INTRODUCTION
The RT3 programme aims to rehabilitate 4,500 km of rural roads across 33 provinces over a four-year period In the project's first year, the technical assistance will focus on identifying 1,500 km of rural roads for rehabilitation Additionally, four provinces—Hung Yen, Quang Nam, Thanh Hoa, and Tuyen Quang—have been selected as pilot areas where approximately 100 km of roads will undergo rehabilitation.
Project-level Environmental Assessments (EAs) are essential components of the Feasibility Study, adhering to World Bank environmental guidelines To prevent and mitigate environmental impacts, an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) will be developed and implemented throughout the construction phase.
THE EA PROCESS
The EA uses methodology that has been developed for RT3 and is expressed in the Model 1 and 2 Framework that contains the environmental safeguard measures for RT3
The review of RT2 roads identified that environmental impacts from rural road rehabilitation projects, where road locations remain unchanged, are primarily significant during construction To address this, a simplified impact assessment procedure has been established for provincial use, alongside stringent environmental protocols included in the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) Annex 10.3A focuses on impacts arising from construction activities, while Annex 10.4 outlines these construction impacts in a standardized format The Environmental Assessment (EA) comprises two key documents: Annex 10.3A (the EA) and Annex 10.4 (the EMP), which are provided as Annex A and B.
QUANG NAM PROVINCE
Quang Nam is one of the pilot provinces and will rehabilitate four roads
Quang Nam is a coastal province and is bounded by Da Nang City, Quang Ngai province, Kon Tum province, the Gulf of South China and Laos respectively.
Quang Nam province is home to two major cities, Hoi An and Tam Ky, along with 14 districts: Dong Giang, Tay Giang, Dai Loc, Dien Ban, Duy Xuyen, Nam Giang, Thang Binh, Que Son, Hiep Duc, Tien Phuoc, Phuoc Son, Nui Thanh, Bac Tra My, and Nam Tra My.
Quang Nam province covers an area of 10,406.83 km² and has a population of approximately 1,438,800, resulting in an average density of 138 people per km² The region features a diverse range of nine soil types, including sand dune and coastal soils, alluvial soils, gray infertile soil, yellow-reddish soil, valley soil, infertile soil, and eroded soil.
Quang Nam's economy is primarily driven by agriculture, along with significant contributions from forestry and fisheries However, the province faces challenges, as 46 percent of its rural population lives in poverty In a recent study of prioritized provinces, Quang Nam is ranked 17th out of 41, highlighting its development needs.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
In the First Year Work Plan, four roads are proposed for rehabilitation These are shown in Table 1.
Table 1 : List of Pilot Roads included for Rehabilitation in Quang Nam Province
Road Road code District Terrain Road Type Surface From To Length
No Existing New Existing New (km)
1 39-04-01 Hiep Duc Hilly District Type A E/Gravel C/S + DBST Que Tho Tan An 8.1
2 39-09-01 Que Son Flat District Type A E/Gravel C/S + DBST Quy Thanh Que Son 6.2
3 39-13-01 Phu Ninh Flat District Type A E/Gravel C/S + DBST Tam Vinh Tien Phong 5.5
4 39-06-01 Tien Phuoc Hilly District Type A E/Gravel C/S + DBST Tien Loc Tien An 6.8
Road Length of road (km) Design Length of Road (km) Material required (m3) Bitumen
No 10% Width(m) Width ok Widened Disposed Earth Fill Rock (kg)
SURVEY METHODOLOGY AND APPROACH
Road No.1: 39-04-01
The 8.1 km District road is set for an upgrade to a Class A road, transitioning from a poorly conditioned earth/gravel surface to a bitumen pavement Approximately 4.9 km of the road will be widened with minimal disturbance to surrounding areas Any potential impacts on households or properties will be managed through the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) Materials for the road base and pavement will be sourced from nearby borrow pits and quarries, while about 20,000 m³ of excess material will be responsibly disposed of at approved sites, in accordance with the Environmental Management Plan (EMP).
Road No 2: 39-09-01
The 6.2 km District road is set to be upgraded to a Class A road, transitioning from a poor-quality earth/gravel surface to a durable bitumen pavement Approximately 3.7 km of the road will be widened with minimal disturbance to the surrounding area, ensuring that any potential impact on households or properties is minimal and managed through a Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) All materials for the road base and pavement will be sourced from nearby borrow pits and quarries, while excavated waste will be reused in the road formation.
