Page 1 INTEGRATED SAFEGUARDS DATASHEET APPRAISAL STAGE I. Basic Information Date prepared/updated: 06/15/2010 Report No.: 55181 1. Basic Project Data Country: Moldova Project ID: P115634 Project Name: DISASTER AND CLIMATE RISK MANAGEMENT PROJECT Task Team Leader: Salman Anees Estimated Appraisal Date: June 1, 2010 Estimated Board Date: August 5, 2010 Managing Unit: ECSSD Lending Instrument: Specific Investment Loan Sector: Central government administration (100%) Theme: Natural disaster management (100%) IBRD Amount (US$m.): 0.00 IDA Amount (US$m.): 10.00 GEF Amount (US$m.): 0.00 PCF Amount (US$m.): 0.00 Other financing amounts by source: BORROWER/RECIPIENT 0.00 0.00 Environmental Category: B - Partial Assessment Simplified Processing Simple [] Repeater [] Is this project processed under OP 8.50 (Emergency Recovery) or OP 8.00 (Rapid Response to Crises and Emergencies) Yes [ ] No [ ] 2. Project Objectives The Project development objective (PDO) is to strengthen the State Hydrometeorological Service's ability to forecast severe weather and improve Moldova's capacity to prepare for and respond to natural disasters. The PDO will be achieved through strengthened capacities to: (i) monitor weather and issue early warnings of weather-related hazards by providing timely and accurate hydro-meteorological forecasts and services; (ii) manage and coordinate responses to natural and man-made disasters; and (iii) help individuals, particularly farmers, be aware of, and adapt to natural hazards and climate variability. 3. Project Description The Moldova DCRMP proposes four components: (a) strengthen severe weather forecasting; (b) improve disaster preparedness and emergency response; (c) initiate adaptation to climate risks in agriculture; (d) support project management. Component A: Strengthen Severe Weather Forecasting This Component aims to strengthen the State Hydrometeorological Service's ability to forecast severe weather and provide decisionmakers and other users with more effective, diverse, and timely forecasts and warnings. Sub-components include: Sub-Component Page 2 A.1 Develop Early Warning/Nowcasting Capabilities; Sub-Component A.2 Dual Polarization Doppler Radar Technology for Localized Forecasts; and Sub-Component A.3 Development of Plans for Seasonal/Climate Forecasts. Component B: Improve Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response This Component aims to strengthen Government capacity to manage emergencies and coordinate disaster response among levels of government agencies units by establishing and operating the Emergency Command Center (ECC), and associated capacity-building activities. Sub-components include: Sub-Component B.1 - Feasibility Study and Design; Sub-Component B.2 - Establish Emergency Command Center; and Sub-Component B.3 - Capacity Building and Evaluation. Component C: Initiate Adaptation to Climate Risks in Agriculture This Component aims to enhance practical application of agro-meteorological information and pilot farm-based investments that will test and mainstream techniques to increase resilience to adverse weather. Sub-components include: Sub-Component C.1 - Development of Just-in-Time (JIT) Communication Platform and Sub-Component C.2 - Adverse Weather Adaptation Advisory Services. Component D: Project Management This Component will provide fiduciary support to implement Components A, B, and C. Under components A and B financing is proposed for some civil works related to refurbishing the premises of the DES as well as construction of new premises for 3 weather and 2 both weather and hydrologic stations. 4. Project Location and salient physical characteristics relevant to the safeguard analysis The technical assistance and capacity building activities will be implemented country wide while the proposed new constructions will be done in Leova, Ceadir-Lunga, Balti, Soroca, and Malovata-Veche locations. In addition, under component A, a weather radar will be installed at the Chisinau airport on property owned by the Moldavian Air Traffic Services Authority (MoldATSA). The proposed sites are located outside of residential areas or on the outskirts of towns and villages. There are no significant natural habitats and or physical cultural resources in the vicinity of the sites. Furthermore, construction of the premises will be done on available lands which are owned either by the state or by the local public administration from these areas and are not legally and or illegally used by local population and, thus, will not imply any involuntary resettlement issues. The locations were selected in order to ensure proper observations and to provide representative data. 5. Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialists Mr Arcadii Capcelea (ECSSD) Page 3 Ms Valerie Morrica (ECSS4) 6. Safeguard Policies Triggered Yes No Environmental Assessment (OP/BP 4.01) X Natural Habitats (OP/BP 4.04) X Forests (OP/BP 4.36) X Pest Management (OP 4.09) X Physical Cultural Resources (OP/BP 4.11) X Indigenous Peoples (OP/BP 4.10) X Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP 4.12) X Safety of Dams (OP/BP 4.37) X Projects on International Waterways (OP/BP 7.50) X Projects in Disputed Areas (OP/BP 7.60) X II. Key Safeguard Policy Issues and Their Management A. Summary of Key Safeguard Issues 1. Describe any safeguard issues and impacts associated with the proposed project. Identify and describe any potential large scale, significant and/or irreversible impacts: In accordance with the World Bank's safeguard policies and procedures, including OP/BP/GP 4.01 Environmental Assessment, this project has been classified as a Category B project for environmental assessment purposes. Based on that, the project Environmental Assessment (EA) includes an EA of the project sites and of the proposed construction activities, as well as a simple Environmental Management Plan (EMP) which specifies mitigation measures, monitoring activities, and implementation arrangements. The EA and EMP address the needs of the applicable laws and regulations of the Government of Moldova, and the World Bank's safeguard policies and disclosure requirements. It is expected that the project will not generate any large scale and significant environmental and social impacts. The following are the main potential impacts implied by proposed construction activities: (a) Dust, noise and vibration: These impacts shall occur during construction activities on all sites and are site specific; (b) Land contamination: construction activities may cause some contamination of the soil by hydro-carbon, or while it is moved during construction works, which also results in the contamination of surface and underground water; (c) Waste handling and spill response: Routine construction activities will generate solid and liquid wastes including drywall, machine oil, paints, and solvents. Minor spills of fuel and other materials are likely to occur during the course of construction. Improper handling of on-site wastes and response to spills could result in adverse effects on the local environment including groundwater, surface waters, terrestrial ecosystems, and local residents; (d) Wastewaters discharge: construction activities may generate sanitary wastewaters discharge. Permanent sanitary facilities should be envisaged at the construction site. The same facilities will be used during operation phase. These should be in accordance with the environmental regulations; and (e) Potential impacts associated with indoor construction Page 4 activities in the case of the usage of noxious/toxic solvents and glues and of lead-based paints. Land acquisition and resettlement issues. Based on the proposed activities, it is not expected that the project will have any significant adverse social impacts. There will be no need for land acquisition triggering resettlement. Construction of 5 new weather stations will be done on land that is owned either by the state or the local public administration and which is not legally or illegally used by the local population. Public consultations were conducted for five sites within the framework of the EA and the EMP before appraisal in which the local population was informed about the scope, impact and expected benefits of the project. 2. Describe any potential indirect and/or long term impacts due to anticipated future activities in the project area: N/A. 3. Describe any project alternatives (if relevant) considered to help avoid or minimize adverse impacts. N/A. 4. Describe measures taken by the borrower to address safeguard policy issues. Provide an assessment of borrower capacity to plan and implement the measures described. To address project safeguards issues the Borrower has hired an independent local consultant who conducted an EIA and prepared a simple EMP. The EMP covers typical mitigation approaches to common civil works with localized impacts and is based on preliminary environmental site evaluation, as well as on the national construction standards. It is proposed that the contractor will ensure the workers' safety, will undertake relevant measures for preventing dust and noise pollution, proper handling, transportation and disposal of construction and medical waste materials. The EMP would be directly usable and applicable in bidding documents and as an integral part of contract documents for civil works under Bank-financed projects. The EMP also includes a Monitoring Plan with measures that will be employed to track the effectiveness of the mitigation measures and describe the environmental indicators to be monitored, along with the monitoring methods, frequency, as well as the monitoring and reporting procedures, including institutional arrangements. The evaluation of the EA institutional capacity has shown that national institutions and implementing entities