IFC’s ongoing monitoring of Aerodom’s environmental and social performance and this updated appraisal confirms that the Company is meeting the requirements of the original Loan Agreement, including the mitigation measures outlined in IFC’s original ERS, and continues to demonstrate that its activities comply with applicable requirements of the Dominican General Law of Environment and Natural Resources and the General Health Law, relevant IFC guidelines, US FAA guidance, API specifications, ILO guidelines, US OSHA guidelines, ICAO, IATA, and NFPA codes. Details on how Aerodom is addressing and managing the impacts associated with these issues are provided below.
- Environmental, Health and Safety Management
Under the leadership of the EHS Director, Aerodom is appropriately maintaining its EHS management system and ensuring environmental performance. An EHS management program has been established with specific mitigation measures and actions necessary to comply with applicable requirements. Each action is budgeted in the Company’s annual capital expenditure plan. Corporate EHS staff regularly monitor effectiveness of the program through frequent inspections and audits of each of Aerodom’s airports. Through robust recordkeeping and document control procedures, corrective actions are addressed in a timely fashion. In addition, an environmental quality laboratory has been established at AILA to support the monitoring program. Finally, the EHS program ensures that all employees whose work has significant environmental impact receive adequate training, and are aware of their roles and responsibilities.
- Construction Impacts
The potential environmental impacts from remaining construction, renovation and expansion activities (primarily at AILA, AIGL, and AISA) include fugitive dusts, soil erosion, noise, waste management, and additional vehicle traffic movement. EPC contractors and subcontractors are applying standard construction environmental controls and mitigation measures as provided in specific airport Construction Management Plans and EPC contract documents, and have permanent staff responsible for the implementation of such Plans and practices, particularly at the new AISA airport construction site.
In addition, to ensure the land comprising the two borrow pits/quarries on the mountain east of the AISA airport site will be restored, the EPC contractor will implement and complete the closure and reclamation of these disturbed areas. Actions to date have emphasized soil protection and erosion controls, including sedimentation ponds and stormwater interception channels. Upon completion of construction, the area will be graded and revegetated with plant species native to the site.
- Fuel/Hazardous Materials Storage and Handling, including Emergency Response
The May 2004 independent audits of the aviation fuel tank farms at AILA and AIGL operated by fuel supply contractors (Shell, Esso, and Texaco) identified deficiencies which require correction at the AILA facilities. Corrective measures to be implemented by the Las Americas contractor include:
- Provision of secondary containment structures surrounding the three 142,000 gallon above ground jet fuel storage tanks;
- Increase capacity of both storage and pumping for fire fighting at the fuel storage facility; and
- Improve the existing water pumping system for fire fighting.
In addition to the above, Aerodom has distributed its comprehensive set of aviation fuel handling and storage standards and specifications to the fuel supply contractors. These standards essentially call for best practices to be adopted and applied, including the phase out of USTs (with some exceptions), and address design and construction details (e.g., materials of construction, ventilation, piping, cathodic protection), secondary containment, prevention of leaks, spills and overflows, and provisions for responding to fuel spills, fires, and explosions. Renewal of the existing fuel supply contracts at AILA and AIGL (originally executed with the Dominican Government, as well as the new contract at AISA, will require the adoption of, and compliance with, these standards.
- Potable Water Supply
The water supply treatment system for AILI, although recently completed, has been found to need improvement. Aerodom has identified the technical improvements necessary to ensure compliance with water quality standards, and is currently implementing such improvements, including new chlorination methods and equipment. In addition, an updated procedure for regular maintenance of the airport storage reservoir, including guidance for cleaning and disinfection has been prepared. Aerodom currently provides bottled water for all drinking water needs at all its operating airports, and will continue to do so for the duration of the concession agreement, independent of the technical upgrading and monitoring program. The new water supply system for AISA is in the final stages of design, and is expected to be operational October 2006.
- Stormwater Drainage and Effluent Discharges
Stormwater drainage systems at existing airports are functioning properly, and the construction of the new drainage facilities at the AISA airport is essentially complete.
All sanitary wastewaters generated by existing airports continue to be treated by septic tank and drainfield systems. New wastewater treatment systems employing sequencing batch reactor (SBR technology) are being designed and constructed at AILA, AIGL, and AISA. Treated effluent from these new plants will be discharged to the sea in compliance with the limits established by Dominican law and IFC/World Bank guidelines.
- Solid and Liquid Waste Management
Solid wastes generated at the existing airports continue to be collected by licensed contractors and disposed at off-site municipal landfills. Aerodom has budgeted and scheduled the installation of dedicated incineration units at airports handling international air traffic for the segregated management of wastes from these flights. In keeping with international best practice, emissions from these incinerator units will meet Dominican and IFC/World Bank guideline limits.
Oily wastewaters and stormwaters contaminated with leaked or spilled oil are collected and treated by oil/water separators. Removed oils and other small amounts of hazardous liquids generated by maintenance activities are stored in drums and periodically collected by commercial recycling contractors.
- Bird Hazards to Aircraft
Located less than 2 km from the AILI airport, the Duquesa municipal garbage dump is the principal disposal site for municipal waste generated by the Province of Santo Domingo. Through the efforts of consortium of national, regional and local government authorities (the inter-institutional Committee) and with Aerodom collaboration and participation, significant improvements have been made to the operation of this facility to minimize its attraction to birds that could pose safety hazards to aircraft. Under a 20-year contract with the local municipality, a private company now manages the facility. This company has improved drainage and roads, upgraded equipment, and most importantly, now covers daily all waste delivered and disposed at the site consistent with the operational practices of a modern sanitary landfill. This has significantly reduced the number of cattle egrets (the predominant bird species) in the area.
Aerodom has implemented a Bird and Wildlife management and control program at AILI to control the risks posed by the birds attracted to the Duquesa dump. The program is managed by a full-time supervisor supported by three wildlife control officers, and uses a number of control methods, including:
- Reducing and eliminating habitats favorable to birds (vegetation, food, nesting grounds, etc.);
- Bioacoustics (bird distress calls, predator calls, and other audio effects to disperse birds);
- Shotguns;
- Gas cannon; and
- Other passive and active methods.
While the bird hazard at AILI is slightly elevated due to the proximity of the Duquesa dump, the location relative to the airport falls within U.S. FAA standards for airports serving air traffic similar to that using AILI. Moreover, the Bird and Wildlife control program meets the requirements set out by ICAO for the reduction of bird hazards.
- Aircraft Noise
Aerodom continues to generate noise contours annually based on current and forecasted operations at all airports, and collect reliable information to validate contours (air traffic logs, actual ambient noise levels measured at specific locations and airports) to confirm impacts are within acceptable limits. In addition, the Company will continue, as necessary, to adjust aircraft run-up procedures to minimize noise to certain locations near the airports, as well as install vegetative screens to reduce noise impacts.
- Employee Health and Safety, including Fire and Life Safety
Aerodom is continuing to implement a comprehensive occupational health and safety program and management system at all of its airports consistent with ILO, ICAO standards and BS 8800 management system standards. Program elements include procedures for high-risk work activities, inspections, accident investigation, injury and illness monitoring and measuring, safe work practices and hazards training, medical evaluations, procurement guidelines, design and construction practices, and emergency response.
Buildings are being constructed to NFPA fire and life safety standards, and include provisions for safe egress, fire detection and alarm systems, and fire suppression systems.
