SIMPLIFIED AMENDMENT · PDF file · 2017-07-10converting agricultural waste biomass to charcoal. ... cost-effective alternative that addresses the issues that motivate the clean...

TRACKING ID: LAC-IEE-17-45

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SIMPLIFIED AMENDMENT PROJECT/ACTIVITY DATA

Project/ Activity Name: Green Charcoal for Haiti Amendment (Y/N): Y Implementation Start/End: 6/1/2015 – 6/30/2017 Solicitation/Contract/Award Number: AID-521-F-15-00005 Implementing Partner(s): Carbon Roots Haiti S.A. Geographic Location(s): Northern Haiti Tracking ID/link: http://gemini.info.usaid.gov/repository/pdf/49471.pdf Tracking ID/link of Related RCE/IEE (if any): LAC-IEE-15-18, LAC-IEE-16-32; LAC-IEE-17-07, and

others Tracking ID/link of Other, Related Analyses:

ORGANIZATIONAL/ADMINISTRATIVE DATA

Implementing Operating Unit(s): (e.g. Mission or Bureau or Office)

Haiti/EGAD

Funding Operating Unit(s): (e.g. Mission or Bureau or Office)

Haiti/EGAD

Funding Account(s): DA/ESF Funding Amount: $838,000 Amendment Funding Amount:

$0 Amendment Funding Date:

N/A

Other Affected Unit(s): Lead BEO Bureau: LAC Prepared by: Christine Musset Date Prepared: June 21, 2017

ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE REVIEW DATA

Analysis Type: IEE amendment to include timeline extension Environmental Determination(s): Negative Determination with Conditions Additional Analyses/Reporting Required: Analysis Expiration Date: 09/30/2018

TRACKING ID: LAC-IEE-17-45

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1.0 PURPOSE AND SCOPE The Green Charcoal for Haiti project produces renewable green charcoal cooking briquettes by converting agricultural waste biomass to charcoal. The objective of the activity is to produce a viable, cost-effective alternative that addresses the issues that motivate the clean cook-stove movement—deforestation, rural incomes, carbon emissions, health outcomes—but does not face the same economic and cultural barriers to adoption as cook-stoves. The activity which ran for 24 months (June 2015 – May 2017) under a USAID grant of US$838,000, requested a time extension for an additional 5 months.

The Green Charcoal for Haiti activity was awarded a threshold decision of “negative determination with conditions” under the Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) LAC-IEE-16-32. There were several IEE amendments relating to this project. The purpose of this IEE amendment is to extend the timeline further to allow coverage for the project activities from June to November 2017. This IEE amendment expiration date is extended through September 2018 to provide for additional time, should it be needed.

Associated with this is a no-cost extension of the award; activities remain the same and no new activities will be added.

2.0 CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE • All other aspects of the project design/activities and geographic scope remain unchanged from

previous environmental analyses.

• The Annual Work Plan has been verified to undertake only those activities originally proposed and all reporting requirements have been adhered to and remain unchanged. This project is in compliance. The project’s Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (EMMP) was approved by the Mission Environmental Officer (MEO) and the Regional Environmental Advisor (REA) as of June 2, 2017.

• There has been no change to the climate risk screening/management of the project in accordance with Mandatory Reference for ADS Chapter 201 on Climate Risk Management for USAID Projects and Activities.

3.0 REVISIONS Per 22CFR216.3(a)(9), when ongoing programs are revised to incorporate a change in scope or nature, a determination will be made as to whether such change may have an environmental impact not previously assessed. If so, this environmental analysis will be amended to cover the changes. Per ADS 204, it is the responsibility of the USAID A/COR to keep the MEO/REA and BEO informed of any new information or changes in the activity that might require revision of this environmental analysis and threshold determination.

Attachment

• CRH EMMP

RACKING ID:#

USAID APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO RCE/IEE

IE: Green C harcoal for Haiti ____ _ _ _______ _

Approval:

Clearance:

Clearance:

Clearance:

Clearance:

Clearance:

Clearance:

Co01cu ence:

Gtris:iaP. lh.rratt. P.tputy Mission Director ¥.o'Lla 1::c . u. kJ.:>C-~

-e._g_· ~ Christopher Ryder. Regional Legal Officer

r \~:.;\te J b-1 erf'.0-.; \ Robert Clausen, Regional Environmental Advisor

Je~ Off!Ce Ch;ef

A~on Environment.al Officer

J'nur.kQ cJ~ Mic ael Wyzan, EGAD Offirechief

()~ -~ I ~\IV~ Diana Shanoon:reatl Environmental Officer (i·equi ed)

l.e~(t~ Date

U?(z..tt l l7 \ D te

Date

Date

Date

Date

Date

Jl/·l 1 ~ 20\"] Date

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Guidelines for Implementing Partners

USAID/LAC ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION and MONITORING PLAN (EMMP)

Appendix 1:

I. Coversheet for ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION and MONITOR PLAN (EMMP)

USAID MISSION DO# and Title: _Pillar B: Food and Economic Security _ __ _

Title of IP Activity: Renewable Energy_(AID-521-F-15-00005) _____ _

IP Name: Green Charcoal for Haiti ~---------------

Funding Period: FY2015 - FY2017

Associated IEE/ETD: __ LAC-IEE-17-07 __________ _

Resource Levels (US$): $838,000

Report Prepared by: Name: Eric Sorensen Date: April 28, 2017

Date of Previous EMMP: ___ May 22, 2015 ______ _ __ (if any)

Status of Fulfilling Mitigation Measures and Monitoring:

Yes No _X_ Initial EMMP describing mitigation plan is attached.

_X_ Annual EMMP describing status of mitigation measures is established and attached.

_X_ Certain mitigation conditions could not be satisfied and remedial action has been provided within the EMMP.

USAID Mission Clearance of EMMP:

Agreement Officer's Representative: ~ Date: G /11/XJ t1

Date: }/~ 31 2-<JJ l j

Date: ~ ,,. :? ~ <:QAJJT-

II. Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan Narrative 1. Background, Rationale and Outputs/Results Expected:

Carbon Roots Haiti’s (CRH) “Green Charcoal for Haiti” project is designed to provide a long-term sustainable alternative to the most environmentally degrading activity in Haiti: deforestation in pursuit of fuel. The Project is specifically designed to be environmentally-friendly and sustainable by sourcing local waste streams for conversion into appropriate cooking fuel. The primary expected environmental result of the project is the preservation of trees and, by extension, decrease in erosion and preservation of arable land. No un-mitigatable negative environmental effects are anticipated. The Environmental Threshold Decision for this USAID-supported DIV grant was negative with the condition that an Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan be drafted and implemented by the recipient. CRH will be tracking wood charcoal replaced and deforestation avoided by recording sales data and calculating positive environmental impacts, such as trees saved.

2. Environmental Baseline (Table 1):

CRH operates one green charcoal production factory outside of Cap-Haitien. The Project leases approximately 8 acres in a semi-rural area. The factory employs over 30 people from the immediate vicinity. The surrounding area is mostly fallow farmland, with a few scattered trees and no unique or extra-ordinary resources nearby. The company has been active for several years prior to this Environmental Baseline, including 12 months supported by a previous USAID award. CRH is currently building an extension on the factory, made up of a simple foundation of less than 1000 square meters, and a simple metal roof with no permanent walls.

The Project sources the raw materials for green charcoal briquettes from surrounding communities—mainly sugarcane bagasse. Sugarcane bagasse is a waste product of local small-scale distillery operations, and is traditionally disposed of by open-air burns. The Project utilizes this waste resource as the primary biomass feedstock for green charcoal, allowing local farmers to monetize a waste stream by selling the waste to CRH, which then carbonizes it into charcoal dust. Previously, the Project utilized efficient top-lit updraft kilns fashioned from 55 gallon barrels to convert waste into charcoal dust. Starting in February 2017, the Project transitioned to industrial pyrolysis technology, which has replaced barrel kilns. This method of thermally converting biomass to carbon is a smokeless process, and is a much a cleaner process than the open air burning that takes place on farms and at distilleries, and contributes

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to the overall environmental benefits produced by the Green Charcoal for Haiti Project. At a central facility, CRH uses commercial briquetting equipment to process the charcoal dust into dense, durable, high-quality cooking briquettes.

3. Evaluation of Environmental Impact Potential of Activities (Table 2):

The primary anticipated impact is a decreased reliance on traditional wood charcoal in customer areas, which includes the north Haiti region as well as Port-au-Prince. Green charcoal, as a direct “drop-in” replacement for wood charcoal, helps to relieve pressure on ecosystems across Haiti, where rural farmers are working to cut down the relatively few trees that remain. The scale of this positive impact is directly related to the scale of Carbon Roots Haiti’s green charcoal production and it’s growth. At the Project’s production facility, CRH has already spent several years working to implement environmental mitigation systems to eliminate any potential negative impact on surrounding ecosystems, residential areas, and the health and safety of its workers For example:

• The Project is located adjacent to the United Nations’ helicopter landing site, which was chosen in part because of the few people living in the immediate vicinity.

• The Project, in conjunction with USAID, has planted hundreds of trees at the green charcoal factory site, and has turned formerly fallow land into productive cropland that is cultivated and shared by local staff.

• The Project has applied biochar to the cropland, which has resulted in higher crop yields, better water retention, and a carbon-negative footprint.

• The Project has cleared drainage canals and planted anti-erosion grasses to decrease flooding in the area.

• The Project continues to employ (directly and indirectly) both men and women as suppliers, staff, and retailers, empowering jobless Haitians of both genders to earn significant income by joining the green charcoal value chain.

• The Project’s main product, green charcoal, burns cleaner than traditional wood charcoal, allowing for lower household emissions from cooking, which have been identified as one of the main contributors to respiratory health disease in mothers and children throughout the developing world.

• By replacing the consumption of living trees with a renewable biomass fuel source, the Project contributes to overall climate change mitigation efforts by preserving important carbon sinks.

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Nevertheless, as with any industrial manufacturing plant, the CRH facility has the potential to adversely impact surrounding ecosystems, land users, and factory employees. These include:

• Dust and noise from the operation of machinery, kilns, tractors, and electricity generators which may be a nuisance to nearby land users both in the construction/installation phase, as well as, operation;

• Occupational health hazards from the operation of machinery and tractors, including repertory illnesses from inhalation of dust and smoke;

• Fire hazards from the operation of the kilns or from electric short-circuiting;

• Sourcing of raw materials (sugar cane bagasse) can create an added incentive for the planting of fallow or forested land.

4. Environmental Mitigation Actions (Tables 2 & 3): The above foreseen impacts can be mitigated through a series of simple mitigation strategies as discussed in the GEMS Sector Environmental Guidelines on Small Construction and the Mechanisms for MSEs to Control Environmental Impact.1 These mitigation strategies involve the use of personal protective equipment by employees on the shredding and charring lines, fixing hours of operation of machinery to reduce the noise and dust impact on sensitive neighbors, and installation of fire extinguishers and kill-switches in appropriate areas. It is further understood that this EMMP will be revisited periodically to review the foreseen and unforeseen impacts and the company’s operations will be adjusted accordingly. See tables 2 and 3 for more details on the mitigation strategies 5. Gender

The Project empowers both men and women. Women make up all green charcoal retailers (CRH has trained over 50), as well as over 30% of upper level staff. CRH actively targets and trains women for retail jobs, allowing for greater economic empowerment and social mobility.

6. Climate Change Integration The consideration of climate change impacts is inherent in the Project’s design, as one of the broadest goals of the Green Charcoal for Haiti project is to reduce the carbon impact of deforestation in Haiti by offering an alternative to wood-

1 http://www.usaidgems.org/sectorGuidelines.htm

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based fuel consumption, which is local deforestation’s main driver. The greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation and electricity generation inherent in the production of the briquettes is more than offset by the reduction in emissions from deforestation. The sugar industry in Haiti provides the primary ingredient in the production of briquettes and has so far been shown to be resilient to the impacts of climate change. CRH will continue to monitor the climate fluctuations in the region and encourage bagasse suppliers to adapt their planting practices to anticipated droughts, intense storms, or flooding. The factory site south of Cap Haïtien has had a history of flooding during storm events. CRH has installed run-off control measures to maintain a dry work site and equipment. The company will continue to monitor the situation and adapt according to climate predictions.

III-A. Environmental Screening Form (Table 1)

Name of Activity: Green Charcoal for Haiti____________________ Type of Activity: Renewable Energy____________________________ Contractor/Grantee: Carbon Roots Haiti_____________________________ Date: February 10, 2017__________________________________ IEE/ETD #_ LAC-IEE-17-07______________________________

Column A

Column B

Column C

Yes No If answered yes to Col.

A. is it a--?

High Risk

Medium Risk

INFRASTRUCTURE 1 Will the project involve construction1 and/or reconstruction/rehabilitation

of any type of infrastructure? For new construction, if less than 1000 m2 = medium risk, if greater than 1000 m2 = high risk

X X

2 Will the project involve work on roads? If new construction/rerouting= high risk, if repair/reconstruction (widening, improving drainage, resurfacing of existing roads or trails = medium risk

X

3 Will the project construction cost more than US $500,000? If YES, then a cost benefit analysis and approval of a USAID Engineer are required as mitigation measures in Table 2.

X

4 Is an operations and maintenance plan required? (for all type of infrastructure, road rehabilitation, or water and sanitation action = Yes)

X

5 Will the activity increase existing noise levels? X 6 Does the activity, require local planning permission(s) (i.e.,

infrastructure improvements)? X

7 Does the activity require adherence to national building code or other national regulatory standard? X

BIOPHYSICAL 8 Will the project involve the use, plans to use, or training in the use of

pesticides3 (including bio pesticides like neem)? X

9 Will the project involve changes or impacts in the uses of water (such as irrigation, storage, potable water, water harvesting)

X

10 Will the project impact surface water (rivers, lakes, wetlands and ponds) or ground water? X

11 Will the activity involve training and/or implementation of agricultural practices/production including animal husbandry?

X

12 Will the project involve aquaculture systems? X 13 Will the project involve the use or disposal of hazardous materials (used

engine oil, paint, varnish, lead-based products, or other hazardous or special management waste)?

X

14 Will the project involve implementation of timber management4,,extraction of forest products, clearing of forest cover, and/or conversion of forest land ?

X

15 Are there any potentially sensitive terrestrial or aquatic areas near the project site, including protected areas, wetlands, critical wildlife habitat (including nesting areas), and threatened or endangered species?

X

16 Will the activities proposed generate airborne particulates (dust), greenhouse gas emissions, liquids, or solids (i.e. discharge pollutants) or potentially violate local air standards?

X X

17 Will the activity create objectionable odors? X 18 Will the activity occur on steep slopes (greater than 15%)? X 19 Will the activity contribute to erosion? X 20 Will the activity change existing land use in the vicinity? X

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21 Is the proposed activity incompatible with land type (i.e., annual crops on steep slopes, infrastructure on poorly drained soils)?

X

22 Will the activity affect unique geologic or physical? X 23 Will the activity have potential impacts to inhabitants, natural

landscapes, or flora/fauna downstream from the activity site? X

24 Will the activity have a direct or indirect impact, or include actions with mangroves, coral reefs and other marine/coastal ecosystems? X

GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE 25 Are project activities or outcomes vulnerable to changes in the weather

or climate such as changes in precipitation patterns, increased temperatures or sea level rise?

X X

26 Does the project’s activities exacerbate climate change vulnerabilities (i.e., drought, flooding, decrease water supply)? X

SOCIO ECONOMIC 27 Will the activity contribute to displacement of people, housing or

businesses? X

28 Will the activity affect unique cultural, indigenous peoples and/or historic features?

X

29 Will the activity expose people or property to flooding? X ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH 30 Will the project activities create conditions encouraging an increase of

waterborne diseases or populations of disease carrying vectors? X

31 Will the activity generate hazards or barriers for pedestrians, motorists or persons with disabilities? X

32 Will the project involve the use, storage, handling or disposal of syringes, gauzes, gloves and other biohazard medical waste?

