Turkmenistan - Avian Influenza (AI) Control and Human Pandemic Preparedness and Response Project

E1863 TURKMENISTAN MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND MEDICAL INDUSTRY MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE MINISTRY OF NATURE PROTECTION INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION AVIAN INFLUENZA CONTROL AND HUMAN PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT PLAN April 2008  Avian Influenza Control and Human Pandemic Preparedness and Response Project Environmental Assessment and Management Plan 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background 1.2 Objective 1.3 World Bank Safeguard Policies 2. DESCRIPTION OF CURRENT SITUATION 3. POLICY, LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK 3.1 Policy Context 3.2 Legal/Regulatory Framework for Environmental Assessment/Management 3.3 Institutional Framework for Environmental Assessment/Management 4. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT 4.1 Objective 4.2 Components 5. POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND PREVENTIVE ACTIONS/MITIGATION MEASURES 5.1 Social and Environmental Benefits 5.2 Potential Environmental and Social Risks 6. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 6.1 Prevention and Monitoring Plan 6.2 Institutional Arrangements 6.3 Proposed Schedule 7. CONSULTATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND BENEFICIARIES 7.1 Environmental Screening Mission 7.2 Public Consultation 8. PROPOSED BUDGET Annex A OIE Guidance on the Bio-Safety Levels for Laboratories Annex B Excerpts from FAO Recommendations Annex C Excerpts from SVD Procedures Annex D Comparison of Disposal Methods for Animal Wastes Annex E Recommended Disinfectants for Viruses Annex F International Best Practice in Safety of Research Laboratories Annex G Environmental Management Guidelines for Contracts Annex H Environmental Screening Mission Annex I Environmental Assessment and Management Plan Workshop 2  ACRONYMS AHIF Avian and Human Influenza Facility AI Avian Influenza BSL Bio-safety Level CDC Centers for Disease Control (US) DID Department of Infectious Diseases EA Environmental Assessment EAMP Environmental Assessment and Management Plan EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EMP Environmental Management Plan FAO United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization GOT Government of Turkmenistan GPAI Global Program for Avian Influenza Control HPAI Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza IBRD International Bank for Reconstruction and Development MOA Ministry of Agriculture MOHMI Ministry of Health and Medical Industry MONP Ministry of Nature Protection NAIAP National Avian Influenza Action Plan NEAP National Environmental Action Plan NGO Non-governmental Organization OIE World Organization for Animal Health/International Office of Epizootics PCR Polymerase Chain Reaction PPE Personal Protective Equipment SEE State Environmental Expertise SES Sanitary and Epidemiological Service SOP Standard Operating Procedures SPCEM Scientific Production Center for Environmental Monitoring SVD State Veterinary Department UN United Nations UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNICEF United Nations Children's Fund US United States WHO World Health Organization 3  Avian Influenza Control and Human Pandemic Preparedness and Response Project Environmental Assessment and Management Plan 1. INTRODUCTION This Environmental Assessment and Management Plan (EAMP) has been prepared for the Avian Influenza Control and Human Pandemic Preparedness and Response Project in Turkmenistan in order to ensure that the project incorporates sound environmental and social management principles and practices and thus complies with both the environmental laws and regulations of the Government of Turkmenistan (GOT) and the environmental safeguard policies of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). 1.1 Background To date, Turkmenistan has not had any recorded outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). However, cases of avian influenza (AI) have been reported in neighboring countries in the region, such as Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkey. Moreover, Turkmenistan is a migration transit point for several migratory birds, thus posing a risk of migratory birds introducing AI into the country. From September to October each year, migratory birds fly into Turkmenistan from Russia (Astrakhan province), Kazakhstan (west and central), Uzbekistan and Siberia (east and west). These birds may stay at main reservoirs and then leave for Iran (west), the Arabian countries, South Africa, Afghanistan, India and Pakistan. Following the same routes, these birds fly back across Turkmenistan between March and April each year to their original destinations. The GOT has identified tackling the problem posed by the spread of AI as a top priority. In fact, it was a personal objective of the former President, who established and chaired the Emergency Committee organized to deal with the problem. High priority is also given to developing the systems and structures to deal with this issue. To this end, the GOT prepared the National Avian Influenza Action Plan (NAIAP) and submitted it to the United Nations (UN) in Ashgabat for possible project financing. A number of international institutions (principally FAO, UNICEF and WHO) are currently supporting the GOT's efforts by upgrading veterinary and public health laboratories and providing technical assistance for increasing GOT preparedness as well as equipment and materials for improving veterinary responsiveness. At the request of the GOT, IBRD and its partner institutions (CDC, FAO, UNDP, UNICEF) are consolidating their support in the proposed project. The project basically would provide assistance to the GOT for, among other things, procurement of personal protective equipment, upgrading of laboratory capacity, training for laboratory staff, strengthening domestic and international transport of samples, preparing and printing mass communication materials, training for medical, veterinary and public health personnel in surveillance protocols and creating conditions for the reliable testing of large numbers of samples should an outbreak occur. This assistance will be financed by a grant of US$ 1.97 million from the Avian and Human Influenza Facility (AHIF), funded largely by the European Union (EU). In-kind contributions in the form of technical assistance, training, and equipment will be provided by CDC, FAO, UNDP, and UNICEF. 1.2 Objective The objective of the environmental assessment (EA) in Sections 1-5 of this document is to 4  identify the significant environmental and social impacts of the project (both positive and negative) and to specify appropriate preventive actions and mitigation measures (including appropriate monitoring and capacity building) to prevent, eliminate or minimise any anticipated adverse impacts. The environmental management plan (EMP) contained in Sections 6-8 of the document is the framework that ensures that the environmental prevention/mitigation measures and monitoring activities identified in the EA will be properly undertaken during implementation of the project. The EMP also establishes the necessary institutional responsibilities, proposes a timetable for implementing these activities and estimates their costs for the proposed project budget. 1.3 IBRD Safeguard Policies As with the other AI projects that IBRD has prepared in the region, the current project is considered a Category "B" project, triggering the safeguard policy for Environmental Assessment (OP 4.01, BP 4.01, GP 4.01). The anticipated environmental and social impacts of the project's investments in animal health (i.e. equipment for proper surveillance, culling and disposal of poultry/wild birds where necessary, rehabilitation of veterinary laboratories) and human health (i.e. rehabilitation of the central laboratory for AI diagnosis) trigger this safeguard policy. Because these anticipated impacts will be neither significant nor irreversible, however, and can be prevented or reduced through appropriate preventive actions or mitigation measures, the project's Category "B" classification requires only a partial environmental assessment. This EAMP, ensuring that recommended preventive actions and mitigation measures will be undertaken, will satisfy this safeguard policy1. The EA confirmed the Category "B" designation for the project, finding no significant, irreversible, cumulative or long-term adverse impacts. In fact, the EA identified a preponderance of positive project impacts and only minor negative impacts that could be effectively prevented or reduced through application of appropriate preventive actions (see discussion of impacts in Section 5). The EA also confirmed that IBRD's other safeguard policies (on natural habitats, pest management, cultural property, involuntary resettlement, indigenous peoples, forests, safety of dams and projects in disputed areas or on international waterways) do not apply to the present project. 1 The policy will actually be satisfied once the EAMP has been publicly disclosed in Turkmenistan, consulted with stakeholders, found satisfactory by the GOT and the IBRD, and filed in the Bank's InfoShop. 5  2. DESCRIPTION OF CURRENT SITUATION Poultry Sector The total poultry population in Turkmenistan is estimated at 15.5 million, with 14.62 million in the private sector and 0.091 million in the public sector (see Table 1). Most chickens in the country are kept as backyard poultry (93 percent of the total poultry population), in flocks of 5 to 20 birds, to meet daily domestic needs for eggs and meat. Backyard flocks are largely tended by women with the help of children and have limited access to veterinary care, making them susceptible to various disease outbreaks, including AI. This further enhances the risks for animal- human transmission. Table 1: Poultry Population in Public and Private Sectors in Turkmenistan Poultry Population S. No. Velayat (in thousands) Total Public Sector Private Sector 01 Ahal 65.4 3,994.0 4,059.4 02 Balkan 0 938.0 938.0 03 Doshoguz 1.4 3,276.4 3,277.8 04 Lebap 19.1 2,720.9 2,740.0 05 Mary 5.6 4,514.2 4,519.8 Total 91.5 15,443.5 15,535.0 In the private sector, in addition to backyard poultry, there are also 11 big poultry farms (see Table 2). They handle mainly layer birds, with only two farms rearing broilers. The total number of birds at these farms is around 1.1 million, only seven percent of the total poultry in Turkmenistan. Ten of the poultry farms are located within a 100 km radius of Ashgabat; the one remaining farm is about 250 km away in Balkan Velayat. Table 2: Big Commercial Poultry Farms in Turkmenistan S. Name of Poultry Farm Velayat Total Number of Birds No. Layers Broilers 1. Shohrat Anna Ahal 350,000 - 2. Archabil Ahal 70,000 30,000 3. Durdynazar Ahal 30,000 - 4. Omer-Osman Ahal 65,000 - 5. Altyn Hilal Ahal - 340,000 6. Juma Amanshahedowyn Ahal 40,000 - 7. Akbugday Serdary Ahal 25,000 - 8. Sungat Ahal 20,000 - 9. Ishanguly Ahal 40,000 - 10. Caryyarmuhammet Ahal 25,000 - 11. Serdar Balkan 70,000 - Total 785,000 370,000 Up until last year, about 24,000 tons of poultry meat was imported from countries free from AI (90 percent from the US, 10 percent from Brazil and France). This importation of meat was stopped, but people began complaining about the shortage of meat so the GOT may allow the resumption of imports again soon. At present, about 700,000 embryonated eggs per year are being imported from Iran. At entry points into the country (including airports and railway stations), 115 veterinarians have been posted to ensure that all imported eggs carry an AI free certification. 6  The GOT has banned the importation of live poultry and issued an order prohibiting all backyard flocks in the cities. These measures were supported by an extensive media campaign in the autumn of 2005 to raise public awareness of AI and give advice to the public on what to look out for. Surveillance of Wild Birds Turkmenistan is right on a major fly-way of migratory birds between Europe and Asia to the north and the Middle East and India to the south. Every year about 20 million migratory birds fly across the country twice, in September-October and then again in March-April. There are 13 main water reservoirs or wetland areas in the country's five velayats, including the Caspian Sea, used by the wild birds as resting spots during their migration: