GUIDELINES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCREENING OF ROAD PROJECTS

Transcription

1 GUIDELINES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCREENING OF ROAD PROJECTS April, 1997 Juan Quintero The World Bank Latin America and Caribbean Region Type of Projects Much of the confusion as to the project environmental category and the type of environmental and social work required stems from the lack of an unified definition and classification of road works. Words like rehabilitation, improvements, upgrading (and sometimes 'modernization") are used interchangeably in the same report or indiscriminately across LAC. A clear definition of the type of works and activities is therefore needed. The following 5 categories, in increasing order of environmental concern, are proposed:

2 1. Maintenance Routine or periodic works to maintain the road in working conditions. All of the work is done on the existing platform. routine works, patching potholes, clearing drains; or periodic works such as resurfacing, linemarking, bridge maintenance. 2. Rehabilitation Bringing existing deteriorated roads to previous/original conditions. All of the work is done on the existing platform/ right of way. No additional land acquisition is needed. improving drainage/slopes/embankments/other structures strengthening pavements complete resurfacing recuperating civil works 3. Improvements Improving road specifications. Most of the work is done on the existing platform or right of way. Additional land acquisition may be needed. widening lanes and shoulders adding extra lanes in steep inclines improving curves strengthening bridges 4. Upgrading Changing road category (e.g. seasonal to all-weather, secondary to primary, or from gravel to paved). Land acquisition is needed in most cases. adding new lanes (2 to 4, 4 to 6, etc.) changing road surface (such as from gravel to paved) widening intersections 5. New Construction New projects built on a new alignment. Major land acquisition is needed. new roads bypasses realignments (changing in route)

3 Site Location and Sensitivity Site location and sensitivity is a major factor in determining the type and extent of the required environmental work. A three grade system (low, medium, and high sensitivity) is proposed for : natural habitats, resettlement, indigenous peoples, induced development, soil stability/erosion, and cultural heritage. If information is available, more items could be added during project preparation (such as noise, water quality, and drainage density). Low Sensitivity Medium Sensitivity High Sensitivity Natural Habitats Resettlement Indigenous peoples No critical natural habitats; no other natural habitats Low population density; dispersed population; no or little road side activities; well established businesses and legal tenure along right of way. No critical natural habitats; other nonforest natural habitats occur Medium population density; settlements; some roadside activity; mixed ownership and land tenure along right of way. No indigenous peoples Dispersed and mixed indigenous populations; mainstream (highly acculturated) indigenous populations Critical natural habitats Critical natural habitats are defined as existing and proposed protected areas, along with unprotected natural habitats of known high importance for biodiversity conservation. For details see Natural Habitats OP and all natural forests High population density; major towns and villages; intensive roadside activity; low income families and illegal ownership of land in and along right of way; communal properties. Indigenous territories and reserves; vulnerable indigenous populations

4 Induced Development Soil Stability/Erosion Cultural Heritage Area or region is well consolidated; dense road network Flat terrain; no potential erosion problems. No known or suspected cultural heritage sites Medium density road network; open lands are still available Medium slopes; some erosion potential Suspected cultural heritage sites; known heritage sites in area of influence Area or region is undeveloped; road network is incipient or non-existent Mountainous terrain; high slopes; unstable soil formations; high erosion potential Known heritage sites along the right of way Definition of Environmental Requirements A cross between project type and scale and environmental and social sensitivity is shown in the following table. For each project type and sensitivity a level of environmental work is specified, based on the most sensitive issue for a project (NOT on the "average" sensitivity of different issues). Type of Work Low Sensitivity Medium Sensitivity High Sensitivity Maintenance Level 1 Level 1 Level 1 Rehabilitation Level 1 Level 1 Level 2 Improvement Level 1 Level 2 Level 2 Upgrading Level 2 Level 2 Level 3 New construction Level 2 Level 3 Level 3 Levels of Environmental Work if Projects are Known at Appraisal Projects description should explicitly establish the type of work that will be financed (maintenance, rehabilitation, improvement, upgrading, new construction). Three levels of environmental work are defined taking into account the "highest" type of work that will be included in the project: First Level: Application of environmental guidelines for design and environmental rules for contractors Second Level: Application of above environmental guidelines and rules for

5 contractors; additional screening may be necessary; limited environmental analysis for specific issues is usually necessary; a resettlement framework/strategy to deal with minor resettlement is needed. Institutional capacity for environmental management may need to be created or strengthened. Third Level: Application of environmental guidelines and rules for contractors; a full/detailed EA is necessary. Specific mitigation/compensation measures (including resettlement plans and indigenous people's development plans) need to be identified. Institutional capacity for environmental management needs to be in place. Environmental Issues when Specific Projects are not Known at Appraisal The type of projects to be financed need nevertheless to be defined (maintenance, rehabilitation, new construction, etc.). If the specific projects are not known at appraisal and the site sensitivity cannot be determined, as a minimum the following environmental analysis will be required during project preparation: Maintenance/Rehabilitation: ensure existence/prepare environmental guidelines for road construction/maintenance Improvement: In addition to Maintenance/Rehabilitation requirements: establish environmental (including resettlement, indigenous peoples, natural habitats, cultural heritage) screening criteria environmental survey of road network most likely to be improved or upgraded define legal and institutional framework/procedures for environment, resettlement, and indigenous peoples issues (if they are lacking) ensure institutional capability to implement the above framework New Construction/ Upgrading

6 In addition to the Improvement requirements: EA and resettlement plan for first year investments indigenous peoples development plans are necessary (if applicable) annual investment programs should include environmental and social requirements for Bank review.