X

33 Will the activity expose workers to occupational hazards? X X GENDER5 34 Does the project activity inhibit the equal involvement of men and

women? X

35 Do the project results disproportionately benefit/impact men and women? X

OTHER 36 Does the project/Activity involve a sub-grant component? X

RECOMMENDED ACTION (Check Appropriate Action): (Check)

(a) The project has no potential for substantial adverse environmental effects. No further environmental review is required (Categorical Exclusion). No further action required.

(b) The project has potential for minimal to medium adverse environmental effects, but environmental effects can be mitigated. Measures to mitigate environmental effects will be incorporated (Negative Determination with Conditions). EMMP Required.

X

(c) The project has potentially substantial or significant adverse environmental effects, therefore, an EA is required before activity implementation (Positive Determination). NOTE: if any question is marked as High Risk, an EA is required and Tables 2 and 3 of the EMMP do not need to be completed.

(d) The project has potentially substantial adverse environmental effects, and revisions to the project design or location or the development of new alternatives is required (Deferral).

(e) The project has substantial and adverse environmental effects that cannot be mitigated. Mitigation is insufficient to eliminate these effects and alternatives are not feasible. The project is not recommended for funding.

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1 Construction projects need to be reviewed for scale, planned use, building code needs and maintenance. New construction having a footprint larger than 1000 meters2 or 10,000 feet2 is considered large scale and high risk. Some small construction projects, such as building an entrance sign to a park, may require simple mitigation measures whereas larger buildings will require more extensive review and monitoring. 2 New construction of roads and trails are considered high risk and will require a full environmental assessment of the planned construction, i.e. a Positive Determination. Any reroutes of a road or trail longer than 100 meters is considered a high risk. Reroutes within a protected area, nearby a water source/wetlands, and/or archaeological site are considered a high risk. 3 The purchase of packaged store pesticides are included. The planned involvement of pesticides will trigger the need to develop a Supplemental Initial Environmental Examination that meets USAID pesticide procedures (Pesticide Evaluation Report and Safer Use Action Plan or “PERSUAP”) for the project. 4 Any activities that involve harvesting trees or converting forests is considered high risk and will require a full environmental assessment of the activity (i.e. Positive Determination). 5 A positive response to gender questions require follow up only when there are other positive responses on questions 1 – 30, and an EMMP is developed. 6 If the Project/Activity includes a sub-grant component, each sub-grantee shall be required to prepare an EMMP prior to implementation of the sub-grant.

III-B. Identification of Mitigation Plan (Table 2)

Name of Activity: Green Charcoal for Haiti__________________ Type of Activity: Renewable Energy________________________ Contractor/Grantee: Carbon Roots Haiti_____________________ Date: April 28, 2017 ________________________________________ IEE/ETD #______ LAC-IEE-17-07__________

# of the question

from Table 1

Action or component with the different

tasks required to implement the action.

Description of Impact

Mitigation Measures

1 Construction of factory extension Damage aquatic ecosystems through erosion and siltation Harm terrestrial ecosystems via harvesting of timber or other natural products. Increase in greenhouse gas emissions due to land use change. Spread vector-borne diseases when stagnant water accumulates in active or abandoned quarries or borrow pits and breeds insect vectors.

Identify the most environmentally sound source of materials within budget; Fill in, quarries and pits before abandoning; Control runoff into pit; Avoid sourcing timber from unsustainable sources;

16 Partial combustion of agricultural waste Release of small amounts of CO2 and water vapor into atmosphere may contribute to GHG emissions.

The industrial pyrolysis technology that CRH will use to convert waste to charcoal dust is outfitted with a secondary oxidizer, which fully combusts all volatiles remaining before emitted to the atmosphere. CRH will monitor all emissions from the industrial pyrolysis technology during operation to ensure no smoke is seen. (Note: this

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technology is rated for use in states and countries with the strictest environmental regulations on the planet.)

16 Partial combustion of agricultural waste High heat generated by

pyrolysis reaction Protective insulation on equipment where possible. Access to risk areas restricted to only qualified personnel. Mandatory use of protective equipment such as eyewear and gloves.

