INTEGRATED SAFEGUARDS DATASHEET
APPRAISAL STAGE
I. Basic Information
Date prepared/updated: 10/21/2005
Report No.: 34005
1. Basic Project Data
Country: Moldova
Project ID: P090037
Project Name: Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Stockpiles Management &
Destruction GEF Project
Task Team Leader: Rita Klees
GEF Focal Area: Persistent Organic
Global Supplemental ID:
Pollutants
Estimated Appraisal Date: July 18, 2005
Estimated Board Date: December 15, 2005
Managing Unit: ECSSD
Lending Instrument: Specific Investment
Loan
Sector: Health (50%);Solid waste management (50%)
Theme: Pollution management and environmental health (P);Environmental policies and
institutions (S);Other environment and natural resources management (S)
IBRD Amount (US$m.):
0.00
IDA Amount (US$m.):
0.00
GEF Amount (US$m.):
6.35
PCF Amount (US$m.):
0.00
Other financing amounts by source:
BORROWER/RECIPIENT
3.72
NETHERLANDS: MIN. OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS / MIN. OF DEV. COOP.
0.93
BILATERAL AGENCIES (UNIDENTIFIED)
1.60
6.25
Environmental Category: A - Full Assessment
Simplified Processing
Simple []
Repeater []
Is this project processed under OP 8.50 (Emergency Recovery)
Yes [ ]
No [X]
2. Project Objectives
The main development objective of the project would be to protect the environment and
human health by safely managing and disposing of stockpiles of POPs contaminated
pesticides and PCBs.
The global project objective of the project is sustainable POPs stockpiles management
and strengthening of the regulatory and intuitional arrangements for long term control of
POPs and other toxic substances in line with the requirements of the Stockholm
Convention and other related conventions and protocols ratified by Moldova. To track the
progress toward achieving this development objective, the project will use four key
results indicators as summarized below, and explained in more detail in Annex 3:
(i) Reduced risks of POPs environmental pollution to human health by safely storing
and disposing of stockpiles of POPs contaminated pesticides and PCBs
(ii) Destruction of 2,210 tons of PCBs and POPs containing and contaminated
obsolete pesticides
(iii) Modern regulatory system established within Moldova for the management and
control of POPs and other toxic and harmful chemicals and wastes
(iv) Institutional and human capacities for enforcement of the POPs regulatory
framework and for sustainable POPs stockpiles management strengthened
POPs are chemical substances that persist in the environment, bioaccumulate through
the food web, and pose a risk of causing adverse effects to human health and the
environment. The Stockholm Convention is the United Nations treaty negotiated to
eliminate persistent organic pollutants (POPs) worldwide. Under the Convention,
countries commit to reduce and/or eliminate the production, use, and/or release of the 12
POPs of greatest concern to the global community including 9 pesticides, polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs), and unintended by products such as dioxins. Moldova has signed and
ratified the Stockholm Convention (2004). The POPs of relevance to Moldova in terms
of the Stockholm Convention have been found to be obsolete pesticides and PCBs.
Moldova does not produce or use any of the POPs pesticides covered by the Stockholm
convention and the use of any of them is not permitted. Moldova does not produce PCBs
but there are no restrictions on their import or use.
In terms of obsolete pesticides, one residual effect of the past extensive use of
pesticides in Moldova is an extremely high amount of stockpiled obsolete pesticides
(defined as pesticides that are not in current use because they have been banned, have
deteriorated, have expired, or are not wanted by the current owner). In 2003, an
inventory of stockpiles determined there were 344 warehouses containing obsolete
pesticides. Many of the warehouses were in an extreme state of disrepair with some
completely exposed to the elements. Much of the packaging material, bags and drums,
for the solid and liquid wastes had deteriorated. To improve this situation, it was decided
to centralize the storage of the obsolete pesticides with each of the 37 administrative
districts having one warehouse. The warehouses were selected based on a number of
environmental and safety criteria. In November 2003, the Ministry of Defense (MOD)
and the State Department of Emergency Situations (SDES) initiated the repackaging and
transportation of the obsolete pesticide stocks from the scattered warehouses to the 37
centralized district storage facilities. This activity has been financed by the Government
and NATO. All the material will be transferred to these warehouses by the time the
project is effective. It is estimated there will be a total of 3,000 tons of obsolete
pesticides in storage. When the obsolete pesticides were originally placed in storage they
were indiscriminately mixed with each other in bags and drums. This resulted in a
mixture of POPs pesticides with non-POPs pesticides and there is no economically,
viable way of determining the compositions of all the resultant mixtures in the
repackaged plastic and steel drums. Representative sampling analysis indicates that the
average amount of POP pesticides, out of the total stock of obsolete pesticides, is about
20 - 30%.
Regarding PCBs, these are a group of synthetic organic chemicals with varying
harmful toxic effects to humans and the environment. PCBs in Moldova are primarily
used in the energy sector for use as dielectric fluids in power installations, especially
transformers and capacitors. According to the inventory undertaken as part of the POPs
National Implementation Plan (NIP), financed by the GEF POPs Enabling Activity (EA)
grant, about 20,000 PCB-containing capacitors, now unused and referred to as discarded,
are located in 20 electrical substations throughout the country. The substations with
capacitors are all owned by the two transmission companies "Moldelectrica" and
"Dnesterenergo" (in the Transnistria region). Of these, 12,000 discarded capacitors are
kept in one assembly consisting of 18 capacitor batteries at the Vulcanesti substation.
About 300 discarded capacitors are kept in closed containers at the station. In addition,
two dumps with approximately 1,000 broken capacitors each are located at this
substation. All this equipment is about 30 years old and at the end of its life span. Since
PCBs can be readily released into the environment via equipment failures, leakages, and
vandalism, the stockpiles of equipment pose a significant risk to health and the
environment. The total PCB content in oils within the capacitors (excluding the pits at
Vulcanesti) is estimated at 380 tons while the total weight of the capacitors is
approximately 1,060 tons.
An assessment of the legal and regulatory framework for POPs management has
determined:
(i)
Moldovan legislation does not specifically mention POPs and only covers use of
substances as plant protection products, not, for example, for biocidal or industrial uses;
(ii) does not regulate unintentional and by-product POPs;
(iii) does not define public and private sector management responsibilities for POPs
during their life-cycle, from production to disposal, as well as contaminated sites; and
(iv) no provision has been made for sound chemical management in general.
Monitoring and enforcement of relevant legislation is weak. While there are several
laboratories, centers, institutions and departments involved in monitoring activities
regarding pesticides (including POPs) and PCBs, the monitoring facilities are poorly
equipped and staffed; there is no coordination of activities; and no centralized
information management system. In the larger sense, there is no national chemical
management system in place.
3. Project Description
The project consists of three components: (1) Management and Destruction of POPs; (2)
Development of a Regulatory Framework for PCB Management and Control; and (3)
Institution Strengthening and Project Management. The project will be financed with a
grant from the GEF (US$ 6.35 m), counterpart contributions (US$ 3.72 m), and other
donors (US$ 2.53 m) including US$1.60 million from NATO. NATO is currently
seeking financing for a project to complete the disposal of the obsolete pesticides not
financed by this project.
Component 1. Management and Destruction of POPs (US$ 8.23 million, of which
GEF US$ 3.79 m).
This component consists of two sub-components: (i) Destruction of Stockpiles of
POPs Containing and Contaminated Obsolete Pesticides; and (ii) Management of PCBs
and Destruction of Obsolete Capacitor Stockpiles.
Sub-component 1.1. Destruction of Stockpiles of POPs Containing and Contaminated
Obsolete Pesticides (US$5.37 million, of which GEF US$1.21 m).
This sub-component will finance the destruction by incineration of approximately
1,150 tons of stockpiled obsolete pesticides (out of total 3,000 tons) from 10 of the 37
centralized storage warehouses. A hazardous waste incinerator operator will be selected
under World Bank ICB procurement rules, to repackage the pesticides in International
Bulk Containers (IBC)and transport them to an EU or nationally approved hazardous
waste incinerator for final destruction. The contractor would be responsible for carrying
out the entire operation according to international conventions and EU standards for
repackaging and transport of hazardous substances.
The Environmental Assessment (EA) conducted during project preparation studied
each of the 37 centralized storage facilities and ranked them according to an overall risk
factor which included: condition of storage buildings; proximity to populated areas,
agricultural lands, watercourses, forest and pasture; vulnerability to floods; depth to
groundwater; amount of pesticides stored; and availability of space for storage. The
project will finance disposal of stockpiles from the 10 sites posing the largest risk. NATO
has a proposal to dispose of the remaining stockpiles of obsolete pesticides for which it is
seeking financing.
Sub-component 1.2. Management of PCBs and Destruction of Obsolete Capacitor
Stockpiles (US$2.86 million, of which GEF US$2.58 m).
This sub-component consists of three activities: (1) establishing an inventory of PCB
containing or contaminated equipment; (2) destruction of a stockpile of obsolete
capacitors; and (3) feasibility study of site clean-up at Vulcanesti Substation.
Activity 1. Establishing an Inventory of PCB Containing or Contaminated Equipment
(US$0.48 m, of which GEF US$0.28 m). A detailed inventory of PCB-containing or
contaminated equipment, with appropriate labeling and identification of premises where
the equipment is located, is a prerequisite for the future management and disposal of
PCBs.
Activity 2. Destruction of a Stockpile of Obsolete Capacitors (US$2.09 m, of which
GEF US$2.07 m). The PCB-containing capacitors in the thirteen electrical substations
are in a condition where leakages due to corrosion are occurring and leakages are
expected to increase in the coming years. This activity will finance dismantling of the
capacitor batteries and packaging of the capacitors in closed containers; and excavation
of the dumps with capacitor remnants and placing the materials in closed containers.
This activity consists of three main tasks, which will eliminate some 80% of the likely
PCBs currently held in electrical equipment in Moldova:
Dismantling of 17,300 obsolete capacitors from thirteen substations (the bulk of them
are located at one substation, Vulcanesti) and packing in closed containers
(approximately 899 tons);
Excavation of 2,000 capacitors buried in two pits in the Vulcanesti substation and
packing in closed containers (approximately 111 tons); and
Shipment of 19,300 capacitors and up to 50 tons of highly polluted soil (approximately
1,060 tons) to a hazardous waste incinerator for destruction.
In order to simplify the operation and reduce any potential for conflict or delays, a
single ICB contract will be negotiated with a successful bidder to complete the entire
operation from dismantling of the capacitors, packaging, shipment and final disposal in a
hazardous waste incinerator, while meeting EU or US environmental and health and
safety requirements. The contractor will be required to meet all international convention
requirements and applicable national codes for packaging and shipment of the capacitors.
These will be specified in the contract.
The contractor also will be responsible for excavating 1,000 capacitors from the two
disposal pits at Vulcanesti. Specifications have been drawn up and will be included in
the bidding documents on how this excavation is to be carried out by the contractor.
Additional information will be provided to the contractor by the contract supervising
consultant who also will be carrying out the feasibility study under Activity 3 and will be
performing tests on the disposal pits prior to their excavation.
Activity 3. Feasibility Study of Site Clean-up at Vulcanesti Substation (US$0.29 m, of
which GEF US$0.24 m). The study will assess the technical, financial and environmental
feasibility of different remediation approaches and recommend a least-cost solution. A
long-term ground water monitoring program will also be recommended for the site.
Component 2. Strengthening the Regulatory Framework and Capacity Building for
POPs Management (US$2.32 m, of which GEF US$1.27 m)
This component includes actions for modernization of current legislation specifically
related to the Stockholm Convention and incorporation of provisions for establishing a
broader chemical safety approach in the country based on EU directives. Full
transposition of all relevant EU legal acts shall be achieved. These activities will include
drafting of specific regulatory acts and supporting operational guidelines/handbooks for
practical application. The project will finance adequate institutional arrangements for coordination of POPs related activities, country-wide and dissemination of experience
gained for overall chemical safety aspects. The component consists of two subcomponents: (i) Modification of the Regulatory Framework; and (ii) Capacity Building
for POPs Management.
Sub-component 2.1: Modification of the Regulatory Framework for POPs
Management (US$0.74 m, of which GEF US$0.61 m)
The objective of this sub-component is to provide a legal basis for POPs chemical
management under Stockholm Convention requirements and to set-up an overall
chemical safety system in Moldova according to the EU regulation and legislation related
to handling of dangerous chemical substances and hazardous waste.
Sub-component 2.2: Capacity Building (US$1.58 m, of which GEF US$0.66 m)
This sub-component finances activities related to training of inspectors involved in
applying the new regulations relating to POPs. The training will assist them in a clearer
understanding of their professional and technical roles in the regulation and management
of POPs, developing inventories for POPs chemicals and identification of contaminated
sites, as well as strengthening the monitoring, reporting and control of POPs. This subcomponent consists of two activities:(i) Strengthening of Inspectorates for Enforcement
of POPs Regulations; and (ii) Upgrading and Strengthening of Existing Laboratories for
POPs Analysis.
Component 3. Institutional Strengthening and Project Management Support (US$2.06
m of which GEF US$1.29m)
This component of the project consists of two sub-components: Institution
Strengthening and Project Management Support.
Sub-component 3.1. Institutional Strengthening (US$1.43 of which GEF US$0.74)
This sub-component will strengthen the Ministry of Environment and Natural
Resources (MENR) capacity for POPs management. This sub-component will include
the following activities which strengthen the capacity of the MENR to manage POPs: (i)
POPs Information Management and Reporting System for POPs; (ii) POPs Monitoring
Network; (iii) Identification of POPs Residuals and Mapping of Polluted Areas; and (iv)
POPs Awareness and Educational Activities.
Sub-component 3.2. Project Management Support (US$0.64m, of which GEF
US$0.55 m).
A project management team (PMT) will carry out the usual project management
functions of financial management, procurement, auditing, managing, monitoring and
evaluating project implementation, and dissemination of project results. The PMT is
already operational within the MENR.
4. Project Location and salient physical characteristics relevant to the safeguard
analysis
Preparation of the NIP included a national inventory of POPs which is being used to
design the project. The inventory identified the location, quantity, and in some cases, the
composition of obsolete pesticides throughout the country. These were found in
approximately 344 locations scattered throughout the country, including one land fill
(located near Cismichioi) devoted exclusively for obsolete pesticides, primarily in rural
areas. The PCBs to be addressed in the project are primarily those in capacitors. The
project will focus on the safe storage of PCBs in 16,000 unused capacitors. About 90%
of these are located in one large power substation in Vulcanesti. All 344 sites as well as
the 37 centralized facilities now in use for obsolete pesticides and the location of the
PCBs, as well as the composition and quantity of materials, are available on a map,
produced by the POPs EA grant, which has been widely distributed and discussed, as part
of NIP preparation, with communities throughout the country.
5. Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialists
6. Safeguard Policies Triggered
Environmental Assessment (OP/BP 4.01)
Natural Habitats (OP/BP 4.04)
Forests (OP/BP 4.36)
Pest Management (OP 4.09)
Cultural Property (OPN 11.03)
Indigenous Peoples (OD 4.20)
Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP 4.12)
Safety of Dams (OP/BP 4.37)
Projects on International Waterways (OP/BP 7.50)
Projects in Disputed Areas (OP/BP 7.60)
Yes
X
No
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
II. Key Safeguard Policy Issues and Their Management
A. Summary of Key Safeguard Issues
1. Describe any safeguard issues and impacts associated with the proposed project.
Identify and describe any potential large scale, significant and/or irreversible impacts:
The main potential negative environmental impacts of the project relate to the public
health and environmental risks associated with the handling, dismantling, excavating,
packaging, transporting and disposal of hazardous chemicals and wastes. The facility
used for the destruction of the capacitors and pesticides will be required to comply with
the best international environmental and health and safety standards. World Bank
approved bidding documents for packaging, exaction, transport and final disposal of the
capacitors and pesticides will be advertised internationally, but it is expected that
hazardous waste incineration facilities in Europe meeting EU standards will be the only
ones which will have the capacity and the interest to offer bids.
One environmental impact associated with sorting and storage of these chemicals is
self-ignition. This is an existing risk given the prevailing conditions of storage but the
project will reduce such a risk by virtue of the integrity of the containers to be used for
pesticides and PCBs. The project also finances improved security devices and guarding
of the materials to prevent vandalism.
2. Describe any potential indirect and/or long term impacts due to anticipated future
activities in the project area:
3. Describe any project alternatives (if relevant) considered to help avoid or minimize
adverse impacts.
It is recognized that some obsolete pesticides will require storage until final disposal
finances become available. By centralizing and ensuring the safety of storage, through
improved storage methods and facilities, the threats posed by the over 300 obsolete
pesticide stockpile locations have already been reduced and the safety of the material
awaiting final disposal is improved.
4. Describe measures taken by the borrower to address safeguard policy issues. Provide
an assessment of borrower capacity to plan and implement the measures described.
Government Decision on Transportation of Hazardous/Dangerous goods within
theTerritory of the Republic of Moldova (No. 672, dated May 28, 2002);
International transport rules: The European Agreements on the International Carriage
of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) and Rail (RID) and the International Maritime
Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG);
The EU waste shipment rules set out in EU Waste Shipment Regulation (Council
Regulation (EEC) No 259/93); and
The Basel Convention requirements relating to transboundary shipments of POPs
containing waste also will be followed.
The MENR and the Ministry of Health are responsible for supervision of the safe
handling of obsolete pesticides during repackaging. There are technical standards to
follow. The actual repackaging and transport is conducted by special units of the
Ministry of Defense and the Department of Civil Protection, which have some training in
handling of the materials and are equipped with special protective gear. The materials
are transported in specialized military vehicles. During project preparation, the adequacy
of these standards, equipment and procedures will be reviewed with project activities
designed to address deficiencies as needed. The project will finance training to train staff
in the use of personal protective equipment and appropriate environmental safeguards for
handling of obsolete POPs stocks.
The POPs EA Project included an assessment of the legal framework for POPs. Over
25 legal and regulatory acts deal with the full life-cycle of managing toxic and hazardous
substances and wastes, including POPs regulated by the Stockholm Convention. The
most important legislation is Environmental Protection (1993), and SanitaryEpidemiological Well-being of Population Laws (1993), Ecological Expertise and
Environmental Impact Assessment Law (1996); Production and Consumption Waste
(1997), Regime of Hazardous Products and Substances (1997), and Protection of
Atmospheric Air (1997) Laws. These Laws are supported by the GoM implementation
resolutions. Despite the large number of laws in this sector, a number of deficiencies
were found as listed above. The project finances a number of activities to strengthen the
legal and regulatory framework. The project will also finance upgrading of the analytical
laboratory capacities for conducting POPs analyses and identification; strengthening of
the enforcement capacity to ensure compliance with regulatory controls; and improving
inter-agency information sharing and information management systems.
5. Identify the key stakeholders and describe the mechanisms for consultation and
disclosure on safeguard policies, with an emphasis on potentially affected people.
The primary stakeholders are the Moldovan people likely to directly benefit from the
project, i.e. those living in the vicinity of POPs sites, totaling about 150,000 people. The
process of developing the NIP and the carrying out the Environmental and Social
Assessment for this project involved a wide group of local stakeholders in government as
well as NGOs and local communities that have been affected by POPs pollution.
B. Disclosure Requirements Date
Environmental Assessment/Audit/Management Plan/Other:
Date of receipt by the Bank
06/30/2005
Date of "in-country" disclosure
05/19/2005
Date of submission to InfoShop
07/05/2005
For category A projects, date of distributing the Executive
07/29/2005
Summary of the EA to the Executive Directors
* If the project triggers the Pest Management, Cultural Property and/or the Safety
of Dams policies, the respective issues are to be addressed and disclosed as part of
the Environmental Assessment/Audit/or EMP.
If in-country disclosure of any of the above documents is not expected, please
explain why:
C. Compliance Monitoring Indicators at the Corporate Level (to be filled in when the
ISDS is finalized by the project decision meeting)
OP/BP/GP 4.01 - Environment Assessment
Does the project require a stand-alone EA (including EMP) report?
If yes, then did the Regional Environment Unit review and approve the EA
report?
Are the cost and the accountabilities for the EMP incorporated in the
credit/loan?
BP 17.50 - Public Disclosure
Have relevant safeguard policies documents been sent to the World Bank's
Infoshop?
Have relevant documents been disclosed in-country in a public place in a
form and language that are understandable and accessible to project-affected
groups and local NGOs?
All Safeguard Policies
Have satisfactory calendar, budget and clear institutional responsibilities
been prepared for the implementation of measures related to safeguard
policies?
Have costs related to safeguard policy measures been included in the project
cost?
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Does the Monitoring and Evaluation system of the project include the
monitoring of safeguard impacts and measures related to safeguard policies?
Have satisfactory implementation arrangements been agreed with the
borrower and the same been adequately reflected in the project legal
documents?
Yes
Yes
D. Approvals
Signed and submitted by:
Task Team Leader:
Environmental Specialist:
Social Development Specialist
Additional Environmental and/or
Social Development Specialist(s):
Name
Date
Ms Rita Klees
Ms Rita Klees
Ms Nora Dudwick
10/04/2005
10/04/2005
10/12/2005
Mr Ronald N. Hoffer
10/12/2005
Mr Benoit Paul Blarel
10/17/2005
Approved by:
Regional Safeguards Coordinator:
Comments:
Sector Manager:
Comments: