MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL ......out under Component 4, especially those related to: (i) Land...

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (MARD)

CENTRAL PROJECT OFFICE (CPO)

VIETNAM MANAGING NATURAL HAZARDS PROJECT

(VN-Haz Project)

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

(EA)

Water Resources University

Consultancy & Technology Transfer Company

March - 2012

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i

Table of Contents List of Annexes .......................................................................................................................... ii

LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES ........................................................................................ iii

Abbreviations ........................................................................................................................... iv

Abbreviations ........................................................................................................................... iv

EXECUTIVE SUMARY ........................................................................................................... 1

Chapter 1: Introduction .............................................................................................................. 5

1.1 Background ....................................................................................................................... 5

1.2. Objectives and Scope....................................................................................................... 6

CHAPTER 2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION .............................................................................. 8

2.1. Project Objectives and Components ................................................................................ 8

2.2. Project Areas and Main Activities .................................................................................... 17

CHAPTER 3 POLICY, LEGAL, AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK ........................ 21

2.1 World Bank’s Safeguard Policies ................................................................................... 21

2.2 National Policy, Regulations, and InstituionalFramworks ............................................. 22

CHAPTER 4. ENVIRONMENTAL BACKGROUND ....................................................... 27

4.1. Environmental Background ........................................................................................... 28

4.2 Natural Disaster Situation and Response Capacity ........................................................ 36

CHAPTER 5 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT ........................................... 39

5.1 Potential Positive -Iimpacts ............................................................................................ 39

5.2 Identification of Potential Negative Impacts .................................................................. 43

5.3 Assessment of Potential Negative Impacts during Construction ................................... 48

5.4 Assessment of Environmental Impacts during Operation .............................................. 54

5.5. Analysis of alternatives ................................................................................................. 56

CHAPTER 6. PROPOSED MITIGATION MEASURES ...................................................... 60

6.1 Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) ....................................... 60

6.2 Mitigation measures for Phase 1 subprojects ................................................................. 67

6.3 Dam Safety Framework (DSF) ....................................................................................... 67

6.4 Implementation and Monitoring Arrangement………………………………………67

6.4.1 Responsible agencies: .................................................................................................. 67

6.4.2 Reporting arrangement................................................................................................ 67

6.4.3 Safeguard training and capacity building ................................................................... 67

6.4.4 Budget allocation. ........................................................................................................ 68

CHAPTER 7 PUBLIC CONSULTATION ............................................................................. 72

7.1. Objective and Methodology .......................................................................................... 72

7.2 Public Consultation Results ............................................................................................ 73

References……………………………………………………………………………………85

Environmental Assessment (EA) Viet Nam Managing Natural Hazards Project (VN-Haz)

ii

Annex 1: Subproject List and Location Maps

Annex 2: National Policies and Institutions

Annex 3: Background on Key River Basins

Annex 4: Background on Natural Disaster

Annex 5: Initial Screening for Potential Negative Impacts of Subprojects

Annex 6: Public Consultation

Annex 7: Pictures of Field Trip and Public Consultation


iii

Table 2.1. List of the activities to be implemented under Component 3 .................................. 18

Table 2.2: Classification of subprojects under Component 4 by type of works ....................... 19

Table 2.3: Number of proposed subprojects under Component 4 by the provinces ............... 19

Table 2.4: Number of proposed subprojects under Component 4 by river basins ................... 20

Table 2.5: List of the first phase subprojects (5 provinces, 5 basins) ...................................... 20

Table 2.1: Relevant WB’s Safeguard Policies.......................................................................... 21

Figure 2.1: Environmental Management Structure .................................................................. 26

Figure 4.1. River basins and Provinces related to VN-Haz Project. ........................................ 27

Figure 4.2. Locations of national parks and important nature reserves .................................... 32

Figure 4.3. Location of key socio – economic zones ................................................................ 34

Figure 4.4: Population density in the key river basins in the project area ................................ 34

Figure 4.5. Economic structure of the key river basins in the project area .............................. 35

Figure 4.6. Locations of key cultural sites ............................................................................... 36

Table 5.1. Identification of potential negative impacts ............................................................ 43

Table 5.2: Impacts due to land acquisition and relocations of first phase Component 4

subprojects (RAPs for five-first phase subprojects) ................................................................. 46

Table 5.4: Comparison between “without project” and “with project” option ........................ 57

Table 6.1: Technical Guideline for Safeguard Screening and Actions for Component 4

Subprojects ............................................................................................................................... 70

Table 7.1. Public consultation during the development of the EA and ESMF ........................ 72


iv

CAFSCP Commune Annual Flood and Storm Control Plan

CBDRM Community-Based Disaster Risk Management

CCCC Commune CBDRM Coordination Committee

CCFSC Central Committee for Flood and Storm Control

CDPM Centers for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation

CFSC Committee for Flood and Storm Control (at Province, District

and Commune levels)

CPC Commune People's Committee

CPMO Central Project Management Office

CPO Central Project Office

CSC Construction Supervision Consultant

CSEP Contract Specific Environmental Plan

DARD Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

DMC Disaster Management Center

DONRE Department of Natural Resources and Environment

DPC District People's Committee

DRM Disaster Risk Management

ECOP Environmental Code of Practices

EA Environmental Assessment

EIA Environmental Impact Assessment

EMC Environmental Management Consultant

EMP Environmental Management Consultant

EMDP Ethnic Minority Development Plan

EMP Environmental Management Plan

EMPF Ethnic Minority Policy Framework

EPC Environmental Protection Commitment

ESMF Environment and Social Management Framework

ESU Environmental and Social Unit

GoV Government of Vietnam

M&E Monitoring & Evaluation

MARD Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

MONRE Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment

OP/BP Operational Policy/Bank Procedures

PCFSC Provincial Committee for Flood and Storm Control

PCSR Provincial Committee for Search and Rescue

PPMU Provincial Project Management Unit

RAP Resettlement Action Plan

RPF Resettlement Policy Framework

SA Social Assessment

UXO Unexploded Ordnances

VN-Haz Vietnam – Managing Natural Hazards Project

WB World Bank

1

EXECUTIVE SUMARY

1. Vietnam Managing Hazards Project (VN-Haz or the Project) is one of the projects

invested by the Government of Vietnam to support the implementation of “the National

strategy for Natural Disaster Prevention and Mitigation to 2020”. The project is partially

funded by the World Bank's loan and will be carried out in 10 provinces in the central region,

including Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Da Nang, Quang Nam,

Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, and Ninh Thuan.

2. The development objective of the Project is to increase the resilience of the people

and economic assets to natural hazards in selected river basins of the project provinces

within the overall framework of the Vietnam’s National Disaster Prevention, Response and

Mitigation Strategy Towards 2020. To achieve this objective, a river basin approach has been

used in the Project design by focusing investments in major river basins, integrating

components activities to avoid small and scattered efforts, and applying structural and non-

structural measures to reduce the vulnerability to natural disasters. The Project activities will

be implemented through the following five components, namely Component 1: Strengthening

Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Institutions, Information Systems and Planning;

Component 2: Strengthening Weather Forecasting and Early Warning Systems; Component

3: Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM); Component 4: Priority Disaster

Risk Mitigation Investments; and Component 5: Project Management.

3. Objective of the Environmental Assessment (EA): To be in line with the World Bank

(WB) safeguard policy (OP/BP 4.01) an EA was carried out to examine environmental issues

and impacts associated with the project based on a river basin approach. The EA presents the

policy, legal, and institutional aspects relevant to the environmental management and natural

disaster situations; assessed the potential impacts both positive and negative, including

consideration on alternative options; and proposed measures to mitigate the potential negative

impacts, including recommendation to strengthen the environmental management during the

design of the Project.

4. National policy and institution framework: The Government has established national

policy, regulations, and institution related to environmental management and natural disaster.

Law on Environmental Protection (2005) sets out regulations requiring an Environmental

Impact Assessment (EIA) or an Environmental Protection Commitment (EPC) for a

development project. The EIA report is developed at an early stage of the project preparation

(feasibility study).

5. World Bank’s safeguard policy: The Project has been assigned as category “B” and

WB clearance of the mitigation measures is required. The Project triggers the following six

WB’s safeguard policies: Environmental Assessment (OP/BP 4.01); 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); and Projects on International Waterways

(OP/BP 7.50). It has also to comply with the policy on Public Consultation and Information

Disclosure. The Project will not affect critical natural habitats/protected areas and/or involve

forest logging/production.

6. Environmental background: The existing environmental conditions in the Central

Region are presented including those in the context of river basins especially for Ma river

basin, Ca river basin, Thach Han river basin, Gianh river basin, Vu Gia-Thu Bon river basin,

Tra Khuc-Tra Bong river basin, and Kone river basin. Most of the rivers are short and steep

causing fast water flows and accumulation of sediment at the river mouths. The Project area


2

lies within the tropical monsoon region, with an average temperature of 27oC. The Central

Region’s climate is divided into two major patterns, the North Central and the South Central

Coast. The air quality is generally good, except in some urban areas where levels of dust and

noise are relatively high. Across the entire area, the groundwater quality is good and can be

used for domestic water supply. However, high content of iron or manganese or salinity can

be observed in some specific areas. Surface water quality is also good, except the high content

of total suspended solids due to riverbank erosion. However, the water quality is often

degraded during and after heavy rains or storms. The soil quality of the region is generally

good. The terrestrial ecosystems of the region mainly consist of natural and plantation forests.

Freshwater ecosystems in the Project area are not unique and many National Parks and Natural

Resources Reserves of high biodiversity value have been established.

7. Population densities of most of river basins are below the national average, except Tra

Khuc and Kone river basins. All of river basins have rural population, accounting for more than

70% of the total population. Agricultural, forest, and vacant land areas are being reduced due to

construction of transportation network, irrigation system, hydropower plants, urban areas and

factories. The infrastructure in the Project area is still poor, especially the rural road systems

which haven’t met the need for transportation and rescue in heavy rains or floods. The

regional economy is still in a difficult situation and the marine resources are being over-

exploited.

8. The Central Region often experiences most of the different types of natural disasters in

Vietnam, of which the most frequent are floods, typhoons, heat waves, and droughts. Floods

and inundations in the region usually occur on a large scale, simultaneously in several

provinces, sometimes cover the entire region. Floods have been hitting the region more

frequently and more fiercely, causing human casualties, property damage, and soil and water

pollution. Storms and tropical low pressures are happening more regularly and intensely.

9. Positive Impacts: The overall impacts of the Project will be positive. Results of the

assessment show that the Project would benefit the country and local communities, namely:

(i) Reduction of human losses and property damage by protecting approximately 900,000

people (more than 210,000 households), including people of 5 ethnic groups: Muong, Thai,

Co Tu, H’re and Cham, and nearly 50 thousand of hectares of productive land from annual

floods and droughts; (ii) Facilitation for socio-economic development and improvement in

living standards for local people in the project areas; (iii) Raising community awareness and

natural disaster risk management capacity of different levels; and (iv) Improvement in quality

of living environment. Technical assistance and financial support to be provided under

Components 1, 2, and 3 will continue to strengthen policy and institutional capacity of key

agencies at national and local levels as well as capacity of local communities to address

natural disaster issues.

10. Negative Impacts: The negative impacts will be mainly due to civil works to be carried

out under Component 4, especially those related to: (i) Land acquisition and resettlement of

local people including ethnic minority people and gravesites and (ii) Site clearance and

construction which could temporary increase levels of dust and other air pollution, noise,

vibration, water pollution, local traffic volume, safety risk, and other impacts on local

residents and businesses. The impacts, however, will be small to moderate, localized, and

temporary considering that civil works will only be limited to rehabilitation and upgrading,

and can be mitigated through good construction management and practices with close

supervision of contractors by field/site engineers and in consultation with local authorities and

local residents. To mitigate these impacts a standard Environmental Code of Practices

(ECOP) has been developed and will be included in the bidding and contract documents for


3

the Component 4 subprojects. There are UXO risks during construction but this risk is

considered moderate and could be mitigated through an UXO examination and clearance (as

needed), prior to the commencement of civil works. There are also risks during operation if

the infrastructures are not properly designed and/or maintained adequately and/or sluices are

not properly operated. However, these risks are also considered moderate and could be

mitigated through proper design, close consultation among stakeholders, and the capacity

building activities to be carried out under Components 1, 2, and 3. Risk related to coastal

erosion could be mitigated through proper design of coastal structure and consultation with

nearby local authorities and communities. The Project will not affect any national and local

physical cultural resources, historical sites, and nature and biodiversity reserves.

11. Potential negative impacts of Component 3 subprojects will be limited to community

infrastructure and very small works such as construction of buildings and meteorological

stations and they can be mitigated through the participatory planning process and/or the

application of good construction practices. A simple ECOP has also been developed and it

will be applied to bidding and/or construction contracts for Component 3.

12. Environmental Safeguard Management Framework (ESMF) and other Environmental

Safeguard Documents/Instruments: Given that the subprojects will be implemented in phases

an ESMF has been prepared to ensure that the subprojects and activities to be financed under

the Project would not create adverse impacts on the local environment and local communities

and the residual and/or unavoidable impacts will be adequately mitigated in line with the

WB’s safeguard policy. The ESMF process describes criteria for safeguard screening of

subprojects, including an exclusion list, and identification of impacts; basic principles for

development of mitigation measures; requirements for WB safeguard clearance; and

implementation, supervision, monitoring, and reporting. The ESMF also provides guidelines

for preparation of an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for a subproject, including

actions to facilitate effective implementation of the EMP, institutional arrangement, safeguard

training and capacity building, and budget allocation and source of funds. EMPs have been

prepared for the year 1/phase 1 subprojects. For the subproject involving dam safety, a Dam

Safety Framework (DSF) has also been prepared including guidelines for preparation of a

Dam Safety Report (DSR) for large dams and a Dam Safety Inspection Report (DSIR) for

small dams. The ESMF is prepared as a stand alone document and is closely connected to

other social safeguard policy documents of the Project, namely the Ethnic Minority Policy

Framework (EMPF), the Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs), and the Ethnic Minority

Development Plans (EMDPs).

13. Implementation arrangement: The Central Project Management Office (CPMO) in the

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has overall responsibility for ESMF

implementation within the Project, including training on safeguard policy frameworks and action

plans (ESMF/EMP, DSF/DSRs/DSIRs, RPF/RAPs, and EMPF/EMDPs) for the Provincial

Project Management Units (PPMUs) and other related units; selecting an external monitoring

agency; supervising and reporting on environmental and social issues. The PPMUs would be

responsible for the development and implementation of the safeguard action plans (EMPs,

DSRs/DSIRs, RAPs, EMDPs) in cooperation with the District Resettlement Committees

(DRCs) and local agencies and regularly monitor the implementation. CPMO will supervise and

monitor the implementation of safeguard measures at least twice a year and report annual

monitoring results to the World Bank.

14. Public Consultation: In consistency with the Bank’s requirements regarding public

consultation and information disclosure, consultations were carried out during the preparation

of the EA and ESMF one in June-July 2011 and one in September 2011. Participants in these


4

consultations included farmer and fisherman households likely to be directly or indirectly

affected by the Project, local authorities; central and local state agencies, NGOs, civil society

organizations, etc. Stakeholders’ issues and concerns were taken into account in the

preparation of the safeguard documents. Most of the provinces and communities in the project

area showed enthusiasm in supporting the implementation of the Project and wished that the

Project would be carried out soon.


5

1.1 Background

15. As one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, Vietnam is highly susceptible to

typhoons, floods, seawater intrusion, landslides, drought, and forest fires. In November 2007,

the Government of Vietnam (GoV) approved a National Disaster Prevention, Response, and

Mitigation to 2020 strategy which lays out the country’s primary disaster risk management

objectives. Investment needs, covering both infrastructure and institutional capacities were

estimated. In October 2009, the Government released an Implementation Plan pertaining to

this strategy. The Plan designated the Central Committee for Flood and Storm Control

(CCFSC), within the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), as the focal

point for implementation. Responsible provincial and local committees are responsible for

addressing disaster risk management in an integrated manner.

16. The World Bank (WB) has been active in supporting disaster risk management and

water resources management through the Natural Disaster Management Project (WB4), which

has been under implementation since May 2006 and planned to be completed in June 2011. It

has supported investments in disaster mitigating infrastructure (e.g. safe harbors for fishing

boats, sea dyke construction, etc.), provided support for post-disaster reconstruction in eight

provinces affected by typhoons in 2007 and 2008. It has also successfully piloted the concept

of community based disaster risk management in 30 communes, and provided technical

assistance in disaster damage assessment, disaster risk management-related budgetary

planning, and other areas. In addition, the Bank has been providing the Government with

training, technical assistance, and analytical inputs on various DRM matters under the Global

Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR). The program has applied the concept

of Climate Resilient Cities in Vietnam, explored options for financial plans related to disaster

risks, raised public awareness in disaster risks, and undertaken disaster risk assessments in

selected provinces. Based on recent disaster risk management investment experience,

especially the WB4 project, MARD - on behalf of the Government - and the WB have been

developing a new project to continue providing support on national disaster risk management

namely Vietnam Managing Natural Hazards Project (VN-Haz, the Project). This Project will

apply lessons learned from other projects. The Project will be implemented in 10 provinces in

the Central Coast of Vietnam, which are most likely to be affected by typhoons and floods.

Typhoons and floods in the Central Coast often occur with high frequency and severity and

cause serious damages. Provinces covered by the project will be Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha

Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh and Ninh

Thuan.

17. The Central Project Office (CPO) of Water Resources Projects under MARD has been

charged with Project preparation and lists of priority activities and investments have been

proposed and feasibility studies have been carried out.

18. To be eligible for WB funding the proposed Project must comply with the WBs

safeguard policies that are triggered for the Project, including: Environmental Assessment

(OP/BP 4.01); 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); as well as the Public Consultation and Information

Disclosure. Moreover, individual EIA and/or Environmental Protection Commitment (EPC)

for each specific subproject will be prepared and submitted for GoV approval as required by

the Government’s EIA regulations.


6

19. To meet the WB safeguard requirement per OP/BP 4.01, preparation and WB approval

of an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Project, including the Environmental and Social

Management Framework (ESMF) and the Environmental Management Plans (EMPs) for the

first year subprojects are required. The Consultancy & Technology Transfer Company of

Hanoi Water Resources University has been contracted for the preparation of the EA, and the

ESMF. The assignment was carried out from 1 June 2011 to 10 September 2011. The main

activities included collection of project information and background data, field visits to the 10

provinces for collection of environmental data (water, sediment, etc.), field surveys, and

consultation with key agencies and authorities located in the regions, in particular the local

authorities and line departments such as the Provincial Department of Natural Resources and

Environment (DONRE) of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE),

the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) of MARD, and the

provincial Department of Planning and Investment (DPI) under the Ministry of Planning and

Investment (MPI). The results are provided in this report.

1.2. Objectives and Scope

20. The main purpose of the EA is to identify potential impacts of the Project to ensure that

potential negative impacts are adequately mitigated to an acceptable level and that an

opportunity to enhance the potential positive impacts is integrated in the Project design. The

following approach was used in the preparation of this EA:

Study Approaches

Desk review. Review of Project description, draft feasibility studies of the proposed

subprojects, environmental conditions (land use, etc.) of the Project area as well as the

proposed subprojects sites, WB safeguard policies and documents for previous and

existing similar projects, Government regulations applicable to the project, etc.

Conduct a preliminary assessment of potential environmental impacts of the sub-

projects by classifying the subprojects according to types of works, area/basin,

social/environmental risks/impacts, etc. and identify the subproject with significant

risks so that field visits and/or primary data collection could be made.

Carry out surveys and field studies to collect data on water, air, land use, sediment,

etc. Collect relevant data from related agencies and partners from central to local

levels.

Apply environmental matrixes and checklists for each type of subproject works to

facilitate the planning for minimizing the potential environmental risks and

maximizing the environmental benefits; Study existing materials and descriptions of

subprojects; Use professional knowledge and working experience in the country and

discuss with key agencies and other national consultants working on feasibility studies

and other technical aspects as well as the WB’s environmental and social specialists.

Propose an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) and technical

guidelines for preparation of an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for the

subprojects given that they will be implemented in phases. Resettlement Policy

Framework (RPF), Ethnic Minority Policy Framework (EMPF), and and Dam Safety

Framework (DSF) are also being prepared to guide the preparation of actions when

land acquisition, resettlement, ethnic minority, and dam safety are involved. These

policy frameworks are prepared in line with WB safeguard policy requirements and


7

will be translated into local language and disclosed locally and at WB’s InfoShop and

Hanoi office.

Conduct public consultation in line with the Government guidelines taken into account

WB policy and guidelines on consultation.

Structure of the Report

21. Given that the ESMF and DSF are prepared separately, this report will therefore

briefly summarizes the key points of these frameworks while details are referred to the ESMF

and DSF. Other social safeguard documents referred in this report such as the Social

Assessment (SA), the RPF, and the EMPF are also prepared as standalone documents. In this

context the EA report is divided into -7 chapters and 7 annexes as follows:

Chapter 1 Introduction

Chapter 2 Project Description

Chapter 3 Policy, Legal, and Institutional Frameworks

Chapter 4 Environmental Background

Chapter 5 Environmental Impact Assessment

Chapter 6 Proposed Mitigation Measures

Chapter 7 Public Consultation

Annex 1: Subproject List and Location Maps

Annex 2: National Policies and Institutions

Annex 3: Background on Key River Basins

Annex 4: Background on Natural Disaster

Annex 5: Initial Screening of the Potential Negative Impacts of Subprojects

Annex 6: Public Consultation

Annex 7: Pictures of Field Trip and Public Consultation


8

CHAPTER 2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION

22. This chapter presents the Project objectives and components including the Project areas

and proposed subprojects. Locations of the proposed subprojects are presented in Annex 1.

2.1. Project Objectives and Components

23. The project development objective is to increase the resilience of the people and

economic assets to natural hazards in selected river basins of the project provinces within the

overall framework of the Vietnam’s National Disaster Prevention, Response and Mitigation

Strategy Towards 2020. To achieve this objective, a river basin approach has been used in the

Project design by focusing investments in major river basins, integrating components

activities to avoid small and scattered efforts, and applying structural and non-structural

measures to reduce the vulnerability to natural disasters. The Project activities will be

implemented through the following five components:

Component 1: Strengthening Disaster Risk Management Institutions, Information

Systems and Planning (US$ 7.0 million).

24. The specific objective of Component 1 is to strengthen institutional and technical

capacities at national, provincial and local level on disaster risk management (DRM) in order

to better plan and mitigate hazard risks, thereby reducing potential loss of life, damage to

property, and economic disruption. The institutional strengthening will be in line with the

priorities outlined in the National Strategy for Natural Disaster Prevention, Response and

Mitigation to 2020 its national Action Plan and draft DRM law, which serves as the

overarching document for the Government's approach to disaster management and MARD’s

Institutional Vision for 2020.

25. The component will focus on the institutional mechanisms relevant to national,

provincial and local levels as well as regional scale for hydromet services. The DRM

institutions of 10 provinces of Central Vietnam (Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh,

Quang Tri, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh and Ninh Thuan) will be covered

with an renewed focus on a river basin approach.

26. Component 1 will have three sub-components: (i) Strengthening DRM institutions, (ii)

Improvement of the DRM information systems, and (iii) Support for the integration of DRM

in river basin Planning.

27. Under the first sub-component, Strengthening DRM Institutions, the project will

provide relevant support to implement the National Platform on Disaster Preparedness,

Prevention and Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change. This activity aims to facilitate

inter-ministerial coordination meetings, policy dialogue and knowledge-sharing mechanisms

between the government ministries, development partners, academic institutions, NGOs and

private sector. One of the outputs of this activity will be to develop an on-line web-based

knowledge sharing portal on Disaster Risk Management (DRM) and Climate Change

Adaptation (CCA) at national level. The sub-component will also review and update DRM

codes, standards and technical manuals for water resources management at river basin level.

Technical assistance will be given for a study on the feasibility of financing mechanisms for

DRM.

28. The sub-component will support the establishment of 8 Provincial Disaster

Management Centers (PDMCs) in the project target provinces (except in Quang Ngai and Da

Nang where PDMCs already exist). This would include renovation of office facilities and


9

basic equipments. Before establishing PDMCs, a detailed study on the performance of

existing PDMCs and standing office of PCFSC will be conducted in order to propose the most

relevant PDMC model. The experience and lessons learned from the existing PDMCs and

river basin approach adopted in this project will be considered while establishing PDMCs in

eight provinces.

29. The sub-component will strengthen DRM technical capacity of government agencies

at different levels. This will require an update of training needs assessment of national and

provincial level agencies involved in DRM work which was done by the on-going Bank-

financed NDRMP, and subsequent training would cover all aspects of DRM such as risk,

vulnerability assessments, preparedness, search and rescue, and response. The National level

Disaster Management Centre (DMC), which is mandated to offer CBDRM training to

provincial and district level staff, will be supported with technical assistance to improve

training content. Technical expertise on CBDRM will be strengthened at the provincial and

lower levels following a Training of Trainers (ToT) approach, using an experienced local

consultancy firm to conduct the trainings. The national DMC would provide supervision,

technical guidance and monitoring of these trainings.

30. The CBDRM training curriculum will integrate on-going capacity development related

to Community Based Adaptation (CBA). This activity is closely related to component 3

(CBDRM), and ToT training would cover all 10 provinces. The ToT training will target

provincial level staff, and after the training, these staff would participate together with other

experts in providing similar trainings to selected district and commune (component 3) level

staff. It is proposed to conduct CBDRM trainings in each of the 28 districts selected under

component 3. This sub-component will also support international training on DRM and study

tours.

31. The second sub-component, Improvement of the DRM information Systems, will

support DRM databases, spatial interpretation tools, and dam/reservoir safety information

systems. Strengthening existing DRM databases and information systems include update

and addition of indicators such as hazards, vulnerability, risks, livelihood groups, data on

damage and loss, socio-economic information and post disaster interventions. MARD’s

current information collection procedures will be improved and linked to the proposed

information systems. In addition, links will be established to existing socio-economic

database of General Statistics Office (GSO) of Vietnam. Interactivity of the databases is

expected to be enhanced by strengthening query and quality checking procedures. This

activity will help to harmonize all existing DRM databases and provide access to agencies

involved in DRM related work.

32. A database on smaller dams/reservoirs held by MARD is currently not available at the

provincial level. There are at least three different management layers of reservoirs (provincial,

district and commune level), and lack of coordination and information exchange weakens the

reservoir operation and disaster preparedness. Improved coordination and sharing of

information can promote better management of these reservoirs and protect lives and

livelihood assets. The project will support: (i) an inventory of existing medium and small

scale reservoirs, their safety standards, operational procedures; (ii) development of a software

that can be applied at national and provincial level; (iii) development of guidelines for safety

of medium and small reservoir/dam operations in 10 provinces, and (iv) a training program on

how to use the database, software and on guidelines for safety of medium and small reservoir

operations to provincial and district staff.


10

33. The third sub-component, Support for the Integration of DRM in River Basin

Planning, will help integrate DRM into river basin management. In particular, the sub-

component would support: (a) data collection and assessment of exposure, risks and

vulnerability at the basin scale, (b) identification of vulnerable areas, and possible structural

and non-structural measures to mitigate the natural disaster risks. The sub-component will

cover all river basins in the 10 project provinces to be supported under the project, and take

place in two phases: a study phase and the preparation of the river basin plan itself.

34. The study phase will assess the main DRM problems in the river basins (such as

environmental degradation, soil erosion, drought, landslides, sedimentation, solid waste

management, water quality, flood impacts); the climate change impacts on the major river

basins; flood mapping combining existing hazard and vulnerability maps prepared under

NDRMP project with new data sets; an institutional analysis; and an inventory of existing

plans (land use, provincial disaster management plans, agriculture, transport). The DRM

priorities and basin risk maps would then be integrated into river basin plans.

35. At present, nine out of ten provinces have prepared Integrated DRM Plans (IDRMs)

under the Bank-funded NDRMP project. At the same time, the National Target Programme on

Climate Change requests provinces to prepare provincial plans on adaptation to climate

change. Given that there are similarities with respect to actions under DRM and CCA and that

promoting two similar plans may add complexity for the provincial authorities, there is a need

to integrate CCA into DRM action plans aiming to address short term priorities, but at the

same time with long-term perspectives. This activity will promote a joint action plan for CCA

and DRM in 10 provinces based on lessons and experiences from IDRMP exercise and

updated comprehensive vulnerability and risk analysis.

36. Finally, the sub-component will provide training on the use of hydrological models

and GIS tools to DRM staff at provincial level and will be closely linked to component 2 of

the project. This activity will promote use of existing data on land use, vulnerabilities and risk

maps from NDRMP project combined with satellite imageries for preparation of flood maps

in eight river basins (Ma, Ca, Vu Gia-Thu Bon, Tra Khuc Tra Bong, Kone Ha Thanh, Thach

Han, Gianh, Cai Phan Rang). These flood maps will contribute to preparation of river basin

plans and joint action plans for DRM and CCA described above. Technical specialists from

the sub-Department for Water Resources and Flood and Storm Control within the provincial

DARD, MARD’s Water Resources Directorate and Faculty of Hydrology in Water Resources

University (WRU) will be trained on modeling, use of satellite maps and GIS.

Component 2: Strengthening Weather Forecasting and Early Warning Systems ($30.0

million)

37. The objectives of component 2 are to strengthen hydrometeorological services,

weather forecasting and early warning systems for disaster preparedness at all levels and to

improve delivery of locally relevant early warning products and services. Particular emphasis

will be given to strengthening the integration of the existing and planned hydro-met

components in the country. Two sub-components will be implemented: (i) Designing and

implementing an integrated national hydromet forecasting and early warning system and end-

to-end applications at the regional and provincial level; and (ii) Strengthening hydromet

observation and monitoring network, computer hardware and ICT infrastructure.

38. Sub-Component 2.1 Technical Assistance for development and implementation of an

integrated National Hydromet forecasting and EW System and end-to-end applications ($6

million): This sub-component will cover the technical assistance to design a nation-wide


11

integrated system and to provide overall guidance and implementation support. This will

include the preparation of hydrometeorological implementation plans for the national and

central region and the design of a nation-wide communication system. Priorities to be

addressed include (i) Analysing institutional frameworks, staff capacity requirements and

Preparation of Concept of Operation; (ii) providing technical advice on software, forecasting

models, instruments, computer architecture and data processing; (iii) Instrument

specifications, ensuring inter-operability of the observation networks and contract

performance monitoring; and (iv) providing support for the development and testing of a

sustainable hydromet business model. An Integrator will be hired at the beginning of the

project to develop a detailed framework and to support and monitor the implementation of the

integrated system.

39. Technical support will be provided for the maintenance and operation of hard- and

software of weather forecasting and early warning systems according to the developed

concept of operation. The national level strengthening will ensure better integration of the

planned improvements (observation, forecasting and communication infrastructures) proposed

for three regional hydrometeorological centers (north-central, mid-central, and southern)

under sub-component 2.2. Synergies and collaboration will be sought with other proposed and

existing investment programs, including the Government-funded MONRE investment

program and donor-funded programs such as the Italian ODA program phase I & II, the

Mekong River Commission’s-HYCOS, the USAID support and the Japan International

Cooperation Agency (JICA) assistance.

40. An overall training strategy will be developed to improve the technical capacity at

national, regional and provincial levels based on user information needs and institutional

analysis. The objectives of the training are to maintain the hard- and software, use the weather

and hydrological models and analyse model outputs (down-scaling), and prepare quality

forecast products and early warning information. The capacity development programs will

include training on weather forecasting, drought monitoring, storm surge prediction, seasonal

climate prediction and assessment of climate change impacts. Improvement of forecast

models and other software include high resolution non-hydrostatic Numerical Weather

Prediction (NWP) models, topography and land use database, ensemble multi-scale weather

forecast models for short range forecasts, hydrological and hydraulic models for flood

forecasting and flash flood warning, integration of radar data (existing) for hydraulic models

and development of techniques for quantitative precipitation estimate from radar and visual

display and analysis system.

41. User interaction, climate data and information sharing will be strengthened by

establishing a national user forum (linked to a national platform supported under component

1). This sub-component includes study tours and on-the-job training for managers.

Strengthening of end-to-end application includes user training on interpretation of early

warning products for provincial departments, district staff and communities for better

informed decisions. Three regional hydro-met centers (north-central, mid-central and

southern) are included.

42. Sub-Component 2.2. Strengthening hydro-met observation and monitoring

network, computer hardware and ICT infrastructure ($20 million): This sub-component

will support the establishment of multi-hazard early warning systems, including the

installation of automated hydro-meteorological observing networks and communication

systems through provision of equipment and relevant training.


12

43. Major priorities to be addressed include: (i) Upgrading ICT infrastructure and

computer hardware at national, regional and provincial NHMS centers, (ii) modernization of

hydromet observation and monitoring infrastructure in north-central, mid-central and southern

regional centers; and (iii) improvement of technical capacity to maintain instruments,

including observation, data transfer and communication between provincial, regional and

national hydro-met centers. Installation of computer systems and forecast interpretation tools

such as GIS mapping facility to deliver rapid location-specific forecasts are included. Three

regional hydro-met centers (north-central, mid-central and southern) are included under this

sub-component1This sub-project would be implemented in the two phases: (a) Phase 1

(southern region) to complete the initiative taken by the NDRMP, and (b) Phase 2 (national

and central region).

44. Major investments include High Performamce Computer (HPC) hardware and

operating software, service development and technical support for the national center,

upgradation of computer hardwares and operating softwares, service development and

technical support for the provincial centres; modernization and upgrading of existing

meteorological stations and automatic weather stations, upgrading to SMS automated rain

gauge networks, automatic water level and rain gauge stations, integrated discharge and

suspended sediment, water level and rainfall measuring devices and boats for discharge and

velocity measurements. This sub-component covers upgrading of communication networks to

connect provincial and regional centres with the national centre and setting up a LAN and

other communication networks in three regional centres, together with a reliable backup

system. Real time status of major and important reservoirs will be included within the LAN

communication network for development of flood forecasting services. Upgrading of

equipment and networks will be closely coordinated with ODA activities to avoid potential

duplication and overlaps.

45. The sub-component will include support for the southern regional hydromet centre.

This support will facilitate an upgrade of meteorological instruments and an enhancement of

the hydrological monitoring along the Mekong river. The support in question will focus on the

design and establishment of an automated hydrologic network and on defining clear operating

procedures for the network. The modernization will cover automatic weather stations, river

discharge measurements devices, suspended sediment measurement, sounding depth

measurement device, automatic water level recorders and flood measurement poles; and

calibration and evaluation of flood danger/alarm levels. It will also help complete the

renovation/construction of office buildings for five provincial centres and other fire fighting

and early warning equipments. Training and capacity development activities include operation

and maintenance of automatic weather stations, maintenance of water level and rain

measurement devices and maintenance of discharge and water depth measurement

instruments.

Component 3: Community-Based Disaster Risk Management ($22.0 million)

47. This component will build on the successful pilot experiences in community-based

disaster preparedness including safer commune planning and risk management awareness

under the current Bank-financed NDRMP project. It also introduces new design features,

including river basin approaches, cluster approaches, interactive Management Information

1 The priority (i) on “modernization of measurement/monitoring infrastructure and data transfer” will be excluded

for mid-central region as this has already been covered by ODA assistance to the Regional Hydro-Meteorological Centre located in Da Nang.


13

System (MIS) with commune reporting by cell phone and private sector-commune

partnerships.

48. The objective of this component is to help implement the GoV’s national CBDRM

strategy (Decision 1002/QD-TTg). As a result this component, approximately 100 communes

will be better prepared for natural disaster events.

49. The selection of communes will be carried using a clustering approach which will

ensure that the communes selected are those benefiting from the larger scale infrastructure

investments supported under Component 4. This integration, following a river basin approach,

will maximize and better sustain the impacts from the larger scale DRM investments as well

as the commune level engagement. Under the first phase of the DRM investments, 27

communes have been identified for support (see Table 1). The identification of the remaining

communes will be conducted after project inception. The abovementioned objective will be

achieved through two sub-components: (i) Commune Institutional Strengthening and (ii)

CBDRM Investments.

Table 1. The List of Proposed Commune for Phase 1 CBDRM Activities

No Province District Commune River basin

1 Thanh Hoa Yen Dinh Yen Thinh Ma river

2 Dinh Hoa Ma river

3 Dinh Thanh Ma river

4 Dinh Cong Ma river

5 Dinh Binh Ma river

6 Dinh Tuong Ma river

7 Yen Tam Ma river

8 Yen Giang Ma river

9 Thieu Hoa Thieu Thanh Ma river

10 Tho Xuan Xuan Vinh Ma river

11 Ha Tinh Cam Xuyen Cam Phuc Rac River

12 Cam Long/

Thien Cam town Rac River

13 Cam Nhuong Rac River

14 Cam Thang Rac River

15 Quang Nam Duy Xuyen Duy Phu Thu Bon river

16 Duy Thu Thu Bon river

17 Duy Tan Thu Bon river

18 Duy Hoo Thu Bon river

19 Binh Dinh Tuy Phuoc Phuoc Hoa Kon river

20 Phuoc Hiep Kon river

21 Phuoc Quang Kon river

22 Phuoc Loc Kon river

23 Phuoc Thuan Ha Thanh river

24 An Nhon Nhon An Kon river

25 Nhon Phong Kon river

26 Nhơo Hau Kon river

27 Nhon Khanh Ha Thanh river

28 Nhon Hung Ha Thanh river

50. Commune Institutional Strengthening ($2.0 million). This sub-component aims to

develop the capacity of participating commune-level stakeholders and agencies2 to plan and

2 Commune-level stakeholders and agencies in this document refer to not only government


14

engage in a broad range of risk reduction measures encompassing “pre-, during- and post-

disaster” activities. Gender equality and integration will be ensured through these capacity

development initiatives, as too will be the focus on vulnerable groups. Main activities

include:

Strengthening of commune-level flood and storm risks management procedure. This

activity will help commune-based institutions to prepare a commune-annual flood and

storm risks management plan (CAFSCP) on yearly basis. 3

The plan will improve early

warning and support the Communal Committee for Flood and Storm Control (CFSC)

and its counterparts to understand responsibilities during pre- and post-disaster

activities.

Training for commune-based institution leaders. The project will provide training to

improve capacity of CFSC, CBDRM facilitators and other commune-level stakeholders

and agencies (see Appendix 1 for details of training).

Development of inter-communal support platforms. This activity will develop an inter-

communal support platform where leaders of the CFSCs and commune-based

institutions conduct exchange visits to plan co-operation for pre- and post-disaster

activities, including joint evacuation exercises, post-disaster clean up and relief

operations.

Community Resilient Planning: Each participating commune will: (i) identify its

vulnerability through a participatory risk assessment; (ii) prepare and update commune-

level annual flood and storm control plans (CAFSCP) based on the risk assessment;

and (iii) integrate the CAFSCP into commune socio-economic development plans.

Private sector-commune partnerships. This project seeks to develop enterprise-

community collaboration for enhancing commune resilience to disasters and thereby

support the Government’s development objectives under the National Community-

Based DRM Program and the National Program of Developing New Rural Areas, both

of which highlight private sector engagement as a key requisite for successful

implementation.

51. CBDRM Investments ($18.0 million). This sub-component will fund CBDRM

activities identified in the updated CAFSCPs. Risk reduction measures will include non-

structural and structural measures determined through the VCA and CAFSCP and driven by

the needs of the local communities, which would include representatives of most vulnerable

in the communes.

Non-structural measures: Activities will include evacuation drills, public

awareness raising, communications/early warning systems, provision of small

equipment such as small boats, pumps, and first aid kits. Activities will be

followed by participatory workshops to review the results and document the

lessons learned in the CAFSCP.

Structural measures: The project would support the participating communes to

construct small-scale physical structural measures in a hazard-resilient manner.

These would include multi-purpose shelters, evacuation roads, bridges, river bank

agencies, institutions, political parties and interest groups, but also other private organizations and citizens.

3 This activity would build on existing manuals such as CCFSC Manual/Handbook, the “four on the

spots’ motto” and CCFSC “Emergency response and early recovery guidelines”.


15

rehabilitation, retention ponds as well as reforestations and other structures

identified by the target communes. The project will also provide support to prepare

plans and designs for such prevention measures and plans for the management,

operation and maintenance of each structural measure built. The CPC would be

responsible for monitoring and reporting on the progress and quality of

construction as well as for preparing and implementing operational and

maintenance guidelines.

52. Monitoring and Evaluation of CBDRM. As a part of the project-wide M&E

framework, the project will set up a CBDRM monitoring system that will be both

participatory and also use a web-based Management Information System (MIS) at national

and sub-national levels. The system will record the performance of each commune in close to

real time. Key performance information on the status of project implementation will be

available to authorized users at national and provincial level.

Component 4: Priority Disaster Risk Mitigation Investments ($104.7m)

53. A river basin approach will be used to identify and prioritize major DRM investments

(subprojects) within the four selected river basins in the Central Region. The structural

measures will mitigate risks posed by storms, floods, landslides and drought, including river

and sea dykes/ embankments, safe harbors, rescue roads and bridges, and reservoirs. The

Government strategy on reservoirs for disaster management objective would mainly be

focusing on rehabilitation of selected existing dams and reservoirs to improve their safety.

The rehabilitation would involve safety measures such as lowering and/or expansion of

existing spillway or building addition spillway, additional backfill with better compaction of

the main dam and its auxiliary apparatus, termite treatment, grouting, and installation of

safety monitoring devices.

54. Based on the Integrated DRM Plans (IDRMPs) developed under the on-going Bank-

financed NDRMP project in all 12 project provinces using hydraulic modeling technology

piloted in the three provinces of Thanh Hoa, Quang Tri and Quang Nam. These plans provide

number of priority infrastructure investments within the context of disaster risk management

and climate change adaptation for long-term benefits. These plans have been reviewed and

endorsed by MARD and the provincial authorities.

55. Experience learned from the on-going Bank-financed NDRMP project proved that an

investment of approximately UD$ 12 million protecting 12 communes with population of

64,000 and 5,271 hectares of rice land. A dam safety investment with budget of US$ 6 million

protected 8 communes living downstream 80,960 population and about 4,500 hectares of

agricultural land. Similarly an amount of US$ 2.5 million to build a safe harbor in one of the

province in the Central Coast that helped protect about 1,500 small fishing boats to evacuate

during the typhoons season of the last and this year. This proves that priority infrastructure

investments are crucial to protect livelihood and economic assets of local people who are

living in the disaster-prone areas. This is also confirmed in the Government’s strategy on

DRM prevention and mitigation.

56. Phase 1 Investments: These will include the high priority specified in the approved

IDRMPs, and are most advanced in term of preparation including technical engineering,

economic/financial, social safeguards aspects. A maximum of two such ‘subprojects’ would

be implemented per one province over the course of the first two years of the project


16

depending on the readiness of preparation of subprojects. Greater priority would be given to

those subprojects that incorporate a river basin approach, and have complementary

investments under other components clustered nearby. Six subprojects have been confirmed

as ready for inclusion in Phase 1 spanning in 5 provinces, including four dyke or embankment

upgrading, one bridge with connecting rescue roads, and one reservoir upgrade. These are:

(i) 42 km. of a river dyke system in a tributary of Ma river basin in Thanh Hoa province

(ii) 7 km. of river bank protection and 3 km. of rescue roads and 100 m. birdge in Ca river

basin in Nghe An (2 subprojects)

(iii)11.5 km of Phuc-Long-Nhuong Sea-dyke improvement in Ha Tinh province, prepared

by the current NDRMP project

(iv) Dam safety improvement in Vu Gia-Thu Bon river basin in Quang Nam province

(v) 4 km. of River embankment erosion protection in Kon river basin in Binh Dinh

province

57. Phase 2 Investments: These investments would include other high priority physical

investments that need further detailed preparation work after project start-up, and that together

with Phase 1 investments fall under within the cost ceilings indicated above. Provinces would

undertake detailed technical, social, environmental and economic design work over the course

of year 1 and 2 and submit these for approval by MARD and no objection by the World Bank

for execution in years 3, 4 and 5. 28 other subprojects are shortlisted for inclusion in Phase 2

including 11 dyke, embankment and weir repair, 3 roads/bridges, 2 harbors and 9 reservoir

subprojects. The harbor works would involve some dredging of sea sand, construction of

breakwater structure, buoys and anchoring system for fishing boats to hire during flood and

typhoon events. Reservoir works would be mainly on rehabilitation a stated earlier. Details of

phase 2 proposed by provinces are in Appendix 1.

Component 5: Project Management ($3.8m)

58. The objective of this component is to deliver sound project coordination, financing

and procurement, as well as ensure timely reporting and lesson learning. This component

provides financial support for those project implementing entities in MARD and MONRE

responsible for project coordination, financial management and procurement, as well as

ensuring compliance with relevant safeguards and fiduciary policies. It would provide

incremental operating cost for implementing agencies at all levels in managing the

implementation of the project.

59. Strengthening of both national and provincial implementation capacity of the project

will include provision of office renovation, equipment facilities and vehicles, external

monitoring on fiduciary and safeguards, internal audit and control, operating expenses and

training. The component will also support the establishment of an effective M&E system for

the project and applicable to the broader DRM sector including tracking the implementation

of the National DRM Strategy. The system will monitor the performance of the various

implementing partners at national and local level and the achievement of project deliverables

as defined in the results framework and detailed M&E design. An independent baseline and

final evaluation will be funded.

60. The detailed design will be prepared by international technical assistance in the first

six months of project implementation. Funding is provided for an independent baseline to take

place between appraisal and project effectiveness, and final evaluation in Year 5. The


17

estimated cost includes contribution from the Government, such as personnel, office space,

and utilities both at the central and provincial level.

2.2. Project Areas and Main Activities

61. The Project areas will cover 10

provinces in the Central Region of

Vietnam including: Thanh Hoa, Nghe

An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri,

Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai,

Binh Dinh, and Ninh Thuan. The areas

will involve four major river basins and

five small basins considered to be

Vietnam’s most disaster-prone areas.

The four major basins are (a) Ma basin

in Thanh Hoa province, (b) Ca basin in

Nghe An province, (c) Vu Gia-Thu Bon

basin in Da Nang and Quang Nam

provinces, and (d) Tra Khuc-Tra Bong

basin Quang Ngai provinces. The five

smaller basins are Giang, Nhat Le,

Thach Han, Kone and Dinh river basins

within Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Binh

Dinh and Ninh Thuan. Figure 3.1

presents the provincial boundaries.

2.2.1. Activities to be implemented under Components 1, 2, 3.

62. Most activities to be implemented under Components 1 and 2 will be related to

technical assistance and capacity building aiming to strengthen planning and forecasting

capacity of the Government at national and provincial levels. Procurement of equipment,

renovations of offices, and construction of small hydrometeorological stations would be

involved.

63. Activities to be implemented under Component 3 aim at implementing a Community-

Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) program. Activities have been proposed for 10

provinces and will include: Support for the establishment or activities of Centers for Disaster

Prevention and Mitigation (CDPMs) at provincial, district and commune levels; Providing

training and communication, awareness raising and capacity strengthening activities on

natural disaster prevention at community levels in select communes; Building and renovating

CDPMs, building disaster prevention storages and public houses, etc. List of activities under

Component 3 is shown in Table 2.1.


18

Table 2.1. List of the activities to be implemented under Component 3

No Component / Sub-component / Activity

Sub C 3.1 Capacity strengthening for CBDRM

A Commune Resilient Planning

1 Commune risk assessment preparation

2 Commune annual flood and storm control plan (CAFSCP) Improvement

3 Integration of safety plan into Socio Economic Development Plan

4 Commune Resilient Planning

B Commune Institution Strengthening

1 Facilitation skill

2 CBDRM, risk assessment and safety plan

3 Exchange visits

4 M&E training

5 Network of CFSC (community for flood and storm control)

6 CPC/CF follow-up training

Sub C 3.2 CBDRM Investments

C CBDRM Non-structural Investment

1 Public evacuation drills

2 Information, education and communication (IEC) material development

3 Public awareness

4 School education and evacuation drills

5 Loud speaker system

6 Safe house design training

7 Mass organization training (first aid, evacuation support, others)

8 Equipment for emergency response

D CBDRM structural measure investment

1 Small scale structures (Multi-purpose shelter, feeder road, pumps,…)

2.2.2. Subprojects under Component 4

64. The subprojects proposed under Component 4 are the structural measures proposed in

the Implementation Plan of the National Disaster Prevention, Response, and Mitigation to

2020 strategy. The subprojects were selected based on the following criteria: i) in line with

the Vietnam’s Second National Strategy and Action Plan on National Disaster Management

and Management for the period 2010 – 2020; ii) under the DRM strategy/plan; iii) proved

benefits from DRM; iv) and/or not yet funded by the Government and donors. DRM

investment subprojects will be integrated into the provincial level economic and social

development and DRM plans. Of the 43 subprojects proposed by the Government 34

subprojects have been selected for consideration and the subproject list and locations are

provided in Annex 1. The proposed subprojects could be classified by type of works as

follows: (1) Upgrading river dikes and revetments; (2) Upgrading rescue roads/bridge; (3)

Upgrading dams and reservoirs; and (4) Dredging of river mouth and upgrading of fish berths.

Scope of the activities are described in Table 2.2. Table 2.3 and Table 2.4 provide the number


19

of the subprojects by provinces and river basins, while Table 2.5 provides a brief description

of the subprojects to be implemented during the first phase.

Table 2.2: Classification of subprojects under Component 4 by type of works

Type of works

No. of

Subpr

ojects

Main activities

(1) Upgrading

river dikes and

revetments,

including roads

and bridges

14

- Upgrading: Raising and widening cross-section, reinforcing dike surface

(combined with traffic way function), construction of wave-prevention walls

on the dike surface, dike slope embankments; Construction of under dyke

culverts; Construction of premises for the dike management and flood and

storm prevention and control unit on the dike, construction of pumping

stations to the river.

- Revetment: Reinforcing river banks mainly with slope revetments (ashlars

or rock gabions aranged in reinforced concrete frames (pile up or excavate

earth to form slope design before reinforcing)); Construction of reinforced

concrete wave-prevention walls on the revetment surface; Construction of

management and operation roads combined with transport ways on top of the

revetments; Construction of drainages to the river.

(2) Upgrading

rescue

roads/bridge

5

Raising and widening rescue road cross-section, stabilize road surface to

facilitate rescue activities; construction of culverts accross the roads,

construction of traffic bridges combined with overflow dam.

(3) Upgrading

dams and

reservoirs,

including

upgrading and

widening flood

drain for An

Trạch weir

12

- Raising and widening cross-section, reinforcing dam surface (combined with

traffic road function and reservoir management and operation function);

Construction of wave-prevention walls on the dam slope; Reinforcing

upstream slope, plantting grass on downstream slope; Supplementing or

repairing drainage structures, new construction or reparing/upgrading flood

drain; New construction or reparing/upgrading sluices; Construction of head

management house; New construction of management and operation roads,

reparing and upgrading irrigation canals.

-Replacing 12 old valvet gates by 12 flat valvet gates operating by electricity

to gain control in operation of flood drain; Widening 2 more drain sections

on two sides of the weir to increase flood drain capacity; Reinforcing

absorption yard and basin; Reparing the weir; Equiping automatic control

system.

(4) Coastal

structure (river

mouth

dredging,

fishing boat

habors

3

Dredging passages to ensure safe water-line for fishing boats to enter habors

to avoid storms; Construction of flow control embankments; construction of

dyke protection for habors and surrounding; Construction of technical

infrastructure for anchorages; Construction of mooring posts.

Total 34

Table 2.3: Number of proposed subprojects under Component 4 by the provinces

Province Thanh

Hoa

Nghe

An

Ha

Tinh

Quang

Binh

Quang

Tri

Da

Nang

Quang

Nam

Quang

Ngai

Binh

Dinh

Ninh

Thuan Total

Number of

subprojects 1 9 2 1 6 4 6 2 2 1 34


20

Table 2.4: Number of proposed subprojects under Component 4 by river basins

River basins Ma Ca

Ha

Vang-

Rac

Gianh

River

Thach

Han

Vu

Gia-

Thu

Bon

Vu

Gia-

Thu

Bon

Tra

Khuc-

Tra

Bong

Kone

River

Dinh

River Total

Number of

subprojects 1 9 2 1 6 4 6 2 2 1 34

Table 2.5: List of the first phase subprojects (5 provinces, 5 basins)

No. Provinces Subprojects

1 Thanh Hoa Maintaining, upgrading and treating the key parts of the left

dyke of Cau Chay river (section from K0-K42)

2 Nghe An Upgrading dike site of Luong Yen Khai, Thanh Chuong

3 Nghe An Bridge combining with overflow connecting rescued roads, Nghi

Loc and Vinh city

4 Ha Tinh Upgrading dike site Phuc Long Nhuong, Cam Xuyen district

5 Binh Dinh Upgrading anti-erosion embankment of Kone river for safety,

An Nhon and Tuy Phuoc district

6 Quang Nam Repairing and upgrading Thach Ban Reservoir, Duy Xuyen

district


21

CHAPTER 3 POLICY, LEGAL, AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK

65. This Chapter briefly presents the WB safeguard policy as well as the national policy,

legal, and institutional frameworks related to natural disaster and environmental management

of which more detailed information on the latter is provided in Annex 2.

2.1 World Bank’s Safeguard Policies

66. WB’s regulations on environmental protection are provided in the form of operational

policies (OPs), including 10 policies, of which OP 4.01 on environmental assessment is an

important environmental policy. To be referred to also is the WB Group’s Environmental

Health and Safety Guidelines. Below summarizes key objectives of WB’s policies triggered

for the Project:

Table 2.1: Relevant WB’s Safeguard Policies

Policy Objective

OP/BP 4.01

Environmental

Assessment

To ensure the environmental and social soundness and sustainability of

investment projects.

To provide decision makers with information on potential environmental and

social impacts related to the project.

To enhance the transparency and participation of affected communities into the

decision making process.

OP/BP 4.11

Physical

Cultural

Resources

The policy aims to avoid, or mitigate, adverse impacts on cultural resources

which are important as sources of valuable historical and scientific information,

as assets for economic and social development, and as integral parts of a

people's cultural identity and practices, including graves and graveyards. The

policy provide guideline to ensure that (a) Physical cultural resources are

identified and protected in the project and (b) National legislations on Physical

Cultural Resources Protection are fully complied with.

OP/BP 4.10

Indigenous

Peoples

To ensure that ethnic peoples: (a) Receive full respect for their dignity, human

rights, and cultural uniqueness; (b) Do not suffer adverse effects during the

development process; (c) Receive culturally compatible social and economic

benefits; and (d) Benefit from consultation and participatory processes.

OP/BP 4.12

Involuntary

Resettlement

To ensure that the following policies will be applied: (a) Avoid or minimize

involuntary resettlement and impacts on economic activities, including loss of

livelihoods; (b) Provide transparent compensation procedures during

involuntary taking of land and other assets; (c) Provide sufficient investment

resources to enable the persons displaced by the project to share in project

benefits (implemented through the Resettlement Action Plan); (d) Restore and

improve the standards of living of persons affected by the project; and (e)

Provide prompt and effective compensation at full replacement cost for losses

of assets attributable directly to the project. Development of Resettlement Plan

and mitigation measures must be carried out based on consultation with affected

populations and participatory approaches.

OP/BP 4.37

Safety of Dams To ensure that dam safety issues are adequately addressed, especially for high

and/or risky dams; The policy applied to new dams, existing dams, and/or dams

under construction that are related to infrastructure to be financed by WB.

OP/BP 7.50

Projects on

International

Waterways

To ensure that the projects neither affect the effective use and protection of

international waterways, nor the relationship between the Bank and the

borrower and between nations sharing the same waterway.


22

67. To comply with these policies, the following safeguard documents have been prepared:

– An Environmental Assessment (EA) assessing the environmental background of the

project as a whole, including the EMPs of first year subprojects, and possible follow-

on year subprojects. A social assessment was also carried out for the Project.

– An Environmental and Social Safeguard Framework (ESMF) for phase 2 subprojects,

including a standard Environmental Code of Practices (ECOP) for civil works to be

carried out under Component 4 and actions related to dam safety and subprojects

related to dredging and upgrading of fishing boat harbor, and a simple ECOP to be

applied to the activities to be implemented under Components 2, 3 that are related to

civil works. The ESMF is prepared separately as a standalone document.

– A Dam Safety Framework (DSF), outlining the policy requirements for ensuring

safety of dams to be rehabilitated and/or upgrading including a technical guideline for

preparation of Dam Safety Report (DSR) and a sample table of content. The DSF will

be applied to all the subprojects involving dams. The DSF is prepared separately as a

standalone document.

– Ethnic Minority Policy Framework (EMPF) and Resettlement Policy Framework

(RPF) clarifying resettlement principles, organizational arrangements and designing

standards applicable to subprojects. The EMPF and RPF are prepared separately as

standalone documents. Relocation of graves will be carried out based on the principle

of replacement cost and in accordance with local cultural practices, taking into account

cultural preferences which are typical for each ethnic group as set out in the RAPs and

EMDPs.

– During the preparation of the EA and ESMF, two consultations were conducted: one

in June-July 2011 and one in September 2011. Participants in these consultations

included farmer and fisherman households directly or indirectly affected by the

projects, local authorities, central and local state agencies, NGOs, civil society

organizations, etc. Stakeholders’ interests were taken into account in the preparation of

the safeguard documents.

2.2 National Policy, Regulations, and Institutional Frameworks

2.2.1 Policy on natural disaster

68. Natural disaster management. On 16 July 2007, the Government approved the

“National Strategy for Natural Disaster Prevention, Response and Mitigation to 2020”.

Accordingly, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) is the standing agency

and to cooperate with relevant agencies to support the Government in executing state

management in the field of disaster management. The overall goal of the Strategy is to

“Mobilize all resources to effectively implement disaster prevention, response and mitigation

from now up to 2020 in order to minimize losses of human life and properties, damage of

natural resources and cultural heritages, and the degradation of environment, contributing

significantly to ensure the country sustainable development, national defense and security”.

To achieve this goal, tasks and measures are laid out as follow: (1) Consolidate the system of

laws, policies and mechanisms; (2) Consolidate organizational structure; (3) Human resources

development and social mobilization, (4) Financial resources; (5) Community awareness

raising; (6) Ensure safety for dyke, reservoir and dam systems; (7) Enhance the search and

rescue capacities; and (8) Promote international cooperation and integration.


23

69. For the Project areas, natural disaster prevention and mitigation tasks and measures in

the strategy include:

(i) North Central Region: Radically prevent floods, and take initiatives in preventing and

responding to storm, drought and storm surge, for which the following solutions must

be taken in places in the same time: making flood control plannings for river systems,

reviewing and adjusting dyke system plannings as bases for activities of dyke

construction, upgrading, protection, and management; strengthening of underdyke

structures; treatment of weak dyke foundation; and reinforcing dyke surface for rural

traffic, etc.

(ii) Central Coast and the Eastern South: the approach applied for the areas is

"Proactiveness in disaster prevention, and adaptation for development", for which

following solutions are considered as priorities: planning residential, industrial and

tourism areas; planning and constructing disaster prevention and mitigation structures,

and transportation infrastructures to ensure flood resilience and drainability; shifting

crops and animal husbandry; strengthening dykes, building reservoirs and

embankment structures, and increasing forestation; building storm shelters for boats

and ships; establishing and upgrading coastal communication stations for typhoon, sea

rise and tsunami warning.

2.2.2 Other policies

70. There are also other policies and plans related to environmental protection,

socioeconomic development, water resources planning, and flood prevention and natural

disaster mitigation that are relevant to the Project. Key policies and plans are highlighted

below while a brief background are provided in Annex 2.

National Strategy for Natural Disaster Prevention, Response, and Mitigation to 2020

National Strategy on Environment Protection to 2010 and Direction to 2020

Planning on Socio-Economic Development of Central Coastal Line to 2020

Water resources planning of regional level and provincial level

Planning on flood prevention and natural-disaster mitigation for key river basins

2.2.3 EIA regulations

71. The Law on Environmental Protection (2005) sets out regulations on strategic

environmental assessment, environmental impact assessment and environmental protection

commitment of development activities. Environmental impact assessment report is developed

at the same time as investment project preparation (feasibility study). Time of preparation,

submission and approval of reports are detailed in Term 2, Article 13 of Circular 26/2011/TT-

BTNMT. The project’s type for the environmental assessment is carried out based on the list

of project types in Annex I and Annex II of Decree 29/2011/ND-CP.

72. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Articles from 12 to 28 in Chapter 3 of

Decree 29/2011/NĐ-CP provide detailed regulations on the preparation, appraisal and

approval of an EIA report, inclduing a detailed description of technical and management

solutions to address negative impacts and environemtnal monitoring program. According to

this Decree, the subprojects under the Project that require an EIA approval are included in

Annex II of the Decree.


24

73. Environmental Protection Commitment (EPC). Article 29 to 36 in Chapter 4 of Decree

No. 29/2011/ND-CP identifies scope of the EPC requirements, including the review and

approval process and responsibilities of the project owners and agencies in charge of the EPC

preparation, description of pollution mitigation measures, environmental monitoring

programs, and committment to comply with environmental standards. EPC can be considered

a simplified EIA for investment activities that have smaller impacts. Some of the subprojects

under the Project will have to prepare EPCs for approval by the disctrict authorities.

2.2.4 Pollution control and other regulations

74. Other related regulations include:

Regarding construction: Law on Construction No. 16/2003/QH11 and some Decrees such

as the Decree No.12/2009/ND-CP dated 10th February 2009 on managing construction and

investment projects and Decree No. 209/2004/ND-CP dated 16th December 2004 on

managing the quality of construction projects.

Regarding planning, land acquisition and resettlement: Law on Land No.13/2003/QH11

dated 26th

November 2003; Decree No. 197/2004/ND-CP on compensation, support and

resettlement when the State acquires land; Circular No. 116/2004/TT-BTC on instruction

on executing the Decree No.197/2004/ND-CP, etc.

Regarding disaster management: Law on Dykes No. 79/2006/QH11 dated 29 Nov 2006,

Ordinance No. 32/2001/PL-UBTVQH10 dated 04 April 2001 on the exploitation and

protection of irrigation works, Decree detailing some of the Flood Prevention and

Response Ordinance No. 08/2006/NĐ-CP dated 16 Jan 2006, etc.

Regarding dam safety: The Decree No. 72/ND-CP dated 07/05/2007 of the Government's

dam safety management clearly provides provisions for dam construction, dam

management and state management on dam safety. The Decree distinguishes between

small and large dams. Small dams are normally less than 15 meters in height. Large dams

are 15 meters or more in height and/or create a reservoir having a capacity above 3,000,000

m3. Dam owners must have detail plans for water regulation, sluice and related works

operation, dam safety and hydrological monitoring/ inspection, dam maintenance and

protection, dam rescue, dam safety reporting, flood and inundation prevention in the

downstream. All plans must be carried out strictly. MARD is responsible for the state

management of reservoirs and dams nationwide. The Directorate of Water Resources under

MARD assists MARD to implement the function of state management on safety of

reservoirs. The Ministry of Industry and Trade is responsible for the state management of

hydroelectric dam safety. Provincial People's Committees (PPCs) are responsible for the

state management function on reservoir safety in their provinces. PPCs assign the

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to implement this function.

Other related areas: Law on Forest Development and Protection No. 29/2004/QH11, Law

on Labor dated 23 June 1994, Law on Cultural Heritage No. 28/2001/QH10, Law on Water

Resources No. 8/1998/QH10.

Vietnamese Environment Standards: National technical regulations on quality of drinking

water QCVN01:2009/BYT; National technical regulation on quality of domestic water

QCVN02:2009/BYT; National technical regulation on quality of surface water

QCVN08:2008/BTNMT; National technical regulations on quality of groundwater


25

QCVN09:2008/BTNMT; National technical regulations on quality of coastal water

QCVN10:2008/BTNMT; Air quality – Standards for ambient air quality

QCVN05:2009/BTNMT; Air quality – Maximum allowable concentration of hazardous

substances in the ambient air QCVN06:2009/BTNMT.

Dam design standards for flood cycle: 500 to 1000 years for dam grade I; 200 years for dam

grade II; 100 years for dam grade III; 67 years for dam grade IV; and 50 years for dam grade V.

2.2.5 Institutional framework related to natural disaster

75. MARD plays a lead role in disaster risk management (DRM) in Vietnam. The Central

Committee for Flood and Storm Control (CCFSC) is the national disaster risk management

agency responsible for formulation of all flood and typhoon related policies and mitigation

measures. The CCFSC is chaired by the Minister of MARD and comprising representatives

from the Office of Government, the Ministry of Defense, and other agencies. The Department

of Dyke Management and Flood Control (DDMFC) of the Directorate of Water Resources of

MARD serves as the secretariat.

76. At the provincial level, the lead DRM coordination body is the Provincial Committee

for Flood and Storm Control and Search and Rescue (PCFSC) with its Secretariat in the sub-

Department for Water Resources and Flood and Storm Control within the provincial DARD.

The Provincial People’s Committee (PPC) has the ultimate authority on major decisions at the

provincial level, while the equivalent People’s Committees hold responsibility at district and

commune levels in line with the overall provincial decision framework. Coordination between

provincial authorities which share the same river basins (and hydrological risks) is

underdeveloped.

77. At commune level, the Disaster Management Center (DMC) established within

MARD in early 2010 serves as the implementing agency and focal point for the national

CBDRM program. The DMC is responsible for developing strategies, policies, plans and

guidelines related to natural disaster prevention, response and mitigation at commune level.

The DMC also manages certain databases and provides technical assistance to the Directorate

of Water Resources in the field of natural disaster prevention, response and mitigation and

climate change adaptation on a national scale.

78. The National Hydro-Meteorological Services (NHMS), an operational unit under the

MONRE, is mandated to carry out meteorological, hydrological and environmental

observations, provide weather and hydrological forecasts, and provide other specialized

services in support of planning for disaster prevention and preparedness. It provides hydro-

meteorology information for making engineering designs of disaster-resistant infrastructure

and for storm early warnings to communities. At the national level, NHMS has a data center

and a hydro-meteorological forecasting center, and it has nine regional hydro-meteorological

centers and several provincial hydro-met forecasting centers. The communication on

hydrology and meteorology information at provincial and lower level is often inadequate as

are the links between the national and local level systems.

2.2.6 Institutional framework related to environmental management

79. According to Chapter 8 of the Law on Environmental Protection, key national

agencies responsible for management of environmental protection include the Ministry of

Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), the Ministry of Planning and Investment


26

(MPI), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), the Ministry of Industry

and Trade, the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Health, the

Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Public Security, and other ministries, ministerial-level

agencies, and Government-attached agencies. At provincial level, the responsibilities rest with

Provincial-level People's Committees, District-level People's Committees, and Commune-

level People's Committees. Key responsibilities are provided in Annex 2.

Environmental Management structure is shown in Figure 2.1.

Figure 2.1: Environmental Management Structure


27

CHAPTER 4. ENVIRONMENTAL BACKGROUND

80. Given that the river basin approach is used to identify and prioritize investment

subprojects, this chapter presents the environmental background and the natural disaster

situation of the Central Region in the context of river basins, while more detailed

information is provided in Annexes 3 and 4 and the river basin boundaries are shown in

Figure 4.1.

Figure 4.1. River basins and Provinces related to VN-Haz Project.


28

4.1. Environmental Background

4.1.1. Natural features

Geographic location

81. The Project area covers 10 provinces along the Central Coast of Vietnam (Thanh Hoa,

Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh,

and Ninh Thuan) and involves 9 river basins: Ma (Thanh Hoa province), Ca (Nghe An and

Ha Tinh provinces), Ha Vang-Rac (Ha Tinh province), Gianh-Nhat Le (Quang Binh

province), Thach Han (Quang Tri province), Vu Gia–Thu Bon (Da Nang and Quang Nam

provinces), Tra Khuc-Tra Bong (Quang Ngai province), Kone (Binh Dinh province); and

Dinh (Ninh Thuan province). The area is bordered by the East with the South China Sea, the

North with Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh and Son La provinces, the South with Lam Dong and Binh

Thuan provinces, and the West with the Vietnamese – Laotian border.

Topography

82. The central coastal provinces form a strip of land between the Truong Son Mountain

Range on the West and the South China Sea, stretching from Thanh Hoa to Ninh Thuan with

a coastline of more than 1,000 kilometers (km). The Truong Son Mountain Range rises

precipitously above the coast, its spurs jutting into the sea at several places, forming a steep

typography and a thin lowland strip. The plain area is divided into three strips, the coastal

strip including sand dunes, lagoons, coves and gulfs, the middle lowland areas, and the

innermost alluvial plain. These typographic features exacerbate the impacts of natural disaster

(especially floods). Floods will cause serious consequences, especially in cases of rapid on-set

flooding (due to mountainous surface and short and steep rivers), slow withdrawal of

floodwater (due to low and depressed areas in the middle and small and scattered drainage

systems) and flash floods in the mountainous areas.

Climate

83. The Project area lies within the tropical monsoon region, with an average temperature

of 27oC. The Central Region’s climate is divided into two major patterns, the North Central

and the South Central Coast. In the North Central area, in the winter, the monsoon winds

usually blow from the northeast, picking up considerable moisture across the sea;

consequently the whole area is influenced by cold and rainy weather, in contrast to the dry

winter in the North of Vietnam. In the summer, the winds stop bringing moisture from the sea,

while the Southwest winds blow from the opposite direction, causing hot and dry weather.

During this season, daytime temperature can rise up to 40oC while the air humidity is very

low. In the South Central Coast area, the northeast monsoon winds are often weaker therefore,

in the summer, strong southwest monsoon winds usually occur from the Gulf of Thailand

resulting in dry and hot weather for the whole area. Key characteristic of the climate in the

Central Regions are summarized as follows:

From Thanh Hoa to Quang Tri: The season of maximum rainfall is from September to

November, which makes up 80% of the total annual precipitation, therefore floods

often occur on a large scale in this period of time. The dry season begins from July to

the next August, coinciding with the hot and dry season associated with the Southwest

winds, high rate of evaporation (960 – 1,200 mm/year), sand-bearing winds affect

cultivating fields, resulting in soil degradation.


29

From Da Nang to Ninh Thuan: the rainy season begins towards the winter i.e. from

September to late December.

Ninh Thuan is the area most affected by El Nino, with a higher number of droughts

affected months than other areas. Climate change has considerably reduced the flow of

cold air over the area, and as a result, storms occur more often, and the sea level is

rising, which has led to an increase of salinity intrusion in the whole area.

Hydrographic conditions

84. The project area comprises a number of river networks, mostly of large and medium

rivers such as Ma River in Thanh Hoa, Ca River in Nghe An, Gianh River and Nhat Le River

in Quang Binh, Thach Han River in Quang Tri, Vu Gia-Thu Bon River in Da Nang and

Quang Nam, and Tra Khuc-Tra Bong River in Quang Ngai. Most of the rivers are short and

steep causing fast water flows and accumulation of sediment at the river mouths. They are

originated within the territory of Vietnam, except Ca River system (Nghe An) originated from

Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), and Ma River which originates in Vietnam flows

through Lao PDR and comes back to Vietnam again. The hydrography of the rivers in the

Central Region is largely determined by the South China Sea tides. In the area, there is a large

number of important irrigation works and canal systems serving the purposes of water supply,

irrigation and water transport for the area. The river water resources are being over-exploited

resulting in decline of quantity (currently 50% of the flow is being exploited), especially in

Ninh Thuan (79-80% of the flow is being exploited). Water scarcity in the dry season and

floods in the rainy season are often the case in the whole area.

85. Ma River is short and steep, rapid concentration of flows. Ma River flow varies

greatly, small flow in the dry season, and floods in rainy season. Ma River has one flood peak

a year. Ca River is an international river, narrowing in the upstream, widening towards

downstream, with two flood peaks a year, and frequent double floods. Vu Gia-Thu Bon flow has

two separate seasons. The flood season often begins from half a month to a month later than

the rainy season and often not stable. For Tra Khuc-Tra Bong Rivers, slope typography

creates straight flows from the highlands to the lowlands, which can easily cause floods in the

rainy season and drought in the dry season. Flow varies in different months with a big

difference between the highest flow and lowest flow and a prolonged flood season.

Climate change

86. Climate change is expected to alter the current runoff and rainfall regimes. MONRE

has estimated an increased mean annual temperature for Vietnam from climate model

simulations under a range of emissions scenarios. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate

Change report produced in 2007 provides the predictions for Viet Nam, for the period 2080–

2099, assuming a “medium” emission scenario, based on the results of 21 Global Circulation

Models (GCMs).

87. Most of the increase in average annual rainfall predicted by the GCM models is expected

to occur in the already wet months of the year, with only a minor increase over the dry season.

The result would be that the seasonal variation in river flows would increase, with a greater

variation in runoff at the seasonal scale. The frequency of dry season water shortages may also

increase, because of higher dry season evaporation rates. The higher temperatures will increase

plant water requirements, increasing the dry season crop water demands. The other change

expected is higher intensity of rainfall which will exaggerate the current issues in Vietnam

regarding natural disasters in general, and some new risk issues in particular such as dam safety.

River bank sedimentation and erosion


30

88. River bank and coastal erosion and river sedimentation happen in most of the rivers,

resulting in a relatively high content of suspended solids in the rivers.

Air quality

89. The air quality is generally good, except in some urban areas where levels of dust and

noise are relatively high.

Groundwater quality

90. Across the entire area, the groundwater is of relatively good quality and can be used

for domestic water supply. However, the groundwater in some areas still contains high

content of iron or manganese or salinity.

Surface water quality

91. Under normal conditions, the quality of surface water is quite good, except the high

content of suspended solids due to riverbank erosion. However, the water quality is often severely

degraded during and after heavy rains or storms. Floodwater can also dissolves and/or spreads

pollutants from waste dumping and treatment sites, broken sewage systems, faeces and wastes

from toilets, etc. Disease-causing pollutants and microorganisms are largely spread by rainwater

and floodwater. In the dry season, water level in rivers and lakes is lower and water flows become

diminished, causing water pollution or salinity intrusion. Water quality of Ma River is relatively

good, high suspended solids in the rainy season, deep salinity intrusion in the dry season, signs of

pollution from domestic and industrial wastewater can be observed in some areas. Water quality

of Ca River is at Grade B level appropriate for irrigation uses and has salinity intrusion in the dry

season. Vu Gia-Thu Bon Rivers have most of the parameters that are below permissible limits for

Grade A water (appropriate for domestic water supply purposes), except suspended solid and

coliform bacteria. Tra Khuc-Tra Bong water quality is relatively good. In some monitoring

locations, BOD and COD values exceed permissible limits for Grade A water.

Soil quality

92. The soil quality of the region is generally good. However there are issues related to

dioxin contamination at Da Nang airport where dioxin content in the soil exceeds 1,000 part

per thousand (ppt) with a total contaminated area of up to 88,000 m2. At Phu Cat Airport (Quy

Nhon), the total area of dioxin-contaminated soil is about 4,000 m2 and is concentrated in the

airport area. Besides, there are areas contaminated by toxic chemicals during the war in Cam

Lo, Dong Ha, Khe Sanh and Quang Tri. Other issues include land degradation due to

destruction of watershed forests; desertification due to sand-bearing winds from Quang Binh

to Binh Thuan; saline soil; reclaiming of wild lands; encroachment of seashores; destruction

of mangrove forests for aquaculture farms and construction of salinity prevention dykes; and

soil contamination due to agricultural chemicals.

Mineral resources

93. The area has diversified mineral resources, which make up about 60% of iron ore

reserves, 80% of tin reserves, 100% of Cronite reserves and 40% of lime reserves of the

whole country.

4.1.2. Ecological features

Terrestrial ecosystems

94. The terrestrial ecosystems of the region are mainly characterized by the natural and

plantation forests within the Truong Son Mountain Range. In the past, due to inappropriate


31

exploitation of watershed forests, forests in some areas such as Dakrong (in Quang Tri

province) have been severely affected; natural forest area has been reduced to 60%. Forests

have been lost due to illegal logging, forest fires, Construction of hydro-electric power plants,

encroachment on coastal protective forests to fully exploit mineral resources of titanium,

clearing of forests for agriculture, etc. Marshlands, mangrove forests and coastal zones

continue to be degraded due to improper aquaculture development.

Aquatic ecosystems

95. The freshwater ecosystems found in the project area are not unique. Despite having about

670 km of coastline, 23 river mouths, many lagoons, a broad continental shelf with plentiful

resources, abundant marine resources (with a reserve of about 620,000 tons of fish, 2,750 tons of

shrimp and 5,000 tons of squid), the marine resources of the region are being over-exploited.

National Parks and Reserves

96. In the area, many National Parks and Natural Resources Reserves of high biodiversity

value have been established, such as: Ben En National Park (in Thanh Hoa provine), Pu Mat

National Park (in Nghe An province), Vu Quang National Park (in Ha Tinh province), Khe

Net National Reserve and Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park (in Quang Binh province), Cu

Lao Cham Marine Reserve, Ba Na – Nui Chua and Son Tra National Reserves (in Da Nang),

etc. The establishment of many new reserves is being proposed at many sites such as Quy

Nhon Marine Reserve, Nui Ba reserve (Binh Dinh), Vu Gia – Thu Bon river basin reserve

with the aim to protect the migration routes of Moi fish, Chinh bong fish, etc. Location of the

National Parks and important natural habitats are identified on Map in Figure 4.2.


32

Figure 4.2. Locations of national parks and important nature reserves


33

4.1.3. Socio – economic features

97. The Central Region, with the concentration of major economic zones, possesses a lot

of advantages as a strategic location, including human resources, 17 sea ports, 15 economic

zones, 22 industrial zones, 2 export processing zones, 8 airports, 2 national highway, East-

West Economic Corridor and projects of tens of billions USD worth. However, these

potentials haven’t been effectively tapped to boost the regional economy. In general, each

province has its own advantages but lacks strategic planning, with small and scattered and

spontaneous production still being common practice. Deep-water seaports of Chan May, Da

Nang, Ky Ha and Dung Quat are not operating at full capacity. Industrial – export processing

zones lack attention and investment from national and international enterprises. In the Project

area, the establishment of Dung Quat deep-water seaport and Industrial zone has formed a key

economic zone spanning from Lien Chieu (Quang Nam - Da Nang) to Dung Quat (Quang

Ngai), shaping an economic and tourism development axis along the Coastal areas, and

connecting to a series of rising urban centers, including Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An, Tam Ky,

Quang Ngai, Quy Nhon and large economic zones such as Chan May – Lang Co, Chu Lai,

Dung Quat, and Nhon Hoi. In addition, Chan May deep water seaport and Industrial –

Commercial – Service zone project and Nhon Hoi deep-water seaport and Economic zone

project will lead to an expansion of the key economic region to the South to include Binh

Dinh province. Locations of key Socio – economic zones are identified on Map in Figure 4.3.

Population

98. Vietnam has a young population age structure and high fertility, contributing to rapid

population growth in many communities, exerting pressure on local resources and the

environment. The people most directly affected by this are also the poorest who are least able

to change livelihoods or lifestyles to cope with, or combat, local environmental decline.

99. Some impacts of strong population growth include: loss of arable agricultural land to

development with marginal land use and increasing land degradation; clearance of native forests

by farmers, loggers, and developers; increasing consumption of fossil fuels adding to climate

change effects, etc.

100. The population in Project area is approximately 20 million people (according to 2006

Statistical Yearbook). In 2005, the population density of Vietnam was 242 people per km2,

making it one of the most densely populated countries in Southeast Asia and in the world.

Population densities of some main river basins in the Project area are shown in Figure 4.4. In the

Project area, population densities of most of river basins are below the national average, except

Tra Khuc and Kone river basins. All of the river basins have a rural population more than 70% of

the total population.


34

Figure 4.3. Location of key socio – economic zones

Figure 4.4: Population density in the key river basins in the project area


35

Land use

101. Agricultural, forestry land and unused land areas are being reduced due to the shift of

land use to construction of transportation networks, irrigation systems, hydro power plants,

urban areas and factories.

Infrastructure

102. In the urban areas, the infrastructure is quite good. In rural areas, the infrastructure is

still poor, especially the rural road systems which haven’t met the needs for transportation and

rescue in heavy rains or floods. Smaller scale community projects at commune level are quite

small and scattered.

Economic situation and structure

103. The economy is growing at a fair rate, at 8.4%/year; while the growth rate of

agriculture, forestry and aquaculture is at 5.29%/year. However, the regional economy is still

in a difficult situation, with a high proportion of agriculture, forestry and aquaculture (37.8%),

and 80% of the population working in agriculture. Rural labors are still suffering from lack of

employment, low income and low living standards. Economic structure of the river basins is

shown in Figure 4.5.

Agriculture and Aquaculture

104. The main form of agriculture is rice cultivation and other edible crops, cultivation and

catching of aquatic products which are heavily dependent on nature variables, therefore, poor

crops and/or considerable damage often occur when there are floods and storms.

Ethnic Minority Groups (EMGs)

105. The area is home of different EMGs, including Muong (in Thanh Hoa), Thai (in

Thanh Hoa and Nghe An), Cham (in Ninh Thuan), H’re (in Quang Ngai) and Kotu (in Quang

Nam and Da Nang). EMGs are unevenly distributed from the East to the West. Kinh people

reside mainly in the coastal lowlands.

Figure 4.5. Economic structure of the key river basins in the project area

Physical Cultural and Natural Heritages

106. There are some important physical cultural and natural heritages such as Phong Nha – Ke

Bang National Park – the world heritage, and My Son temple complex, Hoi An Ancient Town.

Locations of key cultural sites are identified on map in Figure 4.6.

Community Health


36

107. Rural health services haven’t been well-equipped in the provinces covered by the

project area. Epidemics and environmental pollution often occur after floods due to a lack of

sewage systems. During and after floods or storms, floodwater spreads waste from toilets,

causing epidemics and environmental pollution. Since 2004, cattle and poultry disease

epidemics have been happening nearly every year.

Figure 4.6. Locations of key cultural sites

4.2 Natural Disaster Situation and Response Capacity

108. The Central area within the project coverage experiences most of the different types of

natural disasters in Vietnam, of which the most frequent are floods, typhoons, heat waves, etc.

Floods and inundations in the Central region usually occur on large scale, simultaneously in

several provinces, sometimes cover the entire region (such as in 1999, 2003, 2009, 2010).

Floods have been hitting the region more frequently and more fiercely, causing human

casualties, property damage, and soil and water pollution. Flash floods occur from the river

sources in Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, Da Nang, and Quang Ngai. Storms and tropical

low pressures are happening more regularly and intensely. Data shows that in the period of 10


37

years from 1981-19912, the number of storms hitting Central provinces made up 65% of the

total number of storms in Vietnam. Heat waves often develop in lowlands such as the coastal

plain and river valleys. In river valleys, hot weather is occurring at greater length and

intensity.

109. Annex 4 provides detailed information regarding natural disaster situation in the key

river basins including the response capacity at the provincial level.

Response capacity

Institutional arrangement:

110. To respond to natural disasters of complex and unpredictable trends, and ensure

aligned implementation of flood and storm prevention, response, search and rescue, and

disaster mitigation throughout the state administrative system, most of the provinces have set

up provincial Committee for Flood and Storm Control (PCFSC) and Committee for Search

and Rescue (PCSR). The committees are in charge of supporting Provincial People’s

Committee (PPC) in managing and coordinating with relevant units to carry out its state

administration function in this area. The PCFSC is chaired by Provincial People’s Committee

(PPC) and representatives of key agencies. The committee is responsible for providing

concrete guidance to lower levels, examining and revising all the plans related to flood and

storm control and search and response and ensuring feasibility and mobilizing human forces,

supplies and materials and equipments for the activities. In addition, the CFSC and CSR are

also established at different local departments and agencies which are all under the

management of PPC and PCSFS. Each key works such as reservoir, dike, etc. also has their

own CSFS. The Search and Rescue main forces include units such as provincial Military

headquarters, Defense headquarters, Police, Red Cross. The action plan is always divided into

3 key activities: Preparation before flood season, response to storms and floods, and post-

disaster recovery activities. However, capacity of these entities remains weak due to limited

experience and financial resources.

111. Infrastructure and equipment

Currently, key infrastructure in most provinces/river basins (especially the large

ones) includes: irrigation works, hydropower plants, reservoirs, pumping stations,

dams, river revetments, coastal revetments, anchorages for avoiding storms,

fishing boat harbors, hydrometeorological stations, weather forecast information

network. However, most of them are old, outdated, and/or incomplete.

For Thanh Hoa, there are more than 800 reservoirs and dams of different sizes in the

whole river basin, including 24 national and provincial important reservoirs, 3,000 km

of canals, 1,008 km of river and coastal revetments, 881 sluices and 181 work

protection embankments. There are 3 ship anchorages for avoiding storms (Lach Hoi,

Lach Truong and Lach Bang); 7 hydrometeorological stations; and 30 gauging

stations.

For Ca river basin, there are 1,214 reservoirs of different sizes; 810 pumping

stations; 586.6km of river, in-field and coastal embankments; 17 meteorological

stations and 11 gauging stations, of which some stations have stopped functioning.

For Ha Tinh (Ha Vang – Rac river basin), there are 32 dike systems with a total

length of 316 km most of them are small with low elevation and limited flood and

storm prevention capacity. There are 345 reservoirs/dams with the total capacity of

762 million cubic meters and 48 weirs and most of them are old.


38

For Quang Nam province and Da Nang city, there are a number of dams and

reservoirs of different sizes of which many are built in Thu Bon river basin. A

number of anchorages have also been built such as Cu Lao Cham (Quang Nam),

Hong Trieu (Quang Nam), and Tho Quang (Da Nang). There are 2 meteorological

stations: one representing for lowland areas (Da Nang station) and one

representing for the mountainous areas (Tra My station) and 18 rain gauge

stations. Along the Vu Gia – Thu Bon river system, there are 8 gauging stations,

including 2 stations measuring flow rate and water level, 2 stations measuring

water level in the midstream of Thu Bon river and Vu Gia river, and 4 stations

measuring water level in the downstream area under tidal effects.

For Quang Ngai there are 527 irrigation works (including 110 reservoirs, 324 dams

and 93 pumping stations). A number of dikes and salinity prevention works as well

as a number of reservoirs in Thu Bon river basin. A number of anchorages have

been built such as Dung Quat, Sa Ky, Tinh Hoa, Ly Son, My A, Sa Huynh ports.

There are 3 basic gauging stations, 3 specialized gauging stations, 7 rain gauge

stations, 3 meteorological stations and 94 flood level marking poles.


39

CHAPTER 5 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

112. This chapter presents the assessment of the potential impacts of the Project in the

context of a river basin management as well as at the subproject level. As mentioned in

Chapter 2, the proposed activities to be implemented under Components 1, 2, 3 will be limited

to technical assistance, capacity building, and small civil works such as renovation and/or

construction of offices/buildings and hydrometerolocal stations and community infrastructure.

The subprojects to be implemented under Component 4 will involve four types of works:

rehabilitation and/or upgrading of dykes and embankments; rehabilitation and/or upgrading of

dams/reservoirs; rehabilitation and/or upgrading of roads; and dredging or river mouths and/or

upgrading of ports/harbors for fishing boats. The subprojects will be selected using a river

basin approach with investments clustered together to maximize impacts. The assessment

therefore focused on the potential impacts of the Project on policies and plans related to

natural disaster, flooding, and water resources management in the context of integrated river

basin management as well as on socio-economic environment, natural environmental (air,

noise, vibration, land/soil, water, waste), and biological environment (forest, fisheries,

biodiversity, etc.).

5.1 Potential Positive Impacts

5.1.1 General benefits

113. In recent years, together with the global climate change, the weather and

hydrological phenomenon in Vietnam, and particularly in the Central region, have been

changing in increasingly complicated trends, not following traditional cycles (the rainy and

flood season can begin earlier and end later than in the past). Serious natural disasters with

unusual signs have been occurring with greater frequency and intensity. Floods and storms

occurred every year, especially in 1998, 1999, 2005, 2009 in the Central region have caused

extensive negative impacts on human lives and properties of the people and the

Government. To mitigate these impacts a number of policies, plans, and institutional

frameworks have been established (see Chapter 3 and Annex 1) and technical assistance and

financial resources have been provided by the WB and other donors to facilitate the

implementation of the policies, plans, and priority investment. Implementation of the Project

would have potential positive impacts in strengthening national, provincial, and local

capacities for natural disaster prevention, preparedness, and mitigation built on the

experience of the previous and/or the on-going projects. Specifically, the VN-Haz Project

would have the following positive impacts:

- Strengthening the capacities of national, provincial and local disaster risk

management entities to better plan and mitigate against hazard risks, thereby reducing

losses of life, damage to property, and interruptions of economic activities.

- Improving weather forecasting and early warning systems to more effectively

collect, process, and disseminate information to enable various stakeholders to

undertake more timely and effective actions to mitigate against disaster risks and

respond to weather events more generally; and

- Putting in place effective structural measures to reduce typhoon and storm risks in

high priority areas.

- Raising community awareness and natural disaster risk management capacity of

different levels.


40

114. Given the design and scope of the Project as described in Chapter 2, it is concluded

that implementation of the VN-Haz Project is in line with the target of the National Strategy

for Natural Disaster Prevention, response and mitigation to 2020, the National Strategy on

Environment Protection to 2010 and Direction to 2020, the regional and provincial water

resources plans, and the flood prevention and natural disaster mitigation plans developed by

the Government (see scope of the plans in Annex 1). The key benefits are described below

while specific expression by local agencies and/or people’s committee is highlighted in boxes.

5.1.2 Reduction of human losses and property damage

115. Reducing human losses and property damage for the Central region, especially for the

communes and districts along the river basins, is one of the significant positive impacts of the

Project. Most of the storm and flood prevention and response infrastructure in the Project

provinces are relatively poor, which is one of the reasons of increased human losses and

property damage in these provinces. The subprojects will focus on addressing these

weaknesses, through activities such as upgrading and repairing existing rescue roads which

currently cannot meet the requirements in case of floods, increasing safety of reservoirs,

upgrading ship anchoring sites for avoiding storms, etc. According to the Resettlement Action

Framework (RAF) report, the Project will protect approximately 900,000 people (more than

210,000 households) from annual floods and droughts, including people of 5 ethnic groups:

Muong (in Thanh Hoa), Thai (in Thanh Hoa and Nghe An), Cham (in Ninh Thuan), H’re (in

Quang Ngai) and Kotu (in Quang Nam and Da Nang).

116. Public consultations suggested that the groups most affected by natural disaster risks

are children, women, elderly, ethnic minorities and the poor. These disadvantaged groups are

the most important beneficiaries of the Project. These groups expressed their strong wishes to

support the Government’s effort in reducing human losses and property damage due to natural

disasters because their lives are already difficult without these losses. Thus the Project has

been designed to give high priority for investment to the urgent needs for natural disaster

prevention and mitigation as well as securing the lives and properties of local communities.

The Project would also help maintain the trust of people in the Communist Party and the

Government, making them feel secured to focus on production and settling down their lives.

Anti-erosion revetment for Ve river is the wish and urgent need of local communities. The Ve

river revetment project receives a lot of support from the local communities.

- In many years, Ve river bank erosion has always been a serious problem of the province, which

has always been raised at the People’s Council meetings at different levels of Mo Duc and Tu

Nghia districts. Along Ve River there are over 20 sections suffering from erosion, of which 6 most

severely eroded sections have been included in the project of Ve river revetment.

Irrigation Agency – Quang Ngai DARD, 7/2011

- Nghia Hiep commune is one of the communes where sections of Ve river banks suffer from

serious erosion, of 5-10 m each year, especially, some sections used to suffer from 20 m erosion in

one year. The local communities expressed the wish for Ve river revetment to be built as soon as

possible to help secure their lives, lands and properties. The residents in Nghia Hiep commune

used to make a community petition to the district and commune People’s Committees, asking for

investment in Ve river bank revetment.

- The lost land area for the construction of Ve river bank revetment within the territory of Nghia

Hiep commune would be small and include only riverside agricultural land (residential lands would

be untouched); the compensation would only be required for the lost crops of the residents.

Nghia Hiep CPC – Tu Nghia district, 7/2011


41

Flood risks and potential positive impacts of the subproject “Upgrading Luong Yen Khai dike

system in Thanh Chuong district” to Thanh Luong commune, Thanh Chuong district, Nghe An

province

- This is a commune frequently affected by flood and inundation. The existing dike system now can

only be enough to prevent small floods (happening around May), while a historical flood happens

every 9-10 years, which can be as high as the roof-top of a house. During big floods, the 5 hamlets

were completely separated and could only be accessed by boats, and with 100% of agriculture land

inundated. This affected children’s learning, the life of local people, and agriculture production. From

2007 to 2010, there were human losses, mostly school children, due to floods every year.

- The commune has implemented some measures in response to natural hazards such as carrying out

communication activities to encourage the people to take initiative in preventing floods, setting up a

radio system to inform the people in lowland areas of floods and inundations, mobilizing people to

build rafts and boats, etc. However, such measures are often not effective; due to a low and sunken

typography and a small dike system, the local people are often brought into a passive position when

there is flooding.

- The beneficiaries of the project would be all of the people in these mountainous hamlets – where

floods and droughts are often the case. There would be no affected populations (according to the

commune People’s Committee, if additional land is required, the local residents were willing to

donate their lands for road and dike construction).

- The local authorities and people are willing to support the project; there was no request for

compensation because the project would improve local traffic in flooding conditions, reducing human

and property losses, protecting the crops, and the children wouldn’t need to be off school when there

are floods.

Thanh Luong CPC (23/6/2011)

5.1.3. Facilitation for socio-economic development

117. Another important positive impact of the Project is facilitating the socio-economic

development of the Central region, especially the riverside or river mouth lowland areas.

According to the Social Assessment, the Project would protect approximately 50,000 ha of

production lands from floods and droughts each year. The subproject group of upgrading

dikes, revetments, and reservoirs would help preserving the lands or increasing agricultural

area and productivity, increasing incomes and livelihoods opportunities, and help the local

production and people’s lives in the areas affected by natural disasters recover faster.

Specifically, the subproject group of upgrading dikes and revetments would help preserve the

lands and ensure better security for agricultural production by avoiding loss of agricultural

lands due to river bank erosion. Some subprojects of upgrading and reinforcing reservoirs and

dams, besides the effect of ensuring dam and reservoir safety and increasing flood drain

capacity, would also be effective in increasing irrigation capacity and irrigated area and

supplementing the groundwater for people’s domestic and production purposes. The

subproject group of upgrading rescue roads would enhance transport activities for rescue

purposes and trading between communes and districts. The subproject group of upgrading

anchoring sites would contribute to increasing the fishing productivity and also enhancing

trading between provinces. In addition, the upgrading of natural disaster prevention and

response infrastructure would possibly create a lot of jobs for local residents in the project

area. The socio-economic development, in turn, would increase the human capacity and


42

material resources for natural disaster response and post-disaster recovery of the communities.

The Project also would, at the same time, help developing the local infrastructure and creating

a better investment environment to attract investors.

5.1.4 Raising community awareness and natural disaster risk management capacity of

different levels

118. The survey and public consultation results show that some areas are still quite passive

in their flood prevention and response activities, especially at village and commune levels.

There is still lack of good awareness of natural disaster risks and communication activities on

storm and flood prevention and response haven’t received enough attention.

The current status of community awareness and natural disaster management capacity.

The communication, education and awareness raising for the communities in terms of flood and

storm prevention and response hasn’t received adequate attention, therefore, a number of officers and

local people haven’t been well aware of the disasters and their prevention, and their disaster response

skills are still limited, which has caused preventable losses of human lives and properties.

Storm and flood prevention and response 2010 report, Loc ha district, Ha Tinh province

119. Through its activities, the Project would help the people in the provinces increase their

awareness on natural disaster risks as well as community-based DRM capacity. Raising the

community awareness on natural disaster prevention and response would help the residents

and the communities change their attitudes and behaviours in their response to climate

change, especially towards the environment, including: use and protection of forest resources

(watershed and protective forests), water resources, dikes, revetments and dams; proactive

response to natural disasters, mobilization of internal forces to rescue and support each other

in disaster events and in post-disaster reconstruction, etc.

5.1.5. Improvement in quality of living environment

120. The rivers in the Central region are narrow and steep. This characteristic forms a

relatively high river flow in the flood season, which results in river bank erosion happening

more frequently. This can be easily found in river basins in the Central region such as Cau

Chay river basin (the section running through Yen Dinh district – Thanh Hoa province), Ca

river basin (the area in Anh Son district – Nghe An), Thu Bon river basin (the area in Duy

Xuyen district, Quang Nam), Kone river basin (the section running through An Nhon district

and Tuy Phuoc district), Dinh river basin (the section running through Phan Rang city – Ninh

Thuan), etc. The river bank erosion process is the result of increased content of suspended

solids in the river water and it can largely affect domestic water quality for the riverside

residents. This is also reflected in the opinions of many Environment Protection Agencies of

the Project provinces. The subproject group of upgrading river revetments would reduce the

river bank erosion process, which will help improving the river water quality especially in

terms of suspended solids parameter.

121. The Project’s activities would reduce the inundation currently occurring every year in

the Central provinces or damage to fishing boats at river mouth areas after storms. This would

be very effective in reducing the environmental degradation happening after storms and

floods, and increasing the local residents’ habitat quality.


43

Natural disaster risks situation and VN-Haz Project’s positive impacts to Ha Tinh province.

The natural disaster risks affecting Ha Tinh are mainly from floods and storms. Losses caused by

floods and storms are quite big every year, for example in 2007, in Huong Khe district, 29 people

were killed, 44 were injured and the property damage was about 1,001 billion VND. The historical

flood in 2010 killed 54 people and the total damage was estimated to be 6,400 billion VND. Apart

from human losses and property damage, the floods and storms also cause serious damage to the

environment.

The VN-Haz Project would support Ha Tinh in strengthening capacities of flood and storm prevention

and response, reducing human and property losses, especially loss of human health and environment

quality because after flood events, domestic water sources of the people are often contaminated,

diseases often increase (such as red eye sores, skin diseases, diarrhea, etc.), the environmental

landscape is seriously degraded (with wastes, mud, dead animals and plants, etc.), the offensive smell

is present everywhere, etc.

Source: Dike management & Flood and Storm Prevention & Response Agency, Ha Tinh province,

21/6/2011

5.2 Identification of Potential Negative Impacts

5.2.1 Type and scale of negative impacts

122. Potential negative impacts of the Project would be mainly due to land acquisition and

civil works activities to be carried out under Component 4 subprojects. Type and scale of key

impacts are identified in Table 5.1 and Sections 5.2.2 to 5.2.6 and discussed in Sections 5.3

and 5.4. Potential negative impacts of the first phase Component 4 subprojects are showed in

Table 5.3, while Annex 5 provides an initial safeguard screening for the proposed subprojects.

Section 5.5 discusses the “with project” and “without project” options.

Table 5.1. Identification of potential negative impacts

No. Potential negative

impacts

Scale of impacts Explanation

1 Land acquisition and

resettlement of local

people including

ethnic people

Moderate,

localized, and

can be

compensated and

mitigated

It is the WB’s and Government’s policy to

avoid and/or minimize land acquisition and

resettlement. Moreover, most works will be

limited to reinforcing, upgrading, and improving

of existing structures (not for new construction)

therefore the need for land acquisition will not

be large.

2 Impacts on ethnic

minorities and/or

adversely affect

ethnic groups

Moderate,

localized, and

can be

compensated and

mitigated

In the Project area, there are 5 ethnic groups:

Muong, Thai, Co Tu, H’re and Cham.

3 Potential impacts on

physical cultural

resources

Minor, localized,

and can be

mitigated

The proposed subprojects are located far from

from recognized historical, cultural, and

archeological sites, and thus will not affect

recognized physical cultural resources.

However, important and unrestored physical

culture resources could be found during

subproject construction.

Some graves may have to be relocated from the


44

construction sites

6) 4 7) Potential impacts on

natural habitats

and/or forest

No impact The proposed subprojects are located relatively

away from these areas

5 UXO risks Moderate and

localized, and

can be mitigated

Most areas are developed for resettlement and

production however there are areas where UXO

may exist. Although the risk is low but the

impacts can be significant if it involves the loss

of life and/or injuries.

6 Environmental

quality impairment

and social issues

Moderate,

temporary,

localized, and

can be mitigated

Construction activities may cause:

- Air pollution due to dust and exhausts, noise,

vibration, gas.

- Soil and surface water pollution due to

overflow rainwater, leaked oil, domestic wastes

(solid and liquid), dredging activities

- Public health risks, social conflicts or

interference in local business, economic

activities, traffic congestion, risks of traffic

accidents, impacts on downstream water uses

during site clearance and construction.

7 Possible

contamination of soil

and water quality

from the disposal of

dredged materials

during construction

Moderate,

temporary,

localized, and

can be mitigated

There are 3 subprojects related to dredging of

access channels and the activities could impact

soil and water quality due to dredging and

disposal of dredged materials during

construction.

8 Risk related to safety

of dams and/or dykes

during operation

Minor and can be

mitigated

There are potential downstream impacts -

inundation of new areas as a result of spillway

expansion or construction of new spillways -

especially need for any additional land

acquisition and warning to people who are

living in downstream. Although the risk is low

but the impacts can be significant if it involves

the loss of life and/or injuries.

9 Likely to cause water

use conflicts during

operation

Minor and can be

mitigated

Most subprojects do not involve operation of

sluice gates. Moreover the application of

community-based disaster risk management

(CBDRM) for the Project would enhance close

consultation among local communities.

10 Likely to create

coastal erosion

and/or water quality

nearby during

operation

Minor and can be

mitigated

There are 3 subprojects related to dredging

construction anti-wave dike and embankment.

There could be a risk on coastal erosion and/or

water quality nearby during operation

123. Phase 1 subprojects have been screened in accordance with the type and scale of key

impacts given in Table 5.1 and the results are presented in Table 5.1A below.

45

Table 5.1A: Results of Safeguard Screening for the Phase I Component 4 Subprojects

N

o. Subproject name Investment Items

Type of

works River

basins

Potential negative

impacts per the

screening criteria

indicated in Table 5.1

Safeguard

document

prepared

GOV

require

ment

I. Thanh Hoa 1 Maintain, upgrade and treat the

key parts of the left dyke of Cau

Chay river (section from K0-

K42), Yen Dinh district

Upgrade 42 km dyke site;

Renew structures on the site; build more

rescue roads

Dyke/ road

Ma River (1), (3), (4), (5), (8) RAP, EMP EIA

II. Nghe An 2 Upgrade dyke site of Luong Yen

Khai Line, widen, stabilize the surface 2.87 Km

Dyke/ road

Ca River (1), (4), (5), (8) RAP, EMP EIA

3 Bridge combining with overflow

connecting rescued roads, Nghi

Loc and Vinh city

65m bridge combining with overflow and 1

Km road and a drain sluice with B=7.5 m

Dyke/ road

Ca River (1), (5) RAP,EMP EPC

III. Ha Tinh 4

Upgrade dyke site Phuc Long

Nhuong, Cam Xuyen district

Upgrade dyke site of 11.41 km; Renew 21

drainage sluices crossing the dyke; build 12

road sites combining with dyke rescue with

the total length of 8.974 km

Dyke/ road

Ha Vang-

Rac

River

(1), (3), (4), (5), (8) RAP, EMP EIA

VII. Quang Nam 5 Repair, upgrade Thach Ban

reservoir, Duy Xuyen district Main dam, overflow, intake gate,

management house and road Dam Thu Bon

River (1), (4), (5), (6), (7),

(8) RAP, EMP EIA

IX. Binh Dinh 6

Upgrade anti-erosion

embankment of Kone river for

safety, An Nhon and Tuy Phuoc

district

1.2 km Thang Cong section, Nhon Phuc

commune; 1.5 km Song Ngheo section,

Nhon Hau commune; 1.8 km Tam Dan,

Nhon An commune; 1.3 km embankment in

the downstream of Ba Di bridge, Phuoc Loc

commune

Dyke/ road

Kone

River (1), (3), (5) RAP,EMP EIA

*Note: (1) Involve land acquisition and/or resettlement, (2) involve ethnic minority, (3) involve PCR, (4) involve UXO risk; (5) involve civil works; (6)

involve dredging; (7) involve dam safety; (8) likely to involve land/water use conflicts; (9) involve river mouth construction.

46

5.2.2 Land acquisition and resettlement

124. During the Project preparation stage, it is difficult to estimate the total numbers of

resettlement people and the areas of land acquisition because technical design has not been

prepared and some subprojects have not been identified specifically. However, the social

assessment suggested that the Project will affect three main groups of PAPs (Project Affected

Peoples), encompassing agricultural PAPs (counting for a majority, more than 80% of total

PAPs), business and service PAPs, and salary-earned PAPs that work for administrative

agencies, companies, and factories. Among these three types of PAPs, agricultural or business

PAPs will have their livelihoods and incomes affected due to partial productive land

acquisition or business postponement during the construction stage. Salary-earned PAPs will

not have their livelihoods and incomes affected.

125. Compensation will be paid to PAPs in line with the Resettlement Policy Framework

(RPF) prepared for the Project. While there may be PAHs (Project Affected Households) as a

result of the project implementation, these cases would almost certainly all involve

compensation for land acquisition rather than resettlement. For the first year subprojects, there

is land acquisition of 1,284 households and only 3 households have to resettle (Table 5.2). It

should be noted that many PAPs volunteer to dominate their land for the Project like PAPs in

Yen Dinh commune in Thanh Hoa province Thanh Luong commune in Nghe An province, Duc

Loi commune in Quang Ngai province, Phuoc Loc commune in Binh Dinh province. There

would be thousands hectares of land would be temporally acquired for construction sites. The

effects of temporary land acquisition could be reduced by restoring the landscapes to their

original condition after it has been used.

Table 5.2: Impacts due to land acquisition and relocations of first phase Component 4

subprojects (RAPs for five-first phase subprojects)

Subproject Total

affected HH

Permanent

land (m2)

Temporary

land (m2)

Remarks No. of

grave

relocation

I. Thanh Hoa

1. Maintain, upgrade and

treat the key parts of the

left dyke of Cau Chay

river (section from K0-

K42), Yen Dinh district

781 147,337 537,673

42,000 m

dyke; 11

communes in

1 district

3

II. Nghe An

2. Bridge combining with

overflow connecting

Rescue roads, Nghi Loc

and Vinh city

5 0 200

Small bridge

65m long and

1,020 m

access road;

2 commune,

2 districts

0

3. Upgrade dyke site of

Luong Yen Khai 83 13,300 0

2,870 m

dyke; 2

communes, 1

district

0

III. Ha Tinh

4. Upgrade dyke site Phuc

Long Nhuong, Cam

Xuyen district

335 91,402 0

11,000 m; 4

communes, 1

district

1

IV. Quang Nam

5. Repair, upgrade Thach

Ban reservoir, Duy Xuyen 7 0 20,000

1 communes,

1 district 0


47

district

V. Binh Dinh

6. Upgrade anti-erosion

embankment of Kone

river for safety, An Nhon

and Tuy Phuoc districts

73 9,156 1,037

5,700 m; 4

communes, 2

districts

18

Total 1,284 261,195 558,910 22

5.2.3 Potential impacts on ethnic minority groups

126. The Project will cause land acquisition of some households, including ethnic

minority households belonging to ethnic minority groups of Muong (in Thanh Hoa), Thai

(in Thanh Hoa and Nghe An), Cham (in Ninh Thuan), H’re (in Quang Ngai) and Kotu (in

Quang Nam and Da Nang). However, these impacts are marginal because selection of works

and technical solutions comply with the Project requirements, i.e. minimizing land

acquisition and assets of the local people. According to results of preliminary social surveys

of the Project provinces and the RAP for the first phase subprojects, it is estimated that

about approximately 1,284 households (with about 5,525 persons) will be affected by the

subprojects (Table 5.2), of which most of ethnic minority people are beneficiaries of the

Project. Environmental impact assessments of Phase 1 subprojects indicate that no ethnic

minority people have been identified to be affected these subprojects (Table 5.3).

5.2.4 Potential impacts on physical cultural resources

127. Physical cultural resources are defined as movable or immovable objects, sites,

structures, groups of structures, and 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 or

below ground, or under water.

128. In the Project are, there are 8 physical cultural sites. However, most proposed

subprojects are located relatively far away from these areas (see location maps in Annex 5).

Only 1 subproject in Thanh Hoa province is located nearby Ba Trieu temple with a distance of

1 km. The subproject involves in repairing the weak points in the exiting dike. Consequently,

it is assumed that the impacts of the subproject on the Ba Trieu temple will be not significant.

129. It should be noted that, although the Project is assessed not to affect the recognized

physical cultural resources, important and unrestored physical cultural resources could be

found during subproject construction. Some graves may have to be removed from the

construction sites. For Phase 1 of the project, 22 individual graves of three subprojects in

Thanh Hoa, Ha Tinh, and Binh Dinh will have to be relocated.

130. Relocation of graves would be carried out by households whose graves are affected

(as is the normal practice in Vietnam). Rituals for relocation of graves may be different

among Kinh, and ethnic minority peoples. Affected households will receive compensation

payment to conduct the relocation on their own. Payment to the grave relocation includes

costs of excavation, relocation, reburial, purchasing land for reburial (if any), and all other

reasonable costs associated with necessary rituals by the local practice. Local ritual means

relocation of graves will be carried out in accordance with local cultural practices, taking into

account cultural preferences which are typical for each ethnic group. When graves of ethnic

minorities are affected, grave relocation rituals adopted will be documented in respective


48

Ethic Minority Development Plan (EMDPs) based on the consultation with affected ethnic

minority peoples during project implementation. Where graveyard - owned collectively by

ethnic groups, are affected, appropriate consultation with affected groups will be conducted

during social assessment under respective subproject to work out solutions acceptable to

affected ethnic minorities. Relocation of graves will be done satisfactorily to the affected

households prior to the commencement of construction

5.2.5. Potential impacts on natural habitats and/or forests

131. There are 10 nature reserves, protected areas, or protection forests in the project area.

However, all the proposed subprojects are not located nearby any protected areas, nature

reserves or protection forests. Locations of these areas are provided in Chapter 4 while more

information is provided in Annex 3.

132. The subproject “Repairing and upgrading the safety for Chan Son reservoir, Dai Loc

district, Quang Nam province” and “Upgrading to ensure the safety for 4 reservoirs: Truoc

Dong, Truong Loan, Hoc Khe, Ho Cau – Da Nang city” are located 1 km far from Ba Na –

Nui Chua National Park. Most of these reservoirs are of small scale capacity, except Ho Cau

reservoir which is a medium one. Due to small construction works, it is anticipated that

implementation of these two subprojects will not cause significant impacts on Ba Na – Nui

Chua National Park. The same situation can be anticipated for the subproject “Upgrade,

repair overflow bridges of rescued road Dong Tuy Phuoc – An Nhon – Phu Cat – Binh Dinh

province” which is 1 km far from Thi Nai swamp. As the result, it is concluded that the

Project will not cause any adverse impacts on the natural habitats and/or forest.

5.2.6. Cumulative negative impacts

133. As identified in the previous sections, the Project would have no impacts on natural

reserves, natural forests and sites with physical cultural resources. Impacts from the land

acquisition and resettlement process are moderate. Negative impacts of the project in

degrading the environment quality during the construction stage are preliminarily assessed as

not significant and can be mitigated with proper management measures.

134. The subprojects are dispersed along different river basins with different

implementation timelines. They would also involve only rehabilitation and upgrading of

existing facilities/infrastructure and there are no other major infrastructure projects planned in

the project areas during the implementation of the Project. Therefore, the cumulative negative

impacts of the Project would likely to be marginal.

5.3 Assessment of Potential Negative Impacts during Construction

135. This subsection discusses the types and natures of potential negative impacts on

natural environment and biological environment based on the four different types of

subproject works and on the information available in the feasibility study for the first phase

subprojects. Results discussed in this section suggested that the impacts during site clearance

and construction of the proposed subprojects would be limited to small to moderate, localized,

and temporally and could be mitigated through effective control of contractor performance

and the proposed mitigation measures are discussed in Chapter 6.

5.3.1. Subproject group of upgrading river dikes and revetments


49

Site clearance activities

136. During the site clearance of the subprojects of constructing and upgrading river dikes

and revetments, a number of structures adjacent to the dikes and revetments will be relocated

(3 households will be relocated in the subproject of “Upgrade dyke site Phuc Long Nhuong”,

Ha Tinh province); some areas of crops and plants located right next to the dikes will be

cleared (about 118,119 m2 of agricultural land and 418 m

2 of garden land will be cleared for

the implementation of the subproject “Upgrading the left dyke of Cau Chay river, Thanh Hoa

province”; 59,488 m2

of agricultural land will be affected and 13,798 m2 of garden land will

be cleared when upgrading Luong Yen Khai dyke, Nghe An province, etc.).

137. The demolition of structures, old revetments, temporary buildings, etc. would generate

wastes, used bamboos and iron sheets and filths, mud, rocks, etc. as well as offensive odors

and wastewater. Cutting and destruction of vegetation cover (bamboo, Acacia, sugarcanes,

sandalwood, etc.) would generate solid wastes, tree trunks, branches, leaves, etc. However,

the volume of wood, tree branches and leaves cut down will be reused as domestic fuel and

construction materials by the residents. Therefore, the extent of impacts of the site clearance

activities for the subprojects of upgrading river dikes and revetments is considered not large,

but specific mitigation plans are required.

Impacts on air environment

138. The earth excavation and dike upgrading activities (over 1 million m3 of excavated

soil and earth fill for the subproject of the left dyke of Cau Chay river, Thanh Hoa province;

186,315 m3 soil for the subproject of Luong Yen Khai dyke, Nghe An province) would

generate a considerable amount of dust (according to WHO, the dust generation ratio is 0.1-1

g/m3) which would result in air quality impairment.

139. The operations of vehicles transporting soil and sand and other construction materials

and the operations of construction machines on the work sites, etc. would generate various

exhausts into the air environment. The amount of exhausts would depend on the number of

construction vehicles, machinery type and construction methods. The extent of these impacts

would cover the areas along the transport routes and upgraded and construction dikes and

revetments.

Impacts on water environment

140. The activities related to earth excavation, dike reinforcing and river revetment

construction would create impacts on the river water quality, increasing the turbidity of river

water in the construction sections, especially in the rainy season when landslides carry soil

and rocks into the big river beds.

141. Transportation of excavated soil and construction materials would scatter soil and sand

on the road surfaces. Construction material storages and construction activities at the work

sites would also generate a number of solid wastes and used oil. These wastes can be brought

with rainwater runoff into nearby aquatic areas, resulting in increased turbidity and impacts

on aquatic ecosystems.

142. Domestic wastewater, toilet seepage from worker camps would also be another source

of impacts on water environment without preliminary treatment before dumping into the

environment.

Impacts on ecosystems

143. During the upgrading of dykes and construction of river revetments, activities such as

earth excavation, dropping sand bags and ashlars into the river, etc. would contaminate the


50

river water environment and affect river bed creatures. However, this impact would exist in a

short time and thus would not create much damage to the aquatic ecosystems.

Impacts of quarries and borrow pits

144. Existing quarries will be used for supplying materials for subproject construction

activities. Since these commercial quarries are licensed by local authorities and have to

comply with the government environmental protection regulation, their impacts on the

environment are not expected to be significant.

145. Subprojects of upgrading river dikes and revetments would also involve opening of

new borrow pits for construction activities such as earth fills of river dykes and revetments.

This would create impacts on the environment including: loss of topsoil affecting productive

land, land instability from incorrect earth removal or unstable deposition of spoil, leading to

landslides or erosion events; discharge of sediments into watercourses, rice paddies,

drainages, and irrigation canals; noise and vibration; dust emissions affecting health;

disturbances or damage to physical cultural resources; damage to agricultural land and native

vegetation; visual impacts. Associated mitigation measures during construction and operation

as well as closure requirements of these quarries and borrow pits can be addressed by

applying mitigations measure included in the Environmental Codes of Practice (Annex 1,

Section V, 5.4).

Impacts on the socio-economic situation

146. The presence of subprojects of upgrading river dikes and revetments would foster local

services, increase needs for food, leading to the increase in the price of local goods.

147. Some dikes involve large amount of construction works which would require the

concentration of a large number of workers from other areas, posing threats of social conflicts

between the workers and the local residents.

Impacts on the local traffic

148. Road traffic: The transportation of construction materials would increase the traffic

level and risks of traffic accidents on the transport roads. In addition, heavy-weight vehicles

would also damage inter-village and inter-commune roads, affecting local residents’ travel.

149. Water transportation: The concentration of buoys, drafts, ships serving the

construction of dike and revetment foundations on the rivers would temporarily appropriate

some areas of surface water, reducing the width of river transport routes, blocking the

circulation of ships. However, this impact would only occur during the early construction

stage of river dikes and revetments.

5.3.2. Subproject group of rehabilitating/upgrading of dams/reservoirs


150. Subprojects of upgrading reservoirs mainly introduce structural measures to upgrade

and secure groups of head works (earth dams, flood drain weirs, sluices, etc.). The site area in

need of clearance is not large, including a small area of small forestry plants and bushes,

aquaculture farming ponds near the earth dam, and a small area of agricultural land of some

households. The site clearance activities involve mainly leveling and clearance of some small

areas of crops, the impacts come mainly from rainwater runoff, which brings with it rocks and

soil and wastes, affecting the water environment in the aquatic areas nearby and in the

reservoirs.


51

151. However, the construction stage will require some certain area for machines and

equipments gathering site and worker camps. The appropriated land area will be cleared for

construction site preparation. A small amount of exhausts will be generated from ground

leveling vehicles.


152. During the construction stage, equipments such as land compactors, pile-driving

machines, bulldozers, heavy-weight trucks, etc. will be used. The operations of such machines

will emit an amount of exhausts into the air. The level of exhausts will differ depending on

the characteristics of different equipment and transportation and operation methods.

153. The transportation of materials for reinforcing dams is the main source of impacts on

air environment. Based on the estimated sources of materials needed, mainly soil, for dam

construction of the subprojects, a part of this amount of materials will be exploited on site,

while another part will be transported from other areas by road. Means of road transports will

carry soil and sand from material storages within 15 km of the construction sites. Therefore,

the impact scope will encompass areas along the transport routes. However, because the

reservoirs are located far away from residential areas, the impacts from dust and exhausts

generated on the local residents will be considerably reduced.


154. Domestic and construction wastewater will be generated during the construction

process. In addition, rainwater runoff will bring down soils and rocks affecting the surface water

quality of adjacent aquatic areas. The amount of pollutants from wastewater running into the

reservoirs will not create significant impacts on the river water quality given the nature of small

remedial works and small number of workers and the large capacity of the reservoirs which will

dilute the pollutants. However, the activities of reinforcing dam feet and bodies may cause

localized impacts on the water quality of the reservoir basins close to the work sites. Loose

rocks and soil may be swept to the reservoirs, resulting in increased turbidity and concentration

of suspended solids in the water.

Impacts on ecosystems

155. The operations of machines, equipments and construction vehicles will generate noises

which may affect the activities and behaviors of the animals living near the construction sites.

Big mammals with large active regions, fast-moving, and sensitive to disturbance effects

which are located near the work sites will resettle to distant and tranquil forests high in the

mountains. Those species living near residential areas such as deers, muntjacs, wild boars,

etc., will at first move further away from the work sites, usually to desolate low mountain

areas to reside, then may go back to the forest and/or fields near the work sites for food. Small

mammals, birds, and reptiles would only move away from the flooded areas or scatter not far

away from the work sites to live. Since all subproject sites are located far from natural

habitats, this kind of impact is anticipated to be not significant.

156. Moreover, to satisfy the domestic needs of the workers, services including food

services will grow and the food services of specialties of wild animals could be inevitable.

Broader markets for these wild products and animals will encourage the local people to hunt

forest animals to meet the needs of customers. However, the construction contractors need to

carry out measures to educate the workers and raise awareness on forest protection.

Impacts on the social-economic situation


52

157. During the construction and upgrading of reservoir structures, the construction units

could block the flow to the downstream areas. This may lead to temporary water shortages for

the cultivation areas in the downstream, affecting the lives and production of the communities

in the project area.

158. During the construction stage, a number of workers may be mobilized from other

areas. This may affect daily living conditions of the local residents. A number of people from

other locations moving to the Project areas may result in an increase of prices of domestic

goods due to increased consumption of goods and necessities. In addition, social conflicts

may also occur due to differences in lifestyle and culture between the workers and local

residents. Besides, the concentration of workers may also lead to growth of businesses and

entertainment services, including social evils such as gambling, drugs, prostitutes, etc.

However, because the reservoirs to upgrade are of small scale and the number of workers

gathered will not be large, it can be concluded that the negative impacts of these subprojects

on the nearby communities would likely to be low. Meanwhile, there will be some positive

impacts such as generating high level of consumption, leading to the growth of other services

and circulation of goods in the local areas. Therefore, the lives of the local people will be

improved, which will foster the socio-economic conditions of the area.

5.3.3. Subproject group of upgrading rescue roads/bridges


159. Negative impacts during the site clearance stage of the subprojects of upgrading

rescue roads include: impacts from acquisition of agricultural land of some households (rice

and other edible crops); topographic and geomorphological survey activities can generate

some pollutants such as exhausts, waste water, solid wastes (small amount); and traffic

hindrance. These activities would also require some site clearance, removal of vegetation

cover, causing soil erosion, etc. however, these impacts will be localized and temporary.


160. Roadbed leveling and earthwork activities or embankment activities in low-lying areas

will generate a relatively large amount of dust, which affect the air quality. This effect would

be serious during windy or dry time. Dust will arise and spread and impact on nearby

residential areas, affecting the ecosystem in the region, especially dust on the foliage affects

the photosynthesis process of plants.

161. The operation of construction equipment will also affect the quality of ambient air due

to vehicles using gasoline or diesel could produce exhaust gases from combustion such as

dust, carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and hydrocarbons

(HC). These are highly toxic substances compared to earth surface dust and with high

concentration and/or long exposure may have negative impacts on the health of construction

workers and nearby residents. The process of loading and unloading of construction materials

(stone, sand, cement etc.) at storage areas could also generate dust, especially during a strong

wind condition.

162. Construction workers and residents living around the construction area and along the

construction roads could be affected by dust, emission and noise arising from road

construction activities.



53

163. During rescue road construction phase, wastewater mainly from construction

activities, domestic wastewater from construction sites and work camps, and rainwater runoff

could be discharged into nearby water courses causing water pollution especially with respect

to lower dissolved oxygen (DO), higher level of oil/grease, turbidity, biochemical oxygen

demand (BOD), and coliform bacteria. Construction and/or upgrading of bridges may also

involve disturbance of bottom sediment and affect water quality. However, given small scale

of works and small number of workers these impacts are considered to be small and can be

mitigated.

Traffic safety and occupational safety

164. Rescue roads upgrading and construction processes will use a variety of trucks and

other vehicles. This activity will not only increases the density of traffic on the roads in

construction area but can be dangerous for road users and residents along the road due to dust,

noise and traffic accidents. The overloaded trucks/vehicles can also damage surface and/or

structure of the local roads making local transport more difficult and/or dangerous.

Occupational accidents at the construction site can occur during the construction, operation of

machinery and construction equipment if users and workers are not guided to use safety and

no labor protection equipment accordingly.

5.3.4. Subproject group of river mouth dredging and coastal infrastructure construction


165. Subprojects involving dredging, upgrading of harbors and storm shelters in the

estuary, and coastal areas, are located relatively far from populated areas, and thus the

negative impacts during site clearance are unlikely to be a major issue. Site clearance

activities include mainly clearance of trees on the alluvial soil. Potential impacts of geological

survey, topography, drilling activities may increase the level of air and water pollution,

however, the impacts would be localized, temporarily, and can be mitigated.


166. Dredging will be carried out with pumping method. Spoils are pumped up via

pipelines and/or transported by trucks and/or other vehicles to dredging disposal sites. This

activity may scatter dust and exhaust gases into the surrounding environment. The main

sources of the exhausted gases are from dredging vehicles (NOx, CO, CO2, HC). Dredged

spoils which in dry air and wind will scatter dust into the surrounding environment.

However, the dredging sites are located away from residential areas (the distance from My

A harbor dredging site to the nearest residential area is 800m), the pollutants are highly

likely to be assimilated, thus would not cause serious impacts on the local residential areas.

These exhausted gases would affect mainly the direct workers, are localized and temporary

during the construction duration, and only require simple mitigation measures.

167. The disposal of dredged materials to leveling sites may also generate a number of gases

with offensive smell such as methane (CH4) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) from decomposed

sediments and dead bodies of marine animals. However, the areas surrounding of disposal sites

are thinly populated. Therefore, dust and exhausted gases could deposit or scatter quickly to the

air and the impacts of polluted air environment on the local residents are expected to be low. In

addition, the river bed sediments are composed mainly of sand, pebbles, shells (area of Cua Sot,

Ha Tinh), etc. Therefore, generation of toxic gases such as CH4, H2S from decomposed dredged

spoils would also be low.


54

Impact on water environment

168. Dredging activities could increase water pollution due to disturbance of bottom

sediments and could increased turbidity and suspended solids content in the river mouth and

coastal water environment. In addition, the transportation of dredged spoils to leveling sites

and the disposal of dredged spoils could also pose risks of sea water pollution such as spillage

of dredged spoils during transportation; wastewater from dredged materials running into the

sea during the pouring of dredged spoils onto leveling sites; breaches of leveling site

embankments causing leakages of spoils into the surrounding environment, etc.

Coastal sedimentation and erosion

169. Activities of dredging anchoring sites for avoiding storms could pose risks of coastal

erosion during the construction stage. Reasons of erosion include: (i) dredging activities will

cause areas of silts to lose, (ii) activities of boats regularly going in and out of the work sites

will create big waves; and (iii) the surface with cleared vegetation cover cannot hold the soil.

Impacts on fishing activities

170. Activities of dredging anchoring sites, transportation of dredged materials would

affect the fishing activities of local people. However, based on the survey, there are not a lot

of fishermen working in the area of My A harbor in Quang Ngai, Nhat Le river mouth in

Quang Binh, or Cua Sot area in Ha Tinh; there are mainly anchoring fishing boats.

Impacts on road and sea transport

171. One of the problems arising during the dredging activities and construction of items of

the subprojects is increasing the local traffic. There are two forms of transport, (1) road

transport serving the construction of in-land items, and (2) sea transport (mainly) serving the

transportation of construction materials (rock, sand, cement), dredged spoils, and the traveling

of dredging vessels and installation of sea traffic signs.

172. The road transport serves mainly the transportation of construction materials.

However, according to the field visit during the EA study, the current traffic level on the

access roads for the sea harbor areas is not high. Therefore, the impacts of the subprojects on

the road transport are likely to be moderate.

173. Dredging activities and construction of works on the sea will considerably affect the

traffic situation of the seaport areas. These areas, at the present, have high frequency of

fishing boats entering and existing for storm avoidance. Therefore, the increased number of

vessels serving the dredging activites and construction of wave-prevention embankments will

pose risks to safety of sea traffic. In addition, these activities will also affect anchoring sites of

the local people during the construction period.

5.3.5. Small Work under Component 3

174. The impacts due to Component 3 will be limited to small works such as construction

of buildings and/of offices and/or construction of community roads/bridges. Some minor

impacts could be expected during construction stage, mainly are (i) disturbance of natural

habitats or nearby local communities due to clearing of construction site, and (ii) noise, dust,

vibration, traffic hindrance, wastes due to construction of works.

5.4 Assessment of Environmental Impacts during Operation


55

175. The overall impact will be positive during Project operation. However, there are some

risks related to dam safety, land/water use conflict or coastal erosion and water quality issues

in case of extreme event. Key risks are discussed below.

176. Risks due to dams/dyke/structure breach: In the Project area, there are 7 existing

large dams according to WB criteria and many small dams/dykes. All the subprojects

involving dams, dykes or reservoirs have been designed to increase the safety of those

structures. However there are risks of dams/dyke/structure breach during project operation

due to (1) poor capacity for design, construction and operation, (2) chronic lack of financial

resources, and (3) chronic lack of right attitude/culture on operation and management as well

as dam safety inspection. The risk could be seen quite low but the impacts would be

significant if it happens, especially during an extreme event.

177. Land/water use conflicts:This risk would happen if the operation of spillway

gates/sluice gates of reservoirs are inappropriate, resulting in local flooding and possible

impacts on water quality and water uses. It would also happen in case of upgrading dikes.

When the dike system at one side of the river is strengthened and blocked the water to come

in, the flood would goes over the other river side. Inundation at the other river side would be

more serious and then potential negative impacts would be raised. This case could be seen

clearly at the subproject “Upgrade dyke at the north of Dinh river – Ninh Thuan province”.

Upgrade dyke at the north of Dinh river – Ninh Thuan province” and the concerns of the local

community.

- The Dinh river dike (11.5 km) holds an important function of protecting Phan Rang city – the

economic, political and social center of Ninh Thuan province. Currently, some parts of the dike are

quite low so flood comes over the dike and causes inundation some communes of the city during flood

time. Inundation also happens at the other side of the river. When the dike is upgraded, including

widening and increasing the height, the flood could not comes over the dike anymore. Consequently,

inundated situation at the other river side would be more serious. The district and communes at the

river side raised the requests as follow:

Ninh Phuoc district:

- Technical measures for flood draining and prevention would be needed.

