IFC’s Environmental and Social Department staff’s review of this project considered:
- information collected during the appraisal visit of the Delta Dock grain terminal;
- the appraisal visit of the Timbues port site; and
- the Environmental Impact Assessment of the Timbues Port and other relevant documentation provided by the company.
Based on this review, Noble Argentina demonstrates that its operations at Delta Dock comply, and the Timbues Port project will comply, with applicable Argentine laws and regulations, and World Bank/IFC requirements. The information provided about how these potential issues are addressed by Noble Argentina is summarized below:
- Environmental, Health and Safety Performance of Noble Argentina’s Operations at the Delta Dock Grain Terminal:
Dust emissions from grain handling and storage are controlled by the confining conveyor belts. In general, this measure is sufficient to contain dust from soybeans, the main commodity exported at Delta Dock. The handling of corn produces greater quantities of dust, but these remain within the limits of applicable national regulations. The company continues to identify and implement measures to keep dust emissions at a minimum level.
The terminal generates no process effluents. Waste produced by handling grain is wet-swept and the sweepings are disposed of, together with other non-hazardous wastes, at a licensed municipal landfill. The terminal has adequate sanitary facilities for its personnel and for the transient workforce that includes truck drivers and dock workers. Wastewater is disposed of in septic tanks and thence into absorption wells. A low phreatic level in this area prevents underground water contamination.
Stormwater, which can contain grain dust and equipment washwaters, is collected in a series of surface channels serving both paved and unpaved areas. Runoff is eventually routed to a main channel that discharges directly into the Parana River in compliance with Argentine regulations.
Workplace air quality and noise are both consistent with government regulations. Whenever necessary, workers are provided adequate personal protection equipment, and are supervised to ensure that they are properly used. Employee health and safety is good, as reflected in the Company’s statistics. Accidents with and without lost time are duly reported, and preventive measures are taken as appropriate. Noble Argentina’s operations at Delta Dock have adequate emergency preparedness and response measures and employees receive regular training on this subject.
Noble Argentina is working on the development of a quality management system with the intention of achieving ISO 9001:2000 certification by mid-2006. Together with the quality management system, the Company is developing environmental and risk management systems in order to eventually have an integrated system consistent with ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18000 standards.
- Environmental and Social Review of Timbues Port:
As required by law, Noble Argentina prepared and submitted to the Argentinean authorities a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the Timbues Port dated November 2004. During the preparation of the EIA, the company, with assistance from its EIA consultant, undertook consultation exercises throughout the area of influence of the facility, particularly at the Timbues town located 3 km from the port. Upon completion of the EIA, Noble Argentina disclosed locally the corresponding documentation, and presented the outcomes of the study at various public meetings. The following summarizes the main issues associated with the Timbues Port project and the mitigation measures considered in its design.
- Timbues site land acquisition.
Noble Argentina acquired 201 hectares of land located 35 km north of Rosario, or 340 km from Buenos Aires. The land was a grassland area, mostly idle, with some scattered cattle. It was purchased on a willing buyer-willing seller basis from a single owner. There were, therefore, no issues involving resettlement or economic displacement.
- Dust emissions from grain handling and storage.
The design of the port includes a range of techniques and devices to control and limit dust emissions from its grain handling operations. Truck unloading will take place in enclosed buildings, and conveyors are covered and fitted with dust aspiration equipment. Air within storage silos, the grain conditioning plant and other enclosed structures is passed through cyclones and/or dust filters that are an integral part of the design of these facilities.
- Effluent discharges.
The port will generate no process effluents; sanitary wastewaters separately generated at the administration building and the employee change room are collected and treated in two small, on-site secondary-level treatment plants prior to discharge to the Parana River. A monitoring program especially designed for this facility will verify that effluent discharges comply with Argentine and World Bank effluent limits.
- Stormwater and erosion control.
As in the case of Delta Dock, stormwater will be collected in a series of surface channels serving both paved and unpaved areas. Runoff is eventually routed to a main channel that discharges directly to the Parana River in compliance with Argentine requirements. Erosion along a bank behind the berths will be mitigated through implementation of additional preventive measures.
- Hazardous materials/pesticide handling and storage.
Timbues Port will use fungicides to prevent and control fungi and insects from contaminating grain and meal products. These materials will be stored in labeled containers in a dedicated, segregated storage facility designed to prevent the accidental release of these chemicals to the environment. Appropriate practices, in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions and Argentinean legislation, will be followed in the application of these products.
- Emergency preparedness and response (including fire and explosion prevention). Timbues Port’s design includes an emergency plan, procedures and equipment for responding to oil and chemical spills and fires. The potential for grain dust explosions will be minimized through attentive housekeeping and maintenance activities that aim to remove any accumulated dust in tunnels and enclosed operational areas. The Company will also install dust collection equipment externally to structures to further mitigate explosion risks. Just as in the case of Delta Dock, there will be designated fire and emergency response teams, and training and drills will be conducted regularly.
- Workplace air quality and noise.
Dust emission controls will also serve to maintain workplace respirable dust exposures within acceptable levels in most areas, as defined by Argentine and World Bank requirements. In areas where dust concentration thresholds (i.e., 10 mg/cu. m) are exceeded, employees will be provided with appropriate respiratory protection. In most operational areas, average workplace noise will not exceed allowable thresholds, but in those limited areas where it might, employees will be provided with hearing protection.
- Employee health and safety.
The company will implement a health and safety program that adheres to good international practice. Performance will be tracked in key areas, and controls are in place to assure procedures will be followed, including proper practices for applying fungicides. There will be regular health and safety inspections, and employees will be trained in areas related to their job activities. Employee health will also be monitored through regular medical exams.
- Environmental, health and safety management systems.
Noble Argentina will implement a quality management system that will achieve ISO 9001:2000 certification. This will be the first step towards a system that will eventually integrate ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18000 standards at the new terminal.
