China - Qinba Mountains Poverty Reduction Project (Vol. 4 of 4)

f Appendix Ill ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR THE CHINA QINBA MOUNTAINS POVERTY REDUCTION PROJECT NINGXIA HUI AUTONOMOUS REGION Ningxia Research Institute of Environmental Protection September 1996, Yinchuan  * Table of Contets 1. Preface 1.1 The Project Background . I -..-.... --. *----.(1) 1. 2 The Requirement for theAssessment .-- (2) 1. 3 The Category ofAssessment .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..(2) * 1. 4 Basis for the Report .-.-.-...---.. (2) 1. 6 Applicable National Standards *- - ...........................(......4...... -) 1. 6 Basic Objcetive of Environmental Control and Protection ....................................................................(4) 1. 7 Principles and Methcds of Assessment -.---. -... (4) 1. 8 Process of the Assessment Work ................................................................................................ (5) * 1. 9 Brief Introduction of the Units and Personnels Participating in the Environmental Protection Impact Assessment (5) 2. Project Summnary . I -..........i.-.---.---... (8) 2. 1 The project Characteristics .. (8) 2. 2 The Objective of the Project ... (8) * 2. 3 The Deterrmination of the Project Areas. -................................ .......................................(8) 2. 4 The Project Construction Contents I'....................................... ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''..'''''''.'t'''''''.(10) 2. 5 The project Technical Design .- (12) 2. 6 Progress of the Project Implementation.. (13) 2. 7 Investment Estimate . (13) e 2. 8 The project Organization and Management .. (13) 3. The General Situation of the Environmnent in the Project Area. .(15) 3. 1 Natural Environment ..(15) 3. 2 Natural Disasters ........ (16) * 3. 3 The Social and Economic Situation -........X..............................(16) 3. 4 The Development Condition and Resources Evaluation ..(18) 4. Analysis of Environmental Influence and the Countermeasures . (21) 4. 1 Analysis of the Project Influence on Natural Conditions, Social/Economic Development and Environment System as Well * as the Countermeasures . I...... (21) 4. 2 Analysis and Countermeasures of the Influence from Agricultural Development Component on the Environment. .......................................................................... ..............................................- - ---.... --. (23) 4. 3 Analysis of the Influence of Rural Enterprises Development on Environment . .. . (33) 4. 4 Analysis of the Influence from Infrastructure Construction Project on the Environment . .(47) 5. Participation of the Public ----..-..--..-..---.................................................... (49) 5. 1 'The Purposes and Way of Survey ..............--.-.................................................... (49) 5. 2 The Objects and Contents of the Survey .................................................. (49) 5. 3 Survey Results and its Analysis .---.--. ....................... ................. (50) * 5. 4 Survey Results and Comprehensive Assessment .(51) 6. The Analysis of the Profit and Lanss of Environ mental Economy .......................................................... (54) 6. 1 The Principles of the Analysis .......................................................... (54) 0  . 6. 2 The Method of the Analysis .............................................................. (54) 6. 3 The Project Investment. (54)..................................................................................................... -54, 6. 4 The Project Benefits. ........................................................................................................-....(55) 6. 5 The Investment of the Environmental Protection ......................................................................(58) 6. 6 Conclusion ....................................................................................................(58) 7. Analysis of Environrnental Risks ............................................................................................... (59) 7. 1 Environnmental Risks ............................................................................................................ (60) 7. 2 Countermeasures ...................................................................................................(60) 8. Substitue Scheme . (61) 9. Environment Policies and Monitoring ......... "... .............. (63) 9. 1 Enviromnent Management .......................................................................................I........(63) 9. 2 Organization of Environment of Monitoring .................................................................(63) 10. Conclusion and Recommendation ..............................................................I....................(65) 10. 1 Feasibility Analysis of the Project Construction ..............................................................(65) 10. 2 Conclusion ........................................................................................... I .......I.......(65) 10. 3 Recommendations .. (65) Attached Tables. 1. Basic Date of the Project Area 2. Outline of the Project 3. Survey for the Public Participation Attached Maps: The Activities In Qinba Mountanious Area Poverty Reduction Would Band Loan Ningxia Project Area In Coina The Soil Map Of Qinba Mountanious Area Poverty Reduction World Bank Loan Ningxia Project Area In China The Map Of Qinba Mountanious Area Poverty Reduction World Bank Loan Ningxia Project Area In Cl-ina . 0 a.~~~~~~~~~~~~ .  1. Preface 1.1 The Project Backgrournd Xiji, Haiyuan, Tongxin, Jingyuan, Guyuan, Pengyang, Longde and Yanchi counties in Ningxia southern mountainous area are located at the transitional zone of arid and semi-arid zones of northwest of Chinma. The average annual rainfall in most part of the area is less than 400 mm. However, over 70% falls during July to September, the natural rainfall could not meet the basic demand of the crops growing. The drought fiequency is over 70% and the area is suffering from little precipitation and intensive evaporationi. The natural conditions are bad and the economic basis is weak. People are living in dire poverty. Now the population density had already been 54%/sq. krn, which was 2.7 timnes of the international critical umdicator used in the arid and semi-arid areas. The land is overloaded with population and the contradiction between people and natural environment is very big. The area is one of the poorest areas in our country. * In 1983, the Central Government began to calTy out a special agricultural program and the.strategy of poverty ahleviation in the " Three West" area. Through over the ten years' development and execution of poverty alleviation, the passive situation of the agricultural production has been turned round initially and also the poverty situation has been eased up. The Government action has laid a foundation for the farmers in Southern Ningxia to alleviate poverty and bring about prosperity. However, as the production condition has not been improved completely in most parts of 8 counties, in addition, the natural calamities there are frequent and there are still about 700,000 people with income below 320 yuan. The proportion of the area and population in poverty are 5 8% and 44% of the Regional total. This is the only case in China. The economic development in Ningxia is slow and the local financial income is low. It is difficult for Ningxia to support e those farmers to alleviate the poverty as fast as possible. In order to change the situation of these poor areas in southern Ningxia quickly and achieve the goals of the "National 87 poverty alleviation program" as scheduled, the State Council Poverty Alleviation Office, National Planning Commission and the Mimistry of Finance exchanged views with the World Bank and agreed to list Qinba Poverty Reduction project into the World Bank loan plan, and decided to select Xiji, Haiyuan, Tongxin, Jingyuan counties which are the poverty-striken area with more Hui nationality needed to be supported greatly in * southem Ningxia as the project area. : X_ *%Map I-I Distribution of Povcrty -stricken Area of Ninigiia 1 0  1.2 The Requiremenit for the Assessment According to the requirements of " the Environmental Protection Law of the People's Republic of China" , " the Law of Water and Soil Conservation " and other documents issued by the Envirorcnental Protection Bureau of China, State Planning Coninission, Ministry of Finance and People's Bank of China, Ningxia QB Project Management office entrusted Ningxia Environmental Protection Research Institute with the work of the environmental impact assessment of the project. After that, the qualified expeits have been organized to carry out the execution of the work. 1.3. The Category of Assessmenit The overall environmental impact assessment of China Qinba Mountains Poverty Reductioni World Bank Loan Project has been detennined as " Category B " . In Ningxia Project area, there are five components consisting of 67 subprojects. As