Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for …egas.com.eg/docs/Executive Summary.pdf · 4.6.1 Planning and system design ... for the Greater Cairo Natural Gas Connections

November 2006

Executive Summary

November 2006

Executive Summary

Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for Greater Cairo

Natural Gas Connections Project

ESIA EGAS / World Bank

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LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS CAPMAS Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics

EDHS Egyptian Demographic and Health Survey

EEAA Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency

EGAS Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company

NG Natural Gas

ESIA Environmental and Social Impacts Assessment

FGD Focus group discussion

NGO Non Governmental organizations

PRS Pressure Reduction Station

QRS Quantitative Risk Assessment

RPF Resettlement Policy Framework

UNDP Human Development Report

WB World Bank


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TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................... 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS.................................................................................................... 3 1. Preamble ..................................................................................................................... 6 2. Introduction................................................................................................................. 7

2.1 Background......................................................................................................... 7 2.2 Objectives of the Study....................................................................................... 8 2.3 Contributors ........................................................................................................ 8

3. Legislative and Regulatory Consideration.................................................................. 9 3.1 Applicable Environmental Legislation in Egypt................................................. 9 3.1.1 Law 4/1994 for the Environment.................................................................... 9 3.1.2 Law 38/1967 for General Cleanliness........................................................... 12 3.1.3 Law 93/1962 for Wastewater........................................................................ 12 3.1.4 Law 48/1982 for Protection of River Nile and Watercourses....................... 12 3.1.5 Law 117/1983 for Protection of Antiquities ................................................. 12 3.2 World Bank Guidelines and Safeguard Policies............................................... 14 3.2.1 OP 4.01 – Environmental Assessment.......................................................... 14 3.2.2 OP 4.11 – Physical Cultural Resources ........................................................ 14 3.2.3 OP 4.12 – Involuntary Resettlement............................................................. 15

4. Project Description.................................................................................................... 16 4.1 Egyptian Natural Gas Grid and Network.......................................................... 16 4.2 Natural Gas Network in Greater Cairo ............................................................. 17 4.3 Project Objectives ............................................................................................. 18 4.4 Covered Districts and Coverage Plan ............................................................... 18 4.5 Project Components .......................................................................................... 20 4.6 Description of Preconstruction and Construction Phase................................... 21 4.6.1 Planning and system design .......................................................................... 21 4.6.2 Mobilization of equipment, materials and workers ...................................... 22 4.6.3 Construction under normal conditions.......................................................... 22

4.6.3.1 Site preparation and excavation ............................................................ 22 4.6.3.2 Pipe lying .............................................................................................. 23 4.6.3.3 Filling and road repair........................................................................... 23 4.6.3.4 Normal schedule for line construction.................................................. 23

4.6.4 Breaking of infrastructure pipes.................................................................... 23 4.6.5 Special crossings........................................................................................... 24 4.6.6 Testing........................................................................................................... 24 4.6.7 Connections................................................................................................... 24 4.6.8 Conversion .................................................................................................... 25 4.6.9 Construction works for PRSs and regulators ................................................ 25 4.7 Description of Operation Phase ........................................................................ 25 4.7.1 Normal operation .......................................................................................... 25 4.7.2 Repairs and replacement of the network....................................................... 26 4.7.3 Repairs in residential units............................................................................ 26

5. Potentially Significant Environmental and Social Impacts ...................................... 27 5.1 Positive Impacts ................................................................................................ 27


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5.2 Potentially Negative Impacts during Construction ........................................... 28 5.2.1 Reduction of Traffic Flow ............................................................................ 28

5.2.1.1 Impacts on Arterial Road System ......................................................... 28 5.2.1.2 Impacts on Local Street System............................................................ 29

5.2.2 Air Emissions................................................................................................ 29 5.2.3 Noise ............................................................................................................. 30 5.2.4 Risk on Infrastructure ................................................................................... 31 5.2.5 Effects on Some Structures........................................................................... 31 5.2.6 Effect on Culturally Valuable Sites .............................................................. 32 5.2.7 Waste Disposal.............................................................................................. 33 5.2.8 Potential Operational Impacts of PRS .......................................................... 34 5.2.9 Social Impacts............................................................................................... 34 5.3 Potential Negative Impacts during Operation................................................... 35 5.3.1 Improper handling of the Odorant ................................................................ 35 5.3.2 Impacts of excavation works ........................................................................ 35 5.3.3 Potential Operational Impacts of PRS .......................................................... 35 5.3.4 Social impacts ............................................................................................... 36 5.3.5 Safety Aspects............................................................................................... 36

6. Analysis of Alternatives............................................................................................ 37 6.1 No Project Alterative ........................................................................................ 37 6.2 Sequence of progressing Alternatives............................................................... 37 6.3 Routing Alternatives ......................................................................................... 38

7. Environmental and Social Management and Monitoring Framework...................... 39 7.1 Objectives of the ESMMF ................................................................................ 39 7.2 Management and Monitoring activities During Construction Phase................ 39 7.2.1 Management of Traffic ................................................................................. 39 7.2.2 Management of Air Emissions...................................................................... 40 7.2.3 Management of Noise ................................................................................... 41 7.2.4 Management of Excavation Activities Posing Risk on Infrastructure.......... 41 7.2.5 Management of Dewatering and Tunneling Activities Posing Risk on Structures Stability........................................................................................................ 42 7.2.6 Management of Culturally Valuable Sites.................................................... 43 7.2.7 Management of Waste Disposal ................................................................... 44 7.3 Management and Monitoring activities During Operation Phase..................... 45 7.3.1 Management of Odorant Handling ............................................................... 45 7.3.2 Management of Repairs and Maintenance.................................................... 46 7.3.3 Mitigation Measures for PRS........................................................................ 46 7.3.4 Mitigation Measures for Social Impacts ....................................................... 48 7.4 Criteria for Environmental and Social Screening the Activities of the Project 57 7.5 Institutional Framework for Implementation.................................................... 61 7.5.1 Existing Environmental Management Structure of the Implementing Agency ....................................................................................................................... 61 7.5.2 Required Resources ...................................................................................... 62

8. Public Consultation................................................................................................... 64


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LIST OF TABLES Table 2-1: Noise intensity and maximum exposure periods in working environment ....... 9 Table 2-2: Noise intensity and maximum number of intermitted impacts from heavy hammers.............................................................................................................................. 9 Table 2-3: The maximum permissible limit for noise intensity in the different areas...... 10 Table 2-4: Maximum limits for air pollutants in ambient air ........................................... 11 Table 2-5: Maximum limits air pollutants in vehicle emissions....................................... 11 Table 2-6: Some sites registered as antiquities in Greater Cairo ...................................... 13 Table 3-1: Components of natural gas network currently serving Greater Cairo............. 18 Table 3-2: Coverage plan for Natural Gas Connections Project in Greater Cairo............ 19 Table 7-1: Environmental Management Matrix ............................................................... 49 Table 7-2: Environmental Monitoring Matrix .................................................................. 54 Table 7-3: Screening Criteria for Project Activities and Proposed Input from Implementing Agency....................................................................................................... 58 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 3-1: Natural Gas infrastructure in Egypt ............................................................... 16 Figure 3-2: Flow Chart of the Natural Gas Network ........................................................ 17 Figure 7-1: The Planned PRSs in this Project................................................................... 47


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1. Preamble EcoConServ Environmental Solutions, S.A.E. was commissioned by the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) and Petrosafe to prepare an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, as required by the World Bank (WB) and the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) for the Greater Cairo Natural Gas Connections Project. This executive summary aims to give a general overview of the main findings of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment conducted for the Project. The objective of the environmental and social assessment is to examine the environmental, social, economic, physical, and biological impacts, and PRS risks in the areas which may be affected by the project, and propose mitigation measures and environmental management and monitoring plans for the construction and operational phases. This executive summary is intended to be a stand-alone document that provides sufficient information for the proper understanding of the environmental and social issues related to the project, potentially significant impacts, and various mitigation measures that can be applied. For a more thorough review of baseline data and of relevant environmental and social issues within the project areas, the reader is referred to three main reports, the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), the Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA), and the Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF). Since EGAS is seeking financial assistance from WB for the partial finance of the project, the project shall at all times comply with WB environmental and social safeguard policies and guidelines as well as the Government of Egypt’s applicable laws and regulations.


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2. Introduction 2.1 Background1 Natural Gas was introduced to the Egyptian local market in 1975 when the first natural gas field ABU MADI was put on stream. As part of the energy strategy of the Egyptian Government, many projects have been implemented for promoting utilization of natural gas, covering both upstream and downstream operations. This has lead to achieving cumulative gas production, till 12/2004, of 1.5 TCF and gas consumption of about 34.5 billion cubic meter from July 2004 till June 2005 representing about 50% of the primary energy consumption in the country. The Ministry of Petroleum has put a target to establish natural gas network serving 6 million households within 6 years. Within this context, the Government has achieved considerable progress in developing natural gas infrastructure over the past decades. Several gas gathering and treatment facilities were built over the past 20 years, which have produced About 34.8 billion cubic meters of natural gas for local market & export. A high efficiency gas transmission network of about 16,350 km, including high and medium pressure in addition to internal / external installations for industrial and domestic consumers and a capacity of 135 MMSCMD, has been gradually established following the expansion of gas market. Natural Gas Connections Project in Greater Cairo is an integrated part of the Government plan to expand natural gas connections among households. Natural gas is already connected to some parts of Greater Cairo, the project aims at connecting an additional 2 million customers in 28 districts with natural gas services by year 2012. Although the main features of the project has been identified, details of pipeline routings, locations of Pressure Reducing Stations and city head regulators have not been confirmed at this stage. Such details will be completed during the course of implementation of the project. The project shall be implemented by the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) and its affiliate company the Egyptian Company for Natural Gas Distribution for Cities (Town Gas), with the Assistance of the World Bank. This Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Framework (ESIA) has been prepared following Terms of Reference prepared by EGAS, and cleared by the World Bank, aiming at providing an overview of the anticipated environmental and social safeguards issues related to natural gas distribution and connections to households in the Greater Cairo Area; and to develop environmental guidelines to be followed for the subsequent gradual phased implementation of the Project. The requirements of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs 1 Source of information and statistics presented in this section is the websites of Ministry of Petroleum and EGAS


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Agency (EEAA) for Environmental Impact Assessments of Oil and Gas Sector Projects, and the relevant World Bank (WB) Environmental and Social Safeguard Policies have been integrated in the preparation of this ESIA. 2.2 Objectives of the Study The specific objectives of the study are to:

- Assess the potential environmental and social impacts of the project in the project areas;

- Compare the impacts in relation to relevant national and international requirements and guidelines;

- Assess the environmental and safety guidelines typically practiced in the gas connection activities in Egypt;

- Develop an environmental and social management and monitoring framework for the mitigation of the potentially negative impacts and for monitoring compliance with the relevant environmental laws, and

- Assess of the institutional capacity of the implementing agency and recommend measures for capacity building if needed

2.3 Contributors The ESIA has been prepared by a consortium of independent environmental and social consultants including Petroleum Safety and Environmental Services Co. (PETROSAFE) and EcoConServ Environmental Solutions.


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3. Legislative and Regulatory Consideration 3.1 Applicable Environmental Legislation in Egypt 3.1.1 Law 4/1994 for the Environment The Law for the Environment, Law 4/1994 and its Executive Regulations Decree 338/1995, is the key legislation governing environmental protection in Egypt. The law stipulates in Articles 19 through 23 that an Environmental Impact Assessment should be prepared for development projects, as a step in the licensing procedure. In case the project has been approved, the law obliges the project proponent to keep an Environmental Record to document the environmental performance of the project. EEAA Guidelines of EIA for Oil and Gas Sector, January 2005, has classified "Distribution Network of Natural Gas for Cities" as a Category C Project, which requires a full EIA according to certain conditions, which have been followed in preparation of this study. The Law regulates in Articles 29 through 33 the handling of hazardous substances and wastes. The law stipulates that handling of hazardous substances should be after having license from competent administrative authority, which is the Ministry of Petroleum in this project. Ministry of Petroleum has issued list of substances that are classified as hazardous, among these substances are the odorant agent used in Pressure Reducing Stations, and possible lubricating oils. Empty containers of such substances will be classified as hazardous waste. The Executive Regulations of the law details in Articles 26 through 28 the steps of granting handling license. Article 33 and Annex 3 of the Executive Regulations specify the required data to be recorded in the Environmental Register related to hazardous materials and wastes. The Executive Regulations of Law 4/1994 gives limits for noise levels in working environment, which apply to excavation/construction activities in the project, and the ambient noise levels in different locations, which applies to areas near construction works of the project. Both limits are given in Tables 2.1 to 2.3 below. Table 3-1: Noise intensity and maximum exposure periods in working environment Noise intensity level (LAeq) - Decibel

95 100 105 110 115

Period of exposure - one hour 4 2 1 1/2 1/4 Table 3-2: Noise intensity and maximum number of intermitted impacts2 from heavy hammers Noise intensity level (LAeq) - Decibel

135 130 125 120 115

Number of permissible impacts - impacts 300 1000 3000 10000 30000

2 Impact is considered intermittent if the period between impacts is one second or more


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Table 3-3: The maximum permissible limit for noise intensity in the different areas PERMISSIBLE LIMIT FOR NOISE

INTENSITY DECIBEL (LAeq) TYPE OF AREA DAY EVENING NIGHT From

07:00 To 18:00

From 18:00

To 22:00

From 22:00

To 07:00

Residential rural areas, hospitals and gardens

45 40 35

Residential suburbs with low traffic 50 45 40 Residential areas in the city 55 50 40 Residential areas in which can be found some workshops or commercial establishments or which are located on a main road

60 55 50

Commercial and administrative areas or downtown

65 60 55

Industrial areas (heavy industries) 70 65 60 Protection of air environment from pollution is governed by Law 4/1994 in Articles 34 through Article 47. The Executive Regulations has determined in Annex 5 maximum concentrations of air pollutants in ambient air, which are listed in Table 2.4. In Annex 6 of the Executive Regulations are standards for emissions from fuel machinery, which are applicable to excavation machinery (trencher, excavators … etc.). These standards are given in Table 2.5.


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Table 3-4: Maximum limits for air pollutants in ambient air POLLUTANT MAXIMUM LIMIT

(µ/m3 if otherwise identified)

EXPOSURE PERIOD

Sulphur Dioxide 350 1 hr 150 24 hrs 60 1 year Carbon Monoxide 30 Milligrams/cubic meter 1 hr 10 Milligrams/cubic meter 8 hr Nitrogen Dioxide 400 1 hr 150 24 hrs Ozone 200 1 hr 120 8 hr Suspended Particles Measured 150 24 hrs as Black Smokes 60 1 year Total Suspended Particles (TSP)

230 24 hrs

90 1 year Respirable Particles (PM10) 150 24 hrs 70 1 year Lead 0.5 1 year (daily averages) in

urban areas 1.5 6 months (daily averages) in

industrial areas Table 3-5: Maximum limits air pollutants in vehicle emissions Type of vehicle Pollutants Vehicles

manufactured before 2003

Vehicles manufactured starting 2003

Method of measurements

Gasoline Hydrocarbons (ppm)

900 600 During speed 600-900 rpm

CO % 4.5 volume 2.5 volume During speed 600-900 rpm

Diesel Opacity 30 At maximum accileration

Law 4/1994 includes also articles that control excavation works and correspondent waste disposal. Article 39 of the Law stipulates that developers carrying out excavation, construction or demolition works should take precautions to safeguard against air pollution during production and transportation of excavation/construction waste. The executive regulations, Article 41, identify these precautions as:


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- Storage of excavation/construction waste should not cause obstruction to pedestrian movements. Waste liable to dispersal shall be covered to avoid air pollution.

- Transportation of excavation/construction waste should be though licensed and sufficiently equipped vehicles with suitable special box or an air-tight cover to prevent loose particles of waste and debris from escaping into the air or dropping on the road, special loading and unloading equipment and In good condition according to the rules of safety, solidity and lights and fitted with all safety equipment.

- Disposal of excavation/construction waste should be in licensed locations by the local authority. These locations should be away at least 1.5 km from residential areas, at a lower contour level, and leveled after being filled in with the waste.

3.1.2 Law 38/1967 for General Cleanliness The conditions mentioned in the previous paragraph are also mentioned in Law 38/1967 for General Cleanliness and its Executive Regulations. Article 15 of the Executive regulations stipulates that vehicles hauling construction waste should have tight cover to prevent dispersion or falling of its contents. 3.1.3 Law 93/1962 for Wastewater Law 93/1962 regulates the disposal of wastewater, and liquids in general, to the sewerage network. Articles 6 and 8 of the stipulate that it is forbidden to cause damage to the sewerage network, or discharge liquids without taking permission of the sewerage authority. Wastewater, or liquids, discharged to the network should be according to the standards of the Executive Regulations. The Executive Regulations (Decree 44/2000) in Article 14 details the physical/chemical standards that should be complied with. The articles of this law apply to the project by two main aspects:

- In case of damage is caused to the sewerage network during excavation - In case dewatered water from excavated trenches is discharged to the sewerage

network 3.1.4 Law 48/1982 for Protection of River Nile and Watercourses Articles 2 and 3 of the Executive Regulations of Law 48/1982 states that it is forbidden to use the banks of watercourses for storage of waste or materials that could be dispersed, chemicals or toxic materials except in areas licensed from Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources. These articles may be most relevant for sites near the Nile/water courses, and sites were the pipeline will be laid by tunneling watercourses, in relation to excavation waste, lubricating oils, or chemicals used in tunneling equipment. 3.1.5 Law 117/1983 for Protection of Antiquities The law defines antiquities as each structure or movable object produced by different civilizations. The definition includes productions of arts, science, literature and religions


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from ancient ages unit 100 years ago. The definition also includes human corpses, and species from the same age, remained from ancient ages. All discovered antiquities are registered by Decrees of the Minister of Culture, this registration implies certain standards and precautions. Standards that are applicable to the project are:

- It is not allowed to demolish all or parts of structures, renovate or change the structure features (Article 13)

- The Minister of Culture identifies beatification zones surrounding the site. These beatification zones are considered part of the site, and it is not allowed to construct or excavate or plant trees inside these zones. (Articles 19 and 20)

- Each person finds a movable antiquity, or parts of antiquity structure, should notify the nearest administrative authority within 24 hours and should keep the antiquity in its discovered status. The antiquity becomes State's property. (Article 24)

Table 3-6: Some sites registered as antiquities in Greater Cairo Decree No. Name of site Inclusions Address 303/1994 Areas in Giza near Giza

Platue Three large areas, with identified borders

Three areas in El Haram district

376/1994 Palace of Prince Mohammad Waheed El Din Selim

Palace and back yard 4 Teret El Gabal St. - Matareya

1420/1996 Areas in Giza – Antiquities of Marmadet Beni Salama

Land with and area 7.4 Feddan Piece 95, Sawan basin No.4 - Imbaba

262/1996 Antiquities in Osim Stone fronts of old buildings Ghorab St. – West Osim - Imbaba

508/1996 Shaheed Mohammad Abdel Ghani School

School building according to identified borders

Haret El Rom, Akadine – El Darb El Ahmar

112/1997 Orouba Palace Building according to identified borders

Meghany St. – Masr El Gedida

2107/1997 Mosa El Darie Temple Building according to identified borders

Abasseya

2112/1997 Barokh Hanan Jewish Temple

Building according to identified borders

3 Kantara St. – Ghamra

2507/1997 Ministry of Health Building Building and associated annexes according to identified borders

Magles El Shaab St.

3408/1997 Prince Mohammad Ali Palace

Building and associated annexes, gardens, mosque, fountains and furniture according to identified borders

El Manyal

3494/1997 Shear Hashmaim Jewish Temple

Building according to identified borders

17 Adly St.

3495/1997 Areas in Mansoureya Land with an area of 5.6 Feddans

Mansoureya – Imbaba

481/1997 Shagaret El Dorr Dome Dome and surroundings according to identified borders

Khalifa St.


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2697/1998 Villa 29 Haram St. Building and associated annexes according to identified borders

29 El Haram St.

3160/1998 Sharaiby pool Building according to identified borders

16 Sharaiby St. – El Darb El Ahmar

3835/1999 Sawra Mosque Building according to identified borders

Sawra St. – Masr El Gedida

18/1999 Nazlet El Semman Village The whole residential area of Nazlet El Semman

Nazlet El Semman - Giza

165/1999 Nahasine Pool Building according to identified borders

Al Moez Ledin Allah Al Fatemy St.

193/1999 Mohammad Sherif Cemetery Cemetery according to identified borders

Saida Nafissa St. – El Shafie Cemetery

3.2 World Bank Guidelines and Safeguard Policies The World Bank has identified 10 environmental and social safeguard policies that should be considered in its financed projects. The objective of these policies is to prevent and mitigate undue harm to people and their environment in the development process. Following are the policies which could be triggered by the project activities. 3.2.1 OP 4.01 – Environmental Assessment According to the World Bank Operational Policy OP 4.01, the Natural Gas Connection Project in Greater Cairo is classified among Category A projects. Projects under this Category are likely to have significant adverse environmental impacts that are sensitive3, diverse, or unprecedented. The environmental impacts that are likely to be caused by the project shall be analyzed in this study, classified according to its sensitivity and reversibility. Mitigation measures shall be identified for all expected negative impacts, along with an Environmental Management and Monitoring Framework presenting mechanisms for implementation of these mitigation measures. 3.2.2 OP 4.11 – Physical Cultural Resources Greater Cairo includes many sites, building and monuments that fall under the definition of Physical Cultural Resources4. Because the project will include significant excavations in many parts of Greater Cairo, which may be near sites of cultural value, there shall be

3 A potential impact is considered “sensitive” if it may be irreversible (e.g., lead to loss of a major natural habitat) or raise issues covered by OP 4.10, Indigenous Peoples; OP 4.04, Natural Habitats; OP 4.11, Physical Cultural Resources; or OP 4.12, Involuntary Resettlement. 4 Physical Cultural Resources are defined as movable or immovable objects, sites, structures, groups of structures, and natural features, and landscapes that have archeological, paleontological, historical, architectural, religious, aesthetic, or other cultural significance.


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specific attention in this study to identify locations of such sites, mitigation measures for controlling effects on such sites. These mitigation measures are also reflected in the Environmental Management and Monitoring Framework. 3.2.3 OP 4.12 – Involuntary Resettlement According to the WB’s safeguard policy on Involuntary Resettlement, physical and economic dislocation resulting from WB funded developmental projects or sub-projects should be avoided or minimized as much as possible. Unavoidable displacement should involve the preparation and implementation of a Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) or a Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF), to address the direct economic and social impacts resulting from the project or sub-project’s activities causing involuntary resettlement. It is not envisaged that the project on hand will result in the physical or economic dislocation of people. However, a RPF have been prepared in order to outline a proposed approach and work plan to guide the implementation, handover, and monitoring and evaluation of the resettlement process, in case OP 4.12 is triggered at any point.


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4. Project Description 4.1 Egyptian Natural Gas Grid and Network The Natural Gas grid in Egypt receives input from gas production fields and treatment facilities, and transmits it to the cities currently being covered. The main components of the natural gas infrastructure in Egypt are illustrated in Fig 3.1. Figure 4-1: Natural Gas infrastructure in Egypt5

The main gas fields feeding the grid are Ras Shokeir, Ras Ghareb, Abu Madi and Abu El Gharadik fields. Natural Gas is transferred from the fields to served cities through transmission mains, which have gas pressure range between 30 and 70 bars. Transmission mains feed Pressure Reducing Stations (PRS) normally located at the borders of serviced cities to reduce the pressures to 4-7 bar before the gas enters the city network. PRSs feeding distribution networks to residential areas are supplied with odorants for safety reasons6. City distribution network comprises the following components (also refer to Figure 3.2):

- Distribution mains: with pressure ranging between 4-7 bar (intermediate pressure). The distribution mains are either steel or polyethylene (PE) pipes

5 Source: Website of EGAS 6 Because natural gas is odorless, odorants facilitate leak detection for inhabitants of residential areas


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- City gate regulators: reduces the pressures from high pressure distribution mains to the medium pressure (0.1-2 bar) and low pressure mains (0.1 bar)

- Medium and low pressure mains: with pressures (0.1-2 bar) for medium and (0.1 bar) for low pressure mains. Normally medium and low pressure mains are PE pipes

Figure 4-2: Flow Chart of the Natural Gas Network

Connection lines are lateral connections from the distribution mains to residential units. Connection lines enter the residential units through gas meters, before it is connected to different appliances. Minimum gas pressure at exit of home regulator is 22.5 Mbar.

4.2 Natural Gas Network in Greater Cairo About 1.8 million inhabitants of Greater Cairo7 are already connected to the natural gas network. The service has started in many districts of city since 1990s. Greater Cairo receives its natural gas from transmission mains which are being fed from Abu El Gharadik and Abu Madi gas fields. Transmission mains (16"-24") have been established in a ring form surrounding Greater Cairo, in order to facilitate extensions to the network at any of its districts. Operating PRSs, located at different spots around the City, are being fed by the transmission mains, and are feeding distribution mains under

7 Source: Interview with Town Gas


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different pressure categories. Table 3.1 presents the size of gas network already serving Greater Cairo in both Cairo and Giza Governorates8. Table 4-1: Components of natural gas network currently serving Greater Cairo Items Units Cairo Giza Total P.R.S No 42 16 58

Low Km 47.7 0.3 48 Steel Pipelines High Km 309.1 53.9 363 P.E Pipes Km 2693 944 3637 Regulators No 6048 1172 7220 Valves No 114520 51863 166383 No.of converted Appliances No 1286305 506836 1793141

4.3 Project Objectives The project is as an integral part of the country energy strategy. It contributes to achieving the Government plan for extending natural gas connections in the country through the coming six years. The following results are envisaged from the project

- Doubling the number of inhabitants in Greater Cairo connected to natural gas services by connecting 2 million customers by year 2012

- Covering wider areas and new developments of Greater Cairo - Achieving more stability of energy access to the targeted customers in Greater

Cairo - Achieving about 1.6 million tons savings of LPG consumption by the year 2012

4.4 Covered Districts and Coverage Plan The project shall cover 28 districts in Cairo Governorate and Giza Governorate. The project shall introduce the service in new areas, which have not been connected before, and shall further extend the network in areas which are partially covered. Table 3.1 below and Figure 3.3 below illustrates the coverage plan of the project. During an initial survey of the areas, an attempt has been made to categorize the properties based on experience gained in the previous projects in Greater Cairo. The categories are:

- Category "I" Good condition and easily accessible single storey dwellings and flats: comprising Villas ranging in consumption from 1m3/hr to 40m3/hr depending on existence of swimming pool, boiler in addition to the conventional types (cooker), etc. E.g., New Cairo. Category "II" Flats and other dwellings to a reasonable standard in areas with able access: Rate of consumption from 0.1 to 0.4 m3/hr. Areas: El Maddi, Maser Elgededa, Middle town, Nasr City, Faisal, Alharam, Elabbasia.

- Category III" Poor housing with possible access problems and likelihood of structural problems: Rate of consumption from 0.1 to 0.25 m3/hr. Areas: El

8 Greater Cairo is located administratively in three Governorates: Cario, Giza and Qaluibeya Governorates.


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Wayly, El Zawya El Hammra, El Matria, Ein Shams, Dar El Sallam, Basateen, El Sharabia, Omrania, El Moneeb, Sakyet Meky, Bolak El Embaba, El Waraak.

Table 4-2: Coverage plan for Natural Gas Connections Project in Greater Cairo

First Year

Second Year

third Year

Fourth Year

Fifth Year

Six Year Governate Area

2007/2006 2008/2007 2009/2008 2010/2009 2011/2010 2012/2011

Total / 1000

El Maadi 17 9 8 6 5 5 50 Helwan 15 13 13 13 13 13 80 Maser El gadeda 10 10 10 10 10 10 60 El abassia 8 8 8 8 8 8 48 MiddleTown and old Cairo 15 15 15 15 15 15 90

El wayly 9 9 8 8 8 8 50 Nassr city 15 15 15 15 15 15 90 Elzawih El Hmra 15 15 15 15 15 15 90 El matria & Ain shams 15 15 15 15 15 15 90 New cairo 35 35 35 35 35 35 210 Dar El slam & Basateen 35 35 35 35 35 35 210

El Sharabia Infra Structure 25 25 25 25 25 125

Bader City 0 0 Infra Structure

Infra Structure 15 15 30

El Mokatam 0 25 25 25 25 25 125

Cairo

EL SHORAK Infra Structure 8 8 8 8 8 40

Total of Cairo 189 237 235 233 247 247 1388 Faisal & Haram 15 15 15 15 15 15 90 Omrania 12 12 12 12 12 12 72

El moneeb Infra Structure 15 15 14 14 14 72

Sakyet meky 8 8 8 8 8 8 48

Bolak El dakror Infra Structure 18 18 18 18 18 90

Embaba 10 10 10 10 10 10 60

Giza

El warak Infra Structure

Infra Structure 15 15 15 15 60

Total of Giza 45 78 93 92 92 92 492 Total of Project 234 315 328 325 339 339 1880 In Fill total 20 20 20 20 20 20 120 Total of Plan 254 335 348 345 359 359 2000


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Status of project districts in terms of natural gas coverage

4.5 Project Components The project will comprise adding reinforcement for the existing transmission mains surrounding Greater Cairo, establish 6 new PRSs, establish distribution network of different pressures and gate regulators. The distribution network shall feed service pipes and dwelling risers. The network shall be provided with necessary fitting, fixtures, valves, gas meters … etc. Project activities also include conversion of home appliances, for preparing them to receive natural gas. Transmission mains shall be reinforced by new pipelines to cover additional loads and to improve security of supply. This will include installation of the following pipelines:

- 8 " steel pipe with pressure 30-70 Bar for 5 Km length for El Haram - 20 " steel pipe with pressure 30-70 Bar for 1 Km length for El Tebeen, Helwan - 12" steel Pipe with pressure 30-70 Bar for 30 Km length for New Cairo - 6" steel pipe with pressure 30Bar for 1 Km length in El Mokkatam - 6" steel pipe with pressure 30Bar for 1 Km length in El Tebeen - 6" steel pipe with pressure 30-70Bar for 1 Km length in El Shorouk

16" (70 - 35 Bar )

التبين

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حدائق القبة

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٢٧

٢٥ ٢٤

٢٨ الوراق

٢٦

المنيب٢٣

١١

١٤

Areas working with natural gas & Shall Extended

Area to be feeding with Natural gas

1- Badr City 2- Omr Ebn ElKhatab 3- Kebaa 4- El Nozha 5- Ein Shams 6- El matarya

7- Sheraton & Elmaza Building 8- El Wassamy & Molyha Area 9- El Nor & El Gondol Building 10- El Sharabya 11- El fagala 12- Qshtomr – El Skakrny 13- El Sayda Zenb-El Helmya El Gededa-Garden city 14- Abbden 15- Masr Elkadema 16- El Mokkatm 17- Dar Elsalam-Sakr Qoresh-Degla-ElKornish Building 18- El Hoda city 19- 15 May city (The rest 22 dis.) 20- El Haded Wel Solb Building 21- El Sauida Building – El Sefarat Building 22- New Cairo city 23- El Moneeb 24- Kaabesh – El Remaya – El Sadr hospital Building 25- Bolak El Dakror 26- Sakyt Meky 27- Tag El Dawal 28- El warrak

Natural gas Program For Greater Cairo CAIRO - GIZA

منطقة El Shorok سكنية

Badr City

New Cairo City

ElKataima Nasr City

ElNozha

Ein Shams Elmatarya

ElGamalya

El Khalfa

El Mokkatam

El Maadi

Halwen

15May City

Eltyben

Nile River

El monyb

Bolak Eldakror

Giza governory

Elwarrak


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The added transmission mains shall end at six new Pressure Reducing Stations, at the following locations:

- El Haram with capacity 40,000 sm3/h with odorant - El Tebeen with capacity 300,000 sm3/h with odorant - New Cairo with capacity 60,000 sm3/h with odorant - El Mokatam with capacity 20,000 sm3/h without odorant - El Tebeen (domestic) with capacity 10,000 sm3/h with odorant - El Shourok with capacity 20,000 sm3/h with odorant

The network shall be designed according to the standards of the Institute of Gas Engineers and Managers (IGEM) of the UK. The distribution system shall consist of 7-bar mains between PRSs to 4-bar system and 2-bar system through City gate regulators, which in turn feeds low pressure islands via district regulators. Connections work shall start at the termination of distribution works. Gas will be fed into the property at no more than 100 milli bar, through risers and laterals in the case of flats and an external meter box service termination in the case of singly occupied premises. Sizes of risers will depend on the number of dwellings in the block of flats but laterals will be normally 1 inch or 3/4 inch. Gas meters will generally be installed with a suitable regulator to governor internal pressures to 20 Mbar. Internal carcass will be steel pipes of 1 inch, 3/4 inch and 1/2 inch diameter and will generally supply a cooker and a water heater. Connection works shall be started after completion of distribution works. Conversion of home appliances shall be carried to approximately 3,340,000 appliances. These appliances will generally be of the same type, age and condition as those found on the preceding projects in Greater Cairo. The majority of appliances will be converted, without a conversion set, only by drilling out existing injectors to accommodate for the targeted gas flow. 4.6 Description of Preconstruction and Construction Phase 4.6.1 Planning and system design Accurate maps of covered areas shall be obtained in order to collect sufficient information for reaching optimum design for the system, surveying works may be carried out at few locations where maps are outdated or do not include recent developments. Routes and depths of existing underground infrastructure shall be obtained from different authorities (water lines, sewage lines, telecommunication lines, and electric cables). However, in some cases no accurate mapping is available for underground infrastructure, in such cases a trial pit shall be manually excavated to locate underground pipes as detailed later in Chapter 7. After design of the network, the contractor prepares phased plan to construct the lines in coordination with Town Gas. This plan shall split covered areas to "Sectors"; each sector normally contains about 5,000 customers, in about 15-20 km length.


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4.6.2 Mobilization of equipment, materials and workers According to the approved phased implementation plan, the contractor mobilizes the required construction equipment, materials. The contractor normally occupies a location for storing materials and equipment in the active "Sector", this location should be approved by the local authority. These storage locations shall include:

- Excavation machinery, such as trenchers, backhoe excavators, jack hammers, loaders, cranes, manual tools …etc.

- Piping materials, such as pipes, valves, elbows, coating materials - Stockpiles of sand and filling materials - Repair machinery, such as compaction machinery, asphalt laying, concrete mixers

… etc. - Management caravan for the site engineers and staff

Because the project will be in Greater Cairo, there will be no need for workers camps, as they are expected to be from the city. 4.6.3 Construction under normal conditions

4.6.3.1 Site preparation and excavation Prior to excavation works, pipeline routes shall be identified and marked in the field. Excavation works start by removing the asphalt layer using either mechanical trencher or jack hammer. The mechanical trencher also removes broken asphalt and base stones layer, in case the jack hammer is used, road layers are then removed by excavator. The road base soil, underneath asphalt and stones, is then excavated either by a backhoe excavator or by manual excavation. The advantage of manual excavation is that it reduces the risks of breaking water, sewerage, electric or telecommunication lines which are unmapped. Typically the trench for PE pipes is 0.4-0.6 meter wide, and about 1.5-meter deep, depending on pipe diameter9. For steel pipes the trench width is 0.6-0.8 meters with the same depth, also depending on diameter. Excavated soils, broken asphalt and other wasted materials during excavation are then loaded to trucks, which transfer it to disposal areas. Because of the limited available space in Cairo streets, loading waste trucks shall be done upon excavation, whenever possible, in order to avoid stockpiling waste on site. In some cases, where groundwater table is shallow, the trench should be dewatered before pipe lying. Dewatering pumps discharge sucked water into a drain or sewer manhole, according to area circumstances.

9 These should be 1 meter sand cover above the pipe


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4.6.3.2 Pipe lying During the excavation works, some welding works are taking place above-ground. Once the trench is excavated, the available pipe stretch shall be laid down. Remaining welding works then take place, to connect the laid pipe with the previous stretch. Steel pipes are then protected from adverse surrounding conditions by coating with isolating coat, and by fixing an anode for cathode protection.

4.6.3.3 Filling and road repair Natural gas pipes should be surrounded by sand in order to absorb loads from the road, as illustrated in Figure 3.4. After laying and welding works, the trench is then filled with sand either by front loader or manually. The sand should be effectively compacted in the trench in order to avoid road settlements, and subsequent cracks.

4.6.3.4 Normal schedule for line construction Because of heavy traffic conditions normally occurring in Greater Cairo, natural gas line construction should be as quickly as possible in order to avoid traffic blockings. Before excavation, normally the Traffic Department gives conditional permission specifying time that the traffic should be back to pre-excavation rates. In normal cases, construction schedule takes the following cycle, for a pipe stretch of 350-400 meters:

- 07:00 – 11:00 Excavation and above-ground welding - 11:00 – 12:00 Pipe laying and tie-in welding - 13:00 – 16:00 Filing and compaction - 16:00 – 17:00 Base stone filling - Following day morning Asphalt laying

It is worth noting that traffic crossings and main roads should have its asphalt back within the same day, and some times night work will be required. After finalizing the 350-400 meter stretch, the following day starts with another stretch along the line, until the whole "Sector" has been covered. Then the contractor moves to another sector, and the process starts again from the mobilization step. 4.6.4 Breaking of infrastructure pipes Most of underground infrastructure in Greater Cairo has been established long time ago, without accurate documentation for its routes and depths. Therefore, usually the excavation contractor is not aware of the exact locations of such pipes, and accordingly the risk of breaking infrastructure lines is relatively high. Normally the contractor takes caution by applying manual excavation to avoid such situations where he is obliged to pay for the damage.


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If a line break occurs, site manager gives immediate notification to the Police Department and the correspondent authority (according to the type of broken pipe). The authority then starts repairing the line as soon as possible, they claim repair costs back from the contractor later. 4.6.5 Special crossings Vertical excavation described in Section 3.6.3 could not be practiced when the natural gas line intersects with a waterway, a railway or a major road. Therefore a special crossing for such obstacles has to be made. This special crossing is made through tunneling, using suitable techniques such as Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM) and micro tunneling. Locations of waterways, railways, and main roads of Greater Cairo are illustrated in Chapter 4. In special crossings, the line starts gradual descending below the obstacle by enough horizontal distance to avoid steep connections. This allows easier access for repairing different parts of the line. Excavation waste management shall be practiced in a similar way described in Section 3.6.3.1. However, crossing waterways shall result on relatively large amounts of water discharge out of the tunnel, which makes it necessary to preplan for drainage works. Sometimes special crossings are done through existing bridges, which will only require fixing the line on the existing bridge. 4.6.6 Testing After the line construction it should be tested to locate possible leaks in the line. The testing could be done either through hydrostatic testing, or through air-gas testing. In the first process the pipe is filled with water and then pressurized to desired level, along with pressure testing at different locations to detect leaks, then water is drained. In the second process air, or an inert gas, is used instead of water. The first process is normally more complicated than the second, because it needs highly efficient water drainage using the pigging process, which forcing an object through the pipe by liquid or air pressure. 4.6.7 Connections After testing the line, connections to the dwellings start. The connection starts from the main and goes across the road to the dwelling on both sides. At the edge of the building, a riser feeds different laterals which ends at the customer gas meter then to different appliances.


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Fixing the connections will require earthworks as described in Section 3.6.3.1 but perpendicular to the road. This will require blocking of the road, in case of small roads having parallel alternative, or executing staged excavation, in case of main road or small road without parallel alternative. All pipes used in connections are steel pipes. Underground portion of the pipes is normally protected as mentioned in Section 3.6.3.2, while above-ground pipes are only pained. Risers and laterals are fixed on walls through steel clips fixed in walls. This will involve screwing the walls through screw drivers and potting necessary bolts and rivets. The laterals need to enter the customer's flat through a hole in the wall. 4.6.8 Conversion Conversion is done for some home appliances by taking some measures to safeguard against different pressures and calorific value of natural gas in comparison with LPG. Conversion works are practiced at the client flat, by changing the injectors' properties of the appliance without installation of a conversion set, in most cases, as indicated earlier. 4.6.9 Construction works for PRSs and regulators Constructing Pressure Reduction Stations and City Head Regulators are regular including regular construction works in addition to connections between transmission mains and distribution mains. 4.7 Description of Operation Phase 4.7.1 Normal operation The operation of the system is undertaken by Town Gas. Normal operation will include routine audits on pressures and condition of the network. Normal maintenance and monitoring works for the network include:

- Monitoring valves and points of pressure monitoring. Gas leaks are routinely detected using gas detection sensors

- Maintenance of valve boxes and raise its level whenever needed - Checking cathode protection on "Flange Adaptors" by taking voltage readings

and change anodes whenever needed The Pressure Reducing Stations are also routinely tested against leaks and safety issues. In addition to that, PRSs provided with odorant includes dosing of odorant agent to the system. The normally used odorant is formed from TERTIOBUTYLMERCAPTAN (80%) and METHYLEHYLSULPHIDE (20%). The objective of the odorant is to enable detection of gas leaks, at low concentration before gas concentration becomes hazardous.


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4.7.2 Repairs and replacement of the network In case of leak detection, or damage of part of the network, the damaged pipe is replaced. The following procedures are usually followed:

- Stopping leaking line - Excavating above the effected part (in case of distribution main or underground

installation line) - Venting the line - Removing affected pipe - Replacing effecting part and welding it with the two ends - Filling and road repair

4.7.3 Repairs in residential units Normally repairs in residential units require making some adjustments in the home appliances, or changing in-house leaking connections. Same detection/replacing process described earlier are normally followed, in addition to possible adjustments of gas flow inside appliances.


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5. Potentially Significant Environmental and Social Impacts 5.1 Positive Impacts Achieving the project objectives shall yield many social and economic benefits, and will help meeting the targets of the overall Energy Strategy for the country. Among the social benefits that could be achieved by the project during the construction phase are:

• Provides job opportunities for to semi-skilled and unskilled laborers. Those people are mostly are of poor people and their living conditions are hard. This project for them is of a major importance, since it is their source of income during the construction phase.

• Owners of cafés and small restaurants in the project areas will benefit from providing services to the construction workers.

Moreover, there will be numerous benefits for society ensuring from the project during the operation phase, some of which are:

• NG is safe, while fuel is dangerous due to emissions and burning accidents. It was reported that a large number of families (unidentified) were exposed to emissions due to liquid gas. Consequently, people will feel safer with natural gas.

• No threats of harmful behavior from gas cylinder distributors that enter homes to change the cylinders.

• Clean, while LPG cylinders are filled with insects and dirt. • Available around the clock. Most people feel annoyed when the gas runs out

during cooking or while taking a shower, so they feel at ease when they know that natural gas never stops

• Gas cylinder distributors use very noisy tools to let people know that they are around. Natural gas will put an end to the disturbances of the gas cylinders’ distributors

• Reduction in the demand for gas cylinders may reduce their prices. Poor people who cannot afford to pay gas installment fees, may benefit from the reduction in the price of cylinders.

• Reduce child labor in gas cylinders’ distribution. • Minimizes difficulties of getting gas cylinders for handicapped people, women

and elderly people. The project shall also result on some environmental benefits, such as:

• Reducing exhaust emissions and dust generated from LPG trucks, • Reducing traffic of such vehicles, • Reducing consumption of fossil fuel by such vehicles, and


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• Reducing environmental impacts associated with production and storage facilities of LPG cylinders.

From the safety aspect, and according to interviews with energy experts during the preparation of this report, using natural gas at residential areas is much safer than the use of LPG cylinders, which shall reduce possibility of fire accidents. 5.2 Potentially Negative Impacts during Construction By analyzing project activities during the construction phase, the most significant negative impacts that may be encountered are:

- Reduction of traffic flow - Air Emissions - Noise - Risk to infrastructure - Effects on some structures - Effects on culturally valuable sites - Waste Disposal

An environmental and social management and monitoring plan has been formulated to mitigate these impacts. The plan is detailed in Chapter 7. 5.2.1 Reduction of Traffic Flow The installation of the natural gas network is bound to affect the traffic operations during construction. The construction will entail either narrowing major roads and/or lateral excavation. Either method of construction will produce differential levels of impact on the major road network. The narrowing of the road will reduce the available number of traffic lanes available for traffic movement and will also entail the prohibition of on-street parking along the length of the road works. The narrowing may reduce the right-lane either partially or totally. In either case, traffic will shy away from the construction side and encroach with traffic in the adjacent lanes.

5.2.1.1 Impacts on Arterial Road System As illustrated earlier, the arterial road network carries the highest traffic volume in GCR road system. A direct result of the construction works would be the reduction in the average travel speed on these roads. Although it is difficult to quantify such an effect without a detailed study, an approximation would be by using a hypothetical reduced number of lanes. For instance, if the construction work is carried out along Gesr El Suez street, it is envisaged that the road capacity would be reduced by a nominal 25% and the volume-to-capacity ratio would reduce to 0.93, i.e. capacity conditions. A similar


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exercise can be carried out for the remaining roads. The general conclusion that the level of service would be reduced one level as a minimum. The lateral excavation is bound to produce similar effect, however at only one section of the road. This method of construction entails the closure of a lane or more at a point along the road and lay the network. As such, this type of work can take place during off peak periods, preferably during night-time when traffic volumes are the lowest. The road cross section at the site can then be reinstated during daytimes to resume normal traffic conditions. Therefore, the reduction in the number of lanes will have its minimum effect. In addition, as drivers approach such a construction site, they would tend to change their lanes prior to site and adjust their speed to that of the traffic in the adjacent lanes. These maneuvers will be easier to carry out when traffic volumes are low during night time. The selected times could be from midnight to 6:00 am. As illustrated, both construction procedures will increase delays to traffic and reduce the speed of the vehicles. The effect on traffic will depend on the daily and peak hour traffic volumes as well as the roads cross sections.

5.2.1.2 Impacts on Local Street System By definition, the local street network carries the lowest traffic volume. Average travel speeds on these streets are as low as 15-20 km/hr. Disruptions to traffic due to the construction would be different from those for arterial roads. The local streets are narrow in width. The lateral excavation would mean almost blocking a direction. Therefore, traffic in both directions would be using one lane only. Opposing traffic (although little) can block the street if they reach at the same time. Therefore, the level of service in this case will depend primarily on the judgment of each driver on the best way to avoid blocking the street. In any case, lesser impact is envisaged on the local road network since they are considered low volume roads that are expected to use these streets with low speed. 5.2.2 Air Emissions Air emissions during construction shall arise from:

- Excavation / backfilling operations which generates suspended particles - Dispersion from stockpiles of waste or sand used for filling trenches - Exhaust from excavation vehicles (excavators, trenchers, loaders, trucks)

containing SOx, NOx, CO, VOCs … etc. The effects of such impacts are expected to be local and short term; however the dust and suspended particles problem could cause health problems to inhabitants of effected areas.


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Law 4/1994 has very strict standards to preserve the air quality. As previously indicated in Chapter 2, the law has identified certain measures to control excavation, soil stockpiling, soil haulage and exhaust from vehicles. These measures have been considered in the recommended environmental management practices in Chapter 7. Another indirect source of air emissions is the traffic congestions that may happen. Air emissions from vehicles usually are effected by different modes of traffic, including traffic congestions. This was the conclusion of a study undertaken by the MOSEA which have covered three districts of Greater Cairo, aiming at correlating traffic density variation, traffic congestion and traffic flow to concentration of certain air pollutants. The study was undertaken in 200110 by recording readings of El Kollaly, El Gomhoreya St. and Fom El Khalig monitoring stations during certain traffic modes. The results of the study have been summarized in the following points, relevant to traffic congestions:

- Very high CO concentrations and relatively low SO2 concentrations indicate the cases of cars at idling. These may be cases when the traffic is standing due to total traffic jam.

- When the traffic moves with high speed the CO concentrations are reduced. Analyses of SO2 and NO2 versus PM10 concentrations have clearly demonstrated the effect of re-suspension of particles in the city streets by moving vehicles or by wind

5.2.3 Noise Construction activities shall increase noise levels caused my excavation machinery. Construction noise varies from increase of noise intensity due to engine operation, and intermittent impacts which may take place during demolition of asphalt, either by a trencher or by a jack hammer. Law 4/1994 has defined certain standards, discussed in Chapter 2, for noise intensity and exposure period in work place, in addition to certain limits for ambient noise levels for different types of urban and rural areas. The effects on construction labor are considered more significant, because they are exposed to high levels of noise for relatively longer periods. Residents of neighboring areas are the second level recipients of elevated noise levels, as the noise intensity will be relatively dissipated at their locations. Noise can also have social impacts among the neighboring areas, as it can cause, when it exceeds the standards, psychological effects among exposed persons. Traffic congestions, which could be caused by excavation works, also have effects on noise levels in the area, which may increase ambient average noise intensity levels. 10 Source: Website of EEAA, EIMP programme


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5.2.4 Risk on Infrastructure Most of underground infrastructure pipeline (such as water, sewerage and telecommunication) in Greater Cairo has been established long time ago, without accurate documentation for its routes and depths. Therefore, the risk of breaking infrastructure lines is relatively high. Normally the contractor takes caution by applying manual excavation to avoid such situations where he is obliged to pay for the damage, as previously indicated in Chapter 3. The most important environmental impact will arise in case a sewerage pipe is broken, and wastewaters accumulate in the trench and, possibly, over flood to the streets causing significant nuisance to the surrounding environment. Breaking a water supply pipe may result in cutting the supply to a number of residential units, which may, if took place for a long period, direct residents to use other sources of water which may be either expensive or unsafe. The effects of cutting telecommunication cables during excavation are mainly socioeconomic, due to cutting possible business communications. 5.2.5 Effects on Some Structures Weak and old structures are very sensitive to differential settlements, which could be caused by different factors. Among the construction activities that could have impacts on structures are: Dewatering from regular trenches Excavation for natural gas pipelines is usually shallow and does not exceed 1.0 meter depth. In very few areas in Greater Cairo ground water depth may be less than that. If groundwater was not encountered during excavation of normal trenches there shall be no effects. In case if groundwater is encountered and dewatering is applied, there might be effects if the dewatering was for long duration. Dewatering in silty and sandy soils can move fine soil particles and wash it away through the surface pump, which creates voids and spaces in the soil surrounding the excavation and the nearby buildings. Tunneling and horizontal drilling: which The effect of the tunneling process has several folds, but mainly settlement, which can be due to:

- Excavation of jacking and receiving shafts in case of micro-tunneling - Dewatering if needed for the shafts and/or the tunnel in case of open face

machine - Tunneling process itself

Another, relatively minor, risk which could be encountered is weakening the structural system during drilling holes in the walls for house connections. Usually, wall drilling in load bearing masonry walls does not have an effect on inherited the structural system.


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The walls with their long sections provide large carrying capacity. The hole for the pipe usually is very small compared to the wall section. Moreover, the beams of the flooring system are small and can easily be avoided by the level of the drill with respect to the ceiling. For skeleton type buildings, although drilling in columns or beams could have significant effect on the structure, it is believed that this risk is well understood among connection workers and could be avoided. 5.2.6 Effect on Culturally Valuable Sites The effects on culturally valuable sites could take place according to the following main aspects:

1. Causing structural damage to a monument due to possible dewatering during excavation

2. Causing effects on monument's foundations due to excavation works 3. Causing damage to the monument body by vibration of machinery 4. Reducing aesthetic value of the site 5. Improper management of discovered antiquities during excavation

The first aspect has been discussed in the previous Section. Dewatering could cause differential settlement to the monument structures, which causes risks to its integrity. This could be more applicable if groundwater table was reduced under the foundation level. In the second aspect, the foundation of the monument could be affected if excavation works were close to the foundation, and the foundation level is relatively shallow. This could also cause deferential settlement and may cause cracks and stability risks to the monument body. The third aspect is about the risk of vibrations, caused by machinery such as trencher and jack hammer, which may cause risks to the monument body. These vibrations could cause cracks and surface damage to the stones of the monument, and risks its stability. The forth aspect is more about architecturally valuable sites, discussed in Chapter 3. According to CALTNAT classification, the site could be classified as architecturally valuable for its artistic design, its elevation view, artistic balcony, windows, domes or other components. Fixing gas rises and connections in such building may reduce its architecture value. The final aspect, although have very low possibility because most streets of Greater Cairo have been excavated for infrastructure, is mentioned in the Antiquities Law presented in Chapter 2. Finding an antiquity during excavation could risk the loss or damage of this antiquity if improperly managed.


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5.2.7 Waste Disposal Wastes that are generated during the construction phase include:

- Excavated soil and excess sand - Concrete and bricks waste - Demolished asphalt - Containers of chemicals and lubricant oils used for construction machinery - Possibly damaged asbestos water pipes during excavation - Discharge of dewatered water from trenches and tunnels

Excavated soil and concrete/bricks waste are inert materials. Improper disposal of such wastes will only have aesthetic effects in the disposal site. The legal standards of Law 4/1994 for the Environment and Law 38/1967, discussed in Chapter 2, stipulate that these wastes should be disposed in licensed sites by the local authority, which minimizes any aesthetic effects of such waste. The asphalt waste could have some hazardous components, such as tar, lubricating oils, some heavy metals … etc. However, its solid nature minimizes transport of such components to the environment. Disposal of asphalt waste to construction waste disposal site is the common practice in Egypt, which is normally not associated with significant environmental risks because of the dry weather nature of the country. However, it would be a more acceptable environmental practice is to transport asphalt waste to one of asphalt mixing stations for recycling. Empty containers of chemicals and lubricating oils, are considered hazardous waste. They should be disposed of in an approved hazardous waste treatment facility for proper treatment/disposal. Asbestos waste is also hazardous waste. If an asbestos pipe is broken throughout the excavation process, wasted parts of the waste should be sprayed with water, for preventing emission of asbestos containing dust, and transported to an approved hazardous waste landfill. Friable asbestos waste could form significant health risks to workers, pedestrians and residents of neighboring areas, therefore efficient management of such waste, if generated, will be very important. Improper drainage of dewatering water may result in forming stagnant water ponds around construction site, which can develop, if not drained, infiltrated or evaporated, to form nuisance and an environment for breeding of insects. Normally dewatered water are relatively clean water, which could be drained to a public sewer or even discharged at a watercourse, which may be applied during tunneling a special crossing under a water course. However, there can be exceptions to that, when dewatering is performed from a contaminated trench or near source of pollution seepage to groundwater. This could apply during trenching besides, or under, fuel service station, any UST or AST system, where groundwater could contain hydrocarbons or chemicals.


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Although such cases could be rare, its occurrence would require collection of contaminated water and special treatment/disposal. Discharging contaminated water with significant amounts of chemicals and hydrocarbons is not legally acceptable neither to sewers nor to fresh watercourses according to Laws 93/1962 and 48/1982 respectively. 5.2.8 Potential Operational Impacts of PRS The negative impacts or risks associated with PRSs are assessed for both the workers and the public at large, using international risk management guidelines as a reference. The negative impacts include and possible unintended injuries to the workers or the public during the construction phase. 5.2.9 Social Impacts During construction phase, there are a number of possible negative social impacts for the project that need to be considered, namely: • Jeopardize the safety of old houses and structures. In particular, in type B and C

districts (i.e. El Sharabeia and El Sayda Zeinab areas). • Installment payments raise some concerns. Poor people are very concerned

concerning the installment fees. People also feel discriminated against since the first phase of gas connections was mainly aimed at connecting to the Class A districts, and thepeople there did not have to pay any connection fees. However, poor people have to pay LE 1,500.

• Congestion and traffic disturbance for both pedestrians and cars. • Affect the underground infrastructure of some areas. For instance, in some districts

like El Maadi, most of infrastructure lines were near the surface. Consequently, whenever any new project is implemented, the infrastructure is affected, especially water pipes.

• Might cause conflicts because it is not available for all people. It may also cause

conflicts between tenants and property owners (that are subject to the new law for rented houses), since each party will want the other to be responsible for paying the installation fees.

• Affect the business of neighboring shopkeepers. • May catalyze allergies. It should be noted that this project is not expected to trigger World Bank OP 4.12 on Involuntary Resettlement. A Resettlement Policy Framework has been prepared, nevertheless, in order to enable the project implementers to del with any possible negative social impacts that may result if involuntary resettlement can not be avoided.


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5.3 Potential Negative Impacts during Operation 5.3.1 Improper handling of the Odorant The odorant containing TERTIOBUTYLMERCAPTAN (80%) and METHYLEHYLSULPHIDE (20%) is classified as hazardous substance. The MSDS of the odorant, identify the following hazardous properties:

- Highly flammable - Thermal decomposition giving flammable and toxic products - Irritant - Toxic to aquatic flora and fauna

Handling the odorant will require license from the Petroleum Authority, according to the stipulations of Law 4/1994 discussed in Chapter 2. It will also be required to keep a register for management practices followed in PRSs. Improper handling of the odorant includes:

- Storage in unsafe conditions, in terms of occupational health and safety - Leakage to the environment causing different types of hazards related to its

high reactivity and possible production of pollutants. This release to the environment could take many forms such as:

o Discharge of remaining odorants in containers, after use, in land or sewers

o Disposal of used containers with domestic waste, or by open disposal

o Recycling of used containers for other materials 5.3.2 Impacts of excavation works The negative impacts discussed earlier in the construction phase, will also apply to the operational phase, but to less extent, in case of repairs and maintenance of the network. 5.3.3 Potential Operational Impacts of PRS The negative impacts or risks associated with PRSs are assessed for both the workers and the public at large, using international risk management guidelines as a reference. The negative impacts include the following items: • Potential gas leaks. • Work injuries during operation. • PRS site emergencies affecting workers and the public. • Security of un-manned stations.


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5.3.4 Social impacts Some of the negative social impacts that might occur during the operation phase are: • Consumption fees may be too high for the poor, adding a further economic burden. • For those who will pay through installments, this may be an added financial burden

that’s difficult to meet. • Increase unemployment amongst gas cylinders’ distributors. • Gas cylinder’s distributors who got a loan from the Social Fund may not be able to

repay their loans and the interest which may in a serious legal situation. • Temporary workers may cause problems at the end of the project when they are no

longer needed. • Reduction in the demand of gas cylinders may increase the amount of compensation

requested by the gas cylinders’ distributors. • Increase in the rent prices of the apartments that are connected to natural gas. • The possibility of gas leakage and fire, bearing in mind that the fire distinguish

departments does not have the necessary equipment to put out gas fires. 5.3.5 Safety Aspects A Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) has been prepared for the detailed operation of the PRSs.


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6. Analysis of Alternatives 6.1 No Project Alterative The Natural Gas Connections Project in Greater Cairo, coincide with the whole Government Energy Strategy to expand natural gas connections among households, as well as among other sectors. This energy strategy, as indicated in Chapter 3, is expected to yield many economic and social benefits in terms of providing more stable, energy source, achieve savings in LPG consumption and enhance safety in utilizing energy. In addition to being part of an overall strategy, the project will have many benefits which have been indicated earlier in the project objectives and positive impacts. The following benefits reflect the views of the local community, which have been expressed through the social survey:

- Providing clean and stable source of energy - Improving house cleanliness, as LPG cylinders usually contains dirt and

insects - Reduce noise caused by LPG distributors - Reduce price of LPG cylinders due to reduced demand - Reduce child labor, who is commonly working in LPG cylinders distribution - Reduce inconvenience to handicapped people, in delivering LPG cylinders in

their houses For such reasons, the "no project" alternative is not a favored option. 6.2 Sequence of progressing Alternatives Construction of the gas network inside the city comprise two main components, as detailed in Chapter 3, the first is the distribution network in the longitudinal roads direction, and the second is connection network to the residential units perpendicular to road direction on both sides. Progressing from constructing the distribution network to constructing the connection network could be practiced through two alternatives:

- Alternative 1: Complete the construction of the distribution network and then start the connection network at a later stage

- Alternative 2: Complete both networks simultaneously in one stage Advantages of Alternative 1 over Alternative 2 are:

- Technical problems during line testing could be avoided, as detecting leaks in the main pipe will be much easier if no connections are placed

- Lower risks for re-excavating parts of the line including leaks - Shorter traffic disturbance time for the first excavation stage because no lateral

intersection with the traffic flow


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Advantages of Alternative 2 over Alternative 1 are: - Amount of excavation/filling works slightly less, because intersections between

mains and connection trenches are excavated only once - Makes mobilization of equipment, areas of storage occupied only once - Traffic disturbance occurs only once

The environmental benefits and negative impacts for the two alternatives are close. The amount of excavations in the two alternatives are approximately equal, however, the second alternative has clear advantage of causing disturbance only once for same street, in addition to less air emissions and traffic disturbance caused during equipment mobilizations. Therefore if all other technical or financial factors are equal then the second alternative may be slightly more advantageous from the environmental point. However, if Town Gas prefers the first alternative from the technical and financial point there shouldn't be objection in going along with this alternative. 6.3 Routing Alternatives Routing alternatives applies to transmission mains, distribution mains and connection mains. For transmission mains alternatives, the selected project alternative is to provide reinforcements to the existing mains using the same route. The main advantage of this selection is to get benefit from the design of the existing route which is forming a ring around Greater Cairo. This helps access to different geographic locations with minimum length of pipelines. Forming another route for the required new mains shall achieve the same technical objective, but by losing this advantage. Therefore the reinforcement alternative is the favored one. Deciding on routing alternatives for distribution and connection network is premature at this stage. However the selecting optimum routes for these networks is crucial to avoid as much environmental and social impacts as possible, as detailed earlier in discussing the impacts of the construction phase (Section 5.2). It is very important to avoid as much sensitive sites as possible to minimize environmental and social impacts, therefore this have been considered in the Environmental Management and Monitoring Framework presented in the following chapter.


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7. Environmental and Social Management and Monitoring Framework 7.1 Objectives of the ESMMF The objectives of this Environmental and Social Management and Monitoring Framework, is to initiate a mechanism for implementing mitigation measures for expected negative impacts and to monitor the efficiency of these mitigation measures on relevant environmental indicators. The ESMMF identifies certain roles and responsibilities for different stakeholders for implementation, supervision and monitoring. Also in this Chapter is an assessment for the capacity of the implementing agency, EGAS and Town Gas, for implementing this ESMMF, along with recommendations for improving their capacity and resources for implementing the ESMMF. 7.2 Management and Monitoring activities During Construction Phase 7.2.1 Management of Traffic The mitigation measures are proposed to maintain the existing level of service and to minimize disruptions to vehicular movements:

1. Construction during Off-peak Periods: It is essential to plan for the construction works outside the peak periods of the main arterial road network. The works would be scheduled during off-peak periods, mostly during night time. During peak periods, work will be stopped and the road space is re-instated for use by traffic. Also during Ramadan month, all occupations of most streets should be stopped. Although this procedure will provide the minimum impact on the traffic flow, the construction program of work may be extended for longer periods of time.

2. Signage and markings: Construction works require proper information disseminated to motorists. This can be done by provision of informational and directional signs posted prior to the construction zone so that drivers can react in due time and maintain safe driving. The Egyptian Road Code of Practice (Ministry of Housing, 1998) provides standard arrangements of construction zones. Markings, in the form of lane lines and directional arrows are also needed to guide the drivers to the proper lane changes and turning. Pedestrian crossings can be also provided at proper locations as dictated by each site.

3. Traffic Detour: In some important roads, and based on recommendations of the Traffic Department, it would be required to maintain the movements of traffic at a reasonable level of service. Therefore the Traffic Department may request detouring, which has proved to be a potential solution. A traffic study will be required to produce a traffic circulation plan during the construction period. The traffic study will include an area wide analysis of the road system coupled with traffic counts. Alternatives of the circulation plan will be produced and evaluated


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in terms of level of service, driving convenience, access to adjacent land uses and pedestrian mobility.

4. Re-structuring the Road Right-of-way: Again this shall be based on recommendation from the Traffic Department in order to keep traffic flow at adequate levels in some roads. The arterial road network in the GCR mostly has a wide right-of-way. It comprises sidewalks, traffic lanes and a median. If the normal excavation construction procedure is adopted, it would be possible to re-structure the road’s cross section to accommodate the construction works and maintain traffic movements along the road. Reduction of the sidewalk, reduction of the median width or reduction of the lane width is potential measures. A traffic study will be required to produce the optimum roads’ cross section during the construction period. The traffic study will include road inventory coupled with traffic and pedestrian counts. Alternatives of the cross section, public transport services and pedestrian crossing will be produced and evaluated in terms of level of service, driving convenience, access to adjacent land uses and pedestrian mobility.

All above mitigation measures should be implemented in coordination with Traffic Departments of Cairo and Giza. Traffic studies recommended in mitigation measures 3 and 4 should be also done based on request from the Traffic Departments and in coordination with them. In case the Traffic Department has requested traffic studies, as mentioned in mitigation measures 3 and 4, to maintain traffic flow in some roads, these traffic studies shall monitor the efficiency of detouring or re-structuring of road, by undertaking traffic and pedestrian counts. These counts should be compared with the expected results from detouring and/or re-structuring in order to take corrective actions if needed. 7.2.2 Management of Air Emissions Mitigation measures for reducing air emissions are mainly stipulated by Law 4/1994, as indicated in Chapter 2. The following mitigation measures are considered minimum standards:

1. Apply water spraying to the soil before excavation, which shall suppress dust emissions during excavation

2. Excavated soil stockpiles and stored sand should be located in sheltered areas, sprayed with water and covered with appropriate covering material, such as polyethylene or textile sheets to avoid soil dispersion

3. Transportation of excavation/construction waste should be though licensed and sufficiently equipped vehicles with suitable special box or an air-tight cover to prevent loose particles of waste and debris from escaping into the air or dropping on the road

4. Disposal of excavation/construction waste should be in licensed locations by the local authority.

5. Air emissions of excavation machinery should be within the standards of Annex 6 of the executive regulations of Law 4/1994, which are presented in Table 2.5


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6. If the Traffic Department classified some roads for being major roads that would need detouring or restructuring, as indicated in the previous section, it will be recommended to avoid or minimize traffic congestions in these roads during periods of air quality crises in Greater Cairo, such as during autumn (the black cloud) and during spring (Khamasin winds. Minimization of traffic congestions shall be though following mitigation measures mentioned in the previous section

Because dust emissions from construction works are a non point source, it will not be possible to monitor direct emission levels. On the other hand monitoring ambient total suspended particles or PM10 could be misleading because of the interference of other pollution sources. Therefore monitoring activities shall focus on making sure that point sources from the exhaust of excavation machinery are within law standards, and that mitigation measures are well documented. 7.2.3 Management of Noise Mitigation measures for avoiding unacceptable, and illegal, noise levels include:

1. Prevent exposure of construction workers to different noise levels and noise impacts according the Law standards mentioned in Tables 2.1 and 2.2 in Chapter 2

2. Provide construction workers with ear muffs 3. Minimize construction through nighttime whenever possible. Implementing this

measure should be balanced with avoiding peak hours of heavy traffic. If construction works are to take place in important traffic roads, avoiding traffic disturbance in day time may overweigh reducing noise levels in afternoon or night times and visa versa.

Monitoring of noise levels during construction shall include

1. Measurements of noise intensity at the locations of construction, where workers are exposed to the noise

2. At locations where mechanical hammers are used, measurements of noise intensity of impacts, and the correspondent number of impacts at the construction location

3. Recording of the reaction and complaints of the neighboring areas about the noise levels. Monitoring ambient noise levels at locations of residential areas may be misleading because of the interference of other factors.

7.2.4 Management of Excavation Activities Posing Risk on Infrastructure Town Gas has certain procedures in place to confront emergency situations related to breaking infrastructure lines. The company supervisor calls the Police Department and emergency department in the relevant infrastructure company for immediate repair of the damage, in which the contractor is invoiced for. The mitigation measures below are concentrating on preventive measures and documentation:


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Mitigation measures for avoiding breaking infrastructure pipes:

1. Collecting most accurate maps for infrastructure routes, whenever available and making such data available to the contractor prior to commencing the works

2. Excavating manual trial pits in each street to allocated the pipes before using mechanical excavation

3. In case an infrastructure pipe has damaged, the standard procedures of Town Gas should be followed, as described before, in addition to preparing a documentation report for the accident. The documentation report should include:

a. Time and place of accident b. Name of contractor c. Type of infrastructure line d. Description of accident circumstances and causes e. Actions taken and responses of different parties, such as infrastructure

company f. Duration of fixing the damage g. Damage caused (description shall be according to observation, expertise

judgment, reports of infrastructure company) 4. Analysis and statistics should be undertaken periodically for the accidents taken

place, with recommendations to reduce such risks in consequent excavation activities

Monitoring activities for such risk, is basically documenting, analyzing reasons that led to the accident and updating procedures to avoid future accidents. Monitoring environmental consequences of such accident, such as depth of effected soils, volumes of effected groundwater, and other social effects are believed to be unnecessary action by the implementing company, though it might be recommended for the authority owning the infrastructure line (Water and Sewage Authority or Telecommunication Authority) for their research activities. 7.2.5 Management of Dewatering and Tunneling Activities Posing Risk on Structures

Stability Mitigation measures during dewatering and tunneling activities:

1. For areas screened as including buildings with potential structural problems, in which dewatering (in case groundwater table is high) or tunneling works (in special crossings) will take place, a survey of building status should be undertaken. A list of structures with damage potential should be prepared

2. Undertake soil investigation program using representative bore holes for soil classification and identification of groundwater depth.

3. Implement tight excavation/dewatering schedule through preplanning and supervision on implementation to avoid elongated dewatering activities

4. In case well point system and/or deep/shallow wells are inevitably used, proper execution of the wells is very important in reducing the movement of fine particles.


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5. For tunneling process, choosing the location of the jacking and receiving shafts as well as the path of the tunnel, the type of support and the type of tunneling machine should consider the status of surrounding buildings and soil type. Precautions for launching the tunneling machine and recovering it should be clearly stated and submitted showing the steps taken to prevent soil from entering the shaft.

The following monitoring activities for dewatering/tunneling works and structures at risk shall be only undertaken based on recommendation of structural consultant in area status report, mentioned in mitigation measure 1. These monitoring activities shall be, most probably11, through:

1. Perform Elevation Reference Points (ERP) test for identified structures. The test should be undertaken 2 or three times in the two weeks preceding start of works. During the excavation process the test should be undertaken daily. The test has to continue for 2-4 weeks after excavation process.

2. Continuous monitoring of the tunneling process by observing the amount of soil excavated versus the advance of the tunneling machine and continuous monitoring of the line and level of the tunneling machine.

Survey of structural status of buildings, performing soil investigations, performing ERP tests shall be undertaken under the supervision of a structural consultancy firm. The remaining mitigation and monitoring measures should be undertaken by the contractor and should be reflected in the successful tender for establishing the network in such problematic areas. 7.2.6 Management of Culturally Valuable Sites Law 117/1983 for Protection of antiquities has set certain standards that should be followed during excavation works near a registered antiquity site. The Supreme Council for Antiquities emphasizes that collaboration should be established between an archeologist and an infrastructure developer during construction near an antiquity. These standards and requirements are followed among the following proposed mitigation measures:

1. Identifying comprehensive list of all Greater Cairo registered antiquities, falling within the domain of the project, and collect their maps and identified buffer zones from the Supreme Council of Antiquities

2. Identifying locations of the network where line will be next to or near, antiquities buffer zones. In such location permission from the Supreme Council of Antiquities on excavation works should be obtained. These locations are expected to be concentrated in Old Cairo district

3. Provide supervision on implementation of construction works at these identified locations

4. No tunneling activities should be allowed under or next to monuments 11 The survey reports of areas under potential risk shall have more detailed description of these monitoring activities


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5. If dewatering activities are to take place, the process should be undertaken under the supervision of foundation engineers who shall perform necessary soil investigations. The process should be tight in time schedule to avoid elongated dewatering, and possibly use under-trench culvert or tunnel to preserve groundwater table under the monument

6. Reduce vibration, in identified locations of antiquities: a. using manual tools whenever possible b. phasing work to eliminate generation of resultant vibrations from several

machinery c. Establish cutoff barrier through a vertical trench, whenever needed, to

absorb vibrations 7. Identify architecturally valuable sites and implement aesthetic designs of rising

connections, choosing back sides to avoid artistic sides and components 8. In case an antiquity is found, excavation works should hold and the Supreme

Council of Antiquities should be contacted to handle the site. Possibly required monitoring activities for some antiquities, which will be based on survey report of archeological constant undertaking mitigation measures 1 and 2, include:

- Perform Elevation Reference Points (ERP) test for identified monuments if dewatering is to take place in identified locations of the network, near antiquity sites, according to the methodology mentioned in the previous section

- Monitor vibration levels at the monument location during excavation - Undertake geophysical survey for some locations prior to construction, according

to the instructions of the Supreme Council for Antiquities 7.2.7 Management of Waste Disposal The following mitigation measures are recommended for waste management:

1. Allocating certain areas, in each Sector, for stockpiling waste soil and construction waste, in coordination with the local authority. These areas should be selected so as not to cause significant obstruction to traffic and the waste should be covered to prevent dust dispersion. The waste should be hauled at the end of each working day to the allocated disposal site, taking into consideration covering of the hauling vehicle, as indicated earlier. No soil stockpiling is allowed on banks of waterways

2. Normally asphalt waste could be disposed with construction waste according the previous procedures. However, it is recommended as a best environmental practice to segregate asphalt waste and to send it to an asphalt mixing plant for recycling. Because recycling of asphalt is not a common practice in Egypt, there are doubts that an asphalt plant will accept the waste. For such circumstances this recommendation should not be compulsory

3. As an important pollution prevention measure, fueling, lubricating or adding chemicals for excavation should not take place at the construction site except in necessary situations. In such situations, empty containers of chemicals and lubricating oils should be collected and disposed in an approved hazardous waste


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facility. The contractor is required, according to the stipulations of Law 4/1994, to keep records and manifests for his management practices of such waste.

4. In case of damaging asbestos pipe during excavation, waste asbestos should be collected, sprayed and covered. Arrangements for waste haulage for a suitable disposal site should be undertaken. Taking into consideration that there are no specific sites around Greater Cairo for disposal of asbestos waste, it is recommended to cover asbestos waste with high density PE sheets and dispose it in a special cell in the construction waste disposal site, and covering it with sand once placed in the cell.

5. Preplanning of mains of drainage of dewatering water and taking necessary permits from sewage authority, or irrigation authority. If dewatering is taking place from a contaminated trench, or contains hydrocarbons that could be observed or smelled, contaminated water should be collected in barrels and transported for a wastewater treatment facility for special treatment.

Monitoring activities for ensuring sound waste management practices shall depend mainly upon observation of waste stockpiles of soil and construction waste to ensure how often they are removed from site, and whether they contain hazardous components. For contaminated water produced during the dewatering process, also field observation of oily appearance and possibly smell would indicate whether to classify this water as hazardous waste. 7.3 Management and Monitoring activities During Operation Phase 7.3.1 Management of Odorant Handling The MSDA of the odorant, provides information on the required storage conditions and procedures to be followed in emergencies. The mitigation measures related to disposal of used containers include destroying the product by oxidation using dilute solutions of hydrogen peroxide and sodium hypochlorite, or alternatively through incineration. Town Gas is currently practicing oxidation of the container remains, by hydrogen peroxide and sodium hypochlorite in addition to sodium hydroxide and detergents. The oxidation takes place inside the container, with continuous rolling to ensure that all sides to the container have been exposed to the treatment solution. These treatment procedures are documented in the instructions of HSE department and followed by PRSs staff. Continuation of such treatment process in the operation phase of the project is considered acceptable environmentally. The monitoring and supervision of this procedure is taking place by Town Gas HSE department half yearly for each PRS, however, it is recommended to increase it to quarterly, so as to include in the Quarterly report performance of all PRSs.


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7.3.2 Management of Repairs and Maintenance The same mitigation and monitoring measures discussed for the construction phase shall also apply to repair and maintenance works that will require excavation. 7.3.3 Mitigation Measures for PRS Recommended risk reduction measures have been proposed as points of improvement in order to enhance the PRS safety standards. These risk reduction measures (recommendations) are summarized as follows:

1. There is a need to develop a safe system of work, based on risk assessment for dealing with potential gas leaks.

2. Consideration should be given to the remote actuation of isolation and slam-shut valves by Town Gas for different PRS's as well as the transmission and distribution pipelines.

3. There is a need to produce Hazardous Area Classification drawings for all Pressure Reduction Stations.

4. Planned preventive maintenance policy should be in place for the new PRSs. 5. There is a need to produce a 'Station Manual' for each PRS. This manual should

include formalized procedures, including precautions and a site scenario specific emergency plan.

6. Site emergency plans must take into account wind direction and stability and should consider interfaces with others, e.g. GASCO as well as the public living nearby.

7. Town Gas needs to consider the security arrangements for all un-manned stations. 8. There is a need that Town Gas should apply risk assessment to all activities and to

formalize procedures and permit-to-work systems. 9. The control room inlet door should be located in the upwind direction away from

the PRS station (Inlet door should not face the PRS station). 10. Alternatively, the control room should be provided by a secondary means of

escape at the back side of the room, which shall be used in case of blockage of the main escape route by jet fires.

11. It is recommended that a jet fire rated passive fire protection system to be applied to all safety critical shutdown valves ESDVs or Solenoid valves in order to maintain small isolatable inventories. (As applicable)

12. It is recommended to have pipeline marking signs indicating in Arabic and in English "Do Not Dig" and "High Pressure Pipeline Underneath" in order to prevent such extreme hazardous situation.

13. It is recommended to include the prevailing wind direction on the PRS site plan. 14. It is recommended to have an elevated wind sock installed in the PRS site, which

can be seen from distance and from outside the fence to determine the direction of gas migration in case of major gas leak.

15. It is recommended to have a gas detection system within the PRS area to automatically sense the released gases as a percentage of LFL, in order to provide early warnings of gas release.


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16. Also, it is recommended to have point gas detectors at the room HVAC intake (if provided) to automatically sense the released gases as a percentage of LFL, in order to provide early warnings of gas release.

17. Investigate a strategy to inform the residential area beside the PRS and the associated pipeline with the risk involved in such accidents as well as the methods required for annunciating if any leak occurs.

18. The design should fully comply with IGE TD/3 code requirements. Figure 7-1: The Planned PRSs in this Project


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7.3.4 Mitigation Measures for Social Impacts

1. A clear eligibility and compensation plan should be developed to compensate the identified project affected people according to severity of impact.

2. Provide technical support and assistance to those who work in the distribution of gas cylinders through rehabilitation and training.

3. Raising the level of awareness of the people in the project areas through different media channels and with the help of local NGOs.

4. Re-consideration of the installation fees should be made, or alternatively a clear and realistic installment plan should be proposed and discussed with the people.

5. Local Community Councils should ensure that the roads are paved immediately after finishing the installation to avoid any further congestion and disturbances.

6. A natural gas unit should be established in all of the project’s areas. A social component should be added to this unit to review any cases of refusal to pay for the installation and / or service fees.

A matrix illustrating environmental and social management and monitoring activities, proposed responsibilities of different stakeholders and approximate costs are given in Tables 7.1 and 7.2.


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Table 7-1: Environmental Management Matrix

Impact Mitigation measures

Responsibility of mitigation

Responsibility of direct

supervision

Means of supervision

Estimated Cost of mitigation / supervision

- Construction during peak off periods - Signage and marking

Contractor Town Gas HSE + Traffic Department

Field supervision

- Contractor management costs that shall be included in normal bid price - Town Gas management costs

- Traffic detour Traffic consultant for design and Traffic Department for implementation

Town Gas HSE + Traffic Department

Review consultant reports

- L.E. 2,000 per detour

Reduction of traffic flow

- Road restructuring

Traffic consultant for design and contractor for implementation

Town Gas HSE + Traffic Department

Review consultant reports and field supervision of execution

- L.E. 2,000 for traffic study per road

- Water spraying - Sound storage, transportation and disposal of stockpiles - Ensure that air emissions within legal standards

Contractor Town Gas HSE supervisor

Field supervision


Air emissions

- Schedule excavation works in main roads not

Town Gas Technical Department

Town Gas HSE Manager

Review contractor time

- Town Gas management costs


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supervision



in low air quality periods

schedule

Noise - Protect construction workers - Avoid night works whenever possible


Field supervision


- Collect infrastructure maps - prepare accidents log

Town Gas (HSE supervisor)


Review HSE site reports


- Use trial pits Contractor Town Gas HSE Supervisor

Field supervision

- Contractor costs in normal bid price - Town Gas management costs

Risk of damaging infrastructure

- Analyze accidents log

Town Gas HSE Research


Review periodic HSE reports


- Investigate buildings status - Undertake soil investigations

Structural consultant

Town Gas (Technical Manager + HSE Manager)

Review consultants reports + random site inspections

- L.E. 5000/borehole - L.E. 20,000/ status report/area - Town gas management costs

Effect on structures by dewatering/tunneling activities

- Tight dewatering schedule - Proper well

Contractor Structural consultant

Field supervision

- Structure consultant supervision: L.E. 15,000 /month - Contractor responsibility: Included in normal contractor bid


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supervision



insertion - control tunneling process - Locate archeological sites - Locate problematic areas of the network

Archeological consultant

Town Gas (Technical Manager + HSE Manager)

Review consultant's report

- L.E. 30,000 (lump)

- Supervise construction - Prevent tunneling

Archeological consultant

Town Gas HSE supervisor

Field supervision

- L.E. 3,000 / site for consultant supervision and measurement of vibration - Town Gas management costs

- Control dewatering process and take boreholes

Contractor Archeological consultant + Town Gas HSE Supervisor

Field supervision

- L.E. 15,000 / site above normal contractor bid price - Consultant supervision included in previous item - Town Gas management costs

- Reduce vibrations

Contractor Archeological consultant + HSE Supervisor

Field supervision

- L.E. 10,000 / site above normal contractor bid price - Consultant supervision included in previous item - Town Gas management costs

Effects on monuments

- Preserve architecturally valuable sites

Town Gas HSE Department for identification and Contractor for implementation

Town Gas HSE Supervisor

Field supervision

- Normal contractor bid price - Town Gas Management Costs


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supervision



- Preserve any found antiquity

Contractor Town Gas HSE Supervisor

Field supervision

- Normal contractor bid price - Town Gas Management Costs

- Control over construction waste - Arrange effective drainage during dewatering


Field supervision

- Contractor responsibility: Included in normal contractor bid

Arrange for asphalt recycling (not compulsory)

Contractor Town Gas HSE Manager

Review contractor contract with asphalt factory

- L.E. 100 / ton additional, transportation costs of asphalt, to contractor bid price12 - Town Gas management costs

Waste disposal

- Adequate handling of chemical containers - Adequate management of asbestos

Contractor Town Gas HSE Supervisor + HSE Manager

Field supervision + review of contractor manifests

- L.E. 500 / ton additional, transportation costs of hazardous waste, to contractor bid price - Town Gas management costs

Improper management of odorant during operation

- Adequate treatment of odorant containers

PRS staff HSE staff Quarterly auditing for each PRS


Potential Risk Impact due to PRS Operation

- Develop a safe system of work,

PRS Staff Town Gas HSE Supervisor +

Field supervision


12 Assuming that asphalt plant is taking the asphalt free of charge


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supervision



based on risk assessment for dealing with potential gas leaks. - Produce Hazardous Area Classification drawings, 'Station Manual', and planned preventive maintenance policy and for all PRSs. - Point gas detectors at the room HVAC intake (if provided) to automatically sense the released gases as a percentage of LFL, in order to provide early warnings of gas release.

HSE Manager


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Table 7-2: Environmental Monitoring Matrix

Impact Monitoring indicators

Responsibility of monitoring

Duration of monitoring

Methods of monitoring

Estimated Cost of monitoring

Reduction of traffic flow Traffic counts Traffic consultant During construction

Field count of traffic volume

L.E. 1000 point

Air emissions HC, CO% and opacity

Contractor Before construction

Measuring exhaust emissions in an authorized institution

L.E 200 / Vehicle

Noise intensity, exposure durations and noise impacts

Town Gas HSE Department

Once quarterly during construction, with at least one measurement per contractor per sector

Noise meter Town Gas management costs

Noise

Complaints from residents


Continuous during construction

Documentation in HSE monthly reports

Town Gas management costs

Risk of damaging infrastructure

Accidents documentation


During construction

Documentation in HSE monthly reports



Deferential settlements of buildings


- 2 to 3 times in the 2 weeks preceding works - Daily during works - 2 to 3 times during the four weeks following works

ERP tests L.E. 3000/house


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Deferential settlements of monument


- 2 to 3 times in the 2 weeks preceding works - Daily during works - 2 to 3 times during the four weeks following works

ERP tests L.E. 3000/monument

Vibration Archeological consultant

During construction

Vibration test Included in archeological consultant input


Buried antiquities Archeological consultant

Before construction

Geophysical survey

L.E. 3000/ km of street

Accumulation of waste in site for long time



Observation and documentation


Existence of hazardous waste in waste piles or at site





Existence of water ponds from dewatering





Waste Management

Smell, color or appearance of dewatering waste





Improper management of odorant during operation

Number of treated containers


Quarterly for each PRS

Reviewing Environmental



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Register, compare with odorant delivery forms, observation of site

Operation for PRS - Installation of point gas detectors at the room HVAC intake (if provided) - Compliance with IGE TD/3 code requirements.


Quarterly for each PRS

Reviewing Environmental Register, compare with odorant delivery forms, observation of site



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7.4 Criteria for Environmental and Social Screening the Activities of the Project According to the environmental impacts and their correspondent mitigation measures which have been presented, criteria has been formulated for screening project activities that would trigger negative environmental impacts. These criteria and the required input from the implementing agency (Town Gas) are illustrated in Table 7.3.


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Table 7-3: Screening Criteria for Project Activities and Proposed Input from Implementing Agency

Actions required by Implementing Agency (Direct implementation by Town Gas and Supervision by EGAS) Likely impact Criteria for

triggering impact Design phase Tender phase Construction phase Operation phase

Reduction of traffic flow

- Traffic department requiring traffic solutions for some roads - General occupation of parts of road width

- Ask for the review of network route by Traffic Department - Assign traffic consultant to design detouring or restructuring of some roads based on request from Traffic Department

Ensure that contractor include mitigation measures in his tender

- take excavation permits from Traffic Department - Supervise contractor implementing mitigation measures - Supervise consultant monitoring of some roads based on request of traffic department

- Apply mitigation measures mentioned during construction in case of line repair

Air emissions Excavation / backfilling works

n/a Ensure that contractor have vehicles complying with emission standards

- Supervise mitigation measures by contractor


Noise Excavation / backfilling works

n/a n/a - Supervise mitigation measures by contractor - Monitor noise levels

- Monitor noise levels in PRSs - Apply mitigation measures mentioned during construction in case of line repair

Risk of damaging Occurrence of Collecting available n/a - Supervise Apply mitigation


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infrastructure accidents during implementation

infrastructure maps contractor - Documentation of accidents

measures mentioned during construction in case of line repair


Implementation in areas having weak structures associated with tunneling or dewatering activities

- Decide areas where the impact is triggered

- Assign construction consultant to ensure that contractor technical proposal should include mitigation measures 3-6

- Assign construction consultant for evaluating the situation and to supervise the contractor - Supervise work of consultant and contractor

Apply mitigation measures mentioned during construction in case of dewatering for line maintenance


Pipeline passing near an archeological site

Assign archeological consultant to identify locations where the impact is triggered

supervise Archeological consultant in reviewing contractors bids

- supervise Archeological consultant in his site work - Assign structure consultant to monitor differential settlements in case of dewatering

Apply mitigation measures mentioned during construction in case of line maintenance

Effects on Architecturally valuable buildings

Gas connections in Architecturally valuable sites

Identify locations of buildings from CALTNAT list

Ensure connections contractor is taking aesthetic value in his offer

Supervise contractor fixing connections in back sides

n/a


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Improper management of construction waste

Construction activities

n/a Ensure contractor's commitment for sound waste disposal

Supervise contractor


Improper management of chemicals barrels

Using excavation chemicals, lubricant oil, fuel, or hazardous material on site

n/a Ensure that contractor has considered such situations in his bid



Improper management of asbestos waste

Breaking asbestos pipe, or existence asbestos containing construction material

Determining areas served by asbestos pipes

Ensure that contractor has considered such situations in his bid



Improper disposal of contaminated water

Dewatering from contaminate trench, beside UST or AST system

Determine likely problematic locations

Ensure that contractor has considered such situations in his bid



Improper handling of odorant

Operation of PRS with odorant

n/a n/a n/a Follow treatment supervision and monitoring procedures


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7.5 Institutional Framework for Implementation 7.5.1 Existing Environmental Management Structure of the Implementing

Agency The project shall be implemented by the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) and its affiliate company Town Gas. EGAS was established in 2001 as an entity focusing on developing Natural Gas business including upstream and downstream operations. EGAS has number of affiliate companies with different specialties in natural gas business chain. The organizational chart, Figure 7.1, of EGAS indicates that the responsibility of environmental management falls under the responsibility of Assistant Chairman for Safety and Environment, who supervise the General Manager for Environmental Protection and five environmental specialists. Organizational Chart for Environmental Protection Department in EGAS

Being certified for ISO 14001:2004, EGAS has a well defined Environmental Management System in place and running. The Environmental Policy of EGAS mentions that the company, and its affiliate companies, is committed to:

- Comply with legislation relevant to their nature of activity - Provide training and awareness for their staff in order to carry out their work

safely - Achieve continual improvement in the fields of safety, health and environment - Investigate and analyze incidents to prevent its recurrence - Follow-up companies and contractors compliance and implementation of

health, safety and environment rules, regulations and provisions - Provide necessary information and data on health, safety and environment - Ensure execution of the policy through setting objectives, targets and an action

plan. The policy shall be reviewed whenever needed

Chairman

Assistant Chairman for Safety and Environment

General Manager for Environmental Protection

General Manager for Safety

Secretary Studies, Development and Information (2 Specialists)

Inspection and External Auditing (3 Specialists)


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Staff members of EGAS carry out audits and inspections on affiliate companies, in which Town Gas is one of them, to make sure the EMS is being implemented according to set objectives and targets. As part of the EMS procedures, Town Gas is presenting monthly reports, and quarterly reports about its environmental performance. EGAS reviews these reports, and makes occasional site inspections to compare these reports with field conditions. Being the implementing body of natural gas network in cities, Town Gas has direct involvement of the environmental management and monitoring of the natural gas network. The Environmental Department of Town Gas includes 5 specialists who are responsible for carrying over this task. One of the standard tasks that the Environmental Department of Town Gas, which is followed up by EGAS, is establishing Environmental Register for PRSs and buildings, and frequent auditing of this register. For PRSs, the Environmental Register is audited by the Environmental Department has of Town Gas. The HSE Department audits each PRS twice annually on the average, in addition to infrequent and emergency inspections. The routine monitoring activities performed for each PRS include:

- Visual inspection of solid waste and scrap, and disposal methods - Visual inspection of existence of liquid waste such as leaked condensate

hydrocarbons or chemicals used in the heaters - Checking that handling of hazardous waste is according to the approved

procedures, which are described below - Use gas analyzers to measure SO2, CO, CH4 and O2 in ambient air, and detect

possible leaks - Measure noise at different locations of the PRS

Town Gas HSE personnel have received training on environmental auditing, environmental impact assessments for industrial establishments, and environmental legislation. Environmental Departments in both EGAS and Town Gas have been less involved on design, planning, tendering and construction procedures of natural gas connection projects in cities. Their role has been more effective in the operational phase according to the described procedures above. However, the Safety Department in Town Gas usually review designs, and assign full time staff member to supervise the construction contractor, making sure that adequate safety measures are considered during design and implemented during construction. 7.5.2 Required Resources It has been concluded from the assessment of the existing practices of EGAS and Town Gas Environmental Departments are following sound environmental standards in the operation phase. However, more involvement of both departments is required for the design, tendering and construction phases. The required additional resources for EGAS are considered suitable for their role in reviewing monthly and quarterly reports produced by Town Gas. However it is recommended to improve the human resources of Town Gas through recruiting


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additional personnel and training the existing and new personnel on environmental management issues. The estimated human resources for the new project are:

- About 3,000 person day per year for an HSE site supervisor to shadow construction works.

- About 100 person days for input during design and tender phase - About 100 person/days per year for following up mitigation and monitoring

through operation phase Proposed training programs for the staff include:

- LE 50,000 training Town Gas and EGAS staff on environmental management aspects of the project

- LE 10,000 training new PRS staff on treatment of odorant containers - LE 20,000 training Town Gas HSE new staff members on auditing and

inspection


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8. Public Consultation The first public consultation for this project was held on November 25th 2006 in Ramsis Hilton Hotel in Downtown Cairo. There were 113 attendees, including representatives from:

• EGAS • EEAA • Towngas • Petrosafe • EcoConServ • World Bank office in Cairo • Local Districts (where the project will be implemented) • local NGOS • Academia • Community (at large)

The meeting began with a number of opening statements made by the representatives from EGAS, EEAA, and Towngas. This was followed by a presentation made by the Consulting Company with regards to the prepared ESIA. An open discussion session followed for around 2 hours during which many issues were raised. Some of these issues are highlighted below:

• The ability to pay for citizens in low income areas • Different installment options to facilitate payments of installation costs for

citizens • Responsibilities of the implementing agency (Towngas) • The criterion for selection of contractors • Possibility of gas leaks and capacity of fire-fighting authorities in facing such

risk. • Level of cooperation of the Local Councils in the project. • The need for a specific study to analyze economic impacts of the project.

Documents

Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for …egas.com.eg/docs/Executive Summary.pdf · 4.6.1 Planning and system design ... for the Greater Cairo Natural Gas Connections