VOL. 2 FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA ETHIOYIAN ROADS .AU'THORI?'Y Consultancy Services for Review of Feasibility Study, Review of Environmental Inlpact Assessment, Preparation of Resettlement Action Plan, Review of Detailed Engineering Design and Tender Documents MEKENAJO -DEMBIDOLO ROAD UPGRADING PROJECT REVISED FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT March 2009 SPAN CONSU~TANTS PR~VATEL ~ M ~ T E ~ in Association with Beza Consulting Engineers, Ethiopia Mekenajo . Road Upgrading Project Dembidolo Revised Final EIA Report TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS .........................................................................................................i EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................. xiii INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................1 Background and General.......................................................................................... 1 Objective of the EIA Study............................................................................................ 1 Appreciation of the EIA - Study Report under Review ...............................................2 Methodology of the EIA study ...................................................................................... 2 Scope of the EIA Study.................................................................................................. 3 Report Structure............................................................................................................. 3 POLICIES. LEGISLATIVE AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK ...............5 Policy Issues................................................................................................................... 5 Environmental Policies.................................................................................................. 5 Sectoral policies ............................................................................................................. 7 World Bank policies ...................................................................................................... 9 Legal ftamework .........................................................................................................2 1 Institutional and Administrative Framework ...............................................................15 The Environmental Protection Authority (The Competent Agency)...........................15 Oromia Regional state Environmental Protection Office ..........................................16 The Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA).......................................................................17 Regional Road Sector Institutions ......................................................................... 18 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................19 Project Location ...........................................................................................................19 Proposed Road Improvements .....................................................................................19 Project Activities..........................................................................................................20 Projects Right-of-way Condition and Influence Areas ..............................................20 The re-aligned road sections ........................................................................................21 DESCRIPTION OF THE BASE LINE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ...22 Environmental Conditions - Regional1Zonal1Woreda level......................................22 Topography and Location ............................................................................................22 Climate and Meteorology ............................................................................................22 Geology and Mineral Deposits ....................................................................................22 Soils..............................................................................................................................23 Water Resources and Drainage Basin..........................................................................24 Wetland I Marshland Areas and Swamps....................................................................24 Flora and fauna resources ............................................................................................25 National Parks and Protected Areas .............................................................................25 Population. Ethnic and Religious Groups ....................................................................26 Ethnic and Religious Groups ....................................................................................... 26 Socio~conomicEnvironment ..................................................................................... 27 Zonal & Woreda Level Land Use /Land Cover ...........................................................27 Health Status and health institutions............................................................................ 28 Education Status and Facilities .................................................................................... 30 Source of Energy .......................................................................................................... 32 Transport network ........................................................................................................ 32 Water supply ................................................................................................................ 32 Gender Equity Issue ..................................................................................................... 33 1 Span Consultantin Associationwith Beza Consulting Engineers L . Mekenajo. Road UpgradingProject Dembidolo Revised Final EIA Report Historical and Cultural Heritages.................................................................................33 Public Consultations and Community Acceptability of the Road Upgrading Project.34 Environmental Conditions of the Road Route Corridor Re-emphasized.....................35 Existing Road Pavement Condition............................................................................. 35 Bio .Physical Environment......................................................................................... 35 Water Resources along the Road Route....................................................................... 39 Vegetation Cover .........................................................................................................40 Soci-conomic Situation of the Project Road Corridor............................................. 40 Material Production Site Condition and acquisition ....................................................42 ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES........................................................................... 49 Alternatives of Road Surfacing.................................................................................... 49 Environmental Aspects ................................................................................................ 49 Socio - economic Aspects ........................................................................................... 49 Alternative Route Analyses ......................................................................................... 50 Alternatives of the Road upgrading Project versus the no Project Scenario ...............51 POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTALAND SOCIAL IMPACTS OF THE ROAD PROJECT AND MITIGATION MEASURES ........................................................ 52 Overall Positive Impacts .............................................................................................. 52 Impacts on Local Economy ......................................................................................... 52 Impacts on Access to Social Services.......................................................................... 53 Impacts on Women /Gender Issue ............................................................................... 53 Impact on Poverty Reduction....................................................................................... 53 Impacts on Traffic Safety............................................................................................. 54 Rain Water Harvesting................................................................................................. 54 Potential Adverse Impacts and Mitigation Measures .................................................. 55 Adverse Impacts on the Bio - Physical Environment .................................................55 .6 Adverse Impact on National Parks and Protected Areas ............................................. 61 Adverse Impacts on Socio- economic Environment...................................................65 Duration and Scale of impacts............................................................................ 71 Impact Type .............................................................................................................. 71 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN (EMP)............................................73 The Management plan.................................................................................................. 73 Institutional Needs and Responsibilities.........................................................92 Training Requirements.......................................................................................... 92 Work Program for the environmental mitigation management plan.........92 Provision of Environmental Contract Clauses in the Construction Contract Document..................................................................................................................... 96 ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PLAN .......................................................101 The Monitoring Program ........................................................................................... 101 Institutional Arrangements for Environmental Monitoring .......................................102 Environmental Mitigation Management and Monitoring Costs ................................103 Preparation of Local Map of the Project Area ...........................................................105 Schedule of reporting .................................................................................................106 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ...................................................107 REFERENCES ....................................................................................................................108 Annexes ................................................................................................................................. 109 Annex 1.1 .............................................................................................................................. 110 Annex 4.2 ..............................................................................................................................129 Annex 8.1 .............................................................................................................................. 131 .. Span Consultant in Association with 11 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- DernbidoloRoad Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report Photographs ........................................................................................................................136 ... Span Consultant in Association with 111 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report List of Acronvms ADLl Agricultural Developmentled Industrialization CSA Central StatisticalAgency CSE Conservationstrategy of Ethiopia OC Degree Centigrade EA EnvironmentalAssessment EIA EnvironmentalImpactAssessment EMS6 of ERA Environmental Monitoring & Safety Branch of ERA EMAP EnvironmentalManagementAction Plan EMP EnvironmentalManagement Plan EPE EnvironmentalPolicy of Ethiopia EPA EnvironmentalProtectionAuthority ES EnvironmentalSpecialist ERA Ethiopian RoadsAuthority ESDPRP Ethiopian Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction Program EFDRE Federal Democratic Republicof Ethiopia GIs Geographic InformationSystem IPDP IndigenousPeoples DevelopmentPlan-". IDA InternationalDevelopmentAgency Mas1 meters above sea level NGOs non- government Organizations OEPB Oromia EnvironmentalProtection Bureau ONRS Oromia National Regional States ORRA Orornia Rural Road Authority) PAPS Project Affected People PIA Project InfluenceArea ... 111 Span Consultantin Associationwith Beza ConsultingEngineers Mekenajo - Dernbidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report RECC Regional Environmental Co-ordination Committee RRRA Regional Rural Road Authorities RAP ResettlementAction Plan RE Resident Engineer ROW Right-Of - Way ROWPB of ERA Right- Of -Way Protection Branch TOR Terms of Reference VEC Valued EnvironmentalComponents WMS Welfare Monitoring Survey FIGURES Figure 1.1: Location Map Figure 1.2: GIs EnvironmentalMap Figure 1.3 RealignedTown Sections ANNEXES Annex 1.1 Terms of Reference Annex 1.2 Check listfor environmentalscoping Annex 4.1 List of consulted persons and institutionscontacted Annex 4.2 List of some Flora Species, EndemicPlant Species etc. Annex 8.1 Maps Location Map EnvironmentalMap RealignmentTown Sections Photographs LIST OF TABLES Table 3.1: Districts and towns along project road Table 4.1: Mineraldeposits of Wollega zone Table 4.2: Districtwise populationof project influencearea (2005) Span Consultant in Associationwith iv Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- DernbidoloRoad UpgradingProject Revised Final EIA Report Table 4.3: Ethnic and religious composition in the PIA Table 4.4: Sub-regionaland zonal landusellandcover Table 4.5: Land usellandcover of the PIA (Hectares) Table 4.6: Populationper medical personnel of West Oromia sub region, 200112002 Table 4.7: Top ten most relevant diseases in the PIA (2005) Table 4.8: Healthfacilities of Woredas inthe PIA (200512006) Table 4.9: School enrolmentby zone of West Oromia sub region, 200212003 Table 4.10: School distributioninWest Oromia sub region, 200212003 Table 4.11: School distributionin the PIA (200512006) Table 4.12: Road network distribution in West Oromia sub region by zone and type 200212003 Table 4.13: Distributionof households by water supply source Table 4.14: Existing road pavement condition Table 4.15: Physicalenvironment along the road alignment Table 4.16: Climatic conditions of the route corridor Table 4.17: Rivers along the road alignment Table 4.18: Land use within 30m radius of the project road Table 4.19: Populationof towns & villages along the road route (2005) Table 4.20: Potentialquarry sites for crushed aggregate and masonry works Table 4.21: Potentialsources of naturalgravel for sub base Table 4.22: Potentialsources of borrow materialfor embankment Table 5.1: Analyses of alternative road standard from socio-economicpoint of view Table 7.1: Schedule of managementand responsibilities Table 7.2: Environmental managementaction plan Table 8.1: Environmental mitigationmanagement, monitoringand training costs (Birr) Span Consultant in Associationwith v Beza Consulting Engineers L . Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report EXECU'TIVE SUMMARY E.l Introduction Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road project is located in the West Wollega Zone of the Oromia Regional State. The proposed road route traverses eight woredas of the zone namely: Ayira Guliso, Gawo Dale, Gimbi, Hawa Walel, Lalo Assabi , Seyo, Dale Sedi and Yubdo woredas, and it connects town centers and several villages of those woredas. The project route map is shown in Fig 1.1. The project is among the road project works planned by the Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA)for the transport sector development. The Ethiopian Road Authority has secured fund from IDA for the implementation of the project. ERA commissioned SPANS Consultants in association with Beza- Consultants to undertake review of the feasibility study, review of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), review of the detailed engineering design and tender document preparation of the Mekenajo- DembidoloRoad project. The Environmental Impact Assessment review has been conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Terms of Reference(TOR). The EA report prepared in June 2003 has been revised and updated to reflect the current situation of the project area. This EIA report, therefore, represents the revised version of the previous report. E.2 Existing Road and Environment The existing road is a gravel surfaced RR-50 standard road. The width of the existing road ranges from 4.92 to 6.15 meters. The road starts from the town center of Mekenajo (km 0+000) and ends at the town center of Dembidolo (180+596).The road pavement along the project road is severely damaged at some places. During the field visit extensive pavement deterioration was observed at stations 8+100 - 9+200, 86+000 - 96+600, 113+100 - 136+800, and 139+800- 145+700,where comfort speed was poor to very poor at 40KmIh. The road project falls in the West Wollega zone, in the Western part of the Oromia National RegionalState. West Wollega zone lies between 8'1 2'N and 10" 03N latitudes and 34" 08' E and 36 " 10' E longitudes - and is characterized by physiographic features of mountain, undulatingand rolling plateaus, and gorges rangingfrom 500 to 3200masl. Western Oromia Sub region on the other hand extends from 07 " 13'16" to 10 " 20'1ON latitude and 34 " 08'30" to 37" 40'53"E longitude. The Altitude of the sub region ranges from 500masl up to over 3000masl. E.2.1 Biological & Physical Environment The road route traverses mainly mountainous and rolling topographic land forms, with smaller section of flat terrain. The project roadfollows a ridge in the initial part of the road up to km 30+000. The first 20 km part of the road is saddled with sharp curves and erosion gullies. The road traverses escarpment section from km 33 up to Ayira town. From Ayira to the end of the project most of the terrain is mountainous and rolling sections. ... Xlll Span Consultant in Association with Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report West Wollega zone is one of the densely vegetation covered areas of the country. The area is covered with forests and tree crops including coffee and fruit trees. The Climatic Climax Vegetation (i.e. the vegetation that would develop in the absence of human interference, only by the natural environmental conditions) of the zone includes; broad leafed forest, grasslands and wetlandslmarshlands. Broad leafed forest trees are found almost in all districts of the zone including those traversed by the project road. The influence area of road route is mainly dominated by Aningeria species and Olea species. Grasslands consisting of different species cover limited areas in the drier south and south western areas while wetlandslmarshlands are localized in the central western part of the zone. There are significant wildlife habitats in the West Wellega zone including the woredas traversed by the road project. The common wild life of the zone include Lion, Buffalo, Hippopotamus, otter, Civet, Bushbuck, Roan Antelope, Leopard, striped hyena, Columbus monkey, Patas monkey, hamadryads, baboon and Klipspringer. West Wollega Zone has rich mineral resources including ferrous mineral and precious metals like gold and platinum. The precambrian era rocks are sources for the ferrous, none -ferrous and the precious metals, while the Cenozoic era sedimentary rocks are sources of the iron and coal. The mineral of the zone consists of coal, iron, nickel, precious metals (Gold and Platinum), non-ferrous minerals (Cobalt, molybdenum, titanium, Uranium and phosphate), and industrial and construction mineral like marble. Some of the localities with high mineral deposits fall with in the influence area of the road project; this includes Yubdo, Gimbi, Dembidolo, Guliso - Hena. E.2.2Water Resources and Wetland I MarshlandAreas West Wollega Zone has high water resource potential both surface and sub surface water resources. Most of the rivers of the zone are perennial, and there are also seasonal streams. Ground water source is shallow with depths ranging up to 100m. The eastern and south eastern part of the zone, also constituting the districts traversed by the road project has pocket areas of unconsolidated alluvium aquifer with high productivity yield and unconsolidatedsediments forming low productivityaquifer. Wetlandslmarshlands generally support a wide range of biotical, hydrological, and physical processes which result in ecosystem function and the provision of valuable goods or services. The wetlandlrnarshland and flood plains in the woredas traversed by the road are used as grazing grounds especially during the dry weather periods of the area and also for crop harvest in the dry seasons. Almost all the woredas have such marshland areas, though the plot areas differ from woreda to woreda. The total area of wetlandlrnarshland in those woredas is estimated at 3000 hectare. There are however very limited wetlandlmarshland areas along the Project Road route. The wetlandlmarshland sites in the project area are those seasonally water inundated plain lands along the river banks traversed by the road. There is no extended wetlandlmarshland area specially designated as protected site1 conservation site. The identified smallllimited wetlandlmarshland areas along the road route are found around km 37, 98, 126 and 170 mainly along river courses. All these wetlandslmarshlands are relatively small in size but have useful ecological functions. E.2.3 National Parks and Protected Areas There is no designated national park. There are a number of potential protected areas, such as wildlife reserve and conservation areas available in West Wellega zone and the Western Span Consultant in Association with xiv Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report Oromia is endowed with forest and water resourcesforming areas potentially rich in wildlife conservation. However, according to site investigations by the consultant and also as confirmed by the Oromia Environmental Protection Office (re-confirmed in January 2009), there is neither park nor protected conservation site along the road route and in the proximity of the road project site. All of the designated protected areas and conservation worthy sites are very far from the project influence areas. The road project works, both for the main activities of road construction and for the ancillary works neither touch nor will be located in any one of those physical resource sites as they are at far distance from the route corridor. There is plot of planted forest land (mainly juniper us trees) from station 16 + 900km up to station 19 +000km. along the road route, which is used as recreationalsite for those residing in the area. E.2.4 Historical and Cult~~ralHeritages According to the Atlas of west Oromia, Historical and cultural resources in the West Oromia Sub Region include: Palaces of Aba Jiffar & Kumssa Moroda, Mosques of Aba Jiffar and residential houses. Places of worship like traditional mosques, monasteries and churches are found in the sub region. Among the traditional places the Beluke in Wellega and the Sida Abachagi in lllubabor are the prominent ones. At these sites, the ancient holy trees of faith of the Oromo people are displayed. As confirmed by the Oromia Environmental ProtectionBureau in January 2009, and as observed at site by the EIA consultant,there are no recorded historical, cultural and archeological heritage sites with in the project influence area and in the right - of - way of the road route. This fact was also confirmed by the consultation results made with the woreda administrations and elderly people of the project area, and during the site visits and site investigation. However, there are churches, mosques, Odas and burial places that fall within the road project influence areas but out of the ROW of the road. There may also be unexplored archeologicalfindings that may encounter upon excavation works - though known religious and sacred places, cemeteries and monuments of the area are away from the road alignment. There is always possibility to yield undiscovered cultural artifacts, and any cultural and archeological resources encountered should be reported to the local (woreda) Environmental Protection Office and/or the woreda culture and tourism desk and arrangements are made as to how the PCR is protected and conserved either on site or relocatedas the case may be. Mitigationmeasures or avoidancefor the archeological/ cultural heritages if encounteredwill be accomplished as per the requirements of the available legal frame work "Proclamation No.209/2000",a proclamationto provide for researchand conservation of cultural heritage. This proclamation describes the management of cultural heritages under Part two of the document. Some of the issues discussed include; Owner of cultural heritage, establishment of museums, classification of cultural heritage, registration of cultural heritage, duties of owners of cultural heritage, conservationand restorationof cultural heritage, preservation of cultural heritage, removalof cultural heritageetc. Part four of the proclamationdiscuses on reserved areas, Inspection,duty to cooperate and penalty. Under this part it is indicated that unless it has been decided by the council of ministers,no person may, without a permit issued by the authority, carry out building or road construction,excavations of any type or any operationthat may cause ground disturbance in Span Consultant in Association with Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report an area declared reserved. However, this is not triggered by he project as there is no such reserved PCR sites in the road route corridor. Accordingly; Protection and preservation requirements for Cultural heritages, Archeological sites and aesthetics of Landscape shall be specified in the construction contract documents for contractors. The contractor will abide to the requirements of Proclamation No.20912000. The contractor should consult the responsible bureau in the area in cases of findings of such properties on the site before removaland damage. Damages to locally significant sites like religious places, funeral places, grave yards, Holly trees (Oda), Holly springs shall be avoided by alternative routes, as sites of quarry and borrow pit, access and detour roads or as material storage site. Any archeological findings encountered up on excavation shall be reported immediately to the concerned bureau or department to register and guide the conservation and protection of such a heritage The woreda environmental office and woreda culture and tourism desks should be informed upon mobilization of the construction activities and also be involved in the site environmental management and monitoring processes. ERA through its assigned supervising consultant should liaison with the woreda administration to involve them and seek their assistances at all levels of the environmental conservation and in monitoring of the implementation of mitigation measures. The contractor is also instructed to liaison with the woreda administration as required and to cooperate in considering their concerns and guidance in agreement and after approval by the supervising consultant. The woreda environmental1natural resource conservation desks have to be capacitated and trained on environmental managementand monitoringactivities. The project may consider a short term training of the experts in each woreda traversed by the road project. The ERA'S ESMB has the capacity to organize and conduct such short term training in collaboration with the project consultant and with the Oromia Region EnvironmentalProtection Office. E.2.5 Population,Ethnicand Religious Groups As per the information contained in Statistical Abstract, 2004 (Central Statistical Agency), total population (July 2005) of eight woredas constituting the influence area of the project road is estimated as of July 2005 at 977,710 (Males -481,967 and Female- 495,743). The major ethnic groups of the woredas in the influence area are Oromo (85%), Amahara (9.1%), Guragea (1.3%) and others constitute the remaining 4.6%. The main languages include Oromifa, Amarigna, Gedeogna and Guragigna. The religious groups in the project woredas constitute orthodox Christian, Musilim, Protestant Christians. Percentage distribution of different ethnic and religious groups in the project influence area (PIA) is given Table 4.3. A map showing the major features of the environment is shown in Fig 1.2 E.3 Objectives of the Environmental Impact Assessment The overall objectives of this EIA-study is to update the previous EA report June 2003) to reflect the detailed design of the project road in order to ensure that environmental issues and concerns are duly considered and incorporate in the planning and implementationof the road project. Accordingly, the study identifies environmentalcomponents that are likely to be Span Consultant in Association with xvi Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report significantly affected by the road project implementationand proposes mitigation measures that would avoid andlor minimizeadverse impacts and to enhance the positive ones. E.4 Methodology of the EIA study The environmental impact assessment process followed data collection both from primary sources and secondary sources. Identification and analyses of significant environmental issues is made on the bases of those data. Baseline data collection was done through field investigation,consultationwith stakeholdersand from previous study documents. E.5 Proposed Project and Activities The total length of the road would be 181 km and width of 7-meters asphalt surfaced carriageway, with 1.5 m gravel shoulders on either side. The road project starts at Mekenajo town (km 0+000) which is located 456 km from Addis Ababa on the Addis Ababa- Nekempte- Assosa highway, and traverses south up to Dembidolo town (km 180+596). The major activity of the road project is an upgrading of the existing gravel surfaced road (the width between 4.92 to 6.15 m.) to asphalt surface road (carriageway 7m asphalt surface. and gravel shoulderl.5 m on both sides, except for two short realignment town sections, 8.8 km in total to improve access to nearby town centers: Ayra and GebaRobi towns whereby following the existing cart path and urban town roads that are currently located at some distances from the existing gravel paved road alignment (ref. Fig. 1.3). However, the realigned section traverses through unpaved ground and farmlands, partly through vegetation covered and animal grazing grounds and partly through cultivable farmlands, and no significant environmentalimpact is anticipated. The construction work activities include site clearing, excavation and grading, filling, compacting, waterways and wetlandlmarshland crossing, paving, use of heavy machinery, quarry and borrow material development, establishing camps, temporary detour roads construction and maintenance. Other ancillary works like quarry site development, temporary access road and detour road construction, etc. shall also be executed in the project area. E.6 Policy, Legal and Administrative Framework Policies, legal and administrative provisions relevant to environmental issues and sustainable development are briefly discussed to highlight the working environment under which the project implementation operates in Ethiopia. The extant policy and regulatory framework in Ethiopia is adequate to address the environmental concerns arising from the implementationof development projects road sub-sector.Although the institutionalset up at the federal level (i.e. Environmental ProtectionAuthority, Ethiopian Roads Authority and its Environmental Monitoring & Safety Branch, etc) is well equipped with experienced professionals, however, they need to have proper logistical support for efficient supervision and monitoring. At the regional state level, there is an Environmental Protection Office of Oromia, which is mandated to handle environmentalconservationand protection issues within the region. It is being organizedto capacitate itself in accomplishingits responsibilities. Applicable World Bank safeguarded policies (OPIBP 4.01 Environmental Assessment, OPlBP4.11 Physical Cultural Resources and OPIBP 4.12 (Involuntary Resettlement) are also applied and complied with that are expected to be triggered by the project road. Span Consultant in Association with xvii Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report These policies and guidelines are the bases to implement the Environmental Managementand Monitoring Plans as discussed in the following sections. E.7 Project Alternative Analyses of project alternatives consideredthree major parameters; Alternative Road Surfacing Standads: as alternatives, High gravel, Asphalt Surface Treatment and concrete asphalt surfacing materials have been compared from aspects and socio-economic analysis. Alternative Routes: Alternative route analyses compare the need for diversions and new alignments to access some of the town centers: Ayira and Geba Robi) that are located at some distances away from the existing road alignment. Otherwise, the proposed road maintains the existing alignment all through the lengths of the road. The socio-economic and environmental impacts in combination with the results of the user community consultation has been analyzed in order to recommendthe most appropriate option. Alternative of the Road Upgrading Project Vs the No Project Scenario: this alternative discusses the situation with out the road condition improvement (i.e. the existing road as it is) with that of asphalt surfaced standard road. This is evaluated both from socio-economic as well as environmental perspectives. E.8 Environmental lmpact Analyses Analyses are conducted with a view to identifying the environmental component that would likely to be affected by the road project i.e. the Valued EnvironmentalComponents. The resulting impacts are categorized as positive or beneficial and negative or adverse impacts. Positive impacts are mainly related to the social and economic benefits that would be attained due to the road condition improvements, while the adverse impacts are mainly related to the relocation of people and loss of properties, disturbance and degradation of the natural bio-physical environment on the other hand. W lmpact on Flora:Major impacts to the vegetation cover would be caused during the construction phase of the project. Attention should be given to especially the new alignment sections (Ayra and Geba Robi) where there is undisturbed vegetation cover, Y lmpact on Fauna: There are no major wild life habitat like parks and sanctuaries that fall in the right - of - way of the road project, and no endangered wildlife species reported in the area. However, common wildlife population like apes, monkey, hyena etc. and different birds species are found in the route corridor, Id lmpact on WetlandslMarshland: The road construction and operation will have a limited impact on the wetlandlmarshland along the road route at km 37, 98, 126 and 170. It can affect the flow pattern of surface runoff by concentrating flow at certain points, which can contribute to flooding and erosion effects in the area, undermine the natural water movement and impair the biological cycle and productivity of the wetlandlmarshland. EP lmpact of Construction Materials Development and Operation: The specific location of construction material sites is not known upfront, but will later on be identified by the contractor. Excavation and removal of the material result in disturbances of the natural landscape, the vegetation cover, the fertile top soil. Excess or spoil soil left over if not appropriately treated may be washed away in to the near by streams and cause siltation of the water body. Span Consultant in Association with xviii Beza Consult~ngEngineers Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report Impact on Land Use: Loss of agricultural land or grazing land can occur either temporarily or permanently. The road upgrading follows mainly an existing old road alignment and the impact on land use will be limited - however is substantialfor the realignedsections. IO lmpact on Public Health: The area is malaria affected zone and stagnant water that accumulates on excavated grounds, abandoned quarry and borrow development sites, excavated side road ditches and ponds may create favorable condition for mosquito breading. In addition sexually communicable diseases including HIVIAIDS may be an issue due to the migrantwork force. Is lmpact on Physical and Cultural Resources: As confirmed by the Oromia Regional State Bureau of Tourism and Culture in January 2009, there is no recorded significant Cultural or historical heritage comparable to that of palaces and unique worship sites recognized at national or regional level along the road right of way that might be affected during construction. However, there are churches, mosques, Odas and burial places that fall within the road project influence areas, and there may be unexploredarcheologicalfindings that may encounter upon excavationworks. E.9 MitigationMeasures The engineering design attempts to avoid environmental components that are likely to be affected adversely by the project activities. However, adverse impacts that can not be avoided would be minimized through implementation of appropriate mitigation measures. Accordingly, mitigation measures and mitigation management plans are proposed. The adverse environmental impactsthat result due to the paved road route would be minimal. The influence area of road route is mainly dominated by Aningeria species and Olea species. Grasslands consisting of different species cover limited areas in the drier south and south western areas while wetlandslmarshlands are localized in the central western part of the zone. Illegalhunting and poaching in to the wildlife areas be prohibited and supervised both by the project implementers and the local administrative structure. In addition regular awareness program to the work force and local suppliers will be implemented. Traffic regulations shall be put in place and traffic posts at critical locations be implemented to minimize accidents to wild life. Major impacts at wetlandlmarshland, though limited, would be dealt with by providing necessary culverts to allow free flow on natural water, and also, during the construction period, necessary awareness will be provided to vehicularlconstruction equipment operations to maintain necessary vehicle maintenance to avoid potential oils leakage of these equipment on construction site - in order to minimize the potential risk of contaminationof wetlandlmarshland along the project site. The quarrylproduction area has to be screened determined in consultation1approvaI of the supervisionconsultant and ERA ESNlB whereby sufficient consultation should be conducted with the local administrations prior to commencing excavation activity to limit the area of disturbance. The left over spoil soil should be collected and kept aside for rehabilitation of the site at later stage of the work. Spoil soil should be shaped and compacted to avoid erosion and leakage to the river banks, water bodies or on dense vegetation covered ground. Upon completion of the use of the productionlquarrysite, it should be reh'abilitated and restored to a reasonable degree to its original state so as to avoid water ponds, soil erosion, aesthetically undesirable situations and disfigured landscape. Back filling, grading and re-vegetation of the site would help to mitigate the impact. Based on the site condition Span Consultant in Association with X ~ X Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report simple soil retaining structures and run off water diversion structures might be required to stabilize the soil structure and reduce the effect of soil erosion until it consolidates. Based on the Social Impact assessment (SIA)findings that identifythe number of personsto be affected by the subject project, ResettlementAction Plan (RAP) has been prepared. Protection and preservation requirements for Cultural heritages, Archeological sites and aesthetics of Landscape shall be specified in the construction documents for contractors, and training on awareness of the PCR will be providedto the site workforce. This includethe provision of short term training for excavators on PCR artifact recognition, and rapid response system will be set up for PCRfindings with concerned authorities. It is required that the contractor should timely rehabilitatethe excavated grounds as soon as site work is completed, maintain sanitary conditions in camp sites and work places and provision of sanitation facilities to the workers, avoid any stagnant water and unsanitary ground to avoid mosquito and vector breeding. The design documents, contract documents and specifications prepared for this project require the contractorls to take necessary protective measures to minimize potential impacts and will be closely supervised by supervising engineers (the environmental inspector & resident engineer) and ERA'S Environmental Monitoring and Safety Branch (EMSB). The woreda environment office1 natural resources desk will also be involved in the site environmental management process as required and provide technical support and indicate the concerns of the local administrationand the community. E.10 Environmental Management Plan Environmental management plan specifies mitigation and monitoring actions with time frames, specific responsibilities assigned and follow-up actions defined. Major negative impacts and proposed mitigation measures responsible bodies for the various actions are summarized as part of the EIA, which should be closely monitored and supervised by ERA ESMB have been out-lined in the above sections. Implementationsof these measures have to be carried out at different stages of road construction & operation phases. The EMP should set bases for environmental clauses to be included in contract document for contractors. The environmental clauses will emanate from he mitigation measures outlined. The woreda environmental offices1 natural resources conservation desks will participate in the site environmental management and monitoring processes and reflect the concerns of he local community and that of the woreda administration. E.ll Environmental Monitoring Plan Environmentalmonitoring shall be conducted with the following major objectives: a) To ensure the proper implementation of the mitigation measures in line with the EIA proposal (compliance monitoring) b) To compare the environmental conditions and changes of the project area after project implementationwith that of pre - project situation (Effects monitoring). The monitoring exercise shall be carried out by qualified experts and institutionallyorganized body. The training and capacity building needs have been identified and recommendations are included along with the necessary budget. Span Consultant in Association with xx Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report The contractor should comply with terms and conditions specified in he contract document. None compliance to any of the environmental clauses and mitigation management plan should be monitored regularly and reported to the resident engineer, who will take timely actionto rectify.The contractor is subject to penalty for nonecompliance. The form of penalty might be either withholding the payments of contractor against the volume of work delayed, or to refrain from approval of other site works before the rectification is done as specified. Whatever the conditions, either of the above preconditions will allow the contractorsto abide them to the contractualdocument. E.12 Costs of Environmental Mitigationand MonitoringPlan Major Costs related to environmental enhancement measures that require physical constructionworks are estimatedand included in the engineeringdesign and tenderlcontract documents. Compensation for properties lost and relocation of PAPS is included in RAP report. Apart from the cost of relocation1compensationand the costs already included in the engineering cost estimate, the cost of environmental mitigation measures under this report is estimated at Birr 5,577,000. These measures include: bio-engineering measures, training of environmental experts and awareness creation programs on STD and HIVIAIDs, cost for environmentalinspectors,for supervisionand monitoringactivities. E.13 Base Map Preparation Thematic base map has been prepared using the appropriate GIs (Geographic information Systems). The Road route location, road route ROW and influence area, woredas and towns traversed, sensitive ecosystem component etc. are indicatedon the map. E.14 Conclusion and Recommendations The woredas traversed by the road are among the areas with potential rich natural resources including cash crops like coffee and mineral resources like gold and platinum. They have high potentialfor investment and trade development. On the other hand, social services are inadequate and transport facility is inefficient and under developed. The implementation of the road project would have significant positive impacts to the social-economic development of the area in particular and to that of the country in general. The resulting adverse impacts can be mitigated through implementation of measuresas identified in the EIA report. Adverse impacts due to the projectwould be minimal, as the construction activitiesfollow the existing road alignment for the major part of its length (except for 8.8 km) at two town sections. The potential major adverse impacts would result along these realigned town sections to improve access to the nearby towns which requires a number of trees and houses and trees to be removed and relocated. The compensation and resettlement of the affected group should be cautiously handled. Span Consultant in Association with xxi Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report II Background and General Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road project is located in West Wollega zone of the Oromia Regional state. The project location map is given as Figure 1. The existing gravel surfaced road is badly deteriorated and is hampering transport development in the area, as well as causing adverse health impacts and traffic accidents. There is very limited public transport along the Mekenejo - Dembidolo route mainly due to the Sub-standard and bad condition of the road. The areas traversed by the road have significant natural resource potential and is intensively cultivated, with high yield of agricultural products includivg coffee and cereals. Mineral resource potential is also rich in some of the woredas (Districts) like Yubdo and Gimbi woredas. Efficient and standardized transportation need is obviously a prerequisite for further development and investment in the area and to improve the socio - economic situation of the community. The road project is among eighteen road upgradingworks envisaged by the Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA) program. ERA commissioned SPAN (India) Consultant in association with BEZA (Ethiopia) to carry out review of the feasibility study, review of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Preparation of Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) and Review of detailed engineering design and tender documents for the road project. The EIA review has been carried out in line with the requirements of the terms of reference. Accordingly, the information included in the EA dated 2003 have been updated to reflect the current situation of the road to be upgraded from a gravel road to an asphalt road. Moreover, deficiencies and gaps in the previous report have been identified (as in section 1.3 and 3.2 below) and attempts are made to fill in those gaps to suit the current situation and a standard EIA report format. This report, therefore, presents the revised version of the 2003 EA report. I.2 Objective of the EIA Study The primary purpose of conducting an EIA is to ensure that the environmental effects of proposed road upgrading project are adequately and appropriately considered in the design and construction activities. This should serve as a key aid in the decision-making process for relevant authorities by providing comprehensive information on the environmental consequences of the development. Evaluated information and supporting arguments enable decision makers to evaluate the overall impacts of a proposal and alternatives to that proposal. 'The terms of reference for the Mekenajo - Dembidolo road project requires the study to thoroughly inspect and assess the EIA report prepared by SYSTRA in association with SPT and PANAF in June 2003, and all other documents and make field investigations necessary, and to make amendmentsto it where necessary and producea finalized detailed EIA report. In line with the overall requirementsof the TOR, the EIA study objectives are: 9 To review the EIA study report of June 2003, by SYSTRA et al, and identifying the missing issuesfor an EIA study of that scale. 9 To define the study area, the Project activities, the project influence area, the environmental components likely to be significantly affected by the road project etc. (i.e. to conduct environmental scoping of the project). 9 To assess the existing environmentalconditions of the project area, both bio-physical and socio-economic issues. Span Consultant in Association with 1 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report 9 To identify Valued Environmental Components (VEC) for the project under consideration. 9 To assess potential environmental impacts that can be caused both during design, constructionand operation stages. 9 Todeterminetheappropriatemitigationmeasuresandmonitoringplansrequiredso as to minimize adverse impacts and enhance the positiveones. 9 To prepareEnvironmentalManagementandMonitoringPlan. 1.3 Appreciation of the EIA- Study Report under Review The Report under Title of "The Feasibility Study and Environmental Impact Assessment of Eighteen Roads Project (Package B Road project), Road No.1IGambela -MekenajoV has been reviewed and gaps have been identified. The review of the EIA report focuses mainly on filling those gaps and updating it to reflect the current situation. Some of the deficiencies are outlined as follows; Baseline data discussed both for Bio-physical, socio-economic, and socio-cultural environment are mostly at regional level and don't give adequate information at Zonal and district (Woreda) level which are closely related to the project influence area. Discussionsmade for the road project activities and components are too general and dose not detail out the related significant environmental impacts of ancillary actlvities separately. Temporal and spatial distribution of the expected impacts is not clearly discussed respective to each project phases; design, construction and operation phases of the road project. Discussions of the feasibility report includes situations in two regions; Gambela and Oromia regions, while the current project is specifically limited only to some districts in west wollega zone of the Oromia Regional State. Besides, zonal and district specific situations are not detailed. Scoping processes and identification of valued ecosystem components, boundaries of the study areas are not clearly indicated in the report. The report has not considered the 5km new road route alignment and the impacts caused thereof. The report has overlooked the need for relocation of houses and people in the right of way, especially along the re-aligned sections in Ayra town, Geba Robi town and towns. Impactson public utilities, houses,crops etc. have not been discussed. Loss of land and land degradation at material production sites, loss due to the additional road widths, loss due to camp site and garage contraction etc. are not dully dealt with adequately. Waste Management at campsite, garages and at work places have not been dealt with. Consultation with the relevant institutions and with the communities of the project area. Gender equity and issues are not adequately discussed I.4 Methodologyof the EIA study The environmental impact assessment review process followed data collection both from primary sources and secondary sources. Identification and analyses of significant environmentalissues is made on the bases of those data. Baseline data collectionwas done through field investigationand from available documents. Span Consultant in Association with 2 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report U Field investigationwas conductedduring 16 March- 7 April, 2006, with the objective of assessing the existing biophysical, and socio- economic situation of the project area, and to identify the environmental components that would be affected by the road project. Accordingly, an environmental scoping is made as indicated in Annex 1.2. B Consultation of stakeholders was conducted during the field investigation as well as discussions made at the respectivesect oral offices, and community meetings. Duringthe field investigations: On site observations were made of the existing road condition, and the route corridor environmental situations. Meetings and discussion forums were conducted at major towns along the road route. li9 Consultations with relevant stakeholders were made on their knowledge and experiences of issues & problems related to the road project and on their attitude towards the projects. Also on information and data available of issues related to the transport facilities and needs, Y Stakeholders' opinion regarding environmental issues of the road project was assessed. lil Pre-designed questionnaires were distributed to relevant government and non- government Organizations (NGOs) in the project area and also to community representatives, and civic organizations. Formats used include; Site reconnaissance survey form to record existing environmental conditions of the road corridor, Questionnaireformat for collection of base line data on the physical as well as socio- economic profile of the woredas traversed by the road alignment. 1.5 Scope of the EIA Study In its general context, the scope of the consultancy service is described as the review of the feasibility study report prepared by SYTRA in association with SPTA and PANAF, review of other documents and data and make full investigation make amendments to the report as necessary, and produce a detailed FeasibilityStudy Report. Review of the EIA report is one component of this overall activity of the consultancy service. The environmental impact of a road project can extend beyond the limits and influence areas of that of socio-economic impacts. However, assessmentfor significant impacts of the current project shall focus on the eight woredas traversed by the road route and some of the neighboring woredas that fall with in 15kms on both sides of the road alignment. Accordingly, the activities under the study include: collection of data on existing environmental settings of the project area, both from primary and secondary sources, analyses of the project activities and their respective impacts on the environment, identification of the environmental components that would be most affected by the project, proposefeasible measures that would help to avoid andlor minimizethe adverse impacts. I.6 ReportStructure A part from Chapter 1 on Introduction, the report is presented in eight chapters as briefly described below: Chapter 2 presents the policy, legal and institutional framework with in which the EIA study shall operate and also for the project implementation; Span Consultant in Association with Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenaio- Dembidolo Road U~aradinaProiect Revised Final EIA Rewrt Chapter 3 provides a summary of the project description, indicating location of the project and project activities. Chapter 4 describes existing environmental conditions of the project area under two parts; the baseline data at zonal and woreda level on the one hand, and data of the project road route corridor on the other hand. The data includes bio-physical as well as socio-economic situation of the area. Chapter 5 discusses the analyses of alternatives. Under this section alternative surfacing material standard, alternative of realigned town sections located out side of the existing alignment versus maintaining the existing road alignment all the way through, and alternative of the road upgradingversus the "withoutthe Project Scenarioare discussed. Chapter 6 outlines the Potential Environmentaland Social Impacts of the road project and proposed mitigationmeasures for the adverse impacts. Chapter 7 presents Environmental Management Plan and Schedule for the Implementationof proposedmitigationmeasures Chapter 8 discusses Environmental Monitoring Plan to be adopted during the construction and operation phases of the project and presents EnvironmentalMitigation Management and MonitoringCosts Chapter 9 briefly presents the conclusions and recommendations for the EIA study and project implementationrequirements a Span Consultant in Association w~th 4 Beza Consulting Engineers l -- Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report 2.0 POLICIES, LEGISLATIVEAND INSTITU'TIONAL FRAMEWORK General Implementation of development projects should be planned and executed in accordance with the available policies and legal frameworks. This section tries to highlight some of the relevant policy issues and legislations to development projects and environmental management. The discussion in here concerns the National Development and Environmental Policies and Sectoral Strategies, legislations and guidelines, Institutional arrangements, land accusation, tenure rights and expropriation proceduresare also indicated in the discussion. Understanding of available policies and administrative structures, under which the project implementationand the environmental assessment and managementstudy operates, would assist in the efforts made for sustainable development and natural resource conservation measures. 2.1 Policy Issues The economic policy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (EFDRE) is a market - based, agricultural led industrialization mode of economic development. The administrative structure is at federal as well as regional level with duties and responsibilities shared among them. Responsibilities of development activities are clearly demarcated between Federal and Regional Governments based on the scale, characteristicsand magnitudeof the investment to be undertaken. Accordingly, construction of highways and major roads crossing more than one regional government boundaries is the responsibility of the Ethiopian Road Authority (ERA), while the construction of roads, rural and urban roads, within a region is the duty of the respective regionalgovernments. 2.1. I Environmental Policies Environmental Policy of Ethiopia (EPE) The overall Policy goals of the Environmental Policy of Ethiopia is described as "...to improve and enhance the health and quality of life of all Ethiopians and to promote sustainable social and economic development through the sound management and use of natural, human made and cultural resources and the environment as a whole so as to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". The guiding principles of the EPE are: > Every person has the right to live in a healthy environment; Sustainable environmental conditions and economic production systems are impossible in the absence of peace and personal security. This shall be assured through the acquisition of power by communities to make their own decisions on matters that affect their life and environment; > The development, use and management of renewable resources shall be based on Span Consultant in Association with 5 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report sustainability; The use of non-renewable resources shall be minimized and where possible their availabilityextended (e.g. through recycling); Appropriate and affordable technologies which use renewable and non-renewable resourcesefficiently shall be adopted, adapted, developed and disseminated; When a compromise between short-term economic growth and long-term environmental protection is necessary, then development activities shall minimise degrading and polluting impacts on ecological and life support systems. When working out a compromise, it is better to err on the side of caution to the extent possible, as rehabilitating a degraded environment is very expensive, and bringing back a species that has gone extinct is impossible; Full environmental and social costs (or benefits foregone or lost) that may result through damage to resources or the environment as a result of degradation or pollution shall be incorporated into public and private sector planning and accounting, and decisions shall be based on minimising and coveringthese costs; Market failures with regard to the pricing of natural, human-made and cultural resources, and failures in regulatory measures shall be corrected through the assessmentand establishmentof user fees, taxes, tax reductions or incentives; Conditions shall be created that will support community and individual resources to sustainbly manage their own environmentand resources; As key actors in natural resource use and management, women shall be treated equally with men and empowered to be totally involved in policy, programme and project design, decision-makingand implementation; The existence of a system which ensures uninterrupted continuing access to the same piece(s) of land and resource creates conducive conditions for sustainable natural resource management; Social equity shall be assured particularlyin resource use; Regular and accurate assessment and monitoring of environmental conditions shall be undertakenand the informationwidely disseminatedwithin the population; Increased awareness and understandingof environmental and resource issues shall be promoted, by government officials and by the population, and the adoption of a "conservation culture" in environmental matters among all levels of society shall be encouraged; Local, regionaland internationalenvironmentalinterdependenceshall be recognised; Natural resource and environmental management activities shall be integrated laterallyacross all sectors and vertically among all levels of organisation; The wealth of crop and domestic animal as well as micro-organism and wild plant and animal germplasm is an invaluableand inalienableasset that shall be cared for; Species and their variants have the right to continue existing, and are, or may be, useful now and/or for generationsto come; and The integrated implementation of cross-sectoral and sectoral, federal, regional and local policiesshall be seen as a prerequisiteto achieving the objectives of this Policy on the Environment. The Policy further outlines both sectoral and cross-sectoralenvironmental policies. Sectoral environmentalpolicies include: Water, energy and mineral resources policy Human settlementand environmentalhealth policy Soil husbandryand sustainableagriculture Forestwoodland and tree resources Genetic species and ecosystem biodiversity Pollutionfrom industrialwaste and of hazardousmaterials Atmospheric pollutionand climate change Span Consultant in Association with 6 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report Among the cross-sectoral policies is the policy that highlights the Environmental Impact Assessment Policies. The EIA - Policy states that Public and Private sector development programs and projects recognize any environmental impact early and incorporate their containment into the development design process. Itfurther points out that: Preliminary and full EIA are undertaken by the relevant sectoral ministries or department if in the public sector and by the developer if in the private sector. Needfor public consultation Environmental impact assessments consider not only physical and bio-logical impacts but also address social, socio-economic,political and cultural conditions; Needfor environmentalaudit at specified intervals during the project implementation Other cross-sectoral policies include: Populationand the environment Social and gender issues Community participationand the environment Environmentaleconomics Tenure and access rightsto land and natural resources Informationsystems and research Land use plans Conservation Strategies Countrywide study of the existing natural resource base and environmental conservation and protection strategies have been conducted in the early 1990's and conservationstrategy of Ethiopia (CSE) has been approved. The CSE emphasizes the importance of incorporating environmental issues in to development activities right at the initial stage of development. 2.1.2 Sectoral policies National Policy on Women The Federal Democratic Government of Ethiopia has declared its unequivocal commitment to the development of women with the announcement of the National Policy on Women in 1993. The Women's Policy primarily aims to institutionalize the political, economical, and social rights of women by creating an appropriate structure in government offices and institutions so that the public policies and interventionsare gender-sensitive and can ensure equitable developmentfor all Ethiopian men and women. The Policy states that the responsibilityof ensuring the implementationof the IVational Policy on Women lies mainly with the Government. Besides, various women's organizations are formed to promote women issues in different areas. All development program at National and Regional levels should be able to integrate gender concerns in their plans and program to see that women participate, contribute benefit and their effort is recognizedand technologicallysupported. Thus the mainstreamingof gender in all development programs should focus at establishing a system where by each sector programwould use gender as a measuring indicatorto quantify project and achievements. Span Consultant in Association with 7 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- Dernbidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report Health Policy of Ethiopia The health policy of Ethiopia was issued in Sept. 1993. It was prepared through critical examination of the nature, magnitude, and root causes of the prevailing health problem of the country and awareness of newly emerging health problems. It accords appropriate emphasis to the needs of the less privileged rural population, which constitute the overwhelmingmajorityof the nation. In general, the policy states that health development shall be seen not only in humanitarian terms but also as an essential component of the package of social and economic developmentas well as being an instrumentof socialjustice and equity. Sector Policy for HIVIAIDS Prevention and Control in the Work Places of ERA ERA has prepared a sectoral policy for HIVIAIDS in the workplaces of ERA (June,2004). In the Policy, ERA acknowledges the fact that the HIVIAIDS pandemic is a reality in the work place and may have detrimentaleffects on the goals and objectives of the Authority. Therefore, the authority: Commits itself to create a supportive and non discriminatory working environment through dispelling of myths and stereotypes and by ensuring that infected employees are treated in the same manner as other employees, Seeks to minimize the social, economic and developmental consequences to the authority and its staff, Undertakes that management will provide resources and leadership to implement program for the prevention and control of the HIVIAIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STI), Commits itself to offering support, counseling and education services to infected & affected employees; Commits itself to establish and maintain an employee assistance program,and Insuressustainable resources for the preventionand control of HIVIAIDS. The ERA task force is responsible and accountable for all programs for prevention and control of HIVIAIDS in the authority.The ERA'Senvironmentalmonitoringand safety branch through the HIVIAIDS program coordinators is responsible for coordinatirlg, implementirlg, monitoringand evaluating the policy provisions. Water Resource Management Policy of Ethiopia Ministry of water Resources has prepared water resources management policy of Ethiopia. The overall goal of the policy is to enable and promote all national efforts towards the efficient, equitable and optimum utilization of the available water resources of Ethiopia for significant socioeconomic development on sustainable basis. The policy ensures that water allocation gives the highest priorityto water supply and sanitation while apportioning the rest for uses and services that result the highest socio economic benefits. Biodiversity Policy The biodiversity policy, which was approved in 1998, provides guidance towards the effective conservation, rational development and sustainable utilization of the country's biodiversity. In general, the policy consists of comprehensive policy provisions on the conservationand sustainableutilizationof biodiversity. Span Consultant in Association with 8 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report Wildlife policy The Ministry of agriculture and rural Development has developed the Wildlife policy in 2006. The specific objectives of the policy include properly developing and administering the country's wildlife resources and enabling the sector to contribute fully to the economic development and the wellbeing of the ecosystem.The policy also includes articles on how to protect the wildlife resources and their habitatso that stability of the ecosystem is maintained for posterity, in accordance with international wildlife conventions and agreements to which the country is a signatory. The most important articles covered in the policy and strategy are to gazette the national parks, development of participatory wildlife management; to give special attention to the protection and conservation of the endemic and threatened wildlife and promoting wildlife health. Besides, due attention has been given for the control of the illegal movement of wildlife and products and are the most important points that has been dealt with in the policy and strategy. Education Policy The Government's desire to improve the provision of quality education resulted in the formulation of the Education and Training Policy (ETP), In 1997 the Government of Ethiopia launched the first five year Education Sector Development Program (ESDP-I) within the framework of ETP as part of a twenty-year plan for the education sector. The main thrust of ESDP is to improve quality and efficiency and to expand access with special emphasis on primary education in rural and underserved areas, as well as the promotion of education for girls in an attempt to achieve universal primary education by 2015. Road Sector Policies and Guidelines Road and Rail way sector Environmental Assessment Guideline, Federal EPA, 2004: The guideline describes major environmental issues related to a road or railway Projects. The guideline highlights major issues and potential impacts that should be taken into account during the preparation and assessment phases. It emphasizes that appropriate enhancement and mitigation measures should be integrated as early as possible, preferably in the project design. 2.1.3 World Bank policies The World Bank provides guidance on requirements in the Environmental Assessment Sourcebook, which includes recent versions of the World Bank Operational Policies as well as the updates. The World Bank has ten "Safeguard Policies" whose primary objective is to ensure that Bank operations do not cause adverse impacts and that they "do no harm". The ten safeguard policies .are grouped into Environment, Rural Development, Social Developmentand InternationalLaw. Of these ten safeguard policies, three (OP 4.01 Environmental Assessment, OP 4.12 Involuntary Resettlement, and OP 4.11 Physical Cultural Resources) are applicable to the subject project and would be briefly discussed below. The remaining seven (OP 4.04 Natural Habitats, OP 4.09 Pest Management, OP 4.36 Forests, OPIBP 4.37 Safety of Dams, OP 7.50 Projectson InternationalWaterways, OP 4.10 Indigenous Peoples, and OP 7.60 Projects in Disputed Areas, are not triggered by the project activities, and hence would not be further discussed in this report. Span Consultant in Association with 9 Beza Consulting Engineers i Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report 2.1.3.1 The World Bank's Safeguard Policies The following are the World Bank Safeguard Policies that are pertinent to the project under consideration. OPlBP 4.01 Environmental Assessment The objective of this policy is to ensure that Bank-financed projects are environmentally sound and sustainable, and that decision-making is improved through appropriate analysis of actions and of their likely environmental impacts. OP 4.01 covers impacts on the natural environment (air, water and land); human health and safety; physicalcultural resources; and transboundary and global environmentconcerns. On the basis of the nature and scale of the expected potential impacts of the project, different analytical techniques and methodologies can be used for the Environmental Assessment(EA) objectives; EIA, environmental audit, hazard or risk assessment and environmental management plan (EMP).When a project is likely to have sectoral or regional impacts, sectoral or regional EA is required. The Borrower is responsiblefor carrying out the EA. It is worth noting that OP 4.01 applies to all components of a projectwith financing from the World Bank, including co-financed components by the Borrower or by other funding agencies. This policy is triggered by the project implementation since it is expected to have likely potential (adverse) environmentalrisks and impacts on its area of influence. However,these impacts can be minimized through inclusion and consideration of mitigation measures as describe in subsequent sections. OPlBP 4.12 Involuntary Resettlement The objective of this policy is to (i) avoid or minimize involuntary resettlementwhere feasible, exploring all viable alternative project designs; (ii) assist displaced persons in improvingtheir former living standards, income earning capacity, and production levels, or at least in restoring them; (iii) encourage community participation in planning and implementing resettlement; and (iv) provide assistance to affected people regardless of the legality of land tenure. This policy covers not only physical relocation, but any loss of land or other assets resulting in: (i) relocation or loss of shelter; (ii) loss of assets or access to assets; (iii) loss of income sources or means of livelihood, whether or not the affected people must move to another location. This policy also applies to the involuntary restriction of access to legally designated parks and protected areas resulting in adverse impactson the livelihoodsof the displaced persons. This policy is triggered by the project implementation since it is expected to cause displacement of people and properties in the ROW. However, these impacts can be minimizedthrough implementationof mitigation measures as describe under the RAP report and also as discussed under the impacts analyses and mitigation management plan sections below. OPlBP 4.11 Physical Cultural Resources The objective of this policy is to assist countries to avoid or mitigate adverse impacts of development projects on physical cultural resources. For purposes of this policy, "physical Span Consultant in Association with 10 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- Dernbidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report cultural resources" are defined as movable or immovableobjects, sites, structures, groups of structures, natural features and landscapes that have archaeological, paleontological, historical, architectural, religious, aesthetic, or other cultural significance. Physical cultural resources may be located in urban or rural settings, and may be above ground, underground, or underwater. The cultural interest may be at the local, provincial or national level, or within the internationalcommunity. 'This policy applies to all projects requiring a Category A or B Environmental Assessment under OP 4.01, project located in, or in the vicinity of, recognized cultural heritage sites, and projects designedto support the managementor conservation of physical cultural resources. As confirmed by the Oromia Regional State Bureau of Tourism and Culture contacted in January 2009, and as observed at site by the EIA consultant, there are no recorded historical, cultural and archeological heritage sites with in the project influence area and in the right - of - way of the road route. This fact was also confirmed by the consultation results made with the woreda administrations and elderly people of the project area, and during the site visits and site investigation. However, there are churches, mosques, Odas and burial places that fall within the road project influence areas. There may also be unexplored archeological findings that may encounter upon excavation works - though known religious and sacred places, cemeteries and monuments of the area are away from the road alignment and there would not be significant impacts on these resources due to the road project. But, there is always possibility to yield undiscovered cultural artifacts, and any cultural and archeological resources encounteringshould be reported to the Oromia Cultural and Tourism Bureau andlor relevant authorities and the mitigationlpreservationmeasures be consulted and implementedas necessary. 2.1.3.2 The Bank's Policy on Disclosure It i s the requirement of BP 17.50 of the World Bank's policy that the peoples residing inthe project areas have the right to be informed of the proposed development project(s) in their respective areas. Thus, prior to the appraisal of APL 4, this EA report in its entirety will be disclosed inEthiopia inpublicly accessibleplaces as well as at the Bank's Info shop prior to appraisal. Therefore, prior to project appraisal, the EA study report of the project along with other relevant information should be disclosed at the Bank's as well as project area (local) level by ERA. ERA will distribute the EIA report in local languagethroughappropriatemassmedia. 2.1.3.3 Comparison between national law on land use and the Bank's OP 4.12 There are issues where national law and The Bank's operational policy differ in land entitlements definition in relation to the date when land is owned by individuals. people having land in the ROW prior to the cut of date can raise requests or conflict on compensation, based on the national law and World Bank law. The law relating to land administration in Ethiopia is varied; entitlements for payments of compensation are essentially based on right of ownership. 'The Bank's OP 4.12 is fundamentally different from this and states that affected persons are entitled to some form of compensation whether or not they have legal titles if they occupy the land by the cut of date. Therefore, as this is a Bank funded project, the principles of OP 4.12 are not negotiable. The Bank's OP 4.12 must be adhered to. As a result, all the land to be acquired by the governments for this project would be so acquired subject to the laws of Ethiopiaand the Bank OP 4.12. Where there is conflict, the Bank OP 4.12 must take precedence. Span Consultant in Association with 11 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report 2.2 Legal framework There are several proclamations provided by the FDRE related to Environmentalprotection issues. Among these are: The Federal Constitution The Federal Constitution of 1995 sets out important articles related to Development and Environmentalrights; Article 43 discusses the right to development. The ConstitutionunderArticle 44 highlightsabout environmentalrights as follows: All persons have the rightto a clean environment. All persons who have been displaced or whose livelihoods have been adversely affected as a result of state programs have the right to commensurate monetary or alternative means of compensation, including relocation with adequate state assistance. Under Article 92 the constitutiondiscusses about environmentalobjectives as: Government shall endeavor to ensure that all Ethiopians live in a clean and healthy environment. The design and implementation of Programs and Projects of development shall not damage or destroythe environment. People have the right to full consultationand to the expression of views in the planning and implementationof environmentalPoliciesand Projectsthat affect them directly. Governments and citizens have the duty to protectthe environment. Proclamation No.411995 which defines powers and duties of the executive organs of the Federal Democratic Republicof Ethiopia. Proclamation No. 911995 establishes the Federal Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). EPA prepares environmental protection proclamations and does the federal governmentapprove it. Environmental Protection Organs Establishment proclamation No. 2951 2002 was provided in October 2002. The proclamation differentiated responsibilities among environmentalagencies at Federal and Regional states. By this proclamationthe EPA is Re-establishedas an autonomous public institutionat the Federal Government. EPA has among others powers and duties to coordinate measures to ensure that the environmental objectives provided under the constitution and the basic principles set out in the Environmental policy of Ethiopia and the conservation strategy of Ethiopia are realized. Article-15 of the proclamation states the power & duties of the Regional Environment Agencies. Powers and duties are also proposed in relation to Zonal, Woreda and community EnvironmentalCoordinatingCommittees. Ethiopian Roads Authority re-establishment proclamation NO. 8011997 defines objectives of the authority, powers and duties of the authority, Organization of the authority etc. Environmental pollution control proclamations NO. 30012002 sets rules on control of pollution, management of hazardous waste, chemical and radioactive substances, management of municipal wastes, outlines sectors that require environmental standard , environmental inspectors, incentives, rights to appeal, Offences and penalty. Span Consultant in Association with 12 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo - Dernbidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report Environmental impact assessment Proclamation No. 299/2002 is promulgated in December 2002. The primary objectives of this proclamation is to make EIA mandatoryfor defined Categories of activities undertaken either by the public of private sector. The proclamation under its General provision Article -3, sub article-1 states that with out authorization from the Authority (EPA), or from the relevant regional environmental agency, no person shall commence implementation of any project that requires environmental impact assessment as determined in a directive issued pursuantto Article-5 of the proclamation." Article -5 describes projects requiring Environmental lmpact Assessment as follows: Every project, which falls in any category listed in any directive issued pursuant to this proclamation,shall be subject to environmental ImpactAssessment. Any directive provided under sub- article-1 of Article -5 should among other things, determine categories of; a) Projects not likely to have negative impacts and so do not require EIA, b) Projects likely have negative impacts and thus require environmental impact assessment. EIA-Guide lines have been prepared both at federal & Regional level. These guidelines follow the conventional procedures adopted else where in the world. Y ProclamationsN0.5211993 whichdealswiththe developmentof mineralresources IProclamationsN0.9411994dealswithconservation,developmentandutilizationof forests tiP Proclamation No.20912000, a proclamation to provide for research and conservation of cultural heritage Proclamation N0.19712000, deals with Ethiopianwater resources management. IH Proclamation IV020012000refers to public health issues. Y Rural Land Administration & Tenure Rights ( proclamationsat federal level) > Regarding land tenure issues, proclamationsNo. 3111975 and 4711975 State that land in Ethiopia is state owned. The constitution of 1995 also retained land ownership under the people. It is stated in the constitutionthat the right to ownership of rural and urban land as well as all natural resources, is exclusively vested in the state and in people of Ethiopia. Buying, selling or exchanging to other means is prohibited, however, tenure rights and leasing of use rights to or from others is ensured. > Rural land use and Administration Proclamation N0.45612005 describes; the right to hold and use rural land, acquisition and use of rural land, transfer and duration of rural land use right, obligation of rural land users. Restrictions on rural land use (land use planning and proper use of sloppy, galley and wetlandlmarshlands Oromia Regional State Rural land use and administration proclamation No.5612002 includes the following rights and obligations: > Under article 4, sub-article-1 it states that land is the common property of the state and people, and shall not be subject to sale or other means of exchange. > Under article -5 sub article-2 it states that government organizations, private investors and social organizations have the right to use rural land through legal process. Span Consultant in Association with 13 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo-Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report 9 Under article - 23, sub article - 3 it is stated that any individual or organization engaged in mining quarry development activities, shall be obliged to rehabilitatethe sites. 9 Proclamationto provideforexpropriationof landholdingfor publicpurposes and payment of compensation; Proclamation NO45512005 discusses on expropriation of land holding, determination of compensation, base and amount of compensation, displacementcompensationvaluation of property, 9 ProclamationNo. 8011997Article 6.18 statesthat EthiopianroadsAuthority (ERA), use free of charge, land and such other resources and quarry substances requiredfor the construction of highways, however, it has to pay compensations for the properties on the land it uses. The Authority pays compensation for the property on the land. Dislocatedfarmers will be paid equivalent amount to the benefits they are supposed to get from their land had they where not displacedfrom their original. Compensation is paid for the property lost if new lands are occupied in places where no road has existed before or if the upgrading of the existing road requires new land out of the right of way. Compensationis paidfor properties lost temporarily or permanently. When somebody builds residential houses for business within the right of way, these houses are considered to be illegal and no compensationwill be paid when demolished during road construction. The owners of the illegally built houses are allowed to remove their property before road construction starts and usually the owner is informed about one or two months beforeconstructioncommences. The cost that may result due to the removal of transmission lines, distribution lines and related facilities of water supply, electric power, telecommunicationand sewerage systems are compensated to the owner of these facilities. Trees of commercial values are consideredvaluable propertyand are compensated accordingly to their market prices. The crops that will be lost incase of detour or other temporary occupations of agricultural land will be compensated according to the price of the crop in market. Incase where agricultural land is to be lost permanently compensation will be decided by the committee establishedby road authority for this purpose. The people who are displaced due to road upgrade or re-aligned sections of the existing road outside of the right of way, as well as those residing illegally inside it must be resettled. Civil Code, Proclamation NO6511960 In Ethiopia, involuntary displacement due to expropriation is governed mainly by the Civil Code, proclamation No. 6511960. In this code reasons and objectives of expropriation are clearly specified. Accordingto articles 1460-1488 of the Civil Code, expropriation is possible only for projects of public utility and only immovable assets could be expropriated. These regulations of the Civil Code are designed to protect private property and in the case of expropriation necessitated by public utility are unavoidable to make sure that it is co-ordinate with payment of legally sufficient compensation and proper communication with those whose immovable assets are to be dispossessed. According to this Civil Code, anyone that can legally prove existence of real right over the immovable assets to be expropriated, qualifies or is eligible to receive legally sufficient compensation. Article 1474 of the Civil Code providesthat compensation payment could be either in cash or in kind. Therefore, if any compensation is required in the processes of this Span Consultant in Association with 14 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report project, it should be handled according to the above Civil Code and principles of compensation. 2.3 Institutional and Administrative Framework The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) has two levels of administrative structures, Federal level Government and regional governments. There are nine regional governments under the Federal Government. Roles and responsibilitiesof governments at different levels (Federal, Regional, Zonal & Woreda) have been defined by the constitution and proclamations Nos. 33 of 1992, 41 of 1993 and No. 41 of 1995. Under these proclamations,duties and responsibilitiesof regionalstates are included. The current road project shall be implemented in the Oromia IVational Regional States (ONRS). The regional state is structured as regional administration, zonal, Woreda (Distict) and Kebele (sub district) IPeasantAssociations (PAS),administrativeorgans. 2.3.1 The Environmental ProtectionAuthority (The Competent Agency) The Environmental ProtectionAuthority (EPA) was established in August 1995, in response to the requirementsof the Constitution (ProclamationNo 911995). The objective of the EPA is to: "...ensure that all matters pertaining to the country's social and economic development activities are carried out in a manner that will protect the welfare of human beings as well as sustainability of the protect, to develop and utilize the resource bases on which they depend for survival" (Federal Negarit Gazeta of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia - ProclamationNo 911995) In addition to the EPA, the Investment Authority has responsibilities towards the environment. These are captured in the Federal Negarit Gazeta - Proclamation IVo 3711996) which states that "...the intended investment activity would not be convening the operational laws of the country and that, in particular, it complies with conditions stipulated in environmental protection laws...". Roles and responsibilities of the EPA The Environmental ProtectionAuthority (EPA) is the Competent Agency at the Federal level in Ethiopia. It is, therefore, the responsibilityof this authority in the EIA processto: kil Ensurethat the proponentcomplies with requirementsof the EIA process; U Maintain co-operation and consultation between the different sectoral agencies throughout the EIA process; Y Maintain a close relationship with the proponent and to provide guidance on the process; and lrrs Evaluate and take decisions on the documents that arise from the EIA process. At the regional level, the Federal EPA has devolved responsibilityto the Regional equivalent of the EPA. The regional authorities should ideally establish an EPA-type institution to deal with environmental issues at the regional level. This is, however, a long-term objective for most of the regions while few have already embarked in establishing their own EPAs. W Span Consultant in Association with 15 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report In the interim period, however, the Regional Environmental Co-ordination Committee (RECC), which comprises responsible officersfrom differentsectoral Bureaus, must take the responsibilityat the Regional level. Seeing as that the RECC's are not sectoral based they can be viewed as being independentof the outcome of a specific EIA. Due to competence and capacity limitations, the RECC may choose to designate a specific sectoral Bureau to take responsibility for an EIA process. The sectoral Bureau must not, however, have a vested interest in the outcome of the EIA process. This is particularly important where a sectoral agency houses the secretariat of the RECC. The Federal EPA should act in an advisory capacityto the Regional EPA-type organizations. It is the responsibilityof the regional EPA bodies to inform the Federal EPA of projects that may be of national significance. Therefore the Federal authority should only be involved in EIA processes where a proposedactivity may: sl have an environmentaleffect across the internationalboundariesof Ethiopia; I anenvironmentaleffectacrossregionalboundarieswithinEthiopia; have fii Have an effect on an environment of national or international significance, including but not limited to natural forests, wetlandslmarshlands,national parks, cultural heritage sites etc. fH have a Federal government department, the relevant regional authority or another statutory body as the proponent; Have the Federal InvestmentAuthority as the investmentapproval body. Alternatively Federal EPA may have an EIA referred if agreed to between the Federal authorityand the regional authority. This would typically happen in complicated EIA's where the Regionalauthorityfeels that it does not have the capacity or competencyto deal with the application. 2.3.2 Oromia Regional state Environmental Protection Office Oromia Regional State has established independent Environmental Protection office, following the federal EPA, under Regulation No 2812002. It has set goals in its strategic plan to attain sustainable ecological balance, reduce environmental pollution effects, and promote public awareness on environmental protection and the implementationcapacity of the office. The office is formulates policies, strategies, programmes or guidelines pertinent to environmental protection and follow up its implementation upon approval. Monitors any damaging effects on habitat and diverse living organisms. Also regulates and follow up that any development activity is planned and implemented with out damaging the environment and disturbing its balance. Based on the objective situation of the region, prepare environmental standards; and regulates its implementation by the respective bodies. The office has an Environmental Pollution department and Ecosystem department which include a multidisciplinary team done on review of the EIA documents mainly on addressed impacts and their mitigation measures. Forestry, Ecology, Hydrologist, Sanitary Engineer, Chemical1 Industrial engineer and Socio-economistare the EIA multidisciplinaryteam. The role of the Oromia Environmental Protection Office has monitor and follow up of development projects with in the region and cross- regional impacts are monitor at federal level. Span Consultant in Association with 16 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report 2.3.3 The Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA) The Ethiopian Roads Authority was re-established in 1997 as un autonomous public authority at the federal level to administer road sector developments. The Re-establishment proclamation No. 8011997 of the authority outlines the objectives, powers and duties of the authority. The objectives of the authority are defined as to develop and administer highways and to ensure the standard of road construction and to create a proper condition on which the road network is coordinately promoted. The power and responsibilityof ERA is defined at the Federal level. ERA is responsible for planning, construction and maintenance of all national trunk roads and other main primary and secondary roads, including feeder roads and rural roads connecting to and leading to two or more regions. It is in general responsiblefor administration of the Road Sector Development Program (RSDP). On the other hand, the responsibilityfor rural roads is delegated to Regional Rural Road Authorities (RRRA). ERA also has the responsibility to give technical advice and assistance to the Regional Road sector administrations. ERA directly reportsto the prime ministers office. 2.3.3.1 EnvironmentalMonitoringand safety Branch (EMSB) of ERA Environmental monitoring and safety branch is established under the ERA to manage comprehensively environmental issues of the road sector. It is structured under the Planning and Programming Division of the Engineeringand Regulatory Department of ERA. The main tasks of the branch, among others include directing ERA and regional government rural road authorities in environmental monitoring as well as research and development activities in performing and supervising environmental assessment. The Environmental branch of ERA has well experienced experts to undertake the necessary monitoring and supervision activities required. However, they need the necessary facilities like transport vehicles at their disposal for efficient follow ups. At Regional level there is an environmental protection Office, Oromia Environmental Protection Office (OEPO). However, no environmental unit is indicated in the organizational structure of the Oromia Rural Road Authority(0RRA). There is a need to organize such a unit as per the requirementsof EPA policy. 2.3.3.2 Construction Contract ImplementationDivision (CCID) of ERA The Construction contract implementationdivision of ERA has one branch (Right - Of -Way Protection Branch (ROWPB))dedicated to handle the rights of way issues of the road projects undertaken by ERA. The branch is responsible for the implementation of all resettlement action plans. Accordingly the ROWPB is responsiblefor; Negotiation with regional, zonal and district offices, in order to secure the Right -of - Way for highway Construction purposes Negotiating with property owners, rural and urban dwellers' Associations or Kebele administrations regarding the compensations for loss of properties due to the road project through judicial methods. Investigations of claims and disputes arisingfrom land acquisition Span Consultant in Association with 17 Beza Consulting Engineers 1......-. Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project RevisedFinal EIA Report Elaborationof recommendations of acceptance or rejection of compensatoryclaims Ensuringthat payments are effected as agreed upon with claimants Following up of payments to claimants agreed upon or as decided by the competent authority Securing receiptsand land transfers for road construction purpose Organize and direct the Property Valuation Committeeswith suitable regional officials and community elders and the familiarizationof these committees with the standard methodologyand procedures for the valuation of properties on the land required for road construction purposes, etc. Establishing arbitration appraisal committee, where appropriate, to negotiate with property owners or their representatives. The implementation procedure is initiated based on requests from the contractor's requests. Up on receipt of the contractor's request, the consultant submits list of Project affected people as well as property and requests for clearance to ERA prior to mobilization. The ROWPB through its ROW-Agents follow up the removal and compensation issues with the local administration. 'The resettlement and compensationissues are handled as per the federal proclamationNo. 45512004. The branch also tries to settle some problems that arise during the project implementation. According to Ato Adebay Ashagre, assistant head of the ROWPB, problems arise due to exaggerated cost estimates presented by the property valuation committee, claimants disagree with the land acquisition and compensation procedures etc. There are also complaints received by the branch due to contractor's miss-management and ill deeds during the construction phase of the project, by occupying lands out side of what has been demarcated and defined for the project works. In this respect the follow ups and monitoring activities of the supervising consultants has been challenged by the branch. 2.3.4 Regional Road Sector Institutions Until 1994 all road construction projects were administered under the Ethiopian Roads Authority. Since then part of the work has been decentralized to the regions. Regional rural roads authorities are responsible for the construction and management of rural roads in their respective regions. The authorities do not administer urban roads but each municipality is undertaking its own part independently. Accordingly the Oromia Rural roads Authority (ORRA) was established and delegated to administer construction of rural roads with in the regional state. The regional road authority needs to be strengthened and capacitatedwith man power and machineryto fully handle its responsibilities. 18 Span Consultant in Associationwith Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- DembidoloRoad Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report 3.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION 3.1 Project Location The Mekenajo - Dembidolo road project is located in the Oromia Regional State, West wollega Zone. The road project traverses eight - districts of the zone. The Mekenajo junction where the road route diverts from the Addis Ababa - Nekemte - Gimbi - Assossa main road is located at 456 kms from Addis Ababa and 15Kms from Gimbi town, the capital town of West Wellega Zone. The districts and some of the towns traversed by the road project are given in Table 3.1. Table 3.1: Districts and Towns along Project Road 1Distances (km) I from Name of Name of Woreda No Zone Zonal Woreda Town Addis capital Ababa ---- Gimbi - 1. West Wellega Gimbi Gimbi 441 0 I I I I I 2. Lalo Asabi lnango 464 23 I I I Ayra Guliso Guliso I I I 4. Yubdo Yubdo 533 5. Dale Sedy Haro Sebu 552 111 -- 6 Gawo Dale Kake 588 147 I I I I I 7. Hawa Walel Geba Robi 614 173 I I I 1 Seyo Dembidolo 639 198 I I Source: Respective Woreda Administrations The road project influence area covers mainly the eight districts traversed by the road route, and the neighboring districts like; Boji, Anfilo, Jimma Horo, Gangi, Lalo Kile and Nole Kaba districts. The road has length of about 181 km. The road route passes through densely forested and intensively cultivated land with mixed topographic features. However, there is neither protectedforest nor conservation site in the area and that is suspected to be touched by the road project. It is also confirmed that there is no plan in the near future to establish such sites in route corridor. The topography of road route has mainly mountainous and rolling type terrain followed by some flat land. The altitude of the road corridor lies between 1500 mas1and 1900masl. 3.2 Proposed Road Improvements The existing road is a gravel surfaced RR-50 standard road. The width of the existing road ranges from 4.92 to 6.15 meters. The road pavement along the project road is severely damaged at some places. The major pavement damages are rutting, corrugation and pavement deterioration. During the field visit extensive pavement deterioration was observed at stations 8+100 - 9+200, 86+000 - 96+600, 113+100- 136+800, and 139+800 -145+700,wherecomfortspeedwas poortoverypoorat40Km/h.At somesectionsof the Span Consultant in Association with 19 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report existing road, paved and unpavedditches at cut sections were observed. The ditch sides are severely eroded with longitudinal erosion affected sections at steeper grades of the road. The ditches are inadequate in capacity and quality, while some of them are covered with savanna grass. The dust from the gravel surfaced road is also causing health problems and traffic accidents to the community, especiallyto those residingby the road side. The existing road alignment does not access major town centers like Ayra, Harosebu and Geba Robi, which are also economic and administrative centers of some of the woredas traversed by the road route, in spite of the high demand and repeated requests by the community. The length of the realigned section is 8.8 km in two town sections at Ayira, and at Geba Robi. The current road improvement project shall address all those issues among others, and would upgrade the road design to asphalt surfaced standard road. The width of the road shall be 6.7 meters, with 1.5 m shoulder on either side, all along the road route. There shall be realignments at two short locations of total 8.8 km mainly to improve access to the center of the above mentioned towns: Ayira, and Geba Robi and towns. The length of the realignmentsection is 8.8 km, but it traverses through unpavedground and farmlands, partly through vegetation covered and animal grazing grounds and partly through cultivable farmlands, and no significant environmentalimpact is anticipated. 3.3 Project Activities The road project work comprises of, design, construction, maintenance and operation activities. The design and feasibility study works mainly focus on site investigation and site surveying, route selection, material investigations quarry and borrow site determination, assessment of existing environmentalconditionsand social structure. The construction work activities include site clearing along some of the re-aligned sections, excavation and grading, filling, compacting, waterways crossing, paving, use of heavy machinery, quarry and borrow material development, establishing camps, garage site and materialstorage sites, temporary detour roads constructionand maintenance. The construction phase activity deploys a number of workforce, machinery and vehicles. The worker community deployed during the construction work includes both people coming from with in and outside of the project area. Skilled and semi skilled manpower shall be mainly from out side while unskilled labor force required shall be recruitedfrom the localities of the road project area. The major part of the workers would be temporary residents of the projectarea. The maintenance and operation phase activities include routine maintenances of damaged parts of the road, traffic flow regulations, clearing of obstacles and monitoring of development trends and the effects of the road project on the surrounding environment. These activities shall be undertaken by the regular employees of the regional rural roads authority. The degree of skilled and unskilled work force deployed and the machinery required is also less during the operation phaseof the project. 3.4 Projects Right-of-way Condition and Influence Areas The road width shall be 6.7 meters with 1.5m shoulder on either side, and the right-of - way width to be maintained should be 15-meters on both sides from the centerline, including working space and detour roads. The material production sites, camps and garage sites, Span Consultant in Association with 20 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- DembidoloRoad UpgradingProject Revised Final EIA Report access road to material sites and areas of land for detour roads required during the construction phases shall be occupied by the project work activities permanently or temporarily as the case may be. Resources and properties within the rights - of - way that are subject to be affected by the road construction activities have to be either removed and relocated or protected at their original places based on each site condition and extent of exposure to the project effects. Majority of the people in the project area earn their livelihoodfrom agricultural activity. Major crops grown along the Project road are maize, sorghum, wheat, teff and pulses. Barley, beans and chickpeas are also grown to a lesser extent. The major cash crop is coffee. It is the main product as cash crop and for money making. The area is also known for its fruit trees like; mangoes and bananas. They are mostly found along the sides of the road. Other cultivated trees such as eucalyptus and junipers are also found in several places along the roadroute. There are several towns and villages following the Project Road. Major towns along the existing road are Inango, Ayra, Yubdo, Haro Sebu (Alem Teferi), Kake, Chanka, Matchara, Gebarobi (Geba Robi) and Dembidolo.The settlement pattern is such that the roadsides are densely populated. This is also true for small villages found in the remote part of the woredas. The existing road is narrow in the towns and has to be widened to the required design standard. Hence in the process of road widening it is expected that some houses, fences and shops will be affected. In rural areas the width of the existing road seems to be within the required road standards and will hardly need to be widened. 3.5 The re-aligned road sections The existing Mekenajo - Dembidolo road does not pass through town centers of Ayra, and Geba Robi, but runs at some distances away from the towns' boundary. Transport user communities of these towns and those coming from other areas to those towns have to walk on foot to access the town centers. This situation is severing with patients and pregnant women who are suffering most from the inconveniences. There is a renowned Hospital in Ayra town which also serve as a referral hospital including for communities of the surrounding woredas and even further from different parts of the country. Patients coming to this hospital have to get down of the transport vehicle at the road junction and travel on foot for about 2-km up to the town center /hospital. The issue of linking these towns with the Mekenajo- Dembi Dolo main road has been a long standing requests and demand of the communities in those towns. Several correspondences were made all the ladder of the administrative organs and including to ERA head office. This has been witnessed and could be confirmed from the discussions made during the consultation process. The new realigned section of the proposed road project shall traverse through town centers of Ayra, and Gebarobi towns. The damages to houses and properties would be more significant in those towns as compared to the other listed towns and villages, and the need for displacement and Relocation would also be higher in this case. The total length of the realigned sections is 8.8-kilometers, and some of the sections are widening of town roads already in use, and the balance of the re-aligned sections traverses through unpaved ground and farmlands, partly through vegetation covered and animal grazing grounds and partly through cultivable farmlands, and no significant environmental impact is anticipated. Span Consultant in Associationwith 21 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- DernbidoloRoad Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report 4.0 DESCRIPTION OF 'THE BASE LINE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS 4.1 Environmental Conditions - Regional1Zonal1Woreda level 4.1.I Topography and Location The road project falls in the west wollega zone, in the Western part of The Oromia National Regional State. West Wollega Zone lies between 8'1 2'N and 10O 03N latitudes and 34O 08' E and 36 10' E longitudes. Western Oromia Sub region on the other hand extends from 07 13'16" to 10O O 20'10"N latitude and 34 08'30" to 37 40'53"E longitude. The Altitude of the sub region O O rangesfrom 500masl up to over 3000 masl. West Wollega Zone is characterized by physiographicfeatures of mountain, undulating and rolling plateaus, and gorges rangingfrom 500 to 3200masl The proposed road route traverses through rolling hills with elevation varying between 1900m and 1500m above sea level. The topography along the route can be classified as approximately 10% escarpment, 30% mountainous, 40% rolling and 20% flat. The existing road alignment generally follows the ridge and has sharp horizontal curves and steep gradients. 4.1.2 Climate and Meteorology West Wollega zone experiences tropical climatic conditions mainly due to its location. The mean annual temperature of the zone varies from 15' C to over 25 O C. It has long hours of sun shine. Summer season (June to September) is a period of longest average sun shine (8-lOhours/day) and it is also period of high cloud cover. Annual rainfall in the zone generally decreases from east towards west following the physiographic nature of the land. The mean annual rain fall in the eastern highlands ranges between 1800- 2000mm, while in the central plateau it is 1600mm - 1800mm. The remaining major part of the area has mean annual rainfall between 1200mm - 1600mm. Heavy rain season in the zone is during June to September, while light rains occurs during Februaryto May. The districts traversed by the road route have annual rain fall ranging between 1200mm and 1800mm,while the temperature range is from 18OCto 32OC. 4.1.3 Geology and Mineral Deposits The geological structures (surface rock distribution, the configuration and other and other natural phenomenon) of West Wollega zone are the results of geologic history and tectonic movements of Precambrian and Cenozoic eras. The districts traversed by the road project are dominantly covered by the rocks of the Cenozoic era. The thick basalts lava rocks of the trap series that occurs in West Wollega Zone are rocks of Cenozoic era. Among the trap series of rock groups (the Ashange and The shield groups), it is the Tertiary Period Ashange group that is found in West Wollega zone. The Ashange group of the trap series consists of alkali olivine basalt and tuffs with rare rhyolitesand dolerite sills and gabro diabase intrusive. Span Consultant in Association with Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo - Dernbidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report Proterozoic rocks of Tulu Dimtu and Birbir group are the dominant along the districts of the road projectarea. West Wollega Zone has rich mineral resources including ferrous mineral and precious metals like gold and platinum.The precamberian era rocks are sources for the ferrous, none -ferrous and the precious metals, while the Cenozoic era sedimentary rocks are sources of the iron and coal. The mineral of the zone consists of coal, iron, nickel, precious metals (Gold and Platinum), non-ferrous minerals (Cobalt, molybdenum, titanium, Uranium and phosphate), and industrial and construction mineral like marble. Some of the localities with high mineral deposits fall with in the influence area of the road project; this includes Yubdo, Gimbi, Dembidolo, Guliso - Hena. The major mineral deposits include those described in Table 4.1 Table 4.1: Mineral Deposits of West Wollega Zone 1 --i No Mineral groups Mineral I Localities I I I I ( 1 Ferrous Iron IYubdo, Gimbi, Nejo I I I 2 Precious Metals Gold Nejo, Yubdo, Begi, Dembidolo I 1 1 I copper 1 I I I I 3 Non-ferousminerals Yubdo I I I I Cobalt 1Yubdo, Dembi Dolo, Gulyso, I I 1 I Uranium Dembidolo, Nejo, Guliso I Phosphate Gimbi I I 4 Industrial and Marble construction Mana sibu minerals - Source: Zonal Atlas of West Oromia. West Wollega Zone has rich mineral resources including ferrous mineral and precious metals like gold and platinum.The precamberian era rocks are sources for the ferrous, non- ferrous and the precious metals, while the Cenozoic era sedimentary rocks are sources of the iron and coal. The mineral of the zone consists of coal, iron, nickel, precious metals (Gold and Platinum), non-ferrous minerals (Cobalt, molybdenum, titanium, Uranium and phosphate), and industrial and construction mineral like marble. Some of the localities with high mineral deposits fall with in the influence area of the road project; this includes Yubdo, Gimbi, Dembidolo, Guliso - Hena. 4.1.4 Soils There are four soil units recognized in the West Wollega zone these include; Dystric Nitosols,Orthic Acrisols, Chromic and PellicVertisols and Calcaric and Eutric Fluvisols. Span Consultant in Association with 23 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report Most part of the zone has Dystric Nitosols soil group. This soil group is deep, clayey red soils and occurs on almost flat to slopping terrain in high rain fall areas. They have uniform profile, are porous, have stable structure and deep rooting volume. This soil type has high agricultural potential. Mainly the soil of the road corridor is Dystric Nitosol group of soil unit, followed by stony Orthic Acrisols, flooding Chromic and Pellic Vertisols. The road alignment is dominated by residual and alluvial soils. These soils are commonly red, reddish brown and pinkish brown silt clay with little clayey silty sand and fertile top soil. They are mostly susceptible to erosion and constitute more than 80% of the alignmentsoil. In the project road alignment soil erosion problem is observed at river banks, around settlement sites (villagesand towns) and in areas of erosive soil cover and hill sides. Soil erodibility is based on two criteria, soil erodibility factor k, as determining for USLE and slope. The k factor calculatedfor the soils depends on the soil types . Soil erodibility is largelydifferentiatedon the bases of slope. Broadly speaking, on slopes <5%, unless the soil is particularly erodible, erosion should be manageable through agronomic practice, such as contour plowing and seeding and vegetative barriers. On slopes from 5 to15% agronomic practices should be backed by specific soil conservation measures such as grass strips, vegetative barriers, and up slope management. Slopes from 15%to 30% are at the extreme end of the normally accepted range for cultivation and soil conservation measures are essential; these may include physicalstructures. On slopes from 30 to 45%, physical such as terraces bunds, drainage diversion ditches, etc. become essential combined with management designed to maintain soil condition and minimize erosion. These measures are considered here as requirements and thus land in this category is defined as conditionally unsuitable, the condition being the application of appropriate soil conservationmeasures. Slope greater than 45% is considered unsuitablefor cultivation. 4.1.5 Water Resourcesand Drainage Basin West Wollega Zone has high water resource potential both surface and sub surface water resources. Most of the rivers of the zone are perennial, and there are also seasonal streams. Ground water source is shallow with depths ranging up to 100m. West Wollega zone is divided in to two major drainage basins; Abay (Blue Nile) River basin and Baro River Basin. The Abay River basin covers about 51% of the land area of the zone , while the Baro River basin covers the remaining 49% of the land. The rivers that drain to Abay basin include Didessa, Dilla, Dabus, Laga Mura and Gulufa, While those that drain Baro River are Birbir, Kile, Keto, Chebel, Laga Hida and Piper. Ground water potential of West Wellega is sub divided in to high yield, moderate and low yield on the bases of the aquifer forming the water reservoir.The eastern and south eastern part of the zone, also constituting the districts traversed by the road project have pocket areas of unconsolidated alluvium aquifer with high productivity yield and unconsolidated sediments formiug low productivityaquifer. 4.1.6 Wetland 1 MarshlandAreas and Swamps Wetlandslmarshland generally supports a wide range of biotical, hydrological, and physical processes which result in ecosystem function and the provision of valuable goods or services. These wetlands/marshlands have got several important functions to the local Span Consultant in Association with 24 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report environment,the community and to the wild life. It supports enormous living things both plant and animal species and serves as biodiversityreserve or for gene pool maintenance. Wetlandlmarshland ecosystem is also valuable for ground water recharge discharge processes, control sediment & floristic retention, pollutants removal, food production & food chain support, wild life habitat, climate control. Wetlandslmarshlands are instrumental in water cycling and in generating rain fall. The potential evaporation from swamps is 1.5 to >4 times greater than the evaporation from an open pan of water. If evaporation from the swamps is reduced then the amount of rainfall will reduce accordingly. Typical species Common to flooded grassland include; Hypermedia rube, Echinochload scrabra (stagnina), Leersia hexandra, paspalidiumgeminate. 'The wetlandlrnarshland and flood plains in the woredas traversed by the road are used as grazing grounds especially during the dry weather periods of the area and also for crop harvest in the dry seasons. Almost all the woredas have such marshland areas, though the plot areas differ from woreda to woreda. The total area of wetlandlrnarshland in those woredas is estimated at 3000 hectare. wetlandlrnarshland areas along the Project Road route, however, are found at very limited sites. The wetlandlrnarshland sites in the project area are those seasonally water inundated plain lands along the river banks traversed by the road. There is no extended wetlandlrnarshland area specially designated as protected site1 conservation site. The identified smallllimited wetlandlmarshland areas along the road route are found around km 37, 98, 126 and 170 mainly along river courses. The proportion of those wetland areas that fall at the river crossings of the road is estimated at less than 1%. 4.1.7Flora and fauna resources West Wollega zone is one of the densely vegetation covered areas of the country. The Climatic Climax Vegetation (i.e. the vegetation that would develop in the absence of human interference, onlyby the natural environmental conditions) of the zone includes; broad leafed forest, grasslands and wetlandslmarshlands. Broad leafed forest trees are found almost in all districts of the zone including those traversed by the project road. The Broad leafed forest consists four subdivisions of plant communities; the semi deciduous Baphia forest, Olea (Woira, egersa, Syzygium guineas(Dokma,) ), forest , Anigeria(Kerero), corton(Bisana) , Ekebergia (Sombo) forest, Arundinaria (Kerkeha, leman) and shrubs and grasses under the big trees. The influence area of road route is mainly dominated by Aningeria species and Olea species. Grasslands consisting of different species cover limited areas in the drier south and south western areas while wetlandslmarshlands are localized in the central western part of the zone. There are significant wildlife habitats in the West Wellega zone including the woredas traversed by the road project. The common wild life of the zone include Lion, Buffalo, Hippopotamus, otter, Civet, Bushbuck, Roan Antelope, Leopard, striped hyena, Columbus monkey, Patas monkey, hamadryads,baboonand Klipspringer. 4.1.8 National Parks and Protected Areas There is no designated national park though there are a number of potential protectedareas, such as wildlife reserve and conservation areas available in West Wellega zone. Western Oromia is endowed with forest and water resourcesforming areas potentially rich in wildlife conservation; Span Consultant in Association with 25 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report 9 The Dedessa Wilde life reserve area is a proposed reserve area found along Nekemte - Bedele road which covers an area of about 1333km2and has more than 14 stream water sources, 54 plant species, 30 mamal species and a number of bird species. 9 The Welel Shebele Conservationarea found in the Western extreme part of West Wellega zone forms significant wildlife conservation site. It converse an area of 11,374km2. 9 Forestareas inwest Oromiasubregionharborindigenousforest resourcesincluding endemic flora and fauna species to Ethiopia (Annex 3) However, there is neither park nor protected conservation site along the road route and in the proximity of the road project site. This in fact has led to diminishing of the wildlife resources of that area. However, the diverse physiographic and climatic conditions of the zone are favorable for wildlife habitat.There is plot of planted forest land (mainlyjuniperous trees) from station 16 + 900km up to station 19 +000km. along the road route, which can be used as recreationalpark for those residing in the area. 4.2 Population, Ethnic and Religious Groups As per the information contained in Statistical Abstract, 2004 (Central Statistical Agency), total population (July 2005) of eight woredas constituting the influence area of the project road is estimated as of July 2005 at 977,710 ( Males - 481,967 and Female - 495,743). Details of woreda-wise population,area and density are presented in Table 4.2. Table 4.2: District-wise Population of Project Influence Area (2005) Population Area Population DistrictlWoreda Male Female Total Sq.Km Density* Gimbi 70,383 72,791 143,174 1,183.4 121.0 54,538 56,396 110,934 989.4 112.1 Ayira Guliso 39,040 41,666 80,706 376.6 214.3 Lalo Asabi 75,212 76,601 151,813 1,949.9 77.9 Gawo Dale 63,112 65,974 129,086 1,089.2 118.5 Dale Lalo (Sedi) 55,192 55,469 110,661 1,329.1 83.3 HawaWallel 78,345 78,294 156,639 1,219.7 128.4 Sayo 46,145 48,552 94,697 624.2 151.7 1Yubdo 81,967 495,743 977,710 8,761.5 111.6 Total Source: StatisticalAbstract, 2004, Central StatisticalAuthority )* Number of Persons per Sq.Km. 4.2.1 Ethnic and Religious Groups The major ethnic groups of the woredas in the influence area are Oromo(85%), Amahara (9.1%), Guragea (1.3%) and others constitute the remaining 4.6%. In urban areas the population proportions differ from that in rural areas. In urban areas, Oromo constitutes Span Consultant in Associationwith 26 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report 54.4%, Amahara 28.8%, Guragea 8.1%, while in rural areas Oromo is 88.7%' Amahara 6.8% and Geadeos 1.1%. The main languages include Oromifa, Amarigna, Gedeogna and Guragigna.The religious groups in the project woredas constitute orthodox Christian , Musilim, Protestant Christians. Percentage distribution of different ethnic and religious groups in the project influence area (PIA) is given Table 4.3. Table 4.3: Ethnic and Religious Composition in the PIA Woreda Ethnic groups (%) Religiousgroups (%) Name Oromo Amahara Guragea Others Orthodox Muslim Protestant Ayira Guliso 98 2 2.9 0.1 97 --- - I pp Gawo Dale 84 15 1 30 35 Dale Sedi 96 3 1 15 25 60 - lpLpp-- Gimbi I 1 Hawa ale1 3 50 20 30 97 I - I I i A P I Lalo ssabi 95 - I Seyo 80 10 5 3 60 10 30 ----- Yubdo 4.3 Socio-economic Environment 4.3.1 Zonal & Woreda Level Land Use /Land Cover Land uses refers to the economic purpose the land is utilized by the society, while the land cover refers to the natural or man made factors occupying the land. Land uselland cover plan refers to the best allocation of the land to its best alternative uses. Details of land use/ land cover in the region and the PIA are presented in tables 4.4 and 4.5 respectively. Table 4.4: Sub -Regional and Zonal Land use1land cover Project road Zone West W"llega West Oromia Sub Corridor (% of Land use/land cover type Region total land area) (% of total land (% of total land area) area) (rough estimates) I Cultivated 1 I I I I land 44.6 43.66 I I I I 1.1 Intensivelycultivated 19.9 27.98 70% 1.2 Moderatelycultivated 24.7 15.68 Land cover 1 I I I 2.1 High forest 16.1 15.88 30% Span Consultant in Association with 27 Beza Consulting Engineers I.... Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report Project road Zone West WOllega West Oromia Sub Corridor (% of No Land use lland cover type Region total land area) (YOof total land (%of total land area) (rough area) estimates) 1 1 I I 2.2 Wood land 31.6 2.65 1 1 I I 2.3 Bush land /Shrub land 1 2.1 2.65 1 I I I I 2.4 Grass land 4.5 32.89 2.5 Swamps and wetlands 0.8 2.27 pp 2.6 Exposed rock 0.4 1 I I I I Sources:Atlas of West Wellega Zone & Atlas of West Oromia Sub Region, 2004 Table 4.5: Land UselLand cover of the Project Influence Area (PIA) (Hectares) Cultivated Grazing Land Woreda plus land No area Forest Other (district) cultivable lgrass land uses Land cover1 1 Lalo Asabi 41,800 33,604 2,200 3,796 2,200 I I I I I I 2 Ayra Guliso 99,740 60,035 7,981 14,329 17,411 3 Yubdo 4 Dale Sedy 69,418 32,302 11,082 3,546 22,488 I I I I 5 Gawo Dale 113,202 40,939 6715 8478 12,490 1 I 6 HawaWalel 1 135,000 72,886 19,883 14,033 30,000 I I I I I I 7 Seyo 130,194 71,873 5,800 34,521 18,000 I I I I I - I 8 Gimbi I I I I I I I I Source: RespectiveWoreda Administrations The major land use type along the road corridor and the influence areas of the project is intensively cultivated agricultural land. Crops grown include cereals, tree crops like coffee, fruit trees, and vegetables. Cultivable land (cultivated + potentiallycultivable).....................70% Forestcovered and Grass covered......................................... .25% Bare land..............................................................................5% 4.3.2 HealthStatus and health institutions In Western Oromia Sub Region the major causes for morbidity and mortality are Vector borne diseases, Upper respiratoryinfection,gastritis and duodenities, muscular rheumatism, skin infection,tuberculosis of respiratorysystem, diarrhea, ascaries and diseases of genitor- urinary system. About 31.3% Of the total area in west Oromia is severely malaria affected, while 49.5% is malaria prone area. Increasingincidences of malaria is being observed in the Span Consultant in Association with Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report sub region, which is said to be due to ecological changes being experienced in the area. Such ecological change is said to be responsible for the transmission of malaria from malaria areas to non-malaria areas. However, medical facilities and medical professional in the sub region are inadequateto cope with the health problem (Table4.6 81Table 4.7). Table 4.6: Poplilation per Medical Personnel of West Oromia Sub Region, 2001/2002 I Number of Medical PopulationPer 1 1 ersonnel 1 1 Populatio Zone Health n Health Doctor Nurse assistan Nurse assistant t I I EastWellega 1587809 20 135 202 79390 11762 7860 Jimma 2478166 27 140 150 91784 17701 lllubabor 1069842 15 86 156 71323 12440 ------- Total 7086440 67 540 635 I105768 13123 I I I I I I I I Source: Sub RegionalAtlas of West Oromia, June 2004 Regardingthe disease prevalence of woredas traversed by the road, data could be obtained only from six woreda health centers and hospital. It is expected that the trend might not differ much for the remainingtwo woredas as well. The data for the six woredas is indicated in Table 4.7. Table 4.7: Top Ten Most Prevalent Diseases in the PIA (2005) Percentageof All cases for the woredas Ayra Lalo Hawa Dale Guliso OawODale Seyo Assabi Walel Sedi 14.1 13. 15. NA 13.1 14.1 0 2 infection 4 3 4 Gastritis 10.2 6.6 2.2 NA 6.5 5.4 5 Anemia NA NA NA NA 3.6 6.2 - - - - 7 Skin diseases 3.9 7.2 8.6 NA 3.6 8 Dental diseases 4.0 NA 9 Diarrhea 5.2 7.6 3.2 NA 8.9 10.5 10 Goiter NA NA 8.6 NA NA NA I I I ' I I I I Source: RespectiveWoreda administrations. Span Consultant in Association with 29 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo-Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report Health facilities in west Oromia in 200012001 was recorded to constitute; 8- hospitals, 41 health centers, 329 clinics and 71 health posts. Most of the health institutions are located in urban centers. In West Wollega zone there are 4- government and 2-NGO hospitals, 12- health centers, 105-health posts and over 100-clinics(Table 4.8). The number of medical personnel is another indicator for the health service coverage of population. The medical personnelto population ratio of West Oromia sub region in the yea 200112002 is as described in Table 4.6 above. Availability of health facilities with in a reasonable distance to the rural community is an indicativeof the degree of health services and potentialfor improvedservice coverage. Table -4.8:Health Facilities of Woredas in the PIA (200512006) Woreda name Health facility Ayra Gawo Lalo Hawa Dale Gimbi Guliso Dale Seyo Assabi Walel Sedi Hos ital - p 11 1 ---12 Healthcenter 1 1 1 NA 1 1 1 I I I I I 1 I Health post 8 10 8 8 9 5 NA / I I I I I I I Clinics 14 1 1 15 12 110 4 I NA Source: RespectiveWoreda administrations. The access to health service has been assessed on the basis of the distance of the next health institution. According to the results of the Welfare Monitoring Survey -2004, access to health institutions at country level indicate that 9.3% of the households are within the distance of less than 'I km, 40% within a distance of less than 5km and 71% within distance of less than 10km. For Oromia Region accessibility to health institution is less than the country level averages. In West Wellega Zone the percentage of people living in the distance of less than 1km from the nearest health institution is 5.8%, the population living in a distance more than 10kmfrom health institution is 41%, while 14.2% of the population live in a distance greater than 20km. HIV IAIDS disease is a growing concern in the project area as is the case elsewhere in the country. The prevalence of the disease is especially significant in urbanized woreda towns. The percentage of positive HlVlAids cases recorded in Seyo woreda (Dembidolo town) hospital is as high as 24.4%, while the data for Ayra Guliso hospital shows 3.1% HlVlAlDs positive cases among the tested group. These figures are high for rural community like that of the projectarea. 4.3.3 Education Status and Facilities The literacy level and students enrolment ratio in Oromia Region is on a better side as compared to the country level figures. The primary and secondary school enrolment rate in 200312004 was 39% of the total student enrolled in the country. West wollega zone has relatively reasonablenumber of schools; almost all of the woredas have at least one primary level school, but the secondary schools are only found in some of the woredas only (Table 4.11). Tables 4.9, 4.10 and 4.11 demonstrate the educational status in West Oromia sub region and that of the West wollega zone as well as that of the PIA. Span Consultant in Association with 30 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report Table 4.9: School Enrolment By Zone of West Oromia Sub Region, 200212003 1 I Primary Senior seconday Zone , Male Female Male Female West Wellega 186926 138023 16958 6296 EastWellega 140844 98543 17301 8038 lllubabor 119724 79305 8550 3865 Jima 178025 121938 8909 5760 Total 616519 437809 Source: Sub Regional Atlas of West Oromia, June 2004 Table 4.10: School Distribution in West Oromia Sub Region, 200212003 Senior No. of Iprimary Zone Secondary Districts school school West Wellega 20 487 16 EastWellega 21 357 13 lllubabor 13 371 11 Jimma 13 407 11 Total 67 1622 51 Source: Sub RegionalAtlas of West Oromia, June 2004 Table 4.11: School Distribution in the PIA (200512006) 1 / 1 Zone, District Kinder Garden Primary school Senior Secondary College] I I I I l 3 I West Wollega Zone 27 632 41 Sayo 7 41 2 1 Lalo Asabi 1 22 2 Hawa welel 49 1 Dale Sedi 1 30 1 Gimbi I I Source: The RespectiveWoreda Administration Span Consultant in Association with 3 1 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- DernbidoloRoad Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report 4.3.4 Source of Energy West Oromia Sub Region lacks adequate electric power supply, and the energy need of the population mainly depends on traditional sources like; biomass fuel, plant and charcoal, crope residue and animal dung. These traditional energy sources account for over 98% of energy consumed in the Sub -Region. On the other hand the West Oromia Sub Region has ample potential for hydro-power generation. Accordirlg to data obtained from study of Oromia Economic study project 1999, the total hydropower potential of the four zones of West Oromia is estimated at 1338Gwhlyear. The share of West wollega zone, where the road project is located, accountsfor 382 Gwhlyear. 4.3.5 Transport network The road network development in the West Wellega zone is lower as compared to both the national, regional,and sub regional Oromia level as well. The total length of road network in Oromia Regionas off 200712008 is estimatedat 12,140km. The proportion for western Oromia sub Region is comparatively lower than other sub regions. The available detailed informationof 2002 demonstrates this fact. According to this data- road network in Western Oromia sub region in 2002 was about 3,019km. This includes 419km (13.88%) asphalt roads, 922km (30.54%) gravel surfaced roads and 1678km(55.58) rural gravel surfaced roads (Table 4.12). On the other hand, the road network in West Wellega is 744km which includes; no asphalt road (0% ) , 316km ( Oh) gravel surfaced road, 428km ( %) rural gravel road. Though, substantial road infrastructure works have been undertaken both at national and regional levels in the country since then, the proportion for the west wellega is still lagging behind comparedto others. Table 4.12: Road Network Distribution in West Oromia Sub Region by Zone and Type 200212003 Road Population Road Type in (Km) - Road Density (Kml1000 km2) Ratio - . ~ Zone 9 Source: Atlas of West Oromia Sub region, 200312004 4.3.6 Water supply Lack of safe drinking water supply is the major causes of disease in the Oromia region in general and to the rural community in particular. According to Welfare Monitoring Survey(WMS) -2004, only 25.20% of the country's population has access to safe water supply source, while the remaining 74.80% uses water from unsafe and unprotected sources like rivers and lake, unprotectedwelllspring (Table 4.13). Span Consultant in Association with 32 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report For Oromia region, population with potable water supply is 23.24% at rigional level, 22.2% for West Oromia Sub region and 7.3% for West Wellega Zone .While only 3.8% of the rural population of woredas (districts) traversed by the road project have access to safe potable water supply sources, the urban population of these districts have higher percentage as compared to the rural. Table 4.13: Distribution of Households by Water Supply Source, Unsafe water I Safe supply sources sources (%) 1Area (Yo) River II Unprotected I Protected I lake ~ e l l l r p r i n ~ Welllspring ;private tap Ethiopia Rural 32.39 42.04 14.4 10.80 ~ I I I I I I Oromia Region Rural 32.65 43.18 12.53 10.71 Sources:Atlas of West Oromia In view of low level of potable water supply coverage, one has to be cautious on handling the existing infrastructure and facility. In the urban areas, the water scarcity has forced the consumer to queue for an appreciable length of time. The road project may interfere with water supply systems in urban areas. In such cases, either the design has to consider avoiding the alignment or the water line has to be relocated. Arrangements have to be made for the relocation and compensation. Relocation has to be made prior to mobilizing the construction work or alternative supply line is provided until relocation is done, not to interrupt the water supply service. 4.4 Gender Equity Issue There is gender inequity in the project area as it is also the case in most part of the rural community of Ethiopia. Women participate equally in development activities including agricultural activities in the field as the men do. In addition to field work they are responsible for day to day household duties and for children care. They are also the ones who carry their agricultural produces to the market places for sale and in return to buy household commodities for consumption. However, their involvement and role in decision making and development planning is minimal. As per the consultation results of each woreda and also inline with the comment given by community representatives, Women are the most affected due to inadequacy of the road infrastructure.There are frequent death causalities reported due to delays in reaching health centers especially during pregnancy and delivery period. The hard ship of carrying heavy loads to the market places and back home is also the burden of the women. The implementation of the road infrastructure would substantially improve the transportation facility in the area, there by alleviating most of the difficulties that women population are currently experiencing. 4.5 Historical and Cultural Heritages According to the Atlas of west Oromia, Historical and cultural resources in the West Oromia Sub Region include; Palaces of Aba Jiffar & Kumssa Moroda, Mosques of Aba Jiffar and residential houses. Places of worship like traditional mosques, monasteries and churches Span Consultant in Association with 33 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo Dernbidolo Road UpgradingProject - RevisedFinal EIA Report are found in the sub region. Among the traditional places are found the Beluke in Wellega and the Sida Abachagi in lllubabor are the prominent ones. At these sites, the ancient holy tries of faith of the Oromo people are displayed. There are no historicaland cultural heritage sites of that magnitude and recognitionas those discussed above, with in the project influence area and in the right - of - way of the road route. However, there are churches, mosques, burial places and odas that are found within the influence areas of the project. These sites are found outside of the ROW width of the road. This fact was also confirmed by the consultation results made with the woreda administrations and elderly people of the project area, and during the site visits and site investigation. The Oromia Regional State Bureau of Tourism and Culture was also contacted in January 2009 to get information and opinion on any PCRs and archeological findings of the area. Accordingly, Ato Belay Kassaye, Head of Tourism & Information Departmentof the bureau and Ato Daniel Deressa, an expert in the Heritages Researchand Protection Department of the bureau have confirmed that there is no recorded or suspected site for Archaeological resources in the premises of the road route. However,there is always possibilityto yield undiscovered cultural artifacts, and any cultural and archeological resources encountering should be reported to the Oromia Cultural and Tourism Bureau andlor relevant authorities. The mitigationlpreservation measures be consulted and implemented as necessary. The mitigation lavoidance to the resourcewill be inaccordance wih the proclamationNo 4.6 Public Consultations and Community Acceptability of the Road Upgrading Project Public consultation meetings and interviewswere held at selected woreda centers and with the woreda administrations at their respectiveoffices and localitiesas the situation allowed.. Issuesdiscussedand briefingsgiven includethe following topics; Knowledge about the intended road project Attitude of the community on the road project implementation Major benefitsof the road improvement project Major adverse impacts that may be caused due to the road project implementation, especiallyof the road side settlers and properties in the ROW. Environmentalimpacts due to realignmentof the existing road route, especially designed to access the town centers of Ayira, and Geba Robi, and the dislocation of houses and people in those towns. Possible compensationand needs for resettlement of people in those towns Other mitigationmeasures proposed for the other adverse impacts The outcome of the consultation meetings demonstrated communities? stakeholders' positiveview about the project. Regarding environmental concerns, the community has weighed both positive and adverse consequences of the project and gave their opinions freely. The stakeholders' views1 understanding1expectations of the proposedproject are summarized as under: The current problem due to air pollution and health problems related to dust from the gravel paved road shall substantiallybe improved. The traffic accident due to the deficiencies in the road design and due to dust interferencewill improve Span Consultant in Associationwith 34 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road UpgradingProject RevisedFinal EIA Report The realignment made to access the town centers of Ayira, and Geba Robiwould greatly enhance the socio-economic benefits of those towns, in spite of all the adverse impacts (dislocation of houses and people, damages to fruit trees and utility lines in the right of way1. The community and the respective woreda administrations showed willingness to cooperate in administering and handling the compensation and resettlement issues for the affected group. Access to market places and availability of transport facility shall improve the price for their products, which at present are under valued due to difficulties in transporting their goods to central markets. The consultative meetings with local administration indicated their willingness of full participation for the RAP program implementation, both in coordination and availing resettlementsites and plot of land requiredfor the displaced people by the project List of interviewees and consulted people and institutions is included under the Annex 2. Minutes of meetings carried out at some of the localitiesare also included under the annex. 4.7 Environmental Conditions of the Road Route Corridor Re- emphasized 4.7.1 Existing Road Pavement Condition The project road is classified into sixteen fairly homogeneous pavement sections (Table 4.14). The main pavement damage along the project road is rutting, corrugation and pavement deterioration. During the field investigations, it was observed that extensive pavement deterioration was common at stations 8+100 - 9+200,86+000 - 96+600,113+100 - 136+800,and 139+800- 145+700,where comfort speed was poor to very poor at 40Kmlh. Details in this regard are given in Table 4.14. 4.7.2 Bio Physical Environment - The road route traverses mainly mountainous and rolling topographic land forms, with smaller section of flat terrain. The area is covered with forests and tree crops including coffee and fruit trees. The physical environmental conditions of the road route are as described in Table 4.15. Span Consultant in Association with 35 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road UpgradingProject Revised FinalEIA Report Table 4.14: Existing Road Pavement Condition Comfortable ( Pavement Pavement Pavement Damage Speed Remark -- White to reddish silty o+ooo . lo Moderat Moderat Moderate clay mixed Few 10+900 e @50Kmlh with basaltic gravel White to 1 pinkish silty 10+900 clay mixed Extensi Extens Extensiv Extensi Extensive Fair 11 22+500 with ve @50Kmlh traychaytic gravel White to 22+500 . reddish silty Moder Moderat Moder Poor 12 Extensive 32+000 clay ate e ate @50Kmlh granular soil Reddish IFair I32+000 . silty clay Extensi Extensiv Few 41+000 traychatic ve e @50Km/h gravel Pinkish to white silty 41+000 . clay mixed Extensiv Fair 11 Few - Few 52+000 with e @6OKm/h traychatic gravel Reddish 52+000 . silty clay Moderat Fair 12 Few - Extensive 57+300 traychatic e @60Kmlh gravel White silty 57+300 - Moderat Very Poor 11 clay basaltic - Few Few Extensive 85+800 @40Kmlh gravel Brown silty highly 85+800 . clay mixed Exte Moderat Poor Extensive 96+600 with basaltic nsive e @40Kmlh deteriorate d gravel Moderat White to 96+600 - e to - Extensiv Poor Exposed 11 reddish silty - Few 113+100 Extensiv e @40Kmlh boulders clay gravel e Exposed Light brown cobles 113+100 to reddish Moder Extensiv - eExtensiv Fair e @6OKm/h and loss of fine gravel materials White silty Currently 145+900 - clay mixed Exte Exten Extensiv with Few Few Very poor under Maintena @ 147+000 nsive sive weathered gravel White silty @ regravel1 Recently 147+000 - ~ i l Moderat Fair l4 166+900 clay mixed Nil Nil 1, 13 few e 6OKKmlh ed with - 36 Span Consultant inAssociationwith Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- DembidoloRoad Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report Source: Mekenajo - Dembidolo Materials Report, March 2006 Table 4.15: Physical Environment along the Road Alignment Sensitive Sensitivity Chainage Link (KM) Topography Geology Soil type environmenta to I components (km) 0 +OOO - 7.7 Residual (Mekenejo Rolling and alluvial Sensitive Junction) soils 7.7 - 14.2 Mountains Residual Sensitive and alluvial soils Rolling Residual Sensitive 1and alluvial 7 soils Mountainous and alluvial soils Residual and alluvial soils Rolling Residual Sensitive and alluvial L Mountainous and alluvial Rolling Residual Sensitive River crossing and alluvial soils 34.4 - 43.1 Flat Residual Sensitive River 34 .4 and alluvial crossing soils Wetlandlm 37 arshland 43.1 - 50.0 Rolling Residual Sensitive and alluvial Span ConsultantinAssociationwith Beza ConsultingEngineers Mekenajo- DernbidoloRoad Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report Sensitive Link (KM) Topography Geology Soil type Sensitivity Chainage to erosion l corn onents I - soils 50.0 - 87.0 1 1Residual Sensitive River crossing 51.6 and alluvial 60.6 soils 87.110.2 Rolling Residual Sensitive and alluvial Wetlandlmars soils hland 110.2 - Flat Residual Sensitive River crossing 112.6 121.5 and alluvial 116.7 I soils 1119.6 121.5 - I Rolling I Residual 1 - Sensitive River crossing ( 124.6 127.6 I I 1 and alluvial 1wetlandlmarsh I soils 1land 1 126 Flat Ridge forming Residual I River crossing ( 135.6 aphanitic to and slightly alluvial porphyritic soils BASALT Wetland1 overlying by marshland reddishbrown 170 Rolling-Flat Residual River crossing 181.0 181.O and slightly alluvial (Dembidolo) porphyritic soils BASALT overlying reddishbrown lateritic soil. 4.7.2.1 Climatic condition of route corridor The area has semi tropical climatic conditions with moderate temperature and rain fall. There are two rainy seasons; heavy rainy period occur during June to September,while the relatively light rains stay from February up to May (Table4.16). Table 4.16: Climatic Conditions of the Route Corridor Rain fall Temperature Link Intensity(mm) Duration Range ("c) Duration Mekenajo- 400 - 600 February - May 15-19.9 Jan Dembidolo 600 - 799 June - Sept. 0 - 24.9 April 200 - 399 Oct. - Jan 15- 19.9 July 15- 19.9 Oct 4.7.2.2 Land Resources and Soil Erosion Problem Soil Erosion and Siltation Problems Soil erosion and siltation problems are observed at several points along the road. Most of these erosion and the consequent gully formation are caused by concentrated run-off water along the roadside. Improper design and wrong management of roadside drains are the Span Consultant in Association with 38 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report major causes for the formation of big gullies in some sections along the existing road. Four big gullies were observed along the Project Road at approximately km 5 on both sides of the road, km 20 on the left-hand side, km 56 on the left-hand side and at km 57. Most of these gullies were formed due to inadequate erosion protection measures at the outlet of the culverts or side drainage structures. In these areas additional care has to be taken, particularly at the outlets of culverts and side drains. Erosion on the existing concrete lined drains is also prevalent,which reveals the inadequacy of side drainage structures to entertain the run-off passing through it. From this it is essential that the concrete side drains have to be redesignedwith a larger capacity. (See photo- 5). Other causes of erosion in the vicinity of the Project Road are the extraction of road construction materials. In areas where borrow materials have been extracted adjacent to the road, severe erosion features were created. It is, therefore, very essential to apply adequate erosion protection measures to rehabilitate the existing gullies and to prevent any further erosion. 4.7.3 Water Resources along the Road Route There are several rivers and streams along the Project Road, which receive run off from their respective water catchment areas. These streams are usually the source of drinking water for the local people and animals. Therefore care should be taken to avoid any pollution of these streams during the road construction processes. Table 4.17 lists some of the major rivers encountered along the road alignment. Table 4.17: Rivers along the road alignment appro xi ma^ I Catchment No Name of river Station(km Area (km2, 31 Meti 186 I I I 4 96 Unknown 86 I I I 5 101 Unknown 99 I I I 6 108 1Chiracha 62 I I I I 7 123 Kuni 88 1 I 8 132 1 Bururi 1023 Ground water sources are also used for domestic water supply. There are some wells along the route, like at station 16 + OOOkm, 35 + 700km, etc. In view of low level of potable water supply coverage, one has to be cautious on handling the existing infrastructure and facility. In the urban areas, the water scarcity has forced the consumer to queue for an appreciable length of time. The road project may interfere with W Span Consultant in Association with 39 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- DernbidoloRoad Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report water supply. In such cases, either the design has to consider avoiding the alignment or the water line has to be relocated. Arrangements have to be made for the relocation and compensation. In urban areas, water supply network may fall wihin the ROW of the road alignment and interfere with the service provision and result in disruption of the services during construction phase of he project. 4.7.4 Vegetation Cover The road route is located in a broad leafed forest covered land areas. The major forest species are Olean forest Aningera (Kerero) forest. List of major trees and vegetation dominating the road route corridor is included under Annex 3. Along the road route dense tropical forest cover land is traversed at stations; o 0 + 000 to 4 + 400 km o ll+000to26+OOOkm o 69 +000 to 71 + OOOkm o 79 + 000 to 85 + OOOkm o 130 + 000 to 140 + OOOkm o 153+000to159+OOOkm 4.7.5 Socio-economic Situation of the Project Road Corridor 4.7.5.1 Land use The major land use type along the road corridor and the influence areas of the project is potentiallycultivable land, intensively cultivated agricultural land and vegetation covered. Potentiallycultivable land and crop land ........................................70% Forest and Grass covered..........................................................25% Bare land..................................................................................soh Major crops grown along the Project Road are maize, sorghum, wheat, teff and pulses. Barley, beans and chickpeas are also grown in a lesser amount. The major cash crop is coffee. It is the largest commodity and income source for the people living along this road. The route is also known for mango and banana. They are mostly found along the sides of the road. Other cultivated trees such as eucalyptus and junipers appear in several places along the road. The estimated land use coverage within the 30 m wide strip of the Mekenajo to Dembidolo road is presented in Table 4.18. Table 4.18: Land Use within 30m Radius of the Project Road LanduseType I Area in ha I YO Seasonal crop land 276 33.3 Permanent crops like coffee, banana, mango etc. 14 2.5 Span Consultant in Association with 40 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo - Dernbidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report IExisting road 186 49.4 I Natural & cultivated trees 10 1.8 -- Built UD area 72 13.0 I I Total 558 100.0 4.7.5.2 Settlement Pattern Average population density of the project area is about 113 persons per square kilometer with agglomeration. Higher population densities are observed at town centers and along the road route (Table 4.19). Table 4.19: Population of Towns and Vvillages along the Road Route (2005) Town1Village Status (TownNillage) Station (km) Population name --- Meke.Nejo 0+000 Village NA lnanno - 7 +200 Capital town of Lalo Assabi 6102 Woreda Daleti 14 Village IVa Na Aba Wedo 31 Village Guliso 38 + 500 Capital town of Ayira Guliso 7,463 1 I Iworeda I I I Ayra 59 + 200 Village 5,410 Yubdo Capital town of Yubdo woreda 4,603 Azetu 80 Village Na Alem 82 Village 5,233 1 - Teferi Kake Capital town of Gawo Dale 4,718 woreda Chanka 106 Village 6,282 Igu Kufare 109 Village Na Machara 129 Village Na Wacho 134 qVillage988 Geba Robi Capital town of Hawa Walel 4,113 Anfare 145 Village Na Dembidolo 181 + 000 Capital town of Seyo Woreda 33,452 NA = Not Available data Sources: Statistical Abstract, Ethiopia, 2004. 4.7.5.3 Economic Activity The project area has high potential for agricultural and mining resources. The woredas traversed by the road project and those falling in the influence areas of the project produce coffee and livestock in abundance. Gimbi and Yubdo woredas are known for their mineral resources including Gold, platinum, iron ore. Crop production is intensively carried out towards the north eastern woredas, while coffee plantation dominates the south western woredas and around Dembidolo. The main crops grown in the influence areas of the road project include maize (40% of the area and 25% of production) teff (20% Of area and about 9%0f production), millet (10% of Span Consultant in Association with Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- DernbidoloRoad Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report area and 6% of production),and as well as wheat, pulses and oilseeds. It is estimated that 25,000 hectares of land in the influencearea is under coffee plantation. 4.8 Material ProductionSite Condition and acquisition Construction material sites have been identified alorlg the road corridor. The search for construction materials includes: Borrow materialfor road embankment Natural granular materialfor Sub base Quarry stone for crushed aggregateand masonryworks Sand sourcefor concrete and mortar works Water for constructionworks The potential material sites have been assessed and are summarized in Tables (Tables 4.20, 4.21 and 4.22). The legal arrangements of the land acquisition for the material sites will be in accordance with the provisions set in the government proclamations (No45512005, 45612005, regulation No.13512007, Oromia Regional State Rural land use and administration proclamation No.5612002 and ERA'S Re-establishment proclamation No. 8011997 that outlines the objectives, powers and duties of the authority). These legal provisions are discussed in detail under the policy & Legal frame work section, section-2 of the EIA report.Specificallythe sections on; "Proclamation to provide for the Expropriation of Land Holdings for Public Purposes and Payment of Compensation, Proclamation No. 45512005" discusses the procedures and methodologies to be followed for the implementation of the land acquisition and compensation paymentfor the land holder. Council of IWinisters Regulation No.13512007, Regulation on payment of Compensation for property situated on land holding expropriated for public purposes. This regulation discusses the assessment of compensation for properties, provision of replacement land and paymentof displacement compensation. These proclamations also state the delegated power to expropriate rural or urban holdings for public purpose, where it should be used for a better development projects to be carried out by public entities or investors. Accordingly Woreda or an urban administration shall up on payment in advance of compensation, have the power to expropriate. Oromia Regional State Rural land use and administration proclamation No.5612002 includesthe following rights and obligations: Under article 4, sub-article-1 it states that land is the common property of the state and people, and shall not be subject to sale or other means of exchange. Under article -5 sub article-2 it states that government organizations, private investors and social organizations have the right to use rural land through legal process. Under article - 23, sub article - 3 it is stated that any individual or organization engaged in mining quarry developmentactivities,shall be obliged to rehabilitatethe sites. ERA re-establishment proclamation; proclamation No. 8011997 also has provision for expropriationof land holdingsfor road constructionpurposes. Span Consultant in Association with 42 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo - Dernbidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report ERA'S Resettlement I Rehabilitation Policy Framework, the basic principle of the framework policy is to address the importance of compensation paymentsfor the loss of assets at replacement cost, giving opportunities to locals to share project benefits and assisting PAPS' in relocation 1 rehabilitation. These legal documents have a more or less parallel similarity to the World Bank OP and BP 4.12 procedures. Compensation is paid for the property lost if new lands are occupied in places where no road has existed before or if the upgrading of the existing road requires new land out of the right of way. Compensation is paid for properties lost temporarily or permanently. Proclamation No.45612005 on the other hand describes; the right to hold and use rural land, acquisition and use of rural land, transfer and duration of rural land use right, obligation of rural land users and restrictions on rural land use(land use, planning and proper use of sloppy, galley and wetland sites). Clauses to enforce those restrictions and requirements of the proclamations will be included in the construction contract. The consultant has to specify and include in the contract document by referringthe conditions set in the proclamationsand policies. World Bank policy OP 4.12 The law relating to land administration in Ethiopia is varied; entitlements for payments of compensation are essentially based on right of ownership. The Bank's OP 4.12 is fundamentally different from this and states that affected persons are entitled to some form of compensation whether or not they have legal titles if they occupy the land by the cut of date. Therefore, as this is a Bank funded project, the principles of OP 4.12 are not negotiable. The Bank's OP 4.12 must be adhered to. As a result, all the land to be acquired by the governments for this projectwould be so acquired subject to the laws of Ethiopia and the Bank OP 4.12. Where there is conflict, the Bank OP 4.12 must take precedence. Span Consultant in Association with 43 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo - DembidoloRoad UpgradingProject Revised Final EIA Report Table 4.20: POTENTIAL QUARRY SITES FOR CRUSHED AGGREGATE AND MASONRYWORKS GPS Position 1 1 1 1Quantity 1 1 Over Material Type Access Estimated Remark Northingb s t i n g Elev. Burden lm3\ 10+900 Fresh to slightly weathered I.: - Existing 1014874 793113 50'000 to -Top part is weathered up to 1.5m - 400m Rt. 868 Quartiztic rock earth road 75'000 and light brown to white silty clay up to 3m - Being used by local people 11 11 39+800 1: / 1 1 1017853 768733 Fresh hard basaltic rock - Existing > 75,000 - Needs blasting 5.8Km Rt. earth road - Nearby flatter terrain Crushe Plant can be installed 1 Easier to develop 56+000 1004548 763097 700m Rt. - Existing quarry developed 1 1 i:! f,:ke 96+600 743703 980441 Fresh hard basaltic rock - >75,000 - Exposedalong the side cuts Lt. & Rt. - Existing quarry face developed by local people 84+400 0.5 - Existing - Needs blasting 983595 751960 Basalticfresh hard stone >80,000 1.2 Km Lt. .0 earth road - Crusher can be planted on flatter terrain - Hill ridaeformina I AI r I I 1 .a - -Top part is weathered and mav 1 1 Adjacent be used for selected granulir . Hard basaltic to slightly 2.0 on roadto & the 980269 743752 to the >80,000 materials (Lt. weathered strong rock the Rt. road I I -Need blasting @;A- Rt.) (-Exposed along the road side cut I - ORRA developed for bridge - 1 1 135+800 Very fresh strong basaltic construction 5100'000 stone 1 1 961776 721967 Nil 5.6Km Lt. ::;?:ad -Flat terrain to ridge forming -Red clav covered stone Span Consultant in Associationwith 44 Beza ConsultingEngineers Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report --- GPS Position Quantity SIN Station Material Type Over Access Estimated Remark Northing Easting Elev. Burden (m3) - -Existing quarry developed by the 52t600 Adjacent Fresh to slightly weathered 0.5 - local people 962508 705419 1898 to the >50'000 basalt, strong 1.o -Can be used for both crushing road aggregate and stone masonry - -Needs blasting -When deepen highly weathered Adjacent rock that may be used for selected Fresh to slightly weathered 1.0 - to the >100,000 granular material -Developed quarry face by local Span Consultant in Associationwith 45 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- Dernbidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report Table 4.21: POTENTIAL SOURCES OF NATURALGRAVEL FOR SUBBASE - -- GPS Position Quantity Over SIN Station MaterialType Access Estimated Remark N o r t h i n g L G I K p - Burden (m3) -Existing Reddish silty 11+600 0.0 1014244 792094 1764 clay fractured 800m Lt. 0.50 earth road weathered rock routine maintenance -Easily dozable -Nil vegetation 18+800 - Highly - Exposed along side Along the 19+200 weathered gravel 0.5 - cuts 1013686 782894 1776 road side >30.000 Adj. to the mixed with red to 1.0 Ridge forming cuts road Lt. pinkish silty clay -Red silty clay over I, Iburden I I I Red to pinkish 48+100 Along the silty clay -Few trees with Adj. to the 1010142 767828 1584 Nil road side >50,000 fractured bushes road Rt. cuts weathered rock Weathered light - Very few trees 49+900 Existing -Small penerial river brown silty clay <1.0 >80'000 1.8 Km Rt. earth Road - highly weathered and granular soil fractured rock I and Red to pinkish -Exploited 60+100 Existing accessible -When 1001415 763217 1716 granular silty Nil >50'000 300m Lt. earth Road depen there exists clay hard rock - - - -- Highly -Dozable and when 72+400 weathered gravel Almost Existing deepen there exists >40'000 3.5 Km Rt. mixed with light Nil earth Road harder rock -Almost brown silty clay no trees Span Consultant in Associationwith 46 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road UpgradingProject Revised Final EIA Report --------- GPS Position Quantity Over SIN Station Material Type Access Estimated Remark Northing Easting Elev. Burden (m3) --- - - - -It can be used for embankment fill Red silty clay 99+700 Existing -Very few bushes 978347 740930 1537 mixed with Nil '10'000 1.OKrnLt. earth Road -Existing pit used by ERA weathered gravel NekemteDistrict -Located on flat terrain -- -- 107+000 Along the - When deepen may be used for Weathered to fresh 8 Adjacent to 978036 736410 1510 Nil road to the >10,000 crushed aggregate by blasting basanic gravel the road Lt. left side - Many trees and bushes - -- - Easily dozable & fractured on Weathered gravel layers 128+300 Existing 970843 723487 1355 mixed with light Nil >80,000 -Existing pit used by ERA for 200m ~ t . earth Road brown silty clay maintenance -Cliff to ridge forming terrain -- - Highly weathered weak gravel to -New site source but exposed 147+800 hard quarry rock 0.5 - Existing along the side cut 964814 708131 1696 >20'000 800m Rt. mixed with earth Road -Few vegetation gray to dark gray -Easily dozable clay - -Existing pit used by ERA Nekemte District for routine 1.5 - maintenance -Few 166+300 White clayey 2.5 953760 702512 850 Existing >50,000 vegetation, the area is ridge 700m Rt. weathered gravel Red earth Road forming -when deepen harder clay rock material observed but easily dozable -- - Span Consultant in Association with 47 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- DembidoloRoad Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report Table 4.22: POTENTIAL SOURCES OF BORROW MATERIAL FOR EMBANKMENT Adj. To the 1 12 + 000 1014791 792387 1828 Reddish pink silty clay Nil .,50,000 road right Adj. To the 1015367 773883 1548 Reddish pink silty clay Nil .,80,000 road left Reddish silty clay 1008144 771608 1636 Nil Adj. To the granular material road left Span Consultant in Association with 48 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report 5.0 ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES 5.1 Alternatives of Road Surfacing In the present study, three road upgrading alternatives have been considered. While Alternative 1 follows the existing road alignment, for Alternatives 2 and 3, the proposed re- alignment has been considered. The road standard and surface improvements considered for analyses differ from each other. Two major aspects considered for evaluation of the alternatives were a) environmental indicators and b) Socio-economic indicators. The alternatives are discussued below in comparison to the do-nothing or without the project situation (Alternative 0). 5.1. I Environmental Aspects The indicatorsconsidered under the environmental issues are defined as follows; Alternative-0 ............... Do - nothing Ino project Alternative -1 ................High gravel Alternative -2................Asphalt double surface treatment Alternative -3.................Asphalt concrete The analyses in this respect justifies Alternative 2+3 (asphalt paved road project implementation) , by stating that; the asphalt surfacing would reduce the dust problem which is currently causing health hazards to the community residing by the road side and also as it improves traffic accidents that are caused due to dust particles in the air there by reducing long distance visibility to drivers. In the asphalt surfacing case,pollution of soil resources, water resources and air pollution due to bitumn and asphalt smelting plants might be of concern. These impacts, however, can easily be mitigated and minimized through proper maintenances of facilities, installation of smoke suppression accessories for the asphalt smelting plant and taking due care while operation and use of the asphalt material. The cost of mitigation for these adverse impacts is included in the normal day to day operation and maintenances of facilities and administrative costs as the case may be. On the other hand asphalt treatment can better assist surface water harvesting in case the need arises, facilitates surface drainage and avoids water ponding on road surfaces and at side ditches. 5.1.2 Socio - economic Aspects The alternatives analysed from the socio- economic points of veiw are summarised by the previous study as in the following Table 5.1. This comparative figures could clearly demonstrate the best alternative for the project implementation.According to this analyses the asphalt surfacing would enhance the socio economic benefiets of the community in the project area significantly by curbing some of the currently experienced transport related problems. The socio-economic parameter considers indicators like food security, access to services, Gender issues, empoyment oportunities Span Consultant in Associationwith 49 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report Table 5.1: Analyses of Alternative Road Standard from Socio Economic Point - of View Asphalt Socio- economic Indicators High double Asphalt gravel surface concrete Improvement of food security 29 29 29 (US$) Healthfacilities (US$) 127 127 127 Adminstrative centers 311 311 311 ( unskilled/month '0) 788 867 946 Transit safety(US$ *1000) 172 2495 2495 I Oportunitiesforemploymet (Unskilled/month'O)(US $) 788 867 946 Total 2451 4932 5090 Source: Feasibility study and Environmental Impact Assessment of Eiahteen Roads (Packagege B ~ o a dproject), SYSTRA In association with SPT and PANAF, June 2003. The alternatve comparisons from the socio - economic point of view also justifies that Alternative -3 (Asphalt concrete surfacing) is the best option for implementation of the project followed by Ah.-2 (Asphalt double surface treatment). This analyses result is also ashared by the review consultannt and is directly adopted for justifications. 5.2 Alternative Route Analyses The current design considers diversions at different locations to access some of the emerging and potentially rich towns. Hence it is essential to compare situations following the existing old road alignment all the way through with new planned alternative routes. Analysis of alternative routes tries to evaluate the pros and cons of following the existing road alignment visa- a- vise a newly proposed diversion routes at different locations along the road alignment. The diversions are meant mainly to access major towns and villages along the road influence area including towns like Geba Robi and Ayra, which are densely populated and have high resources and investment potential. They are also commercial centers for agricultural and livestock products including coffee. Improved vehicular transport would promote the potential capacity of the towns and villages envisaged to be accessed by diversion from the existing alignment. However, damages to houses and properties in those newly accessed towns and villages, and displacement of people and properties would be significant. Relocation of both people and properties and compensations has to be arranged to mitigate the impacts. Span Consultant in Association with 50 Beza Consulting Engineers L. Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report 5.3 Alternatives of the Road upgrading Project versus the no Project Scenario The feasible modern mode of transport connecting between Mekenajo and Dembidolo is road transport under the prevailing situation. The existing road condition is not conducivefor efficient transportation of goods and people. This has greatly hampered the improvement of food security, road standard being the factor determining the timely delivery and distribution of food assistance to population in need. Improvementin the road standard decreases travel time and ensures safety for transportation of goods and also facilitates access to social services. The construction work creates job opportunitiesto the local community and to the women population in particular. Women can benefit by income generated from sales of consumables and services to the workers engaged on the construction activity. Availability of improved transportation can also encourage the women population to attend schools, to access and use central markets and medical centers both for themselves and to their family in general. Hence the benefits attainable by implementation of the road upgrading work would outweigh the consequences of environmentaldamages related to the implementation of the project. This is justified by the possible avoidance of and/or minimizing the significant adverse impacts through implementationof the appropriate mitigation measures. Span Consultant in Association with 5 1 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report 6.0 POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS OF THE ROAD PROJECTAND MITIGATION MEASURES The impacts of the road project shall be felt mainly with in the influence areas of the project, while it also has regional and national level significance. The major sites experiencing adverse impacts of the project shall be; At diverted sections following new road route alignment. In town centers and villages where displacement of people and property would encounter. At material productionsites, Along the crop fields in the ROW In dense forest areas, At river crossings Overall Positive lmpacts Road infrastructure facilitates economic development and social services coverage enhancementendeavors. Availability of transport facility is a pre-requisiteto any attempts to be made for the improvement of the livelihood of a community and poverty reduction strategies. 6.1.1 lmpacts on Local Economy The Mekenajo - Dembidolo road project is the major link of those woredas of West Wllega zone to the Addis Ababa - Assossa high way, and connects to the zonal capital towns like Gimbi, and Nekemte. In that respect the road has both social, economic and administrative significance West Welega zone ingeneral and the woredas traversed by the road project in particular are gifted with natural resources and are among the potentially rich areas of the country. The area is high producer of commercialcrops includingcoffee and livestock products.There are abundant mineral resources includingGold, Platinum, Iron Ore, Marble, Coal and others in a feasible quantity for exploitation. lmproved infrastructure, especially road transport would greatly assist the development and utilizationof these resources and promotes investmentin the area. Such investment and development activities shall bring significant economic and social benefits both at local and national level. At local level the population can benefit from job opportunities created following the investment and development activities in the area, farmers can get better prices for their products. Increase in agricultural and industrial development of the area would attract more people and more transport vehicle which in turn encourage road side business and trade to flourish. The Gambela Region and other neighboringareas would get additional alternative improved road route to travel to Addis Ababa and other urban centers like Gimbi, Nekemte, Ambo; and would have better accessibility. This would reduce the distances they have to cover at the moment by traveling via Gambela - Bedele-Jima route to access those urban centers. lmproved road condition reduces traffic accidents and vehicle damages due to the existing sub-standard road, it reduces health problems related to air pollution caused mainly by dust blown from the road surface in conjunction with vehicular movement on the existing rough and gravel surfaced road. W Span Consultant in Associationwith 52 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report 6.1.2 lmpacts on Access to Social Services The availability of efficient transportation can result in improved social services; access to market places and to service rendering centers would be improved. The proportion of people living in the distances more than 1Okmfrom the nearest health center in West Welega zone is 40.2% which is above the national average. At national level the population living at distance more than 10km is 28.2%. Transportation shall be facilitated as more vehicles would be available following the improvements in the road conditions. School enrolment rate would be encouraged by the improvement of the transport facility, especially for the enrollment of female students can increase, which at present is lower as compared to the national average enrolment rate. 6.1.3 lmpacts on Women /Gender Issue Culturally women are responsible to purchase major household consumables from the near by markets and also to carry or transport some of their products for sale at the market places. Family care responsibilities of women are also stronger as compared to that of the male's share. They have to travel on foot, some time carrying heavy loads on their back to market places and social service centers. They also spend longer time on travel to market places. Provision of efficient transportation with fair price, through improved road network would relievethe women from these burdens. Induced development resulting due to project implementation brings in employment opportunity to the women. Women in the project area can earn from sales of goods and services to the construction labour force. Women can be employed and involved in the construction activity and earn salary from the projectfund. Women also can benefit to access social services; health centers, education and market places better due to the improvements in availability of efficient transport and reduced transport costs as well. 6.1.4 Impact on Poverty Reduction Over the last decade, the country's GNP per capita has remained at around US $110, the lowest in the world. It is estimated that 55 percent of the population is below the absolute poverty level. In some regions the population below the poverty line is as high as 85%. This group consists of small farmers in rural areas, the landless and retrenched workers. Food insecurity and health problems are the main features of the poverty. In order to combat and reverse the prevailing level of poverty, the government has taken a major step and prepared Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction Programme (ESDPRP). As noted in the program, realization of this can only be achieved by implementing a number of prioritized programs and developments in different sectors. Road infrastructure development is among the key sector development programs and projects in the ESDPRP. The ESDPRP has the objective of building a free market economic system which will enable the economy to develop rapidly, the country to extricate itself from its dependence on food aid and make poor peopleto be the main beneficiariesof growth. In order to achieve this strategy, Agricultural Development led Industrialization (ADLI) has been identified as one of the building block or pillars. Span Consultant in Association with 53 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- Dernbidolo Road UpgradingProject Revised Final EIA Report Ethiopia though basically a rural country, is launchinga major program for the intensification of agriculture, includingthe large and small scale development irrigationschemes, as well as industriesthrough this ADLl Policy. The rural woredas West Wollega traversed by the road project are among the top beneficiaries of such an agricultural economic development program, and hence the transport infrastructure improvement would significantly enhances the advantages of the rural socio- economic development. 6.1.5 Impacts on Traffic Safety Traffic accidents on the existing road are mainly caused due to dust particles in the air interfering with longer distance visibility, and improper design at curves, slippery and corrugation of road surfaces. The implementation of the project would improve the road condition through upgraded design and improved pavement surfacing. On the other hand the traffic volume would substantially increase both in number and type as a result of road condition improvements and may lead to increasedtraffic accident. The causes for accidents expected on the new improved road would, however, differs from the situations before improvements. The causes in this case would mainly be attributed to deficiencies in observance of traffic regulations rather than to road design and construction standard. Enforcement of traffic regulations and proper monitoring measures can easily mitigate this impact. 6.1.6 Rain Water Harvesting Asphalt paved road surfaces generate substantial volume of runoff water collected by road side ditches and culverts. The collected water if properly conserved in ponds and reservoirs can be used to irrigate agricultural fields and livestock population of the rural community. However, proper quality monitoring measures should be in place to avoid pollutiondue to oil spills and contaminations.The design of the road should consider provision for partialwater harvesting at down stream side of drainages. In fact this has to be considered carefully not to significantly affect the recharge rate of the water resources and wetlands of the area. So only portion of the runoff water should be allowed to be tapped at downstream side, leaving an appreciable volume to return back to the environment and recharge the water sources and wetland areas. There has to be prior consultation and discussion with the woreda / local agriculture and rural development bureau, Water resources bureau, the community and NGOs active in the area, on the need and demand for water harvesting. Based on the consensus reached with the stakeholders, the relevant offices can propose and coordinate their respective projects with the road design work. In any case if water harvestingfrom the road side drainages is planned, further detail study has to be carried out regarding the hydrology and related impacts prior to implementation. This will ensure the sustainable use of the resources in the vicinity and to avoid any adverse impacts due to runoff diversionfrom its naturalflow regime. The agriculture and water bureaus have to carry out studies based on their requirementsfor the water use and assist the communitywith technical know how and material support as the case may be . The studies have to be coordinated with the road design, so that provisions are givenfor possible diversions. Span Consultant in Association with 54 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report 6.2 Potential Adverse Impacts and Mitigation Measures The adverse impacts of the project shall be experienced most at sites and locations described under section 4.7 "Environmental Conditions of the Road Route Corridor re- emphasized".These sites include; The vegetation covered areas within ROW, especially along the new alignments (re- aligned sections). The material production sites The water resources at the river crossings and the adjacent wetlandslmarshlands Farmlands along the realigned sections, detour roads and access roads to material sites Settlement sites like in towns and villages traversed, mainly in the two towns of Ayira, and Geba Robi that will be newly connected by re-alignments. The adverse impacts would be significant along the two diverted sections compared to the existing road section. 6.2.1 Adverse Impacts on the Bio - Physical Environment 6.2.1.1 Impact on Land Resource and Soil The construction work involves site clearance, excavation, paving and grading activities, all of which involve disturbance of the land surface, loss of productive soil and loss-of vegetation cover along the road route corridor, at quarry and borrow pit development sites, along detours, and along access roads to material productionand camp sites. The road route mostly follows the existing alignment except at relocated and divertedlby passed parts of the road segment and where design modification requires expansion of the road widths. The topography of the area traversed by some of the road segments is flat and stable also being suitable for agriculture. The additional land area to be occupied by the proposed road would be permanently removed from the stock of land that can be used for agriculture and animal husbandry. The removal of such productive land from the local economy can reduce the potential socio- economic benefits expected. However, the land size is not that significant as compared to the available fertile land areas in the districts of project implementation. The area of land temporarily occupied for material production (quarry and borrow material), and for detour road is estimated at 48.6 hectare, while area of land required for additional road width and for the realigned section, and for camp site is estimated at 276 ha. The camp established is assumed to remain functional for other purposes after commissioning of the road project as well. The excavation, paving and grading of surfaces accelerates erosion effects, and exacerbates land degradation problems in the project areas. Excavation is conducted for the road.pavement, for access roads and detours, also at quarry and borrow pit development site. Residual and alluvial soils are the dominant soil types along the road alignment. Alluvial soils are the result of in situ weathering of parent rocks that have not been subjected to any sort of transportation and are at the place of their origin. They often grade in to decomposed and weathered rocks with depth. These soils are commonly red, reddish brown and pinkish Span Consultant in Association with 55 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- Dernbidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report brown silty clay with little clayey silty sand. They are mostly susceptible to erosion and constitutemore than 80% of the alignmentsoil. Removal of the vegetation cover exposes the soil to erosion effects. The eroded soil that is transported to the near by water body can cause sedimentation and change in the ecosystem,and on the quality of the water. Excess excavated materialfrom the road cutting operation can kill the under lying vegetation and add to erosion and slope stability problems. Soil contaminationand soil quality deteriorationcan result from spills and leakage of fuel and lubricantsused also from mismanagementof used and waste oils around camps and garage sites. Duringthe service period of the road, soil contaminationin the corridors can arise from traffic operation and from transportation of hazardous products both during the construction and during the maintenance operation of the roads. This effect would be significant at river crossings and at the wetlandlmarshlandecosystemsites. Road side ditches constructed to divert surface drainages to adjacent lands are major contributors to soil erosion. Erosion effects can be enhanced especially at steep slops due to; cuts in soil and rock and widening of the road widths, embankment construction, borrow pits and quarries especially those located at river banks, excavation of foundations for replacementor for additional bridgesand culverts, looselycompacted. Land slides, slumps, slips and other mass movements in road cuts, erosion of land below the roadbed receiving concentratedoutflow carried by covered or open drains all caused by road construction can be sever unless proper care and mitigation measures are implementedtimely. The impact due to soil instability may not be that significant as the terrain of the road route is only partially mountainous. The excavation at some of the steep slop in the rocky escarpments can cause land slide and slope instability. 'This may cause health risks and property loss both during the construction and operation phases of the road project. Land slide can form gulley and further aggravatesthe erosion effect as well. Measuresto Minimize Loss of Land Resourcesand Erosion Effects The land acquisition and occupation both for the main road and for ancillary activities like material site development, access and detour road construction, locating camps and explosives stores etc. should consider the requirements of Proclamation No.45612005 taking into account restrictions given thereof. Also World Bank policy OP4.12 will be considered and will take precedence in case conflicting issues encounter between the Ehiopian law and the Bank's policy, OP4.12. In such cases, the world Bank policy takes precedence as the project is world Bank funded project. Proper mitigationmeasures should be implemented to minimizethe adverse impacts on land resource and erosion effects. The following measures are proposedfor inclusion both in the design and to be implementedduring the constructionand operation phases; Planning the excavation works during the dry season especially around river crossings and at road side ditches. Limiting the area of soil disturbance within the widths delineated for the road pavement,detour and access roads. Limit and clearly delineate quarry and borrow material productionareas Store the overburden and top soil removedfor rehabilitationof degraded ground andlor abandoned quarry sites. Span Consultant in Association with 56 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report Rehabilitationof excavated and paved land surface as soon as possible Removal and cart a way of excess material from sensitive sites as soon as possible, and in parallel with the excavation activities. Exercise proper work discipline and waste management practices. Plantation of grasses at steep slopes and retaining structures at river crossings can assist in reducing the effects of soil erosion and gulley formation. Improved technical standards of construction like; provision of appropriate drainage, slop protection measures to control sheet and rill erosion can decrease erosion effects on existing roads rather than causing major adverse impacts River bank scouring problems can be minimized by Careful selection of river crossing sites and through proper engineering design. Deep gulley formation along existing side ditches can be minimized by ; grass cover of the ditch bottom, by grouted stone riprap ( possibly stepped in case of steep longitudinal gradient) if cost is not a constrain, or dry /loose stone rip-rap to reduce the cost. MitigationMeasurefor Slope Instability Slope stability should be ensured both for soil conservation objectives and also for the safety of the surrounding community and for the road users in general. Some of the specific measures include: Clause shall be included regarding restrictions posed by proclamation 45612005 as regards to locating of materialsites, camps, access road,detour roads etc. Slope instability can be minimized through special retaining structures like using gabions dry masonry retaining structure, and other slope stabilization measures shall be applied at hilly and mountain terrains. At sites where cuts and fills are required, slope shape and steepness are designed according to soil types; either edge rounding and terraces or compaction of soils ( loose surfaces) of road shoulders to resist erosion and to enhance vegetation growth. Re-vegetation of the slopes, since tree roots can hold soil together, appropriate tree species should be selected from locally available list and adopt. Planting of shallow rooted trees should be avoided, as these could add weight to the moving mass and enhance land sliding. Water entering the slope mass should be interceptedand drained away from the reach of slide susceptible areas. These may include paved chutes and farrow ditches which divert surface water to other locations. Avoid any Under cuttings of the slopes Avoid using of land slide susceptible land site1 slopes for extraction of construction material. Construct the base of the road using porous material in order to allow water to percolateand drain Slop protection measures adopted should give preference as far as possible to bio - engineeringtechniques, in accordanceto the specific site conditions. 6.2.1.2 Adverse Impact on Air Quality The assessment and monitoring of air pollution level depends on the traffic volume, traffic composition, and speed and road surface. Improvement in the road conditions shall encourage motorized vehicles and industrial development along the road alignments and especially in the town centers. This can contribute to the pollution effect of the local atmosphere during the operation phases of the road. Span Consultant in Association with 57 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report The major air pollution comes from dust particles during the construction phase. The dust particle of excavated soil and from the clay soil of the area can easily be exposed to wind action. The dust blownfrom the existing gravel paved road surface and from the surrounding earth access roads is already damaging especially the road side dwelling houses and the community health. Pedestrians and those using vehicle transports are also suffering from the air pollution by dust particle. Dust in the air also blocks distant visibility to drivers and cause vehicle accidents in the area. Air pollution shall also be caused by particles produced from crusher plants, smoke from vehicle and machinery motor exhaust and from asphalt smelting plant, all can contribute to the adverse impacts. The air pollution effects shall have significant adverse impacts in the relatively densely populated areas of the towns and villages along the road alignments. Proposed Mitigation Measuresto Minimize Air Pollution Effects Mitigation measures to reduce air pollution currently suffering the residents of the proposed road right of way include implementation of the upgrading of the road surface to an asphalt standard pavement. The implementation of the road project would significantly reduce the quantity of dust blown by wind action from the gravel and earth paved surface and that produced by vehicle movement on the rough and corrugated road. The construction period air pollution impacts can be mitigated by: Dust suppression measures like water spraying on the paved and excavated surfaces can minimize the impact of pollution due to dust particles. Location of asphalt plant and crushers should consider local wind direction to protect the workers on site, sensitive ecosystems and sites, residential areas etc. Asphalt plant and crushers should be located away from densely populated sites, away from institutions like schools, hospitals, religious and ceremonial places and market places. Regular maintenances of vehicles and machinery motors for better performances. Installation of dust suppression accessoriesto machinery exhausts and crushers. Trucks carrying fine material that can easily be wind blown should be covered while transporting. Air pollution prevention measures should be incorporated in the construction work specifications and contract agreements. 6.2.1.3 Adverse Impact on Water Resources There are several rivers and streams (over 12)that are crossed by the road rgute and others that fall in the influence areas and in the road drainage basin. These water sources are used for all purposes including domestic use and animal watering and irrigation. The upkeep of the water resources is, therefore, very crucial both to the health and economic well being of the community. The major impacts on the water resources of the area relate to changes in local flow direction of surface runoff, reduction in the rate of ground water recharge, and consequences of water quality and reverien ecology. Damages and disruptions caused to the surrounding environment and natural resource base, in particular the land and soil resource, the vegetation cover, and natural drainage network would contribute to the impact on the water resources. Span Consultant in Association with 58 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report Upgrading of the current gravel surfaced road to asphalt surface and additional widths of land on the sides of the road would decrease, the rate of rain water infiltration to recharge local ground water aquifer. Degradationof water quality can be caused by entry of excavated soil material in to the river courses during construction activities, oil and fuel spillages form leaking machinery parts and upon refilling equipment and from bitumen spills at asphalt plants. Sedimentation in river by soil deposit can hider the growth and population of animal and plant life in the water bodies. Wastes, both liquid and solid wastes generated at camp sites and garages can produce leakages and effluents loaded with pollutants which can contaminate the water sources by percolationandlor through surface runoff. The eroded soil entering the water sources can affect the water quality and cause sediment deposit in low flowing streams and ponds at the downstream road route. The roadside water quality is also affected by oil spills, chemicals and washed out wastes brought along with the drained water along the road route. These effects may be significant at the river crossings Hydraulic requirements There are twelve major river crossings which require bridges or culverts crossings. Out of these, it is about three river crossings that require new bridge construction. The necessary rain fall data have been collected and analyzed by the engineering design to estimate the run off in each catchments and to calculate their discharges and for the design of the capacity of bridges required at each location. Erosion problems due to the bridge construction and also due to scouring, river water quality deterioration related to the runoff in the area can be an issue of concern. There are number of culverts to be installed along the road alignment so as to transfer run off water across the road pavement, which creates barriers and diversion to the natural flow direction. Erosion effects at the discharge side of culverts can be significant and some times it can end up forming sever gulley and caves, causing damages to the road pavements in addition to the soil loss. It is proposed that the design considers provisions for partial diverting of the discharges to water harvesting structures to be built by the downstreamfarm community. Proposed Mitigation Measures to Minimize Impacts on Water Resources and Wetland1 Marshland Mitigation measures proposed are as under; k Provision of adequate drainage structure so as to maintain the normal flow direction and attempt to maintain uniform water distribution over surfaces at downstream side of catchments. This can reduce flow concentration to specific direction that can result in flooding effects and erosion, helps uniform rechargeof water sources (both ground and surface sources) and wetlandlmarshland areas. 9 Silt transport in the water bodies shall be reduced by programming the construction during dry seasons, and also by soil erosion protectionmeasures. 9 Avoid stockpiling spoils at river banks, streamsand groundwatersources and wetland sites. > Cart away spoils soils immediately and regularly while working in the premises of wetland sites and river crossings. > The water quality deterioration caused by pollutionfrom oil products and chemicals can be minimized by timely maintenance of leaking machinery parts, good housekeeping practices in garages, campsites and asphalt plant operation sites. The asphalt plant should be located at a properly selected site and away from water sources. Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report 9 Waste managementand provisionof waste handlingfacilities at garages, campsites and at working places should be ensured by the contractor and the supervising inspector. Liquid and solid waste collection and storage facilities like pit latrines, cesspools and sold waste land fill sites should be located away from water sources and wetland areas. 9 Avoidrefuelingofvehiclesandmachineriesinwetlandsandatrivercrossings. 9 Avoid entry of excavated surplus material in to the water body and wetlandlmarshlandareas. 9 Asphalt plant, Camps and garages should be located away from sensitive ecological sites; the wetlands/marshlands, floodplains and away from water sources and river crossings. . 9 Provisionof adequateflow dispersalstructuresfollowingthe naturalflow regimeof the runoff water. P Check dams, diversion structures at major discharge points of the run off water may reduce direct entry of silt and pollutants to the lake. 9 Stone rip raps or ditches might be required at the discharge side of culverts to minimize soil erosion and gulley formation. Adverse Impact on flora /vegetation cover The project area falls in a relatively dense vegetation cover and rich wildlife habitat. However, there is no protected dense forest site or park in the route corridor. Major impacts to the vegetation cover would be caused during the construction phase of the project. The various components of the construction activities contribute significantly to the adverse impacts on the newly paved road alignments unless proper preventive measures are taken to minimizethe effect. Impacts on vegetation cover that may be caused for the road upgrading project shall be due to the additional widths of the road, due to the diverted section from the existing alignment, due to quarry and borrow pit development for material extraction, due to camp site and garage construction,due to access to material production sites and due to detour roads. The road alignment will mainly fall on the existing gravel surfaced pavement and the extent of vegetation removal will be minimal in this case. Detour road previously used is also intact and can be used for the current project with minimal maintenances, and hence would contributeless to the adverse impact. Poachers and intruders in to the forest cover of the near by influence areas including construction workers may be encouraged by the availability of efficient transportation. Illegal timber trade may significantly be promoted which can adversely affect the resources. Proposed Mitigation Measures for the Flora Vegetation cover removed due to quarry and borrow pit excavation shall be properly rehabilitated to its original state by re-vegetation with species adapted to the area. The rehabilitation activities shall be included in the bill items. It should be specified that a minimum of 10-seedlings of trees be planted for every tree removed for the road construction activities. This doesn't includefruit trees cut, which has been considered under the RAP section. 6.2.1.5 Adverse Impact on Fauna There are no major wild life habitat like parks and sanctuariesthat fall in the right - of - way of the road project, and no endangered wildlife species reported in the area. However, common wildlife population like apes, monkey, hyena etc. and different bird's species are W Span Consultant in Association with 60 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report found in the route corridor. Still impacts on wildlife would be relatively high due to traffic accidents and also due to poachers and illegal hunters. The impacts due to poaching and intruders can be minimized through awareness creation among the employees and to the community of the area, setting regulations and employment obligations that prohibit poaching, illegal timber cutting and setting fire to the forest. Fire fighting brigade need to be organized at the major urban centers to counter act the fire risks. Proposed MitigationMeasuresfor the Fauna Illegal hunting and poaching in to the wildlife areas be prohibited and supervised both by the project implementers and the local administrative structure. There are adequate legal instruments that prohibit illegal hunting and poaching into wildlife areas, tree cuttings and setting fires to the forest, etc. These legal grounds can be helpful to be considered by the local administration as well as the EPAs to discourage illegal deeds. In addition regular awareness program to the work force and local suppliers will be implemented. Traffic regulations shall be put in place and traffic posts at critical locations be implemented to minimize accidents to wild life. 6.2.1.6 Adverse lrr~pacton National Parks and Protected Areas There is no designated national park though there are a number of potential protectedareas, such as wildlife reserve and conservation areas available in West Wellega zone and the Western Oromia is endowed with forest and water resourcesforming areas potentiallyrich in wildlife conservation. However, according to the Oromia Environmental Protection Bureau (confirmed in January 2009), that there is neither park nor protectedconservation site along the road route and in the proximity of the road project site. There is plot of planted forest land (mainly juniperous trees) from station 16 + 900km up to station 19 +000km along the road route, which can be used as recreational site for those residing in the area. Hence, adverse impact is not expecteddue to the road project. 6.2.1.7 Adverse lrr~pacton WetlandslMarshlands and Swarr~ps Wetlandslmarshlands serve as biodiversity conservation areas and have several valuable functions. They act as a buffer to reduce the flood effects, to purify pollutants and to regulate the local climatic conditions. They are sensitive to water flow and to water quality and sudden changes in those characteristics adversely affect the wetlandlmarshland ecosystem. Road construction interferes with natural run off flow direction and concentrates flow to specified locationswhile it can block naturalflow lines at other locations. Impacts on the wetlandlmarshland along the road route arise due to the following factors: Habitat fragmentation which results in isolation of parts of the swamp from the general wetlandlmarshland ecosystem. Isolated parts cannot support the flora and fauna that an area in its entirety supported. The species composition of the sum of fragmented wetlandlmarshland parts is always less than that contained by the whole as a unit. Pollutionfrom domestic waste, chemicals and oil products that can spill accidentally or from leaking vehicles and machineries both during construction and operation phases of the road project. Spoil soils disposal and silt accumulationover the wetlandlmarshland and flood plains Span Consultant in Association with Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report The road route traverses within the flood plains of the rivers and streams traversed,. Wetlandslmarshlands are sensitive to water flow (discharge) and to water quality. The road section along the flat terrain can upset the drainage patterns and free water movement which can adversely affect the ecosystem.. The paved road might need raised vertical alignment so as to avoid flooding effects during the overflow of the rivers traversed. This can interfere with the natural flow of the runoff water. Change in the natural flow regime in the catchments due to the road pavement and land fill activities. At some of the stations excessivefill might be required to withstand the flooding of the paved road section, which on the other hand interferes with the natural water movement. Wetlandslmarshlands are an integral part of and dependant upon the hydrological regime of the area they are in. A change in rainfall, runoff, inflow and water table will affect the wetlandlmarshland accordingly. The road construction can affect the flow pattern of surface runoff by concentrating flow at certain points, which can contribute to flooding and erosion effects in the area. The interferenceby the road with the naturalwater movementcan impair the biologicalcycle and productivityof the wetlandlmarshland inthose floodplains. Damage to the fragile wetlandlmarshland ecosystem might be caused also due to detour roads, vehicular and human movements. The soil transported and pollutants generated during the construction and operation phases would be discharged at downstream lying wetlandlmarshland systems, causing adverse impacts. However, there are no major floodplains and major wetlandlmarshland ecosystem in the close proximity of the road route. Impacts may be observable only at marshlands at river crossings and along the river courses. Proposed Mitigation Measures for Impact on WetlandslMarshlands and Swamps The flood plain and wet land of influence is limited to some of the river courses traversed. To minimize the impact on free flow of water to and from the WetlandsIMarshlands and Swamps the design provides adequate flow dispersal structures to minimize the effect of flow concentration and the modification of the flow regime can help to mitigate the impact due to the paved road. Construction activities should be planned during the dry seasons to minimize entry of excavated material and wastes in to the water body. Construction of diversion roads, access roads and detours crossing WetlandslMarshlands and Swamps should be avoided. Measures discussed under water resources section above also apply to mitigate impacts on wetlandlmarshland as well and include; 9 Provisionof adequatedrainage structureso as to maintainthe normalflow direction and attempt to maintain uniform water distribution over surfaces at downstream side of catchments. This can reduce flow concentration to specific direction that can result in flooding effects and erosion, helps uniform recharge of water sources (both ground and surface sources) and wetlandlmarshlandareas. 9 Silttransport inthe water bodies shall be reducedby programmingthe construction during dry seasons, and also by soil erosion protectionmeasures. 9 Avoid stockpiling spoils at river banks, streams and groundwater sources and wetland sites. 9 Cart away spoil soils immediately and regularly while working in the premises of wetland sites and river crossings. 9 The water quality deteriorationcaused by pollutionfrom oil products and chemicals can be minimized by timely maintenance of leaking machinery parts, good housekeepingpractices in garages, campsites and asphalt plant operation sites. The Span Consultant in Association with 62 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report asphalt plant should be located at a properly selected site and away from water sources. 9 Waste managementandprovisionofwaste handlingfacilities at garages, campsites and at working places should be ensured by the contractor and the supervising inspector. Liquid and solid waste collection and storage facilities like pit latrines, cesspools and sold waste land fill sites should be located away from water sources and wetland areas. 9 Avoidrefuelingof vehiclesandmachineriesinwetlandsandatrivercrossings. > Avoid entry of excavated surplus material in to the water body and wetlandlmarshland areas. > Asphalt plant, Camps and garages should be located away from sensitive ecological sites; the wetlandslmarshlands, floodplains and away from water sources and river crossings. . 9 Provision of adequateflow dispersalstructuresfollowingthe naturalflow regime of the runoff water. > Check dams, diversion structures at major discharge points of the run off water may reduce direct entry of silt and pollutants to the lake. 9 Stone rip raps or ditches might be requiredat the discharge side of culvertsto minimize soil erosion and gulley formation. 6.2.1.8 Adverse lmpacts due to Borrow Pits and Quarry Development Large volume of quarry material and borrow material shall be required for the road construction. Sources of these material are identified at several locations following the road route; either to the right side or to the left side of the road alignment. Excavationand removal of the material result in disturbances of the natural landscape, the vegetation cover, the fertile top soil. The excavated excess or spoil soil left over is washed away in to the near by streams and cause siltation of the water body, forms hips of accumulated soil that disfigures the natural landscape and cause aesthetically unfavorable situation. The deposited spoil soil also kills vegetations lying underneathit. The excavated pits and grounds form water ponds and create favorable breeding grounds for disease vectors. The project area being malaria prone and malaria affected zone, the resulting health impactswould also be significant. The impacts of material productionalso relatesto the locationof the site. Proposed Mitigation measures for Impacts due to Quarry sites The quarrylborrow material production area has to be screened /determined/ in consultation and with the approval of the supervision consultant and ERA'S ESMB. Also sufficient consultation should be conducted with the local administration (Woredas) prior to commencing excavation activity. The relevant stakeholders including the woreda environmentalprotection offices have to be involved in site selection and screening and to to demarcate and fix the boundaryof disturbancefor quarrylborrow material production. The left over spoil soil should be collected and kept aside for rehabilitationof the site at later stage of the work. Spoil soil should be shaped and compacted to avoid erosion and leakage to the river banks, water bodies or on dense vegetation covered ground. Upon completion of the use of the productionlquarry site, it should be rehabilitated and restored to a reasonable degree to its original state so as to avoid water ponding, soil erosion, aesthetically undesirable situations and disfigured landscape. Back filling, grading Span Consultant in Association with 63 Beza Consulting Engineers L.... Mekenajo- DembidoloRoad UpgradingProject Revised Final EIA Report and revegetation of the site would help to mitigate the impact. Based on the site condition simple soil retaining structures and run off water diversion structures might be required to stabilize the soil structureand reduce the effect of soil erosion until it consolidates. The proposed mitigationworks shall be specified, quantifiedand estimates shall be included in the Contract document. The contractor shall be closely supervised for implementation of the proposed measures. The environmental inspector and RE of the engineer have the responsibility to give instructions and assistance to the contractor in material site management and rehabilitation activities. Site environmental management should also involve the woreda environmental protection office, the ESMB of ERA and also give due considerationfor the communities' opinion and comments. ERA'SESMB should also monitor periodicallythe material site performances and mitigation measures underway. Rehabilitationworks of the abandoned material site be done properly and on timely bases. Subsequent payments should consider the proper site restoration and rehabilitation of abandoned material sites as one of the criteria of work performance. The payments will be withhold until rehabilitation commences and tangible effort is seen on site, and should only be effected if proper rehabilitation is done for already abandoned material site along with other activities. This has to be done by the supervising consultant. ERA is expected to specify this condition as an item upon hiring the consultantand the contractor. 6.2.1.9 Adverse impactsdue to Construction Camps and Garages The construction workers include local residents and temporary immigrants from far distances. The contractor is expected to provide a reasonably organized camp site to accommodate the incoming workers during the execution of the construction work. Camp site vegetation cover and soil might be affected to during clearing and paving for buildings and access roads and play ground. The constructionworkers might misbehaveand cut trees and grasses surroundingthe camps for fire wood and other uses. There are also possibilities of forest fire accidentto be initiatedform the camp site if not care is taken. Waste generated from the camps can adversely affect the surrounding environment if not properly handled. The waste generated includes both solid waste and liquid waste that are commonto residentialareas. Garages are also required for machinery and vehicle maintenances on site. Oil and fuel products either spilled or from leaking parts can reach the natural environment at the premises and cause contaminationand pollutioneffects. Proposed MitigationMeasuresfor Impactsdue to Camps and Garages Location of camps and garages should be carefully identified, to avoid sensitive ecological and social environments that are susceptible to the impacts. Camps and garages should be located far from water sources, dense forest areas and wetlandslmarshlands far from densely settled urban site and community houses. It is proposed that unproductive plots of land or set aside plots be occupied as far as possible. Previous Camps sites and quarry sites used for similar activities shall be the first priority that the contractor has to explore for occupation. Each camp site should have waste collection and storage facilities. Toilets and bathing facility for liquid waste and excreta, solid waste collection bins and containers need to be availedfor use by the workers. Span Consultant in Association with 64 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo - Dernbidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report Waste management and sanitary conditions within the camp should be well maintained and supervised. Used oils should be collected and properly stored in garages for other uses or for proper disposal. Machinery parts that are leaking need timely and periodical maintenance and repair. Proposed Mitigation measures due to oil and chemical products and wastes Oil products, chemicals and waste management can better be mitigated by adherence to strict waste management discipline, routine and periodic maintenances of leaking vehicles and equipment parts, proper collection, storage and disposal of used oil and chemical products, locating of refilling stations and garages at properly identified safe places and good house keeping practices. Garages and camps should not be located in forest areas, at adjacent to water sources and in populatedareas. The consultant will with hold payments o the contractor until the site restoration and/ or continued usage of the camp sites has been decided and completed to the satisfaction of the client, consultant and the local administration. 6.2.2 Adverse Impacts on Socio- economic Environment The implementationof the upgrading of the road connecting those woredas in West Wollega Zone of the Oromia Regional state brings substantial economic and social benefits to the localities as well as at national level. However, there would also occur some adverse impacts that may need due considerations during the planning, design and construction of the road project. The following socio - economic impacts are identified as major issues for the project; 6.2.2.1 Loss of land Loss of agricultural land or grazing land can occur either temporarily or permanently. The road upgradingfollows mainly an existing old road alignment and dose not require significant quantity of new land. However, land would be required in those sections where the road widths have to increase and for the segments that diverted from the existing alignment. Plots of land required for this purpose would be permanently removed from use for other purposes. Substantial area of land would be required temporarily for quarry and borrow pit, for access road to the material extraction sites, for detour roads, for camps and garages includingfor crashers and asphalt plants. The area of land temporarily occupied for material production (quarry and borrow material), detour road and for camp site is estimated at 48.6 hectare, while area of land required for additional road width and for the realigned section is estimated at 276 ha. Proposed Mitigation Measures for Loss of Land The principles of compensation/rehabilitation will be triggered wherever there will be land acquisition and where there will be adverse social impacts. Based on the Social Impact assessment (SIA) findings that identify the number of persons to be affected by the subject project, ResettlementAction Plan (RAP) has been prepared. Land tenure issues will be given particular attention as they are linked to land acquisition. Closely linked to land acquisition is the issue of involuntary resettlement. The loss of land often implies that those who live or depend on the land resources lost for the project need to be compensated, relocated or resettled. Span Consultant in Association with Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo - DembidoloRoad UpgradingProject Revised Final EIA Report Relocationand resettlement is requiredfor those people who lost their land permanently for the project purpose. Those who loose their land temporarily for the project shall be compensated in monetary terms for the lost value of crops to be harvested during the land occupation by the project and until the next harvest from the plot of land could be re - gained. The project proponent should consider that appropriate measures are taken to ensure affected persons are compensated .The procedure and mode of compensation shall be determined in accordance with the relevant standard procedures and regulations as set by national proclamations (Proc no. 45512005) and international guide lines like that of World Bank Operational Directives for resettlement and compensation of displaced people. The resettlementand compensationshall follow procedures as set in the RAP report. ProclamationNo. 45512005" discusses the proceduresand methodologies to be followed for the implementationof the land acquisitionand compensationpaymentfor the land holder. Council of Ministers Regulation No.13512007, Regulation on payment of Compensation for propertysituated on land holding expropriatedfor public purposes. This regulationdiscusses the assessment of compensationfor properties, provision of replacement land and payment of displacementcompensation. These proclamations also state the delegated power to expropriate rural or urban holdings for public purpose, where it should be used for a better development projects to be carried out by public entities or investors. Accordingly Woreda or an urban administration shall up on payment in advance of compensation,have the powerto expropriate. Oromia Regional State Rural land use and administration proclamation No.5612002 includes the following rights and obligations: Under article 4, sub-article-I it states that land is the common property of the state and people, and shall not be subject to sale or other means of exchange. Under article -5 sub article-2 it states that government organizations, private investors and social organizations have the right to use rural land through legal process. Under article - 23, sub article - 3 it is stated that any individual or organization engaged in mining quarry development activities, shall be obliged to rehabilitatethe sites. ERA re-establishment proclamation; proclamation No. 8011997 also has provision for expropriationof land holdingsfor road constructionpurposes. ERA'S Resettlement IRehabilitation Policy Framework, follows the basic principle to address the importance of compensation payments for the loss of assets at replacement cost, giving opportunities to locals to share project benefits and assisting PAPS' in relocationI rehabilitation.These legal documents have a more or less parallel similarity to the World Bank OP and BP 4.12 procedures. Depending on the availability of land, permanently cultivated land lost to the Project will be compensatedon a land - for - land basis. Permanent loss of perennial plantations will be compensated with sufficient cash to the project affected person. Residential plots of land, houses, buildings and other utility infrastructure losses will be directly and fully compensatedat replacementcost. Span Consultant in Associationwith 66 Beza Consulting Engineers L.. Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report Proper implementation of the resettlement and relocation will be monitored at different levels; ERA, Supervision consultant and the local administration will participate in the follow- ups of the measures. 6.2.2.2 Loss of Houses and Property Loss of property, utility service lines and houses shall encounter especially in town centers like Yubdo, Alem Teferi, Ayira and some other villages where houses and infrastructures in the ROW of the new re- aligned sections and also due to road widening, have to be removed and relocated. The number of houses likely to be affected in those towns and villages is about 1,574. Out of these housing units, 333 would be fully affected, and 1,241 houses would be partially affected. Most of these houses (1,453 of them) are found in town centers, while only 121 are rural houses. In he rural areas land availability will not be a constrain. The PAPs even can be accommodatedwithin the same compound on the remaining plots at the back sides of the road alignment. There are many trees that are expected to be affected during the construction work. Eucalyptustrees, mango, avocado and banana are the major trees to be affected. There are also coffee plants in some sections of the ROW. It is estimated that about 22,750 eucalyptus, 584 mango, 2,800 coffee, 4000 banana and 111 avocado trees will be removed for the construction of the road. Proposed Mitigation Measures for Loss of Houses and Property Any permanent loss of land, houses and other immovable assets such as perennial crops due to the construction of the road need to be identified and project affected persons (PAPs) compensated prior to commencementof construction activities on the basis of Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF). Compensations for lost assets have to be arranged prior to commencement of the project. Project Affected People (PAPs) have to be compensated both in monetary terms and by providing plots of land at some other places. Owners of other infrastructures and utility lines likely to be damaged by the project shall be compensated. Relocation of these utility lines (water supply line, electricity, and telecommunication lines) shall be effected either by the utility owner or by the road construction contractor as arranged, but should be done prior to mobilization of the road project. This will ensure the continued service delivery with out creating disruptions and inconvenienciesto the community. The total amount of resources required for compensating the affected peoples and restoring some of the utilities is estimated under two scenarios. Scenario I assume full compensation for all partially affected and fully affected group. The total cost of compensation for this scenario-l is estimated at Birr 55,555,708. Scenario II on the other hand considers compensation only for those cases where more than 25% impact has occurred. The estimate of compensation cost for scenario -11 stands at Birr 45,094,929. Out of the total estimated compensationcosts, the amount requiredfor relocating houses will be Birr 45,816,151 in Scenario I or Birr 36,306,352 in Scenario II. For loss of crop land Birr 3,497,355 and for compensating permanentcrops like trees and fruits Birr 975,993. W Span Consultant in Association with 67 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo Dembidolo Road UpgradingProject - Revised Final EIA Report 6.2.2.3 Adverse Impact on Public Health The area is malaria affected zone and stagnant water that accumulates on excavated grounds, abandoned quarry and borrow developmentsites, excavated side road ditches and ponds may create favorable conditionfor mosquito breading. Sexually communicable diseases including HIVI AIDS may be an issue due to the migrant work force and the local community to be involved in the construction activity. Induced development around the project site can attract settlement and provision of goods and services to the workers. This factor can also encourage prostitution in the area. Traffic volume will increase as a result of the road improvement and developments in the area. During the construction also number of vehicles and machineries deployed in these rural areas would be relatively high. Traffic accidents would therefore be a threat to the public health unless regulated. Waste mismanagement at campsites and haphazard waste discharges to the environment would create unsanitary situationwith adverse health implications. Mitigation Measures for Adverse Impacts on Public Health Health lmpacts due to the factors stated above can be minimized by implementation of appropriatemitigationmeasures.These measures include; Timely rehabilitationof excavatedgrounds as soon as site work is completed. Maintaining sanitary conditions in camp sites and work places and provision of sanitation facilities to the workers. The camp area should avoid any stagnant water and unsanitary ground to avoid mosquitoand vector breediug. Strict enforcement and observanceof preventive healthcare should be in place. In areas of malaria prone like in altitudes below 2000masl, the contractor may be required to avail mosquito nets to workers and insect repellant and intensive medical treatment. Create awareness among the worker group and the surrounding community on the issue of communicablediseases and HIVIAIDSpandemic. Strict adherence to traffic regulations, availing of traffic signals as required and at work places, strict supervisionof the observanceof rules and regulations. Availing First Aide Kits and stand by transport facility on site incases of accidents and sudden health problemsduring constructionphases. Mitigation for HlVlAlDs Pandemic The issue of HIVIAIDS should be treated in a coordinated manner between the project owner, the contractor, the local health bureau, and NGOs active in the area. The worker crew and the community at large should be educated on the transmission mode and prevention means of the HIVIAIDS pandemic. Awareness creation programs should be conducted, and related protective and health care facilities like condom need to be available in the area. The cost for this program is indicated under section of costs of mitigation measures below. Major costs for the mitigationare those of awareness creation for the work force and to the communities including the women around the road route, counseling and availing condom in the area. It is estimated that Birr 1.7million be budgeted for the whole project length. However, the project will be implemented in three lots, and the budget for each lot will be about 567,000Birr. Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report The implementation arrangements will be in accordance with the current ERA HlVlAlDs policy frame work. Accordingly, ERA will tender out and invite NGOs and/or other HlVlAlDs program specialists to sub contact for the work. At least three proposals1quotations will be received and evaluated by ERA HlVlAlDs section. The selected sub contractor will be sent to the construction contractor through the supervising consultant. The contractor takes over the responsibility of assigning the subcontractor with defined and specified activities and responsibilities,follows up and manages the accomplishments as per the terms of contract, and duly reports the performances along with other progress reports. 6.2.2.4 Adverse Impact on Women Women would be mainly beneficiaries from the project road implementation. But some adverse impacts might be due to additional work load and responsibilities as a result of immigrant at newly settled sites. Women in the area might be exposed to risk of sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancies. Awareness creation among the women community and also for the workers deployed in the area would minimize the impacts. The cost for awareness creation of women on STD and avoidance of unintended pregnancy is included with in the budget for HlVlAlDs program implementation. Adverse Impact on Local Economy The number of people to the project area (immigrants)would increase especially during the construction. Such influx of people can create increased demand for goods and services. The price of the available commodities may increase and adversely affect the consumers, while on the other hand it benefitsthose who sale the goods and services. Adverse Impacts due to lnduced Development The existing social structure might not be significantly affected due to induced development since the road has been in use for long period and the areas have already adapted communication with others. Resource sharing and stresses on limited services like health, water supply etc. may encounter due to the immigrants to the area following the implementation of the road project. Change in way of life of the farmer community would have positive results instead. Increased development and investments that follow the road improvementwould create conditionsfor income and expenditure patterns. Proposed Mitigation Measures due to lnduced Development There is ample water sources in the area and no severe competition over the water use may encounter due to the incomingworkers. However,in case scarce water supply is felt in some of the areas, the contractor is expected to avail the water supply need from its own source. Preferably ground water source (well water might be an option that one has to consider in this case. The contractor might need to get permission and also coordinate with the local administration to develop its own water supply source. In areas, there are water supply service providers the contractor can arrange supply services against payment. From the existing practice shows that the contractor uses his own water source for all purpose in order not to put pressure on the existing water source. The contractor should also plan for other commodities that are expected to be in short of supply in the area, and priorities should always be accorded to the community needs. In areas where water supply service providers exist, the contractor should make arrangementswith those to get its water supply from them. . A close will be included in the contractual documentthat requiredthe contractor to provide water for his workforces and consumption. Span Consultant in Association with 69 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report 6.2.2.7 Adverse Impact on Historical,Cultural and Archeological Heritages The major ethnic groups inhabiting the woredas traversed by the road project are Oromo's followed by Amhara. As confirmed by the Oromia Regional State Bureau of Tourism and Culture in January 2009, there is no recorded reserved site PCR, comparable to that of palaces and uniqueworship sites recognized at national or regional level along the road right of way that might be affected during construction. However, there are churches, mosques, Odas and burial places that fall within the road project influence areas, but all of these religious and sacred places, cemeteries and monuments of the area are away from the road alignment and there would not be significant impacts on these resources due to the road project. However, still there may be unexplored archeological findings that may encounter upon excavation works. There is always possibility to yield undiscovered cultural artifacts, and any cultural and archeological resources encountered should be reported to the local (woreda) Environmental Protection Office and/or the woreda culture and tourism desk and arrangements are made as to how the PCR is protected and conserved either on site or relocated as the case may be. Mitigation Measures for Impacts on Cultural and Historical Sites Mitigationmeasuresor avoidancefor the archeologicalIcultural heritages if encounteredwill be accomplished as per the requirements of the available legal frame work "Proclamation No.20912000",a proclamationto provide for research and conservationof cultural heritage. This proclamation describes the management of cultural heritages under Part two of the document. Some of the issues discussed include; Owner of cultural heritage, establishment of museums, classification of cultural heritage, registration of cultural heritage, duties of owners of cultural heritage, conservation and restoration of cultural heritage, preservationof cultural heritage, removalof cultural heritageetc. Part four of the proclamationdiscuses on reserved areas, Inspection, duty to cooperate and penalty. Under this part it is indicated that unless it has been decided by the council of ministers, no person may, without a permit issued by the authority, carry out building or road construction, excavations of any type or any operation that may cause ground disturbance in an area declared reserved. However, this is not triggered as there is no such reserved PCR sites in the road route corridor. Accordingly; Protectionand preservationrequirements for Cultural heritages,Archeological sites and aesthetics of Landscape shall be specified in the construction contract documents for contractors. The contractor should consult the responsible bureau in the area in cases of findings of such propertieson the site before removal and damage. Damages to locally significant sites like religious places, funeral places, grave yards, Hollytrees (Oda), Holly springs shall be avoided by alternative routes, as sites of quarry and borrow pit, access and detour roads or as materialstorage site. Any archeological findings encountered up on excavation shall be reported immediately to the concerned bureau or departmentto register and guide the conservationand protectionof such a heritage Span Consultant in Association with 70 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road UpgradingProject Revised Final EIA Report The woreda environmental office and woreda culture and tourism desks should be informed upon mobilizationof the construction activities and also be involved in the site environmental management and monitoring processes.,ERA through its assigned supervising consultant should liaison with the woreda administration to involve them and seek their assistances at all levels of the environmental conservation and in monitoring of the implementation of mitigation measures. The contractor is also instructed to liaison with the woreda administration as required and to cooperate in considering their concerns and guidance in agreementand after approval by the supervisingconsultant. The woreda environmental1natural resource conservation desks have to be capacitated and trained on environmentalmanagement and monitoring activities. The project may consider a short term training of the experts in each woreda traversed by the road project. The ERA'S ESMB has the capacity to organize and conduct such short term training in collaboration with the project consultant and with the Oromia Region EnvironmentalProtectionOffice. 6.3 Duration and Scale of impacts The positive social and economic impacts including availabilityof all :weather reliable road, reduced transportation costs, increased access to market places for local produces, access to new employment centers, better access to social service centers like health institutions, and strengthening of local economy are felt during the operation phases of the upgraded road. Direct and adverse impacts like increased traffic accidents, pollution due to increased vehicle exhaust gases and transportation of hazardous material in transit, noise and road side litter can also be observable impacts during the operation phases of the road. Major direct environmental impacts on the natural environmental components are caused mainly during the construction phase. Adverse impacts like; soil and water resources degradation, soil erosion and slop instability, vegetation clearance , material removal and consumption from quarry and borrow pits etc. are caused during the construction period. Socio-economic impacts like displacement of people, damages to properties and crops, interruption of social services like water supply, electricity and telecommunicationservices are caused upon constructionactivities.Summary of the temporal distributionof impacts has been included under the annexes section. 6.4 Impact Type Environmentalimpacts caused by road development projects can be categorized in to three major impact types. They are either of; direct impact, indirect impact or cumulative impact types. Direct Impacts Direct impacts of the road include mainly impacts that are caused by the road construction like soil and land surface disturbances, vegetation clearance and material removal activity mainly in road widening, re-alignment sections and at diversion sites, at borrow and quarry development sites. The realigned sections at two towns Ayira and Geba Robi (8.8km) traverses through unpaved ground and farmlands, partly through vegetation covered and animal grazing grounds and partly through cultivable farmlands, and no significant environmental impact is anticipated. Socio-economic impacts like damage to properties and houses in the ROW, are anticipatedespecially in town centers of Inango, Ayira Guliso, Haro Sebu, Dembi Dolo town etc. These impacts mainly result during the construction period. These impacts are expected to be significantand need to be mitigated properly. Span Consultant in Associationwith 71 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- DembidoloRoad UpgradingProject Revised Final EIA Report Indirect impacts of the project These are chain effects or impacts that result due to the road construction. These include induced development in the project area and at road sides, water quality deterioration as a consequence of the vegetation clearance and soil erosion at up stream of water sources, increased deforestation due to easier transportation of logs to market, etc. 'These impacts are normally observed during the operation phase of road projects. However, the road route is already in existence for decades now and road side settlements and transportation has been familiar in the area. The expected changes due to the road standard would not be significant and the resulting indirect impacts would not be substantial. Cumulative Impacts This type of impact results from synergetic effects or added up of several impacts which results in environmental changes. The current project is improvement of an existing gravel surfaced road which has already adapted the surrounding ecosystem, it is neither contiguous nor in close proximity of sensitive ecosystem that is suspected would be disrupted due to the project gradually. Design improvements would not cause significant changes that would over period of time result in sever environmental damages. The degree of environmental impact of the new alignment section (5km) which traverses through unpaved ground and farmlands is anticipated minimalfor this project W Span Consultant in Associationwith 72 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo - Dernbidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report 7.0 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN (EMP) 7.1 The Management plan Environmental management plan specifies mitigation and monitoring actions with time frames, specific responsibilitiesassigned and follow-up actions defined. Major negative impacts and proposed mitigation measures have been out-lined in the above sections. Implementations of these measures have to be carried out at different stages of road construction & operation phases. During the design stage the consultant should incorporate proposed mitigation measures in the design and tender documents. The contractual agreement should also include articles to enforce the environmental issues. Construction stage activities are the responsibility of the constructor and that of the construction supervision consultant. The actual physical implementation works are carried out mostly at this stage. The execution of the road construction work should also equally treat the implementation of the physical works of environmental mitigation measures. Mitigation measures proposed for socio-economic issues like compensation to damaged properties, lostldegraded plots of land should be handled by a committee, composing of representatives of all stakeholders, including ERA, other local government administrative organs, NGOs, and the affected group. Environmental issues during the operation phase of the road shall be handled by the owner of the road infrastructure. The operation and maintenance of asphalt roads is the responsibilityof ERA, and hence the ESMB of ERA has to carry out the monitoring activity. It is, therefore, essential that experts of the branch acquire basic knowledge of the environmental monitoring activities to effectively assume the responsibility. Training of personnel is, therefore, recommended. The environmentalmanagement plan is described as in Table 7.1 Span Consultant in Association with 73 Beza Consulting Engineers Revised Final EIA Report I Table 7.1: Scheduleof Management and Responsibilities Potential host Proposed Mitigation Institutional Project Phase Environmental Frequency Measures Indicator Responsibility Estimates & Social Impacts Design1 o Surveying and route Provide necessarywater Pre-construction selection flow facilities for (a;:cessary culverts Phase o Land acquisition recharge of 1. Design consultant Design period o Right of way wetlandlmarshland as Provided clearance necessary I I cost oLimit vehicle movement oDefined access road During sie works 1. Designconsultant only on paved access is used during roads, avoid activities design and study Part o f the causing forest fire and desig oil spills at sensitive habitat sites during n surveying at new cost alignments (8.8km re- aligned sections), -- ~includethe environmental and social, issues in the issues are included in design cost design and clauses into the design and BOQ the construction contract document - Routine o compensation and oCompensation is 3-times at o E@ administrative resettlement programs paid for the intervals Local cost of each shall be arranged and affected group institution settled prior to design The commencing construction activity Community I Span Consultant in Association withvbf 74 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- DembidoloRoad-------- Upgrading Project --------- Revised Final EIA Report ----- Potential Project Phase Proposed Mitigation Environmental Institutional Frequency Measures 8 Social Impacts Indicator Responsibility stimates o Slop instability and o Slop shapes and o Design has included *Designstage: r t i m l b i ; of the ~ ~ ~ e e p nshallebe s s slide and erosion I I design cost , protection structures. designed in terraced, stepped or edge rounding fashion at cut and fill sites based on the soil type o Select alternative route that avoids unstable areas as far as possible o Provide adequate drainage line to intercept flows and to protect from entering slide susceptible areas and to reduce risk. o Provide retaining structures at road cuts and fill areas (dry masonry, gabion etc...) --- I I I Land resources, Soil erosion & soil contamination Phase -- o Erosion at o Plant erodable surfaces as grasses planted on construction sites soon as possible. project affected sites. contractor top o Rehabilitate excavated Drainage facilities are Regularly during o Supervising soiling o Erosion at road beds ground up on completion provided the construction consultant receiving of works Erosion and slope & phase o ERA concentrated out flow o Surplus excavated top soil protection measures o Bureau of grassin shall be stored and used and constructions agriculture and g of o Land slide and slop to rehabilitate degraded done timely rural side instability grounds Spoil soil cart away development slops o Change in landscape o Provide adequate drain timely Woreda pipes to avoid excessive 1 - Span Consultant in Association withvbf 75 !$j ~ e zConsulting Engineers a Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road U ~ g r a d ! ~ s ~ P ~ ~ i e c t ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Revised Final EIA Report -......-......-.--- -....-----._..----. eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeeeee i Potential Proposed Mitigation Institutional Project Phase Environmental Frequency Measures Indicator & Social Impacts concentratedflow Waste is properly o Place drain outlets to collected ental Other estimate avoid cascade effect. shall be made disposed off safely. protection o Line receiving surfaces or and included in ditches with stone ripraps offices the BOQ by the or concrete engineering o Plant trees and grass design. cover graded and steep slops o Avoid Slide susceptible sites for use as construction material extraction area. o Re- habilitate and re- plant disfigured and excavated land for quarry and borrow pit, o Land slide and slop o Prohibit up slop cultivation Marginal lands are Regularly Woreda Norma instability at susceptible areas and closed and o Change in landscape o Prohibit animal grazing at protected e and o Degraded land & road shoulders rural erosion hazards developm ent departme nt Farmer community Span Consultant in Association withvbf 76 Beza ConsultingEngineers -DembidoloRoad Upgrading Project _......._ ......_ _ _ _ Revised Final EIA Report -------------.. Mekenajo..__ --------.............------.-........-....... _ _ _ .........._ _ _ _ _ _ Potential Proposed Mitigation Institutional Project Phase Environmental 1Frequency Measures Indicator & Social Impacts -- Contractor Part o Timely cart away surplus construction cost spoil soil. o Maintain leaking equipment and vehicle parts, Avoid fuel & oil spillages while refilling, collect and properly treat used oil and o Exercise proper waste management and disposal practices at camps, garages and at work places. r,I I Flora and fauna degradation o Poaching by o Inclusion of Onduringregular basesthe o Supervisor 1 I construction o Prohibit project workers environmental 900,000 for tree workers from encroachment and clauses in construction planting as o Vegetation removal poaching forest and Contractual phase replacement wildlife areas obligation for project o Limit vegetation removal workers Construction to only areas required to oAwareness creation on phase LA- the effective land required forest and wild life for projectworks. resource conservation o Route selection for access given to material sites, and detour road route should try to avoid At list 10-seedlings 550,000 birr for dense vegetation covered planted for each tree top soiling and re- areas removed during vegetation of o Prohibit forest fire setting construction abandoned and supervise fire risks by material sites construction crew to Span Consultant in Association withvbf 77 BezaConsulting Engineers 1 Revised Final EIA Report Proposed Mitigation Institutional Cost Project Phase :%zental _res Frequency Indicator Responsibility Estimates & Social Impacts (birr) -- river banks and at vehicles1 quarry sites; equipment o Program excavation routinely activities at river crossing areas during dry period, conducted o Re-vegetate erodable soil Construction surfaces as soon as works conducted possible in compliance with o Protect sensitive surfaces contractual with mulch or fabrics, Stone ripraps, gabions etc. o No complaints of o Divert run off water flow water supply through steep slope and service is erosion prone areas. interupion due to o In view of low level of the project has potable water supply been recoded. coverage, one has to be cautious on handling the existing infrastructure and facility. The road project may interfere with water supply systems in urban areas. In such cases, either the A design has to consider avoiding the alignment or the water line has to be relocated. Arrangements have to be made for the -- Kl SpanConsultantin Association withvbf 79 Beza Consulting Engtneers Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project .--- Revised Final EIA Report Proposed Mitigation Project Phase Environmental Institutional Frequency Measures Indicator & Social Impacts Responsibility relocation and compensation. Relocation has to be made prior to mobilizing the construction work or alternative supply line is provided until relocation is done, not to interrupt the water supply service. During Wetlandslmarshlands To minimize wetland1 o Hydraulic structures construc 0 Contractor1 degradationduring works marshland contamination and are designed and tion 0 supervising decrease in recharge rate, pollution effects; constructed consultant contamination by oil and o Maintenance of vehicle to o Water quality tests o ERA- ESMB Included in the chemical product) minimize oil spills and meet set standards construction cost prohibit open field waste estimates disposal. o Minimize disturbance by the construction works in compliance with works contracts1specifications I o Provide adequate flow dispersal structure L (culverts, etc.) to maintain the natural flow direction and to avoid flow concentration to specific locations, and maintain Span Consultant in Association withvbf 80 Beza Consulting Engineers +- Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report ---------------.......--------.....~~~...... ...---.. ..... _........ _ _ _ _ .................................... i Potential Project Phase Proposed Mitigation Environmental Institutional kost Frequency Measures Indicator & Social Impacts Responsibility stimates kbirr) normal recharge of the 1 I I I I wetland areas. Road design considers During water The respective Regular budget Flooding of provisions to facilitate scarce Local administration of the local partial water harvesting administration downstream o agriculture farm community from the road side and rural farm lands due drainages. development to concentrated Water harvesting department flow from structures are o Water bureau discharge of o Design consultant built and the drainages project area Technical assistance and community is design provisions benefiting to enable collect from the runoff at the outlet runoff in the of the drainage catchment. structures Air aualitv and Nuisance noise 1" - - Air pollution from crushers Dust suppression Water sprayed During and asphalt plant measures like periodically construc Contractor admini Dust and smoke spaying of water, Dust pollution and noise tion, strative suppression during construction traffic speed accessories installed regular1 I cost control, etc at Material production Y densely settled plants are located at I sites. ih towns and I safe and proper I 1 ! places. villages Transportation of spoil soil is Regular maintenance of safely done W SpanConsultant inAssociation withvbf 81 BezaConsulting Engineers _Mekenajo-DembidoloRoadUpgradingProject Revised Final EIA Report --_-- 1 Potential Proposed Mitigation Institutional Project Phase Environmental Frequency Measures & Social Impacts machinery and vehicle to reduce excessive gaseous emissions Install dust and smoke suppression accessories on o asphalt plant and crasher equipment o Locate asphalt plant and crushers away from town centers and densely populated areas. o Considers wind direction effects while selecting sites for plant erecting. o Transported soil and fine particle materials should be covered to protect from spread and wind blow in to the atmosphere. Induced Development Illegal settlements at Regulate illegal camp site and at road settlements ROW is in Regular o Local 1 woreda Administrative sides during construction. accordance to administration cost Master plan of the area. --- 1 I Social disruption / Loss of property -- Span Consultant in Association withvbf 82 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project _....._ _....___.......--...-.-..... ._ ............................................. ..-----. Revised Final EIA Report ...................... r Potential Project Phase Proposed Mitigation Cost Environmental Frequency Measures & Social Impacts Indicator Estimates (birr) -- Workers should be briefed on program Administrative behavioral issues as organized local cost relates to local administration cultural and o Camps are located at safer site attitudes and made o Employee contact aware of conducts documents and respects to be incorporate respect accorded to the for social values. community's social life o Locate camps away from sensitive sites like villages o Arrange contractual commitments to respect social factors for temporary employees. Prior to o Compensation to the o Timely payment of construc A committee As per RAP-Plan o Loss of houses affected group should be compensation to the tion composing of; o Loss of crops, trees, effected according to affected group ERA - agent, fruit and coffee trees , 'Ommen regional as well as federal o Local and rules and regulations. o Timely and fairly cement. administration o Loss of land due to o Resettlement of displaced relocation and immigration in to the people and relocation of resettlement of group(PAPs) area properties and utilities displaced people o Loss of1 disruption of should be completed well and properties o Agriculture other social service in advance of bureau infrastructures commencing the o NGOs in the construction o Resettlement plan should o Cornmunit SpanConsultant inAssociation withvbf 83 BezaConsulting Engineers Mekenajo - Dembidolo.Road Upgrading.Project ... -.. .-.--- -.-. .. ... --. -.... ..-. .. .. -...-...-.--... -.-- .. .---. - -.... -..... ... ..---... -. -..--.... ...... -.... ....--.. -. .. ..-. .-- --...--.-...- .. ------- -- -.----. .. -.-.---- ..-.. ... . .. ---- - -. ...- . .-.. . ----- -- -. -.- ... . . --- -. --.--- -----. . ...-.... - -. - - --.--- -. --- -- Revised Final EIA Report-. -. .-. - - ...-...--- Potential Proposed Mitigation Institutional Project Phase Environmental Frequency Measures indicator & Social Impacts be prepared in consultatibn 'and with full participation of the affected group. o Immigrants' land requirement should be administered by the local authorities. Road safety o Accidents due to increased o Traffic signs are provided Traffic signs are Construction traffic as required. posted at critical o Contractor Included in BOQ (vehicle, machinery o Adequate detour road locations o supervision for contractor and non motorized shall be provided not to Operators are given consultant traffic) interfere with normal traffic proper awareness flow. on precautions to be included in BOQ o Due to road blockage o Adequate side roads and taken and for construction works shoulders for pedestrian observance of traffic in progress and o Speed control and traffic regulations management measures Speed control measures o interference with Put in Place lncludlng are put in place at critical existing roads and bumps to be constructed and accident prone Included in BOQ wild life migratory at critical locations locations. routes o Awareness creation on traffic safety and rules SpanConsultant inAssociation withvbf Beza ConsultingEngineers P C L - 0 -0'- C O m m .-> a, m 6 C 0 V) g g . ~ : c al V) 5 .PE u .- 0-5c 0 .c g 2 g.3.V)0u z pmgmg> s V)m a, $ B e , 5 -.--" .g - c b .z 8 -8 $ 3 e - .G " 52 C (11= 0 0 eP .-V) u w gs eo a E C z uc g s C . G g c . g S E n F o g g $ P I m m o Zm U s 0 0 0 u 5 3u CI 2 a * = 0.2 Q)= a m a .I h b LL a = q u u a , a , F m Z g u m u .-c m 3 c c s b - a V) V) 2?2 5 El M .-ah,omm Y V ) cm m m E m . m > " '- 8 8 m :4 5 3 3 8 .- i2 V) 0o n c4n 2 0 a , a e r . 3 5 h * u i > t . 9 , g Z % E S ~ ~ , s wEa c . Q ) Q ) O $ "u-0a, a, = m ,.& + r urg:gcs Q , g G.;, = a m z g = g o a , s 2 z"ggz e z e . 2 e 0 $ 2 - n m - z m.E!um a:$ I= -v221-g , O a , m ~ ~ ~ m E o s g u m 0.2 o g bs a L C C g a@ s 3 o ~ i j a,vr:g , ~ m=.-u .g g g s P z Q > " a u o rur 0 " m o = 0 0 2 $ g r m 2 $ ' $ 5 ; e = C Q = V ) m y E , $ @ 9.: 3~ 3 a) 22 8 2.g g C L ~ C L U Q ~ E ~ ~ ~ K I E , V) V) 1 - ~ ) 3 a , u m F m 0 0 0 Revised Final EIA Report Potential Proposed Mitigation Institutional Cost Project Phase Environmental Frequency Measures Indicator Responsibility Estimates & Social Impacts [birr) Transport infrastructure o Impairment of non motorized transport o Provide wider road o Adequate detour Construction o Consultant o Traffic congestion due shoulders and separate road and shoulders period o Contractor to road blockage lane for pedestrian and constructed and o Damage to vehicles non motorizedtransport maintained using un paved detour o Water is sprayed ways o Provide paved and well periodically to o Accidents and delays constructed detour road suppress dust created to passengers during road construction. pollution o Maintain and apply dust suppression measures to minimize dust pollution and vehicle accidents due to distant visibility problem. Local Economy o Increase in Price of Arrange and ensure Local Administrativ consumable items supply of basic o Availability of During administr e cost o Employment items basic consumable items construction and ation opportunity on local market periodically during by encouraging Contractor o Increase in house o Facilities at camp operation phase of ERA hold income entrepreneurs in sites project the area. o Trends and extent of Periodically avail basic use of local products items to workers at during and after project ~mplementation camps against payment of fair prices. Span ConsultantinAssociation withvbf 86 BezaConsulting Engineers Mekenajo_-_Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project - Revised Final EIA Report --------............................................. Proposed Mitigation Project Phase Environmental Measures Local work force shall be encouraged to benefit from the employment opportunities during construction. o Encourage workers to use locally available products to assist local economy. 1 Cultural& Historical Heritages I - Protect and avoid as far as Degradationof possible such sites as churches, cultural and Periodically during o Regionallzonal Part of mosques, Odas during historical sites are Construction culture and administrative o Sacred places, construction protected phase. tourism bureau. costs of each religious places, 0 Locate culturally, 8 0 The design has kept Up on receiving o Contractor actor Odas, monuments historically significant sites road alignments reports on o The community and burial places prior to construction away from such discovery of o ERA- ESMB o Archeological sites o Preserve any sites archeological archeological findings o Any archeological findings. encountered up on findings are excavation. preserved and o Arrange orientation recorded Program and training of 0 Machine operators machine operators on are trained to take work procedures, and care of PCRs and discipline at physical and artifacts site cultural heritage sites. management. They need also to be Span Consultant in Association withvbf 87 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- DembidoloRoad Upgrading Project Potential Proposed Mitigation Project Phase Environmental Measures Indicator & Social Impacts oriented on recognizing types and characteristic of such heritages and means to identify them while undertaking excavation operations. It is also essential that the operators trained on site management procedures to be followed, particularly if a PCR encountered is not movable o Liaison and make arrangements with the regional bureau of culture and tourism for the training and orientation of the workers and to cooperate by timely responding to reported findings. o Report to the relevant bureau up on finding of unregistered heritages as soon as possible, before making any change to its location and feature. W Span Consultant in Association withvbf 88 BezaConsulting Engineers Mekenajo -DernbidoloRoad Upgrading Project ----------------............................................................. _-_.....--....... _ ---------------------- Revised Final EIA Report ----------- 4 I Potential Project Phase Proposed Mitigation Institutional Environmental Frequency Measures Indicator Responsibility Estimates & Social Impacts [birr 1 Maintain storm drains 3 Operation Phase Soil erosion and soil and ditches Regular contamination regularly conditions operation phase roads authority administrative cost o Grass cover slops and graded grounds, and offices protect livestock grazing at road shoulders and embankments Periodically Water sources and 0 Waste management o Water quality test 1 during o Municipalities wetlandlmarshl I practices should improve, results meet operatio road side littering standard values and ecosystem n phase especially in towns and preservation I villages should be o ERA I regulated I o Minimized vehicular Traffic signs Regularly o Traffic police Normal accidents through regularly during admini implementation of traffic maintained operaion strativeI and transport regulations - which will be a major and road cause of oil leakage. safety awareness I enhanced SpanConsultant in Association withvbf 89 BezaConsulting Engineers a, - C .-> (I) U) --.-h C Y c .ra e - C a e a m m c P" -0 E m .-~ ) , - h3e z ~ g : C - 0 U) 2.e a,-.& g 2 % 'g C o > " 3 E gC E og.+ LLZ .=30 a 3 S%S",OL cmz22.5 m al E K 0 0 0 0 0 Revised FinalEIA Report - ---- Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project _-....__---- .__ .................................. ---------------- Potential Proposed Mitigation I Institutional b s t Project Phase Environmental Frequency II Measures Indicator I Responsibility ~stimates & Social Impacts kbirr) Encourage local mode of o Traffic signals Periodically / 1 o Local transport I Normal motorizedtransport transport to sustain, posted and 1 desk admini / especially for transport of maintained. o Availability of public goods to market places o Number of public transport and short distance service transport using the centers like flour mills, by road maintainingseparate lane. Reduced transport o Enforcing traffic safety guide lines and posting cost traffic signs as required o Assign adequate number of transport vehicles both private and public transport. I o Transport fees should be in accordance to the improved road standards I Io Road shoulders have to 1o Road shoulders are I be kept wide enough adequate and maintena 'OSt especially in towns and regularly maintained nce team villages as per the design for use by the pedestrian. of ERA o Maintain traffic posts and traffic signals Span ConsultantinAssociation withvbf 91 BezaConsulting Engineers -Dembidolo ... --.. Mekenajo-..--....- Road Upgrading Project -----. -.. ---.--.-. --..---. ---.. ..---...---.--. --. ---------......--.-... --.----. -.--.. -------..-- ---- -.-. ---- -..... -..- ..-. . ... -.. - . .- . ..--. .. -----.. . .. .. -- . ---- -- ----- -- --.. -.-.-.--. ----. --.....--.--..--.----. --....- ----...---- . .. -.. ... -. .- .. .-...-- . . . . -. -.. Revised Final EIA.Report . i Potential ' Proposed Mitigation Institutional Project Phase Environmental Frequency Measures Indicator Responsibility I Estimates 8 Social Impacts birr) o Organize awareness o Traffic accidents creation forum on traffic o Traffic regulations ,o Traffic police Normal regulations and safety enforced Administrative principles both to the cost. community, drivers and to the investors in transport industry of the area. Span Consultant inAssociation withvbf 92 BezaConsulting Engineers Mekenajo- DernbidoloRoad UpgradingProject Revised Final EIA Report 7.2. Institutional Needs and Responsibilities Sector development institutions are expected to have their environmental units to inspect and monitor their activities. Accordingly ERA has established Environmental Monitoring and Safety Branch under its organizational structure. The branch is staffed with experienced experts and is capable of undertaking its responsibilities. However, the regional road authority has not organized environmental unit of its own to date. The work load and environmental issues to be addressed in the rural road network development endeavors demands an environmental monitoring and inspection on a routinely bases-after commissioning of the project. It is ,therefore, recommendedthat such a unit be established under the regional rural roads authority. For PCR, setting up of an arrangement with the concerned authorities for an appropriate rapid response mechanism - including artifact or site management procedures to be followed, particularly if a PCR encountered is not movable. 7.3 Training Requirements Capacity building for project implementing institutions, especially for the regional and district road and transport organizations in environmental management and sustainable development issues would assist for success full implementation of the EIA objectives. Environmental inspectors of the project owner and that of the supervising consultant should be capacitated to fully undertake the required tasks and incorporate environmental issues in the overall project implementation. Regarding the PCR, training for operators of excavation equipment in potential PCR artifact site and for recognitionthereof will be required. 7.4 Work Program for the environmental mitigation management plan The environmental management should be integrated with the overall project management efforts, to be effective for environmental enhancement measures identified in the EIA. Environmental management aims at providing a high level of quality control, leading to a project which has been properly designed and constructed and functions efficiently throughout its life. Pre-Construction phase Prior to contractor mobilization and the commencement of construction, environmental managementwill be concernedwith the following principal groups of activities: Ensuring that all government and funding agency requirements and procedures relating to EIA are complied with Implementation of land and property acquisition procedures including the payment of compensation and resettlementof the displaced people. Clearance and relocation of utility service lines with in the ROW of the road route, and ensuring that no interruption of social services would occur upon commencing the construction activity. The project owner,, ERA will be responsiblefor submitting the EIA to the EPA for evaluation according to internal procedures. Span Consultant in Association with 92 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Construction phase Most of the project environmental management activities will be carried out during the construction phase, since this is when most impacts can be expected to arise. Management will very largely be concerned with controlling impacts which may result from the actions of the Contractor, through enforcement of the construction contract clauses related to protection of the environment as a whole and of the components within it. In this respect, it is important to recognize that successful mitigation of construction impacts can only be achieved if the environmental protection measures, as set out in the construction contract, are properly enforced. The project Engineer as defined in the constructioncontract document shall hold the overall primary responsibilityfor construction supervision and contract management, as well as for environmentalmanagementduring the constructionphase. However, certain powers and authority relatirlg to day-to-day supervision will be delegated by the Erlgineerto the Resident Engineer (RE). The RE will have executive responsibilityfor ensuring that all site environmental management and monitoring aspects are dealt with promptly and properly. The site supervision staff will be responsible for environmental management and monitoring, and their role in the management chain is crucial if effective impact control is to be achieved. The RE will be responsible for establishing procedures and mechanisms for effective environmentalmanagement and monitoringand will ensure that these are fully incorporated in, and integratedwith, the overall construction supervision and monitoringframework. This aspect will cover matters such as the development of checklists of key points which will be monitored on a routine basis during construction and reporting mechanisms for ensuring that appropriate remedialaction is taken, should monitoringrevealthat this is necessary. Particular attention will be paid to establishing procedures whereby emergency action can be taken by site staff in the event of the Contractor acting in a manner which may cause immediate and significant environmental damage, for example problems associated with interruptions to water supply, or contamination of land, groundwater or surface water through inappropriatehandlingof contaminatingsubstances. It is recommendedthat an EnvironmentalSpecialist (ES) be appointed as a member of the construction supervision team. The Environmental Specialist would be responsible for reviewing and commenting on environmental aspects of work plans prepared by the Contractor during the mobilization period, as well as in developing site environmental management procedures etc in collaboration with the RE. During the actual construction period, the ES would provide advice and assistance to the Engineer and the RE, as and when required, on all aspects of environmental management. He would also be responsible for periodic overviews of environmentalmonitoring during the construction period and would report directly to the Engineer. The environmental specialist will be part of the construction supervision consultant team. The selection and assignment of supervising consultant should include environmental specialist as one of the staff member of the consultant. Any cultural and archeological resources encountering should be reported to the Oromia Cultural and Tourism Bureau and/or relevant authorities and the mitigationlpreservation measures be consulted and implementedas necessary. Hence the TOR prepared for constriction supervision consultant Span Consultant in Association withvbf 93 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo-DembidoloRoad Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report -- ----- --- ----- --- ----.- -----.--- -. -. --. . . .