A TOOL FOR INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF ROAD REHABILITATION PROJECTS J. Ambalavanar (06/8863) Degree of Master of Engineering in Highway and Traffic Engineering Department of Civil Engineering University of Moratuwa Sri Lanka September 2010 A TOOL FOR INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF ROAD REHABILITATION PROJECTS J. Ambalavanar (06/8863) Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Highway and Traffic Engineering Department of Civil Engineering University of Moratuwa Sri Lanka September 2010 i DECLARATION “I declare that this is my own work and this dissertation does not incorporate without acknowledgement any material previously submitted for a Degree or Diploma in any University or other institute of higher learning and to the best of my knowledge and belief it does not contain any material previously published or written by another person except where the acknowledgement is made in the text” Signature: Date: “We have supervised and accepted this thesis for the submission of the degree” Signature of the supervisors: 1. Date: 2. Date: ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the people who have been instrumental in the successful completion of this project. I would like to express the deepest appreciation to my supervisors Prof. J.M.S.J. Bandara, Professor in Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa and N.J.G.J. Bandara, Senior Lecturer, Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenapura, without their guidance and persistent help this dissertation would not have been possible. I wish to express my sincere thanks to Dr. W. K. Mampearachchi, Course Coordinator, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa for his kind assistance and guidance. I would like to render my gratitude to the Engineers, Environment Specialists and other officials of the Environmental & Social Division, World Bank Projects Division, National Highway Sector projects Division, Road Project Preparatory Facility Division of RDA for their valuable ideas, knowledge, information, related materials, and co-operation to carry out the study in this nature. I extend my special thanks to officials of Central Environmental Authority and other local authorities for their valuable contribution and expert guidance given to me to make this study a fruitful one. I offer my sincere thanks to staff members of Transportation Engineering Laboratory, Department of Civil engineering, University of Moratauwa for their assistance & valuable support. Finally I appreciate the support and encouragement given by my husband and child for being patience with their time while I am working on this research study. iii ABSTRACT The environmental assessment process involves the prediction of changes over time in various environmental aspects as a result of a proposed project. The prediction of the nature, extent, and magnitude of environmental changes likely to result from a proposed project is aided by various tools and techniques, the choice of which depends upon the impacts of concern, data availability or lack thereof, and the appropriate specificity of quantitative models. However, the choice of the appropriate method for conducting an environmental assessment can only be guided by certain criteria, but no single method will meet all the necessary criteria. The environmental assessment is mandatory in Sri Lanka since 1988 only for the projects listed under the category of “prescribed projects” in the National Environmental Act (NEA). The road rehabilitation projects do not fall in to the above category unless it falls within sensitive areas or resettlements of more than hundred families are involved or projects located wholly or partly outside the coastal zone with a road length exceeding 10 kms. However, for funding purposes foreign agencies have made this mandatory even though they exempted from the environmental assessment according to the NEA. In practice this study might consume more time depending on the size of the project. As a result we might loose foreign aid allocations and prospective donors. Therefore a quick alternative method for environmental assessment is essential. This study develops a checklist for Initial Environmental Assessment (IEA) of road rehabilitation projects which consumes only a week or so to carry out the IEA. The checklist was generated based on the literature survey, discussions with subject experts, questionnaire surveys and field observations made on road rehabilitation projects. It identifies activities, corresponding environmental impacts and suitable mitigations for each component of the road rehabilitation project. This study is unique because the attempts were made to provide much information as possible on the techniques and methods available for handling different issues in the environmental assessment process and it is specially designed to suit the Sri Lankan conditions. Further, it gives possible mitigatory measures for each impact and also comprehensively covers all relevant impacts identified in presently use checklists in Sri Lanka there by cut down the amount of time required for preparation. The RDA and other road sector organizations could use this checklist in future for their IEA studies. It is hoped fervently that, this study would provide a significant step ahead in improving the process of IEA and hence they may absorb more foreign aid funds and attract prospective donors. Also this study recommends that, the use of checklist by a panel of experts, initiating a search for new cost effective mitigation measures, include the conditions stipulated on environmental clearance in to the project contract document, deploying a strong monitoring team, make available an environmental complain form at the project site, conduct site meetings regularly to discuss the issues / problems, report the progress to relevant authorities and providing training for the officials. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Declaration i Acknowledgement ii Abstract iii Table of Contents iv List of Tables vi List of Figures vii List of Abbreviations viii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................. 1 1.1 Background .................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Aim and Objectives........................................................................................ 2 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................. 4 2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 4 2.2 The EA Process in Industrial and Developing Countries .............................. 6 2.3 History of Environmental Assessment in Sri Lanka ..................................... 7 2.4 Legal Framework for Environmental Assessment in Sri Lanka ................... 8 2.5 Project Categories ....................................................................................... 12 2.5.1 Prescribed Projects ............................................................................... 12 2.5.2 Unprescribed Projects ........................................................................... 12 2.5.3 Categorical Exclusions ......................................................................... 13 2.6 Activities on Road Projects ......................................................................... 14 2.6.1 New Developments .............................................................................. 14 2.6.2 Improvements ....................................................................................... 14 2.6.3 Replacement / Rehabilitation ................................................................ 15 2.6.4 Maintenance ......................................................................................... 16 2.7 Types of Impacts ......................................................................................... 16 2.8 Methods of Impact Identification ................................................................ 18 2.8.1 Checklist Method ................................................................................. 19 2.8.2 Matrix Method ...................................................................................... 19 2.8.3 Network Method ................................................................................... 20 2.8.4 Simulation models ................................................................................ 20 v 2.9 Environmental Assessment Requirement of ADB ..................................... 21 2.10 The Rapid Environmental Assessment Checklist of RDA ......................... 24 2.11 Environmental Assessment Reports ............................................................ 27 2.11.1 Preliminary Information Report ........................................................... 28 2.11.2 Initial Environmental Examination Report ........................................... 28 2.11.3 Environmental Impact Assessment Report ........................................... 28 2.12 Mitigation Measures for Environmental Impacts ....................................... 29 2.13 Monitoring the Environmental Impacts ...................................................... 30 2.13.1 Monitoring approach and evaluation criteria ....................................... 31 2.13.2 Environmental Standards ..................................................................... 32 2.13.3 Environmental Monitoring Report ....................................................... 32 CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY .......................................................................... 33 CHAPTER 4: ANALYSIS OF DATA AND RESULTS........................................ 41 4.1 Background Analysis ................................................................................... 41 4.2 Checklist for IEA of Road Rehabilitation Projects ...................................... 53 CHAPTER 5: DISCUSSION ................................................................................. 97 CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................ 98 6.1 Conclusion ................................................................................................... 98 6.2 Recommendations ........................................................................................ 98 References .................................................................................................................. 100 Appendix A ................................................................................................................ 103 Appendix B ................................................................................................................ 109 vi LIST OF TABLES Table 3.1 Project Background of B240 Road ......................................................... 35 Table 3.2 Project Background of B445 Road ......................................................... 36 Table 3.3 Project Background of A012 Road ......................................................... 37 Table 3.4 Project Background of A026 Road ......................................................... 38 Table 3.5 Project Background of A010 Road ......................................................... 39 Table 3.6 Project Background of A001 Road ......................................................... 40 Table 4.1 Description of the Project Environment ................................................. 41 Table 4.2 Summary of Results Obtained from Questionnaire Survey .................... 52 Table 4.3 Checklist for IEA of Road Rehabilitation Projects ................................. 53 vii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 2.1 Project Cycle Integrated with Environmental Process .............................. 5 Figure 2.2 REA Checklist of ADB for Roads and Highways .................................. 24 Figure 2.3 REA Checklist and Project Classification of RDA................................. 27 Figure 3.1 Selected Roads for Questionnaire Survey............................................... 34 Figure 3.2 Existing Road Stretch on B240 Road .................................................... 35 Figure 3.3 Existing Road Stretch on B445 Road .................................................... 36 Figure 3.4 Construction work on A012 Road .......................................................... 37 Figure 3.5 Construction work on A026 Road .......................................................... 38 Figure 3.6 Road Stretch on A010 after Completion of Project ............................... 39 Figure 3.7 Road Stretch on A001 after Completion of Project ................................ 40 Figure 4.1 Survey Sample from Different Land Uses .............................................. 42 Figure 4.2 Opinions towards Project Implementation.............................................. 42 Figure 4.3 Opinions on Performance and Mobility of Transport ............................. 43 Figure 4.4 Feelings towards New Development to the Project Area ....................... 43 Figure 4.5 Feelings towards New Business Opportunities....................................... 44 Figure 4.6 Public Ideas on Social and Cultural Activities ....................................... 45 Figure 4.7 Feelings on Spiritual Development ......................................................... 45 Figure 4.8 Opinions towards Educational Facilities ................................................ 46 Figure 4.9 Feelings on Environmental Stability ....................................................... 46 Figure 4.10 Changes on Sustainable Development of the Country ........................... 47 Figure 4.11 Public Behaviour on Compensation........................................................ 48 Figure 4.12 Opinion on Transport Facility Prior to New Project Implementation .... 48 Figure 4.13 Effects on Utility Services ...................................................................... 49 Figure 4.14 Opinion on Flooding / Drainage Problem ............................................... 50 Figure 4.15 Public Interest on Meetings / Discussions .............................................. 50 Figure 4.16 Opinions towards Participation on the Project Activities ....................... 51 viii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Description ADB Asian Development Bank AC Asphalt Concrete CEA Central Environmental Authority DBST Double Bituminous Surface Treatment DF Department of Forest DS Divisional / District Secretary DWLC Department of Wildlife Conservation EA Environmental Assessment EPL Environmental Protection License ESD Environmental & Social Division EU European Union GSMB Geological Survey & Mines Bureau IEA Initial Environmental Assessment LA Local Authority NBRO National Building Research Organization NEA National Environmental Act PAA Project Approving Agency PI Preliminary Information PP Project Proponent PRDA Provincial Road Development Authority RDA Road Development Authority REA Rapid Environmental Assessment TOC Threshold of Concern TOR Terms of Reference UC Urban Council USA United States of America