INTEGRATED SAFEGUARDS DATASHEET APPRAISAL STAGE

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1 Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized I. Basic Information Date prepared/updated: 01/21/2011 INTEGRATED SAFEGUARDS DATASHEET APPRAISAL STAGE Report No.: AC Basic Project Data Country: China Project ID: P Project Name: Bayannaoer Water Reclamation and Environment Protection Project Task Team Leader: Shunong Hu Estimated Appraisal Date: July 29, 2010 Estimated Board Date: April 28, 2011 Managing Unit: EASCS Lending Instrument: Specific Investment Loan Sector: General water, sanitation and flood protection sector (60%);Water supply (40%) Theme: Pollution management and environmental health (58%);Water resource management (40%);Municipal governance and institution building (2%) IBRD Amount (US$m.): IDA Amount (US$m.): 0.00 GEF Amount (US$m.): 0.00 PCF Amount (US$m.): 0.00 Other financing amounts by source: Borrower Environmental Category: A - Full 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) [ ] No [] 2. Project Objectives The project development objective is to support Bayannaoer Municipal Government to: (i) better utilize water resources to develop higher income activities to local residents without compromising the water use for irrigation, which would adversely affect the rural poor; and (ii) improve the water environment by reducing water pollution entering Wuliangsuhai Lake. These objectives will be achieved through: i) supplying reclaimed water, reclaimed from irrigation drainage and wastewater, to selected industrial development estates; ii) extending the wastewater service to selected industrial development estates, iii) piloting non-point pollution control measures in selected drainage catchments and developing artificial wetlands at the discharge points of the drainage canals to the Wuliangsuhai Lake thus reducing the discharge of pollutants into the lake; and iv) providing technical assistance to enhance the capacity of the Implementation Agency in project design, management and operation and in developing adequate safeguards to handle all toxic substances and a practical business development plan for the BWAG as well as the training activities.

2 3. Project Description The project consists of four components, with a total project investment cost of US$170.2 million including financial costs of US$ 7.0 million, as detailed below: Component 1. Reclaimed Water Supply (US$73.2 million): Construction of water reclamation and distribution facilities, which will source their raw water from agricultural drainage and treated domestic and industrial wastewaters, including four (4) water reclamation plants, raw water transmission mains, and distribution networks in the Wulatehouqi, Ganqimaodu, Hanjinhouqi and Wuyuan Industrial Estates. Component 2. Wastewater Management (US$52.5 million): Construction of three wastewater treatment, including primary, secondary and tertiary treatment, facilities in Wulateqianqi, Ganqimaodu, and Wulatehouqi Industrial Estates, and distribution networks for recycled water in Ganqimaodu and Wulateqianqi Industrial Estates. The required sewer collection networks already exist or will be built by the industrial estate authorities. Component 3. Constructed Wetlands, Pilot Non-point Pollution Control and Channelization of Wuliangsuhai Lake (US$34.8 million): i) Establishment of constructed wetlands to contribute to the natural reduction of pollutants from point and non-point sources entering Wuliangsuhai Lake; ii) Construction of canals in Wuliangsuhai Lake to improve the water circulation of the lake; and iii) Implementation of a pilot program to support and scale up non-point control pollution control measures on optimized application of chemical fertilizers to reduce nutrients discharge. Component 4. Technical Assistance (US$2.7 million): Provision of technical assistance to support BWAG in: i) reviewing designs and bidding documents, managing contracts, and preparing project progress and monitoring reports; ii) developing an adequate industrial clean production mechanism for pollution control in industrial processes; iii) preparing a strategic business development plan for BWAG; and iv) training BWAG staff on corporate governance, strategic development, and operation and maintenance of facilities of facilities and wetland built under the project. 4. Project Location and salient physical characteristics relevant to the safeguard analysis The proposed project is located in Bayanaoer Municipality, one of the municipalities located in mid west of Inner Mongolia. Within Bayanaoer Municipality, the proposed components are located in the counties of Wulatehouqi, Hangjinhouqi, Ganqimaodu, Wuyuan County and Wulateqianqi, mostly in rural areas. The river system in Bayannaoer is divided into two river systems by the watershed formed by the Yinshan Mountain, the Yellow River system in the south and the inland river system in the north. Average annual runoff in the city is 331 million m3 and 237 million m3 in Yellow River system accounts for 71.6% of total runoff, while 94 million m3 in inland river system accounting for 28.4% of the total.

