KOSOVO
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Proposed Institutional Development for Education Project
Environmental Management Plan
1.Introduction
Education is one of the highest priorities in Kosovo. The government has adopted The Strategy for the Development of Pre-University Education in Kosovo 2007-2017 and The Strategy for Development of Higher Education in Kosovo 2005-2015,and is committed to implement these strategies. The Bank is one of the few development partners which sustained its support in education since the war in 1999 in Kosovo. The first Education and Health Project (2000-2003) in Kosovo aimed to improve efficiency and equity in public resource allocation for education by developing and piloting per-student financing formula, which is currently used and would benefit from review of its impact and possible adjustments. The Education Participation and Improvement Project (2003-2006) aimed to improve educational attainment (the number of years of schooling, not learning outcomes) at primary and secondary education and to enhance access of vulnerable groups to education, by providing school development grants to schools to increase enrollment, attendance and retention. It is vital that the Bank builds on these projects, provide timely and flexible support to uncertain future of Kosovo, shift our focus to supportingthe implementation of the strategy, and strategize our support by coordinating with other partners.
The long-term overall goal of the proposed project is to support the government in the implementation of the Strategy for the Development of Pre-University Education in Kosovo and Strategy and the Strategy for the Development of Higher Education. The specific objective of the proposed project is to strengthen systems, institutions and management capacities needed for education quality improvements.
The priority areas of the proposed project are key elements of the government’s Pre-University and Higher Education Strategies, and grouped into four: (i) Strengthening the organization and financing of the education system in post Status Kosovo, (ii) Building institutions and capacity to promote quality improvements, (iii) Creating conditions to address overcrowding and multiple shifts in Kosovo’s schools, and (iv) Strengthening the management capacity at system and institutional level for higher education.
2.Project Investment Components
The main physical investment component of the proposed Projectfalls under the third priority area – preparing conditions to reduce multiple shifts and introduce efficient designs in Kosovo’s schools. This priority area aims to develop a sound, costed capital investment and maintenance plan for school buildings and school building design standards which are cost efficient and appropriate for new curriculum and teaching methods. Specifically, it will focus on three key activities: (1) technical assistance and other necessary support for the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) to develop school facility investment and maintenance plans, (2) support for the development of standard designs of primary and secondary schools for urban and rural areas which are cost efficient, energy efficient and appropriate for new curriculum and teaching methods, and (3) construction of two pilot model school using school mapping and new standards which is expected to have a demonstration effect for subsequent school construction financed by MEST and other donors. The schools will be constructed through a local construction firmcompetitively selected. The respective municipalities will secure the necessary operation and maintenance costs.
3.Project Environmental Assessment Category
In accordance with the World Bank’s safeguard policies and procedures, including OP/BP 4.01 Environmental Assessment, the project has been classified as a Category B for environmental assessment purposes.Environmental due diligence for Category B projects requires the preparation of the present document, called “Environmental Management Plan” (EMP), and its implementation in order to prevent, minimize or mitigate site-specific impacts.
It is anticipated that environmental risks will be relatively modest in the proposed project. The present EMP has been prepared by the MEST to ensure that the civil works related to the construction of two pilot model schools (primary and secondary) under the Project protect the respective populace and environment from key risks such as dust, noise, illegal dumping of demolition and construction wastes and accidental spillage of machine oil and lubricants, wastewater disposal on the construction site, pollution of surface waters and soil. The EMP also provides guidance on avoiding the use of hazardous substances, such as toxic paints, solvents or cleaning agents and also includes a check on potential impacts on Physical Cultural Resources (PCR). While no major impacts on PCR may be expected, attention is paid to the possibility of built PCR being affected by dust and vibration during construction. The Project activities will not change ownership or use rights in forest lands or protected areas, neither support land acquisition and associated involuntary resettlement. All civil construction works planned will be executed on existing land which is already in the possession of the respective municipality.
The above risks can be effectively anticipated in advance of project implementation and addressed by direct mitigation activities in the design, planning and construction supervision process as well as during the operation of the facilities.An EMP checklist that covers typical mitigation approaches to common civil works contracts with localized impacts and related monitoring actions that are compatible to the Bank safeguard requirements would be directly usable and applicable in bidding documents and as an integral part of contract documents for the respective civil works (Annex 1).
4.Project Institutional and Implementation Arrangements
The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology will be responsible for the implementation of the proposed Project. The Permanent Secretary of the MEST will be responsible for the coordination and monitoring of activities at the technical level. For Priority area 2 (construction of two pilot models schools), the Director of the Infrastructure Department of the MEST will be responsible for implementation. The Permanent Secretary will call for monthly meetings of the director of departments to coordinate and monitor progress of the Project. Policy oversight and project steering will be the responsibility of a Steering Committee chaired by the Minister of Education, Science and Technology or his/her designated, and consisting of representatives from the MEST, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Local Government and Administration, Donor Coordination Office of the Prime Minister’s Office and municipalities. The Steering Committee will meet on a quarterly basis and on an ad-hoc basis as required to provide policy guidance, review and approve annual activities. The MEST will hire a local procurement consultant and financial management consultant, who will report to the Permanent Secretary, to manage the project-related procurement and financial management activities.
If and/or when the Status issue of Kosovo is resolved, the proposed implementation arrangement will be reviewed and any necessary changes will be made depending upon the new configuration of the Kosovo government and municipalities.
5.Institutional Structure in Environment Management and Legislative Framework applicable to the Project
This section briefly describes existing environmental regulation and standards relevant to the Project and makes reference to institutions at the local and national levels responsible for issuing permits, licenses, and enforcing compliance of environmental standards.
The Environmental Protection Law (2003) in Kosovo seeks to consolidate various laws and regulations which originate from the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. As stated in this Law, the purpose of the basic legal framework is to: (i) provide for an increasingly healthy environment through the gradual introduction of the environment standards of the European Union; (ii) ensure that the creation of such an environment is accomplished in a manner that is affordable and consistent with sustainable economic development; (iii) establish the specific authority and obligations of the public authorities responsible for gradually introducing and enforcing such standards; and (iv) set out the rights and obligations of person and undertakings affected by such activities or interest in promoting a healthy environment in Kosovo.
The Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning (MESP) has the primary responsibility for implementing environmental policies and protection under the Environmental Protection Law of 2003 (hereafter referred to as the “Law”). As stated in the Law, individual citizens, citizen organizations, and non-governmental organizations may contribute to the enforcement of environmental protection objectives and implementation activities for the protection and improvement of the environment.
At the local level, municipalities are responsible for specific environmental protection activities, which are specified in the law. The main responsibilities of the municipalities are:
- Establish standards, in accordance with the present law and the subsidiary normative acts issued pursuant to the present law, for local providers, not under the management or administration of the SRSG, of Public Services in the field of environmental protection;
- Ensuring compliance by such providers with such standards;
- Planning in relation to the protection of the environment within such municipality;
- Establishing reasonable local nature conservation measures in a manner that is consistent with sustainable economic development, in accordance with the present law and the subsidiary normative acts issued pursuant to the present law;
- Establishing and enforcing measures aimed at controlling noise levels within such musicality; and other environmental matters assigned to the municipalities by the present law or regulation or laws in force in Kosovo pursuant to the present law.
Establishment of Environmental Expertise within the MEST structures
A Specialist will be identified within the MEST, who will be responsible for coordination and supervision of the environmental plans and risk mitigation measures undertaken in the Project and cooperate with territorial departments for environment protection. The Specialist will work in close coordination with the Director of Infrastructure Department of the MEST responsible for coordination of the construction of pilot schools, and will carry out the following tasks:
- Coordinate environmental training for staff, designers and local contractors;
- Disseminate existing environmental management guidelines and develop guidelines in relation to issues not covered by the existing regulations, for implementation, monitoring and evaluation of mitigation measures;
- Ensure contracting for construction and supply of equipment includes reference to appropriate guidelines and standards; and
- Conduct periodic site visits to inspect and approve plans and monitor compliance.
Site Specific EnvironmentalScreening and Review
As a part of the EMP, the construction of the pilot model schools will be subjected to a site-specific environmental screening and review process. This process will minimize site-specific environmental impacts and will use a standardized appraisal format that includes, but is not limited to, review of:
- Current environmental problems at the sites (soil erosion, water supply contamination, etc.);
- Potential environmental impacts, if any, due to the project (disposal waste from construction, construction noise and dust, vibrations, etc);
- Potential impacts on archaeological and historical sites.
Possible Environmental Issues related to construction activities
Environmental effects of the project, if any will be minor and short-term. Identified environmental impactswill relate principally to civil works during the schools’ construction/rehabilitation activitiesincluding impacts at the school construction sites resulting from: (i) noise, dust, and the re-direction of traffic, if necessary, during the execution of works; (ii) the quarrying of stone and gravel; (iii)removal of construction related waste materials; and (iv) alteration of drainage and potential soil erosion during the construction period. However, these possible impacts could be managed through supervision of environmental aspects and use of adequate technical construction standards.
The site specific screening and review would carefully assess the following issues:
- Dust, noise and vibration due to the demolition and construction;
- Risk of damage to unknown historical and archaeological sites;
- Dumping of construction wastes and accidental spillage of machine oil, lubricants, etc.;
- Risk from inadequate handling of waste; and
- Potential requirements, if any, for involuntary resettlement or temporary relocation of a limited number of affected persons during construction activities.
