China - Hubei Hydroelectric Project - environmental assessment (Vol. 2 of 7) : EIA report on Lajitan hydropower project (revised)

E-416 VOL. 2 World Bank Proiect - Hubei Hydropower Proiect Lajitan Hydropower Project in Laifeng County of Hubei Province Environmental Impact Assessment Report (First Draft) Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences October 2000   Project: Lajitan Hydropower Project in Laifeng County of Hubei Province, P.R. China Document: Report for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA, First Draft) Project Manager: ZHANG Yutian Research Fellow Team Member: MAO Wenyong Research Fellow SONG Fu Research Fellow SU Yibing Associate Research Fellow SUN Xueli Engineer JIANG Hua Engineer NIE Yihuang Engineer LIANG Zhenming Engineer ZHOU Yun Engineer JIAO Yang Assistant Engineer Reviewed by: LI Yanwu Associate Research Fellow EIA Unit: Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences Present: CHEN Fu Research Fellow Chief Engineer: XIA Qing Research Fellow EIA License No. National EIA License Grade A No. 1001, issued by SEPA Entrusted by Hubei Provincial Planning Commission  Reportfor Environmental Impact Assessmentfor Lajilan Hydropower Project in Laifeng County of Iubei Proince CONTENT CHAPTER 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................1 1.1 BACKGROUND . 1.2 EIA CATEGORY AND PURPOSE OF THE REPORT .2 1.3 REFERENCES .................................... ; .2 1.4 ASSESSMENT SCOPE AND ASSESSMENT STANDARD .4 1.5 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TARGETS AND FOCUS OF THE EIA .5 CHAPTER 2 OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT .............................................7 2.1 BASIC SITUATIONS OF THE PROJECT .7 2.2 TASKS AND SCALE OF THE PROJECT .7 2.3 LAYOUT OF KEY BUILDINGS .8 2.4 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR THE PROPOSED PROJECT .9 2.5 TOTAL INVESTMENT OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT. 8 2.6 ANALYSIS FOR THE PROPOSED PROJECT . 18 CHAPTER 3 REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL STATUS OF THE PROJECT .............. 22 3.1 NATURAL ENVIRONMENT ..................................................................... 22 3.2 ECO-ENVIRONMENT ..................................................................... 28 3.3 SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT ..................................................................... 33 3.4 QUALITY OF LIFE ..................................................................... 36 CIIPTER 4 ASSESSMENT ON STATUS QUO OF ENVIRONMENT .............................. 39 4.1 STATUS QUO AND ASSESSMENT ON WATER ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ................... 39 4.2 STATUS QUO AND ASSESSMENT ON AMBIENT AIR QUALITY ...................................... 43 4.3 STATUS QUO AND ASSESSMENT ON ACOUSTIC ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY .............. 44 CHAPTER 5 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT AND COUNTERMEASURES ..................................................................... 46 5.1 IMPACTS OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT ON ECO-ENVIRONMENT .46 5.2 FORECASTING AND ASSESSMENT ON AQUATIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT .66 5.3 ANALYSIS FOR IMPACT ON HYDROLOGICAL REGIME .73 5.4 ANALYSIS FOR IMPACT OF SEDIMENT .75 5.5 ANALYSIS FOR IMPACT ON GEOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT .78 5.6 ANALYSIS FOR ACOUSTIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT .79 5.7 ANALYSIS FOR IMPACT ON AMBIENT AIR .80 5.8 IMPACT ON SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT .83 5.9 ANALYSIS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF RESERVOIR SUBMERGING AND RELOCATION OF EMIGRATION ................................................................... 86 5.10 ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS ANALYSIS .................................................................... 94 CHAPTER 6 ANALYSIS FOR ALTERNATIVES .............................................................1 00 6.1 NO-ACTION ALTERNATIVE OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT ...................................1 00 6.2 COMPARISON WITH POWER STATION .....................................................................1 00 6.3 COMPARISON IN ALTERNATIVES OF SITE SELECTION ............................................... 101 6.4 COMPARISON IN DAM LINE ..................................................................... 102 CHAPTER 7 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PLAN ..................................................................... 103 7.1 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN .................................................................. 103 7.2 ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PLAN .................................................................... 104 CHAPTER 8 PUBLIC CONSULTATION ...................................................................... 1 08  Reportfor EnWronmenJal hnpartAsesmentfor Lajitan Hydropower Project in Laifeng County of Hubei Province 8.1 FORMS OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION ..................................................... 108 8.2 ANALYSIS FOR THE COMMENTS PROPOSED BY THE PUBLIC ..................10.................. i CHAPTER 9 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION ................................................ 113 9.1 CONCLUSION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT .................................1 13 9.2 RECOMMENDATIONS .....................................................1 117 ii  Reportfor Enironmentai Impact Assessmentfor LaJitaw Hydropower Project in Laifeng Couny of Hubea Province CHAPTER 1 Executive Summary 1.1 Background 1.1.1 Brief Introduction Of the Proposed Project "Lajitan Hydropower Project in Laifeng County of Hubei Province" (Lajitan HPP) is proposed to be constructed in the upper reach of Youshui River located in Baifusi Town, Laifeng County of Hubei Province. The total investment for the proposed project amounts to RMB 330 million yuan. The gross storage capacity of the proposed reservoir reaches to 442.8 million m , occupying an area of 3.07 km2 with an overall length of backwater for 33.1 km. The proposed Hydropower station is to be built with a total installed capacity for 36 MW. Lajitan HPP initiated its, preparation in 1995, lasting for 5 years. The major tasks conducted in the preparation include: * Proposal for Lajitan HPP completed in 1995 * Feasibility study for Lajitan HPP completed in May 1999. 1.1.2 Advance of EIA The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for this proposed project started from 1999, and according to the EIA procedure applied in China, the following steps has been made: * In June 1999, Hubei Provincial Research Academy of Environmental Sciences (HRAES) was instructed by the project owner, Lajitan Hydropower Development Co., Ltd, of Laifeng County, Hubei Province to prepare the EIA Report for Lajitan HPP; * In July 1999, the outline for the EIA Report, prepared by HRAES, was approved; * In May 2000, the EIA Report was completed by HRAES. 1.1.3 Origin of this EIA Since this proposed project is planned to be funded by the World Bank (WB), the EIA for this project has to meet the requirements of WB. According to the comments provided by WB in February 2000', Hubei Provincial Planning Commission (HPPC) recruited the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences (CRAES) to make contribution to the consulting of this EIA with focus on revising and complementing the EIA report. Since April 2000, on the basis of the EIA report prepared by HRAES2, CRAES has mainly made the following contribution to the report: * According to the comments and requirements to this proposed project provided WB, CRAES determined the main part to be revised and complemented, and got 'See Attachment B "Comments on EIA Report" to the minute of the Identification Group for Hydropower Project in Hubei Province, February 2000. 2 This report is prepared on the basis of the EIA Report prepared by HRAES, and uses tremendous data, tables and text of the original EIA report.  Reportfor Environmental Impact AssessmentforLaj:tan Hvdropower Project in Laifeng County of Hubei ProWnce contact with the project unit for preparing necessary materials; * CRAES made necessary site visits as a part of complement, such as reconnaissance of dam site, collecting biological samples, gathering materials for complementation and conducting on-site consulting and investigation in various terms; * Based on the above tasks completed, CRAES discussed with the experts from WB on the outline3 and EIA report4 to be revised, and finished the revision on the EIA report for this proposed project. In the light of the EIA approval procedure applied in China and the requirements of WB, the new version of the EIA report, revised and complemented, will be submitted to the related governmental bodies of China and the representatives of WB for review, in both Chinese and English. 1.2 EIA Category and Purpose of the Report 1.2.1 EIA Category Based on the "Notice on Enhancing the Administration of EIA for Construction Projects Funded by International Financial Organizations" issued by Chinese Government and the classifying principles for EIA category provided by. OP4.01 of WB, the EIA category of Lajitan HPP is identified as Category A, according to the nature and characteristics of the proposed project. 1.2.2 Purpose of the Report Through the EIA for the proposed project, the following purposes are to be achieved: the status quo of natural enviromnent, eco-environment and social economic environment of the region where Lajitan Hydropower Station is to be located will be detected, the scope and extent of environmental impacts brought by the proposed project will be assessed, the potential environmental impacts brought by the proposed project will be examined and identified, measures and recommendations for reducing environmental pollution and preventing the destruction on eco-environment will be proposed and plans for environmental protection management and monitoring will be prepared; while the public being involved, the public under the potential impact of this proposed project should understand the roles of the proposed project, potential negative impact to them and the prevention measures, the comments and recommendations on the construction of the project provided by the public should be properly integrated into the EIA report, so as to give scientific basis to the appropriate decision and environmnental management of the proposed project. 1.3 References 1.3.1 Policies and Laws (1) Item 13, "Environmental Protection Law of the People's Republic of China"; (2) "Water Law of the People's Republic of China" and "Water Pollution Prevention and Control Law of the People's Republic of China"; 3See the comments on the outline provided by Mr. Scott Hanna, expert from WB, June 22, 2000. 