ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION PLAN AND REPORT. All activities funded by USAID must conform to its environmental procedures outlined in 22 CFR 216, which require Initial Environmental Evaluations (IEE) to ensure that “environmental factors and values are integrated into the USAID decision-making process” and that “the environmental consequences of USAID-financed activities are identified and considered by USAID and the host country prior to a final decision to proceed and that appropriated environmental safeguards are adopted. All USAID activities and programs funded through USAID’s Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Missions are issued an Environmental Threshold Decision (ETD) by the Bureau Environmental Officer (BEO) pursuant to the IEE as per 22 CFR 216.3(a)2. The Environmental Mitigation Plan & Report (EMPR) initially categorizes activities into three risk categories: No Risk, Medium Risk, and High Risk. Those with No Risk can continue without further review upon completion of the screening form and review and approval of the risk analysis by the Agreement/Contract Officer’s Representative (AOR/COR) and the Mission Environment Officer (MEO). The EMPR typically deals with those activities at Medium Risk. All awardees that receive a Negative Determination with Conditions ETD will be required to fill out an Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (EMMP)per activity type that includes: Narrative (Justification/Background, Baseline Information/Existing Conditions, Description of Activities, and Social Considerations sections must be completed at a minimum); The Environmental Screening Form; The Environmental Mitigation Plan and The Environmental Monitoring Table. By FY 17, PrevenSida will develop HIV prevention activities in four departments and five municipalities through six NGOs, three of them will conduct HIV rapid testing. Grant applications require applicants to identify their activities based on the environmental control form and when necessary to draft an environmental mitigation and monitoring plan with monthly reports and quarterly summaries on plan compliance. USAID funds will not be used to improve organizations’ infrastructure. PrevenSida and all NGOs receiving sub grants fall in the category of negative with conditions and need to submit and implement an EMPR.
