China - Third Jiangxi Highway Project : environmental assessment (Vol. 1 of 10) : Environmental impact assessment

The People's Republic of China World Bank Loan Jiangxi No. 3 Highway Project (Ruijin to Ganzhou Expressway) Environmental Impact Assessment Report (Fifth version) Entrusted by Communications Design Institute of Jiangxi Province, P.R.China Compiled by Research Institute of Highway, the Ministry of Communications Jan. 2006  Compiled by : Ministry of Communications Highway Research Institute Director : Yao Zhenzhong Chief engineer : Zhang Fangyuan Head of environmental : office Ye Huihai Head engineer of : environmental office Wei Xianwei Responsible person of the : project Dong Bochang Responsible person of : topic Topic Responsible person of topic Whole report Dong Bochang Zhao Qin Alternative line comparison Environmental management Dong Bochang Acoustic environment and ambient air Wang Fang Water and ecological environment, landscaping and water conservation Zhu Yufeng Social environment, risk analysis, and public participation Piao Zhongxuan Monitoring unit of current Jiangxi Provincial Ganzhou Prefecture : environment Environmental Monitoring Station  World Bank Loan Jiangxi Project No. 3 Environmental Assessment Forewords Forewords Xiamen-Chengdu Expressway is the 16th horizontal highway in the national key highway network of 7918" under planning, which starts from Xiamen City of Fujian Province, after passing through Jiangxi Province, Hunan Province, Guangxi Province, Guizhou Province, ends at Chengdu City of Sichuan Province with a total length of 2,295 kilometers. It will organically link the developed eastern China region with the middle China region which is under vigorous economic development as well as the west China region currently under the Great West development. Construction of this key highway will play a vital role in implementing the Great West development strategy, in forming national and Jiangxi highway network, in fostering fast regional economic development alng the line, in promoting tour resource development and utilization, and in advancing the regional integration process of east, middle and west China. The proposed project is a section of national key project the Xiamen-Chengdu Expressway in Jiangxi territory, it is a part of the 4th horizontal highway in Jiangxi Province's key road network "three verticals and four horizontals". The proposed Ruijin-Ganzhou section of Xiamen-Chengdu Expressway is approximately 116.6 kilometers long, starting from Yunshishan in Ruijin City where it links with the destination of Ailing (Jiangxi and Fujian border)-Ruijin Highway of Xiamen-Chengdu Expressway. After passing by Huichang, Yudu, Ganxian, it ends at Zhanggong District of Ganzhou City where it links with the origin (Huangjin interchange) of Ganzhou west highway of the Xiamen-Chengdu Expressway. Entrusted by Jiangxi Provincial Communications Department, the Jiangxi Provincial Transportation Design Institute completed Feasibility Study Report for World Bank Loan Jiangxi Road Project No. 3 (Ruijin-Ganzhou Highway) in People's Republic of China. In Dec of 2004, entrusted by Jiangxi Provincial Transportation Design Institute, the Ministry of Communications Highway Research Institute undertook the environmental impact assessment for this project. Under great assistance from Jiangxi Provincial Transportation Design Institute and local governments along the route, the assessment unit has carried out field reconnaissance and investigation along he line on Dec 2004, based on which, has compiled the Environmental Impact -i-  World Bank Loan Jiangxi Project No. 3 Environmental Assessment Forewords Assessment TOR for World Bank Loan Jiangxi Road Project No. 3 (Ruijin-Ganzhou Highway) in People's Republic of China for this project. In April 2005, Ganzhou Prefectural Environmental Monitoring Station was entrusted to carry out the current environmental monitor along the project. On May 2005, on the basis of the Feasibility Study Report(first revision) for this project, the assessment unit completed the Environmental Impact Assessment Report for World Bank Loan Jiangxi Road Project No. 3 (Ruijin-Ganzhou Highway) in People's Republic of China(first version). On September of 2005, based on the mid-term findings of preliminary design for this project, the assessment unit completedEnvironmental Impact Assessment Report for World Bank Loan Jiangxi Road Project No. 3 (Ruijin-Ganzhou Highway) in People's Republic of China(second version).On October 2005, based on the adjustments in the preliminary design documents and World Bank mission's opinion on this report, we have revised and compiled the third version of theEnvironmental Impact Assessment Report for World Bank Loan Jiangxi Road Project No. 3 (Ruijin-Ganzhou Highway) in People's Republic of China(Third version). On November 2005, based on the adjustments of alignment and World Bank mission's opinion on this report, we have revised and compiled the third version of theEnvironmental Impact Assessment Report for World Bank Loan Jiangxi Road Project No. 3 (Ruijin-Ganzhou Highway) in People's Republic of China(Fourth version). During the course of preparing this environmental assessment report, we have received great support from Jiangxi Provincial Communications Department, Jiangxi Provincial Transportation Design Institute, Jiangxi Provincial Environmental Protection Agency, and concerned departments of Ganzhou Prefecture, Ruijin City and each county and township along the route. Here, we would like to express our deepest gratitude! -ii-  World Bank Loan Jiangxi Project No. 3 Environmental Assessment Contents CONTENTS Forewords ....................................................................................................................................................i CONTENTS................................................................................................................................................ I Chapter 1 General Overview ................................................................................................................. - 1 - 1.1Assessment type......................................................................................................................................... - 1 - 1.2Assessment principle and objectives......................................................................................................... - 1 - 1.3 Compilation basis....................................................................................................................................... - 2 - 1.4Assessment scope and time duration........................................................................................................ - 5 - 1.5 Main contents of assessment..................................................................................................................... - 6 - 1.6Assessment method and technical procedure........................................................................................... - 6 - 1.7Assessment grade and focal points ........................................................................................................... - 8 - 1.8 Major environmental protection objectives.............................................................................................. - 8 - 1.9Assessment applicable standard.............................................................................................................. - 14 - Chapter 2 Project Overview................................................................................................................. - 17 - 2.1 Project's geographical location and construction significance ............................................................. - 17 - 2.2 Setting-up of route alternative schemes.................................................................................................. - 17 - 2.3 Traffic volume estimate........................................................................................................................... - 19 - 2.4 Description of recommended alignment................................................................................................ - 19 - 2.5 Roadbuilding materials and transportation conditions.......................................................................... - 43 - 2.6 Schedule arrangement.............................................................................................................................. - 46 - 2.7 Investment budget and capital raising .................................................................................................... - 46 - Chapter 3 Investigation and assessment of current environmental conditions .................................... - 47 - 3.1 Overview of natural environment........................................................................................................... - 47 - 3.2Assessment of current ecological environment...................................................................................... - 57 - 3.3Assessment of current water environment ............................................................................................. - 64 - 3.4Assessment of current acoustic environment......................................................................................... - 72 - 3.5Assessment of current ambient air.......................................................................................................... - 80 - 3.6Assessment of current social environment............................................................................................. - 82 - Chapter 4 Environmental Impact Predication and Assessment.......................................................... - 112 - 4.1Assessment of ecological environmental impact................................................................................. - 112 - 4.2 Prediction and assessment of water environmental impact.................................................................- 132 - 4.3 Prediction and assessment of acoustic environmental impact............................................................- 140 - 4.4 Prediction and assessment of ambient air impact................................................................................- 169 - 4.5 Impact on social environment...............................................................................................................- 195 - 4.6 Hazardous cargo transportation risk analysis during operation stage.................................................- 215 - 4.7 Environmental impact of roadbuilding material excavation and transportation................................- 220 - Chapter 5 Water and Soil Conservation Plan..................................................................................... - 222 - 5.1 Survey of current soil erosion status.....................................................................................................- 222 - 5.2 Prediction of soil erosion impact...........................................................................................................- 223 - 5.3 Prevention scheme for water and soil erosion......................................................................................- 231 - 5.4 Water conservation investment estimate ..............................................................................................