LAC-IEE-17-07

ENVIRONMENTAL THRESHOLD DECISION

Amendment No.1 to LAC-IEE-16-32 Activity Location: Haiti Activity Title: Green Charcoal for Haiti Activity Number: AID-521-F-15-00005 Life of Activity Funding: $838,000 Life-of-Activity: June 1, 2015 – June 30, 2017 Reference Threshold Decision: LAC-IEE-16-32, LAC-IEE-15-18 IEE Amendment prepared by: Abdel Abellard, Mission Environmental Advisor;

Christine Musset, Program Management Specialist Date Prepared: September 30, 2016 Recommended Threshold Decision: Categorical Exclusion

Negative Determination with Conditions Bureau Threshold Decision: Comments: Scope and Purpose - This Environmental Threshold Decision (ETD) amends LAC-IEE-16-32 to increase the Life of Activity Funding by $500,000 USD bringing the total amount to 838,000 USD. All Conditions under LAC-IEE-16-32 stay the same. Brief Background Information - The Green Charcoal for Haiti project, formerly known as the Increasing Food Production and Rural Commerce in Haiti Using Biochar project, was originally one of three projects that made up the Haiti Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) program described in LAC-IEE-15-18. The Green Charcoal for Haiti project supports Carbon Roots Haiti to produce “green charcoal,” cooking briquettes made from the biomass in agricultural waste,

up the Haiti Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) program described in LAC-IEE-15-18. The Green Charcoal for Haiti project supports Carbon Roots Haiti to produce "green charcoal," cooking briquettes made from the biomass in agricultural waste, specifically bagasse from sugar cane stalks. The activity produces a viable, cost-effective alternative to the use of traditional charcoal, which is a driver of deforestation in Haiti, and increases rural incomes. Additionally, the use of green charcoal may reduce carbon emissions compared to the use of traditional charcoal, and it bums somewhat cleaner, thus providing some health benefits for those using it to cook.

Conditions and Requirements - Apart from the changed condition noted above, terms and conditions for LAC­IEE-15-18 and LAC-IEE-16-32 remain in full force.

Copy to:

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Attachments:

Bureau Environmental Officer Bureau for Latin America & the Caribbean

Jene Thomas, Mission Director Veena Reddy, Deputy Mission Director Michael Wyzan, EGAD Christine Musset, EGAD Abdel Abellard, Deputy MEO Jennifer Graetz, PCPS Christopher. Ryder, RLO

Robert Clausen, Regional Environmental Advisor - Caribbean

Belinda Bernard, Gene George, LAC/CAR Doug Pulse, LAC/RSD

IEE File

• USAID/Haiti Request to Amend LAC-IEE-16-22 • USAID/Haiti LAC-IEE-16-22

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INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION (IEE) Amendment No. 1 to LAC-IEE-16-32

Activity Location: Haiti Activity Title: Green Charcoal for Haiti Activity Number: AID-521-F-15-00005 Life of Activity Funding: $838,000.00 Life-of-Activity: June 1, 2015 – June 30, 2017 Reference ETD: LAC-IEE-16-32, LAC-IEE-15-18 IEE Amendment prepared by: Abdel Abellard, Mission Environmental Advisor;

Christine Musset, Program Management Specialist Date Prepared: September 30, 2016 Recommended Threshold Decision: Categorical Exclusion

Negative Determination with Conditions 1. PURPOSE

This Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) amends LAC-IEE-16-32, which was an amendment to, and replaced in whole, the original Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) IEE – LAC-15-18 for the Green Charcoal for Haiti project. The Green Charcoal for Haiti project has since been extended to run up to June 30, 2017, which was captured in IEE-LAC-16-32. The purpose of this first IEE amendment is to increases the Life of Activity Funding by 500,000 USD bringing the total amount to 838,000 USD. All Conditions under LAC-IEE-16-32 stay the same.

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2. BACKGROUND The Green Charcoal for Haiti project supports Carbon Roots Haiti to produce “green charcoal,” cooking briquettes from the biomass in agricultural waste. The activity aims to produce a viable, cost-effective alternative to the use of traditional charcoal, which is a driver of deforestation in Haiti, and increase rural incomes. Additionally, the use of green charcoal may reduce carbon emissions compared to the use of traditional charcoal, and it burns somewhat cleaner, thus providing some health benefits for those using it to cook. Core activities of the Green Charcoal activities, disseminated throughout both stages of the DIV award, include the following:

● Construction of Production Center Facility and Initial Set of Briquette Presses (done within the first stage);

● Purchase of Materials Needed For Transportation, Trainings and Workshops, and Char Production Kilns;

● Training of part-time charcoal dust producers and provision of Char-Production Kilns; ● Beginning of Fully Operational Business to Test Capacity with Initial Producers and

Buyers (done within the first stage); ● Training of Women Retailers; ● Launching of Retail Network with Women Retailers; ● Opening of retail boutiques and distribution points; ● Continuing of Operations to Test Capacity with Additional Producers and buyers with

the Inclusion of Women Retailers; ● Evaluation of Program and Publication of Annual Progress Report. ● This project focuses on the region surrounding Cap Haitien, in northern Haiti, including

urban, peri-urban, and rural areas. Product sales are also planned to expand to Port-au-Prince

3. EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT POTENTIAL The project covered under this IEE holds some potential for adversely affecting the environment and/or human health. Therefore, an Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (EMMP) has been developed for the project pursuant to the project’s previous IEE (LAC-IEE-15-18), and it has been approved by the Regional Environmental Advisor and Mission Environmental Officer (see Attachment 1). Additionally, however, it is noteworthy that the project is expected to have an overall positive environmental impact. The project holds the potential to reduce deforestation by creating an alternative to traditional charcoal, which is produced from trees. Furthermore, it is expected to marginally reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve indoor air quality when compared to traditional charcoal.

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A Categorical Exclusion is recommended for activities which involve the provision of technical assistance, studies, education and training, and social and institutional capacity building; which have no significant impact on the environment. A Negative Determination with Conditions is recommended for all other activities, as described in the already approved Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (Attachment 1). The implementing partner is to report on EMMP implementation and efficacy in all quarterly reports and annual reports. Any activities not described in the EMMP and not categorically excluded may not proceed until the EMMP is revised to reflect those activities.

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LAC-IEE-16-32

ENVIRONMENTAL THRESHOLD DECISION Activity Location: Haiti Activity Title: Green Charcoal for Haiti Activity Number: AID-521-F-15-00005 Life of Activity Funding: $338,000 Life-of-Activity: June 1, 2015 – June 30, 2017 Reference Threshold Decision: LAC-IEE-15-18 IEE Amendment prepared by: Ryan D. Knight, Mission Environmental Advisor;

Christine Musset, Alliance Builder Date Prepared: April 13, 2016 Recommended Threshold Decision: Categorical Exclusion

Negative Determination with Conditions Bureau Threshold Decision: Concur Comments: This Environmental Threshold Decision (ETD) amends LAC-15-18 to account for two changed conditions: (1) extend the Life-of-Program until June 30, 2017, from September 30, 2015, and (2) this ETD only covers the Green Charcoal for Haiti project; all other projects described in LAC-IEE-15-18 (attached) have ended. Brief Background Information - The Green Charcoal for Haiti project, formerly known as the Increasing Food Production and Rural Commerce in Haiti Using Biochar project, was originally one of three projects that made up the Haiti Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) program described in LAC-IEE-15-18. The Green Charcoal for Haiti project supports Carbon Roots Haiti to produce “green charcoal,” cooking briquettes made from the biomass in agricultural waste, specifically bagasse from sugar cane stalks. The activity produces a viable, cost-effective

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alternative to the use of traditional charcoal, which is a driver of deforestation in Haiti, and increases rural incomes. Additionally, the use of green charcoal may reduce carbon emissions compared to the use of traditional charcoal, and it burns somewhat cleaner, thus providing some health benefits for those using it to cook. Apart from the two changed conditions noted above, terms and conditions of the Categorical Exclusion issued for LAC-IEE-15-18 remains unchanged for this ETD. LAC-IEE-15-18 is appended to this ETD. Apart from the two changed conditions noted above, terms and conditions of the Negative Determination with Conditions issued for LAC-IEE-15-18 remains unchanged for this ETD. Responsibilities

• Each activity manager or Contracting/Agreement Officer Representative (COR/AOR) is responsible for making sure environmental conditions are met (ADS 204.3.4). In addition, COR/AORs are responsible for ensuring that appropriate environmental guidelines are followed, mitigation measures in the IEE are funded and implemented, and that adequate monitoring and evaluation protocols are in place to ensure implementation of mitigation measures.

• It is the responsibility of the Development Objective (SO) Team to ensure that

environmental compliance language from the ETD is included in activity-related Development Objective Grant Agreements (SOAGs), Task Orders, Cooperative Agreements and other relevant procurement and obligating documents.

• The Mission Environmental Officer (MEO) will conduct spot checks to ensure that

conditions in the IEE and this ETD are met. These evaluations will review whether guidelines are properly used to implement activities under this ETD in an environmentally sound and sustainable manner according to USAID and applicable U.S. Government policies and regulations.

• The implementing contractor or partner will assign a qualified environmental expert to be responsible for environmental compliance and ensure that all activities conducted under this instrument comply with this ETD. Also, through its regular reporting requirements, a section on environmental compliance (e.g. mitigation monitoring results) will be included.

Amendments

• Amendments to Initial Environmental Examinations (IEE) shall be submitted for LAC Bureau Environmental Officer (BEO) approval for any activities not specifically covered in the IEE, which include:

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INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION (IEE) Amendment No. 1 to Environmental Threshold Decision (ETD) LAC-IEE-15-18

Activity Location: Haiti Activity Title: Green Charcoal for Haiti Activity Number: AID-521-F-15-00005 Life of Activity Funding: $338,000.00 Life-of-Activity: June 1, 2015 – June 30, 2017 Reference ETD: LAC-IEE-15-18 IEE Amendment prepared by: Ryan D. Knight, Mission Environmental Advisor;

Christine Musset, Alliance Builder Date Prepared: April 13, 2016 Recommended Threshold Decision: Categorical Exclusion

Negative Determination with Conditions 1. BACKGROUND AND ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION 1.1 Purpose and Scope of IEE

This IEE the Green Charcoal for Haiti project managed by USAID/Haiti’s Office of Economic Growth and Agricultural Development (EGAD). The Green Charcoal for Haiti project, formerly known as the Increasing Food Production and Rural Commerce in Haiti Using Biochar project, was originally one of three projects that made up the Haiti Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) program described in LAC-IEE-15-18. It has since been extended to run up to June 30, 2017, thus necessitating this new IEE. This IEE

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only covers the Green Charcoal for Haiti project; all other projects described in LAC-IEE-15-18 have ended. Per ADS 201.3.11, Pre-Obligation Requirements, all USAID-financed activities require environmental review prior to the obligation of funds. This IEE is being submitted in accordance with the Agency’s environmental guidelines as stated in ADS 204 and regulations (22 CFR 216). 1.2 Description of Activities 1.2.1 Summary The Green Charcoal for Haiti project supports Carbon Roots Haiti to produce “green charcoal,” cooking briquettes from the biomass in agricultural waste. The activity aims to produce a viable, cost-effective alternative to the use of traditional charcoal, which is a driver of deforestation in Haiti, and increase rural incomes. Additionally, the use of green charcoal may reduce carbon emissions compared to the use of traditional charcoal, and it burns somewhat cleaner, thus providing some health benefits for those using it to cook. 1.2.1 Detailed Description The project model is centered on the production of green charcoal, from agricultural waste supplied by micro-agricultural entrepreneurs and local rum distilleries. Green charcoal is an alternative charcoal briquette that is sustainably-produced and reduces pressures on forests, which are the source of traditional charcoal in Haiti. The green charcoal is made from agricultural waste (currently, primarily sugarcane bagasse) and charred in a clean-burning kiln that emits very little smoke and greenhouse gasses. Once charred, green charcoal is mixed with starch binding agents, resulting in char slurry. The slurry is then pressed into dense briquettes using commercial roller briquette equipment, and the briquettes are dried naturally. Yet, unlike other briquette activities that rely on paper pulp and/or recycled materials and often require improved stove designs, green charcoal resembles and burns very similar to wood charcoal. Therefore, financial and cultural barriers to adoption are significantly decreased, as green charcoal requires very little change in cooking methods. Furthermore, users consistently claim that green charcoal produces less smoke, and evidence suggests that it burns significantly cleaner and more efficiently than traditional charcoal. To increase the quantity of feedstocks available, and to utilize existing waste streams in Haiti, CRH has designed the program around two main sources of biomass. The first source of waste biomass is local farms, where discarded agricultural waste is available. The second source for waste biomass is local rum distilleries, around which vast piles of discarded sugarcane bagasse (waste) collect. Distillers regard the bagasse as a nuisance as animals cannot eat it and, for quick disposal, it is often openly burned. CRH has established sourcing agreements with the local distillers and the local farmers, who are paid for supplying the sugarcane bagasse to CRH. A group of farmers is then trained by CRH to burn and convert the bagasse into char dust, at CRH’s central factory site.

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The activity is located in the region surrounding Cap-Haitien in northern Haiti. This region holds over a hundred distilleries of varying sizes within close range of one another. Furthermore, Carbon Roots Haiti has done dozens of biochar workshops in nine rural communities around Cap-Haitien and has received very positive feedback from farmers in the area about the green charcoal. CRH currently has a network of over 100 active char dust suppliers. The discarded agricultural waste produced by the distillers and the farmers will be purchased by Carbon Roots Haiti through designated local pickup points and days. The suppliers are paid roughly $5 per ton of sugarcane bagasse. Carbon Roots Haiti projects that it will process 60-90 tons of bagasse per day by the end of 2016, and that the average supplier will earn up to $50 per pickup, or over 12 times the new minimum wage in Haiti. Carbon Roots Haiti processes the green charcoal at a centralized facility on the outskirts of Cap-Haitien. Roughly 90% of the char collected is run through a grinder and crushed to dust. This char dust will then be mixed with starch into a slurry, and run through commercial roller briquette equipment that produces roughly 2,000 kilograms of green charcoal briquettes per day. The resultant green charcoal briquettes are dried for 3-5 days, then packaged for transport and sale. Carbon Roots Haiti negotiates contracts with existing charcoal wholesalers, who have their own sophisticated distribution networks.. Carbon Roots Haiti also sells to individual consumers of charcoal in and around Cap-Haitien through several distribution points and boutiques. At local markets in Cap Haitien, charcoal is sold by women trained by CRH to become mobile street retailers; Carbon Roots Haiti’s retail model reinforces this inclusion of women in market activities by selling green charcoal briquettes to end-users. Carbon Roots Haiti provides briquettes wholesale and wheelbarrows to women retailers at a discounted rate, and the retailers in turn sell them to the end-user for an average of 15-20% cheaper than the market price of traditional charcoal. Based on EcoFuel Africa’s proven price points in Uganda, Carbon Roots Haiti estimates that the average Haitian consumer can save 40% of their annual income by purchasing and using green charcoal instead of traditional charcoal. Beneficiaries of the project include:

• Local rum distillers and micro-agricultural entrepreneurs, who will earn significantly more than the national minimum wage, and several times more than the national average daily income

• Smallholder farmers who are trained as part-time producers of charcoal dust, and will earn additional earnings from producing the char at the CRH facility

• Women charcoal retailers, who will sell green charcoal briquettes at a market discount and still earn roughly 15% profit on their sales

• End users, who will save between 25-40% of their income by using green charcoal. Core activities of the Green Charcoal activities, disseminated throughout both stages of the DIV award, include the following:

• Construction of Production Center Facility and Initial Set of Briquette Presses (done within the first stage);

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• Purchase of Materials Needed For Transportation, Trainings and Workshops, and Char Production Kilns;

• Training of part-time charcoal dust producers and provision of Char-Production Kilns; • Beginning of Fully Operational Business to Test Capacity with Initial Producers and

Buyers (done within the first stage); • Training of Women Retailers; • Launching of Retail Network with Women Retailers; • Opening of retail boutiques and distribution points; • Continuing of Operations to Test Capacity with Additional Producers and buyers with

the Inclusion of Women Retailers; • Evaluation of Program and Publication of Annual Progress Report.

1.3 Locations Affected This project focuses on the region surrounding Cap Haitien, in northern Haiti, including urban, peri-urban, and rural areas. Product sales are also planned to expand to Port-au-Prince. 1.5 National Environmental Policies, Procedures and Regulations The section of the Government of Haiti environmental assessment policy of the January 2006 decree states that the policies, plans, programs, projects or activities that are likely to have some impact on the environment must be the subject of an environmental assessment to be undertaken by the concerned entity. The environmental assessment process covers the scope of the impact assessment, the declaration of the environmental impact, the environmental permit and the environmental audits. However no norms, no procedures with regard to the conduct of environmental impact assessments have been established so far although the Ministry of Environment is working on opening the first Office for Environmental Evaluation (Bureau National d’Evaluation Environnementale, BNEE). As such, USAID has begun engaging the BNEE to cooperate on environmental impact assessment and to share USAID-produced reports. 2. EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT POTENTIAL The project covered under this IEE holds some potential for adversely affecting the environment and/or human health. Therefore, an Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (EMMP) has been developed for the project pursuant to the project’s previous IEE (LAC-IEE-15-18), and it has been approved by the Regional Environmental Advisor and Mission Environmental Officer (see Attachment 1). Additionally, however, it is noteworthy that the project is expected to have an overall positive environmental impact. The project holds the potential to reduce deforestation by creating an alternative to traditional charcoal, which is produced from trees. Furthermore, it is expected to marginally reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve indoor air quality when compared to traditional charcoal.

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3. RECOMMENDED THRESHOLD DECISIONS AND MITIGATION ACTIONS 3.1. Recommended Threshold Decisions and Conditions A Categorical Exclusion is recommended for activities which involve the provision of technical assistance, studies, education and training, and social and institutional capacity building; which have no significant impact on the environment. A Negative Determination with Conditions is recommended for all other activities, as described in the already approved Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (Attachment 1). The implementing partner is to report on EMMP implementation and efficacy in all quarterly reports and annual reports. Any activities not described in the EMMP and not categorically excluded may not proceed until the EMMP is revised to reflect those activities. Furthermore, the following general conditions will be applied:

• The EMMP does and will utilize USAID’s agency-wide Sector Environmental Guidelines (http://www.usaidgems.org/sectorGuidelines.htm) as a reference and as appropriate.

• Activities will comply with all applicable Haitian environmental regulations, including ones that come into force after activities have begun.

• The AOR is required to monitor activities for environmental compliance, notably in relation to requirements established in EMMP. The Mission Environmental Officer (MEO) will conduct field monitoring of those activities most likely to have environmental impacts, paying particular attention to verifying mitigation measure implementation.

Lastly, this IEE only applies to Green Charcoal for Haiti project. It does not cover any other activities which might be awarded in the future under the DIV program.

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II. Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan Narrative 1. Background, Rationale and Outputs/Results Expected:

Carbon Roots Haiti’s “Green Charcoal for Haiti” project is designed to provide a long-term sustainable alternative to the most environmentally degrading activity in Haiti: deforestation in pursuit of fuel. The Project is specifically designed to be environmentally-friendly and sustainable, but sourcing local waste streams for conversion into appropriate cooking fuel. The primary expected environmental result of the project is the preservation of trees and, by extension, decrease in erosion and preservation of arable land. No negative environmental effects are anticipated. Carbon Roots Haiti will be tracking wood charcoal replaced and deforestation avoided by recording sales data and calculating positive environmental impacts, such as trees saved.

2. Environmental Baseline (Table 1):

Carbon Roots Haiti operates one green charcoal production factory outside of Cap-Haitien. The Project leases approximately 8 acres in a semi-rural area. The factory employs over 30 people from the immediate vicinity, 40% of whom are women. The surrounding area is mostly fallow farmland, with a few scattered trees and no unique or extra-ordinary resources nearby. The project has been active for several years prior to this Environmental Baseline, including 12 months supported by a previous USAID award. CRH has already undertaken all significant infrastructure improvements to the site, and will not engage in construction within the timeframe of the Project. The Project sources the raw materials for green charcoal briquettes from surrounding communities—mainly sugarcane bagasse. Sugarcane bagasse is a waste product of local small-scale distillery operations, and is traditionally disposed of by open-air burns. The Project utilizes this waste resource as the primary biomass feedstock for green charcoal, allowing local farmers to monetize a waste stream by carbonizing it into charcoal dust using efficient top-lit updraft kilns to pyrolyze bagasse and/or selling un-carbonized waste bagasse directly to Carbon Roots Haiti. Conversion of bagasse into charcoal dust is a cleaner process than open air burning, and contributes to the overall environmental benefits produced by the Green Charcoal for Haiti Project. At a central facility, CRH uses commercial briquetting equipment to process the charcoal dust into dense, durable, high-quality cooking briquettes.

3. Evaluation of Environmental Impact Potential of Activities (Table 2):

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The primary anticipated impact is a decreased reliance on traditional wood charcoal in customer areas, which includes the north Haiti region as well as Port-au-Prince. Green charcoal, as a direct “drop-in” replacement for wood charcoal, helps to relieve pressure on ecosystems across Haiti, where rural farmers are working to cut down the relatively few trees that remain. The scale of this positive impact is directly related to the scale of Carbon Roots Haiti’s green charcoal production and it’s growth. At the Project’s production facility, CRH has already spent several years working to implement environmental mitigation systems to eliminate any potential negative impact on surrounding ecosystems and residential areas. For example:

● The Project is located adjacent to the United Nations’ helicopter landing site, which was chosen in part because of the few people living in the immediate vicinity.

● The Project, in conjunction with USAID, has planted hundreds of trees at the green charcoal factory site, and has turned formerly fallow land into productive cropland that is cultivated and shared by local staff.

● The Project has applied biochar to the cropland, which has resulted in higher crop yields, better water retention, and a carbon-negative footprint.

● The Project has cleared drainage canals and planted anti-erosion grasses to decrease flooding in the area.

● The Project continues to train both men (65%) and women (30%) as charcoal dust producers, empowering enterprising farmers of both genders to earn significant extra income by selling carbonized waste to CRH.

● The Project’s main product, green charcoal, burns cleaner than traditional wood charcoal, allowing for lower household emissions from cooking, which have been identified as one of the main contributors to respiratory health disease in mothers and children throughout the developing world.

● By replacing the consumption of living trees with a renewable biomass fuel source, the Project contributes to overall climate change mitigation efforts by preserving important carbon sinks.

4. Environmental Mitigation Actions (Tables 2 & 3):

See tables 2 and 3.

5. Gender

The Project empowers both men and women. Women make up more than one-third but less than half of those working as charcoal dust producers and employed as on-site staff. However, Carbon Roots Haiti’s distribution network of micro-entrepreneurs and retailers is

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comprised exclusively of women, and CRH actively targets and trains women for retail jobs, allowing for greater economic empowerment and social mobility.

6. Climate Change Integration

The consideration of climate change impacts is inherent in the Project’s design, as one of the broadest goals of the Green Charcoal for Haiti project is to reduce the carbon impact of deforestation in Haiti by offering an alternative to wood-based fuel consumption, which is local deforestation’s main driver.

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III-A. Environmental Screening Form (Table 1)

Name of Activity: Green Charcoal for Haiti Type of Activity: Renewable Energy Contractor/Grantee: Carbon Roots Haiti Date: May 5, 2015; updated April 22, 2016

Column A

Column B

Column C

Yes No If answered yes to Col.

A. is it a--?

High Risk

Medium

Risk INFRASTRUCTURE 1 Will the project involve construction1 and/or reconstruction/rehabilitation

of any type of infrastructure? For new construction, if less than 1000 m2 = medium risk, if greater than 1000 m2 = high risk

X

2 Will the project involve work on roads? If new construction/rerouting= high risk, if repair/reconstruction (widening, improving drainage, resurfacing of existing roads or trails = medium risk

X

3 Will the project construction cost more than US $500,000? If YES, then a cost benefit analysis and approval of a USAID Engineer are required as mitigation measures in Table 2.

X

4 Is an operations and maintenance plan required? (for all type of infrastructure, road rehabilitation, or water and sanitation action = Yes)

X

5 Will the activity increase existing noise levels? X 6 Does the activity, require local planning permission(s) (i.e.,

infrastructure improvements)? X

7 Does the activity require adherence to national building code or other national regulatory standard? X

BIOPHYSICAL 8 Will the project involve the use, plans to use, or training in the use of

pesticides3 (including bio pesticides like neem)? X

9 Will the project involve changes or impacts in the uses of water (such as irrigation, storage, potable water, water harvesting)

X

10 Will the project impact surface water (rivers, lakes, wetlands and ponds) or ground water? X

11 Will the activity involve training and/or implementation of agricultural practices/production including animal husbandry?

X

12 Will the project involve aquaculture systems? X 13 Will the project involve the use or disposal of hazardous materials (used

engine oil, paint, varnish, lead-based products, or other hazardous or special management waste)?

X X

14 Will the project involve implementation of timber management4,,extraction of forest products, clearing of forest cover, and/or conversion of forest land ?

X

15 Are there any potentially sensitive terrestrial or aquatic areas near the project site, including protected areas, wetlands, critical wildlife habitat (including nesting areas), and threatened or endangered species?

X

16 Will the activities proposed generate airborne particulates (dust), greenhouse gas emissions, liquids, or solids (i.e. discharge pollutants) or potentially violate local air standards?

X X

17 Will the activity create objectionable odors? X X 18 Will the activity occur on steep slopes (greater than 15%)? X

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19 Will the activity contribute to erosion? X 20 Will the activity change existing land use in the vicinity? X 21 Is the proposed activity incompatible with land type (i.e., annual crops

on steep slopes, infrastructure on poorly drained soils)? X

22 Will the activity affect unique geologic or physical? X 23 Will the activity have potential impacts to inhabitants, natural

landscapes, or flora/fauna downstream from the activity site? X

24 Will the activity have a direct or indirect impact, or include actions with mangroves, coral reefs and other marine/coastal ecosystems?

X

GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE 25 Are project activities or outcomes vulnerable to changes in the weather

or climate such as changes in precipitation patterns, increased temperatures or sea level rise?

X

26 Does the project’s activities exacerbate climate change vulnerabilities (i.e., drought, flooding, decrease water supply)?

X

SOCIO ECONOMIC 27 Will the activity contribute to displacement of people, housing or

businesses? X

28 Will the activity affect unique cultural, indigenous peoples and/or historic features?

X

29 Will the activity expose people or property to flooding? X ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH 30 Will the project activities create conditions encouraging an increase of

waterborne diseases or populations of disease carrying vectors? X

31 Will the activity generate hazards or barriers for pedestrians, motorists or persons with disabilities?

X

32 Will the project involve the use, storage, handling or disposal of syringes, gauzes, gloves and other biohazard medical waste? X

33 Will the activity expose workers to occupational hazards? X X GENDER5 34 Does the project activity inhibit the equal involvement of men and

women? X

35 Do the project results disproportionately benefit/impact men and women?

X

OTHER 36 Does the project/Activity involve a sub-grant component? X

RECOMMENDED ACTION (Check Appropriate Action): (Check)

a) The project has no potential for substantial adverse environmental effects. No further environmental review is required (Categorical Exclusion). No further action required.

b) The project has potential for minimal to medium adverse environmental effects, but environmental effects can be mitigated. Measures to mitigate environmental effects will be incorporated (Negative Determination with Conditions). EMMP Required.

X

c) The project has potentially substantial or significant adverse environmental effects, therefore, an EA is required before activity implementation (Positive Determination). NOTE: if any question is marked as High Risk, an EA is required and Tables 2 and 3 of the EMMP do not need to be completed.

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d) The project has potentially substantial adverse environmental effects, and revisions to the project design or location or the development of new alternatives is required (Deferral).

e) The project has substantial and adverse environmental effects that cannot be mitigated. Mitigation is insufficient to eliminate these effects and alternatives are not feasible. The project is not recommended for funding.

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III-B. Identification of Mitigation Plan (Table 2)

Name of Activity: Green Charcoal for Haiti Type of Activity: Renewable Energy Contractor/Grantee: Carbon Roots Haiti Date: May 22, 2015; updated April 22, 2016

# of the question

from Table 1

Action or component with the different

tasks required to implement the action.

Description of Impact

Mitigation Measur

13 Maintenance and operation of machinery May risks spills of hazardous substances like oil.

Establish spill prevention and m protocol. Store oil and any othe hazardous substances in a secure an impermeable substance like c and with a spill barrier/lip.

16, 17, 33 Partial combustion of agricultural waste Release of small amounts of carbon dioxide, particulates, and volatiles into atmosphere causing pollution or human health hazards for workers

The use of these kilns by particip charcoal suppliers will be check quarterly basis to ensure their co correct use, and verifying that pr aren’t using less efficient kilns a methods. Training and monitorin operation and optimization will to minimize risks of escape fires operation.

16 & 17 Partial combustion of agricultural waste Release of small amounts of carbon dioxide, particulates, and volatiles into atmosphere

Provision of and quarterly check charcoal supplier Personal Prote Equipment (PPE) such as eyewe gloves, and respiratory masks.

33 Partial combustion of agricultural waste Risk of setting fire to substances surround kilns

Provision of nearby water sourc extinguishers appropriate and su to extinguish fires.

33 Operation of machinery Injury to workers and staff Provision of Provision of and qu checks of charcoal supplier Pers Protective Equipment (PPE) suc eyewear, gloves, and respiratory

33 Operation of machinery Injury to workers and staff Posting of appropriate signage n machinery and other potentially hazardous work areas, preferably pictures and/or in Haitian Creole

III-C. Environmental Monitoring and Evaluation Tracking Table (Table 3).

Type of Project: Renewable Energy Project Name: Green Charcoal for Haiti

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Implementing Partner: Carbon Roots Haiti Location Name: Quartier Morin Project Size: $338,000 Nearby Communities: Cap-Haitien Senior Project Manager: Ryan Delaney Date: May 22, 2015; updated April 22, 2106 Monitoring Period: 2016-2017

# Description of

Mitigation Measure (same as in Table 2)

Responsible Party for

implementing and

monitoring mitigation measures

Monitoring Methods Estimated Cost of

implementing mitigation

measures and monitoring

Results

Implementation indicators and

effectiveness of indicators

Methods Frequency Dates

Problems Encountered

Mitigation Effectiveness

1 Establish and monitor implementation of spill prevention and mitigation protocol. Store oil and any other hazardous substances in a secure area on an impermeable substance like concrete and with a spill barrier/lip.

Senior project manager

Visual verification of proper storage

Site Visits

Quarterly $500

1 Training and monitoring of kiln operation

Senior project manager

Use of efficient kiln

Site visits

Quarterly $500

2 Provision and monitoring of supplier use of personal protective equipment

Senior project manager

Regular use of PEE including protective eyewear, respiratory equipment, and gloves.

Site visits

Quarterly $500

3 Provision of nearby water sources or fire extinguishers appropriate and sufficient to extinguish fires.

Senior project manager

Visual verification

Site visits

Quarterly $500

4 Posting of appropriate signage

Senior project

Visual verification

Site visits

Quarterly $500

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near machinery and other potentially hazardous work areas, preferably with pictures and/or in Haitian Creole

manager

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LAC-IEE-15-18

ENVIRONMENTAL THRESHOLD DECISION Activity Location: Haiti Activity Title: Haiti Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) program Activity Number: TBD Life-of-Activity Funding: $683,799 (including $338,000 additional funding) Life-of-Activity: March 1, 2013 – September 30, 2015 IEE Prepared by: Abdel Abellard, Deputy MEO; Marcia Urquhart Glenn, Senior

Urban Planning and Policy Advisor; Ryan Knight, MEO Reference Env. Threshold Decisions: LAC-IEE-13-24; LAC-IEE-13-31, LAC-IEE-11-03, LAC-IEE-14-

17, (IDEA DIV Haiti ND 04-05-2013) Recommended Threshold Decision: Categorical Exclusion Negative Determination with Conditions Bureau Threshold Decision: Concur Comments This Environmental Threshold Decision amends LAC-IEE-13-24 for the Haiti Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) program to include $338,000 of additional funding, and to include a new DIV component, “Electrification for Rural Haiti.” A Categorical Exclusion is issued to Haiti DIV program activities for the following activities:

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● Characterization and testing of a digestion system treating latrine and flush wastewater currently under construction at the Partners in Health (PIH) complex in Cange, Haiti.

● Evaluation of a pay-for-use business model that integrates sanitation, energy production and soil amendments;

● Creation of digestion learned community through digester operator workshops, creation of a digestion laboratory, and field digestion test kits.

● Purchase Materials Needed For Transportation, Trainings and Workshops, and Biocharcoal (Char) Production Kilns

● Training of 10 Char Entrepreneurs and Provide Them with Char-Production Kilns ● Training of Char Producers ● Launching of Retail Network with Women Retailers ● Evaluating the Program and Publish Annual Progress Report

These activities are categorically excluded from further environmental review according to 22 CFR 216.2(c)(2):

(i) Education, technical assistance, or training programs except to the extent such programs include

activities directly affecting the environment (such as construction of facilities, etc.) (v) Document and information transfers; (xiv) Studies, projects, or programs intended to develop the capability of recipient countries to engage in

development planning, except to the extent designed to result in activities directly affecting the environment (such as construction of facilities).

A Negative Determination with Conditions is issued to the following Haiti DIV activities (pursuant to 216.3(a)(iii)):

● Implementation and evaluation of one additional, community-scale Sanitation Center in Haiti treating only latrine waste

● Construction of Production Center Facility and Initial Set of Briquette Presses ● Construction of Compost Bins for Inoculating Biochar ● Begin Inoculating Biochar and Biochar Disbursement ● Beginning of Fully Operational Business to Test Capacity with Initial Producers and Buyers ● Continuing of Operations to Test Capacity with Additional Producers and buyers with the Inclusion of

Women Retailers ● Development of microgrid in each community ● Delivery of Biomass waste by local farmers and mill operators to the site of the power plant ● Installation of power plants (20 kW to 100 kW capacity)

Significant adverse environmental impacts are not foreseeable from the implementation of these activities with implementation of appropriate mitigation measures. The following general conditions will be applied to the above activities:

● Implementing Partners are responsible for assessing environmental impacts and implementation of appropriate mitigation measures for activities through the Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (EMMP, which replaces the former “EMPR”) process. Partners will be required to submit for USAID review and approval site-specific EMMPs in relation to the subject activities

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● EMMPs will utilize and reference USAID’s agency-wide Sector Environmental Guidelines

(http://www.usaidgems.org/sectorGuidelines.htm) as appropriate, including Small –Scale Construction, Solid Waste, and Small-Scale Energy.

● Activities will comply with all applicable Haitian environmental regulations, including ones that come into force after activities have begun.

● Each activity manager or Contracting/Agreement Officer Representative (COR/AOR) is responsible

for making sure these environmental conditions are met (ADS 204.3.4). In addition, COR/AORs are responsible for ensuring that EMMPs are completed, appropriate environmental guidelines are followed, mitigation measures in the IEE are funded and implemented, and that adequate monitoring and evaluation protocols are in place to ensure implementation of mitigation measures.

● It is the responsibility of the Development Objective (DO) Team to ensure that environmental

compliance language from the ETD is added to procurement and obligating documents, such as activity-related Development Objective Grant Agreements (DOAGs) and Project Appraisal Documents (PADs).

● The Mission Environmental Officer will conduct spot checks to ensure that conditions in the IEE and

this ETD are met. These evaluations will review whether guidelines are properly used to implement activities under this ETD in an environmentally sound and sustainable manner according to USAID and applicable U.S. Government policies and regulations.

● The implementing contractor or partner will ensure that all activities conducted under this instrument comply with this ETD, and will have the qualified staff person to oversee environmental compliance. The contractor shall ensure that appropriate safety tools, equipment, and training are made available to all members participating in activities pursuant to relevant best practices. Also, through its regular reporting requirements, a section on environmental compliance (e.g. mitigation monitoring results) will be included.

● Local implementing partners will be made fully aware of the environmental mitigation and monitoring requirements presented in this IEE. In addition, partners must agree to apply measures and adhere to the requirements.

● Any agreements developed pursuant to activities covered in this IEE shall incorporate environmental compliance language consistent with USAID’s “Environmental Compliance: Language for Use in Solicitations and Awards” guidance, which is available at: http://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1865/204sac.pdf

Amendments ● Amendments to Initial Environmental Examinations (IEE) shall be submitted for LAC Bureau

Environmental Officer (BEO) approval for any activities not specifically covered in the IEE, which include:

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o Funding level increase beyond ETD amount,

o Time period extension beyond ETD dates (even for no cost extension), or

o A change in the scope of work, such as the use of pesticides or activities subject to Foreign Assistance Act sections 118 and 119 (e.g. procurement of logging equipment), among others.

● Amendments to IEEs may require the development of an Environmental Assessment (EA) and its approval by the LAC BEO could require an annual evaluation for environmental compliance.

___________________________ Date __________ Victor Bullen Bureau Environmental Officer Bureau for Latin America & the Caribbean

Copy to: John Groarke, Mission Director, USAID/Haiti Christian Barrett, DMD Shawn Jones, PCPS Terrence Kramer, OIEE Marcia Glenn Ryan Knight, MEO Copy to: Paul Schmidtke, Regional Environmental Advisor, USAID/DR Copy to: Gene George, Belinda Bernard, LAC/CAR Tracy Quilter, Jessica Rosen, LAC/RSD Copy to: IEE File File: P:\LAC.RSD.PUB\ENV\Reg 216\IEE\IEE15\ LAC-IEE-15-18 ETD (HA - Haiti Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) program, amend LAC-IEE-13-24)

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INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION (IEE) Amendment No. 1 to Environmental Threshold Decision (ETD) LAC-IEE-13-24

Activity Location: Haiti Activity Title: Haiti Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) program Activity Number: AID-OAA-F-13-00002, AID-521-A-13-00008, AID-521-F-14-

0002, and AID-521-F-13-00002/AID-521-F-14-00002 Life of Activity Funding: $683,799 Total ($ 438,000 ($100,000 initial funding+$338,000

additional funding) )for Increasing Food Production and Rural Commerce in Haiti Using Biochar; $99,987 for Incentivizing Sanitation with Biogas in Haiti; and, $145,792 for Electrification for Rural Haiti)

Life-of-Activity: March 1, 2013 – September 30, 2015 Reference ETD: Supersedes LAC-IEE-13-24; refers to LAC-IEE-13-31, LAC-IEE-11-

03, LAC-IEE-14-17 IEE Amendment prepared by: Abdel Abellard, Deputy MEO; Marcia Urquhart Glenn, Senior

Urban Planning and Policy Advisor; Ryan Knight, MEO Date Prepared: February 20, 2015 Recommended Threshold Decision: Categorical Exclusion

Negative Determination with Conditions

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