the different environmental impacts created by different sub-projects, the category of enviromnental assessment are as follows through careful selection carried out by the vork team of the environmental assessment and decided by the Ningxia Environmental Protection Bureau: A. The projects in Category B: (1). Agricultural developmenit, includilng food crops, cash crops, fruit trees and breeding. (2).Rural enterprises development, including the extension of refined starch factory, the extension of cashmere and wool factory and the extension of the flax factory. (3). Rural infrastructure, including the water drinking works both for farmers and animals and small-scale irrigation works etc. B. The projects in category C: (1). The monitoring of poverty and the project management. (2). The establishment ofthe project management organization. 1.4. Basis for the Report . 1.4.1. Constitution and Laws (a). " lhe Constitution of the People's Republic of China" (b). " The Environmental Protection Law of The People's Republic of China" (c). " The Law of Prevention and Control of Air Pollution of the People's Republic of China" (d). " The Law of Prevention and Control of Water pollution of the People's Republic of China (e). " The Forestry Law of the People's Republic of Chia " . (f). " The Grassland Law of the People's Republic of China" (g). " The Water Law of the People's Republic of China" (h). "The Law of Water and Soil Conservation of the People's Republic of China" (). " The Law of Conservation of Wildlife of the People's Republic of China" 1.4.2. Laws and Regulations Five Laws and Regulations issued by the State Environmental Protection Bureau, the Environmental Protection Commission under the State Council and related Ministries are as follows: (a). "Administrative Measures for Environmental Protection of Construction Projects" issued by the Environmental Protection Commission in 1986. (b). "Several Pieces of Advice on Environment Management of Constriction Projects" issued by the State environmental Protection bureau in 1988. (c). "Regulations for Environmental Protection Design of Construction Projects" issued by the Environmental Protection Conrmission in 1987. (d). Several Pieces of Advice for Further Strengthening Management of Construction Projects issued by the State Enviromnental Protection Bureau in 1993. (d). "Notice for Improvement of Management of Enviromnental Impact Assessment of Construction Projects Financed by 2  . (d). "Notice for Improvement of Management of Environmental Impact Assessment of Constructioni Projects Financed by Intemnational Financial Organizations" issued by the State Environmental Protection bureau in 1993. * 1.4.3. The Technical Specifications Eight Technical Specifications issued by the State Environmental Protection Bureau, the Academy of Environmental science of China and related Ministries are as followvs: (a). "Technical Guide Book on Environmental Inpact Assessment (HJ/T 2.1-2.3-93)" published by the State Environmental Protection Bureau in April,1994. (b). "Environmental Management of Construction Projects" worked out by the Development and Supervision Department of the State Environumental Protection Bureau in 1990. (c). "Technical Principles and Methods for Environmental Impact Assessment" worked out by the Development and * Supervision Department of the State Environmental Protection Bureau in February, 1992. (d). " Guidance of Environmontal Impact Assessment of Agriculture in China ( to be discussed)" worked out by the Development and Supervision Department of the State Environmental Protection Bureau and Environmental Research and Monitoring Institute of Ministry of Agriculture in May,1995. (e). " Proposed Technical Specification for Ecological Impact Assessment of Natural Resources Development and Construction Projects (to be screened)" worked out by the Natural Protection Department of the State Environmerital Protection bureau in December,1995. (t). "A Data Collection of Environmental Impact Assessment of the World Bank Technical Document No,139, 140 and * 154" collected by the Development and Supervision Department of the State Environmental Protection bureau in October,1993. (g). "Teaching Material Series for training on Environmental Impact Assessment for the Technical Assist Project Financed by the Asian Development Bank(draft)" worked out by the Development and Supervision Department of the State Environmental Protection Bureau in February,1992. * (h). "Environmental Impact Assessment Program for China Qinba Mountains Poverty Reduction World Bank Loan Project" worked out by China Academy of Environmental Science in June,1996- 1.4.4. Basis of the Work . (a). " The Project Proposals for Ningxia Project Area of China Qinba Mountains Poverty Reduction World Bank Loan Project" issued by the Leading Group of Poverty Reduction of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Ningxia Planning Commission and Financial Bureau in January ,1996 . (b). " The Feasibility Study Report of Ningxia Project Area" prepared by Ningxia Project Management Office under * China Qnba Mountains Poverty reduction World Bank Loan Project. (c). "The Program of the Environmental Impact Assessment of Ningxia Project Area" (revision). (d). Entrustment Book for Environumental Impact Assessment of Ningxia Project" done by Ningxia Project management Office in February, 1996 (e). "Examination advice on 'Environmental Impact Assessment of Ningxia Project Area" prepared by Ningxia Environmental Protection Bureau on April 19, 1996. (f). Reply to the Standards Adopted for environmental Impact assessment of Ningxia Project Area "Put forward by Ningxia Environmental Protection Bureau on September 20,1996. (g). Reply to the Examination Advice on Environmental Impact Assessment for Each Provincial Project" Issued by the * State Enviromnental Protection Bureau on June 17,1996 (h). "Reply to the Examination Advice on Environmental Impact Assessment Program of China Qinva Mountains Poverty Reduction World Bank Loan Project" issued by the State Environmental Prodection Bureau On June 17,1996. 3  I.S. Applicable National Standards (1). " Atmaspheric Environment Quality Standard" (GB3095 -82) (2). 'Ground water Environmlent Quality Standard" (GB383S -88) (3). "Underground Water Enviromnent Quality Standard" (GB/T14848 -93) (4). "Daily Drinking Water Hygienic Standard" (FB5794 -92) (5). "Fishery Water quality Standard" (GB1607-89) (6). "Iirigation Water Quality Standard" (GB5084 -92) (7). "Pennissive Highest Pollutant Concerntrationi in Atmosphere for Crop Protection" (GB137 -88) (8). "Comprehlensive Sewage Discharge Standard" (GB8978 -88) (9). "Proposed Standard for Industrial Three Wastes Discharge" (GBJ4 -73) (10). "Industrial FVurance and Kliin Dust Discharge Standard " (GB9078 -88) (11). "Noise Standard for Industrial Enterprises" (GB9078 -88) (12). "Designed Hygienic Standard for Industrial Enterprises" (TJ36 -79) (13). "Agrochemicals Application Safety Standard" (GB4285 -89) 1.6. Basic Objective of Environmental Control and Prodection (1). To construct an ordered and high-efficiency ecological system at the project sites in order to promote the compositive ecological system of society, economy and nature to benign circle and ensure sustainable development of the areas. (2). To improve present landscape and environmental quality in the project sites and reduce damage in the development of the areas. (3). To control the pestcides and fertilizer application to a rational limit to prevent soil and water from pollution. (4). To prevent white pollution produced by application of plastic mulch in agricultural production. (5). To strictly prohibit the establishment of those rural enterprises that would produce pollution in the project sites and adopt clean productive technology to ensure that new industrial pollution would be produced no longer with the construction of the project sites. 1.7. Principles and Methods of Assessunent 1. 7.1. Principles of Assessment (1). The requirement of the world Bank for the environmental impact assessment must be met with revelant national regulations on environmental impact assessment are carried out. (2). The environmental impact assessment aims at the major influence on environment which would be produced by the project construction. (3). Relevant specialists, decision makers and beneficiaries were invited to take part in the assessment to ensure the assessment results to provide scientific bases for the project construction. . 1.7.2. Methods of Assessment The methods of assessment mainly depends on existing data and the on-the- spot survey and detection. On the basis of on- the-spot survey, feasible reports on similar areas, the macro environmental analysis and assessment were made in a descriptive, qualitative or quantitative way. 1.7.3. Procedure of the Assessment Work 4 .  . It is given in the flow chart. 