Collect, analyze and prepare basic scientific data and other information pertaining to pollution, degradation and on environmental quality, resource use and other environmental protection and conservation matters and undertake research and prepare and disseminate every two years a report on the state of the environment in Liberia; Encourage the use of appropriate environmentally sound technologies and renewable sources of energy and natural resources; Establish environmental criteria, guidelines, specifications and standards for production processes and the sustainable use of natural resources for the health and welfare of the present generation, and in order to prevent environmental degradation for the welfare of the future generations. Section 4 presents a thorough review of the World Banks Safeguards Policies. The triggered policies are: OP 4.01 Environmental Assessment OP 4.04 Natural Habitats OP 4.11 Physical Cultural Resources OP 4.12 Involuntary Resettlement OP 4.37 Safety of Dams OP 7.50 Projects on International Waters and Annex C present summaries of the requirements to comply with these polices. It should be noted that each individual sub-project to be conducted under the energy and electricity sector in Liberia must be registered and subjected to environmental screening and environmental assessment conducted professionally by experts and reviewed by mandated institution. Impact Assessment
OP 4.04 Natural Habitats Conservation of natural habitat Sub project sponsors Before appraisal Before contract OP 4.12: Involuntary Resettlement RPF preparation Sub project RAPs preparation GoL to prepare RPF RAPs by Sup project sponsors RPF to be approved by Bank &disclosed in Liberia & Bank Infoshop prior to program appraisal date. Sub project RAPs to be approved by the respective District officials & disclosed in Liberia before lincense is granted by the Regulator. OP 4.37: Safety of Dams Preparation of Dam Safety Measures Report for rehabilitation of existing small dams Use of experienced and competent professional Sub project sponsors To be approved by EPA and disclosed in Liberia before license is granted by the Regulator. OP 7.50: Projects on International Waters Notification of Riparian Countries GoL Before Bank appraisal of project. OP 4.11: Physical Cultural Resources Cultural property ESMF by GoL In construction contracts Before appraisal Before contract award
Table : Summary of monitoring activities during general construction and/or rehabilitation activities Parameter Project Location Monitoring means Frequency Phase GENERAL CONSTRUCTION AND/OR REHABILITATION ACTIVITIES Air quality Small-scale Construction site Inspection and measurement of PM upon complaints NA Construction Construction site and selected receptors Inspection and measurement of PM level at selected receptors Monthly Upon complaints Construction Noise levels Small-scale Construction site Inspection and measurement of noise level upon complaints NA Construction Construction site and selected receptors Inspection and measurement of noise level (Leq) at selected receptors Monthly and upon complaints Construction Wastes and disposal Small-scale Construction site Disposal site Visual inspection and photographic documentation Monthly Construction Large-scale Continuous Construction Surface water Small scale At nearby surface water body Visual inspection Monthly Construction Large scale At nearby surface water body quality (Turbidity, suspended solids, total coliforms, fecal coliform, dissolved oxygen) Quarterly Construction Soil and groundwater Small-scale At construction site Visual inspection Monthly Construction At construction site Nearest water wells Visual inspection Water quality (total coliforms, oil and grease) Quarterly Quarterly Construction Flora and fauna Small-scale Project site and surrounding areas Presence of key species Before project execution Construction Large-scale Project site and surrounding areas Occurrence of key species at of the project and initiate annual follow-up Before project execution and annual follow-up Construction Operation Traffic Large-scale Construction site and nearby road network Inspection Upon complaints Construction
Health and safety Small & large scale Project site Visual inspection and photographic documentation Monthly Construction Small-scale Project site and surrounding areas Jobs created for local people Biannually Construction Large-scale Project site and surrounding Jobs created for local people The effectiveness of acquisition procedure and of compensation disbursement Biannually Continuous Construction Landscape and visual intrusions Small & large-scale At site boundaries Visual inspection and photographic documentation Monthly Construction Physical cultural resources Small-scale All vulnerable adjacent to project and all unknown remains unearthed during construction Disturbance of known sites Document chance findings Annually Construction Large-scale Disturbance of known sites Document chance findings Biannually Construction Table : Summary of monitoring activities during operation of a micro-hydropower station Parameter Project Location Monitoring means Frequency OPERATION OF A MICRO-HYDROPOWER STATION Air and noise quality At the plant site At sensitive receptors Inspection and measurement of level (Leq) Quarterly Upon complaint Operation Traffic Large-scale Construction site and nearby road network Inspection Upon complaints Construction Surface water (quality and quantity) Small-scale At reservoir/ or Downstream of diversion Water depth Water quality (total coliforms, Biannually Operation
dissolved oxygen, phosphates and/or nitrates) Soil quality Agricultural surrounding project Inspection Biannually Operation Biological environment (terrestrial and aquatic) Small-scale Project site and surrounding areas Downstream flow measurement Presence of key species Biannually Annually Operation Landscape and visual intrusion Small-scale At site boundaries Visual inspection and photographic documentation The sustainability of landscape planting Monthly Annually Operation Health and safety Small-scale Project site Project site Project site and surrounding areas Visual inspection and photographic documentation Inspection and drilling emergency response plan Surveys of disease outbreaks related to vectors Monthly Annually Annual Operation Socio-economics Small-scale Project site and surrounding areas The effectiveness of acquisition procedure and of compensation disbursement Continuous Construction & Operation Table : Summary of monitoring activities during operation of a fossil-fuel and biomass-fired power plant Parameter Project scale Location Monitoring means Frequency Phase OPERATION OF A FOSSIL-FUEL AND BIOMASS FIRED POWER PLANT
Air quality Plant site and selected sensitive receptors Inspection and measurement of ground level PM, NOx, CO, and SO2 concentrations Quarterly Operation Large-scale Plant site and selected sensitive receptors Inspection and measurement of emission concentrations of PM, NOx, CO, and SO2 concentrations Measurement of ground level PM, NOx, CO, and SO2 concentrations Continuous Quarterly Operation Noise levels Plant site and selected receptors Inspection and measurement of noise level upon complaints NA Operation Plant site and selected receptors Inspection and measurement of level (Leq) at selected receptors Quarterly and upon complaints Operation Wastes and disposal site Disposal site Visual inspection and photographic documentation Monthly Operation Continuous Operation Surface quality Small and Samples from surface water body at the point of effluent discharge and at several locations downstream from the effluent discharge pH, Temperature, TSS, Oil and grease, Total residual chlorine, Heavy metals, Quarterly Operation Groundwater Small and large scale Well used to extract water for cooling Pump test Monthly Operation Flora and fauna Large-scale Project site and surrounding areas Annual follow-up on occurrence of key species Annually Operation Health and safety Small-scale Project site Visual inspection and photographic documentation Monthly Operation Large-scale Socio-economic Small-scale Project site and surrounding areas Jobs created for local people Biannually Construction
Large-scale Project site and surrounding areas Increased production in sectors from project implementation Annually Operation Landscape and visual intrusions Small-scale At site boundaries Visual inspection and photographic documentation Monthly Operation Large-scale At site boundaries Visual inspection and photographic documentation The sustainability of landscape planting Monthly Biannually Operation Table : Summary of monitoring activities for power transmission and distribution activities Parameter Project Location Monitoring means Frequency Phase POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION Land resources Small and large scale Along the constructed line Visual inspection As the line is being constructed Construction Annually Operation Noise levels Small and large scale Constructed line Inspection and measurement of noise level upon complaints NA Operation Fauna and flora Small and large scale Project site and surrounding Presence of key species Before project execution and annual follow-up Construction Operation Surface water Small and large scale Nearby surface water bodies Water quality (Herbicide residues) Operation1 Community health and safety and large scale Project site and surrounding Visual inspection and photographic documentation Biannually Operation Occupational health and safety Small and large scale Project site Visual inspection and photographic documentation Continuous Construction Operation Avian traffic Large-scale Constructed Inspection Biannually Operation Socio-economic Project site and surrounding areas Jobs created for local people Biannually Construction Operation
represents some example of effective public participation techniques that can be utilized by the contractor. Table : Examples of effective public participation techniques. Technique Objective(s) Participants Public Displays To inform about the project Informative Affected people and other relevant interests Public Meetings To identify issues and to solicit feedback Consultative Affected people consisting of village officials, informal leaders and local people Focus Group / Discussion To identify issues and to solicit feedback To get ideas for environmental management Informative Consultative Environmental Management Affected people
Rate the sensitivity of the proposed project site in the following table according to the given criteria. High ratings indicate that more substantial environmental and/or social planning may be required to adequately avoid, mitigate, and manage potential effects. Issues Site sensitivity Ratings Low Medium High Natural habitats No natural habitats present of any kind No critical natural habitats; natural habitats occur Critical natural habitats present Water quality and water resource availability and use flows exceed any existing demand; low intensity of water use; potential water use conflicts expected to be low; no potential water quality issues Medium intensity of water use; multiple water users; water quality issues are important Intensive use; multiple water users; potential for conflicts is high; water quality issues are important Natural hazards vulnerability, floods, soil stability/ erosion Flat terrain; no potential stability/erosion problems; no known volcanic/seismic/ flood risks Medium slopes; some erosion potential; medium risks from volcanic/seismic/ flood/ hurricanes Mountainous terrain; steep slopes; unstable soils; high erosion potential; volcanic, seismic, or flood risks Physical Cultural property No known or suspected physical cultural heritage sites Suspected cultural heritage sites; known heritage sites in broader area of influence Known heritage sites in project area Involuntary resettlement Low population density; dispersed population; legal tenure is well-defined; well-defined water rights Medium population density; mixed ownership and land tenure; well-defined water rights High population density; major towns and villages; low-income families and/or illegal ownership of land; communal properties; unclear water rights Indigenous peoples No indigenous population Dispersed and mixed indigenous populations; highly acculturated indigenous populations Indigenous territories, reserves and/or lands; vulnerable indigenous populations Checklist questions Parameter Yes/No answers and bullet lists Physical data Site area in ha