- should require an environmental specialist as one of the staffs to be included. The environmental specialist will be assigned on intermittentbases. Post-construction phase Sustainable benefit enhancementfrom implementationof the project will only be achieved if effective routine and periodic pavement, earthworks and drainage system maintenance is carried out in a timely manner. Environmental management and monitoring in this respect will be the responsibility of the district offices of ERA, with implementation being carried out either by the department itself or by contractors. The Environmental Management Branch within ERA is expected to play an overall advisory role during this phase. Table7.2: EnvironnementalManagementAction Plan (EMAP) Actions 1 ResponsibleBody I Remarks Pre-construction Phase Review and submission of ERA- All review works shall be EIA documents to ERA environmental completed before tendering and EPAfor evaluation. Management out, so that an environmental Branch permit can be issued prior to contract award and mobilizationof the contractor. Detaileddrawings showing Design consultant Will be submitted to ERA as land acquisition soon as design work is requirements, ROW- finalized for timely processing clearance and utilities in of the RAP and ROW issues. the ROW etc. submitted to 1ERA. - - Review of final Final design and lnclusion of engineering design to tender document recommendations shall be check whether preparation confirmed by the engineer and environmental issues have consultant, ERA ERA. been given due considerations in their preparation Preparation of RAP and RAP-consultant As soon as the design work is subsequent evaluation and assigned, and finalized and the lateral extent approval by ERA and EPA Environmental of the ROW is known with Management certainty, RAP implementation Branch and the shall be executed, prior to Legal and appointmentof a contractor. regulatory Branch of ERA Compensations payment ERA and local Land/property expropriation for expropriated land and administrative process and full affected properties due to organs implementationof RAP can be project lengthy and must be completed before contractor appointment, so that the Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project - -- 1access to the site. Detaildrawings of the road Project owner, The drawings and design design, and detailed ERA documents are prepared by drawings showing mains the design consultant, and relocation requirements be ERA and the service providers submitted to utility owners, would have sufficient time to and service providers. plan for the relocation of the utility lines before the commencement of the contractor. Relocation of water supply Utility owners and The relocation of utility lines and sewerage lines, service providers. should be completed before electricity and the construction commences. telecommunication cables The relocationcosts should be by the service providers covered by ERA and against the appropriate deposited to the accounts of compensation for the cost the affected institution on incurred. 1 /time. 1 Construction Phase Resident Engineer environmental checklist, of the supervising Must be ready by the time the reporting formats consultant and the constructionwork mobilizes. 1procedures etc. environmental specialist, ERA Review of contractor's Resident Engineer Same as above plans , schedules etc. and Envi. Specialist, ERA Site monitoring Same as above Inspection and monitoring commences begins when the contractor mobilizes and continues through out the construction period -- - Review of environmental Same as above To be conducted periodically; management and bimonthly or quarterly. monitoring plan -- Site clearance inspection Same as above Carried out on a rolling basis and certification on as each major section of work completionof the works. is completed. Any cultural and Same as above Mitigation and/or preservation archeological resources measures should be consulted encountering should be with concerned authorities and reported to the Oromia implementedas necessary. Cultural and Tourism Bureau and/or relevant authorities. Span Consultant in Association withvbf 95 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- DembidoloRoad Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report 7.5 Provision of Environmental Contract Clauses in the Construction Contract Document The Design consultant should incorporate in the construction contract document environmental contract specifications and conditions as per the practice of international norms, like FIDIC's general conditions of contract. The environmental clauses to be considered includethe following; 7.5.1 for Protection of banks and slopes against erosion, Use slope retainingtechniques either engineering measures or re vegetation of the surfaces. Use of engineering measures like intercepting ditches at top and bottom of steep slopes, terraced or stepped slopes to reduce steepness of slopes, rip rap or rock material embedded in a slope face, retaining structures like gabion and retaining walls as instructed by the engineer. Protection of the embankment slopes by re-planting shall use native plant species like Lucenia species, Sacbenia species, approved acacia species. Planting agro forestry tree species like avocado, Mango, Morinaga-oliferaspecies can also be used. Plant erodable surfaces as soon as possible. Rehabilitateexcavated ground up on completion of works Surplus excavatedtop soil shall be stored and used to rehabilitate degraded grounds Provide adequate drain pipes to avoid excessive concentratedflow Place drain outlets to avoid cascade effect. Line receiving surfaces or ditches with stone ripraps or concrete Slop shapes and steepness shall be designed in terraced, stepped or edge rounding fashion at cut and fill sites based on the soil type Select alternative route that avoids unstable areas as far as possible Provide adequate drainage line to intercept flows and to protect from entering slide susceptibleareas and to reduce risk. Provide retaining structures at road cuts and fill areas (dry masonry) Planttrees and grass cover graded and steep slops Avoid Slide susceptible sites for use as construction material extraction area. Prohibit up slop cultivation at susceptible areas and Prohibit animal grazing at road shoulders Re- habilitateand re- plant disfigured and excavated landfor quarry and borrow pit, Safety and security of the environment; pollution control measures, safety of workers and the surrounding duelers, etc. Water resources conservation; maintenance of natural water flow and quality, preventionof hazardouschemicals and wastes etc. Timely cart away surplus spoil soil. Maintain leaking equipment and vehicle parts, Avoid fuel & oil spillages while refilling, collect and properly treat used oil and Exercise proper waste management and disposal practices at camps, garages and at work places. 7.5.2 Protection and safety of Water resources and wetland ecosystems Span Consultant in Association withvbf 96 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo - Dernbidolo Road Upgrading Project Construction disciplines and methodologiesto be adopted while working in the proximity of water sources and wetlandlmarshland areas, and prohibited actions and activities within the wetlandlmarshland areas etc. have to be included in the contract document. Accordingly the contractorshould; Avoid waste disposal, fuel and chemical spills, obstruction of natural runoff to recharge the wetlandlmarshland,nor block the naturalflow of streams, rivers. Program excavation activities at river crossing areas during dry period, Re-vegetateerodable soil surfaces as soon as possible Protect sensitive surfaces with mulch or fabrics, Stone ripraps, gabions etc. Divert run off water flow through steep slope and erosion prone areas. Avoid competition over water use due to influx of workers in the area, and due to the construction activity. The contractor shall arrange water supply point that doesn't interferewith that of the local community. The contractor shall not locate quarry sites in river beds and at river banks, The contractor shall avoid pollutingof rivers or streams during concrete work from cement slag. Carry out regular maintenance of vehicle to minimize oil spills and prohibit open field waste disposal. The contractor shall not cleanlwash constructionequipment in to wet lands, streams and rivers, and dischargewaste chemicals into the streams, if in case this problem happens, the contractor, at his own expense, shall be obliged to the clear until it reaches its original quality level or consumable. Servicing of plants, equipments and vehicles shall be carried out at a workshop area. Contractor shall ensure the workshop area is equipped with secured storage areas for fuels, oils and other fluids. The storages should be constructed in such a way as to contain any spillages, which may occur. Similar storage should be constructed to store used fluids prior to their disposal in a designated and authorized place. Waste oils from various plants and equipments shall be collected in drums and send it to oil reprocessingcompanies and never dispose them into wetlands, streams and rivers, Avoid locatingcamp sites near the water sourcesand ground water rechargingareas, Careful handling of explosives and residue of fuel to avoid health risk and water pollution, The contractor should ensure that all the existing stream courses and drains within and adjacentto the site are kept safe and free from any debris, Avoid harvesting of fish or other aquatic organisms without the permission of responsibleauthority or organization. The contractor shall officially handover all developed water sources at any locations to the Localwater Department,if the water sources are to be handed over to the locals. Soil resources conservation likes; limiting area of soil disturbance, soil erosion control measures, oil spill prevention,plantingof grasses etc. 7.5.3 Vegetation and wildlife protection measures Management of workforce by controlling poaching and fire wood collection, controlling machinery speed and limit are of movement, noise and speed in dense vegetation covered areas etc. Accordingly he contractor shall; Prohibit projectworkers from encroachmentand poachingforest and wildlife areas Limit vegetation removal to only areas required to the effective land requiredfor project works. Span Consultant in Association withvbf 97 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA------- Report -------------- -....---..---...--...---..---...---..------ ____.___..____..___ Route selection for access to material sites, and detour road route should try to avoid dense vegetation covered areas Prohibit forest fire setting and supervise fire risks by construction crew to minimize vegetation and wildlife damage and kills. Prohibit illegal hunting and report any ma1 practices to authorities who enforce the regulations (bureau of agriculture and rural development, bureau of culture and tourism). Prohibit and regulate illegal timber cutting and charcoal trade by the work force. The contractor shall compensate for the loss of mature trees by planting at least 10 seedlings for every tree that will be removed during road widening, detours and borrow area clearing and manages their growth until they reach a height of Imetre before handingthem over to the client. Re-vegetate uncovered and graded grounds, excavated and abandoned quarry sites as soon as site work ends The contractor shall maintain road side forest that may serve as wild life habitat and corridor, The contractor shall install warning signs and speed control measures at all animal- crossing sites as identified by the Design Engineer. The contractor shall aware construction work force not to cut tree for any purpose with out prior approval of Environmental supervisor and local forestry department, the contractor shall save big trees located on roadside by shifting the centerline of the road to the other side, in campsites, and also in materialsites. Road pavementsshould not block or interferewith the wildlife route corridor. Do not dump spoil soil down hill sides, or on vegetation covered land. Approved and designated dumping sites should be used as per arrangements made with local administration,approved by he engineer. The contractor shall take photographsof these sites before starting clearing and keep it as official documents in a separate folder The contractor shall create awareness among drivers to give priority for road crossing animals and abstain from runningafter them or chasing the animals. The contractor shall aware drivers to put off light and give priority for road crossing nocturnal animals during the nighttime. 7.5.4 Air quality control measures Air pollution control measures like regular maintenance of machinery and vehicles, sitting of asphalt mix plants and crushers, dust suppression measures etc. have to be observed and fulfilled by he contractor. Accordingly he contractor shall; implement dust suppressionmeasures like spaying of water on earth paved surfaces, Control traffic speed at densely settled sites, in towns and villages and in dusty work areas along the road install speed breakers like bumpers at critically dust blown sites regularly maintain machinery and vehicle to reduce excessive gaseous emissions install dust and smoke suppressionaccessorieson asphalt plant and crasher equipment Locate asphalt plant and crushers away from town centers and densely populated areas. Consider wind direction effects while selecting sites for plant erecting. transported soil and fine particle materials should be covered to protectfrom spread and wind blow in to the atmosphere 7.5.5 Traffic safety and human health Span Consultant in Association withvbf 98 Beza Consulting Engineers I . Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project __ Revised FinalEIA Report The contractor should make sure that traffic accidents and public health hazard will not be posed or minimizeddue to its activities. Traffic rules and discipline should be observed by all workers and sanitary conditions comply to standard for healthy environment. To his effect the contractorshall; Ensure that all operators and drivers are fully aware of and are able to handle the responsibilitythey are assignedto. Traffic signs are provided as required along he road alignments, detour roads, at materialsites. Adequate detour road shall be provided not to interferewith normaltraffic flow. Adequate side roads and shoulders for pedestrianis provided Obstructionsfor distance visibility cleared, and visibility problemdue to dust minimized Speed control and traffic management measures put in place including bumps to be constructedat critical locations Awareness creation programs arranged and provided by the contractor on traffic safety and rules, Contractor ensures the installation of safety signals, safety of stockpile sites, good house keeping practices. Contractorshould assign safety personnelto guide traffic flow at critical sites and narrow widths while constructionis underway. Provide adequate water supply for workers from protected sources or public water supply Ensure sanitary conditions, proper waste disposal and waste management in camps and at work places. Rehabilitate excavated grounds at quarry sites and borrow pits to avoid mosquito breeding. The contractor shall ensure the availabilityof first-aid service to the workers Conduct awareness creation program on HlVlAlDs pandemic and avail condoms in the camps and in the projectarea. Availing first aid kits at work places and a stand vehicle in case of accidents Timely removal and cart away of excess excavated material in densely populated areas like intowns centers. The contractor shall undertake program for prevention and control of the spread of STDs, especially the HIVIAIDS pandemic, in the workplaces of the contract, eiher through experienced and dedicated staff of his own or a sub-contract to recognized health sector institutionsor NGOs. The contractor shall not induce malaria outbreak by creating temporary & permanent water holding areas which favor mosquito breeding, The contractor shall provide clinics with all necessary medications in major construction camps, and FirstAide Kits at all working sites. The contractor shall minimize dust emission by watering the road during construction at the settlement areas at least 3 times a day (in the morning, before lunch time and before the end of working hour), Explosives and chemicals should be stored under proper security at a safe distance from the road and any inhabitedpremises, Contractor should give warning signal before blasting operation at quarries and should station watch personnel at the approaches to the site. The watcher personnel should use flags, horns and whistles to prevent persons, animals and traffic entering danger zone. The contractor shall take care when selecting campsites in such a way that it should not invite close interactionwith local community. Provide awarenesscreation on basic health care and environmentalsanitation. Span Consultant in Association withvbf 99 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report 7.5.6 Material productionsites Quarry and borrow pit utilization and restoration to usable standard, rehabilitation and prevention of the site from being breeding ground for disease vectors. Quarries and borrow material sites shall be rehabilitatedwith appropriatefill material and vegetation covered with native plant species 7.5.7 Spoil soils disposal Cart away spoil soils as soon as possible while working in towns, Do not allow open trenches to stay longer in areas of settlements and urban premises. Excess excavated soil shall be used to rehabilitate abandoned quarry and borrow material sites as far as possible Spoil soil shall be disposed at designated and permitted site only. The contractor should liaison with the local administrationto select the site and get permission.The site should be approved by the engineer. Spoil materials shall also not be disposed on areas of aesthetic value. 7.5.8 Protection of adjacent properties and utilities, interruption of social services, interruptionof traffic flows The contractor should take the at most precaution to avoid social disruption, interferences with social services like water supply, electricity supply and telecommunication cables Construction in town center, including road pavement, embankments, drainage works should not cause obstructions and interferencesto the smooth movement and safety of the community. The contractor is expected to liaise and consult with the local community and the administrative organs, and incorporate their comments and opinions in the project performance. The contractor should liaison with service providers o minimize interruption so services and damages to he utilities 7.5.9 Preservationand protection of cultural heritages Any cultural and archeological resources encountering should be reported andlor preservation measures should be taken by consulting with concerned authorities and implementedas necessary. Protect and avoid as far as possible such sites as churches, mosques, cemeteries, Odas during construction Locate culturally & historicallysignificant sites prior to construction Preserve any archeologicalfindings encountered up on excavation. Arrange orientation program and training of machine operators on work procedures,and discipline at physical and cultural heritage sites. They need also to be oriented on recognizing types and characteristic of such heritages and means to identify them while undertaking excavation operations. Span Consultant in Association withvbf 100 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo -DembidoloRoad Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report .--- _____ Liaison and make arrangements with the regional bureau of culture and tourism for the training and orientation of the workers and to cooperate by timely respondingto reported findings. Report to the relevant bureau up on finding of unregistered heritages as soon as possible, before making any change to its locationand feature. 7.5.10 Preparationof site environmental plan Managementand monitoringaction plan and checklist for monitoring indicators shall be prepared and submitted to the engineer for approval and for later use. 8.0 ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PLAN 8.1 The Monitoring Program The monitoringprogramshouldfocus on two basic objectives: 9 To monitorthe impactof the proposed projectduring the constructionand operation phases and verify the predicted impacts and include any UN foreseen impacts that might be encountereduponthe actual executionof the work. 9 Tomonitortheproperimplementationofthe recommendedmitigationmeasures. The monitoringprogram includes further defining of the mitigationmeasuresfor each impact, and also defining the responsible unit to carry out the monitoring activity, inclusion of some of the mitigation measures in contract specifications and making environmentalcompetence one of the selection criteria for contractors. The monitoringprogram should be carried out by the relevant insituionsand stakeholders; During the construction phase the designated environmental units including; the environmental inspector of the supervising consultant, ERA's ESMB and environmental regulatoryorgan in the regionalstate and/ or the woreda environmentaloffice should monitor the implementation of the proposed mitigation measures (including the works method and complianceof mitigationmeasure as identifiedin the contractualspecifications). The environmental specialist of the supervision team will have full responsibility of the Site Environmental Management and Monitoring. Accordingly, He will direct the preparation of site EnvironmentalManagement Plan (SEMP) by the contractor, Comment on the draft and submit to ERA - ESMB for approval. Based on the approved SEMP, he should carry out the environmental inspection activities, instructs the contractor through the RE for any rectificationsand actions to be taken as regardsto environmentalperformanceof he project, prepares progress reports and quarterly reports on a routinely bases. ERA'S Environmental & social Management Branch on he other hand should conduct periodical monitoring of the project environmental performances. Follow up the proper implementationof the environmental requirements, compliancesof the contractorsas well as that of the consultantsto the satisfactionof ERA's requirements and guidelines. The regulatory bodies (regional EPO & woreda environmentaloffices) should also follow up the overall performances, provide advices and support as required for effective project implementation. Span Consultant in Association withvbf 101 Beza Consulting Engineers i Mekenajo- DembidoloRoad Upgrading Project Revised FinalEIA Report ..--------------- Qualitative and/ or quantitative performanceindicators are used for the monitoring purpose. Some of the monitoring indicators among the many issues to be considered are; Area of project affected (disturbed) land (ha or km2) that has been covered by soil conservation and rehabilitation measures as prescribed under mitigation management plan. Percentage of Spoil soils volume that are properly collected & timely cart away at designated disposal site, Percentages of debris, wastes materials produced & oil products that are properly handled and managed both at storage sites and at work places. Number(%) of PAPSresettled and properlycompensated The monitoring program should also maintain assessment data and records of pre- construction situation of the project area. This would serve as a reference to follow up the changes overtime and developments in the process of project implementationand to ensure the proper rehabilitationand restoration of the previous situation as far as possible. 8.2 InstitutionalArrangements for Environmental Monitoring The environmental monitoring program should be implemented through institutionally organized unit and staffed with skilled manpower. There is an environmental protection office at the regional level; however, there is no environmental unit in the organizational structure of the rural road authority neither of the ORRA nor at the zonallworeda level. Environmental issues and natural resource conservation activities are dealt with by agriculture and rural development coordination departments. There is environmental protection and natural resource conservationdesk underthe department. Institutional issues are not solely about the existence and capacity of governmental institutions. In many cases, public attitudes towards environmental problems are crucial, since most decisions about matters affecting the environment are ultimately taken by individual agents such as farmers, road users, urban duelers and service providers. Monitoring of the impacts during construction phases should be conducted by the road project implementing authority, the Ethiopian Road Authority. The environmental and safety management branch of ERA and the project-supervising consultant. These have the capacity to make sure that the proposed mitigation measures are properly followed. The consultant will have environmental specialist input and will assign full responsibility to undertake the environmental inspection. ERA'S ESMB shall check the assignment and closely follow up the environmental inspector's input and actions through site visit and from the progress reports. The monitoring program should involve the woreda environmental protection offices, NGOs active in the projects area and consider their concerns and advices. The Oromia Environmental Protection Office should play the regulatory role and intermittent inspection and monitoring of the environmentalperformanceof the project. The monitoring program shall also be done in consultation and coordination with the other stakeholders, especially as regards to implementation of the RAP program. Stakeholders may include the local administrative organs, NGOs active in the area, representatives of the affected group, elderly and representativesof both displaced and host communities. For PCR preservation, setting up of an arrangement with the concerned authorities(bureau of culture and tourism) for an appropriate rapid response mechanism - including artifact or Span Consultant in Association withvbf 102 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project _____--__ Revised Final EIA Report site management procedures to be followed, particularly if a PCR encountered is not movable. Also, training for operators of excavation equipment in potential PCR artifact site and for recognitionthereof will be required. Routine monitoring parameters during the operation phase of the road project would be mainly related to pavementand side ditches maintenances,inspection of the maintenanceof culverts and water flow dispersal structures, inspection of the developments along the road route, and traffic regulationsand traffic signals postedand maintainedat critical locations. The long-term impact monitoringactivities should be the responsibilitiesof the ERA, regional environmental unit and other sector bureaus like agriculture bureau, health bureau, Traffic police etc. 8.3 Training needs for environmental management and monitoring Environmental monitoring and enforcement efforts will be ineffective unless the enabling frameworks and capability are in place. Good qualitative knowledge of local conditions is indispensable if the environmental performanceindicatorsare to be properly interpreted. It is ,therefore, proposed that short errn training and orientation be provided to the institutions and stakeholders involved in the environmental management and monitoring of the project o effectively play their respective rolls. Accordingly, short erm raining for recruited experts from; the 8-Woredas' environmental protection offices, west wollega zonal office, ERA'S ESrVlB & also for environmental and safety inspectors of the supervising consultant and that of the contractor. Accordingly estimated cost for the training is included under section 8.4 below. 8.4 Environmental Mitigation Managementand MonitoringCosts The mitigation measures discussed above shall be specified and quantified in the engineering design and included in the BOQ and contract documentfor contractors. Most of the mitigation measures can be implemented following proper construction discipline and house keeping activities, which shall be specified in the tender document, technical specifications and construction contract documents. Others are related to social - cultural and behavioral changes to be exercised and can be implemented through awareness creation and education. Mitigation measures for loss of houses and properties, and loss of plots of crop land and grazing grounds etc. shall be effected in accordance with the cost estimates made in the RAP report. Some of the items that need physical construction activities and that have to be quantified and included in the BOQ during the design are indicatedamong the following list: Reinstatementof quarry and borrow pits and materialproductionsites, Cart away and disposal of excess excavated material especially from densely populatedtown centers and from sensitive landscapesites. Erosion protectionfacilities, especially at bridge crossings, culverts and side ditches, Slop instability protection structures including gabion retaining structures, terracing, stone ripraps etc. Grass and tree plantingon paved and erosion prone surfaces Check dam and flow diversion structure to avoid direct entry of spoil soil, accidental oil spill, silt and domestic waste in to sensitive water sources and wetland/marshland ecosystems. Span Consultant in Association withvbf 103 Beza Consulting Engineers I Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project -------.---.-----...---...--..- --.---. --.-.-.---.- --.--.--..--..----.-- ---------------------------.-----.-----.----..-----.-------------------------------------- Revised Final EIA Report . . -.. . .. . . -. . - - . --. Costs due to land acquisition and propertyloss (houses, farmland, trees and fruit trees etc.) shall be in accordance with the estimates made by the RehabilitationAction Plan (RAP) report,and as per the ERA'SRehabilitation/Resettlernentframe work. Costs for Short term training for excavators on PCR artifact recognitionand for setting up of rapid responsesystem for PCRfindings with concernedauthorities. Cost related to environmental benefit enhancement and mitigation measure also includes natural vegetation restoration, costs for environmental monitoring, training and capacity buildingand this par is estimated at Birr 5,577,000. Table 8.1 presents estimated costs for some of the mitigation measures, while the major costs related to physical construction works are referred to be included in the engineering design. All these costs will be budgetedand born by the road project financial sources. SpanConsultant in Association withvbf 104 Beza Consulting Engineers I. Mekenajo -DembidoloRoad Upgrading Project Table 8.1: Environmental MitigationManagement, Monitoringand Training costs (Birr) No Descriptionof Activities Unit 1 Quantity Rate 1Amount 1 Erosioncontrol measures 1.1 Engineeringmeasures Included in engineeringcost estimate 1.2 Bio-Engineeringmeasures I(TOPsoiling and grassing) 1.3 ( Tree plantation as replacement for No 900,000 1.0 900,000 i damaged ones 2 Site restorationand artificial landscaping ,2.1 Restorationof land used as detour roads, lncluded in engineering cost estimate - material productionsite, camps & garage, 2.2 Artificial landscaping of quarry and lncluded in engineering cost estimate 1 3 ( Road safety provisions (road and traffic lncluded in engineering cost estimate signs etc.) 4 EnvironmentalMonitoring 4.1 Assignment of EnvironmentalInspector MM 4 30,000 120,000 4.2 Assignment of Resettlement MM 3 30,000 90,000 plannerlsociologist -5 Capacity Building 5.1 I Managementexpert(ERAs -ESMB) 5.2 ( Orientation & Short term training for 1 Woreda staffs (environmental protection LS PCR artifact recognition. 5.4 Setting up of rapid response system for lncluded in engineering cost estimate PCRfindings with concerned authorities. 6.0 Awareness creation and availing facilities LS (1,700,000 ) 1 I for HIVIAIDS prevention including / 11 1 1 1 1Condom in the projkct area. I Total Contingency (10%) 507,000 Grand Total 5,577,000 8.5 Preparationof LocalMap of the Project Area The latest version of GIs soft ware system (Arc view 8.3) has been used to prepare the base map indicating, road route location, significant environmental components in the right of way, and construction material sites along the road route as per the requirements of the TOR. The maps are presentedas Annex-4. Since the land acquisition and compensationfor property loss (cultivated land, houses, trees, etc) are mainly confined to the 30 meter right- of-way, it was not possible to show the same on the GIs map due to scale problem. Further, during the Public Consultation meetings with Woreda Administrations, stakeholders and project affected people, it was assured by all concerned that adequate lands are available for relocation and the same will be identified during the resettlement process. As such specific areas for relocation1resettlement have not been identified. Span Consultant in Association withvbf 105 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report ...___..__..__...__ 8.6 Schedule of reporting The environmental performance report should be submitted to the project owner ERA and other relevant institutionsduring the project implementation. The supervisingconsultant (the engineer) or the designated site engineer through its environmental specialist should compile the environmentalreports as part of his day to day activities and organize the report periodicallyor as may be required. The engineer shall submit the report to ERA, for their attention and follow ups of the project progress and implementationof the EIA-recommendations. ERA reviews the report and informs the engineer of any comments and rectifications requiredof the contractor complyingwith the environmental conservationobjectives. ERA may submit copies of reports to the EPA (when ever it is felt there is critical issue or sensitive sites calling for the attention of the EPA) for their assistances and interferences to handle the situation. ERA will submit copies of EAs to the financiers as may be required along with other progress reports. The feedback and comments of reports from all concerned bodies should be providedto the engineerthrough ERA within the time frame stipulated in the contractdocuments. 'v El Span Consultant in Association withvbf 106 Beza Consulting Engineers i r Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project CONCLUSIONAND RECOMMENDATIONS The woredas traversed by the road route are densely populated and have high potential of economic development. The potentialfor agriculturaland mining industry in the area is high. Current production of cash crops, cereals and livestock products require efficient and standardtransport facility to reach the central market places to make it ready for export. The upgrading of the road to asphalt level standard will facilitate all these development objectives. Besides these it also brings improvement in the social services coverage and local economic development contributingto the poverty alleviationendeavors. The analyses of road standardjustified asphalt surfacing bothfrom environmental protection and socio-economic perspective. The health risks and traffic accident due to dust pollutionfrom the existinggravel paved road would significantly improve as the road standard improves to asphalt level. The Mekenejo - DembidoloRoad upgradiqgwork shall follow the existing gravel paved road route for major part of its length, except at diversionsto the towns, Ayra and Geba Robi. The road design would consider traversing the center of these towns. The consultation results with the representatives of those three towns demonstrate the prioritiesaccorded by the community to accessingthe center of the towns with the proposed asphalted road in spite of the damages that might be caused to houses and properties in the ROW. Accessing and upgradingof the road in these two towns would reduce the dust problem and related health risks, and economic benefits attainable by the community of the towns would be significant. Hence, the diversion to traverse through the center of all of the three towns is recommended. The positive social and economic impacts including availability of reliable road, reduced transportation costs, increased access to market places, for local produces, access to new employment centers, better access to social service centers like health institutions, and strengthening of local economy is attainablefrom the road project implementation. The adverse environmental impacts that result due to the paved road route would be minimal. Major impacts would be at the diverted new alignments which can cause dislocation of people and property, However, the new alignment sections traverse through unpaved ground and farmlands, partly through vegetation covered and animal grazing grounds and partly through cultivable farmlands, and no significant environmental impact is anticipated. Impacts due to quarry and borrow pit, due to access road to the material production sites and to camp sites, and impact due to detour roads would also be significant. However, the impacts would be minimized by implementation of mitigation measures as discussed in the report under close monitoring/supervisionof the works by supervisionconsultantand by EMSB of ERA. It is therefore, recommended that the proposed mitigation management plan and environmentalclauses be included in the constructioncontract documentfor contractors and the proper implementationof those and compliance be carefully monitored. The EMP will be implemented in a coordinated manner among the relevant agencies and sake holders as stipulated in the EMP- Matrix. The Contractor, consultant, ERA'S ESMB, Woreda administrations and their respective sectoral departments should accomplish their designated responsibilitiesboth individuallyand in collaborationwith others. Span Consultant in Association withvbf 107 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- DembidoloRoad Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report REFERENCES EnvironmentalAssessment and Management Guide line, EPA, Addis Ababa, July 1999. Environmental Assessment Source book, The World Bank Environmental Department,Washington DC, 1991. Environmental Protection Organs Establishment proclamation No. 2951 2002,AddisAbaba,2002 Ethiopian Roads Authority re-establishment proclamation NO. 8011997 defines, Addis Ababa, 1997. Environmental impact assessment Proclamation No. 29912002, Addis Ababa, 2002. Oromia Regional State Rural land use and administration proclamation No.5612002, Adam, 2002. Proclamation No.411995, ,Addis Ababa, 1995 Proclamations N0.9411994, conservation, development and utilization of forests, Addis Ababa, 1994. Standard Environmental Methodologiesand Procedures Manual, Ethiopian Roads Authority, Addis Ababa 1999. Statistical Abstracts Ethiopia,Central Statistical Authority, Addis Ababa, 2004 State of the EnvironmentEthiopia Sub Regional Atlas of West Oromia, Physical Planning and Regional Statistical Informationdepartment, June 2004, Addis Ababa Department,Addis Ababa, June 2004. The Federal Constitution of 1995 The World Bank's Safeguard Policies; World Bank Operational Directives; OD 4.01(1999), OD 4.12(1990), OD 4.15(1991), 4.20(1999), OD4.20(1991) Welfare Monitoring Survey, CSA, 2004 Zonal Atlas of West Wollega, Physical Planning and Regional Statistical lnformation Span Consultant in Association withvbf 108 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project - Revised Final EIA Re~ort Annexes Span Consultant in Association withvbf 109 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report ...-.-.-..-----. - -. --. Annex 1.I TERMS OF REFERNCE DESCRIPTIONOF THE SERVICE BACKGROUNDINFORMATION The classified road network of the FederalState of Ethiopiawas, at the end of 2003, estimatedat about 33,856 km, including 16,702 km Federaland 17,154 km RegionalRoads. Out of this, 4,362 km (13%) are paved and the remaining 12,340 km are gravel or earth surfaced. Government efforts,with donor assistance, have improvedthe share of Federal road network in good conditionfrom 14 percent in 1995to 32 percent in 2003; some improvementshave also occurred inthe quality of regionalroads, especially, in a decline in the share of roads in poor condition. These improvements have resulted in a decline in the share of farms that were estimated to be more than half a day's walk from an all-weather road from 75 percent in 1996to 70 percent in 2003. In spite of this progressover the past few years, road density in Ethiopia remainsone of the lowest in Africa, with poor access to ports, markets and services. The road density at 31 km per 1000 km2,although higherthan the value of 21 km per 1000 km2in 1994, is still below the average of 50 km per 1000 km2for Africa. Only about 30 percentof the country is connected with all weather roads. Ethiopia is landlockedwith the Djiboutiport is the main link to the ocean. The above situation confirms the continuing priority for improvement and constructionof the road network. The Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) has receiveda grant from InternationalDevelopmentAssociation (IDA) towards the cost of consultancy services for the Review of FeasibilityStudy, EnvironmentalImpactAssessment (EIA), Detailed EngineeringDesignand Tender Documentsfor the Mekenajo - Dembidolo road projectunder the Second Phase of the Road Sector Development Program (RSDP II -APL I). The Mekenajo- Dembidoloroad upgrading Project is located in the Western part of Oromia RegionalState in WesternWolega zone. The project road branches off from the Addis Ababa - Nekemte- Gimbi -Assosa main road at 456 Kmfrom the capital,Addis Ababa, at Mekenajotown, which is found 15 Km west of Gimbi along Gimbi -Assosa road. It is part of the existing gravel road between Gimbi and Gambelathat connects Inango, Guliso Chanka, Mechara and Dembidolotowns bypassingAyra, Harrosebuand Gebarobi. The project road ends at Dembi Dolotown covering a total length of 185Km.The project road is part of the existing gravel road betweenGimbi and Gambella. The projectcomprises three contracts: Contract 1: Mekenajo to Ayra (Km 0+000to 60+000) Contract2 Ayra to Chaka (Km 60+000- 120+000) Contract 3 Chankato Dembidolo (Km 120 + 181+000) Span Consultant in Association withvbf 110 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project An lnternational Consultant, SYSTRA in association with SPT and PANAF, did the detailed Feasibility and the EIA for the road project. In addition the detailed Engineering Design and tender documentswere prepared by BKS in associationwith ContinentalConsultants. ERA presently requires the service of a consultant with relevant experience'to carry out (i) the review of the feasibility study, (ii) the review EIA, and the preparation of resettlement action plan (RAP), (iii) the necessary field investigations and review of the detailed engineering design, and tender documents for the constructionof the proposed road project. The construction of the road is to be executed using InternationalCompetitive Bidding (ICB) procedures. 2- THE OBJECTIVES OF STUDY The main objectives of the Consultancy Services are: i) To carry out the Review of Feasibility Study for the proposed road project and updating it; ii) To review the EIA, including the analysis, verification, and updating of the recommendationsof the EIA in terms of mitigating the negative impacts. iii) To prepare the RAP for the proposed road project. This includes preparation and costing of the RAP along the whole of the route corridor and to provide the Government and Donors' partners with sufficient and adequate information as to the likely social impacts of the proposed road project. The extent of involuntary resettlementshould be accounted in the design review process with the number of affected households properly identifiedand quantified. iv) To review the detailed engineering design and the tender documents prepared by the Design Consultant and make all amendments and carry out additional studies necessary. The review Consultant shall assume full responsibilityfor the soundness and sufficiency of the detailed engineering design, the Feasibility and EIA studies, the RAP, and the preparation of the tender documents in accordance to the requirementsof the World Bank procedures. Span Consultant in Association withvbf 111 Beza Consulting Engineers Phase I: Review of Feasibilitv Studv and EIA, and preparation of RAP 2. Description of the Service. The study includes all services necessary to review the feasibility study and ERA carried out by the consultant SYSTRA inassociationwith SPT and PANAF and the preparationof a RAP. 1) Review of FeasibilitvStudy The Consultant shall thoroughly inspect and assess the existing feasibility study report, and all other relevant documents and information. The consultant will also make required field investigations necessary and make amendments to the studies where necessary and produce a finalised detailed feasibility study report. The Consultant shall consider the following aspects: 1.1. Road Engineering Survey: The Consultant shall inspect the project routelroad and conduct a survey of the road covering (i) Existing pavement age, thicknesses, strength, current signs of distress or defects, surface roughness (estimated in terms of the IRI), and the year round passability, (ii) the condition of side drains, and structures and an inventory of major structures, (iii) road widths and geometry, (iv) the nature of the terrain, materials, adjacent land use and vegetation, and (v) current maintenance inputslpractice in relation to the condition of the road, and (vi) major problems including those likely to arise from existing side slopes, fills and cut areas, and ascertaining and assessing any areas of potential land slide, likely to affect the ability of the road to perform its mainfunction over the next few years 1.2. Traffic Surveys: Vehicle traffic surveys should be conducted on the project road that forms part of the route, and if significant diversions are expected, on other connecting roads. Counting should be for not less than three days for 12 hours per day and one day for 24 hours at appropriate locations. Data from ERA'S traffic count surveys, if available, should be reviewed to assist with estimating the Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT). Traffic volumes and composition should be estimated.Where the new road follows the alignment of existing paths, trails and tracks then traffic surveys should also be undertaken of all movements including pedestrians, animals, animal- carts and different types of motor vehicles. A travel time survey of the existing routes most affected by the proposed project should be carried out. 1.3. Traffic Forecasts: The Consultantwould quantify both the direct and indirect impact of the road development and the analytic approach should be supported by appropriate survey instruments, including: (a) household survey; (2) market, community and facility survey; and (c) transport survey (for motorized and non-motorized transport (NMT), including pedestrians). The traffic forecasts should include the generated, diverted and induced traffic. The forecasts should include best estimate of likely demand (based on economic activity, past growth trends, growth in vehicle population, etc) and the more critical variables should be subjected to sensitivity analysis (more on this later). The forecasts should also include the impact on the project area during the construction period. 