1, 33 General Occupational Health and Safety Issues

Cause worker injuries or illness from falls and falling objects, collapses and heavy equipment, flying debris, exposure to toxics such as lead, asbestos, solvents, and cement dust; poor sanitation; heat stress

Follow host country occupational safety and health standards for construction. Daily checks of operators’ protective equipment, such as eyewear, gloves, and respiratory mask. Inspect fire extinguishers regularly as specified by the manufacturer.

1 Site clearing and/or leveling, Excavation Produce areas of bare soil, which cause erosion, siltation, changes in natural water flow, and/or damage to aquatic ecosystems. These impacts can be exacerbated by more variable precipitation due to climate change.

Design infrastructure so that it will create least impact Remove, without destroying, large plants and ground cover where possible Use erosion control measures such as hay bales Replant recovered plants and local flora as soon as possible

25 Drying of feedstock and/or briquettes Several steps in the green charcoal production process currently require some drying using passive solar heat. Inclement weather can delay drying, thereby slowing green charcoal production, and ultimately delaying positive impacts associated with the

Develop better use of excess heat from pyrolysis process to replace solar heat.

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project model. * provide overview of measures used from the USAID Sector Environmental Guidelines or other pertinent guidelines, details on exact monitoring plan are illustrated in Table 3, Environmental Monitoring and Evaluation Tracking Table.

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III-C. Environmental Monitoring and Evaluation Tracking Table (Table 3).

Type of Project: Renewable Energy Project Name: Green Charcoal for Haiti (AID-521-F-15-00005) Implementing Partner: Carbon Roots Haiti Location Name: Quartier Morin Project Size: $838,000 Nearby Communities: Cap-Haitien Senior Project Manager: Ryan Delaney Date: April 28, 2017 Monitoring Period: June1 2015 – Dec 1 2017

# Description of

Mitigation Measure (same as in Table 2)

Responsible Party for

implementing and

monitoring mitigation measures

Monitoring Methods Estimated Cost of

implementing mitigation

measures and monitoring

Results

Recommended Adjustments

Implementation indicators and

effectiveness of indicators

Methods Frequency Dates

Problems Encountered

Mitigation Effectiveness

1 Identify the most environmentally sound source of materials within budget; Fill in, quarries and pits before abandoning; Control runoff into pit; Avoid sourcing timber from unsustainable sources

Senior project manager

Existence of mitigation measures at sourcing sites for materials

Interview with suppliers.

Once, upon procurement of materials

$0 1 2 3

4

5

2 The industrial pyrolysis technology that CRH will use to convert waste to charcoal dust is outfitted with a secondary oxidizer, which fully combusts all volatiles remaining before emitted to the atmosphere. CRH will monitor all emissions from the industrial pyrolysis technology during operation to ensure no smoke is seen.

Senior project manager

Correct assembly of pyrolysis equipment

Visual and operational

Once, during commissioning

$0 1 2 3

4

3 Daily checks of operators’ protective equipment, such as eyewear, gloves, and respiratory mask.

Production manager

Usage of safety equipment

Visual Daily $0 1 2 3

4

4 Protective insulation on equipment where possible. Access to risk areas restricted

Production manager

Proper commissioning of equipment and personnel

Visual Daily $0 1 2

3

6

to only qualified personnel. Mandatory use of protective equipment such as eyewear and gloves.

management

5 Follow host country occupational safety and health standards for construction.

Senior project manager

Proper and safe construction of expansion

Assessment by designing engineer

Once, during pre-construction design phase

$0

6 Design infrastructure so that it will create least impact Remove, without destroying, large plants and ground cover where possible Use erosion control measures such as hay bales Replant recovered plants and local flora as soon as possible

Senior project manager

Low environmental impact on construction site

Allow construction only in designated low-impact areas; ensure proper drainage infrastructure

During construction phase

$0

7 Develop better use of excess

Design engineer &

Reduction of reliance

Work with

Iterative, during

$500

7

heat from pyrolysis process to replace solar heat.

Senior project manager & Production manager

on solar heat and increased green charcoal production volume

production manager and design engineer to test new methods for utilizing waste heat from pyrolysis process

operations