E1646 : Irrigation Development Project Additional Financing

Environmental Management Plan (EMP)

Public Disclosure Authorized INTRODUCTION

Armenian agriculture is heavily dependant on irrigation because of low rainfall in the main production area of the Ararat Valley. The value of agricultural GDP in the Republic of Armenia (excluding livestock) is about US$ 300 million annually, with the share of irrigated farming about 80 percent. During the Soviet times irrigated areas increasing from year to year have achieved about 280,000 ha through operation of more than 70 reservoirs, 3,000 km of main and secondary canals, about 18,000 km of tertiary canals, more than 400 big and medium size pumping stations. During the Soviet years all the costs of irrigation system were covered by the state and irrigation water for agriculture was free of charge. After the collapse of the USSR the state was no longer able to maintain the proper level of allocations and thus due to near absence of operation and Public Disclosure Authorized maintenance of irrigation infrastructure resulted in their further deterioration and reduction of irrigated areas down to 140,000 ha. Originally designed as centrally managed schemes distributing water to 860 large collective and state farms, land privatization had turned these farms into a mess of 300,000 small households that were mostly led by teachers, doctors, and of other non-agricultural professionals with almost no or little experience in irrigated agriculture. Average land portions were about 1.4 hectares, and even that was split into several plots, each owner having an equal share of good and poor land. Furthermore, since the breakup of the Soviet Union, much of the irrigation infrastructure maintenance has been neglected, resulting in widespread deterioration of canals, pipelines, pumping stations, and related structures, and consequently adversely impacted the environmental conditions. Public Disclosure Authorized

Specifically, the monitoring of in-farm irrigation systems (tertiary irrigation canals) revealed that irrigation networks on 75,000 ha are in poor conditions and 56,000 ha is not irrigated due to lack of water. Tertiary irrigation system was constructed for irrigation of big plots (collective and state farms) and mono-crops (monoculture). Water losses in networks vary from 25 to 55 percent. The average losses in the system amount to 40 percent. If the current operational capacities of irrigation systems remain unchanged, with the baseline scenario, the annual increase in rain fed lands will constitute 2 percent. Considering the mentioned facts, it is assumed that due to losses in networks certain areas are not irrigated and are rain-fed. It is estimated that after the rehabilitation of the tertiary network water losses in the system will constitute 20 percent.

Public Disclosure Authorized Until now 75 tertiary canals were rehabilitated in the scope of WB IDP with total length of 219 km, total irrigated area of 22,075 ha and rehabilitation cost around $7 million. The Government of Armenia has received an additional financing from the World Bank to continue the rehabilitation of the tertiary networks within the scope of Irrigation Development Project.

Irrigation Development Project Additional Financing Environmental Management Plan 1 Republic of Armenia applied for the additional loan in the amount of US$ 5.0 million for the Irrigation Development Project (IDP), Credit No 3568-AM. The proposed additional loan in the amount of around $ 5 million would scale up activities of the IDP that support rehabilitation of tertiary irrigation canals. It will also improve IDP impact in terms of irrigation water savings and lower energy usage, thus contributing to the enhancing the profitability and sustainability of irrigated agriculture. The implementation mechanism and arrangements for rehabilitating tertiary system under WUAs management will be the same that have been successfully tested under IDP and will continue requiring collection of 15 % co-financing from beneficiaries/farmers’ communities, which would change attitude of water users toward the systems and would ensure further efficient and sustainable operation.

The list of the tertiary canals to be rehabilitation within the IDP Additional Financing as well the map showing proposed projects locations are presented an Annexes A and B correspondingly.

This document presents the Environmental Management Plan (EMP), which has been prepared to ensure that the proposed IDP Additional Financing is implemented in accordance with the World Bank operational guidelines and local legislation related to environmental protection. The main purpose of this EMP is to serve as a valuable tool for identifying possible key environmental and social impacts that will result from the project and proposing mitigation measures to address the most significant impacts. The EMP also provides the responsibilities of different parties involved in the project implementation. Although major environmental issues (Category B) are not anticipated since the investments are directed on the rehabilitation of existing tertiary infrastructure, EMP identifies several mitigation measures aimed at environment protection and maintenance of environmental conditions mainly during the civil works.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED REHABILITATION WORK

The following types of activities will be mostly implemented during the construction works within the scope of the program: • Earth works, including soil excavation and backfill • Placement of flume canal from r/c flumes type -6 on concrete supports • Placement of steel pipes • Preparation and installation of steel lift gates • Arrangement of joints etc.

During the preparation of proposals for tertiary canals rehabilitation local population and especially WUA members are actively participating in the selection of priority parts of tertiary canals to be included in the proposal. Furthermore, the final design is also discussed with PIU, appropriate engineers, interested water users, WUA staff, community Mayor and other relevant stakeholders.

Irrigation Development Project Additional Financing Environmental Management Plan 2 POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

The rehabilitation of the tertiary canals would not pose significant risks to the environment. All of these activities are of rehabilitation nature on the alignment of existent deteriorated canals; they do not affect new areas and do not include expansions for existing infrastructures. In addition, the project aims only at improving the efficiency of the existing irrigation systems and reducing water losses. As a consequence, the range of impacts is limited (impacts directly related to the rehabilitation activities) and their magnitude remains small (localized impacts and no significant effect on future operation). Based on the preliminary assessment, these impacts mostly would be limited to:

• Disposal of excavated materials and construction wastes. Demolition debris and excessive soil are usually generated during the rehabilitation works on tertiary systems;

• Degradation of landscapes and soil erosion. The impacts on vegetative cover will be short- term, localized, and totally associated with rehabilitation works;

• Impacts from temporary access roads and work areas. Establishment of temporary dirt roads to access work areas and temporary dumping sites for excavated materials can enhance soil erosion, and degrade the landscape;

• Loss of fertile topsoil. Mixing of top soils (suitable for agriculture) with lower grade soils (deeper layers) during the excavation and back filling of trenches would have a negative impact on the soil quality and diminish agricultural production and yield;

• Pollution by construction run-offs. Negative impacts of fuel and oils to groundwater are expected to be temporary and of minor significance;

• Noise and vibration disturbances during construction and temporary air pollution (dust) related to the transportation of construction materials and truck traffic. These impacts will occur during the construction and rehabilitation works, but will be only short-term. Effects include dust from construction activities, noise during trench excavation, possible effect of vibration caused by operation of heavy machinery, increased traffic in some sections of roads, etc;

• Safety hazards from construction activities. No major hazards are expected the construction of the proposed project elements, as long as proper construction practices and safety procedures are applied;

• Impacts on historic-cultural and archaeological monuments. No archeological or cultural resources are expected to be encountered during project implementation since major works consist in rehabilitation of existing systems where excavations have been conducted before and no findings have been reported.

Irrigation Development Project Additional Financing Environmental Management Plan 3 MITIGATION MEASURES

Based on the preliminary assessment, key mitigation measures recommended under this Environmental Management Plan (EMP) are listed as follows:

• Obtain permits from the Ministry of Nature Protection and as needed from the local/regional authorities for the opening and/or use of quarries;

• Obtain permits from the Ministry of Nature Protection and as needed from the local/regional authorities for disposal of excavated materials and construction wastes;

• Provide for zones of preliminary accumulation of wastes that will cause no damage to the vegetation cover and other components of the environment

• Transport and disposal of construction concrete rubbles, debris and spoils in approved paths and landfills/dump sites;

• Delineate access roads/ work areas carefully and prevent their expansion

• Rehabilitate access roads and work areas after work completion (scratch soil with special engine, put fertile topsoil in place, etc.)

• Use closed/covered trucks for transportation of construction materials

• Clean the surrounding area from dust by water sprinkling , removal of excess materials and cleaning of sites upon completion of activities

• Restoration to quasi-original conditions of landscape after completion of construction and rehabilitation works.

• Arrange necessary preservation measures (establish protection zones, by-pass these areas during transportation and other);

• Cease the works as soon as historical and cultural monuments are encountered during earthworks and provide relevant information to the State Agency for Historical and Cultural Monuments Protection.

• Conduct mid-term and end-of-project inspections to the sites during construction and rehabilitation works.

Irrigation Development Project Additional Financing Environmental Management Plan 4 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

Mitigation Measures and Institutional Responsibilities for Implementation For each potential impact the EMP identifies: • the proposed mitigation measure(s); and • the parties or agencies charged with implementing those measures, separated into:

-- Executing agencies responsible for executing the measure. For this specific assignment the executing agencies (e.g. contracted design institutes) shall ensure that all necessary agreements and permits (e.g. EIA conclusion, permits for water use and discharge and for the disposal of excavated materials, wastes, and demolition debris) are obtained from relevant state and local authorities before the construction works are tendered out. Construction contractors shall take the responsibility for physical implementation of mitigation measures provided under the EMP during the construction phases according to the Bank’s policies and Armenia environmental legislation. -- Supervising agencies responsible for supervising the executing agencies to ensure that they execute the mitigation measures as planned. The Water Sector Development and Institutional Improvements Project Implementation Unit (PIU) will be responsible for supervising the timely, proper and reliable implementation of works and measures in the consequence provided by the EMP. PIU will also ensure that all necessary agreements and permits are obtained by appropriate contractors from relevant state and local authorities before the construction works are tendered out. The World Bank during supervision missions may request randomly to check if such permits are issued and are valid (e.g., not expired) as well as if the EMP mitigation and monitoring aspects are implemented on the ground during the construction phases according to the Bank’s policies and Armenia environmental legislation. -- Monitoring agencies in charge of monitoring the extent of implementation and the effectiveness of the mitigation measures and of adjusting the program if needed. Monitoring agencies will be responsible for covering all measures requiring some sort of monitoring by key partners of the PIU and State Committee for Water Management for this project, in particular the Ministry of Nature Protection and its affiliated agencies (State Environmental Inspectorate, Water Resources Management Agency) as well as Historic and Cultural Monuments Protection Agency of the Ministry of Culture. The construction site, potential negative impacts, mitigation measures, implementing institutions and timing are presented in the Annex C. The monitoring responsibilities over the implementation of proposed mitigation measures are presented in Annex D.

Irrigation Development Project Additional Financing Environmental Management Plan 5 ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND CLAUSES FOR CIVIL WORKS CONTRACTS

Most construction phase impacts will be possible to mitigate by including appropriate clauses into the civil works contracts. Revisions of clauses should cover, but not limited to, the following issues:

• Compliance with general national environmental guidelines; • Compliance with relevant World Bank Operational Policies; • Protection of Historic-cultural monuments; • Adequate disposal of construction and excavation wastes; • Location of construction camps; • Restoration of the quasi-original conditions of landscape in construction sites after works completion; • Occupational safety and health (Consultants and contractors working on the program will be required to adhere to all applicable laws and regulations controlling workplace health and safety), etc. Construction works contracts should include this EMP with its Environmental Mitigation Plan (Annex C) and Environmental Monitoring Plan (Annex D).

The budget for civil works contracts usually includes costs allocated for implementation of environmental mitigation measures, since appropriate mitigation measures should be fulfilled by the construction contractor. The PIU will hire supervisor responsible for daily supervision over the implementation of civil works. Besides, PIU appropriate engineer and environmental specialist will conduct periodical visits to construction sites to ensure proper implementation of works and relevant mitigation measures.

Irrigation Development Project Additional Financing Environmental Management Plan 6 ANNEX A The list of the tertiary canals to be rehabilitation within the IDP Additional Financing

Rehabilitation No Contract No Activity WUA cost, thos. USD Rehabilitation of tertiary canals of Ptghunk, Mousaler and 1 IDP/NCB/CW-06/013 Mousaler 125,738 communities

2 IDP/NCB/CW-05/016 Rehabilitation of tertiary canals of Dalar village 67,814

3 IDP/NCB/CW-05/059 Rehabilitation of tertiary canal of Aigavan village Ararat 101,721

4 IDP/NCB/CW-05/113 Rehabilitation of tertiary canal of village 64,988

5 IDP/NCB/CW-05/076 Rehabilitation of tertiary canal of Khanjyan village 79,116

6 IDP/NCB/CW-06/010 Rehabilitation of tertiary canal of village Sev Jur Akhtamar 66,401

7 IDP/NCB/CW-06/030 Rehabilitation of tertiary canal of Karpi village Kasakh 45,209

8 IDP/NCB/CW-06/032 Rehabilitation of tertiary canal of Aruch village Kasakh 31,364

9 IDP/NCB/CW-06/033 Rehabilitation of tertiary canal of Nor Edesia village Shamiram 20,627

10 IDP/NCB/CW-05/008 Rehabilitation of tertiary canal of Norashen village Artashat 109,067

11 IDP/NCB/CW-06/034 Rehabilitation of tertiary canal of Kosh village Shamiram 111,610

Rehabilitation of tertiary canals of Ararat, villages and 12 IDP/NCB/CW-05/005/056 Vedi 341,076 town

13 IDP/NCB/CW-06/020 Rehabilitation of tertiary canal of Shahumyan village Artashat 442,667

Rehabilitation of tertiary canals of Bourastan, Berkanush, and 14 IDP/NCB/CW-05/010/011 Mkhchyan 231,057 Baghramyan villages

Irrigation Development Project Additional Financing Environmental Management Plan 7 Rehabilitation No Contract No Activity WUA cost, thos. USD

15 IDP/NCB/CW-06/027 Rehabilitation of tertiary canal of village Ararat 185,327

16 IDP/NCB/CW-06/014 Rehabilitation of tertiary canal of Ghoukasavan village Masis 111,890

17 IDP/NCB/CW-05/067 Rehabilitation of tertiary canal of Achapnyak Community (package II) 85,080

Rehabilitation of Araks N1 outlet canal and tertiary canals of Hoktember, 18 IDP/NCB/CW-05/074/080/082 Araks 395,322 Houshakert and Araks villages

19 IDP/NCB/CW-05/084 Rehabilitation of tertiary canal of Maisyan village Araks 193,498

20 IDP/NCB/CW-06/011 Rehabilitation of tertiary canal of Voskehat village Araks 57,513

21 IDP/NCB/CW-06/022 Rehabilitation of tertiary canals of -Etchmiadzin and B-2 canal 283,025

22 IDP/NCB/CW-05/072/025 Rehabilitation of tertiary canals of Yervandashat and Artamet villages Shenik 474,202

23 IDP/NCB/CW-06/007/012 Rehabilitation of tertiary canals of Yeranos and Verin Getashen villages Martouni 266,861

24 IDP/NCB/CW-06/021 Rehabilitation of tertiary canal of Zolakar village Martouni 360,815

25 IDP/NCB/CW-06/001 Rehabilitation of tertiary canal of Ashtarak town Martouni 263,338

26 IDP/NCB/CW-06/031 Rehabilitation of distributory canal P-9 of Kosh village Shamiram 274,039

Rehabilitation of tertiary canasl of Geghadzor, Norashen and Nigavan 27 IDP/NCB/CW-05/045/049/091 Aparan-Aragats 249,146 villages

28 IDP/NCB/CW-05/019 Rehabilitation of tertiary canal of Nor-Geghy village (package II) Nairi 81,535

29 IDP/NCB/CW-06/016 Rehabilitation of tertiary canal of Solak village Hrazdan-Jur 248,930

Irrigation Development Project Additional Financing Environmental Management Plan 8 ANNEX B

Locations of the tertiary canals to be rehabilitated within the IDP Additional Financing

Note: The numbers it Map refers to the numbers of the appropriate tertiary canals rehabilitation Contract No given in the table in Annex A

Irrigation Development Project Additional Financing Environmental Management Plan 9 ANNEX C Environmental Mitigation Plan

EXECUTING SUPERVISING TIMING POTENTIAL NEGATIVE IMPACT ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION MEASURES AGENCY AGENCY Possible production of Obtain permit from the MNP and concerned Local/ Design Institute PIU During detailed construction debris/spoils. Regional Authorities for opening and/or use of design phase quarries.

Obtain permit from the MNP and concerned Local/ Regional Authorities for construction and disposal operations.

Pollution of water and soil as a Provide for zones of preliminary accumulation of Contractor, PIU After obtaining result of improper disposal of wastes that will cause no damage to the vegetation Construction of permit, excavated materials and cover and other components of the environment sub-contractor during construction wastes organizations construction work

Arrange transport and disposal of wastes according to Contractor, PIU After obtaining the established procedure and in the approved dump Construction of permit, sites designated for the specific purpose. sub-contractor during organizations construction work

Loss of top soil due to Delineate access roads/ work areas carefully and Contractor PIU During temporary access roads and prevent their expansion construction work areas works

Irrigation Development Project Additional Financing Environmental Management Plan 10 EXECUTING SUPERVISING TIMING POTENTIAL NEGATIVE IMPACT ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION MEASURES AGENCY AGENCY Rehabilitate access roads and work areas after work Contractor PIU After works completion (scratch soil with special engine, put fertile completion. topsoil in place, etc.)

Temporary air pollution (dust) Use closed/covered trucks for transportation of Contractor, PIU During related to the transportation of construction materials Construction construction construction materials and sub-contractor works truck traffic organizations

Clean the surrounding area from dust by water Contractor PIU During/ after sprinkling , removal of excess materials and cleaning construction of sites upon completion of activities works

Noise and vibration disturbances Terminate the works at the established time, and avoid increase of Contractor, PIU During noise and number of peak hours Construction construction works sub-contractor Establish schedule and other specific restrictions organizations

Limit work to daylight hours as possible

Impacts on historic-cultural Arrange necessary preservation measures (establish protection Designer PIU During design monuments zones, by-pass these areas during transportation and other) works

Cease the works as soon as historical and cultural monuments are Contractor PIU During encountered during earthworks and provide relevant information construction to the State Agency for Historical and Cultural Monuments works Protection

Irrigation Development Project Additional Financing Environmental Management Plan 11 EXECUTING SUPERVISING TIMING POTENTIAL NEGATIVE IMPACT ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION MEASURES AGENCY AGENCY Landscape degradation Restoration to quasi-original conditions of landscape after Contractor, PIU After works completion of rehabilitation works and after use of quarries; Construction completion. restore the vegetation cover sub-contractor organizations Develop efficient methods for disposal or backfilling of extracted Design Institute PIU During detailed soils; design phase Consider and use plant species characteristic for the landscape in Contractor, PIU During the course of restoration of the vegetation cover Construction construction works sub-contractor organizations

Dump excavated soils and substances only within the areas Contractor, PIU During designated for that purpose Construction construction works sub-contractor organizations

ANNEX D

Environmental Monitoring Plan

MONITORING MONITORING RESPONSIBLE POTENTIAL NEGATIVE IMPACT MONITORING PARAMETER TIMING SITE TYPE /EQUIPMENT PARTY Possible production of Existence and validity of all PIU Office, Inspection After design Supervisor construction debris/spoils. necessary permits from the MNP Design Institute phase, before Engineer, and concerned Local/ Regional starting the MNP State Authorities for opening and/or use bidding for Environmental f i ll f i I

Irrigation Development Project Additional Financing Environmental Management Plan 12 MONITORING MONITORING RESPONSIBLE POTENTIAL NEGATIVE IMPACT MONITORING PARAMETER TIMING SITE TYPE /EQUIPMENT PARTY of quarries as well as for construction Inspectorate construction wastes disposal. (SEI), Local/Regional Authorities (LRA)

Pollution of water and soil as a Existence of zones/sites for At and near Inspection During Contractor, result of improper disposal of preliminary accumulation of wastes work site construction Supervisor excavated materials and works Engineer construction wastes Proper transport and disposal of At work and Inspection During and after Contractor, wastes in the approved dump sites dump sites construction Supervisor works Engineer, MNP SEI, LRA

Check water and soil quality (basic At work and Inspection During MNP physical-chemical parameters) dump sites construction Environmental works and in case Monitoring of complaint or Centre, SEI spillage

Loss of top soil due to Clear delineation of access roads At access roads Inspection, During Contractor, temporary access roads and and work sites to prevent their and work sites Observation construction Supervisor work areas, expansion works Engineer Landscape degradation

Irrigation Development Project Additional Financing Environmental Management Plan 13 MONITORING MONITORING RESPONSIBLE POTENTIAL NEGATIVE IMPACT MONITORING PARAMETER TIMING SITE TYPE /EQUIPMENT PARTY Cleaning of access roads and work sites At access roads Inspection, After Contractor, after construction works completion and work sites Observation construction Supervisor works Engineer

Restoration of landscape to quasi- At work site Unannounced After works MNP original condition after completion and quarries Inspection completion. Environmental of works and after use of quarries Monitoring Centre, SEI

Temporary air pollution (dust) Sprinkling of water to suppress the At access roads Inspection, During Contractor, related to the transportation of dust and work sites Observation construction Supervisor construction materials and works Engineer truck traffic

Noise and vibration disturbances Termination of construction works at the At access roads Inspection, During Contractor, established time (e.g. work on daylight and work sites Observation construction works Supervisor hours) Engineer Measure noise levels (dB) At and near the Inspection During Contractor, MNP work site construction works Supervisor Engineer Staff safety Use of protective equipment, organization At work site Inspection During Contractor, of by-passing traffic construction Supervisor works Engineer

Irrigation Development Project Additional Financing Environmental Management Plan 14 Irrigation Development Project Additional Financing Environmental Management Plan 15