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International Environmental Guidelines - Annex A

I. Scope of international environmental guidelines

The international guidelines generally applicable to projects financed by Ex-Im Bank will be those of the World Bank Group as set forth in the Pollution Prevention and Abatement Handbook (PPAH) as well as those World Bank Operational Safeguard Policies referenced within this Annex. For those projects in which the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the African Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank or the Inter-American Development Bank are involved, Ex-Im Bank may apply the guidelines, in whole or in part, of the respective Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) to the project in order to facilitate U.S. exporter participation in these projects. Where applicable, elements of the guidelines of the World Bank will be used to supplement the MDB guidelines.

The following seven Environmental Principles establish the scope of the environmental guidelines against which projects will be evaluated. The Principles can serve as a guide to project participants to enable them to establish an environmental framework that will facilitate their task of addressing those specific international guidelines that are applicable to a project.

1. Air Quality. Protection of air quality through available technologies and good practices by controlling or reducing emissions to quantitative limits set forth in the applicable international guidelines.
2. Water Use and Quality. Protection of fresh, marine and groundwater resources from over demand and from project related contamination through methods of controlling and treating project effluent discharges to quantitative limits set forth in the applicable international guidelines.
3. Waste Management. Management, recycling, storage, treatment and disposal of solid, hazardous and toxic materials and wastes, in accordance with provisions of the applicable international guidelines.
4. Natural Hazards. Designing the project and locating it so as to reduce environmental risks from natural hazards, in accordance with good engineering practices such as designing to seismic criteria, and in accordance with the provisions of the applicable international guidelines.
5. Ecology. Protection of ecological resources and biodiversity, encouragement of conservation, and support for restoration of critical natural habitats containing endangered and rare species, in accordance with the provisions of the applicable international guidelines.
6. Involuntary Resettlement, Indigenous Peoples, Cultural Property. Development of the project to reduce or mitigate the effects of involuntary resettlement, adverse impacts to indigenous peoples and adverse impact to cultural property in accordance with the provisions of the applicable international guidelines.
7. Noise. Controlling and reducing the level of noise from projects to quantitative limits set forth in applicable international guidelines,

II. International guidelines of the World Bank Group

Tables 1 through 10 each contain a synopsis of specific quantitative and qualitative guidelines condensed from the PPAH and those World Bank Group Operational Policies applicable to projects in specific industrial sectors. The Table for Industrial Projects and General Infrastructure can be applied to most Category A and Category B projects that are not covered by the specific industrial sectors addressed in the other Tables. The following industrial sector guideline Tables are presented in this Annex:

Table 1: Industrial Projects and General Infrastructure
Table 2: Pulp and Paper Mills
Table 3: Iron and Steel Mills
Table 4: Mining and Milling
Table 5: Oil and Gas Development
Table 6: Thermal, Gas Turbine and Engine Driven Power Plants
Table 7: Forestry Operations
Table 8: Petroleum Refineries and Petrochemical Facilities
Table 9: Hydropower and Water Resources Management
Table 10: Liquid Natural Gas (LNG), Liquefaction and Regasification Plants

Further environmental information related to these and other industrial sectors are contained in the PPAH and those World Bank Group Operational Policies that are referenced in the Tables. In the case of ambiguity between information contained within a Table of this Annex and the relevant section of the PPAH and referenced World Bank Operational Policies, the information and guidelines stated in the PPAH and referenced Operational Policies shall prevail for purposes of Ex-Im Bank's review and its determination of a project's compliance with the applicable international guidelines of the World Bank Group. 

The Tables are intended to cover the range of industrial sectors for which Ex-Im Bank financing is traditionally requested. The PPAH contains Tables that address various additional industrial sectors not included in this Annex. For projects in sectors not covered by the Tables of this Annex, applicants may refer to a sector table of the PPAH that is relevant to the underlying project. Tables from the PPAH and the referenced World Bank Group Operational Policies can be found at: http://www.ifc.org/enviro/EnvSoc/pollution/guidelines.htm. 

In addition to the applicable international environmental guidelines, projects will be expected to meet relevant host-country environmental guidelines. Questions relating to the environmental guidelines applicable to a project should be addressed to Ex-Im Bank's Engineering and Environment Division.