Cao Bau Province : environmental assessment

This is an environmental assessment for the Vietnam Second Rural Energy Project, which improves access to good quality, affordable electricity services in rural communities. The report assesses the likely negative environmental impacts and proposes measures to mitigate them. The report makes the following recommendations: Align route to avoid land acquisition and resettlement and provide compensation for project-affected households. Get approval for tree cutting on public lands and natural reserves. Remove, relocate, and/or compensate for loss of cultural property. Identify explosives and toxic waste locations and remove. Avoid tree cutting, replant if required for endemic and rare species, and avoid burning of wood residues. Cover trucks and avoid using heavy vehicles on rural roads. Dispose of construction waste at permitted dumpsites. Excavate erosion-prone areas during dry season only, fill in borrow areas, and install drainage works if needed to avoid erosion. Ensure that no PCBs or asbestos is used during construction. For temporary land loss, provide compensation, and rectify impact after construction. Restore temporary access roads to their pre-project state. Use water sprays on roads and piles of dirt and avoid night works in sensitive areas to reduce dust and noise. To prevent electricity hazards, make sure pertinent parts of system are turned off, and equip workers with protective clothing and approved safety tools. Provide latrines for workers. To minimize social impacts, hire local people, maintain relations with communities and unions, and remove and rehabilitate worker camp areas. Provide workers access to safety training and adequate medical facilities. To reduce safety hazards for the public, wage an information campaign. Control access to protected areas. To reduce petroleum, hazardous waste contamination, and solid waste production, develop and implement a maintenance plan for transmission and distribution structures.