- 237 - Chapter 6 Public Participation ........................................................................................................... - 238 - 6.1 Public participation survey....................................................................................................................- 238 - 6.2 Individual investigation and household interview...............................................................................- 240 - 6.3 Group interview.....................................................................................................................................- 244 - 6.4 Major opinions and adoption ................................................................................................................- 246 - 6.5 Public opinions survey on resettlement................................................................................................- 249 - 6.6 Information releasing and feedback......................................................................................................- 253 - 6.7 Summary of public participation...........................................................................................................- 253 - Chapter 7 Comparison and Selection of Route Alternative Alignments............................................ - 255 - 7.1Analysis of"without this project"..........................................................................................................- 255 - -I-  World Bank Loan Jiangxi Project No. 3 Environmental Assessment Contents 7.2 Procedure of route scheme selection ....................................................................................................- 255 - 7.3 Comparison and selection of route corridors .......................................................................................- 257 - 7.4 Comparison and selection of route alternative alignments during the Feasibility Study stage.........- 263 - 7.5 Comparison and selection of route alternative alignments during preliminary design stage............- 272 - Chapter 8 Environmental Protection Measures and Suggestions....................................................... - 289 - 8.1 Mitigation measures for ecological environmental impact.................................................................- 289 - 8.2 Mitigation measures for water environmental impact.........................................................................- 293 - 8.3 Mitigation measures for acoustic environmental impact ....................................................................- 298 - 8.4 Mitigation measures for ambient air impact ........................................................................................- 316 - 8.5 Mitigation measures for social environmental impact ........................................................................- 317 - 8.6 Traffic accident management and prevention measures......................................................................- 320 - 8.7 Environmental protection measures for roadbuilding materials and transportation..........................- 328 - 8.8 Suggestions on landscape design..........................................................................................................- 329 - 8.9 Environmental protection scheme for basic farmlands.......................................................................- 332 - Chapter 9 Environmental Protection Management Plan and Environmental Monitoring Plan ......... - 336 - 9.1 Environmental protection management plan.......................................................................................- 336 - 9.2 Environmental monitoring plan............................................................................................................- 349 - 9.3 Environment supervision content and requirement.............................................................................- 350 - 9.4 Training plan of environmental protection...........................................................................................- 353 - Chapter 10 Profit and Loss Analysis of Environmental Economy..................................................... - 355 - 10.1 Engineering economy analysis ...........................................................................................................- 355 - 10.2 Benefits produced from the project ....................................................................................................- 356 - 10.3 Environmental protection investment budget and benefit analysis..................................................- 356 - 10.4 Profit/loss analysis of environmental impact.....................................................................................- 359 - Chapter 11 Assessment Conclusions.................................................................................................. - 361 - 11.1 Ecological environment.......................................................................................................................- 361 - 11.2 Water environment...............................................................................................................................- 362 - 11.3Acoustic environment..........................................................................................................................- 363 - 11.4Ambient air...........................................................................................................................................- 365 - 11.5 Social environment..............................................................................................................................- 366 - 11.6 Pollution risk of transportation............................................................................................................- 367 - 11.7 Comparison and selection of route alternative alignments................................................................- 368 - 11.8 Profit/loss analysis of environmental economy.................................................................................- 368 - 11.9 Environmental protection, management and monitoring plans........................................................- 368 - 11.10 Public participation............................................................................................................................- 369 - 11.11 Comprehensive assessment conclusion............................................................................................- 370 - Attachment 1Introduction to the assessment unit and staff.................................................................371 Attachment 2References.....................................................................................................................373 Attachment 3Sample of public participation form..............................................................................376 Attachment 4List of tables and figures ...............................................................................................377 -II-  World Bank Loan Jiangxi Project No. 3 Environmental Assessment Chapter 1 General Overview Chapter 1 General Overview 1.1 Assessment type Construction of this project is a developmental activity which will produce profound influence on the society and regional economy along the route, its construction and operation will exert a very tremendous influence on the natural environment and social environment of the project directly influenced region, thus the interrelation between project implementation and environmental protection must be properly handled. According to the China National Environmental Protection Agency's requirement on environmental impact assessment classification for construction project, this project is a newly-built type A project crossing sensitive locations such as residences, thus this project shall carry out a comprehensive environmental impact assessment. 1.2 Assessment principle and objectives 1.2.1 Assessment principle Adhering to the idea that environmental impact assessment serves for project construction, serves for environment management, and promotes a coordinated development between project construction and environmental protection. Fully investigating and making best use of available material, at the same time paying attention to conducting additional monitoring and using advanced computer module to carry out simulation forecast so as to guarantee a scientific and up-to-date environmental impact assessment conclusion. As the basis for project environmental protection management and important technical documentation, the environmental assessment and report compilation shall pay attention to systematicity, advancement, utility and feasibility. 1.2.2 Assessment objectives To carry out environmental impact assessment for this project along the route so as to justify the rationality of this project construction in terms of environmental protection, to comprehensively compare and select existing local alternative line alignments in terms of environmental protection, to provide necessary scientific basis - 1 -  World Bank Loan Jiangxi Project No. 3 Environmental Assessment Chapter 1 General Overview for selecting project alignment. To carry out investigations of social and natural environment in the assessment scope along the route so as to predict the impacts on environment caused by the design, construction and operation for this project and to put forward corresponding feasible measures and countermeasure for environmental protection and optimization. To feedback environmental protective measure, suggestions and assessment conclusions to engineering design and construction so as to offer scientific basis for optimizing engineering design and to reduce or mitigate the negative effects on surrounding environment caused by engineering construction. To provide information and scientific basis for decision-making in the environmental management during construction and operation stages as well as in the economic development, urban construction and environmental planning along the route. 1.3 Compilation basis 1.3.1 National laws, regulations and technical specifications (1) "People's Republic of China Law on Environmental Protection" (1989.12.26); (2) "People's Republic of China Law on Environmental Impact Assessment"(2003.9.1); (3) "People's Republic of China Law on Prevention and Control of Ambient Noise Pollution" (1996.10.29); (4) "People's Republic of China Law on the Prevention and Treatment of Water Pollution" (1996.5.15); (5) "People's Republic of China Law on Air Pollution Prevention" (2000.4.29); (6) "People's Republic of China Law on Solid Waste Pollution Prevention" (1995.10.30); (7) "People's Republic of China Law on Water and Soil Conservation" (1996.6.29); (8) "People's Republic of China Law on Land Management" (1998.12.29); (9) "People's Republic of China Law on Flood Control" (1998.1.1); (10) "People's Republic of China Law on Fishery" (1986.7.1); (11) "People's Republic of China Law on Agriculture" (2003.3.1); (12) "People's Republic of China Law on Wild Animal Protection" (1988.11.8); - 2 -  World Bank Loan Jiangxi Project No. 3 Environmental Assessment Chapter 1 General Overview (13) "People's Republic of China Law on Cultural Relics Protection" (2002.10.28); (14) "People's Republic of China Law on Road" (1999.10.31); (15) "Implementing