Mekong River Commission (MRC) Impact Assessment Tools and Processes on

Water and related Resources

Regional Workshop to Review GEO/IEA Training Manual

Chiang Mai, Thailand

08 – 11 September 2008

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Presentation outline

• The MRC• The MRC impact

assessment tools • MRC impact

assessment processes

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The MRC

• The MRC founded in 1957 as Mekong Committee

• The four countries singed Mekong Agreement in 1995

• MRC has three main bodies- The MRC Council- The MRC Joint Committee (JC)- The MRC Secretariat (MRCS)- NMCs (coordination)- Line agencies (implementation)

• MRC is intergovernmental and knowledge base organization

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The MRC - continued

• MRC works based on five-year strategic planning cycle (2006 -2010)

• MRCS consists of - Office of CEO

- Planning Division

- Operations Division

- Technical Support Division

- Environment Division

- Human Resources Section

- Finance and Administration Section

- International Cooperation and Communication Section

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The MRC assessment tools

1. The MRC SEA/EIA systems

• The MRC SEA/EIA systems were developed in 2002

• The SEA was developed to integrate to the MRC Basin Development Plan (BDP)

• SEA is under application in MRC BDP Phase 2

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The MRC assessment tools - continued

1. The MRC SEA/EIA systems

• Sectoral EIA Guidelines were developed for assessment of MRC sectoral projects

• EIA Guidelines are not addressing the transboundary water issues/impacts

• TbEIA Guidelines are required to be developed

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The MRC assessment tools - continued

2. TbEIA Guidelines Development

• The TbEIA Guidelines- The framework

- The technical guidance

- The institutional support

• The draft framework completed (under pilot study and revision) 2008 - 2009

• The technical guidance and the institutional support will be drafted following by pilot studies and revision (2009 – 2010)

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The MRC assessment tools - continued

3. Environmental considerations for sustainable hydropower development (ECSHD)

• Develop a set of ECSHD to be integrated into the Member Countries SEA or EIA processes

• Adapt the IHA Sustainability Guidelines and Assessment Protocol

• Testing and acceptance by Member Countries

• Time frame (2008 – 2010)

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The MRC assessment processes

Planning Process Impact assessment tools

MRC strategic plan MRC State of Basin Report

MRC Basin Development plan (scenario development and list of projects)

MRC SEA and ECSHD -hydropower plan only

Projects with no water transboundary issues/impacts (projects will be implemented by Member Countries)

National EIA

Projects with water transboundary issues/impacts (projects will be implemented by Member Countries)

MRC TbEIA and ECSHD -hydropower project only

Thank you for your attention