INTEGRATED SAFEGUARDS DATASHEET

APPRAISAL STAGE

I. Basic Information

Date prepared/updated: 09/03/2008 / Report No.: AC3865
1. Basic Project Data
Country: Argentina / Project ID: P114008
Project Name: AR-GEF Sustainable and Transport and Air Quality Project
Task Team Leader: Veronica Ines Raffo
GEF Focal Area: Climate change / Global Supplemental ID:
Estimated Appraisal Date: September 2, 2008 / Estimated Board Date: October 21, 2008
Managing Unit: LCSTR / Lending Instrument: Adaptable Program Loan
Sector: General transportation sector (60%);Health (25%);Sub-national government administration (10%);General energy sector (5%)
Theme: Climate change (P);Pollution management and environmental health (P);Access to urban services and housing (S);Environmental policies and institutions (S)
IBRD Amount (US$m.): 0.00
IDA Amount (US$m.): 0.00
GEF Amount (US$m.): 3.99
PCF Amount (US$m.): 0.00
Other financing amounts by source:
BORROWER/RECIPIENT 7.88
7.88
Environmental Category: B - Partial Assessment
Simplified Processing / Simple [] / Repeater []
Is this project processed under OP 8.50 (Emergency Recovery) or OP 8.00 (Rapid Response to Crises and Emergencies) / Yes [ ] / No [ ]

2. Project Objectives

The current project's development objectives are: “(i) Reducing GHG emission growth rate through the promotion of long term increase in patronage of less energy intensive transport modes in cities; and (ii) Inducing policy changes in favor of sustainable transport projects.”

3. Project Description

Four metropolitan areas have been pre-identified, Tucumán, Rosario, Córdoba andPosadas, to participate in the Argentina GEF Sub-Program, on the basis of the following characteristics: (i) they are economic and governmental centers at the national or regional level, (ii) the municipal governments are committed to addressing environmental and sustainable transport issues, and (iii) they comply with the federal regulation and are entitled to prepare projects for the World Bank.

Projects in the selected cities would not be identical in design, to allow for tailoring to local priorities and conditions, but just as in the Regional Program, they would share common content in order to ensure optimal knowledge-sharing and the generation of a critical mass of lessons and results that would be useful for learning and policy development. The proposed Argentina GEF sub-program would be the first of three programs presented to the Board in this series.

Project components are pilot investments, technical assistance, and capacity building activities in selected cities which are divided by windows of opportunity briefly described below. The specific project component for the Argentina Sub-program consists of pilot investments and technical assistance in 4 selected cities to remove barriers for sustainable transport. This sub-program and city-projects will co-fund measures in three thematic “Windows” (out of the five identified in the Regional Program), following the World Bank’s priorities and GEF priorities for climate change mitigation in the urban transport sector :

Window 2: Better coordination and integration of transport and land-use planning and environmental management: technical assistance and measures to foster more integrated transport and land use planning to reduce the use of private motor vehicles, reduce trip lengths, and increase the accessibility to public and non-motorized transport for Tucumán

Window 3: Modal Interconnection, and Effectiveness and Efficiency of Public Transport: Pilot investments and technical assistance to facilitate the improvement of public transport systems and/or improve the effectiveness and interconnectivity of those systems with other modes of transport and induce mode switching away from the use of private cars.

Window 4: Non-motorized transport: pilot investments and technical assistance to better integrate walking and biking into the culture and planning processes of cities, and to create incentives for their use.

More specifically the project components description is as follows:

Works

The only works that have been identified during the project preparation are the following:

(i) Rosario: Construction of 4.8 km of bikeways in

(ii) Posadas: 3km of BRT corridor in the AV, Uruguay

(iii) Córdoba: Construction, enhancement and upgrading of segregated busways and bikeways

Technical Assistance

(iv) Tucumán

a. A qualitative study showing the possible impacts and benefits of the TMP

b. Transportation Master Plan for the Metropolitan Area of San Miguel de Tucuman

(v) Rosario

a. Studies to contribute to select the optimal technical solution for the corridor

b. Study to expand the bikeway network especially in the North-South Corridor

c. Bike use promotion campaign

(vi) Posadas:

a. Technical assistance: definition of legal framework in accordance with legal norms, user perception surveys, fare structure studies, planning of the integrated transport system.

(vii) Córdoba:

a. Bike use promotion campaign

b. Engineering, environmental and socio-economic studies for potential trolleybus line extensions

4. Project Location and salient physical characteristics relevant to the safeguard analysis

Works will take place on the selected cities, Tucumán, Rosario, Córdoba, and Posadas. The technical assistance component, as well as the capacity building will also be implemented at the national level in the Greater Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area (AMBA). Therefore, all project related works will take place in consolidated urban areas and no effects are expected on natural habitats, resources or fragile zones. Special attention will be given to the potential impacts of construction in highly urbanized areas and the potential impacts of the project, especially on surrounding communities.

5. Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialists

Mr Paul Procee (LCSEN)

6. Safeguard Policies Triggered / Yes / No /
Environmental Assessment (OP/BP 4.01) / X
Natural Habitats (OP/BP 4.04) / X
Forests (OP/BP 4.36) / X
Pest Management (OP 4.09) / X
Physical Cultural Resources (OP/BP 4.11) / X
Indigenous Peoples (OP/BP 4.10) / X
Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP 4.12) / X
Safety of Dams (OP/BP 4.37) / X
Projects on International Waterways (OP/BP 7.50) / X
Projects in Disputed Areas (OP/BP 7.60) / 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 project is expected to have positive environmental impact in the long-run, since it aims at improving the quality of public transport and non-motorized transport systems and improve traffic safety. The project is designed to have a positive long-term impact due to the reduction of global and local emissions, as CO2, Particles, NOx, SOx and other contaminants currently present in selected cities. The reduction will be directly linked to improved vehicle operation, reduced trip lengths, use of more efficient modes of transport and improved technologies.

However, a number of short-term and long-term induced impacts trigger OP 4.01.A detailed screening – using standard forms – of the different sub-project sites will confirm that none are close to natural habitats or environmentally sensitive areas, nor do they require major works that will result in irreversible long-term impact or displacement of people.

The main direct impacts are expected to occur during construction and cause localized negative environmental impacts. Such impacts are expected to consist essentially of noise, vibration, dust, and traffic disruption. Additional negative impacts during construction will occur due to haulage and final disposal of materials. Most of these impacts can be mitigated by proper implementation of the environmental and social manuals that have been prepared for this project.

2. Describe any potential indirect and/or long term impacts due to anticipated future activities in the project area:

n/a

3. Describe any project alternatives (if relevant) considered to help avoid or minimize adverse impacts.

n/a

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.

n/a

5. Identify the key stakeholders and describe the mechanisms for consultation and disclosure on safeguard policies, with an emphasis on potentially affected people.

n/a

B. Disclosure Requirements Date
Environmental Assessment/Audit/Management Plan/Other:
Was the document disclosed prior to appraisal? / Yes
Date of receipt by the Bank / 08/20/2008
Date of "in-country" disclosure / 08/20/2008
Date of submission to InfoShop / 08/21/2008
For category A projects, date of distributing the Executive Summary of the EA to the Executive Directors
Resettlement Action Plan/Framework/Policy Process:
Was the document disclosed prior to appraisal?
Date of receipt by the Bank
Date of "in-country" disclosure
Date of submission to InfoShop
Indigenous Peoples Plan/Planning Framework:
Was the document disclosed prior to appraisal?
Date of receipt by the Bank
Date of "in-country" disclosure
Date of submission to InfoShop
Pest Management Plan:
Was the document disclosed prior to appraisal?
Date of receipt by the Bank
Date of "in-country" disclosure
Date of submission to InfoShop
* If the project triggers the Pest Management and/or Physical Cultural Resources, 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? / No
If yes, then did the Regional Environment Unit or Sector Manager (SM) review and approve the EA report? / N/A
Are the cost and the accountabilities for the EMP incorporated in the credit/loan? / N/A
The World Bank Policy on Disclosure of Information
Have relevant safeguard policies documents been sent to the World Bank's Infoshop? / Yes
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? / Yes
All Safeguard Policies
Have satisfactory calendar, budget and clear institutional responsibilities been prepared for the implementation of measures related to safeguard policies? / Yes
Have costs related to safeguard policy measures been included in the project cost? / Yes
Does the Monitoring and Evaluation system of the project include the monitoring of safeguard impacts and measures related to safeguard policies? / Yes
Have satisfactory implementation arrangements been agreed with the borrower and the same been adequately reflected in the project legal documents? / Yes

D. Approvals

Signed and submitted by: / Name / Date
Task Team Leader: / Ms Veronica Ines Raffo
Environmental Specialist: / Mr Paul Procee
Social Development Specialist / Mr Ricardo Schusterman
Additional Environmental and/or Social Development Specialist(s):
Approved by:
Regional Safeguards Coordinator: / Mr Reidar Kvam
Comments:
Sector Manager: / Mr Jose Luis Irigoyen
Comments: