expressway alignment. In the low terrain of this area, due to human activities, there is little natural original vegetation, and most areas are cultivated land with crops and orchards such as Chinese prickly ash, corn, wheat, grain sorghum, rice, cotton, oil-seed rape, buckwheat, oats, olives, apples, persimmons, and mandarin oranges. The land required for constructing the highway will result in the permanent loss of approximately 654.9 ha, among which 102 ha is brush and forestland and 66.2 ha is in orchards. Together, these account for about 25.7% of total occupied land.

65. In compliance with the PRC’s forestry law, GCRC will undertake compensatory planting of an equivalent or larger area of affected forest trees. This will be done in coordination with the Gansu Provincial Forestry Department and be supported by a forest restoration fee. The revegetation will comprise a selection of species that are suitable for this area and have the most appropriate attributes to survive and serve their designated functions.

66. Activities associated with constructing the expressway will also destroy the vegetation at construction sites, especially in disposal and borrow sites. All disposal sites and borrow sites will be restored, where possible, to productive agricultural land or grass and woodland.

67. New plantings must be maintained during the operation period of the expressway. This will be done through regular watering, protection from grazing animals, and disease control. Trees outside the right-of-way but within the corridor of impact, including those replanted in erosion prone areas, will need to be tended for at least 3 years, until they are mature enough to withstand seasonal climatic conditions.

68. Although there are no protected animals in the environmental impact area, the expressway may limit the habitat area and movement of other small wild animals along the alignment and increase the death rate when slow moving animals attempt to cross the road. The expressway includes 62 tunnels totaling more than 37 km and 178 bridges with combined length of more than 54 km, which will be constructed in the rugged terrain where animals live. These structures will allow freedom to cross the highway .

69. Nature Reserves and Protected Plants. The expressway alignment has been selected to avoid crossing three nature reserves (the Yuhe, Bailong, and Baishui reserves) and to stay at least 300 m from the edges of the nearest experimental areas. No impact will be expected on Baisuijian and Wenxian nature reserves since the alignment is more than 10 km away from those reserves. For Yuhe nature reserve and a protected plants area (para. 64), no impact is expected during the construction period or during operation of the expressway if the following measures are implemented in consultation with GEPB and Nature Reserve Offices. 30 Assuming that 40% of vehicles comply with step III of the PRC vehicle emission standards in the first year of

operation (2011). 31 Assuming that all vehicles comply with step IV of PRC vehicle emission standards in 2031.

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(i) Chinese yew should be relocated and the areas of Fargestorreya (Torreya fargesii) and Cupressus chengiana S. Y. Hu should be protectively fenced.

(ii) No construction camps will be set up in the experimental areas. (iii) No quarrying, cutting, or blasting activities will be undertaken in or near the

experimental areas. (iv) No transportation or construction equipment will be allowed into the experimental

areas. (v) Education programs for protecting nature reserves and protected species will be

given to workers hired for works in the segment near the nature reserves. Fines, according to the PRC legislation for protecting wildlife,32 will be imposed for hunting, harvesting wild food, and cutting trees for fuel in experimental areas. Wandering into buffer zones and core areas shall be forbidden without permission from the management authorities of these three nature reserves.

70. Prime Farmland. Prime farmland is defined as a type of farmland required to be preserved permanently or in a given period specified in a prime farmland protection plan. The Project will acquire 287.4 ha of cultivated land, 269.9 ha of which is prime farmland. This amounts to about 1.73% of the total 15,523 ha of prime farmland in the 12 affected towns and villages. Therefore, the impacts on prime farmland are considered to be minor. However, in accordance with PRC regulations,33 the acquisition of more than 33.3 ha of prime farmland needs the permission of the state council. PRC regulations also require application of the “net loss of prime farmland principle,” which is that the project developer should either reclaim the same amount of prime farmland to replace that permanently occupied by the Project or pay the compensation fee for reclamation to the Gansu Provincial Land and Resource Bureau. In accordance with the PRC regulations, GPCD and GCRC as implementing agencies, and in cooperation with provincial, municipal, and county bureaus of land and resources, will modify the current land use plan and designate the land for reclamation in order to mitigate the impacts on prime farmlands and obtain the land acquisition permit from the state council before commencing construction.

C. Sociocultural and Economic Development

1. Social and Economic Development

71. The Project will temporarily divert some of the local male labor force from farming activities to higher paying construction jobs. Given the 4-year duration of the Project, absences from farming of even 1 year will put great stress on female partners, since women will have to maintain households without the help of men. The benefits of higher family incomes may be outweighed by the community disruption and strain on local infrastructure. Provision of work rotations such that farmers can take time off to maintain their crops while keeping their jobs will be discussed with contractors and implemented on a pilot basis on two contracts for the first 2 construction years.

72. The expressway, together with the local road network, will expand the road network in rural villages. It is expected that the Project will facilitate poverty reduction efforts for local people in the project area, which, in turn, will narrow the gap between the eastern and western areas of the PRC. More specifically, the Project will (i) help rural agricultural products to reach

32 Gansu People’s Congress. 2001. PRC Law on Wildlife Protection of PRC (1989) and its amendments (2004 and

Regulation on Gansu Baishuijiang Natural Reserve Protection. Lanzhou. 33 State Council. 1996. PRC Regulations on Prime Farmland Protection, No. 31. Beijing; Ministry of Land and

Resources. 2005. PRC Notice on Further Protection of Prime Farmland, No. 196. Beijing.

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markets, (ii) allow farmers to upgrade farming practices, (iii) stimulate cash-crop farming, (iv) promote the tourism industry, and (v) broaden access to off-farm employment opportunities.

73. The expressway alignment may lead to separation of sections of farming units and problems associated with farmers maintaining adequate access to the separated parts. The alignment will construct 17 overpasses, 29 pedestrian underpasses, 34 underpasses for motor vehicles, and 31 underpasses especially for agricultural vehicles to assist in addressing these issues and provide for the safe movement of personnel, animals, and equipment from one side of the highway to the other. Local governments will be consulted to determine the exact places and number of these overpasses and underpasses, so that, when the detailed design is developed, these facilities will be designed to cope with the people’s needs.

2. Landscape and Natural and Cultural Heritage

74. When constructed in mountainous areas, the expressway project may impact on the aesthetics and general landscape of the region. In order to harmonize the expressway with the landscape, the expressway will be integrated with the natural landscape by avoiding heavy cut and fill as much as possible. Vegetation removed in establishing temporary access roads, on occupied land, and at borrow and waste disposal sites will be restored, reforested or re-grassed after construction in accordance with a specific landscape plan.

75. Along the alignment, there are many tourist spots and cultural heritage sites, such as Wangxiang cave, Zhaoyang cave, Shuilian cave, Yaozai creek, and Wufeng mountain. The expressway and local roads to be upgraded provide the opportunity for improved access to these sites and for promoting tourism industries in the project area.

76. The proposed alignment may contain undiscovered cultural relics. To determine the presence of potential cultural relic sites, preliminary surveys will be conducted by the cultural relic authorities before any construction-related activities are begun. Site clearing, excavations, and other earthworks will be closely monitored by local cultural bureaus, if necessary. If an important site is unearthed, works will stop immediately and the matter will be promptly referred to the municipal, provincial, and state agencies for evaluation and deciding on appropriate actions.

3. Resettlement

77. The Project will permanently occupy about 681 ha of land. The temporary use of land will amount to 33 hectares. Some 43% of the land to be permanently acquired is currently under cultivation. Approximately 8,500 people will be affected. About 600 rural people in 151 households will have their houses demolished. The combined floor space of these houses and buildings total 15,130 square meters.

78. Those losing land and assets will be compensated. The resettlement budget estimate of CNY361 million is included in the project cost estimates. GPCD will fund the resettlement costs according to the standards set out in the resettlement plan.34 The Implementing Agency will be in charge of the execution and coordination of land acquisition and resettlement. A land acquisition and resettlement coordination division will be established at each of the affected districts and counties.

79. Compensation will be paid for housing, and new housing will be made available before relocation takes place. A resettlement information booklet, together with provincial 34 GPCD. 2006. Resettlement Plan for Wudu-Guanzigou Expressway. Lanzhou.

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compensation rates, was released to affected people through local government offices in April 2006. The booklet contains sections on (i) resettlement impacts, (ii) the resettlement policy, (iii) compensation rates and policies, (iv) organizational arrangements, (v) consultation and participation, and (vi) grievance procedures. GPCD will be responsible for internally monitoring the resettlement process and for submitting reports to Asian Development Bank (ADB) in accordance with the monitoring and evaluation component of the resettlement plan. A regular reporting system will be established to ensure that key resettlement activities are implemented on time. GPCD will engage a local institute to independently monitor the resettlement process. Further surveys will be done upon completion of the resettlement and 1 year later. Those findings will be reported to GPCD and ADB.

4. Induced Industrial Development

80. The project area is abundant in mineral resources and tourist resources (paras. 28 and 30). Development of the expressway and local roads will provide opportunities for accelerating development of various industries and tourism. Industrial development will promote the regional economy. At the same time, though, such development, and especially mining activities, may lead to such adverse environmental impacts as damage to the ecosystem; air, noise, and water pollution; and increased soil erosion. To prevent pollution, all the industries in the project area should follow the PRC’s environmental protection regulations, and, in particular, the mining activities should follow the PRC’s environmental protection regulations, and in particular, the mining activities should follow the PRC regulation for Preventing Pollution from mining activities.35

5. Possible Impacts across Provincial Border

81. Construction of the expressway will (i) promote economic trade between Gansu Province, Sichuan Province, and Chongqing municipality; (ii) provide people near the border more opportunities to access markets (e.g., for Longnan to export Chinese prickly ash to Sichuan; and (iii) attract more tourists from each administrative region. In the planning stages for the Lanzhou–Chongqing expressway, environmental impacts were taken into consideration, and no significant environmental impacts on the natural environment were identified on either side of the provincial border. The EIA for the Wudu–Guanzigou expressway found no significant environmental impacts near the border of Gansu. Further, in accordance with the PRC regulations on EIAs, a detailed EIA for the Guanzigou–Guangyuan section on the Sichuan side will be undertaken to study the environmental impacts and mitigation measures before the construction starts.

D. Possible Change in Alignment

82. In case of a possible change in alignment, the following measures will be taken: (i) For a minor deviation in the alignment, the environmental design engineer will propose mitigation measures and incorporate these into the detailed design drawings. (ii) In case of a major deviation that may cause significant environmental impacts or affect additional people, the Implementing Agency will conduct additional environmental assessment, including public consultation. The revised EIA report will be submitted to the Ministry of Communications for review and then to SEPA for approval, following Government procedures. (iii) GPCD, in consultation with ADB, will determine whether a deviation is minor or major.

35 State Council. 1992. Regulations on Prevention of Mineral Mining Solid Wastes. Beijing.

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E. Environmental Impacts of Local Roads

1. Environmental Impacts

a. Construction Period 83. Wudu-Lixian Section. The Wudu–Lixian section will be upgraded to Class III and Class IV. Of the 141 km in total, 48.6 km from Jinchang to Wangba will be new construction, and the rest will be upgraded following the existing alignment. No sensitive areas, such as protected and endangered species, nature reserves, and protected water resources, were found along these local roads. The environmental impact in the upgraded part will be minimal. In the portion with new construction, impacts from dust, noise, and odor emissions will be insignificant, as there are very few settlements along this section of the road. In this section, a number of borrow and disposal sites will be needed. That will require removing a certain amount of vegetation and increases risks of soil erosion and water pollution to Yamahe Creek, which runs in parallel with this section of the alignment. Similar revegetation, soil erosion control, and water pollution prevention measures will be applied to minimize the impacts as in the case of the expressway construction. Because of potential adverse impacts to the environment, and in accordance with the PRC regulation on EIA categories (SEPA, 2003), a full EIA,36 including a detailed environmental management plan (EMP), will be developed by the GPCD and it will be approved by GEPB before construction starts.37

84. Sijiaba–Changheba, Baihegou–Wangzigou, Zhaojiaba–Tianchi, Chengxian–Erliangxiang, Taiping–Yangba–Ganjiang, and Honghe–Kuanchuan Sections. These sections will be upgraded following the existing alignments. The main upgrading works will improve the road subgrades, pavement, and drainage systems. These will construct or improve a few bridges and culverts. Earthworks, such as cutting and filling, will be minimal and so will be land acquisition. Therefore, the upgrading work will have no possibility for significant impacts on farmland and property, vegetation, and soil erosion so long as adequate construction methods and environmental protection measures are used. The possible adverse environmental impacts are mainly (i) noise from equipment, (ii) dust from drainage construction, (iii) odor and pollutant emissions from asphalt melting and mixing, and (iv) water pollution due to the bridge construction. Further, no sensitive areas, such as protected and endangered species, nature reserves, and protected water resources, were found along these local roads. Therefore, the environmental impacts of these six local roads will be limited and can be minimized if the mitigation measures defined in Appendix 3, Table A3.2 are properly implemented during construction. Hence, full EIAs are not required.

b. Operation Period 85. The environmental concerns related to the operation of these local roads mainly involve air and noise pollution. Improvement of these local roads will not bring new environmental issues, since most parts of these seven local roads have been in existence for years and most adverse impacts associated with their operations have already occurred. In fact, the improvement of these local roads will reduce adverse impacts on the air, water, and acoustic environment since (i) paved road surfaces will reduce air dust from the existing unpaved road surfaces; (ii) new pavement will improve vehicle efficiency, and hence reduce vehicle emissions; and (iii) runoff will be collected by newly built or improved drainage systems, and then channeled to grassland before going to the water bodies.

36 The EIA for the Wudu–Lixian road has been contracted to EPCC. 37 Any road of Class III or above that is longer than 100 km needs a full EIA.

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2. Socioeconomic Impacts

86. The average net income per farmer in Wudu District, and in Wenxian, Kangxian, and Chengxian counties ranged from CNY1,036 to CNY1,835 per capita in 2004. That compares with the average per capita rural income of CNY2,936 in the PRC. Some 36% of the population served by these local roads is in the category of rural poor (income less than CNY900/year). The purposes of improving the seven local roads are to (i) promote local economic development, and (ii) reduce poverty.

87. These seven local roads will (i) connect the villages’ roads to highways and expressways; and (ii) provide local villagers with improved access to the expressway, thus gaining benefit from the expressway project. Local communities will also benefit from employment opportunities during road construction. After the roads are completed and operating, it is anticipated that there will be increased opportunities for tourism development, since there are abundant tourism resources in the area, including Meiyuan National Forest Park, Yangtang Volcano Lake, Qin Empire Tombs, and Chouchi Ancient Relics. Tourists who currently visit adjacent areas will be attracted to this region. The local population is expected to benefit from tourism by providing local products and unskilled staff to service establishments selling traditional handicrafts and agricultural products. Other anticipated benefits from the local road improvements are better access to medical, educational, and market facilities.

88. Along the seven local roads, there is great potential to develop agricultural product processing and trading industries. Various agricultural products are abundant, including Chinese prickly ash, olives, walnuts, mandarin oranges, and over 1,200 types of Chinese herbs. There is good potential also for mining industries in Chengxian County, where mineral resources are abundant.

89. Table 6 shows the estimated number of beneficiaries, based on the population of townships and villages directly along the seven local roads. The actual number of direct and indirect beneficiaries of upgrading these local locals may be much higher than the number shown in Table 6 since the impact of these local roads will be expected beyond the townships through which the local roads directly run.

Table 6: Estimated Beneficiaries of the Seven Local Roads

Beneficiaries County or Districts Road

Road Length

Total Cost (CNY million) Townships Population

Wudu, Wenxian Wudu–Lixian 141 86.4 10 500,000 Wudu, Chengxian Sijiaba–Changheba 47 42.3 12 150,000 Kangxian Baihegou–Wangguan 49 28.6 5 60,000 Wenxian Zhaojiaba–Tianchi 28 8.1 2 28,300 Chengxian Chengxian–Erliangjiang 22.7 11.5 3 68,000 Kangxian Yangba–Ganjiang 33 35.0 1 12,000 Lixian Honghe–Kuanchuan 36 14.5 3 100,000

Total 356.7 226.4 36 918,300 Sources: Project proposals and/or feasibility studies of seven local roads, 2005.

90. The resettlement impact from the local road component is expected to be small. The compensation framework for the local roads will be the same as that for the expressway.

91. Construction of the local roads will increase the amount of through traffic and frequency of contact with local communities. This situation will increase the risk of residents acquiring and

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transmitting sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS.38 An education program for preventing HIV/AIDS will be launched by community governments during the construction and operation of these local roads.

F. Environmental Impacts of Freight and Passenger Centers


a. Construction Period 92. The construction vehicles and equipment will emit nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons, and they also will increase the noise level significantly. Due to the nature of construction activities, dust caused by aggregate preparation, material storage, and from disturbed soil cannot be avoided during site preparation and construction. Air and noise impacts during construction are considered localized, and in general remain within 150–500 m of the construction sites. No sensitive receptors are currently found within 500 meters of Tianshui Freight and Passenger Center and Longnan Freight Terminal. Therefore, the noise impacts will not be significant in these two centers. However, there is a village (Taoshuping) about 50 meters from Lanzhou Freight Terminal and adverse noise impacts on Taoshuping will be expected. These can be managed, however, if the following mitigation measures are properly implemented: (i) an appropriate maintenance schedule for all vehicles, correct engine tuning, and reduced use of diesel-driven equipment; (ii) use of equipment generating low levels of noise; (iii) restricting the operation of machinery generating high levels of noise, such as piling, to between 0600 and 2200 hours, in accordance with PRC regulations (footnote 28); (iv) regularly spraying the site with water (particularly during the dry season), and washing down vehicles as they leave the site; (v) covering construction materials or wetting them during storage; and (vi) sealing surfaces as soon as practical to minimize the dust.

93. In Lanzhou Freight Terminal, wastewater will be generated from workers staying in temporary facilities near the site, as well as from cleaning vehicles and equipment. The amount of wastewater will be quite small. Adequate facilities, such as a sediment tank, will be provided to remove oil and suspended solids before the wastewater is discharged into the urban sewer system through temporary ditches or pipes. In Longnan and Tianshui, no urban sewer system currently exists around the centers, so wastewater will be collected and treated by assembly waste treatment facilities to meet the PRC Class I discharge standard (GB8978-1996).39 After being treated, the effluent in Longnan Freight Terminal can be discharged to the Bailongjiang River, but its reuse for vehicle cleaning, as well as for watering trees and grass will be encouraged. At Tianshui Freight and Passenger Center, no wastewater and effluent will be allowed into the Yinchuan River around the Center, since the river’s water quality is designated as class II.40 Effluent from the treatment facility at the Tianshui Center will be diverted to a retention tank for plant-watering, or diverted to another water drainage system nearby.

94. The design of wastewater treatment facilities will take into consideration the future demand for wastewater treatment during the operation periods, as similar mitigation measures will be used at that time.

38 HIV/AIDS = human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. 39 The Class I Integrated Waste Water Discharge Standard requires COD, oil, and suspended solids less than

100 mg/l, 5 mg/l, and 70 mg/l, respectively, in effluent. 40 The consultant was advised by Tianshui Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau that Yingchuan River is

designated as a Class II river, and, according to the PRC Integrated Waste Water Discharge Standard (GB8976-1996), no wastewater should be discharged into this river.

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b. Operation Period 95. During the operation period, the main impacts will be noise and air pollutant emissions from vehicles passing in and out of the freight and passenger centers and from the equipment for loading and unloading goods. There also will be sewage from staff and wastewater from vehicle cleaning and maintenance.

96. Similar mitigation measures as those proposed for construction to address vehicle and equipment emissions and wastewater will be applied during operation. Once urban sewer systems with an urban treatment plant are completed around Longnan Freight Terminal and Tianshui Freight and Passenger Center, domestic wastewater and pretreated vehicle cleaning wastewater can be directly discharged into the urban sewer system, although reuse of wastewater will be encouraged.

97. In Lanzhou, heat during winter will be supplied by the Lanzhou district heating system, and no emissions will be expected. The Longnan and Tianshui centers will use coal-fired boilers to supply heat. Dust removers will be installed and the emissions will meet the PRC air pollutants emission standard for coal-burning, oil-burning, and gas-fired boilers (GB13271-2001). The use of gas-fired boilers will be encouraged, if possible.

98. Noise impacts are mainly from trucks driving into and out of the centers, as well as from equipment for loading and unloading. Noise intensity levels of these vehicles and equipment may range from 60 dB(A) to 75 dB(A). To meet the PRC’s Class II Standard for Noise at the Boundary of Industrial Enterprises (GB 12348-90), which is 60 dB(A) in daytime and 55 db(A) at night,41 the following mitigation measures are suggested: (i) procuring equipment generating low levels of noise will be given high priority; (ii) noise barriers will be built up at the boundary of Lanzhou Freight Terminal toward Taoshu village; (iii) trees will be planted around the centers; and (iv) vehicle horns will be restricted, especially during the nighttime from 2200 to 600 hours.

2. Ecological Environmental Impacts

99. None of the three transportation centers is located in any ecological sensitive area, and none involves extensive tree felling during construction. Hence, no long-term impact on endangered flora and fauna is anticipated and no significant impact on the ecosystem. Moreover, an adequate afforestation plan will be proposed to increase green spaces. For example, Lanzhou Freight Terminal will increase green spaces in and around the center by 48,924 m2.


100. The current transportation service networks in Lanzhou, Tianshui, and Longnan cannot meet the rapidly increasing demand for goods transportation and trading due to rapid economic development in these municipalities and nearby areas. Development of three transportation centers will (i) improve efficiency of transportation services by providing services for transportation information, express delivery, warehousing, and goods transfer between transportation modes; (ii) provide employment opportunities (e.g., the Lanzhou center will provide approximately 120 jobs and that at Tianshui 86 jobs); and (iii) promote economic development of the Lanzhou, Longnan, and Tianshui municipalities.

41 Class II of GB 12348-90 applies to the boundaries of industrial enterprises located in mixed urban, residential, and

business areas.

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G. Environmental Impacts of Bus Terminals and Stops


101. New construction of township bus terminals and village stops is unlikely to have significant impacts on the environment. Therefore, these terminals and village stops are generally exempted from formal environmental examination and environmental impact assessment under the PRC regulation regarding EIA categories. However, screening, monitoring, and other necessary mechanisms will be put in place to ensure the following:

(i) Environmental sensitivities will be taken into consideration. These include, for example, (a) to avoid or minimize occupation of forestland, fertile agricultural land, high-instability risk spots, and public land; and (b) to avoid being too close to schools and residences.

(ii) Environmentally less damaging methods will be used for construction. These include, for example, use of labor and hand tools instead of heavy machines as much as possible.

(iii) Good management practices, such as control and safe disposal of any excess spoil and reuse of materials as much as possible, will be followed.

102. To ensure adoption of the environmentally sound approach described above for each individual bus terminal and stop, the following institutional arrangement will be needed:

(i) Gansu Provincial Transportation Administrative Bureau (GTAB) will finance local county environmental protection bureaus to examine the plans and visit the locations of individual terminals and stops to ensure that no significant environmental impacts will be expected, and to conduct site supervision and monitoring during construction periods, if necessary. In case environmental protection bureaus lack capacity, individual consultants may be contracted by GTAB to provide the review and supervision.

(ii) Local communities must be consulted, especially with regard to the locations, land acquisition, and resettlement, if any.


103. The construction of 100 township bus terminals and 300 village bus stops is one of the most cost-effective ways to increase opportunities for rural people in hilly and mountain areas to access transportation systems, as well as to provide opportunities to access better economic and social services that are often only available in large towns and county central towns. These better opportunities will help to reduce poverty in these areas. The Project also provides paid employment on construction works and opportunities for local farmers to sell handcrafts and agricultural products around bus terminals and stops while increasing rural people’s environmental awareness and participation in public decision making.

VI. ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT

104. Costs. The construction costs are estimated to be (i) CNY8.2 billion for the expressway, (ii) CNY 226.4 million for the seven local roads, and (iii) CNY 347.9 million for the transportation service centers. Due to the data availability, only the total environmental costs (both capital and recurrent costs) associated with the expressway and local roads are estimated at CNY85.6 million, which include, among others, the costs of (i) preparing the EIA and SEPP; (ii) implementing the EMP; (iii) environmental personnel training, and (iv) environmental

28

supervision and monitoring. Environmental costs have been listed as part of the project costs (see Appendix 2 of this SEIA for more details of environmental costs). Of this total, environmental costs for implementing mitigation measures during the construction period will be around CNY80.1 million (approximately 1% of total investment for the expressway), and recurrent operating-period costs for 20 years will be about CNY5.5 million. Cost estimates for implementing the mitigation measures and the EMP are in Appendix 2.

105. Benefits. Without the Project, the increasing traffic volumes in the corridor will lead to (i) increased traffic congestion, (ii) reduced travel speed, and, most likely, both (iii) higher accident rates, and (iv) comparatively higher energy consumption. These will generate high vehicle operating costs, increased maintenance costs, and higher health costs. Total benefits attributed to the Project include such social benefits as, among others, the promotion of economic development and poverty reduction, as well as environmental benefits from implementing mitigation measures to alleviate adverse environmental impacts. It is difficult to quantify all the environmental benefits attributed to these measures. However, the specific environmental benefits associated with an expenditure of CNY85.6 million for implementing the EMP can be estimated at CNY851.1 million. These benefits are

(i) As measured by market prices, the total economic value of planted and replanted trees and bushes, grassland, and restored arable land is estimated to be CNY639.9 million.42

(ii) Planted and replanted trees, bushes, and grassland will serve functions of conserving water, preventing soil erosion, releasing oxygen, and adsorbing air pollutants. By using shadow project, compensating wage differentials, preventive expenditures, or a replacement cost approach, total ecological benefits of water conservation of afforested land are estimated to be CNY0.12 million, the benefit of soil erosion in terms of fertilizer savings CNY11.3 million, the benefit of oxygen release and removal of air pollutants CYN64.7 million, and the benefit of improving landscape views CNY135.3 million.43

106. Economic Analysis of Environmental Impacts. The construction and operation of the expressway will cause certain environmental damage, such as (i) loss of forest and arable land, (ii) increased impacts from traffic noise, and (iii) soil erosion. The estimated economic loss of such environmental damage is CNY103.3 million.44 Considering the environmental damage (CNY103.3 million) and environmental investment for mitigation measures as environmental costs together, the net environmental benefit will be CNY662.2 million over a 20-year operation period, and so the estimated cost-benefit ratio will be 1:4.5. If nonquantifiable benefits could be added, the benefit-cost ratio would increase considerably.

42 It is assumed that market prices are CNY20 for a tree, CNY10 for a bush, and CNY15 for one square meter of

grassland, and CNY22,500 per ha of arable land based on the market survey conducted for the EIA. 43 Economic benefits of environmental mitigation measures is very roughly estimated and with considerable

uncertainty. The value of lost soil is calculated based on the loss of total soil nutrient elements, including especially phosphorous, nitrogen, and potassium. The fertility of mountain soil along the alignment, as measured by these elements, is assumed to be 0.439 g/kg, 0.02 g/kg, and 5.80 g/kg. The market price for such elements is, respectively, CNY3.0/kg, CNY3.2/kg, and CNY1.1/k. Thus, the cost of soil loss per ton is about CNY7.76/ton. The environmental benefit of oxygen release is estimated based on the oxygen release rate of coniferous tree. It is assumed to be 759.3 m3/ha per year by coniferous tree, and the market price for oxygen is about CNY630. The economic benefit gain of an improved view is assumed to be CNY0.1 for each passenger using the expressway. Health endpoint impacts such as respiratory symptoms or illnesses are estimated to increase yearly by 0.94% for the 4,000 people living along the alignment, and the hospital fee for curing the disease is about CNY2,000 in each case. In addition, lost working days are included in the health cost estimation. For more details, see Chapter 10 of the full EIA.

44 The cost of environmental damage was estimated using the same price units as defined in footnotes 43 and 44.

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VII. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

A. Objectives

107. The objective of establishing an EMP is not only to propose appropriate mitigation measures, but also to recommend establishment of institutions or mechanisms to monitor and ensure compliance with environmental regulations and implementation of the proposed mitigation measures. Such institutions and mechanisms will also seek to ensure continuously improving environmental protection activities during preconstruction, construction, and operation in order to prevent, reduce, or eliminate adverse impacts.

108. An EMP includes (i) objectives; (ii) mitigation measures; (iii) implementation organization and responsibilities; (iv) inspection, monitoring, and reporting; and (v) correction and improvement of mitigation measures. The EMP will be reviewed and updated at the end of the detailed design in order to be consistent with the final detailed design.

B. Mitigation Measures

109. Mitigation measures are defined in the EIA and IEEs and summarized in this document. The SEPP is in Appendix 1 and the EMP in Appendix 3, Tables A3.1–A3.3. The estimated costs and benefits associated with the expressway are in Appendix 2.

C. Implementing Organization and Responsibilities

110. The Expressway. GPCD will be responsible for setting up the environmental management system, consisting of inspection, monitoring, reporting, and initiating corrective actions or measures. In the design stage, GPCD will pass the EMP to the Gansu Provincial Survey and Design Institute (GSDI) for incorporating mitigation measures into the detailed design. GCRC will be contracted by GPCD to implement the Project. The EMP will then be passed to GCRC, which will prepare an EMP execution schedule for the contractors. To ensure that contractors will comply with the EMP’s provisions, the GPCD, and GCRC will prepare and provide the following specification clauses for incorporation into the bidding procedures: (i) a list of environmental items to be budgeted by the bidders in their proposals, (ii) environmental clauses for contract conditions and specifications, and (iii) full EIA and SEIA for compliance. A unit responsible for environmental protection will be established under the Implementing Agency before the construction activities, and a supervision company contracted by GCRC will be responsible for inspection, monitoring, and evaluating implementation of mitigation measures.

111. Environmental training will be essential for contractors to implement the EMP. GCRC will be responsible for organizing the training program, which will cover (i) implementing mitigation measures, (ii) schools near the construction area, and (iii) documentation and reporting. The cost of training is shown in Appendix 2.

112. Local Roads. Longnan Municipal Communication Bureau (LMCB) will be responsible for setting up the environmental management system for local roads, and local county communication bureaus will be assigned as implementing agencies.

113. Freight and Passenger Centers. Gansu provincial administrative bureaus will be responsible for setting up an environmental management system and to assign implementing agencies.

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D. Inspection, Monitoring, and Reporting

114. GCRC will recruit an external supervision company for conducting environmental inspections to ensure that environmental mitigation measures are properly implemented. Inspections or audits will mainly cover construction activities, but these will also review the affected environment. The inspections or audit activities will be conducted every 4 months in the first 2 years of construction and semi-annually thereafter. Inspections or audit activities and observations will generally be well-documented, and the contractors will be informed of the outcomes.

115. Provincial and environmental local authorities will be responsible to undertake regular and random environmental monitoring activities (see Appendix 3 for details) before, during, and after construction, as well as in the event of emergencies.

116. An inspection and monitoring report will be prepared and submitted to implementing agencies, GTAB, GPCD, and GEPB every year during construction. The results of these environmental inspection and monitoring activities will be used for assessing the (i) extent and severity of the environmental impacts against the predicted impacts, (ii) performance or effectiveness of the environmental protection measures or compliance with pertinent rules and regulations, (iii) trends in impacts, (iv) overall effectiveness of the project EMP, and (v) need for taking further mitigation measures.

117. To ensure proper and timely implementation of the EMP and adherence to agreed environmental covenants, GPCD will submit to ADB semiannual reports on environmental performance based on the monitoring and audits. No later than 6 months before completion of the construction work, implementing agencies will collect material from all contractors and submit a construction mitigation completion report to GTAB, GPCD, GEPB, and ADB. The report will indicate the timing, extent, and effectiveness of completed mitigation and of maintenance, as well as point out needs for further mitigation measures and monitoring during operations. Moreover, within 3 months after project completion, or no later than 1 year with SEPA and GEPB permission, environmental acceptance monitoring and audit reports of the project completions will be (i) prepared by a qualified environmental institute in accordance with the PRC regulation on Environmental Check-and-Acceptance of Project Completion (SEPA, 2001); (ii) reviewed for approval by GEPB and SEPA, and (iii) finally reported to ADB.

E. Correction and Improvement of Mitigation Measures

118. Based on the inspection and monitoring reports, GPCD and GEPB will decide whether (i) further mitigation measures are required as corrective action, or (ii) some improvement is required to environmental management practices. If it is found during inspection that there has been substantial deviation from the EMP or changes made to the Project which may cause substantial adverse environmental impacts or increase the number of affected people, then GPCD should consult with ADB immediately and form an EIA team to conduct additional environmental assessment and, if necessary, further public consultation. The revised EIA reports should be submitted to the Ministry of Communications for review and then to SEPA for final approval.

VIII. PUBLIC CONSULATIONS AND DISCLOSURE

119. Various public consultations were conducted in the course of the feasibility study and EIA. During the feasibility study, county and township governments were consulted to assist in route selection, interchange location, and candidates for the local road component. During EIA

31

and PPTA, public consultations with various groups of stakeholders were conducted in the period from 10 August to 12 September 2005 and in November 2005. The main focus of public consultation of EIA and PPTA was to assess the impacts of the expressway on poverty reduction, local economic development, job opportunities, resettlement, and potential environmental impacts. Public consultations include (i) group discussions with villagers and their leaders, (ii) meetings with various government officials, and (iii) an interview survey using questionnaires.

120. Group Discussions during EIA Preparation and Technical Assistance. The intent of the group discussions is to ascertain the major issues concerning villagers and their leaders regarding expressway construction and operation, as well as local roads. In general, villagers or farmers expressed support for the expressway and local roads. Upgrading and construction of the local roads are currently the villagers’ main focal points. Their other major issues of concern are (i) land acquisition and resettlement; (ii) traffic safety, especially for small children and elementary school students; (iii) adequate crossings for pedestrians and agricultural vehicles; and (iv) soil erosion. The issues and information collected at such interviews and meetings will be used for preparing the questionnaires, and these also will be brought to the meetings with various government officials for further discussions during the detailed design period.

121. Meetings with Government Officials. On 25 August 2005, Longnan municipal government organized a meeting with participants from 18 municipal bureaus, including Longnan Municipal Water Resource Bureau, Longnan Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau, and Longnan Municipal Tourism Bureau. The meeting concluded that the Project was necessary and would promote local social and economic development. All the government agencies expressed support for the Project and their intent to cooperate with GPCD in land acquisition, resettlement, etc. In a series of meetings on 7, 8, and 23 January 2005 with local municipal communication bureaus, environmental protection bureaus, urban planning authorities, and land resource bureaus at Longnan, Tianshui, and Lanzhou, the Longnan, Tianshui, and Lanzhou transportation centers were consulted. The participants expressed their strong support for establishing the centers.

122. Interview Survey with Questionnaires. A consultation program involving 176 individuals, especially those who may be subject to land acquisition and resettlement, were conducted using questionnaires during the EIA preparation. This survey focused on public attitudes toward the route selection, land acquisition, resettlement, environmental measures, and regional development. The results of the interview survey are summarized as follows:

(i) Of the people who responded to a questionnaire prepared and distributed by the EPCC, 93.7% indicated support for the Project while 1.1% raised some objection to the Project and the remaining 5.2% were indifferent. Some 91.5% of respondents supported the route selected while 1.1% disagreed and the remainder were indifferent. About 96% thought that the expressway project was necessary to promote local economic development, and the remainder had no opinion on this. Respondents thought that the main adverse environmental impacts would be noise, dust, and vehicle emissions. About 76.1% of the respondents considered that the most effective measure to mitigate these impacts is to green the alignment.

(ii) Of the respondents affected by land occupation, 44.9% agreed that their land could be taken or house removed, if this was necessary. The remaining 55.1% of the respondents agreed subject to conditions that are reasonable.

32

123. The following useful suggestions from public consultations were incorporated into the feasibility study and EMP:

(i) Adequate crossings for pedestrians and underpasses for agricultural vehicles will be constructed to minimize the dangers of crossing the expressway.

(ii) Land acquisition and resettlement was the area where most concerns were expressed, especially by those whose property may be acquired due to the expressway construction. It was found that most of them knew very little or nothing about resettlement or compensation policies and were worried about the transparency and fairness of these policies. GPCD will prepare a resettlement plan (RP) which is in compliance with relevant state and provincial policies. A resettlement office will be set up within GPCD to administer the RP. That office will make the RP open and transparent to all relevant households. The resettlement office will also ensure that compensation is paid on time and in full to the households that will actually be relocated or whose land will be acquired.

(iii) “No Blowing of Horns” signs will be set up near schools to minimize the noise impacts on school activities.

(iv) Soil erosion was one of main public concerns, and the EIA has worked out an SEPP, including a vegetation restoration plan, to prevent soil erosion during the construction and operation of the expressway.

124. The EIA will be made available for public review at the GPCD and GEPB, and also be placed in public libraries before the final approval from SEPA, which is anticipated in June 2006.

125. Public Consultation on Local Roads. Public consultations were conducted by consultants in January 2006 during site visits. The local stakeholders, including farmers, village leaders, and vendors along the roads, were consulted. The main focuses of public consultation were to assess the general attitude towards the upgrading of these roads and major environmental concerns of local affected people. Villagers and village leaders, who were generally positive about upgrading local roads, particularly (i) welcomed the improvement on impassable sections of the local roads, and (ii) believed that better local roads would provide improved public transportation service and more opportunity to access markets and social services. The main environmental concerns about upgrading are noise and dust pollution. Mitigation measures for addressing these concerns were identified in the EMP. Further consultation with local people and government will be conducted before the detailed design.

126. Public Consultation of Transport Centers. Public consultations with various stakeholders were conducted by the consultants in January 2006 during site visits. The stakeholders include such local government agencies as municipal environmental protection bureaus, land resource bureaus, city planning and transportation authorities, as well as transportation companies, and bus and truck drivers. The main focuses of public consultation were to assess general attitudes toward transportation centers and potential environmental impacts. In general, the stakeholders were positive about the transportation centers and believed these would improve efficiency of transportation services, provide employment opportunities, and promote economic development of Lanzhou, Longnan, and Tianshui municipalities. Regarding potential environmental impacts during construction and operation, an officer from Tianshui Environmental Protection Bureau emphasized that the wastewater should be treated and that its reuse should be encouraged. Further public consultation for transport centers will be conducted before the detailed design.

33

IX. CONCLUSIONS

127. The proposed expressway, a section of the Lanzhou–Haikon Expressway is of national significance for implementing the western area development strategy. The Project is expected to (i) improve transport conditions; (ii) facilitate the development of local trade; (iii) develop tourism resources; (iv) strengthen local socioeconomic development; and (v) alleviate poverty, particularly in Longnan Municipality, through capacity building and improvements in infrastructure.

128. During the environmental survey, major environmental issues were identified that include (i) geological risks and soil erosion, (ii) potential impacts on national and provincial levels of nature reserves, and (iii) water and noise impacts. The recommended alignment was selected to avoid unfavorable geological conditions and nature reserve sites in order to prevent or eliminate the geological risks and adverse environmental impacts on three nature reserves. Impacts on the water and acoustic environments were assessed and mitigation measures were recommended. An EMP is proposed, which emphasizes (i) establishing an institutional structure or mechanism for ensuring compliance with environmental regulations, (ii) implementing mitigation measures, and (iii) continuously improving environmental performance. Through inspection and monitoring, any neglect of mitigation measures or unexpected and unforeseen impacts will be identified and timely corrective actions taken. Continuous monitoring and inspection will also reduce the risk of unexpected and unforeseen impacts occurring.

129. The overall finding of the IEEs is that the proposed transportation centers and local roads are unlikely to cause any significant adverse environmental impacts, provided that adequate mitigation measures are implemented. The proposed mitigation measures are prescribed conceptually in the IEEs for the local roads and freight centers. These measures will be developed into detailed EMPs for each transportation center and the local roads in the construction phase. EMPs will be implemented by implementing agencies, monitored and supervised by professional environmental supervision specialists and companies, and reported to GTAB, GPCD, and ADB.

130. Any adverse environmental impacts associated with the Project will be prevented, eliminated, or minimized to an acceptable level if the EMPs proposed under the SEIA and IEEs are effectively implemented, particularly the establishment of the mechanism and institutions for the continuous improvement of environmental mitigation measures.

34 Appendix 1

SUMMARY SOIL EROSION PROTECTION PLAN A. Soil Erosion Status: Current and Predication

1. Current Erosion Status. The proposed highway passes through what the Gansu provincial government has declared a key soil erosion prevention area. The project area can be divided according to soil erosion intensities into three sections: (i) Wudu–Dahanmiao, (ii) Dahanmiao–Mayaziliang, and (iii) Mayaziliang–Guanzigou. The average soil erosion moduli are (i) 7,600 t/km2/year (annual tons per square kilometer) in the Wudu–Dahanmiao section, (ii) 3,200 t/km2/year in the Dahanmiao–Mayaziliang section, and (iii) 1,300 t/km2/year in the Mayaziliang–Guanzigou section.

2. Soil Erosion Projection. The total land area affected by the expressway construction is 923.64 ha. During the construction period, average erosion moduli are expected to increase to (i) 16,000 t/km2/year in Wudu–Dahanmiao, (ii) 8,000 t/km2/year in Dahanmiao–Mayaziliang, and (iii) 4,000 t/km2/year in Mayaziliang–Guanzigou. It is estimated that the quantity of soil which could be subject to erosion will be 294,181 t during the 4.25 years of the preconstruction and construction period if no soil erosion prevention measures are taken, of which 128,446 t is newly increased soil loss due to the Project (Table A1).

Table A1: Current Status and Projection of Soil Erosion

Current Status Projections Section

Phase

Period (year)

Erosion Area (ha)

Intensity

(t/km2/year)

Amount Erosion

(t)

Intensity

(t/km2/year)

Amount Erosion

Increased Amount

(t) Preconstruction 0.25 89.2 7,600 1.7 8,500 1.9 0.2 Construction 3.00 275.2 7,600 62.8 16,000 132.1 69.4 Construction 1.00 275.2 7,600 20.9 10,000 27.5 6.6

L–D

Operation 3.00 166.9 7,600 38.1 8,000 40.1 2.0 Subtotals 123.4 201.6 78.2

Preconstruction 0.25 7.9 3,200 0.1 4,000 0.1 0.0 Construction 3.00 75.6 3,200 7.3 8,000 18.1 10.9 Construction 1.00 75.6 3,200 2.4 4,500 3.4 1.0

D–M

Operation 3.00 51.7 3,200 5.0 3,500 5.4 0.5 Subtotals 14.7 27.1 12.4

Preconstruction 0.25 83.6 1,300 0.3 2,000 0.4 0.1 Construction 3.00 354.8 1,300 13.8 4,000 42.6 28.7 Construction 1.00 354.8 1,300 4.6 2,500 8.9 4.3

M–G

Operation 3.00 227.9 1,300 8.9 2,000 13.7 4.8 Subtotals 27.6 65.5 37.9 Total 165.7 294.2 128.4

D–M = Dahanmiao–Mayaziliang, km2 = square kilometers, L–D = Wudu–Dahanmiao, M–G = Mayaziliang– Guanzigou, t = ton. Source: EPC-MOC. 2005. Environmental Impact Assessment Report for Wudu–Guanziguo Expressway. Beijing. B. Targets 3. The soil erosion prevention plan (SEPP) aims to prevent approximately 95% of the affected area and prevent 85%–90% of the potential soil erosion.

Appendix 1 35

C. Mitigation Measures 4. The main mitigation actions will include the introduction of engineering and management measures for subgrades and embankments, bridges, tunnels, disposal sites, borrow sites, and temporary land use areas.

1. Engineering Measures a. Subgrades, Bridges, and Tunnels

(i) Subgrades and side slope of embankments may be protected by (a) the construction of retaining walls, drainage collection ditches along the toe of the banks, side slope drains, sedimentation ponds; (b) temporary protective measures, such as covering with plastic film or biodegradable material; and (c) sowing grass or other forms of permanent vegetation.

(ii) To protect bridge abutments and tunnel portals, surface drainage will be built to divert runoff into sedimentation ponds, together with the incorporation of retaining walls and stone pitching on sloping areas.

(iii) At interchange sites, temporary and permanent methods of slope stabilization will be introduced after grading, together with planting of vegetation that will not impact on safety when planted areas are mature.

b. Borrow Sites and Temporary Land Use Areas 5. For temporary land use areas, including temporary local roads during construction, as well as disposal and borrow sites, topsoil will be stripped and stored for later revegetation before dumping earth and rock. Retaining walls will be constructed to prevent waste from entering downstream areas. Intercepting ditches and chutes will be constructed to prevent outside runoff from entering disposal sites, and runoff from the site will be channelled to a drainage ditch or pond to permit settlement. Before closing disposal sites, these will be covered with stored or additional topsoil and the sites rehabilitated by planting or returning to farmland.

2. Management Measures 6. Management measures will involve

(i) incorporating mitigation measures into the preliminary and detailed design for implementation under the contract;

(ii) preserving existing vegetation where no construction activity is planned, or temporarily preserving vegetation where activity is planned for a later date;

(iii) avoiding borrowing and dumping activities during periods of high rainfall and runoff;

(iv) ensuring that documentation for civil works contracts includes specific requirements for soil erosion prevention and that the responsibilities of a contractor regarding soil erosion prevention are clearly defined;

(v) prohibiting dumping outside designated dumping sites; and (vi) making sure that all drainage systems are well maintained.

36 Appendix 1

D. Implementation 1. Implementation Agency 7. Soil erosion mitigation measures will be implemented by contactors and supervised by a professional company contracted by the Implementing Agency (IA).

2. Training 8. The two main purposes of training are to provide all construction workers with basic knowledge on how to minimize soil erosion in their construction activities and to build capacity of key staff responsible to implement the measures mitigating soil erosion. Training courses will be held before construction starts. The IA will be responsible for organizing the training program, and provincial or local water resource bureaus may be invited to provide these courses.

3. Supervision, Recording, and Reporting 9. A unit for environmental and social safeguard under the IA’s chief construction engineer will carry out daily internal checks on implementing soil erosion mitigation measures. Any noncompliance issues discovered by this internal process shall be reported to the IA’s chief construction engineer and, if necessary, further action will be taken to address any deficiency.

10. Professional and certified erosion prevention supervisors will be recruited by the IA to supervise implementation of the mitigation measures proposed in the SEPP. The supervision can be used as a tool to ensure that all measures will be properly implemented, and any issues or noncompliances discovered by the supervision will be documented. Supplementary mitigation measures to further improve soil erosion prevention with regard to the aforementioned issues will be developed and reported to the IA and local water resource bureaus.

Appendix 2 37

ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS AND BENEFITS

Table A2.1: Environmental Costs during Design and Construction

Measure Detail Unit Cost (CNY)

Total Cost (CNY)

Environmental Plans Mitigation measures, monitoring, supervision program, and training

1,100,000 1,100,000

Planting 61,670 trees, 92,160 bushes, and 198.85 ha of grassland

32,000,000 Greening

Restoration of 34.48 ha of temporarily occupied land

3,450,000

Noise barriers of 16,950 m2 2,000 33,900,000 Noise barriers for 89 houses 10,000 890,000

Noise Suppression

Warning signs such as “No Blowing of Horns”

8,000 8,000

Four silt removal systems for each tunneling operation, total of 252 sets of the system for 63 tunnels

10,000 2,480,000

14 settlement tanks for construction wastewater

3,000 42,000

14 sets of no-water-flushing latrines and septic tanks, and 14 sets of refuse collection bins at construction camps

5,000 per set for toilets and septic tanks, and 3,000

per bin

112,000

3 sets of wastewater treatment facilities at service centers

400,000 1,200,000

Water Pollution Control

19 sets of septic tanks at tollgates and tunnel offices

50,000 950,000

Accident Prevention 1,500 warning signs 2,000 3,000,000 Monitoring during Construction Period

Noise, water, and air monitoring 680,000

Training and Education Training supervision engineers on environmental management and supervision, and training workers on good environmental practice

300,000

Total Environmental Costs 80,112,000 Source: Environmental Protection Center of Ministry of Communications. 2005. Environmental Impact Assessment Report for Wudu–Guanziguo Expressway. Beijing.

Table A2.2: Environmental Costs over the 20-Year Operation Perioda

Measure Detail Unit Cost

(CNY) Total Cost

(CNY) Environmental operation and maintenance 60,000/year for

20 years 1,200,000

Preparation of toxic and hazardous material spill contingency plan

100,000 100,000

Equipment for emergencies and accidents 1,000,000

Environmental Management, Operation, and Maintenance

Further noise mitigation measures, if necessary during operation

1,000,000

Environmental Monitoring

Environmental monitoring during operation 100,000/year for 20 years

2,000,000

Training Personnel training 200,000 Total Environmental Costs 5,500,000

a Environmental costs during operation period are estimated based on discussion with the Environmental Protection Center of Ministry of Communications.

Source: ADB. 2005. Technical Assistance to the People’s Republic of China for Preparing the Western Roads Development Project. Manila.

38 Appendix 2

Table A2.3: Summary of Environmental Costs and Benefits

Item Amount (CNY)

Environmental Costs Environmental costs during design and construction 80,112,000 Environmental recurring costs over the 20-year operation period 5,500,000 Quantifiable Environmental Damages during Construction and Operation Loss of trees, grassland, and arable land 97,809,000 Loss of water conservation functionalities due to lost vegetation 2,000 Increase of soil erosion in terms of lost soil nutrients 4,984,000 Decrease of oxygen release from plants 373,000 Increase of noise impacts on residences and schools 159,000 Quantifiable environmental benefits Economic gain of reclaiming arable land, planting and/or replanting trees,

grassland 639,878,000

Economic gain of water conservation functionalities due to vegetation 118,000 Economic gain from soil erosion prevention in terms of soil nutrients

saved 11,113,000

Increase of oxygen release from plants and removal of air pollutants by plants

64,662,000

Improving views from the expressway 135,333,000 Net Environmental Benefit 662,150,000 Cost-Benefit Ratio 1:4.5 Note: It is assumed that market prices are (i) CNY20 for a tree, (ii) CNY10 for a bush, (iii) CNY15 for one square meter of grassland, and (iv) CNY22,500 per ha of arable land based on the market survey conducted for the environmental impact assessment. The value of lost soil is calculated based on the loss of total soil nutrient elements, including especially phosphorous, nitrogen, and potassium. The fertility of mountain soil along the alignment, as measured by these elements, is assumed to be 0.439 g/kg, 0.02 g/kg, and 5.80 g/kg. The market price for such elements is, respectively, CNY3.0/kg, CNY3.2/kg, and CNY1.1/k. Thus, the cost of soil loss per ton is about CNY7.76/ton. The environmental benefit of oxygen release is estimated based on the oxygen release rate of coniferous tree. It is assumed to be 759.3 m3/ha per year by coniferous tree and the market price for oxygen is about CNY630. The economic benefit gain of an improved view is assumed to be CNY0.1 for each passenger using the expressway. Health endpoint impacts such as respiratory symptoms or illnesses are estimated to increase yearly by 0.94% for the 4,000 people living along the alignment, and the hospital fee for curing the disease is about CNY2,000 in each case. In addition, lost working days are included in the health cost estimation. For more details, see Chapter 10 of the full EIA. Source: Environmental Protection Center of Ministry of Communications. 2005. Environmental Impact Assessment Report for Wudu–Guanziguo Expressway. Beijing.

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

Table A3.1: Environmental Management Action Plan for Expressway A. Environmental Management Action Plan

Responsibility Environmental Impact and/or Issue Mitigation Measures References Location Time frame Implementation Supervision 1. Preconstruction 1.1 Alignment Selection and Design

The recommended alignment is selected from various alternatives so as to minimize geological risks and avoid adverse impacts on the Yuhe, Wenxian, and Baishuijiang natural reserves.

Feasibility study and EIA, SEIA

Throughout the project corridor

Before construction starts

GSDI GPCD

1.2 Environmental Impact Assessment and Feasibility Study 1.2.1 EIA and Public Consultation

(i) Ensure environmental management plan has been prepared.

(ii) Ensure public consultation has been conducted on environmental issues, poverty, and resettlement during the project design and EIA preparation.

EIA, SEIA Throughout the project corridor

Before the EIA approval

EPC-MOC on behalf of GCRC

MOC, SEPA

1.2.2 Soil Erosion Protection Plan (SEPP)

(i) As required by law, ensure an SEPP has been prepared for the Project.

(ii) Ensure mitigation measures specified in SEPP are incorporated into the engineering design.

Legal requirement, SEPP



EPC-MOC on behalf of GCRC

MOC, SEPA

1.2.3 Prime Farmland Protection

(i) Land use plan will be modified and approved before construction starts.

(ii) The same amount of prime farmland will be reclaimed to replace the prime land permanently occupied by the Project, or the compensation fee will be paid for reclaiming, according to PRC regulations.

Legal requirement

Permanently acquired prime farmland within right-of-way

For item (i) before construction starts, for item (ii) during or before construction

IA with assistance from Wudu and Wenxian land and resource bureaus

Ministry of Land Resources, Gansu Provincial Land Resource Bureau

1.3 Design Stage 1.3.1 Updating EMP Mitigation measures defined in EMP will be

updated and incorporated into the Project’s detailed design to minimize adverse environmental impacts.

1.3.2 Loss of Access To avoid loss of access to farmers’ fields, neighbors, and local villages by placement of the alignment, pedestrian underpasses need to be included into the design with exact locations based on discussions with local village committees.

Contract specification

Along the entire alignment

Design stage GSDI, GCRC GPCD

Appendix 3 39

Responsibility Environmental Impact and/or Issue Mitigation Measures References Location Time frame Implementation Supervision 1.4 Construction Preparation 1.4.1 Environmental Clauses and Specifications for Contractor Prequalification, Technical Specifications, Environmental Clauses for Contracts, and Loan Covenants

(i) To ensure environmental credibility among contractors, prepare environmental prequalification clauses and specifications to be included in the prequalification package to contractors.

(ii) Prepare environment section in the terms of reference for bidders.

(iii) Prepare environmental contract clauses for contractors, namely the special conditions, (e.g., reference EMP and monitoring table).

(iv) Prepare covenants for loan agreement as defined in the EMP.

Contract terms and conditions


Before tenders for contractors

GCRC GPCD

1.4.2 Environmental Operation and Supervision Manual

Contractors to prepare an environmental operation and supervision manual, as required by the contract for approval by GCRC.

EIA, SEIA, and terms and conditions for contractors



Contractors GCRD, GPCD

1.4.3 Complaint and Information Office

(i) Establish a complaint and information office before starting the construction.

(ii) Ensure that staff at the office are well trained to handle crisis situations or conflicts with residents due to distress from environmental impacts.

SEIA Throughout the project corridor


Contractors GCRC. GPCD

1.4.4 Environmental Protection Training

Environmental specialists and/or officials from provincial and/or state SEPA will be invited to provide training on implementing environmental mitigation measures and supervising to relevant persons.

Contract terms and conditions, EIA, SEIA Environmental Operation and Supervision Manual


GCRC GPCD

1.4.5 Resumption of Land and Property

(i) Establish a resettlement office comprising local government officials to manage the resettlement process.

(ii) Conduct community consultation programs and ensure information is disseminated about entitlement based on the Land Administration Law.

RP, EIA, and project requirement

The land and property as defined in the RP

Before commencing resettlement activities for (i) and (ii). Before construction starts for (iii).

GCRC GPCD; district, county, and township governments; Gansu provincial government

40 Appendix 3

Responsibility Environmental Impact and/or Issue Mitigation Measures References Location Time frame Implementation Supervision (iii) Ensure that all relocation and resettlement

activities are reasonably completed before construction starts on any section of the project road.

1.4.6 Removal of Trees and Landscaping

Before any groundbreaking, selected contractors must prepare a vegetation replanting layout on a topographic map of site (e.g., detailed design base map) showing replanting area, type of replanting, and maintenance program to be undertaken. Use the SEPP as a guide.

SEPP and legal requirement

Right-of-way, temporary local road, borrow and disposal sites

Before any groundbreaking

Contractors, in consultation with local forestry departments

GCRC, local forestry departments

1.4.7 Cultural Relics Survey

Arrange for preliminary surveys to be conducted by the cultural relic authorities before any construction-related activities are implemented.

SEIA and legal requirements

Project corridor

Before construction

Gansu Provincial Cultural Heritage Research Institute under IA contract

Provincial heritage bureaus, and GPCD

1.4.8 Utility Relocation Relocate all utilities prior to commencement of construction on any section of the project road subject to prior approval of the agencies concerned.

Legal requirement

Refer to utility location drawings


Contractors, GCRC, Wudu District and Wenxian County departments concerned

GPCD, and government agencies concerned

1.4.9 Environmental Screening of New Construction Site Access Road

(i) Each contractor will complete environmental screening of any new access road and provide a list of necessary mitigation measures.

(ii) Prepare a sketch map of all existing roads to be used as access routes to construction sites

Contract specifications

Construction sites, especially access to tunnel portals, bridges, and viaducts

Detailed design stage

Contractors with assistance from GSDI and environmental specialists

GCRC, Wudu and Wenxian EPBs

1.4.10 Environmental Impact Analysis due to Deviation of Alignment

(i) In case of slight deviation of alignment, mitigation measures should be proposed and incorporated into the detailed design drawings by the environmental engineer.

(ii) In case of substantial deviation of alignment that may cause substantial environmental impacts or involve additional affected people, GPCD should form an EIA team to conduct additional environmental assessment and public consultation. Revised EIA reports should be submitted for review to Ministry of Communications and then to SEPA for approval.

SEIA, EIA law Along entire project corridor

When alignment deviation is intended

Environment specialists in cooperation with GSDI, GCRC

MOC, SEPA, ADB

Appendix 3 41

Responsibility Environmental Impact and/or Issue Mitigation Measures References Location Time frame Implementation Supervision

(iii) To determine whether the deviation is slight or substantial, GPCD should consult with ADB.

2. Construction Phase 2.1 Soil 2.1.1 Subgrades, Embankments, Bridges, and Tunnels

(i) Strip and stockpile topsoil in a protected location.

(ii) Build retaining walls where necessary, construct side ditches, side slope ditches, and sedimentation ponds; temporarily cover slopes with plastic films or other biodegradable protective cover.

(iii) Greening and revegetation using topsoil originally removed.

SEPP, SEIA, and relevant legal requirement

Within right-of-way

During construction

Contractors CCE, external supervisors, GCRC, local WRBs

2.1.2 Disposal Sites (i) Strip and stockpile topsoil, build retaining walls where necessary before dumping.

(ii) Construct intercepting ditches and chutes to prevent outside runoff entering disposal sites, and divert runoff from sites to existing drainage system or ponds.

(iii) Rehabilitate the disposal sites into grassland, woodland, or farmland after closing.


All disposal sites

During construction

Contractors CCE, external supervisors, GCRC, and local WRBs

2.1.3 Borrow Areas (i) Strip and stockpile topsoil. (ii) Build interception ditches and chutes to

reduce erosion from borrow pits. (iii) Restore or revegetate the disposal sites

into grassland, woodland or farmland after closing


All borrow sites

During construction


2.1.4 Temporary Land Use Areas

(i) Build drainage systems. (ii) Rehabilitate these sites into grass, wood,

and farmland on completion of activities. (iii) Cover material storage sites to prevent

dust emission and soil erosion.


All temporary land use

During construction


2.1.5 Soil Erosion Management

(i) Incorporate the mitigation measures into the preliminary and detailed design to ensure their implementation.

(ii) Civil works contract documents will include specific requirements on soil erosion prevention.


All project corridor

During construction


42 Appendix 3

42 Appendix 3

Responsibility Environmental Impact and/or Issue Mitigation Measures References Location Time frame Implementation Supervision (ii) Preserve existing vegetation where no

construction activity is planned, or temporarily preserve vegetation where activity is planned for a later date.

(iii) Avoid soil borrowing and dumping activities during heavy storms.

(iv) Maintain all the drainage system properly. (v) (vi) Implement soil erosion monitoring and

supervision plan.

2.2 Water Quality 2.2.1 Protection of Luotanghe and Datuanyuhe Rivers

No wastewater will be permitted to discharge into Luotanghe and Datuanyuhe rivers where water qualities are required to maintain classes I and II of the surface water quality standard

GB3838-2002 Luotanghe and Datuanyehe rivers

During construction

Contractors CCE, GCRC, Wudu and Wenxian EPBs

2.2.2 Impact on Surface and Subsurface Water Flow, Drainage, or Irrigation System

(i) Use bridges and culverts to keep surface water drainage systems and irrigating facilities functioning effectively.

(ii) All necessary measures will be taken to prevent construction activities from impeding cross-drainage at rivers, streams, canals, and existing irrigation drainage systems.

(iii) Temporary irrigation and drainage systems will be built and connected before a permanent drainage system is blocked or removed as part of the construction process.

(iv) If groundwater drainage or an open channel irrigation flow is cut, the flow should be rerouted by piping or leakage repaired immediately by sealing the damaged surface area with concrete to prevent leakage or contamination.

Contract specifications and geological survey

Project corridor

Preconstruc- tion and during construction

Contractors and GSDI

CCE, GCRC, Wudu and Wenxian agricultural bureaus and WRBs

2.2.3 Contamination by Bridge Construction Activities

(i) Cofferdams will be installed to prevent silt arising from pier construction from mixing with the water in the stream or storage.

(ii) Bilgewater from workboats will be collected and taken to approved disposal facilities.

SEIA, and relevant legal requirement

Bridges crossing rivers

During construction

Contractors CCE, GCRC, Wudu and Wenxian EPBs

Appendix 3

43

Responsibility Environmental Impact and/or Issue Mitigation Measures References Location Time frame Implementation Supervision (iii) Washing of watercrafts will be not

permitted in classes I and II protected drinking water areas of Xiongdi River.

2.2.4 Contamination by Construction Camps

(i) The sewage systems for construction camps will be properly designed, built, and operated so as not to pollute ground or adjacent surface water bodies and/or watercourse. Garbage bins will be provided in the camps and regularly emptied, and the garbage disposed will be maintained in hygienic manner and in accordance with local norms.

(ii) Arrangements for the proper disposal of excreta must be made by the contractor.

EIA, SEIA, legal requirements

Project corridor

During construction

Contractors, in cooperation with local communities

CCE, GCRC, Wudu and Wenxian EPBs

2.2.5 Vehicle and Equipment Maintenance and Cleaning

(i) The on-site fueling area should be selected away from water bodies, and should be protected by a berm or dike to prevent runoff from leaving the fueling area. The on-site fueling facilities should only be used for equipment that must be fueled on site, and all vehicles and equipment that regularly enter and leave the construction site should be fueled off-site.

(ii) The vehicle and/or equipment wash area must be properly identified by signs and located away from drainage facilities and watercourses. It must be paved with concrete or asphalt and have a berm to contain runoff. It must be equipped with a septic tank to collect and dispose of wash water. All vehicles and equipment that regularly enter and leave the construction site must be cleaned off-site.

(iii) There are two categories of wastewater resulting from the use of watercraft for bridge construction, one is from cleaning and washing the vessels and the other is disposal of bilge water. The amount of bilge water is likely to be very small, but will contain a lot of pollutants such as lubricating oil, petroleum, etc. This wastewater can be taken to and treated by


All project corridor

During construction

Contractors CCE, external supervisors on behalf of GCRC, and Wudu and Wenxian EPBs

44 Appendix 3


appropriate treatment facilities. The wastewater from washing watercraft will contain silts and smaller quantities of oil. This wastewater should be settled before being discharged into rivers.

(iv) A construction materials handling protocol (e.g., storage away from watercourses and provision of retention areas to contain accidental spills of such toxic, hazardous, and harmful construction materials as caustic and acidic substances, oil and petroleum products, and asphalt materials) will be prepared and applied.

2.2.6 Impacts on Ground Water Flow and Supply

Any loss of potable drinking water sources to nearby villages will be replaced by other sources or emergency water supply will be provided before the replacement.

SEIA Project corridor

During construction

GCRC IA, Wudu and Wenxian WRBs

2.3 Air Quality 2.3.1 Generation of Dust (i) Vehicles delivering granular and/or fine

materials to the sites must be covered. (ii) Materials storage sites must be 300 m from

residential areas and covered with canvas or sprayed with water.

(iii) Water will be sprayed on construction sites, and access roads twice a day.

(iv) All roads and pavements used by vehicles of the contractors or any subcontractor or supplier will be kept clean and clear of all dust, mud, or extraneous materials dropped by their construction vehicles. Such cleaning must be completed on a regular basis.


Project corridor

During construction

Contractors CCE, external supervisors, on behalf of GCRC, and Wudu and Wenxian EPBs

2.3.2 Emissions from Vehicles and Equipment

(i) Vehicle emissions must be in compliance with PRC-GB18352-2005, GB17691-2005, GB 11340-2005, GB3847-2005, and GB18285-2005.


Project corridor

During construction

Contractors GEPB

(iii) Equipment and machinery emissions must be in compliance with PRC-GB16297-1996.

(iii) A regular inspection and certification system must be initiated.

Appendix 3 45

Responsibility Environmental Impact and/or Issue Mitigation Measures References Location Time frame Implementation Supervision 2.4 Noise 2.4.1 Noise from Vehicles, Plant, and Equipment

(i) Noise levels from equipment and machinery must strictly conform to PRC-GB 12523-90.

(ii) At construction sites within 300 m of the nearest habitation, noisy construction work will be stopped between 2200 and 0600 hours


Project corridor

During construction

Contractors CCE, external supervisors, Wudu and Wenxian EPBs

2.4.2 Noise from Blasting Operation

(i) Blasting will be carried out only with permission of the CCE of IA, using a preestablished schedule and approval process.

(ii) Blasting mats will be used to reduce noise levels and flying debris when blasting.


Project corridor

During construction

Contractors CCE, external supervisors on behalf of GCRC, and Wudu and Wenxian EPBs

2.4.3 Noise Prevention Measures

(i) Noise attenuation structures will be designed and placed for specific operations.


Project corridor

During construction

Contractors CCE, external supervisors, and Wudu and Wenxian EPBs

2.5 Impact on Flora and Fauna 2.5.1 Loss of or Damage to Flora and Fauna

(i) All works will be carried out in such a fashion that damage or disruption to flora and fauna is minimized.

(ii) Construction workers will be instructed to protect natural resources, fauna, and flora; harvesting of wild food will not be permitted unless authorized by CCE.

(iii) A revegetation plan will be implemented (see soil erosion protection).

EIA, SEIA, SEPP, and legal requirements

Project corridor

During construction

Contractors External supervisors, and Wudu and Wenxian EPBs

2.5.2 Protection of Natural Reserves

(i) No construction camps will be set up in the experimental area.

(ii) No quarrying, cutting, and blasting activities will be undertaken in experimental area or near experimental area.

(iii) No transportation or construction equipment will be allowed into the experimental area.

SEIA, legal requirement

Yuhe, Bailong, and Baishui Natural Reserves

During construction

Contractors CCE; Yuhe, Bailong and Baishui Natural Reserves offices; Wudu and Wenxian

46 Appendix 3

Responsibility Environmental Impact and/or Issue Mitigation Measures References Location Time frame Implementation Supervision (iv) An education program for protecting natural

reserves will be given to workers hired for work in the segment near the natural reserves. Fines, according to the PRC legislation, will be imposed for hunting, harvesting wild food, and cutting of trees for fuels. Wandering into buffer zones and core areas shall be forbidden without the permit from local natural reserve management authorities.

Forestry Bureaus; Wudu and Wenxian EPBs

2.6 Impacts on Cultural Heritage Sites 2.6.1 Cultural Heritage (i) Ensure that site clearing, excavations, and

other earthworks are closely monitored by local cultural bureaus.

(ii) If an important site is unearthed, work should be stopped immediately and the matter promptly referred to the provincial and state level agencies for evaluation and decision on appropriate actions.

SEIA and legal requirements

Project corridor

During construction

Wudu and Wenxian cultural heritage bureaus

Provincial heritage bureaus, and GPCD

2.7 Health and Safety Aspects 2.7.1 Loss of Access At all times during construction, the contractor

will provide safe and convenient passages for vehicles, pedestrians, and livestock to and from side roads

EIA, RP Project corridor and nearby area

During construction

Contractors with assistance from GSDI and GCRC

GPCD

2.7.2 Health Aspects such as Illness of Workers, Spread of HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases

(i) A prevention and/or education program related to HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases will be implemented concurrently with the project implementation.

(ii) Construction sites will have health clinics

Social poverty analysis

Work camps and neighboring villages

During construction

GCRC in cooperation with local health authorities

GPCD, and Wudu and Wenxian health authorities

2.8 Environmental Supervision 2.8.1 Environmental Supervision and Monitoring

(i) IA will set up a unit for environmental and social safeguard for internal supervision of implementation of the mitigation measures.

(ii) IA will contract with a professional environmental supervision company to supervise the environmental practices externally during the construction.

EIA, SEIA, SEPP, and legal requirements

Project corridor

During construction

IA GPCD, GEPB, Wudu and Wenxian EPBs, Wudu and Wenxian WRBs

Appendix 3 47

Responsibility Environmental Impact and/or Issue Mitigation Measures References Location Time frame Implementation Supervision (iii) GPCD, GEPB, local EPBs, and local WRBs

will also inspect implementation of mitigation measures.

(iv) The environmental monitoring program will be implemented according to the monitoring program specified in the EIA and SEIA.

(v) A monitoring and inspection report will be sent to GPCD and GEPB to assess the needs for further mitigation measures.

3. Operation Phases 3.1 Project Environmental Acceptance Audit

IA will contract a licensed environmental consulting and/or monitoring institute to prepare environmental survey and monitoring report for project acceptance within first 3 months of operation or no later than 1 year with permission from SEPA and GEPB.

Legal requirement

The expressway, local roads and transportation center

Within first 3 months of operation or no later than 1 year with permission from SEPA and GEPB

Licensed institutes contracted by GCRC

GEPB/SEPB

3.2 Atmospheric Pollution from Vehicles

(i) Vehicle inspection and testing stations will be established.

(ii) The use of compressed natural gas will be encouraged and filling stations established.

(iii) Inspection and maintenance programs will be expanded.

(iv) Intensive training programs for capacity building focusing on emission testing, data analysis, and reporting should be implemented.

(v) An annual air quality monitoring program should be introduced.

(vi) Media, nongovernment organizations, and community involvement encouraged.

EIA, SEIA, and legal requirements

Gansu province

Operation period

GEPB Gansu provincial government, nongovernment organizations

3.3 Noise Pollution (i) Ambient noise monitoring, including of the predicted exceedance sites, twice yearly for 2 days each time, will be required to determine whether any additional mitigation measures or compensation will be required in the future, and mitigation measures shall be implemented if any significant exceedance of PRC standard or regulations.

EIA, SEIA, and legal requirements

Affected houses

Construction and operation period

Environmental monitoring institutions contracted by GCRC

Wudu and Wenxian EPBs

48 Appendix 3


(ii) Options include to construct noise barriers and other forms of screening, such as building berms or relocating the facility. Affected people will be given the choice of either relocation or barriers.

(iii) Restrict new dwellings of any kind from locating within a 100 m band on either side of the highway.

(iv) Plant varieties of tree and shrub species as soon as possible after the construction has finished in any construction working zone and within the 50 m wide right-of-way, such that by July 2011, or earlier, a fully developed tree and/or shrub barrier is growing.

(v) “No Blowing of Horns” signs will be set up on road sections near schools.

3.4 Transportation of Hazardous Goods

A spill contingency plan, including acting agency, emergency response, monitoring, reporting, etc. is proposed.

EIA, SEIA Project corridor

During operation

GCRC in consultation with traffic authorities

Traffic authorities

3.5 Monitoring and Inspection

(i) Environmental monitoring program, including soil erosion monitoring, will be implemented according to the monitoring program specified in EIA and SEIA.

(ii) Monitoring and inspection report will be sent to GPCD, GEPB, and GWRB to assess the needs of further mitigation measures

EIA, SEIA, SEPP

Project corridor

During construction and operation

CCE, GCRC, contracted supervisors, monitoring institutes

GPCD, GEPB, GWRB

CCE = chief construction engineer, EIA = environmental impact assessment, EPB = environmental protection bureau, EPC-MOC = Environmental Protection Center of Ministry of Communications, GEPB = Gansu Environmental Protection Bureau, GPCD = Gansu Provincial Communication Department, GSDI = Gansu Provincial Survey and Design Institute, IA = implementing agency, GWRB = Gansu Water Resource Bureau, RP = resettlement plan, SEIA = summary environmental impact assessment, SEPP = soil erosion protection plan, SEPA = State Environmental Protection Administration, WRB = water resource bureau. Source: ADB. 2005. Technical Assistance to the People’s Republic of China for Preparing the Western Roads Development Project. Manila.

Appendix 3 49

B. Environmental Supervision and Monitoring Program Environmental Management Plan Ref. No Monitoring and Supervision Details Timing Executing Unit

Reporting Responsibility

1. Preconstruction 1.1 Alignment Selection and Design

Confirm that unfavorable geological sites and environmentally sensitive sites are avoided and mitigation measures are incorporated into the design.


GSDI GPCD

1.2.1 EIA and Public Consultation

Confirm public consultation has been conducted after Draft EIA and before the final approval.

Before EIA approval GCRC GPCD, SEPA

1.2.2 Soil Erosion Prevention Plan (SEPP)

Confirm that the erosion prevention plan has been updated according to the detailed design.

Before construction Specialists on behalf of GCRC

GSDI

1.2.3 Prime Farmland Confirm the land use plan has been modified and approved.

Before construction Wudu and Wenxian land and resource bureaus

Gansu Provincial Land and Resource Bureau

1.3 Loss of Access Review drawings of underpasses and overpasses. Detail design GCRC GSDI 1.4.1 Environmental Clauses and Specifications for Contractors, and Environmental Clauses in Contracts and Loan Covenant

Confirm clauses and specifications have been drawn up and reviewed by environmental specialists and lawyers.

Bidding document preparation

GCRC with assistance from, GSDI, environmental specialists and lawyers

GPCD

1.4.2 Environmental Operation and Supervision Manual

Manuals are prepared and reviewed. Before groundbreaking

Environmental specialists on behalf of GCRC

GPCD


Confirm that office has been established with qualified staff.

Before groundbreaking

GCRC GPCD

1.4.4 Environmental Protection Training Program

Confirm that training provided to staff members as designated.

Before construction Environment specialists or institutes on the behalf of GCRC

GPCD

1.4.5 Resumption of Land and Property

See resettlement plan (RP).


Confirm that vegetation removal and replanting sketch-plans have been submitted to Local Forestry Department, and permit is received from Wudu District and Wenxian County.

Prior to groundbreaking

GCRC Wudu and Wenxian Forestry Bureau

1.4.7 Utility Relocation See RP. 1.4.8 Cultural Relics Survey Confirm that cultural relics survey has been completed and

copies of the survey report are made available to contractors.

During detailed design stage

Wudu and Wenxian cultural heritage bureaus

Gansu provincial cultural heritage bureaus

50 Appendix 3

Environmental Management Plan Ref. No Monitoring and Supervision Details Timing Executing Unit


1.4.9 Environmental Screening of New Construction Site, Access Road

Review the screening tables and sketch maps of new construction sites and access roads to ensure that environmental impacts and mitigation measures are properly identified.

Prior to groundbreaking


Wudu and Wenxian EPBs

2. Construction 2.1.1-2.1.5 Soil Erosion Inspect whether erosion control measures are in place and

functioning as specified in SEPP. During construction CCE, professional

supervision company contracted by GCRC

Wudu and Wenxian WRBs

2.2.1-2.2.6 Water Quality (i) Inspect whether water quality prevention measures are in place, especially in the areas near the Luotanghe and Datuanyehe rivers.

(ii) Conduct water quality samplings and analysis defined in Table A3.3.

(iii) Determine any future mitigation measures, if necessary.

During construction Professional supervision company contracted by GCRC for item (i), and monitoring institute contracted by GCRC for items (ii) and (iii)

Wudu and Wenxian EPB

2.3.1 Dust Control (i) Inspect if dust suppression (i.e., watering of roads at least twice per day during dry season) and clean up of mud on paved community roads used as access roads are being conducted and are effective at specific point sources.

(ii) Conduct water quality samplings and analysis defined in Table A3.3.


During construction Professional supervision company contracted by GCRC for item (i), and Monitoring institute contracted by GCRC for items (ii) and (iii)


2.3.2 Construction Vehicle and Equipment Emission Control

Conduct monthly checks on vehicle emission certification and visual observation on visible smoke from machinery.

Monthly Contractor, working with EPB


2.4.1-2.4.3 Noise Inspect if noise depression measures are implemented as defined in environmental management plan 2.4.1–2.4.3.

During construction Professional supervision company contracted by GCRC


2.5.1-2.5.2 Flora and Fauna Including Three Natural Reserves

Inspect if the mitigation measures are implemented properly as defined in environmental management plan 2.5.1–2.5.2.

During construction Professional supervision company contracted by GCRC working with local forestry bureaus

GCRC, Wudu and Wenxian forestry bureaus

2.6.1 Cultural Relics Confirm the preliminary survey has been conducted. Prior to construction Local Cultural Heritage Bureau

GPCD and Provincial Cultural Heritage Bureau

Appendix 3 51



2.7.1 Loss of Access (i) Ensure provision of safe and convenient temporary passages for vehicles, pedestrians, and livestock to access property during construction periods.

(ii) Ensure that overpasses and underpasses are built along alignment as defined in detailed design.

During construction Contactors GCRC and local communities

3. Operation 3.1 Project Environmental Acceptance Audit

(iii) Ensure that environmental survey and/or monitoring reports for project acceptance have been prepared and sent to GEPB and SEPA for approval.

(iv) Ensure that the Project’s environmental acceptance by GEPB and SEPA. If not, mitigation measures will be taken.

Within first 3 months of operation, or no later than 1 year with permission from GEPB/SEPB

GCRC GPCD, GEPB/SEPA

3.2 Vehicle Emission Control Vehicles are subject to inspection and maintenance program enforced by GEPB.

Annual check during operation

GEPBs Vehicle Safety and Emission Test Center

GEPB

3.3 Noise Ambient noise monitoring, including the predicted exceedance sites, twice annually for 2 days each time, will be required to determine whether any additional mitigation measures or compensation will be required in the future, and mitigation measures shall be implemented if any significant exceedance of PRC standard or regulations. For more detailed program see Table A3.3.

Twice a year for 2 days during operation period

Environmental monitoring institutes contracted by GCRC

Local EPBs

3.4 Transportation of Hazardous Goods

Confirm that the contingency plan has been worked out. Before operation starts

Traffic authorities, GPCD

Traffic authorities, GPCD

3.5 Sewage Monitor effluent from service center waste treatment facilities as defined in Table A3.3.

Twice annually for 1 day of sampling

Environmental monitoring institutes contracted by GCRC

Local EPBs

3.6 Soil Conservation and Vegetation

(i) Inspect quality of preventive works of side slope at cutting and filing site.

(ii) Inspect vegetation survival and coverage rate. (iii) Site survey and/or standard measurement of soil

erosion during rainy season.

Once yearly Supervision company contracted by GCRC

GPCD

CCE= chief construction engineer, EIA = environmental impact assessment, EPB = environmental protection bureau, GEPB = Gansu Provincial Environmental Protection Bureau, GPCD = Gansu Provincial Communication Department, GSDI = Gansu Provincial Survey and Design Institute, IA = implementing agency, RP = resettlement plan, SEPA = State Environmental Protection Administration, SEPP = soil erosion prevention plan, WRB = water resource bureau. Source: ADB. 2005. Technical Assistance to the People’s Republic of China for Preparing the Western Roads Development Project. Manila.

52 Appendix 3

C. Environmental Sampling Program Phase and Environmental Aspect Location Parameters Frequency

Implementing Institutes Review agency

1. Construction Water 100 m downstream of No. 2 bridge of

Bailongjiang River, No. 9 bridge of Luotanghe River, No. 28 bridge of Datuanyuhe River, and No. 16 bridge of Bailongjiang

pH, chemical oxygen demand, suspended solids, grease

One sampling each day for three consecutive days at each location, once a year during low water season

Environmental monitoring stations contracted by GCRC

GPCD, local EPBs

Phase and Environmental Aspect Location Parameters Frequency

Implementing Institutes Review agency

Noise Residences: Houcun, Qiancun, Cuijialiang, Mabacun, Zhaojiaba, Lijiaheba, Maopocun, Pipa, Shuigouzi, Luotang, Xiaoqingya, Muyin, and Niuquanping School: Pipa Primary School

Energy equivalent sound pressure level (Laeq) in dB(A)

Random, but at least four times each year, one day each time

Environmental supervisor, or local monitoring center

GPCD, local EPBs

Air Near mixing plants and/or unpaved roads Total suspended solids Two samplings one day at one location each time, and twice a year


GPCD, local EPBs

2. Operation Water Wastewater treatment facilities at Wudu,

Luotang, and Yujiawan service centers pH, chemical oxygen demand, suspended solids, grease

Two scheduled samplings each year, 1 day each time, and one random sampling a year


GPCD, local EPBs

Noise Residences: Houcun, Hanping, Baojiaba, Chenjiaba, Xiaba, Maopocun, Jigongyang, Xiabali, Yangtuba, and Doujiazhuang School: Maba Primary School

Traffic noise measured by dB(A)

Once yearly, 1 day each time with two samplings during that day


GPCD, local EPBs

dB(A) = A-weighted decibels measured in audible noise bands; EPBs = Longnan, Wudu and Wenxian environmental protection bureaus; GPCD = Gansu Provincial Communications Department; IA = implementing agency; pH = measure of acidity or alkalinity. Source: ADB. 2005. Technical Assistance to the People’s Republic of China for Preparing the Western Roads Development Project. Manila.

Appendix 3

53

Table A3.2: Environmental Management Action Plan for Local Road A. Environmental Management Action Plan

Responsibility Environmental Impact/Issue Mitigation Measures References Location Time frame Implementation Supervision 1. Preconstruction 1.1 Feasibility and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): EIA and Public Consultation

(i) Ensure EIA with environmental management plan for Wudu–Lixian road has been prepared.

(ii) Ensure that public consultation has been conducted on environmental issues, poverty and resettlement during the project design, and environmental impact assessment preparation.

Initial environmental examination (IEE)

Wudu–Lixian road

Before the EIA approval

Implementing agency (IA) for Wudu–Lixian road

LMCB, GPCD

1.2 Detailed Design Stage: Updating Environmental Management Plan (EMP)

At end of detailed design, the EMP will be reviewed and updated so that its content will be consistent with the final detailed design.

IEE All the seven local roads

During final detail design

Environment specialist in cooperation with IAs

Local municipal EPB and LMCB

1.3 Construction Preparation 1.3.1 Land Acquisition and Resettlement

(i) Establish a resettlement office comprising local government officials to manage the resettlement process.

(ii) Conduct community consultation programs and ensure information is disseminated about entitlement based on the Land Administration Law.

(iii) Ensure that all relocation and resettlement activities are reasonably completed before construction starts on any section of the project road.

Resettlement Plan (RP) and project requirement

Land and property as defined in the RP

Before the commencement of resettlement activities for (i) and (ii). Before start of construction for (iii).

GHAB, local county communication bureaus

LMCB, local county governments


(i) Establish a complaint and information office before starting the construction.

(ii) Ensure that staff at that office are well trained to handle crisis situations or conflicts with residents due to distress from environmental impacts.



Contractors GHAB. LMCB

1.3.3 Environmental Protection Training

Environmental specialists and/or officials from GEPB will be invited to provide training on the implementation of environmental mitigation measures and supervision of relevant persons.


All the seven local roads


GHAB GPCD

54 Appendix 3

Responsibility Environmental Impact/Issue Mitigation Measures References Location Time frame Implementation Supervision 1.3.4 Removal of Trees and Landscaping

Before any groundbreaking, selected contractors must prepare a vegetation replanting layout on a topographic map of the site (e.g., detailed design base map) showing replanting area, type of replanting, and maintenance program to be undertaken.

Legal requirement

Right-of-way, temporary local roads, borrow and disposal sites

Before any groundbreaking

Contractors, in consultation with local forestry departments

GHAB, local forestry departments

1.3.5 Destruction of Irrigation Structure from Road Works

(i) Incorporate adequate design of culverts and berms to ensure continued effective operation of irrigation.

(ii) Rehabilitate any affected irrigation structure.

Legal requirement

Right-of-way, temporary local roads

Before and During construction

Design institutes and GHAB

LMCB and local WRBs

2. Construction Phase 2.1 Soil Erosion (i) As much as possible, use spoil from

cutting as fill for subgrades in order to reduce the amount of waste disposal.

(ii) Select borrow and disposal sites from wasteland and at least 500 m from road and 800 m from residential areas.

(iii) Strip and stockpile topsoil, build retaining walls where necessary before dumping.

(iv) Preserve existing vegetation where no construction activity is planned, or temporarily preserve vegetation where activity is planned for a later date.

(v) Construct intercepting ditches and chutes to prevent outside runoff from entering disposal sites or to prevent soil erosion from borrow sites, and divert runoff from sites to existing drainage system or ponds.

(vi) Rehabilitate borrow and disposal sites, temporarily occupied land and local access roads into grassland, woodland, or farmland after finished.

(vii) Apply permanent soil stabilization measures such as vegetation and/or revegetation, or in combination with concrete pavement after construction of slope. Provide chutes and drainage on steep embankments.

IEE, and relevant legal requirement

Wudu–Lixian road, and selected measures if necessary for other local roads

During construction

Contractors External supervisors, GHAB, local WRBs

Appendix 3 55

Responsibility Environmental Impact/Issue Mitigation Measures References Location Time frame Implementation Supervision

(viii) Apply temporary soil stabilization such as covering with plastic film, geotextiles, or similar materials to subgrade slope if permanent protection works cannot be carried out in time during the rainy season.

2.2 Water Pollution (i) Spoil soil will be hauled to disposal sites with retaining walls to prevent water pollution.

(ii) Desilting basins or sediment traps will be constructed in construction sites where runoff can enter receiving waters.

(iii) No-water-flushing latrines will be installed to collect human wastes, and collected wastes will be dried by natural way or composted to be used as fertilizers.

(iv) A construction materials handling protocol (e.g., storage away from watercourses and provision of retention areas to contain accidental spills of such toxic, hazardous, and harmful construction materials as caustic and acidic substances, oil and petroleum products, and asphalt materials) will be prepared and applied.

(v) Waste collection bins (if possible multi-compartment garbage collection bins) will be provided to facilitate the reuse, recycling, and composting of solid waste.

IEE and legal requirements

All the local roads

During construction

Contractors GHAB, local county or municipal EPBs

2.3 Air Pollution (iii) Material storage sites and asphalt plants will be set up more than 300 meters downwind from the nearest settlement or school.

(iv) Construction roads and construction areas will be watered on a set daily schedule (considering weather conditions), using water trucks. In the dry seasons, areas will be watered at least twice a day.

IEE, and legal requirements


During construction


56 Appendix 3

Responsibility Environmental Impact/Issue Mitigation Measures References Location Time frame Implementation Supervision (v) Trucks transporting fine materials,

especially from borrow areas and material storage sites will be covered by canvas to prevent dust emission.

(vi) Vehicles should be properly maintained and pass the annual inspection test supervised by GEPB.

2.4 Noise Pollution (i) Environmentally less damaging construction methods will be encouraged—for example, use of labor and hand tools instead of heavy machines as much as possible—especially in the section following the existing alignment. When heavy equipment is needed, equipment generating low levels of noise should be utilized as a first priority and all the machinery should be properly maintained to minimize the noise level. Noise reduction devices or methods should be applied where piling equipment is operating within 500 meters of such sensitive sites as schools.

(ii) To reduce noise at night, the operation of machinery generating high levels of noise (such as piling) should be restricted to between 0600 and 2200 hours, in accordance with \ PRC regulations (Noise limits for Construction Sites [GB125232-90]). The movement of heavy vehicles along urban and village roads should also be restricted to between 0600 to 2200 hours.

(iii) If there are schools nearby, the construction unit will come to an agreement with schools regarding heavy machinery work to avoid any unnecessary disturbance. If there are construction activities which have to be continued during the day and night, the construction unit will also come to an agreement with residents nearby


All the seven local roads, especially in the new construction of Wudu–Lixian road

During construction


Appendix 3 57

Responsibility Environmental Impact/Issue Mitigation Measures References Location Time frame Implementation Supervision

and may give compensation to those residents most severely affected.

(iv) Blasting will be carried out only with permission of the chief construction engineer, using a preestablished schedule which will also be made known to all the people within 200–500 m of the blasting site in all directions, depending on the total charge used. Blasting mats should be used to reduce flying debris and assist in suppressing noise.

(v) Construction sites near sensitive areas will be monitored both regularly and irregularly by local county environmental authorities or contracted environmental supervisors. If noise standards are exceeded, equipment and construction conditions will be checked and mitigation measures implemented to rectify the situation.

(vi) Suitable measures should be taken to protect workers operating heavy equipment, in accordance with the PRC’s worker health protection law.

(vii) A unit for dealing with complaints from nearby residents will be set up to facilitate communication with residents and to solve any conflicts between the construction unit and nearby residents.

2.5 Loss of or Damage to Flora and Fauna

(i) All works will be carried out in such a fashion that damage or disruption to flora and fauna is minimized.

(ii) A revegetation plan will be implemented (see soil erosion protection).



During construction


2.8.1 Environmental Supervision and Monitoring

(i) IAs will contract with a professional environmental supervision company to supervise environmental practices externally during construction.

IEE, legal requirements


During construction

GHAB Local county and municipal EPBs, local WRBs, LMCB

58 Appendix 3

Responsibility Environmental Impact/Issue Mitigation Measures References Location Time frame Implementation Supervision (ii) Local county and/or municipal EPBs

will also conduct spot checks on the implementation of mitigation measures.

3. Operation Phases 3.1 Monitoring and Inspection

(i) An environmental monitoring program, including soil erosion monitoring, will be implemented.

(ii) A monitoring and inspection report will be sent to local county and/or municipal EPBs, local WRBs, and LMCB to assess needs for further mitigation measures.


During operation

GHAB, contracted supervisors, monitoring institutes

Local EPBs, local GWRB, LMCB

EIA = environmental impact assessment, EPB = environmental protection bureau, IA = implementing agency, IEE = initial environmental examination, GPCD = Gansu Provincial Communications Department, GEPB = Gansu Provincial Environmental Protection Bureau, IA = implementing agency (here refers to county level communication bureaus), LMCB = Longnan Municipal Communication Bureau, PRC = People’s Republic of China, RP = resettlement plan, WRB= water resource bureau. Source: ADB. 2005. Technical Assistance to the People’s Republic of China for Preparing the Western Roads Development Project. Manila. B. Environmental Supervision and Monitoring Program Environmental Management Plan Ref. No Monitoring and Supervision Details Timing Executing Unit


1.Preconstruction 1.1 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Public Consultation

Confirm public consultation has been conducted after draft EIA for Wudu–Lixian road and before the final approval.

Before EIA approval GHAB GEPB, LMCB

1.2 Updating Environmental Management Plan (EMP)

Ensure EMP is updated in accordance with the final detailed design.

Detailed design GHAB Longnan municipal EPB

1.3.1 Land Acquisition and Resettlement

See resettlement plan


Confirm that office has been established with qualified staff.

Before groundbreaking GHAB LMCB

1.3.3 Environmental Protection Training Program

Confirm that training provided to staff members as designated.

Before construction Environment specialists or Institutes on the behalf of GHAB

LMCB


Confirm that vegetation removal and replanting sketch-plans have been submitted to local county forest bureaus, and permit is received from those bureaus.

Prior to groundbreaking GHAB Local county forestry bureaus

1.3.5 Destruction of Irrigation Structure

Review design. Detail design GHAB LMCB, local county WRBs, local forestry bureaus

2. Construction 2.1 Soil Erosion Inspect whether erosion control measures are in place

and functioning as specified in soil erosion protection plan.

During construction Professional supervision company contracted by GHAB

GHAB, local county WRBs

Appendix 3 59



2.2 Water Quality (i) Inspect whether water quality prevention measures are in place.

(ii) Determine any future mitigation measures if necessary.


Local county and/or Longnan municipal EPBs

2.3 Air Quality (i) Inspect if dust suppression (i.e., watering of roads at least twice per day during dry season) and clean up of mud on paved community roads used as access roads are being carried out and are effective at specific point sources.

(ii) Conduct monthly checks on vehicle emission certification and visual observation on visible smoke from machinery.


Longnan municipal EPBs and/or local county EPBs

2.4 Noise Inspect if noise suppression measures are implemented as defined in EMP.


Longnan municipal EPBs and/or local county EPBs

2.5 Flora and Fauna Inspect if the mitigation measures are implemented properly as defined in EMP.

During construction Professional supervision company contracted GHAB

Local county forestry bureaus

3. Operation 3.Monitoring/Inspection (i) Inspect quality of preventive works for soil erosion.

(ii) Inspect vegetation survival and coverage rate. (iii) Environmental monitoring and/or audit for project

completion.

Once yearly Certificated institute Longnan municipal EPB or GEPB

EIA = environmental impact assessment, EMP = environmental management plan, EPB = environmental protection bureau, GEPB = Gansu Provincial Environmental Protection Bureau, IA = implementing agency, LMCB = Longnan Municipal Communication Department, WRB = Water Resource Bureau. Source: ADB. 2005. Technical Assistance to the People’s Republic of China for Preparing the Western Roads Development Project. Manila.

60 Appendix 3

Table A3.3: Environmental Management Action Plan A. Environmental Management Action Plan

Responsibility Environmental Impact and/or Issue

Mitigation Measures References Location Time frame Implementation Supervision

Lanzhou, Longnan, and Tianshui Transportation Centers 1. Preconstruction 1.1 Environmental Impact Assessment Tables (EIAT) and Public Consultation

(i) Ensure EIATs with environmental management plans have been prepared.

(ii) Ensure that public consultation has been conducted during the project design and EIAT preparation.

IEE 300 m from the three centers

Before the EIAT approval

Licensed institute contracted by Gansu Provincial Transport Administration Bureau (GTAB)

LMCBs/LTABand GTAB


At the end of detail design, the EMP will be reviewed and updated so that its content will be consistent with the final detailed design.

IEE 300 meters from the three centers

During final detailed design

Environmental specialists contracted by GTAB

Local municipal EPBs, GTAB

1.3 Environmental Clauses and Specifications for Contractor Prequalification, Technical Specifications, Environmental Clauses for Contracts, and Loan Covenants

(i) To ensure environmental credibility among contractors, prepare environmental prequalification clauses and specifications to be included in the prequalification package to contractors.

(ii) Prepare environment section in the terms of reference for bidders.

(iii) Prepare environmental contract clauses for contractors, namely the special conditions (e.g., reference EMP and monitoring table).

(i) Prepare covenants for loan agreement as defined in the EMP.


300 meter from the three centers

Before tenders for contractors

GTAB LMCBs/LTABand GTAB, GPCD

1.4 Environmental Operation and Supervision Manual

Preparation of an environmental operation and supervision manual by the contractors as required by the contract for approval by IA.

IEE and terms and conditions for contractors

300 meter from the three centers


Contractors IA, LMCB/LTAB, GTAB

2. Construction Phase 2.1 Water Quality 2.1.1 Lanzhou Center Adequate facilities such as sediment tanks will be

provided to remove oil and suspended solids before wastewater is discharged into urban sewer system through temporary ditches or pipes.

IEE, GB3838-2002

Urban sewer system

During construction

Contractors, in consultation with Lanzhou municipal EPB and government

GTAB of Lanzhou center, Lanzhoul municipal EPB

2.1.2.Longnan Center (i) Domestic wastewater from staff and wastewater from vehicle cleaning will be collected and treated by an assembly waste treatment facility.

(ii) The effluent, after being treated to meet PRC Class I of the Integrated Waste Water

IEE, GB3838-2002, GB8978-1996

300 meters from the center

During construction

Contractors, in consultation with Longnan municipal EPB and government

GTAB of Longnan center, Longnan municipal EPB

Appendix 361



Discharge Standard (GB8978-1996), can be discharged to the Bailongjiang River, but its reuse for vehicle cleaning and for tree or grass watering will be encouraged .

(iii) The design of the wastewater treatment facility should take into consideration the future demand for wastewater treatment during the operation period, since similar mitigation measures will be undertaken during operation.

2.1.3 Tianshui Center (i) No wastewater and/or effluent will be allowed to be directly discharged into the Yinchuan River around the Tianshui center.

(ii) Effluent from the treatment facility for Tianshui center will be diverted to a retention tank for plant-watering, or diverted to another water drainage system nearby.

(iii) The design of the wastewater treatment facility should take into consideration the future demand for wastewater treatment during the operation period, since similar mitigation measures will be undertaken during operation.

IEE, GB3838-2002, GB8978-1996

300 meters from the center

During construction

Contractors, in consultation with Tianshui municipal EPB and government

GTAB of Tianshui center, Tianshui municipal EPB

2.2 Air Quality 2.2.1 Construction Vehicles and Equipment

Appropriate maintenance schedules for all vehicles and equipment, correct engine tuning, and a reduction in the usage of diesel-driven equipment will be applied.

IEE 300 meters from the centers

During construction

Contractors GTAB, local municipal EPBs

2.2.2 Tea Boilers (i) Tea boilers procured by the contractor should be equipped with dust removers, and emissions from the boilers should meet the Class II Emission Standard for Air Pollutants for Coal-Burning, Oil-Burning, and Gas-Fired Boilers in phase II regarding small boilers less than 0.7 megawatt (GB13271-2001, SEPA, 2002).

IEE, GB13271-2001

300 meters from the centers

During construction


2.2.3 Dust Control (i) Regularly spray the site with water (particularly during the dry season).

(ii) Wash down vehicles as they leave the site. (iii) Cover the construction materials or wet

them during storage. (iv) Seal surfaces as soon as practical to

minimize the dust.

IEE 300 meters from the centers

During construction


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2.3 Noise Noise from Vehicles, Plant, and Equipment

The following mitigation measures will be applied, particular to the Lanzhou Freight Terminal: (i) Equipment generating low levels of noise

should be utilized as a first priority.



During construction


(ii) Operation of machinery generating high levels of noise, such as piling should be restricted to between 0600 and 2200 hours, in accordance with PRC regulations to reduce noise at night. The movement of heavy vehicles along Taoshu village nearby should also be restricted to between 0600 and 2200 hours.

(iii) Noise levels near Taoshu village will be monitored both regularly and irregularly by local environmental authorities or contracted environmental supervisors. If noise standards are exceeded, equipment and construction conditions will be checked and mitigation measures will be implemented to rectify the situation.

2.4 Impact on Flora and Fauna Vegetation Adequate afforestation plans will be proposed to

increase green spaces. IEE and legal requirements


During construction


2.5 Environmental Supervision 2.8.1 Environmental Supervision and Monitoring

(i) IAs will contract with professional environmental supervision companies to supervise the environmental practices externally during the construction.

(ii) Local municipal EPBs, LMCBs/LTABs will inspect implementation of mitigation measures.

(iii) The environmental monitoring program will be implemented according to the monitoring program specified in IEE.

(iv) A monitoring and/or audit report of environmental acceptance of the project completions will be conducted by qualified institutes and sent to GEPB/local municipal EPBs, GTAB, GPCD, and ADB to assess the needs for further mitigation measures.



During construction

Contractors GTAB, local municipal EPBs, GEPB, GTAB/GPCD, ADB

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3. Operation Phases 3.1 Water

(i) The same mitigation measures proposed for the construction period will be applied during the operation period.

IEE, GB3838-2002, GB8978-1996


During operation

GTAB Local municipal EPB

(ii) After urban sewer systems are completed, domestic wastewater and pretreated vehicle cleaning wastewater can be directly discharged into the urban sewer system, but reuse of wastewater will still be encouraged.

3.2 Atmospheric Pollution from Vehicles

(i) All equipment procured by the freight and passenger centers will meet the national emission standards and will be properly maintained.

(ii) Dust removers will be installed for heating boilers so that emissions meet the Class II Emission Standard for Air Pollutants for Coal-Burning, Oil-Burning and Gas-Fired Boiler in phase II (GB13271-2001, SEPA, 2002).



Operation period

GTAB Local municipal EPBs, Gansu provincial EPB

3.3 Noise Pollution (i) High priority should be given to procuring equipment generating low levels of noise.

(ii) Noise barriers will be built at Lanzhou Freight Terminal’s boundary with Taoshu village.

(iii) Trees will be planted around the centers. (iv) Vehicle horns will be restricted, especially

during the nighttime from 2200 to 0600 hours.



During operation period

GTAB Local municipal EPBs,

4. Bus Terminals and/or Stops 4.1 Screening, Monitoring, and Other Necessary Mechanisms

(i) Environmental sensitivities are taken into consideration, for example (a) to avoid or minimize occupation of forestland, fertile agricultural land, high instability risk spots, and public land; and (b) to avoid being too close to schools and residences.

(ii) Environmentally less damaging methods are to be used for construction (e.g., use of labor and hand tools instead of heavy machines).

IEEs Longnan Municipality

Before and during construction

Town and/or village governments

Local county EPBs, GTAB

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(iii) Good management practices, such as control and safe disposal of any excess spoil and reuse of materials, are to be followed as much as possible.

4.2 Institutional Arrangements

(i) Gansu Provincial Transportation Administrative Bureau (GTAB) will finance county EPBs to examine the plans and visit the locations of individual terminals and/or stops to ensure that no significant environmental impacts will be expected, as well as to conduct site supervision and monitoring during the construction period, if necessary.

(ii) In case of lack of capacity in local county EPBs, individual consultants may be contracted to do the review and supervision by GTAB, if necessary.

(iii) Local communities must be consulted, especially regarding the location, land acquisition, and resettlement, if any.

IEEs Longnan Municipality

Before and during construction

Town and/or village governments

Local county EPBs, GTAB

ADB = Asian Development Bank, EIAT = environmental impact assessment table, EMP = environmental management plan, EPB = environmental protection bureau, GPCD = Gansu Provincial Communication Department, GEPB = Gansu Provincial Environmental Protection Bureau, GTAB = Gansu Provincial Transportation Administrative Bureau, IA = implementing agency, IEE = initial environmental examination, LMCB = local municipal communication bureau, LTAB = local municipal transportation administrative bureau, SEPA = State Environmental Protection Administration. Source: ADB. 2005. Technical Assistance to the People’s Republic of China for Preparing the Western Roads Development Project. Manila.

B. Environmental Supervision and Monitoring Program Environmental Management Plan Ref. No

Monitoring and Supervision Details Timing Executing Unit Reporting Responsibility

Three Centers 1. Preconstruction 1.1 Environmental Impact Assessment Table (EIAT) and Public Consultation

Confirm public consultation has been conducted during EIAT preparation.

Before EIAT approval Implementing agencies (GTAB)

GEPB, local municipal EPBs, GTAB


Ensure EMP is updated during final design stage. During final design stage

GTAB GTAB

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Environmental Management Plan Ref. No


1.3 Environmental Clauses and Specifications for Contractors and Environmental Clauses in Contracts and Loan Covenant

Confirm the clauses and specifications have been drawn up and reviewed by environmental specialists and lawyers.

Bidding document preparation

IAs with assistance from GTAB and local county EPBs, and environment specialists

LMCBs/LTAB

1.4 Environmental Operation and Supervision Manual

Ensure that manuals are prepared and reviewed. Before groundbreaking

Environment specialists on the behalf of IAs

GPCD/GTAB

2. Construction 2.1.1-2.1.3 Water Quality (i) Inspect whether water quality prevention

measures are in place. (ii) Conduct water quality samplings and

analysis defined in Table A2. (iii) Determine any future mitigation measures,

if necessary.

During construction Professional supervision company contracted by GTAB for item (i), and monitoring institutes contracted by GTAB for items (ii) and (iii)

Local municipal EPBs

2.2.1-2.2.3 Air Pollution Control

(i) Inspect if dust suppression (i.e., watering sites and washing vehicle leaving sites) is carried out.

(ii) Conduct checks on vehicle emission certification once a year and visual observation on visible smoke from machinery and tea boilers each quarter.


During construction Professional supervision company contracted by GTAB


2.3 Noise Inspect if noise suppression measures are implemented as defined in EMP 2.3.

During construction Professional supervision company contracted by GTAB


2.4 Flora and Fauna Inspect if the mitigation measures are implemented properly as defined in EMP 2.5.1-2.5.2.

During construction GTAB forestry bureaus Local county forestry bureaus

3. Operation 3.1 Sewage Monitor effluent from waste treatment facilities as

defined in Table A3. Twice for 1 day sampling a year

Environmental monitoring institutes contracted by IAs

Local EPBs

3.1 Vehicle Emission Control Vehicles are subject to inspection and maintenance program enforced by GEPB

Annual check during operation

GEPB’s Vehicle Safety and Emission Test Center

GEPB

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Environmental Management Plan Ref. No


3.2 Noise Ambient noise levels on sites, including Taoshu village near Lanzhou Freight Terminal, will be monitored every quarter to determine whether any additional mitigation measures or compensation will be required in the future.

every quarter during operation period

Environmental monitoring institutes contracted by IAs

Local county EPBs

EIAT = environmental impact assessment table, EMP = environmental management plan, EPB = Environmental Protection Bureau, GPCD = Gansu Provincial Communication Department, GEPB = Gansu Provincial Environmental Protection Bureau, GTAB = Gansu Provincial Transportation Administrative Bureau, IA = implementing agency, LMCB = local municipal communication bureau, LTAB = local municipal transportation administrative bureau. Source: ADB. 2005. Technical Assistance to the People’s Republic of China for Preparing the Western Roads Development Project. Manila.

C. Environmental Sampling Program Phase and Environmental Aspect

Location Parameters Frequency Implementing Institutes

Review Agency

1. Construction Water Wastewater treatment facilities at

Lanzhou, Longnan, and Tianshui centers


Two scheduled samplings each year, 1 day each time, and one random sampling a year

Environmental monitoring stations contracted by IAs

Local municipal and/or county EPBs

Noise Taoshu village near Lanzhou Freight Terminal

dB(A) Random, but at least four times each year, one day each time


Lanzhou municipal EPB

2. Operation Water Wastewater Treatment Facilities at

Lanzhou, Longnan, and Tianshui centers


Two scheduled samplings each year, 1 day each time, and once random sampling a year

Environmental monitoring stations contracted by IAs

Local municipal and/or county EPBs

Noise Taoshu village near Lanzhou Freight Terminal

Energy equivalent sound pressure level (Laeq) in dB(A)

Random, but at least four times each year, one day each time


Lanzhou municipal EPB

dB(A) = decibels measured in audible noise bands, EPB = environmental protection bureau (in this case for Longnan, Lanzhou, and Tianshui municipalities), IA = implementing agency (in this case for Lanzhou, Longnan, and Tianshui centers), pH = a measure of acidity and/or alkalinity. Source: ADB. 2005. Technical Assistance to the People’s Republic of China for Preparing the Western Roads Development Project. Manila.

Appendix 3 67

Documents

Environmental Assessment Report - Asian Development … · Environmental Costs and Benefits 37 3. Environmental Management Plan 39 ... Wudu District of Longnan prefecture (K433+200