Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project

1.3 Environmental Safeguards of Co-Financiers1.3.1 ADB Environmental Requirements22. According to ADB Safeguard Policy Statement (2009) and Operational Manual F1 (2010), theProject is classified as category “A” and therefore an EIA is required for the Project. The process ofdetermining a project’s environment category is to prepare a Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA).REA requires the completion of the environmental categorization form prior to the project initiation.REA uses sector-specific screening checklist, taking into account the type, size, and location of theproposed project; sensitivity and vulnerability of environmental resources in project area; and thepotential for the project to cause significant adverse environmental impacts. A project is classified asone of the four environmental categories (A, B, C, or FI) based on the most environmentally sensitivecomponent. Categories are as follows:Category A: A proposed project is classified as category A if it is likely to have significant adverseenvironmental impacts that are irreversible, diverse, or unprecedented. These impacts may affect anarea larger than the sites or facilities subject to physical works. An environmental impact assessment(EIA), including an environmental management plan (EMP), is required.Category B: A proposed project is classified as category B if its potential adverse environmentalimpacts are less adverse than those of category A projects. These impacts are site-specific, few if anyof them are irreversible, and in most cases mitigation measures can be designed more readily than forcategory A projects. An initial environmental examination (IEE), including an EMP, is required.Category C: A proposed project is classified as category C if it is likely to have minimal or no adverseenvironmental impacts. An EIA or IEE is not required, although environmental implications need to bereviewed.Category FI: A proposed project is classified as category FI if it involves the investment of ADB fundsto, or through, a financial intermediary.23. For Category ‘A’ projects, the EIA (including EMP), is reviewed by ADB’s Operations Departmentand the executing agency. Depending on the scope of public consultation activities, additionalcomments would be sought from the project affected people and other stakeholders. All comments areto be incorporated into the final documents. The BBA and DOE make a final review of the EIA report.The BBA then officially submits the reports to ADB for submission to the Board of Directors. When theborrower/client submits the EIA and/or IEE, , the operations department reviews them to confirm that(i) relevant information on potential project impacts and mitigation measures, including informationfrom the EIA and/or IEE, has been made available, in a timely manner and before project appraisal, inan accessible place, and in a form and language(s) understandable to project-affected people andother stakeholders; and (ii) information disclosure requirements during project implementation areappropriately specified.24. The operations department ensures that the following safeguard documents are posted on ADB’swebsite: (i) draft EIA report at least 120 days before Board consideration for an environment categoryA project; (ii) the final or updated EIA or IEE, upon receipt. The project team makes the draft IEEreports available to interested stakeholders before project approval by the Board on request. Inaddition, if the final IEE is not available upon Board approval, the draft IEE is posted on ADB's websiteupon Board approval of a project.1.3.2 The World Bank Requirements25. The World Bank procedures for EA study cover policies, guidelines and good practices. TheWorld Bank guidelines therefore follow the national best practices for such work in Bangladesh. Theenvironment safeguard policies those may be applicable to PMBP are the following:Environmental Assessment (EA) (OP 4.01/BP/GP 4.01): An Environmental Assessment isconducted to ensure that Bank-financed projects are environmentally sound and sustainable,and that decision-making is improved through appropriate analysis of actions and of their likelyenvironmental impacts. Any World Bank project that is likely to have potential adverse1-14