3 Wuliangsuhai Lake is a large shallow lake. Based on satellite images of June 7 of 2008, the lake is 35-40km long from south to north and 5-10km wide from east to west, with surface area of km2, water depth of m, surface elevation of 1, m and storage capacity of 322 million m3. The water comes mainly from the drainage canals of the irrigation districts well as the mountain streams from the south of Wolf Mountain and the north of Ural Mountain. Wuliangsuhai Lake is the sole surface water body receiving the return water from the irrigation district. Each year, about 0.5 billion m3 of wastewater from agricultural irrigation and 33 million m3 industrial & domestic wastewater in the Hetao area are discharged into the Wuliangsuhai Lake, which also bring 288,000 t of chemical fertilizers and other nutrients. As a result, the lake has become eutrophic with Total Phosphorous and Total Nitrogen being the primary concern. Wuliangsuhai Lake has many functions and provides many services, including climate regulation, maintenance of biodiversity, bird habitat, development of aquaculture and tourism. In addition, it is an important part of the irrigation and drainage system for the Hetao Irrigation District. It also plays an important role in flood prevention, ice flood prevention and water resource management of the Yellow River. Wuliangsuhai Lake has been designated by the State Forestry Ministry as a waterfowl conservation demonstration wetland and a nature reserve protected at provincial level. It is also listed in the Inventory of International Important Wetlands. 5. Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialists Ms Chongwu Sun (EASCS) Mr Zhefu Liu (EASCS) Mr iming Zhang (EASCS) 6. Safeguard Policies Triggered No Environmental Assessment (OP/BP 4.01) Natural Habitats (OP/BP 4.04) Forests (OP/BP 4.36) Pest Management (OP 4.09) Physical Cultural Resources (OP/BP 4.11) Indigenous Peoples (OP/BP 4.10) Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP 4.12) Safety of Dams (OP/BP 4.37) Projects on International Waterways (OP/BP 7.50) Projects in Disputed Areas (OP/BP 7.60) 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: Environmental Assessment OP/BP 4.01: The project as a whole is substantially positive in environmental terms, with the benefits greatly outweighing the negative impacts. Nevertheless some negative impacts have been identified in the EA process. The principal impacts and their appropriate mitigation measures are described below.

4 In the construction phase, the adverse impacts include wastewater discharge from construction camps, airborne dust, noise, traffic disruption and disposal of spoiled materials. An environmental management plan (EMP) has been developed as part of environmental safeguard document for each component. In the EMP, mitigation measures, monitoring plans, institutional arrangements, capacity building and estimated budget of the mitigation measures and monitoring programs for both the construction and operation phases have been included. In the EMPs, contractors are required to water construction sites during dry and windy seasons, develop careful plans to mitigate noisy construction activities and avoid/ban night time construction, maintain equipment in good operating conditions, develop temporary traffic plans to detour traffic around construction sites, etc. With regard to 145 km canals in the Lake, construction activities will be carried out in winter time (temperature is from -200 to -300 C). Before construction starts, main preparation is to release the water from the construction site to ensure the site is dried up, so that environmental disruption will be controlled and limited. In operation phase, the key environmental issue is sludge management. At the project preparation, monitoring data for hazardous pollutants for the past years was collected; and lab test for toxic elements in wastewater samples from existing industries was carried out in EA process. Thus far, there were no any data and information exceeded applicable standards. Since most industrial parks are at early planning and development stage, it is important to prevent polluting industries to move in. According to the selection criteria of industrial park entry, industries that produce the toxic material will not be allowed to enter the project related industrial parks to ensure no hazardous and toxic pollution in future. It is obvious that in WWTP operation in future sludge will be generated. The EA assessed the quality and quantity of sludge generation and disposal. According to the EA, sludge will be sent to the city landfill for disposal by the WWTP operators. During project preparation, Bank task team conducted due diligence review on the landfill, including site selection, design, compliance of national environmental policies and regulations, etc. There were no outstanding issues to be found. Monitoring program including the landfill management and environmental requirement has been proposed as part of the EA and EMP. In case there is any sample exceeding the applicable standards, the sludge will be sent to the hazardous and toxic material management and disposal center in Baotou as stated in the EA and EMP. OP4.04 Natural Habitats: Component 3 will support the construction of artificial wetlands at the end of each drainage canal to further reduce the pollutants from point and non-point sources entering Wuliangsuhai Lake, located downstream of the Hetao Irrigation District. It is expected that the proposed component will improve the water quality of the Lake thus improving its ecological conditions as well. As mentioned above, Wuliangsuhai Lake is a provincial level nature reserve. All proposed activities # canal construction will be carried out in the experimental area of the determined natural reserve in accordance of national policy and requirement, where is far away from the core area of

5 the Reserve and to ensure no or very limited impacts to the core area of the nature reserve. According to the assessment, there was no negative impact to the core areas of the Reserve. As a long term, there would be positive impacts to improve water quality because of increase of water circulation after the project. Resettlement: Construction of four reclaimed water and three wastewater treatment plants requires permanently a total land area of 758 mu (50.5 hectares), including 38 mu of collective farming land (2.5 hectares), collective unused land (15.5 hectares) and state owned land (32.5 hectares). To minimize the negative impacts on rural families, the BWAG and design consultants made their efforts to select the sites of reclaimed water and wastewater treatment plants with due considerations to avoid any demolition of structures and use of cultivated lands. As per designed, all reclaimed water and wastewater treatment plants will be built on state owned land and unused collective land so that the negative impacts to the collective cultivated land could be minimized. As a result, only a total 5 rural households will be affected by permanent land acquisition. The project will provide assistance to their livelihood rehabilitation. Civil works will not start before the current crop harvest. Assistance will be provided to help restore livelihoods. In addition, the construction of pipelines transferring source water to four reclaimed water treatment plants and three wastewater treatment plants will request temporary lands with total 18 ha of lands, including 4 ha of cultivated land and 14 ha unused land. The civil works of pipelines will be undertaken during winter seasons and negative impact will be minimal. Safety of Dams: Two small sized reservoirs, i.e. Yongming and Wangba Dams (with the height of 2.5 m and 1.5 m respectively), will service as the back-up water sources during winters when there is insufficient water available in the drainage canals. Remedial works of these two dams will be completed by the BWAG by the end of The dam safety specialist of the Task Team had reviewed the design and construction and found acceptable during the project appraisal. During the project implementation, the Task Team will monitor the safety status of the two dams and supervise any remedial works if needed to ensure the OP/BP4.37 is observed accordingly. 2. Describe any potential indirect and/or long term impacts due to anticipated future activities in the project area: No indirect negative long term impacts are expected from the proposed project. 3. Describe any project alternatives (if relevant) considered to help avoid or minimize adverse impacts. During project development and preparation, various alternatives have been screened and compared against technical, economic and environmental criteria. In terms of the environmental assessment of alternatives, the primary objective was to identify and adopt options with the least adverse environmental impacts.

