MK9900001

LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PLAN IN REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

EXECUTIVE SUMMARIES OF MUNICIPALITIES OF CENTAR, ZRNOVCI, VELES AND GEVGELIH

Skopje JUNE 1998 ,

30-08 THE REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER NEXT PAQE(S) for Central and Eastern Europe left BLANK DISCLAIMER

Portions of this document may be illegible in electronic image products. Images are produced from the best available original document. EXECUTIVE SUMMERY

PREFACE

The report "Local Environmental Action Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) in Plan in Republic of Macedonia Executive cooperation with the U S • Agency for summaries of the municipalities of Centar, International development (USA1D) Besides, Zrnovci, Veles and Gevgehja " aims at assessing experiences from the REC report "Developing the progress in adopting comprehensive Local and Regional Environmental Action Plans environmental protection strategies at the local in Central and Eastern Europe Case studies of level. The Article 13 from the Act for protection Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and promotion of environment and nature of and the Slovak Republic " were very useful in Republic of Macedonia states "In order to learning others' strengths and weaknesses The evaluate the status and identify measures to be "Comparative Risk Analysis" methodology is taken, the Government of the Republic of generally based on identifying all environmental Macedonia shall pass the National problems in the community and ranking them Environmental Action Plan of the republic of upon three risk criteria risk over the health of Macedonia" "In compliance with the the population, risk over the health of the National Environmental Action Plan, the environment and nature and risk over the social- municipalities and the city of Skopje shall pass economic quality of life Highly important local action plans regarding environment and during this process is active involvement of nature protection and promotion" citizens in the whole decisionmaking process and achieving consensus amongst different The report, provides descriptions of groups citizens, local government and environmental action plans (LEAPs) of four businesses . municipalities in Macedonia Each executive summary was prepared by the technical committees that worked out on the development The goals of the project resulted with of the documents, and they are presented on a effects of different approach •Building coalition between the Local The whole project was carried out in the Municipality, NGOs, business sector and collaboration with the Ministry for Urban citizens in order jointly to solve local Planning, Construction and Environment of environmental problems, Republic of Macedonia (MUPCE) The REC and MUPCE identified the four different •Identifying and developing four modules : municipalities to developHiffSfSnt module? of of- different LEAPs which will be uSe'd LEAPs with using the same methodology afterwards-by the rest of the local municipalities approach, which can be used as pilot projects in Macedonia, for other, more than hundred municipalities in •Promoting and building capacity for Macedonia These municipalities are Center public participation in decisionmaking process (Skopje) as a typical urban area, Veles' as a regarding the priorities of environmental typical industrial area, Zrnovci as a typical problems that local municipality is facing, agricultural area, and Gevgelija as a transboundary and transit area The •Strengthening the role of the NGOs as a methodology used for developing LEAPs was partner for public and private sector in the based upon the experiences of the Troyan management of financial, human and natural Community Environmental Action Plan in resources in order to ensure sustainable future Bulgaria which was funded by the U S of the municipality,

Local Environmental Action Plan EXECUTIVE SUMMERY

•Identifying specific strategies for solving very well covered on the national and especially the most crucial environmental problems on the on the local media. In May 1998, all local', regional and national level. municipalities have presented their LEAPs that should be soon adopted by the Councils of the four municipalities Coordinators from REC and the MUPCE were assigned to coordinate out the project In this occasion we want to thanks to all activities in all four municipalities Each participants in this process from the municipality assigned its coordinator, who municipalities, especially the local coordinators, works in the municipality and established an 'NGO volunteers, citizen advisory committees expert team who worked as a technical and technical committees, who actively worked committee in developing the LEAP document out their environmental action long term A manual was developed for all steps to be taken strategies We also give our acknowledgement to implement the development of a LEAP to the Ministry of urban planning, construction document under the methodology "Comparative and environment of Republic of Macedonia and Risk Analysis " On December 22-23 in Skopje their coordinator Dobre Jancev for was organized the training workshop for the collaboration and full support in carrying the representatives of the 4 municipalities, project including the person coordinator of the municipality, chairman of the Council or its We give special thanks to the Royal member, the expert involved in the technical Netherlands Embassy in Belgrade, FR committee, local NGO representatives and the Yugoslavia for funding this project business sectors Launching this project was

REC Local Office Macedonia Staff Katanna Stojkovska

Biljana Zdravkovslia

Local Environmental Action Plan .

I -t-- , I

-EXECUTIVE SUMMERY OF MUNICIPALITY OF CENTAR

INTRODUCTION

In the frame of the environmental strategy of the Furthermore, if we also take into account climate Ministry for Urban Planning, Construction and changes in Skopje valley, lot of foggy days in winter, Environment, and in accordance with the Act on winds, bad treatment of the waste and traffic noise, it is protection and promotion of environment and nature, as clear that we are talking about urban area with lot of well as the goal- of the NEAP, Municipality Centar was environmental problems chosen, as one of the four Municipalities to work out pilot Main goal of the LEAP in Municipality Center is project - LEAP •To create environmental action plan, based on a . Municipality Centar is one of the seven consensus between local authorities, citizens and Municipalities in the city Skopje, which occupies central NGOs, which will offer efficient and financial part of the capital of Macedonia approved solutions for the environmental problems Municipality Centar is heterogenic area, regarding In order to accomplish this goal, identification of the urban, communal and environmental aspects It local environmental problems and their analyses has been occupies area of 18km2 According to the 1994 census, performed, regarding their risks and influence on the there are 85 021 inhabitants, and it is typical urban area human health, environmental degradation and quality of with the biggest density of population in Macedonia life in the community, in order to The Municipality is administrative and business - Improve the environmental condition through center of the city, with a large number of cultural, implementation of low budget strategies, which will scientific, educational and medical institutions, as well result with financial savings as Parliament and Government Offices, one stadion, railway station, international buss station and lot of - Promotion and acception of the public opinion households in such a small area and public participation in environmental decision- making process It is natural, to have lot of communal problems on such an urban area. Great number of vehicles, heavy - Strengthening of the local authorities in managing traffic, big number of traffic lights, parking spaces and and implementation of environmental programs, small number of pedestrian zonesare some of the - Strengthening of the community life trough problems, that create frustrations, dissatisfaction and understanding and solving environmental problems numerous public conflicts During the work out of the LEAP methodology of On the other hand, although within the Municipality '"comparative risks analyses" has been used, which takes Center there are only few industrial complexes, the air into account scientific analyses of the environmental data is the most polluted one with the waste gasses mainly on the one hand, and public opinion and public initiatives sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides for running the environmental programs, on the other

ANALYSES OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS IN THE MUNICIPALITY CENTAR - SKOPJE

1. AIR POLLUTION

Main reasons for air pollution in the Municipality characteristic for Skopje valley (which includes Centar are environmentally negative orografical and Municipality Centar) is occurrence of climate characteristics and emission of harmful matena - temperature inversions (especially in winter), in the air from industrial, energetic and communal emitters, as well as emission of harmful matena from the - high percent of foggy days (63 per year), gasses of the vehicles in the traffic - higher number of cloudy days, Namely, Municipality Centar as a constitutive part - wind regime, which is more inviolable in the of Skopje valley is characterized by environmentally central part, compared with the eastern, open part negative specifications On the basis of the data from of the city RHMI (Republic Hydro-meteorological Institute), main

Local Environmental Action Plan. EXECUTIVE SUMMERY OF MUNICIPALITY OF CENTAR - - • < i ,v - . . • •' ~ &x$ ' . Regarding the emission of harmful matena in the - Special problem in theMunicipality Centar is bad air, on the bases of the data from Register of pollutants treatment of the communal waste The problem occurs for the city of Skopje, on the territory of the Municipality because of the bad harmonized acting of the main parts Centar, 25 objects, with 62 emitters (51 communal, 4 in the managing of the communal waste citizens and the energetic and 7 industrial), have been registrated. .economy firms (as one who use the services), communal Regarding the age. of the emitters, analyses have company (as one who gives the services) and local' shown that mam part of the emitters, are older than 10 authorities (as one who is in charged for lmplementing- years According, to this, rational managing of the regulations confirmed by the law) technological processes have been disabled, whichcauses Especially important is the solid waste, which bigger air pollution comes from the medical institutions situated on this Regarding the technical-technological usttge of the territory the City hospital, specialized hospital in the emitters, researches have shown that the larger number frames of the Medical University and others Namely, the of emitters work approximately 8 to 12 hours per day treatment of this solid waste, its collection and its Taking into account that Municipality Centar is the temporal and final disposal, is not according to the smallest by surface Municipality in Skopje, on the hygienically epidemiological criteria territory of this Municipality there is biggest emission of In the medical institutions, on the territory of waste gasses, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides Municipality Centar, annualy generated infective or Air pollution from the traffic is also one of the potential infective solid waste is 200 000 - 250 000kg actual problems Reasons for that are different high Major part of the waste is disposed without previous density of traffic, lot of crossroads with traffic lights, old separation and selection Minor part (coming from the vehicles, usage of a low quality petrol and so on hospital for patogenic deseases, hematology and Emission in the Municipality Centar is marked by microbiological laboratories), before the final disposal is the RHMI on two spots Automobile Association of thermally treated Macedonia and University Library Researches have 2.1 Public awareness - Public opinion shown that average concentration of sulfur dioxide is between 49 - 92ug/m3, and of the smoke 36ug/m3 In the - - Major part of the citizens is aware of the fact that winter period, there were days when the concentration solid communal waste is important environmental was much higher than the allowed one These kinds of problem, which should be considered for one of the days are approximately 14-59 for sulfur dioxide and 72- priority problems 123 for smoke per year - Citizens have different opinions about the causes fn the-period of 1990 - 1991, measures'for of this problem The fact that the public awareness determining lead in the air have been undertaken on the was named as one of the reasons for this problem several crossroads in the city The results have shown that is very interesting the concentrations of lead in the air were mainly over the maximum allowed limit - Citizens agreed with the proposal for using multi usable packaging 1 1 Public awareness - Public opinion - It can be considered that the citizens are for usage - Majority of the citizens (92%), thinks that the air of this kind of packaging Nevertheless, they do not is critically polluted and the main reasons are want production of plastic baskets and packaging thought to be traffic, production bussiness to be stopped - . - - - - - complexes and the central heating stations. - A big number of citizens (46%) are for the - For reduction of the air pollution majority of the separation of the communal solid waste Only 10% citizens thinksthat the intensity of the traffic should of them are skeptical about the final results of the be cut down with the passing of the Law for prohibition of driving in the certain areas, and separation, but it can be concluded that they are well prohibition of using the lead petrol and introducing informed about the importance of the separation, tramway and the way in which it should be done. ~ - Opinion of the citizens about the actual usage of 2 SOLID WASTE - COMMUNAL, MEDICAL the containers for communal solid waste is divided AND OTHER Lass than half of them are satisfied with containers, as a possible solution for the disposal of the solid Today, in Skopje leave more than 500 000 waste and more than half thinks that there should inhabitants, 85 000 of which leave in Municipality Centar be more of the containers and on better locations The city annualy generates around 40 OOOt or 400 000m3 solid waste of all kinds

Local Environmental Action Plan -EXECUTIVE SUMMERY OF MUNICIPALITY OF CENTAR

3 WASTE WATERS AND CONDITION OF THE - Undeveloped system of horizontal and vertical RIVER VARDAR roads, Waste waters from the households, medical - Inefficient existing roads (disharmonies traffic institutions, printing stores, industrial and other objects, lights and absence of one way roads), - on the territory of Municipality Centar through city - Unorganized public transport, collector are directly discharged into the recipient - the river Vardar (without previous treatment) - Small number of parking spaces, For discharging of the fecal and part of the industrial - Technological and conditional old vehicles, waters from the city region, by the year 2000, a - Usage of low quality petrol completely built separation system for atmospheric and wastevvater, and construction of treatment plant for 4.1 Public awareness- Public opinion wastewater, is planned Remaining question is weather More than half of the citizens (53,2%), have stated the planned could be accomplished that the traffic is great danger for air pollution, and in Apart from this, the existing system for discharging the same time they think that it should be enough reason of the waste waters is functioning on the base of for cutting down the traffic intensity separation, but it is mainly used as combined one, by Almost 20% stated that traffic intensity directly discharging fecal and other waste waters in the influence the number of the traffic accidences atmospheric sewer system t In the territory of Municipality Centar, there are also 5 URBAN NOISE industrial objects, which have influence on the city environment and wastewater as well These objects are Urban noise, because of its specifications, is a enterprise "Treska" and "Tutunski kombinat", as well as chaotic mixture of different sources It came out from printing stores "Nova Makedonija" and "Goce Delcev" different urban activities as traffic, from production and other processes (working noise), from households, public In this category, pollutant like medical institutions objects and others should also be mentioned They are the City hospital, specialized hospital in the frames of Medical University The main characterisation of the urban noise in the and other polychnic institutions Municipality Centar is its permanency Mainly, it is caused by the permanent urban traffic 3.1. Public awareness - Public opinion 5.1 Public awareness - Public opinion River Vardar is equally polluted trough the whole watershed Small advantage is given to the river flow Regarding the four possible bad influences of the before the city Skopje, which is not correct, and shows urban traffic, 26% of the citizens stated that is high level the uninformed condition of the public noise should decrease the intensity of traffic in the central city area - Municipality Centar Most efficient solution of the pollution of the river is introducing the special low regulations, which will make the pollutants to pay, for the pollution 6 GREN AREAS AND CITY PARKS - The citizens (97%) agreed that there is an urgent There is causal condition, which says that without need of treatment plant and collector system for the city parks, which are places for rest, there is no recreation, wastewater that comes from the central area of the but without their protection, they can not exist city. - The green areas in the Municipality consist of parks and park-forests, urban park areas, row of trees, lawn and 4. URBAN TRAFFIC yard green areas Integral territorial area of the city Skopje has 6.1 Public awareness - Public opinion extended form, from which Municipality Centar occupies central part Regarding this, all magisterial roads, Public opinion is an evidence of a bed conditions, following this form, are trespassing the territory of the but in the same time it is a way to trace future activities Municipality About 31,7% from the citizens are not satisfied with The existing urban plan of the city zones is the present conditions High percent 52,7% thinks that inviolable, and causes umbalanced car traffic in the there are not enough green areas in the territory of the central area, especially in the rush hours, in the mornings Municipality and in the afternoons Mainly, citizens' opinion is that park forests are Problems in the urban traffic, trough the great opportunity for recreation, but they need special care municipality territory is caused by and promotion of the forests' species

Local Environmental Action Plan.

. I 7 -' ACTION PLAN Environmental Problem {J^r^^A'slt ^VJiijtitu'tion responsible-"'^'1; "Jtf ^H|f Air pollution Low budgeted. M.iin reasons for air pollution in the Municipality • Woik out of a feasibility study for monitoring of the Municipality Center through the competent institutions Short term 35 000 $ CcnUi are emission of the haimful materials in the air, as a basic • Environmentally negative orografical and climate element for managing the air pollution, characterises in the Skopje valley (temperature in- • Establishing standards for ambicntal air, which will Ministry foi Urban planning, Construction and Envi- Short term versions, high percent of foggy days, higher num- be harmonized with the EU standards and other world lonmenl (MUPCE) ber of cloudy days, wind regime, which is more organizations inviolable in ihe central part, compared with the • Harmonizing of the legislative connected with the MUPCE Short term -15000 $ eastern, open part of the city) quality of energents and Act for emission of the harm- • Emission of haimful matenals in the air fiom m- ful 'mateiials in the air dustiial, energetical and communal emitters • Pieventive - restrictive tralfic measures Municipality Cenlei Short term Taking into account that Municipality Cental is the smallest by suiface Municipality in Skopie, on the High budgeted. leintory of this Municipality there is biggest emis- • Tramway City Hall Long term sion of waste gasses, sulfur dioxide and mtiogen • Introducing moniloung system for measurement and City Hall Middle term 100 000 $ oxides control over the emission of the harmful matenals in the • Influence of the traffic, air For effective control of air pollution, quality infor- • Gass system for Municipality Center City Hall Middle term 4 000 000$ mation on conditions with the emission of harmful materials in the air are needed, which can be accom-1 phihed only by introducing new monitoring system for measurement and contiol

Solid w.iste Low budgeted. Citizens have unsenous approach to communal • Improving communal hygiene Municipality Cental with the communal enteipnses Shoit teim 25 000 $ h>giene and they do not lespect the main rules in • Containeis foi paper, glass and plastic (selection at the Short term 200 000$ the urban area, (throwing garbage around the con- source) tingents and on the gieen areas) • Services for incidental communal interventions with Short term 50 000 $ SOS telephone City Skopje is obligated with the Act for commu- High budgeted: nal order, to define conditions and way of keeping • Technical-technological impiovements of the landfill City Hall Long term the communal hygiene The existing act from 1986 Drisla (trealment of the filter, lecycling plant, chemical is incompatible because of the changing in living control of the waste) and acting • Insinerator plant foi communal and hazardous waste City Hall Long term

T he communal enterprise, on the other hand, should improve its technology for disposal of the waste, which should be harmonized with the woiking ex- penses

Potential toxic and infective material should be dis- posed sepaiately from the other waste, and then be treated in a adecjiiete way

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.i"! ACTION PLAN

Environmental Problem ' n- responsible

Urban traffic A) Impiovement of the conditions in this area are mainly Present way of uiban traffic obviously has negative long term investments and synchronized activities with nfluence on the human health (pollution from the bigger financial needs emission of gasses, noise), and degrades the values • Urban - planning, with planning of the efficient of the environment Furtheimore, it is obvious that traffic, and selective traffic roads the quality of life is low, because of the sociq-helth • Technical-technological: with providing save con- and economic consequences structional conditions for the traffic, using the new materials, equipment nnd apparatus • Normative-regulative with using string standards City Hall, Municipality Centiir and MUPCE Long term for traffic safety • Economic, with encouraging and making available environmentally friendly vehicle and usage of qual- ity petrol • Educational with raising public awareness about Middle term 15 000 $,! the consequences from participating in the "careless- ness" traffic. Ei) Following measures, could be regarded as low bud- geted and short terminated • Marking pedestrian zones City Hall and Municipality Cental Short teim • Restriction of the parking • Speed limiting • Using of the traffic rules and safety rules • Work out of a Fisibility Study Short term 35 000 $

Waste waters and condition of the river Vardar High budgeted. Mainly, whole industry situated in the city area, • Construction of the sepaiation system for atmospheric Long teim without systematic measurements and'control over and waste waters City Hall and Municipality Centar the wasiewater discharge them in the recipients • Construction of the treatment plants for waste water Long term 200 000 $ beside this, the city communal enterprise has no (fecal waters, walcis fiom medical institutions and othei review on this discharging water from other objects)

Non existing relations between users of the water and discharging of the communal and wastewater, badly influence the construction of the sewer sys- tem and treatment plants Influence of the irregular watei balances and discharging of the wastewater seriously endangered environment

Bad quality of the water in the river Vardar is conditioned by discharging of the waste and com- munal waters in the recipients ACTION PLAN Action' institution' responsible8 ,, •> Environmental Problem IIS.'l

Noise Solving of the noise problems, as a result from the urban Interrupted possibilities for relaxation and everyday metabolism requires long term, high budgeted activities activities, such as work, rest and others, should be leason for staiting complex activities They are mainly for • Establishing of normative regulation and control • Adequate uiban planning • Actualization of the problems on the local and legional MUPCE, logelher with the City Hall and Municipal- level ity Cenldr Middle term • Evaluation of the measurements for protection from the noise

iMty*atirU

Green areas and parks It seems thai the best, fastest, the most efficient and the For impiovement of the environmental conditions and most cheep opportunity for pioviding conditions for the prosperity of quality of life, usage of bio-technologi- quality of the sustainable living in the area of Munici- cal methods for integration of urban areas and envi- pality Cental is taking care of the green areas ronment are from priority importance In this sense following recommendation should be undertaken

• Planning ot the green areas with higher biological, hygienically and esthetical values • Equality in spieading the green areas in the the Municipality, in accoidance with the natural conditions Hall and Municipality Ccntar Middle lerm • Classifications of the green species, in Older to pro- vide optimal protection • Recultivization and managing the present green areas • Application of the ob|ecls wilh water areas within the green areas • Using educational measuics, keeping and spreading of the gieen aieas • Using the available measures for the ones who break the rules • Work out of a Fisibilily Study Short term 50 000 $ "l

.s • EXECUTIVE SUMMERY OF MUNICIPALITY OF GEVGELIJA

SUMMARY

Preparation of the LEAP for the municipality Gevgelija was conducted according the guidance based on a LAEP done for the community Trojan, Republic of Bulgaria. This pilot project was financed through the Institute for the Sustainable Communities by the US Agency for Environmental Protection ( US EPA), in collaboration with US AID. LEAP project for the municipality Gevgelija was accomplished in four stages: 1. Introducing LEAP into the municipality; 2. Public involvement; 3. Identification of the environmental priorities; 4. Development of the environmental action plan.

INDRODUCTION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PLAN

LEAP for the municipality Gevgelija started under - Providing the financial support for the projects the initiative of the Municipal Council on 12 of . by donations or other fund raising activities. December, 1997. During this first municipal meeting the -Public presentation of the draft version of the following has been done: LEAP. a) Five member committee had been established as c)Technical Advisory Committee was established co-ordination Task Force for the LEAP preparation; and its president and vice president were elected and b) Initial budget, in an amount of $7000, had been several priority goals have been pointed out: reviewed provided by the Royal Dutch Embassy in - Review of all existing data sources referring the Belgrade through the local office of the REC in environmental situation in the municipality and Skopje updating and identification of a new sources; After the five meetings, the co-ordination - Data collection, analysis and identification of Committee on 23 of January 1988, organised a first critical points in connection with environmental initiative meeting, inviting over the 100 citizens o;ut of and human health problems, as well a quality of which 90 participants where present. live affected by each of these problems; During this meeting the following had been - Ranking the environmental problems according accomplished: to their importance; ' a) Participants were introduced with organisation, - Analysis of potential strategies for meaning and objectives of the LEAP preparation; implementation with respect to their adequacy and b) Public Advisory Committee was established and assistance from the Municipality in the its president and vice president were elected and preparation of the LEAP; several priority goals have been underlined: - Determination of the potential implementation -Enabling a public participation in the course of strategies! - •—• -• ' determining and ranking the environmental d) The principle of consensus had been adopted as' problems and their resolving, using different a decision making instrument and the principle of methods aiming to cover all parts of the majority vote for resolving the conflicts. municipality. e) A questionnaire and methodology for inquiring - Identification of all environmental problems that the public opinion about the environmental municipality is exposed on. problems have been adopted. -To inform the public about the environmental f) A LEAP office was opened in the municipality problems that exists in the municipality and about building for the communication with the public on the possible solutions. a daily basis. - The direct and active involvement of the citizens in different environmental initiatives in order to reach real and concrete environmental improvements.

T ocal Environmental Action Plan. EXECUTIVE SUMMERY OF MUNICIPALITY OF GEVGELIJA

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

With the public participation in the LEAP project, 3 Task Force for environmental education, it is expected that among the other things the following consisting of seven members This Task Force has goals will be accomplished organised lecturing in the elementary schools, talk show in live with citizens and for the next year it 1 The public will be informed about the LEAP is planning to organise competition for the most activities and about the success of the environmental beautiful garden actions 4 Task Force for the environmental projects done^ 2 Obtaining useful information from the citizens by the pupils, consisting of eight members This and different organisations that are more familiar Task Force has organised competition for the best or have some deeper knowledge about' the written text and painting regarding the environment environmental problems which information other and the first three works have been awarded wise, could not be collected by usual channels 5 Task Force for the interview of the citizens, 3 Increasing the public awareness and consisting of seven members This Task Force has understanding of the crucial environmental organised the public survey and distributed obtained problems and possible options for their solution results After the analysis of the 1930 questioners 4 Making decisions regarding environmental the following remarks have been pointed out priorities and solutions expressing the public - degree of the environmental pollution, opinions - main causes of the pollution; 5 Building the public support for implementation of a specific policy and programs in the frame of - scope of work for solving the environmental .the LEAP problems, 6 Developing a network of volunteers, which could - most severe environmental problems, actively participate in the process of resolving the - most important environmental values with m environmental problems with in the Municipality municipalities. For this purposes, The Civil Advisory Committee The results of this survey were starting point in has established seven assistance Task Forces as follows further LEAP developing 1 Task Force for public information consisting of 6 Task Force for preparing publications, bulletins seven members This Task Force continuously and and other publishing materials, consisting of six on time has informed the public for undertaken members The role of this Task Force will be very activities It has prepared several TV spots that had specific and depending of financial assistance It is been broadcasting by local TV station There has foreseen to prepare a bulletin in which by text and been also a TV talk show where the citizens took illustrations entire LEAP will-be presenting active part by asking questions The short notes and transparently It is also foreseen that the bulletin will news had been broadcasting by public and private be printed twice "a year, covering certain radio companies such as radio Gevegelia, environmental subjects Macedonian radio and radio Hertz 7 Task Force for public round table meetings, 2 Task force for environmental actions consisting consisting of eight members This Task Force held of eight members This Task Force has conducted public round table where citizens have been activities in every elementary school where pupils informed for the activities in connection with LEAP have planted trees, flowers and grass preparation

DETERMINATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL PRIORITIES

Determination of the environmental priorities is the for general improving of the environmental conditions first step in resolving these problems In this course the They used approach and methodology developed by the technical advisory committee directed its attention US EPA, known as " comparative risk analysis" This towards the most critical environmental problems and methodology used approach based on induced risk in the activities have been directed towards the best solutions course of environmental priorities determination and after

Local Environmental Action Plan 15 • EXECUTIVE SUMMERY OF MUNICIPALITY OF GEVGELIJA

that these priorities are incorporated in the action plan The public survey has shown the following results* In this respect the committee has analysed three program grading on the scale from zero to nine subjects and accompanied risks as~follow 1 Cutting and destroying the forest, graded by 7 68, 1 Quality'of the human health and analysis of _2 Pollution of the soil with chemical pollutants," associated risks through following steps. graded by 7 27/ -determine the threats, 3 Low environmental awareness, graded by 7 02, -estimation of the level of certain doses 4 Quality of drinking water, graded by 6 89, -estimation of the human exposure 5 Non planed urban developing, graded 6 53, -type of risk 6 Solid waste management, graded by 6 13, 2 Quality of the environment and analysis of the 7 Pollution of soil by irrigation, graded by 5 35, associated risks through the following stapes The remaining three problems are graded almost -problem formulation, identically -analysis of the mutual connection between the According to the results obtained by the public problem areas and environmental impacts, survey, the technical committee has defined eight scopes - Type of risk of its work and the following environmental priorities were pointed out 3 Quality of life and analysis of risk affecting the social and economic impacts through the following 1 Low environmental awareness; steps 2 Non planed urban developing, -Determine the impacts and values within the 3 Cutting and destroying the forests, municipality, 4 Pollution of soil by irrigation; -Determine and defining the criteria for grading, 5 Quality of drinking water, -Data collection and analysis for these impacts; 6 Solid waste management ( selection, dumping, - Identification of the impacts type concerning the collecting and recycling of the solid waste) , all problem areas 7 Pollution of soil by chemicals, During the estimation of the relative risk impact upon different environmental problems, committee has 8 Pollution of the water by industry applied the following criteria The members of the groups filed up forms for -Area Territory of the municipality Gevegelija evaluation of the identified problems, which suggested some measures and activities to be undertaken After the - Force. Investigation of the intensity level of the evaluation a summary report had been prepared and given impact results has been presented in general form As a result - Retrofitting and durability Investigation of the of these activities a list of ranked environmental problems impact duration and needing time for retrofitting and goals was prepared the impact.consequences

DEVELOPMENT OF THE LEAP

After stating the environmental goals, committee - Technical feasibility, has defined the following implementation strategy - Risk mitigation and reduction efficiency; - Public education and training, - Total costs, - Economic initiatives, - Implementation duration, - Municipality's development programs, - Political and public acceptability, - Technical and technological measures, - Legislative feasibility - Legislative measures, Applying this methodology, technical committee The following criteria for analysis and selection of has agreed for the LEAP implementation according to the the environmental implementation strategy has been stages given in the following table utilised

-16 Local Environmental Action Plan.

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ACTION PLAN (

JifWM1]lfwiiiliriwTrrr'n ~vfnfiT

Control over the use and protection of the forests 9 964 $ Municipal Council after allocation of funds boft loans, local budget

Establishing Ihe laboratory for pedological analyses of Ihe soil 267 857 $ Responsible Ministry aftei allocation of funds donations, state budget

Education of the citizens 26 785 $ Municipal Council permanently donations, state budget

Implementation of the public awaieness program 2 053 $ Municipal Council one month local budget

Permanent education of the citizens 3 928 $ Municipal Council five months local budget

Publications 17 857 $ Municipal Council permanently local budget

Informing public through media 3 571 $ Municipal Council peimanently

Register of spimgs and water-supply objects Responsible Ministry immediately 1

Establishing protected areas Municipal Council 1-3 years donations, soft loan

Providing new capture foi regional water-supply system Municipal Council with Feasibility Study donations, soft loans

Reconstruction of the city's and village's water-supply network system 1 071 428 $ Municipal Council after allocation the funds donations, soft loans

Prophylactic, disinfecting and flouring the water 16071 $ Municipal Council pei manently local budget

Construction and rehabilitation of the sewage network system and construction 3 196 428 $ Municipal Council after allocation the funds donations, soft loans of the waste-water treatment plant

equipping the Institute for Health Protection with space and 11 964 $ Responsible Ministry 1-3 years State budget

v 4; ACTION PLAN

Term of beginning and d

Controlled urban development of the City of Gevgelija 84 821 $ Municipal Council one year local budget

Restoration of the values of Smrdhva Voda Region 10 303 $ Municipal Council permanently Slate and local budget '

Construction of the sanitary landfill 2 857 142 $ Municipal Council after Feasibility Study concessions, soft loans

Primary recycling selection and collection of the solid waste 2410714 $ Municipal Council after Feasibility Study ! soft loans, actions

Landfill for animal waste 5 357 $ Municipal Council after feasibility Study concessions, soft loans

Part of the landfill for hospital waste 32 142 $ Municipal Council aftei Feasibility Study concessions, soft loans

Reuse of the secondary raw materials from the industry 26 785 $ Municipal Council after Feasibility Study concessions, soft loans

Landfill for agricultural and industrial waste Municipal Council after Feasibility Study concessions, soft loans

Construction of the filter stations 160714 $ Municipal Council after allocation the funds soft loans, own sources

Capturing new springs, and construction of the new water accumulations 18 937 500 $ ' Municipal Council after allocation the funds concessions, soft loans

Construction of the ueatment plant for factory "Zora" 35 714 S Factory Zora after allocations the funds own sources

Purchasing the new equipment foi the chicken farm 1 678 571 $ Chicken faim after allocation the funds soft loans, own sources 1, . .J

OF.YE3&S -3 f S H

\ ^: - i 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMERY OF MUNICIPALITY OF VELES

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. Municipality Veles is situated in the central part there are 34 settlements, which is less than the previous of the Republic of Macedonia It occupies area of state, when 90 settlements were included In the new 1552km2, which is 6% of the total area of the state established municipalities, the number of population is Number of inhabitants in the municipality is 65520 only 9190 inhabitants (according to 1994 census) With the latest territorial In the economic structure, industry plays a major administrative division, the territory of the municipality role, and 15 significant industrial facilities are grouped was decreased to 503 km2, and the number of the in nine industrial branches Within the Municipality, exist population to 56570 inhabitants The biggest part of the 4777 private agriculture farms, which together with the population lives in the urban area, e i in the city of Veles agriculture enterprise "Lozar" are base for the local The city is located at the end of the Veles valley, on both economy sides of river Vardar Within the Municipality of Veles,

DEVELOPING POLICY

2 After the independence of the Republic of In the preparation stage, there are several laws, Macedonia, the domestic economy faced with drastic which have to provide harmonisation with European reducing of production and investment, reducing of export standards The strategy goals for closer integration with and appearing of other unfavourable economic indicators other European countries request harmonisation of the which produced extensive unemployment, social policies in different areas, including the environmental problems as well as the problems in allocating and policy, which has to comply with European policy as providing financies for normal functioning of the country well. Consequently, development of the economy has to and municipalities as well This unfavourable situation be projected in accordance with appropriate acts, in order mostly is due to dissolving of the common market of to be able to offer its products on the European market, former Yougoslav federation, dissolvement of the which have to satisfy environmental standards ISO 9000 economic union of the Eastern European countries, as and ISO 14001 well as the general political instability of the Balkans and 4 In the last two years, the National Environmental surrounding region. - Action Plan, and the National Strategy for Economic 3 In the Republic of Macedonia there is on going Development have been prepared and adopted, as ones process of transition toward market economy (macro- of the most important long term environmental economic stabilisation, privatisation, establishing developing documents connections with international financial institutions etc ) and process of industrial restructuring

IMPORTANCE OF LEAP

5. Existing activities, regarding the preparation of 6 It is considered that in the near future LEAP will LEAP for the Municipality of Veles are very important increase public involvement and will play a big role in for establishing a strategy for resolving the environmental the decision making policy process of the local authorities problems for this region which is considered as the most in seeking possibilities for financial assistance for polluted region in the country In this environmental improvement the environmental condition and the health document all subjects that has affect environment directly of the population or indirectly has elaborated During the preparation all 7 It is expected that LEAP would point out the the relevant data for current situation have been collected, optimal solutions for preserving the environment, and to the causes for threatening of ecosystem have been serve as a model to other regions in our country as well defined, and activities for accomplishing the strategy of as for designing measures for more rational use of natural resolving the environmental problems have been and energy recourses and improving the quality of the proposed and selected. environment for the next generation

22, Local Environmental Action Plan. EXECUTIVE SUMMERY OF MUNICIPALITY OF VELES

EVALUATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

8 It is estimated that an intensive industrial indications for rapid deterioration of the situation (cutting development in 70Ds followed by inappropriate urban the woods, occurrence of acid rains) Reforestation of the planning was the main cause for the present complex central part of the Municipality is still a current problem, environmental situation Long time negligible and which should be resolved in the future. ignoring this ecological unfavourable indicator has 14 The reduction of the emissions of the mam air contributed in deterioration of the environmental pollutants is the primary environmental objective in the conditions in the last two decades next five years It means "reduction of lead and sulphur 9 The present environmental problems are mostly dioxide for 50% and cadmium for 70% For due to the fact that the biggest industry is unsuitably accomplishing this goal the general strategy has be located, and the inefficient way of using the non- developed which will be implemented in the stages, renewable mineral recourses All together they contribute depending from the available financial sources The to the poor environmental conditions, caused by the remaining environmental problems were considered less emission of many pollutants during the course of waste urgent, which should be solved one in a time, in water discharging, realising the gases, as well as from the accordance with economic strength of the Municipality solid waste dumping Limited extension of the Veles Environmental impact upon the health status of the valley and unfavourable local climate and meteorological population conditions significantly backed up this influence 15 Poor environmental quality produced severe 10 Most severe environmental problem is environmental problems, affecting people's health and recognised to be a poor air quality caused by the local other living world, as well as destroying the forests, smelter industry, which together with the fertiliser plant agriculture and nature rarities are the major causes for the water quality degradation of the river Vardar It has been already acknowledged that 16 It is estimated that the health status of the chemical pollution with heavy metals and other tocsins population is bad, with tendency to become worst It has had affected in great extent soil and underground water been confirmed that the concentrations of the lead in the air and soil, dust, and sulphur dioxide in the air are the 11 The existing degradation of the soil and usage biggest nsk to people's health. According to the Technical of polluted water for irrigation of the land in the viscidity Committee assessment, within the urban area there is of the city contributed to the contamination of the food, possible presenceof six from nine indirect indicators for confirming the previous assumptions that the tocsins had the health conditions, which are generally used for affected food chain determining the relation between public health and 12. Drinking water supply in the Municipality is environmental conditions most severe problem for the peoples health This problem The most concerning fact is the number of can not be resolved unless the construction of the hydro- increasing chronicle diseases, and it is expected that in system "Lisice" will be completed Full operation of this the near future the cancer diseases will show up due to system significantly will improve the conditions in the the contamination of the eco-system with cadmium The agriculture, and the environmental status in the region expenditures needed to treat the population, at any rate, 13 The demographic pressure over the ecosystem, would overburdened the local budget and at the some solid waste management, dumps, and forest management time would limited the possibilities for developing the were assessed to- be less significant problem for economy and to improve the general status of the environment, although in certain segments there are population

ECONOMIC REFORMS AND NORMING

17. In addition, the existing unfavourable in order to achieve more efficient health protection and environmental conditions are more complicated because greater productivity within the economy of the lack of the environmental legislative Although the Act for Protection and Promotion of Environment and Furthermore, there is a need of establishing the Nature was adopted, still the remaining environmental better balance between the market and the legislative procedures are waiting to support the economic and other instruments, as well as the mechanisms for more efficient changes which are needed for EU accession Beside this, enforcement of the principles "pollutants pay" by the there is a need of strengthening the standards and rules central and local authorities LocaJ Environmental Action Plan 23 EXECUTIVE SUMMERY OF MUNICIPALITY OF VELES

---18 It is estimated that the reconstruction-and - manufacturing industry and services on legislative privatisation of the industry should be based more on the changes, regarding the conditions of importing the market model (introducing taxes, fees for polluting, and environmental equipment, and introducing incentive charges for using natural resources), instead of using the measures policy of "control and order model"- 20. For financing the environmental projects and 19 Regarding the economic aspects in resolving infrastructure, a model for collecting funds from fees, existing environmental problems, it was confirmed that taxes, and charges_on the local level was proposed and they have to be based on. substitution of existing developed, in order to resolve all environmental problems technologies in the industry with new waste free on the local level technologies, on more dynamic development of the

INSTITUTIONAL CHANGES AND PUBLIC AWARENESS 21 New legislative is looked upon as a way for taken loans In addition, reprogramming of the loans will creating environmental management in the institutional contribute "to sustainable development" with introducing frameworks, as well as an opportunity for realisation of of "inherited environmental tax" which as a monetary new environmental projects, which will result with bigger load together with the degraded environment, unwillingly protection of the health and more optimal financial we are going to left to the next generations benefits In this context, in the frame of the institutional 23 On a local level, regarding the environmental management, the conditions and procedures for policy development, application of monitoring and environmental reviews and stimulations of environmental information system should be encouraged projects which offer long term possibilities for world market competence, through adopting ISO 14001 24 Within the institutional framework there is a standards, should be defined need of NGO and media support, especially when introducing to public environmental problems, as well as 22. Taking into account another approach, it would the measures and activities that should be taken in order be quite possible to expect factories to be closed and to overcome the same. community not to be able to pay back the environmental PRIORITY STRATEGY AND LAUNCHING THE LEAP

25 According to the analysis, MHK "Zletovo" with the Municipal Council and municipality public, after its production is a most dangerous capacity unit affecting which activities for providing international assistance for the environment around Veles implementation of suggested environmental projects, follows 26 Approach for resolving the environmental priority problems should be based on the national 27 At the later phases, it is necessary to have a feasibility studies which were developed in a last three periodical analysis in order to estimate to which extent years, and which are dealing with production and adopted priority actions were implemented, and whether development of the bigger pollutant in the Municipality1 the conditions in the eco-system are the same The action plan to be adjusted in order to provide optimal Proposing the priority strategies for implementation environmental benefits using cost-benefit methods of at the same time means first stage of the LEAP implementation implementation Next phase is adopting of the LEAP by

National Environmental Action Plan tor Republic ot Macedonia (NEAP) National Strategy tor Economic Development for Republic ot Macedonia bnvironmental Study tor technological and technical solutions lor protection ot Veles Irom pollution from MHK "Zletovo'

24 Local Environmental Action Plan. 1 t 1

FOR ACTION PLAN

Aica Subject Action Responsible Penod ol Available data Needed funds Institution implementation Economic policy Policy reforms Adoption of LEAP for the Municipality of Veles LG Short-term LEAP 20 000$ and Envuomnent Introducing the Destimulation of energy and water consumption through contiol ofpnces LG.ME Medium-term No data available Unknown • pi maples "user on a local level pay", "pollutants Destimulation ofsolid waste geneiaiion, as well as the waste water through LG, ME Shoil-teim No data available Unknown pay" conliol of prices on a local level

Local Planning lull JSliuctlne objects to be planned, exploitation of natuial iccouises, use ol LG,M£ Mediuni-teim No data available Unknown . the soil, dellmng the zones lot economy activities and uiban living Piovidmg Piovidmg incentives foi technological solutions aimed to pievent the LG, MUPCE Shoil-lerm No data available Unknown , incentives foi envnonment innovations and Pioviding incentives foi ihc cnteipiises which aie dealing with selection LG.ME Short-term No data available Unknown communal and reuse of communal waste services Providing the incentives foi the private sectoi (communal services) LG,ME Short-term No data available Unknown

Enviionmemal Institutional Establishing the regional cnvnonmuntal depailmenl foi Inspection LG.MUPCE Shoil-leim no data available Unknown Management stienglhemng Reviewing and completing the existing nelwoikof hydrological and LG,MC Short-term No data available Unknown meleoiological measuiement stations Environmental Preparing the Register of polluteis and Register of pollutants on a local LG.MUPCE Short-term No data available Unknown . pollution level monitoiing Preparing the methodology foi monitoring the ambient air LG, MUPCE Short-teim Under the Unknown pieparalion Preparing the methodology foi the monitoiing pollution from waste waters LG, MUPCE Short-term Under the Unknown preparation Piepanng the methodology foi the monitoiing pollution from solid waste LG.MUPCE Short-tei m Under the ' Unknown dumps picpaiation Monitoiing Preparing the plan for ambient end emission monitoring on a local level LG, MUPCL Short-leim Under the Unknown system pieparalion Establishing the monitomig system for JII quality imdei the jurisdiction of LG, MUPCC Shon-temi Under the , Unknown i the local Government prepaiation Establishing monitoiing on the suiface and undeiground water LG MArwS Short-leim No dala available Unknown Information Piepanng progiammes which will support the monitoring and contiol of LG.MUPCE short-term No data available Unknown • system environmental quality Establishing the infoimotion system for monitoring the quality of LG, MUPCE Meclium-teim No data available Unknown environment within the Municipality of Veles Establishing separate infoimation systems foi generating, selection, and LG, MUPCE Long-lci m No dala available Unknown disposal communal and industnal waste

II ^liii ACTION PLAN ' • , ' I' "

Aica Subject Action •: Responsible Penod foi Implementation Available data' Needed funds • Institution Envnonmental Standaids and Adopting effluent standaids loi indusliy, on a local level, LG, MUPCE Shoit-term No data available Unknown Management piocedures in accordance with the self- puimcation capacity of the i recipient Adopting procedures and measures toi management of LG, MUPCE Medium-term No data available Unknown solid, communal and industnal solid waste i Budget and Establishing the eco-fund on a local level, changes in the LG, MF Shoit-teim No data available Unknown financing envnonmental legislative Defining methodology and opeiating piogramme foi LG, MF, MUPCE Shou-tcim No data available UrflcrlOwn financing enviionmental projects which will use funds fiom local eco-tund i Preparing programmes for hnancing strategically, LG.MF Short-term No data available , Unknown . infrastructure environmental projects, using the funds from the state budget, national eco-fund donations, loans Public Introducing additional lectuie in the elementary and high LG, Medium-term No data available Unknown Awareness schools concerning the environment MUPCE.ME.NGO Informing public for cuirent situation (hiough the local LG, ME.NGO Shoit-lerm No data available Unknown media Environmental Policy Iniroducing pilot piojeci based on maiket oiiented"policy, LG, Shoit-teim No data available Unknown Policy Instrument instead of "control and ordei model" ME.MF.MUPCE, IMNT Management of the water price policy to be tiansferred LG, MF Shoit-teim No data available Unknown under jurisdiction ol local diuhoiity Enforcement Strengthen inspections responsibility on the local level LG.MJ, MUPCE Shoil-lerm No data available UnkTTbwn f of standards regarding the ehvironmenlal olfences , ' and Distinguished responsibilities between the local LG.ME, Short-term No data available Unknown i regulations community and the pollutcis regdidmg the expendituies MUPCE.MI1KZ raising up from the previous envuonmental damages Reviewing environmental-technological projects and LG, MUPCE, Shoit-term Unknown preparing elaborates fiom the polluters on the local level IMNT in compliance with action plan from LEAP Harmonisation with ISO 9000 and ISO 14001 standaid,s LG, MUPCE Medium-lerm No data available • Unknown • ACTION PLAN m

Area Subject Action • Responsible Institution Period of implementation Dtita available Needed funds Sustainable Prevention Prevention of future pollution with introducing LG.IMNT Long-teim Study Previously development protection of environmental friendly lechnologies and , presented soil technological solutions in the industry i Establishing wind-belt around pollution sources, 1G.1MNT Medium-term No data available , Unknown . reforestation with high absoiption ability of heavy t 1 metals ' Prevention of waste watei use for irrigation purposes LG Medium-term No data available Unknown peimaneni monitoring ol the lertile soil LG, MAFWS Long-teim No data available Unknown ' Introducing biological production (usage ol organic LG.MAFWS Long-term No data available Unknown . fertiliser) i Introducing imegrauve production, decreasing the LG.MAFWS Long-leim No data available Unknown industrial pollution, recullivation of degradation land Substitutions of pesticides with environmental LG, MAFWS Long-term No data available Unknown . friendly measures for protection oflhe plants Revitalisation and improvement water quality ot the LG.MAFWS Short-term Study ( 4 450 000$, artificial lake "Mladost", conjunction ot network pipe system and its connection with the transport one to t the hydro-system "Lisice" Introducing "drop by drop" irrigation system, LG.MATWS Medium-term No data available Unknown decreasing the possibility ol land eiosion Introducing production of cattle food with treatment LG.MAFWS Long-teim No data available Unknown oflhe organic waste Rehabilitation ot Revitalisation of polluted soil by extracting heavy LG.MAFWS Long-leim No data available Unknown the polluted soil metals with biointacnonvchemicals reclamation and other methods Reclamation of agriculture land with high quality of LG.IMNT Long-term No data available Unknown irrigation water for desolating ol the natural and man- made pollutants in the soil Assessing the contamination ot the land with heavy LG.1MNI" No data available 150 000$ metals in the Veles legion in accoidance wiih the piogiam of 1MNT lJiepanng the study tor determine impacts ot heavy LG, IMNT Medium-teim No data available 195 000$ metals on a plant production and selection ot the crops that can be grown on polluted land, and determine means and methods of sananons and rehabilitation of degraded lend Prevention Introducing technological solution for transforming MHKZ, IMNT Medium-term Study 4 600 000$ protection from Imperial Smelting technologies to waste frr the solid waste technology dumps Rehabilitation ot the lame dump and constmclion of MHKZ Long-term Study 7 700 000$ the facilities for treating the lame Introducing the selection of the communal waste LG Short-term No data available Unknown Construction the plant toi selecting, composting of LG Short-term No data available 1 450 000$ communal waste Rehabilitation ot the illegal dumps for communal LG Short-term No data available Unknown waste dumping niercury-selen deposit, as a dangerous solid MHKZ Short-term No data available Unknown waste ACTION PLAN

Area Subject Action Responsible Inslilulion Peuod loi Data available Needed funds Implementation Sustainable Piotection and Improving piotection ot the foiebts, pievention trom LG.MAFWS Short-teim No data available Unknown ; development promotion of acid rams, fires, using pievenling piogiammes in , foiebls and accordance with local opeiating progiamme biodiversity Implementation of the lefoicstation progiamme LG.MAFWS Short-term No data available Unknown i Enforcement of the law toi illegal culling LG.MAFWS Short-term No data available Unknown r Improving the biodiversity monitonng LG, MLJPCE Medium-term No data available Unknown , Education of the youth, informing public for the LG,ME,NGO Short-term No data available Unknown importance of forests, biodiveisity and quality of live i Public health Decreasing Permanent monitoring on a morbidity, preparing LG, MH Short-teim No data available Unknown negative impact demogiaphic map on the vulneiable population, i fiom polluted according to the place ol living environment Monitoring of lead, cadmium and othei toxins in the LG, MH Short-term No data available Unknown upon public environment and in the human body health Preparing health statistics in order to monitor LG, MH Short-teim No data available Unknown morbidity Preparing epidemiological studies for certain LG, MH Short-teim No data available Unknown , population in order to deteimme impacts from ihe polluted environment, upon the respiiatory diseases, reproductively, caidiovascular decease, and other disease caused by toxins, cadmium c t < i Establishing unique informational system for LG, MH no data available Unknown monitoring the health and envnonment on a local

level •V ' .1 Reorganisation of urban aiea of Veles valley LG, MUPCE Medium-term No data available Unknown | improving the health status> of Ihe population , Urgent implementation ot all projects and activities LG, INES.MH Medium-term No data available Unknown .

which are predicted with environmental studies in ! i

Older to improve health itatus of the population t ACTION PLAN |

Area Subject Action Responsible Institution period lor Implementation Data available needed funds Sustainable Reduction of air Introducing technological solutions for decreasing MHKZ, 1MNT Long-term Environmental Study Unknown Development pollution gasses, generation of dust, and quantity oi recycled materials in production process of zinc and lead j ' Decreasing heavy metals and sulphur dioxide from MHK.Z, IMNT Long-term Environmental study 17 000 000$ the production processes and usage of sources with minimum toxins, dislocation of the facilities for i treating cadmium, lead, limited production of lead of 23 000 tones per year, desultonsalion ot zinc i , concentrates , 'I Establishing system for general environmental MHKZ, 1MNT Short-term Environmental study 2 000 000$ protection of the city from air pollution Using the rail transport lor raw materials Irom the LG.MT Short-tei m No data available Unknown local industrial capacities Construction ot round industrial transport and LG, MT Medium-term No data available Unknown terminal for trucks Substitution ot liquid and solid fuels with gas fuels LG.ME Long-term No data'available Unknown at the industry and housing Establishing separate industrial zone tor new LG', MUPCL Long-term No data available Unknown industrial capacity, out of the city Improving the Construction of reservoii within the smeller, in MHK.Z.1MNT Short-term Environmental study 4 100 000$

water quality order not to discharge the waste water t Resolutions of technological problems by treating MHKZ Short-term Environmental Study 4 300 000$ the waste water in the Fertiliser plant Construction of waste water treatment plant in the Investor Shurt-lerm Study Unknown leather factory "Dimko Milrev" I Construction of waste vvatei Investor Shoil-tcrm No data available Unknown tieatment plant in the laciory I'oi oil "Blagoj Gorev" i Rehabilitation of sewage network and construction LG, MUPCE Mtdium-term No data available Unknown of collecting system for municipal and communal I water i Construction of treatment plant for communal LG.MUPCE Long-term Study 20 000 000$ waste water i Protection ot Establishing protection zone lor the wells, , LG Short-term Study Unknown1 water recourses sanations of the city fountains and improving Rehabilitation of existing network, construction of LG Medium-term Study 1 500 000$ the quality of reservoir for drinking water for high zones in the drinking water city, construction of treatment plant-second stage Permanent disinfecting ot the drinking w.ner LG Short-term Unknown Unknown Construction of hydro-system "Lisice" LG.MUPCE Long-term Projects 14 700 000$ >' ••>' n •• '•

a 13

rs-, - •EXECUTIVE SUMMERY OF MUNICIPALITY OF ZRNOVCI-

3 Thanks to the Macedonian Ministry of Urban Planing, Construction and Environment, the Municipality of Zmovci is one of the four Municipalities that are working out their LEAPs at this stage A financial support of- 7000 USD provided by the Royal Netherlands Embassy is assigned for technical equipment of the implementation office in the Municipality of Zrnovci, office, personnel and consultative expenses, preparation of reports,, performing analyses inquires and other activities that are directly related to a quality organization and LEAP'S preparation

MUNICIPALITY OF ZRNOVCI - GENERAL DATA

The Municipality of Zrnovci is situated in the This Municipality has the total population of 3344 eastern part of Macedonia, on the transport corridor that inhibitions, among which 3293 are Macedonians, and the links Skopje - Veles - Stip - Kocani - Delcevo with others are Vlachs, Turks, Serbs and other About 20% Republic of Bulgaria. It is distant about 8km from Kocani (658) of the population are engaged in agriculture, mainly It is situated on the slopes of the mountain Plackovica in production of rice The total number of persons with I e in the zone of the Serbo-Macedonian massif or the personal income is 407, while the number of unemployed old Rodope Mountains The three settlements in the but able - bodied is 730 Municipality Zrnovci, Morodvis and Vidoviste are The total surface of the agriculture land is I692ha, widely open towards the river Bregalnica and the fertile which is 32% of the entire area 309ha belong to the plains of Kocani. public sector and 1325ha in the private sector. Plough - The climatic conditions, the geological construction fields and gardens are of 1625ha, out of which 300ha and the reforestation provide the Mountain massif belong to the public sector and 1325ha are private mainly Plackovica with a large number of watersheds Richer rice sorts (the annual production of rice in the public with waters are the northern rivers among which are . sector is 480 t and 320 t in the private sector) Zmovska, Moroviska and Vidoviska, which are tributaries The largest firms in this Municipality are ZZ of the Bregalnica river, the biggest river in eastern "Zrnovka", with 198 employed, which is engaged in Macedonia production of rice, rearing poultry, trade etc," Ruen" (25 The outstanding geographical'situation and the employed) - a forge for automobile parts, and climatic conditions have determined the main agricultural "Jugotutun" (20 employed) - production of agricultural activities, i e. production of rice and gardening products and nee The total surface of the Municipality Zrnovci is The Municipality budget for 1998, worth of 978 000 5l764076m2(5176ha) denars, or about 30000 DM is insufficient for realizing some more serious activities planned in the LEAP This Divided in settlements leads to the need of mobilization of some national and • Zrnovci - 28482894m2 international financial resources that can help the implementation of the strategies planned with the LEAP •Morodvis - 14521860m2 Vidoviste - 8759322m2 LEAP'S OVERALL REVIEW

• The tendency to choose a Municipality that citizens of the Municipality Zmovci, which is of particular outwardly seemed to have no environmental problems importance for the implementation of the project goals appeared to be justifiable, since the LEAP determined On the other hand this can be considered as an advantage priorities which compared with those of the Municipalities for the Municipality Zmovci, in comparison with a large Veles and Skopje - Centar are incomparably small, but number of other Municipalities in the country, which have still deserve attention. The limited funds and the short more serious environmental problems The fact that the time - period for the workout (January - May 1998) Municipality Zrnovci is not mentioned in any of the represent the LEAP'S objective default This is especially NEAP's priorities stands for ecologically healthy and specified because of the need of many future more clean environment But, in spite of this both the Citizens studious researches, which have opened as a front during Committee and the Technical Committee formed with a the workout of this document The lack of available and purpose of the LEAP's workout, identified, analyzed and quality data needed tor creating a LEAP is a challenge ranked the primary environmental problems in the and imperative for the Local Authorities, NGOs and the Municipality Zrnovci At the same time the both

32 Local Environmental Action Plan.

I I • EXECUTIVE SUMMERY OF MUNICIPALITY OF ZRNOVCI •

- Committees.applying.few_methodologies, suggested .3 Environmental awareness in the Municipality, strategies for solving'the ranked priorities The dominant 4 Local Environmental Law, methodology used for identification of the primary" environmental problems is the sd-cklle'd^'comparative 5 Conservation'of the biodiversity - • analyses risks". CRA (US - EPA) suggested by the These two lists were accepted by both Committees - Vermont's Institute for Sustainable Commities (USA) and at the same tune these lists are reflection of the public During the evaluation of risks, especially human health opinion that emerged as a result of the public campaign risks, methods exploited in Environmental Impact realized by the Zrnovci Environmental Association" Assessment - Theory and Practice edited by Piter "Javor" Wathera (1995, Roudledge) have been used The presentation of the priority actions in the LEAP In January 1998 two Committees were formed with according to CRA to human health, nature and socio - a purpose to undertake the work on the LEAP economical category - quality of life is as follows a) Citizens Committee (Public Policy Committee) responsible for the education of the public, creating public opinion and the public's active involvement in the improvement of the local environment Risk Low High b)Technical Committee, responsible for gathering Human health and analyzing the technical, scientific and other information, related to the environmental problems Nature and their solutions Quality of life X The Committees determined the primary Total X environmental problems in the Municipality Zrnovci, based on the health risks of the population, nature and the quality of life

Nine primary problems and fields for tacking Risk Low High actions have been determined and ranked Human health X 1 Quality of drinking water and water supply, Nature X 2 Managing the communal - fecal waste Quality of life X 3 Pollution of surface and underground waters; Total X 4 Pollution of the agro - complexes' soils, 5 Communal solid waste and management " 6 Condition of the forests, Risk Low High 7 Environmental awareness in the Municipality, Human health X 8 Local Environmental Law, Nature X 9 Conservation of the biodiversity Quality of life X At the following stage the Committees did a gradation of the primary problems using the available Total X methodologies and determined a High risk priorities 1 Quality of drinking water and water supply, Risk Low High 2 Managing the communal - fecal waters, Human health X 3 Pollution of surface and underground waters, Nature X 4. Pollution of the agro - complexes' soils, Quality of life X b. Low risk priorities Total X 1 Communal solid waste management, 2 Condition of the forests, The LEAP'S work-out, besides the determination of the environmental problems and the choice of the

Local Environmental Action Plan 33 • EXECUTIVE SUMMERY OF MUNICIPALITY OF ZRNOVCI

. - strategies for their solution, enabled the achievement of - Use of completely row drinking water in the following results Morodvis and Vidoviste, 1. Access to environmental information for a large -. Irregular control of the chemical and number of inhabitants of the Municipality microbiological content of the drinking water, 2 First public and organized participation of - Very low public information about the water citizens in decision making process regarding the quality, environmental problems, through consensus - Cutting down the forests near the sources, 3 Media presentation of the LEAP for Municipality - Watering cattle near sources and wells, Zmovci on local and national level - Danger of sabotage because of the openness of 4 Internationalization of the LEAP, from the the system, workout stage - Danger of infectious diseases 5 Possibilities for implementation of the LEAP strategies with a help from local, national and As a result of the performed "analyses of this priority, international funds some actions are recommended, the most important of which is 6 Tracing a road for future scientific and skilled researches in the Municipality in the area of - the workout of a feasibility study that would protection and promotion of the environment determined the overall strategy for solution to this problem 7 Possibility for the LEAP'S presentation at the 4 * th Ministerial Conference '"Environment for Because of the resource shortage of the local Europe" in Aarhus, Denmark in June 1998 budged for a study workout, the Municipality expects an international financial aid, which can be agreed in Aarhus Each of the four environmental problems was by mediation of Ministry for Urban Planning, additionally defined and analyzed by the Technical Construction and Environment Committee, in accordance with the medical methodology HEIA (Health Environmental Impact Assessment) It is estimated that this kind of study, which can also be expanded on the priorities 2 and 3 would cost about Strategies categorized on the bases of the scheme 80000 USD, provided it is worked out by an international for integral approach towards the project draft were consulting company chosen in the areas of The analyses of the management of the communal - Environmental effects, - fecal waste waters showed. - Economic .justification, - chaotic overflow of the effluents (primarily of - Local financial funds, those originating from the households, since there is a small industrial influence) in the surface water - International financial funds, flows, - Municipality's strategy and programs, - pollution of rivers with organic material, - Technical - technological feasibility, - destroing of the rivers' flora and 'fauna, - Legislature, - lack of adequate sewage system, - Compatibility according to NEAP - non - existence of a treatment station, The analyses of the first priority - non - existence ofa monitoring system, Quality of drinking water and water supply showed - sinking about the damages caused by this - Quantitative shortage of water, problem, - Obsolescence and default of the infrastructure, - pollution of the soil and underground waters - Lack of systems for treatment of the because of the sinking of the feces from the infrastructure, inappropriate septic tanks, - Microbiological incorrectness, - danger of infectious diseases, - irrigation of agricultural sorts in the region of - Total absence of drinking water in very dry Zmovci with fecal water (in the period when the periods, water flow of the Zrnovska river is stopped for the - Shortage of fluorine and chlorine in the drinking needs of the hydroelectric power station) water (in Morodvis and Vidoviste),

34 Local Environmental Action Plan . • EXECUTIVE SUMMERY OF MUNICIPALITY OF ZRNOVCl"-

• The planned feasibility study may determine the . .. --p0SS1Die solutions that came out from LEAP adequate solution to this problem as well, which will have - Skilled use of the chemicals and fertilizes in the an influence on the improvement pf the quality of the production of rice and gardening, surface and underground waters (priority NR 3) in the Municipality Zmoyci - Orientation towards application of biotechnology application of bio-pesticides and organic fertilizes As the Municipality Zmovci is an agrarian area, in the production of the healthy 1 e. environmentally famous for the production of rice and gardening, both clean product Committees have drown a special attention to the pollution of agro-complexes soils ce priority NR 4, - Application of experience from developed which is of vital importance to the population from agricultural countries from Europe, America and economical point of view Asia While analyzing this priority, the following has been A financial participation of the potential registrated international donors in this kind of agro - project will surelyprovide the agriculture products from Municipality - Farmers' insufficient expertize when using Zrnovci an international market, and may represent a pilot pesticides and fertilizers, project whose application is possible in many other - Insufficient expertness of the up-to-date agricultural regions in Macedonia technologies (bio-technologies) in agronomy,

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Local Environmental Action Plan 35 Copyright Notice The entire contents ofthis publication copyright© 1998 the Regional Enviromental Center for Cetral and Eastern Europe (REC) Local Office Macedonia

No part ofthis manual may be sold in any form or repioduced for profit without prior wntten permission of the copyright holders All readers are permitted to reproduce and distrubuteall or any part ofthis publication provided that such distribution is free of charge, and that proper attribution is given to all copyright holders The use ofthis volume is strongly encouraged for training purposes and in the practice of public participation

The opinions expresed in this book do not necessarily represent the policies or opinions of the REC or of the institutions with which the authors, editors and other contributors are affiliated

Published by the REC, ul Debarca 17/3, Skopje, Macedonia In cooperation with Municipality Centar - Skopje Municipality Gevgelija Municipality Zmovci Municipality Veles & Ministry for Urban Planning, Construction and Environment

This and all REC publications are printed on recycled paper or paper produced without the use of chlorine or chlorine-based chemicals

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