Simplified RCE/IEE Amendment

TRACKING ID: LAC-IEE-18-30

Simplified RCE/IEE Amendment

PROJECT/ACTIVITY DATA

Project/Activity Name: / PPSELD/Haiti Pilot Project for Sustainable Electricity Distribution
Implementation Start/End: / May 2013 /September 2018 (extension to May 31, 2019)
Geographic Location(s) (Country/Region): / Caracol /Haiti
Solicitation/Contract/Award Number: / 521-C-13-00007
Implementing Partner(s): / NRECA
Tracking ID/link: / LAC-IEE-18-30
Tracking ID/link of Related RCE/IEE (if any): / LAC-IEE-16-04
Tracking ID/link of Other, Related Analyses:

ORGANIZATIONAL/ADMINISTRATIVE DATA

Implementing Operating Unit(s):
(e.g. Mission or Bureau or Office) / OIEE
Funding Operating Unit(s):
(e.g. Mission or Bureau or Office) / USAID
Funding Account(s): / ES/2014/2015;ES-SUP/2010/2012
Funding Amount: / $ 33,980,000
Amendment Funding Date: / Amendment Funding Amount: / $2,180,000
Other Affected Unit(s):
Lead BEO Bureau: / LAC
Prepared by: / Joseph Lefort
Date Prepared: / March 21,2018

ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE REVIEW DATA

Analysis Type: / X Initial Environmental Examination Amendment
Request for Categorical Exclusion Amendment
Environmental Determination(s): / Categorical Exclusion
X Negative Determination w/ Conditions
Positive Determination
Deferral
Additional Analyses/Reporting Required:
Amendment Expiration Date: / May 31, 2019

1.0 PURPOSE AND SCOPE

LAC-IEE-16-04 is being amended to account for the extension of the PPSELD program from September 30, 2018 until May 31, 2019 and the addition of $2,180,000 to the program for the implementation of the time extension; all activities remain the same.

NRECA International Ltd. (NRECA) has been implementing the Pilot Project for Sustainable Electricity Distribution (PPSELD) Program since May 02, 2013 with the objective of providing electricity utility services to the Caracol Industrial Park (CIP) and surrounding communities.

In addition to supplying power to the CIP, the PPSELD utility has progressed rapidly in electrifying the communes of Caracol, Trou du Nord, Terrier Rouge and Limonade, which are currently fully electrified. PPSELD, then, provides electricity to all the industrial clients within the CIP, and over 12,000 customers (mainly household) outside the industrial park. Under the terms of the PPSELD contract with NRECA, expansion of the PPSELD distribution grid to the communes of Ft. Liberte, Ferrier and Ouanaminthe was foreseen as an unpriced option, but this option will not be exercised by this amendment because there remain issues to be resolved with the GOH prior its implementation.

Parallel to the PPSELD program, the Projectto Modernize Caracol Utility ran from March 2016 through April 2018 with a budget of $2.5 million; this Project was managed by Deloitte. The Project was designed to help modernize the electricity sector and ensure sustainable electricity provision to the CIP and surrounding communities; the Project was also designed to ensure the long-term viability of the Caracol Power Utility (CPU)by helping the GOH establish a Private Public Partnership (PPP),a long term (20-30 year) private concession for the CPU. However, the PPP work was not completed by April 2018 and the Deloitte contract expired and cannot be extended; Deloitte is no longer working on this project as of April 17. USAID Haiti is in process of procuring the services of a new transition advisor through the INVESTS project which is managed by E3; Deloitte will be able to bid on this new award.

Within this context, the purpose of thetime and cost extension is to enable NRECA to continue the full utility operation of the PPSELD project until May 31, 2019,which will provide the time needed to launch and award a concession to a private sector entity to take over operations of the Caracol utility when PPSELD ends.

2.0 CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE

●All other aspects of the project design/activities and geographic scope remain unchanged from previous environmental analyses.

●Annual Work Plan(s) has/have been verified to undertake only those activities originally proposed, and all reporting requirements have been adhered to and remain unchanged. This project is in compliance.

●There has been no change to the climate risk screening/management of the project in accordance with Mandatory Reference for ADS Chapter 201 on Climate Risk Management for USAID Projects and Activities.

3.0 REVISIONS

Per 22CFR216.3(a)(9), when ongoing programs are revised to incorporate a change in scope or nature, a determination will be made as to whether such change may have an environmental impact not previously assessed. If so, this environmental analysis will be amended to cover the changes. Per ADS 204, it is the responsibility of the USAID A/COR to keep the MEO/REA and BEO informed of any new information or changes in the activity that might require revision of this amendment and environmental determination.

USAID APPROVAL of Amendment to RCE/IEE

PROJECT/ACTIVITY NAME: _ PPSELD/Haiti Pilot Project for Sustainable Electricity Distribution

Clearance: / ______
Joseph Lefort, A/COR / ______
Date
Clearance: / ______
Rory Donohoe, Cognizant Technical Office Chief / ______
Date
Clearance: / ______
Juan Carlos Martínez-Sánchez, DeputyMission EnvironmentalOfficer / ______
Date
Clearance: / ______
Robert Clausen, Regional Environmental Advisor / ______
Date
Clearance: / ______
Jonathan Cone, Regional Legal Officer / ______
Date
Clearance: / ______
Christian Barratt, Deputy Mission Director / ______
Date
Approval: / ______
Jene Thomas, Mission Director / ______
Date
Concurrence: / ______
Diana Shannon, Bureau Environmental Officer / ______
Date

LAC/HAITI/PPSELD PROJECT1