Short-term impact from noise, dust, and vibration during the execution of civil works is inevitable.Noise levels will increase significantly due to movement of construction machinery. This impact will be minimized under the project by (i) specifying in all project contracts the responsibility of contractor to undertake appropriate work site mitigation actions as a part of their management of work sites, and (ii) the supervision of compliance of contractors by the Supervision Engineer. Mitigation measures may include the following actions: use of sprinklers to wash down roads and suppress dust emissions during soil transport; cover vehicles to prevent spills and transport borrow materials during daytime only; reduce noise by using noise absorbing/protecting building materials, provide workers with ear plugs and helmets and generally prevented from prolonged exposure to high noise levels, etc.
Construction related waste - Technical specifications should require the collection and containment of all waste materials with bituminous content in specific landfills. All contractors would be required to conform to environmental regulations and practice relating to proper waste disposal. The identification of the disposal site to be used and the appropriate quantities for each site are to be included as part of the documentation of each rehabilitated/constructed building (school).
All valuable materials (doors, windows, sanitary fixtures, etc) should be carefully dismantled and transported to the storage area assigned for the purpose. Valuable materials should be recycled within the project or sold. Wood waste will be stored separately and arranged to be recycled instead of disposing it. Open burning and illegal dumping will not be permitted. Proper sites for earth/clay and sand disposal will be determined and prior approval from relevant authority for disposal will be obtained. Stockpiling of construction debris on site will be avoided and waste will be disposed of on a regular basis at the authorized government dumping ground
Groundwater pollution - It is also required to create necessary conditions for safe removal of sewage during the rehabilitation and renovation and observe the ecological and sanitary regulations during the rehabilitation of sanitary and technical equipment, sewage pipes and purifying constructions.
Cultural Property Resources– Rehabilitation/construction may uncover archaeologically or culturally significant findings. Consideration of such concerns is provided in the works contracts that will include requirements that the contractor is obliged to look for chance finds and immediately stop the construction work at the contested location and alert the MEST Specialist and the responsible authorities in case of chance finds.
Use of proper construction materials - All materials should have appropriate permissions on quality and safety (appropriateness certificate and sanitary-epidemiologic conclusion).Priority should be given to products meeting standards for recognized international or national symbols. Water-based interior nontoxic, no allergenic paint for drywall or plaster surfaces is preferable to latex or oil-based paints from a respiratory standpoint.
Safety of construction site - Construction sites should be fenced off in order to prevent entry of public, and general safety measures will be imposed. Temporary inconveniences due to construction works should be minimized through planning and coordination with contractors, neighbors and authorities.
EnvironmentalImpact Mitigation,Monitoringand Reporting
The present EMP includes measures to address all potential impacts listed above and it will be implemented during project implementation. Annex 2 summarizes environmental impact mitigation and prevention measures during the project road rehabilitation works.
The responsibility for the implementation and monitoring of the Bank’s safeguards policies and resulting environmental management and mitigation measures will remain with theSpecialist identified within MEST. The Contractor that will perform the civil works will also follow the requirements of the current local construction regulations.
The environmental issues including mitigation measures will occasionally be supervised periodically by the Bank’s project team.
Contracts and bill of quantities will include clauses for appropriate disposal of unacceptable construction material and disposal of construction waste. Procurement documents will specify that no environmentally unacceptable materials will be used. Bidding documents will include rehabilitation of adequate sanitary facilities, including appropriate disposal of wastewater and sewerage. The environmental management checklistincluded in Annex 1, the Mitigation Plan (Annex 2) as well as the Monitoring Plan (Annex 3) should be provided to contractors engaged in civil works under the Program, and should be made an integral part of the civil works contracts.
Reports will be prepared on each of the environmental reviews, specifying mitigation measures and assigning responsibilities for implementation. The findings and recommendations of the reports will be discussed with representatives of the cooperating municipalities and, as appropriate, organizations and neighbors concerned. Annual reports outlining progress in EMP implementation and highlighting environmental issues arising from Program-supported activities, the status of mitigation measures and next steps will be prepared and submitted to IDA for review.
The site inspector’s monitoring report would be a condition for full payment of the contractually agreed remuneration, the same as technical quality criteria or quantity surveys. To assure a degree of leverage on the Contractor’s environmental performance an appropriate clause will be introduced in the works contracts, specifying penalties in case of noncompliance with the contractual environmental provisions, e.g. in the form of withholding a certain proportion of the payments, its size depending on the severity of the breech of contract.