1.4. EIA: As part of this assignment an EIA should be undertaken. This should cover the full environmental impact of different investment options. It will include the effects on the natural environment as well as the effects on communities that live in the vicinity of Span Consultant inAssociationwithvbf 112 BezaConsultingEngineers Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project the road and their mitigation. As part of the study, resettlement needs, social impact and mitigationmeasures should be investigated, preparedand costed. 1.5. Economic Evaluation: An economic evaluation of the road project that includes the identification of at least two different cases or scenarios involving one 'baseJor 'without investment' case and at least one 'projectJor ' with investmentJcase should be carried out. In the "with investment case", the consultant would examine alternative scenarios, including design standards, alternate routes and alignments and designs (in case of new construction). Estimates of benefits should include dis-benefits during the construction period. Benefits of the proposed investments should include the direct impact on all users of the facility (including motorized and non-motorized modes, pedestrians) and indirect impact on the community and business establishmentsserved by the road. 1.5.1 The analysis of the provision of improvedlnew access: The Project investments should reflect the impact of generated, diverted, and induced traffic, as well as, the change in accessibility and modal shift. The consultant should utilize appropriate methodology to quantify the impact of each effect. 1.5.2 The planning time horizon and residual values: the Consultant should choose an appropriate planning time horizon. The planning time horizon shall reflect the economic life of the key investment components. Although there is no precise correspondence, with discounting and uncertainty, there is little point in extending the time horizon beyond thirty years. For lightly trafficked gravel roads a planning time horizon of 10 to 15 years is usual. For heavily trafficked main roads, 20 to 25 years is more common. 1.5.3 Resource costs: The Consultant shall estimate the resource costs of the project. Costs and prices need to be adjusted to ensure that they are all measured in the same unit and that they represent real resource costs at the country level. Information on conversionfactors to derive economic prices from market prices can be obtained from the Ministryof Financeand Economic Development. 1.5.4 Investment costs: The Consultant shall estimate investment costs of alternative design options considered for the project, section by section. Initial estimates of constructioncosts may be derived from past experience of completed projects however this should be compared with detailed investment cost estimates based on the traditional bill of quantity approach together with estimates of unit rates for different components of work. The quantities of work should be estimated from a preliminary engineering design of the road which will be produced by the Consultant as part of the feasibility study or which may be already available in ERA. Land value should be incorporated into the costing of new construction even if a payment for the land is not made. The value may be derived from a rental income or the value of the lost agricultural production. Where resettlement is forecasted, its full cost should be included in the analysis. This principle applies even if, in practice, the full costs are not actually paid. Resettlement costs may either be identified as a total monetary compensation or as the cost of repurchasing equivalent land and buildings plus a resettlement inducement. In total, the amount offered should make people just as happy to move as to stay. Even if people or businesses are not directly resettled, but the new road takes land from them or causes serious inconvenience or loss of amenity, then again a compensation payment should be included in the analysis to cover this. The environmental appraisal will often identify measures that should be taken to minimize the effects of environmentaldisruption. Examples include measures Span Consultant in Association withvbf 113 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- DembidoloRoad UpgradingProject -. -- Revised Final EIA Report --.-- .- .- - --- -- -.- ---- .. . - --.-- -- -- .-- ..-..--..-.-.--...--. -- such as sound barriers or tree planting. These costs should also be included within the investmentcosts of the project. 1.5.5Maintenance costs: The Consultant shall estimate routine, recurrent and periodic maintenancecosts of the alternative design options considered for the project. 1. 5.6 Change in road condition: For sections of the road, which involve rehabilitationor upgrading, the change in road-based parameters including road roughness should be considered. Through the input of data relatingto road design and maintenance, HDM-4 andlor RED models, will be used, as applicable, to provide a prediction of how road condition will change. The Consultant should ensure that the relationships used in predicting road deterioration are properly calibrated to the appropriate conditions and climatic zones related to the road alignment. A check should be made to ensure that the forecasted patternof road deterioration is realistic as possible. 1.5.7Vehicle operating costs (VOC) and passenger time savings: The VOC and time savings should be computedfor both direct and indirect impact of project investments. The direct benefits will be computed for all modes of transport (including pedestrians and other NMT). The indirect benefits will be computed in terms of the net impact on communitiesand business establishments along the project road. 1.5.8 Discounting: The Consultant shall discount costs and benefits from the investment to take into account the different economic values of costs and benefits made at different times during the analysis period using the planning discount rate for Ethiopia. Where possible, the Consultant should make use of Modified Economic Rate of Return (MERR). This would allow different discount rates to be used for the opportunity cost of capital and for the users' time preference rate. The rate of return should be computedfor each design alternative on the increment (over the least cost alternative) of investment costs for each alternative considered. The Consultant should calculate and show the following five decision criteria. (i) Net Present Value (NPV), (ii) Internal Rate of Return (IRR), (iii) Net Present Value Over Cost Ratio (NPVIC), (iv) First Year Rate of Return, and (v) SwitchingValues. 1.6. Economic Development: In addition to the cost benefit analysis undertaken, the Consultantshall consider the likely wider economic development benefitsfrom the road project. Resultingeconomic development from the road investment may be dependent upon the additional investments in other undertakings. When a more detailed quantified analysis is not possible, the analysis may also take the form of a qualitative description of the likely effects. 1.7. Social Benefits: The Consultant should consider the social benefit implicationsof the project. Where the levels of economic activity are low, improved accessibility may have a significant effect on poverty reduction and the long-term development of local communities through the improved access to the provision of services. Such benefits can't be easily analyzed through conventional economic analysis. A statement of the likely 'social benefits' of the proposedroad investment should be included. 1.8. Sensitivity and Risk Analysis: Sensitivity analysis should be carried out, but not be confined to just some arbitrarily fixed expected changes in cost and benefits. Rather, the consultant should identify the most critical variables impacting the expected outcome. The consultant should take into consideration the range of possible variations in the vdlues of the basic elements, and the extent of the uncertainties attached to the outcome should be clearly reflected in presenting the analysis. Span Consultantin Association withvbf 114 Beza Consulting Engineers 1..... Mekenajo-DembidoloRoad Upgrading Project 1.9. Distributionof Benefits: The Consultant shall assess the distribution of benefits from road rehabilitation and upgrading projects to the people in the road project area. In this regardthe Consultantshall havethe responsibilityfor the following works. Estimating the savings per adult local person resulting from reduced fares for passengertransport. Estimating increased per-capita income due to higher farm gate prices for agricultural products and reduced retail prices of industrial goods in the local market. Estimatingthe employmentopportunity that would be createdfor the local unskilled labor during and after the implementationof the road project. Assessing improvement in access to social services such as schools, health facilities, etc. Assessing the improvement in food security due to better transport condition in terms of improved access, decreased travel time and cost of food aid distribution. Span Consultant in Association withvbf 115 Beza Consulting Engineers I... Mekenajo- DembidoloRoad Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report __..__..___.._._ ................................................. II: Review of EIA and Preparationof a RAP The Consultant shall thoroughly inspect, assess the feasibility study report prepared by SYSTRA in association with SPT and PANAF and all other documents data and make field investigations necessary and make amendments to it where necessary and produce a finalised detailed feasibility study report. The consultant will carry out a comprehensive EIA with particular emphasis on conservation interests (impacts of erosion on the road and adjoining areas, landslips, drainage channels, appropriate scour and erosion control measures and water harvesting, loss of rare and endemic species, opening and subsequent site restoration of sources of material and plant and constructioncamp installations, man madel artificial and natural forest areas, protected and sensitive habitats as parks protected forest areas, etc.) and the dislocation of existing settlements. The consultant shall prepare environmental mitigation plans for the projectroad(s). Furtherdetails are presented below. 2.1. Environmental Scoping: The initial stage of consultant's intervention shall be the scoping of the area of influence, activities and impacts (primary and secondary) that are to be studied in the EIA of the road. It shall comprise all the tasks that are required for an environmental assessment, as they are described hereafter. The Consultant shall start the assignment by deciding upon the limits of the study area for the project roads and drawing the list of activities and impacts to be studied during the assessment. 2.2. Description of the Proposed Road Improvements: Description of the road constructionwork shall be based on the reviewed design proposals. It will take stock of the different components and break them down according to the type of works in order to ease the identificationof their likely environmental impacts. A convenient way to do so is to break down each activity into the following phases: design, construction, maintenanceand operation. 2.3. Study Area: The study area shall comprise the road corridors and all surrounding areas that will be under significant influence, i.e., where the environmental impacts of the roads can be felt. The precise boundaries of the study area shall be determined during the initial scoping exerciseof the EIA. 2.4. Description of the Environment: The consultant shall assemble, evaluate and present baseline data on the environmental characteristicsof the study area. It shall be a compilation of existing data and studies on the biophysical and socio-economic environment. These shall also include information on any changes anticipated before the projectcommences. The followingelementswill be surveyed. Physical environment: geology; topography; soils; climate and meteorology; surface and ground water hydrology and quality upstream and downstream. Each and every specific issue should be assessed, where possible in percentage(%), proportions and types (in length (km), and detailed informationshould be indicatedand presented. Biological environment: flora and fauna types; rare or endangered species; significant natural sites and sensitive habitats including parks and reserves; etc.; species of commercial importance (medicinal plants, fish) and reliance of the local people on these resources; and species with potential to become a nuisance, vectors or dangerous. Each and every specific issue shall be assessed, locations, proportions Span Consultant in Association withvbf 116 Beza Consulting Engineers i.... Mekenajo - DernbidoloRoad Upgrading Project and species type, relative density of species, people forest reaction, and traditional resources management practices, available resource and opportunities for development and detailed information should be indicated. Socio-economic environment: Socio-economic impacts of the project road on the local community, land use and cover and use types, land tenure systems and holding sizes, human settlements; impacts on infrastructure facilities, present water supply and water resources utilization; availability of and impacts on archaeological and historical sites, existence of any indigenous peoples, impact on gender, control over allocation of resource use rights; patterns of new settlements; transport patterns, archaeological and historical sites, cultural heritages etc. 2.5. Policy, Legal and Administrative Framework: The Consultant shall draw attention to those regulations so far identified by the Ethiopian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), ERA and other government institutions, which will need to be applied in respect of the project road proposedfor external donor financing consideration. 2.6. Public Consultation: The Consultant shall conduct public consultation at major townslvillages all along as many are to be affected by the project road. Interviews with individuals belonging to different social andlor economic categories shall be made. Questionnaires shall also be administered to local or international NGOs for their opinions on the construction works in relation to their adverse effects on the environment. The outcome of this consultation shall be indicated and local initiatives to participate in the road development project shall also be indicated. The consultant shall assess the key roles to be played by the different stakeholders in terms of delivering services, goods, works, or other elements in the project, mechanisms used for consultation and participation in the project, main outcome and recommendations of the consultation process, and how these recommendations are to be incorporated into the project. 2.7. Determination of the Potential lmpacts and lmpacts on the Proposed Roads: Potential impacts to be assessed shall include, but not be limited to: a Project location: possible resettlement of people; change of property values; loss of forest and agricultural land; loss of vegetative cover; deterioration or loss of ecologically sensitive areas; impact on flora and fauna; impact on historic and cultural sites; effects on water resources outside and inside command area; induced development; need for water harvesting. b Project design: modification of disruption of natural drainage patterns; changes in groundwater regime and landscape; design of road alignments and pavements as well as bridges and culverts; interference with movements of wildlife, livestock and local people; road crossings for people and animals, sensitive alignments, and water harvesting. c Construction works: potential landslides, susceptibility to erosions, stream and lake sedimentation; water logging at borrow pits and quarries; construction spoils; air pollution; noise; fuel and oil spills; sanitary conditions and health risks associated with construction camps and workers coming into the area; social conflicts between imported workers and local people on water and other resources. d Project operation: road spills and road runoff pollution; roadside waste; air pollution; noise; traffic safety issues, undesirable habit left over by the construction workers. Inputs of the road in poverty alleviations. Span Consultant in Association withvbf 117 Beza Consulting Engneers Mekenajo - Dernbidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report The scoping part of the EIA shall determine the exact list of impacts that should be investigated. .8. Analysis of Alternatives to the Proposed Roads and Road Alignments: The Consultant shall consider alternatives analyzed during the feasibility stage. The different impacts described should indicate which are irreversible or unavoidable and which can be mitigated. The analysis should address, to the extent possible, costs and benefits of each alternative, and incorporate the estimated costs of any associated mitigating measures. The alternative of keeping the current status without road improvementsshould be includedfor comparison. 2.9 Environmental Management Plan and Mitigation Cost estimates: The Consultant shall prepare an environmental mitigation plan and recommend feasible and cost- effective measures to prevent or reduce significant negative impacts to acceptable levels. The Consultant shall estimate the impacts and costs of these measures, and of the institutional responsibilities and training requirements to implement them. Compensation to affected parties for impacts, which cannot be mitigated, should be considered. The Consultant should prepare a short and concise management plan including proposed work programs, budget estimates, schedules, staffing and training requirements, and other necessary support services to implement the mitigating measures. The consultant shall also indicate a separate cost for each and every negative impact identified during field assessment and the study findings should definitely be, if not at all, an inputfor detailedengineering Design or review. 2.10. Environmental Monitoring Plan: A detailed plan shall be prepared to monitor the implementation of mitigating measures and the impacts of the proposed roadwork during construction and after completion. Due reference should be made to ERA's Environmental Monitoring Procedures Manual (EMPM), as and when appropriate or additions into the EMPM made as needed. The Consultant should define a few indicators of environmental performance that can be monitored on a regular basis and also indicate the different eligible stakeholders in place to monitor the activities. Suitable provisions for contractors' clauses should also be spelled out for the detailed engineering design or review stage (See Phase 11). 2.11. Resettlement Requirements and Planning: The potential land acquisition, compensation and resettlement requirements in the road right-of-way of the proposed road alignments should be assessed. The requirements should be determined in accordance with the World Bank's Operational Directive on Involuntary Resettlement (OP 4.12). A Resettlement Action Plan (RAP), a full or abbreviated RAP, will be prepared whenever land acquisition is required. The consultant should also assess the number of persons to be affected and government or private owned properties to be expropriated because of the road construction. Estimatecosts to mitigate this problem, or dislocate the affected persons, if any. The consultant shall also assess and indicate the lists of those persons to be (fully and partially) affected by the project with the type, number and size of houses to be demolished both in urban and rural areas, farmlands to be taken (permanently and temporarily), fruit and other trees to be removed and other related issues (See 11.2 below) 2.12. Assistance to Inter-Agency Coordination and PubliclNGO Participation: The EIA work shall be carried out in close cooperation with ERA. The Consultant shall assist in coordinating the EnvironmentalAssessment with other government agencies, notably, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Organization (EWCO) and ERA's Environmental Monitoring and Safety Branch Span Consultant in Association withvbf 118 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- Dernbidolo Road UpgradingProject -- h??ed-R"a!E!A-ReP?!.---.-..- (EMSB), and in communicating with and obtaining the views of local affected groups and persons and NGOs, particularly in cases of new road alignments. Relevant institutions or individuals should be consulted and the outcome of consultation should be incorporated. 2.13. Gender Issues: The consultant shall assess, "the "no Project" and the "with project" scenarios, the impacts of the road construction on gender and their participation in the planning, implementation, in monitoring and evaluation. In the division of labour - who does what? Involvement in family decision-making; who decides on what, etc.? And generally, the impacts of the road on women and related issues should be assessed. 2.14. GIs Systems (Geographic Information System): In order to have concrete and realistic study findings, the consultant shall use the latest version of GIs systems that would assist in analysing and processing the spatial and socio-economic data of the study areas. The consultant shall produce a good base map that will indicate possible relocation sites, land acquisition, sensitive habitats both biophysical and socio-cultural and resettlement patterns along the project roads and other important physical features. The consultant should use GIs systems for calculating the total size of farmland or grazing land to be expropriated or taken temporarily andlor permanently from farmers in the ROW, for indicating the exact location for relocation areas with sizes, and major towns and other facilities on the map. 11-2: Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) 2.15. Background: Development projects such as road construction, which require land acquisition, often involve involuntary resettlementof some of the project beneficiaries. Experiencefrom previous road projects reveal that, unless adverse social impacts such as resettlement are mitigated, they will lead to severe socio-economic and environmental impacts: loss of land; dismantlement of production systems; dislocation of social values; propagation of sexually transmitted diseases (STDS) and HIVIAIDS, soil and water erosion and so forth on farmland. In order to minimizethe adverse social impacts of road construction operations under the RSDP, RAPs will be prepared in concert with the legal framework of the Federal Government of Ethiopia and the World Bank's Operational Policies OP4.12. 2.16. Rationale: The Environmental Policy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and in similar different financing agencies states " all persons whose livelihoods have been adversely affected by state development programs should be compensated based on actual market values for the affected resources." The other sectoral policies point out similar acts that government institutions and individuals should take in protecting the natural environment. Therefore, RAPs shall focus on the assessment and addressing of the likely impacts of the development project and propose cost- effectiveand implementablemitigationmeasures. 2.17. Scope: This proposed service encompasses the preparation of a RAP for the road project and a firm with a group of experienced and appropriately qualified consultants is envisaged. The RAP should be developed based on existing documentation (e.g., EPA's EIA Guideline Document; ERA'S RSDPll document and Resettlement Policy Framework Paper), and field studies. Relevant documents are to be acquired through the Environmental Monitorina and Safetv Branch (EMSB) in ERA. The RAP shall provide projectspecific socio-economic data about project Affected People (PAPS)and '$1@l Span Consultant in Association withvbf 119 ~ e zConsulting Engineers a 1 Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road UpgradingProject Revised Final EIA Report -- mitigation measures and costs. Information presented in the RAP will facilitate: (a) the incorporation of relevant social data into the road design; (b) the right of way operations; (c) the poverty alleviation efforts of road investments, and (d) the enhancement of the livelihood of PAP. The draft RAP should be discussed and endorsed by ERA and the World Bank before submission of the final documents. 2.18. Tasks: What follows is a broad description of tasks, which the consultant(s) is expected to accomplish under the services requested, extracting and using the information where possible from any existing documentation. The tasks to be conducted are described below. 2.18.1 Legal and Administrative Framework: Assess and present the applicable legal and administrative procedures, including description of the remedies availableto displaced persons in the judicial process and the normal timeframe for such procedures, and any available alternative dispute resolution mechanismsthat may be relevantto resettlementunder the project. Descriptionof ERA, it's status and mandate, and how the institution is relatedto relevant ministries and policies, describe also ERA'S Legal Division and Right-of-way (ROW) Branch,their mandates and functions in delivering entitlements. ldentify and present relevant laws and regulations (including customary and traditional law) governing land tenure, valuation of assets and losses, compensation, and natural resource usage rights; customary personal law related to displacement; and environmental laws and social welfare legislation. ldentify and present laws and regulations relating to the agencies responsible for implementing resettlementactivities. lndicate proceduresfor delivery of entitlements. Assess and present gaps, if any, between local laws covering eminent domain and resettlement and the Bank's resettlement policy, and the mechanisms to bridge such gaps; and any legal steps necessary to ensure the effective implementation of resettlement activities under the project, including, as appropriate, a process for recognizing claims to legal rights to land-including claims that derive from customary law and traditional usage (see OP4.12, para.15 6). lndicate the implementation process of the RAP that includes, but not limited to, the following points: grievance redress mechanisms that would apply to the resettlement plan and RAP implementationcosts. 2.18.2 Institutional Framework ldentify agencies responsiblefor resettlement activities and NGOs that may have a role in project implementation and assess the institutional capacity of such agencies and NGOs. Present any steps that are proposed to enhance the institutional capacity of agencies and NGOs responsiblefor resettlement implementation. Assess formal and informal institutions at local, regional and national levels that are relevant to the project, the inter-relationships between these institutions, availability of any legal and political framework for interaction among key stakeholders and beneficiaries of the project, any alternative mechanismsfor delivery of services or project benefits, existing sectoral policies relatedto beneficiariesand affected people. 2.18.3 Socio-economic Survey: Execute a socio-economic survey covering the following issues: Span Consultant in Association withvbf 120 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project - -------- -------------- Revised Final EIA Report Current occupants of the right-of-wayto avoid inflow of new people seeking eligibility for compensation; Standard characteristics of displaced households (baseline information on livelihood, economic and social information, etc), occupations of the PAP, likely socio-economic impacts of the project both in rural and urban areas; The magnitude of the expected loss (totallfull or partial), the impacts on agricultural and grazing lands with the names of owners/users of the individualfarmers, presumably in size (m2),exact locationsof land sites for constructioncamps, quarries and borrow pits; Information on vulnerable groups or persons (for whom special provision may have to be made), number of project affected persons: name of partially and fully affected persons, their locations, sizes, and types of property affected. Types of propertiesto be affected i.e., houses and croplands, trees (fruit and permanent),cash crops (Coffee and Chat plants) shall be assessed; Provisionsto update information on the displaced people's livelihoods and standards of living at regular intervals so that the latest information is available at the time of their displacement; The existing nationaland regional land use related policies and regulations, land tenure and transfer systems, average land holding per household, number of households to be affected and also show the exact number of families that will relocate to new proposed sites and that will relocateto their own land; The patterns of social interaction in the affected communities, including social networks and social support systems, and how they will be affected by the project; Public infrastructureand social services that will be affected; Social and cultural characteristics of displaced communities in terms of gender, migrants and settlers and professions and describe to the extent feasible, their preferences as regards to assisted resettlementor self-resettlement), The conditions of kebele house renters (tenants), if any, and squatters (illegally built houses in the ROW), people who will lose their income, number and names of these persons, and number of houses (with types), locations (locality), size, status & conditions of these people, and how they are going to be treated and compensated, and income restorationmechanismsshall also be indicated. Conduct public consultationwith PAPSand concerned local administrative bodies along the project road and note the outcome and include minutes of government officials' commitmentto fully assist the resettlementaction plan processes beforeandlor after the completionof the road project. The market value of buildings & trees, in general terms, should be split into the following sub-divisions: Type of buildings (new or old) to be demolished: - number, locations,size (in m2),and list of the owners of bothfully and partiallydemolished houses and similarly for trees (fruit or permanent), species type, location; names and number of persons whose trees are going to be affected and the number trees to be affected or removed shall be indicated. 2.18.4 Eligibility: Provide a definition of displaced persons and criteria for determiningtheir eligibility for compensation and other resettlement assistance, including relevant cut- off dates. 2.18.5 Valuation of and Compensation for Losses: Define and present the methodology to be used in valuing losses; determine the replacement cost and describe the types Span Consultant in Association withvbf 121 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- DernbidoloRoad UpgradingProject Revised Final EIA Report .... _...___..___.._ --...-..---..---..---.---..---..---.----.---------- ____.____.____.____ and levels of compensation proposed under local law and supplementary measures considered necessaryto achieve replacementcost for lost assets. 2.18.6 Public Consultation: The Consultant shall conduct public consultations at major townslvillages all along the road, in as many as are to be affected by the project road. Interviewswith individuals belongingto different social andlor economic categories shall be made. Questionnaires shall also be administeredto NGOsfor their opinions on the construction works in relationto the adverse effects. The outcome of these consultationsshall be indicated, as well as local initiativesto participate in the road development project. The consultant shall also assess the key roles to be played by the different stakeholders in terms of delivering services, goods, works, or other elements in the project, mechanisms used for consultation and participation in the project, main outcome and recommendationsof the consultation process, and how these recommendationsare to be incorporated into the project. 2.18.7 Resettlement Measures: Provide a description of the packages of compensation and other resettlement measures that will assist each category of eligible displaced persons to achieve the objectives of the policy (see OP 4.12, Para. 6). In addition to being technically and economically feasible, the resettlement packages should be compatible with the cultural preferences of the displaced persons, and prepared in consultation with them. 2.18.8 Site Selection, Site Preparation, and Relocation: Identify and present if available, in urban areas, where the relocation would be in clusters from which to select one considering: Institutional and technical arrangements for identifying and preparing relocation sites for which a combination of productive potential, location advantages, and other factors is, at least, comparable to the advantages of the old sites, with an estimate of the time neededto acquire and transfer land and ancillary resources; Any measures necessary to prevent land speculation or influx of ineligible persons at the selected sites; Productive potential, location advantages, and other factors; Proceduresfor physical relocation under the project, including timetables for site preparation and transfer; and legal arrangements for regularizing tenure and transferring titles to resettle; Prevention of land speculation or influx of ineligible persons to the selected sites. 2.18.9 Housing Infrastructure, and Social Services: Prepare plans to provide (or to finance resettlers' provision of) housing, infrastructure (e.g., water supply, feeder roads), and social services (e.g., schools, health services); plans to ensure comparable services to host populations; any necessary site development, engineering, and architectural designs for these facilities. 2.18.10 Environmental Protection and Management: Describe the boundaries of the relocation area, and assess the environmental impacts of the proposed resettlement and identify the role of the different stakeholders in regard to the protection of the environment and the execution of the resettlement plan. 2.18.11 Implementation Schedule: Prepare an implementation schedule covering all resettlementlrehabilitation activities from preparation through implementation, Span Consultant in Association withvbf 122 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project - includingtarget dates for the achievement of expected benefits to the resettled and hosts and define the various forms of assistance. The schedule should indicate how the resettlementlrehabilitationactivities are linked to the implementation of the overall project. 2.18.12 Costs and Budget: Prepare tables showing itemized cost estimates for all resettlement activities, including allowances for inflation, compensation for loss of different properties and lands, population growth, and other contingencies; timetables for expenditures; sources of funds; and arrangements for timely flow of funds, and funding for resettlementhehabilitation, if any, in areas outside the jurisdiction of the implementingagencies. .18.13 Monitoring And Evaluation: Describe arrangements for monitoring of resettlement/rehabilitationactivities by the implementing agency, supplemented by independent monitors as considered appropriate by the Bank, to ensure complete and objective information; performance monitoring indicators to measure inputs, outputs, and outcomes for resettlement activities; involvement of the displaced persons in the monitoring process; evaluation of the impact of resettlement for a reasonable period after all resettlement and related development activities have been completed; using the results of resettlement monitoring to guide subsequent implementation. Span Consultant in Association withvbf 123 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report Annex 1.211 - 7 Mekenajo-Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Check list for Environmental Scoping lmpact Type Evaluation No. Potential Impact Areas No Adverse Beneficial Basis impact Impact Impact 1 I Physical Environment 1.1 Soil and Bedrock --- EEGT-- 1.1.1 Soil Erosion 1 X judgment 1.1.2 stability of slopes X 1 - 1.1.3Soil Contamination by Spills of Hazardous Material X 1.1.4 Material Use X 1.1.5Ground subcidence X 1.2 Water Resources and Quality 1.2.1 Change in S u r f a m d r o l o g y X -- 1.2.2Change in GroundWater Hydrology X 1.2.3Sedimentation1Siltation X [1p4- - X 1.2.5 HighwayWater Pollution X - ---- 1.3.1Air Pollution due to Dust Particle X 1.3.2Air Pollutiondue to Traffic X II Natural Environment 2.1 Biologicaland Ecological Changes 2.1.1 Impacton Vegetation X 2.1.2 Impacton Important.Floraand Fauna X 2.1.3Degradation of Ecosystem X ------ 2.1.5 Impairment of Fisheries Ecology X L 2.1.6 Encroachment in to Precious Ecology X Ill Human and Social Environment -p-p-- 3.1 Social I s s ~ I 3.1.1 Social Acceptability X 3.1.2 Resettlement1Displacement X - m r a p h i c Changes X X X X ~~~~~~3.1.4 Changes inWay of Life 3.1.5 Impacton Women X 3.1.6 Impacton Indigenous people X 3.1.7 Induced Development X X 3.1.8 Conflicts between Locals and Immigrants X 3.2 Economic Issues 3.2.1 Loss of AgriculturalLand X 3.2.2 Loss of Prope --- X 3.2.3 Employment Opportunities X 3.3 Effect on public a n d v a t e services X X X X 3.6 Cultural religious and historicalareas X I 3.7 Damageto Aesthetic sites X 3.8 Impact on local and national economy X Span Consultant in Association withvbf 124 Beza Consulting Engineers ._ _____--___ Mekenajo - Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project ---- Revised Final EIA Report Annex 1.212 Mekenajo-DembidoloRoad Upgrading Project Temporal DistributionImpacts Project Phases1Type of Impacts Valued Environmental 1 No. Positive Components No impact Impact Significant Insignificant 1 Pre-ConstructionPhase Water resourcesand water 1 quality X 2 Soil erosion and land resources X 3 Local air quality X - 4 1Economicissues X 1 5 Health issues X 6 socio- cultural issues 1 -- X - 7 Gender issues X 8 Induceddevelopment X 9 Tourism and investment X Construction Phase I Water resources and water I X 2 Soil Erosionand land resources X 3 Local air quality X 4 Economic issues -- X 5 Health issues X 6 socio- cultural issues X X 7 Gender issues X 8 Induceddevelopment X 9 Tourism and investment X Operation Phase 1 1 1 I 1 I I Water resourcesand water 1 1I quality x I 2 Soil erosion and land resources X 3 Local air quality X 4 Economic issues X 5 Health issues X X 6 socio- cultural issues X X 7 Gender issues X 8 Induceddevelopment X 9 Tourism and investment X Span Consultant in Association with 125 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- DembidoloRoad UpgradingProject Revised FinalEIA Report ... --. -.-. -.--..--.. ..- --.--. -.. .-- --.--- -- - . . . - -- ---- ------ --.-- --. -.- -. -. 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Mekenajo - Dernbidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report ___._ .....____.._ -- ------------ Span Consultant in Association with 128 Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- DembidoloRoad Upgrading Project Annex 4.2 I.ListofSomeoftheFloraSpeciesintheProjectArea No Botanical Name Amharic Name 1 Acacia Spp. Girar ziria - 2 Azadirachata Nirn 3 Cajanus cajan I Yewof Ater 4 Casuarina equisetifolia Shaw Shewe 1 5 1 CornrniphoraAfricana IAnkaa I 1 6 / Coria Africana / Wanza 1 / I Cupressus I I Lusitaninica I Yeferenji tid m ~ r i t h r i nabyssinica a I Korch I 1 I I 9 / Eucaliptus spps. /Yebahir zaf ziria 1 10 1 Grevilliea Robusta I Gerevila I 1 11 1 Haaenia Abvssinica 1 Kosso 1 Lusinia Mango Psidiurn guajava Zeitun Schinus rnolle Berbere Zaf Sesbania sesban Girangir Ficus sun Shola Croton rnacrostachys Bissana 1 20 1 Ekebergia capeniis 1 Lul 1 21 Eupherbia abyssinica Kulkwal I 22 Syzygiurn guinnense Dokrna - 24 Prunus percica Kok 25 Vernonia arnygdalina Girawa 26 Ficus gnapholocarpa 27 Phytolacca dodecanra Endod 28 Olea welwitschii Beha 30 Stereospermurn kunthianurn Botoro (ororno) 31 Combreturn gbasalense Danensa(ororno) 7 1 133 1 Juniperus procera I Ye abasha tid 1 Span Consultant in Association with 129 Beza Consulting Engineers Revised FinalEIA Report ............... 2. Endemic Plant Species to Ethiopia Accacia Abyssinica Hagenia Abyssinica Juniperus procera Euphorbia abyssinica Podocarpus gracilar 3. Plant Spp. Of medicinal value CornrniphorAfricana.............Used as insecticides Hageniaabyssinica Phytolaccadodecadra................Used to control Bilharziasis 4. Endangered plant species in the projectarea Cordia Africana Hagenia abysinica Podocarpusgracilar Juniperus procera Aningeria adolfi- friecerici 5. List of some of wildlife species in the project area Elephant Lion Tiger Buffalo Monkey Ape Bush back Hyena Pig Span Consultant in Assoc~ationwith 130 Beza Consulting Engineers + s 3 c .-0 g .-a .; 0 a 3 .c 2% E UJ =25 m .C 3 3 (I) C C(I) SS *r m m N a a, UY m 2 -- ---------.-------------- Mekenajo - DernbidoloRoad Upgrading Project ------- Revised Final EIA Report FIGURE 1.1 : PROJECT LOCATION MAP Mekenajo Start of f thc Project Realignment Dembido Elld of Scale 1:600,000 HI Span Consultant in Associationwith Beza Consulting Engineers Mekenajo- Dembidolo Road Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report - .--...-..... .-.. --. -. ..--..-.... -.-.-.--.- - ... . .. . -. ---.------ -- - -- .-- -- --- --- - --. --------.-----.----.-.--..---.. ---..-....- ---..---..-.-.---..- -.-.. --. . ----.- - --. . . . .. . -..--.-. . .- Fig 1.3 Realigned Town Sections Ayra Re-alignment Span Consultant in Association with 134 Beza Consulting Engineers L... Mekenajo- DembidoloRoad Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report ANNEX 4 GIs Environmental Map Span Consultant inAssoc~ationwith Beza ConsultingEngineers Mekenajo- DembidoloRoad Upgrad!?g-P?!j~! Revised Final EIA Report Photographs Photo 2:.Dale Sedi Worda Education office during EIA consultation Photo 1: Hawa Wolel Worda Photo 3: Gawo Dale Woreda Health staffs Photo 4: A sick person being carried to a Health (Chanka Health center) Pn..tn- Span Consultant in Association with 136 Beza Consulting Engineers 1....-.. Mekenajo--------- Dembidolo Road UpgradingProject ---------------------------------------- RevisedFinal EIA Report Photo 5: Dale Sedi Woreda Coffee plantations under Shade (Sensitiveforests their destructions has sustained impact against the coffee production) Photo 6: Gawo DaleWoreda Chanka Town road side mango trees Span Consultant in Association with 137 Beza Consulting Engineers L.... .~erCe~~io.~~eem~~~o!~.~pad~U~s!adi~sSp!4~c! RevisedFinal EIA Report Photo7: Dale SediWoreda Banana and fruit trees along the road side Photo 8: Dale SediWoreda Banana and fruit trees along the road side Span Consultantin Associationwith 138 Beza Consulting Engineers L.... Photo 9: A bridgewith badlyeroded slopes and silted channel Photo 10: Sayo Woreda -Dembidolo Town Photo 11:Consultation with Ayra Guliso just at the road side (Electric Transformer) Woreda women's Affairs Head Span Consultant in Association with 139 Beza Consulting Engineers L. Mekenajo - DembidoloRoad Upgrading Project Revised Final EIA Report .... .... _ _ _ _ _ _ Photo 12:Dense mango plantation at Lalo Photo 13: Mango trees along the project road with heavy ASABI Woreda (In the right of way) dust cover Photo 14:Eroded slope Photo 15:Developments along the Project Road at Inango Town Span Consultantin Associationwith Beza Consulting Engineers Photo 19:Rob Gebeya Town Water supply problem (The Photo 18: Mid Way between Dale Sedi and develo~eds~rineand the reservoir fall Within ROW of the new Gawo Dale Woredas Span Consultant in Associationwith 141 Beza Consulting Engineers M.e.-k-..---a ~ o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ! ~ . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ U ~ 9 1................................................................................................ . - Revised Final EIA Report e n a d ! ! 4 ~ P : O ! e C ! Span Consultant in Associationwith 142 Beza Consulting Engineers