Regulations of People's Republic of China Law on Land Management" (1999.1.1); (16) "Implementing Regulations of People's Republic of China Law on Water and Soil Conservation" (1993.8.1); (17) "Environmental Protection Management Rules of Construction Project"(State Council Ordinance No. 253, 1998.11.29); (18) "Environmental Protection Classification Management Register for Construction Project" 2003.1.1; (19) "Regulations of Basic Farmland Protection"(State Council Ordinance No. 257, 1999.1.1); (20) "Environmental Protection Management Method of Road Construction Project" 2003.6.1; (21) "Registar Namelist of Wildlife under Special State Protection" 1989.1.13; (22) "State Council Notice on Issuing National Ecological Environmental Protection Guideline"(State Council ordinance [2000]No. 38, 2000.11.26); (23) "Urgent Notice on Forbidding Occupying Basic Farmland for Planting Issued by State Council"(state [2004]No 1, 2004.3); (24) "Notice on Most Rigid Implementing Cultivated Land Protection in Road Construction"(issued by the Ministry of Communications [2004]No. 164, 2004.4); (25) "Notice on Strengthening Environmental Impact Assessment for Construction Project loaned by International Financial Organization"(NEPA[1993]No. 324, 1993.6.21); (26) "Environmental Protection Management Regulations for Construction Project in Jiangxi Province"(Jiangxi Provincial People's Congress Order No. 96, 2001.6); (27) "Environmental Pollution Prevention Regulations in Jiangxi Province"(Jiangxi Provincial People's Congress Order No. 63, 2000.12) 1.3.2 Relevant technical specifications (1) "Technical Guidelines for Environmental Impact Assessment"(HJ/T2.1 2.3-93, HJ/T2.4-1995, HJ/T19-1997, NEPA); - 3 -  World Bank Loan Jiangxi Project No. 3 Environmental Assessment Chapter 1 General Overview (2) "Environmental Impact Assessment Specification for Road Construction Project (tentative)"(JTJ005-96, MOC); (3) "Environmental Protection Design Specification of Road"(JTJ/T006-98, MOC); (4) World Bank Safeguard Policies, including Operational Policies(OP), Best Procedure(BP), Good practice(GP) and Operational Directives(OD). They are: Environmental Assessment (OP/BP/GP4.01); Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP4.12); Cultural Property (OP4.11); Natural Habitats (OP/BP4.04); Indigenous People (OD4.20); Forestry (OP/GP4.36); Safety of Dams (OP/BP4.37); Pest Management (OP4.09); Projects in Disputed Areas (OP/BP/GP7.60); Projects on International Waterways (OP/BP/GP7.50). Of the ten World Bank safeguard policies, Environmental Assessment (OP/BP/GP4.01), Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP4.12), and Cultural Property (OP4.11) are applied in the EIA; (5) "Notice about Ambient Noise in Environmental Impact Assessment in Construction Projects such as Highway, Railway (Including Light Railway)" environment2003No 94, 2003.5.27. 1.3.3 Relevant documents in the project preliminary work (1)"Feasibility Study Report for World Bank Loan Jiangxi Road Project No. 3 (Ruijin-Ganzhou Highway) in People's Republic of China" Jiangxi Provincial Transportation Design Institute, Sept. 2004. (2)Feasibility Study Report for World Bank Loan Jiangxi Road Project No. 3 (Ruijin-Ganzhou Section of Xiamen-Chengdu National Expressway) in People's Republic of China Jiangxi Provincial Transportation Design Institute, May 2005. (3)Preliminary Design for World Bank Loan Jiangxi Road Project No. 3 (Ruijin-Ganzhou Highway) in People's Republic of China Jiangxi Provincial Transportation Design Institute, Sept. 2005. - 4 -  World Bank Loan Jiangxi Project No. 3 Environmental Assessment Chapter 1 General Overview (4)Preliminary Design for World Bank Loan Jiangxi Road Project No. 3 (Ruijin-Ganzhou Highway) in People's Republic of China Jiangxi Provincial Transportation Design Institute, Oct. 2005. (5)Cultural Relics Assessment Report for World Bank Loan Jiangxi Road Project No. 3 (Ruijin-Ganzhou Highway) in People's Republic of China Jiangxi Provincial Archaeological Institute, Oct. 2005. (6)Water Conservation Scheme for World Bank Loan Jiangxi Road Project No. 3 Ruijin-Ganzhou Section of Xiamen-Chengdu National Expressway in People's Republic of China(for submission),Jiangxi Provincial Water Conservation Research Institute, Oct. 2005. 1.4 Assessment scope and time duration 1.4.1 Assessment scope According to the environmental impact assessment characteristic and practical experience for road construction projects and by considering the natural environment characteristic of the proposed project, the scope for environmental impact assessment of this project is determined as shown in Table 1.4.1-1. Table1.4.1-1 Scopeforenvironmentalimpactassessmentofthisproject No Environmental element Environmental investigation and assessment scope 1 Acoustic Area 200m from the highway center line at both sides, properly expanded to 300m environment when there are special sensitive locations (school and hospital). 2 Ambient air Area 200m from the highway center line at both sides, properly expanded to 300m when there are special sensitive locations (school and hospital). 3 Water Area 200m from the highway center line at both sides, water area 200m upstream from environment bridge location and 1000m downstream from bridge location. 4 Ecological Area 300m from the highway center line at both sides, and earth borrow pits and waste environment banks. 5 Social environment Project-influenced areas 1.4.2 Assessment time duration The assessment is conducted in the construction stage and operation stage, of which the assessment duration in construction stage is the entire construction period of the project, and the assessment duration in operation stage selects the first, seventh and fifteenth years since operation as the short-term, mid-term and long-term operation stages for prediction and assessment according to "Environmental Impact Assessment Specification for Road Construction Project (tentative)". - 5 -  World Bank Loan Jiangxi Project No. 3 Environmental Assessment Chapter 1 General Overview 1.5 Main contents of assessment The main contents of assessment work include: analysis of project environmental impact, assessment of social environmental impact, assessment of ecological environmental impact, assessment of acoustic environmental impact, assessment of water environmental impact, assessment of ambient air environmental impact, environmental risk analysis of pollution accident, assessment of solid waste environmental impact, public participation, alternative alignment comparison and selection, environmental protection management and environmental monitoring, environmental protection countermeasures and their technical and economic justification, profit and loss analysis of environmental impact, etc. 1.6 Assessment method and technical procedure 1.6.1 Assessment method This assessment adopts the method of "focusing on point and representative sections to combine point with section and to feedback the whole line". Sectional assessment Analysis and assessment are conducted according to the environmental characteristics of traffic volume, project, topography and meteorology predicted in the Pre-FS Report or the "Feasibility Study Report"(May 2005); Assessment of acoustic environment and ambient air during operation stage mainly adopt mode predicting method to calculate and analyze; assessment of ecological environment, water environment and soil erosion adopts investigation, analogical analysis and mode prediction combined method; assessment of social environment, life quality and public participation adopts investigation and analytical method. Carrying out assessment on main environmental protection objectives one by one. 1.6.2 Assessment technical procedure The assessment technical procedure refers to Fig. 1.6.2-1. - 6 -  World Bank Loan Jiangxi Project No. 3 Environmental Assessment Chapter 1 General Overview Assessment task Field reconnaissance Environmental impact factor identification and selection Environmental impact during planning stage Environmental impact during Environmental impact during construction stage operation stage Reduced farmland Soil erosion by fill and cut Flood prevention Removal and resettlement Flood prevention Hazardous substance leakage Changing hydrology Construction noise Traffic noise Damaging agricultural environment Leakage of hazardous substances Waste and dust pollution Ambient air pollution Damaging natural environment and Hindering existing transportation Road or bridge floor runoff pollution adding new landscape Construction workers' health and accident Life quality change Land price fluctuation Construction wastewater pollution Inconvenience to people's walking Identify environmental protection objectives Compile environmental assessment TOR Current environmental Current environmental investigation and Public participation monitoring assessment Enforced Assessment applicable standard Ecological Water Water Ambient air Acoustic Social environment conservation environment environment environment meteorology Current Ecological Current soil Rivers along the Ambient air environmental Economic development environmental erosion, erosion route quality quality planning zoning types Water functional Current pollution Current noise Urban development Wildlife species, Erosion modulus zoning source source distribution planning activity rules and Current treatment Hydrology and and type Resource development protection grade measures current water Ambient air Noise sensitive condition Agricultural Water conservation quality sensitive location location Life quality zoning, vegetation planning Water pollution distribution and distribution and Land use and Soil type source type type Industrial sector Environmental impact prediction and Prediction mode and assessment standard assessment Ecological Water Water Ambient air Acoustic Social environment conservation environment environment environment Ambient air quality Animal and plant Soil erosion area Bridge and culvert TSP Ambient noise Labor employment damage and size construction impact NO2 Construction noise Removal and Agricultural New soil erosion Pavement runoff CO resettlement ecology Water conservation Irrigation pattern Traffic noise Economic Land occupation effect Pollution risk development Restoration and analysis Resource compensation Sewage from development Land use facilities Infrastructure Public participation Environmental protection measures and suggestions Environmental countermeasures and profit/loss analysis Compile environmental impact assessment Compile environmental management plan assessment report Fig.1.6.2-1 Assessmentprocedurediagram - 7 -  World Bank Loan Jiangxi Project No. 3 Environmental Assessment Chapter 1 General Overview 1.7 Assessment grade and focal points 1.7.1 Assessment grade According to the "Technical Guidelines for Environmental Impact Assessment" (HJ/T2. 1-2.3-93, HJ/T2.4-1995, HJ/T19-1997), the assessment grade for each topic of this project is determined as shown in Table 1.7.1-1; the social environment assessment follows the "Environmental Impact Assessment Specification for Road Construction Project (tentative)" (JTJ005-96) . Table1.7.1-1 Topicassessmentgradeandbasis Topic Basis Grade Acoustic environments Noise level will increase significantly during and after the project is constructed Ambient air Relatively complicated landform, equiscalar discharge amount Pi<2.5