- An Hai, An Phuoc and Phuoc Thuan communes would be included in Component 3 of V project.

Phuoc Thuan commune:

- There should have a plan to balance/ maximize benefits and minimize damages and impacts on local

people’s lives at both banks of Dinh river, especially on the southern bank (Phuoc Thuan commune

has 18,000 people; An Hai commune has 12,000 people and 1,500 ha of agricultural land).

Ninh Thuan province, July 6th, 2011

178. Unstable lives of relocated households after the project implementation: When

relocated to new places, the relocated households will need to begin a total new life which can

be very different from what they have known. Relocated households might not adapt and

integrate into new community or new living conditions (health, education, water supply and

drain, traffic etc.) in poor resettlement areas. If resettlement programs and plans are

ineffective or inadequate, the lives of relocated people would become increasingly difficult or

poorer than before, and they would be more severely affected in case of natural disasters. For

their livelihood needs, these people could destroy the forests or reserves, violate

dike/revetment safety corridors to plant crops, collect plants and hunt animals, etc. In the end,


56

natural disaster risks would happen to them and other communities. This risk is however

considered to be low especially in light of the CBDRM application and scaling up.

Potential erosion and water quality issues of nearby coastal area

179. This potential impact would likely to occur only with the three proposed subprojects

of upgrading harbors/anchoring sites for avoiding storms. During the subproject operation

stage, the amount of traffic of fishing boats entering/exiting the harbors/anchoring sites

would increase, posing a threat to the water quality in the river mouth areas due to increase

in turbidity, contamination from oil leakages or wastes (liquid and solid) from ships and the

fishery service areas, etc. As a result, river mouth ecosystems would be directly affected,

which in turn would affect the coastal ecosystems. It’s worthy to notice that coastal

ecosystems (mangrove forests, corals, seaweeds) are natural structures which can prevent

coastal lands from waves and storm winds. This impact however is considered to be small

and the mitigation measures can be identified during the preparation of the subproject’s

EMPs.

5.5. Analysis of alternatives

180. The proposed subprojects to be carried out under Component 4 will be carried out

on/along the existing dykes, dams, roads, and reservoirs so that alternative analysis regarding

site selection is not an option. However, an analysis between “without project” and “with

project” was carried out by comparing the potential impacts on socioeconomic conditions,

natural conditions, and policy and institutional capacity related to natural disaster. The results

are summarized in Table 5.4 and briefly discussed below.

Implementation of the project will require land acquisition and involve ethnic

minorities while the construction activities of the Project will generate pollutants,

exhausts, construction and domestic wastes and wastewater, etc., causing soil, water,

and air pollution in and around the Project area. However, these impacts could be

mitigated and/or compensated. In addition, the decision of the project to support only

rehabilitation and/or upgrading of existing infrastructure instead of new construction,

which avoid and/or limit involuntary resettlement and environmental impacts from

opening new areas, etc.

Nonetheless, the implementation of the subprojects of upgrading dikes and

revetments, reservoirs, river mouth dredging and upgrading harbors for avoiding

storms, construction infrastructure for flood and storm prevention and control, etc.

are considered necessary to protect human, livelihoods and property of the people.

Sea dikes and river dikes protect human and fields from storms and floods. Rescue

roads will be needed in case water level rises and isolate the communities.

Reservoirs prevent floods and droughts, and at the same time reserve fresh water and

supply domestic water to the people. Health stations, schools provide basic social

services and can be flood and storm public shelters, ensuring human protection

services are provided in case of disasters. Local private houses and concrete

community houses can be used as the flood shelters for the local people in floods

and storms as well.


57

Strengthening of disaster risk management institutions, information systems and

planning capacity will improve the Government capacity and its staff to forge

effective coordination and cooperation among agencies and key stakeholders as well

as improve information collection, dissemination, and reliability including maps and

other planning tools to integrate DRM into river basin planning.

Strengthening weather forecasting and early warning systems will improve weather

forecasting and early warning capacity of the agencies especially for disaster

preparedness at all levels, and thus help reducing losses of life and properties. An

integrated and modernized hydromet system will be developed while the hydromet

infrastructure and early warning systems (EWS) will be strengthened. This capacity

will also help improving effectiveness of the provincial plans on flooding and water

resources management.

Implementing the Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) will build

on the experience from the on-going pilots to scale up the CBDRM efforts to some

100 communes in the 10 target provinces. The activities will increase capacity of local

communities to better prepare for floods and storm events including natural disasters

through communal-scale investments and capacity building and using a participatory

planning and supervision approach. Attention would be provided to vulnerable groups

such as children, women, elderly and disabled people. Support would be given to pilot

public-private-community partnerships in local DRM preparedness. Implementation of

this component would be closely linked to the investments under component 4 through

a geographical clustering of interventions to ensure maximum synergies from

investments of different scales.

Table 5.4: Comparison between “without project” and “with project” option

Subject Without Project With Project Remarks

Socio-

economic

conditions

-Safety risks to human and

infrastructure and agriculture

production in flood season

remain high.

- No opportunity to increase

agricultural land area

-Preventing and/or reducing damages caused

by natural disasters: storms, floods, erosions;

Protecting infrastructure, offices, schools,

health stations and production in the area.

-Providing an opportunity to increase

agricultural land area due to rehabilitation

and/or upgrading of reservoirs.

+++

-Annual investment in economic

activities in the area is limited

due to floods and storms

-Securing investment and economic

development activities which can

contributing to socio-economic growth and

create environmental landscape in the project

area.

+

-Rural traffic is limited by floods

and storms, hindering rescue

activities, daily activities of local

people and socio-economic

activities.

-Rescue roads and dikes that are

not upgraded will hinder local

- During floods and storm, rescue activities

would be more effective due to enhanced

dike and rescue road conditions.

- Rural traffic in the Project area will be

improved because rehabilitation and/or

upgrading works can be combined with

improving the local traffic, meeting transport

+++


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traffic demands in the area.

-Households continue to live and

work as normal.

-Land acquisition, site clearance,

construction activities, gathering of workers,

etc. will disturb social and economic

activities of the areas; The impacts will be

compensated and/or mitigated.

---

-Some communities living near

river banks will lose residential

and production land due to

erosion and landslide.

-Ensure that residential and production land

next to river banks will not suffer from soil

erosion. ++

Natural

conditions

-Natural disasters continue to

occur such as: dikes will be

breached, water overflowing the

dikes in flood season, revetments

will collapse or encroached in

many places; reservoirs cannot

ensure safety, etc.

-Natural disaster risks will be reduced: dikes

and revetments will be stronger and safer;

Water in reservoirs will be safety retained in

flood season; sluices could be more effective

in regulating floods, etc. +++

-In flood season and under

impacts of climate change, etc.

there are risks of flooding due to

inability to regulate floods, dike

breaches, river bank erosion and

landslide, etc., which will cause

flood to expand on large scales.

At the same time, pollution and

diseases emerge and will be wide

spread.

-Reduce risks of flooding; Reduce sources of

pollution due to flooding; Reduce diseases

caused by floods such as cholera, fever,

typhoid, etc.; Limit the development of

harmful insects and parasites. +++

-The land reserve next to dikes

and river banks can be lost due to

erosion and landside every year

in the flood season. Agricultural

land can be affected and become

impossible to grow crops on.

-Upgraded dikes and revetments, etc. will

contribute to stabilize land reserve, increase

utilization value of some areas within project

areas.

+++

-Slow economic activities would

be continued as usual.

-Enhance local economic and service

activities by using local materials and labour. +

-Some areas lack irrigation water

in the dry season; Groundwater

level is reducing gradually due to

over-exploitation without supply

sources.

-Upgraded reservoirs will provide an

opportunity to ensure adequate supply for

agricultural irrigation for the lowlands and

increase sources for surrounding

groundwater.

+

-Traffic density is suitable with

population density and

production density in the area.

-Traffic density on transport roads will

increase significantly; Transportation of

bulky materials can cause accidents on the

roads, especially in crowded roads or roads

near schools.

-


59

--The existing vegetation cover

can reduce the heat in the

summer and balance the

microclimate.

--Some subprojects involves cutting of trees

to construct roads, widen dike surface or

prepare construction site, etc. However, the

clearance area will be limited.

--

-No construction activities will be

implemented with existing works

and no disturbance of current

environmental conditions.

-Construction activities of the Project will

generate pollutants, exhausts, construction and

domestic wastes and wastewater, etc., causing

soil water and air pollution in and around the

project area. These impacts will be localized,

temporary, and will be mitigated.

---

Policy and

institutional

capacity to

be

responsive

to natural

disaster

-Limited implementation of the

national policies and plans due to

limited funding sources and

capacity of key agencies

-Supporting the implementation and/or

improvement of the national policies and plans

related to natural disaster. +++

-Limited technical capacity to

forecast the situation.

-Installation of hydrologibcal stations with

associated capacity building will enhance

capacity to forecast the flood/storm events. +++

-Limited understanding and

cooperation of local communities

in responding to natural disasters

especially during the emergency

and/or rescue activities.

-Increase knowledge and capacity of local

communities on natural disaster and how to

management them including investment in

small infrastructure will strengthen capacity of

local people to be responsive to the natural

floods/storm events and natural disasters and

thus reducing damages on human life and

properties.

+

Note: +++ Major potential positive impacts of the project; --- Major potential negative impacts of

the project

60

CHAPTER 6. PROPOSED MITIGATION MEASURES

181. This chapter presents the proposed measures to mitigate the potential negative impacts

of the Project based on the assessment conducted in Chapter 5. Given that the subprojects and

activities will be implemented in phases, an Environmental and Social Management

Framework (ESMF) has been prepared as a standalone document in line with the WB’s

OP/BP 4.01 requirement and it will be applied to all the subprojects to be financed under the

Project. A Dam Safety Framework (DSF) has also been prepared as a standalone document in

line with OP/BP 4.37 and it will be applied to all the subprojects involve safety of dams

and/or reservoirs. The ESMF is connected to the social safeguard policy documents namely

the Ethnic Minorities Planning Framework (EMPF) and the Resettlement Policy Framework

(RPF) and their respective actions plans namely the Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs) and

the Ethnic Minority Development Plans (EMDPs) for the subprojects. Sections 6.1 and 6.2

summarize main objectives and key elements of the ESMF and DSF while Section 6.3

describes the implementation and monitoring arrangement of the mitigation measures

including the need for safeguard training and budget.

6.1 Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF)

6.1.1 Objective and scope

182. The main objective of the ESMF is to ensure that the subprojects and activities to be

financed under the Project would not create adverse impacts on the local environment and

local communities and the residual and/or unavoidable impacts will be adequately mitigated

in line with the WB’s safeguard policy. Given that the implementation arrangement of the

activities to be implemented under Components 1, 2, 3 will be different from the subprojects

to be implemented under Component 4, the ESMF will comprise two parts: (a) the ESMF

process which will be applied only for the Component 4 subprojects including a standard

Environmental Code of Practices (ECOP) to be incorporated into the bidding and contract

documents for civil works and (b) the mitigation measures for other Project activities

involving civil works, including a simple ECOP. The ESMF process is summarized in Section

6.1.2, while the mitigation measures for other Project activities are summarized in Section

6.1.3.

6.1.2 The ESMF Process

183. The ESMF process will be applied only for the Component 4 subprojects. The process

has been designed to comprise 5 key steps: (1) Eligibility screening, (2) Technical screening

and identification of key impacts and documentation, (3) Development of mitigation measures

and public consultation, (4) Information disclosure and WB safeguard clearance, and (5)

Implementation, monitoring, and reporting. The first year Component 4 subprojects have

gone through the first three steps and specific mitigation plans (RAPs, EMDPs, and

EMPs//DSRs) have been prepared and these documents will be submitted to WB for public

disclosure and clearance. The safeguard screening, impact assessment, and preparation of

safeguard documents for all the second and follow-on year subprojects will be carried out

during the Project implementation and the safeguard documents (RAPs, EMDPs, and EMPs,

including dam safety report as needed) will be submitted for WB clearance before their

approval and implementation. Key elements of the ESMF process are highlighted as follows:

184. Safeguard screening: Figure 6.1 and Table 6.1 identifies criteria and actions to be

undertaken during the safeguard screening process. The subprojects will comply with

Government EIA regulations and those involving land acquisition/resettlement and ethnic

minority will comply with the RPF and EMPF. To avoid potential adverse potential socio-

environmental impacts on areas of critical importance such as national parks, biological

conservation areas, protected forests or areas of historical values, subprojects under the VN-

Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) Viet Nam Managing Natural Hazards Project (VN-Haz)

61

Haz Project will be screened for their environmental eligibility. The subprojects that

potentially adversely affect areas of biological importance, conversion of site with valuable

landscape, removal of objects with historical/religious appreciation, or encroachment on

mangrove forest regardless of the size will be excluded from the Project financing.

185. The criteria for exclusion of subprojects have been developed with reference to Annex

III of Decree No.29/2011/ND-CP (listing the projects subject to appraisal by MONRE) as

detailed below:

a) Subprojects that use land of national parks, natural reserves, world heritage,

historical/cultural sites, nationally protected landscapes, biosphere conservation sites;

b) Subprojects that cause conversion of forests including mangrove forests, watershed

protection forests, waves/wind shield forests, etc;

c) Subprojects that cause sea encroachment of 20 ha or more;

d) Subprojects that cause conversion of two-crop rice field land of 20 ha or more with

high productivity;

e) Subprojects having project sites in more than one province.

186. EMP: All the subprojects will prepare an EMP for the subproject in line with the

technical guideline provided in the ESMF. The EMP will also include a standard ECOP, an

environmental monitoring program, safeguard training, and an implementation arrangement

including the required budget and funding sources. For those related to dams and reservoirs,

preparation of a Dam Safety Report (DSR) for a large dam and a Dam Safety Inspection

Report (DSIR) will be carried out and is considered a part of the EMP. For the subprojects

related to dredging near the river mouth and/or upgrading/construction of coastal

infrastructure a quick study on existing conditions along the coast with respect to erosion in

the subproject and nearby area and background conditions of the nearby ecosystem will

have to be conducted during the preparation of the EMP for the subproject so that the extent

of the potential impacts as well as the required mitigation measures could be identified.

187. Standard ECOP (Annex 1): This document is prepared as an annex to the ESMF and

it will be included in the bidding and contract documents of all the civil works to be carried

out under the subprojects. The document identifies general procedures as well as roles and

responsibilities of contractor, subproject owner, and construction supervision consultant/field

engineer. Specific actions to be carried out by contractor are identified under 2 separate

sections:

General Provisions including “the Chance Find procedure” and

Management of Construction comprising general management of construction site

and activities, management of environmental quality (air, noise/vibration, water,

wastes, etc.), management of work camp, management of stockpiles, quarries, and

borrow pits, management of dredging, and monitoring of potential impacts.

6.1.3 Mitigation measures for other Project activities

188. Simple ECOP (Annex 1): To mitigate the potential impacts of the civil works

activities to be implemented under Components 1, 2, 3, a simple ECOP has been prepared and

it will be incorporated into all the bidding and/or contract documents of all the activities

involving civil works. The simple ECOP describes roles and responsibilities, the “Chance


62

Find” procedures, and Good Environmental and Housekeeping practices. Efforts will be made

to integrate the knowledge on environment and social safeguard into the planning process and

capacity building as appropriate.

6.2. Mitigation measures for Phase 1 subprojects

189. Five EIAs as required by the government regulations on environmental impact

assessment and six EMPs have been prepared for these subprojects and presented as separated

documents. Potential negative impacts and major mitigation measures of the first phase

Component 4 subprojects are showed in Table 5.3.

63

Table 5.3: Potential Negative Impacts of the First Phase Component 4 Sub

Components Physical Biological Socio Others Mitigation measures

Air,

noise,

vibrat

ion

Land,

soil,

water

Solid

waste,

Sludg

e

Forest

,

natura

l

habita

ts

Fish,

aquatic

life

Land

acquis

ition,

resettl

ement

Indigen

ous

peoples

Physic

al

cultural

resourc

es

Liveli

hood,

comm

unity

distur

bance

Local

flood,

traffic,

safety

Off-

site

impac

ts

Subproject 1: Maintain, upgrade and treat the key parts of the left dyke of Cau Chay river (section from K0-K42), Yen Dinh district (Thanh Hoa) (240 bil

VND); Scope include: upgrade 42km dyke site; Repair, upgrade and renew structures on the site, including construction of sluices; build more rescue

roads

Background/Key issues: [ protect property and life of 130,000 people; protect 10,000 ha agricultural land and ensure the safety for infrastructures; build the rescue

road to boost the socio-economic development for 25 communes in Yen Dinh district] [781 affected HHs, of which 18 HHs lose more than 20% of productive land;

04 HHs have to relocate graves; 43 HHs are in vulnerable group (18 poor HHs, 20 FHHs)]; [1 million cubic meters will be excavated and dyked; dust and noise in

construction phase]

Pre-const. L L L N L H N L M L L - Land acquisition and relocation of

graves will be compensated and

implemented in accordance with the RAP

before the construction.

- Ensure effective implementation of

ECOP and consultation with local

residents

Construction M M M N L N N L M M M

Operation N N N N N N N N M L N - Ensure effective O&M; Build capacity

of local community with high risks

through the application of CBDRM

Subproject 2: Upgrade dyke site of Luong Yen Khai (Nghe An) (45 bil VND): Scope includes (Line, widen, stabilize the surface of 2.87km)

Background/Key issues: [protect life and property for 10,756 inhabitants and maintain production stability for 651.8 ha of agricultural land]; 83 affected HHs, of

which 80 HHs lose their agricultural land, 03 HHs lose adjacent garden to their residential land, affected land is 13,300 m2];[ 186,314.98 m

3 soil will be excavated

and dyked; dust and noise in construction phase]

Pre-const. L L L N L H N L M L L - Land acquisition will be compensated

and implemented in accordance with the

RAP before the construction




64


residents




Subproject 3: Bridge combining with overflow connecting rescued roads, Nghi Loc and Vinh city (Nghe An) (27 bil VND);

Scope includes 65m bridge combining with overflow and 1Km road and a drain sluice with B=7.5m

Background/Key issues: [improve the economy and reduce poverty for about 13,709 people in Hung Hoa and Nghi Thai communes by increasing access ability to

the administrative centers, market centers, health care, education and social services, reducing the time and cost for agricultural products transportation];5

affected HHs , earth fill K95 7,940 m3, mud dredging 687m

3, dust and noise in construction phase ].



RAP before the construction.



residents





Subproject 4: Upgrade dyke site Phuc Long Nhuong, Cam Xuyen district (Ha Tinh) (180 bil VND); Scope include: upgrade dyke site of 11.41 km; Renew

21 drainage culverts crossing the dyke; build 12 road sites combining with dyke rescue with a total length of 8.974 km.

Background/Key issues: [Preventing and reduction of disaster damage by storm, tropical depression, storm surges occur frequently in direct of 19,728

persons/2,471 ha of Thien Cam town, Cam Phuc, Cam Nhuong communes and indirect of 12,450 persons/1,345 ha of Cam Xuyen town and Cam Thang commune.];

[335 affected HHs, of which 125 households will lose agricultural land, 119 households will lose house-stage garden, 22 households will lose aquacultural land,

and 44 households will lose residential land]; [excavation soil 90,000 m3; dust and noise in construction phase]



implemented in accordance with the RAP





65


residents




Subproject 5: Repair, upgrade Thạch Ban reservoir, Duy Xuyen district (Quang Nam) (86 bil VND); Scope includes: Main dam, overflow, intake gate,

management house and road

Background/key issues:[ reduce the vulnerability due to the external factors such as drought, floods and erosion, flood control issues will be enhanced, protect more

than 10,000 people in two communes (Duy Phu, Duy Thu), protect infrastructure such as houses of citizens, clinics, post offices, markets, kindergartens, primary

schools, secondary schools, inter-village transportation system and electricity]; [7 affected HHs in Duy Thu commune would have temporary acquisition of 2 ha of

plantation forest land]; [150,000 m3 of fill-land, 1,748.05 m

3 of stone, 11,271.84 m

3 of sand and gravel are needed for the construction; Air, noise and water

pollution]



RAP before the construction



residents


Operation N N N N N N N N M L N -To ensure effective O&M; Build capacity



Subproject 6: Upgrade anti-erosion embankment of Kone river for safety, An Nhon and Tuy Phuoc district (Binh Dinh) (47bil VND); Scope include (i) 1.2

km Thang Cong section – Nhon Phuc commune; (ii) 1.5km Song Ngheo section – Nhon Hau commune; (iii) 1.8 km Tam Dan – Tan Duong section – Nhon

An commune; (iv) 1.3 km embankment in the downstream of Ba Di bridge – Phuoc Loc commune.

Background, key issues: [Upgrading anti-flood and anti-inundation capacity for all of the dyke belong to Kone river dyke system aim to protect directly human,

infrastructure, land, house and property of 49,183 people (8,197 households) in 3 communes Nhon An, Nhon Hau, Nhon Phuc (An Nhon District) and Phuoc Loc

(Tuy Phuoc District)]; [73 affected HHs in 3 Ward PCs of Binh Dinh province, including: 16 HHs in Phuoc Loc Commune, 13 HHs in Nhon An Commune, 27 HHs

in Nhon Phuc Commune and 17 HHs in Nhon Hau Commune]; [45,092 m3 of excavation land and 66,673 m

3 of fill-land; Dust, noise, water pollution]



implemented in accordance with the RAP Construction M M M N L N N L M M M


66




residents




Note: The following criteria are used for the assessment of level of impacts: None (N) –no impact; Low (L) – Small works, minor impacts, localized, reversible,

temporary; Medium (M) –Small works in coastal/sensitive areas, medium scale works with moderate impacts of which most are reversible, reducible and

manageable, localized, temporary; High (H) –Medium scale works in coastal/sensitive area, large scale works with significant impacts (socially and/or

environmentally) of which many are irreversible and require compensation; Both M and H levels need implementation of the mitigation measures, monitoring, and

adequate institutional capacity on safeguard.

67

6.3 Dam Safety Framework (DSF)

190. For the subprojects involving dams and reservoirs, preparation of a Dam Safety Report

(DSR) will be required for a large dam and high hazard dam, while preparation of a Dam

Safety Inspection Report (DSIR) will be required for small dam. The DSF provides criteria

for determining type of dams (large or small) as well as actions to be carried out during the

subproject preparation, supervision, and monitoring. For large and high hazard dams,

involvement of a dam safety expert/panel will be necessary.

6.4 Implementation and Monitoring Arrangement

6.4.1 Responsible agencies:

191. The implementation and monitoring arrangement for the proposed mitigation

measures will basically follow the Project implementation arrangement. For the overall

project, CPMO of MARD will be responsible for supervision and monitoring of the

mitigation measures implementation including provide training and capacity building as

needed. It is anticipated that and Environment and Social Unit (ESU) will be established and

a Central Environmental Management Consultant (CEMC) will be hired to assist in

performing these tasks.

192. For Components 1, 2, 3 activities the agencies responsible for the components (i.e.

PPMUs of DARD for Components 1 and 3 and the Project Management Unit (PMU) of

MONRE for Component 2) will be responsible for (a) ensuring that the simple ECOP is

included in the bidding and contract documents and it is effectively implemented by

contractor, (b) integrating safeguard knowledge and consideration into the planning and

capacity building process, and (c) reporting the safeguard performance in the component

progress report.

193. For Component 4 subprojects, PPMUs of DARD will be responsible for

implementation of the proposed mitigation measures, especially those under the responsibility

of contractor. PPMU with assistance from the Construction Supervision Consultant (CSC)

and/or field engineers will also ensure close coordination with local authorities and

communities and take appropriate actions in responding to any complaints and/or issues

raised on the ground. The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental at provincial

level (DoNRE), and the PPCs, and representative from mass organization and/or local

community are also the key parties involving in the implementation and/or monitoring of the

proposed mitigation measures.

194. The Contractors are responsible for implementing mitigation measures and the

mitigation costs will be part of the contract. The CSC is responsible for assisting PPMU in

supervision and monitoring the day-to-day implementation of mitigation measures undertaken

by the contractor and this responsibility will be part of the CSC TOR.

6.4.2 Reporting arrangement

195. The implementation progress will be included in the subproject and Project progress

reports. PPMU with assistance from the CSC will include safeguard performance at

subproject level to report to CPMO periodically. At the project level, CPMO assisted by

CEMC will prepare safeguard performance report twice per year for submission to the World

Bank describing the Project progress and compliance with the ESMF and other safeguard

requirements.

6.4.3 Safeguard training and capacity building

196. Although most of the Project provinces have been involved in the implementation of

WB safeguard under the on-going WB funded projects, knowledge and experience on WB


68

safeguard requirements as well as of environment and social issues remain limited. Given

that most of the key mitigation measures are good engineering practices, the safeguard

training should focus on increasing knowledge on (a) safeguard policy and procedures to

implement the safeguard instruments (RAP/RPF, EMDP/EMPF, EMP/ESMF, DSR/DSF)

designed for the Project and subproject (b) specific training on supervision and monitoring of

contractor performance, including forms and reporting process, and (c) general knowledge on

good construction practices for reducing potential impacts on local environment and safety

aspects.

197. Given the number of the subprojects and its nature/locations, it is anticipated that at

least 4 safeguard training courses should be provided during the first 3 years of the project

implementation. The training should first focus on the knowledge, policies, and procedures

related to land acquisition and resettlement and involvement of ethnic minority and/or other

social aspect so that RAP implementation could be completed before construction start. All

key staff responsible for the activities should particapate in the training. The supervision of

contractor training should be conducted at least 1 month before the construction. The key

participants should include PPMU staff and its consultants (CSC), and representatives from

local agencies, local communities, and/or mass organizations, responsible for supervison of

contractor.

6.4.4 Budget allocation.

198. To ensure that the proposed mitigation measures will be effectively implemented,

budget will be allocated for the following activities:

Feasibility studies and safeguard documents for the second phase subprojects.

Detailed design and construction supervision including those mitigation measures

identified in the EMPs.

Environment Management Plan (EMP) and monitoring.

Social safeguard monitoring, especially for RAP and EMDP.

Land appropriation.


69

Figure 6.1 – Schematic Flowchart for Safeguard Actions for Components 3 and 4 Subprojects

CPMO conduct initial screening to determine the environmental category

of subprojects (Step 1)

Involve civil works that could generate

potential negative impacts under

Component 4: PPMU prepare

EIA/EPC as required by GoV

regulations. If the subproject involves

dam, DSF will be followed (Step 3)

Pass: CPMU identifies potential negative impacts (environment

and social), mitigation measures and/or next actions–using the

checklist forms, discuss the results with local government and/or

communities –Apply criteria described in Table 5.1 (Step 2)

CPMO monitor/report safeguard implementation/performance in the project

progress report; WB will periodically review and monitor the results/reports (Step 5)

PPMUs prepare EMPs in line with

ESMF, including ECOP, dam safety

report (DSR) and/or water quality

monitoring as needed; the EMPs will be

submitted for WB clearance. Public

consultation will be part of the EMP

preparation. If UXO risk exists, the

EMP will also include measures to

mitigate the risk (Step 4).

(Steps 3 and 4)

Small civil works

under Component 3

with small impacts

and no EIA/EPC is

required (Step 3)

Fail:

The Project will not fund

the proposed activities

Involve ethnic

peoples:

PPMU prepare

EMDP (Step 3)

Involve land

acquisition, relocation,

and/or compensation:

PPMU prepare RAP

(Step 3).

PPMUs use the

ECOP for small

civil work in the

ESMF and include

them in the bidding

and contract

documents (Step 4)

PPMUs prepare

RAP in line with

RPF, including

consultation with

affected population.

Compensation must

be paid before the

civil works could

begin (Step 4)

PPMUs

prepare an

EMDP in

line with the

EMPF

(Steps 4)

PPMUs, assisted by Construction Supervising Consultant (CSC) and/or field engineer monitor and

supervise contractor performance and report the results periodically to CPMO; Information disclosure

should be conducted periodically (Step 5)


70

Table 6.1: Technical Guideline for Safeguard Screening and Actions for Component 4

Subprojects

Potential negative

impacts

Required mitigation actions

(If Yes)

Requir

ed

docum

ent

Remarks

(1) Permanent or

temporary loss of land or

resources for any

families,

Identify the amount and nature of land

required, owner, and/or other issues and

prepare a RAP to provide compensation

and/or assistance following the RPF.

RAP Prior consultation

with WB, proper

documentation, and

Post review by WB

may be necessary.

(2) Likely to involve

ethnic minorities and/or

adversely affect ethnic

groups

Carry out social assessment process through

free, prior, and informed consultations and

prepare an EMDP in accordance with

guidance in the EMPF. The project will

support increasing awareness of affected

population, in respective languages of ethnic

minority groups, about the Grievance

Redress mechanisms, and building capacity

of those involved in the existing Grievance

Redress mechanism on the required tasks,

including dealing with or mediating

complaints from individual and/or ethnic

groups, recording and reporting, and

monitoring proposed resolutions.

EMDP Prior consultation

with WB, proper

documentation, and

Post review by WB

may be necessary.

(3) Likely to have

artifacts or remains

found during excavation

works, and physical

relocation of grave.

Physical relocation of graves is likely. If this

is the case follows the procedure described in

the RPF and the RAP;

A standard “Chance Find” Procedure

included in the ECOP will be incorporated in

the subproject EMP.

RAP

EMP

Preparation of

procedures to

address when local

grave is encountered

has been included in

the RPF.

Contractor will

apply the chance

finds procedure

(4) Likely to involve

UXO risk?

If identified at the feasibility stage, include

the clause in the EMP. The procedures

would include: contact responsible agencies

and complete the clearance before

conducting construction activities. The

subproject will be required to provide a UXO

clearance certificate before undertaking site

clearance and/or construction.

EMP PPMU will be

responsible for

contacting the

concerned agencies

and obtain clearance

to secure safety of

the project area

(5) Involve civil works

which can generate air,

Include the standard ECOP into bidding and

contract documents and ensure that

EMP PPMU will ensure

that the ECOP is


71

noise, and/or water

pollution, soil erosion,

public health risks,

and/or impacts on

downstream and/or

nearby water uses during

site clearance and

construction.

Construction Supervising Consultant (CSC)

and/or field engineer closely monitor

performance of contractor.

included in the

contract and the

CSC responsibility

to supervise the

contractors is

included in the

TOR.

(6) Involve dredging

and/or possible

contamination of soil

and water quality from

the disposal of dredged

materials during

construction

Prepare a Dredging Materials Disposal Plan

(DMDP) during the preparation of the

EIA/EMP and/or detailed design.

Compliance with the DMDP has been

included in the standard ECOP.

EMP Technical guidelines

are provided in

Annex 3

(7) Involve risk related

to safety of dams Apply DSF and include the mitigation

measures as part of the EMP: For a large and

high hazard dams prepare a dam safety report

(DSR) as described in the DSF.

Identify local community with high risk and

provide capacity building as part of the

Component 3 implementation.

EMP

/DSF

PPMU/CPMO will

ensure that this is

the case.

(8) Likely to cause

land/water use conflicts

due to dyke safety and/or

sluice operation

Identify areas/local community with high

risks and provide capacity building as part of

the Component 3 implementation.

EMP PPMU/CPMO will

ensure that this is

the case

(9) Likely to create

coastal erosion nearby

during operation.

Conduct a review for potential erosion in

nearby area and identify areas/local

community with high risks and provide

capacity building as part of the Component 3

implementation.

EMP PPMU/CPMO will

ensure that this is

the case


72

CHAPTER 7 PUBLIC CONSULTATION

7.1. Objective and Methodology

199. The objective of public consultation is to ensure affected populations can participate in

the decision-making and implementation of the project, improve knowledge of the

communities on the project and project impacts on their life. The contribution of stakeholders

will ensure that the project will meet the communities’ demands and will bring potential

benefits to the communities.

200. During the preparation of EA and ESMF, two consultations were carried out, as

presented in Table 7.1.

Table 7.1. Public consultation during the development of the EA and ESMF

Stage Objective Methodology

Identification of

scope of EA and

ESMF

(First Public

Consultation)

June and July, 2011

Identify key stakeholders

Introduce the project

Identify environmental background

elements

Preliminary study of project

impacts and mitigation measures

Organize meetings with

stakeholders such as CPC, DPC,

DARD, DONRE, NGOs (such as

Farmer Association, water user

organization (WUO),etc.), and

some affected households

Survey questionnaires

Finalization of EA

and ESMF

(Second Public

Consultation)

September, 2011

Discuss and collect feedbacks on

the contents and results of EA and

ESMF

Recommendations of local

authorities or communities to the

investment owner and project

owner during the project

implementation

Organize meetings with

stakeholders such as CPC, DPC,

DARD, DONRE, NGOs (such as

Farmer Association, WUO), and

some affected households.

Moreover, consultation was also

carried out at the central level,

including MARD, MONRE and

MPI.

Sending EA and ESMF reports to

stakeholders and ask for

feedbacks

201. Key stakeholders are identified as follow:

– Directly affected populations: populations currently living in the subproject areas,

under direct impacts from project activities, including farmer households, ethnic

minorities living next to dikes, embankments, reservoirs, rescue roads, fishermen, etc.

– Indirectly affected populations: some communities living in communes and districts

near subproject areas (or on the other side of the river in subprojects of upgrading river

dikes and revetments), households living downstream, fishermen of provinces and

districts adjacent to subproject areas, etc.

– State agencies, including: MARD, MONRE, MOET, DARDs, DONREs, etc.


73

– Other organizations and individuals, including: national and regional NGOs, regional

civil society organizations.

202. Methods and techniques used in the consultation during the first meetings are

organizing meetings with stakeholders such as local authorities (CPC, DPC relevant to

subprojects), State agencies (DARDs, DONREs), NGOs (Farmer associations, WUOs, other

NGOs, etc), and some affected households. In addition, to enable the communities to raise

their voices and express their opinions and expectations, public consultation was also carried

out using a survey method. Two survey questionnaires were developed, including a survey

questionnaire on environmental background and a survey questionnaire on natural disaster

situation and consequences, which include questions about respondents’ expectations and

requests to the Project. Communities selected to carry out public consultation were directly

related to the Project, beneficiary communes and affected communes were especially taken

into account. The first public consultation was carried out in June and July, 2011 with 41

meetings in total. During the second consultation to collect feedbacks on EA and ESMF

drafts, apart from methods and techniques used in the first public consultation meeting,

another method was applied. The draft EA and ESMF reports were sent directly or via

official to key stakeholders and asked for feedbacks in writing. The second public

consultation was carried out in September, 2011 with 36 meetings in total. Details are

provided in Annex 6.

7.2 Public Consultation Results

203. Below summarizes key opinions collected from the first meeting:

– Most of the provinces and communities in the project area showed enthusiasm in

supporting the implementation of the project because natural disasters have an

enormous impact on these areas, causing great losses to the people and affecting the

overall development rate of many provinces, districts and communes. Therefore, this

is an urgent issue and a top priority of the Central provinces. The local communities

within the project area all wished that the project would be carried out soon.

– The provinces would support and facilitate the project implementation as best as they

could, especially in land acquisition issues during site clearance and regarding

construction of items which have potential negative environmental and social impacts;

– The project beneficiaries mainly include farmers, fishermen, many of which are poor

households and some of which are EMGs. Affected populations are not large, most of

them expressed support to the project, many households volunteered to donate land or

didn’t demand compensation for potentially lost crops and houses, etc.

– The subprojects involve mainly upgrading and improving existing degraded or

unqualified works, therefore the project’s potential adverse impacts are not extensive,

which would only occur mainly during the construction stage and can be mitigated with

appropriate measures.

204. This consultation aimed to present the draft EA and ESMF. Below summarizes

opinions collected from the second meetings:

– Most of the local authorities and communities agreed with the Project implementation,

however, they requested that the construction would be carried out as quickly as

possible, reducing delays and prolonged time of construction, ensuring environmental


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protection and the project staff perform their responsibilities and ensure quality of

work.

– Agreed with the contents of EA and ESMF reports and environmental pollution

mitigation measures mentioned in the reports;

– Requested that the Project owner would be committed to strictly comply with potential

negative impacts mitigation activities such as environmental monitoring and

management.

– To mitigate potential negative impacts of the Project on local communities and

people’s lives, the Project components should be effectively implemented step by step,

avoiding mass and disorderly construction.

– Requested that the contractors would comply with their commitment to mitigate the

potential impacts of the Project including the environmental management and

monitoring;

– Some local authorities proposed to develop policies for punishment or even unilateral

termination of contracts with the contractors in case they don’t comply with the

commitment. Especially, the environmental monitoring systems will need to be carried

out adequately and periodically in line with the environmental protection programs.

– The local authorities and community representatives of the communes will collaborate

in sharing and solving the problems arising during the project implementation.


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Annex 1: Standard Environmental Code of Practices (ECOP) for the Subprojects

Table of content

I. Introduction

II. Relevant World Bank’s Safeguard Policies and Government’s Regulations

III. Responsibilities

IV. General Provisions

4.1 Contract Specific Environmental Plan (CSEP)

4.2 Non-compliance and Incident Reporting Procedure

4.3 Coordination with Government Authorities and the Public

4.4 Community Relations

4.5 Mitigation Objective

4.6 Implementation of “Chance Find” Procedures

4.7. Prohibitions

V. Management of Construction

5.1 Management of Construction Sites and Activities

5.2 Management of Environmental Quality

5.3 Management of Work Camp

5.4 Management of Stockpiles, Quarries, and Borrow pits.

5.5 Management of Dredging

5.6 Monitoring of Potential Impacts


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I. Introduction

1. Objective. This Environmental Code of Practices (ECOP) was prepared to guide the

planning and implementation of the mitigation measures to be carried out by Contractor

during construction. It sets out standard practices and procedures for managing the potential

negative impacts on local environment and local communities of all civil works to be carried

out under the Project. The ECOP will be included as a separate annex in all bidding and

contract documents and the field engineers and supervisor will be assigned the responsibility

to ensure compliance and reporting. The Contractor will be made aware of and commit to this

obligation and know that cost for implementation of the measures is part of the construction

cost.

2. Scope and application. This ECOP will be applied to all the subprojects to be

implemented under Component 4. For the sake of clarity, “construction” in this document

includes all site preparation, demolition of structures, spoil disposal, materials and waste

removal and all related engineering and construction activities.

II. Relevant World Bank’s Safeguard Policies and Government’s Regulations

3. World Bank’s safeguard policies. This ECOP is prepared to satisfy the WB safeguard

requirements under OP4.01 (EA) which requires planning, implementation, and monitoring of

the mitigation measures during construction.

4. GOV’s regulations. There are a number of GoV regulations, standards, code of

practices, etc. related to environmental and safety that are relevant to construction activities

and environmental quality. In addition to the main laws and regulation outlined in the

Environmental and Social Management Framework, the ones related to environmental quality

and safety are listed below (not exhaustive) and have to be closed observed:

Water environment

- QCVN 01:2009/BYT: National technical regulation on drinking water quality

- QCVN 02:2009/BYT: National technical regulation on domestic water quality

- QCVN 08:2008/BTNMT: National technical regulations on surface water quality

- QCVN 09:2008/BTNMT: National technical regulations on groundwater quality

- QCVN 10:2008/BTNMT: National technical regulations on quality of coastal water

- QCVN 11:2008/BTNMT: National technical regulation on industrial wastewater

quality.

- QCVN 14:2008/BTNMT: National technical regulations on quality of domestic

wastewater

- QCVN 24:2008/BTNMT: Industrial wastewater – Discharge standards

- TCVN 5502:2003: Supplied water – Requirements for quality

- TCVN 6773:2000: Water quality – Water quality for irrigational purposes

- TCVN 6774:2000: Water quality – Water quality for aquaculture protection

- TCVN 7222:2002: Water quality – Water quality for concentrated domestic water

Soil environment

- QCVN 03:2008/BTNMT – National technical regulation on the allowable limits of

heavy metals in the soils;

Air environment

- QCVN 05:2008: Air quality – Standards for ambient air quality


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- QCVN 06:2008: Air quality – Maximum allowable concentration of hazardous

substances in the ambient air.

- QCVN 07:2008: Air quality – Threat hold of hazardous substances in the air.

- TCVN 6438:2001: Road vehicles – Maximum permitted emission limits of exhausted

gases

- TCVN 6438:2001 - Road vehicles - Maximum permitted emission limits of exhaust.

- QCVN 07:2009: National technical regulations for classification of hazardous wastes

Vibration and Noise

- QCVN 27:2010/BTNMT – National technical regulation on Vibration (replace TCVN

6962:2001 - Vibration emitted by construction works and factories - Maximum

permitted levels in the environment of public and residential areas;

- QCVN 26:2010/BTNMT – National technical regulation on Noise (replace TCVN

5948:1999 Acoustics - Noise caused by transportation means when speeding -

Allowable level)

- TCVN 5949:1998 Acoustics - Noise in public and residential areas - Allowable

level

Labor Health and Safety

- Decision No.3733/2002/QĐ-BYT issued by Ministry of Healthcare dated on

10/10/2002 about the application of 21 Labor health and safety standards that

concerned about microclimate, noise, vibration, Chemicals – Permitted level in the

working environment.

Moreover, regarding planning and design of infrastructure, operation and management of

the water supply systems, and water source option to serve domestic water supply systems

the following standards are used:

- Decision No.628/BXD-CSXD of the Ministry of Construction (MOC) dated 14th

December 1996: Vietnamese Construction Regulations and Standards;

- Design standards No. 20TCN-33-85 for water supply projects;

- Instructions for preparation and approval of town construction planning of MOC in

1998;

- Construction standard TCXD No.66:1991 on Operation of water supply and drainage

systems - Safety requirements;

- Construction standard TCXD No. 76:1979 on Procedures for technical management in

operation of water supply systems; and

- Construction standard TCXD No.233:1999 on criteria used for choosing surface

water, groundwater sources to serve domestic water supply system.

III. Responsibilities

5. The subproject owner (PPMUs) and the contractor are the key entities responsible for

implementation of this ECOP. Key responsibilities of the subproject owners and the

contractors are as follows:

(a) Subproject owner

- General: The subproject owner (PPMUs) on behalf of the Central Project Management

Unit (CPMO) is responsible for ensuring that the ECOP is effectively implemented.

The subproject owner will assign a group of qualified staff to be responsible for


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preparation and management of environmental and social safeguard of the subproject

throughout its life, including supervision of contractors. The subproject owner is

responsible for preparing the safeguard reports and submitting to the CPMO.

- For the contract involving dredging, the subproject owners with assistance of the

consultants will prepare a Dredge Materials Disposal Plan (DMDP) during the

preparation of an EMP or detailed design as appropriate.

- During construction, the subproject owners will assign the Construction Supervision

Consultants (CSCs) and/or field engineer to be responsible for monitoring and

supervision of the compliance of the contractors to fulfill the agreed CSEP (see

below). Responsibilities of the CSCs would include the following: (a) monitoring the

contractors’ compliance with the environmental plan, (b) taking remedial actions in

the event of non-compliance and/or adverse impacts occur, (c) investigating

complaints, evaluating and identifying corrective measures; (d) advising to the

Contractor on environment improvement, awareness, proactive pollution prevention

measures; (f) supervising the Contractor’s activities in responding to the complaints;

(g) providing guidance and on-the-job training to field engineers on various aspects to

avoid/mitigate potential negative impacts to local environment and communities

during construction.

(b) Contractors

- Contractors have the responsibility of carrying out contracted works through fulfilling

the agreed CESP (Contract Environmental Specification Plan as defined in General

Provisions below). In doing so, the contactors will establish and maintain contact with

the subproject owner and local residents, and keep them informed of construction

matters likely to affect them. This may include regular and frequent distribution of

newsletters and attendance at meetings at the request of the subproject owner with

representatives of local residents groups.

- Contractors will provide information and reporting telephone “Hot Line”, staffed at all

times during working hours. Contact details should be prominently displayed at the

sites. Information on the construction progress, including the projected activities that

might require closure of traffic or may cause safety risk should be timely provided.

- Contractors have the duty to secure appropriate permits and licenses before

undertaking the works or moving heavy equipment. It is the responsibility of the

Contractors to monitor the development and implementation of new environmental

legislation and regulation and to use the appropriate standards prevailing at the time of

awarding contracts. Contractors must comply with all prevailing legislation at the time

of construction, including any requirements under health and safety.

IV. General Provisions

4.1 Contract Specific Environmental Plan (CSEP)

6. Contractors will be required to prepare a CSEP describing how the Contractor intends

to operate construction at works sites as well as other specific measures necessary to avoid

and/or reduce the potential negative impacts as required in the ECOP, especially those related

to management of the construction site; transportation of construction materials, especially

dredge materials; control of dust, noise, and vibration; solid and liquid waste management;

and public health. Given different scope and nature of civil works, scope and nature of the


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CSEP could be differ and all the CSEP will be reviewed and approved by the PEMC to be

assigned by the subproject owner.

4.2 Non-compliance Reporting Procedures

7. Contractors must comply with the CSEP, and must ensure that their Sub-Contractors

(if any) also comply with it. To ensure that necessary action has been undertaken and that

steps to avoid recurrence have been implemented, the CSC/PEMC and/or Contractors must

advise the subproject owner within 24 hours of any serious incidents of non-compliance with

the CSEP that may have serious consequence. In the event of working practices being

deemed dangerous either by the subproject owners, the local authorities, or the other

concerned agencies, immediate remedial action must be taken by the Contractors. The

Contractors must keep records of any incidents and any ameliorative action taken. The

records on non-compliance that could be practically addressed (not cause serious impacts)

should be reported to the subproject owner on a monthly basis.

8. The Contractor will be responsible for dealing with any reports forwarded by the

subproject owner, Police or other agencies by (following instruction from the subproject

owner representative as appropriate) as soon as practicable, preferably within one hour but

always within 24 hours of receipt by either the Contractor. The CSC/PEMC will monitor and

ensure that the Contractor has taken appropriate action. Where appropriate, approval remedial

actions may require an agreement from the local authorities and/or other GOV agencies.

Procedures should be put in place to ensure, as far as is reasonably practical, that necessary

actions can be undertaken to avoid recurrence and/or serious damage.

4.3 Liaising with Authorities and the Public

9. Prior to the commencement of subproject activities and throughout the construction

duration, the Contractors will work closely with the local authorities and other agencies to

ensure full compliance with GOV regulations and will also provide adequate information on

the Project to the General Public, especially those that may cause public safety, nuisance, and

sensitive areas and the locations of storage and special handling areas.

10. The Contractor will provide information and reporting telephone “Hot Line” staffed at

all times during working hours. Information on this facility shall be prominently displayed on

site hoardings.

4.4 Community Relations

11. Contractors will assign a community-relation personnel, who will be focused on

engaging with the community to provide appropriate information and to be the first line of

response to resolve issues of concern. Contractors will take reasonable steps to engage with

residents of ethnic minority backgrounds and residents with disabilities (or other priority

groups as appropriate), who may be differentially affected by construction impacts.

12. Contractors will ensure that local residents nearby the construction sites will be

informed in advance of works taking place, including the estimated duration. In the case of

work required in response to an emergency, local residents shall be advised as soon as

reasonably practicable that emergency work is taking place. Potentially affected residents will

also be notified of the ‘Hotline’ number, which will operate during working hours. The

“Hotline” will be maintained to handle enquiries regarding construction activities from the

general public as well as to act as a first point of contact and information in the case of any

emergency. All calls will be logged, together with the responses given and the callers'


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concerns action and a response provided promptly. The helpline will be widely advertised and

displayed on site signboards.

13. The Contractor respond quickly to emergencies, complaints or other contacts made via

the ‘Hotline’ or any other recognized means and liaise closely with the emergency services,

local authority officers and other agencies (based on established contacts) who may be

involved in incidents or emergency situations.

14. The Contractor will manage the work sites, work camps, and workers in a way that is

acceptable to local residents and will not create any social impacts due to workers. Any

construction workers, office staff, Contractor’s employees, or any other person related to the

Project found violating the “prohibitions” activities listed in Section A2 below may be subject

to disciplinary actions that can range from a simple reprimand to termination of his/her

employment depending on the seriousness of the violation.

4.5 Mitigation Objectives and Special Considerations

15. Main objective of this ECOP is to minimize the potential negative impacts during

construction on local environment, local community, and human and environmental safety

and disturbance. The Contractor is expected to implement the activities in line with the

following approach as much as possible in close consultation with the supervision and/or field

engineers who will be assigned by PPMU to supervise the contract. Key approaches include,

but not limited, to:

- Minimize impacts and restore damages;

- Replanting trees in project areas;

- Control erosion and sedimentation during construction;

- Proper control of suspended solids during dredging;

- Use main roads when possible;

- Heavy traffic restrictions;

- Control (collection, disposal) of wastes (solid and liquid);

- Minimize disturbance to local population; Frequent meetings with local people and

provision of timely and adequate information to the project affected peoples

(PAPs) so that their living and production conditions could be managed;

- Engage and provide labour opportunity for local population;

- Application of proper safety and warning measures in the construction sites,

especially in dredging activities;

- Provision of temporary crossings and bridges during construction of bridges;

Application of proper safety and warning measures;

- Conduct public information campaign and outreach program, including training

and capacity building.

4.6 Implementation of “Chance Find” Procedures

16. If Contractors discovers archeological sites, historical sites, remains and objects,

including graveyards and/or individual graves during excavation or construction, the

Contractors will carry out the following steps:

- Stop the construction activities in the area of the chance find;

- Delineate the discovered site or area;


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- Secure the site to prevent any damage or loss of removable objects. In cases of

removable antiquities or sensitive remains, a night guard shall be arranged until the

responsible local authorities or the National Culture Administration take over;

- Notify the supervisory Project Environmental Officer and Project Engineer who in

turn will notify the responsible local authorities and the Culture Department of

Province immediately (within 24 hours or less);

- Responsible local authorities and the Culture Department of Province would be in

charge of protecting and preserving the site before deciding on subsequent

appropriate procedures. This would require a preliminary evaluation of the

findings to be performed by the archeologists of National Culture Administration.

The significance and importance of the findings should be assessed according to

the various criteria relevant to cultural heritage; those include the aesthetic,

historic, scientific or research, social and economic values;

- Decisions on how to handle the finding shall be taken by the responsible

authorities and Culture Department of Province. This could include changes in the

layout (such as when finding an irremovable remain of cultural or archeological

importance) conservation, preservation, restoration and salvage;

- Implementation for the authority decision concerning the management of the

finding shall be communicated in writing by relevant local authorities; and

- Construction work could resume only after permission is given from the

responsible local authorities or Culture Department of Province concerning

safeguard of the heritage.

4.7 Prohibitions

17. The following activities are prohibited on or near the Project sites:

- Cutting of trees for any reason outside the approved construction area; Hunting,

fishing, wildlife capture, or plant collection; Buying of wild animals for food; Having

caged wild animals (especially birds) in camps; Poaching of any description;

Explosive and chemical fishing; Disturbance to anything with architectural or

historical value;

- Building of fires; Use of unapproved toxic materials, including lead-based paints,

asbestos, etc.; Use of firearms (except authorized security guards); Use of alcohol by

workers in office hours; Driving in an unsafe manner in local roads;

- Washing cars or machinery in streams or creeks; Maintenance (change of oils and

filters) of cars and equipment outside authorized areas: Creating nuisances and

disturbances in or near communities; Disposing garbage in unauthorized places;

Indiscriminate disposal of rubbish or construction wastes; Littering the site; Spillage

of potential pollutants, such as petroleum products; Collection of firewood; Urinating

or defecating outside the designated facilities; and Burning of wastes and/or cleared

vegetation.

V. Management of Construction

5.1 Management of Construction Sites


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18. This section outlines the requirements relating to site management practices that

should be implemented during site operation. These relate to working hours, site layout and

appearance and good housekeeping as well as operations of equipment and vehicles. Monthly

inspection/meeting should be conducted to ensure that these procedures are adhered to. The

Contractor must follow a ‘good housekeeping’ policy at all times. The site should be cleared

by the Contractor on completion of the construction.

19. The Contractor is required to minimize, as far as reasonably practicable, any adverse

environmental impact of their construction activities. All appropriate licenses and consents in

respect of site operations will be timely secured. Key measures are as follows:

(i) General requirements on construction sites. A construction site must satisfy the following

requirements

- Site layout. The overall site layout must be designed and approved under regulations

to suit the construction location, the site’s area, natural and climate conditions in the

place of construction, facilitate the construction and ensure safety for human,

machines and equipments at the construction site and the surrounding areas affected

by construction activities.

- Site arrangement. Supplies and materials are placed neatly according to the approved

overall plan design. Supplies, materials and obstacles are not placed on roads,

emergency exits or fire entrances. Flammable and explosive material warehouses are

not arranged near the place of construction and tents. Waste materials are removed and

discharged in prescribed places. Water drainage systems are regularly cleared to

ensure that the construction ground is always dry.

- Signs. At the construction site there are signs according to Article 74 of the

Construction Law. At the main entrance, a plan of the overall ground of the

construction site and working regulations is displayed. Safety measures and rules are

publicized at the construction site for compliance. At dangerous places at the

construction site, such as trenches and foundation pits, there are fences, warning signs

and instructions for accident prevention. At night, signal lights are turned on.

- Good housekeeping: The Contractor will follow a ‘good housekeeping’ policy at all

time for the workers and the surrounding environment. This will include, but not

necessarily be limited to the following: dust and noise control; waste treatment,

keeping the site clean and tidy. To sites located near residential areas, wastes must be

covered and collected and properly disposed off. Construction and waste materials

during transportation must be properly covered to ensure safety and environmental

sanitation. In case the Contractor does not comply with environmental protection

regulations, the project owner and environmental authorized state agencies will have

the power to suspend the construction operations. Persons responsible for adverse

environmental impacts during the construction will be held responsible and

compensate for any damages caused at his fault.

- Power safety: Motive and lighting power grids at the construction site are separate and

installed with general circuit-breakers and sectioned circuit-breakers for cutting off

power in part or the whole of the construction area. Ensure power safety for workers,

construction machines and equipment at the construction site. Electric equipment are

safely insulated during the construction process. Workers are guided on power safety


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techniques and ways to give first aid to persons who get electric shock in power

accident.

- Fire and explosion safety: the Subproject Management Unit needs to set up a

commanding board for fire and explosion prevention and fighting at the construction

site, which has its own working regulations on its specific duties and powers. Fire and

explosion prevention and fighting plans are appraised and approved under regulations.

The contractor organizes a fire and explosion prevention and fighting brigade which

has its own working regulations on its specific duties and tasks. At the construction

site, local fire fighting equipments are arranged. At fire-prone places, inflammable

signboards and fire fighting and alarm equipment are installed to promptly detect fires

and take remedies.

(ii) Requirements during construction. During construction, the following requirements must

be satisfied:

- Working hours: Core working hours will be from 0800 to 1800 on weekdays and

0800 to 1300 on Saturday. Individual site requirements which differ from the above

will be considered on a site by site basis. Noisy operations shall not take place outside

these hours without prior approval from the subproject owner. All construction related

traffic will abide by the agreed hours of working for each site. Any exemption will

require an agreement with the Subproject owner, subproject, and/or local authorities.

- Before starting construction, an approved design of construction measures is required,

including labor safety solutions for workers and construction machines and equipment

for each job, which has explanations about technical and use instructions.

- During construction, the approved design as well as regulations, standards and

technical processes are complied with. Jobs dependent on the quality of previous jobs

are performed only after the previous jobs have been tested to meet quality

requirements under regulations.

- Construction measures and safety solutions are periodically or extraordinarily

examined for modification according to practical conditions at the construction site.

- Organizations and individuals are fully capable in the jobs they perform under

regulations. Operators of construction machines and equipment and performers of jobs

with strict labor safety requirements are trained in labor safety and possess labor safety

cards under regulations.

- Construction machines and equipment with strict labor safety requirements are

inspected by and registered with competent agencies under regulations for operation at

the construction site. During operation, they comply with safety processes and

measures. If construction equipment is operated outside the construction site, the

investor approves safety measures for construction-affected people, machines,

equipment and works inside and outside the construction site. If due to construction

conditions, equipment have to be placed outside the construction site and while not in

operation, if they operate outside the construction site, such is permitted by authorized

agencies under local regulations.

- Workers at the construction site are provided with medical checks-up and safety

training and adequate personal safety equipment under the labor law.


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- Unexploded Ordnance (UXO): Although the risk is not present in the entire project area,

in some subproject areas such as in Quang Nam and Quang Tri, the Contractor will be

responsible for ensuring UXO safety of the construction site. The response process needs

to be included in emergency procedures. The emergency procedures will be prepared and

carried out if UXO risk is identified at the construction site.

(iii) Clearance and rehabilitation of construction site after completion:

- On completion of the works the Contractor will clear away and remove all materials and

rubbish and temporary works of every kind. The site will be left clean and in a condition

to the satisfaction of the PPMU. Any potentially hazardous defects to the works will be

made good, prior to permanent reinstatement.

5.2 Management of Environmental Quality

(a) Water quality

20. The Contractor must take all the efforts to prevent wastes (solid and liquid) discharge

into all rivers and coastal water and to protect surface and groundwater from pollution and

other adverse impacts including changes to water levels, flows and general water quality.

Discharge of engine oil and oily waste from dredgers and construction machines to the rivers

will be strictly prohibited. Engine oil, used oil, and other toxic substances and hazardous

wastes must be properly collected, stored, treated, and/or disposed off. Key measures are as

follows:

- Used oil/engine oil: The oil container at the construction site (especially when the site

is located less than 10 meters from the waterways) must be of sufficient strength to

ensure to prevent leakage. The container must be situated within a secondary

containment system (bunded), which will prevent the release of any leaked oil. The

Contractor must make provisions to ensure that all hazardous substances including oil

drums or containers on site are properly labeled and properly stored and that no oil or

other contaminants are allowed to reach water courses or groundwater.

- Wastewater from sites: Whenever possible, the Contractor must minimize the amounts

of wastewater that need to be discharged and find alternative means of disposal. The

Contractor will ensure that any seepage and wastewater arising from the works and

camp sites must be collected and discharged via a settlement tank. The standards for

wastewater treatment prior to discharge must be agreed in advance with the ESA.

Contaminated water or water of an uncertain quality must be discharged into sewers

by tankers or other approved means of disposal.

- Drainage. Water drainage must be designed to avoid stagnant conditions that could

create bad smell and unsanitary condition. The Contractor must agree with the ESA in

advance, details of the methodology to be employed, prior to commencement of the

construction. Particular attention must be given to regular pest control treatment

(particularly rats and flies); removal of sludge and other debris after drainage;

reducing smell nuisance from sludge and algae by measures including deodorizing,

hosing down etc. Safety measures must also be taken to protect both the general public

and employees and to prevent fly-tipping and illegal access during the development

works.

- Water quality monitoring: The Contractor must ensure continuous compliance with all

the above conditions under the monitoring of the Subproject Owner and/or field


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engineer, including undertaking water quality monitoring at specific sites and are in

compliance with government regulation related to wastewater management and water

quality monitoring.

(b) Dust, noise, vibration

21. The Contractor must take all the efforts to control dust, noise, and vibration levels

from the site, as far as is reasonably practicable. Excessive noise/vibration generation

activities must be in accordance with GOV standards. For critical areas, the Contractor many

be required to conduct noise measurement in close consultation with the local residents and

establish appropriate measures to control and manage noise level. Measures for reducing dust

and other air pollution, noise, and vibration are provided as follows:

- Inform the residents: Prior to commencement of work at any site, the Contractor will

be required to inform the local authority and residents regarding the construction plan

and potential noise and vibration that may occur from the construction activities,

including measures to reduce noise and vibration.

- Dust control: The Contractor will ensue that no burning of waste materials on site;

adequate water supply is available on site; dry sweeping of large areas is not allowed;

Cover all trucks carrying loose or potentially dusty materials (soil, mud, etc.) to and

from construction site; Water or sprinkle the construction areas periodically, especially

at site located near residential area; avoid overloaded of trucks; routinely clean public

roads and access routes; Ensure vehicles working on site have exhausts positioned

such that the risk of re-suspension of ground dust is minimized (exhausts should

preferably point upwards), where reasonably practicable; Control driving speed on un-

surfaced haul routes and work areas; Ensure bulk cement and other fine powder

materials are delivered in enclosed tankers and stored in silos with suitable emission

control systems to prevent escape of material and overfilling during delivery; Mix

large quantities of cement, grouts and other similar materials in designated areas; Store

materials with the potential to produce dust away from site boundaries where

reasonably practicable; Minimize the amount of excavated material held on site;

Sheet, seal or damp down unavoidable stockpiles of excavated material held on site,

where required; Seal or re-vegetate completed earthworks as soon as reasonably

practicable after completion.

- Care must be undertaken during the transportation of dredge spoil to and from the

construction site; the spoil must be covered at all time. Fly-tipping will not be

permitted. Loads must only be deposited at designated sites. The Contractor will be

responsible for all the trucks delivering to, or exiting from, a worksite and will clean

up all damage that may occur to public road and other public facilities. Care should be

taken when loading or unloading vehicles or dismantling scaffolding or moving

materials to reduce impact noise. Loading or unloading bays may have to be housed in

suitable acoustic enclosures.

- The installation of sheet piling with a diesel or air driven impact or drop hammer may

not be acceptable on some of the sites. Use of hydraulically operated or vibratory

hammers may be necessary in these circumstances to drive and extract sheet piling,

provided the soil strata are suitable for such equipment. Where practicable, rotary

drills and bursters actuated by hydraulic or electrical power should be used for

excavating hard material. Noisy plant or equipment will be sited as far away as is

practicable from noise sensitive buildings. The use of barriers, (e.g. soil mounds), site


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huts, acoustic sheds or partitions to deflect noise away from noise sensitive areas must

be employed wherever practicable.

- The Contractor will be obliged to comply with the vibration levels established by

agreement with the ESA on a site by site basis given due attention to minimize human

exposure (1 Hz to 80 Hz) and protection of damage to nearby structures.

(d) Solid waste control and treatment

1. Solid wastes from subproject construction activities. The subproject construction

activities will generate a big amount of escaped soil and stones, cement bags and other

surplus materials (oily wastes, miscellaneous woods, etc.). Although solid wastes

discharged in this stage are not toxic or dangerous (except for some oily wastes such as

oily cloths after cleansing machines and equipments, etc.), proper measures for waste

collection and treatment are required to avoid contaminating the environment and

affecting local landscape. The Contractor must make a commitment to collect all escaped

soil and stones and transport to designated areas or reuse them for dyke/road construction.

Bags and other solid wastes will be collected for recycling or burning or taken to

temporary dumps in the area (solid wastes disposed at these temporary dumps must be

buried or covered in a sanitary way). In addition, during subproject construction,

uncontrolled discharging of solid wastes into the environment needs to be minimized to

reduce impacts to environmental landscape, transportation and daily activities of local

residents, and the environment (water quality, soil quality and natural habitats).

2. Domestic solid wastes. During subproject construction, the Contractor must carry out

appropriate measures for waste collection and treatment. The domestic wastes will be

collected in plastic or wooden bins with lids placed in convenient places and in worker

canteens. Periodically, at appropriate time, transport those bins to the dumping lot (the

Contractor will select a proper location for the dumping lot, at least 500 m away from

residential areas, 200 m away from work camps and surface water sources, and not in the

prevalent wind direction of the area) to dispose of the wastes, from which the local Urban

Environmental and Construction Company will be hired to carry out proper removal and

treatment. The Contractor must sign a contract with the Urban Environmental and

Construction Company to collect and treat solid wastes generated during the subproject

construction. In case the wastes cannot be transported to the dumping lot (for example,

due to lack of appropriate transport route), wastes must be buried at temporary dumps in

the project area in a sanitary way – a waste layer covered by a layer of soil, and when the

dump is filled, it is covered by a soil layer about 50 cm thick. Temporary dumps must be

located at least 500 m away from residential areas, 200 m away from work camps and

surface water sources, and not in the prevalent wind direction of the area. Upon

completion of works, cover the entire temporary dumps with soil, ensure land and

landscape restoration for the subproject area.

(d) Traffic and Transportation

22. The Contractor will be required to use designated construction traffic routes as

directed by the local authorities and the Police. The number of truck movements, hours of

operation and any truck holding areas will be agreed in advance with the local authority and

the Police. Plans will be required for each site showing the site entrances/exits and the agreed

access roads for use to the nearest main road, and the routes to be used by truck to and from

the strategic road network.


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- The Contractor will maintain an up to date log of all drivers that will include a written

undertaking from them to adhere to the local authority’s approved routes for

construction traffic. In the case of non-compliance, the Contractor and/or their sub-

contractor(s) would be in breach of contract, necessitating disciplinary action against

individual drivers.

- The Contractor may be required to provide truck stickers uniquely identifying the

group of construction sites included in each contract, details of which shall be

submitted to the local authority for approval. For identification purposes the

Contractor will fix these in a prominent position on all trucks frequently serving the

construction site. The identification will need to be sufficiently large to be easily read

from a distance of 20 meters. Trucks waiting to enter or leave the site must switch off

their engines to avoid unnecessary engine noise and emissions. Restrictions on the

size and weight of vehicles accessing each site may be imposed depending on agreed

access routes.

- For construction that interference with a carriageway or footway, the Contractor will

inform the local authorities, responsible agencies, and local residents before

commencing the works and proposed measures to minimize the safety risk and

inconvenience to the public. All necessary consents and licenses must be obtained in

advance. The safety of the public must be ensured. In the case of temporary footways,

reasonable access shall be provided for people in accordance with the following

requirements: (a) Any temporary footways and carriageways will be constructed to the

reasonable requirements of the local authorities and should have uniform surfaces as

much as possible; (b) Clear signing must be provided at all times for pedestrian routes

with the minimum number of changes to all temporary layouts in order to reduce

confusion. Advance warning should, if possible, indicate alternative existing

wheelchair-accessible routes; (c) After completion of the works all materials arising

from the works will be cleared from the highway leaving the same in a clean and tidy

condition to the reasonable requirements of the local authorities; and (d) The

Contractor will be responsible for any damage caused by their activities to the roads

and public facilities in the vicinity of the worksite. Any defects caused by the

Contractors must be rectified immediately if dangerous or otherwise within 24 hours.

- Any street furniture (electrical or non electrical) cannot be removed or relocated by the

Contractor or any of its sub-contractors without written agreement from the

responsible agencies.

(d) Excavation Materials and Demolition Materials

3. Earth excavation must be carefully handled to reduce dust and possible obstruction and

causing nuisance and health impacts to local residents. Excavation that affects public

roads (such as pipeline and bridges) must be properly planned in consultation with local

authority and informed to the residents in advance. All dredged spoils as well as

excavation materials will be reused for dike/road construction and/or land filling at or

nearby the work site. Demolition materials must be properly disposed off. The Contractor

must consult ESA on the final selection of disposal sites and methods.

(f) Protection of natural habitats

4. During the construction stage, if mitigation measures of air, noise, water and soil

pollution, the project will create negative impacts on the growth and development of some


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animal and plant species in the area, especially aquatic species. Proposed mitigation

measure is to develop a detailed plan and speed up the construction progress. The

Contractor must observe the national and local regulations and policies related to

protected areas/species, wildlife sanctuaries. No trees in sensitive areas shall be cut

without obtaining prior agreement with the authorities. Strengthen monitoring the

contractor’s compliance with environmental protection commitments. In addition,

organize training courses to improve environmental protection awareness of the staff and

local communities.

5.3 Management of Work Camp

27. The Contractor will consult with local authority regarding the location of the worker

camps and will provide appropriate water supply, garbage collection, toilets, mosquito net,

and other health protection measures to all workers. Fishing, wildlife hunting, and other

social disturbance to local societies are prohibited. Training of workers on safety, good

hygiene, and prohibitions activities is required. Detail measures as follow:

(i) During the preconstruction stage:

Contractor will consult with local authority and subproject management unit regarding

the location of the worker camps

Once work camp location is identified, the Contractor will set up temporary

accommodation for all the workers throughout the construction or maintenance period.

In terms of supply and storage of domestic water at the work camp area, the

Contractor will comply with the following requirements: (a) Provide adequate

drinking water supply for the work camps in appropriate tanks/containers. The

Contractor will identify appropriate public water source for drinking in consultation

with the local authority; (b) in case no appropriate source of water is identified, the

Contractor will take water from other sources which will be tested and treated before

supplied to the work camps; (c) All water supply and storage areas must be away from

the wastewater storage area, drainage system or other sources of contamination

according to the regulations. Water from drains or contaminated water must not be

used as domestic water at the site.

At all construction sites, facilities for washing and necessary and appropriate tools

must be provided by the Contractor. Bathrooms must be provided separately for male

and female workers. Such facilities must ensure convenience for use and cleaning.

Waste discharges, wastewater must be properly collected and disposed off.

First aid/Emergency aid kit. The first/emergency aid kit must be available at the work

camp area and managed by a responsible person. This person must be trained on

emergency/first aid. Injured or seriously sick people must be taken to the nearest

hospital.

Community relations. The Contractor will ensure that conflicts between the workers

and local population are avoided.

(ii) Construction stage:

Work camps must be kept clean and tidy, unaffected by oil spill and construction

wastes. Any oil spilt or leaked must be cleaned immediately to avoid soil and water

contamination. Some actions to carry out are as follow: (a) avoid oil leakage into


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surface water or groundwater; (b) wastewater must not be disposed directly to natural

water areas; (c) solid waste materials are removed and discharged in prescribed places

at frequent intervals; (d) First/Emergency aid supplies and materials and cleaning tools

are regularly provided.

PPMU will monitor the housekeeping of work camp areas and ensure these areas are

kept clean throughout the construction period.

(iii) Construction completion.

During this stage, all work camps and facilities will be cleared away and removed

from the site. The site will be rehabilitated to ensure the operation of the works.

5.4 Management of Stockpiles, Quarries, and Borrow Pits

28. Commercial quarries and borrow pits approved by local environmental agencies

should be used as much as possible. If non-commercial quarries and/or borrow pits are used,

in consultation with the Construction Management Consultant (CSC) and/or field engineers,

the Contractor will comply with the following requirements:

Large-scale borrow pits or stockpiles will need site-specific measures that go beyond

those required in this ECOP.

All locations to be used must be previously identified in the approved construction

specifications. Sensitive sites such as scenic spots, areas of natural habitat, areas near

sensitive receptors, or areas near water should be avoided.

An open ditch shall be built around the stockpile site to intercept wastewater.

Stockpile topsoil when first opening a borrow pit and use it later to restore the area to

near natural conditions.

If needed, disposal sites shall include a retaining wall.

If the need for new sites arises during construction, they must be pre-approved by the

responsible local authorities.

If landowners are affected by use of their areas for stockpiles or borrow pits, they must

be included in the project resettlement plan.

For any stockpile, quarry, or borrow pit sites involved in this project, but not to be

used afterwards. The contractor will prepare and implement a Contract Specific

Environmental Plan (CSEP) in compliance with the ECOP that includes management

of borrow pits and their closure plans.

If access roads are needed, they must have been considered in the environmental

assessment. The alignment for each of these roads must be clearly determined with its

impacts and mitigation measures

5.5 Management of Dredging

29. Some of the Component 4 subprojects may involve maintenance dredging of existing

river mounts/coastal area. For these subprojects, a dredge material disposal plan (DMDP) will

be prepared by the project owner during the preparation of an EMP or detailed design stage as

appropriate. The DMDP will describe the amount of dredge materials and its potential

contamination during dredging and disposal as well as the mitigation measure to be carried

out during dredging and disposal process. The Contractor will be required to strictly follow


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the DMDP as well as to make all efforts to avoid and/or minimize potential negative impacts

on local use of land, beaches, and/or water especially impact on local fisheries. Details will be

prepared as part of the Contract Specific Environmental Plan (CSEP) given due attention to

address the following issues:

Pollution control during the transport of the dredged materials from the dredging site

to the disposal area;

Potential increase in turbidity and pollution of the water in the areas due to the

dredging and potential impacts on other nearby beneficial uses;

Potential contamination of soil and water source including groundwater nearby the

disposal area; and

Potential misuse of the contaminated dredged materials for public infrastructure and

households.

30. The assessment of dredged materials must be based on quantitative methods based on

sampling and analysis/testing (such a toxicity characteristics leachate procedure-TCLP for

hazardousness), and the determination of the use of the dredged materials should be

conducted in light of these test results, considering the legal requirements for potential end

uses.

5.6. Monitoring of Potential Impacts

31. The Contractor will be required to carry out the following monitoring program and a

monitoring plan will be included as part of the CSEP:

IMPACT PARAMETERS EXAMPLE LOCATIONS FREQUENCY

Air emissions

Dust level Vicinity of

clearing works

In windy

conditions

Noise and

vibration

generation

Noise levels to meet

TCVN/QCVN

requirements

In the vicinity of

sensitive receivers

In response to

complaints

Erosion and

sedimentation

Efficiency of erosion

and sediment controls

Erosion and

sediment controls

After heavy rain

events

Surface water

quality

deterioration

TSS, pH, BOD,

salinity, coliform

Upstream and downstream of

dredging and/or construction

works, especially when other

beneficial uses (aquaculture,

water supply sources, etc.)

are located.

Regularly during

construction works


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REFERENCES

1. Department of natural resources and environment of Thanh Hoa province, 2010,

Report on environment status in Thanh Hoa province.

2. Department of natural resources and environment of Nghe An province, 2010, Report

on environment status in Nghe An province.

3. Department of natural resources and environment of Ha Tinh province, 2010, Report

on environment status in Ha Tinh province.

4. Department of natural resources and environment of Quang Binh province, 2010,

Report on environment status in Quang Binh province.

5. Department of natural resources and environment of Quang Tri province, 2010,

Report on environment status in Quang Tri province.

6. Department of natural resources and environment of Da Nang city, 2010, Report on

environment status in Da Nang city.

7. Department of natural resources and environment of Quang Nam province, 2010,

Report on environment status in Quang Nam province.

8. Department of natural resources and environment of Quang Ngai province, 2010,

Report on environment status in Quang Ngai province.

9. Department of natural resources and environment of Binh Dinh province, 2010,

Report on environment status in Binh Dinh province.

10. Department of natural resources and environment of Ninh Thuan province, 2010,

Report on environment status in Ninh Thuan province.

11. Department of Agricuture and rural Development of Thanh Hoa province, Report on

storm and flood prevention of Thanh Hoa province, 2008, 2009,2010.

12. Department of Agricuture and rural Development of Nghe An province, Report on

storm and flood prevention of Nghe An province, 2008, 2009,2010.

13. Department of Agricuture and rural Development of Ha Tinh province, Report on

storm and flood prevention of Ha Tinh province, 2008, 2009,2010.

14. Department of Agricuture and rural Development of Quang Binh province, Report on

storm and flood prevention of Quang Binh province, 2008, 2009,2010.

15. Department of Agricuture and rural Development of Quang Tri province, Report on

storm and flood prevention of Quang Tri province, 2008, 2009,2010.

16. Department of Agricuture and rural Development of Da Nang city, Report on storm

and flood prevention of Da Nang city, 2008, 2009,2010.

17. Department of Agricuture and rural Development of Quang Nam province, Report on

storm and flood prevention of Quang Nam province, 2008, 2009,2010.

18. Department of Agricuture and rural Development of Quang Ngai province, Report on

storm and flood prevention of Quang Ngai province, 2008, 2009,2010.


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19. Department of Agricuture and rural Development of Binh Dinh province, Report on

storm and flood prevention of Binh Dinh province, 2008, 2009,2010.

20. Department of Agricuture and rural Development of Ninh Thuan province, Report on

storm and flood prevention of Ninh Thuan province, 2008, 2009,2010.

21. Department of Statistic of Thanh Hoa province, Thanh Hoa statistic yearbook, 2008,

2009,2010.

22. Department of Statistic of Nghe An province, Nghe An statistic yearbook, 2008,

2009,2010.

23. Department of Statistic of Ha Tinh province, Ha Tinh statistic yearbook, 2008,

2009,2010.

24. Department of Statistic of Quang Binh province, Quang Binh statistic yearbook,

2008, 2009,2010.

25. Department of Statistic of Quang Tri province, Quang Tri statistic yearbook, 2008,

2009,2010.

26. Department of Statistic of Da Nang city, Da Nang city statistic yearbook, 2008,

2009,2010.

27. Department of Statistic of Quang Nam province, Quang Nam statistic yearbook,

2008, 2009,2010.

28. Department of Statistic of Quang Ngai province, Quang Ngai statistic yearbook,

2008, 2009,2010.

29. Department of Statistic of Binh Dinh province, Binh Dinh statistic yearbook, 2008,

2009,2010.

30. Department of Statistic of Ninh Thuan province, Ninh Thuan statistic yearbook,

2008, 2009,2010.

31. Environment Protection Law No.52/2005/QH11 dated November 29th 2005, issued

on December 12th 2005, and became full effect on July 1st 2006.

32. Decree No.29/2011/ND-CP dated April 18th 2011 of the Government guiding the the

assessment of strategic environment, environment impact assessment and

environment protection commitment.

33. Circular No.26/2011/BTNMT dated July 18th 2011 of the Ministry of Natural

Resources and Environment guiding the assessment of strategic environment,

environment impact assessment and environment protection commitment.

34. The World Bank in Viet Nam, 2004, World Bank environment safeguard policies

35. The World Bank in Viet Nam, 2004, World Bank social safeguard policies.

36. Final draft report of Vn-Haz first year subprojects Environmental Impact Assessments.

37. Final draft report of Vn-Haz first year subprojects Environmental Management Plans.

38. Final draft report of Vn-Haz Resettlement Action Plans.

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL ......out under Component 4, especially those related to: (i) Land...

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