China - East China (Jiangsu) 500kV Transmission Project - environment assessment (Vol. 1 of 2)

'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~5- KM __\ Golder Associates Inc. 200 Union Boulevard. Suite 500 . Go1der Lakewood, CO USA 80228 Telephone (303) 980-0540 so Fox (303) 985-2080 E-231 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR EAST CHINA (JIANGSIJ) 500 kV TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT Prepared for: East China Electric Power Group Corp. 201 Nanjing Road (E.) Shanghai 200002 Peoples Republic of China Prepared by: In Association with: Golder Associates Inc. Nanjing Environmental Protection Research 200 Union Blvd., Suite 500 Institute, Ministry of Electric Power Lakewood, Colorado 80228 10 Pudong Road Pukou, Nanjing Peoples Republic of China Distribution: / 3 copies - East China Electric Power Group Corp. 3 copies - World Bank 1 copy - Jeanne Maltby 3 copies - Golder Associates Inc. May 18, 1998 973-2290.004 n'CIPCC iM1 Al MTOPI IA C'ANIArIA C-rDlAAtAIV Ul IKI(2AfV ITAIV CAA/tIr-IN I IMITEI- VIlr\1-1A I IkIIlTEn CTATr  May 1998 -i- 973-2290.004 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................. ES-1 1.0 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND ..................................................... 1 1.1 Environmental Scope, Methodology, and Approach ................................... 2 1.2 Environm ental Legislation, Regulations, and CGuidelines ............................. 4 1.2.1 Chinese Legal and Regulatory Framework .................... ................. 4 1.2.1.1 Governm ent of PRC ..................................................... 6 1.2.1.2 Jiangsu Province ......................................................... 7 1.2.1.3 Nanjing Municipality ................................................. 8 1.2.1.4 Shanghai Municipality .................................................. 9 1.2.2 World Bank Environmental Requirements . .. 10 2.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION . . ........................................................ 14 2.1 Project Justification .......................................................... 14 2.2 Transmission Line Route and Substation Sites . ....................................... 15 2.2.1 Rural Component ...................................... 16 2.2.1.1 Transmission Line Segments ......................... ............... 17 2.2.1.2 Substation Construction and Expansion ........... ................ 17 2.2.2 Urban Component .......................................................... 18 3.0 DESCRIPTION OF AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT .... 19 3.1 Rural Environment .......................................................... 19 3.1.1 Physical Environment ......................... ........................ 20 3.1.2 Ecological Environment .......................................................... 20 3.1.2.1 Flora .............................. ............................ 22 3.1.2.2 Fauna .................................................................... 22 3.1.2.3 Wetlands as a Generic Form of Wildiand ......... ................ 22 3.1.2.4 Threatened and Endangered Species ........... .................... 32 3.1.2.5 Biodiversity ........................................................... 32 3.1.3 Social, Cultural, and Institutional Environment . . 33 3.1.3.1 Population and Economics ................... ........................ 33 3.1.3.2 Land Use . ......................................................... 34 3.1.3.3 Proximity to Roads, Railways, and Airports ........ ............. 34 3.1.3.4 Proximity to Schools, Hospitals, and Other Sensitive Receptors ........................................................... 35 3.1.3.5 Archaeological and Cultural Resources ............................ 35 3.2 Urban Environm ent ........................................................... 36 3.2.1 Physical Environment .......................................................... 36 3.2.2 Ecological Environment .......................................................... 37 3.2.3 Social, Cultural, and Institutional Environment . . 37 3.2.3.1 Population and Economics ................... ........................ 37 1:\97\2290\229%CHNA.FNL Golder Associates  May 1998 -ii- 973-2290.004 3.2.3.2 Land Use ............................................... 38 3.2.3.3 Proximity to Roads, Railways, and Airports ......... ............ 38 3.2.3.4 Proximity to Schools, Hospitals, and Other Sensitive Receptors ............................................... 38 3.2.3.5 Archaeological and Cultural Resources ............................ 39 4.0 TRANSMISSION LINE AND SUBSTATION IMPACTS ............. ................... 40 4.1 Phvsical Environment ............................................................. 40 4.1.1 Impacts from Noise and Electromagnetism ................................... 40 4.1.1.1 Construction Phase .................................... ................ 40 4.1.1.2 Operational Impacts ................................................... 41 4.1.2 Impacts to Water Resources . .................................................... 47 4.2 Ecological Impacts ............................................................ 49 4.2.1 Vegetation Removal and Loss Of Wildlife Habitat . . 49 4.2.2 Impacts to Wetlands ............................................................ 50 4.2.3 Impacts to Biodiversity, Wildlife, and Endangered Species ............... 51 4.2.4 Impacts on Fauna ............................................................ 52 4.3 Socio-economic Impacts ......................................................... ... 54 4.3.1 Land Use ............................................................ 54 4.3.2 Proximity to Schools, Hospitals, and Residential Areas ...... ............. 55 4.3.3 Transportation ........................................ 55 4.3.4 Proximity to Airports ............................................................. 56 4.3.5 Effects On Agriculture ........................................................... 56 4.3.6 Impacts to Archaeological Resources .......................................... 57 4.3.7 Aesthetic Impacts ............................................................ 58 4.3.8 Impacts from Imported Labor ................................................... 59 4.3.9 Impacts To Local Economic Conditions ............. ......................... 59 5.0 ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES ........................................................... 61 5.1 No Action ........................................................... 61 5.2 Alternative Transmission Line Routes and Substation Sites ....................... 62 6.0 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN . . ........................................... 63 6.1 Required Mitigation .............................................................. 63 6.1.1 Mitigating Construction-related Impacts ...................................... 63 6.1.1.1 Road and Pad Construction .......................................... 63 6.1.1.2 Right-of-Way Clearing and Line Construction ....... ............ 64 6.1.1.3 Transmission Line Routing Through Population Centers ...... 65 6.1.1.4 Noise and Dust Impacts .................... .......................... 65 6.1.1.5 Traffic and Transportation Crossings .......... .................... 66 6.1.1.6 Loss of Agricultural Lands ................ .......................... 66 6.1.1.7 Archeological Resources ................... .......................... 66 6.1.2 Mitigating Operational Impacts ................................................. 67 6.1.2.1 Maintenance ............................................................ 67 6.1.2.2 Multiple Uses .......................................................... 67 1:\97\2290\2290CHNA.FNL Golder Associates  May 1998 -iii- 973-2290.004 6.1.2.3 Impacts to Wildlife ................................................... 67 6.1.2.4 Traffic .......................................................... 69 6.1.2.5 Infrastructure .......................................................... 69 6.1.2.6 Agricultural Lands .................................................... 69 6.2 Resettlement ........................................................... 70 6.3 Monitoring and Training .......................................................... 73 6.3.1 Proposed Monitoring ................... 73 6.3.1.1 Monitoring Potential Environmental Impacts ..................... 73 6.3.1.2 Monitoring and Supervision Associated with Resettlement ..... 74 6.3.2 Training .................................................................... 75 6.3.2.1 Training Required for Environmental Management ............. 75 6.3.2.2 Training Associated with Resettlement ............................ 75 6.4 Occupational Health and Safety . . ...................................................... 76 7.0 REFERENCES .............................................................. 77 LIST OF TABLES Table 2-1 500 kV Transmission Lines List Table 2-2 500 kV Power Substations List (Not Including Nanjing Urban Substations) Table 3-1 Proximity of Waterbodies in the Project Region to the East China/Jiangsu 500 kV Power Transmission Project Table 3-2 Wintering Avifauna in IUCN Red List for China That Have Been Observed at Yancheng Marshes Table 3-3 Faunal Species Included in IUCN Red List for China That Breed in Yancheng Marshes Table 3-4 Flora Associated with Wetlands Located in the Project Region Table 3-5 Fauna Associated with Wetlands Located Near the Project Area Table 3-6 Summary of National Economic Indexes (1995) Table 3-7 Intersection of Power Transmission Lines with Traffic Table 3-8 Area and Population of Nanjing Table 3-9 1996 Whole Municipality Cultural, Medical, and Sports Facilities Table 4-1 Construction Machine Noise Source Levels Table 4-2 Representative EMF Levels for 500 kV Transmission Lines Table 4-3 Transmission Line EMF Standards and Guidelines in the United States Table 4-4 Recorded and Predicted Audible Noise Levels Under Existing 500 kV Transmission Lines Table 6-1 Environmental Mitigation Measures and Costs For Transmission Lines Table 6-2 Environmental Mitigation Measures and Costs for Substations Table 6-3 Summary of Suggested Practices for Transmission Line Modification or Raptor-Safe Construction Table 6-4 Environmental Monitoring For Transmission Lines Table 6-5 Environmental Monitoring For Substations 1:\97\2290\229DCI NA.FNL Golder Associates  May 1998 -iv- 973-2290.004 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1-1 Project Region and Figure Reference Map Figure 2-1 Rural Component of Project Figure 2-2 The Route of the Second Circuit of Renzhuang-Huaiyin Line(a) Figure 2-3 The Route of the Second Circuit of Renzhuang-Huaiyin Line(b) Figure 2-4 The Route of the Second Circuit of Renzhuang-Huaiyin Line(c) Figure 2-5 The Route of the Second Circuit of Renzhuang-Huaiyin Line(d) Figure 2-6 The Route of the Second Circuit of Huaiyin-Jiangdu Line Figure 2-7 The Route of the Second Circuit of Jiangdu-Doushan Line (Including Jiangdu-Doushan Line Cut to Wunan) Figure 2-8 The Route of the Huaiyin-Yancheng Line Figure 2-9 Site of the 500 kV Yancheng Substation Figure 2-10 The Route of the Yancheng-Yangdong Line Figure 2-11 Site of the 500 kV Yangdong Substation Figure 2-12 The Route of the Yangdong-Doushan Line Figure 2-13 The 500 kV Jiangyin Yangtze River Crossing Figure 2-14 Site of the 500 kV Nantong Substation Figure 2-15 The Route of the Second Circuit of Doushan-Huangdu Line Figure 2-16 Site of the 500 kV Changshu Substation Figure 2-17 The Route of the Shengpu-Shipai Line Figure 2-18 Site of the 500 kV Shengpu Substation Figure 2-19 Types of 500 kV Transmission Line Towers Figure 2-20 Substation Location Map for Nanjing Urban Transmission and Distribution Works Figure 2-21 Additional 200 kV Line, Urban Component Figure 3-1 View of Yangtze River Near Proposed River Crossing Figure 3-2 Levee and Vegetation Near Yangtze River Crossing Figure 3-3 Fishery Area, Yangtze River Figure 3-4 Red-Crowned Crane, Yancheng Nature Reserve Figure 3-5 Nature Reserve, Yancheng Marshes LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix A Contact List Appendix B Public Meetings on the Environment Appendix B-1 Excerpt from Environmental Impact Assessment Report of East China/Jiangsu 500 kV Power Transmission Project (Section 10) Appendix B-2 The Name List of Representatives in Public Participation Appendix C Letters of Concurrence for Relevant Chinese Organizations Appendix D Project Region Photographs Appendix E Resettlement Action Plan Appendix F List of Environmental Assessment Preparers 1:\97\2290\2290CHNA.FNL Golder Associates  May 1998 ES-1 973-2290.004 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Introduction The East China Electric Power Group Corporation (ECEPGC) is proposing to construct the East China/Jiangsu 500 kV power transmission project to increase transmission capacity between the northern and southern regions of Jiangsu province. The project includes the addition of more than 993 km of transmission line, the construction of nine additional substations, and the expansion of two existing substations. The project spans the Province of Jiangsu, which includes the municipality of Nanjing, and traverses a small area within the independently administered provincial level city of Shanghai. The load center for the Jiangsu power grid is currently in the south of Jiangsu Province. The existing transmission system cannot satisfy this increased capacity. As a result, the Ninth Five-Year Plan includes a recommendation to increase power capacity north of the load center and, in some cases, outside of the province altogether. Therefore, the Jiangsu Provincial power grid is an important component of the East China Power Network, comprising a critical point in the transfer of electric power within the network. ECEPGC worked closely with provincial governmental organizations responsible for power development, planning, and environmental protection for siting of transmission line components and design and development of the overall line. In addition, project sponsors consulted with numerous local governments (i.e., villages and townships) to ensure that the input of local communities was incorporated into the siting of the transmission line route and substations. As a result of these consultations, the development of the project occurred within a participatory framework that involved all levels of government. In preparation for the project, engineering design, feasibility studies, and site/route selection studies were conducted by ECEPGC, Jiangsu Provincial Electric Power 1:\97\2290\2290CHNA.FNL Golder Associates  May 1998 ES-2 973-2290.004 Corporation (JPEPC), East China Electric Power Design Institute (ECEPDI), and Jiangsu Electric Power Design Institute (JEPDI). ECEPGC contracted the Nanjing Environmental Research Institute (NEPRI) to conduct an environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the proposed project for submittal to the relevant Chinese authorities. Goider Associates, Inc., an environmenta1 engineering firm located in the United States was contracted to work with NEPRI to prepare an environmental assessment (EA) report for submittal to the World Bank as part of its application for financing the project. This report represents the combined efforts of NEPRI and Golder Associates to produce an EA report in strict accordance with both PRC and World Bank requirements. Description of Project The proposed project includes two principal components. The first component, referred to in this report as the rural component, involves the necessary upgrades to the transmission line system from Shanghai to Renzhuan in Jiangsu Province, including the addition of five 500 kV substations, upgrading two 500 kV substations, and the addition of approximately 993 km of 500 kV transmission line. The second component, referred to in this report as the urban component, involves the necessary upgrades to the transmission network in Nanjing, including the addition of two 220 kV substations, two 110 kV substations and the addition of 10 km of 220 kV transmission line. The rural component traverses nearly 1,000 km of Jiangsu province countryside, in China's eastern coastal region. Jiangsu province has a mild temperate climate, with an average annual temperature of 13 to 15.6 'C. The area north of the Huaihe River and Jiangsu general irrigation channel has a climate characterized as humid and semi-humid temperate, while the areas south are considered humid subtropical. The average annual rainfall in the 1:\9Y\2290\229WCHNA.FNL Golder Associates  May 1998 ES-3 973-2290.004 province is between 800-1,150 mm. Prevailing wind direction is to the east, with annual average velocity of 3 m/sec. As with most of China, long-term conversion to urban and agricultural use has virtually eliminated the region's natural vegetation. With the exception of lakes, rivers, and coastal marshes, the landscape traversed by the rural component of the proposed transmission line network is now occupied by a dense mosaic of agriculture, irrigation/flood control networks, agroforestry plantations and urban/industrial zones. Virtually no natural stands of terrestrial vegetation exist; native flora persist only within protected areas or wetland margins. Nevertheless, aquatic environments, including the Yangtze River and Yancheng Marshes are important for the conservation of numerous threatened and endangered species. Regionally, wetlands are associated with the numerous freshwater lakes within the meanders of the Yangtze River floodplain. Marshes fringe the lakes, persist in ancient lake beds and river channels, and develop in seasonally flooded areas. In addition to supporting native flora, these wetlands serve as important fishery resources, and as wintering areas for migratory waterfowl. The Yangtze River will be spanned by a section of the rural component. The urban component is to be built in Nanjing, a municipality located in a humid subtropic region with distinct seasons. Recent climatological data indicate an annual average temperature of 15.3