have relevant capacities to perform its duties concerning reviewing EA studies and enforcing the EMP provisions. The implementation of project environmental safeguards will be done by an existing Project Management Team (PMT) under the Ministry of Environment (MOE). The PMT has an assigned staff member with such responsibilities, and adequate experience, as the PMT is currently implementing the full-sized GEF POPs Stockpiles Management and Destruction Project, which is a Category A project. The results of implementation of the GEF POPs project environmental safeguards are considered very positive. The Project will support Page 5 additional information dissemination and training activities to ensure the environmental requirements and the EMP provisions would be fully implemented. 5. Identify the key stakeholders and describe the mechanisms for consultation and disclosure on safeguard policies, with an emphasis on potentially affected people. The Borrower has consulted all key stakeholders. The PIU of the Ministry of Environment and the State Hydrometeorological Service (SHS) disclosed the draft summary of the EMP for wide public on the web-page of the PMT (www.moldovapops.md) and of the SHS (www.meteo.md) on March 9, 2010, inviting all the interested parties to provide comments on and to attend the document public consultation. The invitation was also sent directly to the administrations of involved localities in hard copies. During March-April, 2010 the PMT and the local consultant have conducted public consultations in all involved settlements where representatives from local councils, from rayon environmental and construction authorities have participated. During these meetings, it was concluded that the draft EMP covered practically all potential impacts and possible mitigation measures. The final consultation was completed on May 24, 2010 and a final version of the EMP was provided to the World Bank on May 24, 2010. It will be used by the government agencies during the project implementation. The EMP was sent to InfoShop on May 25, 2010. B. Disclosure Requirements Date Environmental Assessment/Audit/Management Plan/Other: Was the document disclosed prior to appraisal? Yes Date of receipt by the Bank 05/24/2010 Date of "in-country" disclosure 03/09/2010 Date of submission to InfoShop 05/25/2010 For category A projects, date of distributing the Executive Summary of the EA to the Executive Directors Resettlement Action Plan/Framework/Policy Process: Was the document disclosed prior to appraisal? Date of receipt by the Bank Date of "in-country" disclosure Date of submission to InfoShop Indigenous Peoples Plan/Planning Framework: Was the document disclosed prior to appraisal? Date of receipt by the Bank Date of "in-country" disclosure Date of submission to InfoShop Pest Management Plan: Was the document disclosed prior to appraisal? Date of receipt by the Bank Date of "in-country" disclosure Date of submission to InfoShop Page 6 * If the project triggers the Pest Management and/or Physical Cultural Resources, the respective issues are to be addressed and disclosed as part of the Environmental Assessment/Audit/or EMP. If in-country disclosure of any of the above documents is not expected, please explain why: C. Compliance Monitoring Indicators at the Corporate Level (to be filled in when the ISDS is finalized by the project decision meeting) OP/BP/GP 4.01 - Environment Assessment Does the project require a stand-alone EA (including EMP) report? Yes If yes, then did the Regional Environment Unit or Sector Manager (SM) review and approve the EA report? Yes Are the cost and the accountabilities for the EMP incorporated in the credit/loan? Yes The World Bank Policy on Disclosure of Information Have relevant safeguard policies documents been sent to the World Bank's Infoshop? No Have relevant documents been disclosed in-country in a public place in a form and language that are understandable and accessible to project-affected groups and local NGOs? No All Safeguard Policies Have satisfactory calendar, budget and clear institutional responsibilities been prepared for the implementation of measures related to safeguard policies? Yes Have costs related to safeguard policy measures been included in the project cost? Yes Does the Monitoring and Evaluation system of the project include the monitoring of safeguard impacts and measures related to safeguard policies? Yes Have satisfactory implementation arrangements been agreed with the borrower and the same been adequately reflected in the project legal documents? Yes Page 7 D. Approvals Signed and submitted by: Name Date Task Team Leader: Mr Salman Anees 05/27/2010 Environmental Specialist: Mr Arcadie Capcelea 05/27/2010 Social Development Specialist Ms Valerie Morrica 05/27/2010 Additional Environmental and/or Social Development Specialist(s): Approved by: Sector Manager: Mr Wael Zakout 06/08/2010 Comments: