Sichuan Urban Development Project (SUDP)
Financed by The World Bank Loan
Mianyang Environmental Improvement Project
(Infrastructure and Access Improvement in Pioneer Park and Economic Development Zone)
Environmental Impact Assessment Report
(Draft for Review)
Sichuan Research Institute of Environmental Protection (SRIEP)
September 2005
CONTENTS
1.0 INTRODUCTION ……………………………………………
1.1 Source and Necessity of the Proposed Project
1.2 Objectives, Principles and Methodology of the EIA
1.3 Policy, Legal and Administrative Framework
1.4 Standards for the EIA
1.5 Category of the EIA
1.6 Scope of the EIA
1.7 Factors of the EIA
1.8 Major Environmental Impacts and Protected Objects
1.9 Key Points of the EIA
1.10 Process and Procedure of the EIA
1.11 SRIEP and Staff of the EIA Core Team
2.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND ANALYSeS
……………………………………………………………..
2.1 Project Description
2.2 Project Construction
2.3 Project Analysis
2.4 Conformity Analysis of Project and Local Development Plan
3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING ………………………….. (56)
3.1 Physical Environment
3.2 Socioeconomic Environment
3.3 Ecological Environment
3.4 Local Living Quality
3.5 Local Conditions of the Project Area
4.0 EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT
……………………………………………………………... (60)
4.1 Monitoring and Assessment of Existing Water Environment
4.2 Monitoring and Assessment of Existing Air Environment
4.3 Monitoring and Assessment of Existing Acoustic Environment
4.4 Conclusions on the Quality of Local Environment
5.0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ANALYSIS …..…………….(70)
5.1 Positive Impact on Local Economic Development
5.2 Resettlement and Land Acquisition
5.3 Impact on Land Use
5.4 Impact on Urban Landscape and Traffic
5.5 Impact Assessment on Eco-environment
5.6 Impact Assessment on Water Environment
5.7 Impact Assessment on Air Environment
5.8 Impact Assessment on Acoustic Environment
5.9 Impact Assessment of Solid Wastes Disposal
5.10 Analyses on the Trend of Development of the Regional Environmental Quality and Potential Indirect Impact Brought about by the Proposed Project
5.11 Alternative Analyses
5.12 Linkage Analyses of Impact
6.0 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION MEASURES AND THEIR ECONOMIC AND TECHNICAL PROOF …………………(89)
6.1 Environmental Protection Measures for Land Acquisition and Resettlement
6.2 Measures for Soil & Water Conservation and Ecological Restoration and Their Proof
6.3 Measures for Water Environmental Protection and Their Proof
6.4 Measures for Air Environmental Protection and Their Proof
6.5 Measures for Noise Control and Their Proof
6.6 Measures for Solid Wastes Disposal and Their Proof
6.7 Other Measures and Countermeasures for Environmental Protection
6.8 Availability of Environmental Protection Measures and Their Technical and Economic Proof
6.9 Estimated Costs of Environmental Protection Measures
7.0 ECONOMIC GAIN AND LOSS ANALYSIS OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ……………………………(107)
7.1 Objectives and Principles
7.2 Gain and Loss Analysis of Environmental Impact
8.0 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION …………………………….....(110)
8.1 Objectives and Effects
8.2 Methodology and Principles
8.3 Survey Schedule
8.4 Results of the Survey
8.5 Conclusion
9.0 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PROGRAM…..…. (115)
9.1 Environmental Management
9.2 Environmental Monitoring Program
9.3 Cost Estimate
10.0 CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS ………………… (125)
10.1 Conclusions
10.2 Suggestions
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Source and Necessity of the Project
1.1.1. Source of the project
As a big province in West China, Sichuan Province is endowed with abundant natural resources and boasts of its advantages in science technology and education. Since the policy of reform and opening up to the outside world is adopted in China, great achievements have been attained in the construction of a modern society. The hi-tech industries have won a relatively solid base for further development in the province. However, compared to the developed eastern areas of China, there is still a long way to go. The strategies for Sichuan’s further development would be as follows: make full use of the advantages of the province and the opportunity of western development, build key areas so as to bring innovation and breakthrough into modes of thought, systems and mechanisms with the ultimate aim of great development of the province through the combination of technologies and economic development.
As an important base of national defense industry and scientific research, the City of Mianyang has 18 institutions of national defense, such as China Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP), China Aerodynamics Research ﹠ Development Center (CARDC), etc., 7 institutes of higher education, such as Southwest Science﹠Technology University (SSTU), and other 50 key large-and-medium-sized enterprises. As to personnel, there are 100 000 researchers, engineers and technicians, among them, 24 academicians and another large number of talented persons engaged in many key sectors.
Following the step of Zhongguan Sci-Tech Park in Beijing and Yangling Agricultural Hi-Tech Demonstration Zone in Shaanxi Province, the central government has made an important decision to build Mianyang into a Sci-Tech City. In July, 2001, the Outline of Developing Mianyang into a Sci-Tech City was approved by the State Council of China. After that, construction of Sci-Tech City entered a new stage of all-around advancement.
In term of economic development, there is still a big gap between East China and Mianyang, which locates in West China. The city still lags behind in infrastructure construction. Along with the implementation of the strategy of West China Development, it is of important significance to develop the Pioneering Park (being referred to as West District hereinafter) and the Economic Development Zone (being referred to as South District hereinafter) to improve infrastructure and living standard of the local people, to strengthen the service function of the city, so as to promote overall social and economic development. According to current development, Mianyang Municipal Government has put forward the aim of building the West District and South District by making use of the World Bank loan to achieve the objectives. This is very crucial in giving impetus to the economic development of the city. Thus Development & Reform Commission of Sichuan Province issued a reply to the Proposal of Mianyang Environmental Improvement Project Financed by the World Bank Loan by a formal document No. CFGW[2004]No. 617.
According to the proposal, following infrastructure and access improvement work will be completed during the construction phase of the proposed project. In West District (Pioneer Park), 22 roads will be paved in width of 9~50m and total length of 21.23 km. Rain/storm water drains and trunk sewers will be laid together with the road construction, totally 91.79 km in length. In South District (Economic Development Zone), 17 roads will be paved with a total length of 24.53 km in width of 14~80m. Rain/storm water drains and trunk sewers will be laid together with the road construction, totally 74.56 km in length. In addition, one interchange, one flyover including lighting and traffic management system will be built in West District. In South District, one flyover, four bridges, greening space (2X2ha), Fuwongyan River flood control embankment in length of 4600m will be constructed.
Total investment of this project is 1.3546512 billion yuan, of which 414 million yuan equivalent will be a loan from the World Bank.
Based on the requirements specified by Environmental Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China, Environmental Impact Assessment Law of the People’s Republic of China, Regulations of Environmental Protection Management for Construction Projects, Order No. 253 issued by the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, and Notice of Strengthening the EA Management Work of the Construction Projects Financed by Loans of International Financial Organizations, HJ [1993] No. 324 issued by State Environmental Protection Administration, State Planning Commission, Ministry of Finance and People’s Bank of China, the related authority of Mianyang City entrusted Sichuan Research Institute of Environmental Protection* (being referred to as SRIEP hereinafter) to conduct the EA work for Mianyang Environmental Improvement Project (Infrastructure Development in Pioneer Park and Economic Development Zone) financed by the World Bank loan.
As soon as receiving the task, SRIEP sent its professionals to conduct the environmental reconnaissance and collect relevant data. In May 2005, SRIEP produced the TOR for EA according to Technical Guidelines of EA and other requirements of the World Bank. In August 2005, SEPB invited some experts to review and exam the TOR and issued its approval opinions (see Annex). After the approval of the TOR, SRIEP entrusted Mianyang Environmental Monitoring Station (MEMS) and the project owner to conduct the survey on existing environment, environmental monitoring, public opinion survey and data collection. Now the EIA Report for the Project has been produced, waiting for review.
The EIA work has got great help and support from SPMO, SEPB, Mianyang EPB, MEMS, project owner, W. B. experts, Mr. Sun Chongwu, Mr. Li Dahong and Mr. Gu Lixin. Here we would like to express our sincere thanks to them all.
1.1.2. Necessity of the Project
(a)To satisfy the requirements of development of the city
The urban center or city proper of Mianyang covers an area of 50 km2 with a population of 560,000. According to The Urban Master Plan of Mianyang City and the requirements of developing a Sci-Tech City, the city will have a population of 800,000 in 2010 and 1,000,000 in 2020. However, the current size and infrastructure of the city cannot meet the demands of the expansion and development as well as absorbing more population and enhancing industrial potential.
Based on the current development trend and The Urban Master Plan of Mianyang City, the downtown area (the existing urban proper of Mianyang City) will majorly serve as the cultural, financial, trading and tertiary service areas as well as the centralized residential quarters of urban residents. Currently these areas are almost saturated with residents and businesses. According to The Urban Master Plan of Mianyang City, West District will base enterprises and institutes engaged in new and high technology industries such as electronic information technology, new materials, fine chemicals, environmental protection, bio-technology and electronic-machinery integrity. And in South District, the main development orientation is automobile industry, new-typed building materials industry, foodstuff processing industry, pharmaceutical industry, electronic information technology, fine chemical industry, tourism, ecological and environmental protection industry and so on. At present, West and South Districts are still in the initiating stage and most of the areas are still farmlands with small number of farming families and enterprises. In order to ensure the smooth development of these districts, improvement and construction of infrastructure must be put on top of the agenda, such as construction of the roads, rain/storm water drains and trunk sewers and so on to lie a good foundation for the enterprises and their future development. For these reasons, the municipal government of Mianyang has listed the construction of West District and South District as the key points for the overall development of the Sci-Tch City.
b) To satisfy the requirements of local social and economic development
According to Annual Statistics of Sichuan Province and Mianyang City, economy of Mianyang City has registered fast growth in the past few years. Statistics show that GDP of Mianyang was 32.97 billion yuan in 2002, 39.69 billion yuan in 2003 and 45.45 billion yuan in 2004 respectively, ranking the second among all cities in Sichuan and only next to that of Chengdu. Because of its good economic momentum and superiority in development (new & hi-tech industry) over other cities in the province, Mianyang has been listed as one of the key cities for development by the State and Sichuan Province. From previous analyses, we can say that the core for development of Mianyang, especially new & hi-tech industry, lies in the well development of the Pioneer Park and the Economic Development Zone. Therefore, construction of infrastructure must be carried out first for ensuring the overall development of Pioneer Park and the Economic Development Zone. In this sense, managerial people and constructors must be of far-sighted.
c) Major impacts brought by the implementation of the proposed project
Because of its city structure being made up of some separate industrial divisions, there are many problems which require solutions in developing the South District of Mianyang, for instance, the road access between the South District and the urban center
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* SRIEP— Sichuan Research Institute of Environmental Protection, the formal English translation of the institute. In some documents, it is translated into Sichuan Academy of Environmental Sciences.
or other districts of the city, the road access between airports and various industrial divisions, and the joint of South District, which is the south gate of Mianyang to Miansan Highway and Mianyan Highway so as to build a frame of road network. Moreover, as a sub-center and an industrial base of Mianyang, the South District calls for favorable infrastructure to attract investment. Therefore, the infrastructure construction project of South District is the key for building Mianyang into a Sci-Tech City and to accomplish the overall planning and layout of the city.
As a future administrative and hi-tech industrial center of the Sci-Tech City, the South District is a key area of the planned 80 km2 area in The Outline of Developing Mianyang into a Sci-Tech City. The exploration/development of the district is a necessity for the construction and economic development of the city, a crucial part of implementing the overall planning of the city and an extension of the infrastructure construction of the whole city. Success of the proposed project will improve the investment environment, biological environment and the infrastructure of the district. Along with the improvement of these conditions and smoother traffic between this district and other districts, it will provide an optimum opportunity for appreciating the land and expanding the city capacity. Therefore, the construction and development of the district is of great importance for building Sci-Tech City.
The success of this project will bring great benefits to the city. It will open a new window for Mianyang to open up to the outside world and attract more investment. With a better image of its improved investment environment, exchange and cooperation with the outside world will be enhanced. It will attract more investment, talented personnel and advanced technologies, thus injecting more vitality into the development of the city. As a result, it will promote the forming of an export-oriented economic pattern and speed up the economic and social development of the city as well.
1.2 Objectives, Principles and Methodology of the EIA
1.2.1 Objectives
(1) Based on The Urban Master Plan of Mianyang City, local development planning and concrete requirements of project area, evaluate the rationality of project implementation from the viewpoint of environmental protection, then put forward some suggestions for adjustment.