1.8. Process of the Assessment Work On Janlaryl3,1996, with the recommendation of Ningxia Environmental Protection Bureau, Ningxia Project Management Office under China Qinba Mountains Poveity Reduction World Bank Loan Project made a contact with Ningxia Institute of * Environmental Protection and provided "Proposal for Ningxia Project Area of China Qinba Mountains Poverty Reduction World Bank Loan Project" and "Report on Environmental Inpact on Yunnan Project Area of China Southwest Poverty Reduction World Bank Loan Project" (brief version) for the departments concerned and decided that Ningxia Institute of Environmental Protection would undertake the enviromnental impact assessment of the project and Ningxia Agricultural Environmental Protection Monitoring Station, Ningxia Water Resources and Hydroelectric Survey and Design Institute and Ningxia Agricultural Survey and Design Institute would participate in the work. The departments participating in the environmental impact assessment work began to familiarize with the project. On February 2, Ningxia Project Management Office fonnally entrusted Ningxia tnstitute of Enviromnental Protection with the environmental impact assessment on the project. On March 28, the Poverty Reduction Project Management Office of the State held a coordination and pre-examination meeting on Ningxia project area of Qinba Project in Ningxia. The progress of the enviromunental impact assessment work was determined at the meeting. The meeting participants went to Xiji to made an investigation to typical fanner households -* the following day. On Anril 17, chaired by Ningxia Envirotunental Protection Bureau, the related departments and specialists invited assessed and examined the working program of enviromnental imnpact assessment on the project. The departments attenting the meeting includeed Ninigxia Planning Commnission , Ningxia Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Institute of Soil and Fertilizer, Ningxia Science and Technology Commission and Ningxia water Resources Bureau. The working program was in principle and would be further improved and added as a basis of drawing up the report on environmental impact assessmrnt. * On April 27, the World Bank Project technical preparation mission made a field visit to Ningxia and Mr. Zhang Chonghua, the official from the World Bank put fosvard a guiding advice on the scope and focus of the environmental impact assessment on Nimgxia Project area. On June 6, the units participating in the enviromunental impact assessment completed the working program of enviroiunental x assessment (version). On Junet7, the working program was examined and approved by the State Environmelntal Protection BureauL Ningxia Institute of Envirounental Protection finished the repjort on enviromnental impact assessment(draft) with hard Nvork. * 1.9. Brief Introdutctioii of the Units and Personuels Participating in the Environmeutal Protection Impact Assessment 1.9.1. Brief Introduction of the Assessment Units Ningxia Institute of Enviromunental Protection has acquired the first -class certificate for enviroinmental impact assessment * issued by the State environmental Protection Bureau (the certificate No. 0937) and established special organization for environmuental imnpact assessment -------the Office of Enviromntiiental Engineering Assessment. The office was set up in 1986, tip to date, the office has 13 professional and nionl-professionial staff, including 7 senior engineers and 5 engineers, most of 5  them have received training on entvironmental impact assessmenit provided by the State Environmental Protection Bureau and two of them have received the training on environmental assessment of the assisted projects financed by the Woild Bank or the Asian Developmenit Bank. . Accept ocntrustment l I Co. allectionofSurveyof rnt of Mnws i regultions, Ask for advice from Data collection, environmentalSitat calculation survey protection ~~~~~~~~~~departments. l artw up environrkental impact assessment working prograt in | Submit to Construction Unit |< , . 6 |Submit to t=vionrmental |ueigo environmental| |protection departes | | iTrnpact assessment program l l | ~~~~Revision of envirornmental| ; j ~~~impact assessmenlt program l Review and approval of the environrnental imipact assessment prograrnam . ~~~~~~~~~~Signing of contract Collctio Of at,] Survey of presen NMonitoring of presn Forecast and . Collection of data ~situatio situation calculation |Work out and review specia topic reports| - |~~~~~Prepare environrnental impact statement(EIS)| t 0 ~~~~~~Sacrening EITS| Submit to envirounmcntal| l protection departments l l Revision of EISl | Reply to, E1 End Filow Chart 1-2 Working Procedure of Environrnental Impact Assessment 6  The Institute has finished over 30 environmental impact assessments and has the experience to undertake environmental * assessment for large-scale pi oject constuction. Theitems maily include: (1). Enlvironmental impact assessment for the First -phase Yellow River Pumping Irrigation Project for Helping the Poor. (2). Enviroiunental itnpact assessment for Yinbei Low and -Mfiddle yielding Farmland Transfonration Project etc. 1.9.2. A Brief Introduction of the Major Participants in the Compilation of the Report on Environmental lnpact Assessment for the Project Brief Introduction of Staff Members Participating in Environmental Impact Assessment of Ningxia Project Area * Nuaenc Post Tec.-ical title Spociality Task Unit . ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Nmgi2&jo Institute of Enlimuixmtlzet Ai Xianyusn 1 Division chief Senior cnginecr {amcinistry Tclhnical examniner Nitin Sun Shiwen Dcputy division Senior engineer nt Pcrson in ch2argc of Ningxia Isticute of Environmental cltief cnicrng the pro cc Protection * Hu Jioqing Officc dircetor Senior cnginccr Environmental Major report Ningxia Institute of Environrnental .-to liNing Office director enior engineer cngincering . coMpler ProtectiOIl Office vicc . Major report Ning,ca Institute of Environmenta l)csng Yunfectg director engnecr EcologY compiler Protoction Wang Mu Engineer Trsmsert control ~Major report Ningxta Institute of Environmental NVang Mu Engineer Desert control o~ompiler [Protection JN!ngxia Agro. nronl Yin Yunxiang Station chief Professor Agritci'turc Report participant Protecton Monitoring Sation Environmnental Ninigxia Water Conservancy and WVang Xinjun engineer Rcport participant Hydi_,x% ric Survey -el a sign enigineering Tnstituite, Gao Jijun . Engineer Hydrogeology Report pauricipant NingxJa institutc of Er.vironmental 1 P~~~~~rotectiotn 0~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WVang . Soll-agro. . Ningxla Agriculturel Survey and Quanxiang Engineer chemnistry Report Parcpat i titut 7 *0  2. Project Summniary . 2.1. The Project Characteristics 2.1.1 The Project Name China Qinba Moruntains Poverty Reduction World Bank Loan Project 2.1.2 lle Project Characteristics The project objectives are a). severely to carry out constrmction of water conservancy works, b). To realize fill arrangemerits in agriculture, forestry and animal husbandry and develop them in an all-round way, c). To improve and complete infrastructure and develop the processing industry of on-farrn and sideline products, d). To establish the complete system of technical services, scientific research and monitoring etc. The project is an integrate agricultural development one. 2.2 The Objective of the Project 2.2.1. The Overall Objective of the Project Thc objective of the project is to alleviate the poverty and crcate a permanent income resource for the farmers through the comprehensive development of agriculture, forestry and animnal husbandry and the establishment of the scientific and teclnical system so as to improve the development of the social economy in the project counties. 2.2.2. The Concrete Objectives The project would realize the following objectives in the six years of the project implementation including a) Income: According to 1990 fixed price, the annual average per capita net income among 44,814 households would reach more than 500 yuan. The annual average per capita net income below 400 yuan among the households that have adequate number of able -bodied workers would not exceed 4,033 ones. b). Improving farmland: The basic farmland per capita would be 2 mu. c). Extending practical skills: In the project area, one person in each faniily among 92% of the households must grasp at least one of the rural practical skill except crops planting. d ). Providing infrastructure: In the project areas, the project would solve the problem of drinking water both for farmers and aiiinials in over 80% of the administrative villages. Additional irrigation land per household would reach more than 1 mu. 2.3 The Determination of the Project Areas. 2.3.1 The Selection Criteria of the Project Areas. (a). The project areas must be the major poverty-stricken counties listed in the National 87 Poverty alleviation program. (b). The project areas must be those situated in shady and moist, high and cold, arid and suffering from the harsh natural conditions. The areas must be most difficult and need to be suppoit urgently in poverty alleviation. 8 0  S1~~~dIOrtf nt,adc tslotn ot Nint =~ ' ' -= * . 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