Road No 3: 39-13-01
The 5.5 km District road is set to be upgraded to a Class A road, transitioning from a poor-quality earth/gravel surface to a durable bitumen finish Approximately 5.0 km of the road will be widened, with efforts made to minimize disruption to the surrounding area Any potential impacts on households or properties will be addressed through a Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) Additionally, all materials for the road base and pavement will be sourced from nearby borrow pits and quarries, while waste materials will be repurposed in the road construction process.
Road No 4: 39-06-01
The 6.8 km District road is set to be upgraded to a Class A road, transitioning from a poor-quality earth/gravel pavement to a durable bitumen surface Approximately 3.4 km of the road will be widened, with efforts made to minimize disturbance to the surrounding area Potential impacts on households or properties are expected to be minimal and will be managed through a Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) if necessary All materials for the road base and pavement will be sourced from nearby borrow pits and quarries, while any excavated waste will be reused in the road formation.
PUBLIC CONSULTATION
PDoT conducted informal public consultations during the road identification and property assessment phases, informing community leaders about the objectives of the proposed road rehabilitation and the associated work However, details of these meetings have not been provided by PDoT during the preparation of the Environmental Assessment.
The Quang Nam Department of Transport (PDoT) reports strong community support for road rehabilitation projects, as residents believe that improved all-weather roads will enhance accessibility Additionally, the community recognizes the benefit of reduced dust pollution resulting from the installation of bitumen pavement.
The community is well-informed about the project, thanks to various surveys and data collected during road inspections for design and environmental assessments Notably, these inspections did not reveal any negative feedback regarding the proposed rehabilitation of the roads.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS
The construction of these roads will involve various impacts, such as the disposal of excavated materials, site cleanup, waste management, and the removal and reinstatement of services Additional considerations include dust, noise, and vibration control, fuel handling, and the employment of unskilled workers, alongside health and safety measures for workers and road safety Potential concerns also encompass the discovery of cultural artifacts and the need for revegetation in disturbed areas All these issues are comprehensively addressed in the Environmental Management Plan (EMP), as detailed in Annex 10.4, ensuring that all impacts are effectively mitigated.
Property losses appear to be minimal For any household who may lose any land or property these concerns will be addressed by the RAP.
The rehabilitation of these roads will ensure all-weather access to rural areas, enhancing the availability of goods and services This improvement will yield significant social benefits, ultimately elevating the quality of life for residents in the project areas.
It is recommended that these four roads be included in the AWP road rehabilitation program for Quang Nam province
REGISTRATION FOR MEETING ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS
REGISTRATION FOR MEETING ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS
SUB-PROJECT : REHABILITATION WORKS UNDER RURAL TRANSPORT III PROJECT FINANCED BY THE
THE EMPLOYER : DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT (PROJECT MANAGEMENT UNIT) PROVINCE
1 Road Location Details i Province: Quang Nam ii District: Hiep Duc iii Type of road: District iv Road starts at Commune: Que Tho v Road finishes at Commune: Tan An
2 Need for Road i Briefly justify why the road is required:
- The road runs through the poor resident areas
- At present the road is on bad condition and road surface is earth, which is usually muddy in rain and there are much dust in dry weather.
Road rehabilitation enhances travel convenience and boosts production for residents, particularly during crop seasons, fostering economic and social development Additionally, it is essential to provide population statistics for each commune that will benefit from the improved road infrastructure.
Name of Commune Total Population
In 2004, the average number of days the road in Tan An is impassable due to various conditions includes several months affected by mud, specific days impacted by flooding, and additional challenges such as landslides and road maintenance issues.
3 New Road Alignment: i Do any sections of the road require a new alignment? No
If “Yes” specify location (km + m): (i) From (ii) To: ii Does the new alignment pass through any of the environmentally critical areas listed in Annex
10.2A i.e protected areas, etc? Yes or No.
If “No” detail the type of land use that the new alignment will pass through.
Item Unit Specification or Quantity
5.4.1 Design width ( = pavement width + side drains) m 5
5.4.2 Length of existing road that meets design width km 3.2
5.4.2 Length of existing road that does not meet design width
(urban areas) km av width (m)
5.4.3 Length of existing road that does not meet design width
(all other areas) km av width (m)
(b) km 5.6 Volume of material to be excavated and disposed of away from road site. m 3 20,000 i Specify location where the material is to be disposed. ii Address in EMP.
5.7 Volume of fill required for roadbed m 3 0.0 i Specify location of borrow pit: ii New or existing borrow pit? ii Address in EMP.
5.8 Volume of crushed rock required for pavement. m 3 6,000 i Specify location of quarry: ii New or existing quarry? Existing iii Address in EMP.
5.9.1 Volume of bitumen required for pavement kgs 80,000
5.9.2 Type of bitumen to be used i emulsion or ii non emulsion non emulsion i If emulsion type, specify method to clean and dispose of drums ii Address in EMP.
When road widening occurs, it is essential to determine if any services will need to be relocated, particularly those that are substantial and difficult to move, such as concrete power poles located within the existing road alignment Conversely, installations that can be easily relocated, like bamboo-supported power lines, do not fall under this requirement.
Service Yes No Detail by section (km + m)
1 Length of road The total road length is to be separated into these three categories Any sections less than 30 m may be
All materials for road base will be sourced from approved borrow pits that are closest to the road and transported to the Site by the Contractor
Main construction equipment include: o Trucks o Watering tank truck o Bitumen spraying machine o Roller o Compaction machine
On April 8, 2005, a meeting was held with 33 residents from the Que Tho commune to inform them about an upcoming project The discussion covered the project scope, land acquisition, and other relevant details The local community expressed their main concerns, but ultimately, the residents were informed about the project and showed full support for its implementation Any concerns raised were addressed effectively during the meeting.
The road widening project, which spans 4.9 km on both sides, necessitates land acquisition and the relocation of residents Upon completion, this construction will significantly enhance the quality of the environment and improve the overall quality of life for the community Additionally, the upgraded road surface will facilitate better access to trade and cultural services for local residents.
2 Occurrence of pollution during construction :
Under the RTP3 initiative, small road rehabilitation projects are anticipated to have minimal environmental impacts, primarily occurring during the construction phase These impacts are straightforward and manageable, ensuring that the overall effects on the environment are limited and easily contained.
Dust can originate from various sources, including the burning of waste materials, transportation of materials, and excavation activities Additionally, inadequate living conditions in worker camps contribute to dust generation Construction equipment operating on-site and the heating of bitumen also play significant roles in increasing dust levels.
The pollution levels from the project are anticipated to be minimal and temporary due to its small scale However, exhaust emissions may negatively affect areas within a 200-300 meter radius, particularly influenced by wind patterns Additionally, dust generated from traffic will decrease significantly upon the completion of the rehabilitation efforts.
Wastewater is generated from various sources on construction sites, including asphalt plants that produce cement concrete for stone embankments and culverts Additionally, water contaminated with lubricants arises during the cleaning of construction equipment and tools Daily activities of workers also contribute to wastewater, along with rainwater runoff that washes materials from the site Furthermore, wastewater is produced from cooling processes for machine engines and turbines.
Pollution level and impacts: o A daily average volunme of 3m 3 waste water is produced as a result of construction activities o Cooling water which can be reused.
Main sources of occurrence o Excavated materials which cannot be reused. o Waste materials (rubbles, waste bitumen) o Gabbages from daily life of workers.
Pullotion level and impacts: o About 30kg is produced as a result of construction activities
Construction noise primarily stems from the operation of machinery and equipment Additionally, noise and vibrations can be significantly amplified by the use of outdated or poorly maintained machines, often due to issues such as unscrewed bolts and insufficient lubrication.
Pollution level and impacts o Pollution occurrence and impacts can be controled and mitigated.
• Forecasting hazards during construction activities: o Accidents (fire, explosion) and traffic accident to users. o Chemical spillage and leakage due to a lack of compliance with precaution procedures. o Runoff erosion and sedimentation
To mitigate noise and exhaust pollution during construction, the Contractor will utilize a water tank to spray water for dust control, ensuring that sub-base materials remain intact In dusty conditions, workers will be provided with face masks and gloves for their safety Additionally, the Contractor is responsible for turning off construction equipment when not in use and conducting necessary checks and repairs to comply with environmental standards and ensure work safety Furthermore, all equipment and materials transported by truck will be securely covered to minimize environmental impact.
The Contractor must ensure that wastewater from equipment cleaning is neither stored nor disposed of in watercourses Additionally, rain runoff should be managed to prevent direct flow into surface water sources, utilizing sedimentation storage or mudguard systems Proper collection and treatment of wastewater is essential before its disposal into watercourses Furthermore, the Contractor must ensure that solid waste is not disposed of in these water bodies.
The Contractor is responsible for ensuring that all waste materials, including earth, rock, and those generated from transportation activities, are not disposed of on public or private land without the owner's prior consent Additionally, everyday rubbish and construction-related waste must be collected daily and disposed of in an approved location designated by the local government.