4 See the comments on the EIA report provided by Mr. Scott Hanna, expertfrom WB, September 2, 2000. 2  Reportfor Envronmental Impact Assessnintfor Lajit an HydropowerProject in Laifeg County of Hubei Provnee (3) "Water and Soil Conservation Law of the People's Republic of China"; (4) "National Land Administration Law of the People's Republic of China"; (5) "Wildlife Conservation Law of the People's Republic of China"; (6) "Forest Law of the People's Republic of China"; (7) Command No. 253 issued by the State Council, "Regulations for Environmental Protection of Construction Projects"; (8) "Rules for Implementation of Environmental Protection Management of Construction Projects in Hubei Province", Hubei Provincial Environmental Protection Bureau, Er Huan Zi Document 5 [88]. 1.3.2 Other References (1) Working Guideline of WB - Environmental Assessment OD4.01; (2) "Technical Guideline for Environmental Impact Assessment" (HJ/T2.1-2.3- 93); (3) "Technical Guideline for Environmental Impact Assessment - Acoustic Environment"(HJ/T2.4- 1995); (4) "Technical Guideline for Environmental Impact Assessment - Non-pollution Ecological Impact"(HJ/T 19-1997); (5) "Notice on Implementation of the Technical Guideline for Environmental Impact Assessment - Non-pollution Ecological Impact", Hubei Provincial Environmental Protection Bureau, Er Huan Zi Document No. 20 [1998]; (6) "Request for Instructions on the Assessment Standards of EIA for Lajitan Hydropower Project" by the Environmental Protection Bureau Laifeng County, Hubei Province, Lai Huanbao Document No. 03 [1999], July 2, 1999; (7) "Notice on the Water Quality Standard for Pidu River Involved in the EIA for Lajitan Hydropower Project in Laifeng County" by the Environmental Protection Bureau of Longshan County, Long Huan Zi Document No. 7 [1999], June 25, 1999; (8) "Conmnents on 'EIA Outline for Lajitan Hydropower Project in Laifeng County, Hubei Province"', Er Huan Han No. 117 [1999], August 5, 1999; (9) "EIA Outline for Lajitan Hydropower Project in Laifeng County, Hubei Province", July 1999; (10) Comments on "EIA Outline for Lajitan Hydropower Project in Laifeng County, Hubei Province" provided by the experts in the examining meeting, July 22, 1999; ( 11) "Proposal for Lajitan Hydropower Project in Laifeng County, Hubei Province" and the written approval by HPPC, Er Ji Nengyuan Zi Document 1178 [1995]; 3  Reportfor Environmental Impact Assessmentfor Lajitan HGydropower Project in Laifeng County of Hubei Province (12) "Report for Feasibility Study on Lajitan Hydropower Project in Laifeng County, Hubei Province" and its atlas and the geographic atlas, Hubei Provincial Hydraulic and Hydropower Reconnaissance Survey and Design Academy (May 1999); (13) "Written Approval for Report for Feasibility Study on Lajitan Hydropower Project in Laifeng County" by HPPC, Er Ji Nengyuan Zi Document 0291 [2000]; (14) "Report for EIA for Lajitan Hydropower Project in Laifeng County, Hubei Province", by HRAES, May 2000. 1.4 Assessment Scope and Assessment Standard 1.4.1 Assessment Scope The specific assessment scope of this EIA covers the entire reservoir area from the site of Wachangba to the end of the backwater, with an overall length for 33. Ikm; the relocation districts with concentrated emigration and the individual relocation points backward from the original sites; the construction site of the proposed project, raw materials storage, excavated spoils storage and residential zones for the workers involved in the construction; and the downstream from the site of Wachangba to the river outlet of Qiedao River. 1.4.2 Assessment Standards Applied (I)GHZBI-1999 "Environmental Quality Standard for Surface Water", in compliance with the Water Environmental Quality Standard Class II; (2)GB3096-93 "Standard for Noise of Urban Ambient Environment", in compliance with Standard Class I; (3)GB3095-1996 "Standard for Ambient Air Quality"; (4)GB 12523-90 "Limits to On-site Noise of Construction Site"; (5)GB8978-1996 "Comprehensive Discharge Standard for Polluted Water", in compliance with the Standard Class 1; (6)CJ3020-93 "Water Quality Standard for Domestic Drinking Water Source"; (7)GB5084-92 "Water Quality Standard for Agricultural Irrigation Water"; (8)GB 11607-89 "Water Quality Standard for Fishery"; (9)GB16297-1996 "Comprehensive Standard for Air Emissions", in compliance with Standard Class 1. 1.4.3 Assessment Duration (1) Construction Period: from the start to the completion of the proposed project; (2) Operation Period: filling of reservoir and parallel power generation (3) Decommissioning and rehabilitation of construction camps, works yards, 4  Reportfor Enwronmental Impact Assessmentfor Lajitan Hydropower Project in Laifeng County of Hubei Province maintenance areas, etc. (4) Reclamation of quarry sites and spoils disposal sites 1.5 Environmental Protection Targets and Focus of the ELA 1.5.1 Environmental Protection Targets Lajitan HPP should pay attention to the conservation of the surrounding eco- environment during its construction and operation, and the environmental protection targets have been set on the following respects: (1) Land resource In view of the serious water and soil loss in the region where the project is located, in order to effectively conserve the limited land resources, the impacts on the cultivated land and woodland should be minimized as much as possible from the construction and operation of