NB/T 10130-2019Technical specification for acceptance of environmental protection in initial impoundment for hydropower projects (English PDF)

Foreword

This document was issued on 4 June 2019 by the National Energy Administration of the PRC and takes effect on 1 October 2019.

It is a NB/T standard: recommended rather than compulsory, but it is the text a Chinese reviewer applies when assessing a submission.

It is classified under ICS 27.140, Chinese classification P59.

This specification was formulated by the drafting group in accordance with the requirements of the Notice of the National Energy Administration on Issuing the First Batch of Energy Industry Standard Formulation and Revision Plans for 2014 (Guoneng Keji [2014] No. 298), after extensive investigation and research, careful summarization of practical experience and wide solicitation of opinions.

The main technical contents of this specification are: basic requirements, acceptance preparation, acceptance investigation and site acceptance.

The National Energy Administration is in charge of the administration of this specification. China Renewable Energy Engineering Institute proposed it and is responsible for its routine management, and the energy industry standardization technical committee for hydropower planning, reservoir and environmental protection is responsible for the explanation of its specific technical contents.

Any comments or suggestions arising during implementation should be sent to China Renewable Energy Engineering Institute (address: No. 2 Liupukang North Street, Xicheng District, Beijing; postcode: 100120).

Chief development organizations: China Renewable Energy Engineering Institute; PowerChina Beijing Engineering Corporation Limited.

Participating development organization: PowerChina Zhongnan Engineering Corporation Limited.

Chief drafting staff: Zhong Zhiguo, Li Min, Jin Yi, Liu Guihua, Tan Qilin, Lu Bo, Cui Ru, Dong Leihua, Wang Longgao, Li Qianqian, Zhang Bo, Liu Fei, Pan Li, Wang Mengying, Zhang Zhiguang, Li Yifei, Kong Yong, Cui Xiaohong, Chang Yi, Zhang Shalong, Li Xiang, Zhao Kun, Yan Jianbo, Yu Weiqi.

Chief reviewers: Wan Wengong, Chen Yuying, Yang Hongbin, Chen Guozhu, Chen Yongbai, Yang Hongwei, Zeng Deyong, Xu Yong, Chen Bangfu, Dai Xiangrong, Shi Jiayue, Kou Xiaomei, Jiang Yueliang, Tang Zhongbo, Zhang Rong, Yin Xianjun, Li Shisheng.

Announcement of the National Energy Administration

Announcement No. 4 of 2019 of the National Energy Administration: the National Energy Administration approved 297 industry standards, including the Code for Electrical Design of Photovoltaic Power Projects, of which 105 are energy standards (NB), 168 are electric power standards (DL) and 24 are petrochemical standards (NB/SH), and hereby publishes them. Dated 4 June 2019.

In the annexed catalogue of industry standards, this specification is listed as serial No. 3: NB/T 10130-2019, Technical Specification for Acceptance of Environmental Protection in Initial Impoundment for Hydropower Projects, approved on 2019-06-04 and implemented from 2019-10-01, with no standard superseded and no adopted international standard.

Appendices and Supplementary Parts

Appendix A Acceptance Procedures of Environmental Protection in Initial Impoundment for Hydropower Projects: the work procedure required by clause 2.0.3.

Appendix B Responsibilities of Each Party for Environmental Protection Acceptance in Initial Impoundment for Hydropower Projects: the division of responsibilities referred to in clause 2.0.5.

Appendix C Contents of Investigation Report on Environmental Protection Acceptance in Initial Impoundment for Hydropower Projects: the report outline referred to in clause 2.0.6.

Appendix D Contents and Key Points of Environmental Protection Acceptance in Initial Impoundment for Hydropower Projects: referred to in clause 3.2.2.

Appendix E Documents List of Environmental Protection Acceptance in Initial Impoundment for Hydropower Projects: referred to in clause 3.3.2.

Appendix F Forms for Variations of Hydropower Projects: the table of project changes referred to in clause 4.2.4.

Appendix G Forms for Investigation of Environmental Sensitive Objects for Hydropower Projects: referred to in clause 4.3.2.

Appendix H Checklist of Environmental Protection Facilities in Initial Impoundment for Hydropower Projects.

Appendix J Opinions on Environmental Protection Acceptance in Initial Impoundment for Hydropower Projects.

Explanation of Wording in This Specification.

Addition: Explanation of Provisions.

1 Scope

NB/T 10130-2019 sets out the procedure for the environmental protection acceptance of a hydropower project before its reservoir is first filled. First impoundment is the moment a dam's environmental commitments become irreversible: once the water rises, habitats are flooded, the river downstream changes, and anything not built beforehand can no longer be put right. The specification therefore fixes a check, carried out before filling is authorised, that the environmental measures promised in the approved impact assessment are actually in place. It sets the general provisions and defined terms, then the conditions a project must meet before acceptance can be requested and the preparatory work required. The investigation of the project follows: the review of the environmental impact assessment and its approval, of the design changes since, and of the construction of the environmental protection works. The verification of environmental requirements is then carried out item by item - the multi-level intakes that control the temperature of released water, the facilities that guarantee the ecological flow downstream, fish passage and fish breeding and release stations, the transplanting of rare plants, the reservoir clearance, the treatment of solid and hazardous waste, soil and water conservation, and the monitoring systems. The site inspection, the acceptance meeting, the form of the acceptance opinion, and the appendices with the report formats complete the specification.

1.0.1 This specification is formulated with a view to standardizing the content, procedure and methods of environmental protection acceptance for hydropower projects at the impoundment stage and unifying the technical requirements.

1.0.2 This specification is applicable to environmental protection acceptance work for hydropower projects at the impoundment stage.

1.0.3 Environmental protection acceptance of hydropower projects at the impoundment stage shall be based on the relevant environmental protection laws and regulations, technical standards, the environmental impact assessment (EIA) documents and their approval opinions, the environmental protection design documents and the contract documents. It shall adhere to the principles of objectivity, impartiality and emphasis on key issues, make full use of the results of the acceptance of special environmental protection facilities, and properly coordinate its relationship with the environmental protection acceptance upon completion of the hydropower project.

1.0.4 The content of environmental protection acceptance at the impoundment stage shall include the implementation of the environmental protection facilities and measures required to be completed before impoundment, with emphasis on those related to impoundment, such as stratified water intake facilities, ecological flow release facilities, fish passage facilities, the transplanting of rare and protected plants and ancient and famous trees in the reservoir area, and the disposal of hazardous waste.

1.0.5 Environmental protection acceptance at the impoundment stage shall, on the basis of acceptance preparation, carry out the acceptance investigation of each environmental protection facility through on-site verification and monitoring verification, organize the site acceptance inspection, hold the acceptance meeting and put forward the acceptance opinions.

1.0.6 In addition to this specification, environmental protection acceptance of hydropower projects at impoundment shall also comply with the current relevant standards of the nation.

2 Basic Requirements

2.0.1 Environmental protection acceptance at the impoundment stage shall review the changes in environmental protection policies, environmentally sensitive areas, environmental protection objectives, the project scheme and the environmental protection facilities; define the environmental management tasks; check the implementation of the 'three simultaneities' requirement for environmental protection measures (design, construction and commissioning simultaneous with the main works); verify the operating effectiveness of the environmental protection facilities; and put forward opinions and suggestions for improving subsequent environmental management and the implementation of environmental protection measures.

2.0.2 Environmental protection acceptance at the impoundment stage shall meet the following conditions:

1 The construction progress of the headworks is able to meet the impoundment requirements of the project. The reservoir area works affected by impoundment have been completed, and resettlement and reservoir clearing have been finished.

2 The environmental protection facilities forming part of the headworks structures have been built simultaneously, the environmental protection and soil and water conservation facilities affected by impoundment have been completed, and the ecological flow release scheme during impoundment has been determined and is able to be implemented.

2.0.3 Environmental protection acceptance work at the impoundment stage shall be divided into three steps: acceptance preparation, acceptance investigation and site acceptance. The work procedure shall comply with Appendix A of this specification.

2.0.4 Environmental protection acceptance at the impoundment stage shall meet the following requirements:

1 The environmental protection review, approval and change procedures are complete, and the technical documents and environmental protection archives are complete.

2 The main environmental protection facilities and measures which the EIA documents and their approval opinions require to be completed before impoundment have been implemented as required and are ready for normal operation.

3 All kinds of pollutants generated during the construction period have been effectively treated, meeting the pollution prevention and control objectives determined in the EIA documents; the environmental quality of the construction area meets the environmental quality protection objectives determined in the EIA documents.

4 The construction quality of the special works for mitigating the discharge of low-temperature water, the ecological flow release facilities and the fish passage facilities shall meet the acceptance and evaluation standards for the main works.

5 Environmental complaints about environmental pollution, ecological damage and the like during the construction period have been rectified.

2.0.5 The project owner shall, according to the overall arrangement for impoundment of the hydropower project, organize the relevant parties to carry out the environmental protection acceptance work at the impoundment stage. The responsibilities of each party shall comply with Appendix B of this specification.

2.0.6 The project owner shall organize the preparation of the investigation report on environmental protection acceptance at the impoundment stage. The table of contents of the report should comply with Appendix C of this specification.

3 Acceptance Preparation

3.1.1 The preparation work for environmental protection acceptance at the impoundment stage shall include the acceptance work program, documentation preparation and site preparation.

3.1.2 The project owner shall, in accordance with the requirements of the project EIA and environmental protection design documents and their approval opinions, formulate the acceptance work program for the impoundment stage according to the construction schedule, and carry out documentation preparation and site preparation before acceptance.

3.2.1 The project owner shall, according to the overall arrangement for impoundment, define the work plan for environmental protection acceptance at the impoundment stage and complete the acceptance work before the project is impounded.

3.2.2 The project owner shall organize the preparation of the acceptance work program. Its main contents should include the acceptance procedure, acceptance organization, acceptance content and schedule. The content and key points of the acceptance shall comply with Appendix D of this specification.

3.3.1 The project owner shall organize the relevant parties to carry out a phased summary of the work before impoundment and submit the summary materials.

3.3.2 The project owner shall organize the compilation and archiving of the acceptance documents for the impoundment stage. The documents list should comply with Appendix E of this specification.

3.4.1 The project owner shall implement all environmental protection facilities in accordance with the environmental impact report and its approval opinions, complete the sub-divisional or special acceptance of each environmental protection facility according to the construction progress, and, before the acceptance investigation organization enters the site, carry out a self-inspection of the environmental protection facilities and measures and make rectifications.

3.4.2 The project owner shall implement the rectification of environmental protection facilities and measures according to the opinions of the acceptance investigation organization and of the technical review.

3.4.3 Site preparation shall meet the following requirements:

1 Transport and communications at the acceptance site are kept unobstructed.

2 The environmental protection facilities operate normally.

3 The operation and management personnel of the environmental protection facilities are in place.

4 Acceptance Investigation

4.1.1 The scope of the acceptance investigation at the impoundment stage shall be determined according to the actual impact range caused by project construction before impoundment and the impact range that impoundment may cause, taking into account the distribution of environmentally sensitive objects, with emphasis on the headworks construction area, the reservoir inundation area and the downstream affected area.

4.1.2 The acceptance investigation at the impoundment stage shall mainly include the following:

1 Project construction and its changes.

2 Changes in the external environment, such as environmental protection requirements and environmentally sensitive objects.

3 Implementation and operating effectiveness of the environmental protection measures.

4 Environmental impacts produced during the construction period before impoundment.

5 Implementation of environmental management.

6 Implementation of environmental monitoring.

7 Public opinions.

8 Conclusions and suggestions.

4.1.3 The acceptance standards at the impoundment stage shall follow the environmental protection standards adopted and the environmental protection requirements put forward in the EIA documents. Where environmental standards or environmental functions have changed after the approval of the EIA documents, the conformity of the design standards and the effectiveness of the environmental protection facilities shall be reviewed.

4.1.4 Where it is found during the acceptance investigation that environmental protection measures have not been fully implemented or that change procedures have not been performed as prescribed, the acceptance investigation organization shall report in writing to the project owner in a timely manner and put forward opinions on performing the change procedures and on improvements.

4.2.1 The project investigation shall include the investigation of the river basin where the project is located, the investigation of the project, and the analysis of the environmental rationality of project changes.

4.2.2 The investigation of the river basin where the project is located shall mainly include the following:

1 Natural overview of the basin, including geological and geomorphological features, river system, runoff characteristics and river channel morphology.

2 Hydropower planning of the basin and the current status of cascade development.

4.2.3 The project investigation shall mainly include the following:

1 Geographic location, project components, project scale and characteristics, headworks layout and main structures, land acquisition and resettlement, design changes, and the completion of the total investment and of the environmental protection investment.

2 Construction layout and the location, scale and land occupation of spoil disposal areas and borrow areas; construction status, construction techniques and main quantities of work.

3 Project approval process and construction progress; completeness of the approval procedures for the design documents and their verification and approval; major construction events such as formal commencement and river closure; the visual progress of the works and the completion of special acceptances such as reservoir bottom clearing.

4 Impoundment scheme and operation and dispatch scheme of the project.

5 Changes in the development tasks, characteristic reservoir water levels, operation mode, installed capacity, headworks layout, construction planning and resettlement scheme, and the performance of the related procedures.

4.2.4 Project changes shall be investigated and their environmental rationality analyzed. The table of changes of the hydropower project should comply with Appendix F of this specification.

4.3.1 The acceptance investigation shall review the main conclusions and review opinions of the EIA of the basin hydropower planning or of the retrospective environmental impact assessment, with attention focused on the requirements relating to environmental protection for the project.

4.3.2 The acceptance investigation shall carry out a review investigation of environmentally sensitive objects according to the construction features of the project and the environmental characteristics of the affected area. Where environmentally sensitive objects have changed, the investigation scope shall be adjusted accordingly. The investigation form for environmentally sensitive objects should comply with Appendix G of this specification.