Algeria - Urban Natural Hazard Vulnerability Reduction Project : environmental impact assessment (Vol. 1 of 2) : Environmental management framework : executive summary

E604 Volume 1 People's Democratic Republic of Algeria Urban Natural Hazard Vulnerability Reduction Proiect Financed with the support of the World Bank ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK EXECUTIVE SUMMARY DATE: June 2002  Description of the Project 1. Under the proposed Project the Bank will assist the Borrower to (i) strengthen its national capacity for disaster management, and (ii) reduce urban vulnerability to natural hazards. In order to achieve these objectives, the Project shall have the following components: Component 1: Strengthening the national capacity for disaster management through: (a) Developing an integrated early warning system; (b) Carrying out a study of the events leading to the floods; (c) Carrying out a study of vulnerability reduction in the Bouzareah catchment; (d) Carrying out a study of urban vulnerability of the Wilaya of Algiers; and (e) Strengthening the Borrower's Implementing Agencies through the provision of goods, equipment, services and training to support improved disaster management. Component 2: Emergency physical works through: (a) Building flood storage and conveyance structures in the Oued Koriche catchment; (b) Reconstruction of flood embankments and soil protection in the Massif of Bouzareah catchment; (c) Reforestation in the Massif of Bouzareah catchment ; and (d) Construction of 5000 housing units and ancillary facilities to relocate families presently living in hazardous and vulnerable areas. Component 3: Project Management 2  Environmental Policy Framework 2. The long term impact of the project is considered to be essentially positive and would lead to a significantly lower vulnerability in the area. Since the Project is being prepared under the Bank's Operational Policy 8.50 as an emergency recovery project, the Environmental Management Framework defines mitigating measures to be identified and carried out during the Project implementation in order to prevent any adverse impacts and to assist in the the effective and timely achievements of the Project objectives. To comply with Bank's requirements under the Bank's Operational Policy 4.01, the Environmental Management Framework has been prepared to address all direct environmental impacts of the projects which are limited in scope. The Environmental Impacts of the Project 3. The environmental impacts of the works involved by the Project will be minimal and will be addressed in detail during the course of the Project implementation as a result of the integrated vulnerability reduction study. However, some measures have been defined in order to reduce, offset or eliminate the eventual damages caused by the works involved. The resettlement of 5,000 families currently living in areas vulnerable to natural hazards is the most serious issue and was analyzed very carefully. From the environmental point of view, the new sites for resettlement of the 5,000 families will be subjected to environmental screening and environmental management plans will be prepared as needed to ensure that appropriate mitigation measures will be implemented and monitored. Besides, the environmental screening and management of the resettlement sites, the Project aims at removing, offsetting or mitigating all impacts of unregulated urban development that magnified the adverse consequences of the flash floods of November 10, 2001. This will be done through works to be carried out on the concerned watersheds and embankments, and will include slope stabilization by tree plantations, retention basins and drainage collectors. 3  Institutional and Legal Framework 4. In Algeria, the environmental protection is the core mandate of the Ministry of Land Planning and Environnement (MATE). Environmental impact assessment is regulated by the Decree 90-78. The MATE is currently upgrading environmental policies and the decree 90-78 is being revised to make it consistent with international standards. To implement its environmental management and protection mandates, the MATE has decentralized offices (Environment Inspectorates) within the 48 Wilayas of the country. The Wilaya of Algiers has an Environment Inspectorate staffed with engineers, technicians and administrative assistants. The Environmental Inspectorate is also equipped with basic basic equipments and has a budget for the fulfillment of its very mandate. 5. However, the mission of the Environment Inspectorate is constrained by the centralized administrative structure and the lack of communication between sectors. Furthermore, the control and monitoring functions are constrained by the complexity of the procedures, the limited human and material resources and the lack of awareness of the different economic actors on environmental issues. Environment Inspections' Role Under the Project 6. Notwithstanding the constraints mentioned above, the Environment Inspectorate will have to implement a central function in the monitoring of the environmental aspects of the Project. But to do so, it will need to be strengthened through the following measures: (a) technical assistance and training on the monitoring of development and construction projects including evaluation of cost/benefits, and (b) provision of equipment and goods including vehicles, computers, cameras and other office equipements. 4  Summary of the Environmental Management Framework (EMF) - Category - | Impacts / - | ~ Measures | . - Cost' -I| lmplementing Monitoring Monitoring - Observation problems Attenuation - Agency - Agency Frequency (Performance Indicators) _ _ _ _ _ . __ Enhancement - - . Hazard.study and disaster management - Study of a Consideration of Consideration of Included in the National Environmen At the end of the Surface of the area protected surveillance and environmental environmental study cost Meteorological t Inspection study by the surveillance system early warning hazards hazards in the Office in Number of protected people system system design consultation with the ANRH, the CGS, and the DGPC - Study of the Urban Environmental Included in the Hydraulic Environmen Quarterly The Environment Inspection vulnerability of the development hazard study cost management in co- t Inspection shall analyze the study report areas at risk in impact on the identification ordination with and integrate its Algiers' Wilaya Environment and appropriate other concerned recommendations on region outside of monitoring sectional environmental aspects in its the Bouzareah area measures management Wilaya environmental identification members and the surveillance and monitoring ._______________ ______________ ._____________ __________ _ Project Cell e__I_ program Hydraulic works 'Indicate if the cost is additional or if it is already included in the Project cost appraisal  - Integrated study Urban Integrated Included in the Hydraulic Environmen Quarterly Production of: on the vulnerability development measures study cost management in co- t Inspection - a report on the appraisal of reduction of the impact on the identification of ordination with the area vulnerability and the Massif of Environment vulnerability other concerned undertaken risks Bouzareah reduction and sectional - a report on the envLronmental management environmental monitoring hazard members and the measures to integrate in the identification Project cell area planning program and and appropriate the works program monitoring - a report on the institutional measures and prescribed measures that identification shall come with the vulnerability reduction program - a report on the drained water purification configuration to the sea These different reports shall be validated by the Environment Inspection - Oueds' beds Nuisances during Technical Included in the Hydraulic Environmen Quarterly - Treated oued number recalibration works, riparian specifications to operating budget. management in co- t Inspection - Relocated people number expropriation be included in In case of re- ordination with - Water discharge capacity the expense housing other concerned Book compensation, sectional Compensation of the Wilaya shall management relocated people assume financial members and the in accordance implications Project cell with the Re- housing Framework  - Construction of a Nuisances during Technical Included in the Hydraulic Environmen Quarterly - Water discharge capacity 1000 meters of row works, riparian specifications to operating budget. management in co- t Inspection - Relocated people number sub-watershed expropriation be included in In case of re- ordination with canal the expense housing other concerned Book compensation, sectional Compensation of the Wilaya shall management relocated people assume financial members and the in accordance implications Project cell with the Re- housing Framework - Water retention Nuisances during Technical Included in the Hydraulic Environmen Quarterly - Water retention capacity ponds works, riparian specifications to operating budget management in co- t Inspection - Contribution to the increase expropriation, be included in In case of re- ordination with of time concentration people and goods the expense housing other concerned - Number of relocated people at risk Book; chute and compensation, sectional - The condition of accident drowning the Wilaya shall management protective measures protective assume financial members and the measures implications Project cell included Compensation of relocated people in accordance with the Re- housing Framework t'cReijeers Tnetsra me= M a-lmen' t;-T tM.....':v X - Gabion retaining Nuisances during Technical Costs integrated Forest Environmen Quarterly Volume of gabion retaining oueds' beds works, riparian specifications to in the activity Conservation t Inspection wall installed expropriation be included in budget Surface of the area protected the expense by works Book  - Gabion retaining Nuisances during Technical Costs integrated Forest Environmen Quarterly Linear of gabion retaining oueds banked edge works, riparian specifications to in the activity Conservation t Inspection wall installed expropriation be included in budget Surface of the area protected the expense by works Book - Forest and fruit Appropriate Proper and Included in the Forest conservation Environmen Quarterly - Number of propagative tree plantings choice of correct choice of activity budget of Algiers' Wilaya t Inspection forest stock planted species, planting species. Planting - Number of propagative fruit maintenance maintenance stock planted conditions, conditions. - Plant survival rate private Private beneficiary beneficiary commitments commitments to maintam and conserve I plantings I uousing.com oeni.ndtehper :ti mnS*"w.-i,u ..,- ' ': - - Choice of Inherent risks of Preliminary Environment Housing Environmen Quarterly - Conception of an resettlement sites the welcoming environmental Inspection Directorate t Inspection appropriate form sites appraisal of the budget - Number of preliminary welcoming sites environmental appraisals completed - Start site Risk of relocated Prohibition of Wilaya's budget Directorate of Environmen Quarterly, from - Report stating adopted treatment people come any settlement construction t Inspection the date of the measures to prevent people back or on sites at risk - resettlement resettlement in high-risk substitution by prevent any areas other people access to the sites  .^r:7 o je'c n a- a e n l ; r s , 5-