This Environmental Impact Assessment is associated with one of several outputs from the SMAP 006SRY work entitled Integrated Coastal Management Project Between Jbeil/Amsheet (Lebanon) and Latakia (Syria). The primary scope of the SMAP 006SRY Project is to develop a state-of-the-art scheme in each of four sectors; wastewater treatment, solid waste disposal, eco-tourism and small-medium enterprises, which can be used as models for municipalities throughout Lebanon and Syria. For wastewater treatment, the Batroun Souks Rehabilitation Project, being undertaken by the Municipality of Batroun, has been identified as being suitable for the requirements of the SMAP project and worthy of construction in its own right. The coastal town of Batroun has a long and honorable history upon which the Municipality wish to capitalize with the rehabilitation of the ancient souk area adjacent to the town centre. Although their plans are well advanced, the proposals, which included substantial pedestrianisation, cannot proceed until a modern system for the collection, treatment and safe disposal of wastewater replaces the existing septic soak ways and raw sewage discharges to the Mediterranean Sea.

The residents of Ramliye have never enjoyed the benefits of safe and effective sewage disposal and the provision of the necessary facilities is of the highest priority in the future development of the village. Wells and springs within and adjacent to the village, and at a lower level within the valley, are known to be polluted. Flows of raw sewage deposited on the ground surface are unsightly, are a source of severe odor, and offer ideal conditions for the breeding of flies and other vectors. They also impact upon local flora and fauna. Polluted spring discharge enters watercourses and causes further contamination of downstream resources. As a result, the Municipality of Ramliye has taken the initiative to improve the present unsatisfactory situation by implementing the present proposals. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is one important method of ensuring the likely effects of a new development upon the environment are fully understood and are taken into account before work commences on site. The results of an EIA frequently influence engineering design criteria, conditions of contract and construction management. It provides an effective vehicle for the prediction of a proposed project’s impact upon the environment, the provision of focus for public scrutiny, the scoping of modifications, and the mitigation of potential environmental impacts.

Following the council of ministers’ decree on limiting the work of quarries in Lebanon to certain areas, and the need of any operating quarry to comply with certain requirements, Envrirotech started conducting an assessment of an existing quarry site in Nabatieh. The aim of this assessment is to provide, both the council of ministers and the owner of the site, with:

• An overview of the existing site in terms of its physical and biological environment, existing operation conditions, and impact of current quarry operation on the neighboring environment

• Recommendations for better environmental and safety management of the site as to comply with the defined conditions in the new decree.

The subject of this Environmental Impact Assessment is the recently installed unit to shred and sterilize the clinical waste generated at Rayak Hospital in the Caza of Zahle and the Mohafazat of Bekaa. Rayak Hospital is currently undergoing major redevelopment to increase capacity from 80 beds to 200 beds. The project has been under construction for several months and the civil works are currently nearing completion. In order to deal appropriately with the increased volumes of clinical waste that will be produced from the enlarged facilities, a unit to process clinical waste and render it suitable for disposal in a conventional landfill has been installed and commissioned. Although the unit has been constructed and the equipment installed and commissioned, the Ministry of Environment has requested an Environmental Impact Assessment to cover the disposal of clinical waste.  Envirotech was assigned to conduct this EIA.

The subject of this Environmental Impact Assessment is the proposed commissioning of two mobile clinical waste reprocessing units to be operated by ENV-SYS Lebanon, a private company established in compliance with Lebanese law to provide waste treatment services to hospitals throughout the country. The lorry-mounted reprocessing units will fulfill a daily schedule by calling on hospitals to treat their clinical waste on site, leaving the sterile and shredded residue for them to dispose of according to their normal arrangements for non-medical refuse. As such, the project is not located at a particular site. Although the units will be garaged when ‘off-duty’, no waste materials will be taken to the garage/parking site and the units are rendered self-sterile under their standard operating procedures.

The south Lebanon village of Barte already enjoys the benefits of efficient wastewater collection but has no facilities for its safe and sustainable disposal. The municipality is currently constructing a wastewater treatment plant in conjunction with the Pontifical Mission and funding from USAID. This EIA has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Environment to ensure that the project is completed with minimum delay.

The subject of this IEE has the proposed establishment of a recycling center for the reprocessing of waste building materials at the Jean Abi Jaoude Works in Nahr El Mott, Mount Lebanon. The Recycling Center will reprocess waste building materials for reuse. This IEE will ensure that the likely effects upon the environment are fully understood and taken into account before work commences on site.

The project primarily involves the construction of pools, terraces and landscaped gardens together with sports, catering and associated facilities sized up to 200 guests per day. The site is located in proximity to Nahr Beirut Channel and a classified historic aqueduct. Accordingly, the proponent hired the services of Envirotech to undertake the study as part of the permitting process for the development of the club.

The WWTP is financed by US AID via the Pontifical Mission. It is of the extended aeration type and designed to serve 6,000 inhabitants (900 m³ per day). The village of Qornayel is located within Mohafazat of Mount Lebanon and the Caza of Baabda. The Ministry of Health has recently validated a complaint from the Municipality of Arsoun, some 2 km down gradient at an elevation of 750-800m above sea level, that the existing uncontrolled discharge of untreated wastewater from Qornayel is contaminating agricultural land in the area. As a result, the Municipality of Qornayel has taken the initiative to install wastewater treatment facilities at or near the existing point of discharge. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is one important method of ensuring the likely effects of a new development upon the environment are fully understood and are taken into account before work commences on site.

The Ain Zhalta Mountain Resort is a substantial urban development that will make an equally substantial contribution 
to the Government’s policy of expanding Tourism and associated sectors of the country’s economy.

Furthermore, it will do so in as rural areas where job opportunities, especially for young people and women, are extremely limited.

Being located at elevations of 1100 & 1500m.  above sea level between the Ain Zhalta and Barouk Cedar Forests
and largely falling within the broad sweep of land protected as the Al Chouf Natural Reserve, the proposed development aims
to create a residential, recreational and tourist resort that will both benefit from its unique surroundings and materially contribute
to their protection. Accordingly, the proponent hired the services of Envirotech to undertake an Environmental Impact
Assessment as part of the permitting process for the development of the resort.