the proposed project. As for especially the site of Wachangba and Baifusi Tree Plantation, effective measures for conserving the lands should be taken for preventing new loss in water and soil. (2) Wildlife resources According to "Catalog of Major Protected Wild Animals At National Level", "Catalog of Major Protected Plants at National Level", "Catalog of Major Protected Wild Land Animals at Hubei Provincial Level" and "Catalog of Major Protected Wild Aquatic Animals", the bio-species listed in the catalogs and the local animals and plants with high economic values should be protected. For instance, the rare wild animals to be protected include macaque, oriental civet cat, lesser civet cat, pangolin, darwins pheasant, golden pheasant, otter and andrias daridiancs. and the rare species of land plants cover metasequoia, ginkgo, plum fruited cluster flowered yam and eucommia ulmoides, etc.. (3) Water quality The general water quality of the reservoir area and the water quality of the lower reaches have to be kept same as the present quality after the reservoir is filled. The project is not allowed to bring any impact on the current beneficial use of Youshui River and its branch Pidu River, which should be controlled under the Standard Class II of GHZB 1 -1999 "Environmental Quality Standard for Surface Water". (4) Acoustic environment During the construction of this proposed project, the acoustic environment of the residential districts of Baifusi Town should be controlled according to Standard Class I of GB3096-93 "Standard for Noise of Urban Ambient Environment". (5) Life standard The life standard of the emigration from the construction site of the proposed project should be guaranteed. After the relocation of the emigration, the level of their income per capita, living condition and public facilities should be kept not lower than before. (6) Health of human beings 5  Report for Environmental Impact Assessmentfor Lajitan Hydropower Project in Laifeng Countv of Hubed ProWnce The targeted group mainly involves the residents surrounding the construction site and living in the reservoir area, workers for the construction and emigration, and great efforts should be put into preventing outbreak of some specific diseases and contagion. 1.5.2 Focus of the EIA (1) Impacts on the land eco-environment and hydro eco-environment, especially the rare animals and plants, brought by the construction of dam and reservoir; (2) Analysis for the positive benefits on abasement of natural disasters, such as flood, and further regional economic development, which resulted from operation of the proposed project; (3) Analysis for potential, long-term and negative impacts from the construction and operation of the project. 1.5.3 Assessment Principle (1 )To meet the regulations related to environmental protection for construction projects stipulated by the environmental protection agencies at national and local level and the sectoral administrations, as well as satisfy the ""Notice on Enhancing the Administration of EIA for Construction Projects Funded by Intemational Financial Organizations" released by China and the concerned requirements of WB on EIA; (2)Based on the specific characteristics of Hydropower projects, to highlight the assessment on key protection targets; (3)To analyze the impacts in details on the land eco-environment and hydro eco- environment, especially the impacts on the rare hydro-bios, resulted from the proposed project in construction and completion. (4)Referring to the feasibility of the construction of the proposed project, to reach a conclusion from the view of environmental protection, and make every effort to ensure that environmental measures are workable, so as to provide firn foundations and references to the approval agency during decision making. to the project designer during designing, to the constructor during construction and finally to environment management of the proposed project. The Executive Summary is incomplete. It should also include a brief description of the key impacts that are predicted to accrue as a result of the project; the measures that will be taken to mitigate or compensate for these impacts; whether there will be any residual impacts that cannot be mitigated; and a brief description of the Environmental Management Plan that will be used to address the more serious impacts. The Executive Summary should also provide a synopsis of the Public Consultation that has been undertaken to obtain input from various stakeholder groups. 6  Report for EnWronmental lmpac Assessmentfor Lajitan Hfydropewer Project in Laifeng County of Hublb Prowne CHAPTER 2 Overview of the Proposed Project 2.1 Basic Situations of the Project 2.1.1 Project Name and Project Unit A) Project Name The proposed project is named as "Lajitan Hydropower Project in Laifeng County of Hubei Province", hereafter known as Lajitan HPP for short. B) Project Unit The project unit for the proposed project is the Lajitan Hydropower Development Co., Ltd., Laifeng County, Hubei Province. The unit is responsible for the daily management and operation of the completed Lajitan Hydropower Station, in the position of legal body. 2.1.2 Location of the Project Lajitan HPP is designed to be located in the upper reach of Youshui River, 1 km upstream from Baifusi Town of Laifeng County. The dam site is 22km away from Tangkou Hydropower Station located in the upper reach, and 53 km away from the proper of Laifeng County, in North Latitude 29