ENVIRONMENT IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Executive Summary

JIANGXI SHIHUTANG NAVIGATION AND HYDROPOWER COMPLEX PROJECT ON THE GAN RIVER

Prepared by CCCC SECOND HARBOR CONSULTANTS CO., LTD.

JIANGXI PROVINCIAL WATER RESOURCE PLANNING AND DESIGN INSTITUTE

February 2008 Jiangxi Administration of Navigation Affairs (JANA)

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1

JIANGXI SHIHUTANG NAVIGATION AND HYDROPOWER COMPLEX PROJECT ON THE GAN RIVER

ENVIRONMENT IMPACT ASSESSMENT Executive Summary

Background This document summarizes the environment impact assessment of the WB financed project – Jiangxi

Shihutang Navigation and Hydropower Complex Project at the Gan River, highlighting the main issues

and conclusions of the environment impact assessment and environment management plan of the

project. The Executive Summary is based on the following reports: (i) Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EA); (ii) Environmental Management Plan for Flood Control Areas; and (iii) Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for Navigation/Hydro Complex. These reports were submitted to the Jiangxi Administration of Navigational Affairs (JANA) of the Jiangxi Provincial

Communications Department (JPCD) for detailed review and are available to interested parties in their

offices and provincial environmental offices. The EA reports and EMPs were submitted to the World

Bank for review and they conform fully to Bank policy guidelines regarding environmental and social

issues. All above reports have been made available in the Public Information Center (INFOSHOP) of

the World Bank. The JANA cleared this summary for submission to the Board of Executive Directors

of the World Bank.

Project Objectives When completed, the proposed project would have (i) canalized 38km long waterway, upgrading a

stretch of waterway of the Gan River to further extend Grade III navigability to upstream stretches of

the river, and to finally reach the planned waterway objective; and (ii) constructed the Shihutang

hydropower station that will participate in peak regulation of the Jiangxi power grid together with the

upstream Wan’an hydropower station, and thus play an important role in lessening power shortage and

improving the energy structure of the Jiangxi Province.

The Jiangxi Gan River Drainage Area Planning Report approved by the Chinese Government

recommends two trunk stream cascade development plans I and V through analysis of flood control

and protection, hydropower generation, navigation, integrated water resources management, and port

construction. Plan V is a ten-step development plan (Xiashan Low Elevation Plan), starting from

upstream to downstream with Bai’e, Baikoutang, Xiashan, Maodian, Wan’an (built in 1993, 82 km

upstream of Shihutang), Taihe, Shihutang, Xiajiang, Yongtai and Longtoushan. The planned and

preliminarily selected projects that will be implemented in the near future are the three project sites of

Taihe, Shihutang and Xiajiang.

The Gan River is the main tributary at the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, and it is one of the key

passages for shipping of the Jiangxi Province and has been listed in the state high-rank waterway

network. As per the “Approval of Technical Grade of Inland River Waterway” (Document No.

[1998]659) issued by the Ministry of Communications, the Ministry of Water Conservancy and the

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State Trade and Economic Relation Commission in 1998, the 525km long section of the Gan River

(Ganzhou to Wucheng) is denominated as a Grade III inland waterway.

Environmental Assessment Process and Legal Framework Perhaps the most environmentally and socially sensitive component of the proposed project will be the

construction and operation of a dual objective low head dam on the Gan river for both navigation and

hydropower generation. A full Environmental Assessment (EA) was carried out following terms of

reference agreed with the World Bank. The terms of reference were discussed in public meetings. The

project triggered the following World Bank policies: Environmental Assessment (OP/BP/GP4.01;

Natural Habitats (OP/BP4.04); Safety of Dams (OP/BP4.37); Involuntary Resettlement (OP4.12); and

Physical Cultural Resources (OP4.11).

The project is in full compliance with environmental policies and regulations in China such as

Environmental Protection Law of PRC�1989.12 and Environment Impact Assessment Law of PRC

2002.10; Water Pollution Prevention Law of PRC�1996.5��Wild Animals Protection Law of PRC

(1988.11��Cultural Relic Protection Law of PRC�2002.11��and Fishery Law of PRC�2000.10� etc. The EA Report was approved by China State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) in

January 2008.

Project Description The Project is located between the Ji’an City and Taihe County in the middle reaches of the Gan River.

The dam will be situated on the Gan River near the Shihutang Village, 26km downstream from the

Taihe County Road Bridge. This will be a multipurpose project, with navigation as the main purpose,

but providing additional benefits such as power generation and flood control. Main characteristics of

the project are presented in the following table.

Normal water level 56.5/57.0 m Normal reservoir storage 281mil. m3 Regulation storage 8.47 mil. m3 Regulation feature Daily regulation Reservoir area 39.36 km2 Backwater length 38 km Hydro capacity 120 MW Nominal water head 5.35 m (max. 9.80m, min. 3.60m)

50

100

150160

106100

69

5850

3426

128

117

Wan’an (Built in

Shihutang

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Max. dam height 26.5 m Land acquisition 6.15 km2 Transmission line 18 km

Environmental Setting Hydrology. Gan River basin falls within the moist subtropical belt, with abundant rainfall (average

annual rainfall of 1300-1800mm), but rainfall is severely uneven in seasons. Rainfall from April to

June makes up between 41 and 51% of the precipitation for the whole year. There are frequent

rainstorms in the basin. Storms fall mainly between April and September, while from May to June rain

falls mainly in frontal rain patterns, which makes cloudbursts more frequent. From July to September

rainstorms are caused mainly by typhoons.

Gan River is a flood storm river; therefore the flood season is coincident with the storm season. April

is the start of the flood season there is flood in the basin, but without much peak discharges in that

month. May to June, but especially in June, is the main flood season, when large-scale floods are

caused by heavy storms. Typhoons are common from July to Sept, causing medium-scale floods.

Water Quality. Although there are some raw sewage discharges into the Gan River, the river has good

waste assimilation capacity. Therefore, existing records indicate that the water quality of the Gan River

section where the project is located meets Chinese Grade II~Grade III water quality standards. Overall

water quality is good as a whole.

Ecology. The Shihutang project area is comprised mainly of flat plains and low hilly areas, with

secondary and artificial vegetation. There are no national grade protected wild plants and famous trees

within the area of influence of the project. There are 11 species of provincial grade protected plants

within the broader area of influence of the project. Field investigations identified altogether 215 old

trees (under special protection in China) in the project area that conform an Old Trees Community

Nature Reserve in Jintan. There are 26 species of birds, classified into 8 families and 17 genera.

Passerine are the largest in quantity, 34.62% of all. There is no bird under state protection. There are 7

orders, 7 families and 7 genera of mammals in the Shihutang Project district, none under state

protection. Rodents are the largest in numbers and species in this area. No protected animals or fish

species have been identified in the area of influence of the project. There are 20 species under

province-level protection in Jiangxi Province, widely scattered in quantity throughout the Shihutang

Project district. Two fish spawning sites - Taihe Spawning Site and Yanxidu Spawning Site – were

reported several decades ago the project area. The main spawning fishes of these two sites are

mandarin fish, grass carp, snail carp, silver xenocypris, Elopichthys bambusa, bream fish, Xenocypris

argentea, and H.maculatus Bleeker. Although migratory species were identified in the 1980’s they have

practically disappeared from this stretch of the river.

Cultural Relics and Historic Sites. No cultural property sites of national importance will be affected by

the project. Field research findings carried out during the EA identified one ancient ferry site and an

old town site in the inundation area of the reservoir. However, the Huangkeng Ancient Ferry does not

belong to any cultural relics protected unit of different grades. These sites show no remaining physical

evidence but remain in local memory and records. In addition, two ancient city sites, a Gouzi pagoda

and an Ouyang Ancestral Hall were found in the vicinity of the inundation area but at a considerable

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distance from the inundation area. Further refinement of dike alignment during preliminary designs has

avoided flooding to impact any cultural resource sites.

Socio- Economic Situation. Ji’an has a jurisdiction over 2 cities and 11 counties, 218km in length from

east to west and about 208km in width from north to south. In 2004 its GDP totaled 24.265 billion

Yuan, rising by 14.5%, more than 0.5 % more than last year, the highest rate in the last 9 years. The

area of the project is mostly occupied by farmlands. Road infrastructure is quite extensive in the area of

the project. No new road access is needed for the construction of the dam.

Sensitive Sites. All sensitive sites in and around the project site (dam and reservoir, canals) were

identified, analyzed, and registered in maps such as the one presented below.

Analysis of Alternatives The project has been subject to intense analysis of alternative options ranging from the project-no

project scenarios, dam sites, to specific alignment of dikes, screens, and drainage canals. All

Sensitive Sites Villages/School

Fish spawning

site

Water intake

Sewage

dischargeOld tree reserve

Cultural site

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alternatives were compared as to their technical, economic, environmental and social impacts. For

instance, project-no project comparison included a comparison with a thermal power plant of the same

installed capacity. Although the Shihutang Project will create some negative impacts upon the

ecological environment, thermal plant will bring much more pressure to local communities, require

more land acquisition, plus the generation of green house gases.

Two dam site options were considered. The selected site represents the option with less land

acquisition and resettlement needs, better geology, and less earth/stone works. Several reservoir

operating levels were also analyzed The selected layout of the dam (ship lock on the left and

powerhouse to the right) provides a smoother connection to the river channel, less spoil disposal, and

easier configuration for any future lock.

Special care was taken for the selection of reservoir embankment and screens near the old tree reserve

of Jintan. This reserve of old trees, protected by law, is used intensively for recreation and is of high

value for the community. The alignment of the embankment and screen will guarantee the preservation

of this important site.

Environmental Impacts Construction impacts. The construction of the dam and its ancillary infrastructure will entail potentially

significant negative impacts on communities and surrounding aquatic habitats. The proper management

of excavation materials, river and drainage crossings, and the reduction of nuisances such as dust,

noise, increased traffic, pedestrian safety concerns, and the presence of a large work force in or near

small rural communities, will require careful engineering planning, closed supervision, and a

continuous and intense community information program. Environmental specifications will be

included in all bidding documents and contracts.

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A phased approach for the construction of the dam will minimize disruption of river flows during

construction. Left and then right-hand cofferdams will maintain natural river flows during construction

and avoid the need for any river deviation. This is illustrated in the following figure.

A Two-phase Coffer Dam Construction Schedule

During the construction period, construction and material carrier vehicles will use existing roads and

village roads. Partial congestion may occur with some negative impacts upon local traffic. The

presence of communities and some schools along some of these roads pose a significant risk for

pedestrian and student safety. Traffic management during construction will require strict controls.

Impacts on River Hydrology. The Shihutang Dam will increase navigation capacity upstream and

maintain current navigation capacity downstream. Due to its weak flow regulation capacity (only daily

regulation), the average annual, monthly and daily flow after dam construction will be basicly the same

as before the construction of the dam. The day-cycle flow will be slightly modified (peak flow will be

slightly reduced and low flow increased). Water releases will not impact water use and environmental

demand downstream. In coordination and agreement with the Wan’an Dam upstream of Shihutang, a

minimum water release sufficient for normal navigation, water use and environmental demand in

Shihutang reservoir has been secured.

The flood management and operation mode of the Project is decided by the upstream incoming flow.

When the incoming flow is smaller than critical flow for opening gates, it will switch into beneficial

flood management and operation mode of navigation and hydropower generation. The design critical

flow at the Shihutang dam site is 4700m3/s, and the critical flow at the Guanyuan River discharge

section is 70m3/s. In order to meet the shipping requirement of the dam downstream, the release flow

of the reservoir shall not be smaller than 187m3/s, accounting for 16.3% of annual average flow. That

release flow can also meet the navigational requirement of the downstream channel, and productive,

domestic as well as ecological water consumption requirement of the dam downstream.

Sediment in the river will probably create a small delta at the tail of the reservoir. Sediment transport

from this point to the dam site is expected to be low.

The water body in the reservoir will present complete mixed patterns, with little or no stratification,

thus there will be no significant difference in water temperature in the discharged water and natural

water. Therefore, no impacts upon downstream ecosystems are to be expected.

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As mentioned before, discharges of raw sewage and wastewater treatment plant effluents do not exert

water quality problems on the river. With the formation of the reservoir, this situation still will be

maintained and no major quality degradation issues are expected. Annual mean phosphorus element in

Shihutang reservoir is predicted to be less than 0.016mg/l, which is at the lower limit of the

mesotrophic level. This means that the likelihood of reservoir eutrophication is very low.

Groundwater Impacts. After the reservoir is impounded�water levels of different river sections will be raised to different extents. Water from the reservoir will feed underground water tables at the front

edge of the first terrace and second terrace until new dynamic balance more beneficial to underground

water resources is established. Lowering of the underground water level will be under effective control.

The underground water reserve will remain stable and steady providing sufficient water sources for

domestic and industrial water consumption in the Taihe County.

Ecological Environment. The project will not threaten the survival or reproduction on the 11 species of

plants under province-level protection, including podocarpus macrophyllus, Osmanthus fragrans,

camellia, mastic tree, Chinese holly, Ilex rotunda, Bischofia tyifliata, Gentiana scabra Bunge,

Planchonella spp., Sapindus mukorossi Gaerth and Asnaragus cochinchinensic. These species are

mainly distributed in the shrubbery and underbrush of the broad-leaved forest close to villages. None

of the mentioned species exist in the project site or reservoir area.. The Old Tree Reserve will be

preserved.

Although practically depleted, the Gan River is one of the major habitats of the four major Chinese

carps, whose spawning ground is of certain special topographical and hydrographic characters. Every

year from April to July when water temperature reaches over 18 C, the four carp species will go to

their spawning grounds for breeding. The scale of this migration is related to high flows and flood

duration. In unprecedented floods there will be more oviferous laying, while a small-scale flood will

bring about limited egg laying or no reproduction at all. In the project section of the Gan River, the

spawning in May-June will make up 70�80% of the whole spawning season. During the flood season

all the scouring sluices of Shihutang Project will be opened for flood discharge in order to avoid

raising upstream flood level of the dam and to keep the upstream stretch of the river at natural

conditions. Therefore impacts on spawning patterns will be minimal.

Although downstream movements of fish and spawning will not be severely interrupted by the dam,

the dam will block the upstream migration of migratory fishes. Some migratory and semi-migratory

fish species can not swim back to the upstream for spawning. Therefore, it will be necessary to build

fish passing device to lessen impacts of water conservancy projects on fish resources in the Gan River.

Although the severity of this impact is quite insignificant given the almost disappearance of migratory

fish in the river, Chinese environmental authorities are requiring fish passages and laboratories in all

dams along the Gan river in order to facilitate future fisheries development programs. Fish passages

and laboratories are included in project costs.

Resettlement. The Project will permanently acquire 194 ha of farmland in 53 villages, which will

result in an approximate 6% decrease of land holdings in the affected villages. Measures such as land

redistribution, cash compensation, and land improvement were explored following consultation with

8

the affected villagers. About 78 ha of farmland will be used temporarily and returned to the villagers

after restoration by the civil works contractors under close supervision from local authorities. 169

affected households comprising 597 persons will be relocated. 95 of these households will build their

new houses in their current villages and 74 households will be moved into newly constructed villages,

after receiving compensation including the replacement cost for their original houses, movement

subsidies and resettlement allowance. During the house restoration process, the local government will

provide assistance in addition to specific investment for the planned infrastructure within these villages

Four small enterprises, which do not need to be relocated, will be affected by the project. They will be

able to reopen for business in their current locations. The Project will provide compensation for loss of

assets and cost of restoration as well as a transitional subsidy for loss of wages or profits during

restoration. The employment of the workers will not be affected.

The Project will inundate or demolish some local infrastructures and public facilities in the vicinity of

the reservoir and at the dam site. The reconstruction costs of the affected infrastructures and facilities

will be fully compensated to the respective owners, who will be responsible for the reconstruction or

restoration of the affected infrastructures. The compensation costs for the restoration have been

estimated and included in the project budget.

Cultural Resources. Optimization of reservoir embankment alignments has eliminated the need to

flood the three unclassified heritage sites (old ferry, old towns). Prior to the construction of the project,

the Jiangxi Provincial Cultural Relics and Archaeology Institute will carry out additional field research

of all sites, register relevant historical information, and propose additional measures if needed.

The ancient city site is located 40m from the south bank of the Gan River. It is over 60.80m in

elevation, higher than the design flood level (58.65m), and therefore will suffer no impacts from water

level rise in the Gan River. But the north wall of the ancient city, due to channel re-routing of the

Zhulin River, has an Elevation of only 56.7m, about 0.20m higher than the normal storage level

(56.5m), but lower than the design flood level (58.65m). Special protection measures (excavation,

salvage, grouting, underground screens, humidity protection) will be implemented by the Jiangxi

Provincial Cultural Relics and Archaeology Institute before the construction of the Shihutang Project.

Safety of Dams. The Project includes the construction of a 26.5m high dam consisting of a

powerhouse, ship lock, sluice gates and an earthen dam about 869 meters in length. The dam forms a

run-off type reservoir with normal pool storage of 281 million cubic meters. The project is located

about 82km downstream from the existing Wan’an Dam, which is a 46m high dam with normal pool

storage of 2.22 billion cubic meters. Therefore, the safety status of the Wan’an dam will substantially

affect the normal operation of the Shihutang dam. Therefore, a dam safety assessment of the existing

dam is required according to OP4.37.

An independent dam safety panel (DSP), consisting of three experts, has been established to assist the

JPMO in ensuring that the Project complies with Bank and Chinese dam safety requirements. For the

Shihutang Dam, the DSP will (a) review and comment on the investigation, design, and construction of

the dam and the start of operations; (b) review and comment on the safety-related plans prepared by the

9

JPMO. For the upstream Wan’an Dam, the DSP has already conducted an inspection and review on

the safety status of the dam. The review concluded that the Wan’an Dam operates under safe

conditions

Cumulative Impacts. Shihutang is the second of a cascade of dams that will be built on the Gan River

to improve and promote navigation in this important inland waterway. A main reservoir has already

been built. A Strategic Environmental Assessment was developed in 2005 for Jiangxi Inland Waterway

Navigation Development Plan, which addressed cumulative environmental impact issues. The

negative impacts are mainly on aquatic life, especially on migratory fishes, semi-migratory fishes and

spawning sites. Multiple-phase construction will cause floating and semi-floating spawn to flow into

static waters too early during drifting and hatching process, thus affecting their growth. Since the

cascade dam development is mainly for upgrading of existing navigation channel, concerns about an

adequate environmental flow will not be an issue. SEPA requests that all dams and locks on the Gan

River include fish passage infrastructure, fish laboratories, and implement fish stocking in the river.

The positive impacts of the cascade dams are to promote the economic development of the Gan River

basin, especially poor counties along the River. The Project will bolster the capacity to manage

cumulative impacts at watershed level through a specific training under the TA component of the

project.

Linked Projects. There are two projects directly linked to the Shihutang Project: the existing upstream

Wan’an Dam; and the 18km transmission line from the powerhouse to the grid which will be

constructed by local power authority separately at the later stage of Shihutang Project. For the existing

Wan’an Dam, the DSP experts have already reviewed the dam safety status and concluded that the

Wan’an Dam operates under safe conditions. For the 18 km transmission line, as the Chinese

requirements are broadly comparable to the Bank Policy requirements, the Bank task team will carry

out a due diligence exercise on the EIA of the transmission line and their compliance with the Chinese

regulations. The JPMO will make available a copy of EIA for the Bank review. Given the low

sensitivity of the project area, the transmission line is not expected to raise any significant

environmental or social issues.

Environmental Management Plan The EA report recommends the implementation of an Environmental Management Plan (EMP). The

EMP proposes a number of measures to mitigate environmental impacts during the construction and

operation of the proposed project and establishes an organizational structure, set of procedures and a

budget to implement activities under the EMP. The EMP has also identified a set of environmental

monitoring activities and capacity building programs to ensure achievement of the project’s

environmental objectives. The EMP addresses all issues identified in the EIA, and includes a detailed

description of all activities, the institutional responsibilities for implementation, and defines a budget

and source of financing for each one of the activities included in the EMP. Most mitigation measures

have already been included in project design and included in project costs. Main components of the

EMP are presented in the following table.

10

Main Components of the EMP � Protection of “old tree” forest � Renegotiation of embankments, canals and river embankments with bamboo � Fish canal and fish laboratory � Excavation, “information” salvage, and/or protection of cultural sites � Management of construction impacts � Environmental monitoring and supervision � Resettlement Action Plan � Institutional strengthening program

Clear environment management responsibilities have been defined for both construction and operation

of the Shihutang project. Environmental management must be available throughout the construction

and operational periods whereby there will emerge many factors that will have impacts on the

environment. Therefore, the project will establish professional administrative institutions that have

good professional basis and administrative competence. They will be equipped with necessary

environmental protection personnel, being merged into the established integrative and professional

environmental protection system to be responsible for carrying out and supervising the work of

environmental protection of the project.

Environment management procedure during construction

Environment management procedure during operation

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11

Comprehensive environmental monitoring programs have been designed for both construction and

operation phases of the project. Monitoring includes water quality, fish, hydrology, construction dust

and noise, as well as erosion downstream of the reservoir. A qualified environment monitoring

company will assist to well do environment monitoring work during construction. During operation,

environmental monitoring will be carried out by provincial and prefecture (municipal) environmental

protection bureaus, forestry bureaus, water conservancy bureaus and fishery bureaus, being responsible

for submitting the annual report on environmental management and for compiling the reports of

environmental monitoring during operation.

All personnel of the Project Office Environment Protection Section and construction workers will

receive environmental protection training before commencement of construction. Key environmental

administrative and monitoring personnel will also receive the technical training. The main issues

addressed in the EMP are presented in the following table.

Impact Mitigation Responsibility

Construction Impacts

A detailed set of environmental specifications will be included in all bidding documents and contracts including traffic control. Environmental training of all workers Workers camp rules

Contractor, enforced by engineering supervision

Fish impacts Fish passage is already designed and included in project costs. A fish proliferation and fry releasing station will be set to implement fish proliferation and fry releasing with fry release quantity of 2.2 million for a long period and the effect of fish proliferation and fry releasing will be surveyed;

Construction is part of project. Operation will be under the Provincial Fishery administration

Cultural Resources

Although realignment of embankments avoided flooding of these sites, archaeological excavation on the Huangkeng Ancient Ferry (work area 600m2) and site of ancient city (work area 5000m2) to obtain related historic information. The cultural relics and relative historical information of 2 cultural relic points will be transferred to the site protected for historical and cultural value or museum. After the archaeological excavation work is completed, the two cultural relics points can be submerged. The cost of archaeological excavation work has been listed in the project budget. Chance finding procedures.

Jiangxi Provincial Cultural Relics and Archaeology Institute.

Old trees Construction contractor during construction period will designate special person to be responsible for the patrol, monitoring on old trees, big trees and provincial level protected plants in the vicinity of the construction point, so as to prevent harm to old trees, big trees and protected plants due to construction activities or stealthily cut down tree

Contractor Enforced by project supervision.

Relocation of Population

Resettlement Action Plan Jiangxi Provincial Resettlement Office

Resettlement Plan As a leading resettlement management authority, the Jiangxi Provincial Resettlement Office has

reviewed and approved the TOR for the project resettlement planning. The RAP is subject to the

approval by the provincial government after the NDRC’s approval of the FSR, and before the

commencement of the resettlement actions.

12

Resettlement Policies. Policies and entitlements included in the RAP are based on national, provincial

and municipal regulations, as well as requirements in the World Bank’s OP 4.12. The following key

considerations and activities were conducted in project planning and design and in RAP preparation:

• Optimizing the normal pool level to minimize losses due to inundation.

• Minimizing the extent of land acquisition and resettlement by optimizing project design and providing flood protection works.

• Surveying socio-economic baseline conditions, and identifying all displaced persons (DP) in households, enterprises and others.

• Entitling all displaced persons, including those who have no households’ registration, business licenses or other legal documentation, to compensation or other forms of resettlement

assistance so that their incomes and living standards can be improved or at least restored.

• Determining compensation for land, structures, and other fixed assets at replacement cost, and submitting the option of compensation either in cash or in kind.

• Consulting with displaced persons on arrangements for compensation and assistance.

• Establishing mechanism to address complaints and grievances for the displaced persons including discussions, negotiations, arbitration, and legal proceedings.

• Arranging supervision and monitoring to ensure the RAP compliance and to address other issues that may arise during RAP implementation

Organizational Management: The JPMO and Taihe County will set up resettlement offices as outlined

in the RAP. The staff of the offices will be trained to develop management capacity. The RAP sets

out training and resource requirements for these offices. The JPMO will coordinate implementation of

the RAP by the county government via its resettlement office. The PMPO will facilitate the

coordination with the local government regarding the resettlement when needed.

Resettlement Monitoring: Internal and external monitoring mechanisms for RAP implementation will

be set up prior to project implementation. Internal monitoring is to be conducted by the JPMO

resettlement office and county resettlement office, which will focus primarily on physical progress. An

external monitoring agency will be engaged to report resettlement progress every six months. Apart

from physical progress, external monitoring reports will assess household relocation and livelihood

restoration as well as transitional measures for affected enterprises, schools and others. The RAP

describes monitoring purposes, responsibilities, indicators, methodology, procedures and reporting

requirements.

Public Consultation A combination of opinion surveys and public symposia held in the township government, village

committee and affected villagers’ homes have been implemented during preparation of the EIA and

Resettlement Action Plan studies.

Public notices of the EIA of the Jiangxi Shihutang Navigation and Hydropower Pivotal Project at the

Gan River were posted on bulletins and made available in the governments and villager committees.

After the public has understood the general situation of the Project and possible impacts, the public

participated in the symposia. At the symposia, the Owner and the EIA contractor first introduced the

general situation and possible environment impacts of the project, then, the public asked questions, the

13

Owner and the EIA contractor answered those questions. Finally, the public put forward their

comments and suggestions about construction of the project; the EIA contractor was responsible for

recording and sorting these inputs. In total 17 symposia were held with 132 people in the first round,

including the affected households, affected people, affected village committees, township

governments, and related functional departments of the environment protection, water conservancy,

forestry and communications of Taihe County. This was carried out in the early stages of the EIA as

well as the final draft (first and second round consultations).

A wide range of suggestions and concerns were received during both rounds of consultations. These

range from employment of local labors as much as possible during construction; to building a new

bridge and fending groin at Xinzhou. Other concerns had to do with minimization of required farmland

and woodland. A non-inclusive list of recommendations and concerns include: build the project

simultaneously with ecological work; assure relocation and resettlement fund paid to the affected

people; to commence the project construction as soon as possible and to benefit local people;

simultaneously well build water conservancy and flood control facilities; completely solve the water

logging problem; earnestly protect the ecological environment at the surrounding of the reservoir area

and to resettle people in a fair manner; to protect farmland from being occupied, and improve farming

condition at the surrounding of the reservoir area; recommend to the dam open to traffic; and protect

the ancestral temple of the village during relocation of Pingshang Village.

Most of the concerns have been incorporated either in project design or in the environmental

management plan or resettlement plan.

Disclosure The complete EIA report is available in the Taihe County Government Building for public reference. A

summary of the EIA has been placed at the governments of Wanhe Township, Tangzhou Township,

Yanxi Township, Chengjiang Township and Mashi Township, and Wushan Reclamation Farm Office

for public reference. In October 2007, official notice was posted on the Jinggangshan Newspaper (No.1

newspaper at the location of the Project) for public reference.

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