China: Yellow River Basin Ecological Protection and
    Environmental Pollution Control Program
               (Program for Result)



Environmental and Social Systems
            Assessment (ESSA)




                  The World Bank
                    March 2022
                                                                          Table of Contents

1.      INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................................ 1
     1.1.       OBJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGIES ....................................................................................................................................... 1
     1.2.       PROGRAM CONTENTS AND BOUNDARY ................................................................................................................................. 2
     1.3.       IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENT........................................................................................................................................ 8
2.      SCREENING OF PROGRAM’S E&S IMPACTS......................................................................................................... 9
     2.1.       E&S EXCLUSION LIST ............................................................................................................................................................. 9
     2.2.       E&S RISKS CLASSIFICATION................................................................................................................................................ 10
3.      ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ASSESSMENT ............................................................................ 21
     3.1.       DESCRIPTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS .......................................................................................... 21
     3.2.       CONSISTENCY ANALYSIS BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND THE WORLD BANK POLICY ...... 55
4.      SOCIAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ASSESSMENT ................................................................................................ 60
     4.1.       CORRELATION ANALYSIS WITH BANK PRINCIPLES ............................................................................................................ 60
     4.2.       ASSESSMENT OF SOCIAL REGULATIONS AND POLICIES ..................................................................................................... 64
     4.3.       ASSESSMENT OF SOCIAL AND MANAGEMENT MECHANISM AND CAPACITY..................................................................... 78
     4.4.       ASSESSMENT OF SOCIAL PRACTICE EFFECTS ..................................................................................................................... 87
5.      STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION AND GRM .................................................................................................... 107
     5.1.       STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION ......................................................................................................................................... 107
     6.2.       GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM (GRM) ..................................................................................................................... 108
6.      IMPLEMENTATION MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING ............................................................................. 109
     8.1.       PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION AGENCIES .......................................................................................................................... 109
     8.2.       WORLD BANK..................................................................................................................................................................... 110
7.      CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND ACTION PLAN ......................................................................... 110
     7.1.       CONCLUSIONS ..................................................................................................................................................................... 110
     7.2.       RECOMMENDATIONS .......................................................................................................................................................... 111
     7.3.       ACTION PLAN ..................................................................................................................................................................... 112
ANNEX 1 OVERVIEW OF GOVERNMENT PROGRAM AND PFORR ACTIVITIES – HENAN PROVINCE ....... 114
ANNEX 2 OVERVIEW OF GOVERNMENT PROGRAM AND PFORR ACTIVITIES – SHAANXI PROVINCE ... 124
ANNEX 3 PFORR ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL RISKS ANALYSIS ................................................................. 127
ANNEX 4 DUE DILIGENCE REVIEW OF RESERVOIR SAFETY IN SANMENXIA IN HENAN ............................ 133
ANNEX 5 COMPARISON BETWEEN THE DOMESTIC ESMS AND THE BANK’S PFORR POLICY AND
DIRECTIVE ..................................................................................................................................................................... 137
ANNEX 6             STAKEHOLDER ANALYSIS ..................................................................................................................... 155
ANNEX 7             MAIN DATA COLLECTION ACTIVITIES DURING ESSA PREPARATION ........................................ 157
ANNEX 8             PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IMPLEMENTED .......................................................................................... 158
ANNEX 9    RECORDS OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON THE DRAFT ESSA ....................................................... 161
ANNEX 10     EXAMPLES OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION RECORDS ..................................................................... 165
  Abbreviations


Bank      World Bank
DLI       Disbursement-Linked Indicator
DMS       Detailed Measurement Survey
E&S       Environmental and Social
ESF       Environmental and Social Framework
ESMS      Environmental and Social Management System
ESSA      Environmental and Social System Assessment
FGD       Focused Group Discussion
FYP       Five Year Plan
IA        Implementation Agency
IPF       Investment Project Financing
GRM       Grievance Redress Mechanism
LA(R)     Land Acquisition and Resettlement
NDRC      National Development and Reform Commission
NIMBY     Not in My Backyard
OHS       Occupational Health and Safety
PAP       Program Action Plan
PDRC      Provincial Development and Reform Commission
PforR     Program-for-Results
PIA       Project Implementation Agency
PIU       Project Implementation Unit
PMO       Program Management Office
SIA       Social Impacts Assessment
SSRA      Social Stability Risk Assessment
TA        Technical Assistance
1. Introduction
1.1. Objectives and Methodologies
1. This Environmental and Social System Assessment (ESSA) is prepared for the Yellow
River Basin Ecological Protection and Environmental Pollution Control Program (the
Program).
2. The objectives of the Program is to support Chinese government’s key actions to promote
integrated water use efficiency, water pollution control, and ecosystem management in
selected regions of the Yellow River Basin (YRB). The Program will be implemented through
the World Bank’s Program for Results (PforR) financing, and will support a subset of physical
and TA activities from the national and sub-national programs for Ecological Protection and
High-Quality Development in the YRB, particularly in the areas of water conservation, water
pollution management, ecosystem protection and restoration and promoting the application
of integrated landscape approaches to catchment management.
3. The Program will manage environmental and social (E&S) risks in accordance with the
national and local existing legal framework and institutional system. The ESSA reviewed the
applicable national and local E&S safeguard systems and procedures, assessed to what extent
the national and local systems comply with the core principles and key elements of the Bank
PforR policy and directive, and identified gaps/inadequacies and proposed actions to fill the
gaps and recommendations to improve implementation effects based on the issues identified
in the assessment. The main tasks of the ESSA are summarized as follows:
   •   Assessing the applicable national and local policies and regulations on E&S risks
       applicable to the Program.
      Assessing the management and implementation procedures of the applicable
       provincial and local E&S management systems for the Program supported activities.
      Investigating and assessing the institutional capacity of the authorities involved in
       E&S impacts management; and
      Proposing recommendations and actions to improve the performance level of the
       existing systems according to the national system requirements and the Bank’s PforR
       core principles.
4. This ESSA is prepared based on a comprehensive assessment method, including: (1)
review and evaluation of existing national and local laws, regulations, policies, guidelines,
and related documents; (2) field visits to sample counties in the Program areas of Henan and
Shaanxi provinces, to observe the performance of existing environmental and social
management systems at the local level; (3) stakeholder consultation in the whole process of
program design, involving governmental authorities at different levels (provincial, municipal,
county and town/township), people who may be affected, leaders of rural communities and
representatives of local residents, women, poor people and ethnic minority groups. (4)
Consultation on draft ESSA report. Consultation methods include face-to-face meetings,
online video conferences, on-site interviews, etc. Regarding the participation of stakeholders
and the consultation activities of the report, please see Chapter 5 and Annex 6-10 for details.


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1.2. Program Contents and Boundary
1.2.1 Government Program
5. This PforR will support the implementation of the national program for Ecological
Protection and High-Quality Development in the Yellow River Basin. The key principles and
working areas of the program elaborated in the YRB Master Plan issued on October 8, 2021.
The YRB Master Plan provides a framework for all nine provinces in the basin to develop
their provincial plans and actions. The YRB Master Plan requires the central government to
establish a Central Leadership Group with an office under the National Development and
Reform Commission (NDRC) in charge of guiding implementation, reviewing planning,
policies, and coordinating major inter-jurisdictional issues. Provincial governments are
responsible for organizing and promoting implementation of the program, while municipal
and county governments are responsible for implementation. In addition, the
YRB Master Plan designates the Yellow River Conservancy Commission (YRCC) as the agency
in charge of basin-wide monitoring, regulation, supervision, and flood management. YRCC is
further tasked with providing technical support to the Central Leadership Group.
6. Following the YRB Master Plan, the two PforR-supported provinces, Henan and Shaanxi,
have respectively developed their own Yellow River protection plans as follows:
Henan
7. The provincial program in Henan Province is outlined in the ‘Henan YRB Ecological
Protection and High-Quality Development Strategy Plan’. To improve basin management and
promote high quality development, the focus of the Henan YRB strategy program includes
five key working areas, including:
    •   Enhancing water saving, including strengthening control over water resources
        utilization, implementing water saving actions, and optimizing water resources
        allocation.
    •   Strengthening flood management, including promoting integrated river
        management and enhancing the capacity for disaster management.
    •   Enhancing ecosystem protection and restoration, including restoring ecological
        corridors, enhancing wetland protection and restoration, promoting integrated
        spatial planning, and strengthening ecosystem management based on local
        conditions.
    •   Strengthening pollution management, including enhancing urban and rural
        domestic pollution management and promoting integrated pollution management
        in the agricultural sector.
    •   Promoting capacity building and institutional reform, including promoting
        inter-jurisdictional cooperation and cross-sectoral coordination, enhancing local
        regulations and legislations for protection of the YRB, and leveraging social capital
        and private financing to support the ecosystem protection and high-quality
        development.



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Shaanxi
8. The provincial program in Shaanxi Province is outlined in the ‘Shaanxi Province Wei
River Basin Water Ecological Restoration 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025)’. The Wei River is
the largest tributary of the Yellow River with a catchment area of 0.135 million km2, 18% of
the total area of YRB, and flowing through Gansu, Ningxia and Shaanxi provinces carrying 19
percent of the basin runoff and 30 percent of sediment of the YRB. Its catchment area within
Shaanxi amounts to about 0.067 million km2, making up 50 percent of the total basin area.
Wei River Basin in Shaanxi occupies one third of the provincial land area but provides 56
percent of the arable land and 72 percent of the irrigated area as well as housing two thirds
of the provincial population and GDP. The ‘Shaanxi Province Wei River Basin Water Ecological
Restoration 14th Five-Year Plan’ issued in 2021 outlines tasks in six areas, including:
•   Water saving and efficiency: Irrigation infrastructure renovation, reservoir and water
    transfer.
•   Water ecological restoration: river rehabilitation, river bank strengthening and
    ecological restoration, wetland restoration, afforestation and reforestation, water and
    soil conservation, etc.
•   Improvement of water ecological carrying capacity: reservoir dredging and dam
    strengthening, river/lake connection.
•   Enhancement of water security: drinking water source protection, pollution control
    (including urban and rural wastewater collection and treatment, and agricultural non-
    point source pollution management).
•   Water culture heritage protection: Eco-tourism park and facility construction,
    water heritage protection, education facilities.
•   Modernized and Innovative water management: water monitoring system and smart
    platform, information technology equipment upgrading, institutional capacity building


1.2.2 PforR Activiteis and Boundary
PforR Activities
9. To address the main challenges facing the YRB, the PforR Program will support the
government’s programs in the areas of water conservation, water pollution management,
and ecosystem protection and restoration, and promote innovation through integrated
landscape approaches to catchment management. The activities fall into the following four
result areas: (1) Improving water resources use; (2) Improving water quality; (3) Restoring
key ecosystems; and (4) Promoting integrated and strategic planning. The Program will
involve interventions on three levels: (a) Basin-level coordination, technical guidance, and
capacity building. (b) Provincial-level development of integrated landscape approaches for
catchment management. and (c) Sub-basin-level ecological protection and integrated water
management.
10. The Program will focus on selected demonstration sub-basins and further scale up the
integrated approach across sub-basins in the two Program provinces (Henan and Shaanxi).

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The planned activities in relevant provincial government programs were screened for
consistency with the identified PforR result areas and acceptable environmental and social
risk levels (excluding potential “high-risk�? activities, see the specific screening process in
Annex 3). Based on the screening results, the Program will address the key challenges of
water scarcity, water pollution and ecosystem degradation, and their integration at the YRB,
provincial and sub-basin levels by supporting the following activities:


                                Table 1-1 PforR Program Activities
          Result Areas                                     Activities
      1. Improve water     i)     Modernizing and rehabilitating irrigation schemes: irrigation
      conservation                channel renovation, pumping stations and storage tanks etc.
                           ii)    Improving agronomic practices
                           iii)   Developing and implementing TVAPs
                           iv)    Building or rehabilitating rural water supply system and
                                  pipelines
                           v)     Improving community capacity on agricultural water
                                  management by providing training to Water User Associations
                                  (WUAs)
                           vi)    Increasing the participation of women in leadership roles
                                  within the WUAs
      2. Improve water     i)     Upgrading treatment facilities of the existing municipal
      quality                     Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs, medium-sized 10,000-
                                  50,000m3/d) to meet the upgraded effluent standards
                           ii)    Installing rural wastewater treatment systems (typical capacity
                                  of about 500m3/d, with max. 5,000m3/d) with household
                                  connections
                           iii)   Rehabilitating rural wastewater treatment pipelines
                           iv)    Improving livestock and poultry manure management, i.e.,
                                  increasing manure collection and treatment rate
                           v)     Promoting organic fertilizer and precise chemical fertilizer
                                  application
      3. Restore key       i)     Integrated landscape management planning
      ecosystems           ii)    Watershed management and ecosystem restoration at the
                                  watershed level, with focus on:
                                  -    Reforestation/afforestation with diversified
                                       local/indigenous species
                                  -    Degraded forest restoration with promoted natural
                                       regeneration
                                  -    Soil and water conservation, including terracing
                                  -    Wetland protection and restoration

      4. Promote           i)   Preparing the integrated ecosystem and water resources
      integrated,               management plans for demonstration sub-basins in Program
      strategic planning        provinces
                           ii) Preparing Provincial-level guidelines for the preparation of
                                integrated ecosystem and water resources planning and
                                developing provincial-level integrated plans
                           iii) Developing consumption based water management approaches
                                for the YRB and piloting them at the sub-basin level
                           iv) Developing and operationalizing an integrated ecosystem and

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         Result Areas                                 Activities
                              water resources information management platform for
                              decision-making at the YRB
                          v) Preparing technical standards and guidelines for the protection
                              of YRB
                          vi) Training and capacity building on ecosystem and water
                              resources management at provincial and basin levels


11. Among others, the activities under Result Areas 1-3 will be implemented in the
demonstration sub-basins in Shaanxi and Henan Provinces, while Results Area 4 activities
will be implemented at the sub-basin, provincial and the YRB level, promoting the application
of integrated water and ecosystem management approaches in the government’s programs.
The basin-level TA activities (Activities iii-v under the Result Area 4 and the associated
training and capacity building activities at the basin level) will be carried out by the YRCC in
alignment with the Government’s national program, which will adopt consumption-based
water balance analysis to better understand the basin water balance and to inform regional
water consumption monitoring and regulation. The specific TA activities proposed by the
YRCC (the basin component) are as follows:
                Table 1-2 Basin-level TA Activities Proposed by the YRCC
      1 Improved water governance and baseline assessment
           1.1 Study on improved water baseline assessment methodology
           1.2 Study on ET based water management of Irrigation Districts
           1.3 Water resources economic modelling (Phase II)
           1.4 Study on water use monitoring and management innovation
           1.5 Piloting area for Improved water governance and baseline assessment
      2 Capacity Strengthening for Ecological Protection Monitoring and Evaluation
           2.1 Study on upstream water variation trend and climate change adaptation
           2.2 Study on Loess Plateau ecological rehabilitation assessment methodology and
      key technology
           2.3 Study on middle-stream dam safety monitoring innovation
           2.4 Downstream and Delta ecosystem & biodiversity survey and assessment
      3 Project Collaboration and Capacity building
           3.1 Study on YRB water and environment management standards framework
           3.2 Ecological protection database of YRB
           3.3 Capacity building and knowledge dissemination
Geographical Boundary
12. The geographic coverage of the proposed PforR Program has three levels, i.e., the YRB
basin level, provincial level and demonstration sub-basins level.
(a) At the YRB basin level, the Program will support TA activities which will cover the whole
    Yellow River Basin under the development of the “Smart Yellow River�? platform (a GIS-
    based basin management system). The Program will further develop the water balance
    analysis approach suitable for the YRB, using remote sensing-based water consumption
    measurements.
(b) At the provincial level, the integrated water resources and ecosystem management
    planning approaches will be piloted in seven demonstration sub-basin (as listed below in

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   (c)) and scaled up in Shaanxi Province (focus on the Wei River Basin) and Henan Province
   (Yellow River). The incentives introduced by the PforR Program will allow for innovative
   approaches, particularly the innovations in water resources assessment and strategic
   planning, will be scaled up to drive the provincial programs towards success.
(c) At the sub-basins level:
   •   The Program activities in Henan Province cover three sub-basins, i.e., Hongnongjian
       River Basin, Qinglongjian-Canglongjian River Basin and Jianhe River Basin. (see
       Figure 1-1), which involve four counties (Lingbao, Yima, Shanzhou and Mianchi) of
       Sanmenxia Municipality with a total area of 6900 km2.
   •   The Program activities in Shaanxi Province cover four major tributaries of the
       Weihe River (the biggest tributary of Yellow River), i.e., Shichuan River, Beiluo River,
       Jinghe River, and Qishui River, with a total area of 911.14km2 (see Figure 1-2). These
       four demonstration sub-basins spread across nine counties of the two municipalities,
       including Xingping, Xunyi, Liquan, Qianxian and Yongshou counties under the
       jurisdiction of Xianyang, and Yaozhou District, Wangyi District, Yintai District and
       Yijun under the jurisdiction of Tongchuan Municipality.




                                              6
Figure 1-1 Sanmenxia Sub-basin of Yellow River in Henan




         Figure 1-2 Weihe Sub-basin in Shaanxi




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Timeline
13. The timeline for the PforR Program is 2022 to 2027, which aligns well with the timelines
of the two provincial programs. The Program preparation and implementation period
coincides with the government’s working schedule to prepare and implement provincial
plans, and with the period of implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025). The
timeline for the Program allows the task team to be engaged at an early stage, to introduce
World Bank knowledge and experience to support the Government with innovative
technologies and best international practices.
1.3. Implementation Arrangements
14. A Project Leading Group (PLG) will be established at the Regional Development
Department of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), consisting of
leaders from NDRC, Ministry of Water Resources, YRCC and other relevant ministries; the
PLG will be responsible for providing guidance and supervision of project preparation and
implementation.
15. A Basin Project Management Office (BPMO) for the basin component will be hosted at
the YRCC. The BPMO is responsible for implementing the basin component activities and
providing guidance for provincial project design and activities.
16. The implementation arrangement at provincial level are:
Henan Province: A Provincial Program Leading Groups (PPLG) will be established,
consisting of the leaders from the finance bureau, provincial development and reform
commission, water resources, ecological environment, forest, agriculture, and other related
departments. Under the PPLG, a project management office (PMO) will be established, which
is located in the Sanmenxia Water Resources Bureau, responsible for the implementation and
management of the project. In addition, the PMO will also set up an expert group to provide
technical advice and suggestions for project implementation. The members of the expert
group will include experts in the fields of water resources, forestry, water pollution
prevention, and agriculture etc.
Shaanxi Province: The implementation arrangement in Shaanxi Province is similar to that
in Henan Province. A project leadership group will also be established at the provincial level.
Its members include the provincial water resource department, ecological environment,
forestry, agriculture and rural departments. A PMO will be established under the leading
group. The office is located in the Provincial Water and Soil Conservation and Resettlement
Center under the jurisdiction of the Provincial Water Resources Department, which is
responsible for the preparation and implementation of the Program. Similarly, the project
office will also set up a similar expert group to provide technical consultation and
suggestions for project implementation.




                                               8
2. Screening of Program’s E&S Impacts
2.1. E&S Exclusion List
17. During the Program design and E&S assessment, the principles and requirements of E&S
impacts screening in the Bank policy were fully considered, and the activities included in
government programs were screened to: 1) identify those activities unsuitable for inclusion
in the Program due to potential high E&S risks; and 2) areas requiring further E&S system
assessment.
18. When defining the boundary of the Program, the exclusion principles of the Bank
Guidance 1 were first applied, where all activities with the following potential major E&S
impacts were excluded:
    1) Significant conversion or degradation of critical natural habitats or critical cultural
        heritage sites.
    2) Air, water, or soil contamination leading to significant adverse impacts on the
        health or safety of individuals, communities, or ecosystems.
    3) Workplace conditions that expose workers to significant risks to health and
        personal safety.
    4) Land acquisition and/or resettlement of a scale or nature that will have significant
        adverse impacts on affected people, or the use of forced evictions.
    5) Large-scale changes in land use or access to land and/or natural resources.
    6) Adverse E&S impacts covering large geographical areas, e.g., new or significant
        expansion of large-scale water (surface and groundwater) resources infrastructure,
        including large dams, or activities involving the allocation or conveyance of water,
        including inter-basin water transfers or activities resulting in significant changes to
        water quality or availability.
    7) Significant cumulative, induced, or indirect impacts.
    8) Activities that involve the use of forced or child labor.
    9) Marginalization of, discrimination against, or conflict within or among, social
        (including ethnic and racial) groups; or
    10) Activities that would (a) have adverse impacts on land and natural resources
        subject to traditional ownership or under customary use or occupation; (b) cause
        relocation of Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved
        Traditional Local Communities from land and natural resources that are subject to
        traditional ownership or under customary use or occupation; or (c) have
        significant impacts on Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically
        Underserved Traditional Local Communities’ cultural heritage that is material to
        the identity and/or cultural, ceremonial, or spiritual aspects of the affected
        communities.

19. Second, by reviewing the planning activities under the government programs with field
visits to targeted Program areas, further environmental and social impact analysis was also

    1 Para. 14 of Bank Guidance for Program-for-Results Financing Environmental and Social Systems Assessment

(September 18, 2020).


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carried out. Based on the field observation and review findings, the following types of
activities with potential “high risks�? were also excluded from this PforR financing:
     1) Remediation of old mines;
     2) Wetland construction that may involve large-scale land acquisition.
     3) Water transfer projects.
     4) Reservoir dredging, dam reinforcement and rehabilitation of dangerous reservoirs.
     5) Construction and expansion of urban sewage treatment plants with a total capacity
        of more than 50,000 m3/day or any facilities involving industrial wastewater
        treatment; and
     6) Other activities that are classified as Class A (requiring full EIA Report) according
        to the latest national Catalogue for the Classified Management of the
        Environmental Impact Assessment of Construction Projects2, for example, river
        rehabilitation (including dredging) in environmentally sensitive areas3, river
        dredging activities involving contaminated dredged material, etc.


2.2. E&S Risks Classification
2.2.1 Program Activities and Potentially Assoicated Activities
2.2.1.1 Program Activities
20. According to the relevant plans of the Sanmenxia sub-basin in Henan Province and the
Weihe River sub-basin in Shaanxi Province, as well as the World Bank’s PforR environmental
and social screening principles, the Program activities are defined and listed in Table 1-1.
More specifically, the activities in Henan and Shaanxi are as follows:
           Henan: irrigation channel renovation, pump stations and storage tanks, water-
            saving toilet renovation, construction/renovation of rural drinking water supply
            facilities and pipeline network, adjusting cropping patterns with consumption-
            based design for higher value crops, afforestation/reforestation, water and soil
            conservation works, gully control measures, ecological terrace field improvement,
            green corridor plantation along rivers, river bank ecological rehabilitation, river
            channel rehabilitation, township and rural wastewater treatment plants, and
            collection pipelines, improving community capacity on agricultural water
            management by providing training to Water User Associations (WUAs), upgrading
            treatment facilities of the existing municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs)
            to meet the upgraded effluent standards, improving livestock and poultry manure
            management, i.e. increasing manure collection and treatment rate, wetland
            protection and restoration, and promoting organic fertilizer and precise chemical
            fertilizer application, etc.

    2 Currently Version 2021, which was issued on Nov. 30th, 2020.
    3 Environmentally sensitive areas refer to the areas subject to the control requirements of ecological redlines,
including national parks, natural reserves, world culture and nature heritage, famous scenic spots, Particularly
Sensitive Sea Areas, drinking water protection zones, permanent basic farmland, basic grassland, natural parks
(forest parks, geological parks, ocean parks), critical wetland, natural forests, critical natural habitats, nature-based
aquaculture sites, key areas identified for soil erosion prevention and control, desertified areas, enclosed and semi-
enclosed sea areas.

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          Shaanxi: adjusting cropping patterns with consumption-based design for higher
           value crops, irrigation area planning and infrastructure improvement, river
           rehabilitation (including ecological bank protection and river dredging), water
           source area protection, soil and water conservation, water conservation
           afforestation/reforestation, improving community capacity on agricultural water
           management by providing training to Water User Associations (WUAs), upgrading
           treatment facilities of the existing municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs)
           to meet the upgraded effluent standards, improving livestock and poultry manure
           management, i.e. increasing manure collection and treatment rate, promoting
           organic fertilizer and precise chemical fertilizer application, and institutional
           reforms, etc.
21. Based on the scale and nature of these types of typical activities, supplemented by a
number of field visits results of sample counties, townships, and rural communities in Henan
and Shaanxi Provinces, these types of activities required to achieve the Program results are
very unlikely to fall under the circumstances defined in the exclusion list. Institutional
strengthening and capacity building activities in the two provinces are all technical
assistance activities. These activities is to improve environmental management and promote
ecological protection, and they do not fall within the scope of the exclusion list. In addition,
the Basin Component activities are all technical assistance activities (research and capacity
building activities), and do not involve physical or civil works. Therefore, these types of
projects can be included in the scope of Program for further environmental and social impact
and management system analysis.
2.2.1.2 Potentially Associated Activities
22. Through the identification and analysis of the above-mentioned typical activities, the
task team analyzed the situations that may involve associated activities that would be
required to meet Program objectives but are not explicitly defined as Program activities or
included in the expenditure framework projects. The ESF definition of “Associated Facilities�?4
was referred to in the analysis, and the followings were identified as Associated Activities
related to current proposal of Program activities.
23. It is noted that rural water supply activities may have potentially associated activities,
that is, the conversion of rural water supply sources, the improvement of water supply
facilities and the renovation of irrigation infrastructures in Henan Province may require
reservoirs as water sources. To understand this potential and any associated risks, the World
Bank team conducted a special survey. Through on-site investigation in several counties in
the Program area of Sanmenxia City, Henan Province, the ES team found that all proposed
rural water supply and irrigation renovation subprojects will rely on existing
reservoirs/dams, and there is no need to build new reservoirs/dams for the water supply
activities under the Program. The operation and maintenance practice of these reservoirs
and dams could pose potential risks on the success of relevant Program activities.

      4 The term “Associated Facilities�? under the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework policy means

facilities or activities that are not funded as part of the project and, in the judgment of the Bank, are: (a) directly and
significantly related to the project; and (b) carried out, or planned to be carried out, contemporaneously with the
project; and (c) necessary for the project to be viable and would not have been constructed, expanded or conducted if
the project did not exist.

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Accordingly, a due diligence review of the systems regulating these reservoirs has been
carried out with key findings included in the following E&S contextual risk assessment
section and Annex 4.
24. For other activities under the Program, some township and rural sewage treatment
plants will include sludge treatment, from which the dry sludge will be sent to the existing
approved/licensed solid waste treatment facilities for final disposal, such as incineration
plants or landfills. This issue has also been considered in the following assessment.
25. In summary, the ES screening and assessment for the Program has been conducted
covering all the potential Associated Facilities, though only some existing facilities
(reservoirs/dams for rural water supply activities and solid waste treatment facilities for
final disposal of sludge from township and rural sewage treatment plants) were identified
relevant. The following assessment has been conducted covering these associated activities.
2.2.2 E&S Risks Screening and Classification
26. Following the above exclusion procedure, the task team has performed a further E&S
impact analysis on the activities within the PforR boundary, with consideration of: 1) likely
E&S effects; 2) likely E&S contextual risks; 3) likely institutional capacity and complexity
risks; and 4) likely political and reputational risks.
27. Assessments are performed on all activities involved against the four dimensions
concerned, and the results show that these activities have different levels of E&S risks,
ranging from low, to moderate and substantial level, which could be mitigated through the
E&S management systems. Certain activities with potentially high risks due to scale or
potentially sensitive locations will be excluded.
28. The results of E&S risks and impacts screening are shown below. Detailed analysis is
presented in Annex 3:
(1) Likely E&S impacts
29. As per the project development goals, the Program activities are ecological restoration
and pollution control activities that will bring important positive benefits to the environment
and society in the region, including the restoration and improvement of the ecological
environment in the basin, the control of soil erosion, improvement of the water quality of
rivers and lakes, reduction of sewage discharge in towns and villages. All these efforts will
greatly improve the ecological environment and the life quality in the Program area, and
make a positive contribution to the ecological restoration of the Yellow River Basin.
Most of the Program activities are environmental protection activities which aim to protect
and restore the ecological environment, prevent soil erosion, and reduce pollution, such as
tree planting, ecological river bank rehabilitation, water-saving toilet renovation of public
washrooms, etc. There is minimal or no adverse environmental risks and impacts associated
with these activities. While, some other activities may have a certain degree of environmental
and social risks and impacts during the implementation process, including the construction
and operation of sewage collection and treatment facilities in towns and villages, livestock
manure treatment and recycling facilities, construction of civil works such as river
improvement, irrigation canal reconstruction, and tree planting, forest pest control after
afforestation, pesticide safety after farmland improvement, wetland infrastructure

                                              12
construction, and ecological plantation sightseeing park operation. Based on the field visits,
these activities’ potential negative environmental impacts mainly include:
Potential Environmental Impacts:
      •    Environmental impacts of construction activities: including dust, noise, damage
           of surface vegetation, soil erosion, construction waste water, solid waste, water body
           disturbance and wildlife habitat disturbance, traffic impacts, worker safety and
           health, etc. These impacts are basically short-term and temporary in nature, small
           in scale, limited to the vicinity of the construction site, and can be properly dealt
           with through good construction management. After the completion of the
           construction, these effects will most likely disappear, and the ecological
           environmental of the disturbed riparian zone will gradually restore and be
           improved. The river rehabilitation may involve dredging activities which will have
           water quality disturbance and water life habitat disturbance impacts. However, the
           river rehabilitation activities in this Program are mostly for small rivers in rural
           counties, and the objectives to restore natural river hydrology and ecology which
           has been significantly undermined, particularly considering the huge sediment load
           in the Yellow River basin. The temporarily disturbed aquatic habitats will gradually
           restore and ultimately be enhanced with the implementation of river rehabilitation.
           Meanwhile, the exclusion criteria established for the Program have explicitly
           excluded any dredging activities in environmentally sensitive areas or involving the
           disposal of contaminated dredged materials, which fall into Full EIA category (Cat.
           A) under the Chinese EIA system5. With the application of such exclusion criteria,
           dredging impact will be limited and would be outweighed by the improved
           ecological environment after rehabilitation. . The
      •    Environmental impacts during the operation period of the subproject
           facilities: including noise, odor, sewage discharge, sludge disposal, potential
           operational accident risks, and worker safety and health during the daily operation
           of wastewater treatment facilities. On wastewater management, the Program
           mainly includes construction/upgrading of township/village WWTPs (with typical
           capacity of less than 500m3/d, max. 5000m3/d), while it could also involve the
           upgrading of county-level WWTPs (medium-sized, 10,000-50,000t/d) to meet the
           more stringent discharge standard in the YRB6. Based on the field visit findings, the
           construction and management of municipal WWTPs in the Program areas are
           subject to the existing national regulations (including, but not limited to Chinese EIA
           system), which incorporate the considerations on location, technology selection,
           staffing arrangements for sustainable operation. The urban and rural sewage
           treatment facilities under this Program are of medium or small scale, and the
           corresponding risks and impacts are well known, and can be clearly foreseen and
           dealt with by adopting well-known technologies and measures under existing
           regulatory requirements. No major environmental risks is envisaged.

5 River dredging as part of river rehabilitation is subject to EIA classified management requirement as listed in Table
3-2.
6 For example, the Integrated Wastewater Discharge Standard of Yellow River Basin in Shaanxi province (DB61/224-

2018) and the Water Pollutant Discharge Standard of Yellow River Basin in Henan Province (DB41/2087-2021).

                                                          13
      •    Safety risks of pesticide use: Old terrace field improvement may involve changes
           in agricultural crops and farming, which will lead to changes in the use of pesticides.
           In addition, afforestation/tree plantation may involve the prevention and control of
           forest diseases and insect pests, which may also involve the use of pesticides. China
           has established a special pesticide management system, with complete laws and
           regulations, safety regulations, supervision mechanisms, and clear lists of forbidden
           and restricted use pesticides7, which can ensure that the safety risks of pesticide use
           in the production of agricultural products are adequately managed.
      •    Forest fire risk: The daily management of forests such as soil and water
           conservation forests and water conservation forests under the Program involves the
           prevention and control of fire risks. Forest fire is a risk of forest management and
           protection, and is listed as a key task for governments and communities at all levels.
           China has established a comprehensive forest fire prevention and emergency
           response mechanism, which has been performing its functions for decades.
           Therefore, this type of risk is very low.
30. In summary, the activities under this Program are basically activities of ecological
environment restoration and improvement, and environmental pollution reduction. It is
foreseen that these activities will have low or moderate environmental risks. The potential
environmental risks/impacts can be clearly identified, and can be effectively dealt with
through mature and well-known technologies and management measures. Therefore, the
potential environmental impact of this project activity is generally at a moderate level.
Potential Social Impacts:
         Cultural heritage impacts: Construction activities included in the Program are
          small-scale and unlikely to have adverse impacts on tangible or intangible cultural
          heritage.
         Labor impacts: Activities required to achieve the Program results will not require
          major works. Important considerations such as the protection of the rights and
          interests of the workers of contractors and agencies, living environment risks in
          camps and living areas, risks of disturbance to nearby communities, workers’
          occupational health and safety (OHS) risks. are considered to have low or moderate
          incremental social risks. It is important that strong systems are in place to manage
          forced labor and/or child labor in sectors such as agriculture and small and medium
          sized enterprises which are global social challenges. The small scale of physical
          activities under the Program and the strong legal and regulatory systems at National
          and Provincial levels will allow these risks to be effectively managed.
         Community impacts: The site selection of wastewater treatment facilities may lead
          to risks such as impacts on the living environment and property value of community
          residents, disease brought by labor influx, and potential environmental, traffic and
          safety problems during construction and operation.
         Involuntary resettlement: The plans for Shaanxi and Henan provinces involve the
7 The national list is in line with international conventions and practices. i.e., high toxic pesticides (type I of WHO
RECOMMENDED CLASSIFICATION OF PESTICIDES BY HAZARD) is forbidden, and a series of safety and health
regulations and procedures are in place to manage the restricted and other types of pesticides.

                                                           14
    use of land for some construction activities, which may be affected by involuntary
    resettlement. Among them, the amount of land acquisition for new wetlands, new
    roads (such as riverside roads, rural roads) and other activities is not easy to control,
    and the problem of land use indicators is relatively sensitive. Such activities would
    be high risk and therefore excluded. Other activities, such as those which may involve
    land use are small in scale, and some are only temporary land use. These activities
    would be informed by effective community engagement and consultation to ensure
    impacts are minimized and include:
    ✓ upgrading treatment facilities of the existing municipal Wastewater Treatment
        Plants (WWTPs)); largely carried out on the existing WWTPs, or requiring small
        scale land use, e.g., around 10mu of additional land use for the upgrading
        activities;
    ✓ construction of rural sewage treatment systems to meet local community needs,
        including rural sewage treatment plants with about 100 to 400m2 for each as
        well as some underground connection pipeline with temporary land occupation;
    ✓ construction of utility facilities of poultry and livestock manure with around
        20mu on the existing poultry and livestock farms;
    ✓ construction/renovation of rural water supply facilities, e.g., water supply
        stations with land use around 20mu for each, pump stations with 5m2 of land
        use for each that are mostly selected to be the unused/disused land, and some
        underground pipeline network with some temporary land use. Storage tanks or
        stormwater ponds will be utilizing the existing rural water ponds mostly or
        building some new ponds with about 200 to 700m2 of lands that are normally
        selected to be the collective unused lands;
    ✓ construction for some water and soil protection works, including i) gully control
        works that are basically conducted on the edges of cliff bodies or embankments
        of existing creeks/rivers, and will barely occupy farmers’ land, ii) water source
        area protection that will be conducted on existing water source protection lands,
        and few cases of land occupation outside the boundary; and iii) ecological
        terrace field improvement on existing farmers’ land to help improve the land
        productivity, which are generally carried out between November to February
        next year to avoid affecting the agriculture production work; and
    ✓ ecosystem restoration of watersheds like wetland protection and/or restoration,
        and reforestation/afforestation which will be restricted within the existing river
        courses, while for vegetation restoration are carried out on existing mountains
        or land rent from the farmers or collective economic groups.
   For involuntary resettlement, the existing social management system includes
    management mechanisms for the relevant impacts, including ways to restore or even
    improve the livelihoods of affected farmers, therefore, impacts and risks of small-
    scale resettlement will be limited.
   Livelihood impact: The substitution of organic fertilizers for chemical fertilizers
    may bring problems such as cost increasing and needs of corresponding guidance.
    In addition, adjusting cropping patterns with consumption-based design for higher
    value crops may bring potential risks of farmers’ livelihood if it is lack of
    management. Therefore, the adjustment shall be carried out based on appropriate
    design and management and ensure the livelihood of farmers will be better, or at
                                          15
        least not lower than before. Effective community engagement and consultation
        processes will be important in achieving these outcomes.
       Impacts on ethnic minorities: Some Program activities are located in ethnic
        minority areas, and thus, meaningful consultation with ethnic minority residents
        should be carried out when it is in design, construction and maintenance, so as to
        avoid or reduce negative impacts on them and to respect their cultures and
        customs.
       Rights and interests of vulnerable groups: The Program may bring additional
        living costs to vulnerable groups, such as wastewater treatment charges and costs
        of sewer connection to houses. On the other hand, the rights and interests of
        vulnerable groups in design, construction and operation should not be neglected,
        such as the site selection of wastewater treatment facilities.
       Women’s rights and interests: Many rural women will benefit from wastewater
        management, and their opinions should be respected in design, construction and
        maintenance.
31. The Basin Component and capacity building activities of the two provinces also include
some technical assistance activities. The Basin Component mainly include TA activities for
water resources assessment, monitoring, standard system and database construction, and
management capacity building. The TA at provincial level mainly includes the preparation of
agricultural irrigation water-saving plans, ecological restoration and water and soil
conservation plans, and capacity training activities. Among them, the results of plans
development and standards development, if implemented, will have potential downstream
indirect environmental and social impacts, which need to be identified and analyzed in the
specific research process. While it is foreseeable that because these TA research are targeted
at improving the ecological environment and protecting public health, their conclusions and
recommendations will unlikely propose actions that will have significant negative impact on
the ecological environment and the public. Therefore, the downstream environment and
social risk is of these TA activities are low. Given the nature of these pro-environmental TAs,
the environmental impacts (direct, indirect and cumulative) are inherently built into the
research process, and the conclusions and countermeasures will be reflected in the TA
deliveries. During the Program implementation, the Bank task team will provide technical
supports in preparing and implementing these TA activities to ensure that the downstream
E&S considerations are adequately incorporated, including the review of TORs and TA
deliveries.
Cumulative Environmental and Social Impacts:
32. In addition to the environmental and social impacts of the above-mentioned, the
potential cumulative impact of the Program is also considered since the Program involves
various investments in multiple counties of the two provinces as part of the government
programs, also the potential cumulative impacts from other non-Bank program activities in
the Program area of Yellow River Basin. In this regard, it is worth noting that all activities
under the PforR are activities supporting environmental protection and ecological
restoration with the exercising of E&S screening. According to the exclusion criteria, this
Program will not involve environmentally sensitive areas, and the Program’s development

                                              16
objective is to support integrated water use efficiency, water pollution control, and
ecosystem management, in selected regions of the Yellow River Basin. Therefore, the
Program activities focus on restore and enhance natural environment and ecological function
with cumulative positive environmental and social benefits. It does not include large-scale
infrastructure that may adversely alter natural environment or river hydrology, or any
activity that may lead to regional industrial/urban development. Given the nature and scale
of the Program activities, there is low risk for the Program to interact with other activities in
the Program provinces to exacerbate/accumulate negative environmental and social impacts
at regional scale. Therefore, the cumulative E&S effects of the Program will be mainly
reflected as positive benefits with net effect of greatly promoting pollution reduction and
environmental improvement in the two provinces. The cumulative positive environmental
benefits are mainly reflected in the following aspects:
        Reduction of pollutant discharge: The construction of township and rural
         wastewater treatment facilities and sewage pipeline networks will significantly
         reduce the amount of pollutants entering surface water bodies in each township. At
         present, the sewage treatment facilities in the cities of the two provinces are
         basically complete, while the sewage collection and treatment facilities in the rural
         towns are far from complete, which has become one of the main factors of water
         pollution in the river basin. Therefore, the numerous township sewage collection
         and treatment facilities activities under this project will greatly reduce the
         discharge of domestic sewage pollutants and have a positive cumulative impact on
         the entire basin.
        Improvement of soil erosion: Henan and Shaanxi are areas with serious soil
         erosion in the middle and upper reaches of the Yellow River. The Program will
         vigorously enhance management measures within the forests and facilities for soil
         conservation and water source protection in the Program areas, which will
         effectively reduce the total amount of soil erosion, having a positive cumulative
         impact on improving the water quality of the Yellow River Basin;
        River ecological environment improvement: This Program will focus on a large
         number of river channel improvement, ecological bank protection and other
         activities, which will effectively improve the overall ecological environment quality
         of each river, improve water quality, enhance ecological functions, reduce soil
         erosion, and reduce total amount of waste into the river systems, which when scaled
         up will generate huge cumulative environmental benefits for the entire basin.
        Management capacity strengthening: The capacity building activities under the
         Program will further enhance the institutional organization, improve the technical
         standard system, and strengthen the management capabilities at the level of the
         entire river basin, thereby generating long-term positive benefits.
33. The overarching government program, i.e., " Yellow River Basin Ecological Protection and
High-quality Development Plan�?, is based on a comprehensive assessment of the
environmental protection and development of the entire Yellow River Basin from a strategic
level, and thus has provided the guidelines mainstreaming environmental protection and
ecological restoration, for example, requiring the maintenance of ecological flow, which are


                                               17
being used to guide the development of the provincial/sub-basin level plans in the Yellow
River Basin.
34. Nevertheless, with the implementation of the PforR activities along with the government
programs, potential negative E&S cumulative impacts still need to be assessed and addressed
in planning interventions at the sub-basin levels, particularly considering the various types
of interventions and insufficient coordination of ecological and water management action
across jurisdictions and sectors at current stage. In the highly populated Program areas, the
tradeoff between economic output and environmental protection should be carefully
analyzed to secure the achievement of positive environmental impacts while avoiding and
minimize potential negative impacts on various water users in the river basins as the
cumulative result of Program implementation. Therefore, the overall likely E&S risk level of
the Program is “Substantial�? considering the assessment and planning of integrated water
resource and ecosystem management at the sub-basin level to be piloted and scaled up in
two Program provinces (Henan and Shaanxi).
(2) Likely E&S contextual risks
35. The physical activities of this Program are located in the Yellow River sub-basin of
Sanmenxia City of Henan Province, and the Weihe River sub-basins under the jurisdiction of
Xianyang City and Tongchuan City in Shaanxi Province, largely in small towns and rural areas.
36. Among these activities, the plantation of soil and water conservation forests, the
construction of soil and water conservation facilities, ecological bank protection, river
rehabilitation, irrigation canal facility renovation and other activities are basically located in
the rural background environment, that is, mainly farmland or modified habitats. Deemed
China's "Mother River" and "the cradle of Chinese civilization," the Yellow River and its
tributaries are highly disturbed by human activities for long, particularly in the middle
stream of the Yellow River in the Program areas. The purpose of the activities is to restore
and improve the quality of the ecological environment in these places, rather than destroy or
change their ecological service functions. Activities such as township and rural water supply,
township and rural sewage treatment facilities and pipeline network construction are mainly
concentrated in small towns or villages where people live. These activities have important
potential impact on water use of and pollution load to the Yellow River basin. The Program
areas are not particularly of high biodiversity, but will contribute significantly to the
improvements of ecosystem quality in the YRB. Under the background that China has
established a national ecological redline protection zoning system 8 , the activities of this
project will not involve natural habitats with important ecological values/functions within
the ecological protection redline. Activities involve general natural habitats and modified
habitat are all environmental improvement activities aiming at restoring and improving the
original ecological environment quality. Therefore, the environment and social contextual
risk of the Program is moderate.

8 China has established an ecological redline protection zoning system since 2015. Ecological redline refers to area
that has special and critical ecological functions and must be strictly protected, usually including areas with important
eco-services (e.g., water conservation, biodiversity maintenance, water and soil conservation, windbreak and sand
fixation, coastal ecological stability) or with high ecological sensitivity/fragility (e.g., water and soil erosion,
desertification, salinization). By 2020, this Eco-Redline protection zoning is completed at all levels of governments in
China.

                                                           18
37. In Henan Province, the water supply project activities in villages and towns may involve
the conversion of groundwater sources to surface water sources (for the purpose of aquifer
and groundwater protection), and therefore need to rely on existing reservoir facilities. The
safety of existing reservoirs and dams is a potential E&S contextual risk. To assess such risk,
the task team conducted a due diligence review of the existing reservoir/dam safety for
Sanmenxia city (Annex 4). Based on the due diligence review, there are total 88 reservoirs,
one large, five middles, and 82 smalls, were under jurisdiction of Sanmenxia Water
Department 9 . Most of dams were built in 1960s to 1970s. The last round dam safety
evaluation during 2000-2010 certified that all the dams are Class A, i.e., safe to operate as
designed. Except those very small (Small II class) reservoirs managed by villages, all the
reservoirs were managed by special institutes with professionals sufficiently funded. All
reservoirs have well-established operational and maintenance manuals. There was no
incident or failure reported during the past decades. The municipality is planning to carry
out another round of inspection and remediation during the 14th Five Year Plan to ensure
the safe operation of the dams under its jurisdiction. It is thus expected that all the dams
would be reinforced or upgraded prior to the end of 2022. Therefore, it is concluded that this
contextual risk related to dam safety is moderate.
38. In terms of social context, the Program activities are located in towns or rural areas, and
agricultural production income is still the main source of income for local households. There
are multiple production models in agricultural production such as small farmers, self-
employed, production cooperatives, etc., and more and more small farmers are combined
through land leases, equity shares, etc., and shift from the past mainly planting corn and
wheat crops to fruit plantation. In addition to benefiting from land leases or holding shares,
farmers can also earn wage income through planting or working in cooperatives, which can
increase their income, especially for the elderly, women, and poor people in rural areas. In
addition to planting, agricultural production in various regions also organically combines
planting and livestock breeding, which can reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and increase
the use of organic fertilizers, and improve the quality of crops.
39. The Program area is located in the northern part of the two provinces of Shaanxi and
Henan. In the past, farmers generally used dry toilets, and the sewage collection and
treatment facilities were not complete. The sewage from the kitchen and bathroom was
traditionally discharged without treatment. Meanwhile, many farmers lack of awareness of
environmental protection and financial resources and technology to upgrade household
facilities. Therefore, the implementation of this Program is conducive to improving the local
living environment and enhancing the awareness and knowledge of environmental
protection of rural residents.
40. In summary, as assessed above, the environmental contextual risk is considered to be
moderate given the most likely locations/contexts. The social contextual risk is also
considered as moderate given the overall social benefits and manageable social contextual
risks. Therefore, the overall likely E&S contextual risk is "moderate".
(3) Likely institutional risks

9Water reservoirs in China are classified into three categories, i.e., Large (capacity over 100million m3), Middle (10 –
100 million m3), and Small ( Small I: 1 -10 million m3; and small II: 0.1-1 million m3).

                                                           19
41. The E&S management of this Program will involve many government departments, such
as ecological environment, natural resources, water resources, agriculture and rural affairs,
forestry, and emergency management etc. Because the Program itself is consistent with
government programs and actions which are highly consistent with the responsibilities and
objectives of various departments, all relevant departments have extremely high political
commitments and support for the implementation of Program activities. Based on the
current institutional settings of China's provincial, municipal, and county governments, all
relevant departments are managed in accordance with existing laws and regulations, and
corresponding institutions and personnel have been set up. As government departments, the
personnel arrangement and budgets are guaranteed.
42. As the Program will involve multiple areas of watershed protection, covering a wide
geographical range and involving different regions and numerous management agencies,
communication and coordination between different departments requires a certain amount
of effort. Therefore, the overall institutional risk level is "moderate".
(4) Likely political and reputational risks。
43. The Program will help improve the environment and reduce pollution, which is
consistent with national and local policies and plans, and is an important measure to
implement the protection and development strategy for the Yellow River Basin protection
and high-quality development, so there is no political risk. Past projects have improved the
local water and ecological environments, and local residents have benefited greatly from
these projects. Accordingly, the rating of political and reputational risks is low.
(5) Overall E&S risks
44. Overall, based on the above assessment from four risk dimensions, the direct E&S
impacts associated with proposed Program activities are not expected to be significant since
the Program has been designed for clear environmental protection targets in line with the
national YRB program, and the exclusion criteria has been established to rule out all the
activities with potential high E&S risks. However, potential negative E&S cumulative impacts
still need to be assessed and addressed as part of the Program in planning specific
interventions at the sub-basin levels, particularly considering the various types of
interventions and insufficient coordination of ecological and water management action
across jurisdictions and sectors at current stage. In the highly populated Program areas, the
tradeoff particularly considering the tradeoff between economic output and environmental
protection should be carefully analyzed to secure the achievement of positive environmental
impacts while avoiding and minimize potential negative impacts on various water users in
the river basins as the cumulative result of Program implementation. Therefore, the overall
rating of E&S risks of the Program is rated as “Substantial�?.




                                             20
3. Environmental Management System Assessment
3.1. Description of Environmental Management Systems

45. Based on the E&S impact analysis in Chapter 2 and consideration of the relevant
laws/regulations and institutional setup of China, the environmental risks and impacts
management of the Program activities involves the following management systems:


     Table 3-1 Environmental Management Systems Related to Program Activities
            Potential environmental            Environmental                       Regulators
                  impacts                    management system
 -   Environmental impacts during           - Ecological                 -   Ecology and
     construction, including dust, noise,     environment                    Environment
     odor, wastewater, solid waste            protection and                 authority
     (including sludge), vegetation           pollution control
     damage, natural habitats and             systems (including
     biodiversity impacts, soil erosion,      EIA system, pollution
     traffic disturbance, community           control system)
     safety, etc.
                                            -   Water and soil           -   Water Resources
 -   Odor, wastewater, noise, and solid         conservation                 authority
     waste (including sludge) discharge         management system
     during facility operation;
 -   Worker and community health and        -   Work safety              -   Sectoral authorities
     safety risks during construction and       management system            for their specific
     operation                                                               sector
                                                                         -   Emergency
                                                                             Management
                                                                             authority

                                            -   Occupational disease     -   Health authority
                                                prevention system
                                                (this system is
                                                assessed in chapter 4)
 -   Environmental and health risks of      -   Pesticide                -   Agriculture and Rural
     pesticide and fertilizer application       management system            Affairs authorities
                                            -   Fertilizer
                                                management system
 -   Forest fire risks and potential        -   Forest fire control      -   Forestry authority
     environmental risks of pest control        system and pest          -   Emergency
                                                management system            Management
                                                                             authority


46. This section mainly describes and analyzes the above main environmental management
systems, including the (1) ecological environment protection and pollution control system
(including EIA management system, pollution control system, and water and soil
conservation management system), (2) work safety management system, and (3) pesticide

                                                 21
and fertilizer management system, and (4) forest fire control and pest management system
in terms of laws and regulations, implementation mechanism, performance, and
organizational structure and capacity. Other social related management systems for social
stability risks, land acquisition and resettlement, ethnic minority, occupational health etc. are
assessed in the social management system assessment in Chapter 4.


3.1.1 Ecological Environment Protection and Pollution Control System
     3.1.1.1 Legal Framework
47. Since the promulgation of the Environmental Protection Law in 1979, China has
established an integrated legal framework for environmental protection, and pollution
prevention and control gradually. This framework includes over 80 laws, 120 departmental
regulation, and over 1,000 technical guidelines and standards at the state level, and
constitutes the main regulatory framework for the environmental risks and impacts involved
in the Program activities, covering various fields of EIA, pollution prevention and control,
ecology and biodiversity protection, etc.


48. Environmental Protection Law is the fundamental law in China’s environmental
protection, and pollution prevention and control system. Its 2014 amendment is regarded as
the most stringent environmental law in China’s history, and aims to protect and improve the
environment, prevent and control pollution, protect public health, and promote sustainable
development. The law requires that EIA should be conducted for construction projects with
environmental impacts as well as for certain type of development plans. In addition, it
stipulates that the state practices an environmental protection target responsibility system,
an evaluation system, an ecological protection compensation system, “three simultaneities�?
system, ecological red line protection system, total emission control system for key
pollutants, pollutant discharge permit system, etc., and becomes a main tool for the Chinese
environmental safeguard system. Its key points are:
         EIA system: An environmental impact assessment shall be conducted for all
          construction projects and certain types of development plans10.
         Pollution prevention and control “three simultaneities�?: Facilities for the prevention
          and control of pollution must be designed, built and commissioned together with the
          main project. The three simultaneities system shall be supervised by local
          environmental protection authorities.
         Total emission control: A total emission control system for key pollutants is practiced.
          The total emission control targets for key pollutants are issued by the State Council,
          and allocated and fulfilled by the governments of the provinces, autonomous regions
          and municipalities directly under the central government. Enterprises and public
          institutions shall obey the total pollution amount cap targets assigned to them while
          complying with the national and local pollutant emission concentration standards.

10This means land utilization plans, and construction, development and utilization plans of areas, watersheds and
sea areas. The requirement of preparation of Planning EA (similar to Strategic EA) is implemented as part of EIA
system, similar to project EIA, along with the plan development and approval procedures.

                                                         22
            Pollutant discharge permit: All enterprises that are subject to pollution permit
             requirements shall apply for a pollutant discharge permit. Otherwise, it is forbidden
             to discharge pollutions.
            Ecological protection red line: The State requires all local government to draw a red
             line for strict ecological protection in the key ecological function areas, ecological
             sensitive areas, and vulnerable areas.
            EIA information disclosure and public participation: including the requirements for
             government authorities to disclose environmental information and improve public
             participation procedures according to law, and the requirements for public
             participation in EIA report preparation

49. Under the general framework of the Environmental Protection Law, the main systems
related to the environmental risks and impacts management of the Program activities
include:
(1) EIA System
50. Environmental Impact Assessment Law: This law is the specialized law on EIA under
the Environmental Protection Law, and constitutes the full system for project and plan EIA
along with a series of technical guidelines.
51. The Environmental Impact Assessment Law stipulates statutory EIA requirements for
construction projects and certain types of plans, and requires that potential environmental
impacts be screened at the early stage, project impacts assessed, prevention and mitigation
measures developed, and public participation conducted and supervised. An EIA must be
objective, fair, and open, and give full consideration potential impacts on various
environmental factors and ecosystems, thereby providing a scientific basis for decision-
making. Its core elements are:
            Classification management: Construction projects are divided into three types
             based on environmental impact level, namely EIA report (potentially significant
             impacts), EIA report form (potentially moderate impacts) and EIA registration form
             (low impacts).11
            Public participation: For any construction project with potentially significant
             environmental impacts for which an EIA report should be prepared, the project
             proponent shall hold expert review meeting and public hearing before the EIA
             report is submitted for approval, or collect opinions from agencies concerned,
             experts and the public through other appropriate methods.
            Prerequisites to construction commencement: If the EIA documents of a
             construction project have not been reviewed or approved by the approval authority
             according to law, the project proponent shall not commence construction.

11 The  EIA classification system in China provides an integrated screening and classification method with consideration
of project types, scales and sensitivity of contextual locations. Following the PforR principle, the Program will exclude
activities that are classified as class A, and only support class B and C activities. EIA Form (for class B projects) is a
simplified EIA report (normally around 100 pages or more) organized by a standard chapter structure. It provides full
coverage of all relevant environmental impacts, while certain aspects of the assessment may not require the same in-
depth as compared to EIA Report (for class A projects), e.g., air dispersion modelling is not required if air pollution
emission is not a major pollution concern following the EIA technical guidelines.

                                                           23
       Accountability system: The project proponent shall be responsible for the contents
        and conclusions of the EIA report and EIA report form of the construction project,
        and the technical consultant that prepares the EIA report and EIA report form shall
        be responsible for these documents.
       In-process and post-regulation: The Environmental Impact Assessment Law also
        requires that relevant authorities for environmental protection shall follow up
        environmental impacts after construction projects are put into production or
        operation based on EIA conclusions.

52. To facilitate the implementation of EIA Law, China has formulated a full set of policies,
procedures, and technical guidelines, which have formed a comprehensive EIA system that
covers all environmental aspects of construction projects and plans, mainly including:
       Regulations on the Administration of Construction Project Environmental
        Protection (2017 Amendment): These regulations make detailed provisions on
        EIA classification, contents, and classified approval, and define the requirements
        for project proponent to disclose completion acceptance reports of environmental
        facilities.
       Catalogue for the Classified Management of the Environmental Impact
        Assessment of Construction Projects (updated in 2021): It provides an EIA
        classification guide for 55 industrial sectors (173 types of projects), and specifies
        detailed technical criteria for significant, moderate, and low impacts classification
        based on project type, scale, and contextual environmental sensitivity.
       Technical Guidelines for Environmental Impact Assessment: To regulate the
        preparation of EIA documents, China has promulgated more than 20 sets of
        technical guidelines for environmental impact assessment, providing
        methodological and technical support for EIA in different types of projects and key
        industries. These guidelines include a general guideline, and a series of guidelines
        for specific environmental factors (water, air, noise, ecology, biodiversity, risk
        assessment), and key industries. The Technical Guidelines for Environmental
        Impact Assessment—General Program specifies overall requirements for EIA
        documents, including early intervention in early-stage site selection, alternative
        selection, extensive public participation, rational utilization of resources, an
        analysis of positive vs. negative, long-term vs. short-term, direct vs. indirect,
        cumulative impacts, etc., an environmental economic benefit and loss analysis,
        development of environmental management measures, monitoring indicators, and
        an investment budget, preparation of management and monitoring plans, etc.
       Environmental Impact Assessment Information Disclosure Mechanism for
        Construction Projects (2015): The project proponent shall disclose project EIA
        information throughout the process and with full coverage, including information
        disclosure before the preparation of EIA documents, full disclosure of the
        completed report (and report form), and information disclosure before, during
        and after construction. The environmental protection authority shall also fully
        disclose the EIA report and report form, and disclose the approval information
        afterwards.


                                             24
       Measures for Public Participation in Environmental Impact Assessment (2018
        Amendment): These measures requires three-round disclosure requirements for
        construction units, namely information disclosure at the beginning of the EIA,
        disclosure of the draft report, and disclosure of the final report (along with a
        description of public participation). In addition, these measures also specify
        requirements for in-depth public participation for projects with many public
        opinions and/or professional comments, including two-round disclosure,
        discussion meeting / public hearing preparation, etc., as well as disclosure
        requirements for the review and approval of the EIA documents by government
        authorities.
53. In addition, there are a large number of other sectoral laws and regulations that provide
direct and indirect requirements for construction projects in the EIA process, mainly
including:
       Regulations on Nature Reserves (2017 Amendment): A nature reserve shall be
        set up for an important habitat. Activities like timber felling, herding, fishing,
        picking, reclamation, burning, mining, quarrying and sand digging shall be not
        conducted in nature reserves. No one shall enter core zones of nature reserves
        (except approved scientific research activities). No production facility shall be
        conducted in core and buffer zones of nature reserves, and no production facility
        that pollutes the environment, or destroys resources or landscape shall be
        constructed in experimental zones. For any construction project involving any
        nature reserve, a detailed impact analysis shall be made in the EIA, avoidance and
        mitigation measures proposed, and the approval of the conserve authority
        obtained.
       Wild Animal Conservation Law (2018 Amendment), Regulations on Wild
        Plants Protection (2017 Amendment): It specifies conservation requirements
        for wild animals and their natural habitats, and wild plants and their growth
        environments. Various classification of protected wild animal and wild plants are
        defined by these laws, such as national (Class I and Class II), provincial (Class I and
        Class II) protected species, and list of such species are issued by central and
        provincial governments respectively. Impacts of construction projects on wildlife
        and habitats, and mitigation measures are a key aspect of the EIA documents. The
        Technical Guidelines for Environmental Impact Assessment—Ecological Impacts
        require that the EIA documents shall pay attention to positive vs. negative, direct
        vs. indirect, and cumulative impacts, and mitigation measures shall be developed
        in order of avoidance, mitigation, compensation, and reconstruction.
       Cultural Relics Protection Law (2017 Amendment): This law requires that
        protection areas shall be defined for protected cultural relics, in which
        construction projects unrelated to cultural relic protection shall not be conducted,
        and any necessary construction activity shall be approved by the local government
        and cultural relic authority. Before the construction of any large capital
        construction project, an archeological survey must be conducted with the approval
        of the cultural relic authority. Impacts of construction projects on cultural relics
        and protection measures are included in the EIA documents. This law also
        specifies chance find requirements, that is, when any organization or individual

                                             25
        finds any cultural relic during construction or agricultural production, it shall
        protect the site, and report to the local cultural relic authority immediately; when
        any organization or individual finds any important cultural relic, it shall suspend
        construction, protect the site and report to the local cultural relic authority
        immediately.
       Flood Control Law (2016 Amendment): This law prohibits the construction of
        buildings and structures that may impede flood discharge within river and lake
        management areas. For all projects located in flood-affected areas, a qualified
        professional agency shall conduct a flood impact assessment, and the report shall
        be approved by the water authority. In addition, flood risks and preventive
        measures shall also be included in the EIA documents and project design.
       Regulations on the Prevention and Control of Geologic Disasters (2003): For
        all projects in areas where geological disasters are likely to occur, a qualified
        professional agency shall prepare a geological disaster assessment report, which
        shall be approved by the land and resources authority. In addition, geological
        disaster risks and preventive measures shall also be included in the EIA
        documents and project design.

(2) Pollution Prevention and Control System

54. The above EIA system is for the EIA process at the planning/preparation stage, while
environmental protection and pollution control measures at the construction and operation
stages are regulated by the pollution prevention and control system. The relevant laws and
regulations include:
       Water Pollution Prevention and Control Law (2017 Amendment): It specifies
        standards and plans for water pollution prevention and control. It requires that a
        river chief system be established at the provincial, municipal, county and township
        levels to lead water resources protection, shoreline management, water pollution
        prevention and control, water environment management, etc. for rivers and lakes
        within their administrative divisions. Newly constructed, reconstructed or
        expanded construction projects and other water facilities that discharge pollutants
        directly or indirectly to waters shall be subject to an EIA according to law. It also
        specifies wastewater prevention and treatment measures for industry, urban
        areas, agriculture, and rural areas.
       Solid Waste Pollution Prevention and Control Law (2020 Amendment): This
        law requires that an EIA be conducted and the “three simultaneities�? system
        implemented for all projects generating solid waste, and that organizations and
        individuals generating, collecting, storing, transporting, utilizing, and disposing of
        solid waste shall take measures to prevent or reduce solid waste pollution, and
        assume responsibility for pollution. This law stipulates management requirements
        for industrial solid waste, domestic waste, construction waste, agricultural solid
        waste, and hazardous waste.
       Air Pollution Prevention and Control Law (2018 Amendment): This law is the
        basic law for air pollution prevention and control, and requires that pollutant
        discharging enterprise meet emission standards and total emission control

                                              26
       requirements for key atmospheric pollutants, and that an EIA be conducted for
       projects with atmospheric impacts.
      Environmental Noise Pollution Prevention and Control Law (2021
       Amendment): If a construction project may generate environmental noise, the
       project proponent must submit an EIA report to the ecology and environment
       authority according to the procedure specified by the state, which shall specify
       prevention and treatment measures for environmental noise. The environmental
       noise pollution prevention and control facility of a construction project must be
       designed, constructed, and put into operation together with the main part of the
       project. If industrial noise is emitted to the surrounding environment in urban
       areas, the national industrial factory boundary environmental noise emission
       standard shall be complied with.
      Measures for Environmental Administrative Punishment (2009): These
       measures specify rules of administrative punishment for citizens and organizations
       violating laws, regulations, or bylaws on environmental protection, including
       warning, fine, production suspension and correction, shutdown, detention, etc.
      Measures for Environmental Complaint Letters and Visits (2006): These
       measures specify the public grievance redress mechanism for environmental
       issues, including relevant procedures and time limits.

(3) Water and Soil Conservation Management System

55. For a construction project, water and soil conservation impacts and measures are
reflected in the EIA system. In parallel, China has established a separate water and soil
conservation regulation system under the Water Resource authority for construction
projects, consisting of a number of laws, regulations, policies, management measures,
technical guidelines, including:
      Water and Soil Conservation Law (2010 Amendment): This law requires that
       for any production construction project that may lead to water loss and soil
       erosion, the project proponent shall prepare a water and soil conservation plan,
       and submit to the water and soil conservation authority for approval, and that such
       project shall not break ground if no water and soil conservation plan is prepared,
       or such plan is not approved.
      Administrative Regulations on the Compilation, Submission and Approval of
       Water and Soil Conservation Plans, and Opinions of the Ministry of Water
       Resources on Further Deepening the Reform of Simplification and
       Decentralization, and Strengthening Water and Soil Conservation Regulation
       Comprehensively: Any project proponent or individual that may cause water loss
       and soil erosion must prepare and submit a water and soil conservation plan. For
       any construction project with a land acquisition / occupation area of 5 hectares or
       more, or earthwork or stonework of 50,000 m3 or more, a water and soil
       conservation report shall be prepared and submitted; for any construction project
       with a land acquisition / occupation area of 0.5-5 hectares, or earthwork or
       stonework of 1,000-50,000 m3, a water and soil conservation report form shall be


                                           27
       prepared and submitted. Water authorities shall approve water and soil
       conservation plans at different levels based on the nature and scales.
     Technical Code for Water and Soil Conservation of Construction Projects: It
       specifies technical details for various water and soil conservation plans and
       measures.
     Technical Code for Comprehensive Control of Water and Soil Conservation: It
       includes general rules, and six special technical codes, covering slope land,
       wasteland, gullies, etc.
     Rules for Technical Review of Water and Soil Conservation Plans of
       Production and Construction Projects: These rules specify procedural
       requirements for the review of water and soil conservation plans of construction
       projects.
     Administrative Measures for Water and Soil Conservation Supervision of
       Production and Construction Projects: These measures specify supervision and
       management responsibilities for water and soil conservation of competent
       authorities.
(4) Other sectoral and local regulations, policies, and action plans

56. Except the EIA, and pollution prevention and control systems, and the soil erosion
prevention and treatment system of water and soil conservation authorities, which are
related to the environmental risk management of the Program, there are extensive sectoral
and local regulations, policies, plans, etc. that support the Program’s positive environmental
benefits and minimize its negative impacts directly or indirectly, mainly including
    •    Opinions on Accelerating the Development of Ecological Civilization (2015):
         These opinions requires to draw ecological red lines in key ecological areas,
         environmentally sensitive areas, and vulnerable areas to ensure that ecological
         areas do not degrade in function area, and do not change in nature. Subsequently,
         the Chinese government has promulgated the Technical Guide to the Delineation of
         Ecological Protection Red Lines, Guidelines on Strengthening Ecological Red Line
         Control, Technical Guide to the Preparation of Resource Consumption Disclosure,
         Environmental Quality Baselines, Ecological Protection Red Lines, and
         Environmental Quality Negative Lists, etc. By the end of 2020, ecological
         protection red lines had been delineated in all provinces of China.
    •    Opinions on Implementing the River Chief System (2016), and Guidelines on
         Implementing the Lake Chief System (2017): A river / lake chief system has
         been established at the provincial, municipal, county and township levels, and
         evaluation results are taken as an important basis for the integrated evaluation of
         local leaders. A river/lake management and protection information release
         platform has been established, the list of river chiefs disclosed through main
         media, and a river / lake chief signboard set up along rivers and lakes, indicating




                                              28
          the chief’s responsibilities, river / lake overview, control objectives, supervision
          hotline, etc. for public supervision12.
     •    Action plan for Water Pollution Prevention and Control (2015): This plan
          proposes measures to strengthen water pollution control and improve ecosystem
          services in ten aspects, and aims to increase the proportion of water quality of
          Class III or above in seven key basins (including the Yangtze River Basin) to 70%
          by 2020 and 75% by 2030.
     •    Regulations on Pollution Prevention and Control for Large-scale Livestock
          Breeding (2013): These regulations specify pollution prevention and control
          requirements in stockbreeding for breeding farms and breeding zones. For large
          breeding farms and breeding zones with potentially material environmental
          impacts, an EIA report shall be prepared; for other breeding farms and breeding
          zones, an EIA registration form shall be filled up and submitted. Breeding farms
          and breeding zones shall construct livestock and poultry manure treatment and
          recycling facilities. Methods such as manure reuse, biogas generation and organic
          fertilizer production are encouraged to utilize livestock and poultry waste
          comprehensively.
     •    Action Plan for Livestock and Poultry Manure Recycling (2017-2020) (2017):
          The Ministry of Agriculture has developed this plan to implement the Opinions of
          the General Office of the State Council on Accelerating Livestock and Poultry
          Waste Recycling. The plan requires that a livestock and poultry waste recycling
          system be established to reduce and recycle livestock and poultry manure, and
          make it harmless. By 2020, the national overall utilization rate of livestock and
          poultry manure shall reach 75%, and the availability of treatment equipment of
          large-scale breeding farms shall reach 95%.
     •    A number of technical guides and standards on the disposal and utilization of
          livestock and poultry manure, including the Technical Code for Sanitation
          Treatment of Livestock and Poultry Manure (GBT36195-2018), Technical
          Code for Land Application of Livestock and Poultry Manure (GBT25246-
          2010), Emission Standard for Livestock and Poultry Waste (GB18596-2001),
          Technical Guide to Land Carrying Capacity of Livestock and Poultry Manure,
          etc., provide a comprehensive technical guide to the disposal and recycling of
          livestock and poultry manure.

57. Under the national environmental management legal framework, provincial
governments have formulated local regulations and measures, such as:

Henan Province has formulated a number of relevant local regulations and measures,
including the Regulations on Environmental Protection for Construction Projects, Regulations
on Water Pollution Control, Regulations on Air Pollution Control, Water Pollutant Discharge
Standards for the Yellow River Basin in Henan Province, Measures for the Management of

12According to a report on the enforcement of the water pollution prevention and control law submitted in
August 2019 to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China now has over 1.2
million rivers and lakes, with more than 200,000 in the Yangtze River Basin.

                                                    29
Yellow River Courses in Henan Province, Three-year Action Plan for the Full Implementation of
River/Lake Chief System in Henan Province (2018-2020), Eco-Redline in Henan Province, and
so on.
Shaanxi Province has also formulated a series of relevant local regulations and measures,
including Regulations on Environmental Protection of Construction Projects in Shaanxi
Province, Regulations on Water Pollution Control in the Weihe River Basin of Shaanxi Province,
Regulations on Air Pollution Control in Shaanxi Province, Regulations on the Management of
the Weihe River Basin in Shaanxi Province, Procedures on the Ecological Environment
Protection of the Weihe River Basin in Shaanxi Province, Shaanxi Weihe River Basin Water
Ecological Restoration Plan (2021-2035), Shaanxi Province Ecological Protection Red Line
Delineation Plan and so on.
58. In sum, China has established a comprehensive legal framework on environmental
protection, and pollution prevention and control, covering early-stage screening of project
impacts, impact assessment, public participation, in-process, and subsequent regulation, etc.
For the Program activities, this comprehensive management system provides a reasonably
sound legal framework to ensure the whole-process management of the Program’s
environmental impacts.
  3.1.1.2 Implementation Mechanism

(1) EIA System Implementation

EIA document preparation
59. As discussed above, China has established a detailed and comprehensive catalogue for
the classification of the environmental impact assessment of construction projects for
screening at the preparation stage based on sector, nature, location, scale, and environmental
sensitivity.
60. For projects with potentially significant environmental impacts, a comprehensive EIA
Report shall be prepared; for projects with potentially moderate environmental impacts, an
EIA Report Form shall be prepared; for projects with low environmental impacts, an EIA
registration form shall be prepared.
61. According to the latest Catalogue for the Classified Management of the Environmental
Impact Assessment of Construction Projects (2021), the EIA classification of some Program
activities is as follows:

                       Table 3-2 PforR Activities and EIA Classification
  Activities and Code              EIA Report                 EIA Form         EIA Registration
        Number                         (A)                       (B)                Form
                                                                                     (C)
  94. Drinking water     /                              All                /
  production and
  supply (excluding
  village supply
  projects)


                                                30
  95. Sewage treatment   New construction or expansion of     New construction    Others (excluding
  and reuse              urban and rural wastewater           or expansion of     upgrading and
                         treatment plants with daily          urban and rural     renovation projects;
                         treatment capacity of 100,000        wastewater          excluding septic
                         tons or more.                        treatment plants    tanks and reuse
                                                              with capacity       treatment after
                                                              between 500 –       septic tank
                                                              100,000t/d;         treatment; excluding
                                                                                  construction only of
                                                                                  sedimentation tanks
                                                                                  for treatment)
  125. Irrigation        Involving environmentally            Others (excluding   /
  project (non-water     sensitive areas                      high-standard
  source project)                                             farmland, drip
                                                              irrigation and
                                                              other water-
                                                              saving renovation
                                                              projects)
  126. Water diversion   Trans-basin water diversion;         Others              /
  project                diversion of large and medium-
                         sized rivers; the total annual
                         diversion of small rivers accounts
                         for 1/4 or more of the natural
                         annual runoff of the diversion
                         section; those involving
                         environmentally sensitive areas
  128. River and lake    Involving environmentally            Others              /
  rehabilitation         sensitive areas
  (excluding rural
  ponds and weirs and
  canals)


62. Other activities that are not listed above (such as soil and water conservation
afforestation, forest enclosure, soil and water conservation facilities, terrace transformation,
ecological bank protection, green landscape plantation, etc.) have little or no potential
environmental impact, or they are environmental restoration and improvement activities by
nature. Therefore, in accordance with regulations, there is no need to prepare a separate
environmental impact assessment document. The environmental protection measures are
inherently built in such activities through project design and relevant technical specifications,
e.g., technical guidelines of afforestation, soil and water conservation (as described in Section
1.1.1.1).
63. According to the EIA classification catalogue, the activities of this PforR project in Henan
and Shaanxi provinces do not involve EIA Report-type projects. Among them, urban and rural
sewage collection and treatment facilities are small-scale treatment facilities (typically 10 –
500t/d) at the township and rural village level. Irrigation canal reconstruction is the
improvement of existing irrigation canals, and river and lake rehabilitation (subject to EIA
requirement as mentioned in the above table) do not involve environmentally sensitive areas.
Dredging in river rehabilitation will be assess in the specific EIA documents following the

                                                 31
EIA guidelines to ensure the risks are assessed, and appropriate mitigation measures are
developed. Therefore, in general, the project activities in this PforR belong to the RIA form
(B), EIA registration form (C) or projects that do not require an environmental assessment
in China's domestic environmental assessment system.
EIA review and approval
64. For the management of EIA, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment has formulated a
unified national management system. According to China's regulation, different levels of
ecological and environmental departments are responsible for EIA review and approval
according to factors such as project approval, investment scale, and environmental sensitivity.
The Program activities are generally within the scope of review and approval by the county
level Ecological and Environment Bureau (EEB). Municipal-level EEB only review projects
that are heavily polluted or that cross districts and counties, while the Provincial Department
of Ecology and Environment mainly reviews the approval of large-scale projects that are
heavily polluted or cross-city areas. Such projects are not included in the projects supported
by this Program.
65. For EIA preparation, China currently adopts a nationally unified qualification system for
EIA engineers, that is, technical personnel responsible for preparing EIA documents must
pass the national qualification examination and obtain the qualifications of registered EIA
engineers.
66. During the preparation of the EIA documents, the owner unit (and EIA consultant) shall
carry out public participation in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental
Impact Assessment Law and the Public Participation Measures for Environmental Impact
Assessment, typically through interviews, meetings, and questionnaire surveys. For projects
that need to prepare an EIA report, the construction unit needs to carry out three rounds of
publicity during the preparation of the EIA, that is, the start of the EIA work information
publicity (within 7 days); the publicity of the draft report (not less than 10 days); the final
report is submitted for approval The draft (together with public participation instructions)
is published. For projects that have many doubts and/or professional issues, it is necessary
to hold a symposium/hearing meeting and carry out in-depth public participation. For
projects that require the preparation of EIA report forms, the law does not mandatory the
reporting of public participation in the EIA forms, however, the undertaking of public
participation remains the responsibilities of project proponents according to the national
Environmental Protection Law. In actual operation, for those projects that may have an
impact on the surrounding sensitive points (such as location of WWTPs), the local EEB do
require the owners to carry out and report on public participation activities to avoid
environmental and social risks.
67. After the EIA document is received, the EEB will disclose the full documents (both EIA
reports and EIA forms) for public comment for not less than 10 days. In addition, the EEB
will disclose the approval opinions and decision before and after approval.
68. The EIA report is reviewed by a committee composed of independent experts. The EIA
report form is reviewed by an expert committee in some counties, or by the EIA section of
the EEB. EIA review experts are selected randomly from the expert pool set up by the
provincial or municipal EEB. A review organized by a municipal or county EEB usually

                                              32
involves at least three experts.
Acceptance Inspection
69. Based on the approval of the EIA documents, the project proponent will implement the
required measures. At the construction stage, the construction unit is responsible for
implementation, and the project proponent and supervision agency for supervision. At
project completion, the project proponent will engage a capable technical agency for
acceptance inspection, and prepare an acceptance inspection report. Only if the inspection
(also covering construction, safety, occupational diseases, etc.) is passed can the project be
put into operation.
70. According to the applicable regulations, the project proponent will disclose the
inspection report within five working days after its completion for not less than 20 working
days. During disclosure, relevant information will be submitted to the environmental
protection authority at or above the county level for supervision and inspection. Within five
working days after disclosure, the project proponent shall log into the national
environmental protection inspection information platform of completed construction
projects to submit the basic information of the construction project and the inspection of the
environmental protection facility. Local EEB will also disclose such information.
71. Environmental protection authorities at different levels will supervise the
implementation of “Three Simultaneousness�? requirements and completion inspection
through random selection of inspection targets and random assignment of inspectors, and
disclose inspection results to the public timely in accordance with the Measures for the In-
process and Post Environmental Protection Supervision and Management of Construction
Projects.
Contractor management
72. The contractor shall implement environmental protection measures at the construction
stage. The Standard Construction Bidding Documents of the People’s Republic of China requires
that the technical specification include an environmental protection chapter that includes
the environmental protection measures in the EIA documents. The general conditions of the
standard construction contract have a chapter on work safety and environmental protection
that defines safety, health, on-site management, and environmental protection measures.
73. After the construction contract is signed, the contractor will prepare a construction
implementation plan, which is the specific construction plan of the contractor, which must
include an environmental protection plan and a work safety management plan. During
construction, the supervision consultant will supervise construction quality, safety and
environmental protection work of the contractor. The project proponent and supervision
units will review the construction implementation plan before construction, and supervise
the safety and environmental protection work of the contractor during construction.
74. The above EIA management system for construction projects has been implemented in
China for decades, and evolved into a well-established system. During the project preparation
period, field visits were conducted to several representative counties including Mianchi
County, Shanzhou District and Lingbao City in Sanmenxia City of Henan Province, and Wangyi
District in Tongchuan City, Xunyi County and Yongshou County in Shaanxi Province. It is

                                              33
observed that the types of construction projects that may be involved in this Program, such
as sewage treatment plants, sewage pipe networks, engineered wetlands for effluent
treatment of WWTPs, etc., have carried out corresponding environmental impact assessment
work in accordance with the requirements of the local EEBs in the early stage. For some EIA
form-type projects, due to the presence of surrounding villages and other sensitive points,
the construction unit also carried out public participation on its own or according to the
requirements or recommendations of the local ecological environment bureau, and
publicized environmental impact assessment information on the website of the district and
county people's government to solicit public opinions. The construction contracts included
the chapter of environmental protection in accordance with the requirements of the standard
construction project contract, and are supervised and implemented by an independent
supervision unit. Upon completion of the project, the environmental protection inspection
and acceptance will be organized by the project proponent through engaging third-party
consultant in accordance with the relevant requirements, and the acceptance results will be
reported to the EEB for record.
(2) Implementation of pollution prevention and control system
75. According to the Environmental Protection Law, and the laws on water pollution,
atmospheric pollution, solid waste, and noise pollution prevention and control, enterprises
shall comply with national pollutant discharge standards and total emission control
indicators for key pollutants when discharging pollutants to the environment. Pollutant
discharging entities should apply for a pollutant discharge permit according to law before
pollutant discharge.
76. According to the regulations on pollutant discharge permit management, pollutant
discharging entities should comply with the provisions on the pollutant discharge permit,
construct standard discharge outlets, set up signs, conduct self-monitoring according to law,
and keep original monitoring records, which should be kept for not less than five years. Key
regulated entities must install automatic monitoring equipment, and connect it to the
monitoring equipment of the local EEBs in real time.
77. Local EEBs are responsible for the operation regulation of pollutant discharge. Except
online monitoring of key pollution emission enterprises, municipal and county/district EEBs
also conduct on-site inspection and supervision (through supervision teams). Normally,
small enterprises with small amount of pollution emission do not have to install continuous
monitoring equipment, and are monitored by local EEBs through random monitoring
without prior notice.
78. The Program activities involving daily operation and pollution management is mainly the
operation of county and township WWTPs:
       Township and village WWTPs (stations) are under the sectoral management of local
        EEBs. The pollution discharge is subject to pollution permit requirement, and
        effluent is subject to periodic monitoring (or real-time online monitoring) and on-
        site inspection by enforcement units of local EEBs. Through the field visits, it is
        noted that WWTPs have been constructed at all Program counties Henan Province
        and Shaanxi Province, with online monitoring equipment (supplemented by daily
        manual sampling) which transmits the monitoring data to the county EEBs in real

                                             34
    time. The sewage treatment facilities at the township level have not yet reached full
    coverage, some towns have not yet built sewage collection and treatment facilities.
    Due to the relatively small scale (generally tens of tons/day to several hundred
    tons/day), the township and village-level sewage treatment facilities are not
    required to install online monitoring instruments. Especially for village-level
    sewage treatment facilities, most of them use pre-fabricated equipment sets with
    simple and mature techniques which basically do not require daily maintenance.
    Typical sewage treatment in rural areas include: (1) renovation of household toilets
    for return to farmland; (2) integrated equipment sets; (3) engineered wetland. The
    drainage of township and rural sewage treatment plants is monitored by manual
    sampling, and the general frequency is once every quarter or half a year. The
    district/county EEBs carry out routine supervision of the compliance operation of
    the sewage treatment facilities through their enforcement units. Through field visits
    in Wangyi District of Tongchuan City, Xunyi County of Xianyang City, Yongshou
    County and other places, the Bank team learned that sewage treatment stations have
    been basically built in the township level. The scale is generally between 100-
    300m3/d. Only one of the 18 townships in Xunyi County has not built a sewage
    treatment station yet. Village-level sewage treatment stations are still under
    construction. According to the "14th Five-Year Plan" of Shaanxi Province, sewage
    treatment facilities should be built at the village level with mature conditions, and
    the coverage rate will reach 60% by 2025. Other villages that cannot be treated
    centrally will realize sewage treatment through toilet renovation, and regularly
    clean them for return to farmland. In Mianchi County of Sanmenxia City, only 17
    sewage treatment facilities have been built in rural areas (out of 236 villages in the
    county). The monitoring of effluent is required for facilities with capacity of 20
    tons/d or more on a quarterly or six-month basis. There are 256 villages in
    Shanzhou District, of which 85 villages have built rural domestic sewage treatment
    facilities or connected to the urban sewage pipeline network. It is noted that for the
    existing township and village wastewater treatment facilities, it is not uncommon
    that there is an issue of sustainable operation due to both lack of adequate financial
    resources and lack of technical capacities.
   This Program supports the improvement of the existing small-scale livestock and
    poultry farms manure treatment facilities to realize the full utilization of manure
    organic fertilizer production and achieve zero pollution discharge. Existing
    farms/households are responsible for the implementation of the upgrading and
    improvement of manure treatment/recycling facilities, and the county-level
    agricultural and rural affairs bureaus are responsible for the organization,
    management, and supervision. Shaanxi Province attaches great importance to the
    resource utilization of livestock and poultry manure, and has set targets (the overall
    utilization rate of livestock and poultry manure of 75%, and the availability of
    treatment equipment of large-scale breeding farms of 95% by 2020), and
    promulgated a series of promotional policies and implementation plans. Leading
    groups have been established, and implementation plans developed in all cities and
    counties for this purpose. The Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural
    Affairs conducts the assessment and evaluation of the utilization of provincial
    livestock and poultry manure resources every year, and randomly selects a certain
                                         35
             number of farms (including large-scale farms and farmers below the scale) for
             assessment. In addition to the supervision and management of the agricultural
             authorities, the supervision and law enforcement team of the county EEB will also
             supervise the environmental management of the farms from time to time following
             the approach of "two random and one open"13.

(3) Implementation of Water and Soil Conservation Management System
79. According to the Water and Soil Conservation Law, for any construction project with
potential water loss and soil erosion risks, a water and soil conservation plan must be
prepared and submitted by a qualified agency and staff.
80. The water and soil conservation report of a project will be submitted to the relevant
water resources authority for approval. All construction activities under the Program are
within the mandate of county-level water resources bureaus.
81. Water and soil conservation measures will be implemented by the contractor under the
supervision of the project owner, and monitoring will be conducted according to the water
and soil conservation plan. After project completion, according to the Measures for Water and
Soil Conservation Supervision and Management of Construction Projects , the owner shall
appoint a third party to inspect the water and soil conservation facility, and submit the
completion inspection conclusion to the water resources bureau for filing.
82. Water resources authorities are responsible for water and soil conservation supervision
and inspection by means of remote sensing, on-site visit, written report, and “Internet+
regulation�?. On-site inspection is subject to random sampling and assignment, and result is
publicly disclosed. An annual on-site sampling rate shall be not less than 10%.
     3.1.1.3 Institutional Structure and Capacity
83. Due to China’s unified organizational setup system, the setup of government authorities
at all levels is basically the same in Henan and Shaanxi Provinces in terms of names and
mandates assignment. The main authorities involved in environmental management under
the Program include ecology and environment authorities (overall regulation of
environmental protection, and pollution prevention and control), water resources
authorities (river channel rehabilitation, water, and soil conservation management).
(1) Ecology and environment authorities
84. In the above environmental management systems, main regulator is the ecology and
environment authority, including the provincial Ecology and Environment Department
(EED), municipal and county EEBs. At township government, normally one or two full-time
environmental officials are assigned as focal points for environmental management tasks.
85. Henan Provincial EED is responsible for province-wide ecological protection, and urban
and rural pollutant discharge regulation and law enforcement. It has 18 divisions and 8
directly affiliated units under its jurisdiction. Among them, divisions involving in EIA
management and compliance enforcement of the projects mainly include the Environmental
Impact Assessment and Emission Management Division (environmental impact assessment,

13   Means random site selection and random inspector assigned, and results is publicly disclosed after inspection.

                                                            36
organizing and implementing the supervision of the "three simultaneous" system of
construction projects), and the Provincial Ecology and Environment Law Enforcement and
Supervision Bureau (mainly responsible for polluting units and operations Environmental
protection law enforcement supervision). The Shaanxi Provincial EED has 19 divisions and
13 directly affiliated units. The divisions involved in project environmental management
include the Environmental Impact Assessment Division, the Provincial Environmental
Engineering Assessment Center, and the Provincial Ecology and Environment Law
Enforcement and Supervision Bureau.
86. The EEB in Sanmenxia city has similar institutional structure as provincial EED,
including 14 internal divisions and 5 affiliated units, of which EIA and Emission Management
Division and Enforcement Team. Under the municipal EEB, each county has its own EEB. The
activities under this Program are basically under the jurisdiction of the county-level EEB
according to the type and scale of the projects. The county EEB has an internal unit in charge
of EIA approval (usually with 1-6 staff), and EIA review is normally based on technical
experts from the municipal/provincial expert pool. In addition, there is also a comprehensive
environmental law enforcement team (generally have dozens of staff), responsible for the
supervision and law enforcement of the implementation of environmental protection
measures. Both Tongchuan City and Xianyang City in Shaanxi Province have set up municipal-
level EEB, whose structure and functions are basically the same as those in Sanmenxia City
in Henan Province. For example, the EEB in Mianchi County in Sanmenxia City has an internal
government service unit (with six staff) responsible for EIA review and approval, pollutant
discharge permit approval. The county EEB has an environmental law enforcement team
with 80 personnel, responsible for construction management, environmental protection
inspection, environmental protection acceptance, and three simultaneousness supervision.
The EEB of Shaanzhou District has an environmental assessment unit with 3 personnel; the
comprehensive environmental law enforcement team is equipped with 30 personnel. The
internal comprehensive unit of the Yongshou County EEB is responsible for environmental
review and approval (3 staff), and an environmental law enforcement team with 20 staff. The
budgets of the county EEBs are all supported by government fiscal appropriations with
sufficient funds.
87. For the activities that have environmental impact assessment requirements under this
Program (mainly including township and rural sewage treatment facilities, township, and
rural water supply plants), the specific supervision of the construction and operation stage
is at the level of the district and county EEBs. Generally, supervision and law enforcement
teams under the district and county EEBs conduct supervision through online monitoring
data and on-site inspections in accordance with the principle of "two random and one open14.
88. In terms of environmental compliant management, China has set up a national unified
environmental complaint hotline (12369) and a WeChat environmental public account
(12369), where citizens may call the hotline anywhere to file environmental complaints.
Each county government has set up a public complaint channel on its website and a national
uniform government service hotline (12345) to receive public feedback, including
environmental complaints. Each county EEB has a division handling public environmental
complaints in accordance with the Measures for Environmental Complaint Letters and Visits.
14   Means random site selection and random inspector assignment, and results is publicly disclosed after inspection.

                                                           37
According to the information from the Sanmenxia EEB, the time limits for the above three
channels are: (1) "12369" emergency pollution reports are processed in 3 days, important
pollution reports are processed in 15 days, and general pollution reports are processed in 30
days; (2) The "12345" government hotline handles important pollution in 3 days, and general
pollution compliant in 5 days; (3) The complaint letters and visits from the public is handled
in 10 days. According to the field visits to the comprehensive law enforcement team of
Tongchuan City EEB in Shaanxi Province, Tongchuan City received 713 complaints from the
public and handled 713 cases from 2019 to the first half of 2021, with a 98% satisfaction rate.
89. Based on the observation of the sample districts and counties, the district and county
EEBs have assigned corresponding staff to carry out corresponding tasks in accordance with
their duties, and the results are satisfactory. Government agencies have sufficient budgets to
ensure the normal implementation of environmental management work.
(2) Water Resources Bureau
90. The activities of this Program mainly involve district/county Water Resources Bureaus
(WRB). The main responsibilities of the district and county-level WRBs include county water
resources planning and supervision and management, guidance of water conservancy
projects, water resources protection, river and lake protection, water and soil conservation,
rural drinking water and irrigation, flood and drought prevention and so on. Based on field
visits in Mianchi (Henan), Shanzhou, Lingbao, Xunyi and Yongshou counties (Shaanxi), it is
observed that county EEB normally has an internal business management unit responsible
for review and approval of water and soil conservation plans, and an affiliated water and soil
conservation station (enforcement unit) responsible for implementation supervision. For
example, the WRB of Yongshou County in Shaanxi Province has a business management
division with 3 staff, and a subordinate soil and water conservation station with 15 staff;
WRB in Xunyi County is equipped with 20 staff. The soil and water conservation supervision
station under Mianchi EEB is staffed with 30 staff. In the actual project, the project owner is
responsible for the implementation of soil and water conservation measures, and the
contractor is responsible for the implementation. During the implementation process, the
monitoring work is carried out in accordance with the soil and water conservation plan. The
county soil and water conservation station is responsible for the supervision and inspection.
91. Since 2016, China has established a system of river chiefs/lake chiefs at all levels of
governments. Leaders of local governments act as river chiefs and are directly responsible
for the ecological protection and pollution prevention of the rivers within their jurisdiction.
The river chief office is set up in the head of administrative directors at all levels (generally
the water conservancy bureau) and is responsible for daily management. Public notice
boards are set up on the banks of the river and lake, indicating the responsibilities of the river
chief, the general situation of the river and lake, the management and protection objectives,
and the supervision telephone number.
92. Based on the on-site inspection, each county has set up a river chief's office (located in
the WRB) with full-time personnel, and set up public signs in all rivers to accept public
supervision.
3) Other sectoral authorities


                                               38
93. Authorities related to the Program also include authorities for county and township
wastewater, livestock and poultry manure utilization and recycling. At the provincial level,
the authority for county and township wastewater and domestic waste treatment is the
provincial housing and urban-rural development department, however, specific construction
and management functions for county and township wastewater treatment, and waste
collection and treatment are at the county level. The provincial authority for livestock and
poultry manure recycling is the agriculture and rural affairs department, and specific
management functions are performed by county agriculture and rural affairs bureaus. The
detailed arrangements are:
  County and township wastewater treatment management: County and township
  wastewater treatment authorities at the county level are housing and urban-rural
  development bureaus (typically with 10-15 staff). A county housing and urban-rural
  development bureau has a number of subordinate institutions, including a construction
  management station and a quality supervision station (normally with several tens of
  technical staff), supervising the quality, safety, and environmental performance of
  construction projects. Based on field visits in both provinces, it is noted that all county
  housing and urban-rural development bureaus are well staffed and budgeted, have clearly
  defined responsibilities, and supervise WWTP operation effectively.
  Livestock and poultry manure recycling management: Livestock and poultry manure
  recycling is also supervised by county agriculture and rural affairs bureaus, and performed
  by breeding farms and farmers. According to the investigation in Shaanxi Province, each
  city and county has set up a leading group to formulate implementation plans. The county
  agriculture and rural bureaus and relevant township governments are responsible for
  daily supervision and management. Except agriculture and rural affairs authorities, law
  enforcement brigades under county EEBs also supervise the routine environmental
  management of breeding farms by means of random sampling and assignment, and result
  disclosure.
94. Based on the results of the field visits, the institutional settings and staffing of various
authorities related to the project activities are complete, the budget is sufficient, and have
appropriate knowledge and ability to manage the environmental impacts related to the
project activities.
3.1.2 Health and Work Safety Management System
  3.1.2.1 Legal Framework
95. In China, there is a separate set of management system for work safety, which includes a
series of laws and regulations, as well as corresponding implementation methods, technical
specifications and standards. The country has formulated more than 80 laws and regulations,
hundreds of safety production standards and regulations, and formed a comprehensive and
complete safety management system. The main legal framework of this system includes:
     Labor Law (2018 Amendment): This law requires that labor contracts guarantee
         worker’s health and safety, and that employers must establish sound labor health
         and safety regulations, comply strictly with the state labor health and safety
         regulations and standards, and provide labor health and safety education, healthy
         and safe working conditions, and necessary labor protection equipment to workers
         to prevent accidents and reduce occupational hazards.

                                               39
        Labor Contract Law (2012 Amendment): Labor contracts shall ensure working
         conditions and protection against occupational hazards.
        Work Safety Law (2021 Amendment): This law is the basic law on work safety,
         requiring that a production and operation agency must comply with this Law, and
         other laws and regulations related to work safety, establish a work safety
         responsibility system, and work safety rules and regulations, and improve work
         safety conditions. It stipulates that the leader of the production and operation
         agency shall take overall responsibility for the work safety of the agency, including
         institutional building, responsibility definition, staff qualification and training,
         work safety facility “three simultaneities�?15, safety assessment, safety design and
         construction, safety marking, emergency response, personal protective equipment,
         etc. When producing, dealing with, transporting, storing, using or disposing of
         hazardous materials, the production and operation agency must comply with the
         applicable laws, regulations, and national or industrial standards, take effective
         safety measures, and accept supervision by relevant authorities. Work safety
         supervision authorities shall supervise work safety generally within their
         jurisdictions.
        Regulations on Work Safety Management of Construction Works (2003):
         These regulations are important regulations on the work safety of construction
         projects, and specify the overall framework and procedures for work safety
         supervision and management of construction, reconstruction, expansion, and
         demolition activities of construction projects in China, and the work safety
         responsibilities of the project proponent, supervision agency and relevant
         authorities. These regulations make provisions on work safety in the whole
         process, including safety design, safety review, construction and supervision, and
         the safety management of the project proponent, including setting up a work safety
         management organization, providing full-time work safety management staff,
         developing work safety rules and regulations, taking safety measures in the
         construction organization design, ensuring that special operators are certified, and
         ensuring that meals, drinking water, resting places, etc. of workers shall meet the
         hygiene standard, and providing personal protective equipment and training to
         operators, etc.
        Regulations on Safety Management of Hazardous Chemicals (2013
         Amendment): These regulations cover safety management in the production,
         storage, use, operation and transport of hazardous chemicals, and define relevant
         responsibilities: Enterprises take primary responsibility for the safety
         management of hazardous chemicals; safety supervision, public security, quality
         inspection, environmental protection, transport, health, industry and commerce,
         and postal authorities have their respective responsibilities, in which safety
         supervision authorities are responsible for overall management, including
         reviewing safety conditions of construction, reconstruction and expansion projects
         that produce or store hazardous chemicals, issuing work safety permits, safe use

15This is further elaborated in the Regulations on Supervision and Management of Three Simultaneousness
for Safety Facility in Construction Projects (SAWS, amended in 2015). Work safety facility be designed,
constructed and operated simultaneously with the main project.

                                                   40
        permits and operating permits for hazardous chemicals, etc. A permit is needed for
        all construction projects that produce, deal with, and use hazardous chemicals.
        Enterprises using hazardous chemicals must have qualified safety facilities,
        management systems and staff. Workers exposed to hazardous chemicals should
        receive compulsory training. The transport of hazardous chemicals needs a special
        permit, where relevant staff (drivers, handlers, etc.) must be qualified. Safety
        regulators at or above the county shall develop a contingency plan for hazardous
        chemicals. Each enterprise shall develop its own contingency plan, and provide
        staff and equipment, and organize drills regularly.

    96. In addition, extensive sectoral laws and regulations are an integral part of safety
management, including the Flood Control Law, Regulations on the Prevention and Control of
Geologic Disasters, Fire Control Law (2019 Amendment), Road Traffic Safety Law (2011
Amendment), Emergency Response Law (2007), Special Equipment Safety Law (2013), etc.
97. On this basis, a number of local regulations and implementation rules on safety
management have been promulgated in all the provinces. For instance, Henan issued the
Regulations on Work Safety Management of Henan (2019),
Work Safety Risk and Hidden Hazards Management Measures of Henan (2019), Construction
Safety Standardization Guidelines, Construction Safety and Site Management Measures
(Trial), Regulations on Strengthening Implementation of Work Safety Responsibilities (2021)
and so on. Similarly, Shaanxi Province has also issued a series of related policies and
regulations, including: Shaanxi Provincial Work Safety Regulations (2017), Shaanxi
Provincial Construction Project Quality and Work Safety Management Regulations (2020),
and Three-year Action for Work Safety (2020), Work Safety Law Enforcement System (2020),
etc.
98. The above-mentioned work safety system covers the overall safety and health
management of construction and daily operations of enterprises. The relevant sectoral
authorities are responsible for work safety management in respective sectors, and the
emergency management authority is responsible for the overall supervision. Under this
general framework, specifically related to the management of workers' occupational disease
prevention and control, China also has a special management system based on the
Occupational Disease Prevention and Control Law, which is mainly supervised by the health
authority. The key laws and regulations in this regards include:
       Law on the Prevention and Control of Occupational Diseases: This law
        stipulates occupational disease prevention and treatment requirements related to
        exposure to dust, radioactive substances, and other toxic and hazardous factors at
        work. A “three simultaneities�? system has been established, i.e., facilities for the
        prevention and control of pollution at a construction project must be designed,
        built, and commissioned together with the principal part of the project. This law
        also establishes as occupational disease and hazard declaration system, requiring
        that employers shall declare workplace hazards listed in the Catalogue for the
        Classified Management of Occupational Disease Hazards and Risks of
        Construction Projects to local health authorities timely and truthfully. To


                                             41
        implement this system, the Catalogue specifies 12 risk categories (covering 84
        industries and 281 production activities).
     Under the framework of occupational disease prevention and treatment, the
        Regulations on the Administration of Occupational Health at Workplaces
        require that enterprises shall provide occupational health training to workers
        before and during work, develop an occupational disease prevention and treatment
        plan, provide personal protective equipment, install alarm and emergency rescue
        facilities, etc. The Measures for the Monitoring, Supervision and
        Administration of Employers' Occupational Health further define the
        requirements for employers, including annual health checkup, pre-job occupational
        health examination, and occupational health examination at separation.
99. This occupational disease management system is further described and assessed in the
Chapter 4 Social Management System.
  3.1.2.2 Implementation mechanism
100.     According to the above legal framework, safety management has become a top
priority in project construction and facility operation management, and a complete practical
system has been established for whole-process implementation and regulation. The main
practices include:
    Design stage:
       The design agency should consider construction safety and protection needs, and
        the project proponent should determine the budget for safety measures.
       The project proponent should organize experts to review safety risks before
        construction.
       “Three simultaneousness�? for occupational health facilities, i.e., design,
        construction and operation of occupational health facilities simultaneously with
        main project.
    Construction stage:
       The principal of the project proponent shall be shall take overall responsibility for
        the construction quality and safety of the agency. The project proponent shall
        establish a sound work safety responsibility system, a work safety education and
        training system, and rules and regulations on work safety, perform regular and
        special safety inspections, and keep inspection records properly.
       The project proponent shall establish a work safety management agency, and be
        provided with qualified management staff.
       Operators shall receive work safety education and training before going to a new
        job or a new construction site.
       Special operators must receive special safety training, and be qualified before going
        to work.
       Before construction, the technical staff of the project proponent responsible for
        project management shall explain the technical requirements to the construction
        team and staff in detail.
       The project proponent shall set up conspicuous safety warning signs at positions
        with potential risks, such as construction site entrances, lifting machinery,


                                             42
        scaffolding, tunnel openings, foundation pit edges, and depositories of explosives,
        and hazardous gases and liquids.
       The project proponent shall set up the office, living and operating areas of the
        construction site separately, maintain a safe distance, and ensure that the health
        and safety requirements are met.
       The project proponent shall provide personal protective equipment to operators,
        emergency rescue facilities, and notify safety operation protocols for hazardous
        jobs.
       The principal, project leaders, and full-time work safety management staff of the
        project proponent should go to work after passing an examination by the relevant
        authority only.
       The project proponent shall offer work safety education and training to the
        management and operating staff at least annually, and anyone who does not pass
        the examination shall not go to work.
       The supervision agency and supervising engineer shall perform supervision in
        accordance with the applicable laws, regulations and compulsory standards.
    Operation stage:
        The production and operation entity must establish a sound work safety
         responsibility system, and relevant rules, regulations and protocols, appoint staff
         responsible, and ensure required financial inputs.
     The production and operation entity shall inspect its own work safety, and
         eliminate potential risks timely.
     The production and operation entity shall prepare its emergency rescue plan, and
         conduct drills regularly.
     The principal and work safety management staff must have work safety knowledge
         and management capacity required for production and operation activities.
     Workers shall receive work safety education and training before going to work, and
         special operators must receive special safety training, and be qualified before going
         to work.
     The production and operation entity must provide personal protective equipment
         complying with the national or industrial standard to workers, educate them on
         proper use, and supervise the proper use thereof.
     The operation entity shall establish occupational health records for its employees.
101.     Project owners, and production and operation entities are responsible subjects of
work safety management, sectoral authorities (e.g., water resources, forestry, agriculture and
rural affairs authorities etc.) have regulatory responsibilities for respective sectors, and
overall supervision is the responsibility of emergency management authorities.
102.     Through many years of project experience in China and the actual field visits to the
Program counties, It is noted that the above-mentioned work safety management procedures
and measures are generally well-implemented in the actual project construction and
operation process. During the construction process, work safe is the top priority of project
management. Contractors must set up special units, arrange full-time personnel, formulate
safety plans, and implement safety measures. Supervision units are equipped with full-time
safety supervision engineers to supervise the implementation of the contractor’s safety
measures.

                                              43
103.     The main activities involving daily operation and management under this Program
are mainly township and rural sewage treatment plants (stations), and township and rural
water supply facilities, etc. Through field inspections in Mianchi County, Shanzhou District
and Lingbao City in Sanmenxia City of Henan Province, and Wangyi District and Xunyi County
in Shaanxi Province, the task team observed that work safety is the primary task of these
units. Necessary safety measures can be implemented in accordance with the above-
mentioned measures in the operation phase. The visited enterprises established safety
management organization and assigned dedicated personnel, formulated safety
management, and formulated special safety operating procedures for specific positions and
operations. At the scene, relevant safety operation regulations and safety signs are posted on
obvious positions beside each relevant equipment. At the same time, these companies has
also formulated detailed emergency plans, equipped with emergency equipment and
materials, and carried out drills periodically (typically once a year).
104.     In terms of occupational disease prevention, mainly the operation of WWTPs under
the Program involve occupational disease hazards and risks (hazards factors are noise and
chemicals). Enterprises shall report to health authorities, and take the following
occupational disease prevention and treatment management measures: 1) setting up or
appointing an occupational health management agency, and appoint full-time or part-time
occupational health management staff; 2) developing an occupational disease prevention
and treatment plan; 3) establishing sound regulations and operation protocols on
occupational health management, and providing personal protective equipment; 4)
establishing occupational health and worker health files; 5) establishing a sound workplace
occupational disease hazard monitoring and evaluation system; and 6) developing an
emergency rescue plan for occupational disease accidents. Occupational disease prevention
is under the responsibility of sectoral management authority, and supervised and inspected
by county health commissions annually. For example, in Henan Mianchi County, county
health commission conducts monitors once every three years to the WWTPs as general
enterprises.
105.     Other Program activities that are not included in the catalogue of occupational
disease hazards and risks are not covered by the occupational disease prevention and
treatment system, but by the general work safety management system.
   3.1.2.3 Institutional Structure and Capacity
106.     The Program activities are implemented by county (and township) governments
mainly. Safety management mainly includes construction safety at the construction stage,
and safety management during the subsequent operation of township and rural wastewater
treatment facilities and water supply facilities.
107.     For safety management at the construction stage, except that the contractor
implements specific measures, and the supervision company conducts work safety
supervision, each sectoral authority has work safety supervision and management
responsibilities. According to the Work Safety Law, each sectoral authority is responsible for
both sectoral management and work safety regulation in this sector.
108.     It is noted through field visits that a work safety committee has been established in
each county, headed by a chief county leader, and composed of leaders of different
government departments. The committee is responsible for county-wide work safety
direction and supervision, holds a plenary session quarterly, and a comprehensive inspection
at least quarterly. The committee governs over 10 specialized sectoral work safety
                                              44
subcommittees, covering different fields, including industrial manufacturing, mines,
hazardous goods, construction, road safety, agriculture, stockbreeding, forestry, fishing, etc.
All safety supervision of the Program activities are managed by respective sectoral
authorities, and overall supervised by county emergency management bureaus.
109.     Each sectoral authority at the county level has a work safety leading group to
supervise work safety in the construction and operation of relevant projects. The sectoral
authority usually inspects work safety in monthly routine supervision, which includes the
performance of work safety measures.
110.     In addition to the supervision by sectoral authorities, the county emergency
management bureau conducts general work safety supervision and management, and
evaluates the work safety management performance of all sectoral authorities (normally on
an annually basis).
111.     For instance, the Xunyi County Work Safety Committee has the county head as the
director and the deputy head of the county as the deputy director in charge of daily
management. The office is located in the Emergency Management Bureau, and the directors
of 34 county government departments. The committee is responsible for guiding and
supervising the work safety of the county. It holds a plenary meeting every quarter and
conducts a comprehensive inspection at least every quarter. There are 14 specialized sectoral
work safety committee members under the county safety committee. The competent
department in charge of the industrial enterprises is the Bureau of Industry and Information
Technology, which has established a work safety leading group within it, with the chief leader
of the department as the team leader, responsible for the work safety supervision of project
construction and facility operation under the supervision of the department. The competent
sectoral department generally inspects work safety during the monthly routine inspections.
The routine inspections of construction projects and operating facilities include the
inspection of the performance of work safety measures. The County Emergency Management
Bureau is responsible for comprehensive supervision functions, and urges various sectoral
departments to perform work safety supervision and management functions. The county
Emergency Management Bureau has set up a work safety supervision team. At township level,
there are emergency management stations in each township, with 3-5 people in each station.
At the village level, there is a safety liaison officer for each village, who is usually the village
chief.
112.     Through on-site inspections, the task team learned that governments at all levels
attach great importance to safety issues, and all have established relevant safety
management units, established relevant systems, and are equipped with dedicated staff to
ensure adequate funding budgets. For the project activities under this PforR, this
institutional system can provide a proper framework for safety management.
3.1.3 Pesticide Management System
113.    The Program involves irrigation system renovation and terraced fields rehabilitation
and renovation activities which may involve changes in crop farming, and thus changes in
pesticide use. In general, one of the Program objective is to reduce the pesticide use in the
program counties. In China, pesticide safety management has formed a comprehensive
management system covering the entire process of production, sales and use. The legal
framework and the management institutions and capabilities involved at the level of the
implementation management mechanism are as follows:

                                                45
  3.1.3.1 Legal Framework
114.    The main laws related to pesticide management include:
115.    Pesticide Management Regulation (revised in 2017): The regulation requires the
establishment of an overall framework for pesticide management covering agriculture and
forestry for pest control. It sets up the overall health and safety requirements for pesticide
production, transportation, storage, sale and application. It stipulates that the agricultural
authority is responsible for management and supervision the use of pesticides, that is, the
agricultural authorities at the county level (and above) are responsible for the supervision of
pesticides within their jurisdiction.

116.     The regulation stipulates that the country implement a pesticide registration system
to ensure that all pesticides are approved before entering the market. At the same time, it is
stipulated that the country implements a pesticide production license system and a business
license system. Pesticide sale dealers must obtain business licenses from the county-level
(and above) agricultural authorities, stating: (i) Have professional knowledge of pesticides
and pest control, and be familiar with pesticide management Regulations that can guide
operators who use pesticides safely and rationally; (ii) Have business premises and storage
locations that are effectively isolated from other commodities, drinking water sources, living
areas, etc.; (iii) Have quality management, ledger records, safety protection, emergency
response, warehouse management rules that are compatible with the pesticides applied for.
117.     Pesticide sale dealers who purchase pesticides shall check the product packaging,
labels, product quality inspection certificates and relevant license certification documents,
and must not purchase pesticides from pesticide production enterprises that have not
obtained a pesticide production license or other pesticide operators that have not obtained
a pesticide business license. The regulation also do not allow pesticide dealers to process or
repackage pesticides.
118.     The regulation clearly stipulates that the county-level agricultural authorities should
organize plant protection, agricultural technology extension and other institutions to
provide pesticide users with free technical training, and require the forestry authorities to
provide technical guidance on the use of forest pesticides.
119.    It also clearly emphasizes that the state will gradually reduce the use of pesticides
through measures such as the promotion of biological control, physical measures, and
advanced pesticide application equipment. It is required that the county-level government
should formulate a pesticide reduction plan for its administrative area, and the township
governments shall assist in the development of pesticide use guidance and services.
120.      The regulation requires that pesticide users should protect the environment and
wild animals and plants, and must not discard pesticides, pesticide packaging or cleaning
pesticide application equipment in drinking water source protection areas and rivers, and it
is strictly forbidden to use pesticides in drinking water source protection areas.
121.    The State encourages pesticide users to properly collect pesticide packaging and
other wastes, and requires pesticide manufacturers and pesticide dealers to recycle pesticide
wastes.
122.    In addition, some other laws and regulations also contain provisions concerning the


                                               46
production, use, and waste recycling of pesticides, such as the Soil Pollution Control Law,
Water Pollution Control Law, Hazardous Chemicals Management Regulation, and the
Agricultural Products Quality and Safety Law, Agricultural Technology Extension Law, Food
Safety Law, etc. These laws and regulations directly or indirectly put forward corresponding
requirements for the safety management of pesticides, and constitute the legal framework of
the pesticide management system.
123.     Under the above-mentioned legal framework, China has formulated a series of
specific implementation measures, guidelines, norms and standards for the implementation
of specific pesticide safety management, including: Pesticide Registration Measures, Pesticide
Production License Management Measures, Management Measures for Pesticide Business
License, Management Measures for Recycling and Disposal of Pesticide Packaging Waste,
Pesticide Safety Use Specification (NYT 1276-2007), Pesticide Use Environmental Safety
Technical Guidelines, and a large number of technical regulations. In addition, the Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Affairs regularly updates the List of Restricted Use Pesticides and
dynamically updates the list of prohibited and restricted pesticides.
124.     In recent years, the Chinese government has vigorously promoted the zero-growth
action for pesticide use. In 2015, it formulated the “Action Plan for Zero-growth Pesticide Use
by 2020�? and proposed that “by 2020, a resource-saving and environment-friendly
sustainable management of pests and diseases will be initially established to achieve the goal
of zero growth in total pesticide use". In the same year, Henan Province and Shaanxi Province
respectively issued their respective Implementation Plans for the Zero Growth of Pesticide
Use by 2020. As of 2020, the two provinces have achieved remarkable results in the zero
increase in pesticide use. For example, Henan Province has achieved negative growth in
pesticide use for four consecutive years.
  3.1.3.2 Implementation Mechanism
125.    According to the Pesticide Management Regulation and related management
measures, pesticide sale dealers need to obtain a pesticide business license, and must have
the corresponding professional knowledge of pesticides and pest control in accordance with
the regulations, and their staff must at least have agriculture, plants, pesticides and other
related disciplines background university diploma, or at least a 56-hour training certificate
issued by a specialized pesticide use training institution. Dealers must have suitable business
premises and storage facilities, establish accounting records, and formulate systems for
purchasing, warehousing, sales, safety protection, emergency response, and pesticide waste
recycling. Dealers that sell restricted pesticides must have technical personnel with relevant
professional knowledge of pesticide use and more than two years of work experience in
agriculture, plant protection and pesticide use. According to the requirements, all business
dealers must establish accounting records for the source and end-use purchasers of pesticide
products, and at the same time provide detailed instructions and guidance to the purchasers.
126.    The specific supervision and management are the responsibility of the agricultural
and rural bureau. For the activities under this Program, the specific responsible department
involved in pesticide safety management is the county-level Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Bureau (ARAB). The county ARAB (through its agricultural law enforcement team)
supervises and inspects the quality and safety management of pesticide dealers.
127.    For example, the Tongchuan ARAB recommended a list of low-toxic and low-residue

                                              47
pesticide varieties. Its Agricultural Comprehensive Law Enforcement Team of Wangyi
District is responsible for related administrative inspections and penalties. The 8 pesticide
stores are supervised. Pesticide dealers need to obtain a pesticide distribution business
license, training and examinations every year, the agricultural technology center and law
enforcement team will supervise the safety management of pesticides in the market stores.
The Department of Agriculture of Henan Province has also formulated a list of low-toxic and
low-residue pesticides, and the county ARABs are responsible for supervision and
implementation. A law enforcement team is set up under the county ARAB to be responsible
for administrative inspection and punishment. For example, the ARAB of Mianchi County has
two agricultural law enforcement teams, which are respectively responsible for the
administrative inspection and punishment of planting and livestock breeding sectors. There
are 25 pesticide stores in the county, which are issued and inspected annually by the county
ARAB, and the law enforcement teams conducts supervision on them.
      128. As part of the overall pesticide management system, all county ARABs in China
have its affiliated county-level agricultural technology extension stations (or plant protection
stations, agricultural training stations), which are responsible for providing technical
services and training to farmers, including training on the safe use of pesticides . For example,
since 2020, the ARABs of Wangyi District of Tongchuan City in Shaanxi Province has carried
out 13 trainings on various agricultural techniques, involving 520 people. Xunyi County
ARAB provided training based on farmers' needs., and there are six or seven trainings per
month, with dozens to hundreds of people, and the training methods are flexible. In the first
nine months of 2021, the ARAB of Mianchi County in Henan has carried out 26 trainings on
various agricultural techniques and distributed 50,000 materials.
  3.1.3.3 Institutional Structure and Capacity
     129. The pesticide management agency involved in the activities of this project is the
agricultural and rural affairs authority. At the provincial level, it is the Department of
Agriculture and Rural Affairs (the divisions involved include the Pesticide Management Office,
the Pesticide Inspection Station, the Provincial Agricultural Law Enforcement Bureau, and
the Plant Protection and Plant Inspection Station). While the Provincial Department of
Agriculture and Rural Affairs is mainly responsible for policy guidance and supervision at the
provincial level. The management activities are all at the county-level ARABs.
130.    Each county-level ARAB typically has about 10 staff, and has several internal units to
manage planting, livestock breeding, quality and safety of agricultural products, and
farmland construction management. The county ARABs have subordinate agencies,
including the comprehensive administrative law enforcement team, agricultural technology
extension center, animal husbandry technology extension station, and agricultural
machinery station.
       131. The comprehensive administrative law enforcement team of the county ARAB is
responsible for the daily quality and safety supervision and inspection of pesticides and
fertilizers. The agricultural technology extension center is mainly responsible for providing
training on agricultural production technology and the safe use of fertilizers and pesticides
to farmers and rural enterprises. Based on the inspection of Xunyi County, Yongshou County
and Wangyi District in Shaanxi Province, the task team learned that the ARABs in these


                                               48
counties have complete institution setup, equipped with sufficient personnel, and have
sufficient government budget guarantees. For example, the Agriculture Unit of Yongshou
ARAB has 4 staff members who are responsible for the management of the planting industry,
and the enforcement team has 20 personnel responsible for daily supervision and inspection.
At the township level, each township also has its own animal husbandry station and
agricultural office, cooperating with the county ARAB to manage related work.
132.    Based on the results of the on-site inspection, it can be concluded that, in terms of
pesticide safety management, the ARABs and related units of each county in Henan and
Shaanxi provinces in the project areas have appropriate institutional settings, qualified
personnel arrangements and sufficient funding guarantees, which can manage the pesticide
safety use of the Program activities.
3.1.4 Forest Pest Management and Fire Control
133.     The Program activities in Henan and Shaanxi provinces all involve the plantation of
water and soil conservation forests. The purpose is to expand forest coverage and improve
the quality of forest ecological environment, not for commercial timber production. These
activities will follow the relevant technical specifications and codes to promote healthy forest
with mixed and indigenous species to enhance the ecological function of the forest. This type
of activity is essentially an activity to protect and improve the environment, and will not
cause significant adverse environmental effects and risks. Therefore, these activities are
exempt from the requirements for the preparation of environmental impact assessment
documents. In regards the temporary impacts during planting such as surface vegetation
disturbance, soil erosion, and disturbance of wildlife habitat caused by the afforestation
process, relevant mitigation measures have been integrated into the existing
afforestation/reforestation technical regulations and operational specifications.
134.    Therefore, the main environmental risks involved in the afforestation activities of
this project are the pest management practice and forest fire risks in the daily forest
management process. The legal framework, implementation mechanism and institutional
arrangements involved are as follows:
  3.1.4.1 Legal Framework
135.     Forest Law (revised in 2019): This law stipulates the principles of "ecology first,
protection first, combination of protection and conservation, and sustainable development".
The state implements a forest resource protection and development goal responsibility
system and an assessment and evaluation system, that is, the government at a higher level
assesses the completion of the forest resources protection and development goals, forest fire
prevention, and the prevention and control of major forest pests by the lower people's
governments. The law requires the establishment of forest protection organizations,
supervise and urge relevant organizations to conclude forest protection conventions,
organize mass forest protection, delimit forest protection responsibility areas, and allocate
full-time or part-time forest rangers. At the same time, this law stipulates that the forestry
authority of the people's government at or above the county level shall be responsible for the
monitoring, quarantine and prevention of forestry pests in the administrative area; the
people's government at or above the county level shall organize and lead emergency
management, forestry, public security and other departments in close cooperation in


                                               49
accordance with the division of responsibilities for scientific prevention and fire control.
      136. Regulation on the Prevention and Control of Forest Diseases and Pests
(1989): The regulation puts forward the policy of “prevention first, comprehensive
management�?, requiring the adoption of an integrated pest management model, and the
implementation of a comprehensive forest management approach that combines biological,
chemical and physical control. At the same time, the forestry authorities at the county level
(and above) shall be responsible for the prevention and control of forest diseases and pests
within their jurisdictions, and their subordinate institutions for the prevention and control
of forest diseases and pests shall implement the specific measures. The forestry station of
the township government is responsible for organizing and implementing the prevention
and control of forest diseases and pests in the township. The regulation requires that forest
pests and diseases prevention measures must be taken in the process of afforestation,
tending and harvesting. Anyone who finds pests and diseases should promptly report to the
local government or forestry authorities, who will organize pest control actions in a timely
manner and report to the municipal/provincial forestry authorities. The regulation also
requires forestry authorities at the county level (and above) to formulate forest pest control
plans and conduct regular monitoring. The regulation requires that the application of
pesticides must comply with relevant laws and regulations, prevent environmental pollution,
and ensure the safety of humans and ecosystems.
137.     Forest Fire Prevention Regulation (2008): The regulation stipulates that the
leaders of local governments at all levels shall be responsible for forest fire prevention work.
Local governments at or above the county level are required to establish forest fire
prevention teams to prepare fire prevention plans and emergency plans. The forest
management unit shall establish a forest fire prevention responsibility system, designate
dedicated staff to be responsible for monitoring, and be equipped with necessary fire
prevention facilities and equipment. Governments at all levels, forestry enterprises, and
villages/communities should set up firefighting teams in forest areas and conduct regular
training and drills. Governments at all levels should establish fire warning systems, reporting
and response systems. The regulation provides for the establishment of an armed police
forest unit to be responsible for carrying out firefighting tasks in accordance with the
command of the county (and above) government. In addition, the People's Liberation Army
shall carry out forest fire fighting and rescue tasks in accordance with the relevant provisions
of the Regulations on Army Participation in Rescue and Disaster Relief.
138.     In addition, there are also a series of forestry-related technical regulations and
guidelines, including the Guidelines for the Safe Use of Forest Chemicals (LY/T2648-2016),
Technical Specifications for the Treatment of Forestry Quarantine Pests (GB/T26420-2010),
and Forestry Quarantine Specifications for Plants and Their Products Distribution
(GB/T23473-2009), Guidelines for the Rational Use of Commonly Used Forestry Chemicals
(LY/T 2842-2017), Technical Specifications for Forest Fire Prevention (DB21∕T 2732-2017), etc.
139.     In addition to national-level laws and regulations, Henan and Shaanxi provinces have
also formulated a series of relevant local regulations, e.g., Regulations on Forest Fire
Prevention in Henan Province, Regulations on Prevention and Control of Forest Pests in Henan
Province, and Responsibility for Forest Fire Prevention in Henan Province, Measures of Shaanxi
Province on the Implementation of Forest Fire Prevention, Shaanxi Province Forestry Pest
Control and Quarantine Regulations and so on.
140.     Generally speaking, forest pest control and forest fire prevention are the focus of
                                              50
daily forest management. For this reason, China has formulated systematic laws, regulations,
policies, guidelines, and related technical specifications to provide a relatively complete legal
framework for forest pest control and forest fire prevention.
  3.1.4.2 Implementation Mechanism
Forest Pest Management
141.    The Regulation on the Prevention and Control of Forest Diseases and Pests
establishes a pest management system with the principle of IPM approach. The system is
implemented through three levels of efforts: pest prevention at source; pest monitoring; and
pest control.
   (a) Pest prevention at source: As part of national plant quarantine system, there is a strict
       forest pest inspection and quarantine system in place for tree seeds and seedlings at
       nursery. All seeds and seedlings from tree nursery are subject to pest inspection to
       prevent spread of forest pest during tree plantation. Plantation of trees with
       dangerous forest pest is strictly prohibited by law.
   (b) Pest monitoring and forecast: Routine pest monitoring is an important part of daily
       forest management practice. All forest bureaus at various levels have pest control
       plans and are implementing routine pest monitoring within their jurisdictions. At
       local level, county forestry bureau (FB) is the authority to be responsible for overall
       pest monitoring and pest control. Routine pest monitoring is implemented through
       county-level Forest Pest Control Station (PCS), township level forest workstation
       (FWS), and forest patrol rangers at each village. Based on the monitoring results, FBs
       bureaus at various levels issue pest situation forecasts for their jurisdictions. Anyone
       finds pest and diseases should timely report to county government or county FB,
       which shall organize timely pest control actions and report to municipal and
       provincial FB.
   (c) Pest control operation: Once pest or disease is found during the routine monitoring
       by county FB or township FWS staff or village forest rangers, it must be reported to
       county FB/county PCS. If pest or disease is found in relatively large scale, then the
       county PCS will take in charge to implement pest control operations by engaging third
       party professional service providers. In case the pest is occasionally found in small
       scale, normally no further action will be taken but keeping monitoring. In case of
       serious infectious disease such as Bursaphelenchus xylophilus for pine trees, county
       PCS staff will cut the individual infected trees and burn it safely. Farmers do not
       participate in the pest control operations for the public welfare forest.
142.    As guided by Regulations on Prevention and Control of Forest Pests and Diseases, pest
control practice is implemented through an IPM approach, with the application of following
measures in following priority order:
       Forest management measures: forest tendering, selective cutting, removal of
        individual sick/dead trees etc.
       Physical measures: removal of pests by hand picks, installation of traps, use of stick
        board and pest trap lights etc.
       Biological measures: use natural enemy species for pest control.


                                               51
        Biological agents: Such biological agents are made of biological living organisms
         known as natural pesticides.
      Chemical pesticides: Chemical pesticide is used as a last resort, for severe and
         large-scale pest outbreaks.
143.     This IPM approach is implemented nationwide and regulated by the National
Forestry and Grassland Administration. To promote the use of non-hazard pest control
practice, China also issued a List of Recommended Pesticide Products and Safe Equipment for
Forest Pest Control. This document emphasizes the IPM approach, with a comprehensive list
of natural biological and low-toxic synthetic pesticides, as well as a series of equipment with
good safety performance.
      144. Based on field visits and discussions with provincial/county pest control
stations and township forestry stations, the task team learned that Henan and Shaanxi
provinces have carried out effective forest pest control, with very few pests and diseases
occurring. The daily monitoring is mainly for pine nematodes, white moths, etc. The forest
farm is basically sprayed with biological and low-toxic pesticides for prevention and control
every year. For example, Wangyi District, Shaanxi Province, has a total of about 4,000 mu of
forest land. There are few pests and diseases, and no common pine nematodes. The daily
monitoring of Hyphantria cunea, etc. uses traps, and few pesticides (non-toxic) are used.
Lingbao City of Henan Province relies on more than 400 full-time and part-time pest
forecasters in the city to carry out monitoring work, uphold the principle of "green
prevention, environmental protection, low-carbon prevention, and pollution-free
prevention", no chemical prevention and control methods, and no pollution prevention for
many years.
Forest Fire Prevention and Control
      145. Fire prevention and control is an extremely important part of forestry
management. The forest fire prevention and control system are established under the
umbrella legal framework of Regulation of Forest Fire Prevention. Heads of the local
governments at various levels are held accountable for forest fire prevention and control
within their jurisdictions. Forest fire prevention and control organizations are established at
county (and above) level governments, with heads of the governments as leaders and various
government departments as members. FBs at county and above level are responsible for
daily management and supervision of routine forest fire prevention works. Emergency
response command is led by county emergency management bureau. Forest owners/farmers
are responsible for fire prevention and control of their forest land.
146.     All county (and above) governments have developed their forest fire emergency
response plans. County governments also organize township governments to develop
township level forest fire emergency plans, with detailed arrangements at township and
village levels.
147.     Forest fire prevention networks have been established at the city, county, township,
and village levels. Specialized forest fire prevention organizations have been set up at the city
and county levels. Fire prevention personnel have been assigned in towns and villages to
allocate fire prevention work to villages, groups, and villagers. For example, in Xunyi County,
the county FB has a forestry monitoring and fire prevention team, which is mainly
responsible for publicity, fire prevention and monitoring. There are forestry workstations in
towns and villages, and forest rangers in each village.
      148. Under the direction of emergency management authority, a special forest
                                               52
firefighting force (Formerly Armed Police Forest Force) is also established in China, with
dedicated task for forest fire control, and can be called by county governments for major fire
accidents. In addition, People’s Liberation Army is also standing-by to respond to major
forest accidents.
Township forestry work stations and village-level rangers carry out daily forest patrol and
fire monitoring. At the same time, the provincial level has a thermal image monitoring system
covering the whole province to monitor key areas prone to forest fires. In addition, the State
Forestry and Grassland Administration has a real-time satellite forest fire monitoring system
covering the whole country. In the event of a fire, it can provide high-resolution images and
timely warning reports.
      149. Through field visits to Program counties in Henan and Shaanxi provinces, the
task team learned that Henan and Shaanxi provinces have established a complete forest fire
prevention system, with four levels of city, county, township, and village fire prevention
agencies and personnel arrangements, and conducted regular emergency drills. This system
can effectively respond to the needs of forest fire prevention.
   3.1.4.3 Institutional Structure and Capacity
150.     The main institutions of forest management are the provincial, municipal, and
county forestry department/bureaus. The provincial and municipal forestry departments
are mainly responsible for the guidance and supervision of the sector and the lower-level
forestry bureaus. The specific forest management work under this Program is mainly related
to the county-level FB, county forest pest control stations, county fire protection teams, and
forestry workstations at the township level.
      151. The county FB is specifically responsible for organizing and implementing the
county's afforestation, tending and enclosure activities, supervising and guiding seedling
epidemic prevention and pest control, compiling and implementing forest pest control plans,
and directing the county's forest fire prevention and other activities. The specific units
involved are as follows:
Forest Pest Management
152.     The county forest pest control station (PCS) is responsible for implementing the pest
control and plant quarantine activities at this level, formulating pest control plans and
control measures, providing technical guidance and services for pest control, and organizing
the verification of pest control results. Generally, the county-level PCS is equipped with an
average of 3-5 staff. These employees regularly receive technical training provided by
provincial and municipal forestry departments.
153.   At the township level, there is also a layer of forestry institutions, namely the
township forestry station, to help carry out pest control work, including daily pest inspection
and monitoring. Each village is equipped with at least one full-time forest ranger who is
responsible for daily patrolling to monitor pest situation, fire situation, illegal logging,
poaching and other activities.
154.    It was learned through field visits that all the Program county in Henan and Shaanxi
have set up a county-level PCS with dedicated staff to carry out forest pest control work. For
example, Sanmenxia City, Henan Province has a municipal forest PCS, each county below has
a county-level PCS (some districts and counties work together with forestry workstations),

                                              53
and the staff of each county PCS has about 2-7 staff. The situation in Shaanxi Province is also
similar to that in Henan. For example, the FB of Xunyi County in Shaanxi Province has set up
a forest PCS with a total of about 30 staff members. Village have forest rangers (the whole
county has more than 200 forest rangers) who are responsible for daily forest monitoring,
including fire prevention and pest monitoring. Forest PCS provides irregular training for
forest farmers and forest rangers
Forest Fire Control
155.     Fire prevention is an important part of forestry management and is built in the
institutional structure of FBs. The county FB is responsible for specific forest fire prevention
and early warning work. The provincial, municipal and county governments all have set up
fire prevention command offices, housed within the local emergency management bureaus
to organize and guide the forest fire emergency response coordination work.


156.     The county FB generally has a staff of about 10 people, and generally has a fire
protection team (about 10-20 people). For example, Shaanxi Xunyi County FB has a forestry
inspection and fire prevention team with about 20 personnel. In addition, there are 17 semi-
professional forest fire prevention teams with more than 300 personnel, mainly composed
of forestry staff and forestry system officials. There are forestry workstations in towns and
villages, each with 1-3 people. In addition, there are 3-5 forest rangers in each village, with a
total of more than 200 forest rangers. There are 4 fire prevention offices in the FB of Mianchi
County in Henan, responsible for prevention, publicity, education and training (about ten
trainings and drills are carried out every year). There is a 15-person forest fire brigade; the
state-owned forest farm has a 15-person forest fire brigade; key towns (Duancun Township,
Potou Township, and Rencun Township) each have a 30-person semi-professional fire
brigade; other townships each have a team of 20 persons Semi-professional fire brigade.
Each village has a voluntary firefighting team composed of cadres of village committees and
villagers. Forest fire prevention adopts four-level grid management in cities, counties, towns
and villages. There are forestry work stations in cities, counties, and towns. There are more
than 600 forest guards (2-3 persons in each village) in the county and villages. The leaders
of the local government are responsible for implementation.
157.    The emergency management department manages the major fire incidents, and the
FBs manages the initial fire but must first report it to the emergency management
department. The county emergency management bureau is generally staffed with 8-10
people. According to the mandate responsibilities, it coordinates with various departments
to carry out various emergency management tasks, including cooperation with forestry
departments to carry out forest fire prevention and control work.
158.    In addition to these arrangement, local firefighting departments at county (and
above) level are always available and can be mobilized by local governments. Furthermore,
there are special armed forest police force troops which can be called by county government
for severe forest fire events. People’s Liberation Army is also standing-by for significant fire
incidents.
159.    The county Emergency Management Bureau and the FB organize forest fire drills at
least once a year. State-owned forest farms organize drills 3-5 times a year on their own. The

                                               54
county-level (and above) government has a built-in fire warning system, which can be
contacted by dialing a dedicated hotline.
160.     In summary, it can be considered that Henan Province and Shaanxi Province have
complete institutional settings and personnel arrangements in forest pest management and
forest fire prevention, have formed a complete implementation mechanism, and have also
achieved effective results. This system can basically effectively manage the forest pest control
and forest fire prevention work involved in this PforR.
3.2. Consistency Analysis between Environmental Management Systems and the
     World Bank Policy
161.   Through the above analysis of the environmental management systems related to
environmental impacts of the Program activities, this section makes a comparative analysis
between these environmental management systems, and the principles and elements in the
World Bank PforR policy.
162.     The table below gives a summary of such comparative analysis. See Annex 3 for
details.
Table 3-3 Consistency Analysis between Environmental Management Systems and the
                                 World Bank Policy
    Principles and Key Elements              National and local environmental        Consistency
                                                     management systems
 Principle #1: Program E&S management systems are designed to promote E&S sustainability in
 the Program design; avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse impacts; and promote informed
 decision-making relating to a Program’s E&S effects.
 1. Operate within an adequate legal For the potential environmental impacts Consistent
 and regulatory framework to guide involved in the Program, China has
 E&S impact assessments, mitigation, established a complete EIA management
 management and monitoring at the system, including laws, regulations, technical
 PforR Program level.                    guidelines, standards, mechanisms, and
                                         management procedures, which is in line
                                         with international practice. In addition, a
                                         sound       environmental      management
                                         mechanism has been established for whole-
                                         process EIA management. The performance
                                         of this system in managing potential
                                         environmental impacts related to the
                                         Program activities complies with the Bank
                                         principles.
 2. Incorporate recognized elements As discussed in Section 3.1.1, China’s EIA Consistent
 of good practice in E&S assessment system includes early-stage impact screening
 and management, including: i) early requirements, and classification based on the
 screening of potential impacts; ii) degree of impact. The Technical Guidelines
 consideration of strategic, technical, for Environmental Impact Assessment
 and site alternatives (including the specify impact screening, alternative
 “no action�? alternative); iii) explicit comparison and impact analysis (including
 assessment of potential induced, positive vs. negative, long-term vs. short-
 cumulative, and trans-boundary term, direct vs. indirect, cumulative, etc.),
 impacts.; iv) identification of defines               measures,        management
 measures to mitigate adverse E&S responsibilities and budgets, and requires

                                               55
   Principles and Key Elements             National and local environmental             Consistency
                                                 management systems
risks and impacts that cannot be extensive           public     participation     and
otherwise avoided or minimized; v) information disclosure. The Measures for
clear articulation of institutional Public Participation in Environmental Impact
responsibilities and resources to Assessment specify specific modes and
support implementation of plans; vi) channels of public participation, and
responsiveness and accountability feedback requirements.
through stakeholder consultation, In practice, for all projects requiring EIA (e.g.,
timely dissemination of the PforR WWTP, water supply facilities etc.), relevant
information, and responsive GRMs      work has been conducted as required in the
                                      EIA system, and its whole implementation
                                      process is effectively regulated.
Principle #2: Program E&S management systems are designed to avoid, minimize, or mitigate
adverse impacts on natural habitats and physical cultural resources resulting from the Program.
3. Take into account potential Ecological factors (including wildlife,                 Consistent
adverse effects on physical cultural important habitats, and biodiversity) and
property and provide adequate cultural resources are environmental
measures to avoid, minimize, or protection targets defined in the Technical
mitigate such effects.                Guidelines for Environmental Impact
                                      Assessment, and important factors in the EIA
                                      documents.
                                      In the preparation of practical EIA
                                      documents, identifying important natural
                                      habitats and cultural resources is essential
                                      content of EIA documents. For natural
                                      habitats or cultural resources involved,
                                      measures are designed in order of avoidance,
                                      reduction, mitigation and compensation, and
                                      included in the Environmental Management
                                      Plan. In addition, any project involving nature
                                      reserve or protected cultural relic must be
                                      approved by the competent authority.
4. Support and promote the China has established a strict nature Consistent
protection,            conservation, conservation system, and set up conserves for
maintenance, and rehabilitation of important natural habitats for strict
natural habitats. Avoid significant conservation. In addition, from 2015, China
conversion or degradation of critical has begun to draw ecological protection red
natural habitats. If avoiding the lines on a large scale. By the end of 2020, the
significant conversion of natural drawing of ecological protection red lines had
habitats is not technically feasible, been completed in all provinces and
include measures to mitigate or municipalities.
offset the adverse impacts of the During the EIA, nature reserves and
PforR Program activities.             ecological protection red lines should be
                                      avoided, and reduction, mitigation or
                                      compensation measures developed for other
                                      inevitable ecological environmental impacts.
5. Take into account potential The Cultural Relics Protection Law defines Consistent
adverse effects on physical cultural protected cultural relics of different levels for
property and provide adequate important cultural resources. During the EIA
measures to avoid, minimize, or of a construction project, an environmental
mitigate such effects.                protection target survey should be

                                                56
   Principles and Key Elements                 National and local environmental            Consistency
                                                      management systems
                                          conducted; before the commencement of a
                                          large capital construction project, it must be
                                          reported to the cultural relic authority for an
                                          archeological survey. All protective measures
                                          for cultural resources are included in the EIA
                                          documents. In addition, the Cultural Relics
                                          Protection Law defines chance find
                                          requirements, i.e., stop construction, protect
                                          the site, and immediately report to the local
                                          cultural relics administration.
Principle #3: Program E&S management systems are designed to protect public and worker
safety against the potential risks associated with (a) the construction and/or operation of
facilities or other operational practices under the Program; (b) exposure to toxic chemicals,
hazardous wastes, and otherwise dangerous materials under the Program; and (c)
reconstruction or rehabilitation of infrastructure located in areas prone to natural hazards.
6. Promote adequate community, As discussed in Section 3.1.2, China has                   Consistent
individual, and worker health, safety, established a comprehensive work safety
and security through the safe design, management system, including sound work
construction,      operation,       and safety measures for the design, construction
maintenance of Program activities; and operation stages (see Section 3.1.2.2).
or, in carrying out activities that may During project implementation, safety
be      dependent       on      existing management is the first priority, and all
infrastructure, incorporate safety relevant measures are regulated by sectoral
measures, inspections, or remedial authorities and emergency management
works as appropriate                     (work safety) authorities.
                                         In addition to the requirements that project
                                         construction and operation units must set up
                                         a safety management arrangement and have
                                         appropriate staff and measures in place, all
                                         sectoral authorities shall also establish a
                                         work safety management mechanism, and
                                         supervise work safety performance in the
                                         sector. Emergency management bureaus
                                         (work safety authorities) supervise all
                                         industries and key areas. This system ensures
                                         the safety regulation of the Program activities.

Promote measures to address child      See Chapter 5 for child labor and forced labor.
and forced labor.
7. Promote the use of recognized       As part of the safety management system,         Consistent
good practice in the production,       China has established a sound hazardous
management, storage, transport, and    chemicals management system. A permit is
disposal of hazardous materials        needed for all construction projects that
generated under the PforR.             produce, deal with and use hazardous
                                       chemicals. Enterprises using hazardous
                                       chemicals must have qualified safety facilities,
                                       management systems and staff. Workers
                                       exposed to hazardous chemicals should
                                       receive compulsory training. The transport of
                                       hazardous chemicals needs a special permit,

                                                  57
    Principles and Key Elements                National and local environmental               Consistency
                                                      management systems
                                          where relevant staff (drivers, handlers, etc.)
                                          must be qualified.
                                          Under the Program, only WWTP operation
                                          involves the use of hazardous chemicals
                                          (acids or disinfectants). According to the
                                          fieldwork, all existing WWTPs comply strictly
                                          with the laws, regulations and standards on
                                          work     safety,     with    an    appropriate
                                          management system and safety regulations
                                          established, full-time staff and protection
                                          equipment provided, a contingency plan
                                          developed, and drills conducted. Industry
                                          authorities and emergency management
                                          bureaus conduct regular inspection on
                                          WWTPs.
 8. Promote the use of integrated pest    The agricultural and forestry pest control         Consistent
 management practices to manage or        measures in this PforR follow the IPM
 reduce the adverse impacts of pests      method,       and     rely    on     successful
 or disease vectors.                      implementation experience to reduce the
                                          amount of chemical pesticides as much as
                                          possible. If chemical pesticides are used, non-
                                          toxic and low-toxic pesticides are used in
                                          accordance with national regulations. China
                                          has a comprehensive management system for
                                          the production, transportation, storage, sales
                                          and use of pesticides.
 9. Provide training for workers          China’s safety management system requires          Consistent
 involved     in    the     production,   that safety training be provided to workers
 procurement, storage, transport, use,    exposed to hazardous chemicals. Its
 and disposal of hazardous chemicals      implementation is regulated by sectoral
 in accordance with the relevant          authorities and work safety supervision
 international      guidelines     and    authorities.
 conventions.
 10. Include adequate measures to         For natural disasters, China has established a     Consistent
 avoid,     minimize,    or    mitigate   prevention system. For projects involving
 community, individual, and worker        flood and geological disaster risks, a flood and
 risks when the PforR Program             geological disaster risk assessment should be
 activities are located in areas prone    conducted, and avoidance, reduction or
 to natural hazards such as floods,       mitigation measures taken, which must be
 hurricanes, earthquakes, or other        approved by sectoral authorities before
 severe weather or affected by climate    implementation.
 events.


163.     Based on the description of the domestic environmental management systems,
implementation mechanisms, and organizational structure related to the Program activities
in Section 3.1, and the comparison with the Bank PforR policy in Section 3.2, it can be thought
that the relevant environmental management systems in China are consistent with the Bank
PforR policy and its key elements, and can provide a generally effective management

                                                     58
framework for the implementation of the Program activities.
164.    During field visits at the preparation stage, the Bank team also found inadequacies
in terms of the operation of rural wastewater treatment facilities. It is not uncommon that
some of the township and rural wastewater treatment facilities are facing difficulties of
sustainable operation, mainly due to lack of financial sources to support operation cost.
There is also a need for technical capacity building on the part of facility operation and
maintenance.
165.   It is also noted that various county-level activities are separately developed with
inadequate subbasin-wide ecological and environmental protection planning.




                                            59
4. Social Management System Assessment
166.     Table 4-1 shows that the social impacts and risks involved in the Program activities
in Henan and Shaanxi fall into the following types: comprehensive social impacts (e.g.,
fairness, transparency etc.), tangible culture heritage, public and worker safety, land
acquisition and resettlement, impacts of ethnic minorities and vulnerable groups.
167.    Social risk management is achieved in China from the national to local levels by
formulating and implementing a series of laws and policies, and establishing and running
appropriate management agencies and mechanisms. The social management system
assessment consists of the three parts: review of laws and regulations, appraise of
management agencies and mechanisms, and due diligence of implementation performance.
In China’s social management system, different social risks and impacts are managed by
regulations and different government agencies (see Table 4-1).
168.   The Program-for-Results (PforR) Financing Environmental and Social Systems
Assessment (ESSA) Guidance lays down a set of principles and elements for assessing the
borrower’s environmental and social systems systematically. This chapter assesses the social
management regulations, management mechanisms and capacity, and implementation
performance related to the Program based on the types of social risks and impacts of the
Program, and the six core principles and 13 elements stipulated in the Guidance.

4.1. Correlation Analysis with Bank Principles

169.  Generally, all the six core principles of PforR ESSA are relevant to the Program social
management system. See Table 4-1 for a correlation analysis between the Chinese social
management system and the Bank policy.
Table 4-1 Correlation Analysis between the Chinese Social Management System and the Bank Policy
                                       China’s social impacts and risks management system
 Social impacts    Bank policy
                                        Relevant social laws and             Social management
   and risks        principle
                                               regulations                          agencies
 Comprehensive     Principle     Notice of the National Development      State : NDRC.
 social impacts,   #1: social    and Reform Commission on the            Henan and Shaanxi:
 e.g., social      impacts and   Temporary Measures for the Social        Leading authorities:
 conflict,         risks         Stability Risk Assessment of Major         each level of provincial
 fairness,         assessment    Fixed Asset Investment Projects            development and reform
 transparency,     and           (NDRCI 2012 No. 2492)                      commission, provincial,
 NIMBY             management    Notice of the General Office of the        municipal and county
                   system        National Development and Reform            political and legislative
                                 Commission on Issuing the Outline for      affairs committees, water
                   Principle     the Preparation of the Chapter on the      resources departments,
                   #6: social    Social Stability Risk Analysis of Major    offices for letters and
                   conflict      Fixed Asset Investment Projects and        visits.
                                 Assessment Report (Interim)               Assessors: municipal
                                 (NDRCOI [2013] No.428)                     and county competent
                                                                            authorities (e.g., WWTP
                                 Notice on Opinions of Implementing
                                                                            authorities, county
                                 Social Stability Risk Assessment
                                                                            housing and
                                 Mechanism for Major Matters of
                                                                            construction bureaus)
                                 Henan Provincial Water Resources

                                                 60
                                       China’s social impacts and risks management system
Social impacts   Bank policy
                                       Relevant social laws and             Social management
  and risks       principle
                                              regulations                          agencies
                                Department (Interim) (2013.2)              and appointed third
                                                                           parties
                                                                         Registration
                                Notice of Shaanxi Provincial DRC           authorities: provincial
                                Stability Maintenance Leading Group        (cross-regional / cross-
                                Office of Shaanxi Provincial CPC on        departmental projects),
                                Printing and Distributing Opinions on      or municipal and county
                                Strengthening the Social Stability Risk    political and legislative
                                Assessment for Major Fixed Asset           affairs committees
                                Investment Projects (Shaanxi DRC         Decision-making
                                Project [2012] No. 1749)                   authorities: municipal
                                Interim Regulations on Major               and county executive
                                Administrative Decision-Making             meetings of CPC and
                                Procedures (2019.9)                        government leaders
                                Regulations on Complaint Letters and  Implementing
                                Visits (2005.5)                            agencies: assessors and
                                                                           entrusted operating
                                                                           agencies
                                                                         Supervising agencies:
                                                                           municipal and county
                                                                           governments and their
                                                                           grass-root agencies (e.g.,
Tangible         Principle      Cultural Relics Protection Law (2017    State: National Cultural
culture          #2: cultural   Amendment)                              Heritage Administration
heritage         heritage       Regulations for the Implementation of Henan and Shaanxi
                 conservation   the Cultural Relics Protection Law      Provinces: provincial,
                                (2017)                                  municipal and county
                                                                        cultural relic protection
                                                                        authorities
Public and       Principle      Civil Code of the People’s Republic of  Public  security
worker safety    #3: labor      China (2021.1)                          State : Ministry of
                 and            Work Safety Law of the People’s         Emergency    Management
                 occupational   Republic of China (2014.12)             Henan and Shaanxi
                 health         Law of the People’s Republic of China Provinces: county
                                on the Prevention and Control of        governments, emergency
                                Occupational Diseases (2017.1)          management bureaus and
                                Guidelines on the Prevention and        other related departments,
                                Control of Occupational Diseases for    production and operation
                                Employers (2010.8)                      entities, associations,
                                                                        agencies providing technical
                                Occupational Health and Safety
                                                                        management services for
                                Management Systems—Requirements
                                                                        work safety
                                with Guidance for Use (2018.3)
                                                                        Labor safety
                                Classification and Catalogue of         State: National Health
                                Occupational Diseases (2021)            Commission
                                The Special Rules on the Labor          Henan and Shaanxi
                                Protection of Female Employees of       Provinces: provincial,
                                Henan Province (2018.11)                municipal and county health
                                Work Safety Law of the People’s         commissions, provincial
                                Republic of China (2021)

                                                61
                                         China’s social impacts and risks management system
Social impacts    Bank policy
                                         Relevant social laws and              Social management
  and risks        principle
                                                regulations                         agencies
                                  Law on the Prevention and Treatment occupational disease
                                  of Infectious Diseases (2020)           prevention and treatment
                                  Emergency Response Law of the           institutes, occupational
                                  People’s Republic of China (2007.11) health examination agencies
                                  Regulations on the Prevention and       Labor management
                                  Control of Geologic Disasters (2004.3) State: Ministry of Human
                                  Regulations on the Defense against      Resources and Social
                                  Meteorological Disasters (2010.4)       Security, All-China
                                  Regulations of the People’s Republic    Federation of Trade Unions
                                  of China on Flood Control (2005.7.15) Henan           and      Shaanxi
                                  Law of the People’s Republic of China   Provinces   :        provincial,
                                  on Protecting against and Mitigating    municipal        and    county
                                  Earthquake Disasters (2009.5)           federations    of trade unions,
                                                                          and industrial unions; trade
                                                                          unions of enterprises and
                                                                          public institutions
Land              Principle       Measures for the Administration of      Land acquisition
acquisition and   #4: land        the Pre-examination on the Use of       State: Ministry of Natural
resettlement      acquisition,    Land for Construction Projects          Resources
                  livelihood      (2008.11)                               Henan and Shaanxi
                  restoration     Land Administration Law (2020.1)        Provinces: provincial,
                  and public      Regulations for the Implementation of municipal and county
                  participation   the Land Administration Law (2021)      governments, and natural
                                  Regulations on the Expropriation of     resources authorities
                                  Houses on State-owned Land and
                                  Compensation (Decree [2011] No.590 Urban house demolition
                                  of the State Council) (2011.1.21)       Municipal and county
                                                                          governments, housing and
                                  Notice on Issuing the Measures for
                                                                          construction bureaus, house
                                  the Expropriation and Evaluation of
                                                                          demolition agencies
                                  Houses on State-owned Land (JF
                                  [2011] No.77) (2011-6-3)                Rural house demolition
                                  Guidelines on Improving the             agriculture and rural affairs
                                  Compensation and Resettlement           authorities, Natural
                                  System for Land Acquisition (MLR        resources authorities,
                                  [2004] No.238)                          township governments,
                                  Notice on Doing a Good Job in           village committees
                                  Employment Training and Social
                                  Security for Land-expropriated          Livelihood restoration
                                  Farmers (SC [2006] No.29)               State: Ministry of Human
                                  Notice of the Ministry of Labor and     Resources and Social
                                  Social Security, and the Ministry of    Security
                                  Land and Resources on Doing a           Henan and Shaanxi
                                  Substantially Good Job in Social        Provinces: provincial,
                                  Security for Land-expropriated          municipal and county
                                  Farmers (MLSS [2007] No.14)             human resources and social
                                  Notice of The People's Government of security authorities, county
                                  Henan Province on Adjusting the         and township governments,
                                  Block Comprehensive Land Price          community committees,
                                  Standard of Land Acquisition in

                                                   62
                                     China’s social impacts and risks management system
Social impacts   Bank policy
                                     Relevant social laws and             Social management
  and risks       principle
                                             regulations                        agencies
                               Henan Province (YZ [2016] No. 48)      village committees
                               Notice of The People's Government of
                               Henan Province on Printing and
                               Distributing Implementing Several
                               Provisions of Regulations on
                               Expropriation and Compensation of
                               Houses on State-owned Land of
                               Henan Province (YZ [2012] No. 39)
                               Notice of the Shaanxi Provincial
                               Government on Releasing Block
                               Comprehensive Land Prices of
                               Shaanxi Province ([2020] No.12)
                               Notice on Printing and Distributing
                               Measures for Selection of Real Estate
                               Price Appraisal Agencies for
                               Expropriation of Houses on State-
                               owned Land in Shaanxi Province (SJF
                               [2018] No. 121)
                               Notice of Henan Provincial Natural
                               Resources Department on Promoting
                               the Reform of "Integrating Multiple
                               Examination and Certificate" in
                               Planning Land Use (Henan Natural
                               Resources Office Issued [2019] No. 2)
                               Notice on Further Optimizing the Pre-
                               Examination of Land Use and
                               Reconnaissance Demonstration of
                               Planning Site Selection for
                               Construction Projects (Henan Natural
                               Resources Office [2021] No.23)
                               Notice of The People's Government of
                               Henan Province on Issues related to
                               the Block Comprehensive Land Price
                               for Acquisition of Agricultural Land
                               (YZ [2020] No.16)
Ethnic           Principle     Constitution (2018 Amendment)          Ethnic minorities
minorities and   #5: ethnic    Law of the People's Republic of China State: National Ethnic
vulnerable       minorities    on Regional National Autonomy          Affairs Commission
groups           and           (2001 Amendment)                       Henan and Shaanxi
                 vulnerable    Some Provisions of the State Council   Provinces: provincial,
                 groups        on the Implementation of the           municipal and county ethnic
                               Regional National Autonomy Law         affairs commissions (or
                               (2005.5)                               ethnic and religious affairs
                                                                      bureaus)
                               Notice of the State Council on Issuing
                                                                        Women
                               the 13th Five-year Plan for Promoting
                                                                        State: All-China Women’s
                               the Development of Minority Areas
                                                                        Federation
                               and Smaller Ethnic Minorities (SC
                                                                        Henan and Shaanxi
                               [2016] No.79)

                                               63
                                       China’s social impacts and risks management system
 Social impacts   Bank policy
                                       Relevant social laws and             Social management
   and risks       principle
                                              regulations                        agencies
                                The 13th Five-Year Development Plan Provinces: women’s
                                for Ethnic Minorities in Henan          federations at different
                                Province                                levels
                                Notice of The General Office of
                                Shaanxi Provincial People's             Children
                                Government on Printing and              Functional authorities of
                                Distributing the 13th Five-Year         governments at or above
                                Development Plan for Ethnic             the county level, township
                                Minorities (SZBF [2016] No.62)          governments, sub-district
                                Law of the People's Republic of China offices, community
                                on the Protection of Women's Rights     committees, village
                                and Interests (2018.10.26               committees
                                Amendment)
                                Measures of Henan Province for the
                                Implementation of Law of the
                                People's Republic of China on the
                                Protection of Women's Rights and
                                Interests (2008.11.1)
                                Guidelines of the CPC Central
                                Committee and the State Council on
                                the Three-year Poverty Alleviation
                                Action
                                Implementation Opinions of Shaanxi
                                Provincial People's Government on
                                Further Improving the System of
                                Living Subsidies for the Disabled with
                                Difficulties and Nursing Subsidies for
                                the Severely Disabled (SZF [2016] No.
                                2)
                                Notice on issuing the Strategic Plan
                                for Countryside Revitalization of
                                Henan Province (2018-2022)
                                (2018.10)
                                Notice of the Shaanxi Provincial
                                Government on Issuing the 13th Five-
                                year Poverty Alleviation Plan of
                                Shaanxi Province (2016-2020) (SFBF
                                [2016] No.33)
                                Strategic Plan for Countryside
                                Revitalization of Shaanxi Province
                                (2018-2022) (2018.10)



4.2. Assessment of Social Regulations and Policies

170.    China’s legal framework consists of the following three levels of regulation: 1) laws
and regulations promulgated by the National People’s Congress and the State Council; 2)
regulations, standards and technical specifications promulgated by ministries and

                                                64
commissions; and 3) regulations promulgated by local people’s congresses and governments.
In general, regulations, standards and policies on LAR, ethnic minority development, labor
rights, public participation and consultation, grievance redress, etc. have been promulgated
and implemented at the state, Henan and Shaanxi provincial, municipal and county levels to
systematically manage potential social risks and impacts in the Program lifecycle.
171.    Annex 5 compares the Bank policy with the applicable social management
regulations. This section compares the relevant social management regulations with the
Bank policy based on the core principles and elements, then identifies gaps in social
regulations and policies where applicable, and proposes actions and recommendations for
improvement.

4.2.1 Core Principle #1: Program E&S management systems are designed to
promote E&S sustainability in the Program design; avoid, minimize, or mitigate
adverse impacts; and promote informed decision-making relating to a Program’s E&S
effects.16

172.     Core Principle #1 includes two elements, both are relevant to social regulations and
policies. The consistency analysis is summarized as follows
Element 1: Operate within an adequate legal and regulatory framework to guide E&S
impact assessments, mitigation, management and monitoring at the PforR Program level.
173.     Social stability risk assessment (SSRA): The Chinese government uses SSRA as a
tool to systematically manage the social risks and impacts that may be involved in major
projects, policies and reforms, and mitigates and manages social impacts actively by
establishing and implementing a whole SSRA system, so as to promote scientific decision-
making, and sustainable Program and social development.
    •    The NDRC promulgated the Interim Measures for the Social Stability Risk
         Assessment of Major Fixed Asset Investment Projects in 2012, stating that the
         project organization shall investigate and analyze social stability risks when
         conducting preparatory work, collect opinions from relevant people, identify risks,
         risk possibilities and risk impacts, and propose prevention and mitigation measures,
         and social stability risk ratings after such measures are taken.
    •    The General Office of the State Council promulgated the Guidelines on Establishing a
         Sound Social Stability Risk Assessment Mechanism for Major Decisions and Matters
         (Interim) in 2012, requiring that an SSRA shall be conducted on major decisions,
         projects and policies.
    •    The Henan and Shaanxi Provincial Governments have promulgated the Notice on
         Opinions of Implementing Social Stability Risk Assessment Mechanism for Major
         Matters of Henan Provincial Water Resources Department (Interim), and the Notice
         of the Opinions on Strengthening the Social Stability Risk Assessment for Major
         Fixed Asset Investment Projects (Shaanxi DRC Project [2012] No. 1749) respectively,
         defining the requirements for SSRA.

16Chapter  5 of this report quotes the information related to social system analysis in the core principles and elements
in the PforR ESSA Guidance for a consistent comparative analysis.

                                                           65
   •     The Land Administration Law (effective from January 1, 2020) requires that an SSRA
         shall be conducted before land acquisition and house demolition.
174.     Assessment: SSRA is an important procedural requirement in project application
and feasibility study. The Chinese, and Henan and Shaanxi Provincial Governments have
formulated and implemented relevant policies, mechanisms, standards and management
procedures to regulate SSRA. It is learned through investigation and assessment that the
related municipal and county authorities take the SSRA seriously, and the conclusions and
risk ratings are the key reference for the governments in their decision-making. However,
there is no effective monitoring mechanism to track and support the implementation of risk
mitigation measures.
175.    Recommendation: The borrower should establish and implement a social
monitoring and reporting mechanism to monitor and evaluate the implementation of related
social measures and outcomes.


Element 2: Incorporate recognized elements of good practice in E&S assessment and
management, including six aspects.
176.     According to the social risk screening results (Annex 3), the activities in Henan and
Shaanxi do not involve any induced, cumulative or cross-border social impact. See Element 1
for a consistency analysis of social impact assessment. The consistency of Elements 2 and 5
is analyzed below.
    i)    Early screening: During site selection and feasibility study of related projects, the
          relevant authorities (e.g., natural resources bureau, cultural heritage bureau) shall
          be coordinated to conduct a joint survey, and risks and impacts screening. For
          example, the Measures for the Administration of the Pre-examination on the Use of
          Land for Construction Projects (2008), and the Land Administration Law (effective
          from January 1, 2020) require that screening be conducted so that the construction
          project complies with the land utilization plan and avoids any acquisition of basic
          farmland. The Cultural Relics Protection Law (2014 Amendment) requires that a
          cultural relic survey shall be conducted before project site selection to minimize
          impacts on cultural relics. The Regulations on the Prevention and Control of
          Geologic Disasters (2004) require that the project area shall not be selected in
          disaster areas, and related disaster prevention and control requirements should be
          defined through a geological disaster assessment to reduce public safety risks.
    ii) Alternatives: Options should be compared during project site selection and
        feasibility study. The Administrative License Law of the People's Republic of China,
        and the Decision of the State Council on Establishing Administrative License for
        Administrative Examination and Approval Items Really Necessary to Be Retained
        require that the feasibility study of a project shall compare E&S impacts of different
        options to avoid or minimize local negative E&S impacts. The Notice of the General
        Office of the National Development and Reform Commission on Issuing the Outline
        for the Preparation of the Chapter on the Social Stability Risk Analysis of Major
        Fixed Asset Investment Projects and Assessment Report (Interim) (NDRCOI[2013]
        No.428) also stipulates, the project implementation units (PIUs) and assessment
                                               66
    agencies shall obtain the support of the local governments and related
    departments, grass-root organizations, NGOs, etc. for the proposed project in terms
    of planning, land acquisition, house demolition, compensation, resettlement,
    environmental protection, etc., thereby selecting an option with acceptable social
    stability risks.
iii) Developing measures to avoid, minimize or mitigate social impacts: The Notice on
    Issuing the Outline for the Preparation of the Chapter on the Social Stability Risk Analysis
    of Major Fixed Asset Investment Projects and Assessment Report (Interim)
    (NDRCOI[2013] No.428) requires that plans and measures shall be proposed to prevent
    and mitigate risks. The Guidelines on Establishing a Sound Social Stability Risk Assessment
    Mechanism for Major Decisions and Matters (Interim) stipulate, if the assessment report
    thinks that if a high risk is present, a decision of non-implementation shall be made, or a
    decision be made after the plan is adjusted or the risk level reduced; if an moderate risk is
    present, a decision of implementation shall be made after effective risk prevention and
    mitigation measures are taken; if a low risk is present, a decision of implementation may
    be made, but actions in terms of explanation and persuasion to the people affected shall be
    conducted, and appeals of relevant people handled properly. SSRA shall also address the
    legitimacy, rationality, feasibility and controllability of the proposed activities, and require
    that an appropriate contingency plan be developed.
iv) Clear articulation of institutional responsibilities and resources to support
    implementation of plans.: The Guidelines on Establishing a Sound Social Stability
    Risk Assessment Mechanism for Major Decisions and Matters (Interim) requires
    for assessment that if the reasonability, fairness and timeliness of related
    compensation, resettlement or assistance measures offered are assessed, and if
    appropriate manpower, material and financial resources are available.
v) Public participation, information disclosure and grievance redress
   mechanism: The SSRA policies of Henan and Shaanxi Provinces require that public
   consultation be conducted with all stakeholders involved in a plan to collect their
   opinions and suggestions, including advice, needs and directions of public opinion
   on the proposed project from mass, online, mobile and other emerging media. The
   Notice on Issuing the Outline for the Preparation of the Chapter on the Social
   Stability Risk Analysis of Major Fixed Asset Investment Projects and Assessment
   Report (Interim) (2013) stipulates, the PIUs and assessment agencies shall obtain
   supports of the local governments and related departments, grass-root
   organizations, NGOs, etc. for the proposed project, and the completeness of public
   participation shall be assessed as well, including if the procedural requirements of
   public participation, expert consultation and information disclosure are all well
   implemented. For any project involving land acquisition and house demolition, the
   Land Administration Law (effective from January 1, 2020) requires that the
   government at or above the county level shall disclose the key information, once
   the land acquisition is approved in accordance with related law, e.g. the purpose
   and boundary of land acquisition, current status, compensation rate, resettlement
   mode, social security, etc. in the township (town), village and village group for at
   least 30 days, to collect comments from the affected rural collective economic
   organization and its members, village committee and other stakeholders. Whereas

                                              67
        parties concerned refuse to accept the decisions, the disputes may be brought to
        the courts within 30 days after the notification on the decision is received. No party
        shall change the status quo of the land before the disputes over ownership and use
        right are settled. Whereas a construction unit or individual refuse to accept the
        administrative punishment decisions on dismantling the buildings and other
        facilities, it may bring the case to the court within 15 days starting from the day
        when the decision is received. The Ministry of Natural Resources issued the
        Standard Guidelines for Grass-root Government Affairs Disclosure in Rural
        Collective Land Acquisition on June 27, 2019, making detailed provisions on
        project land acquisition policies, and the scope, time limit and channels of
        disclosure during preparation, approval and implementation.
177.     Assessment: The social impacts and risks are basically assessed and managed
through regulations in terms of SSRA, land acquisition and house demolition in China and
Shaanxi/Henan Provinces. There are clear mechanisms for impact early-stage screening,
option comparison, and arrangements for measure defining on social risks (e.g., LAR, social
stability risks) management. The regulations also defined the responsible agencies to
manage specific impacts. Comprehensive system arrangements have been established in the
regulations on social stability risk management, land acquisition and house demolition for
information disclosure, public participation and grievance redress. Therefore, the social
regulations and policies are generally consistent with Element 2. However, there are lack of
clear requirements for documentation of the process of public participation, information
disclosure, grievance redress, etc.
178.    Recommendation: Define requirements of documentation in related project
management documents (e.g., contracts, agreements) at the PIUs of related counties,
including (but not limited to) keeping the recording the public participation as well as
information disclosure process, and the operation of the grievance redress mechanism.

4.2.2. Core Principle #2: Program E&S management systems are designed to avoid,
minimize, or mitigate adverse impacts on natural habitats and physical cultural
resources resulting from the Program.

179.    Elements 3 and 4 under Core Principle #2 define management requirements for
natural habitats, which were discussed in Section 3. Here only Element 5 is relevant to social
management system. The consistency analysis is discussed below:
Element 5: Take into account potential adverse effects on physical cultural property and
provide adequate measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate such effects.
180.    Cultural relic protection: The activities in Henan and Shaanxi involve small civil
works, such as the construction of rural wastewater collection and treatment system.
According to the social impact screening (Annex 3), the Program is unlikely to affect any
tangible culture heritage. China has established and implemented a sound cultural relic
protection law to assess and manage potential cultural relic impacts of construction activities.
The Cultural Relics Protection Law requires that no construction works or operations such
as blasting, drilling and digging is allowed within the area of historical and cultural
protection site. At the time of site selection for a construction project, location where

                                              68
immovable cultural relics located should try to be avoided. If a construction project is needed
to be implemented, it will be approved by the cultural relic authority firstly, and then the
urban-rural construction planning authority. Within the area of a protected cultural relic, any
facilities that may pollute such relic and its environment are not allowed to construct, and
any activities that may affect its safety and environment are not allowed to conduct. Any such
facilities shall be disposed of within a specific time limit. Before launching a large-scale
construction project, the construction unit shall firstly apply to the provincial cultural relic
authority for an archeological investigation at places where cultural relics may be buried
underground within the project area.
181.    Assessment: The Cultural Relics Protection Law and the Regulations for the
Implementation of the Cultural Relics Protection Law give full consideration to potential
impacts on cultural relics to protect cultural relics from construction. The regulations on
tangible culture heritage protection of China, and Shaanxi and Henan Provinces are
consistent with Element 5.

4.2.3. Core Principle #3: Program E&S management systems are designed to protect
public and worker safety against the potential risks associated with (a) the
construction and/or operation of facilities or other operational practices under the
Program; and (b) reconstruction or rehabilitation of infrastructure located in areas
prone to natural hazards.

182.    Element 7 under Core Principle #3 defines requirements for toxic and hazardous
substances, and pest control related to environmental system analysis. It was discussed in
Section 3. Elements 6 and 8 under this core principle are relevant with the social regulations
on labor safety, and analysis of consistency is provided below:
Element 6: Promote adequate community, individual, and worker health, safety, and
security through the safe design, construction, operation, and maintenance of Program
activities; or, in carrying out activities that may be dependent on existing infrastructure,
incorporate safety measures, inspections, or remedial works as appropriate.
183.     Worker safety management: Program activities inevitably involve health and
safety risks of workers, including the occupational health management of the WWTP, labors
management related to the contractors of industrial base ancillary facilities and river and
wetland upgrading and renovation. China has established and implemented a system to
manage labor safety:
   •   The Labor Law (2018 Amendment), and the Civil Code make provisions on child
       labor, discrimination, forced labor, etc. For example, employers shall not recruit
       minors (under 16 years); special protection shall be given to female and underage
       (16-18 years) workers; workers shall not be discriminated against on the basis of
       ethnic group, race, gender or religion; women shall enjoy the same employment
       rights as men; forced labor shall be prohibited.
   •   The Work Safety Law requires that production and operation entities must establish
       a sound work safety responsibility system, and relevant rules and regulations, and
       improve work safety conditions to ensure work safety. It also requires that reporting
       information be disclosed to the public for public supervision.

                                               69
   •   The Civil Code requires that work safety and health facilities of construction,
       reconstruction and expansion works shall be designed, constructed and put into
       operation along with these works (or it is called the “Three Simultaneities Safety
       Facilities/Features�?).
   •   The Requirements and Guidance for Occupational Health and Safety Management
       require that enterprises shall identify and control potential occupational health and
       safety hazards systematically, and eliminate safety accidents at the beginning,
       thereby protecting workers’ health and safety. Enterprises may apply for
       “occupational health and safety management system�? certification, and establish a
       normative management system, realizing the source identification and whole-
       process control of hazards, and continual improvement. However, the “occupational
       health and safety management system�? is not a mandatory requirement.
184.    Assessment: A whole set of comprehensive laws and regulations on worker health
and safety has been established in China, and Shaanxi and Henan Provinces to fully protect
worker rights. The regulations also require that appropriate safety measures, inspections or
remedial works be taken during design, construction and operation to ensure community,
personal and worker safety. The regulations on labor safety are basically consistent with
Element 6.


Element 8: Include adequate measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate community,
individual, and worker risks when the PforR Program activities are located in areas prone
to natural hazards such as floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, or other severe weather or
affected by climate events.
185.     Disaster safety management mechanisms: The Program is located in Henan and
Shaanxi Provinces, and may involve areas prone to natural disasters, such as floods, lightning
and landslides. During implementation, the flow of migrant workers may lead to disease
spreading (e.g., COVID-19). For urban-rural planning and major project construction, the
Regulations on the Defense against Meteorological Disasters require that governments at or
above the county level shall fully consider meteorological factors and natural disasters, and
propose measures to avoid or mitigate disasters. In addition, the Regulations on the Defense
against Meteorological Disasters require that lightning protectors of newly constructed,
reconstructed or expanded buildings (structures), places and facilities shall be designed,
constructed and put into operation along with these works. The Regulations of the People’s
Republic of China on Flood Control make systematic arrangements for floods in terms of
organization, flood prevention preparation and implementation, rescue, follow-up work,
funding, reward and punishment, etc. The Regulations on the Prevention and Control of
Geologic Disasters make systematic arrangements for the investigation, prevention and
management of geologic disasters, such as prevention, emergency response, governance and
legal liabilities. The Law of the People’s Republic of China on Protecting against and
Mitigating Earthquake Disasters requires that newly constructed, reconstructed or expanded
construction works shall meet seismic design requirements, and makes specific provisions
on seismic safety assessment and earthquake protection. The Law on the Prevention and
Treatment of Infectious Diseases (April 2020) stipulates, governments at or above the county
level shall develop and implement infectious disease prevention and control plans, and

                                              70
establish a prevention, treatment and supervision management system; news media shall
conduct public welfare publicity on infectious disease prevention and control, and public
health education. According to the Notice on Targeted Health Management and Orderly
People Flow (Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism ZF [2020] No.203) promulgated by
the National Health Commission, all localities shall define prevention and control ranges
precisely based on pandemic risk rating, and take comprehensive measures such as
restriction of people flow, nucleic acid testing and health monitoring. For medium- to high-
risk areas, entry into the project area, and people gathering shall be avoided where possible,
and people entering the project area may flow freely only if their body temperatures are
normal and proper personal protection measures are taken. Entry into medium- to high-risk
areas shall be avoided if not necessary.
186.    Assessment: The regulations on natural disaster prevention and control measures
are consistent with Element 8.

4.2.4. Core Principle #4: Program E&S systems manage land acquisition and loss of
access to natural resources in a way that avoids or minimizes displacement and assists
affected people in improving, or at the minimum restoring, their livelihoods and living
standards.

187.     Element 9 under Core Principle #4 manages Program LAR in six assets, all of which
are related to the social regulations and policies applicable to the Program. Consistency is
analyzed as follows:
i) Minimizing negative impacts related to land acquisition: As analyzed on “early-stage
   impact screening�? under Element 2, the Measures for the Administration of the Pre-
   examination on the Use of Land for Construction Projects (2008), the Land
   Administration Law (effective from January 1, 2020), and the regulations on SSRA
   require that projects and enterprises shall utilize existing construction land, and avoid
   any occupation of farmland (especially permanent basic farmland) where possible, and
   reduce LAR impacts through design optimization, thereby reducing social stability risks.
   At the preparation stage, natural resources authorities will participate in the survey to
   confirm the land used for the project, and the feasibility study will compare different
   options for LAR impacts. The government authorities, which are responsible for
   appraisal of the project land use and feasibility study, will check if the land use plan is
   rational during land use review and feasibility study.
ii) Identifying and addressing economic and social impacts arising from land
    acquisition or loss of access to natural resources: Land Administration Law (effective
    from January 1, 2020) stipulates, “Owners or users of the land to be acquired shall,
    within the time limit specified in the announcement, go to fill the compensation
    registration form holding its assets ownership certificate. The people’s government at or
    above the county level shall organize the department concerned to estimate the relevant
    costs and make them fully available.�? The land acquisition compensation measures of
    Henan and Shaanxi Provinces make systematic arrangements for land acquisition
    compensation and resettlement in accordance with the Land Administration Law,
    including for those lacking legal title. During land acquisition, affected people shall


                                              71
   confirm the results of detailed measurement survey (DMS), and the land acquisition
   agency shall enter into compensation and resettlement agreements with land owners
   and users before project approval. In addition, a whole set of grievance redress
   mechanisms for land acquisition compensation has been established from village or
   community level, to townships governments level, and/or to the county level or above. If
   any affected person is dissatisfied with the DMS result, and/or the compensation or
   resettlement, he/she may file a grievance with the village head or village committee, or
   with the township or county / municipal government. According to the Regulations on
   Complaint Letters and Visits (2005), governments at or above the county level shall
   perform such duties as acceptance, handling, coordination and supervision. If a grievant
   is dissatisfied with the disposition, he/she may settle the dispute through litigation to
   protect its lawful rights and interests.
iii) Compensation and transition subsidy to be fully paid at replacement cost before
     land use: The Land Administration Law (effective from January 1, 2020) defines
     compensation policies, rates, principles, flows, schedules, etc. for different types of land
     use. Article 47 stipulates, fair and reasonable compensation shall be granted for land
     acquisition to ensure that the living standard of the affected farmers is not reduced, and
     their long-term livelihoods are secured; in case of land acquisition, the land
     compensation fees, resettlement subsidy, and compensation fees for rural residential
     houses, other ground attachments, young crops, etc. shall be paid timely and fully
     according to the law, and social security costs for the affected farmers be disbursed
     accordingly; compensation rates for acquired land other than agricultural land, ground
     attachments, young crops, etc. shall be fixed by provinces, autonomous regions and
     municipalities. For rural residential houses, fair and reasonable compensation shall be
     provided on the principle of compensation before relocation and residential condition
     improvement by such means as reallocating housing land for house construction,
     offering resettlement houses, or granting cash compensation, and relocation, temporary
     resettlement and other costs resulting from acquisition shall be compensated for in
     order to protect the lawful residential and property rights of rural residents.
188.    Compensation rates for land acquisition are usually adjusted every two to three
years based on local economic development and market conditions in each province, city and
county. For example, the compensation standard for land acquisition in Henan Province was
further confirmed through the Notice of The People's Government of Henan Province on
Adjusting the Block Comprehensive Land Price Standard of Land Acquisition in Henan
Province (YZ [2016] No. 48) promulgated in 2016 and Notice of The People's Government
of Henan Province on Issues related to the Block Comprehensive Land Price for Acquisition
of Agricultural Land (YZ [2020] No.16) promulgated in June 2020; while the land acquisition
compensation standard in Shaanxi Province was updated in December 2020 as well,
promulgated Notice of the Shaanxi Provincial Government on Releasing Block
Comprehensive Land Prices of Shaanxi Province ([2020] No.12) and further confirmed that
the municipal (district) people's governments shall, according to the local economic
development level and actual situation, formulate compensation standards for attachments
and young crops on the expropriated land and report to the provincial Natural Resources
Department for the record. In addition, the new Land Administration Law requires that land
occupied or used for projects shall be compensated for before occupation or use.

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189.     The compensation and resettlement mode for expropriated Houses on State-owned
Land is that a compensation and resettlement agreement be signed through third party
market appraisal. The state has promulgated the Regulations on the Expropriation of Houses
on State-owned Land and Compensation (Decree [2011] No.590 of the State Council), the
Notice on Issuing the Measures for the Expropriation and Evaluation of Houses on State-
owned Land (JF [2011] No.77), etc. to make systematic arrangements for land appraisal,
process management, public participation, compensation payment, resettlement policies, etc.
Provincial, municipal and county governments also offer such supporting measures as
relocation subsidy, transition subsidy, housing land, and compensation for production /
business suspension losses based on local conditions. For example, the selection of real
estate appraisal agency and compensation for operation/business suspension losses was
clarified through the Notice of The People's Government of Henan Province on Printing and
Distributing Implementing Several Provisions of Regulations on Expropriation and
Compensation of Houses on State-owned Land of Henan Province (2012) and Notice on
Printing and Distributing Measures for Selection of Real Estate Price Appraisal Agencies for
Expropriation of Houses on State-owned Land in Shaanxi Province (SJF [2018] No. 121).
iv) Policy arrangements for livelihood restoration: The Land Administration Law (2020)
    requires that the living standard of the affected farmers shall not be reduced, and their
    long-term livelihoods shall be secured. In general, five main resettlement modes are
    available to land-expropriated farmers: agricultural production, reemployment, equity
    participation, non-local resettlement (Guidelines on Improving the Compensation and
    Resettlement System for Land Acquisition (MLR [2004] No.238)), and endowment
    insurance (Article 48 of the Land Administration Law (2020), etc.). In addition to the
    above five modes, state policies, such as the Notice on Doing a Good Job in Employment
    Training and Social Security for Land-expropriated Farmers (SC [2006] No.29), also
    requires that each localities shall establish a social security system suited to the
    characteristics and needs of land-expropriated farmers, secure employment training and
    social security funds, promote land-expropriated farmers to get employed and be
    incorporated into urban society, and ensure that the living standard of land-
    expropriated farmers is not reduced due to land acquisition, and their long-term
    livelihoods are secured. For eligible land-expropriated farmers, employment and startup
    supporting policies shall be implemented, occupational training further strengthened,
    and public employment services improved to promote their employment and startup.
v) Policy arrangements for infrastructure restoration: For potential infrastructure
   impacts arising from land acquisition and house demolition, the Land Administration
   Law and the Regulations for the Implementation of the Land Administration Law
   stipulate, after the land acquisition plan is approved and announced, the county
   government shall organize a land survey within the range of land acquisition, and
   disclose the results to the public for at least 30 days. Article 47 of the new Land
   Administration Law (2020) stipulates, “For rural residential houses, fair and reasonable
   compensation shall be provided on the principle of compensation before relocation and
   residential condition improvement, ….�?
vi) Information disclosure, public participation and informed decision-making: Public
    participation runs through the whole project lifecycle, and is an important measure to

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   ensure the success of LAR activities. The Ministry of Natural Resources issued the
   Standard Guidelines for Grass-root Government Affairs Disclosure in Rural Collective
   Land Acquisition in June 2019, sorting out matters to be disclosed, regulating the
   disclosure process, and improving modes of disclosure to protect the people’s rights of
   information, participation, expression and supervision practically. The main objectives
   of public participation at different stages of LAR are as follows:
   •   During option argumentation and comparison, the project owner and design agency
       shall conduct meaningful consultation with affected people and other stakeholders,
       and improve the engineering measures and determine the range of land use based
       on feedback, thereby evading sensitive objects and minimizing LAR impacts.
   •   Participation at the DMS stage includes land acquisition announcement, DMS
       publicity, participation in the DMS, and confirmation, disclosure and review of DMS
       results.
   •   At the SSRA stage, meaningful consultation will be conducted with stakeholders to
       assess potential major social risks arising from land acquisition and house
       demolition, including other major risks that are not directly related to but may
       materially affect the project.
   •   During the drafting of the compensation plan, the plan should be disclosed to collect
       comments from affected people, and a public hearing held when necessary.
   •   Public participation at the implementation stage mainly includes production and life
       resettlement, and effective information disclosure and consultation should be
       conducted in the allocation and use of compensation.
190.     Assessment: China has established a complete legal framework and policy system
on land acquisition, house demolition, resettlement and compensation. Rural land
acquisition and house demolition is based mainly on the Land Administration Law (2020),
the measures for the implementation of the Land Administration Law of Henan and Shaanxi
Provinces, and relevant compensation rates. Urban house demolition is based mainly on the
Regulations on the Expropriation of Houses on State-owned Land and Compensation (2011).
The Land Administration Law that was amended in August 2019 and came into effect on
January 1, 2020 has substantively strengthened the practices of land acquisition and house
demolition. The new Land Administration Law defines the scope of land acquisition for
public interests, strengthens preparatory risk management for land acquisition, and
information disclosure and public participation (including public hearings) in land
acquisition and house demolition, and requires that an agreement shall be signed with the
land owner and user before land approval, and compensation and resettlement funds be
arranged in advance. The new law requires that land acquisition compensation rates shall be
fixed based on block comprehensive land prices, and adjusted or reissued at least every three
years, and that fair and reasonable compensation shall be granted for land acquisition to
ensure that the living standard of the affected farmers is not reduced. Therefore, the new
Land Administration Law will protect the rights and interests of affected persons, ensure
sustainable livelihoods and improve living conditions more effectively. In general, the LAR
regulations are consistent with the requirements of Core Principle #4 and Element 9.




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4.2.5. Core Principle #5: Program E&S systems give due consideration to the cultural
appropriateness of, and equitable access to, Program benefits, giving special attention
to the rights and interests of Indigenous Peoples and vulnerable groups.

191.    The three elements under Core Principle #5 are related to the social regulations
system of the Program. Consistency is analyzed below.
Element 10: Undertake meaningful consultations if the ethnic minorities are potentially
affected (positively or negatively), to determine whether there is broad community support
for the PforR Program activities.
192.     Policy requirements for ethnic minority consultation: There are many ethnic
minorities live scattered in both Henan province and Shaanxi Province. Among them, the
ethnic minorities living in Henan Province are mainly the Hui, Mongolian, Manchu and
Uyghur, etc., and the ethnic minorities live in Shaanxi Province are mainly the Hui, Manchu,
Mongolian, Miao, Tujia, Shui, Qiang, etc. China’s Constitution stipulates that all ethnic groups
of China are equal. The Law of the People's Republic of China on Regional National Autonomy
stipulates, in dealing with special issues concerning the various nationalities within its area,
the organ of self-government of a national autonomous area must conduct full consultation
with their representatives and respect their opinions; the organ of self-government of a
national autonomous area shall guarantee that citizens of the various nationalities in the area
enjoy the rights of citizens prescribed in the Constitution and shall educate them in the need
to perform their duties as citizens. On this legal basis, when minority residents are affected
similarly by land acquisition and house demolition, they will not only enjoy the same rights
as citizens, but also be subject to free, prior and informed consultation in a culturally
appropriate manner organized by local governments when necessary. On the other hand,
according to the regulations on SSRA, at the feasibility study stage of a project, the PIU (or
through a specialized agency) shall conduct an SSRA to identify impacts, propose mitigation
measures, and prepare an SSRA report; if a government at or above the county level applies
for land acquisition, a current status survey and an SSRA should be conducted. Each
municipal or county government has formulated local policies according to the applicable
regulations, such as the Notice on Opinions of Implementing Social Stability Risk Assessment
Mechanism for Major Matters of Henan Provincial Water Resources Department (Interim)
promulgated in 2013, and the Notice of the Opinions on Strengthening the Social Stability
Risk Assessment for Major Fixed Asset Investment Projects (Shaanxi DRC Project [2012] No.
1749) promulgated in 2012.
    193. Assessment: Comprehensive ethnic minority development policies have been
established in China, and Henan and Shaanxi Provinces to respect minority opinions, ensure
ethnic equality and respect minority customs, and are consistent with Core Principle #5 and
Element 10.
Element 11: Ensure that ethnic minorities can participate in devising opportunities to
benefit from exploitation of customary resources and indigenous knowledge, the latter to
include the consent of ethnic minorities.
194.    Policy basis for ethnic minority development: The Law of the People's Republic
of China on Regional National Autonomy stipulates, when developing resources or carrying
out construction in a national autonomy area, the state shall protect its interests, make
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arrangements favorable to its economic development, and local minority residents’
production and livelihoods, and include major ecological balance and environmental
protection projects in the local national economic and social development plan. From the
perspective of public consultation, the Interim Regulations on Major Administrative
Decision-Making Procedures stipulate, when developing major economic and social
development plans, and determining major local infrastructure projects, prior public
participation shall be conducted, and also make systematic provisions on the schedule, form,
process, recording, etc. of public participation. According to the above regulations, five-year
development plans for ethnic minority programs have been prepared in both provinces. For
example, 14 key tasks were proposed for Henan ethnic minorities management authorities
in the 13th Five-Year Development Plan for Ethnic Minorities in Henan Province, including
infrastructure development, upgrading the industrial structure, coordinated development
between urban and rural areas, poverty alleviation, education, culture and sports, scientific
and technological innovation, medical and health care, employment, entrepreneurship and
social security systems, talent development, and laws and regulations development. Shaanxi
Province also promulgated the Notice of The General Office of Shaanxi Provincial People's
Government on Printing and Distributing the 13th Five-Year Development Plan for Ethnic
Minorities (2016), which aims to make full use of existing policies and the ethnic minorities
development funds to vigorously improve the public infrastructure, working and living
conditions of ethnic minorities and ethnic minorities living areas, accelerate the
development of competitive industries and economies with distinctive characteristics,
strengthen the support for the development of ethnic minority enterprises and build brand
enterprises, promote the rapid development of education, science and technology, culture,
public health, and sports with innovative ways and methods, and strengthen the construction
of legal system to protect the legitimate rights and interests of ethnic minorities. In addition,
the 14th Five-year development plans for ethnic minority programs of both provinces will be
released in 2021.
195.   Assessment: The central government, and Henan and Shaanxi Provincial
Governments make top-down systematic planning and arrangements in ethnic minority
development to create job opportunities for minority residents and improve their living
standard, and shall conduct prior public consultation for relevant plans and projects in
accordance with the Interim Regulations on Major Administrative Decision-Making
Procedures. This is consistent with Core Principle #5 and Element 11.
Element 12: Give attention to groups vulnerable to hardship or discrimination, including,
as relevant, the poor, the disabled, women and children, the elderly, ethnic minorities, racial
groups, or other marginalized groups; and if necessary, take special measures to promote
equitable access to PforR Program benefits.
196.     Poverty and poverty reduction systems: There are complex causes of poverty,
such as illness, disability and education. In China, poor households refer mainly to those
below the minimum living security (MLS) standard, and are classified into: a) MLS
households, whose per capita annual income is below the poverty line. The MLS standard
was 580 yuan per capita per month in urban areas and 4,260 yuan per capita per annum in
rural areas in Henan Province in 2020, and the MLS standard was various in Shaanxi Province
based on the local conditions, e.g.,630 yuan per capita per month in urban areas and 4,830

                                               76
yuan per capita per annum in rural areas in Tongchuan City in 2020; and b) extremely poor
persons, old and disabled persons and persons under 16 years with no ability to work, no
income source, or statutory supporter, or whose statutory supporter is incapable to support,
who receive full national security in food, clothing, medical care, housing, children education,
and basic income which will be ensured no less than the local MLS standard. All localities
establish files for the poor, and offer living and housing subsidies, free education, interest-
free loans, special occupational training, priority in job placement, etc.
197.     Protection of women’s rights and interests: As for gender equality and women’s
development, the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Women's Rights
and Interests (2018 Amendment) requires that women’s lawful rights and interests shall be
protected, and gender equality promoted, where the state shall ensure that women enjoy the
same labor and social security rights as men. For example, this law stipulates that women
enjoy the same rights as men in rural land contracting, income allocation, LA and
compensation, and housing plot land. Not any organization or individual is allowed to
infringe on women’s rights in the rural collective economic organizations due to non-married,
marriage, divorce and widowers. In 2021, the State Council promulgated the Development
Outline for Chinese Women (2021-2030), which aims to integrate the goals and tasks of
women's comprehensive development into national and local overall green and social
development planning, special planning and livelihood improving projects to be
arrangement and implemented in parallel. The main goals and tasks include improving the
institutions and mechanisms to promote gender equality and women’s all-round
development; women have equal access to the full range of life-cycle health services, so that
women’s health can be continuously improved; women enjoy equal rights to education, so
their quality and ability can be continuously improved; women enjoy equal economic rights
and interests, and their economic status has steadily improved; women enjoy equal political
rights and their participation in the management of state and economic, cultural and social
affairs has gradually improved; women enjoy equal multi-level and sustainable social
security, and their treatment level has steadily improved; improving the legal system for
supporting family development and widely promoting the new fashion of socialist family
literature; the concept of gender equality has gained greater popularity, and the development
environment for women becomes better; and improving the legal system, and women’s
legitimate rights and interests can be effectively protect.
198.     Assessment: Based on the above analysis, there are systematic plans, measures and
institutional arrangements on the development, and rights and interests of vulnerable
groups and women in China, and Shaanxi and Henan Provinces, ensuring that all relevant
groups participate equally, and benefit from projects fairly. Therefore, the policies on
vulnerable groups and women are consistent with Core Principle #5 and Element 12.



4.2.6. Core Principle #6: Program E&S systems avoid exacerbating social conflict,
especially in fragile states, post-conflict areas, or areas subject to territorial disputes.

199.    Element 13 requires that conflict risks be considered, including distributional
equity and cultural sensitiveness, and is not related to the Program in general. In addition,

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based on the analysis of Core Principle #1 and Element 1, China manages social risks and
impacts comprehensively through social stability risk analysis. Therefore, the Program will
not exacerbate local social conflict.

4.3. Assessment of Social and Management Mechanism and Capacity

200.    Elements 1 and 2 under Core Principle #1 in the PforR ESSA Guidance propose
principled requirements for the responsibilities and capacity of the social agencies of the
PIUs, which requires agencies responsible must have to commit all necessary resource inputs
and appropriate measures to manage social risks (Element 1).On the other hand, it is also
required that impact assessment and management requirements should establish clear
requirements on organizational responsibilities and resources, thereby supporting the
implementation of relevant plans (Aspect V under Element 2).
201.     As shown in Table 4-1, the provincial, municipal and county authorities in Shaanxi
and Henan have established clear management agencies for different social risks, which have
been provided with qualified staff. This section analyzes the organizational setup of the social
management system, and assesses if the organizational settings are rational and needs for
improvement. It is discussed through two levels: First, the organizational settings of each
social management system; second, the rationality and capacity of each social management
system against the requirements at Elements 1 and 2 under Core Principle #1. Where gaps
identified, actions and recommendation will be proposed. This social assessment team will
assess the roles and responsibilities of each administrative agency, working regulations /
procedures, staffing and capacity, cross-departmental coordination, etc. through adequate
consultation (see Annex 8 to 10 for detail of the consultation process).
202.     This section will assess the corresponding agencies and function team in terms of
each of the social risks. Annex 6 sets out detailed stakeholder mapping.

4.3.1.    Social Risk Assessment Management Agencies17


      •   The development and reform commission of each level: approving major
          fixed asset investment projects based on social stability risks and other
          documents relevant (attaching the SSRA report when applying for project
          approval)
      •   Provincial political and legislative affairs committee: coordinating and
          directing SSRA, convening different political and legislative affairs committees,
          and authorities for cross-regional / departmental projects to discuss SSRA
          requirements, and stressing typical risks when necessary.
      •   Municipal / county government: conducting county-wide social stability risk
          assessment, decision-making, implementation and supervision, and it is where the
          SSRA report is discussed and adopted by the executive meeting of the municipal
          and county CPC committee
      •   Municipal / county political and legislative affairs committees: reviewing and
   17 This section summarizes the responsibilities of the relevant agencies related to program social risk

management, which may not be all responsibilities of the government authorities concerned.

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         registering the SSRA report, and supervising the work of the assessor and
         implementing agency
     •   Assessor: conducting or appointing an independent appraisal agency to conduct
         SSRA, and implementing SSRA measures
     •   Independent appraisal agency: attending SSRA training and examinations
         organized by the NDRC, and getting registered at the provincial political and
         legislative affairs committee in advance
203.     Take Lingbao city of Sanmenxia Henan Province for example, the Social Stability Risk
Assessment Implementation Plan of Lingbao City (LXL[2012] No.14) have been promulgated
since 2012, defining the assessment procedure and scope, and agencies responsible,
establishing the "Lingbao Social Stability Risk Assessment Work Leading Group" which is led
by the secretary of Standing Committee of the CPC Municipal Committee and the Political and
Legal Committee and consisted of the deputy director of the Municipal People's Congress, the
deputy mayor, the heads of the petition, public security, courts, DRC, natural resources
department, EED, agriculture and rural affairs department and other competent
departments, and forming a sound SSRA system at the municipal, township and village levels.
204.     Assessment: The state and local regulations clearly stipulate responsibilities for the
agencies concerned, and the related authorities of both provinces (provincial political and
legislative affairs committees) require that staff concerned should attend relevant training,
In addition, sufficient budgets should be available during SSRA to ensure that relevant
measures are implemented. The SSRA mechanisms of both provinces are effective, and
consistent with the Bank policy. On the other hand, project risk control measures are
implemented by the assessor under the supervision of the municipal and county authorities.
For example, the natural resources authority supervises land acquisition and house
demolition compensation and resettlement only, while other social risks, such as social
security measures, are supervised by another agency, such as the bureau of people and
human resources and social security bureau. Therefore, no project-specific third-party
monitoring mechanism has been established by the assessor its self.
205.     Recommendation: Social monitoring arrangements should be established for the
Program to monitor social risks (including LAR) regularly, evaluate the social performance
of the Program, and improve social risk control measures pertinently and dynamically based
on monitoring results.

4.3.2.   Cultural Relic Protection Agencies

     •   Provincial culture and tourism department: coordinating and directing
         cultural relic investigation, protection and utilization, archeology, and major
         project implementation through the cultural relic protection division
     •   Municipal / county(district) government: responsible for the territorial
         management of cultural relic safety
     •   Municipal / county cultural relic authority: usually it includes one cultural
         relic protection office and one integrated law enforcement team. among which,
         the cultural relic protection office has three staff and is responsible for

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         coordinating and directing cultural relic protection, conducting administrative
         law enforcement for cultural relics, assisting the competent authority in
         reviewing projects involving cultural relic protection, supporting the superior
         cultural relic and archeological authority in conducting cultural relic
         investigation and exploration, and archeological excavation; while the
         integrated law enforcement team has 8-10 staff and is responsible for the
         inspection and management of cultural relic illegal actions and safety. Where
         any cultural relic burial area cannot be avoided in site selection, the provincial
         cultural heritage bureau shall organize the archeological excavation agency to
         conduct cultural relic investigation and exploration at the expense of the project
         owner.
     •   Municipal / county development and reform commission: organizing
         feasibility study review for construction projects, and ensuring that the project
         design does not affect cultural relics
     •   Planning division of natural resources authority: assisting the cultural relic
         authority in defining the range of cultural relic protection and construction
         control area during local planning and project site selection
206.    Assessment: For potential adverse impacts on material cultural heritage, there are
state and local regulations to avoid or minimize such impacts. the existing cultural relics risks
were managed effectively through national and local agencies, consistent with Core Principle
#2.

4.3.3.   Land Acquisition and House Demolition Agencies

    ◼    Land use approval agencies
     •   Ministry of Natural Resources: approving project-specific basic farmland
         acquisition.
     •   Provincial natural resources department: approving project-specific
         permanent acquisition of collective land (except basic farmland).
     •   Municipal natural resources department: reviewing and submitting the
         application of permanent land use conversion.
     •   County natural resources bureau: accepting land use applications for
         construction projects, directing the PIUs to prepare necessary land approval
         documents, and submitting such documents to the competent government
    ◼    Land acquisition
     •   County or above natural resources authority or land acquisition and
         house demolition authority: implementing the applicable laws and
         regulations, drafting the local land utilization plan, directing land users to
         submit land use application materials, and reviewing and submitting such
         materials; establishing a leading group for land acquisition and house
         demolition compensation and resettlement; disclosing relevant reports;
         drafting a compensation and resettlement plan; organizing public hearings on
         land acquisition and house demolition; signing land acquisition agreements

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         with affected persons or entities, and conducting compensation and
         resettlement
     •   Township government and village committee: participating in and
         supporting land acquisition and house demolition, especially DMS, door-to-door
         visit, publicity communication, resettlement measure discussion, grievance
         redress, etc.
     •   Municipal / county human resources and social security bureau:
         Population with a per capita cultivated area below the specified level after LA
         will be subject to social security. Land-expropriated farmers may cover basic
         endowment insurance that is equivalent to that of a worker, or respective basic
         endowment insurance for a resident voluntarily through application by
         themselves, and the application will be discussed in the village collective
         economic organization, reviewed and 7-day disclosed by the township
         government or sub-district office, approved by the local government, and
         registration by the human resources and social security bureau. The finance
         bureau will disburse subsidies.
     •   Third party appraisal agency: A qualified real estate appraisal agency will be
         appointed by the affected village or community under the direction of the
         natural resources authority to appraise house compensation rates, where
         relevant.
     •   Finance bureau: preparing necessary budgetary funds according to the
         resettlement budget submitted by the natural resources authority and land user
     •   Audit bureau: auditing resettlement costs regularly according to the statutory
         process, and giving opinions
207.     Take the Natural Resources Department of Wangyi District, Shaanxi Province as an
example, the Land Acquisition Service Center of this Department takes charge of the land
acquisition work. A project land acquisition task team shall be established jointly by the land
acquisition service center, corresponding project implementation authorities, the township
government and village committees where the project located regarding the acquisition of
land and ancillary facilities for a specific project. e.g., for a rural water supply station project
implemented by the Water Resources Bureau, the Water Resources Bureau would be the
competent department, and the specific township government and village committee where
the water supply station is located would assign personnel as team members. the size the
team is determined by the scale of land acquisition and house demolition. Usually, it consists
of 5-10 persons, and it would be more for big projects. In terms of the house demolition
involved, the task team will select a third-party real estate appraisal agency in line with the
legal procedures to conduct property value appraisal and prepare property value appraisal
report, in which the market price of the properties at the time of appraisal. The whole process
is that the project implementation unit entrusts the natural resources department to
implement land acquisition first, then the natural resources department will do the following
activities in sequence, including issuing a land acquisition announcement based on the
entrustment, conducting detail measurement survey (DMS) and appraisal, conducting social
stability risk assessment, disclosing the DMS results for verification in line with procedure,
re-disclosing the DMS results and publishing the land acquisition compensation and
resettlement plan in parallel, negotiating and signing the land acquisition pre-agreement,

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submitting land acquisition application documents to Provincial Natural Resources
Department for approval. After getting the land acquisition approval, the project
implementation agency will pay the related land compensation fee to county-level financial
bureau and endowment insurance fee to human resources and social security bureau
according to the land acquisition and compensation agreement. After that, the county-level
financial bureau will pay the compensation fee to affected households and the social security
bureau will proceed the endowment insurance for affected persons in line with the policies
and agreements.
208.     Assessment: China has established a sophisticated organizational structure for land
acquisition management, with responsibilities clearly defined. The Land Administration Law
requires that land occupied or used for projects shall be compensated for before occupation
or use, and the finance and audit bureaus shall review the budget regularly. In addition,
during the survey, the competent authorities will implement or participate in land
acquisition or occupation, compensation and resettlement for different types of projects, and
have rich experience to implement and manage land acquisition and compensation,
consistent with Core Principle #4.
    ◼ Livelihood restoration
     •   Livelihood restoration measures are flexible, including agricultural
         resettlement, reemployment, shares resettlement with assets, relocation, social
         security, etc., which involve different management agencies. Specifically,
         agricultural resettlement is usually conducted by the village collective
         economic organization, which may decide to undistributed collective land to
         households affected by land acquisition, or conduct land reallocation if no
         undistributed collective land is available; reemployment is chosen by affected
         households based on their own needs, where free training and employment
         support are provided by the county labor and employment authority; shares
         resettlement is determined by the PIU in consultation with affected
         households; relocation is requested by the affected households for new land
         farming at other areas, and decided by local governments after assess and
         consult with the host village collective economic organizations; social security
         is implemented by the county social security authority with the support of the
         township government and village / community committee. Section 4.4.4
         discussed the livelihood restoration in detail combing with the results of site
         survey and consultations, including case studies.
209.    Assessment: Livelihood restoration is part of LAR. Different livelihood restoration
measures involve different implementing agencies, such as village collectives, social security
authorities, employment authorities, and enterprises, which have clearly defined
responsibilities. In addition, different livelihood restoration measures have different funding
sources. Livelihood restoration measures can be well implemented in practice due to rich
experience and sound regulations, consistent with Element 9 under Core Principle #4.




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4.3.4.   Public Safety, Worker Health and Safety, and Emergency

    Engagement Agencies

    ◼    a) Worker health and safety
     •   National Health Commission: preparing, adjusting and disclosing classes and
         catalogs of occupational diseases, and supervising national occupational
         disease prevention and treatment
     •   Provincial health commission: registering province-wide occupational health
         examination agencies
     •   Municipal / county health authority: supervising local occupational health
         examination, strengthen the supervision and management of occupational
         diseases and work-related injuries, and ensuring that workers receive
         occupational health and safety rights according to law
     •   Medical insurance authority: managing work-related injury insurance and
         settling claims
     •   Municipal / county labor authority: establishing a tripartite mechanism in labor
         relations with trade unions and enterprises to solve relevant major issues
     •   Occupational health examination agency: being responsible for the quality
         control of provincial occupational health inspection agencies, obtaining a
         practicing license, where the lead physician shall have a practicing certificate, a
         middle-rank or above qualification, an occupational disease diagnosis
         qualification, and at least three years of experience in occupational health
         examination
     •   Trade union: directing workers and employers to enter into and perform
         employment contracts, and establish a collective bargaining mechanism to protect
         the lawful rights and interests of workers
     •   Women’s federation: coordinating competent authorities to protect women’s
         rights and interests
210.     The institutional structure of the Health Commissions in different Counties and
Cities are similar. Taking Lingbao city of Henan Province as an example, the health work in
this city is mainly managed by three institutions of the Health Commission: 1) Health and
Family Planning Supervision Institute, 2) Disease Prevention and Control Center (including
laboratory), and 3) Chenggang Hospital (occupational health examination).
        Health Supervision Institute, which consists of 5 persons (including 2 full-time and
         3 part-time), is responsible for random inspections on the enterprises within the
         jurisdiction, usually once a year, to check whether the enterprises proactively make
         declarations in the "National Toxic and Harmful Declaration System" in accordance
         with the provisions and make punishment and rectification suggestions for those
         who fails to declare, or declare improperly.
        Disease Prevention and Control Center (8 persons plus 2 persons from laboratory)
         is responsible for the classification of hazardous factors of enterprise according to
         the types of toxicants (divided into five categories, pneumoconiosis, chemical,

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    biological, physical and radioactive). It is required by the upper administration level
    that the Disease Prevention and Control Center should conduct inspection on a
    certain number of enterprises according to the hazardous classification to check
    whether they implemented the related hazard prevention and control measures
    each year, e.g., it’s 35 enterprises in 2021. And the number of enterprises of each
    type to be inspected shall be adjusted according to the total number of enterprises.
   Chengnan Hospital: One hospital commissioned by the Lingbao Health Commission
    on occupational health examination. It is required that the employees of enterprises
    with toxic and harmful factors and taking related positions should carry out
    occupational health examination before, on and off duty. For the those who has
    health problem, the enterprise and the employee shall be informed in writing and
    the enterprise shall not set the post any more, or if the employee is sick while on duty,
    the enterprise shall transfer his/her post and provide treatment.


◼   b) Community safety management
•   Production / operation entity: The key leader, e.g., the legal person, is
    responsible comprehensively for its work safety, and the trade union shall
    supervise work safety.
•   Hazardous material production / operation / storage agency: setting up a
    work safety management agency, or appointing full-time work safety staff
•   Safety supervision authority: carrying out administrative law enforcement
    related to work safety. In both provinces, a work safety mechanism is in place,
    saying safety is the responsibility of the production and operation entities,
    participated by workers, supervised by the government, self-discipline by the
    industry, and supervised by the public. Safety education aims to cover all
    people, and work safety training shall be covered by each level of government
    official.
◼   c) Natural disaster emergency engagement
•   Provincial disaster reduction commission: It is the natural disaster rescue
    and response agency of the provincial government, established at the provincial
    emergency management department, with members being the provincial
    emergency management department, finance department, and other competent
    authorities, such as the agriculture and rural affairs department, water
    resources department, natural resources department, housing and urban-rural
    development department, ecology and environment department, statistics
    bureau, weather bureau, earthquake bureau, health commission, broadcast and
    television bureau, red cross, communication bureau, and fire brigade. The
    provincial disaster early warning and response system is started based on
    assessment, and after it is started, the provincial disaster reduction commission
    starts its working mechanism immediately, such as post-disaster relief and
    reconstruction.
•   Municipal / county (district) government: When a natural disaster occurs,
    the local disaster early warning and response system is started based on
    assessment.

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211.    Assessment: For natural disaster management, both provinces have defined
departmental responsibilities, and can manage sudden natural disasters effectively,
consistent with Element 8 under Core Principle #3.

4.3.5.   Ethnic Minority Management Agencies

     •   Provincial ethnic and religious affairs bureau: developing the provincial
         minority development plan as required by the provincial government,
         protecting the lawful rights and interests of minority residents, and supervising
         relevant work
     •   Municipal / prefecture ethnic and religious affairs bureau: implementing
         policies, laws and regulations, and provincial and municipal / prefecture
         decisions on ethnic and religious work; drafting local regulations on ethnic and
         religious affairs; formulating relevant policies and plans, and ensuring their
         implementation; directing the implementation of national regional autonomy to
         protect the lawful rights and interests of minority residents; drafting
         development plans for minority officials and talents, and studying relevant
         policy advice
     •   County ethnic and religious affairs bureau: identifying municipal / county
         minority population, applying for ethnic minority development projects, and
         training minority officials
212.    Assessment: Departmental responsibilities for economic and social development,
and minority official training in minority areas have been defined at the provincial, municipal
/ prefecture and county levels, consistent with Core Principle #5.

4.3.6.   Vulnerable Group Protection Agencies

213.      Poverty reduction offices (renamed as “countryside revitalization bureaus�? since
2021), women’s federations, and civil affairs bureaus have been established, and poverty
reduction policies and plans developed at the state, provincial and county levels to plan
poverty reduction, women’s development, the disabled, left-behind old people and children,
etc. in a unified manner. All authorities have appropriate staff and budgets, and evaluate their
performance.
     •   Civil affairs bureau: managing affairs related to old people and left-behind
         (distressed) children needing assistance, including conducting survey, statistics,
         filing and recording, establishing a local management mechanism for left-
         behind (distressed) children and a local old-age care mechanism, and securing
         funds
     •   Women’s federation: guiding women to play a unique role in production and
         life, and protecting the lawful rights and interests of women and children,
         providing assistance to aggrieved women and children, building family
         civilization, etc.
     •   DPF (Disabled Persons Federation): protecting the civil rights of the disabled,

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         collecting their opinions and needs, mobilizing the public to understand, respect,
         care for and support them, and eliminate discrimination and obstacles, assisting the
         government in developing outlines for disabled persons’ programs, and promoting
         their rehabilitation, education, employment, rights protection, culture, and social
         security.
     •   Rural Revitalization Bureau: consolidating the achievements of poverty
         alleviation, continuing the daily monitoring of the poverty support mechanisms, and
         and preventing them from falling back into poverty.
     •   Township government and village / community committee: A supervisor of
         left-behind (distressed) children is appointed, and a regional old age care
         service center and a women’s federation office established at the township
         level, and a children’s director appointed and an old age care service station
         established in each village / community.
214.    The "Social Welfare Office" or "Child Welfare and Old-age Service Office" of each
County/City, equipped with 3-4 staff, is responsible for the work of the left-behind elderly
and children left behind. For example, the Civil Affairs Bureau of Xunyi County, Shaanxi
Province established a Social Welfare Office to 1) set up the record of left-behind elderly and
children. As of the end of 2020, there were 1,938 left-behind elders and 1,259 left-behind
children in all 10 townships of the County; 2) formulate and implement the County elderly
care service construction planning; 3) construct and manage the elderly services, elderly
welfare and mutual aid service centers of the whole County; 4) undertake welfare
arrangement for the elderly and relief work for the elderly with special difficulties in the
county, coordinate and promote the care and services for the left-behind elderly in rural
areas; 5) formulate and implement the County children welfare development planning,
manage the safeguard, adoption and assistance for orphaned and abandoned children; 6)
manage the children welfare institutions, Juvenile Protection institutions and extremely
poor people assistance institutions; 7) improve the care and service system for left-behind
children in rural areas and the security system for children in difficulties. In addition, to
support the Social Welfare Office of Civil Affairs Bureau, each township government and
community/village committee assigns at least one person to do the work related to left-
behind elderly and children.
215.     Usually, it is the rural revitalization bureau, equipped with about 10 staff, taking
charge of the poverty alleviation work. Besides, coordination agencies like “poverty
alleviation headquarter�? or “poverty alleviation leading group�?, which consists of the key
leaders of the County/City Government and each function department, were set up in the
People’s Government of each County/City. Irregular meetings among industries and
government departments were hold according to the poverty alleviation work needs and
progress. More social agencies and people will be mobilized for a specific poverty alleviation
project. For example, in Shanzhou District, Sanmenxia City, Henan Province, for a certain
poverty alleviation work, the responsibility of industrial department, township government,
village poverty alleviation work team, the first village secretary, working group in the village,
people in charge of the assistance and the fixed-point poverty alleviation unit are clearly
specified, forming a responsibility system of heading and supervision at the county-level,
leading and supporting at industrial departments level, implementing at township level and
village level. For a special poverty alleviation project, a “5+N�? Poverty Alleviation

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Headquarters at the District Level was established to organize, coordinate, accelerate and
supervise the implementation of each task, in which “5�? refers to the party secretary of
district committee, the chief of the district government, deputy secretary of district Party
Committee in charge of poverty alleviation, deputy chief of the district government and the
director of the poverty alleviation office, and “N�? refers to the members of four leading groups
of the district government and other county-level leaders; at the township level, a poverty
alleviation team was set up at each of the 13 township government and establish a “2+2+N�?
township-level poverty alleviation headquarters, in which “2�? refers to the party secretary
and the head of the township government, “2�? refers to the deputy secretary who is in charge
of the poverty alleviation and deputy chief of the township government, “N�? refers to 5-7 staff
who are specifically assigned to do poverty alleviation work; at the industrial department
level, a “1+1+2�? poverty alleviation group was set up at each of the key industrial department
in the District, which was led by the head of the industrial department and equipped with
specified personnel to do poverty alleviation work; at the village level, poverty alleviation
responsible task team was set up at each of the 256 villages. In the whole District, In the
whole, officials of relevant government departments should take the lead in helping the poor
households, and organize officials and poor households to establish a partnership of helping
and assisting. In principle, each official of government departments should assist 3 poor
households, so as to cover all the registered poor people. As the end of 2020, the party
secretaries of all 13 township governments visited 15,742 poor households.
216.    Assessment: There are competent authorities that manage different vulnerable
groups in China, such as poverty reduction offices or countryside revitalization bureaus for
poverty issues, DPF for disabled people, civil affairs bureaus for the left-behind old people
and children, and women’s federations for women. These authorities are flexibly staffed, and
may engage extra staff as necessary in additional to their regular staff. Therefore, the state
and local governments have clearly defined responsibilities in the rights protection of
vulnerable groups, and their management capacity complies with Core Principle #5.

4.4. Assessment of Social Practice Effects

217.     The assessment of social practice effects is mainly based on the information obtained
from the demonstration and sample counties and information on the assessment of the
implementation process and effectiveness of social risk management of experienced similar
activities. Key stakeholders were interviewed in each county of field work to cross-check
their attitudes and satisfaction with the implementation of relevant activities. The social risk
assessment takes a typical sample case as an entry point, and focuses on analyzing the
implementation of policies consistent with the World Bank's principles to assess whether the
objectives set out in the core principles and elements can be met. Therefore, this section will
be analyzed and assessed against the six core principles and elements of social relevance.

4.4.1 Core Principle #1: Program E&S management systems are designed to
promote E&S sustainability in the Program design

Element 1: Operate within an adequate legal and regulatory framework to guide E&S
impact assessments at the PforR Program level.


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218.      Through the survey in Henan and Shaanxi Provinces, social stability risk
assessments were conducted for all projects involving land acquisition and resettlement,
such as water supply plant. SSRA of some projects were prepared with other projects
together, like soil and water conservation project, wastewater treatment facilities in rural
areas (occupying a land area of 300-600m2), etc. The impacts of such projects are limited and
no permanent land acquisition involved but use the land temporarily or occupy the unused
construction land in the village with the approval from County-level natural resources
department. For example, the SSRA of the Yintai District Qishui River (section of urban area)
Ecology Protection and Rehabilitation Project in Yintai District, Tongchuan City, Shaanxi
Province include the construction and reconstruction of rural wastewater treatment
facilities along the Qishui River, river channel improvement, and soil and water conservation,
etc. In 2020, there were 9 SSRA reports of major decisions recorded in Wangyi District,
Tongchuan City, and 3 SSRA reports recorded in Xunyi County and 2 recorded in Yongshou
County of Xianyang City, covering the project of wastewater treatment facilities, domestic
solid waste collection and treatment, river channel improvement and so on. The SSRA of
Drinking Water Safety Consolidation and Promotion Project in Taowang Village, Caiyuan
Town, Shanzhou District, Sanmenxia City, Henan Province assessed the social stability risks
related to the construction of drinking water project, like land acquisition. The SSRA of
related projects in Sanmenxia City is implemented every year in line with the policies. For
example, there were 18 SSRA reports prepared for projects like land acquisition and drinking
water programs in Lingbao City from January to September 2021.
219.     The SSRA identifies and analyzes the potential social impacts and risks, community
residents’ opinions and suggestions related to the project, such as permanent land
acquisition, temporary land use, affected young crops and attachments, grade the level of
impacts and risks, and develop risk mitigation measures and control measures based on the
investigation and community residents’ opinions and suggestions, to ensure the potential
social risks of the project can be managed.
220.     Assessment: Field investigation and consultation on sample counties in Henan and
Shaanxi Provinces show that the projects concerned have carried out the "social stability risk
assessment" in accordance with the statutory procedures to identify and grade the social
risks that may arise from the project. Corresponding risk mitigation and control measures
were developed, and the SSRA Report of every project has passed the expert assessment and
been put on records at authorized governmental departments. Meanwhile, it’s found that
SSRA was not conducted at the project preparation stage for some small-scale projects, such
as rural wastewater treatment facilities, water supply facilities, livestock and poultry sewage
treatment facilities and ditches ecological protection projects.
221.    Recommendation: social stability risk assessment should be conducted for the
single small-scale projects. SSRA for several small-scale projects in the same region can be
prepared in a package according to the actual situation.
Element 2: Incorporate recognized elements of good practice in E&S assessment and
management.
222.   i) Early screening: The information provided by the natural resources
departments of the two provinces and the surveyed counties and the field investigation


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confirms that joint visits by various departments are required at the early stage of projects
to determine the impact. All construction projects involving land acquisition are required to
complete the land pre-examination process. The feasibility study report of the project
generally needs to be reviewed under the organization of the local development and reform
department with all relevant departments and industry experts to confirm that the project
site selection is in line with the relevant land use planning.
223.     The Wangyi District Natural Resources Bureau in Shaanxi Province and Mianchi
County Natural Resources Bureau in Sanmenxia City, Henan Province introduce, for WWTPs
with a capacity over 100ton and above that require land acquisition and demolition, the
implementing agency is required to provide the natural resources department with the
approval of the project feasibility study from the Development and Reform Commission
(including the approval of land pre-examination and the approval of site selection), red line
map of land acquisition, land classification table and SSRA report, before the natural
resources department receives the entrustment from the implementing agency. Only when
the social risk level is below medium, or the risk is reduced to medium level or below after
mitigation measures are taken, can the SSRA report be accepted by the experts of the
appraisal panel. It is thus clear that the screening and risk assessment of social risks have
been effectively implemented and managed through the operation of relevant mechanisms
in the implementation process.
224.     ii) Alternatives: The feasibility study process for construction projects requires
the comparison of different proposals. For example, a Mianchi County Rural Domestic
Wastewater Treatment Feasibility Study Report was prepared regarding to the rural
wastewater treatment in all 12 townships of Mianchi County, Sanmenxia City, Henan
Province, in which the principles of site selection for village-level and township-level
wastewater treatment facilities were included. For example, the following factors should be
considered when selecting a site for WWTP in the town: 1) terrain. The WWTP should located
at a lower terrain, which is convenient for wastewater to flow into the plant; the layout of
drainage pipelines should be considered when selecting a site; and the impacts of terrain
should also be considered. These principles are helpful for minimizing operation and
maintenance costs, maximizing the use of existing resources and avoiding repeated
construction. 2) sensitive targets. The site must be located downstream of a central water
source, downstream of towns, factories and residential areas, and below the prevailing
summer wind direction; There shall be a certain safety protection distance and a health
protection belt between the site and the town, the factories; the site shall meet the sound
environmental quality standards; and the noise pollution caused by the WWTP facilities to
the surrounding area shall be controlled. 3) location and farmland protection. The site should
avoid or minimize the occupation of farmland as possible and be in a place with better
geological conditions which is easy for construction, to reduce the cost. Make full use of the
terrain and select a place with proper slope to meet the requirements of artesian flow during
the treatment process. According to the survey on project implementation agencies and
consultation agencies in Henan and Shaanxi Provinces, the feasibility study usually has
considered the site selection principles, evaluated the alternatives and selected the best plan.
225.   iii) Developing measures to avoid, minimize or mitigate social impacts:
According to interviews with the Shaanxi Provincial Political and Legislative Affairs

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Committee, Henan Sanmenxia Municipal Political and Legislative Affairs Committee and the
competent authorities responsible for SSRA in each county government sampled, topics
related to the social impact identification, analysis and management measures of the project
are required to be analyzed in the feasibility study reports or similar assessment documents
of the project preparation phase. For projects that are required by law to carry out SSRAs,
such as those involving permanent acquisition of houses or land, there are special
management plans for risk identification, analysis, prevention and mitigation in the specific
SSRA. For example, when carrying out the social stability risk assessment for the domestic
waste landfill site construction project in Yongshou County, Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province,
mitigation measures like following the provisions of civilized construction, collecting sewage
and washing machines during the construction process, selecting reasonable construction
site to achieve dust and noise reduction, etc. were formulated in terms of the potential
impacts to surrounding communities during the project construction, such as wastewater,
dust, noise and so on. The SSRA of Drinking Water Safety Consolidation and Promotion
Project in Taowang Village, Caiyuan Town, Shanzhou District, Sanmenxia City, Henan
Province identified that the main social impact of the project is permanent land acquisition,
so the mitigation measures developed include occupy construction land and wasteland as
much as possible; avoid or minimize the occupation of agricultural land; listen to the
opinions of residents; and strictly implement the national and local land management laws
and regulations. The SSRA record form shall be submitted to the relevant departments for
review and sign the concluding opinion of agree to be implemented or can be implemented.
See Figure 4 of Annex 10.
226.     iv) Defining the organizational responsibilities and budget sources for the
implementation of mitigation measures: Shaanxi Province and Henan Province have a
similar division of government responsibilities in the project involving water supply,
irrigation, rural wastewater, solid waste and non-point pollution control. In particular,
ecology and environment departments are responsible for the collection and treatment rural
domestic wastewater; agricultural and rural departments are responsible for resource
utilization of livestock and poultry manure. The provincial departments operate their work
under the unified coordination of the provincial government, with the Provincial Water
Resources Bureaus of Shaanxi and Henan representing the provincial governments in inter-
departmental coordination. The arrangements for county-level management are broadly in
line with provincial arrangements.
In terms of implementing land acquisition and resettlement for a specific construction
project, it is observed that the implementation approaches are also largely similar during
the visits to counties in the two provinces. For example, the County-level Natural Resources
Bureau implement the land acquisition work on behalf of the People’s Government of Xunyi
County in Shaanxi Province. For a specific project, the land acquisition and resettlement
will be implemented by a land acquisition and house demolition team, which is established
with the 2-3 persons from the Natural Resources Bureau, 2-3 persons from the project
implementation agency (e.g., the county water resources bureau is the implementation
agency for water supply construction project), 2-5 persons from the township government
and the members of the village committees where the project located. Through the visits to
the project counties in Sanmenxia City, Henan Province, the management procedures for
land acquisition and house demolition are similar.

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227.    According to interviews with integrated county departments, project preparation,
construction and operational management of each unit are subject to daily guidance and
supervision by ecological and environmental protection, natural resources, labor and
employment, health and hygiene, finance and auditing departments to ensure that
environmental and social management measures are implemented.
228.      v) Public participation, information disclosure and grievance redress
mechanism (GRM): According to the survey on the political and legal departments in Yintai
District and Wangyi District, Tongchuan City, Shaanxi Province and Mianchi County,
Shanzhou District, Sanmenxia City, Henan Province and the analysis about the SSRA of the
Yintai District Qishui River (section of urban area) Ecology Protection and Rehabilitation
Project in Yintai District, Tongchuan City, Shaanxi Province and SSRA of Drinking Water
Safety Consolidation and Promotion Project in Taowang Village, Caiyuan Town, Shanzhou
District, Sanmenxia City, Henan Province, it’s found that public consultations were conducted
during the SSAR process. For example, 158 households were consulted during the SSRA of
Drinking Water Safety Consolidation and Promotion Project in Taowang Village, Caiyuan
Town, Shanzhou District, Sanmenxia City, Henan Province, accounting for 60% of the total
village households, and 100% of the people surveyed support the project construction. The
SSRA reports of each area were reviewed by experts and recorded in the government
departments.
229.     In addition, as introduced by the natural resources departments of the project areas
that information disclosure and DMS is required during the whole land acquisition and house
demolition process according to the Land Administration Law revised in 2020. For example,
in Xunyi County, Shaanxi Province, once received land acquisition entrustment from the
project implementation unit and confirmed all mandatory procedures have been completed,
the natural resources department will publish a land acquisition announcement, conduct
land status survey and detail measurement survey (DMS); at the same time, the PIU will
conduct social stability risk assessment; after the DMS, the DMS results will be disclosed for
verification in line with GRM procedure, and the land acquisition compensation and
resettlement plan will be developed and disclosed in the affected communities; then, the
natural resources department will negotiate and sign the land acquisition pre-agreement,
and submitting land acquisition application documents to Provincial Natural Resources
Department for approval. In addition, a formal land acquisition announcement will be
published after getting the land acquisition approval and compensation fee will be paid
accordingly.
230.     A survey of counties in Shaanxi and Henan confirms that government departments
in each region have implemented in full set of regulations and mechanisms on grievance
complaining and/or petition through the government letter and visit office. Taking Yongshou
County in Shaanxi Province and Lingbao City in Sanmenxia of Henan Province as examples,
the communal grievance mechanism consists of three levels: firstly, go directly to the
implementing unit; secondly, go to the village or community committee for addressing;
thirdly, go to the county/municipal or Sanmenxia municipal government's letter and visit
office or contact the county/municipal governor's hotline/mailbox, etc., through which the
process includes a mechanism of collection, initiation within 7 days, and completion of
processing and feedback within 2 months. In addition, residents can resolve disputes

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through civil actions in the courts. In general, the grievance redress mechanism is a
standardized and effective mechanism.
231.      Assessment: Field investigations in Shaanxi and Henan Provinces, and the Program
counties concerned show that relevant facilities, such as water supply facilities, have carried
out relevant assessments and approvals as required during project preparation stage, the
early preparatory stage of the implementation of the project concerned includes a
comprehensive social risk screening process, such as "SSRA", feasibility study, project
alternatives analysis, etc. According to regulatory requirements, public consultation and
information disclosure were carried out during the proceeding of relevant assessment.
Therefore, the final selected solution is usually the best one considering a combination of
benefits including environmental, social, and economic. During the design stage, the project
design took full consideration of the examination comments from relevant departments and
the reasonable suggestions from public participation. The site survey with stakeholders,
including the community representatives, indicated that the parties are satisfied with the
management system and operation of social risks in general. It is also found that record and
documentation in terms of the environmental social risk screening process, public
consultation and information disclosure and GRM is relatively weak: including: 1) public
consultation process during SSRA, especially the sample questionnaire filled out and the
official registration form of SSRA reports,) the records and photos of public hearings carried
out in the project implementation process, complaint records, etc., 3) other materials
reflecting public participation.
232.    Recommendation: It is recommended to strengthen the recording and
documentation of the project environmental social risk screening process, the public
consultation and information disclosure process and GRM operation.

4.4.2 Core Principle #2: Program E&S management systems are designed to avoid,
minimize, or mitigate adverse impacts on natural habitats and physical cultural
resources resulting from the Program.

Element 5: Take into account potential adverse effects on physical cultural property and
provide adequate measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate such effects.
233.     As confirmed by the natural resources departments and cultural relic protection
departments at County-level, Municipal-level and Provincial level of Shaanxi and Henan
Provinces, opinions of the cultural relic management authorities were consulted and
followed by the planning departments during development of local land use planning,
including the information of relics distribution in the region and the results of the cultural
relic census. For example, 64 cultural relics were listed in the national land spatial planning
in line with relevant requirement in Wangyi District, Shaanxi Province. At the land pre-
examination and site selection stages, the project site selection should comply with the
overall local land use planning, which ensures that no other construction works or blasting,
drilling, excavation and other operations are allowed within the protection area of the
cultural relics protection units as required by the Law on the Protection of Cultural Relics. At
the project appraisal stage, the local development and reform commission will invite experts
from the cultural relics protection department to participate the project appraisal. If any


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construction project is located within the area of designated cultural relics protection units,
it is necessary for the cultural relics protection department to entrust qualified cultural relics
exploration institutions to carry out cultural relics protection measures, and the land owner
shall carry out land transfer or remising only after archaeological activities completed. For
unknown areas, cultural relics should be explored first; If cultural relics were not discovered
through exploration but discovered during excavation, the cultural relics protection
departments shall entrust qualified cultural relics exploration institutions to take protection
measures. If cultural relics are discovered during the construction of the project, the
construction unit will report to the provincial government administrative department of
cultural relics according to the provisions of the Law on the Protection of Cultural Relics and
organize archaeological excavation units to conduct archaeological investigation and
exploration of the buried cultural relics within the scope of the project. According to the
survey on cultural relics protection departments in Wangyi District, Xunyi County and
Yongshou County, Shaanxi Province, cultural relics exploration is not required for the project
without breaking ground. As introduced by the cultural relics protection departments in
Shanzhou District, Sanmenxia City, Henan Province, the cultural relics protection work is
divided into above-ground part and underground part: the above-ground immovable cultural
relics are classified into national, provincial, municipal, county-level and general cultural
relics protection units. If there are any national, provincial, municipal, county-level and
general cultural relics protection units identified during the site selection, the project site
should be changed; for cultural relics under the ground, site selection plan should be
submitted to cultural relics protection departments for review and to exploration and
archaeological departments for investigation firs, then the project can be implemented. it can
be seen from the survey in the counties sampled that the cultural relics management system
is basically the same, including site selection management in the early stage of the project
and cultural relics protection and management in the implementation process of the project.
The related cultural relics management system can protect cultural relics resources from
being impacted by the project construction.
234.     Figure 5 of Annex 10 shows an approval on site selection of a natural gas pipeline
and valve construction project issued by Yongshou County Cultural Relics Protection Bureau.
Although no natural gas related project involved in this Project, the land use scale of project
related rural wastewater treatment facilities and pipelines, water supply facilities and
livestock manure treatment facilities are similar with the natural gas pipeline and valve.
Therefore, the review process and result are the same, which can show the review procedure
of relevant construction projects by the cultural relics departments.
235.    Assessment: In each aspect of the project, the parties involved were able to avoid,
minimize, and mitigate impacts on heritage resources in accordance with the requirements
of the Law on the Protection of Cultural Relics. For unavoidable impacts, strict protection
schemes were developed and implemented.

4.4.3 Core Principle #3: Program E&S management systems are designed to protect
public and worker safety.

Element 6: Promote adequate community, individual, and worker health, safety, and
security through the safe design, construction, operation, and maintenance of Program

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activities; or, in carrying out activities that may be dependent on existing infrastructure,
incorporate safety measures, inspections, or remedial works as appropriate.
236.    There is labor management system established on each administration levels,
including related laws and regulations as discussed in Section 4.2, and corresponding labor
authorities as mentioned in Section 4.3. The survey of the sampled counties indicates that
the labor management system operates effectively. And the result of survey also indicated
there were not any child labors (under 16 years) identified in the enterprises or units.
237.     It was found in the interviews at the county level that all projects, including Wangyi
District and Yintai District of Tongchuan City, Xunyi County and Yongshou County of Xianyang
City in Shaanxi Province, Mianchi, Shanzhou District and Lingbao City of Sanmenxia City in
Henan Province) were reviewed or approved by provincial or municipal/ county authorities
in terms of site selection and design to ensure compliance with all relevant requirements of
the regulations. For example, the Health Commission of Lingbao City, Henna Province
introduced that occupational disease assessment on the project construction and operation
is required to be prepared by a third party and reviewed by experts during the project design
stage. If any hazard identified, Three Simultaneities safety facilities/measures should be
implemented by the operational enterprises during the project design, construction and
operations. And it is required for the enterprises to declare the related hazards in the
National Toxic and Harmful Substance Declaration System. If any enterprise doesn’t make a
declaration and found during the township government’s grid management and baseline
survey, it will be reported to the Health Commission and then the Health Commission will
make inspection and punishment. In addition, the Health Commission also conducts random
inspection on the enterprises which have made declaration and not make declaration. The
number of enterprises to be inspected is determined based on the distribution of each type
of enterprise, e.g., 35 enterprises were inspected in Lingbao City from January to August 2021.
In the implementation and/or operation phase, the human resources and social security
departments, labor departments and health departments of every county carry annual
supervision check to the key enterprises annually and inspect the implementation of related
measures, where findings identified, corrective measures would be required. The health
department also regularly checked whether relevant occupational health and safety
measures were in place, whether the three simultaneous measures were implemented,
whether the enterprise occupational health record was in place and whether annual
monitoring of occupational hazards of the enterprises was conducted. In Mianchi County and
Lingbao City, Sanmenxia City, Henan Province, as for the enterprises which the occupational
hazard is categorized as "general", e.g., sewage treatment, it is required to entrust a
certificated occupational health technical service institution to detect the occupational
hazard factors at least once every three years; for the enterprises the occupational hazard is
categorized as “Substantial�?, it is required to conduct occupation hazard factors detection
annually. During the site survey in Shaanxi and Henan Province, it’s found that some facilities
like rural water supply facilities, livestock and poultry waste recycling enterprises, which is
small and with limited personnel during the operation, are not included the local
occupational health declaration, assessment, inspection and management system.
238.    A three-tier labor dispute resolution mechanism has been set up from the internal
grievance redressing mechanism to the county government level, namely, the enterprise

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labor disputes and redressing mechanism, the township government labor dispute
mediation center and the county government labor mediation center, and employees can also
go to the court for mediation through legal channels as well. For example, in Sanmenxia City,
Henan Province, there are 70 labor dispute mediation centers in the county, and about 90%
of the disputes can be handled through mediation, while 10% required to go through
arbitration or legal channels. From January to August 2021, the human resources and social
security department of Sanmenxia city received and handled 340 wage disputes through the
labor dispute mediation mechanism, involving 2,076 workers and 4.5388 million yuan in
wages. According to county labor affair bureau, the union system is also an effective
mechanism for ensuring the safety of workers at work, and the unions can help employees
obtain rights and interests in safety training, health inspections, work environment and
living needs. The detailed mediation and arbitration processes of labor disputes was
introduced by the labor affair bureau of Sanmenxia city: when a labor and personnel dispute
encountered, the employees can seek help from the labor inspection brigade of the labor
inspection department, or they can directly submit to labor arbitration. The labor inspection
department files a case within 5 days after receiving the complaint, and start survey in 2
months for cases that meet the acceptance principle (e.g., the violation occurred within 2
years, etc.). It can be extended to 30 working days for complicated cases upon approval. If
the employees are not satisfied with the result, they can submit to labor arbitration within 6
months. The application for labor arbitration is valid for a period of one year. Labor
arbitration consists of two levels, including labor mediation and application for arbitration.
Usually, labor mediation is recommended as the priority, and the mediation will be
completed within 15 days. If the mediation is successful, the labor and management will sign
a mediation agreement, and if not, it will be automatically transferred to labor arbitration.
The cases subject to the arbitration of arbitral tribunal end within 45 days after the
arbitration committee accepts the application for arbitration. If an extension is required due
to the complexity of case, it may be extended and notified in writing to the parties, upon
approval of the Director of the Arbitration Committee, but the extension period shall not
exceed 15 days. The results include pre-case mediation, case acceptance, and no acceptance.
If not accepted, a written explanation should be provided to the applicant. Figure 6 in Annex
10 show the labor inspection and enforcement process and the labor arbitration process,
provided by Mianchi County Labor Affair Bureau.
239.    During the visits to Livestock and poultry manure utilization enterprises, all
enterprises introduced that trainings were provided to relevant workers and necessary
equipment were prepared. For example, the labor contract signed between the employee and
the Henan Sanmenxia Chengyu Dairy Cattle Breeding Co. Ltd clearly stipulated the roles and
responsibilities of the company and the employee, including the company must provide
employees with safety and health working conditions and necessary personal protection
equipment in line with national regulations, and provide regular health examination for
employees who engaging in the position with occupational hazard factors.
240.      Assessment: The survey to the counties involved shows that various governmental
departments and related implementing agencies have followed regulatory requirements for
safety and health during construction or operation. At the same time, it’s found that some
facilities like rural water supply facilities, livestock and poultry waste recycling enterprises,
and agricultural products processing facilities, which is small and with limited personnel

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during the operation, are not included in the local occupational health declaration,
assessment, inspection and management system.
241.      Recommendation: the operational unit of rural water supply facilities, livestock and
poultry manure utilization enterprises should be covered by the daily management of the
local occupational health declaration, assessment, inspection and management system,
including 1) occupational health assessment and declaration should be conducted and can
be queried; 2) the Heath Commission at County and City level should bring relevant project
facilities into the scope of daily inspection and supervision, and keep inspection records.
Element 8: Include adequate measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate community,
individual, and worker risks when the PforR Program activities are located in areas prone
to natural hazards such as floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, or other severe weather or
affected by climate events.
242.    It is found during the site visit to the already built facilities that the safety of
community residents and workers is taken seriously by all units. As shown in Figure 8 of
Annex 10, the livestock and poultry manure utilization facility of Wangyi District, Shaanxi
Province was built in a relatively independent space within the community with safety fence
and specified personnel were arranged for daily safety management. As shown in Figure 9 of
Annex 10, the rural domestic sewage treatment facilities in Yongshou County, Shaanxi
Province and Lingbao City, Sanmenxia, Henan Province were built on the unused
construction land or wasteland of the community with a fence and managed by specified
persons assigned by the township government or village committee.
243.    In terms of the prevention of Covid-19, both Provinces and project counties took
control measures strictly in line the Law on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases
(2020) and formulated Covid-19 prevention and control measures based on the local
conditions. For example, the Health Commission of Longbai City, Sanmenxia, Henan Province
formulated the Covid-19 Prevention, Control and Treatment Plan and divided the
responsibilities of each department in details accordingly. See Figure 11 in Annex 10.
244.    Assessment: During the construction and operation of the project, the construction
contract and operation system contain or implement relevant preventive and control
measures for ensuring the community and labors safety. The natural disaster management
system is sound, the personnel are in place, and the management is basically in place.

4.4.4 Core Principle #4: Program E&S systems manage land acquisition and loss of
access to natural resources in a way that avoids or minimizes displacement and assists
affected people in improving, or at the minimum restoring, their livelihoods and living
standards.

245.    Through the survey on the related facilities in Shaanxi and Henan Province, it’s found
that land use may be involved during the construction of rural water supply facilities,
upgrading treatment facilities of the existing municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants
(WWTPs), construction of some rural wastewater treatment facilities, livestock and poultry
manure utilization facilities embankment, construction/renovation of rural drinking water
supply facilities, e.g. water supply stations, pipeline network, pump stations and storage
tanks and soil and water conservation activities in terms of stormwater collection pond, gully

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control works and ecological terrace field improvement. Of which, some facilities, for
instance, new construction or expansion of municipal WWTPs and water supply stations,
may need permanent land acquisition (LA), while other activities may not involve
permanent land acquisition, but i) temporary land occupation, e.g. the pipeline works and
laydown areas during civil working; ii) just use the collective construction land or unused
land; iii) facility agriculture land use (FALU) for some livestock and poultry manure recycling
facilities; and iv) land use right transfer (LURT) for some vegetation works
246.     For the above land use, negative impacts are managed through different
management systems. LAR effects are analyzed in the six aspects included in Element 9 as
follows:
i)   Minimizing negative impacts related to land acquisition:
247.    For activities involved LA, as introduced by the Natural Resources Bureau in Shaanxi
Province and Sanmenxia City, the Construction Land Use Pre-approval and Site Selection
Approval were obtained for the projects which may involve permanent land acquisition,
which means the land use were reviewed by relevant authorities at the project preparation
stage to ensure the project implementation is in line with the local land use planning and
avoid occupying basic farmland and impacting other sensitive facilities.
248.      For activities involved FALU like the livestock and poultry manure utilization
facilities, as confirmed with the NRBs of the sampled counties, FALU process usually requires
the consent of relevant villages/community committees (to confirm being informed and
consent) and township NRB (to confirm being informed and consent, and in compliance with
local land use planning), review by the county water resources bureau (WRB) (if it is close to
any critical water source), forestry bureau (proposing technical requirements for woodland
use), transport bureau (not to build any breeding farm or any associated facility within 2km),
scenic area authority (if the site can be within the scenic area), county NRB (if basic farmland
or ecological redline is occupied), and cultural heritage authority (if the site is within the
range of any protected cultural relic). According to the survey with the manure utilization
facilities in Wangyi district and Yongshou, Shaanxi, the FALU approvals were obtained from
the local Natural Resources Bureau after confirmed by the relevant departments, which
approves that the land use of the facilities is consistent with the local land use planning and
avoid occupying basic farmland or impacting other sensitive facilities. See Figure 12.
249.    Rural wastewater collection and treatment facilities usually occupy collective
unused land. Or, if villager’s land is proposed to occupy, it is normally addressed through land
adjustment internal of the collective economic organization, or through land compensation
based on negotiation with the villagers. It is subject to voluntary basis. Where the villagers
don’t accept the result of negotiation, other site option is normally selected.
250.    For activities involving LURT, it is a kind of vegetation works that will plant fruit trees
or economic vegetation to achieve the objectives of water and soil protection along the river
basins, and income increase of the farmers of the regions. According to the Management
Measures for the Rural Land Use Rights Transfer (2021.3.1), LURT can only deal with
agricultural activities to ensure that farmland is used for agricultural purposes, against which
Shaanxi and Henan local law enforcement brigades under natural resources have routine
supervision mechanism to minimize negative impacts of land occupation.

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ii) Identifying and addressing economic and social impacts arising from land
acquisition or loss of access to natural resources
251.      As confirmed by the natural resources department of each project county that the
local land acquisition procedure is in compliance with the laws and regulations. During the
survey in Wangyi District, Yintai District, Xunyi County and Yongshou County in Shaanxi
Province and Mianchi, Shanzhou and Lingbao in Henan Province, it is found that the
construction of soil and water conservation projects usually lasts for a short period and
occupies ditches temporarily, sometimes it also occupies farmland temporarily. In terms of
the temporary occupation of farmland, usually, it is the construction unit to negotiate with
the affected village committee or households and sign a temporary land use agreement, in
which land use area, compensation standards, total compensation fee, way of payment,
period of occupation, and land restoration requirements are included, so as to minimize the
impacts on farmers. Whereas no permanent land acquisition is required such as some small-
scale wastewater treatment station, livestock and poultry waste resources utilization
facilities, land renting through negotiating with the village committees/land use party and
affected households, signing land leasing agreement. Land lease rentals are usually paid to
affected households directly in line with the agreed payment method and period. Land area
to be rented and affected young crops on the ground are confirmed in the land leasing
agreement. As shown in Figure 7 of Annex 10, it is a land lease agreement signed between
the village committee (on behalf of villagers) of Dujiazhuang Village in Ganjing Town,
Yongshou County, Shaanxi Province and the Xianyang Zhengda Food Co., Ltd. Figure 12 is the
“Notice of Facility Agricultural Land Use (FALU) Record�? approved by Yongshou County
Natural Resources Bureau. The Zhengda Food Co., Ltd use the leased land to plant fruit trees,
livestock and poultry feeding and construct and operate livestock and poultry waste
resources utilization facilities. According to the agreement, the land rent fee is 500 yuan/mu
for the first year and increasing by 10% a year from the second year onwards, the
compensation fee for young crops on the ground is paid at once and the rent fee is paid on
October 30 of each year.
252.     For the projects involved permanent land acquisition of farmland or unused land, all
the project counties and cities implement the published national and provincial
compensation standards, which is formulated by the local natural resources departments
based on the annual output value of the agricultural land and updated every 2-3 years
according to the market situation. For example, the Notice of the Shaanxi Provincial
Government on Releasing Block Comprehensive Land Prices of Shaanxi Province ([2020]
No.12), which was promulgated in 2020, published the latest compensation standard for
acquiring agricultural land. Regarding to the livelihood restoration of the land-loss farmers,
systematic arrangement was formulated by the natural resources departments and human
resources and social security departments in each project County. It will be discussed in
detail in point iv) following.
253.     During the visit to the counties, the survey team learned from the villager
representatives that they were generally satisfied with the implementation process of land
acquisition compensation and resettlement, and the compensation payment. When asked
whether the concerned issues of the affected people can be reported to the village committee
of project implementing agencies during the implementation process, the villagers

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interviewed gave positive response, and indicated that all the issues were solved.
iii) Compensation and transition subsidy to be fully paid at replacement cost before
land use
254.     According to the consultation of Shaanxi and Henan Provinces and relevant county-
level project implementation units and natural resources departments, the compensation for
expropriation of housing in the urban planning area of the project counties is determined
through appraisal based on the market price at the time of land acquisition, to ensure the
compensation standard is basically consistent with the market replacement cost.
iv) Livelihood restoration
255.    Mechanisms for livelihood restoration are established in related domestic systems:
256.      For impacts related to land acquisition and resettlement, the related land acquisition
and resettlement system was implemented with regulated procedure through the lead of
NRB of each county. Except for compensation and resettlement in compliance with the laws,
it also includes the implementation of the social security systems as well as the employment
training and support policies for land-expropriated farmers. As required by the Land
Administration Law 2020 at Article 48, it is a basic requirement for the related county
government and the project implementation agencies to ensure that the livelihood standard
of the land-expropriated farmers do not be decreased after land acquisition. Land-
expropriated farmers can choose to participate in different types of social security systems
according to their actual needs, such as 1) respective basic pension insurance for urban and
rural residents: the lowest standard for this type of insurance is 100 per month each person
in both Shaanxi and Henan provinces. For those who have not reached the retirement ages,
their insurance charges will be paid in one-off by local government to their personal account
of pension insurance directly, and paid to them by month through the Human Resources
Bureau of local government when they reach the retirement ages.; 2) pension insurance for
urban workers. For those who chose this type, subsidy of insurance charge will be given to
them as the number of years of charge paid by the person itself. People could apply to
improve the charge level so as to receive higher retirement payment as their own wills. It is
3,000yuan/month/ person on average in Shaanxi and Henan Province in 2021. Those who
have not reached retirement ages can get income through training and employment supports
provided by local government every year. For example, in Wangyi District and Xunyi County
of Shaanxi Province and Shanzhou District of Sanmenxia, Henan Province, besides the land
rental fee paid by the agricultural cooperatives or big planters for land use right lease, the
agricultural cooperatives also provided employment opportunities to local labor force during
fruit trees planting and management. Take the apple cultivation base at Er’ Xian Po, Shanzhou
District, Henan Province as an example, this project rents about 30,000mu of cultivation land
from local communities for apply planting and production. Besides the land rental fee paid
to farmers, a large number of local farmers are recruited to work in the base. they are paid
by day or workload and the income is about 90-200 yuan/day. There are about 3,000 farmers
employed in this base each year, including both full-time and part-time employees, among
which the annual income of full-time employee is about 50,000yuan and the part-time
employees can work in the base for 4-5 months. During the site visits in project counties,
there are many such kind of projects, which is the main channel to promote farmers


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employment and increase their income. Other typical projects include peach planting base at
Xiantaogou, Mengjiangyuan Village, Wangyi District, Tongchuan city, Shaanxi Province, and
ecological management project in Longquan Community, Xianyang City. As shown in Figure
13, farmers are working in the apple cultivation base at Er’ Xian Po, Shanzhou District, Henan
Province at the time of ESSA Team visit.
257.     For others impacts that may not involve any civil works and physical displacement
to the farmers, but will improve their environmental awareness, and improve their farming
patterns and living habits/behavior gradually, for which farmers should master certain
production and living methods and improve their own skills, such as adjusting cropping
patterns with consumption-based design for higher value crops and substitution of organic
fertilizers for chemical fertilizers. Given the implementation of the PforR program aims to
improve the rural environment and push the farmers’ livelihood better-off in the long term,
there are potential impacts in short-term, e.g., higher cost for fertilizers and related services
etc. For such impacts, mechanisms were in place, including:
•   Training. Free farmer training system has been established from the Ministry of
    Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) to the provinces and cities, and the local
    agriculture and rural affairs authorities are exploring some effective policies and
    measures to accelerate farmers’ improvement and transformation. For example, the
    Implementation Plan for the Training of High-caliber Farmers in 2019 of Shaanxi
    (SJ[2019]No.237), and the Implementation Plan for the Training of High-caliber Farmers
    in 2020 of Sanmenxia, Henan Province (Aug.6, 2020). Taking Sanmenxia as an example, a
    total of 1,800 farmers were trained in 2020 on new agricultural cultivation and
    specialized breeding. As indicated, the training not only involved courses new cropping
    patterns, but also included sessions for fertilizer reduction, water saving etc.
•   Consultation and technical supporting. For adjusting of the existing livelihood
    patterns like adjusting the cropping patterns with consumption-based design for higher
    value crops, or collect service fees for water service or wastewater treatment, the
    implementation of these activities is subject to full consultation and engagement. For
    adjusting of cropping patterns, as suggested by the agriculture and rural affairs bureau
    (ARAB) of Wangyi district in Shaanxi, comprehensive assessments would be undertaken
    with detail proposals or feasibility studies before implementation, and, it normally
    would be pushed forward through demonstration to popularization on the voluntary
    basis, meanwhile, except for policy supports, technicians from the district ARAB would
    provide close supports to the farmers during the land management periods. According
    to the survey around the counties, services of water supply and wastewater treatment
    are free of charge in the rural areas. If fees are about to charge, it is a mandatory
    procedure to carry out full consultation and assessment, so that the price will be set at a
    feasible and acceptable levels. For example, as stipulated in the Measures of Public
    Hearing on Price Determining (Jan. 10, 2019), public hearing must be held to solicit the
    opinions of the public and stakeholders prior to initiation of fee charging where relevant.
    And Article 17 required, the public hearing shall include the result of assessments on the
    rationales of pricing and the potential economic and social impacts. Policy preferential
    supports. Regarding the potential impacts due to the substitution of organic fertilizers
    for chemical fertilizers, there could bring increase of fertilizer cost. For example, as

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    explained by the sampled counties in Shaanxi and Henan provinces, the cost of chemical
    fertilizer is around 150 yuan/mu, while the cost of organic fertilizer is 300 yuan/mu,
    mainly because the application quantity of organic fertilizer is more than chemical
    fertilizer per mu. In addition, the application procedure of organic fertilizer may be some
    different. For example, comparing with the chemical fertilizers, how the farmers know
    they can purchase the right organic fertilizers and what different for application of
    organic fertilizers bought; and such, guidance is needed for farmers. According to the
    consultation with the rural and agricultural departments of the sampled counties of both
    Shaanxi and Henan provinces, mechanisms were established from the national,
    provincial, and county government. These include soil test of the cultivated land and
    recommend the mixed fertilizer to farmers free of charge, designed trainings to farmers
    for free every year with assigned agricultural technicians, and provide organic fertilizers
    to farmers with free or low costs. As confirmed, the actual costs for farmers are basically
    remained as before, meanwhile, the soil quality is improved, the quality of products is
    recognized by the market, and the income of farmers is increased, especially for the
    vulnerable groups. During the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), the coverage rate
    of soil testing and fertilization recommendation in Shaanxi Province reached over 90%.
    Pilot projects of replacing chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizer was implemented
    in 16 counties and districts, and 633,000 mu of demonstration areas were built for
    replacing chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizer in fruits and vegetables planting. The
    total amount of chemical fertilizer applied in the demonstration areas reduced by more
    than 10% and the total amount of organic fertilizer applied increased by 20-50%.
258.     Regarding to the renovation of rural household toilets, it is mainly to transform the
traditional rural dry toilets into harmless sanitary toilets (such as three-cell septic tanks),
collect the sewage from toilets, kitchens and bathrooms to a unified sewage system, and
discharge it after natural precipitation and purification. It is promoted through the manner
of joint investment of government and rural households, among which, the government
provides fund, while the rural households provide labor. Take Wangyi District in Shaanxi
Province as an example, the cost for a three-cell septic tank is 3,500 yuan, including 2,000
yuan from the central and provincial governments and 1,500 yuan from the district
government, and the farmers themselves are responsible for construction. Therefore, the
impact to the local people is limited. And it is implemented subject to voluntary of the
farmers.
v) Policy arrangements for infrastructure restoration
259.      The consultation to the two provinces and counties sampled indicated that the
potential impacts on public facilities caused by land acquisition and demolition are identified
during the land detail measurement survey (DMS) in the project area, and the value of land
loss, including the public infrastructures, are evaluated with professionals as mentioned, and
related management plan are developed accordingly. On the other hand, as introduced, the
Social Stability Risk Assessment in the preparation phase is also identify all relevant social
impacts and risks, such as impacts to the public facilities, which may be caused by the project,
and listen to public opinions and suggestions. Through these measures, it ensured that the
public facilities and community services affected by the project are protected, or restored as
soon as possible after the impact, or even enhanced with the suggestions of public

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participation.
vi) Information disclosure, public participation and informed decision-making
260.     According to the natural resources departments of Shaanxi Province and Sanmenxia
city in Henan Province, public hearing is mandatory in the process of land and housing
acquisition because the hearing materials are one of the necessary materials for the
application materials for land use approval. If the affected units are not willing to participate
in the hearing, written statements must be issued by the village council or community council,
indicating a voluntary waiver of the hearing.
261.     Assessment: Shaanxi and Henan Provinces have established the project screening
mechanism by strictly following the relevant provisions of the regulations in the aspect of
resettlement management. An effective and whole-process management mechanism are in
place for redressing the impacts to the project affected people (PAP) in terms of land
acquisition, resettlement and livelihood restoration, including the well-organized
implementation agencies with clear roles and responsibilities and the required fund, which
ensures the effective operation of the management system and ensure that the land
acquisition and resettlement impacts are properly managed. Interests and rights of
land/assets for those who are lack of legal title are also regulated in the implementation. The
mechanism of replacement cost compensation is established in the policy, and well
implemented in the projects, which includes miscellaneous compensation for the PAPs like
the transition fee due to relocation. Through the survey with villager representatives, it is
found that people are generally satisfied with the implementation process of land acquisition
compensation and resettlement, and the compensation payment.

4.4.5 Core Principle #5: Program E&S systems give due consideration to the cultural
appropriateness of, and equitable access to, Program benefits, giving special attention
to the rights and interests of Indigenous Peoples and vulnerable groups.

Element 10: Undertake meaningful consultations if the ethnic minorities are potentially
affected (positively or negatively), to determine whether there is broad community support
for the PforR Program activities.
262.     The situation of ethnic minorities in Shaanxi and Henan Province is quite similar. As
the end of 2020, the population of ethnic minority in Shaanxi Province was 164,574,
accounting for 0.47% of the total population, and the Hui, Manchu, Zhuang, Tibetan, Korean,
Mongolian, Uygur, etc. were the main ethnic minorities living in the regions. Among them, the
population of the Hui people was 134,500, accounting for 84.1% of the total ethnic minority
population. In the aspect of geographical distribution of ethnic minority population, most of
them live scattered, more in urban areas and less in rural areas. There were ethnic minorities
in all 107 counties, cities and districts of the whole province, among which about 70% of the
ethnic minorities live in urban areas and 30% of them live in rural areas. in total, there were
3 Hui Townships and 37 ethnic minority villages in Shaanxi Province. There are no ethnic
minority townships or villages in Tongchuan City and Xianyang City, while there are three
density villages of Hui ethnic in Xianyang: Malan village in Malan town, Xunyi County, Yongjiu
Village in Guantou town, Qian County, and Xiguan village in Chengguan town, Liquan county.
Henan province is one of the provinces with a large minority population scattered in the

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administrative region. The population of ethnic minority was 1,441,968, accounting for 1.36%
of the total population, including 1,231,858 of hui people, accounting for 85.4% of the total
ethnic minority population; 91,079 of Mongolian, accounting for 6.3%, 75,148 of Manchu
people, accounting for 5.2%, and the 43,883 of other ethnic minorities, accounting for 3%.
There were 3 ethnic minority counties or districts, 13 ethnic minority townships, 8 ethnic
minority towns, among which, 3 ethnic minority counties located in Kaifeng, Zhengzhou and
Luoyang City. There were no ethnic minority district or county, nor ethnic minority township
in Sanmenxia City, but there are 15 ethnic minority villages, including 3 in Mianchi County, 2
in Lingbao City, 2 in Shanzhou District and 8 in Lushi County.
263.    According to the ethnic affairs management authorities in the counties of the two
provinces that ethnic minority issues are effectively managed by: i) the Constitution and
relevant ethnic management laws and regulations: when dealing with special issues
involving the various ethnic groups in the localities, their representatives must be fully
consulted and their opinions respected; the autonomic authorities of the ethnic autonomous
regions guarantee the constitutional civil rights for citizens in their ethnic regions. On the
other hand, public consultations were carried out in accordance with the relevant
requirements of social risk assessment and management performing in the general
construction project. Each county has formulated development plans aiming at the
development characteristics of local minority areas and implemented projects for the
development and cultural preservation of ethnic areas.
264.     Assessment: The evaluation concluded that the project, when implemented in
minority areas, the rights of the ethnic minority are fully respected on both legal and
implementation levels, including the rights of pre-notification in the project early stage, and
the development rights like promotion of economic development of minority areas,
protection of minority culture and property. Related projects are being implemented every
year by following the local development planning. For specific project in the ethnic minority
areas, it follows the existing general project management system, which ensured the rights
of ethnic minorities being respected. Therefore, it is consistent with the requirement of
element 10 of core principle 5.
Element 11: Ensure that ethnic minorities can participate in devising opportunities to
benefit from exploitation of customary resources and indigenous knowledge, the latter to
include the consent of ethnic minorities.
265.      The development of ethnic minority in the project area is mainly reflected in two
aspects. First, the cultural and religious beliefs of ethnic minorities are respected, such as the
"Sesame Day" on each Friday, "Eid Al-Fitr", "Eid al-Adha" and other festivals, build mosques
to facilitate religious activities of ethnic minorities. There are 21 mosques in Sanmenxia City,
Henan Province, among which, 2 in Mianchi County, 2 in Shanzhou District and 8 in Lingbao
City. Second, benefits of economic development for the ethnic minority people are provided,
like standardize and promote the development of Muslim catering, considering many Hui
people are running restaurants. For example, in the 13th Five-Year Development Plan for
Ethnic Minorities in Shaanxi Province, it is required to implement the Regulations on the
Production and Management of Muslim Food in Shaanxi Province and General Rules for
Muslim Food Certification, establish and improve the Muslim food certification management
system, integrate Muslim food resources, and cultivate and develop the Muslim food market,

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and so on.
266.     Assessment: The culture, including tangible and intangible culture, varies in
different areas, but each region has developed plans for the preservation of minority cultures
and are implementing related projects every year. The implementation of the project will not
damage or negatively affect minority cultures.
Element 12: Give attention to groups vulnerable to hardship or discrimination, including,
as relevant, the poor, the disabled, women and children, the elderly, ethnic minorities, racial
groups, or other marginalized groups; and if necessary, take special measures to promote
equitable access to PforR Program benefits.
267.     A survey of women's federations in various counties shows that women are treated
equally with men in terms of social status and work benefits. There are even special policies
to cater women's characteristics and needs. For example, there is a Women’s Development
Plan of Shaanxi Province formulated at the provincial level and updated every ten years and
there is a Five-year Development Plan for Women at each of the project city and county level.
In Lingbao City, Sanmenxia, Henan Province, the key tasks for women development in the
Thirteenth Five Year Plan were the aspects of health, education, economic development,
participation in social management, etc. With regard to women's health, screening and
management of high-risk pregnant women have been strengthened through random visits,
and all social units have been urged to conduct breast and cervical cancer screening for
women, with a follow-up rate of over 90%. In terms of women's education and development,
various training programs for women were provided with an attendance of 18,000 person
times since 2018 and promoted the employment of women. In terms of women's
participation in social management, women are encouraged to participate in management.
As of April 2020, there were two female leaders in the Municipal Committee of the CPC, and
female leaders in 14 of the 27 leading departments of the Municipal Government, accounting
for 51.9% of the total. In terms of the Infringement of women’s rights, Lingbao city made full
use of the "rights protection collegial panel" and "specially invited jurors", with leaders of the
Municipal Women's Federation serving as people's jurors. In 2020, they participated in the
review and trial of 26 cases, effectively protected women's legitimate rights and interests.
And a women’s federation workstation was set up in the County Legal Aid Center in Lingbao
City to provide legal assistance to women when needed. In addition, volunteers were
recruited in all units and township governments to protect women’s rights, and the right
safeguarding network was extended to grassroots organizations. Women legal aid
workstations were set up in all 15 townships of the city, comprehensively covering the three-
level network for right safeguarding, to ensure the management system of petition work was
in place and the responsibility was assigned to the people.
268.    There are left-behind children and elderly people in all regions of Shaanxi and Henan
Provinces, but the proportion is not high. There are many reasons for the situation of leaving
children and elderly people behind, in which the main reason is that young couples in the
family go out to work. An information system for left-behind elderly and children was
established respectively at the national level and being updated in real time. As the end of
2020, there were 43,000 left-behind elderly people and 1,3000 left-behind children (under
16 years old) in rural areas. The population of left-behind elderly and children are various is
project counties, e.g., there were 1,938 left-behind elderly people and 1,259 left-behind

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children in Xunyi County, Shaanxi Province by the end of 2020; there were 162 left-behind
elderly people and 92 left-behind children in Shanzhou District, Sanmenxia City, Henan
Province by the end of June 2021. The administration system of left-behind children and the
elderly in different places is basically similar. It is managed by the Civil Affairs Bureau of the
County government and the whole system is relatively sound. Take Sanmenxia City as an
example, 1) in the aspect of planning, the Notice on Further Caring for Left-behind Children,
Left-behind Women and Left-behind Elderly in Rural Areas (SCB [2015] No.13) and Notice
on Further Strengthening Care and Services for Left-behind Elderly in Rural Areas (SCAB
[2015] No.44) was formulated to define the goals and working mechanism for the
administration of left-behind children and elderly. 2) in the aspect of institutional building,
the Sanmenxia City Joint Conference on Caring for Rural "Three Type of Left-behind" People
(left-behind children, women and old people) has been established, and three coordination
groups have been set up under this joint conference. One Elderly Service Office and one
Children Supervisors are equipped in each Civil Affairs office of each township government.
For example, there are 2 officials equipped in the Children Welfare Office and 3 officials in
Old People Welfare Office of Mianchi County Civil Affairs Bureau and 1 person for the elderly
and children supervisor at the township level and community level respectively. Taking
children's work as an example, Mianchi County supported 50 children through the "Bring
Love Home" activity in 2020, with a fund of 30,000 yuan.
269.      The survey results show that all counties in Shaanxi and Henan have established a
very complete database of poor people and families. Although many places were lifted out of
poverty one after another in 2020, local governments still have complete records of the
population out of poverty, including their family names and family conditions; at the same
time, the government will strengthen poverty alleviation achievements in a transition period
of five years, and take targeted measures in terms of frequency, strength and timing of
measures provision while keep assistance measures stable. On the other hand, the age,
education level, skills, work status, family size, and health status of the population out of
poverty have been included in the database. Each village is required to have a commissioner
to track and record the implementation of poverty alleviation projects for each household
that has been lifted out of poverty. There are also analysis reports and improvement
measures for farmers with poor project implementation results. Since in 2021, poverty
alleviation has entered the phase of poverty eradication, and counties have formulated rural
revitalization policies and measures. Take Xianyang City in Shaanxi Province as an example,
all the four impoverished counties, including Changwu, Xunyi, Chunhua and Yongshou, have
been lifted out of the poverty by the end of 2018. Even though, the situation of people who
have been out of poverty was still tracked and managed through the method of poverty
registration and documentation. As the end of December 2020, there were 47,347 poor
households with 168,629 people registered in these four counties. The registered poor
people who have been out of poverty can still enjoy the following policies: 1) education
support: children of poor families can enjoy different standards of living subsidies every year,
starting from preschool education. At the same time, for ordinary high school students and
above, in addition to different standards of grants, they can also enjoy financial aid and
student loans offered by the state, of which the interest occurred during the school time is
paid by the financial subsidy; 2) financial poverty aid: petty loan of less than 50,000 yuan
with no mortgage or guarantee and full interest discount within the first three years is

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provided to poor households for industrial development; 3) employment or
entrepreneurship support: in addition to the above subsidies for poor students, free
vocational education and various skills trainings and employment opportunities were also
provided to the labor force of poor rural households to increase labor income, and subsidies
were provided for poor households who starting their own businesses; 4) health support:
provide subsidies to poor households for the treatment of major, chronic and serious
diseases, raise the reimbursement rate for inpatient, outpatient and serious diseases, and
contribute to poor households' participation in the new rural cooperative medical care
system and so on. As introduced by the Rural Revitalization Department of Sanmenxia City,
Henan Province, each county has its own poverty alleviation and rural revitalization project
database which is established based on their own conditions, and the implementation of
these projects must strictly follow the national management process, such as project
approval, feasibility study and design, etc. For example, the proposal and feasibility study of
a poverty alleviation project in a county need to be reviewed by the poverty alleviation
leading group of the county, and the approval of the project can be issued after passing the
review. Generally, the project tendering is carried out by township government bidding
(tendering for special projects, such as water conservancy, is carried out by the competent
authorities, and for trans-regional projects, it’s organized and implemented by the County
government). For all kinds of fund management, a special account management is set up by
the finance department at all levels of government.
270.     Assessment: Through the systems of government women's federations, enterprise
female workers’ working agencies, and grassroots women's organizations, the women's
development and interests are guaranteed appropriately. For left-behind children and the
elderly, management database was established by the local governments through the civil
affairs’ bureaus, including supports with related townships and villages/communities.
National and local support system for poor families has been established with complete
institutional mechanism, including policies, budgets, and institutional arrangements, which
not only protects the legitimate rights and interests of poor families in various projects, but
also enables the effective management for the poor matters of issues.




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5. Stakeholder Consultation and GRM
5.1. Stakeholder Consultation

271.     Stakeholder engagement is an important aspect of this ESSA, and also a requirement
of the Bank’s policy. During the ESSA, stakeholders have been identified subject to categories
of those affected by activities, those interested in the activities and those could influence the
activities, mainly including government authorities at different levels, villages and
communities, activity implementation agencies, social organizations such as women’s
federations, affected persons, etc. (see Annex 6). During the ESSA preparation, extensive
participation and consultation activities were conducted in the relevant counties and
districts in both provinces, including consultation meetings on the draft ESSA with provincial
and county authorities held in Shaanxi Province from August 30 to September 3, 2021 and
in Henan Province from September 13 to 17, 2021.
5.1.1 Consultation Activities Implemented
272.    At the preparation stage, the Bank team briefed and trained the relevant authorities
of the Henan and Shaanxi Provincial Governments several times from November 2020 to
September 2021, covering the Bank’s PforR provisions, E&S policies, implementation
management practices, operating processes, assessment document preparation, etc.
273.     From November 2020, meetings on province-level consultation were held in Henan
and Shaanxi Provinces respectively, involving provincial development and reform
commissions, finance departments, water resources departments, housing and urban-rural
development departments, natural resources departments, ecology and environment
departments, agriculture and rural affairs departments, emergency management
departments, health commissions, women’s federations, ethnic and religious affairs bureaus,
etc. County-level field visits covered Wangyi District, Yongshou County, Xunyi County in
Tongchuan city, Shaanxi Province, and Shanzhou District, Mianchi County, Lingbao City in
Sanmenxia, Henan Province, where focus group discussions (FGDs) were held with
government authorities, representatives of wastewater treatment / livestock breeding,
village officials, villager representatives, and site visits were made to the village and
township sewage facilities, breeding farms, manure recycling enterprises. See Annex 8 for
details. Content of public participation mainly includes:
   •   Responsibilities and organizational setup of each authority
   •   Prevailing main sectoral policies and regulations.
   •   Boundary of PforR activities, policy requirements, implementation progress, effects
       and main issues related to wastewater collection and treatment, agricultural non-
       point-source pollution control, river treatment, water and soil conservation, etc. in
       work of different authorities.
   •   Enterprises and its scale of land use, recruitment mode, worker benefits, safety and
       skills training, occupational health hazards and inspection, availability of protective
       equipment, facility land approval, EIA, SSRA, SIA, geological disasters, management,
       etc.
   •   Community domestic waste collection, transfer, separation and disposal (including
       recycling).

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   •   Villager employment, especially participation in solid waste, wastewater, river
       management, and water and soil conservation projects.
   •   Wastewater collection and treatment, house connection, charging, issues, and
       suggestions.
   •   Local use of chemical and organic fertilizers, and effects.
   •   Forms and implementation of public participation in river and lake environment
       management

5.1.2 Consultation of the ESSA Report
274.    The draft ESSA report was provided for public consultation in Henan and Shaanxi on
November 15 and December 10, 2021 respectively. The provincial PMOs organized
provincial and county authorities concerned to discuss this report with the Bank’s team. Due
to COVID-19, consultation was conducted virtually. Relevant opinions have been
incorporated into the revised report. See Annex 9 for the key feedbacks from the consultation
and the responses made accordingly by the Bank team.
275.    The participants of the consultation meetings included the provincial
authorities/parties concerned, and municipal and county authorities/parties concerned in
Tongchuan city, Wangyi District, Yongshou County and Xunyi County in Shaanxi, and
Sanmenxia city, Shanzhou District, Mianchi County, Lingbao city in Henan. At the meetings,
the PforR Program and the report were introduced, including the purpose, scope, methods,
conclusions and recommendations of the ESSA. The main concerns of the meetings are:
    1) Whether the laws and regulations quoted in the report are accurate and complete.
    2) Whether the analysis and assessment of these laws and regulations is pertinent.
    3) Whether the description of the organizational setup in the report is accurate;
       Whether the assessment of institutional capacity is appropriate; and
    4) Whether the conclusions of this report are acceptable; in particular, whether the
       gaps identified between domestic ESMSs and the Bank’s PforR policy are correct,
       and if the recommendations proposed are feasible and acceptable.
276.    At the meetings, all participants gave positive comments on the ESSA report,
provided feedback on the recommendations proposed, and gave some valuable revision
opinions, such as the validity of some policies, latest organizational settings, and
organizational responsibilities. The Bank has listened to, recorded and studied these
opinions carefully, and revised this report accordingly. See the Annex 9 for details.

5.2. Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM)

277.    Existing GRMs usually include two types of GRMs, including the GRM for the
communities and one the enterprises. A community GRM consists of three levels: First,
grievances are reported directly to the PIUs to seek a solution; second, grievances are
reported to the village or community committee, and usually solved within two weeks; third,
grievances are handled by the office of letters or visits of the county government, or the
hotline / mailbox of the county mayor, including collection and starting within 7 days, and
solving within two months. In addition, residents can settle disputes through civil litigation
at the court. The enterprise GRM has two aspects: First, workers’ grievance. Workers’

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grievance is handled through a three-tier labor dispute resolution mechanism, namely, the
enterprise labor disputes and redressing mechanism, the township government labor
dispute mediation center and the county government labor mediation center. On the
enterprise level, worker can seek a solution through the enterprise / factory manager
mailbox, or the trade union. If the disputes cannot be addressed satisfactory, the workers
can go through the government mediation mechanism. Or the workers can seek solution by
labor arbitration to the courts as its own judgments (See the detail analysis in Section 4.4,
under element 8, principle 3) Second, the enterprise sets up an external relations
department, and fixes a contact and a telephone number to collect complaints and
suggestions from the public.
278.    Assessment: Based on interviews with village committees and villager
representatives, village-level GRMs are sophisticated in general, and most (as reportedly
over 95%) grievances can be solved effectively at the village level, with very few solved
through civil litigation. GRMs for labors of enterprises are quite normative, and can solve
worker grievances. However, some enterprises have not established the GRM during the
construction and operation stages, or there were lack of documentation for the operation of
GRM.
279.    Recommendation: Ensure the GRM is established at both the construction and
operation stages of the enterprises, and keep/monitor the documentation of the GRM
operation.


6. Implementation Management and Monitoring
280.   According to the Bank Policy, and the agreement between the Bank and Borrower,
the two parties have different roles and responsibilities in terms of managing and
monitoring Program implementation.

6.1 Program Implementation Agencies

281.    The Borrower is responsible for implementing the Program, monitoring the
implementation progress, evaluating the indicators, and performing relevant commitments
and responsibilities in the Program’s legal documents, including the PAP. Such
responsibilities include that the Borrower should maintain an ESMS, implement a
monitoring plan, identify issues, and solve them timely and effectively. The Borrower should
focus on the following:
   •   Implementing any agreed-on E&S actions in the PAP, and maintaining the ESMS and
       its capacity at a level equivalent to the ESSA conclusions.
   •   Submitting a progress report on PAP implementation semiannually to prove
       continued compliance with the applicable E&S management mechanism.
   •   Monitoring and evaluating the performance of the environmental and social system
       regularly as necessary.
   •   Reviewing performance of the GRM, it’s procedures and results regularly, and
       ensure specific grievance cases are appropriately addressed and included in
       progress reports.

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   •   Ensuring that the Bank is consulted before any substantive change to an applicable
       ESMS is implemented to the Program during implementation.

6.2 World Bank

282.      Provide implementation support and pay attention to the consistency between the
E&S performance of the Program and the requirements stipulated in the ESSA report,
especially with the PAP. The Bank will monitor the Borrower’s commitment to compliance
with E&S risk management, including actions to strengthen institutional capacity. The Bank
will assess the whole Program based on the risk assessment at the preparation stage, and
use such assessment to help the Borrower handle expected and unexpected risks, and give
recommendations for improvement related to the risk assessment. The Bank will also
conduct field visits, and provide appropriate support to the PIUs together with stakeholders,
and review the Program’s audit and progress reports. The Bank team will report the
performance of Program implementation to the management in the form of memorandum
regularly, including document review, consultation with the PIUs and stakeholders, field
visits, etc. The main activities are as follows:
   •   Verify the implementation of any agreed-action, including any agreed capacity
       building activity and any designated E&S mitigation measure.
   •   Conduct regular monitoring to ensure that the Borrower’s ESMS performance at the
       implementation stage is acceptable to the Bank.
   •   Ensure that mechanisms related to realization of the E&S DLIs are established.
   •   Identify any extra management measure that may be taken to underperformance or
       any unexpected challenges during implementation.
   •   Review the grievance occurred.
   •   The Bank will conduct field visits regularly as a supplement to the self-supervisions
       of the PIUs, and provide other supports agreed on between both parties.
7. Conclusions, Recommendations and Action Plan
7.1. Conclusions

283.     The Yellow River Basin Ecological Protection and Environmental Pollution Control
Program aims to support the Chinese government's key actions in the area of ecological
conservation in the Yellow River Basin and promote the economic, environmental, and social
resilience of the project's sub-basins. Based on the ESSA, comprehensive and effective ESMSs
have been established in relevant sectors in China, Shaanxi and Henan Provinces to identify,
assess, mitigate, manage and monitor E&S impacts and risks related to the Program activities,
including: 1) a comprehensive regulatory system, including applicable laws, regulations,
policies, standards and technical guidelines at the state and local levels; 2) clear
implementation mechanisms, including clear administrative procedures, institutional
arrangements and responsibilities for E&S impacts and risks management, and necessary
professionals and financial resources; and 3) good performance of the ESMSs: The field
investigation of ongoing or completed typical projects in the sample counties show that E&S
impacts and risks management measures have been implemented effectively. Based on the
assessment, the ESMSs related to the Program are generally consistent with the

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requirements of the Bank’s PforR policy and directive.
     The range of activities required to achieve the Program results are not expected to
include any which would be defined as “High Risk�? 18 . If the activities are viewed in isolation,
the E&S risk would generally fall within a “Moderate�? category. Given various types of
activities and the geographic scale across the river basin (7 sub-basins and 13 counties in
two provinces), the cumulative risks may increase to a “Substantial�? category. Based on the
activities required to achieve the Program’s results, and the strength of the E&S risk
management systems, the Program is not expected to generate a wide range of significant
adverse risks and impacts on human populations or the environment 19 . The areas for
improvement identified in the assessment include:
    1) The ecological protection and high-quality development programs of the Yellow
         River Basin have been established on both the national and provincial levels, which
         provides guidance to all provinces within the basin including Shaanxi and Henan
         provinces for their implementation. Challenges remain with optimizing inter-
         jurisdictional coordination of water ecosystem and water management, which in
         turn has implications for E&S risk management. It is anticipated the basin- and
         provincial-level activities of the operation will result in improvements in this
         regard.
    2) Given the fast improvement for rural sewage water treatment facilities along the
         Yellow River Basin recent years, many sewage treatment facilities have operation
         and maintenance (O&M) challenges such as lack of timely maintenance, lack of
         technical support, and poor management. This results in frequent break-downs,
         unstable operations and therefore poor sewage treatment quality. In addition to
         direct environmental and social implications created by poor outflows, other O&M
         activities such as OHS, community awareness etc also exist. Improved technical
         capacity through targeted and meaningful trainings (as well as additional technical
         and financial resources) would greatly improve the end results.
    3) Documentation on public consultation, information disclosure and GRM operation
         is relatively weak, and some enterprises have not established the GRMs for their
         construction and operation.
7.2.          Recommendations

284.     As mentioned above, four E&S issues have been identified, mainly relating to
institutional and performance perspectives. Recommendations and actions to address these
issues therefore have been designed from the perspectives of: providing government-
oriented training measures to promote participation willingness and individual capacity;
improving accountability of enterprises and local authority to protect safety and health of
employees; and strengthening management capacity and stakeholder engagement measures
    18 Risk categorization based on Section C of the Bank Directive – Environmental and Social Directive for

Investment Project Financing, March 2019.
    19 This is the basic criteria for a “high�? risk project.



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to enhance implementation monitoring, as well as information disclosure, consultation and
participation, etc. The following recommendations are proposed for improvement:
     1) Recommendation 1: Coordinate the related municipal/county departments for
        the development and implementation of integrated sub-basin plans for the seven
        demonstration sub-basins under the PforR, which has been reflected as part of the
        Program activities (RA4).
     2) Recommendation 2: Provide regular trainings on E&S issues for the staff who are
        maintaining the town and village sewage treatment facilities, and raise up their
        technical capacity and awareness of occupational health and other likely E&S
        implications of poor O&M.
     3) Recommendation 3: Strengthen the recording and documentation of the public
        consultation and information disclosure process and GRM management, define the
        requirements of documentation in project management documents (such as
        contract, agreement), including (but not limited to) the records of the process and
        results of public participation, information disclosure, and the implementation of
        grievance redress mechanism.
7.3.        Action Plan

285.    In order to implement the above recommendations, the following actions should be
included in the Program Action Plan (PAP):
                                                                          Completion
 No.     Action Description      Responsibility         Timing
                                                                         Measurement
 1     Provide regular           Project          Throughout       The Henan and Shaanxi
       trainings on technical    Implementation   Program          PMOs should submit
       capacity building for     Agencies         implementation   semiannual progress
       the staff maintaining                      stage            reports to the Bank,
       the town and village                                        including the
       sewage treatment                                            implementation of
       facilities focusing on                                      related trainings.
       OHS and other E&S
       impacts of poor O&M
 2     Establish monitoring      Project          Throughout       The Henan and Shaanxi
       and reporting             Implementation   Program          PMOs should submit
       mechanisms for            Agencies         implementation   semiannual progress
       meaningful public                          stage            reports to the Bank,
       participation and                                           including the
       GRM, and strengthen                                         information of land
       information and                                             selection/screening or
       documentation                                               approvals, records of
       management during                                           information disclosure
       the project social risk                                     and public participation,
       management.                                                 GRM establishment and

                                                  112
      operation, and
      supporting provided to
      vulnerable groups.




113
    Annex1 Overview of Government Program and PforR Activities – Henan Province

                                                                                                                                                             Rationale for
  Henan Yellow River Ecological Protection and High-Quality Plan                                                                           Activities        Inclusion in
                                                                              Activities proposed in under Sanmenxia Yellow
                                                                                                                                         Included for         /Exclusion
                                                                                            River Protection Plan
                                                                                                                                       PforR Financing        from PforR
                                                                                                                                                               financing
1. Strengthen    - Implementation of large and medium-sized irrigation        • Narrow mouth (large), red line canal (medium), • Improving and                    RA 1
water              areas to continue construction support and                 Zhangjiahe, Yuli, Temple River Hill, Rangoon and        rehabilitating
conservation       modernization, promote the integration of water            other irrigation areas The renewal of supporting and    irrigation systems,
and efficiency     fertilizer, efficient water-saving irrigation and water-   water-saving facilities upgrading and renovation        e.g., renewal of
in agriculture     saving technology, to create high-efficiency water-        projects, including the first water source project of   supporting and
Strengthen         saving irrigation demonstration areas.                     the canal, the reinforcement of dry and branch
                                                                                                                                      water-saving
agricultural                                                                  linings, and the reinforcement and renovation of the
water saving                                                                                                                          facilities upgrading
                                                                              building of the dry and branch canals Construction
and efficiency                                                                of management houses, construction of irrigation        and renovation
                                                                              stations, cisterns, intelligent water management        projects.
                                                                              system construction.                                  • Applying on-farm
                                                                              • The dry branch channels and canal systems of          modern irrigation
                                                                              irrigation areas are boundary demarcation of            technologies.
                                                                              buildings (narrow mouth irrigation areas, ditch
                                                                              slope irrigation areas, Zhangjiahe irrigation areas,
                                                                              and irrigation areas in Yuli).

                 - We will further promote the comprehensive reform of        /
                   agricultural water prices, grade classification and
                   formulation of differentiated water prices within the
                   quota, over-quota progressive price increases,
                   establish and improve mechanisms for water
                   management, project management, water price
                   formation, financial awards and other compensation,
                   and promote the healthy operation of agricultural
                   water conservation and farmland water conservancy
                   projects.
                 - Promote drought-fed water-saving agricultural              /
                   technology, breed and promote new varieties of
                   drought-tolerant crops, promote water-saving
                   varieties and drought-tolerant crops in hilly

                                                                                    114
                                                                                                                                                         Rationale for
     Henan Yellow River Ecological Protection and High-Quality Plan                                                                     Activities       Inclusion in
                                                                                 Activities proposed in under Sanmenxia Yellow
                                                                                                                                      Included for        /Exclusion
                                                                                               River Protection Plan
                                                                                                                                    PforR Financing       from PforR
                                                                                                                                                           financing
                       mountainous areas, and guide water-appropriate
                       planting and water production.
                   -   Promote water-saving animal husbandry and fishery         /
                       farming technology to improve the efficiency of water
                       use in the aquaculture industry.
2. Strengthen      -   Implementation of urban water supply network              • The main urban area of 151 public toilets to • Construction of            RA 2
water                  zoning measurement management and "one                    completely update and transform, the use of water- rural wastewater
conservation           household, one table" transformation, in order to         saving appliances                                  treatment systems
and       loss         reduce the leakage rate of the pipe network mainly to                                                        and household
reduction in           implement the old water supply network                                                                       connections,
urban      and         transformation, promote the popularization of water-
                                                                                                                                    including toilet
rural areas            saving appliances, government agencies, schools,
Strengthen             hospitals and other public institutions water-saving                                                         improvement
urban      and         technology transformation, strictly control the high
rural    water         water consumption services water.
saving     and     -   Improve the construction of centralized water supply
loss reduction         and water-saving facilities in rural areas, gradually
                       implement metering charges, and promote the rural
                       "toilet revolution" to adopt water-saving appliances.
                   -   In-depth promotion of water-saving urban standards        /                                                                      Not the priority
                       at or above the county level, and continue to carry out                                                                          areas of PforR
                       water-saving enterprises, units, community creation,
                       and promote the yellow and yellow water-affected
                       cities all high-level water-saving cities built.
                   -   We will strengthen the utilization of unconventional      /                                                                      Potential High
                       water resources such as recycled water, mine water,                                                                              E&S risks
                       rain and flood, carry out pilot projects on recycling
                       recycled water, and gradually popularize water reuse
                       technology and stormwater storage and utilization
                       facilities in urban buildings. In-depth implementation
                       of water efficiency leader action, further
                       implementation of water efficiency marking
                       construction, water certification and contract water
                       conservation management
3.     Optimize    -   Co-ordinate local water and external water transfer,      /
                                                                                      115
                                                                                                                                                             Rationale for
  Henan Yellow River Ecological Protection and High-Quality Plan                                                                           Activities        Inclusion in
                                                                              Activities proposed in under Sanmenxia Yellow
                                                                                                                                         Included for         /Exclusion
                                                                                            River Protection Plan
                                                                                                                                       PforR Financing        from PforR
                                                                                                                                                               financing
the      water     rationally distribute water for life and production
resources          under the premise of water conservation priority,
allocation         retain sufficient ecological water, establish and
system             improve the early warning and control mechanism for
Optimize           monitoring the ecological flow of the main stream and
water              major tributaries of the Yellow River.
resources        - Relying on the Yellow River main tributary and the         /                                                                             Potential High
allocation         south-north water transfer central line project, we will                                                                                 E&S risks
system             advance the construction of large and medium-sized
                   reservoirs and storage projects in the plan in an
                   orderly manner, improve the subsidy mechanism for
                   the construction of yellow water charges and yellow
                   diversion storage projects, and speed up the
                   construction of large and medium-sized yellow
                   irrigation areas, the yellowing canals and the
                   transformation of yellow culverts.
                 - We will optimize the structure of urban and rural          Relying on the existing reservoir to build a new water • Construction or           RA1
                   water sources, implement the integration project of        supply plant, water supply facilities upgrade and        rehabilitation of
                   urban and rural water supply, the urban emergency          transformation, water supply network extension,          rural water supply
                   backup water supply and the rural standardized water       especially to groundwater pressure recovery center,      systems and
                   supply guarantee project, promote the changes of           water source replacement, improve the water supply
                                                                                                                                       pipelines
                   drinking water sources from groundwater to surface         guarantee rate
                   water, and form a pattern of water supply security         • Lingbao City, the town of Jiaocun, Hanguguan town
                   with complementary water sources.                          concentrated water supply projects
                                                                              • Zhang Maoxiang, Xi Zhangcun Township, Zhang
                                                                              Weixiang, Zhangwan Township Centralized Water
                                                                              Supply Project: It is proposed to build a new
                                                                              centralized water supply plant in Zhang Mao, Zhang
                                                                              Wei and Zhangwan, benefiting 75,000 people.
                                                                              • Lakeside District intersection water plant water
                                                                              supply project: cross-border township, magnetic
                                                                              clock township to solve 18 administrative villages,
                                                                              benefiting the population of 31,000 people, the
                                                                              construction of township water plant 1 and laying
                                                                              pipeline 160 km.
                                                                                    116
                                                                                                                                                       Rationale for
Henan Yellow River Ecological Protection and High-Quality Plan                                                                      Activities         Inclusion in
                                                                       Activities proposed in under Sanmenxia Yellow
                                                                                                                                  Included for          /Exclusion
                                                                                     River Protection Plan
                                                                                                                                PforR Financing         from PforR
                                                                                                                                                         financing
                                                                       • The centralized water supply project in Potou
                                                                       Township, Ren Village Township, Rangoon Town and
                                                                       Orchard Township Tianchi Township in Yanchi
                                                                       County: it is proposed to build a new slope head, Ren
                                                                       Village and Yangon centralized water supply project,
                                                                       benefiting 70,000 people.
                                                                       • Water supply project of The Great Ishiguro
                                                                       Reservoir

              - We will promote the connection between the yellow      • Sanmenxia City, Hong Nongyu River ecological                 No       Potential         high
                channel system and the natural water system and the    water transfer and six river ecological restoration                     E&S risks
                existing river reservoir lakes, and construct the      projects: new construction, reconstruction of water
                interconnection pattern between the Yellow River and   diversion lines 25.4km, water distribution lines
                the Haihe, Huaihe and Yangtze River basins.            50km, Good Yang River, Nanqing River, Ziyang River,
                                                                       Jinshui River, Wuli River, Xishui River construction
                                                                       ecological bank 34.3km, dredging 30.5km.
              - According to the principle of "water conservation      • The construction of the whole basin system and • Integrated           RA4
                priority, spatial balance, systemic management, two-   mechanism management system:                           ecosystem and
                handed force" water management and "real need,            o To construct a complete legal norm system for     water resources
                ecological safety, sustainable" construction, water         river management and river management in the      management plans
                resources as the maximum rigid constraint.                  Yellow River basin of Sanmenxia City              for the seven
                                                                          o We will improve the system of long-term lake-
                                                                                                                              demonstration
                                                                            length organization for river supervision
                                                                                                                              sub-basins
                                                                          o Strengthen the technical support system of
                                                                            integrated river supervision                    • Scaling up of
                                                                          o Establish a talent security system for the        integrated
                                                                            supervision of integrated rivers in the Yellow    ecosystem and
                                                                            River Basin of Sanmenxia City                     water resources
                                                                                                                                 management plans
                                                                                                                                 for the Wei River
                                                                                                                                 Basin in the Yellow
                                                                                                                                 River Basin in
                                                                                                                                 Henan
                                                                                                                               • Scaling up of

                                                                             117
                                                                                                                                                           Rationale for
  Henan Yellow River Ecological Protection and High-Quality Plan                                                                          Activities       Inclusion in
                                                                            Activities proposed in under Sanmenxia Yellow
                                                                                                                                        Included for        /Exclusion
                                                                                          River Protection Plan
                                                                                                                                      PforR Financing       from PforR
                                                                                                                                                             financing
                                                                                                                                       integrated
                                                                                                                                       ecosystem and
                                                                                                                                       water resources
                                                                                                                                       management plans
                                                                                                                                       for the Yellow River
                                                                                                                                       Basin in Henan
4. Strengthen   - Establish and improve the comprehensive monitoring        /                                                        • Piloting the “Smart RA4
flood             mechanism of the Yellow River Anlan, and build the                                                                   Yellow River�?
prevention        "Smart Yellow River".                                                                                                system
and             - We will upgrade and transform public facilities such as   • Pilot project for silting of the Sanmenxia                     No           Potential high
mitigation        flood prevention and mitigation, drainage and flood       Reservoir : It is planned to desilt 100 million m3 per                        E&S risks, and
capabilities      prevention in large and medium-sized cities, and          year for20years with an investment of 5 billion yuan.                         not prioritized
Enhancing         enhance their resilience to disasters.                                                                                                  areas under the
flood           - Carry out the investigation of geological disasters and   /                                                                             Program
prevention        the fineness of ground subsidence, and promote the
and disaster      management of the hidden dangers of major
mitigation        geological disasters.
capabilities
                - Implementation of precision meteorological disaster       /
                  prevention and mitigation projects.
                - We will improve the command system for flood              /
                  control and drought relief, improve the emergency
                  rescue mechanism, improve the civil-military joint
                  defense system, strengthen the comprehensive
                  capabilities of emergency planning, early warning and
                  release, emergency rescue, engineering science and
                  technology,      material    reserves     and     other
                  comprehensive capabilities and the construction of
                  grass-roots disaster prevention and mitigation teams,
                  and carry out normal and operational coordinated
                  mobilization exercises.
5. Strengthen   - We will comprehensively promote the protection of         Integrated remediation of small basins, including • Integrated                RA 3
ecological        natural forests and the construction of forest and        forest replanting, economic forest planting, water   landscape
management        grass vegetation belts in the Three Gate Gorges of the    conservation facilities construction (valley square, management
according to      Yellow River, strengthen the restoration of the           trench head protection, etc.), ditch remediation
                                                                                  118
                                                                                                                                                                   Rationale for
   Henan Yellow River Ecological Protection and High-Quality Plan                                                                               Activities         Inclusion in
                                                                              Activities proposed in under Sanmenxia Yellow
                                                                                                                                              Included for          /Exclusion
                                                                                            River Protection Plan
                                                                                                                                            PforR Financing         from PforR
                                                                                                                                                                     financing
local              ecological environment of mines and the prevention         • Lakeside Area Mountain Forest Field Lake Grass              planning
conditions         and control of geological disasters, carry out             and Sand Project: In the Lakeside District High           •   Watershed
Strengthen         comprehensive management of the small basins of the        Temple Township to carry out comprehensive                    management and
ecological         loess hills and ravines in the upper reaches of the Ilo    management of mountain and water forest tianhu                ecosystem
governance         River and the Sanmenxia Reservoir, and implement           grass and sand, the construction of ecological                restoration at
according to       sloped arable land comprehensive management of             terraces 10.7km2, field roads 13km, the
                                                                                                                                            watershed level
local              erosion ditches and collapses, restoration and             transformation of water source project 1 place,
conditions         upgrading of regional soil and water conservation,                                                                   •   Afforestation/
                                                                              laying water pipeline 30km, the construction of 8
                   water conservation functions, implementation of dry        pools.                                                        reforestation
                   tributary water ecological environment restoration         • Comprehensive management of the small basin of          •   Soil and water
                   and management, implementation of river and lake           the fire-burning Yanggou: dredging, planting                  conservation
                   water system connectivity, ecological rehydration,         economic forest, soil erosion control, construction of    •   Wetland protection
                   river ecological restoration and other measures to         valleys, ditch head protection, etc., comprehensive           and restoration
                   enhance the ecological function of water systems,          remediation of ditches.                                   •   Vegetation
                   Significantly improve the quality of water ecological      • Dujia River small basin comprehensive                       restoration with
                   environment in the basin. We will strengthen the           management project:         the implementation of             promoted natural
                   protection and restoration of ecosystems such as           engineering measures, plant measures, soil erosion
                   national nature reserves, wetlands, forests and                                                                          regeneration
                                                                              control
                   farmlands, and maintain biodiversity.                      • Yima City Yangou River, Miaoyuan sub-basin water        •   Natural river
                                                                              and soil conservation comprehensive management:               rehabilitation
                                                                              to carry out forestation and reforestation, planting
                                                                              economic forest, soil erosion control, in the lower
                                                                              reaches of the Yangou River and Zhuanggou, Weigou
                                                                              ditch and other ditches, river rehabilitation
6. Ecological    - To formulate standards for the construction of water       • Shaanxi District, Yanchi County along the Yellow
corridor           conservation forests, soil and water conservation          Green Corridor Construction: According to Henan           • Integrated
construction       forests, wind-proof solidified sarin, solidified forests   Province along the Yellow Ecological Corridor plan,         landscape
Ecological         and embankments along the Yellow Ecological                in the Yellow River embankment to build flood               management
corridor           Corridor, and to promote the construction of wave-         prevention and rescue roads (6-8 m wide) and along          planning                 RA 3
construction       proof forests, conservation forests and wetland            the greening projects (including mountain ecological
                                                                                                                                        • Watershed
                   conservation belts, and to promote the orderly return      forests, rural greening, farmland protection forests,
                   of farmland to forests and grasses We will vigorously                                                                  management       and
                                                                              etc.); Construction of ecological restoration projects
                   carry out the return of the beach to the wet, and build    in Huangkou, including ecological shore protection,         ecosystem
                   a green ecological corridor with the functions of river,   ecological restoration (aquatic plants, afforestation),     restoration         at
                   embankment, dam, road, field, forest and grass,            Restoration of surface wetlands
                                                                                    119
                                                                                                                                                              Rationale for
  Henan Yellow River Ecological Protection and High-Quality Plan                                                                          Activities          Inclusion in
                                                                            Activities proposed in under Sanmenxia Yellow
                                                                                                                                        Included for           /Exclusion
                                                                                          River Protection Plan
                                                                                                                                      PforR Financing          from PforR
                                                                                                                                                                financing
                  including flood protection, water conservation,                                                                     watershed level
                  biological habitat, eco-agriculture, cultural tourism                                                           •   Afforestation/
                  and so on. We will promote ecological protection,                                                                   reforestation
                  natural landscape and urban and rural landscape                                                                 •   Soil    and    water
                  construction, integrate the functions of protection and
                                                                                                                                      conservation
                  safety, ecological conservation, soil and water
                                                                                                                                  •   Wetland protection
                  conservation, waterfront landscape, cultural and
                  leisure, sports and fitness, and build a harmonious and                                                             and restoration
                  unified composite demonstration corridor in The                                                                 •   Vegetation
                  People's River City.                                                                                                restoration     with
                - We will promote the construction of a complex                                                                       promoted natural
                  ecological corridor of the Yellow River, such as                                                                    regeneration
                  Zhengzhou, Kaifeng, Luoyang, Sanmenxia, Jiaozhu,                                                                •   Natural         river
                  Xinxiang, Fuyang and Jiyuan, and connect the whole                                                                  rehabilitation
                  line through the Yellow River Ecological Avenue.
7.              - We will carry out demonstrations of ecological            River rehabilitation: including ecological shore
Construction      protection and restoration, consolidate and upgrade       protection, dredging barriers, landscape, small
of an             the ecological environment of tributaries such as the     connections to road bridges, pollution pipes, water
important         Yihe, Luo, Luhe, Hongnong, Wei and Jindi rivers,          rehydration pumping stations and other projects, :
tributary         strengthen the greening construction of water and soil    • Lingbao City Double Bridge River Bohai Railway
ecological        conservation forests, water conservation forests and      Bridge to Zhengxi high-speed rail bridge section
corridor          river channels, optimize and adjust vegetation            management project
Construction      structure, and comprehensively promote Joe The            • Lingbao City, Hongnon River Changqiao Village to
of important      combination of wood and shrubs, the combination of        38 bridge section of the management project
tributary         deciduous leaves and evergreen, the combination of        • Lingbao City, Hongnon River five acres bridge to
ecological        protection and beautification, to create four seasons     Yuedu section of the management project
corridors         evergreen, three seasons with flowers, three-             • The management project from Qinglongyu River in
                  dimensional fall of the corridor ecological landscape,    Shaanxi Province to Yangjiahe Village
                  the formation of forest water dependent, water clear      • The management project from Lianchang River
                  shore green tributary green corridor.                     Farm Village to Yanghe Village in Shaanxi Province
                                                                            • Ecological management project in Wuzhuang
                                                                            village section of Hongyang Town, Weichi County
                                                                            • Ecological management project from The Town of
                                                                            Weihe City to Yinghao Township in Yuchi County
                                                                            • One river and two ditches comprehensive
                                                                                  120
                                                                                                                                                     Rationale for
  Henan Yellow River Ecological Protection and High-Quality Plan                                                                      Activities     Inclusion in
                                                                           Activities proposed in under Sanmenxia Yellow
                                                                                                                                    Included for      /Exclusion
                                                                                         River Protection Plan
                                                                                                                                  PforR Financing     from PforR
                                                                                                                                                       financing
                                                                           management project in Yanchi County
                                                                           • Yima City, Weihe and Shihe ecological
                                                                           comprehensive remediation project
                                                                           • Lakeside Area Integrated Management Project
                                                                           along the Yellow Basin: Comprehensive Management
                                                                           of the Lakeside Area along the Yellow 3 Small Basins
8. Promote      - On the premise of stabilizing the downstream river       /                                                                        Potential High
wetland           potential, regulating the Yellow River flow path and                                                                              E&S Risks
conservation      ensuring that it does not affect the flood capacity of
and               the river channel and the flood area, we should
restoration       coordinate the ecological construction of the river
Promote           waters, shore line and beach area, and make
wetland           appropriate adjustments to the land space of the
protection        conflicting land areas such as permanent basic
and               farmland, major infrastructure and important
restoration       ecological space. We will strengthen the control of
                  water ecological space in the beach area, carry out
                  ecological protection and restoration of wetlands in
                  the beach area, and construct the comprehensive
                  ecological space of the beach river forest and grass.
                  Optimize the layout of wetland parks, rely on wetland
                  resources such as the main tributaries of the Yellow
                  River, reservoirs, lakes, marshes and the Yellow River
                  road of Ming and Qing Dynasties, carry out ecological
                  restoration and restoration of wetlands with
                  weakened functions and degradation of habitats, take
                  engineering and biological measures to rebuild
                  wetlands with type change and loss of function, carry
                  out the restoration of farmland to wet, back to the
                  beach, water expansion, humidification, ecological
                  rehydration, stability and expansion of wetland
                  protection area. We will carry out wetland
                  management projects to maintain the integrity and
                  stability of wetland ecosystems. Support Luoyang and
                  other cities to create an international wetland city.
                                                                                 121
                                                                                                                                                                   Rationale for
   Henan Yellow River Ecological Protection and High-Quality Plan                                                                           Activities             Inclusion in
                                                                               Activities proposed in under Sanmenxia Yellow
                                                                                                                                          Included for              /Exclusion
                                                                                             River Protection Plan
                                                                                                                                        PforR Financing             from PforR
                                                                                                                                                                     financing
9. Pollution     - Adhere to full coverage, full collection, full treatment,   • Yima City Yangou River Basin water pollution
control in         improve urban and rural sewage supporting pipe              comprehensive management project: to carry out
urban and          network, garbage collection and transfer system and         dredging barrier, ecological protection, sewage
rural areas        sewage waste harmless resource treatment facilities,        interception and other treatment projects. Sewage is
Urban and          promote the Yellow River main tributary along the           sent to the second sewage treatment plant in Yima
rural life         urban sewage treatment bid reform, garbage                  City, with a daily capacity of 15,000 tons.
pollution          collection and disposal and plastic pollution control,                                                              Yes, with exception
                                                                               • Lingbao City, Hongnon River sewage treatment
control            construction of constructed wetland for effluent                                                                    • Upgrading effluent
                                                                               plant tailings wetland purification project: new                                   RA 2
                   treatment of existing urban sewage treatment plants         ecological residual pond, artificial submersible          standards within the
                                                                                                                                                                  If    a     new
                   and other environmental protection facilities.              wetland, stable pond, pipeline, etc. , tertiary           existing wastewater      expansion of a
                                                                               treatment of effluent from Lingbao City first and         treatment plants         municipal
                                                                               second sewage treatment plant 60000m3/d, to meet        • Construction        of   sewage
                                                                               the new standard for discharge into Yellow River to       rural      wastewater    treatment plant
                                                                               meet Class III water quality requirements, with the       treatment systems        involving
                                                                               supporting pipelines of 9.6km and a total area of 440     and         household    20,000 tons /
                                                                               acres                                                     connections              day or industrial
                                                                               • Watershed white waste management projects:                                       wastewater
                                                                                                                                       • Rehabilitation      of
                                                                               including village-level recycling stations, township                               treatment      is
                                                                               and county-level transshipment stations, advanced         rural wastewater
                                                                                                                                                                  involved, there
                                                                               recycling and recycling processing plants               • Improving livestock      are         high
                 - Strengthen urban river channels to cut pollution pipe,      • Construction, expansion and upgrading of                and poultry manure       potential
                   sewage mouth rectification, silting dredging,               township sewage treatment            plant, laying of     management               environmental
                   ecological restoration and water system connectivity,       pollution-cutting pipeline: Yinghao Town, Potou         • Promoting organic        and social risks
                   do a good job of "toilet revolution" and rural sewage       Township, Tianchi Town pollution wastewater               fertilizer and precise   that are not
                   treatment, according to local conditions to choose the      treatment plant project;                                  chemical fertilizer      included.
                   treatment model, strengthen sewage control                  • Hongnon River, Canglong, Qinglonghe, Weihe Rural        application
                   standards, promote moderate scale management and            Wastewater Treatment Project: Rural Decentralized
                   professional management and maintenance, and                Sewage Collection and Treatment Facility
                   promote the Yellow River basin rural sewage                 •     Improving livestock and poultry manure
                   treatment coverage.                                         management
                                                                               • Promoting organic fertilizer and precise chemical
                                                                               fertilizer application
                 - We will promote the construction of quality                 /                                                                                  Potential High
                   improvement in the construction of the intravenous                                                                                             E&S Risks
                   industrial park, improve the collaborative disposal
                                                                                     122
                                                                                                                                           Rationale for
Henan Yellow River Ecological Protection and High-Quality Plan                                                              Activities     Inclusion in
                                                                        Activities proposed in under Sanmenxia Yellow
                                                                                                                          Included for      /Exclusion
                                                                                      River Protection Plan
                                                                                                                        PforR Financing     from PforR
                                                                                                                                             financing
                functions of kitchen waste, urban sludge and
                hazardous waste, and build resource treatment
                facilities for rural household waste such as sunshine
                composting houses according to local conditions.
              - We will promote the development and utilization of      /                                                                 Not falling in the
                "urban mines" and the construction of "waste-free                                                                         result areas of
                cities" and establish and improve the system of                                                                           this PforR
                recycling and recycling of waste resources.
              - Encourage market participants to participate in         /                                                                 Potential High
                sewage waste treatment, explore the establishment of                                                                      E&S Risks
                sewage waste treatment services on a quantity-to-pay
                mechanism to ensure the stable operation of sewage
                waste treatment facilities.




                                                                            123
Annex 2 Overview of Government Program and PforR Activities – Shaanxi Province


                                                                                                                                                                       Rationale for
   Wei River Basin
                      Activities proposed in under Shaanxi Wei River Basin Water Ecological                                                                             Inclusion in
   Water Ecological                                                                                            Activities Included for PforR Financing
                                    Restoration 14th-five-year Plan (2021-2025)                                                                                       /Exclusion from
   Restoration Plan
                                                                                                                                                                      PforR financing
     (2021-2035)
1. Water saving and   • Deep water saving: strengthen agricultural water conservation efficiency,                                                                              RA1
efficiency            the Baoji Gorge irrigation area and other10 large irrigation area organizations    • Improving and rehabilitating irrigation systems
                      to implement the "14th Five-Year Plan" Xu Jian matching and modernization,         • Applying on-farm modern irrigation technologies
                      the basin of ZTE irrigation area planning and transformation of 42 places, of      • Adjusting cropping patterns with consumption-based design
                      which the key medium-sized irrigation area planning transformation 26                for higher value crops
                      places.                                                                            • Construction or rehabilitation of rural water supply systems
                                                                                                           and pipelines
                                                                                                         • Improving community capacity on agricultural water
                                                                                                           management through WUA training
                      • Key water resources allocation project construction: planning and                                                No                                Potentially
                      construction of Doomen Reservoir, Puhua Reservoir, Bailuyuan (whale ditch)                                                                         significant E&S
                      reservoir, Beitougou reservoir, Wangjiaxia reservoir expansion, Yijun County                                                                        impacts with
                      Leiyu reservoir and other 43 key water projects, the implementation of                                                                                reservoir
                      Hanjiu, Fuhongjishi, Bailongjiang drinking water project (Yan'an section) and                                                                     construction and
                      other 5 major water diversion projects, improve the basin and regional water                                                                      basin-wide water
                      resources allocation system. We will comprehensively promote the                                                                                    re-allocation.
                      construction of water networks in the Weihe River basin in Shaanxi Province
                      and promote the coordinated and balanced allocation of resources.
2. Water ecological   • Key projects for integrated management of dry tributary water ecology:
restoration           According to the needs of water ecological restoration in the basin, the key
                      projects such as comprehensive upgrading and management of dry
                      tributaries such as the Wei River, Beiluo River, Shichuan River and Qishui
                                                                                                              •    Integrated landscape management planning
                      River, the water diversion project of Yangmaowan Reservoir, and the
                                                                                                              •    Watershed management and ecosystem restoration at
                      comprehensive management of clean watersheds will focus on specific
                                                                                                                   watershed level
                      engineering measures include river rehabilitation (embankment
                                                                                                              •    Afforestation/ reforestation
                      reinforcement, ecological bank protection, river silting, flood prevention
                      roads, etc.), ecological corridor construction, beach remediation and water             •    Soil and water conservation
                      ecological restoration, water cultural site protection and publicity and display        •    Wetland protection and restoration
                                                                                                                                                                        RA3
                      facilities construction, and sewage treatment system upgrading and                      •    Vegetation restoration with promoted natural
                      transformation                                                                               regeneration
                      • River and lake ecological management and upgrading project: to carry out              •    Natural river rehabilitation
                      comprehensive management of small and medium-sized rivers, governance
                      measures include the construction of standard embankments, new
                      renovation and drainage facilities, ecological bank protection, river silting, the
                      implementation of afforestation and breeding projects.
                      • Comprehensive management project of clean watersheds in northern
                      Fujian: In the northern bank area of the Weihe River Basin, focus on building

                                                                                           124
                        clean basins of Qian River, Qishui River, Wei River, Shichuan River and Beiluo
                        River, integrate water conservation, eco-tourism development, clean industry
                        upgrading into the construction of clean small basins, promote water
                        ecological restoration in the North Wei River Basin, combine sewage waste
                        collection and treatment, and improve the living environment to sort out the
                        model of ecological management of the basin.
                        • Water conservation and soil and water conservation:
                            o The water conservation of Qinling Beibei, including the protection of
                                natural forest sealing, the management of ecological clean small basins,
                                the ecological restoration of the man-made disturbance damage area
                                of The Road, and the ecological restoration at the mouth of the river
                        • Water and soil conservation ecological construction, in southern Fujian,
                        Xianyang, Copper River, Baoji, Yulin, Yan'an and other places to build new silt
                        dams, new slope ladders, the implementation of surface protection, forest and
                        grass projects, sealing and breeding and other water conservation measures.
3. Improvement of       • Through the implementation of the existing reservoir silting dredging, risk                              No                                    Potentially
water      ecological   reduction and reinforcement and other engineering measures, improve the                                                                          significant
carrying capacity       ecological rehydration function of the reservoir, the construction of river and                                                               downstream E&S
                        lake water system connectivity project, promote water circulation, improve                                                                      impacts with
                        the water level of the river and lake, while improving the self-purification                                                                  basin-wide water
                        function of the water body.                                                                                                                     re-allocation.
                          - Idle reservoir utilization project
                          - Water connectivity works
                          - Yangmaowan, Laorenzui, Qianling Reservoir water system connectivity
                            project
                          - Water ecological restoration project of Xigou Reservoir
                          - West River Trench Management Project
                          - The flood drainage canal management project in the small tower new
                            village
4. Enhance     water    • Recently, for the current situation of water quality is not up to standard       •   Upgrading effluent standards within the existing             RA2
security                Lijiahe reservoir, Fufeng County official reservoir, Yangmaowan reservoir and          wastewater treatment plants
                        other 10 drinking water sources, the implementation of water source                •   Construction of rural wastewater treatment systems
                        protection areas, water pollution prevention and control, water source                 and household connections
                        isolation protection, regulatory capacity improvement projects to improve          •   Rehabilitation of rural wastewater treatment systems
                        water quality, improve water safety and security capacity.                         •   Improving livestock and poultry manure management
                        • In the long term, the rehabilitation project of 8 drinking water source areas,   •   Promoting organic fertilizer and precise chemical
                        such as Zhengjia River Reservoir and Wangzhuang River Reservoir in Yan'an              fertilizer application
                        City, will be carried out in the long term.
                        • Improving livestock and poultry manure management
                        • Promoting organic fertilizer and precise chemical fertilizer application
5. Water culture        • In the light of detailed planning for the construction of the Weihe Ecological                           No                                 Not prioritized
heritage protection     Zone in various cities and other similar projects in the planning, the projects                                                               areas under the
                        for the protection of the cultural heritage of the main stream and important                                                                     Program
                        tributaries of the Weihe River shall be implemented, including:
                              -    Build along the tourist belt, planning and construction of cultural
                                   and tourist landscape points and service facilities

                                                                                             125
                         -    Implementation of water conservancy scenic area construction,
                              protection of water cultural sites, the construction of cultural
                              stations, educational demonstration bases and supporting services,
                              the production of publicity films and videos
6. Modernized and    Planning and construction of water ecology, water environment, water            •   Integrated ecosystem and water resources                 RA4
innovative   water   supervision business-related Smart Wei River, promote the basin water               management plans for the seven demonstration sub-
management           ecological restoration management information construction and application          basins
                     promotion, make up the water conservancy information short board,               •   Scaling up of integrated ecosystem and water resources
                     including the following:                                                            management plans for the Wei River Basin in Shaanxi
                          •   Construction of three-dimensional perception system: new water             and the Yellow River Basin in Henan
                              situation, groundwater, water environment, water ecology and           •   Assessment of water resources availability in
                              other monitoring and monitoring sites.                                     demonstration sub-basin for YRCC
                          •   Communication network system construction: expand the water            •   Piloting the “Smart Yellow River�? system
                              conservancy fiber optic communication network system, while            •   Training and capacity building
                              strengthening mobile wireless interconnection, and promote
                              satellite communication and emergency communication.
                          •   Construction of the Water Resources Capacity Cloud Center in the
                              Weihe River Basin Water Capacity Cloud Center: In accordance with
                              the concept of cloud architecture, the construction of support for
                              water resources, water security, soil and water conservation and
                              other business-related resources platform and data resource pool,
                              application support and intelligent platform,
                          •   Application Service Platform Construction: Based on 3D GIS water
                              conservancy platform, build a service platform for business
                              collaborative application systems such as water conservation and
                              water resources monitoring system, soil and water conservation
                              supervision system, water disaster scientific defense system, etc
                          •   We will upgrade and upgrade the information-based office
                              equipment, emergency communication facilities and water
                              conservancy supervision facilities of management institutions at all
                              levels to upgrade and build provincial and municipal dispatching
                              intelligence centers.
                          •   Build a security system: to build and support water resources, water
                              security, soil and water conservation and other business-related
                              intelligent water conservancy construction and operation of the
                              security system, including standard system, network security
                              system.




                                                                                        126
Annex 3 PforR Environmental and Social Risks Analysis

                                                                                                                                                 Reputational and
Result Areas        Activities                   Likely E&S Risks               Likely E&S contextual risks        Likely institutional risks                               Risk level
                                                                                                                                                   political risks
                 Improving the        ✓ Temporary, short-term and limited     ✓    Irrigation canal activities    ✓ Mainly involves            ✓ In line with national   Moderate
                  management             negative environmental impacts             are located in rural             government                   and local laws,
                  and                    during the construction process,           farmland and are unlikely        departments such as          regulations, policies
                  infrastructure of      such as local surface disturbance,         to involve important             ecological and               and procedures, so
                  irrigated              water habitat disturbance                  natural habitats.                environment, natural         there is no political
                  agriculture:           (dredging), dust, noise,              ✓    Drought and soil erosion         resources, water             risk
                  water supply           construction waste, and safety             in the project area are          resources, agriculture     ✓ The goal of the
                  stations (around       risks for construction workers.            issues that affect the local     and rural affairs, and       project is to
                  20mu for each) ,       These negative impacts can be              environment and quality          these departments            improve the
                  irrigation             readily addressed through                  of life for a long time. The     have complete                ecological
                  channel                environmental mitigation                   construction of irrigation       institutions and             environment of the
                  renovation,            measures;                                  pumping stations can             personnel, as well as        project area and
                  pumping              ✓ Safety maintenance during                  alleviate the impact of          appropriate business         benefit local
                  stations (~5m2         irrigation canal operation period          drought. The construction        management                   residents.
                  for each) and        ✓ Water supply stations, irrigation          of storage ponds is not          capabilities.                Therefore, it is
                  storage ponds          pumping stations, storage pond             only a measure to reduce       ✓ For related project          widely supported
                  (200 to 700m2),        and other facilities will occupy           the impact of drought, but       activities, systematic       by the public.
                  tanks etc.             small-scale land.                          also an effective measure        regulations and plans
                                                                                    to reduce the risk of soil       have been established      The reputation risk is
1.    Improve                          Overall risk is moderate.                    erosion. .                     ✓ Coordination between       low
efficiency of                                                                                                        departments is
water                                                                          The background risk is                required during the
resources use                                                                  moderate.                             implementation
                                                                                                                     process.

                                                                                                                   The risk is moderate.
                 Improving the        ✓ Temporary, short-term and limited     ✓ Activity locations are mainly     ✓ Mainly involves            ✓ In line with national   Substantial
                  efficiency of          negative environmental impacts          in rural areas, habitats that       government                   and local laws,
                  water supply           during the construction process,        have been modified or               departments such as          regulations, policies
                  systems,               such as local surface disturbance,      degraded by human                   ecological and               and procedures, so
                  construction/im        dust, noise, construction waste,        activities, and do not involve      environment, natural         there is no political
                  provement of           and safety risks for construction       natural habitats and                resources, water             risk
                  township and           workers. These negative impacts         important natural habitats          resources.                 ✓ The goal of the
                  rural water            can be avoided or mitigated             that have not been disturbed      ✓ Coordination between         project is to
                  supply facilities,     through environmental mitigation        by human activities.                departments is               improve the
                  pipeline               measures.                             ✓ Water supply facilities may         required during the          ecological
                  network.             ✓ The availability of water resources     involve relying on existing         implementation               environment of the
                                         and water balance issues involved       reservoirs, thus involving          process.                     project area and
                                         in water diversion facilities need      reservoir dam safety risk         ✓ Departments involved         benefit local
                                         to be specifically assessed.            factors.                            in environmental and         residents.
                                                                               ✓ As a whole, the project has         social risk management       Therefore, it is
                                                                                 no environmental and social         may include ecological
                                                                                          127
                                                                                                                                              Reputational and
Result Areas       Activities                Likely E&S Risks                 Likely E&S contextual risks      Likely institutional risks                              Risk level
                                                                                                                                               political risks
                                   ✓ The construction of water supply           risks. If the candidate sub-     environment, water           widely supported
                                     facilities will involve land use, but      project has environmental        conservancy and other        by the public.
                                     the scale is not large.                    and social legacy issues, it     departments.
                                   ✓ Labor management will be                   will be excluded from the      ✓ Inter-departmental         The reputation risk is
                                     involved in the construction and           scope of the PforR project.      coordination is            low
                                     operation of the project.                                                   required during the
                                                                             Overall risk is substantial         implementation
                                   Overall risk is substantial                                                   process.

                                                                                                               Institutional risk is
                                                                                                               moderate.
                Implementing      ✓ Technical assistance activities do      ✓ Do not involve physical         ✓ Departments involved       ✓ In line with national   Moderate
                 remote sensing-     not involve physical engineering          engineering construction,          in environmental and        and local laws,
                 based               construction, and basically have          and does not involve               social risk management      regulations, policies
                 technologies to     minimum or no environmental               environmental and socially         may include ecological      and procedures, so
                 assess and          and social impacts.                       sensitive areas.                   environment, water          there is no political
                 monitor water                                                                                    conservancy and other       risk
                 consumption       Risk level is low                         Risk level is low                    departments.
                                                                                                               ✓ Inter-departmental         The reputation risk is
                                                                                                                  coordination is           low
                                                                                                                  required during the
                                                                                                                  implementation
                                                                                                                  process.

                                                                                                               Risk is moderate.
                Improving         ✓ Do not involve physical                 ✓ Do not involve physical         ✓ Involve different          ✓ In line with national   Moderate
                 community on-       construction activities, and              engineering construction,          groups of farmers and       and local laws,
                 farm water          basically have minimum or no              and does not involve               coordination of the         regulations, policies
                 management by       environmental impact.                     environmental and socially         distribution of water       and procedures, so
                 strengthening                                                 sensitive areas.                   resources.                  there is no political
                 water user                                                                                                                   risk
                 associations      Risk level is low                         Risk level is low                 Risk level is moderate       ✓ The goal of the
                 (WUA)                                                                                                                        project is to
                                                                                                                                              improve the
                                                                                                                                              ecological
                                                                                                                                              environment of the
                                                                                                                                              project area and
                                                                                                                                              benefit local
                                                                                                                                              residents.
                                                                                                                                              Therefore, it is
                                                                                                                                              widely supported
                                                                                                                                              by the public.

                                                                                                                                            The reputation risk is
                                                                                                                                            low
                                                                                        128
                                                                                                                                                   Reputational and
Result Areas       Activities                  Likely E&S Risks                 Likely E&S contextual risks         Likely institutional risks                              Risk level
                                                                                                                                                    political risks

                Reforming           ✓ Do not involve physical                 ✓ Do not involve physical            ✓ Departments involved       ✓ In line with national   Moderate
                 irrigation water      construction activities, and              engineering construction,            in environmental and         and local laws,
                 pricing and           basically have minimum or no              and does not involve                 social risk management       regulations, policies
                 water rights          environmental impact.                     environmental and socially           may include the              and procedures, so
                                     ✓ Affect farmers’ water use behavior        sensitive areas.                     Development and              there is no political
                                       and production cost in small scale.                                            Reform Commission,           risk
                                                                               Risk level is low                      natural resources,         ✓ The goal of the
                                                                                                                      water conservancy,           project is to
                                     Risk level is low                                                                price and other              improve the
                                                                                                                      departments.                 ecological
                                                                                                                    ✓ Departmental                 environment of the
                                                                                                                      coordination is              project area and
                                                                                                                      required during the          benefit local
                                                                                                                      implementation               residents.
                                                                                                                      process.                     Therefore, it is
                                                                                                                                                   widely supported
                                                                                                                    Risk is moderate.              by the public.

                                                                                                                                                 The reputation risk is
                                                                                                                                                 low

                Improve rural       ✓ Temporary, short-term and limited       ✓ The project activities are         ✓ Involves ecological        ✓ In line with national   Moderate
                 wastewater            negative environmental impacts            located in urban/village             environment                  and local laws,
                 management,           during the construction process,          built-up areas near                  departments, urban           regulations, policies
                 new                   such as local surface disturbance,        communities, and there are           construction                 and procedures, so
                 construction and      dust, noise, construction waste,          no environmentally sensitive         departments, rural           there is no political
                 upgrading             and safety risks for construction         protection areas or natural          affairs etc.                 risk
                 township and          workers. These negative impacts           habitats and other protection      ✓ These departments          ✓ The goal of the
                 rural wastewater      can be avoided or mitigated               areas.                               have corresponding           project is to
                 treatment plants      through environmental mitigation        ✓ The locations of the existing        institutions, personnel,     improve the
                 (typical capacity     measures.                                 township sewage treatment            budgets, systems and         ecological
                 of 50-500m3/d,      ✓ Environmental risks during the            facilities in the local area are     division of                  environment of the
2.Improvewa
                 with max.             operation of the wastewater               all on open land or idle land.       responsibilities for         project area and
ter quality
                 5000m3/d, some        treatment plant, including odor,        ✓ As a whole, the project has          managing                     benefit local
                 requiring no          sludge disposal, management of            no environmental and social          environmental and            residents.
                 addition land         hazardous chemicals, accidental           risks. If the candidate sub-         social risks of such         Therefore, it is
                 other others          discharge, etc.                           project has environmental            plans and activities.        widely supported
                 taking up to        ✓ Workers' safety and health risks          and social legacy issues, it       ✓ Inter-department             by the public.
                 400m2 for each.       during operation.                         will be excluded from the            coordination is needed
                 It may also         ✓ The construction of sewage                scope of the PforR project.          In the process of          The reputation risk is
                 involve               facilities will involve land use, but                                          project                    low
                 improvement of        the scale is not large.                                                        implementation.
                 existing county-                                              The risk is moderate
                 level WWTP,         Overall risk is moderate                                                       The risk is moderate.
                                                                                          129
                                                                                                                                               Reputational and
Result Areas         Activities                  Likely E&S Risks              Likely E&S contextual risks      Likely institutional risks                              Risk level
                                                                                                                                                political risks
                   with capacity of
                   10,000 -
                   50,000m3/d
                   which are
                   basically carried
                   out on the
                   existing WWTPs,
                   or additional
                   small-scale land
                   use, e.g., around
                   10mu for the
                   upgrading
                   activities),
                   underground
                   sewage pipeline
                   network with
                   temporary land
                   use.
                  Improve rural       ✓ No physical construction involved,   ✓ Only on the existing            ✓ Departments involved       ✓ In line with national   Moderate
                   non-point source      and there is basically minimum or      farmland irrigation areas, no     may include the              and local laws,
                   pollution             negative environmental impact.         sensitive environmental           ecology and                  regulations, policies
                   management,         ✓ Reduce the use of chemical             areas involved.                   environment, rural           and procedures, so
                   promotion             fertilizers and pesticides, reduce                                       affairs etc.                 there is no political
                   formular              pollution emissions and health       The overall risk is low           ✓ Departmental                 risk
                   fertilizers, and      risks, and generate positive                                             coordination is            ✓ The goal of the
                   reduction of          environmental benefits.                                                  required during the          project is to
                   fertilizer and      ✓ Raise farmers environment                                                implementation               improve the
                   pesticide use         protection awareness and                                                 process.                     ecological
                                         production behavior.                                                                                  environment of the
                                                                                                                The risk is moderate           project area and
                                       The overall risk is low                                                                                 benefit local
                                                                                                                                               residents.
                                                                                                                                               Therefore, it is
                                                                                                                                               widely supported
                                                                                                                                               by the public.

                                                                                                                                             The reputation risk is
                                                                                                                                             low

                  Integrated          ✓ TA activity that does not involve    ✓ TA covers the whole sub-        ✓ Departments involved       ✓ In line with national   Moderate
                   landscape             physical construction works,           basin areas in general term,      may include multiple         and local laws,
3. Restore key     management            minimum or no direct                   but does not involve specific     departments, including       regulations, policies
ecosystems         planning              environmental impacts.                 locations.                        DRC, ecology and             and procedures, so
                                       ✓ Planning results and                 ✓ Minimum or no E&S                 environment, water           there is no political
                                         recommendations may have               contextual risks                                               risk
                                                                                         130
                                                                                                                                                Reputational and
Result Areas       Activities                  Likely E&S Risks                Likely E&S contextual risks       Likely institutional risks                              Risk level
                                                                                                                                                 political risks
                                        indirect downstream E&S                                                    resources, rural affairs
                                        implication. Since the planning is                                         etc.                       The reputation risk is
                                        targeting environmental                                                  ✓ Departmental               low
                                        protection, it is unlikely that the                                        coordination is
                                        recommendations will cause            The overall risk is low.             required during the
                                        significant adverse E&S impacts.                                           implementation
                                                                                                                   process.
                                     The overall risk is low
                                                                                                                 The risk is moderate
                Reforestation/aff   ✓ Improve ecological environment         ✓ Activity locations are mainly    ✓ Departments involved       ✓ In line with national   Moderate
                 orestation with       and reduce soil erosion.                 in rural areas, habitats that      may include multiple         and local laws,
                 diversified         ✓ Temporary, short-term and limited        have been modified or              departments, including       regulations, policies
                 local/indigenous      negative environmental impacts           degraded by human                  ecology and                  and procedures, so
                 species,              during the construction process,         activities, and do not involve     environment, labor           there is no political
                Soil and water        such as local surface disturbance,       natural habitats and               management, water            risk
                 conservation          dust, noise, construction waste,         important natural habitats         resources, rural affairs   ✓ The goal of the
                 (e.g., gully          and safety risks for construction        that have not been disturbed       etc. These departments       project is to
                 control works,        workers. These negative impacts          by human activities.               have complete                improve the
                 water source          can be avoided or mitigated            ✓ As a whole, the project has        institutions and             ecological
                 area protection,      through environmental mitigation         no environmental and social        personnel, as well as        environment of the
                 and ecological        measures.                                risks. If the candidate sub-       appropriate business         project area and
                 terrace field       ✓ The daily management of forests,         project has environmental          management                   benefit local
                 improvement)          including the risks of pest control      and social legacy issues, it       capabilities.                residents.
                Wetland               and fire prevention.                     will be excluded from the        ✓ Departmental                 Therefore, it is
                 protection and      ✓ Gully control works are basically        scope of the PforR project.        coordination is              widely supported
                 restoration           conducted on the edges of cliff        ✓ The activities of the project      required during the          by the public.
                Vegetation            bodies or embankments of                 are all located in towns or        implementation
                 restoration with      existing creeks/rivers, and will         rural areas, and agricultural      process.                   The reputation risk is
                 promoted              barely occupy farmers’ land; water       production income is still the                                low
                 natural               source area protection will be           main source of income for        The risk is moderate
                 regeneration          conducted on existing water              local households.
                Natural river         source protection lands, and few         Agricultural activities in the
                 rehabilitation,       cases of land occupation outside         project area have gradually
                 river bank            the boundary; and ecological             transitioned from planting
                 ecological            terrace field improvement on             corn and wheat crops in the
                 restoration           existing farmers’ land, which are        past to having grown apples
                                       generally carried out between            and peaches.
                                       November to February next year
                                       to avoid affecting the agriculture     The overall risk is moderate.
                                       production work;
                                     ✓ Wetland protection and
                                       reforestation/afforestation will be
                                       restricted within the existing river
                                       courses. Vegetation restoration to
                                       be carried out on existing
                                                                                         131
                                                                                                                                                Reputational and
Result Areas         Activities                  Likely E&S Risks               Likely E&S contextual risks      Likely institutional risks                              Risk level
                                                                                                                                                 political risks
                                         mountains or land rented from the
                                         farmers or collective economic
                                         groups.
                                       ✓ There will be a certain amount of
                                         labor during the construction
                                         process.

                                       The risk is moderate.
                  Water               ✓ TA activity that does not involve     ✓ TA covers the whole sub-        ✓ Departments involved       ✓ In line with national   Moderate
                   consumption-          physical construction works,            basin areas in general term,      may include multiple         and local laws,
                   based irrigated       minimum or no direct                    but does not involve specific     departments, including       regulations, policies
                   agricultural          environmental impacts.                  locations.                        DRC, ecology and             and procedures, so
                   water savings       ✓ Planning results and                  ✓ Minimum or no E&S                 environment, water           there is no political
                   plan (for the Wei     recommendations may have                contextual risks                  resources, rural affairs     risk
                   River Basin in        indirect downstream E&S                                                   etc.
4. Promote         Shaanxi and           implication. Since the planning is                                      ✓ Departmental               The reputation risk is
innovation of      Yellow River          targeting environmental                                                   coordination is            low
water              Basin in Henan).      protection, it is unlikely that the                                       required during the
resources         Ecological            recommendations will cause            The overall risk is low.            implementation
assessment         restoration and       significant adverse E&S impacts.                                          process.
and strategic,     soil and water
cost-effective     conservation        The overall risk is low                                                   The risk is moderate
planning           plans based on
                   integrated
                   management are
                   prepared (for the
                   Wei River Basin
                   in Shaanxi and
                   the Yellow River
                   Basin in Henan).




                                                                                          132
Annex 4 Due Diligence Review of Reservoir Safety in Sanmenxia in Henan

             Back to Office Report – Regulatory Framework Review Sanmenxia City
                                          Yellow River
                           By Shunong Hu, Sr. Water Engineer, SEAW1
                                 报告 -- 三门峡市监管框架审查
                                              黄河
                              作者:胡树农,SEAW1 高级水工程师

Summary:                                                  概�?:

Total 88 reservoirs, one large, five middles, and 82      三门峡水利局辖 88 座水库,其中 1 座大型�?
smalls, were under jurisdiction of Sanmenxia Water        5 座中型�?82 座�?水库。大多数大�??建于
Department. Most of dams were built in 1960s to
                                                          1960 年代至 1970 年代,并在 2000 年代加固
1970s and reinforced/updated in 2000s. The last
round dam safety evaluation certified that all the dams   /更新。 上一轮大�??安全评估�?明所有大�??
are Class A, i.e., safe to operate as designed. Except    �?�为 A 级,�?�安全�?并�?许按设计�?行。 除
those Small (II) reservoirs managed by villages, the      �?�级管�?�的�?(二)水库外,水库�?�由专业
reservoirs were managed by institutes with                机构管�?�,�?费充足。 三门峡市水务局拟�?�
professionals sufficiently funded. Sanmenxia Water        这些�?(二)水库�??供资金 2 万元至 3 万
Department planned to provide funds, RMB20,000 to         元,以改善其管�?�。 凭借完善的�?作手册和
RMB30, 000, to those Small (II) Reservoirs to improve
                                                          严格执行相关法律法规,过去几�??年没有�?�
the management thereof. With well-established
operational manuals and strict enforcement of             生事故或溃�??事件。
relevant laws and regulations, no incident or dam
failure was reported in the past decades.

Sanmenxia Water Department also planned to seek           三门峡水务局还计划通过增加生活和/或工业
the ways, such as increasing the domestic and/or          供水,增加生�?�?�?释放,建立补�?�机制等
industrial water supply, increasing the ecological flow   途径,增加这些水库的收入,确�?其�?��?续
release with compensation mechanism developed, to
                                                          �?行。此外,还与三门峡水利局讨论了是�?�
increase the income of those reservoirs to ensure their
sustainable operation. In addition, it was also           有�?愿考虑开�?�一个计算机化水库�?行平
discussed that Sanmenxia Water Department can             �?�,以优化水资�?调度和/或基于风险的大�??
develop a computerized operational platform for           安全�?行平�?�。
optimization of water regulation and/or risk-based
dam safety operational platform.

                                               Annex:
Demography:                                               人�?�统计:

Sanmenxia City, a prefecture-level city, neighboring      三门峡市是地级市,西接陕西,北接山西,
Shaanxi on its west and Shanxi on its north, located in   地处河�?��?西部,根�?� 2020 年人�?�普查(人
the west of Henan Province, has its jurisdiction
                                                          �?� 2.23 截至 2021 年人�?�普查,100 万人和
territory of 9,936 km2 and population of 2.035 million
people, according to 2020 census (population of 2.23      947,588 人居�?在城市建�?区)   。从地�?�上
million people and 947,588 living in urban built-up       看,该市�?于黄河以�?�,黄河在通往�?�北平
areas as of 2021 census). Geographically, the city lies   原的途中穿过黄土高原。下图显示了河�?��?
on the south side of the Yellow River at the point        三门峡和中国河�?��?的�?置。
where the river cut through the Loess Plateau on its

                                                  133
 way to the North China Plain. The map below shows
 the location of Sanmenxia in Henan Province and
 Henan in China.




 Dams under the jurisdiction of Water Department                    三门峡市水务局管辖的大�??:
 of Sanmenxia City:

 There are 88 registered20 reservoirs formed by dams                三门峡市有注册登记水库 88 座,其中大型水
 in Sanmenxia, among which one large, five middle, and              库 1 座�?中型水库 5 座�?�?型水库 82 座,设
 82 small sized reservoirs21, with the designed storage
                                                                    计库容 4.12 亿立方米。其中大部分建于 1960
 of 412 million m3 in total. Most of them were built in
 1960s and 1970s, and majority of them are earth                    年代和 1970 年代,大部分是土�??。水库在优
 dams. There reservoirs played a key role in optimizing             化三门峡水资�?平衡(从地下水到地表水)
 the water resource balance (from groundwater to                    方�?��?�挥了关键作用,因为这些水库的用途
 surface water) in Sanmenxia as the purposes of these               主�?用于�?�溉和生活和工业供水,而地下水
 reservoirs are mainly aiming at irrigation and                     �?在过去几�??年中�?年下�?。这些水库根�?�
 domestic and industrial water supply as groundwater                需�?�?大地补充了供水,并支�?了从地下水
 level kept dropping year by year during the past
                                                                    到地表水的�?功转移。然而,由于这些水库
 decades. These reservoirs greatly supplemented the
 water supply as required and supported the success of              的总蓄水�?�?然较低,调节能力相对较低,
 transferring from groundwater to surface water.                    在满足�?断增长的需求方�?��?然�?�临挑战。
 However, there is still challenge in water supply to               这�?�能是世行项目通过建立基于实时天气预
 meet the growing demands due to relatively low                     报和历�?�数�?�分�?的计算机化�?行系统�?�优
 regulating capacity as the total storage of these                  化水库�?行规则的一个领域。
 reservoirs is still relatively low. This might be an area

    20
        In accordance with the Dam Registration Regulation issued by the Ministry of Water Resources on December
28, 1995 and revised on December 25, 1997, all reservoirs with the total storage above 100,000 m 3 shall be
registered for the purpose of dam safety management and supervision.
根�?�水利部 1995 年 12 月 28 日�?�布并于 1997 年 12 月 25 日修订的《大�??登记管�?��?�例》,所有蓄水�?在 10 万立方
米以上的水库,�?�应进行大�??安全管�?�和监�?�。
     21 In accordance with the national standards, the reservoirs are categorized as: i) Large Reservoir (I): the total

storage greater than 1.0 billion m3; ii) Large Reservoir (II): the total storage between 100.0 million m 3 to 1.0 billion m3
to 100.0 million m3; iii) Middle Sized Reservoir: the total storage between 10.0 million m3 to 100.0 million m3; iv) Small
Reservoir (I): the total storage between 1.0 million m 3 to 10.0 million m3; and v) Small Reservoir (II): the total storage
smaller between 100,000 m3 to 1.0 million m3. 按照国家标准,水库分为:
i)大型水库(I):总库容大于 10 亿立方米; ii) 大型水库(II):总储�?在 1 亿立方米至 10 亿立方米至 1
亿立方米之间; iii) 中型水库:总库容在 1000 万立方米至 1 亿立方米之间; iv) �?型水库(I):总库容在 100
万立方米至 1000 万立方米之间; v) �?型水库 (II):总存储�?在 100,000 立方米至 100 万立方米之间。

                                                            134
where the Bank’s project can contribute to optimize
the operation rules of the reservoirs by establishing
the computerized operational system based on real
time weather forecast and historical data analysis.

During 2000 to 2010, all the dams had been upgraded          2000 年至 2010 年期间,所有大�??�?�通过大
through dam reinforcement and/or remedial                    �??除险加固和/或修�?计划进行了�?�级。根�?�
programs and thus most of them are classified as Class       最新的大�??安全评估结果,大多数大�??现在
A dams now based on the dam safety evaluation
                                                             被列为 A 级大�??。 市政府计划在“�??四五�?期
results. The municipality is planning to carry out
another round of inspection and remediation during           间�?次开展检查整治,确�?辖区内大�??安全
the 14th Five Year Plan to ensure the safe operation of      �?行。 因此,预计所有大�??将在 2022 年底
the dams under its jurisdiction. It is thus expected that    之�?完�?进一步的除险加固或�?�级工程。结
all the dams would be reinforced or upgraded prior to        �?�上文讨论的水库�?行系统,基于 GIS 的平
the end of 2022. In connection with the reservoir            �?��?�能会帮助三门峡水务局�??�?�其监测和�?
operation system that has been discussed above, a GIS        行能力。
based platform might help Sanmenxia Water
Department to upgrade its monitoring and operation
capacity.

The reservoir operation and maintenance or reservoir         水库�?�?�和维护或水库管�?��?��?已�?建立并
management units were well established and                   �?备了足够的人员,除了那些�?�级�?�?�的�?
sufficiently staffed, except for those Small (II) that are   (二)型水库。 大�?中�?�?(一)水库�?行
operated by villages. The operation and maintenance
                                                             维护资金�?��?市有�?障的,�?��?级政府
funds for Large, Middle, and Small (I) reservoirs come
from the provincial government (70%) and municipal           (70%)和市政府(30%) 。 此外,市政府
government (30%), that were guaranteed. In addition,         计划从 2022 年起,为所有�?(二)水库安排
the municipal government planned to allocate special         专项资金约 2 万元~3 万元,用于�?(二)水
funds, about RMB20,000 ~ RMB30,000, for all Small            库的�?行维护。
(II) starting from 2022, which would help the
operation and maintenance of those Small (II)
reservoirs.

The reservoir operation manuals, emergency                   水库�?行手册�?应急�?应预案�?仪器预案�?�
preparedness and responsiveness plans, and                   按照相关法律法规建立。 相关法律法规包
instrument plans were well established according to          括:
the relevant laws and regulations. The laws and
regulations include at least:
             1.    Laws and Regulations issued by
        Central Government: i) Water Law of PRC; ii)
                                                             1. 中央政府�?布的法律法规:i) 中�?�人民共
        Flood Control Law of PRC; iii) River Course
        Management Regulations of PRC; iv) Dam               和国水法;ii) 中�?�人民共和国防洪法; iii)
        Safety Management Regulations of PRC; v)             中�?�人民共和国河�?�管�?��?�例;iv) 中�?�人民
        Dam Registration and Management                      共和国水库大�??安全管�?��?�例;v) 中�?�人民
        Regulations of PRC; vi) Flood Responding             共和国大�??注册登记办法;vi) 中�?�人民共和
        Rules of PRC; and vii) Regulations on Dam            国防汛�?�例;vii) 中�?�人民共和国大�??�?等与
        Downgrading and Decommission of PRC; and             报废管�?�办法; 和
             2.   Regulations issued by Provincial           2�?�?政府�?�布的规定:i) 河�?��?《水库大�??
        Government: i) Implementation Rules of Dam           安全管�?��?�例》实施细则;ii) 河�?��?《河�?�
        Safety Management by Henan Province; ii)             管�?��?�例》实施细则; iii) 河�?��?《水法》实
        Implementation Rules of River Course

                                                     135
        Management by Henan Province; iii)               施办法; iv) 《中�?�人民共和国抗防汛�?�例》
        Implementation Rules of Water Law by             细则; v) 实施《中�?�人民共和国防洪法》办
        Henan Province; iv) Detailed Rules of            法 ; vi) 河 �?� �? �? 布 的 《 �? 型 水 库 管 �?� 办
        Implementing Flood Responding Rules of
                                                         法》; vii) 河�?��?�?布的《河�?��?�?型病险水
        PRC; v) Implementation Rules of Flood
        Control Law of PRC; vi) Management Rules         库除险加固工程验收管�?�办法》          。
        for Small Reservoirs issued by Henan
        Province; and vii) Management Rules of
        Hydraulic Structures issued by Henan
        Province.

As a result of well-established operational and          由于编制了完善的�?行和维护手册,并严格
maintenance manuals, as well as the strict observation   �?�守和执行,在过去的几�??年里没有�?�生过
and enforcement thereof, there was no incident or        任何事故或溃�??。
failure reported during the past decades.

During the interview, the Bank team explored the         在采访中,世行团队与三门峡水务局领导探
possibility on the cooperation with the Bank in dam      讨了与世行在大�??安全方�?��?�作的�?�能性,
safety with the leaders of Sanmenxia Water               并�??出了�?�以供讨论项目活动计划( PAP)  ,
Department and noted that a PAP can be discussed,
                                                         �?� i) 制定基于风险的应急准备和�?应计划,
i.e., i) Development of Risk Based Emergency
Preparedness and Responsiveness Plan which would         这将有助于 大�??�?�?��?��?根�?�实时天气预报
help the dam operators to better respond to the floods   更好地应对洪水; 和/或 ii) 计算机化大�??梯
based on real time weather forecast; and/or ii)          级�?作平�?�,以帮助�?�?��?��?更好地调度水
Computerized Dam Cascade Operation Platform to           资�?。
help the operators to better regulating the water
resources.




                                                 136
Annex 5 Comparison between the Domestic ESMS and the Bank’s PforR Policy and Directive

    PforR principle /                                                                                                                                       Consistency analysis and
                                                                     China’s ESMS requirements and practices
         element                                                                                                                                                recommendation
Principle #1: Program E&S management systems are designed to promote E&S sustainability in the Program design; avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse impacts; and
promote informed decision-making relating to a Program’s E&S effects.
Element 1: Operate China has established a complete legal framework on ESIA, consisting of laws, regulations, technical guidelines,                       Largely consistent, but lacking
within an adequate legal standards, mechanisms and management procedures, especially in the field of EIA, in which a complete management                  records in impact screening,
and            regulatory system has been formed on the basis of the Environmental Protection Law, and Environmental Impact Assessment Law. public                         participation,
framework to guide E&S                                                                                                                                    information disclosure, and
                           For SIA: i) Notice of the National Development and Reform Commission on Issuing the Interim Measures for the Social
impact       assessments,                                                                                                                                 GRM
mitigation, management Stability Risk Assessment of Major Fixed Asset Investment Projects (NDRCI 2012): For any fixed asset investment
and monitoring at the project in China, the owner should perform an SSRA at the preparation stage to identify risks and degree of impact, and
PforR Program level.       propose measures to prevent and mitigate risks; ii) Guidelines on Establishing a Social Stability Risk Assessment
                           Mechanism for Major Decisions (Interim)(CPCCCO [2012] No.2): An SSRA shall be conducted for any major project or
                           matter that concerns the immediate interests of the public, and is likely to cause social stability risks, such as LA and HD,
                           farmers’ burden, state-owned enterprise restructuring, environmental impacts, social security, and public welfare.
                            The ESIA system applicable to the Program is adequate. Specific laws and regulations are sorted out by the
                            following principles and elements.
Element 2: Incorporate     The Environmental Impact Assessment Law establishes an early screening system to classify EIA, and take                       Largely consistent, but lacking
recognized elements of     appropriate management measures. The Catalogue for the Classified Management of the Environmental Impact                      records in public participation,
good practice in E&S       Assessment of Construction Projects (updated in 2021) provides an EIA classification guide for 55 industries (173             information disclosure, and
assessment and             types of projects), and proposes criteria for major, moderate and minor impacts based on project type, scale and              GRM
management, including: environmental sensitivity.
i) early screening of The Technical Guidelines for Environmental Impact Assessment—General Program propose overall requirements Action requirements:
potential impacts; ii) for EIA documents, including early intervention in early-stage site (route) selection, option selection, extensive public         1. Record public participation
consideration           of
                           participation, rational utilization of resources, an analysis of positive vs. negative, long-term vs. short-term, direct vs.  and information disclosure
strategic, technical, and
site          alternatives indirect, cumulative  impacts,  etc., an environmental economic   benefit  and  loss analysis, development  of environmental  processes and results.
(including     the     “no management measures, monitoring indicators, and an investment budget, preparation of management and monitoring                2. Record GRM operation.
action�? alternative); iii) plans, etc.
explicit assessment of The Program for Environmental Impact Assessment Information Disclosure Mechanism for Construction Projects                         Some PIUs rely completely on
potential         induced, requires that the construction agency shall disclose project EIA information throughout the process and with full              government authorities to
cumulative, and trans- coverage, including information disclosure before the preparation of EIA documents, full disclosure of the completed               supervise social impact and
boundary impacts.; iv)                                                                                                                                    risk management measures in
                           report (and report form), and information disclosure before, during and after construction. The environmental
identification          of                                                                                                                                practice. It is advised that
measures to mitigate protection authority shall also fully disclose the EIA report and report form, and disclose the approval information                 monitoring mechanism be
adverse E&S risks and afterwards.                                                                                                                         established      for       each
impacts that cannot be The Measures for Public Participation in Environmental Impact Assessment (2018 Amendment) propose three-                           subproject to ensure that such
otherwise avoided or round disclosure requirements for construction agencies, namely information disclosure at the beginning of the EIA,                  measures are implemented.
minimized; v) clear disclosure of the draft report, and disclosure of the final report (along with a description of public participation). In


                                                                                   137
articulation          of   addition, these measures also specify requirements for in-depth public participation for projects with many doubts
institutional              and/or professional problems, including two-round disclosure, discussion meeting / public hearing preparation, etc., as
responsibilities    and    well as disclosure requirements for the review and approval of the EIA documents by government authorities.
resources to support
implementation of plans;
vi) responsiveness and     The state laws and regulations on project screening in social terms include the Measures for the Administration of
accountability through     the Pre-examination on the Use of Land for Construction Projects (2008.11.29), Cultural Relics Protection Law
stakeholder                (2017 Amendment), Land Administration Law (2020.1.1), Regulations on the Prevention and Control of
consultation,    timely    Geologic Disasters (2004.3.1), and Notice of the National Development and Reform Commission on Issuing the
dissemination of the       Interim Measures for the Social Stability Risk Assessment of Major Fixed Asset Investment Projects (NDRCI
PforR information, and     2012).
responsive GRMs.
                           i) Measures for the Administration of the Pre-examination on the Use of Land for Construction Projects: The area
                           and type of the land used for the project shall be identified before the feasibility study report or project proposal is
                           reviewed to avoid the acquisition of basic farmland, nature reserves, etc.
                           ii) Cultural Relics Protection Law: Article 20: Unmovable cultural relics shall be avoided in the choosing of
                           construction sites by whatever possible means; if a protected historical and cultural site can't be avoided for special
                           circumstances, the original site shall be protected by whatever possible means. Article 29 Before launching a large-scale
                           capital construction project, the construction unit shall first request in a report the administrative department for
                           cultural relics under the peoples government of the relevant province, autonomous region, or municipality directly
                           under the Central Government to make arrangements for institutions engaged in archaeological excavations to conduct
                           archaeological investigation and prospecting at places where cultural relics may be buried underground within the area
                           designated for the project.
                           iii) Regulations on the Prevention and Control of Geologic Disasters: Article 13 : To work out and carry out an
                           overall planning on land utilization, a planning on mineral resources or a planning on any other major construction
                           project in respect of water conservancy, railways, traffic, energy sources, etc., the requirements on prevention and
                           control of geologic disasters shall be taken into full consideration, so as to avoid and mitigate the losses caused from
                           geologic disasters. To work out an overall urban planning, or a village or town planning, the planning on prevention and
                           control of geologic disasters shall be deemed as a component part.
                           iv) Land Administration Law: Article 47: For acquisition of land by the state, the local people's governments at and
                           above the county level shall make an announcement and organize implementation after approval according to the legal
                           procedures. If a people’s government at or above the county level is to apply for land acquisition, it shall conduct a
                           current status survey and a social stability risk assessment, and disclose the range and purpose of acquisition, current
                           status, compensation rate, resettlement mode, social security, etc. in the township (town), village and village group for at
                           least 30 days to collect comments from the affected rural collective economic organization and its members, village
                           committee and other stakeholders.
                           v) Regulations on the Implementation of the Land Administration Law of the PRC: Article 25 : Municipal, county
                           government of the locality whose land has been acquired shall, upon approval of the LA plan according to law, organize
                           its implementation, and make an announcement in the village(township), hamlet whose land has been acquired on the
                           approval organ of the LA, number of the approval document, use, scope and area of the acquired land as well as the rates


                                                                                  138
                           for compensation of LA, measures for the resettlement of agricultural personnel and duration for processing LA
                           compensation. Payment of various expenses for LA should be effected in full within 3 months starting from the date of
                           approval of the LA and resettlement plan.
                           vi) Notice of the National Development and Reform Commission on Issuing the Interim Measures for the Social
                           Stability Risk Assessment of Major Fixed Asset Investment Projects: Article 3: At the feasibility study stage, the
                           implementing agency (or an appointed specialized agency) shall conduct an SIA, impact assessment and public
                           consultation, propose mitigation measures, and prepare an SSRA report.
                            vii) Guidelines on Establishing a Social Stability Risk Assessment Mechanism for Major Decisions (Interim) : An
                            SSRA shall be conducted for any major project or matter that concerns the immediate interests of the public, and is likely
                            to cause social stability risks, such as LA and HD, farmers’ burden, state -owned enterprise restructuring, environmental
                            impacts, social security, and public welfare. The decision to be assessed shall be fixed by the competent authority based
                            on the above provisions and practical situation. If an SSRA is to be conducted for a major project, the SSRA shall be
                            regarded as an important part of the feasibility study. During the SSRA, the assessor may organize an assessment group
                            composed of officials from the political and legislative affairs, integrated control, stability maintenance, and complaint
                            handling authorities, NGOs, specialized agencies, experts, and resident representatives. The assessment report shall
                            include the assessment process, opinions, decisions, potential social stability risks, conclusions, mitigation measures,
                            contingency plan, etc. If the assessment report thinks that the matter has risk risks, a non-implementation decision shall
                            be made, or the decision-making plan adjusted to reduce risks; if there are moderate risks, effective prevention and
                            mitigation measures shall be taken before decision-making; if there are low risks, an implementation decision may be
                            made, but explanation shall be made to handle reasonable requests of stakeholders, the assessment report shall be
                            submitted to the decision-making authority for approval, with copies sent to competent authorities.
Principle #2: Program E&S management systems are designed to avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse impacts on natural habitats and physical cultural resources
resulting from the Program.
Element 3: Take into Regulations on Nature Reserves: A nature reserve shall be set up for an important habitat. Nature reserves shall                  Consistent
account         potential establish specialized management institution with professional staff responsible for protection works. Activities like
adverse     effects    on timber felling, herding, fishing, picking, reclamation, burning, mining, quarrying and sand digging shall be not conducted
physical          cultural
                           in nature reserves. No one shall enter core zones of nature reserves (except approved scientific research activities). No
property and provide
adequate measures to production is allowed within core zone and buffer zone, and no construction or production activities with pollution
avoid, minimize, or emission or affecting landscapes is allowed in the experimental zone.
mitigate such effects.     The EIA Guidelines-Ecological Impacts specifically stipulates the technical details of identifying and screening
                           important ecological factors (including wild animals and plants, important habitats, and biodiversity) in the early
                           environmental assessment stage of the project, and clearly requires that the environmental impact assessment
                           documents pay attention to ecological impacts (positive and negative), direct, indirect and cumulative impacts,
                           mitigation measures are formulated in the order of avoidance, mitigation, compensation and reconstruction.
                           Cultural Relics Protection Law establishes protection areas for valuable cultural resources. Construction projects
                           unrelated to the protection of cultural relics are not allowed in the protected areas. Necessary construction activities
                           must be approved by the local government and higher-level cultural relics departments.
                           Ecological elements and cultural resources are the environmental protection goals defined in the "Technical
                           Guidelines for Environmental Impact Assessment", and are important targets for screening, evaluating, and
                           formulating avoidance and mitigation measures for environmental impact assessment work.


                                                                        139
                              In the process of preparing actual environmental impact assessment documents, it is necessary to identify important
                              natural habitats and cultural resources. For the natural habitats or cultural resources involved, measures are formulated
                              in the order of avoidance, reduction, mitigation, and compensation, and they are included in the environmental
                              management plan. In addition, all projects involving nature reserves or cultural relics protection units must be approved
                              by the relevant authorities.
Element 4: Support and       The "Regulations on Nature Reserves" stipulate that the establishment of nature reserves for important habitats, the               Consistent
promote the protection,      core purpose of which is to protect natural habitats and avoid the degradation and conversion of natural habitats.
conservation,                The Wildlife Protection Law and the Wild Plant Protection Regulations (revised in 2017) stipulate the protection
maintenance,           and
                             requirements for wild animals and their natural habitats, wild plants and their growing environment. The impact of
rehabilitation of natural
habitats.            Avoid   construction projects on wild animals, plants and habitats and mitigation measures are the focus of environmental
significant conversion or    impact assessment documents.
degradation of critical      China's "Environmental Assessment Guidelines-Ecological Impacts" clearly requires that environmental impact
natural     habitats.    If  assessment documents pay attention to adverse ecological impacts and beneficial impacts, direct, indirect and
avoiding the significant     cumulative impacts, and mitigation measures are formulated in the order of avoidance, mitigation, compensation and
conversion of natural        reconstruction.
habitats       is      not
                             In addition, starting from 2015, China has implemented the delineation of ecological protection red lines on a large scale.
technically       feasible,
include measures to          By the end of 2020, all provinces and cities across the country have completed the delineation of ecological protection
mitigate or offset the       red lines within their jurisdictions to protect important habitats.
adverse impacts of the
PforR Program activities. In actual implementation, identifying important natural habitats, important wildlife protection targets, and statutory
                            ecological protection red lines are one of the key tasks of each EIA. All projects involving statutory protected areas have
                            taken avoidance measures. For other unavoidable ecological and environmental impacts, it is necessary to formulate
                            reduction, mitigation or compensation measures.

Element 5: Take into         Applicable regulations: Cultural Relics Protection Law (2017 Amendment), Regulations on the Implementation                       Consistent
account         potential    of the Cultural Relics Protection Law (2017 Amendment)
adverse     effects    on    i)Cultural Relics Protection Law: Article 17: No construction of additional projects or such operations as blasting,
physical          cultural
                             drilling and digging may be conducted within the area of protection for a historical and cultural site. However, where
property and provide
adequate measures to         under special circumstances it is necessary to conduct construction of additional projects or such operations as blasting,
avoid, minimize, or          drilling and digging within the area of protection for such a site, its safety shall be guaranteed, and the matter shall be
mitigate such effects.       subject to approval by the peoples’ government which originally verified and announced the site. Article 20: While
                             choosing a place for a construction project, the construction unit shall try its best to get around the site of immovable
                             cultural relics; where it is impossible to do so under special circumstances, it shall do everything it can to protect the
                             original site protected for its historical and cultural value. Article 29: Before launching a large-scale capital construction
                             project, the construction unit shall first request in a report the administrative department for cultural relics under the
                             peoples government of the relevant province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central
                             Government to make arrangements for institutions engaged in archaeological excavations to conduct archaeological
                             investigation and prospecting at places where cultural relics may be buried underground within the area designated for


                                                                                     140
                            the project. Article 31: The expenses needed for archaeological investigation, prospecting, or excavation, which have to
                            be carried out because of capital construction or construction for productive purposes, shall be included in the budget of
                            the construction unit for the construction project.
                             ii) Regulations on the Implementation of the Cultural Relics Protection Law: Article 25 : The scope and rates of
                             funds for archeological investigation, exploration and unearthing shall be based on the applicable state provisions.
Principle #3: Program E&S management systems are designed to protect public and worker safety against the potential risks associated with (a) the construction and/or
operation of facilities or other operational practices under the Program; (b) exposure to toxic chemicals, hazardous wastes, and otherwise dangerous materials under
the Program; and (c) reconstruction or rehabilitation of infrastructure located in areas prone to natural hazards.
Element 6: Promote Applicable laws and regulations: Labor Law (2018 Amendment), Work Safety Law (2020.11.25                                            Consistent
adequate       community, Amendment),Law on the Prevention and Control of Occupational Diseases (2018 Amendment) (2018.12.29),
individual, and worker Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems—Requirements with Guidance for Use (2020.3.6)
health,     safety,    and
                            i) Labor Law: Article 53: Labor health and safety facilities shall comply with the national standards. Newly constructed,
security through the safe
design,      construction, reconstructed or expanded labor health and safety facilities must be designed, constructed and put into operation
operation,             and together with main parts of projects. Article 54: The employer must provide labor health and safety conditions, and
maintenance of Program necessary labor protection articles complying with the state provisions to laborers, and laborers dealing with operations
activities; or, in carrying with occupational hazards shall receive health checkup regularly. Article 57: The state shall establish a statistical
out activities that may be reporting and handling system of accidents and occupational diseases. Article 61: Female workers shall not be arranged
dependent on existing to deal with physical labor of intensity level III stipulated by the state, and prohibited labor during pregnancy; female
infrastructure,
                            workers pregnant for seven months or more shall not work overtime or at night.
incorporate          safety
measures, inspections, ii) Work Safety Law: Article 21: The primary person in charge of a business entity shall have the following duties:
or remedial works as establishing and improving the work safety responsibility system of the business entity, organizing the development of
appropriate.                policies, rules, and operating procedures for work safety of the business entity, organizing the development and
                            implementation of the work safety education and training plans of the business entity, ensuring the effective utilization
                            of the work safety input of the business entity, supervising and inspecting the work safety of the business entity to
                            eliminate hidden risks of work safety accidents in a timely manner, organizing the preparation and implementation of
                            the business entity's emergency rescue plans for work safety accidents, and reporting work safety accidents in a timely
                            and honest manner. Article 73: Authorities for work safety supervision and management shall establish a reporting
                            system, and disclose a reporting hotline, mailbox or e-mail address to receive reports on work safety. Article 74: Any
                            organization or individual shall have the right to report any concealed accident or work safety violation to authorities
                            for work safety supervision and management. Article 72: When any community or village committee discovers any
                            concealed accident or work safety violation by any production or operation agency within its jurisdiction to the local
                            government or competent authority.
                            iii)Law on the Prevention and Control of Occupational Diseases (2018 Amendment): Article 4 : Employees shall be
                            entitled to occupational health protection according to law. Employers shall create work environment and conditions
                            meeting the national occupational health standards and health requirements and take measures to ensure that
                            employees receive occupational health protection. Trade unions shall oversee the prevention and control of
                            occupational diseases and protect the lawful rights and interests of employees according to law. When formulating or
                            amending rules and regulations on the prevention and control of occupational diseases, employers shall solicit the
                            opinions of trade unions. Article 5: Employers shall establish and improve a responsibility system for the prevention


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                          and control of occupational diseases, strengthen the management of prevention and control of occupational diseases,
                          improve their capabilities of prevention and control of occupational diseases, and assume responsibilities for their own
                          occupational disease hazards. Article 6: The primary person in charge of an employer shall assume the overall
                          responsibility for the employer's prevention and control of occupational diseases. Article 7: Employers must participate
                          in work-related injury insurance according to law. Article 9: The state shall apply an occupational health supervision
                          system. Article 10: The State Council and the local people's governments at and above the county level shall prepare
                          plans on the prevention and control of occupational diseases, which shall be included in the national economic and
                          social development plan, and organize the implementation of such plans.
Element 7: i) Promote     Applicable laws and regulations: Work Safety Law                                                                             Largely consistent, but there
the use of recognized     i) Work Safety Law: Article 21: An entity engaged in mining, metal smelting, building construction, or road                  are areas for improvement
good practice in the      transportation or an entity manufacturing, marketing, or storing hazardous substances shall establish a work safety          during implementation.
production,
                          management body or have full-time work safety management personnel. Article 22: The work safety management body              The implementation of OHS
management, storage,
transport, and disposal   and work safety management personnel of a business entity shall perform the following duties: (1) Organizing or              management systems at some
of hazardous materials    participating in the development of the work safety policies, rules and operating procedures and the emergency rescue        enterprises is yet to be
generated under the       plans for work safety accidents of the business entity. (2) Organizing or participating in and honestly recording the work   improved.
PforR.                    safety education and training of the business entity. (3) Supervising the implementation of safety control measures for
                          the major hazard installations of the business entity. (4) Organizing or participating in the emergency rescue rehearsals    Recommendation: Enhance
                          of the business entity. (5) Inspecting the work safety condition of the business entity, conducting screening for any        the OHS management of all
                          hidden risks of work safety accidents in a timely manner, and offering recommendations for improving work safety             enterprises involved in the
                                                                                                                                                       Program activities.
                          management. (6) Prohibiting and redressing any command against rules, forced operation at risk, or violation of the
                          operating procedures. (7) Supervising the work safety corrective actions taken by the business entity.
                          ii) Regulations on the Safety Management of Hazardous Chemicals: Article 4: A hazardous chemical entity shall
                          provide safety education, legal education and on-the-job technical training to employees. Employees shall accept
                          education and training, and may not hold office until they have passed the relevant examination
                          iii) Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems—Requirements with Guidance for Use: This is a
                          regional standard on OHS management systems, designed to identify and control safety problems that may arise in
                          organizational activities, products and services, prevent safety accidents, and protect workers’ health and safety.
                          Enterprises may apply for OHS management system certification, establish a normative management system for the
                          source identification and whole-process control of hazards, and realize continual improvement and compliance. An
                          assessment includes: 1) OHS pre-assessment; 2) inspection reports on OHS and fire protection; 3) test reports on OHS
                          and fire protection; 4) chemical safety reports for hazardous chemicals; 5) copy of manufacturing license (when
                          required); and 6) copy of business license. The following shall be reviewed comprehensively: 1) the organization’s work
                          safety permit; 2) production or service flowchart; 3) organizational chart; 4) list of applicable laws and regulations; 5)
                          location map; 6) factory layout; 7) workshop layout; 8) list of major hazards; 9) OHS targets, indicators and management
                          plan; and 10) certificate of compliance, etc.
                          iv) Guidelines for Occupational Disease Prevention and Control for Employers: The general requirements for
                          occupational disease prevention and treatment, classified management, occupational health file management, and OHS
                          assessment, etc. are stipulated, including: A corporate occupational health policy shall be developed, an occupational


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                            disease prevention and treatment agency, and an occupational health management agency established, relevant
                            functions defined, and full/part-time occupational health officers appointed; occupational disease prevention and
                            treatment shall be included on management by objective responsibility system; an occupational disease prevention and
                            treatment plan, and an implementation plan shall be developed; a sound occupational health management system and
                            job SOPs shall be established; sound occupational health files shall be established; a sound workplace occupational
                            disease hazard monitoring and evaluation system shall be established, necessary financial support for occupational
                            disease prevention and treatment secured, a sound emergency rescue plan for occupational diseases developed, and
                            work-related injury insurance covered.
                             v) Opinions of Shaanxi Provincial People's Government on the Implementation of Promoting Healthy Shaanxi
                             Action (SGF[2020] No.7): to promote the demonstration construction of healthy enterprises to prevent and control
                             occupational hazards; carry out key occupational diseases monitoring, special investigation and occupational health risk
                             assessment, and advocate healthy working style; strengthen supervision and inspection, and urge employers to fulfill the
                             main responsibility of occupational disease prevention; strengthen training and education to improve workers'
                             occupational health literacy; enhance the "three simultaneous" management of occupational-disease-prevention
                             facilities in construction projects, strengthen the occupational health monitoring of laborers, the declaration of
                             occupational-disease-inductive projects, and the detection, monitoring and evaluation of occupational-disease-inductive
                             factors; standardize employment management and expand coverage of work-related injury insurance; strengthen the
                             treatment and assistance for pneumoconiosis patients among migrant workers, protect their legitimate medical rights
                             and interests through medical insurance and medical assistance in accordance with regulations for those who have not
                             participated in work-related injury insurance. By 2022 and 2030, the proportion of newly reported pneumoconiosis
                             cases among workers with less than five years of dust exposure will be significantly and continuously decreased.
ii) Promote the use of
integrated           pest
management practices
to manage or reduce the
adverse impacts of pests
or disease vectors.
iii) Provide training for   Regulations on the Safety Management of Hazardous Chemicals (2013Amendment), Occupational Health and                        Consistent, but OHS
workers involved in the     Safety Management Systems—Requirements with Guidance for Use (2020.3.6), and Guidelines for Occupational                    management system
production,                 Disease Prevention and Control for Employers (2010.8.1)                                                                     certification is not compulsory
procurement, storage,
                            i) Regulations on the Safety Management of Hazardous Chemicals: Article 4: A hazardous chemical entity shall
transport,    use,    and
                            provide safety education, legal education and on-the-job technical training to employees. Employees shall accept            Recommendation:     Enhance
disposal of hazardous
                            education and training, and may not hold office until they have passed the relevant examination.                            the OHS management of all
chemicals in accordance
                            ii) Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems—Requirements with Guidance for Use: This is a regional                enterprises involved in the
with     the     relevant
                                                                                                                                                        Program activities.
international guidelines    standard on OHS management systems, designed to identify and control safety problems that may arise in
and conventions.            organizational activities, products and services, prevent safety accidents, and protect workers’ health and safety.
                            Enterprises may apply for OHS management system certification, establish a normative management system for the
                            source identification and whole-process control of hazards, and realize continual improvement and compliance. An
                            assessment includes: 1) OHS pre-assessment; 2) inspection reports on OHS and fire protection; 3) test reports on OHS
                            and fire protection; 4) chemical safety reports for hazardous chemicals; 5) copy of manufacturing license (when


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                            required); and 6) copy of business license. The following shall be reviewed comprehensively: 1) the organization’s work
                            safety permit; 2) production or service flowchart; 3) organizational chart; 4) list of applicable laws and regulations; 5)
                            location map; 6) factory layout; 7) workshop layout; 8) list of major hazards; 9) OHS targets, indicators and management
                            plan; and 10) certificate of compliance, etc.
                             iii) Guidelines for Occupational Disease Prevention and Control for Employers : The general requirements for
                             occupational disease prevention and treatment, classified management, occupational health file management, and OHS
                             assessment, etc. are stipulated, including: A corporate occupational health policy shall be developed, an occupational
                             disease prevention and treatment agency, and an occupational health management agency established, relevant
                             functions defined, and full/part-time occupational health officers appointed; occupational disease prevention and
                             treatment shall be included on management by objective responsibility system; an occupational disease prevention
                             and treatment plan, and an implementation plan shall be developed; a sound occupational health management system
                             and job SOPs shall be established; sound occupational health files shall be established; a sound workplace occupational
                             disease hazard monitoring and evaluation system shall be established, necessary financial support for occupational
                             disease prevention and treatment secured, a sound emergency rescue plan for occupational diseases developed, and
                             work-related injury insurance covered.
Element     8:    Include   Applicable laws and regulations: Regulations on the Defense against Meteorological Disasters (2010.4.1), Flood Consistent
adequate measures to        Control Regulations of the People’s Republic of China (2005.7.15), Regulations on the Prevention and Control of
avoid, minimize, or         Geologic Disasters (2004.3.1), Law on Protecting Against and Mitigating Earthquake Disasters (2009.5.1), and
mitigate      community,
                            Notice on Realizing Precise Health Management and Orderly Flow of People (JPCMZF [2020] No.203)
individual, and worker
risks when the PforR        i) Regulations on the Defense against Meteorological Disasters: Article 27: When implementing major national
Program activities are      construction projects, and major regional economic development projects, and preparing urban and rural development
located in areas prone to   plans, governments at or above the county level shall consider climate feasibility, and risks of meteorological disasters
natural hazards such as     to avoid or mitigate such impacts. Article 23: Lightning protection devices of buildings, places and facilities shall comply
floods,       hurricanes,   with the national lightning protection standards. Lightning protection devices of newly constructed, reconstructed or
earthquakes, or other       expanded buildings, places and facilities must be designed, constructed and put into operation together with main parts
severe     weather     or
                            of projects.
affected    by    climate
events.                     ii) Flood Control Regulations of the People’s Republic of China (2005.7.15) : consisting of 8 chapters and 49 articles,
                            making systematic arrangements for flood control in terms of organization, preparation, implementation, emergency
                            rescue, recovery, funding, reward and punishment, etc.
                            iii) Regulations on the Prevention and Control of Geologic Disasters: Article 10: A geologic disaster investigation
                            system is practiced at the state, provincial and county levels. According to the result from investigation of geologic
                            disasters within its own jurisdiction as well as the planning of the next higher level on prevention and control of geologic
                            disasters, an administrative organ of land resources shall work out the planning for its own jurisdiction on prevention
                            and control of geologic disasters, which shall be submitted to the people's government at the same level for approval and
                            promulgation after demonstration by experts.
                            iv) Regulations on the Prevention and Control of Geologic Disasters: making systematic arrangements for the
                            investigation, prevention and control of geological disasters, such as Chapter 3 “Prevention of Geologic Disasters�?,
                            Chapter 4 “Emergency Response to Geologic Disasters�?, Chapter 5 “Control of Geologic Disasters�?, and Chapter 6 “Legal
                            Liabilities�?.
                            iv) Law on Protecting Against and Mitigating Earthquake Disasters: Article 35: The construction projects newly

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                           built, expanded or rebuilt shall meet the seismic fortification requirements. The major construction projects and the
                           construction projects which may induce serious secondary disasters shall be subject to the seismic safety evaluation in
                           accordance with the provisions of relevant administrative regulations of the State Council, and the seismic fortification
                           shall be conducted in accordance with the seismic fortification requirements determined by the approved seismic safety
                           evaluation reports. The seismic safety evaluation entities of construction projects shall, in accordance with the relevant
                           standards of the State, carry out seismic safety evaluation, and be responsible for the quality of the seismic safety
                           evaluation reports. The construction projects other than those prescribed in the preceding paragraph shall be fortified
                           against earthquakes according to the seismic fortification requirements determined by the seismic intensity zoning map
                           or the ground motion parameter zoning map; the construction projects in densely populated places such as schools and
                           hospitals shall be designed and constructed in compliance with the seismic fortification requirements higher than those
                           for other buildings in the locale, and effective measures shall be taken to increase the capability of seismic fortification.
                            v) Notice on Realizing Precise Health Management and Orderly Flow of People (JPCMZF [2020] No.203) :
                            Pandemic control areas shall be defined accurately based on pandemic risk level, and such prevention and control
                            measures as people flow restriction, nucleic acid testing and health monitoring taken timely. For medium and high-risk
                            areas, avoid entry into project areas and people gathering where possible, and allow people entering project areas to
                            flow freely and orderly on the premise of properly temperature measurement and personal protection. Avoid going to
                            medium and high-risk areas if not necessary.
Principle #4: Program E&S systems manage land acquisition and loss of access to natural resources in a way that avoids or minimizes displacement and assists affected
people in improving, or at the minimum restoring, their livelihoods and living standards.
Element 9: In six aspects: Measures for the Administration of the Pre-examination on the Use of Land for Construction Projects (2008),                   Consistent
i) Avoid or minimize Land Administration Law (2020.1.1 Amendment), Regulations on the Implementation of the Land
land acquisition and Administration Law of the PRC (2014 Amendment)
related adverse impacts. i) Measures for the Administration of the Pre-examination on the Use of Land for Construction Projects: The area
                           and type of the land used for the project shall be identified before the feasibility study report or project proposal is
                           reviewed to avoid the acquisition of basic farmland, nature reserves, etc.
                           ii) Guidelines on Establishing a Social Stability Risk Assessment Mechanism for Major Decisions (Interim)
                           (CPCCCO [2012] No.2): An SSRA shall be conducted for any project involving LA and HD, farme rs’ burden or social
                           security.
                            iii) Guidelines on Establishing a Social Stability Risk Assessment Mechanism for Major Decisions (Interim) :If
                            the assessment report thinks that the matter has risk risks, a non-implementation decision shall be made, or the
                            decision-making plan adjusted to reduce risks; if there are moderate risks, effective prevention and mitigation
                            measures shall be taken before decision-making; if there are low risks, an implementation decision may be made, but
                            explanation shall be made to handle reasonable requests of stakeholders. For impact and risk management, the
                            legitimacy, rationality, feasibility and controllability of measures shall be assessed.
ii) Identify and address ii) Land Administration Law: Article 26: Owners or users of the land to be acquired shall, within the time limit                Consistent
economic       or   social specified in the announcement, go through compensation registration on the strength of the real estate ownership
impacts caused by land certificate. For acquisition of land by the state, the local people's governments at and above the county level shall make
acquisition or loss of
                           an announcement and organize implementation after approval according to the legal procedures.
access      to     natural
                            iii) Regulations on the Implementation of the Land Administration Law of the PRC: Article 25 : Municipal, county
resources.
                            government of the locality whose land has been acquired shall, upon approval of the LA plan according to law, organize


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                              its implementation, and make an announcement in the village(township), hamlet whose land has been acquired on the
                              approval organ of the LA, number of the approval document, use, scope and area of the acquired land as well as the
                              rates for compensation of LA, measures for the resettlement of agricultural personnel and duration for processing LA
                              compensation. Article 26: Land compensation fee goes to the rural collective economic organization; compensation for
                              ground attachments and young crops shall be for the owner(s) of ground attachments and young crops.
iii)              Provide     Applicable laws and regulations: Real Right Law (2007.3), Land Administration Law, Regulations on the                     Consistent
compensation sufficient       Expropriation of Buildings on State-owned Land and Compensation (Decree[2011] No.590 of the State Council)
to purchase replacement       (2011.1.21), Measures for the Expropriation and Appraisal of Housing on State-owned Land (JF [2011] No.77)
assets of equivalent          (2011-6-3), Notice of The People's Government of Henan Province on Issues related to the Block
value and to meet any         Comprehensive Land Price for Acquisition of Agricultural Land (YZ [2020] No.16), Notice of The People's
necessary transitional        Government of Henan Province on Printing and Distributing Implementing Several Provisions of Regulations
expenses, paid before         on Expropriation and Compensation of Houses on State-owned Land of Henan Province (2012), Housing
taking land or restricting    Security Measures for Expropriation of Housing on State-owned Land in Shaanxi Province (2018), Notice on
access.                       Printing and Distributing Measures for Selection of Real Estate Price Appraisal Agencies for Expropriation of
                              Houses on State-owned Land in Shaanxi Province (SJF [2018] No. 121), Agricultural Product Quality Safety Law
                              of the PRC (2018.10.26), Regulations on Pesticide Administration (2017.2.8), Measures for the Administration
                              of the Soil Environment of Agricultural Land (Interim) (2017.9.25), Guidelines of the General Office of the
                              Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs on Fertilizer Package Waste Recovery and Disposal (2020.1.16), and
                              Measures for the Administration of Agricultural Mulching Films (2020.4.24)
                             i) Real Right Law: Article 42: For collective land acquired, land compensation, resettlement subsidy, compensation for
                             ground attachments and young crops, etc. shall be fully paid according to law, and social security funds for land-
                             expropriated farmers appropriated to secure their livelihoods, and protect their lawful rights and interests. Where any
                             house or other immovable property of any organization or individual are expropriated, compensation shall be granted
                             according to law to protect the lawful rights and interests of the affected organization or individual; where any personal
                             residence is expropriated, the affected person’s housing conditions shall be secured.
                             ii) Land Administration Law: Article 48: Fair and reasonable compensation shall be granted for land acquisition. In
                             case of land acquisition, the land compensation fees, resettlement subsidy, and compensation fees for rural residential
                             houses, other ground attachments, young crops, etc. shall be paid timely and fully according to law, and social security
                             costs for the affected farmers disbursed.
                             iii) Regulations on the Expropriation of Buildings on State-owned Land and Compensation (Decree[2011]
                             No.590 of the State Council) (2011.1.21): Article 19: The compensation for the value of houses to be expropriated
                             shall not be less than the market price of the real estate comparable to the houses to be expropriated on the date of the
                             public notice of the house expropriation decisions. The value of the houses to be expropriated shall be assessed and
                             determined by real estate appraisal agencies with appropriate qualifications in accordance with the procedures for
                             evaluating houses to be expropriated. Anyone who has objection to the value of the houses to be expropriated that has
                             been assessed and determined may apply to the real estate appraisal agency for reassessment. Anyone who disagrees
                             with the results of the review may apply to the real estate appraisal expert committee for appraisal.
                             iv) Measures for the Expropriation and Appraisal of Housing on State-owned Land (JF [2011] No.77) (2011-6-3):
                             Article 16: The real estate appraisal agency shall provide preliminary household-by-house appraisal results according
                             to the entrustment contract, and the house expropriation authority shall disclose such results to the affected persons.



                                                                                   146
                           During disclosure, the real estate appraisal agency shall appoint a registered appraiser to explain such results on site,
                           and correct any error.
                            v) Notice of The People's Government of Henan Province on Issues related to the Block Comprehensive Land
                            Price for Acquisition of Agricultural Land (YZ [2020] No.16): defined that the land acquisition compensation
                            standard only includes land compensation fee and resettlement subsidy, among which land acquisition fee accounts for
                            40% and resettlement subsidy accounts for 60%. In addition, compensation standard were formulated for young crops
                            and ground attachments, acquiring state-owned agricultural, forestry, animal husbandry, fishery and other state-
                            owned land for non-agricultural construction purpose, and for acquiring paddy land, grassland, unused land, etc.
                             vi) Notice of The People's Government of Henan Province on Printing and Distributing Implementing Several
                            Provisions of Regulations on Expropriation and Compensation of Houses on State-owned Land of Henan
                            Province (2012): Article 12: the housing expropriation department shall compensation the owner of the acquired
                            house for business suspension or shut-down loss if the expropriated house meets the following conditions; Article 17:
                            If individual houses on state-owned land are expropriated and the affected persons meets the local housing security
                            conditions and choose indemnification housing voluntarily, the municipal or county governments that make the
                            decision on house expropriation shall give priority to them on housing security. Notice on Printing and Distributing
                            Measures for Selection of Real Estate Price Appraisal Agencies for Expropriation of Houses on State-owned
                            Land in Shaanxi Province (SJF [2018] No. 121) defined that the compensation for housing expropriation shall be
                            determined through appraisal by a real estate value appraisal company in line with the Regulations on the
                            Expropriation of Buildings on State-owned Land and Compensation; Where individual houses are expropriated, the
                            expropriated persons shall be included in the scope of housing security if they meet the local housing security
                            conditions; The housing expropriation department shall compensate the expropriated person ’s for losses caused by
                            business suspension or shut-down due to the expropriation of houses on state-owned land.
                            vii) The Agricultural Product Quality Safety Law of the PRC raises requirements for the whole production process
                            of farm products, including the selection of the cultivation place, and the control over the use of pesticides and
                            chemical fertilizer during cultivation. The Regulations on Pesticide Administration raises specific requirements for
                            the production, registration, marketing and use of pesticides. The Measures for the Administration of the Soil
                            Environment of Agricultural Land (Interim) are promulgated by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and
                            Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs jointly in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations, and the Action
                            Plan for Soil Pollution Prevention and Control to strengthen the supervision of farmland soil environment protection.
                            The Measures stipulate that local agriculture authorities at or above the county level shall strengthen publicity on
                            farmland soil pollution control, improve the farmland soil environment protection awareness of agricultural
                            producers, and guide them to use fertilizers, pesticides, films and other agricultural inputs rationally. The Guidelines
                            of the General Office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs on Fertilizer Package Waste Recovery and
                            Disposal stipulate that fertilizer package waste shall be recovered by producers, dealers and users. Measures for the
                            Administration of Agricultural Mulching Films: Article 14: Agricultural mulching film recovery shall be conducted
                            with government support and multi-party participation. All localities shall take measures to support and encourage
                            organizations and individuals to recover agricultural mulching films.
iv)Provide supplemental    Applicable laws and regulations: Land Administration Law, Guidelines on Improving Compensation and                          Consistent, but there are areas
livelihood improvement     Resettlement Systems for Land Acquisition (MLR [2004] No.238), Notice on Doing a Good Job in Employment                     for improvement in
or restoration measures    Training and Social Security for Land-expropriated Farmers (SC [2006] No.29),Notice of the Ministry of Labor                management
if taking of land causes
                           and Social Security, and the Ministry of Land and Resources on Doing a Substantially Good Job in Social Security            Social impacts and risks
loss      of     income-
generating opportunity     for Land-expropriated Farmers (MLSS [2007] No.14), Notice of Shaanxi Province on Further Implementing                       monitoring mechanism
                           Policies related to Land-loss Farmers’ Participation in Basic Endowment Insurance (SHRSS [2016] No.20),                     established by government

                                                                                 147
(e.g., loss of   crop Opinions of Labor and Social Security Department, Land Resources Department and Finance Department of                          departments, not yet
production         or Henan Province on Implementation of Job Training and Social Security Work for Land-loss Farmers (HLS [2008] established and implemented
employment).          No. 19), Opinions of Human Resources and Social Security Department, Finance Department, Natural Resources by PIUs.
                      Department of Henan Province on the Implementation of Subsidies for Land-loss Farmers’ Participation in the
                      Basic Endowment Insurance (YHRSS [2019] No.1)
                      i) Land Administration Law: Article 48: Fair and reasonable compensation shall be granted for land acquisition to              Recommendation: Establish a
                      ensure that the living standard of the affected farmers is not reduced, and their long-term livelihoods are secured.           social impacts and risks
                      ii) Guidelines on Improving Compensation and Resettlement Systems for Land Acquisition (MLR [2004]                             monitoring and reporting
                                                                                                                                                     mechanism in PIUs.
                      No.238), 1) Agricultural resettlement. When rural collective land out of urban planning areas is acquired, land-
                      expropriated farmers shall be first provided with necessary arable land using mobile collective land, contracted land
                      turned over by contractors and arable land arising from land development so that they continue to pursue agricultural
                      production. 2) Reemployment resettlement. Conditions shall be created actively to provide free labor skills training to
                      land-expropriated farmers and place them to corresponding jobs. Under equal conditions, land users shall first employ
                      land-expropriated farmers. When rural collective land within urban planning areas is acquired, land-expropriated
                      farmers shall be included in the urban employment system and a social security system established for them. 3)
                      Dividend distribution resettlement. When any land with long-term stable income is to be used for a project, the affected
                      rural collective economic organization may become a project shareholder with compensation fees for LA or rights to use
                      construction land in consultation with the land user. The rural collective economic organization and rural households
                      will receive dividends as agreed. 4) Non-local resettlement. If basic production and living conditions are not available
                      locally to land-expropriated farmers, non-local resettlement may be practiced under the leadership of the government in
                      consultation with the rural collective economic organization and rural households.
                      iii) Notice on Doing a Good Job in Employment Training and Social Security for Land-expropriated Farmers (SC
                      [2006] No.29): Employment training and social security for land-expropriated farmers shall be taken as an important
                      aspect of land acquisition system reform. Local governments shall establish a social security system suited to the
                      characteristics and needs of land-expropriated farmers, secure employment training and social security funds, promote
                      land-expropriated farmers to get employed and be incorporated into urban society, and ensure that the living standard
                      of land-expropriated farmers is not reduced due to land acquisition, and their long-term livelihoods are secured.
                      iv) Notice of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, and the Ministry of Land and Resources on Doing a
                      Substantially Good Job in Social Security for Land-expropriated Farmers (MLSS [2007] No.14): All localities shall
                      establish a social security system for land-expropriated farmers as soon as possible. Funds required for social security
                      for land-expropriated farmers shall be fully transferred to the special account, and credited to the individual or pooling
                      account within 3 months after the approval of the land acquisition compensation and resettlement program.
                       v) Notice of Shaanxi Province on Further Implementing Policies related to Land-loss Farmers’ Participation in
                       Basic Endowment Insurance (SHRSS [2016] No.20),defined that the social security fee should be prepared in the
                       principle of “who use the land, who provide safeguard; and jointly funded by the government, collective organizations
                       and individuals�?. Regardless of land requisition for any project, the land us e unit must include the social security fee for
                       land-loss farmers into the land acquisition budget at a standard of not less than 10, 000 yuan per mu and pay according
                       to regulations. The government funded part for land-loss farmer’s endowment insurance will be paid from the local
                       collection of the social security insurance; the remaining funding gap shall be settled from the compensation of using


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                              state-owned land.
                              vi) Opinions of Human Resources and Social Security Department, Finance Department, Natural Resources
                              Department of Henan Province on the Implementation of Subsidies for Land-loss Farmers’ Participation in the
                              Basic Endowment Insurance (YHRSS [2019] No.1), stipulated that include the pension for land-loss farmers in basic
                              endowment social insurance system and provide subsidies of basic endowment insurance for farmers who lost their
                              land. The social security insurance should be funded fully by the government who acquire the land and doesn’t need to
                              fund by the land-loss farmers or collective organizations any more. Equal subsidies will be provided to the land-loss
                              farmers in the same region regardless of whether they participated in the basic endowment insurance for urban and
                              rural residents or the basic endowment insurance for urban workers. Minimum subsidy standard shall be determined
                              at provincial level, and specific subsidy standard shall be reasonably determined at local levels in light of actual
                              conditions. To meet the needs of mobility, the subsidy funds can be transferred with the endowment insurance
                              relationship together.
v) Restore or replace        Applicable laws and regulations: Land Administration Law, and Regulations on the Implementation of the Land                    Consistent
public infrastructure and    Administration Law of the PRC, Real Right Law:
community services that      i) Land Administration Law: Article 47: For acquisition of land by the state, the local people's governments at and
may      be     adversely
                             above the county level shall make an announcement and organize implementation after approval according to the legal
affected by the Program.
                             procedures. If a people’s government at or above the county level is to apply for land acquisition, it shall conduct a
                             current status survey and a social stability risk assessment, and disclose the range and purpose of acquisition, current
                             status, compensation rate, resettlement mode, social security, etc. in the township (town), village and village group for at
                             least 30 days to collect comments from the affected rural collective economic organization and its members, village
                             committee and other stakeholders.
                              ii) Regulations on the Implementation of the Land Administration Law of the PRC: Article 27 : People's
                              governments at and above the county level shall, on the basis of the social stability risk assessment and the investigation
                              results of land status, organize relevant departments of natural resources, finance, agricultural and rural affairs, human
                              resources and social security to formulate land acquisition compensation and resettlement plan, in which the
                              information of area to be acquired, the current land status, the purpose of land acquisition, the compensation methods
                              and standards, the objects of resettlement, the resettlement methods and social security, etc should be included. Article
                              31: After the application for land acquisition is approved according to law, the local people's government at or above the
                              county level shall, within 15 working days from the date of receiving the approval, issue a public announcement of land
                              acquisition within the scope of the township (town), village and villagers' group where the land to be acquired, announce
                              the specific work arrangements, such as the land acquisition scope and timeline.

                              iii) Real Right Law: Article 36: If any immovable or movable property is damaged, the right holder may request repair,
                              rework, replacement or restoration.
vi) Include measures in      i) Land Administration Law: Article 26: Owners or users of the land to be acquired shall, within the time limit
order        for     land    specified in the announcement, go through compensation registration on the strength of the real estate ownership
acquisition and related      certificate. For acquisition of land by the state, the local people's governments at and above the county level shall make
activities to be planned
                             an announcement and organize implementation after approval according to the legal procedures . Article 47: If a
and implemented with
appropriate disclosure       people’s government at or above the county level is to apply for land acquisition, it shall conduct a current status survey
of            information,   and a social stability risk assessment, and disclose the range and purpose of acquisition, current status, compensation
consultation,         and    rate, resettlement mode, social security, etc. in the township (town), village and village group for at least 30 days to


                                                                                    149
informed participation collect comments from the affected rural collective economic organization and its members, village committee and other
of those affected.         stakeholders.
                           ii) Regulations on Complaint Letters and Visits: Article 6: A working organ of the people's government at or above
                           the county level for the handling of complaint letters and visits shall be the administrative organ in charge of handling
                           complaint letters and visits of its corresponding people's government and shall perform the following duties: (1)
                           Accepting, assigning and transferring the matters as described in the complaint letters and visits; (2) Handling the
                           matters as described in the complaint letters and visits as assigned by the people's governments at and above the same
                           level; (3) Coordinating the handling of the important complaint letters and visits; (4) Supervising and checking the
                           handling of matters as described in complaint letters and visits; (5) Studying and analyzing the matters relating to
                           complaint letters and visits, making investigation and research and timely putting forward suggestions for perfecting
                           relevant policies and improving the work of the people's government at the same level; and (6) Giving instructions to
                           the handling of complaint letters and visits by other working departments of the people's government at the same level
                           and the complaint letter and visit handling organs of the subordinate people's governments.
                           iii) Document No.1 of the Central Government (2020): Leaders, especially municipal and county leaders, shall
                           receive complaints and visits at lower levels to solve outstanding cases actively. Diversified legal services like one legal
                           adviser per village shall be offered, and people mediation strengthened to ensure that disputes and conflicts are handled
                           at the village level where possible. Complaint channels for farmers shall be kept smooth to handle their reasonable
                           complaints timely and properly.
                           iv) Standard Guide to Grass-root Government Affairs Disclosure on Collective Land Acquisition (June 2019,
                           Ministry of Natural Resources):Matters to be disclosed shall be defined, disclosure procedures normalized, and
                           disclosure modes improved to protect the people’s rights of information, participation, expression and supervision
                           practically. Public participation during land acquisition and resettlement mainly includes:
                           •      During project preparation and option selection, the project owner and design agency shall conduct meaningful
                           consultation with the affected persons and other stakeholders, and improve engineering measures and define the range
                           of land use based on the feedback to avoid sensitive objects and minimize impacts.
                           •      Participation during the DMS includes LA announcement, DMS publicity, DMS participation, and result disclosure
                           and confirmation.
                           •      During the SSRA, meaningful consultation shall be conducted with stakeholders to assess potential major social
                           risks of LA and HD, including other risks that are not directly related to the project but may affect the project materially.
                           •      The compensation program shall be disclosed during drafting, and a public hearing held when necessary.
                            •     Public participation during implementation mainly includes production resettlement, livelihood restoration,
                            information disclosure in compensation distribution and information, negotiation, and agreement signing.
Principle #5: Program E&S systems give due consideration to the cultural appropriateness of, and equitable access to, Program benefits, giving special attention to the
rights and interests of Indigenous Peoples and vulnerable groups.
Element 10: Undertake Applicable laws and regulations: Constitution (2018 Amendment), Social Stability Risk Assessment of Major
meaningful                 Fixed Asset Investment Projects (2012.8.16), Land Administration Law (2020), and Law of the People’s Republic
consultations if the
                           of China on Regional National Autonomy(2001 Amendment)
ethnic minorities are
potentially       affected i) Constitution: Article 4: All ethnic groups in the People's Republic of China are equal.
(positively             or ii) Law of the People’s Republic of China on Regional National Autonomy: Article 51 : In dealing with special issues

                                                                           150
negatively), to determine concerning the various nationalities within its area, the organ of self-government of a national autonomous area must
whether there is broad conduct full consultation with their representatives and respect their opinions.
community support for iii) Social Stability Risk Assessment of Major Fixed Asset Investment Projects: Article 3: At the feasibility study
the     PforR    Program stage, the implementing agency (or an appointed specialized agency) shall conduct an SIA, impact assessment and public
activities.                consultation, propose mitigation measures, and prepare an SSRA report. On the other hand, if a local government at or
                           above the county level applies for LA, a current status survey and an SSRA shall be conducted. The SSRA report shall be
                           reviewed by experts organized by the designated authority of the county government, and then approved. On this basis,
                           appropriate local implementation opinions / notices have been issued, such as the Henan promulgated the Notice on
                           Opinions of Implementing Social Stability Risk Assessment Mechanism for Major Matters of Henan Provincial Water
                           Resources Department (Interim) in 2013, and Shaanxi Provincial Governments promulgated the Notice of the Opinions
                           on Strengthening the Social Stability Risk Assessment for Major Fixed Asset Investment Projects (Shaanxi DRC Project
                           [2012] No. 1749) in 2012 respectively.

                            iv) Land Administration Law (2020): Article 47: For acquisition of land by the state, the local people's governments
                            at and above the county level shall make an announcement and organize implementation after approval according to the
                            legal procedures. If a people’s government at or above the county level is to apply for land acquisition, it shall conduct a
                            current status survey and a social stability risk assessment, and disclose the range and purpose of acquisition, current
                            status, compensation rate, resettlement mode, social security, etc. in the township (town), village and village group for
                            at least 30 days to collect comments from the affected rural collective economic organization and its members, village
                            committee and other stakeholders.
                           Applicable laws, regulations and plans: Law of the People’s Republic of China on Regional National Autonomy
                           (2001 Amendment), Some Provisions of the State Council on the Implementation of the Regional National
                           Autonomy Law (2005.5), Interim Regulations on Major Administrative Decision-making Procedures (2019.9.1),
                           13th Five-year Development Plan for Ethnic Minority Programs of Henan Province (2016), and 13th Five-year
                           Development Plan for Ethnic Minority Programs of Shaanxi Province (2016)
                           i) Law of the People’s Republic of China on Regional National Autonomy: Article 65: While exploiting resources
Element 11: Ensure that
                           and undertaking construction in national autonomous areas, the State shall give consideration to the interests of these
ethnic minorities can
participate in devising    areas, make arrangements favorable to the economic development there and pay proper attention to the productive
opportunities to benefit   pursuits and the life of the minority nationalities there. The State shall take measures to give due benefit compensation
from exploitation of       to the national autonomous areas from which the natural resources are transported out.
customary      resources   ii) Interim Regulations on Major Administrative Decision-making Procedures (2019.9.1): Prior public
and          indigenous    consultation shall be conducted for major administrative decision-making matters, including developing important plans
knowledge, the latter to   for economic and social development and other aspects, developing major public policies and measures to develop,
include the consent of
                           utilize and protect important natural and cultural resources, deciding on major public construction projects to be
ethnic minorities.
                           implemented in the administrative region, and deciding on other major matters that have a significant impact on
                           economic and social development, involve material public interests, or the vital interests of the public. Article 14: The
                           decision-making entity shall fully solicit opinions in the form widely available for public participation. Opinions may be
                           solicited in such forms as symposiums, hearings, field visits, written solicitation of opinions from the public,
                           questionnaires, and opinion polls. Article 15: If public opinions are solicited for a matter for decision-making, the
                           decision-making entity shall disclose the draft decision and its explanation, and the mode and period of solicitation by


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                             publicly available means, such as government website, new media and TV. The opinion solicitation period is usually not
                             less than 30 days. For matters of extensive public concern, or highly technical matters, the decision-making entity may
                             make explanation by means of expert interview, etc. Article 16: If any matter for decision-making concerns immediate
                             interests of citizens, legal persons or other organizations, or involves a major dispute, a public hearing may be held. The
                             decision-making entity shall disclose the draft decision and its explanation, and make clear the time and venue of the
                             public hearing. Article 29: If the public participation procedure is performed, the decision-making entity shall submit
                             the draft decision together with adopted public opinions. Article 30: When the draft decision is discussed, the meeting
                             attendees shall give opinions adequately, and chief administrative officer shall give an opinion finally. If such opinion
                             differs from the majority opinion, the reason shall be given at the meeting.
                              iii) The 13th Five-Year Development Plan for Ethnic Minorities in Henan Province (2016), In which, fourteen key
                              tasks of the ethnic administration department of Henan Province during the 13th Five-Year Plan period were put
                              forward, including: accelerating the construction of infrastructure and upgrading the industrial structure in ethnic
                              concentrated areas; promoting the coordinated development of urban and rural areas inhabited by ethnic minorities;
                              pushing ethnic minorities and ethnic minority communities out of poverty; accelerating the development of education
                              in ethnic areas; promoting the prosperity and development of ethnic culture and sports; strengthening the ability of
                              scientific and technological innovation in ethnic concentrated areas; promoting the development of medical and health
                              services in ethnic minority areas; improving the employment, entrepreneurship and social security systems in ethnic
                              minority areas; cultivating high-quality ethnic minority talents; improving the laws and regulations system of ethnic
                              work; effectively protecting the legitimate rights and interests of ethnic minorities; enhancing the ability of ethnic
                              affairs management and service; and vigorously launching activities to promote ethnic unity and progress.
                              iv)Notice of The General Office of Shaanxi Provincial People's Government on Printing and Distributing the
                              13th Five-Year Development Plan for Ethnic Minorities (2016) : Plans have also been made in the areas of
                              infrastructure construction and upgrading, optimization of industrial quality and efficiency in ethnic minority areas,
                              improvement of basic public services in ethnic minority areas, promotion of the construction of new villages and small
                              towns in ethnic minority areas, and the development of talents of ethnic minorities.
Element      12:      Give   Notice of the State Council on Issuing the 13thFive-year Plan for Promoting the Development of Minority Areas
attention to groups          and Smaller Ethnic Minorities (SC [2016] No.79), 13th Five-year Development Plan for Ethnic Minority Programs
vulnerable to hardship       of Henan Province (2016), and Notice of the General Office of the Shaanxi Provincial Government on Issuing the
or        discrimination,    13th Five-year Development Plan for Ethnic Minority Programs of Shaanxi Province (2016)
including, as relevant,      i) Notice of the State Council on Issuing the 13thFive-year Plan for Promoting the Development of Minority Areas
the poor, the disabled,      and Smaller Ethnic Minorities (SC [2016] No.79): The development of advantaged and characteristic industries of
women and children, the
                             poor minority areas shall be supported, especially stockbreeding and minority handicrafts. “One product per village�?
elderly,            ethnic
minorities, racial groups,   industry revitalization and “Internet+�? industry poverty alleviation measures shall be taken for poor villages. Poverty
or other marginalized        alleviation by e-commerce, photovoltaic, rural tourism, etc. shall be implemented to increase local residents’ income;
groups; and if necessary,    major infrastructure projects shall be constructed in minority areas to improve livelihoods. Basic social service
take special measures to     mechanisms in minority areas shall be improved to provide support in old-age services, social assistance, social welfare,
promote         equitable    special care and resettlement. The disaster assistance system for natural disasters shall be improved in minority areas.
access to PforR Program      Urban and rural minimum living security standards for minority areas shall be fixed rationally. The healthy
benefits.                    development of public welfare and charity programs shall be supported.



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 ii) The 13th Five-Year Development Plan for Ethnic Minorities in Henan Province (2016), In which, fourteen key
 tasks of the ethnic administration department of Henan Province during the 13th Five-Year Plan period were put
 forward, including: accelerating the construction of infrastructure and upgrading the industrial structure in ethnic
 concentrated areas; promoting the coordinated development of urban and rural areas inhabited by ethnic minorities;
 pushing ethnic minorities and ethnic minority communities out of poverty; accelerating the development of education
 in ethnic areas; promoting the prosperity and development of ethnic culture and sports; strengthening the ability of
 scientific and technological innovation in ethnic concentrated areas; promoting the development of medical and health
 services in ethnic minority areas; improving the employment, entrepreneurship and social security systems in ethnic
 minority areas; cultivating high-quality ethnic minority talents; improving the laws and regulations system of ethnic
 work; effectively protecting the legitimate rights and interests of ethnic minorities; enhancing the ability of ethnic
 affairs management and service; and vigorously launching activities to promote ethnic unity and progress.
 iii) Notice of The General Office of Shaanxi Provincial People's Government on Printing and Distributing the
 13th Five-Year Development Plan for Ethnic Minorities (2016), aims to make full use of existing policies and the
 ethnic minorities development funds to vigorously improve the public infrastructure, working and living conditions of
 ethnic minorities and ethnic minorities living areas, accelerate the development of competitive industries and
 economies with distinctive characteristics, strengthen the support for the development of ethnic minority enterprises
 and build brand enterprises, promote the rapid development of education, science and technology, culture, public
 health, and sports with innovative ways and methods, and strengthen the construction of legal system to protect the
 legitimate rights and interests of ethnic minorities, carry out intensive activities to promote ethnic unity and
 development, strengthen the construction of educational bases and demonstration units for ethnic unity and
 development, and further consolidate the favorable atmosphere of ethnic unity and social harmony.
iv) Other poverty alleviation policies: In China, poor households refer mainly to those below the minimum living
security (MLS) standard, and are classified into: a)MLS households, whose per capita annual income is below the
poverty line, where the MLS standard was 570 yuan per capita per month in urban areas and 4,260 yuan per capita per
annum in rural areas in Henan Province in 2020, and the MLS standard was various in Shaanxi Province due to the local
conditions of each area, such as 630 yuan per capita per month in urban areas and 4,830 yuan per capita per annum in
rural areas in Tongchuan city in 2020; and b) extremely poor persons, old and disabled persons with no ability to work,
no income source, or statutory supporter, or whose statutory supporter is incapable to support, and persons under 16
years, who receive full national security in income, food, clothing, medical care, housing and education .
v)Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Women’s Rights and Interests (2018 Amendment):
Article 22: Women shall enjoy the same labor and social security rights as men. Article 24: Men and women shall
receive equal pay for equal work, and women shall enjoy the same remuneration rights as men. Article 26: Any
employer shall protect women’s health and safety at work, and shall not assign women to unsuitable jobs. Women shall
receive special protection during menstruation, pregnancy, lying-in and breastfeeding. Article 27: No employer shall
reduce female workers’ salaries, or dismiss female workers on the basis of marriage, pregnancy lying -in and
breastfeeding. Article 28: The state shall ensure that women are entitled to social insurance, social assistance, social
welfare and healthcare rights, and encourage public welfare activities for women. Article 29: The state shall offer
maternity security.
 vi) Program for Women’s Development of China (2011-2020): The overall objective is to include gender awareness
 in the legal system and public policies to promote women’s all-round development, protect their access to basic medical,
 educational and legal services, economic resources, public affairs management, social security, and environmental


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                          management.
Principle #6: Program E&S systems avoid exacerbating social conflict, especially in fragile states, post-conflict areas, or areas subject to territorial disputes.
Element 13: Consider
conflict risks, including
distributional equity and
cultural sensitivities.




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Annex 6 Stakeholder Analysis
The ESMS of the Program will involve different stakeholders, including individuals, government
authorities and other agencies. Stakeholders are either affected by any activity or affect the
construction and operation of any activity. Therefore, for each activity under the Program,
stakeholders involved will be identified through a mechanism automatically. Generally,
stakeholders under each type of outcomes under the ESMS of the Program are consistent, including
affected entities, interested entities and management agencies. Therefore, stakeholders can be
summarized as follows:
A. Affected entities
        i)      Persons affected by land acquisition (PLA): farmers or residents affected by land
                acquisition or occupation.
        ii)     Persons affected by displacement (POD): residents affected by the demolition of
                ground structures.
        iii)    Paying residents (HOP): residents paying for wastewater treatment and operation,
                or for domestic waste collection and disposal, and facility operation.
        iv)     Persons separating waste (PSW): rural residents involved in domestic waste
                separation and recycling
B. Interested entities
        i)      Operation entities: operation entities of WWTPs, domestic waste collection,
                transfer and disposal entities, agricultural mulching film processing enterprises, and
                manure recycling enterprises
        ii)     Suppliers: suppliers of services and goods, such as equipment and fertilizers
        iii)    Agencies: women’s federation, poverty alleviation office, etc.
        iv)     NGOs: NGOs concerned about environmental quality
        v)      Research staff: staff of research institutions or universities
C. Management agencies
        i)      NCG: national central government
        ii)     PGDs: provincial government departments
        iii)    CGs: county governments
        iv)     DIC: local county authorities, such as water resources bureau, housing and urban-
                rural development bureau, agriculture and rural affairs bureau
        v)      TGs: local township governments, including land acquisition / occupation,
                wastewater treatment, domestic waste collection, separation and recycling, etc.
        vi)     VCs: local village committees


Stakeholder Matrix
Affected entities include directly, indirectly, temporarily and permanently affected entities.
Interested entities include entities with influence on the Program or its outcomes. The following
stakeholder matrix shows different stakeholders with the degree of E&S impact being the
horizontal axis and the influence on Program decision-making being the vertical axis.




                                                 155
156
Annex 7 Main           Data       Collection           Activities           during           ESSA
  Preparation
 Province      Date                         Targets                                Mode

Shaanxi     March 17-19,       Provincial Department: DRC, Water        Introduction about     the
            2021                Resources Department                     PforR and ESSA
                                                                         Learn about the provincial
                                                                         planning and key activities

            July   19-23,      Provincial Department: DRC, Water        Introduction about     the
            2021                Resources Department, Housing and        PforR and ESSA
                                Urban-rural              Development
                                                                         Learn about the provincial
                                Department, Agricultural and Rural
                                                                         planning and key activities
                                Affairs Department, Natural Resources
                                                                         Site      survey       and
                                Department, Women’s Federation,
                                                                         consultations
                                Ecology and Environment Department,
                                Forest       Department,       Health
                                Commission, Ethnics and Religions
                                Commission, Civil Affairs Department,
                                Poverty Alleviation Department/Rural
                                Revitalization Department
                               Sample County: Wangyi and Yintai
                                District in Tongchuan City, Xunyi
                                County in Xianyang City

            August   29-       Sample County: Wangyi District,
                                                                         Site survey and
            September 3,        Xunyi County and Yongshou County
                                                                         consultations
            2021

Henan       March 14-17,       Provincial Department:        Finance    Introduction about     the
            2021                Department, DRC                          PforR and ESSA
                               Sanmenxia City: Finance department,      Learn about the provincial
                                Water Resources Bureau, DRC,             planning and key activities
                                Agricultural and Rural Affairs
                                Department, Ecology and Environment
                                Department,    Natural    Resources
                                Department, Forest Department

            March 13-17,       Provincial    Department:      DRC,      Introduction about     the
            2021                Finance Department, Ecology and          PforR and ESSA
                                Environment             Department,
                                                                         Learn about the provincial
                                Agricultural and Rural Affairs
                                                                         planning and key activities
                                Department, Forest Department
                                                                         Site      survey       and
                               Sanmenxia         City:      Municipal
                                                                         consultations
                                Government, DRC, Finance Bureau,
                                Water Resources Bureau, Agricultural     Site       visits      and
                                and Rural Affairs Bureau, Rural          consultations
                                Revitalization Bureau, Ecology and
                                Environment Department, Natural
                                Resources and Planning Bureau, Forest
                                Bureau, Urban Administration Bureau,
                                Culture, Radio and Television, Tourism
                                Bureau,       Health      Commission,
                                Emergency Management Bureau,
                                Meteorological Bureau, Civil Affairs
                                Department, Ethnics and Religions
                                Commission, Women’s Federation
                               Sample County: Yima City, Binghu
                                District, Mianchi County, Shanzhou

                                            157
                                         District, Lingbao City

                September               Municipal Department: Waster                  Site       visits      and
                13-17, 2021              Resources Department, Civil Affairs           consultations
                                         Department, Rural Revitalization
                                         Department, Women’s Federation,
                                         Agricultural and Rural Affairs
                                         Department, Ethnics and Religions
                                         Commission, Human Resources and
                                         Social Security Department
                                        Sample County: Mianchi County,
                                         Shanzhou District, Lingbao City



Annex 8 Public Participation Implemented
   Date           Location                          Participants                              Topic discussed
March 17-19,   Zhengzhou City,        Provincial      Department:      Finance            Provincial Planning
   2021        Henan Province         Department, DRC                                      related to Yellow River
                                      Sanmenxia City: Finance department,                  Basin Resilience
                                      Water     Resources      Bureau,     DRC,            Introduction about
                                      Agricultural     and     Rural     Affairs           World Bank PforR
                                      Department, Ecology and Environment                  Program
                                      Department,        Natural     Resources
                                      Department, Forest Department
 July 13-17,   Sanmenxia City,        Provincial Development and Reform                   Learn about the Plan
    2021       Henan Province         Commission, Finance Department,                      of Water Ecology
                                      Ecology and Environment Department,                  Protection and High-
                                      Agricultural     and     Rural     Affairs           quality Development
                                      Department, Forestry Department.                     in Yellow River Basin
                                      Sanmenxia Municipal Government,                      of Sanmenxia City,
                                      DRC, Finance Bureau, Water Resources                 Henan        Province
                                      Bureau, Housing and Urban-rural                      (2020-2050)
                                      Construction Bureau, Agricultural and               Discussions       with
                                      Rural      Affairs     Bureau,      Rural            relevant departments
                                      Revitalization Bureau, Ecology and                   to         understand
                                      Environment         Bureau,      Natural             regulations        and
                                      Resources and Planning Bureau,                       current status in each
                                      Forestry Bureau, Urban Administration                field
                                      Bureau, Culture, Radio and Television,
                                      Tourism        Department,         Health
                                      Commission, Emergency Management
                                      Department,               Meteorological
                                      Department, Civil Affairs Department,
                                      Ethnics and Religions Commission,
                                      Women’s Federation
September      Sanmenxia City,        Municipal departments: Sanmenxia                    Industries     Policies
13-17, 2021    Henan Province         Water Resources Bureau, Civil Affairs                consultation,
                                      Bureau, Rural Development Bureau,                    responsibilities and
                                      Women's Federation, Agriculture and                  organizational setup
                                      Rural Affairs Bureau, Ethnics and                    of each authority
                                      Religions Affairs Bureau, Human                     Previous        project
                                      Resources and Social Security Bureau,                implementation,
                                      Health Commission; Representatives of                including collection of
                                      Sample Counties (Mianchi County,                     relevant data
                                      Shaanxi District, Lingbao City), sample
                                      township government and community
                                      residents,    and     relevant    sample
                                      enterprises
March 19-23,   Shaanxi                Government                 administrative           Provincial Planning
2021           Provincial Water       departments        include:     National             related to Yellow River
               Conservation           Development and Reform Commission,                   Basin Resilience
               Center                 Housing and Urban-rural Construction                 Introduction about
                                      Department Urban Administration                      World Bank PforR
                                                       158
    Date           Location                     Participants                        Topic discussed
                                   Department, Agriculture and Rural              Program
                                   Affairs Department, Natural Resources
                                   Department, Environmental Resources
                                   Bureau, Civil and Rural Affairs
                                   Department, Women's Federation,
                                   Employment Bureau
July 19, 2021   Shaanxi            DRC, Finance Department, Provincial           Learn about the Water
                Provincial Water   Water Resources Department/River               Ecological
                Conservation       Chief Office, Provincial Housing and           Rehabilitation Plan of
                Center             Urban-rural Construction Department,           Weihe River Basin in
                                   Provincial Ecology and Environment             Shaanxi       Province
                                   Department,     Provincial      Natural        (2021-2035)
                                   Resources Department, Provincial              Discussions with
                                   Project Management Office, Institute for       relevant departments
                                   Water and Environmental Research               to understand
                                                                                  regulations and
                                                                                  current status in each
                                                                                  field
July 19, 2021   Water Resources    Deputy chief of the Water Resources           Responsibilities and
                Department         Department,      Soil and    Water             organizational setup
                                   Conservation Office                            of Provincial Water
                                                                                  Resources
                                                                                  Department
                                                                                 Key activities of soil
                                                                                  and              water
                                                                                  conservation
                                                                                 Potential E&S impacts
                Women’s            Director and inspectors of the Office         Status of women's
                Federation                                                        rights and interests
                                                                                  protection in Shaanxi
                                                                                  Province
                                                                                 Responsibilities and
                                                                                  organizational
                                                                                  structure
                                                                                 Challenges and plans
                                                                                  in women's rights
                                                                                  protection          and
                                                                                  development
                Provincial         Urban Division, Rural and Township            Division              of
                Housing      and   Division and Real Estate Division of           responsibilities and
                Urban-Rural        Housing and Urban-rural Construction           institutional setup of
                Construction       Department                                     the    Housing      and
                Department                                                        Urban-rural
                                                                                  Construction
                                                                                  Department           on
                                                                                  domestic         waste
                                                                                  management          and
                                                                                  house expropriation
                                                                                  on state-owned land
                                                                                 Progress            and
                                                                                  problems of domestic
                                                                                  waste management in
                                                                                  the province
                Provincial         Regulations Division       of   Natural       Current            land
                Natural            Resources Department                           acquisition         and
                Resources                                                         compensation
                Department                                                        policies.
                                                                                 The procedure of land
                                                                                  compensation
                                                                                  standards formulation
                                                                                  and publishment.
                                                                                 Division              of
                                                                                  responsibilities and
                                                                                  organizational
                                                   159
    Date            Location                      Participants                        Topic discussed
                                                                                   structure among the
                                                                                   provincial and county-
                                                                                   level           natural
                                                                                   resources
                                                                                   departments
                Site visit-Wangyi    DRC,    Water     Resources     Bureau,      responsibilities and
                and         Yintai   Agricultural and Rural Affairs Bureau         organizational setup
                District,                                                          of each authority
                Tongchuan City                                                    The main activities,
                                                                                   policy requirements,
                                                                                   implementation
                                                                                   progress, effects and
                                                                                   main problems of
                                                                                   solid waste, rural
                                                                                   wastewater,
                                                                                   agricultural non-point
                                                                                   source        pollution
                                                                                   management,       river
                                                                                   improvement and soil
                                                                                   and              water
                                                                                   conservation
July 20, 2021
                Site visit-Xunyi     DRC,    Water     Resources     Bureau,      responsibilities and
                County        in     Agricultural and Rural Affairs Bureau         organizational setup
                Xianyang City                                                      of each authority
                                                                                  The main activities,
                                                                                   policy requirements,
                                                                                   implementation
                                                                                   progress, effects and
                                                                                   main problems of
                                                                                   solid waste, rural
                                                                                   wastewater,
                                                                                   agricultural non-point
                                                                                   source        pollution
                                                                                   management,       river
                                                                                   improvement and soil
                                                                                   and              water
                                                                                   conservation.
August 30-      Due Diligence-       Water Resources Bureau, Housing and          Industries     Policies
September 3,    Wangyi        and    Urban-rural Construction Bureau,              consultation,
2021            Yintai District in   Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau,         responsibilities and
                Tongchuan City,      Ecology and Environment Bureau,               organizational setup
                Xunyi         and    Natural Resources Bureau, Ethnics and         of each authority
                Yongshou County      Religions    Commission,       Women's       Previous        project
                in Xianyang City     Federation, Civil Affairs Bureau, Human       implementation,
                                     Resources and Social Security Bureau,         including collection of
                                     Health Commission, representatives of         relevant data
                                     sample townships and communities,
                                     and relevant sample enterprises




                                                    160
 Annex 9 Records of Public Consultation on the Draft ESSA
 1.Main comments received and responded for the Draft ESSA
No.                Issues                   Comments                  Parties          Follow-up
About Policy
1     Section 4.1:Some                   Please update.         Natural Resources       Updated
      regulations on land acquisition                           Bureau,
      used are out of date                                      Sanmenxia
2     Section 4.1: The regulation on     Please use the         Emergency               Updated
      safety of production used is       one updated in         bureau, Wangyi,
      out of date                        2021                   Shaanxi
4     Section 4.3.4: the statement       Revise as: there       Natural Resources       Updated
      on land use is not accurate        were no land           Bureau,
                                         acquisition issue      Sanmenxia
                                         for most facilities
                                         above.
5     Section 4.3.4, statement on        Please update as       Natural Resources       Updated.
      land-preliminary land approval     provided written       Bureau,
      is not so accurate                 document.              Sanmenxia
6     Section 4.1.5, The use of data     Please use the         Women Federal,          Updated.
      should not be sourced from         data of 14th five      Sanmenxia
      the 13th five year Development     year
      program any more, it was too       Development
      old.                               program any
                                         more, it was too
                                         old.
7     Section 4.3.5: the description     Please update as       Bureau of Ethnic        Updated.
      on ethnic minority is not          provided written       affairs, Xianyang,
      accurate for Xianyang of           document.              Sanmenxia
      Shaanxi, and Sanmenxia
8     Section 4.3.2: Experience of       Please add as          Shanzhou relics          Added
      Shanzhou in Sanmenxia              the document           protection bureau
      should be added for relics         provided.
      protection.
About the description of the practices in the actual projects
9     Section 4.3.3: the description     Please update as       Rural and               Updated.
      of the three-chamber toilet is     provided written       agricultural
      not accurate.                      document.              bureau,
                                                                Sanmenxia
About the institution
10    Section 4.2.3, the role and        Please update as       Natural Resources     Updated.
      responsibility for natural         provided written       Bureau,
      resources should add those of      document.              Sanmenxia
      Sanmenxia
11    Section 4.2.6: The role and        Please update as       The rural             Updated.
      responsibility of the rural        provided written       vitalization bureau
      vitalization bureau is not         document.              of Mianchi county
      accurate                                                  of Henan and
                                                                Wangyi District of
                                                                Shaanxi
12    Section 3.1.2, the statement       Please update as       Water resources       Updated
      on water resource part is not      provided written       bureau of Wangyi
      accurate                           document.              district, Shaanxi
About the program

                                                161
No.                 Issues                 Comments             Parties          Follow-up
13    Section 1.2.2, the PforR            Include Binhu    Natural Resources      Updated.
      boundary should include Binhu           District     Bureau,
      district of Sanmenxia                                Sanmenxia
14    Section 1.3, there is no             Please add      Natural Resources   Updated.
      provincial natural resource                          Bureau,
      bureau                                               Sanmenxia
15    Section 1.2.1, the description      Please delete    Water recourse      Updated.
      of the program is not accurate.        NDRC          burau of
                                                           Sanmenxia
16    Section 2.1, the description of    Please update     Water recourse      Clarified.
      the program on ecological                            burau of
      water balance is not accurate.                       Sanmenxia
17    Section 2.2.2, why the E&S          Should be low    Water recourse      Clarified.
      risks is substantial                                 burau of
                                                           Sanmenxia
18    Annex 1,the activities in the      Please update     Lingbao Water       Updated.
      government program is not                            recourse burau of
      accurate                                             Sanmenxia
About Consultation
19    Section 2, description on         Please update as   Ethnic affair       Updated.
      consultation with ethnic          provided written   management
      minority should be adjusted.      document.          bureau,
                                                           Sanmenxia
20    Section 7, who will be the        Please clarify     Water recourse      Clarified.
      owner for monitoring                                 burau of
                                                           Sanmenxia
21    Section 3.1.3,role and            No irrigation      Mianchi water       Updated
      responsibility of water                              resource bureau,
      resource burau is not accurate                       Sanmenxia
22    Section 3.1.3,top                 Please update      Mianchi water       Updated.
      management should be key                             resource bureau,
      management                                           Sanmenxia
23    Section 5.1, the word is of       Please update      Mianchi water       Updated.
       Mianchi is not right                                resource bureau,
                                                           Sanmenxia



 2.ESSA consultation record




                                               162
Natural Resources of     DRC of Sanmenxia,                    Women Federal, Sanmenxia, Henan
Sanmenxia                Henan
municipality, Henan




Bureau of Ethnic         Water Resources,           Political and legislative    Water resources bureau,
Minority, Sanmenxia,     Sanmenxia, Henan           affairs committee,           Lingbao, Sanmenxia,
Henan                                               Sanmenxia, Henan             Henan




Water resources          Relics resources bureau,   Rural virilization bureau,   DRC, Shanzhou,
bureau, Mianchi,         Mianchi, Sanmenxia,        Mianchi, Sanmenxia           Sanmenxia, Henan
Sanmenxia, Henan         Henan




Rural and agricultural   Relics resources bureau,   Bureau of Ethnic Minority,    Rural virilization bureau,
burau, Shanzhou,          Shanzhou, Sanmenxia,         Xianyang, Shaanxi              Xunyi, Shaanxi
Sanmenxia, Henan                  Henan




                                                    163
Water resources   ESSA consultation with    ESSA consultation with
bureau, Wangi,          Shaanxi              Sanmenxia, Henan
Shaanxi




                                           164
Annex 10 Examples of Public Consultation Records




Figure 1: 2021.8.31Registration form   Figure    2 :2021.9.1        Figure    3:    2021.9.15
of FGD in Wangyi district, Shaanxi     Registration form of FGD     Registration form of FGD
                                       in Xunyi county, Shaanxi     in Shanzhou district,
                                                                    Sanmenxia, Henan




Figure 4: SSAR report and approvals of a        Figure 5: Approval on relics protection for
rural drinking water project in Shanzhou        site selection of a gas pipeline project in
district of Sanmenxia, Henan                    Yongshou county, Shaanxi.




Figure 6: The detailed mediation and           Figure 7: A land lease agreement signed
arbitration processes of labor disputes,       between the village committee (on behalf of
Mianchi County, Sanmenxia, Henan               villagers) of Dujiazhuang Village in Ganjing
                                               Town, Yongshou County, Shaanxi Province
                                               and the Xianyang Zhengda Food Co., Ltd.




Figure 8: A manure utilization facility in         Figure 9: A village sewage treatment facility
 Wangyi district, Shaanxi                          in Yongshou county, Shaanxi




                                             165
Figure 10: A town sewage treatment facility      Figure   11:Covid-19   control   and
in Lingbao, Henan                                management plan developed by Lingbao,
                                                 Sanmenxia, Henan




Figure 12: A Land use approvals for a manure     Figure 13: farmers hired by an apple planting
utilization facilities in Wangyi district and    farm
Yongshou, Shaanxi




                                           166