China - Second Henan Highway Project : environmental action plan (Vol. 2 of 7) : Environmental impact assessment : executive summary

THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA E I NATIONAL TRUNK ROAD FROM LIANYUNGANG TO HUOERGUOSI LUOYAiVG-SANMENX/A EXPRESSWAY AND ITS LINKING ROADS Henan Provincial Communications Department August, 1995  Abbreviations HPCD Henan Provincial Communications Department HPCRDt Henan Provincial Communications Reconnaissance and Design Institute HPEPB Henan Provincial Environmental Protection Bureau HPFD Henan Provincial Fire Department HPHHMA Henan Provincial High-grade Highway Management Authority HPICRA Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology HPPSD Henan Provincial Public Security Department  Table of Contents I Luoyang-Sanmenxia Expressway 1. General 2. Project Description 3. Environmental Situation 4. Predicted Environmental Impacts 5. Environmental Impact Mitigation Measures 6. Analysis of Alternatives 7. Relocation and Resettlement 8. Public Participation II. Linking Roads 1. Introduction 2. Project Description 3. Environmental Situation 4. Predicted Environmental Impacts 5. Environmental Impact Mitigation Measures 6. Public Participation Ill. Appendices 1. Identification of Environmental Impacts 2. Prediction of Future Traffic Noise Exceeding the Standard at Sensitive Points 3. Air Quality Prediction Results of Sensitive Points 4. Summary of Environmental Mitigation Measures Considered in Design Stage 5. Summary of Environmental Mitigation Measures for Construction Stage 6. Summary of Environmental Mitigation Measures for the Operation Period 7. Sensitive Points Deserving Sound Arresters 8. Environmental Management Network for the Construction Period 9. Environmental Management Network for the Operation Period 10. Environmental Monitoring Program for Construction Period 11. Environmental Monitoring Program for Operation Period 12. Key Elements of THE EAP for Luoyang-Sanmenxia Expressway 13. Prediction of Traffic Noise Exceed the Standard at Sensitive Points of Linking Roads 14. Environmental Mitigation Measures for Design Stage of Linking Roads 15. Environmental Mitigation Measures for Construction Period of Linking Roads 16. Environmental Mitigation Measures for Operation Period of Linking Roads 17. Environmental Monitoring Program for the Construction Period of Linking Roads 18. Environmental Monitoring Program for the Operation Period of Linking Roads 19. Key Elements of EAP for Linking Roads  EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. Luovana-Sanmenxia Expressway 1. General 1.1 Luoyang-Sanmenxia expressway, a section of the national trunk road starting from Lianyungang and ending at Huoerguosi, is the west part of the section located in Henan Province. When completed to link with Xian-Lintong-Weinan expressway in the west and Kaifeng-Zhengzhou-Luoyang expressway in the east, it will result in great benefits to the expressway network and local economy. Entrusted with the environmental impact assessment {EIA) by Henan Provincial High-grade Highway Construction Authority in November 28, 1994, Henan Provincial Environmental Protection Institute (holding Class A EIA certificate issued by the National Environmental Protection Agency [NEPA] ) completed, in December, 1994, the EIA outline on the basis of field visits. On February 21, 1995, Henan Provincial Environmental Protection Agency organized review of the EIA outline as mandated by NEPA. On the ground of a large quantity of field investigation, monitoring, analysis, prediction and public consultation efforts, the EIA report was prepared in Artril, 1995. 1.2 The EIA was prepared in compliance with the following requirements: 1.2.1 Environmental Management Directive to Construction Projects 1.2.2 World Bank Operational Directives 1.2.3 Review of the "EIA Outline for Luoyang-Sanmenxia Expressway, A Section of the National Trunk Road from Lianyungang to Huoerguosi" by the Henan Provincial Environmental Protection Agency in Letter No. YHJ-21 (1995) 1.2.4 World Bank's comments on environmental protection appraisal of Luoyang- Sanmenxia expressway, faxed on January 6, 1 995 1.2.5 Minutes prepared by the World Bank project identification mission for Henan 2 Highway Project in March, 1995 1.3 This report also includes summaries of "Action Plan for Environmental Protection of Luoyang-Sanmenxia Expressway", "Resettlement Implementation Plan for Luoyang-Sanmenxia Expressway" and archaeological salvation report. 1.4 While studying and predicting the environmental setting on both sides of the proposed Luoyang-Sanmenxia expressway, the EIA also describes the eco-environment and air pollution sources in larger range upto 1 000 m from the road. In detail, the EIA involves: 1.4.1 investigation of the environmental background and public opinions along the proposed road 1.4.2 analysis of the present environmental quality along the road 1.4.3 prediction of possible environmental impacts in construction and operation periods ES-1  1.4.4 provision of environmental impact mitigation measures, development of environmental management/monitoring programs for construction and operation periods 1.4.5 comparison of south versus north route alternatives at Guanyintang and also development of the preferable proposal. 1.5 EIA of this project involves such environmental laws/regulations and environmental standards as: 1.5.1 "Law of Environmental Protection, PRC" 1.5.2 "Law of Air Pollution Control, PRC" 1.5.3 "Regulation for Noise Poltution Control, PRC." 1.5.4 "Law of Land Management, PRC" 1.5.5 "Law of Cultural Relics Protection, PRC" 1.5.6 "Procedure for Environmental Protection of Construction Projects" issued by NEPA in Letter No. No. 003 (86) 1.5.7 "Procedure for Environmental Management of Communications Projects" issued by the Minister of Communications in his Decree No. 17 (90) 1.5.8 "Procedure for Environmental Protection of Construction Projects in Henan Provincial" 1.5.9 "Air Environmental Quality Standard, PRC" (GB3095-82) 1.5.10 "Environmental Noise Standard for Urban Areas, PRC" (GB3096-93) 1.5.11 "Standard for Pollutant Emission from Asphalt Industry, PRC" (GB4916-85) 1.6 EIA of this project includes 4 base years, namely, construction period: 1996-1999 initial operation period: 2000 middle operation period: 2010 late operation period: 2020 1.7 Main conclusions retrieved from the project EIA are as follows: 1.7.1 The local physio-ecology along the proposed road is as commonly observed in this region. With low vegetation coverage, Soil erosion is so serious that most of the road sections are susceptible to water and soil loss. There is no rare and endangered species within 1 km from the road. ES-2  1.7.2 With relatively good environmental noise situation, the project area is rather quiet. But the local air environmental quality is to some extent polluted, and concentrations of T.S.P. and CO are comparatively high. Lead content in the arable layer of soil is at a normal level. 1.7.3 Water and soil loss may be serious as a result of surface vegetation destruction due to construction activities. Generally, the affected range of noise due to construction activities in day hours will not be farther than 100 m from the worksites, although the range may be beyond 200 m at night hours. Blown dust and asphalt smoke arising from construction activities will mainly affect the range within 100 m leeward of the worksites though the area 100-200 m away will be affected to some extent. However, such impacts will be minor in the area 200 m away from the worksites. 1.7.4 Sensitive points within 100 m from the roadside will be exposed to traffic noise impacts. Especially, such interference will be more significant at night hours. In the operation stage, vehicle exhaust will pose certain impacts on the air environment leeward of the roadside. N0 concentrations may exceed the EIA standard. 1.7.5 With appropriate mitigating/offsetting measures, all the project-related environmental impacts will be minimized. 1.7.6 Both the local communities and governments support the road construction. 1.7.7 Out of the south and north alternatives at Guanyintang, the south scheme is adopted, considering topography, environment, resettlement and other factors. 2. Proiect Descriotion 2.1 Located in the west part of Henan Province, on the south bank of the Yellow River, this road has a total length of 134.214 km. In accordance with standards for expressways in extensive hilly areas, it will be built into a 4-lane expressway at its full length. With a roadbed width of 24.5 m and a calculated speed of 100 km/h, it will require a total cost about 4000 million RMB. 2.2 This road happens to start from the end point (Dongtouzhuang Village in Mengjin County, Luoyang City) of Zhengzhou-Luoyang expressway under construction. Going through north of Xinan C:ounty seat, Yima City and Mianchi County seat, and south of Sanmenxia City, it ends at Chengcun Village northwest of the new Shanxian County seat in Sanmenxia City. 2.3 Construction of this road requires a total land area of 13285.24 mu (885.68 ha) for permanent use, including 10525.92 mu (701.73 ha) dryland, 972.96 mu (64.86 ha) wasteland, 922.98 mu (61.53 ha) orchard, 5.6 mu (0.37 ha) vegetable plot, 173.39 mu (11.56 ha) forest farm (land) and 684.39 ha (45.63 ha) residential site. ES-3  2.4 At the full length of the road, there are 7 interchanges, 27 overpasses, 10 super bridgas with a total length of 9578.29 m, 31 large bridges (6838.54 m), 4 middle- sized bridges (334.28 m), 7 small bridges (833.07 m), 111 culverts (7678.73 m), 66 overline bridges (3859.88 m) and 137 passageways (5064.09 m). There are also 3 service zones. 2.5 Lying where the land fluctuates to a great extent, this road requires large quantities of excavation and backfill works. The whole roadbed includes 24.6019 miltion m3 backfill and 29.4548 million m3 excavation works. The pavement totals 2.5094 mi;lion m2 while slope protection works of grouted scabbling total 0.3465 million m3. 2.6 Among the construction materials required for this road, steel, cement and timber will be supplied by Luoyang, Mianchi and Sanmenxia Cities at a short hauling distance. Separately sourcing from Ruyang and Nanyang at a long distance, sand will be transported via highway and railway. Stone materials will be supplied by Yanshi, Xinan, Yima, Mianchi and Shanxian at a short distance. The embankment required for the road bed will be generally excavation materials which will be longitudinally allocated in a reasonable manner. 2.7 Planned to be commenced in 8 lots ill 1996, this road will be open to traffic by the end of 1 999. 2.8 Through environmental impact identification (see Table 1), ecoenvironment (including water and soil loss), noise, air, cultural relics and agriculture are chosen as significant environmental elements of this project, although social environment and landscape are also considered. Ill. Environmental Situation 3.1 Along this road, the section of area from Luoyang to Xinan lies in loess broken county with developed gullies. Passing through Mount Xiaoshan, the section from Xinan to Sanmenxia is located in extensive hillyland areas with developed gullies and fluctuating land. From Sanmenxia to the end of this road, it is loess plateau. Out of the total length of the road, some 90 km is distributed in extensive hillyland while the rest 40 km is located in loess plateau and broken country. 3.2 The project area belongs to highland and broken country of the second bench terrain where there are many coal fields, including a large coal subsidence north of Guanyintang township. The project area is limited to the Yellow River basin, the rivers here are rain-fed seasonal ones except Jianhe, Qinglonghe and Canglonghe Rivers which are permanent ones. Ground water here, except in floodland areas, is phreatic water lying 60- 80 m (100 m in some cases) under the ground. With a developed fault tectonics and many major faults, there have ever happened sensible earthquakes here. The basic seismic intensity east of Mianchi is 6 degrees while it is 7 degrees from Mianchi to Guanyintang and 8 degrees west of Guanyintang. 3.3 The project area belongs to the warm semi-arid continental monsoon climate zone, with distinct four seasons. The mean annual temperature is 12.6-13.9