6 Since the population density in the project area is low, there were re many options available for wastewater treatment plants. As the result, most of the waste water treatment plants are located on state owned land and unused collective land in order to minimize the negative impacts to collectively cultivated land. With regard to the alternatives for wastewater treatment technologies and wetland treatment technology, the design teams and EA consultants conducted analysis to compare different technologies from technical, economic, financial and environmental considerations. 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. The borrower has engaged EA consultants to prepare the EA reports for all proposed components, which satisfy the Bank#s requirements for OP.4.01 and Chinese policies and regulations. The EA & EMP specified appropriate mitigation measures, environmental monitoring plans, institutional arrangements, training and equipment requirements together with budget estimates for implementation of the mitigation measures and monitoring plans. The proposed mitigation measures are described as follows: the adverse impacts during the construction of the proposed water distribution network, wastewater collection system, and water works include airborne dust, noise, traffic disruption and disposal of spoiled materials. These impacts are short-term and manageable. Contractors will manage the construction site properly, through watering construction sites during dry and windy seasons, develop plans to mitigate noisy construction activities and avoid/ban night time construction, maintaining equipment in good operating conditions, and develop temporary traffic plans to detour traffic around construction sites. In operation stage, sludge generated from WWTPs will be sent to the Bayanaoer landfill by the operator. An agreement of receiving sludge has been signed between WWTP operators and the landfill management agency. In operation stage, the environmental monitoring program, as part of EMP, will be carried out to monitor the parameter and elements in influence and effluence, including the toxic elements such as heavy metals, to ensure that the specified environment standards are met. Safety of Dams (OP4.37): The project does not finance constructing dams, but some of the water supply systems to be constructed under the project would draw directly from reservoirs controlled by existing dams. There are two existing upstream dams which provide emergency water sources for the water reclamation component: Yongming and Wangba Dams in Bayannaoer City. The Bank#s dam safety expert has visited the two dams and reviewed the documents concerning safety of dams. These two dams are to be remedied. The Task team has reviewed the remedy designs and found they are acceptable. The task team also reviewed the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) of the two dams and found they are acceptable. Emergency Preparedness Plans (EPP) for the

7 dams are under preparation. During project implementation the construction of remedial works, O&M and safety status of the dams will be monitored. The Bank task team includes a dam safety expert. The dam safety expert will (a) inspect and evaluate the safety status of existing dams, their appurtenance, and performance history; (b) review and evaluate the owner#s operation and maintenance procedures; and (c) provide written reports of findings and recommendations for any remedial work or safety-related measures necessary to upgrade the existing dams to an acceptable standard of safety. The dam safety experts would also inspect the design and implementation of the dams which need to be strengthened. Chinese Government has issued guidelines and regulations for dam safety management including Reservoir Dam Safety Management Regulation, Regulations on Reservoir Dam Safety Review, Guidelines for Dam Safety Review, Guidelines for Emergency Preparedness Plan, and Guidelines for Operation, Maintenance and Surveillance of Dams. During Project implementation, the Borrower will provide information concerning safety of the two dams to the Bank, and provide necessary arrangement for site visit to the dams; the Bank and the project implementing agent will monitor the dam safety status and supervise implementation of remedial works to ensure that the Project complies with OP 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 engaged EA consultants to prepare the EA reports for all proposed components, which satisfy the Bank#s requirements for OP.4.01 and Chinese policies and regulations. The EA & EMP specified appropriate mitigation measures, environmental monitoring plans, institutional arrangements, training and equipment requirements together with budget estimates for implementation of the mitigation measures and monitoring plans. The proposed mitigation measures are described as follows: the adverse impacts during the construction of the proposed water distribution network, wastewater collection system, and water works include airborne dust, noise, traffic disruption and disposal of spoiled materials. These impacts are short-term and manageable. Contractors will manage the construction site properly, through watering construction sites during dry and windy seasons, develop plans to mitigate noisy construction activities and avoid/ban night time construction, maintaining equipment in good operating conditions, and develop temporary traffic plans to detour traffic around construction sites. In operation stage, sludge generated from WWTPs will be sent to the Bayanaoer landfill by the operator. An agreement of receiving sludge has been signed between WWTP operators and the landfill management agency. In operation stage, the environmental monitoring program, as part of EMP, will be carried out to monitor the parameter and elements in influence and effluence, including

8 the toxic elements such as heavy metals, to ensure that the specified environment standards are met. Safety of Dams (OP4.37): The project does not finance constructing dams, but some of the water supply systems to be constructed under the project would draw directly from reservoirs controlled by existing dams. There are two existing upstream dams which provide emergency water sources for the water reclamation component: Yongming and Wangba Dams in Bayannaoer City. The Bank#s dam safety expert has visited the two dams and reviewed the documents concerning safety of dams. These two dams are to be remedied. The Task team has reviewed the remedy designs and found they are acceptable. The task team also reviewed the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) of the two dams and found they are acceptable. Emergency Preparedness Plans (EPP) for the dams are under preparation. During project implementation the construction of remedial works, O&M and safety status of the dams will be monitored. The Bank task team includes a dam safety expert. The dam safety expert will (a) inspect and evaluate the safety status of existing dams, their appurtenance, and performance history; (b) review and evaluate the owner#s operation and maintenance procedures; and (c) provide written reports of findings and recommendations for any remedial work or safety-related measures necessary to upgrade the existing dams to an acceptable standard of safety. The dam safety experts would also inspect the design and implementation of the dams which need to be strengthened. Chinese Government has issued guidelines and regulations for dam safety management including Reservoir Dam Safety Management Regulation, Regulations on Reservoir Dam Safety Review, Guidelines for Dam Safety Review, Guidelines for Emergency Preparedness Plan, and Guidelines for Operation, Maintenance and Surveillance of Dams. During Project implementation, the Borrower will provide information concerning safety of the two dams to the Bank, and provide necessary arrangement for site visit to the dams; the Bank and the project implementing agent will monitor the dam safety status and supervise implementation of remedial works to ensure that the Project complies with OP4.37. B. Disclosure Requirements Date Environmental Assessment/Audit/Management Plan/Other: Was the document disclosed prior to appraisal? Date of receipt by the Bank 06/30/2010 Date of "in-country" disclosure 07/02/2010 Date of submission to InfoShop 07/08/2010 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 06/30/2010

9 Date of "in-country" disclosure 05/27/2010 Date of submission to InfoShop 07/08/2010 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 * 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: N/A 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 Environment Assessment Does the project require a stand-alone EA (including EMP) report? If yes, then did the Regional Environment Unit or Sector Manager (SM) review and approve the EA report? Are the cost and the accountabilities for the EMP incorporated in the credit/loan? OP/BP Natural Habitats Would the project result in any significant conversion or degradation of critical natural habitats? If the project would result in significant conversion or degradation of other (non-critical) natural habitats, does the project include mitigation measures acceptable to the Bank? OP/BP Involuntary Resettlement Has a resettlement plan/abbreviated plan/policy framework/process framework (as appropriate) been prepared? If yes, then did the Regional unit responsible for safeguards or Sector Manager review the plan? OP/BP Safety of Dams Have dam safety plans been prepared? Have the TORs as well as composition for the independent Panel of Experts (POE) been reviewed and approved by the Bank? Has an Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP) been prepared and arrangements been made for public awareness and training? No No N/A No N/A

10 The World Bank Policy on Disclosure of Information Have relevant safeguard policies documents been sent to the World Bank s Infoshop? 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? All Safeguard Policies Have satisfactory calendar, budget and clear institutional responsibilities been prepared for the implementation of measures related to safeguard policies? Have costs related to safeguard policy measures been included in the project cost? Does the Monitoring and Evaluation system of the project include the monitoring of safeguard impacts and measures related to safeguard policies? Have satisfactory implementation arrangements been agreed with the borrower and the same been adequately reflected in the project legal documents? D. Approvals Signed and submitted by: Name Date Task Team Leader: Mr Shunong Hu 11/10/2010 Environmental Specialist: Ms Chongwu Sun 11/05/2010 Social Development Specialist Mr Zhefu Liu 11/08/2010 Additional Environmental and/or Social Development Specialist(s): Mr iming Zhang 12/06/2010 Approved by: Regional Safeguards Coordinator: Mr Peter Leonard 01/21/2011 Comments: Signed by WBBO COSU Safeguard Focal Point as a delegated project Sector Manager: Mr Ede Jorge Ijjasz-Vasquez 12/06/2010 Comments: