REG: Improving the Implementation of Environmental Safeguards in Central and West Asia
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Technical Assistance Consultant’s Report Project Number: 43333-012 July 2014 REG: Improving the Implementation of Environmental Safeguards in Central and West Asia Environmental Safeguards Training Consultant and Third Party Auditor - Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia Armenia Country Report Prepared by” Eco Spectri” Ltd. (Georgia) For Asian Development Bank This consultant’s report does not necessarily reflect the views of ADB or the Government concerned, and ADB and the Government cannot be held liable for its contents. ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK ECO-“PECTRI LTD. ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK RETA 7548: Improving of Environmental Safeguards in Central and West Asia IDC: Environmental Safeguards Training Consultant and Third Party Auditor - Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia ARMENIA COUNTRY REPORT Prepared by “Eco-Spectri” Ltd. (Georgia) For Asian Development Bank July, 2014 RETA 7548: Improving of Environmental Safeguards in Central and West Asia Armenia Country Report TA-7548 REG: IMPROVING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL SAFEGUARDS IN CENTRAL AND WEST ASIA ARMENIA COUNTRY REPORT For consideration: Asian Development Bank 6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluong City, Metro Manila, Philippines Prepared by: Ltd. “Eco-Spectri” 7 Chavchavadze Ave. Tbilisi 0179, Georgia www.eco-spectri.ge 2 RETA 7548: Improving of Environmental Safeguards in Central and West Asia Armenia Country Report TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 ABBREVIATIONS 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 7 I. 18 TRAININGS CONDUCTED IN ARMENIA 1.1 Training Needs 18 1.2 Purpose and Objectives of the Training Course 18 1.3 Scope and Content of the Trainings 18 1.4 Training Methodology and Preparation 19 1.5 Review of Documentation 20 1.6 Preparation of Training Materials 20 1.7 Preparatory Activities 20 1.8 Project Implementation Team Composition and Detailed Tasks 22 1.9 Training Assessment & Evaluation 22 1.10 Execution of the Trainings and Observations 22 1.11 Staff Trained 22 1.12 Main Observations and Conclusions 27 1.13 Main Findings and Recommendations 34 II. ENVIRONMENTAL AUDITS CONDUCTED IN ARMENIA 36 1. CWPF 45230-001: WOMEN ENTERPRENEURSHIP SUPPORT PROJECT 36 1.1 Brief Project Description (CWPF - 45230-001) 36 1.2 Project Status 36 1.3 Institutional Aspects on Environmental Safeguards Implementation 36 1.4 Project Document Analysis 39 1.5 Meeting with the German - Armenian Fund (GAF) 41 1.6 Main Findings and Recommendations 41 2. CWEW 424117-023: SUSTAINABLE URBAN DEVEOPMENT INVESTMENT 43 PROGRAM, PROJECT 1, TENDER 1 - CONSRUCTION/REHABILITATION OF ARSHAKUYATS STREET 2.1 Brief Project Information 43 2.2 Institutional Aspects on Environmental Safeguards Implementation 44 2.3 Project Document Analysis 46 2.4 Project Site Audit 52 2.5 General Findings and Recommendations 59 3. CWTC 42145-023, 42145-033: NORTH–SOUTH ROAD CORRIDOR INVESTMENT 65 PROGRAM – TRANCHE 1 AND TRANCHE 2: YEREVAN-ASHTARAK, YEREVAN- ARARAT AND ASHTARAK-TALIN 3 RETA 7548: Improving of Environmental Safeguards in Central and West Asia Armenia Country Report 3.1 Brief Information on the project (42145-023; 42145-033) 65 3.2 Institutional Aspects on Environmental Safeguards Implementation 66 3.3 Project Document Analysis 68 3.4 Project Site Audit 73 3.5 Main Findings Revaled during the Documents Review and Site Visits 80 3.6 Non-Compliances and Recommendations 80 4. CWUW 45299-001: WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION SECTOR PROJECT – 83 PHASE 2 4.1 Brief Information on the Project 83 4.2 Institutional Aspects on Environmental Safeguards Implementation 84 4.3 Project Document Analysis 85 4.4 Project Site Audit 90 4.5 Main Findings Revealed During the Documents Review and Site Visits 98 4.6 Non-Compliances and Recommendations 100 APPENDIXES 102 Appendix 1. Environmental Safeguards Compliance Monitoring Checklist for the 102 Construction/Rehabilitation of Arshakunyats Street Project Appendix 2: Environmental Safeguards Compliance Monitoring Checklist For North– 107 South Road Corridor Investment Program Appendix 3. Environmental Safeguards Compliance Monitoring Checklist For Water 111 Supply and Sanitation Sector Project 4 RETA 7548: Improving of Environmental Safeguards in Central and West Asia Armenia Country Report ABBREVIATIONS ADB Asian Development Bank ARMRM Armenian Resident Mission AWSC Armenia Water Sewerage Company CWRD Central and West Asia Department EA Executive Agency EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EIAF Environmental Impact Assessment Framework EMP Environmental Management Plan ES Environmental Safeguards ESMS Environmental and Social Management System GAF German Armenian Fund IA Implementation Agency IEE Initial Environmental Examination IFC International Financial Corporation LA Loan Agreement LLC Limited Liability Company MES Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist “NSRP” PMU “North-South road Corridor Investment Program PMU” SNCO SNCO OJSC Open Joint Stock Company PAM Project Administration Manual PIU Project Implementation Unit 5 RETA 7548: Improving of Environmental Safeguards in Central and West Asia Armenia Country Report PMCSC Project Management and Construction Supervision Consultant PMU Project Management Unit PPTA Project Preparation Technical Assistance PPMU Project Preparation and Management Unit RETA Regional Technical Assistance SE Safety Engineering SEMP Site-Specific Environmental Management Plan SEPE Social and Environmental Protection Expert SIEE Summary Initial Environmental Examination SME DNC Small and Medium Entrepreneurship Development National Center SPS Safeguard Policy Statement SS Safeguard Specialist SUDIP Sustainable Urban Development Investment Program TA Technical Assistance YM Yerevan Municipality YMPIU Yerevan Municipality Project Implementation Unit 6 RETA 7548: Improving of Environmental Safeguards in Central and West Asia Armenia Country Report EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. ADB helps developing member countries (DMCs) to strengthen their safeguard systems and develop their capacity to address environmental and social issues in development projects. Since the approval of the Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS) in 2009, ADB has been providing technical assistance to help strengthen the legal and institutional framework for effectively implementing safeguards. 2. Work undertaken by ADB's Central and West Asia Department (CWRD) highlighted a number of deficiencies preventing effective implementation of environmental safeguards. Foremost among the challenges is insufficient capacity in executing agencies to prepare, implement, and monitor the implementation of EMPs. The lack of effective implementation means that there is a credible risk that projects are not in compliance with the SPS. 3. Under the TA of ADB, it was decided that a number of environmental service providers will be trained to deliver the training course in each country and will do so through an on-call basis. This approach will ensure that the type and content of training is consistent across all projects, providing a more cost effective approach by avoiding the costs of international consultants, developing an in-country training capability, providing an opportunity to undertake refresher training, and it will also allow contractors to commission the same training, at their cost. 4. In scope of the project three training courses - Training of Trainers (ToT) in Improving of Environmental Safeguards in Central and West Asia have been delivered in Kazakhstan, Georgia and Pakistan in 2012. 33 Trainers from 6 firms undergone development of tracking system training of third party auditors on effective environmental management and monitoring during the job training. The trainings were based on the Environmental Safeguards Training course developed by the ADB. 5. Few companies have been selected on tender basis to conduct on-the-job trainings and environmental audits in 10 countries of Central and West Asia: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. In the countries of Caucasus region - Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia the project is accomplished by “ECO-SPECTRI” LTD (Georgia). At the first stage, 4 trainings were conducted in Tbilisi, Georgia, 4 Trainings in – Baku, Azerbaijan and 4 trainings – in Yerevan, Armenia for PIUs, Supervising Consultant and Construction Contractor. 6. At the second stage, the “Eco-Spectri’ Ltd. (the Consultant) conducted Environmental Audits of ADB funded projects in Georgia in the framework of Regional Technical Assistance (RETA) “Improving the Implementation of Environmental Safeguards in Central and West Asia”. At present, 18 projects are implemented by three PIUs, in particular: Armenia Water Sewerage Company (PIU), North-South Road Corridor Investment Program (PMU) and Municipality of 7 RETA 7548: Improving of Environmental Safeguards in Central and West Asia Armenia Country Report Yerevan. At this stage it is not decided how many sub-projects will be implemented in scope of “Women Entrepreneurship Support Project” by the German - Armenian Fund. 7. The Environmental Audit was conducted after 9 months of training activities held for Executing/Implementing Agencies’ (EA/IA), Project Management Unit/Project Implementation Units (PMU/PIU)’s, Supervision Consultants, and Contractors involved in implementing ADB funded projects. During the training activities, all participants were informed about approach and steps to be taken during the Environmental Audit. In addition, a list of documents, which would be reviewed during the Environmental Audit, was included into the training materials distributed among participants. 8. The main goal of