Addressing Key Environmental Hazards after an Earthquake A. International Experience 1. Environmental management is not a well-recognized priority issue in an emergency situation. So rather than confine research to 2-3 projects, in preparation for this note, a series of projects were reviewed. B: Key Issues 2. Debris Removal. Materials can be either standard construction materials (e.g. concrete, stone, etc.), but there can be hazardous wastes as well, such as asbestos from housing insulation and damaged water supply lines, stored fuels, lubricating oils, industrial materials, medical wastes from clinics/hospitals, and possibly radioactive wastes from X-ray devices 3. Reconstruction Impacts. Post-earthquake reconstruction can have a range of negative environmental consequences. For example, heightened demand for timber, bricks and other materials for rebuilding homes can put pressure on local ecosystems such as forests, resulting in accelerated deforestation with consequent loss of environmental services. Massive reconstruction can also have cumulative environmental impacts that can result in increased pollution, expanded settlement in risk-prone areas, degradation of watersheds, etc. 4. Cultural Properties. Special efforts must be made to identify sites and structures that may have been damaged. 5. Expired livestock, if left unattended, represents a risk to human health as a direct source of disease from vectors that may be attracted to the area, and decomposition products contaminating the air and water 6. Living livestock, may no longer be confined and roaming uncontrolled, the pollution they generate is not confined or controlled and may contaminate surface waters used for drinking 7. Worker Safety (Emergency Response Teams).Workers entering damaged areas are placing themselves in harms way in terms of working within or near unstable structures, potentially dangerous situations where hazardous materials may be leaking or can release toxic fumes or ignite/explode suddenly 8. Worker Infrastructure Requirements. The large number of emergency workers presents a new, significant, albeit temporary, addition to the local population. Their presence increases the burden on already damaged and undercapacity systems for water supply, wastewater and solid waste management World Bank Good Practice Notes 1 Environmental Hazards
9. Dust and Noise. Same or similar pollution aspects as with traditional construction projects. 10. Erosion. Land may be destabilized or liquefied from earth movements. Particularly hillsides or road substrates, leading to destruction or destabilization of roads critical to the transport of emergency supplies (food, medicine) or construction materials and emergency relief workers, weakening of dams etc. Critical habitats may be lost or under severe risk. 11. Altered Drainage Patterns. Land surface alterations may increase flooding in areas previously not at risk. Existing drainage channels, canals may be clogged with waste or muds, again inducing altered patterns of runoff and creating flood situations.. 12. Industrial Pollution. Sichuan Province is particularly rich in phosphate mineral resources: a key element for the fertilizer industry. Sulfuric acid is utilized in the process of digesting the phosphate ores to produce phosphoric acid which is the basic building block of a variety of synthetic fertilizers, notably ammonium phosphate. 13. There is, therefore, a high probability that storage of sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, and liquefied ammonia may be situated in the earthquake damaged zones. If these materials are released, they can be quite dangerous as an immediate human safety hazard, as well as a longer term environmental hazard to surface waters. C. Lessons Learned 14. Debris Removal: Not all material has to be disposed of. Some can be recycled for new construction. It is best to actively engage local people in decisions regarding materials to be reused. 15. Cultural Properties: Special care by knowledgeable and experienced people must be involved in any rehabilitation/restoration/preservation effort. 16. Reconstruction Impacts. Inclusion of environmental impact assessment as part of reconstruction planning, at both the program and project level, can help avoid immediate negative effects as well as costly remediation measures in the longer term. 17. Keep the priority concerns of the victims in focus. Utilize a participatory approach regarding any proposed mitigating actions 18. Establish lists of sub-projects highlighting those that present little/no environmental risk and those with substantial environmental risk 19. Use reconstruction/rehabilitation as an opportunity to improve environmental conditions over what was the situation prior to the earthquake and would result in less damages should an earthquake reoccur in the future. Examples include: World Bank Good Practice Notes 2 Environmental Hazards
repair water supply systems to eliminate leaks and provide a product that meets acceptable drinking water standards repair/improve sewage transmission pipelines with better materials to eliminate leaks and cross contamination repair improve sewage treatment systems to achieve greater levels of pollutant removal repair rehabilitate industrial pollution control systems to achieve greater levels of control if the industry was a significant polluter prior to the earthquake, rehabilitation/repair would be conditional upon agreement to install or upgrade pollution control systems to achieve Chinese standards or an opportunity for the industry to replace outdated inefficient polluting processes with more efficient, cleaner technology incorporate or upgrade water supply and/or sewage treatment systems in public buildings that are to be rehabilitated, if these services were inadequate or lacking in the building prior to the earthquake reforest areas that were deforested prior to the earthquake and have experienced erosion, slope instability, upstream of dams, on roads/highways (particularly on hillsides) or other damages in excess of what would have been the result if proper forest management practices had been followed 20. Damage assessments must be done very carefully and realistically. Overestimating damages can lead to construction of more than is necessary or systems with greater capacity than what is needed. Leading to waste, and ultimately to demolition and disposal problems from unused and unnecessary structures. Improper damage assessment at an industrial facility can result in leaks of hazardous materials or serious equipment failure after start-up which could result in significant pollution or a serious safety risk. 21. Do not use inexperienced NGOs. Their efforts may be misdirected and could result in creating more difficulties and increased effort to rectify. 22. Do not consider new infrastructure projects but focus on reconstruction/rehabilitation or improved performance of existing infrastructure. New infrastructure normally requires a longer processing schedule including approvals, permits, etc. than what is associated with an emergency recovery project. If the need is justified and the government agrees to process the project on a more compressed schedule, a new infrastructure project could be considered. D. Recommendations Prepare a set of guidelines on environmentally appropriate procedures under emergency reconstruction/rehabilitation conditions for: demolition waste management (storage, disposal or reuse) erosion control (immediate stabilization) construction material transport and storage damage assessment for industrial facilities World Bank Good Practice Notes 3 Environmental Hazards
management of hazardous solids and liquids management of animal carcasses structures of cultural significance noise and dust control assessing biodiversity impacts Introduce expedited environmental impact assessment procedures for programs and individual projects, including the possible use of strategic environmental assessment to address cumulative and sector-wide effects Assess damages of industrial facilities, prepare a priority program for reconstruction/rehabilitation in accordance with Chinese environmental standards Initiate training programs for workers and NGOs on environmentally sound procedures, practices, and protocols in emergency reconstruction Assess erosion/landslide situation, prepare a priority long term program of land restabilization Prepare a program of domestic animal carcass disposal, domestic animal collection and waste management If hazardous materials management is determined to be a priority issue, prepare a program of hazardous waste management World Bank Good Practice Notes 4 Environmental Hazards
Annex 1. Case Studies. 23. MEXICO, Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Project 1986. This project primarily addressed rehabilitation and reconstruction of housing, schools, hospitals, markets and ancillary services. The project also included preparation of a disaster management plan. The project was rated EA Category B and the chief environmental issues were protection of cultural property items which may have been identified and/or damaged during debris removal or new excavation during reconstruction activities 24. The project design included a list of subprojects that would be eligible for financing and another list of subprojects that would not be eligible for financing based upon environmental considerations. It also required prior Bank review of proposed subprojects. 25. TURKEY, MEER Project 1999. This project focused on construction of housing in three districts in the Marmara area, rehabilitation of small businesses and services repair housing and healthcare facilities as well as essential infrastructure (roads, water supply and wastewater treatment and power) 26. The project was also rated Category B and an environmental management plan (EMP) was prepared and the chief issues identified were land clearance, impacts from workers, debris removal equipment, material deliveries, debris removal and disposal, proper design of new infrastructure items (water supply, sewage systems, and wastewater treatment) and the wastes generated by workers involved with the rehabilitation and reconstruction activities. 27. COLUMBIA, Earthquake Recovery Project 2000. This project was involved with repair and reconstruction of homes, social infrastructure (schools, hospitals, and community centers) and service infrastructure (water, sewage, power and transport). The project was rated Category B and an environmental management plan (EMP) was prepared. The EMP included a series of guidelines for proper environmental management of a variety of activities, including: (a) demolition of damaged buildings, (b) erosion control, (c) transport of construction materials, (d) solid/liquid waste management (including hazardous materials), (e) public safety in construction areas One of the main conclusions reached in the ICR was not to use inexperienced NGOs. Of all the projects reviewed. This one seemed to have given environmental aspects the greatest degree of effort. World Bank Good Practice Notes 5 Environmental Hazards