Program information document (pid) appraisal stage

7. 
   Poverty, Social, and Environment Aspects
   

As a basis for project preparation, a socio-economic diagnostic of Limon was carried out to define a poverty profile. This study indicated a direct relationship between poverty levels and the following variables: (i) gender of head of household (51 percent of female headed households fall below the poverty line); (ii) unemployment (89 percent of the unemployed live in poverty; 33 percent in extreme poverty); (iii) type of employment (private sector employees and temporal employees face higher levels of poverty than public employees); (iv) type of insurance (60 percent of pensioners are poor). Surprisingly, variables such as ethnicity and level of education proved to be non significant in terms of determining levels of poverty.

During project preparation, a series of activities and studies were carried out to ensure the project environmental sustainability and compliance with national environmental legislation and with the Bank’s Safeguard Policies. Requirements for studies and socio-environmental management instruments were requested by the Bank’s Safeguard Advisory Team and were agreed with the GoCR. The GoCR prepared the respective Environmental Assessment Report (EAR), which resumes each document and the environmental screening of the activities which will be financed by the project. These documents, which are part of the Project’s Environmental Assessment, are available in the Bank’s Infoshop.

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  The drainage activities entail the rehabilitation and enlargement of an existing channel located in the area of direct influence of the wetland Limoncito, declared as a National Refuge of Wildlife. Since the works will be executed in an existing channel which design will permit to evacuate the surplus water upstream of the wetland, it is expected that this work will not affect the current conditions of the ecosystem. Nevertheless the foreseen drainage activities were classified after the environmental screening as of MODERATE-HIGH environmental and social risk (Category B1), because is located in a sensitive area as per the national environmental legislation and the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF). This will require the preparation of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to assure the environmental sustainability of these activities.
  

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  The sanitary sewage activities in Limoncito and Los Baños, consist of expansions of the existing network and the construction of wells to interconnect the system where the water served will be conducted to a Treatment Plant and subsequently evacuees through an emissary submarine that has the capacity to increase this new volume. In this sense, no significant environmental impacts are anticipated that could cause social and environmental negative impacts. Nevertheless, given the category of the activities as of MODERATE-LOW environmental and social risk (Category B2), it will be required to develop the respective Environmental Management Plan (EMP) to assure an adequate environmental management of the direct and indirect negative impacts that be produced with the execution and operation of the works.
  

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  No significant environmental impacts are expected from the rehabilitation of the railway line and the construction of the bridge over the Chirripó river. Nevertheless, complementary works related to the road safety and impacts of noise should be included in the technical feasibility design, since the railroad crosses some towns along the train line which population may be affected especially during the construction. These activities were thus classified as of MODERATE-LOW environmental and social risk (Category B2), reason by which to comply with the national environmental legislation will require to develop the respective EMP for assure an adequate management of the potential social and environmental impacts that can be produced with the execution of the works and their subsequent operation.
  

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  On the improvement of the Recreational Cariari Park, most part of the infrastructure required already exist, but in abandonment. Investments in the construction of physical infrastructure will not affect the most sensitive areas of the Park. This activity has benefited from INBIO advice, institution of recognized prestige at national and international level regarding the sustainable management of biodiversity. Additionally, this activity will include as part of its attractions, the marine corridor between the Cariari Park and the Uvita Island, another marine ecosystem. Overall, this activity has been categorized as of MODERATE environmental and social risk (Category B1), which will require the preparation of the a EMP. During project preparation, a Preliminary Environmental Assessment of the Cariari Park was carried out and included a sampling of the fauna and flora of the zone, its respective ecological zoning and the pre-design of the intervention to show the social, environmental, technical, and economic viability of the subproject.
  

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  Regarding the rehabilitation of the historic buildings and investments in urban recreational areas, given the characteristics of the foreseen works, no significant environmental impacts that could put in risk the natural and social environment are expected. On the contrary, the foreseen activities represent a HIGH POSITIVE impact for the population of Limón who will benefit directly from these new spaces and urban cultural renew, and for visitors from the cruisers and elsewhere. These activities have been classified as of LOW environmental and social risk (Category C), and will be require a “Declaración Jurada of Environmental Impact” in accordance with the national environmental legislation and the ESMF.
  

8. 
   Contact point
   

Title: Senior Transport Economist

Tel: (202) 473-3295

Fax:

9. 
   For more information contact:
   

The World Bank

1818 H Street, NW

Washington, D.C. 20433

Telephone: (202) 458-4500

Fax: (202) 522-1500

Email: pic@worldbank.org

Web: http://www.worldbank.org/infoshop