Environmental Assessment Waste to Energy Executive … Sicomo WtE Exec... · Environmental...

MORES S.A.R.L.Management of Resources & Environmental Solutions

Environmental AssessmentWaste to Energy Executive Summary

for the

Sicomo Waste to Energy Facility in

Qab Elias, Bekaa, Lebanon

June 2017

Executive Summary ‐ Environmental Impact Assessment for Sicomo Waste to Energy MORES S.A.R.L.

June 2017 1

PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT

This report presents an executive summary for the implementation of a Waste to Energy (WtE)

conversion project deployed by Sicomo in Qab Elias, Bekaa, Lebanon. This summary is based on

the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) that was submitted in 2011 for the WtE project in

addition to all addendums submitted afterwards. It is prepared in accordance with the

Environmental and Social Assessment (ESA) and the Loan Agreement (LA) requirements of the

Lebanon Environmental Pollution Abatement Project (LEPAP).

It should be noted that an executive summary was prepared in 2014 and it was approved by the

MoE; however it did not comply with the requirements of the Loan Agreement (LA) of the LEPAP

The EIA study prepared and submitted in the 1st quarter of 2011 was approved by Ministry of

Environment (MoE) of Lebanon. The EIA study evaluated the potential impacts of the project in

accordance with the requirements of the MoE and presented appropriate mitigation measures.

Since the Loan Agreement was initiated in 2015, the EIA report and its executive summary

(2011), as well as addendum reports (2014) did not conform to the LA requirements.

Sicomo s.a.l. is a cardboard manufacturing company that recycles waste cardboard and paper

mainly segregated from the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) stream, as well as that sorted at

source. The conditioning and cleaning of received used paper and cardboard from impurities,

mainly plastics and nylon, had led to the accumulation of substantial volumes of non‐recyclable

plastics that could not be disposed of.

Sicomo has been storing such plastic waste since 2005 on an adjacent private property it owns,

rather than sending it to the publicly used Qab Elias open dump. Over 28,000 tons of such

waste had accumulated by 2011. The lack of alternatives for the disposal of such waste

prompted Sicomo to opt for a Waste to Energy conversion project as a solution to address the

accumulated plastics and concurrently generate energy for use in its own operations.

PROJECT COMPONENTS

The project is located in Qab Elias, Zahle Caza, Bekaa Governorate, approximately 10 km from

Zahle at an altitude of 900 m ASL. The WtE project is situated on privately owned land near the

existing Sicomo production plant in an easily accessible area. The satellite image below (Figure

1) shows the location of the project site within Qab Elias.


June 2017 2

Figure 1 Satellite Image Showing Sicomo Project Location and Cadastral Borders of Villages including Qab Elias (MORES, 2011)

The main benefits from the implementation of the WtE project can be summarized as follows:

Treatment and reuse of accumulated solid waste;

Saving on potential landfill space and/or prolonging the life of existing landfills that are

already under pressure, via continued reception of part of the sorted waste by Sukleen

(Sukomi) from the Greater Beirut Area (GBA) SW stream, and reuse of accumulated

waste materials at and near the project site (plastic, nylon, wood, metals);

Producing energy from a renewable (or otherwise wasted) source and reducing demand

on the electrical grid and finite national energy supply;

Discontinuing the use of fuel powered electricity generators and limiting diesel fuel use

to a minimum (or nil);

Contributing to upholding industrial production capacity in Lebanon and Bekaa;

Continuing contribution to the economic development of the country; and

Continuing contribution to socio‐economic stability of the area by creating and

supporting job opportunities.

The WtE conversion/combustion unit was designed and established by EnergEco s.a.l., a

company specialized and experienced in the design, installation, operation and maintenance of

waste to energy systems.


June 2017 3

The core waste treatment process at the facility is gasification. The facility comprises three

structures. The first hosts the presorting facility, while the second is a Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF)

storage area. The third structure hosts the gasification plant.

The presorting facility is mainly composed of a shredder to break down bulky material if

encountered, magnetic separator to extract ferrous metals, wind‐sifter to remove dense

material (mainly stones, and porcelain material), conveyor belt for manual sorting to recover

material if needed, and a squeezer to reduce the humidity of material.

The RDF storage area is a closed platform and recently built hangar inside which RDF material is

prepared in neat piles and fed using a clamp into an inclined conveyor belt that conveys the

material to the gasification facility.

At the gasification facility, RDF material is received at the fuel silo. The fuel silo is equipped with

a ram feeder that controls the feeding rate into the furnace. The furnace is composed of two

combustion chambers. The first chamber operates at a temperature of 850°C under low oxygen

environment (<3%) that prevents the RDF material from undergoing a complete combustion.

The syngas and heat of the first combustion chamber are supplied to the second combustion

chamber where full combustion takes place at a temperature of approximately 1050°C. The

heat generated from that chamber is fed into a high pressure boiler that generates high

pressure steam that is fed into a steam turbine that in turn generates electricity. Part of the

steam is conveyed via an insulated piping system to Sicomo’s recycling plant, while remaining

steam is condensed into water and re‐fed into the water tank feeding the boiler.

The effluent air stream from the combustion chamber is cooled via conduction to a temperature

below 180°C within an interval of less than 2 seconds to prevent the formation of Dioxins and

Furans in ambient air. After cooling, the effluent stream is injected with sodium bicarbonate

and passed through activated carbon prior to reaching the bag filter. After the bag filter the

effluent stream are released into ambient air.

Raw material flow of both Sicomo’s (a) Cardboard Recycling Facility and (b) Waste to Energy

plant is shown in Figure 2 below. The main supplier of recovered used cardboard and paper as

presented is Sukomi, providing about 4/5 of the raw materials before processing.


June 2017 4

Figure 2 Raw Material Flow from Recycled Cardboard Production to WtE Facility

The quantity of ash generated from the facility is approximately 10.11% of the RDF feed

material, divided into 0.5% fly ash and 9.61% bottom ash.

COST OF THE PROJECT

The total cost of the project including mitigation and monitoring to date is estimated at 10.389

Million USD. Table 1 presents a breakdown of the project costs by component.

Table 1 Project Cost Breakdown by Component

Component / Target Mitigation Area Estimated Cost (USD)

Procurement and Installation of the Waste‐to‐Energy Conversion Unit (2010‐2011)

5,200,000

Mitigation Measures (2015‐2016)

Wastewater effluent quality 355,000

Waste to Energy Stack Emissions and RDF Feed Material 4,213,000

Water quality 4,000

Bottom ash and fly ash quality 50,000

Site and construction works including manual labor 487,000

Sub‐total 5,109,000

Monitoring Activities (2012‐2016)


June 2017 5

Component / Target Mitigation Area Estimated Cost (USD)

Total estimated 3rd party testing, analysis, consulting and reporting costs

80,000

TOTAL 10,389,000

SCREENING OF THE PROJECT AND ANALYSIS OF APPLICABLE WORLD BANK SAFEGUARD

POLICIES

As per the World Bank (WB) Operational Manual on Environmental Assessment (OP 4.01, 1999),

the WB requires an environmental assessment of projects and sub‐projects proposed for

financing to help ensure that they are environmentally sound and sustainable.

Based on the project and sub‐project screening applied to LEPAP (Environmental and Social

Assessment (ESA) of the LEPAP, 2013), that takes into account the basis of impacts required in

OP 4.01, and screening lists in the national EIA Decree № 8633 (2012), the WtE sub‐project is

classified as Category I.

Category I includes sub‐projects corresponding to Annex I of the national EIA decree № 8633,

for which an Environment and Social Impact Assessment is mandatory, and those similar to

Category A projects in the WB OP 4.01. Sub‐projects under Category I would have potential

significant adverse social or environmental impacts that are diverse, irreversible, or

unprecedented considering their magnitude and severity (ESA, 2013). LEPAP sub‐projects under

this category include waste to energy projects.

The applicable WB safeguard policies have been taken into consideration and addressed within

project reporting and submissions for the Sicomo WtE project. The WtE project has been

thoroughly documented, whereby the project proponent has undertaken and submitted the

required studies, reporting and activities, including an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

report (2011), an Air Dispersion Modeling Approach report (2012), three addendum reports

(2014) based on MoE feedback, and monitoring update reports (2015 and 2016). The EIA report

was prepared prior to the issuance of the EIA Decree № 8633 (2012). As part of the

environmental assessment process, a public participation meeting was conducted to present the

project and obtain feedback, and a public notice was posted to gather comments and inquiries

from the local community.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

In conformity with EIA guidelines, a public announcement was posted in the Municipality of Qab

Elias informing the general public about the WtE project, the EIA study, and soliciting public

concern and comments. Thereafter a notice was put up on the municipality board soliciting

public involvement on the 17 December 2010 to discuss the project in the presence of the

project proponent(s) and consultants.


June 2017 6

The public involvement meeting took place at the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and

Agriculture in Zahle and Bekaa (CCIAZ). The project was jointly presented by Mr. M. Ayoub,

General Manager of Sicomo, Mr. K. Haddad, Deputy General Manager of Sicomo, Mr. R. Maasri,

General Manager of the consulting firm MORES, and Mr. R. Nassif, Head of Engineering

Department at MORES. The presentation was followed by a Question and Answer (Q&A)

session.

A member of the audience inquired whether the MoE requires periodic reporting from

establishments in general and Sicomo in particular, to which the presenters replied that the

MoE does require reporting and Sicomo will send update reports to the MoE containing data on

emission levels, update on processes if any, monitoring results and other relevant information.

Another attendee asked if the MoE would hinder the development of such projects. It was

clarified that the MoE supports projects with positive outcomes, especially when they benefit

the community and environment. Some participants inquired on the possibility of using

municipal solid waste as WtE input material.

In general, the public and local community exhibited an acceptance of the project and an

enthusiasm for an effective solution for solid waste management and renewable energy

generation.

In addition to the public participation meeting, several discussions were held by Sicomo

including a consultation meeting with the neighboring community, and discussion sessions took

place with community elders in the presence of Sicomo management and MORES experts.

The project has since been discussed in various official meetings and open forums related to the

environment, industry and energy, specifically following the waste management crisis in

Lebanon in 2015. It has also received media coverage and was discussed in open debates as a

plausible technical solution for valorization of waste streams.

Photo 1 Attendees at Public Participation Meeting (December 2010)

Photo 2 One on One Discussion at Public Participation Meeting (December 2010)


June 2017 7

SUMMARY OF ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS

The identification of potential project alternatives should consider other practicable strategies

that would promote the minimization or elimination of identified potential negative

environmental impacts. In order to select the most suitable strategy to manage the waste at

Sicomo, alternatives are compared and graded as shown in Table 2 below.

Table 2 Analysis and Grading of Alternatives

Selection Criteria Do Nothing Landfilling Back to Source

Energy Recovery

Recycling

Technical Feasibility 1 4 5 5 2

Capital investment 5 3 5 1 4

Energy Recovery 1 1 1 5 1

Land requirement 1 1 3 4 1

Supporting similar industries

1 1 1 3 1

Cost of Operation and Maintenance (O&M)

4 3 5 3 4

Reducing carbon emissions

1 1 1 4 1

Recovering recyclables

1 1 1 4 4

Socio‐economy 1 3 2 3 3

Overall 1.778 2 2.667 3.556 2.333

Based on the assessment displayed in the above table, the WtE energy alternative has the

highest score and is considered as the most suitable alternative.

BASELINE SURVEY

Table 3 summarizes the Description of the Environment chapter or baseline data.

Table 3 Summary of Baseline Data

Selected Indicator

Characteristics

Geographical setting and topography

Qab Elias village is located in the Caza of Zahle in the Bekaa Governorate (Mohafaza), one of the 8 Governorates of Lebanon, at a distance of 10 km from the city of Zahle. Zahle Caza is located in the Bekaa Valley, in the central area of the country between the two East and West mountain ranges of Lebanon, at an altitude range of 900 to 1,100 m. Zahle Caza has a surface area of about 53.13 km².

Qab Elias is situated at a driving distance of 45 km from Beirut. It stretches over a surface area of 20.61 km². The average altitude of Qab Elias is 950 m ASL, while that of the project area is about 900 m ASL.

Qab Elias is surrounded to the West by the villages of Bar Elias, Taanayel and Haoush


June 2017 8

Selected Indicator

Characteristics

El‐Mendara, and to the East by Dahr El‐Baidar and Ouadi Al‐Deloum, to the North‐West by Zahle, to the North by the villages of Jdita and Mraijat, to the South by Mazraat El‐Mehqan.

Climate

The climate in Lebanon is Mediterranean characterized by a long, hot and dry summer, and a cool rainy winter. Fall is typically a transitional season with a gradual lowering of temperature and little rain, while spring occurs when the winter rains cause the vegetation to revive. Topographical variations in the country create localized modifications of the basic climatic pattern.

The Bekaa Valley and the Anti‐Lebanon Mountains are shielded from the influence of the sea by the Lebanon Mountains. The result is considerably less precipitation and humidity and a wider variation in daily and yearly temperatures. Thus, the Bekaa Valley, situated inland, is characterized by hot, dry summers and hard, cold winters, during which the north winter wind is very severe. Despite its relatively low altitude (the highest point is 1,100 meters ASL), more snow falls there than at comparable altitudes west of the Lebanon Mountains.

Temperature

According to the “Atlas Climatique du Liban” the mean ambient temperature is ‐6.7°C in winter and 39.4°C in summer. January is the coldest month of the year, whereby temperature reaches ‐5°C. July and August are the warmest months of the year whereby temperatures reach around 39.4 to 38.9°C. The annual average of extreme temperatures in the Zahle area is 16.35°C.

Precipitation and Humidity

The average annual precipitation in Lebanon is about 750 mm whereby December, January and February witness the most rainfall.

According to the Taanayel weather monitoring station near Qab Elias, rainfall in that area falls mostly between November and May. The annual rainfall recorded average is around 695 mm/year. Measured data shows that it ranged between a minimum of 331 mm in 1993 and a maximum of 1174 mm in 1969.

According to the Central Administration for Statistics (CAS), the average annual rainfall in 2006, 2007 and 2008 in the Zahle area was about 500 mm/yr.

Based on CAS data, relative humidity in the area of Zahle ranges from an average of 60 % in winter to 53 % in summer, with a year‐round average of 55%.

Wind

According to Ksara station, annual dominant winds in the region of Zahle are from the West, South‐West, or Northeast depending on the season and month. During the period extending from November until April, the dominant wind is from West or South‐West. Between May and August, the dominant wind is West and North‐West, while between September and October the most dominant winds are West, North‐West and South‐West.

Geology

The local geology of the area under study can be divided broadly into the limestone and dolomitic limestone mountain slopes overlain by very thin soils, and the floor of the plain, which is composed of deep sedimentary deposits of alluvial and lacustrine origin.

The limestone strata of the Barouk Mountains belong to the Lower Jurassic (J4; Kesrouan Formation) and probably extend beneath the plain.

The Quaternary sediments of the Bekaa plain exposed in the area of study and the Aammiq marshes to the south of the site are mainly lacustrine and alluvial consisting of limestone gravels and pebbles, organic material and clays, calcareous muds and oxidized soil horizons. The depth of the sedimentary deposits in the Bekaa valley is


June 2017 9

Selected Indicator

Characteristics

well over 300 m and may reach up to a 1,000 m and more towards the center of the basin (Walley, 1996).

Leake (2004) stated that the sediments within the valley floor are assumed to consist of a sequence of fluvial and lacustrine deposits mainly silts and sands with rare coarser material, primarily associated with fan deposits. Layers of organic debris are also likely to occur in the sequence.

A series of sub‐parallel geological faults orientated predominantly southwest – northeast occur on the margins of the valley side and mark the boundary between the hard limestone and the sediments of the valley floor. They are of regional scale and have substantial vertical throws and play a major role in the Hydrogeologic regime of the area. The main fault is present up‐gradient of the site and seems to feed springs to the south.

Hydrogeology

To the north of the site, a fault line runs parallel to the mountain ridge. This fault seems to contribute to the general hydrogeologic regime of the area. The hydrogeological significance of this and other similar faults to the south (towards the Aamiq area) is complex. In some cases, they are ‘open’ and presumably sites of heightened water transmission. In other cases, there is so much finely ground limestone (‘rock flour’) that the fault zones may act as almost impermeable barriers to water flow. (Walley, 2003). Such impermeable barrier to groundwater flow possibly causes the ground water to emerge at springs points.

The limestone mountain slopes form an excellent aquifer as they are deeply penetrated by fissures through which ground water can flow rapidly. Here it should be mentioned that the occurrence of the Jabal Barouk as a major anticline (in relation to the Yammouneh Fault) directly implies that the eastern blanks of this mountain exhibit a general dip towards the valley, thus facilitating the inflow of groundwater into the plain. This zone is the main area of water catchment for the aquifer.

Groundwater flow within the limestone is controlled by the presence of fissures and fractures, which can readily transmit groundwater over large distances and into the sediments of the marshes. Hydraulic continuity between the limestone and Quaternary sediments allows the recharge of the sediments from the layers of limestone present on the flanks of the valley through direct groundwater flow.

Water Resources

Zahle and the surrounding areas receive water mainly from local groundwater wells and Qaa Al‐Rim. The existing water distribution network is old, does not cover all households and recipients and is not in good condition. Based on the plan of the Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR), a new water supply network has been established in the area. This network has good overage but is not yet in use or connected to recipients.

Wastewater

An existing public sewer network with semi open concrete channels is currently used for wastewater discharge by residential, commercial and industrial establishments in Qab Elias.

Works are underway for a new network with closed pipes to replace the existing one. The new network will be connected to a wastewater treatment plant.

According to the Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR), a wastewater Master Plan, has been completed for the area covering networks and a Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) to be constructed in Marj to serve the areas of Anjar, Majdel Anjar, Marj and Qab Elias. Design and tender documents have already been


June 2017 10

Selected Indicator

Characteristics

prepared, and are expected to be launched with both the network and WWTP to be concurrently constructed.

Solid waste

There is no proper disposal or treatment of SW in Qab Elias. Based on a population estimate of 47,500 persons, Qab Elias generates approximately 47 tons/day of solid waste per day (at a rate of 1 kg/capita/day). Solid waste is disposed of in an open dumpsite located near the neighboring Marje town.

Air quality

Qab Elias is a rural rather than urban area, and does not experience heavy air emissions from large power plants. However, the area does have several industrial establishments. In addition, there is a quarry North East of the Sicomo facility, where rock and sand are mined. This quarry, which is situated at a relatively higher elevation, is a frequent source of dust (during sunny dry season) and mud (during rainy season) in the project area.

Traffic along the main road connecting the villages as well small fuel‐powered electricity generators in households and establishments are also a potential sources of air pollution in the area. Possible open burning of the solid waste dump of Qab Elias might also be a source of odors and air pollutants emanating in the area. No air quality analysis or study was done or is available that characterizes air quality in the project area.

Thus, the quarry site, open burning, industries, generators, and vehicle induced air emissions along the main, secondary and tertiary roads are the potential sources of air pollution in the project area.

Plume Modeling as Risk Assessment at Sicomo

The aim of the air modeling study is to present impacts of a stack accidental release consisting of the control system failure and the release of the pollutants without any mitigation. The assessment was conducted over short time averaging period (i.e. 1 hour) since an intervention will occur immediately after a breakdown in order to stop the combustor.

A detailed air dispersion modeling was undertaken to assess the impact of a stack accidental release due to the breakdown of the control equipment from the WtE Sicomo combustor. SCREEN3 and AERMOD were used to conduct the simulations.

The Radius of Impact was determined in the first step by SCREEN3, and the highest concentrations for 1‐hour average were calculated afterwards using AERMOD.

The points below summarize the most important modeling outcome:

Radius Of impact was determined to be 3,500 meters centered on SICOMO’s WtE combustor.

Most impacted area is located West of the WtE combustor in an undeveloped area

Highest predicted concentrations for the different gaseous pollutants are below ERPG‐1 and are below 30 µg.m‐3 in sensitive receptor’s area

Highest 1‐hour averaging for PCDD/F at sensitive receptors is below 30 pg.m‐

3. While annual average for PCDD/F at sensitive receptors is below 0.08 pg.m‐

3

Inter‐annual variation to meteorological conditions was also assessed indicating a maximum variation of around 5%

Noise levels The major source of noise pollution in Qab Elias is believed to be vehicle movement on the main road connecting the villages. Although this road is traversed by buses,


June 2017 11

Selected Indicator

Characteristics

large and small trucks and cars, it is typically not heavily used. Thus, noise impact is mainly noticeable in areas close to the highway. Another source of noise are quarrying activities located North‐West of Sicomo in the Mount Lebanon range.

Some of the recorded baseline noise levels near the project area during the day (9:00‐15:00) were 69 dBA at the highway with traffic (low count), 62 dBA 10 meters from the highway with traffic (low count), 58 dBA at the project site (windy conditions) and 56 dBA at the Sicomo internal facility road.

Land use/land cover

According to the Land cover/Landuse Map of Lebanon (MoE, 2003), the landuse/ land cover in the Zahle area is mainly used for agricultural, residential and commercial purposes. The majority of the land is privately owned. Farmers face many constraints including the need for irrigation and agricultural infrastructure. Olive trees, grapes, and figs are also present in the region. Most of the cultivated land in the village is not irrigated.

Biological Environment

The project site is vacant land, with very few shrubs or grasses, since it contains the existing hangar and a large part of it is covered with accumulated inert waste (plastic, nylon, wood, metals, etc.). The project area does not house important significant flora or fauna.

Socio‐Economic Environment

The local population of Qab Elias counts for about 47,500 residents, while refugees of Syrian or other nationalities account for about 15,000.

The socio‐economic drivers in Qab Elias are mainly agriculture and industries, in addition to some commercial retail and services.

IMPACT ANALYSIS

Table 4 below provides a summary of the potential impacts that are associated with both the

construction and operation of the WtE plant.

Table 4 Summary of Identified Potential Environmental Impacts

Indicator Impact Construction Phase

Impact Operation Phase

Air quality

Dust from land clearing, vehicle emissions (movement of trucks and heavy‐duty equipment), as well as construction works (transport of construction material, excavation)

‐

Dust in flue gas ‐ will be removed by multi cyclone and bag filters system

Dioxin formation is prevented with high temperatures (1050ºC) and rapid cooling

Proper ventilation within the facility

Alkaline additives and high gas temperature will neutralize possible acid formation

Disuse of fuel‐powered electricity generator & replacement with energy obtained from waste as power source

‐/+

Soil, Surface waters & Groundwat

Possible limited accidental leakage or spillage of construction chemicals, fuel or oil products (from

‐/0 Removal of accumulated waste and thus removal of possible leachate into soil, groundwater and surface water from

0/+


June 2017 12



er quality equipment and vehicles)

Direct supervision and quality control by Sicomo to prevent littering and/or dumping

Short construction / installation time

Simple or basic construction works

rainfall

Exposing soil, improving its condition and allowing space for vegetative growth

Collection and treatment/reuse of ash

Planned connection to wastewater network and WWTP being developed in the area of Zahle

Solid Waste

No surplus material or leftover building material or waste from excavation and land clearing

Short construction/installation time and basic construction works

‐/0

Accumulated waste in open area will be removed and treated

Future waste to be generated by Sicomo production plant will be treated, thus preventing further generation of waste

Possible treatment in the future of high calorific value waste sorted at source

Saving on scarce landfilling space

Waste resulting from project activities are properly managed

Cooling of bottom ash will prevent slag formation

Adding activated carbon will prevent heavy metal formation

+++

Noise

Limited excavation and construction works and heavy machinery and equipment used onsite


‐/0

Waste to energy unit designed according to EU and Swedish noise standards

Proper design, sound barriers and PPE for employees where needed

Restricted movement of vehicles transporting raw materials on‐site

Negligible vehicle movement transporting employees to and from the facility

‐/0

Health and Safety

Direct onsite supervision and control by Sicomo

Possible accidents from improper handling, storage and transportation of construction material

Possible accidents from operation of construction equipment

‐/0

Accumulated waste which is a heath hazard and source of pests and rodents will be removed

Further waste will be prevented from accumulating

Possible treatment in the future of waste sorted at source would improve public health and safety or living conditions in the area

Standard Operation Procedures recommended by the manufacturer will be followed

Detailed H&S plan will be developed including on‐site exposure and accident occurrence and employees will be

+++


June 2017 13



trained accordingly

Quality control and self inspection

Transport and traffic planning

Movement of heavy trucks and machinery


‐

Restricted movement of vehicles transporting raw materials on‐site

Negligible vehicle movement transporting employees to and from the facility

0

Landscape and visual intrusion

Minimal impact as site is already visually intrusive

Proper site enclosure

0

Improvement of landscape and removal of visual intrusion factor via removal of accumulated waste

Possible planting of trees and vegetation to improve scenery

Minimal impact since the project is properly designed and of small size

++

Biodiversity

Site is in degraded condition mostly with pests, rodents and occasional stray dogs

Site has almost no vegetation cover since it is covered with waste

No significant environmental impacts on the biodiversity of the project site

0

No significant environmental impacts on the biodiversity of the ecosystem on the premises of the selected site

Trees will be planted within and at the boundary of the project site

0/+

Socio‐economics

Creation of new job opportunities

++

Creation of new job opportunities

Stimulation of economic and social activity through possible reception of sorted at source waste in the future

Enhancing of social collaboration and interaction through joint community projects

++

+++ High positive impact ‐ ‐ ‐ High negative impact

++ Moderate positive impact ‐ ‐ Moderate negative impact

+ Low positive impact ‐ Low negative impact

0 Neutral impact

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

Mitigation Plan

Table 5 below presents a summary of the mitigation plan, including measures undertaken so far,

in addition to the procurement and installation of an additional wastewater treatment unit

currently being undertaken (2nd Quarter 2017).


June 2017 14

The presented figures cover structural works and modifications, including the use of local

manual labor, to accommodate the establishment of the listed mitigation measures from 2012

to 2016.

Based on presented values, the operational or running costs for additional wastewater

treatment in the cardboard production facility, and additives and filter replacement for the bag

filters at the WtE facility, amount to 15,891.6 USD/month or 190,700 USD/year.

Table 5 Summary of the Mitigation Plan: EXECUTED Measures, Responsibility and Cost

Issue/Objective Mitigation Measure Responsibility Cost

Wastewater Effluent Quality

Decrease Total Nitrogen levels below 60 mg/l

Improvement in cardboard production efficiency and resources use

Improvement in quality of raw materials used for production via supplier

Decrease in use of detergents

Implementation Period: 2015‐2016

Sicomo: internal auditing, upgrades and improvements, assessment of compliance, proposing potential mitigation measures

Technology provider: Supplying components, technical support during installation and trial operation

MORES: auditing, reporting, assessment of compliance, proposing potential mitigation measures

Estimated cost of modifications: 5,000 USD

Decrease Total Phosphorus levels below 10 mg/l

Decrease TSS levels from 591 mg/l to 57 mg/l

Waste to Energy Stack Emissions and RDF Feed Material

Improve filtration efficiency and further decrease air pollutant levels

Installation of bag filter at WtE stack exit

Implementation Period: 2016




Cost of bag filter procurement and installation: 303,000 USD

Cost of bag filter replacement: 25,000 USD every 2 years

Cost of additives: 480 USD/day


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Overall upgrade, improvement in efficiency, and initiation of electricity production

Upgraded via replacement:

‐ Boiler

Newly installed:

‐ Turbine

‐ Condenser

‐ Cooling towers





Cost of upgrades and new installations: 2.54 Million USD

(Divided into:

Boiler: 1.3 M USD; Turbine 1.2 M USD; Cooling towers: 40,000 USD)

Improvement of steam quality

Installation of Reverse Osmosis (RO) unit for water (steam) treatment


Cost of RO system: 120,000 USD

Improved storage of raw material for WtE facility

Installation of steel hangar structure for RDF material storage


Sicomo: upgrade and improvement, assessment of required space, coordination with subcontractor

Subcontractor : Supplying hangar materials, construction and installation activities

MORES technical team: auditing, reporting

Cost of hangar: 1 Million USD

Continuous in‐house monitoring of WtE stack emissions

Installation of system for continuous analysis and recording of WtE stack air emission readings

Parameters: O2,Dust, CO, NOx and SO2

2016 4th Quarter




Cost of monitoring system: 250,000 USD

Water Quality


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Decrease Total Coliform levels below 1 cfu/ 100 ml

Frequent maintenance of water well system and its operation

More intensive housekeeping and cleanliness around the well site

Coordination with municipality and being aware of potential local water contamination sources


Sicomo: internal auditing, in‐house improvements, assessment of compliance, proposing potential mitigation measures


Estimated cost of modifications: 4,000 USD

Bottom and Fly Ash Quality

Uphold current quality and continue monitoring

Newly installed: Wet ash collection system – replacing previous dry collection system

Continuous efforts in bottom and fly ash quality monitoring, and assessment of potential uses

Implementation Period: 2015‐2016

Sicomo: upgrade and improvement, assessment of required space, coordination with subcontractor

Subcontractor : Supplying hangar materials, construction and installation activities

MORES: auditing, reporting, assessment of technology and mitigation measures

Cost of upgrade: 50,000 USD

Miscellaneous on‐site structural and construction works including manual labor for modifications and upgrades

437,000 USD

Total Mitigation Cost (Equipment procurement, installation and structural works ‐ excluding operational/running costs)

4,759,000 USD

Operation/Running Cost – for: additional wastewater treatment (Cardboard production facility), additives for bag filter and bag filter replacement (WtE facility)

15,641.6 USD/month

187,700 USD/year

Table 6 Summary of the Mitigation Plan: PLANNED Measures, Responsibility and Cost


Wastewater Effluent Quality

Decrease BOD5 levels below 125 mg/l

Procurement and installation of additional wastewater treatment units or equipment

Possible limited


Procurement and installation cost estimated at 350,000 USD not including loss of productivity


June 2017 17


Decrease COD levels below 500 mg/l

construction works

Possible addition of aeration tank, including basin and aeration equipment




costs during downtime

Operation cost estimated at 250 USD/month

Miscellaneous on‐site structural and construction works including manual labor for modifications and upgrades

350,000 USD

Total Mitigation Cost (Equipment procurement, installation and structural works ‐ excluding operational/running costs)

50,000 USD

Operation/Running Cost – for: additional wastewater treatment (Cardboard production facility)

250 USD/month

3,000 USD/year

Monitoring Plan

Table 8 below summarizes the proposed monitoring plan for the WtE facility. Environmental

parameters to be monitored with their corresponding location, sampling, frequency and the

responsibility assignment during phases (construction and operation) are presented.

Table 7 Annual Monitoring Plan for Waste to Energy Facility – to be Implemented Annually including the years 2017, 2018 and Onwards

Indicators Parameters and their Applicable ELVs

Sampling Frequency and Responsibility

Approximate Annual Cost (USD)

Wastewater Quality

Domestic type wastewater effluent (source: toilet)

pH [6‐9]

BOD5 (Biological Oxygen Demand) [125 mg/m3]

Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) [500 mg/m3]

Total Suspended Solids (TSS) [600 mg/m3]

Total Coliforms (TC) [ mg/m3]

Fecal Coliforms (FC) [__ mg/m3]

Annual ‐ Sicomo, independent laboratory (such as Industrial Research institute (IRI))

250 USD

Solid Waste Quality

Bottom Ash

Heavy Metal Content Test (or Leachability Test if applicable) including Calcium, Lead, Cadmium, Chromium, Nickel, Zinc, Antimony, Manganese, and pH

Semi‐Annual ‐ Sicomo, MORES, independent laboratory (IRI or AUB Core Laboratories)

500 USD

Fly Ash Heavy Metal Content Test (or Leachability Test if applicable)

Semi‐Annual ‐ Sicomo, MORES, independent

500 USD


June 2017 18

Indicators Parameters and their Applicable ELVs

Sampling Frequency and Responsibility

Approximate Annual Cost (USD)

including Calcium, Lead, Cadmium, Chromium, Nickel, Zinc, Antimony, Manganese, and pH

laboratory (IRI or AUB Core Laboratories)

Noise Level

Noise level

Lminimum and Lmaximum

Inside facility and outside facility: multiple locations

[Outdoor Noise Level Limits dB(A) in industrial zone: Day 60‐70; Evening 55‐65; Night 50‐60]

[Indoor:

Annual (one reading per location) –Sicomo, MORES

300 USD

WtE Effluent Air Stream Quality

Exhaust Plume Air Quality (WtE stack)

Particulate Matter [30 mg/m3]

CO2

CO [100 mg/m3]

O2

SO2 [200 mg/m3]

NOx [400 mg/m3]

Dioxins and Furans (tested by international 3rd party only)

Continuous analysis and recording using internal

monitoring system ‐ Sicomo

Annual ‐ Independent 3rd party such as Industrial Research institute (IRI) /Apave France /Alfa Measurements /Other

7,500 USD (Sicomo) 22,000 USD (international 3rd party)

Annual documentation and reporting costs 13,500

Estimated Total Annual Sampling & Laboratory Analysis Cost 44,550 USD

Table 8 below presents a summary of the monitoring activities, including measures undertaken

between 2012 and 2016, and those to be implemented in 2017.

Table 8 Summary of Monitoring Activities and their Respective Cost (2012 to 2016 and 2017 Onwards)

Addressed Monitoring Area

Measures/Activities and Parameters Implementation Period

Resources (Financial and Human)

2012 to 2016 ‐ Implemented

Cardboard and Paper Production Facility

Wastewater final effluent quality

Sampling and analysis of wastewater effluent

Parameters: BOD5, COD, pH, TN, TSS, Chlorides, TP, TDS and Turbidity

2014 2nd Quarter

500 USD

Sicomo and MORES technical staff, and laboratory



Parameters: BOD5, COD, pH, TN, TSS,

2016 4th Quarter

500 USD

Sicomo and MORES technical staff, and


June 2017 19




Chlorides, TP, TDS and Turbidity laboratory

Freshwater quality

Sampling and analysis of freshwater from private well at Sicomo premises

Parameters: White Staphylococcus, Goldenv Staphylococcus, Fecal Staphylococcus, Total Coliforms, Fecal Coliforms, E. coli, Salmonella‐Shigella, Mold, Pseudomonas aeruginosa

2016 4th Quarter

150 USD


Waste to Energy Facility

RDF material composition assessment

RDF material composition testing

Parameters: calorific value assessment and % composition including plastic, nylon, organic material, metal, wood, etc.

2012‐2014

3,000 USD

Sicomo and MORES technical staff

Ash quality (bottom and fly ash)

Sampling and analysis of bottom and fly ash

Parameters: pH, Calcium, Lead, Cadmium, Chromium, Nickel, Zinc, Antimony and Manganese

2014 2nd Quarter

1,000 USD


Waste to Energy stack emissions

Testing and analysis of stack air emissions

Parameters: CO2, CO, O2, PM10, SO2, NOx, CxHy, H2

2014 2nd Quarter

750 USD

Sicomo, MORES and IRI technical staff



Parameters: temperature, flow rate, humidity, CO2, O2, Dust, HF, SO2, HCl, NH3, NOx, CO, VOCs, CH4, Heavy Metals, PCDD/PCDF

2014 3rd Quarter

21,000 USD

Sicomo, MORES and Apave technical staff



Parameters: Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg), Molybdenum (Mo), Nickel (Ni), Selenium (Se) and Zinc (Zn), PCDD/PCDF

2014 3rd Quarter

4.000 USD

Sicomo, MORES and Apave technical staff



Parameters: Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg), Molybdenum (Mo), Nickel (Ni), Selenium (Se) and Zinc (Zn), PCDD/PCD

2016 4th Quarter

1,000 USD


Documentation and reporting costs 20,000 USD

Total estimated 3rd party testing, analysis, consulting and reporting costs (2012‐2016)

51,900 USD


June 2017 20




2017, 2018 and Onwards – To be Implemented Annually

Cardboard and Paper Production Facility



Parameters: BOD5, COD, pH, TN, TSS, Chlorides, TP, TDS and Turbidity

2017 (Quarterly)

2,000 USD


Freshwater quality

Sampling and analysis of freshwater from private well at Sicomo premises

Parameters: White Staphylococcus, Goldenv Staphylococcus, Fecal Staphylococcus, Total Coliforms, Fecal Coliforms, E. coli, Salmonella‐Shigella, Mold, Pseudomonas aeruginosa

2017 (Semi‐annual)

500 USD


Noise level



Annual (one reading per location)

300 USD


Waste to Energy Facility

Domestic type wastewater effluent (source: toilet)

pH, BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Total Coliforms (TC) and Fecal Coliforms (FC)

2017 (Annual)

250 USD




Parameters: pH, Calcium, Lead, Cadmium, Chromium, Nickel, Zinc, Antimony and Manganese

2017 (Semi‐annual)

2,000 USD




Parameters: CO, O2, PM10, SO2, NOx

2017 (Continuous)

7,500 USD

Sicomo



Parameters: CO2, CO, O2, PM10, SO2, NOx, CxHy, H2, Dioxins and Furans

2017 (2nd Quarter)

22,000 USD

Sicomo, MORES, international 3rd party

Noise level



Annual (one reading per location)

300 USD


Annual documentation and reporting costs 13,500 USD

Total estimated 3rd party testing, analysis, consulting and reporting costs (2017)

48,350 USD


June 2017 21

In addition to the above listed measures, modeling for the risk assessment of WtE emissions in

emergency situations was conducted in the 2nd and 3rd quarters of 2012 in order to assess the

implications of potential accidental release. The parameters assessed in the risk assessment

modeling exercise executed by an atmospheric dispersion modeling expert were: CO, NOx, SO2, TSP,

and PCDD/PCDF.

Institutional Strengthening Plan

The institutional strengthening plan addresses the institutional capacity for environmental

management and proposes subsequent capacity building and training requirements.

The establishment of the MoE of Lebanon has contributed to the strengthening of the

institutional framework for the design and implementation of national environmental policies.

The mandate of the MoE, by law, overlaps with those of a number of other ministries and

governmental agencies at the national and local levels. This fragmentation could potentially

constrain the role of the MoE, minimize the coordination of various sectors, and hinder the

integration of an environmental policy into general development initiatives. The MoE is also

short on resources such as staff for environmental management, monitoring and enforcement.

Strengthening and enhancing cross‐sector coordination and planning mechanisms could

contribute to environmental management on a national level. Such an effort could be led and

coordinated by the MoE in conjunction with other ministries, particularly the ministries of

agriculture, industry, and public works and transport, as well as concerned municipalities.

Furthermore, the effectiveness of the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) would be

improved by the availability of a proper institutional mechanism at a local level for data

reporting, enforcement, control and supervision.

The institutional structure for environmental management is shown in Figure 3, whereby the

Ministry of Environment plays the role of regulatory authority involved in enforcement,

monitoring and supervision, with the involvement of the Qab Elias Municipality in administrative

and legislative regulation on a local level. Sicomo is responsible for implementing the EMP and

coordinating with a certified laboratory and/or qualified 3rd parties to take samples as per its

monitoring plan, analyze results and send regular update reports to the MoE and/or other

monitoring bodies upon their request (if any).


June 2017 22

Figure 3 Summary of Environmental Management Coordination Efforts

As such, the environmental objectives should be clearly stated and communicated to the staff to

provide the necessary cohesion between planning, engineering and operation. The

management plan will achieve proper environmental performance that includes:

Understanding environmental priorities, policies, and defining environmental objectives.

This should be achieved through the knowledge of the regulatory requirements pertaining

to air, water, and soil, as well as health regulations;

Ensuring proper management at all levels of the project operation. Environmental and

safety responsibilities should be clearly allocated;

Keeping operational information clear and up‐to‐date. Standard operating procedures

should be established and enforced by the management; and

Monitoring data should be compiled, checked by qualified personnel, and submitted to

supervising authorities upon request.

Sicomo s.a.l. possesses human and financial resources for procurement, oversight, installation,

operation and maintenance of production and related processes. Sicomo staff members include

managers experienced in procurement, management and organization; engineers experienced

in site supervision, mechanical and electrical engineering, heat recovery, and other technical

operational aspects; and maintenance specialists experienced in replacement of spare parts,

mechanical and electrical upkeep principles, Health and Safety (H&S), routine maintenance

procedures and emergency protocols.

In order to strengthen its ability to procure, oversee the installation, operate and maintain the

Waste to Energy facility including its associated processes and systems, Sicomo s.a.l. has built its

institutional capacity by strengthening its financial and human resource capabilities.

Ministry of Environment & Qab Elias Municipality

Regulatory & Monitoring

Certified Laboratory / Third Party

Sicomo Management

Environmental Management Department / Personnel

Reporting Monitoring

Analysis & Reporting Sampling

Coordination


June 2017 23

Financial programs and opportunities are reviewed in order to best benefit from loans, grants or

other financial facilitations ‐ if available and applicable. Training efforts to improve the technical

know‐how of Sicomo personnel are described further herein.

In addition, Sicomo has appointed MORES s.a.r.l. (Management of Resources and Environmental

Solutions) as its environmental consulting firm. As a third party, MORES is responsible for

environmental documentation, site assessment and reporting – including internal reporting to

Sicomo and external periodic reporting to the MoE. The consulting firm is registered, qualified

and recognized in Lebanon as a consulting firm by the Council for Development and

Reconstruction (CDR) on projects with budgets exceeding 20 million US dollars, and by the

Ministry of Environment for preparing environmental studies.

MORES staff members cover a wide range of technical expertise, with specializations in

environmental related sciences and engineering, including industrial processes, solid waste and

wastewater treatment, and environmental assessment: Environmental Audit, Initial

Environmental Examination (IEE), EIA, and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA).

Sicomo also outsources laboratory and field testing to qualified third parties including the

Industrial Research Institute (IRI), Core Laboratories of the American University of Beirut (AUB),

Zahle Water Laboratories, Apave (France) and Alfa Measurements (Greece).

In order to obtain an in‐depth understanding of available WtE technologies and associated

operational systems, Sicomo management has undertaken several study tours and site visits to

operational units overseas. These undertakings were conducted in coordination with the

technology suppliers and operators, and included the following main trips:

4‐day study tour to Sweden (2009) ‐ to investigate available WtE technologies, meet

with technology suppliers, inspect operational WtE projects and explore the types of

used raw materials and the impact of the composition of input (waste materials) on the

output (effluent gas) and efficiency

4‐day study tour to India (2014/2015) ‐ to investigate available WtE technologies, meet

with technology suppliers, inspect operational WtE projects and explore the types of

used raw materials and the impact of the composition of input (waste materials) on the

output (effluent gas) and efficiency

4‐day study tour to Canada (2015) ‐ to meet with filter technology suppliers (stack

effluent for air emissions), explore the types of filters, their specifications and associated

cost, including installation, operation and maintenance

Training is organized for Sicomo staff at the WtE plant to cover most eventualities around the

clock. A Safety Officer is trained, with regular training updates and review sessions, to

overcome hazardous situations and issue the appropriate orders, responses and actions to be

taken in case of potential incidents. The potential accidents are divided into the following 4

categories:


June 2017 24

Physical (e.g. injured personnel)

Machinery (e.g. broken, malfunctioning or worn‐out equipment)

Fire (e.g. flammability of waste material)

Air pollution (e.g. failure in the WtE controls or filter function)

After the completion of the establishment of the WtE unit in 2010 and the implementation of

the upgrade measures, each of the corresponding technology suppliers have provided Sicomo

with qualified operators for a specified number of days during commissioning, to initiate the

operation of the facility/system and the newly installed equipment and to train Sicomo

personnel and employees on facility/system operation.

Apart from technology suppliers, Sicomo provides training hands on supervision for all its

personnel, including those whose duties take them into the WtE project area. Besides basic

training on the theory and practice of GMP, newly recruited personnel should receive training

appropriate to the duties assigned to them. Continuing training should also be given, and its

practical effectiveness periodically assessed. Approved training programs should be available

and training records should be kept.

The concept of quality assurance and all the measures which aid its understanding and

implementation are fully discussed during the training sessions.

Visitors or untrained personnel are not taken into the production and quality control areas. If

this is unavoidable, they should be given relevant information in advance (particularly about

personal hygiene) and the prescribed protective clothing. They are closely supervised.

In the context of the project as a whole, contractors who are or will be involved in the operation

of the facility and personnel involved in monitoring activities are required to attend an

environmental training course prior to the initiation of project activities.

Training programs are incorporated with a feedback loop to ensure their relevance and

acceptance by staff and will be reviewed periodically and updated when necessary. The training

program emphasizes the following topics:

Environmental laws, regulations, and standards

Impacts of pollution on health and prevention measures

Standard operating procedure

Air quality, solid waste, noise, and wastewater management including sampling

techniques and environmental monitoring guidelines (air, noise, water)

Good housekeeping practices

Emergency response plans

Health and safety measures


June 2017 25

Traffic safety measures during transportation to and from the facility

Procedures for dealing with accidents and emergencies (if applicable)

Occupational hazard and personal protective equipment

The overall aims of training programs are to ensure appropriate environmental awareness,

knowledge, and skills for the implementation of environmental mitigation measures and to

enhance the knowledge and skills of managers and employees, thus enabling them to perform

their responsibilities in the areas of health and safety.

Management of Resources & Environmental Solutions© MORES S.A.R.L. 2017Management of Resources & Environmental Solutions

Office:67 Archbishop Anis Abi Aad Streetfacing Padova HotelSinn el Fil, Lebanon

Mailing Address:P.O. Box Le Mall Sinn el Fil #5Sinn el Fil, Lebanon

Tel: +961 1 488 210Fax: +961 1 488 240www.mores.com.lb

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