The sponsor has presented plans to address these impacts to ensure that the proposed project will, upon implementation of the specific agreed measures, comply with the environmental and social requirements - the host country laws and regulations and the World Bank/IFC environment and social policies and the environmental, health and safety guidelines. The information about how these potential impacts will be addressed by the sponsor/project is summarized in the paragraphs that follow.
- Project siting and design:
New plant will be developed on a 32ha site that is adjacent to the company’s existing operations and lies 100km west of Beijing. The expansion site comprises barren land that is owned by local government and the company (1.5ha is owned by the company the remainder will be leased by the company on a long term basis from local government). The site is served by municipal electricity and water supply and has access to local transport infrastructure. Development of the site has not required involuntary resettlement and is in accordance with local planning and government development controls, and all necessary development permits and approvals have been obtained. New buildings will be of steel and cement and will be purpose designed for company activities.
- Air emissions:
Emissions from boilers and incinerators, and potential odor from layer houses are the principal sources of air emissions from this investment. The company currently operates three small boilers, a small incinerator and a solar heating systems (to reduce fuel costs). An additional 12 small boilers (to service heating needs for individual production sheds) and a further incinerator will be installed as part of the company’s expansion plans.
The company uses fuel blower heat boilers, and both boilers and the incinerator use diesel oil. Existing boilers (and those that will be installed as part of the investment) are new and comply with Chinese and IFC air emission requirements. The company has its air emissions monitored by the Beijing Environmental Monitoring Centre and results indicate that all boilers are operating well within IFC’s guidelines requirements. The company will provide details of air emissions to IFC annually as part of its annual monitoring report.
The incinerators burn small amounts of chicken carcasses and solid waste (average 150kg /day) and both current and proposed incinerators (which are designed to be used in medical facilities), are equipped with air purge and filter devices. Incinerators comply with Chinese standards for medical facilities and government environmental standards.
Air emissions from the layer houses (principally ammonia emissions) are controlled through an air duct inside each cage which blows air onto the manure conveyors to dry the manure uniformly. Devices that absorb ammonia and H2S gas are installed in the manure fermentation system to reduce emissions to air. This system is highly efficient in terms of water use and in reducing emissions of ammonia and H2S. It also provides chickens with fresh air, which increases layer comfort, lowers mortality and improves laying productivity.
The sheds have a monitoring system that automatically controls and adjusts the temperature, humidity, ammonia and H2S levels. The temperature is permanently set within the range 20-30 C. the humidity is maintained at 70% for starter sheds and 60% for layer sheds. Ammonia levels are kept below 20ppm and H2S levels below 10ppm.
- Solid waste management:
Solid waste will comprise manure from layer houses, office waste (paper, glass etc), egg shells, dead chickens and small volumes of mechanical/ construction materials. The company has developed automatic manure removal systems in all its laying houses/ operations and will construct a manure treatment facility on site as part of the IFC investment. Manure is treated, and sold to farmers. Egg shells are ground up and re-used for a variety of commercial purposes. Dead birds will be burned in the on site incinerators. Other solid wastes are recycled where practical or disposed of in municipal landfills.
- Water and waste water issues:
Water supply for company operations is drawn from a nearby reservoir (the Song Mountain Reservoir) and local aquifer sources, and treated on site. The company has all relevant permits for use of the aquifer Currently the company uses 82m3 day and this will increase to c300m3 day following expansion. The aquifer can sustain this level of abstraction. The company has implemented a range of water saving measures in its existing operations (nipple drinking stands for chickens, air dry manure cleaning and removing system) and similar water conservation measures will be employed in the new layer houses and starter sheds.
The company has its own waste water treatment works that is designed to treat waste water to WBG and Chinese requirements (COD <100mg/l, BOD<30mg/l, suspended solids <30mg/l). Independent monitoring of waste waters by the Beijing Environmental Monitoring Centre confirms that waste water effluents comply with IFC requirements. Treated waste waters are discharged to a ditch and used to irrigate the company gardens. The company will provide details of waste water quality to IFC annually as part of its annual monitoring report.
- Chemical use and management:
The company uses acid, lye and lime as part of its cleaning processes. Acid and lye are stored securely on site in separate stainless steel tanks in a secure concrete room 50 meters away from the bird sheds. The stainless steel tanks are airtight, insulated and without leakages problems, Staff who use these chemicals receive appropriate training and are provided with personal protective equipment. Empty bottles, containers, and unused chemicals are returned to the collection centre designated by the Beijing government.
All fuel oil containers are provided with impervious secondary containment to prevent oil pollution of soil.
- Feed supply and related issues;
- Feed comprises locally sourced and manufactured grains and oil seeds.
No fish meal is used in any of the company’s operations.
- Employment issues:
The company currently employs 121 staff and will employ a further 80 following expansion. The minimum age of employees is 20 years old and all employees sign labor contracts with the company that meet Chinese labor regulations. The company provides training to all employees (health and safety, corporate culture, technical specifications for egg production) and has developed a company human resources plan. Occupational health and safety issues are actively addressed and the company provides personal protective equipment as appropriate. To ensure that IFC’s requirements in relation to air quality are met, the sponsor will undertake an assessment of particulate/dust levels in the feedmill, and implement appropriate mitigation measures if dust levels exceed IFC guideline requirements. This work and the implementation of any mitigation measures will form a Condition of Disbursement for the IFC investment.
Responsibilities for OHS matters have been allocated to the general manager. The company asserts that there has been no significant accidents or injuries since they started operations
-Fire and Life safety:
The company follows strict fire prevention rules in accommodation and work areas. These requirements include restriction on smoking and the use of certain electronic equipment, control of the use and storage of flammable materials, and installation of fire escapes and smoke detectors. The company has an “Emergency and Dangerous Situation Prevention Scheme” that describes response steps in case of fire or other dangerous events. Fire control equipment is situated throughout the company premises (2 fire prevention penstocks in all layer sheds, and 4 fire hydrants and over 50 dry powder fire extinguishers around the facilities).
- Company environmental management capacity:
The company has developed a formal environmental management system and is in the process of applying for ISO 14001 certification (the international standard that relates to environmental performance) which should be confirmed in May 2005. The standards that the ISO 14001 system is designed to meet exceed those of IFC / Chinese govt requirements. Responsibilities for environmental management have been allocated to senior management (general manager) within the company.
Social outreach:
The company works in local neighborhoods to improve awareness of food safety and nutrition.
