Uruguay

The objective of the Road Rehabilitation and Maintenance Program Project for Uruguay is to improve transport efficiency through rehabilitation and maintenance of the... Show More + national road infrastructure and enhanced public sector capacity to plan, regulate and monitor transport and logistics services. Road maintenance and rehabilitation works are expected to improve road quality and to decrease road users' transport costs. The project would also include institutional strengthening activities, aimed at supporting the Ministry of Transport and Public Works (Ministerio de Transporte y obras Publicas, MTOP) in its planning and regulatory duties. It is considered that the potential environmental and social impact of the program is low. The rehabilitation and maintenance works were carried out in rural areas and the main impacts will occur during established periods, that is, rehabilitation (under 2 years) and maintenance (over 2 years). In both cases the presence of contractors and machinery can extend for several years in the same sector as after the rehabilitation contract, they can hire the same company or another for a maintenance contract. The main social and environmental impacts associated with the program are works related to rehabilitation works of roads and bridges, operation of camps, asphalt plants and lending sites (quarries), the generation of hazardous wastes (oils, lubricants, fuels) and inconvenience to the residents (noise, dust, risk of accidents, social relationships with contractors). Show Less -

The objective of the Transport Infrastructure Maintenance and Rural Access Project for Uruguay is the rehabilitation and maintenance of the existing roads network. As... Show More + there is no construction of new roads, the environmental and social impacts are minimal. Nonetheless, expected environmental and social impacts are : potential soil erosion; equipment, fuel & asphalt depot placement; contamination of work sites with fuels and hazardous materials; pollution from construction wastes; noise from construction activities; and dust control issues. Some of the mitigation measures include development plans for institutional capacity building for staff throughout project implementation, environmental management, site stabilization and erosion control, contingency plan for emergencies, construction waste management; and oil and hazardous materials management Show Less -

This is environmental assessment for the Uruguay Integrated Natural resources and Biodiversity Management Project, which will improve the production and management of... Show More + soil and water under three farming systems (irrigation, extensive cropping and extensive livestock grazing); and conservation and use of biodiversity. The adverse impact from this project are expected to be minimal and come from the area of irrigation. Mitigation measures include: the (Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) method which will be applied and no irrigation projects will be approved where they are shown to have potential to alter the water regime within the Ramsar Treaty area in the Departments of Rocha and Treinta y Tres. Show Less -

The Government of Uruguay has provided the following information, and monitoring criteria as basic environmental guidelines for the construction, and rehabilitation... Show More + of new schools. Site selection will be based on municipal regulations regarding land ownership (appropriately verifying whether squatter settlements, or potential legal problems could hamper land acquisition), and, on analysis of soils, and site contamination, particularly lead, or other pollutants, which should comply with current regulations, while natural habitats, and historic sites will be avoided as possible, or, be contingent to approval by the Ministry of Education and Culture. National entities, such as the National Department of the Environment (DINAMA), the Ministry of Public Works, and related agencies should approve the above mentioned analysis, based on the pollution control, flooding, and, or sanitary regulations. Following consultation with the communities, and authorities, the school design criteria shall consider mitigating measures: in security, and provisions for the handicapped; for appropriate heating, and ventilation systems; and, on sanitary, and water treatment processes to be approved by the Ministry of Housing. Institutional permits will be issued for the installation of appropriate sanitary systems, electrical equipment, as well as for the operation of effluent discharges. School construction shall abide by official regulations, in particular, the quality of construction materials should comply with the Technological Laboratory of Uruguay (LATU) rules, and regulations. Contractors shall comply with precautionary clauses as specified in the procurement documents, as per national, and municipal regulations. Show Less -

This is an environmental assessment for the Forest Products Transport Project in Uruguay, which improves transport infrastructure (roads and ports); and increases private... Show More + participation in the national rail carrier. The report identifies negative impacts, most of which are transitory in nature, caused during the construction stage and largely superseded by positive impacts, putting this project in Category B. Negative impacts are increased accidents; noise; visual impacts; air pollution from dust particles and vehicle emissions; road vibrations generated by heavy vehicles; flooding, riverbed desiccation, or a general change in water flow possibly reducing water available for public and industrial use; dumped concrete, fuel oils, and other contaminants (solid and liquid wastes) into surface waters; deforestation and diminished wildlife habitats; temporary diminution in fishlife and other aquatic plant and animal life; and the handling of hazardous substances (chemicals, inflammables, corrosives, etc.) Using rail transport in the project will reduce vehicle emissions (especially carbon monoxide and dioxide) and transit congestion, as well as lessen noise, vibrations and accidents. Mitigations maintain ecosystems of ecological value, establish protected areas, recover vegetation replanting local and native species, replace removed trees, correct defective drainage, and control erosion. Populations involuntarily resettled will be compensated for economic and land loss. Show Less -

The Natural Resources Management and Irrigation Development Project (PRENADER) aims to enhance productivity and efficiency in agriculture through sound management of... Show More + soil and water resources and minimization of adverse effects on natural ecosystems. Biodiversity is not expected to suffer any significant degradation since the project would not finance any irrigation and drainage activity within areas defined for protection and preservation under natural conditions. In the development and operation and maintenance of the irrigation sub-sector, a number of standard environmental issues have been identified, such as: physical degradation of soil, water contamination from agrochemicals under intensified agriculure; wasteful use of water; deteriorating quality of irrigation water; sedimentation of reservoirs; and damage to biodiversity. Through environmental assessment, steps will be taken within the project to address such issues in: 1) the identification of options to expand agricultural output; 2) initial irrigation and drainage sub-projects' selection; 3) feasibility analysis; and 4) construction and monitoring and evaluation of the irrigation and drainage operational phase. Show Less -