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The Environmental Impact Assessment……………………………………………………………… Sustainable Energy Development in Chilean Patagonia: A Comprehensive Critique of the August 2008 HidroAysén Environmental Impact Assessment Graham Scholars Program Winter 2009 CEE 490: Sustainable Energy Development in South America Courtney Doman Shawn Kinkema Aubrey Parker Amy Fingerle Annette Kosin Matthew Raubinger Matthew Gacioch Rachel Lauderdale Sarah Robb Walter Graf Mary Lemmer Eric Sauck Alexander Harris Amy Mikus Jill Schlechtweg Greta Jankoviak John Monaghan Angela Wyse Professors Steven Wright and Sara Adlerstein-Gonzalez 1 Preface This report represents a course project prepared by a group of 17 undergraduate students and 1 graduate student at the University of Michigan enrolled in the course CEE 490 – Sustainable Energy Development in South America during the winter semester of 2009. In addition to studies of relevant documents, the students visited the Aysén region in February 2009 including some of the areas that would be impacted by the proposed projects, and participated in discussions and presentations with a number of stakeholders. The course was sponsored by the Graham Environmental Sustainability Institute; the views expressed in this report do not represent an official position of the University of Michigan or the Graham Environmental Sustainability Institute. Most of the students participating in the course were not fluent in Spanish and the review of lengthy documents in that language posed significant difficulties in ensuring accurate interpretation of the fundamental information that was analyzed in this report. There have been considerable efforts made to ensure the accuracy of the contents of this report but it is possible that relevant information was not located within the documents or was incorrectly translated. 2 Contents Executive Summary …………………………….…………………………………………….……………………………. 7 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………..……………………………….. 9 Background Information…………………………………………………………………………………………………. 11 The Chilean Economy………………………………………………………………….............................. 11 Chile’s Electricity Grid…………………...……………………………………………............................. 12 Chile’s Energy Portfolio………………………………………………………………………………………….. 13 Proposed Solutions………………………………………………………………………………………….……… 15 Description of the Aysén Hydroelectric Project………………………………………................. 17 World Commission on Dams Report……………………………………………….……………………. 21 The Environmental Impact Assessment………………………………………………………………... 23 EIA Process and Timeline………………………………………………….……………………….. 23 Background on the HidroAysén Environmental Impact Assessment….………… 24 Organization of the HidroAysén Environmental Impact Assessment…………. 25 Impact Scoring System………………………………………………………………………………. 26 Hydrology………………………………………………………………………………….….................................. 30 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 30 Information Provided by the EIA………………………………………………………………………..……. 30 Hydrology and Dam Operation…………………………………………………………………….. 30 Documentation of Hydraulic Characteristics…..….……………………………………….. 32 Magnitude and Annual Variation in Power Generation Potential………………… 33 Effect of Daily Flow Variation on River Level…………………………………………….... 35 EIA Impact Ratings………………………………………..……………………………………….…... 36 Comments on the EIA……………………………………………………………………………………..……… 37 Comments on the Hydraulic Baseline……………………………………..………………..... 37 Pascua River Flow Estimation……………………………………………………………………... 38 Changes in Flow Rate Patterns……………………………………………………..…………….. 39 Critique of EIA Accuracy and Omissions………………………………………………………….…...... 39 Depth of Analysis…………………………………………...……………………………………..……. 39 Presentation and Emphasis of Data…………………………………………………….……... 39 Significance of Change in Water Level due to Operating Practices…………..…. 40 Impact of Weather and Climate Change on Hydrology…………………………….…. 40 Flow Variability……………………………………………………………………………………….….. 40 Increase in Ice Melt……………………………………………………………………………..……… 41 El Niño: Statistical Analysis………………………………………………..………………………. 42 Glacial Lake Outburst Flood Concerns…………………………………………………………. 44 Comparison to WCD Case Studies…………………………………………………………………………… 45 Conclusions…………………………………………………………………………………………….…………..…. 46 Sedimentation……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 47 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………................................. 47 Information Provided by the EIA…………………………………………………………………..……….. 47 3 Baseline Information………………………………………………………………………………….. 47 Projected Project Impacts…………………………………………………….…………………….. 48 Proposed Mitigation and Monitoring Actions……………………………..…………….... 49 Comments on the EIA………………………………………………………………………………..…………… 50 Critique of the EIA………………………………………………………………………….………………………. 53 Sustainability and Sedimentation…………………………………………………………………………... 60 Project Planning Horizon…………………………………………………………..………………... 60 Mitigating Reservoir Sedimentation…………………….……………….…………………….. 61 Recommendations…………………………………………………………………………..…………………….. 63 Conclusions……………………………………………………………………………………………………….…… 64 Aquatic Ecosystems……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 65 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 65 Information Provided by the EIA…………………………………………………………………………….. 65 Marine Flora and Fauna………………………………………………………………………..….... 65 Freshwater Flora and Fauna………………………………………………………………….……. 66 Project Impacts………………...…………………………………………………………………………………... 68 Effects of Port Construction on Marine Ecosystems………………………………..…... 68 Effect of Dam Construction on Marine Ecosystems………………………..…………... 69 Effects of Dams on Freshwater Ecosystems……………………………………..…………. 69 Operation Effects on Marine Ecosystems: Ports………………………………….…...…. 72 Operation Effects on Marine Ecosystems: Dams……………………………………,…... 72 Operation Effects on Freshwater Ecosystems: Dams…………………………………… 74 Mitigation, Reparation, and Compensation……………………………………………….…………... 78 Mitigation Strategies…………………………………………………………………………..……... 78 Mining Riverbed Deposits………………………………………………………………….……….. 78 Creation of a Conservation Area……………………………………………………..………..... 78 Study of Ecology of the Pascua and Baker Rivers, Including Estuaries…………. 79 Rescue of Benthic Fauna…………………………………………………………………….………. 80 Comparison to WCD Case Studies…………………………………………………………………………… 80 Conclusions………………………………………………………………………………………….….…………….. 82 Terrestrial Ecosystems……………………………………………………………………………….…………………… 85 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 85 Baseline Studies…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 85 Terrestrial Flora…………………………………………………………………………………………… 85 Terrestrial Fauna………………………………………………………………………………………... 86 Project Impacts………………………………………………………………………………………..…………….. 88 Impact Evaluations…………………………………………………………………..…………………. 88 Flora and Vegetation Impacts……………………………………………………………………… 88 Fauna Impacts……………………………………………………………………………………..……… 90 Mitigation, Reparation, and Compensation…………………………………….……………………... 93 Mitigation…………………………………………………………………………………………………... 93 Reparation………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 95 Compensation…………………………………………………………………….………………………. 96 Analysis of the EIA………………………………………………………………………………..………………... 98 4 Baseline Study…………………………………………………………………….………………………. 98 Impacts………………………………………………………………………………….…………..………. 99 Mitigation, Reparation, and Compensation………………………………..……….…… 100 Conclusions……………………………………………………………………………………………..…………… 101 Community Impacts…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 102 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 102 Information Provided by the EIA…………………………………………...………………………….…. 102 Social Disruption……………………………………………………………………………..……….. 102 Impact on the Local Economy……………………………………………………….………….. 103 Resettlement…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 104 Transportation…………………………………………………………………………….……………. 104 Analysis of the EIA…………………………………………………………………………………..……………. 104 Social Disruption……………………………………………………………………………………….. 104 Impact on the Local Economy…………………………………………………………….…….. 105 Resettlement…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 106 Transportation……………………………………………………………………………………….…. 107 Overall Assessment of EIA…………………………………………………………………….…... 108 Comparison to WCD Case Studies……………………………………………………………………...… 109 Cumulative Impacts and Sustainability……………………………………………….………………… 111 Conclusions……………………………………………………………………………………….………………… 112 Tourism……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………... 113 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………………..….. 113 Information Provided by the EIA and Other Sources…………………………………………….. 113 Current State of Tourism in Aysén………………………………………..…………………... 113 Regional Planning Initiatives……………………………………………………..……………… 115 Infrastructure………………………………………………………………………………………….... 116 Intrinsic Value of Nature……………………………………………………….………………….. 116 Analysis of the EIA…………………………………………………………………………………………..……. 117 Tourism during Project Construction………………………………………..………………. 118 Tourism during Operational Phases of the Projects…………………………………... 121 Conclusions………………………………………………………………………….…………………….………… 123 Critique of the EIA Process……………………………………………………………………….………………….. 125 Overall Recommendations…………..………………………………………………………………………………. 128 Hydrology………………………………………………………………………………………………….……….... 128 Sedimentation……………………………………………………………………………………………………... 129 Aquatic Ecosystems…………………………………………………………………………………………..…. 129 Terrestrial Ecosystems………………………………………………………………………….………………. 130 Community Impacts………………………………………………………………………….……..…………… 131 Tourism……………………………………………………………………………………………….………..……… 131 Conclusions………….………………………………………………………………………………………………….…… 133 Works Cited……..………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………
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