Beijing Sound has presented plans to address these impacts and to demonstrate that the proposed project will, upon implementation of the specific measures detailed below:
- be consistent with the company’s corporate environmental, health and safety (EHS) policies and ISO-certified environmental (ISO 14001) and quality (ISO 9001) management systems; and
- comply with applicable Chinese laws and regulations and IFC environmental and social requirements. Detail on each impact is provided below.
- EHS Assessment and Management Systems
Through its certified ISO 14001:2004 environmental management system, Beijing Sound implements its core principles of pollution prevention, energy efficiency, and workplace safety in the conduct of its business. The company’s environmental, health, and safety (EHS) policies commit Beijing Sound to: using innovative environmental protection technologies; strictly complying with all EHS laws and regulations; achieving energy efficiency; reducing generation of wastes; and adopting safety measures to avoid accidents.
The company’s environmental management team has overall responsibility for ensuring all operations function according to the EHS policies and principles, and employees are trained and made aware of these policies in relation to their day-to-day responsibilities. Consistent with the PRC laws and requirements, EIAs are prepared for all major projects. Potential impacts of the project are also identified during the project planning stage, and are used to prepare specific environmental control plans containing identified mitigation measures. Upon approval by the relevant governmental authorities, detailed engineering designs are prepared according to the environmental control plans. At the bidding and construction stage, the environmental management capacity and performance history of potential contractors and suppliers are considered to ensure that appropriate control measures are adopted and made part of all contracts. As the basis of implementating identified mitigation measures, construction environmental control plan documents for each contractor and supplier contain detailed schemes for stage-by-stage for control of construction-related impacts – erosion, dust, noise and waste management. For example, for the Nanchang City Municipal Wastewater Treatment project, civil construction contracts included stipulations and clauses covering employee safety, chance find procedures for cultural property, and myriad environmental control requirements. These were monitored regularly during construction, and non-compliances were identified and brought under control through weekly project quality meetings with contractors, as well as by the issuance of a weekly project bulletin.
For facilities which Beijing Sound operates, routine monitoring and supervision activities are undertaken by operational staff according to established procedures, including weekly reporting on key environmental and safety control factors, such as effluent quality and employee-related incidents. In addition, the company’s environmental management team periodically inspects facilities to verify performance of compliance with applicable requirements. Finally and sometimes relying on external resources, Beijing Sound carries out annual environmental management system audits consistent with its ISO 14001 certification conditions.
Going forward, Beijing Sound will adopt IFC environmental and social Performance Standards as part of the applicable legal and other requirements in its ISO 14001 management system. In addition, the company will incorporate formal procedures for environmental and social screening of business opportunities and new projects into its marketing strategy, commercial planning, and project bidding processes.
- Water Treatment and Finished Water Quality
When it designs, builds, and operates municipal water supply treatment plants, Beijing Sound agrees to accept and treat the raw water quality that is provided by the responsible government authority, whether that might be a national ministry or a local government entity. In most cases, the company typically employs conventional water treatment processes – flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection - to produce finished water that meets applicable Chinese drinking water standards and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. When raw water quality exhibits levels of pollution that preclude this approach, Beijing Sound adopts additional raw water pretreatment technologies to ensure cost effective production of suitable potable water. These technologies involve the application of biological processes to reduce concentrations of nitrogen compounds, as well as iron and manganese, such that subsequent treatment by conventional means can be achieved. Going forward, the company will build and, as necessary, operate plants that produce finished water complying with both Chinese and WHO drinking water standards.
- Wastewater Treatment and Effluent Quality
Beijing Sound designs, builds, and eventually intends to operate industrial and municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) throughout China. For industrial clients who require improved pollution control of wastewaters they generate, the company has implemented treatment and recycling facilities at existing industrial sites in the following sectors:
- oilfield production;
- petroleum refining;
- pulp and paper manufacturing;
- pharmaceutical manufacturing;
- chemicals manufacturing;
- steel industry coking process;
- concentrated ammonia wastewaters;
- textile industry; and
- food processing.
Effluent discharges in China are regulated by a number of sector-specific standards that have come into force over the last 20 years. The most recent of these standards and in effect since 2002, the Wastewater Standard for Municipal Wastewater Treatment (GB18918) includes effluent limitations for the internationally-accepted parameters associated with municipal wastewater discharges, and considers factors such as the use and pollution assimilation capacity of receiving waters.
Beijing Sound’s treatment facilities discharge to local rivers to which a range of regulatory limits apply depending on the assimilative capacity of the water body. In general, the Chinese standards compare favorably to World Bank Group guideline limits for these various wastewater discharges, with some minor exceptions. Moreover, more stringent effluent standards can be expected from Chinese regulators in the future owing to the heightened focus on water pollution control within the country at-large.
In the design and construction of industrial WWTPs for its customers, Beijing Sound applies and optimizes a range of innovative processes to effectively treat wastewaters to meet all applicable and relevant discharge standards. In some sectors such as coking wastewater treatment, the company is considered a worldwide leader and sole provider of treatment solutions. In the municipal sector, the company builds and operates plants with advanced technologies, such as biological denitrification and phosphorous removal, while maintaining low operating costs and simple methods of operation. Ongoing monitoring of performance indicates that all of its operating facilities comply with applicable Chinese discharge standards. Further, no facility has received any penalties or notices of violation with regard to performance.
- Sludge Management and Disposal
Treatment facilities, both water and wastewater, generate sludges requiring proper management and disposal. Water treatment sludges are (and will be) generated from filter backwashing and sedimentation tank cleaning at the potable water treatment plants. As allowed by Chinese regulations, these low solids content slurries are currently discharged to the nearby watercourses downstream of raw water intakes, without any significant adverse impact and with the approval of the relevant environmental authorities. Notwithstanding, should future requirements prevent from continuing this practice at new plants, the company will install and operate land-based sludge treatment and disposal systems as required.
As regards industrial WWTP sludges, the industrial clients operating the facilities have the responsibility for disposal of these materials consistent with Chinese requirements. Because of the potential presence of toxic industrial chemicals, these are typically disposed in licensed hazardous waste landfills operated by local authorities. Municipal WWTP sludges are either landfilled, or used as soil conditioner for agricultural purposes after being sufficiently processed to eliminate the risk of pathogens.
- Hazardous Materials Management and Emergency Response
At Beijing Sound treatment facilities, the use and storage of chemicals, particularly of chlorine, are subject to stringent standards because of the risks associated with accidental releases. The company ensures that chlorine and other chemical stores provide for adequate containment and neutralizing systems incorporating the latest design features to minimize the impact of a release.
At facilities which it operates, Beijing Sound establishes emergency prevention and control plans. Each plan specifies responsibilities, ensures appropriate response equipment and materials are in place, and details a set of procedures to be followed to minimize the harm of any potential accident. The comprehensive descriptions of incidents and situations addressed by the plans include: sudden changes in influent water quality; electrical equipment problems; mechanical equipment problems; and emergency procedures. Employees will be regularly trained to ensure familiarity with their roles and responsibilities. Going forward, plans will also add a community involvement component that addresses appropriate behavior and safety measures to be implemented in the event of a toxic chemical (e.g., chlorine gas) release beyond the plant boundaries.
- Employee Health and Safety
Beijing Sound has an occupational safety and health program, the main goal of which is to ensure workplace safety through prevention and control. It includes a series of safe work methods and procedures, such as work safety responsibility; education and training; operational rules; and prevention and treatment of occupational diseases. The company strictly follows the Chinese Work Safety law requirements, and has implemented an injury insurance program for its staff.
Integrated into company strategy and planning activities, specific employee health and safety measures include:
- initial and periodic medical exams;
- new employee training in workplace safety, health and protection;
- provision of personal protection equipment;
- annual safety inspections of facilities; and
- professional certification of senior safety personnel.
During design and construction activities, key workplace risks are identified and methods of control specified. Potential contractor’s safety records and performance are assessed, and detailed control schemes are documented for all construction personnel. Beijing Sound regularly inspects construction site safety to verify control of dangerous activities and implementation of appropriate measures.
- Site Selection, Land
Sites on which the company’s projects are constructed and operated are provided either by the industrial customer within its existing property boundaries, or, in the case of municipal wastewater treatment plants, by the respective local authority. Going forward, the company will develop, construct and operate facilities only on land that has been acquired or made available by third parties consistent with IFC’s policy on involuntary resettlement.
