1. Foreword *

2. Basis of Preparation *

3. Environmental Impact Evaluation *

4. Environmental Protection Design *

5. Environmental Management and Planning of Environmental Monitoring Station Network *

6. Estimated Budget of Investment on Environmental Protection *

7. Existing Issues and Suggestions *

1. Foreword

The development of Shuibuya Multi-purpose Hydraulic and Electric Project on Qingjiang River is mainly for power generation, and also for the comprehensive applications such as flood prevention and navigation, with great economic, social and environmental efficiencies. However, the inundation of the reservoir area and the resettlement of people for the project will cause some losses in the land resources. For the project, intensive construction activities will be proceeded for a long time and its operation will change the hydrological conditions of Qingjiang River, exerting certain impact to the relevant environmental factors in the associated areas. In addition, as this project is the backbone junction developed at the end of the stepped development for the main stream of the river, the protection of the natural ecological environment of Qingjiang Basin has become all the more important. Therefore this project has the important task of environmental protection for the region and for the whole river basin in addition to the environmental protection for the area impacted by the project.

According to the requirement on the depth of feasibility study and design work for hydropower projects, the environmental protection for this project includes the evaluation and design for the environmental protection. In the environmental protection section of this report, the results of the environmental protection Report has been used, and on the basis of the main conclusions of environmental protection evaluation, the environmental protection design is divided into such sections as environmental protection for the relocation area, environmental protection for the construction area, protection of water quality, ecological protection, environmental management and planning of environmental monitoring station network.

The purpose of environmental protection for this project is: in the near term, to minimize the adverse effect of the project on the environment by adopting some measures on environmental protection, in conjunction with strengthened environmental management and environmental monitoring; and in the far term, to promote the sustainable development of the region by perfecting the environmental protection facilities and enhancing the environmental management according to the requirements.

The “Environmental Impact Report for Qingjiang Shuibuya Multi-purpose Hydraulic and Electric Project” has passed the review by specialists at the pre-review meeting presided over by the General Planning and Design Institute of Hydropower and Water Conservancy, and after being revised against the review comments is now being submitted to the relevant authorities for review and approval. In order to meet the requirements on wording schedule for the feasibility study, environmental protection design has been performed according to the main evaluation conclusions in the report and the review comments at the pre-review meeting, and revision and supplement will be made as appropriate after the official approval of the report.

2. Basis of Preparation

2.1 Laws and regulations on environmental protection

The environmental protection for this project shall follow the laws, regulations and rules on environmental protection promulgated by the state.

1. Law on Environmental Protection of the People’s Republic of China;
2. Water Law of the People’s Republic of China;
3. Water and Soil Conservancy Law of the People’s Republic of China;
4. Technical Guideline on Environmental Impact Evaluation (HJ/T2.1~2.3 – 93);
5. Management Method on Environmental Protection for Construction Projects;
6. Evaluation Specifications on Environmental Impact for Water Conservancy and Hydropower Projects (SDJ302 – 88);
7. Regulations on Environmental Protection Design for Construction Projects (Document Guohuan No. [87] 002);
8. Details Implementation Rules on Environmental Protection Management for Construction Project in Hubei Province (Document Ehuan No. [1988] 3).

2.2 Design documents

The main basis is the following engineering and design documents as approved by the state authorities:

1. Working Program of Environmental Impact Evaluation for Shuibuya Multi-purpose Hydraulic and Electric Project;
2. Planning Report for Qingjiang Basin (revised in 1993);
3. Ad-hoc Study Report on Feasibility Study for Qingjiang Shuibuya Multi-purpose Hydraulic and Electric Project in Hubei Province.

2.3 Main applicable standards

1. Quality standard for surface water environment (GB3838 – 88);
2. Comprehensive sewage discharge standard (GB8978 – 1996);
3. Water quality standard for fishery (GB11607 – 89);
4. Sanitation standard for living potable water (GB5749 – 85);
5. Standard for environmental air quality (GB3095 – 1996);
6. Limit of noise level at the boundary of construction sites (GB12523 – 90).

2.4 Review comments

2.4.1 Review comments on Environmental Evaluation Program

The National Environmental Protection Administration (NEPA) pointed out in the “Review Comments on Working Program of Environmental Protection Evaluation for Qingjiang Multi-purpose Hydraulic and Electric Project” that “the main points of evaluation are the environmental impact during the construction stage, impact to the water quality, environmental impact from resettlement and the impact to the environmental ecology in the reservoir area from the construction of the reservoir. The evaluation standards shall be confirmed by the Environmental Protection Administration of the province.”

2.4.2 Confirmation comments on evaluation standards

In document No. (1994) 207 issued by the Environmental Protection Administration of Hubei Province, it was confirmed that the following standards shall be used for the environmental impact evaluation for Shuibuya Multi-purpose Project on Qingjiang River in Hubei Province:

1. Various standards listed in the evaluation program;
2. Grade II in GB3095 – 82 “Quality standard for atmospheric environment”;
3. With respect to GB3096 – 93 “Environmental noise standard for urban areas”, Class II standard will be enforced for the construction area and Class I standard for off-site area.

In the above adopted standards, GB8978 – 85 “Comprehensive sewage discharge standard” has been substituted by a new version GB8978 – 1996 “Comprehensive sewage discharge standard”, and GB3095 – 82 “Quality standard for atmospheric environment” by a new version GB3095 – 1996 “Standard for environmental air quality”.

2.4.3 Review comments on Environmental Impact Report

The following review comments were put forward at the pre-review meeting on the “Environmental Impact Report for Shuibuya Multi-purpose Hydraulic and Electric Project on Qingjiang River in Hubei Province” presided over by the General Planning and Design Institute of Hydropower and Water Conservancy:

“This project is a backbone one for the hydropower development in Qingjiang River Basin, with great efficiency in power generation and flood prevention, and can provide regulation functions for many years, therefore it has great promotion function to the economic development in the areas where minority nationalities of Miao and Tujia in Enshi, with considerable social and economic significance.”

“The report has presented a sufficient environmental survey, clear description of the status quo supported by detailed and solid data; the major issues have been clearly expounded, the evaluation content is complete and figures and tables clear. The methods used to predict the environmental impact are correct, the evaluation conclusions basically credible, and the proposed measures for environmental protection are basically feasible. The report has completed the evaluation contents required by the program and the approval requirements on the program.”

In addition, it was also pointed out in the review comments that the settlement and employment of the relocated people as well as environmental impact should be handled with care, and attention should be paid to possible problems. The application of funds for resettlement and environmental protection should be further clarified. The stability of the discarding area for the project and measures on environmental protection should be made clear. Careful measures should be taken towards fish breeding (by introducing fish species from other places) and analysis be made to the issue of diversification of living species that may be brought about. A description should be given to the residual living environment for water lives in Qingjiang River after the completion of the project, and corresponding protection measures be taken. The measures for environmental protection should be made in further detail, and their normalization and feasibility be noted.

It was specifically pointed out at the end of the review comments, “The Qingjiang River Basin is rich in animal and plant resources with a high diversity in the living things, and there are a number of protected wild animals and plants. To protect the diversity of living things in the area and to improve the regional ecological environment is of great significance to the sustainable development of the region. The environmental protection measures for both the construction and operation phases of the project as well as the regional environmental management should be carried out with the basin area and the region as a whole, and management should be strengthened, with attention paid to the protection of natural ecological system and the wild animals and plants.

3. Environmental Impact Evaluation

3.1 Status quo of the environment

3.1.1 Natural environment

(1) Topography and geology

The Shuibuya Multi-purpose Hydraulic and Electric Project is located in the southwest of Hubei Province. Regionally, it is located at the eastern rim of the second terrace of China, being part of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. Topographically, it is high in the NW and SE and relatively low in the central part. The reservoir area is surrounded by hills of medium to low elevation, at an average elevation of over 1000m above sea level, except the river valleys and basins. The relative elevation difference is normally greater than 500m, with developed Karst relief.

The region is situated on the compound section of the E-W tectonic zone of the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River and the tectonic zone in NNE strike of Xinhuaxia Series. The E-W tectonic zone mainly consists of foldings such as the Changyang compound Anticline, Wufeng Anticline, Yuyang Syncline and the corresponding faults. The NNE tectonic zone mainly consists of foldings such as Banxia Grand Anticline, Baiguoba Grand Anticline and a great number of wide and gentle synclines and the corresponding faults.

Most seismic activities are related to a number of famous faults about 130km to the dam site. As determined by Hubei Provincial Seismic Bureau in 1992, the maximum seismic intensity at the dam site is VI degree. The strata are mainly littoral phase of Cambrian – Cretaceous System and sediment layers of sallow sea phase, consisting of carbonatite and clasolite. Quaternary deposits are well developed in the Enshi – Jianshi Basin.

(2) Climate

This region is of wet hilly climate in the subtropical monsoon region. The annual average sunshine time is 1166~1600h, with the annual total solar radiation below 418.7kJ/cm². The annual average air temperature is 13.5~17.4℃, with the extreme maximum being 41.4℃ and the extreme minimum –15.2℃. The average frost free period during the year is between 200 to 300 days. The annual average precipitation 1117.6~1701.1mm, with uneven distribution in both time and location, more in spring and summer than in autumn and winter, more in the south than in the north, and more in high hills than in low hills. This region is subject to frequent hailstone attacks, often accompanied by strong wind and rainstorm, resulting in severe natural disasters.

(3) Hydrology and sediment

According to measured data of Yuxiakou Hydrological Station close to the dam site, the measured maximum flow rate at this station is 7.33m/s, recorded on July 11, 1989, corresponding to a flow of 9000m³/s. The measured maximum water level is 192m which appeared on July 12, 1969. The average runoff depth for years is 860mm and the average flow for years 325 m³/s. The average annual sediment transfer modulus is 630t/km², with the average annual suspended sediment transfer amount 7.5 million tons and average sand content 0.728kg/m³ for years.

(4) Soil

The basic materials of soil in this region are carbonatite, muddy shale, granite shale, purple sandy shale, sandy shale, phosphorite, as well as Quaternary clay and contemporary river alluvial. There are 11 main soil types including paddy rice soil, Moisture soil, yellowish brown soil, yellow soil and brown soil, with the yellowish brown soil covering the most area, about 50%, followed by red soil and yellow soil, at about 16%. According to statistics on soil survey, the cultivated land with gravel content over 10% constitutes about 20% of the total cultivated land area of the whole prefecture. There is slopy land in large area, and that with a slope greater than 25°accounts for about 25% of the total dry land area, and that over 40°for 6.4%. The area with soil erosion in the five counties and cities of the reservoir area totals 3986km2, accounting for 43% of the total area of the prefecture, of which 17% with severe soil erosion and 2% with extremely severe soil erosion.

(5) Mineral products

This region is situated at the section where a number of geological tectonic systems join and composite, featuring a complete strata range in complicated structure, hence good conditions to form minerals and rich mineral product resources. Up to date, 16 mineral products have been exploited to have reserves over Class D, and the reserves of 7 minerals, including iron, coal and pyrite rank the top place among all prefectures of the province. There is no mineral worth tapping in the inundated area.

(6) Living creatures

As the region is situated in the transition zone from the western plateau to the low hilly area in the east, and also the junction point of south and north systems, the natural geographical environment is quite complicated. Because of the shielding by Daba Mountain and Wushan Mountain, the glacier of the Quaternary era produced weak impact to this region, making this region a “Refuge” for the ancient lives, so the living creature resources here are very rich.

According to survey statistics, there are 161 families of wide seed plants in the reservoir area, 14 families of which consist of 10 genera or over each, including some world major families. They are important sources of the diversity of species in the region. Of the plants in the region, there are 3 Class I protected plant species of the state, 19 Class II protected plant species, 15 Class III protected plant species, and 52 other ancient and peculiar trees. They mainly spread in areas at an elevation of over 1000m above sea level. The forest coverage of this region is 39.38%, providing a living environment for the animals. According to literatures, there are 299 animals in 84 families in the region. For the Class I protected animals of the state with historical record, no trace has been found for years except a few species. For the Class II protected animals of the state, there are only few frequently seen species. Due to the tapping and taking of wide life resources for years, most animals in the area in and surrounding the reservoir are in low quantities, and their group quantity is below the environmental accommodation capacity.

Most hills on both banks of the river in the reservoir area are between 1000 and 2000m above sea level, with great specific gradient and steep bank slopes. The river bed is mostly covered by stone blocks or sandy gravel, with many shallow bars and swift current, rich in dissolved oxygen. The baits for fishes are mainly benthos and attached algae, with very few species and quantity of plankton and high grade water plants. According to literatures, there are 58 fish species in the river section of the reservoir area.

3.1.2 Social environment

(1) Population and nationalities

The reservoir area consists of 1 city of Enshi and 4 counties of Jianshi, Badong, Xuanen and Hefeng. The total number of people was 2,268,800 by the end of 1994, including an agricultural population of 2,031,700 (89.54%). The birth rate is 11.80‰, the mortality rate 6.64‰ and the natural population growth rate 5.34‰.

The reservoir area is a gathering place of minority ethnic groups, including the aboriginals Tujia and other ethnic groups of Miao, Tong and Mongolia. People of minority ethnic groups constitute a large portion of about 40% in the population, mainly the Tujia and Miao, at 33% and 6% respectively. Basically, these ethnic groups are scattered macroscopically but living together at specific locations mixed with each other. They are in harmonic relations and intermarried freely, and there is no apparent distinction between nationalities.

(2) Social economy

Agriculture plays the dominating role in the regional economy. The total area of cultivated land in the cities and counties of the reservoir area is 2,738,000 mu, including 452,000 mu paddy field and 2,286,000 mu dry land, at 1.33 mu per capita. The GNP of 1994 was 3117 million yuan (at the current price), including 1419 million yuan from agriculture, accounting for about 46% of the total. The industry in this region started late with a weak foundation, mainly of light industry. The total output value of industry in 1994 was 819 million yuan, accounting for 26 of the GNP. The annual average salary of staff was 3313 yuan. The living standard of urban and town residents has been improving year by year, and in the rural areas, sufficient supply of food and clothes is basically guaranteed. The average consuming amount in 1994 was 806 yuan per capita (668 for farmers and 1819 yuan for non-agricultural residents), slightly higher than the average level of the prefecture.

(3) Transport

This region is a blocked area with backward transport. Transportation mainly depends on highways and supplemented by water transport. The total length of highway is 5668km, of which Grade IV and non-graded highway is 5216km, accounting for 92%. The social cargo transport amount of the whole prefecture is close to 2 million tons.

(4) People’s health

In the region, the health care and epidemic prevention organizations at various levels and the three-level medical network in the rural areas have taken initial shape, with significant results in health care and disease prevention. Most infectious and local diseases have been brought under effective control, and the health level of the people have substantially improved. The present common infectious diseases mainly include 13 class B ones such as hepatitis and dysentery. The main local diseases are local fluorine poisoning and iodine deficiency.

(5) Culture and education

The main cities and towns in the reservoir area are Enshi City and towns of Zhushan, Shadao, Xinling, Yezhou and Hongyansi. Enshi is the political, economic and cultural center of the reservoir area.

There are 1607 general schools of various types in the reservoir area, including 2 general higher schools, 9 general secondary special schools, 138 general high schools, 20 agricultural professional schools and 1440 primary schools. 98% of children at schooling age are enrolled into schools, and about 80% of primary school graduates are admitted into secondary schools.

(6) Cultural relics and scenery

The reservoir area is a gathering place of minority ethnic groups, with colorful culture of different nationalities. The main cultural relics can be divided into to categories: revolutionary and historical memorial spots and ancient historical remains, such as the mausoleums to revolutionary martyrs in Badong, Hefeng and Enshi and the Chaoyang Temple in Jianshi.

The region is dominated by limestone with a wide spread of karst relief. The peculiar caves, green hills, beautiful waters, clear springs and high waterfalls are natural views of sightseeing value.

3.1.3 Main environmental problems

The environmental problems caused by either natural or human factors are the following:

(1) Soil erosion

This region is in the rainstorm center, with the features of concentration in time, heavy rainfall and high intensity. Because of steep slopes and over logging of forest, soil erosion has become an outstanding problem, with occasional slope sliding, hill collapse and mud-rock flow and other erosions by gravity, washing away and silting up the fields, blocking the traffic and endangering the lives of people and animals. This has restricted the development of agriculture. Therefore soil erosion has for a long time been one of the major environmental problems in the region. Since 1984, comprehensive harnessing has been carried out and initial achievements have obtained. At present the plan of phase I in the “Comprehensive Prevention and Control in Soil Conservation for Qingjiang River Basin of Enshi Autonomous Prefecture” is being implemented, and the five cities and counties in the reservoir area are in the major area.

(2) Climatic disasters

The complicated topographic and relief conditions in the region would govern the re-distribution of light, heat and water, resulting in rich climate types, and also various disastrous weather conditions. The frequent climatic disasters include low temperature, drought in mid-summer and autumn, rainstorm, unbroken spell of rains and strong wind and hailstone. Climatic disasters are one of the main factors restricting the development of agriculture in the local area. For instance, a large area hailstone in April 1978 severely hit the grain fields in Enshi, Lichuan, Jianshi and Xuanen, for a total area of 115,000 mu.

(3) Water pollution

Enshi is the largest industrial city in the prefecture, and also the largest point pollution source in the upstream of Qingjiang River. The other point pollution sources in the reservoir area are mainly concentrated in Jianshi and Xuanen urban area. The Qingjiang River flows through the whole region, and the living trash in urban areas on both banks and the fertilizer, insecticides in the surface runoff also produced area pollution to the main stream of Qingjiang River. For example, solid trash is piled on the banks in the urban area of Enshi at will, sewage is discharged without control. According to the statistics of 1995, about 7.3 million tons of various industrial wastewater and living sewage water was discharged directly into the river, already causing local pollution of the river.

(4) Restricted access

This region is located in the remote mountainous area of Hubei Province, and the distance from Enshi, the largest city in the region, to other large and medium cities in the province is over 300km. The communications to the outside are mainly via highways, but there are only No. 318 and No. 209 national highways going through the region, and all other roads are in low grade. There is no railway in the region. There are only two flight routes, respectively from Enshi to Wuhan and to Yichang. The backward transport conditions have seriously restricted the development of regional economy.