Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Report
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FRV MASRIK Closed Joint Stock Company Masrik 1 Solar Power Plant Environmental and Social Impact Assessment report FRV Masrik CJSC _________________Nicolas Fasquelle Yerevan, 2019 1 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS CC Construction Contractor DC Design Contractor EMI Environmental and Mining Inspectorate ESIA Environmental and Social Impact Assessment ESMP Environmental and Social Management Plan GoA Government of Armenia HSE Health, Safety, Environment IA Implementation Agency kV kilovolt kWh kilowatt-hour LSGB Local Self Governance Body MWh Megawatt-hour MEINR Ministry of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources MNP Ministry of Nature Protection MC Ministry of Culture MH Ministry of Health OC Operation Contractor OTL Overhead Transmission Line PAP Project Affected Person PCR Physical Cultural Resources PPE Personal Protection Equipment RA Republic of Armenia ROW Right of Way SNCO State Non-commercial Organization CONTENT 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................... 6 1.1. Introduction ................................................................................................... 6 1.2. Objectives and Methodology......................................................................... 6 1.3. Legal and Regulatory Framework ................................................................. 7 1.4. Institutional Framework ................................................................................. 8 1.5. Baseline Conditions ...................................................................................... 8 1.6. Impact Assessment ...................................................................................... 9 1.7. Environmental and Social Management Plan ............................................. 10 1.8. Information, Disclosure, Consultation ......................................................... 10 1.9. Grievance Redress Mechanism .................................................................. 10 2. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................... 12 3. POLICY, LEGAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK ........ 14 3.1. National Legislation .................................................................................... 14 3.2. Permits and consents required prior to commencement of construction works of the Solar Power Plant and the Transmission line connecting the Plant to the Grid.19 3.3. International Agreements ............................................................................ 19 3.4. The World Bank Safeguard Policies ........................................................... 21 3.5. Codes and Standards ................................................................................. 22 3.6. The comparative analyses of the RA and international norms .................... 24 3.7. Administrative Framework .......................................................................... 26 4. PROJECT DESCRIPTION .......................................................... 29 4.1. Masrik 1 PV Plant ....................................................................................... 29 4.1.1. General Description ........................................................................................ 29 4.1.2. Generating System ......................................................................................... 30 4.1.3. Generation Medium voltage transformers ...................................................... 30 4.1.4. Grounding General Description ...................................................................... 30 4.1.5. Auxiliary Services ....................................................................................... 31 4.1.6. Monitoring System ...................................................................................... 31 4.2.Overhead Power Line ......................................................................................... 33 4.3. Civil Works Description ..................................................................................... 37 4.3.1. Roads and Parking area ................................................................................. 37 4.3.2. Buildings ......................................................................................................... 37 4.3.3. Structure of photovoltaic modules .................................................................. 38 4.3.4. Foundations.................................................................................................... 38 4.3.5. Drainage ......................................................................................................... 38 4.3.6. Perimeter fence .............................................................................................. 38 5. METHODOLOGY OF ESIA ......................................................... 41 5.1. Scope and Objectives of the ESIA .................................................................... 41 5.2. Procedures and Methodology ........................................................................... 41 6. BASELINE DATA........................................................................ 43 6.1. Location ...................................................................................................... 43 6.2. Relief, Geomorphology, Geological Structure ............................................. 44 6.3. Meteorological and Climate ........................................................................ 45 6.3.1. National Climatic Conditions........................................................................... 45 6.3.2. Local climatic conditions ................................................................................. 45 6.4. Characteristics of seismic conditions .......................................................... 49 6.5. Surface water quality characteristics .......................................................... 51 6.6. Ambient air quality characteristics .............................................................. 53 6.7. Noise and Vibration .................................................................................... 54 6.8. Soil quality characteristics .......................................................................... 54 6.9. Biodiversity ................................................................................................. 55 6.9.1. Flora ............................................................................................................... 56 6.9.2. Fauna ............................................................................................................. 60 6.9.3. Endangered ecosystems, specially protected nature areas ........................... 62 6.10. Historical and cultural environment ................................................................. 63 6.11. Social environment of Project site ................................................................... 66 6.11.1. Sociodemographic picture and livelihood ................................................ 66 6.11.2. Vulnerable groups ................................................................................... 67 7. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES ................................................................... 68 7.1. Environmental Impacts and their Mitigation during Construction ................ 68 7.1.1. Landscape ...................................................................................................... 68 7.1.2. Flora and Fauna ............................................................................................. 68 7.1.3. Soil Erosion .................................................................................................... 69 7.1.4. Soil and Water Resources .............................................................................. 70 7.1.5. Solid and Liquid Wastes ................................................................................. 71 7.1.6. Noise .............................................................................................................. 72 7.1.7. Air Quality ....................................................................................................... 73 7.1.8. Historical and Cultural Sites ........................................................................... 73 7.1.9. Health and Safety ........................................................................................... 74 7.1.10. Gender Aspects ....................................................................................... 74 7.2. Environmental Impacts and their Mitigation during Operation ........................... 75 7.2.1. Flora ............................................................................................................... 75 7.2.2. Fauna ............................................................................................................. 75 7.2.3. Water resources ............................................................................................. 75 7.2.4. Noise .............................................................................................................. 76 7.2.5. Electric and Magnetic Fields .......................................................................... 76 7.3. Social impact and mitigation measures ............................................................. 76 7.3.1. Survey Methodology ....................................................................................... 76 7.3.2. Assessment of affected land .........................................................................