Republica de Guatemala - Plan de accion y manejo ambiental de la rehabilitacion y mejoramiento de la ruta nacional 14 (Chimaltenango-Escuintla)

This project rehabilitates and improves National Highway 14 in Guatemala. The project begins approximately 49.2 km from the Central American Highway and ends in Escuintla, crossing the new superhighway, Palin-Escuintla. This environmental assessment analyzes the potential negative impacts of major significance, and presents measures to prevent and mitigate them, and determines their costs. The main environmental aspects concern: the rural areas, archeological sites and historical monuments, erosion and sedimentation, and waste removal. This assessment also elaborates the plan for involuntary resettling or compensating affected families. Prior to and during construction, community participants, local political representatives, and independent regional advisory group will supervise the project. Prior to construction, archeological sites will be tended under historical preservation measures and real estate/certain properties will be declared historical sites. During construction, previously identified historical monuments will be protected, particularly colonial churches. The impact of large excavation sites will be alleviated by determining places beforehand where banked earth could be deposited. Other measures are to recover original vegetative covering, and to monitor historical places at risk to prevent their deterioration. Risks associated with construction in rural areas will be alleviated by preparing a nursery to begin cultivating plants, grasses, trees, and other flora needed to improve the countryside; and increasing local community and government capacity to construct and manage landfills. Alleviating measures to protect against land erosion and drainage and hazards arising from unsecured landfills include building stabilizing structures such as retaining walls and embankments, and conducting geotechnical studies to protect against the risk of landslides. Embankment erosion and sedimentation will be mitigated by building culverts and gutters to remove sand and other runoff; planting barriers of shrubs; and further researching geotextiles, hydraulics, and vegetation. Negative impacts concerning waste management will be alleviated by draining garbage dumps, and controlling erosion and/or inundation of adjacent lands.