Initial Environmental Examination

January 2013

ARM: Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project — Additional Financing

This Initial Environmental Examination is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB’s Board of Directors, Management, or Staff, and may be preliminary in nature.

In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.

W A T E R S U P P L Y A N D S A N I T A T I O N S E C T O R – A D D I T I O N A L F I N A N S I N G F U N D E D B Y T H E A S I A D E V E L O P M E N T B A N K

IMPROVEMENT OF ARMENIA SETTLMENTS WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION SYSTEMS

Date of preparation 31.01.13

INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION

SUBPROJECT I

Town of Echmiadzin and communities of Lernamerdz, Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Dwghs, Shahumyan, Shahumyan PF, Mousaler, Norakert, Houshakert, Voskevaz, Voskehat, Oshakan, Aghavnatun, Ptghunk of Armavir Marz

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT ...... 5 2. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL SAFEGUARD DOCUMENTS ...... 5 3. SCOPE OF WORKS ...... 5 4. DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION SYSTEMS...... 6 5. GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION AND CLIMATE OF THE SETTLEMENTS ...... 7 3.1 Echmiadzin town and Lernamerdz, Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Musaler, Shahumyan, Shahumyan Poultry Farm, Norakert, Houshakert, Aghavnatun, Ptghunk rural communities of Armavir marz 7

3.2 Voskevaz, Voskehat and Oshakan rural communitis of Aragatsotn marz ...... 8

6. BIODIVERSITY AND NATURAL SPECIAL PROTECTED AREAS ...... 8 6.1 Lernamerdz, Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Musaler, Shahumyan, Shahumyan poulty farm, Norakert, Hushakert, Aghavnatun, Ptghunk rural communities and Eshmiadzin town of Armavir marz. 8

6.2 Voskevaz, Voskehat and Oshakan rural communities of Aragatsotn marz ...... 9

7. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ...... 10 7.1 Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) Checklist ...... 11

Attachment:

Environmental Management Plan for Subproject 1- Packages I, II and III

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1. BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT

WSSP Project will improve public health and environment for about 400,000 people (households and other consumers) living in 18 towns and up to 92 villages1 through safe, reliable and sustainable water supply. The outcome of the Project is improved access to safe, reliable, and sustainable WSS services managed on commercial principles and environmentally sound practices. The Project will also support poverty reduction by (i) reducing the incidence of waterborne diseases and costs of medical care; (ii) improving the time poverty of women due to labor intensive housework such as water collection, which may allow them to participate more in social and economic activities; (iii) providing safer and more reliable water supply; and (iv) improving the quality of life of households in all the project towns and villages by improving their access to safe and sustainable drinking water. Similar to the original WSSP, the Additional Financing Project will fund two project components which include: (i) municipal infrastructure rehabilitation and improvement; and (ii) management improvement and development which include gender features.

2. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL SAFEGUARD DOCUMENTS

In accordance with the ADB Environmental policy (November , 2002) the Subproject is ranked to B category which does not need extended EIA, excluding aslo Environmental expertise, according to the RA law on “Environmental Impact Assessment ” (issued on November 20, 1995.) and the RA Government decree “Threshold of envrironmantal impact activities subject to expertiz ” (N-193, 30 March 1999). As a B Category Project ADB Policy requered developement of Initial Environmantal Examination/ IEE reports for each Subproject (1 report) and site specific Environmantal Management Plan/EMP (separetly report for each lote of the subproject).

3. SCOPE OF WORKS

This subcomponent of the subproject aims at improvement of water supply systems of the following communities: town of Echmiadzin and Lernamerdz, Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Musaler, Shahumyan, Shahumyan Poultry Farm, Norakert, Houshakert, Aghavnatun, Ptghunk villages of Armavir marz and Voskevaz, Voskehat, Oshakan villages of Aragathotn Marz.

Priority has been given to improvement of water supply systems: Scope of works for improvement water supply systems of Lernamerdz, Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Musaler, Shahumyan, Shahumyan Poultry Farm, Norakert, Houshakert, Aghavnatun, Ptghunk, Voskevaz, Voskehat and Oshakan villages is as follows:

Construction of polyethylene pipelines d50-d200 - 127.0 km

1 The number of towns and villages may change subject to further detailed assessments. 5

Installation of valve assemblies - 74 pcs

Construction of buried valve chambers - 170 pcs

Individual house entry pipes - 59.5 km

Individual house water metering blocks - 5950 pcs

Scope of works for improvement of sewage system of Echmiadzin town includes:

Construction of polyethylen sewage pipes d160-d200 - 0.7 km

Construction of inspection chambers - 30 pcs

Population of Echmiadzin town and Lernamerdz, Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Musaler, Shahumyan, Shahumyan Poultry Farm, Norakert, Houshakert, Aghavnatun, Ptghunk, Voskevaz, Voskehat and Oshakan villages at the date of 01.01.2012 comprises 83825 people, out of which 56400 reside in the town. Total number of customers is equal to 6190.

Population growth index according to the data published in the “Demographic Handbook of Armenia 2007” is 0.43%.

As a result of the Project implementation the communities residents will get access to the drinkin quality water and sustainable water supply.

4. DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION SYSTEMS.

Water supply of Echmiadzin town and Lernamerdz, Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Musaler, Shahumyan, Shahumyan poultry, Norakert, Hushakert, Aghavnatun, Ptghunk, Voskevaz, Voskehat, and Oshakan rural communities is implemented from the Bazmaghbyur and Ghazaravan undergroung sources through three main systems:

. Bazmaghbyur-Echmidzin gravity system

. Ghazaravan-Echmiadzin gravity system

. Ghazaravan-Echmiadzin gravity system (“Chaleri Djur”)

Currently there are 10 catchements and 2 chlorination stations in operation. Existing 14 deep wells are not operated and used for supply of water to Echmiadzin town and villages.

Water from headworks is being transported by three main pipelines with diameters varying from 300 through 600mm with total length 136km.

In 2007-2011 water supply network of Echmiadzin town has been rehabilitated under the World Bank funding. 6

In 2008-2012 rehabilitation of external feeding water supply systems of Echmiadzin town and rural communities has been implemented in frame of Water Supply and Sanitation Project funded by the ADB.

Among the communities under consideration only Echmiadzin town has sewerage system, but the waste water treatment plant is not functioning. There are broken sections within main collectors and inter-district sewerage networks, some of the inspection chambers need repair.

Lernamerdz, Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Musaler, Shahumyan, Shahumyan Poultry Farm, Norakert, Houshakert, Aghavnatun, Ptghunk, Voskevaz, Voskehat and Oshakan villages have no sewerage system, people make use of eather outhouse toilets or indoor toilets connected to outdoor sewage collecting chambers. In some of the villages individual buildings such as schools, kindergartens and others, have sewage systems.

5. GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION AND CLIMATE OF THE SETTLEMENTS

From the communities covered by the subproject town of Echmiadzin and Lernamerdz, Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Musaler, Shahumyan, Shahumyan Poultry Farm, Norakert, Houshakert, Aghavnatun, Ptghunk villages administratively belong to Armavir marz, while Voskevaz, Voskehat and Oshakan villages belong to Aragathotn marz. They comprise part of south-south west area of the country, where terrain has slight inclination and envolves not high hill ranges. Altitudes vary between 950 and 1100m asl.

3.1 Echmiadzin town and Lernamerdz, Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Musaler, Shahumyan, Shahumyan Poultry Farm, Norakert, Houshakert, Aghavnatun, Ptghunk rural communities of Armavir marz The area of Armavir marz under consideration located in the west of Ararat valley, on the left bank of Araks river. The area of Armavir marz is the smallest and occupies 1200sq km. The marz capital town is Armavir. Town of Echmiadzin located 25 km far from the marz capital, and 20 km far from Yerevan city.

The area is characterized by warm, hot summers and cold non-storm winters. Monthly average temperature in July is 21,5oC and in January 3.8oC. Air absolute maximum temperature is 41oC, absolute minimum is -31oC. Average annual precipitations vary between 280 -340mm. Snow cover reaches 42cm. Soil freezing depth vary between 0.5-0.7m, depending on altitude. Air average relative humidity equals to 59%. Wind annual average speed is 1.8m/sec.

From the orography point of view one can distinguish two regions in Ararat’s ravine: one encompasses the foothills zone, and the second one that includes the area under study is а wide valley filled with river and flood sedimental formations (accumulation terraces and floodplain of Araks river ).

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From hydro-geological point of view the area is rich with undeground waters. They can be found on the different depths starting from 0-5 through 100 meters and deeper. Existance of the ground waters is conditioned by river and lake formations and cracked andesitic basalts.

Populated area of the communities is located at the elevations limited by 800 and 1000 meters asl.

3.2 Voskevaz, Voskehat and Oshakan rural communitis of Aragatsotn marz The area under consideration of Aragatsotn region is located in foothill zone of Ararat Ravine at a distatnce of 3-5 km to south-west from Astharak towm and at distance of 20-22 km from Yerevan city. The regional center is Ashtarak city.

The climate of the area under study in Aragatsotn marz is acutely continental characretized by hot summers and rather cold winters. The average annual air temperature is +9.1 C, the аsolute minimal temperature is down to -34 C and absolute maximum temperature is up to +38 C. Аverage annual precipitation rate is 447 mm, and the maximal precipitation rate is 715 mm. The average snow cover in winter is 28 cm and the maximal one is 68 mm. The maximal soil freezing depth is 79 cm. The air relative humidity average for several years is 62%. The annual average wind speed is 2.8 km/sec.

The terrain here is conditioned by specificities of the geological, climate, disposition and other factors. The area of Kasakh river has widespread landscape rugged with foothill specific valleys. On the northern part the area is contiguous with the southern lower slopes of Aragats mount, where volcanic elements of the Armenian mountain range are present in geological formation.

Since volcanic formations are subject to intensive erosion and are badly fractured, the underground waters are infiltrated rather deeply and located at the 15-20 m and deeper.

Populated areas of the communities is located at the elevations limited by 950 and 1100 meters asl.

6. BIODIVERSITY AND NATURAL SPECIAL PROTECTED AREAS

6.1 Lernamerdz, Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Musaler, Shahumyan, Shahumyan poulty farm, Norakert, Hushakert, Aghavnatun, Ptghunk rural communities and Eshmiadzin town of Armavir marz. Flora of the area is represented by the species of the dry steppe vegetation types developed on the sandy- clayey parent rock of Yerevan floral region. There are around 130 types of plants registered in this ladnscape zone, and predominant spicies are aquatic plant lanceolate (ALISMA LANCEOLATUM), arrowhead (SAGITARIA SAGITTIFOLIA L.), threeleaf arrowhead (SAGITARIA SAGITTIFOLIA L.), COUSINIA TENELLA, ACANTHOPHYLLUM PUNGENS, SALSOLA TAMAMSCHJANAE, SPINACIA TETRONDA, ASTRAGALUS PARADOXUS, TRIGONELLA CAPITATA, AEGILOPS CRASSA, TRITICUM ARARAICUM), TAMARIX, TANARIX OCTANDRA and others:

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The species in this areas that need protection are as follows Acorus calamus L. (Sweet Flag), Connvolvulus commutatus Boiss, Lactuca Takhtadzani Sosn, Astragalus paradoxus, Diospyros lotus, and others: There are 113 vertebrates widespread in this landscape zone. The spiecies that are typical and dominant in the area under study and also whidespread all over Armenia, are: musk white-toothed shrew (Crocidura), red fox (Vulpes vulpes L.), golden hamster (Cricetus auratus Nat.), common vole (Mucrotus arvalis Pall), European partridge (Perdix perdix L), common crane (Grus grus L), Armenian Gull (Larus armeniacus But.) and other. Spieces recorded in the Red Book that can be found in the region are: long eared hedgehog (Erinaceus auritas Gmelin), Mehely’s horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus Mehelyi), glossy ibis (Plagadis falcinellus Linneaus) and marbled polecat (Vormela peregusna peregusna Guld). There are no vunerable areas from the ecolocical point of view in the of the sub-project implementation territory. There is “Vordan karmir” reserve in the region and its border is 18 km far from Eshmiadzin city, the one closest to the reserve from all the communities covered by the project. This lands will not be harmfully affected in the result of the project implementation. There are no cultural, archeological or inherited sites at the populated areas covered by the sub-project. This data was collected through interviews with the village mayors of the rural communities.

6.2 Voskevaz, Voskehat and Oshakan rural communities of Aragatsotn marz Flora of the areas under study is represented by the spiecies of Yerevan and Aparan floritic regions. Meadow, desert and semi-desert plant spieces are typical for this area.

Gramineae are represented by: timothy grass (Phleum sp.), meadow-grass (Poa sp..), and fescue (Festuca sp..): Most often one can see the formations of wormwood (Artemisia fragrans) Desert spieces are represented by: feathergrass, fescuegrass and brome-grass formations, and of these speicies predominate Festuca valesiaca, Koeleria cristata, Stipa tirsa and others: There is significat representation of the thyme varieties such as sheep's Fescue (Festuca ovina), sedge and other. One can also find here Plantago (plantain), Tragopogon (salsify), Taracsacum (dandelion), Betonica (betony), Vicia (vetch), Trifolium (clover), Cirsium (thorn), Euphorbia (spurge), Papaver (poppy), and also bushes, like: rosehip (Rosa), jerusalem-thorn (Paliurus), prickly-thrift (Acantholimon):

The following tree spiecies can be found in the region: poplar (Populus), acacia (Robinia), maple (Acer), sycamine (Morus), wild appricot trees (Armeniaca), whitethorn (Crataegus), willow-leaved pear (Pyrus salicifolia), common ¨ raywood ash-tree (Fraxsinus excelsior, F.oxycarpa), spirea crenate (Spiraea crenata), eastern barberry (Berberis orientalis), Centennial cotoneaster, (Cotoneaster integerrima), georgian honeysuckle (Lonicera iberica), shrubby jasmine (Jasminum fruticans), elm-tree (Ulmus), cherry plum (Prunus) , oleaster (Elaeagnus), willow (Salix), rose hip bush (Rosa).

The spiecies recorded in the new version of the Flora Red Book of the RA and growing in the region where project is to be implemented are as follows: (i) Hohenackeria exscapa (Stev.) K.-Pol., EN – is endangered spicies:

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One can find the following spiecies of invertebrats in this region: grasshoppers /Oedopoda coerulescensd, Oe. Miniata, Pholidoptera satunini, Scintharista notabilis, Tmethis festivus, Spingootus/, crickets /Phytodrymadusa armeniaca/, dipterals /Tomomyza araxana, Bombilus schelkovnikovi/: Only yellow scorpion can be found here / Buttus caucasicus/ of all scorpion types.

The most common spiecies of mamals are hare (Lepus europaeus), fox (Vulpes vulpes), wolf (Canis lupus). Representatives of the rodents are also common here, including spiecies of the muridae family (Muridae), and in particular field voles(Microtinae):

The most widespread types of birds are Passeriformes and Falconoformes.

The following spiecies of reptiles are typical for this zone: Snake-eyed Lizard /Ophisops elegans/, Strauch's Racerunner /Eremias strauchi/ and Transcaucasian racerunner /E.pleskei/ and other.

There are no vunerable areas or areas under special protection on the territory of the sub-project implementation.

7. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) has revealed that no damage is expected to be caused to the landscape, flora, fauna, land and water resources of the area where works on improvement of the water supply systems will be impelemnted.

The sub-project will be implemented mainly in the urban areas of the settlements, and new areas will not be used for the purposes of the works implementation.

As to the preliminary environemntal inspection the sub-project was classified as B category project. Along with the Detailed Design an Environemntal Management Plan has to be elaborated for this project, which shall cover all the communities that are included in the Detailed Design.

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7.1 Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) Checklist

Country/Project title Armenia Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project-Additional Financing

Sector Division: Sub-project 1- town of Echmiadzin and communities of Lernamerdz, Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Shaumyan, Shaumyan Poultry Farm, Musaler, Norakert, Hushakert, Voskevaz, Voskehat, Oshakan, Aghavnatun, Ptghunk

Screening Questions Yes N/A No Remarks A. Project Siting Is the project area…

. Densely populated? Ararat valley is one of the most densely + populated areas in Armenia

. Heavy with development activities? 40% of the settlements have urban + development project documentation (master plans) + . Adjacent to or within any environmentally sensitive areas?

Almost all settlements have cultural heritage . Cultural heritage site + monuments, but the project does not deal with them + . Protected Area

+ . Wetland

+ . Mangrove

+ . Estuarine

+ . Buffer zone of protected area

+ “Vordan Karmir” protected area located . Special area for protecting biodiversity 18km far from project site + The area spreads from Ararat valley flatland . Bay to foothill landscapes crossed by ravines B. Potential Environmental Impacts Will the Project cause…

. pollution of raw water supply from upstream wastewater discharge + water supply is foreseen from ground waters from communities, industries, agriculture, and soil erosion runoff? . impairment of historical/cultural monuments/areas and loss/damage + Almost all settlements have cultural heritage to these sites? monuments, but the project does not deal with them . hazard of land subsidence caused by excessive ground water + Not applicable for subprojects pumping?

. social conflicts arising from displacement of communities ? + Not anticipated

. conflicts in abstraction of raw water for water supply with other + In the frame of the subproject potable water beneficial water uses for surface and ground waters? supply will be done from underground sources,. The drinking water shall not be used for irrigation or any other purposes.

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Screening Questions Yes N/A No Remarks . unsatisfactory raw water supply (e.g. excessive pathogens or mineral + In the frame of the subproject potable water constituents)? supply will be done from underground sources, after treatment. . delivery of unsafe water to distribution system? +

. inadequate protection of intake works or wells, leading to pollution + Improvement work includes reconstruction of water supply? of wells, which can not result in water pollution . over pumping of ground water, leading to salinization and ground + The design doesn’t foresee pumping of subsidence? ground water, that is why the implementation of the design cannot result insalinization and ground subsidence

. excessive algal growth in storage reservoir? + Not anticipated

. increase in production of sewage beyond capabilities of community + In the communities waste water treatment facilities? plants are not existing.

. inadequate disposal of sludge from water treatment plants? + Not applicable for the subproject

. inadequate buffer zone around pumping and treatment plants to + The pumping station designed within the alleviate noise and other possible nuisances and protect facilities? project framework will be isolated by the fence protecting the sanitary zone . impairments associated with transmission lines and access roads? + Impairment associated with access roads, and crossings with transmission lines will be carried out according to the required norms . health hazards arising from inadequate design of facilities for + Safety measures will be included in the receiving, storing, and handling of chlorine and other hazardous Environmental Management Plan (EMP) chemicals.

. health and safety hazards to workers from handling and management + While working with chlorine or other of chlorine used for disinfection, other contaminants, and biological contaminants prescribed technological and physical hazards during project construction and operation? procedures shall be followed.

. dislocation or involuntary resettlement of people? + Not foreseen

. disproportionate impacts on the poor, women and children, + Not foreseen Indigenous Peoples or other vulnerable groups?

. noise and dust from construction activities? + Mitigation measures will be developed in EMP (Environmental Management Plan). . increased road traffic due to interference of construction activities? + Not significant increase is predicted for the construction period. . continuing soil erosion/silt runoff from construction operations? + Detailed measures of construction management will be described in the EMP . delivery of unsafe water due to poor O&M treatment processes + Mud accumulation issue is not applicable. (especially mud accumulations in filters) and inadequate chlorination Monitoring of chlorine residuals in due to lack of adequate monitoring of chlorine residuals in distribution system will be performed distribution systems? according to established procedure.

. delivery of water to distribution system, which is corrosive due to + During operation of this system corrective inadequate attention to feeding of corrective chemicals? chemicals for water treatment are not used.

. accidental leakage of chlorine gas? + Not anticipated.

. excessive abstraction of water affecting downstream water users? + The design of the system reconstruction is developed to exclude such cases . competing uses of water? + The project aims at softening competition in water uses . increased sewage flow due to increased water supply +

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Screening Questions Yes N/A No Remarks . increased volume of sullage (wastewater from cooking and washing) + No any settlement covered by the Project and sludge from wastewater treatment plant has waste water treatment plant.

. large population influx during project construction and operation that + The project focused at reconstruction of causes increased burden on social infrastructure and services (such as existing systems, new cosial impacts are water supply and sanitation systems)? anticipated.

. social conflicts if workers from other regions or countries are hired? + Mainly local labor force will be involved

. risks to community health and safety due to the transport, storage, + If safety measures of explosives, fuels and and use and/or disposal of materials such as explosives, fuel and other chemicals used within the framework other chemicals during operation and construction? of the project are maintained, risks will be minimized. . community safety risks due to both accidental and natural hazards, + If safety measures of associated with the especially where the structural elements or components of the project transport, storage and use of explosives, fuel are accessible to members of the affected community or where their and other chemicals used within the failure could result in injury to the community throughout project framework of the project are maintained, construction, operation and decommissioning? community safety risks due to both accidental and natural hazards

Climate Change and Disaster Risk Questions Yes No Remarks The following questions are not for environmental categorization. They are included in this checklist to help identify potential climate and disaster risks.

Is the Project area subject to hazards such as earthquakes, floods, + Armenia located in active tectonic zone with landslides, tropical cyclone winds, storm surges, tsunami or all possible consequences volcanic eruptions and climate changes (see Appendix I)?

. Could changes in temperature, precipitation, or extreme events + Decline of precipitations may cause decrease patterns over the Project lifespan affect technical or financial of water source discharge , which in its turn sustainability (e.g., changes in rainfall patterns disrupt reliability of will lead to disruption of sustainable water water supply; sea level rise creates salinity intrusion into proposed supply water supply source)?

. Are there any demographic or socio-economic aspects of the + Project area that are already vulnerable (e.g., high incidence of marginalized populations, rural-urban migrants, illegal settlements, ethnic minorities, women or children)?

. Could the Project potentially increase the climate or disaster + vulnerability of the surrounding area (e.g., by using water from a vulnerable source that is relied upon by many user groups, or encouraging settlement in earthquake zones)?

* Hazards are potentially damaging physical events.

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Contract No. WSSP-AF-4A/1 Part D –Contract special terms Date of preparation - 11 March, 2013

SUBPROJECT I. – Improvement of W&W systems of the RA Armavir region villages: Lernamerdz, Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Shahumyan, Shahumyan PF, Musaler, Norakert, Voskevaz, Voskehat, Oshakan, Aghavnatun, Ptghunk

Package I. Oshakan, Voskevaz, Voskehat villages

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT 17 2. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL SAFEGUARD DOCUMENTS 17 3. INTRODUCTION 17 4. SCOPE OF WORKS 18 4.1. Description of existing water supply systems ...... 18

4.2. Description of proposed rehabilitation works ...... 19

5. BASELINE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS 22 5.1 Geographic location and climate of Oshakan, Voskevaz, Voskehat villages of Aragatsotn region 22

5.2 Biodiversity ...... 22

6. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS 23 7. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT MITIGATION MESUERES 24 8. INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 26 9. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 27

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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

RA – Republic of Armenia RA MoNP – RA Ministry of Nature Protection RA MoH - RA Ministry of Healthcare RA MoT&C – RA Ministry of Transport and Communication RA MoC – RA Ministry of Culture JV – Joint Venture LSGB - Local Self-Governmental Bodies EIA – Environmental Impact Assessment AWSC ADB PMU – Armenian Water and Sewage Company/ Project Management Unit of Asian Development Bank EMP - Environmental Management Plan IEE- Initial Environmental Examination DD - Detail Design

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1. BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT

WSSP Project will improve public health and environment for about 400,000 people (households and other consumers) living in 18 towns and up to 92 villages2 through safe, reliable and sustainable water supply. The outcome of the Project is improved access to safe, reliable, and sustainable WSS services managed on commercial principles and environmentally sound practices. The Project will also support poverty reduction by (i) reducing the incidence of waterborne diseases and costs of medical care; (ii) improving the time poverty of women due to labor intensive housework such as water collection, which may allow them to participate more in social and economic activities; (iii) providing safer and more reliable water supply; and (iv) improving the quality of life of households in all the project towns and villages by improving their access to safe and sustainable drinking water. Similar to the original WSSP, the Additional Financing Project will fund two project components which include: (i) municipal infrastructure rehabilitation and improvement; and (ii) management improvement and development which include gender features.

2. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL SAFEGUARD DOCUMENTS

In accordance with the ADB Environmental policy (November , 2002) the Subproject is ranked to B category which does not need extended EIA, excluding aslo Environmental expertise, according to the RA law on “Environmental Impact Assessment ” (issued on November 20, 1995.) and the RA Government decree “Threshold of envrironmantal impact activities subject to expertiz ” (N-193, 30 March 1999). As a B Category Project ADB Policy requered developement of Initial Environmantal Examination/ IEE reports for each Subproject (1 report) and site specific Environmantal Management Plan/EMP (separetly report for each lote of the subproject).

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3. INTRODUCTION The very report is developed for the Subproject on the Improvement of W&W Systems in Oshakan, Voskevaz, Voskehat villages of Aragatsotn region, the design of which has been performed by the JV of HGSN and JINJ LLCs. The Water supply systems rehabilitation involves activities on reconstruction and repair of water distribution systems, as well as construction of new water pipelines, regulating and water measuring junc.

As a result of the construction work implementation, as well as further operation and maintenance of the water supply systems there might be undesirable negative impacts on the environment.

2 The number of towns and villages may change subject to further detailed assessments.

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It is expected that the impacts during construction work implementation will be the least and temporary, probably involving vegetation cut, soil erosion, air and water resource pollution by lubricants, household and construction waste.

At the Operation Stage the environmental impact, the main reason of which might be improper execution of operation requirements, will decrease.

The improvement activities will be considered environmentally friendly in case of water resource conservation, as well as rational and steady use.

The social and economic effect as a result of water supply system improvement are expected to be long- term, mostly positive, excluding potable and waste waters mix, minimization of water pollution risk, prevention and exclusion of infection disease agents penetration into potable water, as well as water supply extension, providing steady water supply and rational water use.

The EMP Part 5 introduces description of possible impacts and facilitating measures required during different stages of Water Supply Systems Rehabilitation Project.

Designing stage

The design works on water systems have been performed by the JV of HGSN and JINJ, which has been selected as a Consultant who provides services on civil works and public awareness campaign within the framework of “Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project – Additional Financing”. The EMP includes articles on climatic conditions, relief, natural soil types, hydrology and biodiversity of the very package, requirements on obtaining the RA MoNP and other Ministries’ agreements, as well as fulfillment of executive parties’ contractual commitments during all stages. The Design documentation includes adequate environmental and social articles and separate Matrix of the very EMP Subproject. The Project Consultant is in charge to follow the appropriate statements of the RA Environmental and social legislation, as well as ADB instructions and strategy requirements.

Construction stage

The list of measures required to mitigate the environmental impact during construction stage is separately provided in the EMP matrix (APPENDIX A).

Operation Stage

The Contractor should strictly follow the requirements on environmental impact mitigation measures , which are involved in the EMP.

During the Construction Stage the Operation should be performed in accordance with the Operational Rules and Standards.

4. SCOPE OF WORKS

4.1. Description of existing water supply systems The total length of water supply distribution network in Oshakan, Voskevaz, Voskehat rural communities is about 50 km, which is fed through the ground springs of Ashtarak region.

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The water supply of Oshakan community is mainly performed through DN300mm conduit running to the village from 500 m3 DRR. A number of north-eastern areas are fed through DN250 mm water main Kheres.

The water supply of Voskevaz community is performed through 150 mm diameter steel pipes fed through 2x500 m3 DRRs.

Voskevaz water supply is mainly performed through 500 m3 DRR with pump station and 80m3 capacity reservoir fed from DN 500mm conduit Bazmaghbyur by gravity.

The water supply pipelines of the settlements are in poor condition. The inner network is laid with steel pipes which are corroded. The most of the settlements distribution pipelines are deteriorated causing significant leakages. Non-counted water of the abovementioned communities makes about 88%. The system consumed water recording is not performed completely.

In 2010 within the framework of “Improvement of W&W systems of the RA settlements” Project funded by ADB there were performed some works, partially, reconstruction of reservoirs and coming out of them conduits, distribution system pipelines and valve junc.

4.2. Description of proposed rehabilitation works The very Subproject aims at rehabilitation of water supply system of Oshakan, Voskevaz, Voskehat rural communities, providing the inhabitants with safe potable water and improving water distribution and accounting systems.

Population number in Oshakan, Voskevaz and Voskehat villages, according to 01.01.2012, makes 11788 in total. The clients total number in the rural communities is 2469.

Taking into account the population prospective growth by 2040, assuming 0.43% annual growth, the rural communities dwellers number is supposed to be 13293 men.

For the settlements, considering also the leakages, the mean daily water demand rate is assumed to be 200 l/day per man.

The average hourly discharge of maximal daily water demand of the rural communities makes

Qav..h=117.4 l/sec. Based on the technical and economical calculations done in the Preliminary Design, as well as submitted justifications, in the Detailed Design there have been developed activities on the water supply rehabilitation.

By the very Detailed Design the works designed for the improvement of water supply system in Oshakan, Voskevaz and Voskehat rural communities are as follows:

Construction of de50-de200 diameter 39600 lm long polyethylene pipelines

Construction of valve junc. – 43 sets

Construction of private house connections - 23480 lm

Installation of private houses water metering junc. - 2104 sets

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The aggregative indexes of the designed works in the Subproject rural communities are introduced in Table 1.

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Table 1

v.

Works M/U

In total In

Dashtv.

Doghs v.

Amberd v. Musaler v.

Ptghunkv.

Oshakan v.

Norakertv.

Voskehat v.

Voskevaz v.

Aygeshat

Shahumyan v.

Lernamerdz v.

Aghavnatun v. Shahumyan v. PF Reconstruction of de50-de200 diameter polyethylene pipeline of water supply internal lm 6100 5400 6300 4500 3100 7700 5200 2900 7900 11500 15000 3700 20900 11300 111500 system Testing, washing, disinfection of the lkm 6.1 5.4 6.3 4.5. 3.1 7.7 5.2 2.9 7.9 11.5 15 3.7 20.9 11.3 111.5 abovementioned system Construction of valve junc. set 12 9 6 7 3 24 13 7 10 11 20 9 14 35 180 Construction of private houses connections lm 2060 3065 2060 2740 1265 5010 3900 2130 3205 7020 8580 1350 13550 5650 61585 Installation of private houses water metering junc. set 184 305 184 231 100 465 360 180 285 643 700 104 1300 476 5517 Reconstruction of de50-de200 diameter polyethylene pipeline of water supply external lm - - - - 133 ------133 system, washing, disinfection Replacement of connections of apartment buildings unit - - - - - 16 ------11 27 and public buildings

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According to the agreement between the Contractor, Consultant and rural communities, the mentioned beneath works should be implemented by the construction completion, in spite of the pipeline diameter and its function.

1. To restore the asphalt concrete pavement of roads which were previously in favorable condition, providing the same cover quality,

2. To perform backfilling of the trenches in the destroyed and half-destroyed streets paved with asphalt concrete, then 10-15 cm gravelling with compaction.

5. BASELINE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

5.1 Geographic location and climate of Oshakan, Voskevaz, Voskehat villages of Aragatsotn region The studied area of Aragatsotn region area is situated premountain zone where the relief is slightly steep, not so hilly, somewhere partioned by small ravines. The settlements are 3-5 km far south-west from Ashtarak town, and 20-22 km far from Erevan. The regional center is Ashtarak town.

The climate of the studied area is acutely continental characterized by hot summer and rather cold winter. The site air average annual temperature is +9,1 C, and absolute minimal temperature reaches +38 C. The average annual atmospheric rainfalls make 447mm, the maximal 715 mm. In winter the snow average cover reaches 28 cm, the maximal – 68 cm. The ground freezing maximal depth is 79 cm. The air average many-year relative humidity makes 62%. The wind average annual velocity is 28m/sec.

The northern part of the area boarders on the south lower slopes of Aragats mountain, where the geological structure contains Armenian Upland volcanic formations.

Among exogenic phenomena there are surface erosion, change and deepening of the gullies formed due to the rainfall permanent and temporary flows, and some technogenic phenomena, etc.

The inhabited part of the studied area is situated at 950-1100m elevation marks.

5.2 Biodiversity The most area lands are under agriculture use with the exception of some little “islands” of wild nature. The lands soil is commonly brown and semidesert type.

From the geo-morphological aspect the area represents a hilly lava covered plateau with common scoria wedges and gorges. It is situated within the Kasakh River basin where the relief is commonly channeled by pre-mountain ravines.

The area geological structure represents the Armenian Upland Upper Pliocene volcanic deposits. The rocks are of Quaternary period represented by basalts, dacites, tuffs and their clastic sediments. Since the volcanic formations are subject to intensive weathering, with typical strong fracturing, the ground waters are infiltrated rather deep - at 15-20m depth.

There are no negative physical and geological phenomena within the area. The region is situated in 9 magnitude seismicity zone.

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Flora The plant species of the studied areas are introduced by the typical of Aparan and Erevan florisic region vegetation types, that is meadow, steppe and semi-desert types.

From the true grasses (Poaceae) the couch grass (Phleum sp.), bluegrass (Poa sp.), fescue grass (Festuca sp.) are widely spread, mainly Artemisia fragrans formation. The steppe species are introduced by feather-grass, fescue-grass and vegetative formations, with prevalence of Festuca valesiaca, Prairie June Grass (Koeleria cristata), Stipa tirsa, etc. There is also observed significant presence of thyme species, Festuca ovina, low sedge, etc. Besides, there are also occur Plantago (plantain), Tragopogon, Taracsacum (dandelion), Betonica (betony), Vicia (vetch), Trifolium (shamrock), Cirsium (thistle), Euphorbia (spurge), Papaver (poppy), and from the bush species: Rosa (dog rose), Paliurus (jujube), Acantholimon (prickly thrift).

From the tree species there occur poplar (Populus), acacia (Robinia), maple (Acer), mulberry (Morus), wild apricot (Armeniaca), hawthorn tree (Crataegus), willow-leafed pear (Pyrus salicifolia), common and Caucasian Ash (Fraxsinus excelsior, F.oxycarpa), spirea (Spiraea crenata), Berberis orientalis, Cotoneaster integerrima, Lonicera iberica, Jasminum fruticans, Ulmus, Prunus, Elaeagnus, willow – Salix.

Within the studied areas there also occur endangered species like Hohenackeria exscapa (Stev.) K.-Pol, recorded in the new version of the RA Red Book.

Fauna In the studied area commonly occurred invertebrate species are locust species (Oedopoda coerulescensd), Oe. Miniata, Pholidoptera satunini, Scintharista notabilis, Tmethis festivus, Spingotus), crickets (Phytodrymadusa armeniaca), double-wing (Tomomyza araxana, Bombilus schelkovnikovi) species, and from the scorpions only yellow species (Buttus caucasicus).

From mammals there are widely spread hares (Lepus europaeus), foxes (Vulpes vulpes), and wolves (Canis lupus). The area widely spread rodents are mouse species (Muridae), especially common field vole (Microtinae).

From the bird species the widely spread are sparrow (Passeriformes) and falcon (Falconoformes) species.

From the creepers the typical for the studied area species are Snake-eyed Lizard (Ophisops elegans), Strauch's (Eremias strauchi) and Transcaucasion (E.pleskei) racerunners, etc

6. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS Due to the implementation of works aimed at the improvement of W&W systems of Oshakan, Voskevaz and Voskehat villages the expected positive environmental and population health effects are as follows:

water resource protection and sustainable use,

excluding mixing of drinking, irrigation and sewerage water,

preventing, excluding penetration of infectious disease viruses into drinking water,

reduction of drinking water pollution hazard,

providing high drinking water quality,

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improvement of health condition of population,

water loss reduction,

increasing duration of water supply to population,

introduction of water metering system,

increasing water consumption efficiency.

IEE reveals that the implementation of works aimed at W&W systems improvement in Oshakan, Voskevaz and Voskehat villages of Aragatsotn region will have no harmful effects on the selected for this purpose area - either landscape or flora and fauna.

The probable negative effects might be mainly caused by construction works implementation, and expected to do little damage and be temporal. To prevent negative impacts, or facilitate them there have been developed facilitating measures which are involved into the EMP.

EMP is the integral part of bidding document and based on the IEE the expected negative impacts are as follows:

air pollution

noise

traffic and pedestrian roads damage and loading

soil erosion and soil eroding processes

environment pollution by construction and household waste

soil and water resources pollution by fuels and lubricants,

soil and water resources pollution by chlorine.

Subproject implementation will have positive social effects directly improving the population life quality providing sustainable and reliable water supply and water resource rational use for about 11788 men.

7. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT MITIGATION MESUERES The probable harmful impacts on the environment and people’s health, caused by the works aimed at the W&W internal system improvement of Oshakan, Voskevaz, Voskehat rural communities, depend on construction works of water pipeline trenches and pits for control and water measuring junc.

To prevent soil erosion and eroding processes the preventive measures should be performed on slopes protection on the inclined areas designed for the pipe laying, providing minimal short time of keeping open the trenches and pits made for the pipelines and control and water measuring junc.

The slopes protection measures should be performed to prevent soil eroding processes on the areas close to the riverbeds.

After construction work completion the sites should be recovered by performing the mentioned beneath activities:

- remove the excess soil mass and building material from the construction sites,

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- recover the asphalt – concrete pavement, providing its previous good condition and quality,

- provide graveling with compaction on the streets with damaged and half-destroyed asphalt- concrete pavement, as well as on dirt roads.

To prevent the topsoil layer damage, or landscape degradation, the topsoil should be stored on the assigned site, thereafter used for the areas restoration. The construction site should be cleaned from the household ad construction waste providing the landscape previous state.

To prevent the soil and water resources pollution by fuels and lubricants, the latter should be stored on the area isolated from soil and water resources, in special tanks. Special containers should be prepared for the utilized lubricants, which thereafter will be disposed in landfills or places for reprocessing.

To prevent the environment pollution by construction waste and excess soil mass they should be disposed on special sites according to the agreements signed beforehand between community head and disposal site superintendent.

To avoid water and soil resources pollution by chlorine, the works on chlorine washing and disinfection should be arranged considering special calculations. Chlorine handling needs treating the appropriate way, following the established technological procedures. After washing the pipes, the chlorine outflow to the surface water unit, or land area, should be controlled according to the designed mode and calculation.

Water quality change. While performing the environment monitoring the supervision on water quality and residual chlorine should be arranged.

To minimize dust emission caused by construction works the site should be regularly watered.

To prevent noise impact the schedule should be developed on limiting the night works on the residential areas, avoiding noisy vehicles and equipment use, installing mufflers, if necessary.

To minimize the population disturbance caused by roads damage and loading, the special parking lots for trucks should be allotted, and the construction works should be performed by stages, arranging population awareness campaign, including placing special traffic signs, providing bypasses, or barricades.

To provide population and builders’ safety and prevent risks during the construction, the unauthorized persons’ entrance to the construction site should be controlled, warning signs should be placed in the accident-prone sectors, regular inspection of equipment by qualified specialists should be performed, including safety audits, first aid and safety courses organization for builders.

The affected parties and local population should be appropriately informed through public consultations on the coming activities, their schedules and all measures involved in the EMP, since information lack can bring forth discontent causing complains. Providing the communities’ participation in the Subproject will minimize the disturbance caused by construction works to the social life of community.

Potable water quality change: EMP should involve monitoring of water quality and residual chlorine level.

To provide potable water quality in Oshakan, Voskevaz and Voskehat rural communities, the AWSC should perform routine sampling from the springs feeding the communities, testing the water for all criteria required by the MoH. Water quality monitoring is also performed by the State Hygiene Anti- Epidemic Inspectorate according to the document “Potable water. Requirements on water quality of centralized water supply systems. Sanitation rules and norms of quality inspection № 2-III-A2-1”

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(recorded on 28.12.2002), which specifies the potable water quality requirements, including the rules of quality inspection of water produced and supplied through water distribution systems to the residential areas.

Since water disinfection is performed by chlorine, the monitoring of residual chlorine level is also of great importance.

8. INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT To perform the proposed facilitating measures, the obligations on their arrangement have been allocated between the agencies, as follows:

Executive agencies, which are responsible for implementation of the measure.

1. To perform this special task the implementing unit (JV of HGSN and JINJ) in the Designing stage should provide the procurement of all required agreements and permissions from the corresponding public administrative and local self-governing bodies before civil works distribution according to the tender terms.

- environmental expertise (if necessary),

- consent of Protection Agency of Historical and Cultural Heritage, in case of expected impact on the latter.

2. The implementing units in the construction stage (Contractors) will covenant to physically implement the specified in the MEP facilitating measures, as well as procure all permissions and consents relating to the civil works implementation, which are as follows:

- local municipal bodies’ written consents on the specified sites for household and construction waste disposal,

- consent of Historical and Cultural Heritage Protection Agency, in case of historical, cultural or ancient monuments occurrence during civil works implementation.

3. Before civil works startup, if necessary, the mentioned beneath permissions and certificates should be procured by ADB/PMU:

- certificate on land use right registration

- water use permission, if necessary.

Controlling agencies, which are responsible for controlling the executive units to provide implementation of the EMP measures by the latter

1. The environment and safety specialists of “AWSC” CJSC/ADB PIU will be responsible to supervision over the implementation of mitigation measures specified in EMP. The mentioned experts will regularly perform sites visits to supervise the proper implementation of works and corresponding activities on mitigating the impacts. During the checkups the probable omissions will be revealed by the check list , as well as violations of mitigation measures implementation by Contractors.

“AWSC” CJSC /ADB PIU is also entitled to demand and checkup the availability and validity (expiration date) of all permissions, complete implementation of impact facilitating measures and monitoring

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according to the EMP in terms of ADB environmental instructions and the RA nature protection and social legislation.

2. The JV of HGSN and JINJ are also to carry out the supervision over the implementation of mitigating measures during civil works implementation. The environmental specialist of Consultant should make visits to control the implementation of EMP.

State monitoring agencies, which are responsible for observing the extent and efficiency of EMP implementation and making corrections in the project, if needed.

The state agencies, which are to carry out monitoring, are as follows:

- State Environmental Inspectorate of the RA MoNP,

- State Hygiene and Anti-Epidemic Inspectorate of the RA MoH,

- Historical and Cultural Heritage Protection Agency of the RA MoC, if necessary,

- The RA local self-governance bodies,

- The RA MoT&C.

The amounts envisaged for implementation of environmental measures included in the EMP are included in the detailed design.

Implementation of mitigating measures for environmental impacts will be controlled regularly through visits to the construction sites. With the help of the specially developed check list the gaps and drawbacks will be discovered.

In case of not implementing or infringing the implementation of the mitigating measures, after warning, the next payment will be terminated until the infringement is completely eliminated.

9. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN The EMP will be based on the results of IEE prepared by subproject and will include appropriate mitigation measures. EMP consists of two components: 1. Mitigation measures and institutional responsibilities for implementation; 2. Environmental monitoring. The Contractor should strictly follow the environmental mitigation measures prescribed in the EMP. The costs foreseen for the implementations of all the measures prescribed in the EMP are included the total value of the Contract and reflected in the bill of quantities. Notice on the failure to implement measures prescribed by the Technical Supervision Company (TSC) or the Client would be sent to the Contractor in written. After the Notice to Correct, the next recorded violation would trigger charging of liquidated damages in the amount of 0,1% of the total value of the contract. The liquidated damages do not relieve the Contractor from remedying the violation. The recorded violation should be remedied in two working days period. Liquidated damages would be retained from the next Performance Certificate and after the completion of the construction activities the

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liquidated damages for the recorded violation will be retained from the Retention Money. In case of three liquidated damages the Contract could be terminated unilaterally. Above described remedies of EMP violation will be included in the contracts for provision of works concluded by AWSC under the W&W project. The environmental management matrix is presented in Appendix A.

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Appendix A

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT MATRIX

Works and possible Responsible Proposed mitigating measures Monitoring impacts bodies Construction 1. Air pollution, noise, - Install fencing around construction site Daily site Constructor, traffic congestion - regularly water the construction site and roads, inspection Consultant, PIU - limit night work in residential areas, Dust and noise during - Avoid usage of machines/equipment with extra noise; installation of silencers if the construction works needed, - Provide safe area for trucks, Disturbance to - Do not accumulate and burn waste on the construction site, population because of - Carry out construction in stages, give adequate notice of construction activities overloaded roads to the population, - Provide effective road signs, diversions or barricades, - Provide community participation in subproject design, which will minimize disruption to community social activities

2. Environmental pollution - In inclined sites of the water line route implement measures for retaining the Daily inspection of Constructor, inclinations to prevent soil erosion and sediment transport, construction Consultant, PIU Soil erosion and - Minimize the time during which trench and pit excavations for regulation and contract and sediment transport metering nodes are open maintenance Environment pollution - Rehabilitate disturbed surfaces as soon as possible after completion of with construction waste construction activity, according to the design Land and water - Store oil, fuels and lubricants on a sealed surface, away from water resources, resources pollution with - Remove construction waste to corresponding landfill of the community, having fuels and lubricants in advance a contract agreement with the community heads or landfill Land and water operators, resources pollution with - Organize works for washing the water supply distribution network with chlorine chlorine, according to technical calculations. Provide appropriate technical means. - Implementation of chlorine discharge to surface water body or land area after washing the pipes, according to the regime planned under the design.

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Works and possible Responsible Proposed mitigating measures Monitoring impacts bodies Health and Safety - Install fencing around construction site Daily inspection Constructor, Hazards for Workers - Control access of unauthorized persons to site throughout Consultant, and the population - Place warning signs in dangerous places construction stage. PIU, - Carry out regular examination of equipment by highly qualified staff, as well as Monthly inspection Population make regular safety audits, of accident reports - Provide first aid and safety training to construction staff and complaints register

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Appendix B

Դաշտային այցերի ստուգաթերթիկ Field visits checklist

Ընդհանուր տեղեկատվություն Ամիս/ամսաթիվ D/M/Y General information

/ Subproject Ենթածրագիր

Տեղակայում / Location Շինարարական կազմակերպություն/ Constriction contractor Մարզ / Marz Նախագծում Design

Անհրաժեշտ Բնապահպանական փորձ, Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ թույլտվություններ Required եզրակացություն / Yes No N/A permissions EEC Հողհատկացման գրավոր Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ համաձայնություն / written consent Yes No N/A on land acquisition Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ Պատմամշակութային Yes No N/A փորձաքննություն / assessment of impact on cultural heritage Շինարարություն Construction

Անհրաժեշտ Շին.թափոնների տեղադրման Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ թույլտվություններ Required գրավոր համաձայնություն / written Yes No N/A permissions consent on disposal of construction waste Անսպասելիորեն հայտնաբերման Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ դեպքում պատմամշակ. Yes No N/A համաձայնություն / written consent in case of sudden discovery of cultural heritage Հասարակության իրազեկում Public awereness Շին.աշխատանքների վերաբերյալ Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ բնակչության համապատասխան Yes No N/A իրազեկում համաձայն նախագծին / awareness of population regarding construction works according to the project design

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Համայնքիի մասնակցություն Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ շինարարական աշխատանքներին Yes No N/A համաձայն նախագծին / community's participation in construction works according to the project design

Անվտանգություն Safety Բանվորների Բանվորների անվտանգության Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ անվտանգություն Safety of հանդերձանքի առկայություն Yes No N/A workers /ականջակալներ, շնչադիմակ/ availability of safety uniforms (earflaps,mask) Շինարարության մեջ ներառված Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ տեխնիկական միջոցների Yes No N/A պարբերական զննումներ` անվտանգությունը ապահովելու նպատակով / regular study of equipment used for construction for safety matter Բնակչության Երթևեկության սահմանափակման Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ անվտանգություն Safety կամ խախտման ժամանակ Yes No N/A of population համապատասխան ճանապարհային նշանների կամ պատնեշների տեղադրում, շրջանցի կազմակերպում / Installation of road signs or fences, organization of a bypass during interrupted or limited traffic Շինարարության իրականացման ժամանակ կառավարման միջոցառումներ Management measures during construction

Շին.հրապարակի/տեղանքի Շին.հրապարակի/տեղանքի Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ շահագործում / պարբերաբար ջրում / regular Yes No N/A Operation on area/construction sprinkling to area/construction site site Մեքենաների համար ապահով Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ տարածքի առկայություն Yes No N/A շին.հրապարակում / availability of safe place at the construction site for vehicles Յուղերի և քսուկների Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ համապատասխան պահեստների Yes No N/A առկայություն շին.հրապարակում / availability of storage for oils and lubricants at the appropriate part of the construction site

Օդի ժամանակավոր աղտոտում Temporary air pollution/dust

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Շինանյութ տեղափոխող Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ բեռնատարների վրա ծածկի Yes No N/A օգտագործում / use of cover for the vehicle transporting construction waste Շինարարության տարածքի Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ խոնավեցում ջրի շիթով / moisturing Yes No N/A of the construction site by water Հողի էռոզիա Soil erosion Զառիվար տեղերում հողի Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ էրոզիայի կանխարգելման Yes No N/A միջոցառումների իրականացում ըստ նախագծի / soil erosion prevention measures at the slope places according to the project design Փոսորակների ժամանակին Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ հետլիցք / timely coverage of holes by Yes No N/A soil Շին.աշխատանքների ավարտից Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ հետո վնասված մակերեսների Yes No N/A վերանորոգում ըստ նախագծի / repair of damaged surface after completion of construction works Ջրի աղտոտում Water pollution Ջրի աղտոտում քսանյութերով և Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ վառելանյութերով / water pollution Yes No N/A caused by fuel and lubricants Խողովակների լվացումից հետո Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ քլորի արտահոսք համապատաս- Yes No N/A խան նախագծով նախատեսված ռեժիմի / Leakage of chlorine after wash up of the pipes according to the scheduled regime. Աղմուկ բնակավայրերի տարածքին մոտ Noise close to settlements Աշխատանքների իրականացում Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ սահմանված աշխատանքային Yes No N/A ժամերին, հակառակ դեպքում սահմանված կարգով / implementation of the works during working hours, otherwise in projected manner Շինարարական և կենցաղային թափոնների տեղադրում Construction west disposal

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Շինարարական և կենցաղային Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ աղբի տեղափոխում և տեղադրում Yes No N/A և համայնքի համապատասխան աղբավայրում / transportation and disposal of construction and consumer waste in appropriate community landfill

Շահագործում Operation Խմելու ջրի աղտոտում / Մնացորդային քլորի քանակի Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ Drinking water pollution համապատասխանում խմելու Yes No N/A որակի ջրի նորմերին / Correspondence of balance quantity of residual chlorine to the quality of potable water

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Contract No. WSSP-AF-4A/1 Part D – Contract special terms Date of preparation - 11 March, 2013

SUBBPROJECT I – Improvement of W&W systems of the RA Armavir region villages: Lernamerdz, Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Shahumyan, Shahumyan PF, Musaler, Norakert, Voskevaz, Voskehat, Oshakan, Aghavnatun, Ptghunk

Package II. Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Lernamerdz, Aghavnatun villages

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT 38 2. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL SAFEGUARD DOCUMENTS 38 3. INTRODUCTION 38 4. SCOPE OF WORKS 40 4.1. Description of existing water supply systems ...... 40

4.2.Description of proposed rehabilitation works ...... 40

5. BASELINE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS 43 5.1 Geographic location and climate of Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Lernamerdz and Aghavnatun villages of the RA Armavir region ...... 43

5.2 Biodiversity ...... 43

6. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS 44 7. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT MITIGATION MEASURES 45 8. INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 47 9. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 48

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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

RA – Republic of Armenia RA MoNP – RA Ministry of Nature Protection RA MoH - RA Ministry of Healthcare RA MoT&C – RA Ministry of Transport and Communication RA MoC – RA Ministry of Culture JV – Joint Venture LSGB - Local Self-Governmental Bodies EIA – Invironmental Impact Assessment AWSC ADB PMU – Armenian Water and Sewage Company/ Project Management Unit of Asian Development Bank EMP - Environmental Management Plan IEE- Initial Environmental Examination DD - Detail Design

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1. BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT

WSSP Project will improve public health and environment for about 400,000 people (households and other consumers) living in 18 towns and up to 92 villages3 through safe, reliable and sustainable water supply. The outcome of the Project is improved access to safe, reliable, and sustainable WSS services managed on commercial principles and environmentally sound practices. The Project will also support poverty reduction by (i) reducing the incidence of waterborne diseases and costs of medical care; (ii) improving the time poverty of women due to labor intensive housework such as water collection, which may allow them to participate more in social and economic activities; (iii) providing safer and more reliable water supply; and (iv) improving the quality of life of households in all the project towns and villages by improving their access to safe and sustainable drinking water. Similar to the original WSSP, the Additional Financing Project will fund two project components which include: (i) municipal infrastructure rehabilitation and improvement; and (ii) management improvement and development which include gender features.

2. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL SAFEGUARD DOCUMENTS

In accordance with the ADB Environmental policy (November , 2002) the Subproject is ranked to B category which does not need extended EIA, excluding aslo Environmental expertise, according to the RA law on “Environmental Impact Assessment ” (issued on November 20, 1995.) and the RA Government decree “Threshold of envrironmantal impact activities subject to expertiz ” (N-193, 30 March 1999). As a B Category Project ADB Policy requered developement of Initial Environmantal Examination/ IEE reports for each Subproject (1 report) and site specific Environmantal Management Plan/EMP (separetly report for each lote of the subproject).

3. INTRODUCTION The very report is developed for the Subproject on the Improvement of W&W Systems in Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Lernamerdz, Aghavnatun villages of the RA Armavir region, the design of which has been performed by the JV of HGSN and JINJ LLCs. The Water supply systems rehabilitation involves activities on reconstruction and repair of water distribution systems, as well as construction of new water pipelines, regulating and water measuring junc.

As a result of construction work implementation, as well as further operation and maintenance of the water supply systems there might be negative impacts on the environment.

3 The number of towns and villages may change subject to further detailed assessments.

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It is expected that the impacts during construction work implementation will be minimal and temporary, probably involving vegetation cut, soil erosion, air, soil and water resource pollution by lubricants and chlorine compositions, as well as household and construction waste.

At the Operation Stage the environmental impact, mainly expected because of improper execution of operation requirements, will decrease.

The activities aimed at improvement will be considered environmentally friendly in case of water resource conservation, as well as their rational and sustainable use.

The social and economic effect as a result of water supply system improvement are expected to be long- term, mostly positive, excluding potable and waste waters mix, minimization of water pollution risk, prevention and exclusion of infection disinfection disease agents penetration into potable water, as well as water supply extension, providing sustainable water supply and effective water use.

The EMP Part 5 introduces description of possible impacts and its facilitating measures required at different stages of Water Supply Systems Rehabilitation Project.

Designing stage

The design works on water systems have been performed by the JV of HGSN and JINJ, which has been selected as a Consultant who provides services on civil works and public awareness campaign within the framework of “Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project – Additional Financing”. The EMP includes articles on climatic conditions, relief, natural soil types, hydrology and biodiversity of the very package, requirements on obtaining the RA MoNP and other Ministries’ agreements, as well as fulfillment of executive parties’ contractual commitments during all stages of implementation. The Design documentation includes adequate environmental and social articles and separate Matrix of the very EMP Subproject. The Project Consultant covenants to follow the appropriate statements of the RA Environmental and social legislation, as well as ADB instructions and strategy requirements.

Construction stage

The list of measures required to mitigate the environmental impact during construction stage is separately provided in the EMP matrix (APPENDIX A).

Operation Stage

The Contractor should strictly follow the requirements on environmental impact mitigation measures, which are involved in the EMP.

During the Construction Stage the Operation should be performed in accordance with the Operational Rules and Standards.

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4. SCOPE OF WORKS

4.1. Description of existing water supply systems The total length of water supply distribution pipelines in Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Lernamerdz and Aghavnatun rural communities is 54 km. The community water supply is performed from Bazmaghbyur and Ghazaravan ground water springs of Ashtarak region.

To provide water supply through the conduits coming from the ground water intake structures the mentioned beneath works were performed for the Subproject communities.

For Amberd community – 4 connections with 150, 125, 100 and 75 mm steel pipelines,

For Aygeshat community – 5 connections, the main of which are considered 150 mm and 63 mm polyethylene feeding pipeline,

For Dasht community – 8 connections, where the main ones are performed with 100 mm, 75 mm and 50 mm diameters steel pipes,

For Doghs community – 2 connections, with 150 mm and 125 mm diameters steel pipes,

For Aghavnatun community – 2 connections with 200 mm and 50 mm diameters steel conduits,

Water supply of Lernamerdz community is performed at one point through 200 mm diameter steel pipe.

The water is directly supplied to the distribution system through water conduit.

The water supply in the residential areas are performed through the pipelines which are in poor condition. The inner network is entirely laid with steel pipes which are corroded. The most of the settlements distribution pipelines are deteriorated due to which the leakages are significant. Non-counted water of the abovementioned communities makes about 88%. The system consumed water recording is not performed completely.

In 2010 within the framework of “Improvement of W&W systems of the RA settlements” Project funded by ADB there were performed some works, partially, reconstruction of reservoirs and coming out of them conduits, distribution system pipelines and valve junc.

In 2010-2011 by the mutual efforts of “AWSC” LLC and communities in Aygeshat and Aghavnatun villages there were reconstructed polyethylene pipelines and distribution systems, including also installation of private houses water metering junctions in Aghavnatun community.

4.2.Description of proposed rehabilitation works The very Subproject aims at rehabilitation of water supply system of Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Lernamerdz and Aghavnatun rural communities of the RA Armavir region, providing the inhabitants with safe potable water and improving water distribution and accounting systems.

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The population number in Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Lernamerdz and Aghavnatun villages, according to 01.01.2012, makes 10652 in total. The clients total number in the rural communities is 1851.

Taking into account the population prospective growth by 2040, which assumes 0.43% annual growth, the rural communities dwellers number is supposed to be 11809 men.

For the settlements, considering also the leakages, the mean daily water demand rate is assumed to be 200 l/day per man.

The average hourly discharge of maximal daily water demand of the rural communities makes

Qav..h=117.4 l/sec. Based on the technical and economical calculations done in the Preliminary Design, as well as submitted justifications, in the Detailed Design there have been developed activities on the water supply rehabilitation.

By the very Detailed Design the works designed for the improvement of water supply system in Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Lernamerdz and Aghavnatun rural communities are as follows:

Construction of de50-de200 diameter 36900 lm long polyethylene pipelines

Construction of valve junc. – 48 sets

Construction of private house connections - 18210 lm

Installation of private houses water metering junc. - 1647 sets

Reconstruction of external system with de50-de200 mm diameter 133 lm long polyethylene pipes, its washing and disinfection

The aggregative indexes of the designed works in the Subproject rural communities are introduced in Table 1.

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Table 1

.

v.

Works M/U

In total In

Dashtv.

Doghs v.

Amberd v. Musaler v.

Ptghunkv

Oshakan v.

Norakertv.

Voskehat v.

Voskevaz v.

Aygeshat

Shahumyan v.

Lernamerdz v.

Aghavnatun v. Shahumyan v. PF Reconstruction of de50-de200 diameter polyethylene pipeline of water supply internal lm 6100 5400 6300 4500 3100 7700 5200 2900 7900 11500 15000 3700 20900 11300 111500 system Testing, washing, disinfection of the lkm 6.1 5.4 6.3 4.5. 3.1 7.7 5.2 2.9 7.9 11.5 15 3.7 20.9 11.3 111.5 abovementioned system Construction of valve junc. set 12 9 6 7 3 24 13 7 10 11 20 9 14 35 180 Construction of private houses connections lm 2060 3065 2060 2740 1265 5010 3900 2130 3205 7020 8580 1350 13550 5650 61585 Installation of private houses water metering junc. set 184 305 184 231 100 465 360 180 285 643 700 104 1300 476 5517 Reconstruction of de50-de200 diameter polyethylene pipeline of water supply external lm - - - - 133 ------133 system, washing, disinfection Replacement of connections of apartment buildings unit - - - - - 16 ------11 27 and public buildings

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According to the agreement between the Contractor, Consultant and rural communities, the mentioned beneath works should be implemented by the construction completion, in spite of the pipeline diameter and its function.

3. To restore the asphalt concrete pavement of roads which were previously in favorable condition, providing the same cover quality,

4. To perform backfilling of the trenches in the destroyed and half-destroyed streets, paved with asphalt concrete, then 10-15 cm gravelling with compaction.

5. BASELINE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

5.1 Geographic location and climate of Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Lernamerdz and Aghavnatun villages of the RA Armavir region The studied area of the RA Armavir region is situated within the premountain flat land, at average elevation, where the relief is slightly hilly, somewhere channeled by small ravines. The Subproject settlements are 25-30 km far north-east from Armavir town, and 20-22 km far north-west from Erevan.

The area is characterized by hot summer, with 21.50C average monthly temperature in July and cold windless winter with January 3.8ûC average monthly temperature. The air absolute maximal temperature is +41 C, and absolute minimal -31 C. The average annual atmospheric rainfalls make 280-340mm. The snow average cover reaches 42 cm. The ground freezing depth is 0.50-0.70 m, subject to the absolute elevation. The air average many-year relative humidity makes 59%. The wind average annual velocity is 1.8 m/sec.

Considering the geo-morphological aspect the area represents accumulative relief, slightly gradient plain. It is situated in the east part of Ararat valley premountain zone, within the terrace of Araks River left bank (accumulative terraces, flood plain).

Among exogenic phenomena there are surface erosion, water flooding, caused by the rainfalls, change and deepening of the gullies formed due to the rainfall permanent and temporary flows, and some technogenic phenomena, etc.

The inhabited part of the studied area is situated at 800-1000m elevation marks.

5.2 Biodiversity The predominant type of the area soils is brown, represented by gravel and stony, somewhere carbonate cemented and hydromorphic saline soils, formed on the lake-alluvial deposits.

In the west, south and east the area bounds on the Ararat valley the geological structure of which represents the Armenian Upland Upper Pliocene alluvial and proluvial lake-river, flood deposites. The latter are introduced by clay layer groups which in some places pass into gravel, sand and clay-sand sublayers with 5-10 cm, and somewhere more thicknesses.

The sediments section in its turn is covered by the Quaternary period alluvial-diluvial sediments, or volcanic complexes of andesite-basalts, dacites.

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The area feeding big water pulse is the Araks River with its Metsamor and Vedi tributaries. From the hydrogeological aspect the area is rich in ground waters ocurring at different depth, starting from 0-5m, 100 and deeper levels. The ground water availability depnds on lake-river formations and cracked andesite-basalts.

There are no negative physical and geological phenomena within the area. The region is situated in 9 magnitude potential seismicity zone.

Flora The area vegetation is introduced by semi-desert and desert plant species, like sage-brush ephemers and halophiles, typical of Erevan floristic region vegetation types, developed on the sand-clay bedrocks. that is meadow, steppe and semi-desert types.

Within this landscape zone there are registered about 130 plant species, out of which the dominant ones are lanceleaf water plantain (ALISMA LANCEOLATUM), common arrowhead (SAGITARIA SAGITTIFOLIA L.), threeleaf arrowhead (SAGITARIA TRIFOLIA L.), bean trefoil (COUSINIA TENELLA), salt-wort (SALSOLA TAMAMSCHJANAE), spinach (SPINACIA TETRANDA), milk- vetch (ASTRAGALUS PARADOXUS), fenugreek (TRIGONELLA CAPITATA), wheat (TRITICUM ARARAICUM), tamarisk (TAMARIX), tamarisk (TANARIX OCTANDRA), etc.

Out of wild useful plant species there are thorn apple (Datura stramonium), squirting-cucumber (Ecballinum elaterium) and Syrian rue (Reganum harmala).

The area endangered species are sweet sedge (Acorus calamus L.), bindweed (Connvolvulus commutatus Boiss), lettuce (Lactuca Takhtadzani Sosn), milk-vetch (Astragalus paradoxus), etc.

Fauna In the studied area there 113 commonly occurred vertebrate species, the dominant of which are widely spread in Armenia Crocidura (white-toothed shrews), Vulpes vulpes L. (fox), Cricetus auratus Nat. (golden hamster), Mucrotus arvalis Pall. (field mouse), Perdix perdix L.(partridge), Grus grus L. (crane), Armenian Gull (Larus armeniacus But.), etc.

The area widely spread vertebrates are marsh frog, grass snake, levantine, magpie, fox, wolf, ermine, out of invertebrate: ants, crickets, moths, blue butterflies, cabbage white butterflies, etc.

Among the species recorded in the Red Book there are Long-eared hedgehog (Erinaceus auritas Gmelin), Mehely's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus Mehelyi), Marbled polecat (Vormela peregusna peregusna Guld), Glossy Ibis (Plagadis falcinellus Linneaus).

6. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS Due to the implementation of works aimed at the improvement of water supply systems of Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Lernamerdz and Aghavnatun villages, the expected positive environmental and population health effects are as follows:

water resource protection and sustainable use,

excluding mixing of drinking, irrigation and sewerage water,

preventing, excluding penetration of infectious disease viruses into drinking water,

reduction of drinking water pollution hazard,

providing high drinking water quality,

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improvement of health condition of population,

water loss reduction,

increasing duration of water supply to population,

introduction of water metering system,

increasing water consumption efficiency.

IEE reveals that the implementation of works aimed at water supply systems improvement in Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Lernamerdz and Aghavnatun villages of the RA Armavir region will have no harmful effects on the selected for this purpose area - either landscape, or flora and fauna.

The negative effects might be mainly caused by construction works implementation, with little damage and carrying temporal character. To prevent negative impacts, or facilitate them there have been developed facilitating measures which are involved into the EMP.

EMP is the prime part of bidding document and based on the IEE the expected negative impacts are as follows:

air pollution

noise

traffic and pedestrian roads damage and loading

soil erosion and soil eroding processes

environment pollution by construction and household waste

soil and water resources pollution by fuels and lubricants,

soil and water resources pollution by chlorine.

Subproject implementation will have positive social effects directly improving the population life quality providing sustainable and reliable water supply and water resource rational use for about 11788 men.

7. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT MITIGATION MEASURES The probable harmful impacts on the environment and people’s health, caused by the works aimed at the water supply internal system improvement of Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Lernamerdz and Aghavnatun rural communities, depend on construction works of water pipeline trenches and pits for control and water measuring junc.

To prevent soil erosion and eroding processes the preventive measures should be performed on slopes protection on the inclined areas designed for the pipe laying, providing minimal short time of keeping open the trenches and pits made for the pipelines and control and water measuring junctions.

The slopes protection measures should be performed to prevent soil eroding processes on the areas close to the riverbeds.

After construction work completion the sites should be recovered by performing the mentioned beneath activities:

- remove the excess soil mass and building material from the construction sites,

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- recover the asphalt – concrete pavement, providing its previous good condition and quality,

- provide graveling with compaction on the streets with damaged and half-destroyed asphalt- concrete pavement, as well as on dirt roads.

To prevent the topsoil layer damage, or landscape degradation, the topsoil should be stored on the previously assigned for this purpose site, thereafter used for the areas restoration. The construction site should be cleaned from the household and construction waste providing the landscape previous view and state.

To prevent the soil and water resources pollution by fuels and lubricants, the latter should be stored on the area isolated from soil and water resources, in special tanks. Special containers should be prepared for the utilized lubricants, which thereafter will be disposed in landfills or places for reprocessing.

To prevent the environment pollution by construction waste and excess soil mass they should be disposed on special sites according to the agreements signed beforehand between community head and disposal site superintendent.

To avoid water and soil resources pollution by chlorine, the works on chlorine washing and disinfection should be arranged considering special calculations. Chlorine handling needs treating the appropriate way, following the established technological procedures. After washing the pipes, the chlorine outflow to the surface water unit, or land area, should be controlled according to the designed mode and calculation.

Water quality change. While performing the environment monitoring the supervision on water quality and residual chlorine should be arranged.

To minimize dust emission caused by construction works the site should be regularly watered.

To prevent noise impact the schedule should be developed on limiting the night works on the residential areas, avoiding noisy vehicles and equipment use, installing mufflers, if necessary.

To minimize the population disturbance caused by roads damage and loading, the special parking lots for trucks should be allotted, and the construction works should be performed by stages, arranging population awareness campaign, including placing special traffic signs, providing bypasses, or barricades.

To provide population and builders’ safety and prevent risks during the construction, the unauthorized persons’ entrance to the construction site should be controlled, warning signs should be placed in the accident-prone sectors, regular inspection of equipment by qualified specialists should be performed, including safety audits, first aid and safety courses organization for builders.

The affected parties and local population should be appropriately informed through public consultations on the coming activities, their schedules and all measures involved in the EMP, since information lack can bring forth discontent causing complains. Providing the communities’ participation in the Subproject will minimize the disturbance caused by construction works to the social life of community.

Potable water quality change. The EMP should involve monitoring of water quality and residual chlorine level.

To provide potable water quality in Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Lernamerdz and Aghavnatun rural communities, the AWSC should perform routine sampling from the springs feeding the communities, testing the water for all criteria required by the MoH. Water quality monitoring is also performed by the State Hygiene Anti-Epidemic Inspectorate according to the document “Potable water. Requirements on

46 water quality of centralized water supply systems. Sanitation rules and norms of quality inspection № 2- III-A2-1” (recorded on 28.12.2002), which specifies the potable water quality requirements, including the rules of quality inspection of water produced and supplied through water distribution systems to the residential areas.

Since water disinfection is performed by chlorine, the monitoring of residual chlorine level is also of great importance.

8. INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT To perform the proposed facilitating measures, the commitments on their arrangement have been allocated between the agencies, as follows:

Executive agencies, which are responsible for implementation of the measure.

1. To perform this special task the implementing unit (JV of HGSN and JINJ) in the Designing stage should provide the procurement of all required agreements and permissions from the corresponding public administrative and local self-governing bodies before civil works distribution according to the tender terms.

- environmental expertise (if necessary),

- consent of Protection Agency of Historical and Cultural Heritage, in case of expected impact on the latter.

2. The implementing units in the construction stage (Contractors) will covenant to physically implement the specified in the MEP facilitating measures, as well as procure all permissions and consents relating to the civil works implementation, which are as follows:

- local municipal bodies’ written consents on the specified sites for household and construction waste disposal,

- consent of Historical and Cultural Heritage Protection Agency, in case of historical, cultural or ancient monuments accidental occurrence during civil works implementation.

3. Before civil works startup, if necessary, the mentioned beneath permissions and certificates should be procured by ADB/PMU:

- certificate on land use right registration,

- water use permission, if necessary.

Controlling agencies, which are responsible for controlling the executive units to provide implementation of the EMP measures by the latter

1. The environment and safety specialists of “AWSC” CJSC/ADB PIU will be responsible to supervision over the implementation of mitigation measures specified in EMP. The mentioned experts will regularly perform sites visits to supervise the proper implementation of works and corresponding activities on mitigating the impacts. During the checkups the probable omissions will be revealed by the check list, as well as violations of mitigation measures implementation by Contractors.

“AWSC” CJSC/ADB PIU is also entitled to demand and check up the availability and validity (expiration date) of all permissions, complete implementation of impact facilitating measures and monitoring

47 according to the EMP in terms of ADB environmental instructions and the RA nature protection and social legislation.

2. The JV of HGSN and JINJ are also to carry out the supervision over the implementation of mitigating measures during civil works implementation.

State monitoring agencies, which are responsible for observing the extent and efficiency of EMP implementation and making corrections in the project, if needed

The state agencies, which are to carry out monitoring, are as follows:

- State Environmental Inspectorate of the RA MoNP,

- State Hygiene and Anti-Epidemic Inspectorate of the RA MoH,

- Historical and Cultural Heritage Protection Agency of the RA MoC, if necessary,

- The RA local self-governance bodies,

- The RA MoT&C.

The amounts envisaged for implementation of environmental measures included in the EMP are included in the detailed design.

Implementation of mitigating measures for environmental impacts will be controlled regularly through visits to the construction sites. With the help of the specially developed check list the gaps and drawbacks will be discovered.

In case of not implementing or infringing the implementation of the mitigating measures, after warning, the next payment will be terminated until the infringement is completely eliminated.

9. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN The EMP will be based on the results of IEE prepared by subproject and will include appropriate mitigation measures.

EMP consists of two components:

1. Mitigation measures and institutional responsibilities for implementation;

2. Environmental monitoring.

The Contractor should strictly follow the environmental mitigation measures prescribed in the EMP. The costs foreseen for the implementations of all the measures prescribed in the EMP are included the total value of the Contract and reflected in the bill of quantities.

Notice on the failure to implement measures prescribed by the Technical Supervision Company (TSC) or the Client would be sent to the Contractor in written. After the Notice to Correct, the next recorded violation would trigger charging of liquidated damages in the amount of 0,1% of the total value of the contract. The liquidated damages do not relieve the Contractor from remedying the violation. The recorded violation should be remedied in two working days period. Liquidated damages would be retained from the next Performance Certificate and after the completion of the construction activities the liquidated damages for the recorded violation will be retained from the Retention Money. In case of three liquidated damages the Contract could be terminated unilaterally.

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Above described remedies of EMP violation will be included in the contracts for provision of works concluded by AWSC under the W&W project.

The environmental management matrix is presented in Appendix A.

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Appendix A

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT MATRIX

Works and possible Responsible Proposed mitigating measures Monitoring impacts bodies Construction 1. Air pollution, noise, - Install fencing around construction site Daily site Constructor, traffic congestion - regularly water the construction site and roads, inspection Consultant, PIU - limit night work in residential areas, Dust and noise during - Avoid usage of machines/equipment with extra noise; installation of silencers if the construction works needed, - Provide safe area for trucks, Disturbance to - Do not accumulate and burn waste on the construction site, population because of - Carry out construction in stages, give adequate notice of construction activities overloaded roads to the population, - Provide effective road signs, diversions or barricades, - Provide community participation in subproject design, which will minimize disruption to community social activities

2. Environmental pollution - In inclined sites of the water line route implement measures for retaining the Daily inspection of Constructor, inclinations to prevent soil erosion and sediment transport, construction Consultant, PIU Soil erosion and - Minimize the time during which trench and pit excavations for regulation and contract and sediment transport metering nodes are open maintenance Environment pollution - Rehabilitate disturbed surfaces as soon as possible after completion of with construction waste construction activity, according to the design Land and water - Store oil, fuels and lubricants on a sealed surface, away from water resources, resources pollution with - Remove construction waste to corresponding landfill of the community, having fuels and lubricants in advance a contract agreement with the community heads or landfill Land and water operators, resources pollution with - Organize works for washing the water supply distribution network with chlorine chlorine, according to technical calculations. Provide appropriate technical means. - Implementation of chlorine discharge to surface water body or land area after washing the pipes, according to the regime planned under the design.

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Works and possible Responsible Proposed mitigating measures Monitoring impacts bodies Health and Safety - Install fencing around construction site Daily inspection Constructor, Hazards for Workers - Control access of unauthorized persons to site throughout Consultant, and the population - Place warning signs in dangerous places construction stage. PIU, - Carry out regular examination of equipment by highly qualified staff, as well as Monthly inspection Population make regular safety audits, of accident reports - Provide first aid and safety training to construction staff and complaints register

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Appendix B

Դաշտային այցերի ստուգաթերթիկ Field visits checklist

Ընդհանուր տեղեկատվություն Ամիս/ամսաթիվ D/M/Y General information

/ Subproject Ենթածրագիր

Տեղակայում / Location Շինարարական կազմակերպություն/ Constriction contractor Մարզ / Marz Նախագծում Design

Անհրաժեշտ Բնապահպանական փորձ, Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ թույլտվություններ Required եզրակացություն / Yes No N/A permissions EEC Հողհատկացման գրավոր Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ համաձայնություն / writen consent on Yes No N/A land acquisition Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ Պատմամշակութային Yes No N/A փորձաքննություն / assessment of impact on cultural heritage Շինարարություն Construction

Անհրաժեշտ Շին.թափոնների տեղադրման Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ թույլտվություններ Required գրավոր համաձայնություն / written Yes No N/A permissions consent on disposal of construction waste Անսպասելիորեն հայտնաբերման Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ դեպքում պատմամշակ. Yes No N/A համաձայնություն / written consent in case of sudden discovery of cultural heritage Հասարակության իրազեկում Public awereness Շին.աշխատանքների վերաբերյալ Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ բնակչության համապատասխան Yes No N/A իրազեկում համաձայն նախագծին / awareness of population regarding construction works according to the project design

1

Համայնքիի մասնակցություն Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ շինարարական աշխատանքներին Yes No N/A համաձայն նախագծին / community's participation in construction works according to the project design

Անվտանգություն Safety Բանվորների Բանվորների անվտանգության Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ անվտանգություն Safety of հանդերձանքի առկայություն Yes No N/A workers /ականջակալներ, շնչադիմակ/ availability of safety uniforms (earflaps,mask) Շինարարության մեջ ներառված Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ տեխնիկական միջոցների Yes No N/A պարբերական զննումներ` անվտանգությունը ապահովելու նպատակով / regular study of equipment used for construction for safety matter Բնակչության Երթևեկության սահմանափակման Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ անվտանգություն Safety կամ խախտման ժամանակ Yes No N/A of population համապատասխան ճանապարհային նշանների կամ պատնեշների տեղադրում, շրջանցի կազմակերպում / Installation of road signs or fences, organization of a bypass during interrupted or limited traffic Շինարարության իրականացման ժամանակ կառավարման միջոցառումներ Management measures during construction

Շին.հրապարակի/տեղանքի Շին.հրապարակի/տեղանքի Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ շահագործում / պարբերաբար ջրում / regular Yes No N/A Operation on area/construction sprinkling to area/construction site site Մեքենաների համար ապահով Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ տարածքի առկայություն Yes No N/A շին.հրապարակում / availability of safe place at the construction site for vehicles Յուղերի և քսուկների Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ համապատասխան պահեստների Yes No N/A առկայություն շին.հրապարակում / availability of storagefor oils and lubricants at the appropriate part of the construction site

Օդի ժամանակավոր աղտոտում Temporary air pollution/dust

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Շինանյութ տեղափոխող Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ բեռնատարների վրա ծածկի Yes No N/A օգտագործում / use of cover for the vehicle transporting construction waste Շինարարության տարածքի Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ խոնավեցում ջրի շիթով / moisturing Yes No N/A of the construction site by water Հողի էռոզիա Soil erosion Զառիվար տեղերում հողի Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ էրոզիայի կանխարգելման Yes No N/A միջոցառումների իրականացում ըստ նախագծի / soil erosion prevention measures at the slope places according to the project design Փոսորակների ժամանակին Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ հետլիցք / timely coverage of holes by Yes No N/A soil Շին.աշխատանքների ավարտից Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ հետո վնասված մակերեսների Yes No N/A վերանորոգում ըստ նախագծի / repair of damaged surface after completion of construction works Ջրի աղտոտում Water pollution Ջրի աղտոտում քսանյութերով և Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ վառելանյութերով / water pollution Yes No N/A caused by fuel and lubricants Խողովակների լվացումից հետո Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ քլորի արտահոսք համապատաս- Yes No N/A խան նախագծով նախատեսված ռեժիմի / Leakage of chlorine after wash up of the pipes according to the scheduled regime. Աղմուկ բնակավայրերի տարածքին մոտ Noise close to settlements Աշխատանքների իրականացում Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ սահմանված աշխատանքային Yes No N/A ժամերին, հակառակ դեպքում սահմանված կարգով / implementation of the works during working hours, otherwise in projected manner Շինարարական և կենցաղային թափոնների տեղադրում Construction west disposal

3

Շինարարական և կենցաղային Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ աղբի տեղափոխում և տեղադրում Yes No N/A և համայնքի համապատասխան աղբավայրում / transportation and disposal of construction and consumer waste in appropriate community landfill

Շահագործում Operation Խմելու ջրի աղտոտում / Մնացորդային քլորի քանակի Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ Drinking water pollution համապատասխանում խմելու Yes No N/A որակի ջրի նորմերին / Correspondence of balance quantity of residual chlorine to the quality of potable water

4

Contract No. WSSP-AF-4A/1 Part D – Contract special terms Date of preparation - 11 March, 2013

SUBBPROJECT I – Improvement of W&W systems of the RA Armavir region villages: Lernamerdz, Amberd, Aygeshat, Dasht, Doghs, Shahumyan, Shahumyan PF, Musaler, Norakert, Voskevaz, Voskehat, Oshakan, Aghavnatun, Ptghunk

Package III. Musaler, Shahumyan, Shahumyan PF, Ptghunk, Norakert

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT 8 2. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL SAFEGUARD DOCUMENTS 8 3. INTRODUCTION 8 4. SCOPE OF WORKS 9 4.1. Description of existing water supply systems ...... 9

4.2. Description of proposed rehabilitation works ...... 10

5. BASELINE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS 13 5.1 Geographic location and climate of Musaler, Shahumyan, Shahumyan P/F, Ptghunk and Norakert villages of the RA Armavir region ...... 13

5.2 Biodiversity ...... 13

6. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS 14 7. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT MITIGATION MEASURES 15 8. INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 17 9. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 18

6

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

RA – Republic of Armenia RA MoNP – RA Ministry of Nature Protection RA MoH - RA Ministry of Healthcare RA MoT&C – RA Ministry of Transport and Communication RA MoC – RA Ministry of Culture JV – Joint Venture LSGB - Local Self-Governmental Bodies EIA – Invironmental Impact Assessment AWSC ADB PMU – Armenian Water and Sewage Company/ Project Management Unit of Asian Development Bank EMP - Environmental Management Plan IEE- Initial Environmental Examination DD - Detail Design

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1. BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT

WSSP Project will improve public health and environment for about 400,000 people (households and other consumers) living in 18 towns and up to 92 villages4 through safe, reliable and sustainable water supply. The outcome of the Project is improved access to safe, reliable, and sustainable WSS services managed on commercial principles and environmentally sound practices. The Project will also support poverty reduction by (i) reducing the incidence of waterborne diseases and costs of medical care; (ii) improving the time poverty of women due to labor intensive housework such as water collection, which may allow them to participate more in social and economic activities; (iii) providing safer and more reliable water supply; and (iv) improving the quality of life of households in all the project towns and villages by improving their access to safe and sustainable drinking water. Similar to the original WSSP, the Additional Financing Project will fund two project components which include: (i) municipal infrastructure rehabilitation and improvement; and (ii) management improvement and development which include gender features.

2. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL SAFEGUARD DOCUMENTS

In accordance with the ADB Environmental policy (November , 2002) the Subproject is ranked to B category which does not need extended EIA, excluding aslo Environmental expertise, according to the RA law on “Environmental Impact Assessment ” (issued on November 20, 1995.) and the RA Government decree “Threshold of envrironmantal impact activities subject to expertiz ” (N-193, 30 March 1999). As a B Category Project ADB Policy requered developement of Initial Environmantal Examination/ IEE reports for each Subproject (1 report) and site specific Environmantal Management Plan/EMP (separetly report for each lote of the subproject).

3. INTRODUCTION The very report is developed for the Subproject on the Improvement of W&W Systems in Musaler, Shahumyan, Shahumyan P/F, Ptghunk, Norakert villages of the RA Armavir region, the design of which has been performed by the JV of HGSN and JINJ LLCs. The Water supply systems rehabilitation involves activities on reconstruction and repair of water distribution systems, as well as construction of new water pipelines, regulating and water measuring junc.

As a result of construction work implementation, as well as further operation and maintenance of the water supply systems there might be negative impacts on the environment.

4 The number of towns and villages may change subject to further detailed assessments.

8

It is expected that the impacts during construction work implementation will be minimal and temporary, probably involving vegetation cut, soil erosion, air, soil and water resource pollution by lubricants and chlorine compositions, as well as household and construction waste.

At the Operation Stage the environmental impact, mainly expected because of improper execution of operation requirements, will decrease.

The activities aimed at improvement will be considered environmentally friendly in case of water resource conservation, as well as their rational and sustainable use.

The social and economic effect as a result of water supply system improvement are expected to be long- term, mostly positive, excluding potable and waste waters mix, minimization of water pollution risk, prevention and exclusion of infection disease agents penetration into potable water, as well as water supply extension, providing sustainable water supply and effective water use.

The EMP Part 5 introduces description of possible impacts and its facilitating measures required at different stages of Water Supply Systems Rehabilitation Project.

Designing stage

The design works on water systems have been performed by the JV of HGSN and JINJ, which has been selected as a Consultant who provides services on civil works and public awareness campaign within the framework of “Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project – Additional Financing”. The EMP includes articles on climatic conditions, relief, natural soil types, hydrology and biodiversity of the very package, requirements on obtaining the RA MoNP and other Ministries’ agreements, as well as fulfillment of executive parties’ contractual commitments during all stages of implementation. The Design documentation includes adequate environmental and social articles and separate Matrix of the very EMP Subproject. The Project Consultant covenants to follow the appropriate statements of the RA Environmental and social legislation, as well as ADB instructions and strategy requirements.

Construction stage

The list of measures required to mitigate the environmental impact during construction stage is separately provided in the EMP matrix (APPENDIX A).

Operation Stage

The Contractor should strictly follow the requirements on environmental impact mitigation measures, which are involved in the EMP.

During the Construction Stage the Operation should be performed in accordance with the Operational Rules and Standards.

4. SCOPE OF WORKS

4.1. Description of existing water supply systems The total length of water supply distribution network in Musaler, Shahumyan, Shahumyan P/F, Ptghunk, Norakert rural communities is about 47 km. The community water supply is performed from Bazmaghbyur and Ghazaravan ground water springs of Ashtarak region.

9

The water supply of north part of Musaler village is performed by pumps, and water supply of the south part of the settlement is performed through the village main conduit which also has connections providing airport water supply which is performed by pump at the operation of which Musaler is deprived of water supply.

There were 5 connections performed on the water conduit which comes from groundwater intake structure fed Shahumyan community water supply system, 3 of which are the main ones, at which 2 connections are made by 100 mm diameter pipes and 1 connection – by 75 mm diameter pipes.

To supply water for Shahumyan P/F there were 2 connections performed by 250 and 80 mm diameter steel pipes to the water conduit running to Aygek village.

Ptghunk and Norakert communities water supply is performed through 150 mm diameter cast-iron pipes fed from Ghazaravan conduit.

The water is directly supplied to the distribution system through water main.

The water supply in the residential areas is performed through the pipelines which are in poor condition. The inner network is entirely laid with steel pipes which are corroded. The most of the settlements distribution pipelines are deteriorated due to which the leakages are significant. Non-counted water of the abovementioned communities makes about 88%. The system consumed water recording is not performed completely.

In 2010 within the framework of “Improvement of W&W systems of the RA settlements” Project funded by ADB there were performed some works, partially, reconstruction of reservoirs and coming out of them conduits, distribution system pipelines and valve junc.

In 2010 the reconstruction works of pipelines were performed at the expense of Musaler community.

4.2. Description of proposed rehabilitation works The very Subproject aims at rehabilitation of water supply system of the RA Armavir region Musaler, Shahumyan, Shahumyan P/F, Ptghunk and Norakert rural communities, providing the inhabitants with safe potable water and improving water distribution and accounting systems.

The population number in Musaler, Shahumyan, Shahumyan P/F, Ptghunk and Norakert villages, according to 01.01.2012, makes 11319 in total. The clients total number in the rural communities is 1870.

Taking into account the population prospective growth by 2040, which assumes 0.43% annual growth, the rural communities dwellers number is supposed to be 12764 men.

For the settlements, considering also the leakages, the mean daily water demand rate is assumed to be 200 l/day per man.

The average hourly discharge of maximal daily water demand of the rural communities makes

Qav..h=117.4 l/sec. Based on the technical and economical calculations done in the Preliminary Design, as well as submitted justifications, in the Detailed Design there have been developed activities on the water supply rehabilitation.

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By the very Detailed Design the works designed for the improvement of water supply system in Musaler, Shahumyan, Shahumyan P/F, Ptghunk and Norakert rural communities are as follows:

Construction of de50-de200 diameter 35000 lm long polyethylene pipelines

Construction of valve junc. – 89 sets

Construction of private house connections - 19895 lm

Installation of private houses water metering junc. - 1766 sets

Replacement of apartment buildings and public buildings connections – 27 units

The aggregative indexes of the designed works in the Subproject rural communities are introduced in Table 1.

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Table 1

v.

rd v.

Works M/U

In total In

Dashtv.

Doghs v.

Ambe Musaler v.

Ptghunkv.

Oshakan v.

Norakertv.

Voskehat v.

Voskevaz v.

Aygeshat

Shahumyan v.

Lernamerdz v.

Aghavnatun v. Shahumyan v. PF Reconstruction of de50-de200 diameter polyethylene pipeline of water supply internal lm 6100 5400 6300 4500 3100 7700 5200 2900 7900 11500 15000 3700 20900 11300 111500 system Testing, washing, disinfection of the lkm 6.1 5.4 6.3 4.5. 3.1 7.7 5.2 2.9 7.9 11.5 15 3.7 20.9 11.3 111.5 abovementioned system Construction of valve junc. set 12 9 6 7 3 24 13 7 10 11 20 9 14 35 180 Construction of private houses connections lm 2060 3065 2060 2740 1265 5010 3900 2130 3205 7020 8580 1350 13550 5650 61585 Installation of private houses water metering junc. set 184 305 184 231 100 465 360 180 285 643 700 104 1300 476 5517 Reconstruction of de50-de200 diameter polyethylene pipeline of water supply external lm - - - - 133 ------133 system, washing, disinfection Replacement of connections of apartment buildings unit - - - - - 16 ------11 27 and public buildings

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According to the agreement between the Contractor, Consultant and rural communities, the mentioned beneath works should be implemented by the construction completion, in spite of the pipeline diameter and its function.

5. To restore the asphalt concrete pavement of roads which were previously in favorable condition, providing the same cover quality,

6. To perform backfilling of the trenches in the destroyed and half-destroyed streets paved with asphalt concrete, then 10-15 cm gravelling with compaction.

5. BASELINE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

5.1 Geographic location and climate of Musaler, Shahumyan, Shahumyan P/F, Ptghunk and Norakert villages of the RA Armavir region The studied area of the RA Armavir region is situated within the premountain flat land, at average elevation, where the relief is slightly hilly, somewhere channeled by small ravines. The Subproject settlements are 30 km far north-east from Armavir town, and 8-10 km far north-west from Erevan.

The area is characterized by warm to hot summer, with 21.50C average monthly temperature in July and cold windless winter with January 3.8ûC average monthly temperature. The air absolute maximal temperature is 41 C, and absolute minimal -31 C. The average annual atmospheric rainfalls make 280- 340 mm. The snow cover reaches 42 cm. The ground freezing depth is 0.50-0.70 m, subject to the absolute elevation. The air average many-year relative humidity makes 59%. The wind average annual velocity is 1.8 m/sec.

Considering the geo-morphological aspect the area represents accumulative relief, slightly gradient plain. It is situated in the east part of Ararat valley premountain zone, within the terrace of Araks River left bank (accumulative terraces, flood plain).

Considering the geo-morphological aspect the area represents accumulative relief, slightly gradient plain. It is situated in the east part of Ararat valley premountain zone, within the terrace of Araks River left bank (accumulative terraces, flood plain).

Among exogenic phenomena there are surface erosion, water flooding, caused by the rainfalls, change and deepening of the gullies formed due to the rainfall permanent and temporary flows, and some technogenic phenomena, etc.

The inhabited part of the studied area is situated at 800-1000m elevation marks.

5.2 Biodiversity The predominant type of the area soils is semi-desert brown, represented by gravel and stony, somewhere carbonate cemented and hydromorphic saline soils, formed on the lake-alluvial deposits.

In the west, south and east the area bounds on the Ararat valley the geological structure of which represents the Armenian Upland Upper Pliocene alluvial and proluvial lake-river, flood deposits. The latter are introduced by clay layer groups which in some places pass into gravel, sand and clay-sand sublayers with 5-10 cm, and somewhere with more thicknesses.

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The sediments section in its turn is covered by the Quaternary period alluvial-diluvial sediments, or volcanic complexes of andesite-basalts, dacites.

The area feeding big water pulse is the Araks River with its Metsamor and Vedi tributaries. From the hydrogeological aspect the area is rich in ground waters occurring at different depth, starting from 0-5m, 100 and deeper levels. The ground water availability depends on lake-river formations and cracked andesite-basalts.

There are no negative physical and geological phenomena within the area. The region is situated in 9 magnitude potential seismicity zone.

Flora The area vegetation is introduced by semi-desert and desert plant species, like sage-brush ephemers and halophiles, typical of Erevan floristic region vegetation types, developed on the sand-clay bedrocks, that is meadow, steppe and semi-desert types.

Within this landscape zone there are registered about 130 plant species, out of which the dominant ones are lanceleaf water plantain (ALISMA LANCEOLATUM), common arrowhead (SAGITARIA SAGITTIFOLIA L.), threeleaf arrowhead (SAGITARIA TRIFOLIA L.), bean trefoil (COUSINIA TENELLA), salt-wort (SALSOLA TAMAMSCHJANAE), spinach (SPINACIA TETRANDA), milk- vetch (ASTRAGALUS PARADOXUS), fenugreek (TRIGONELLA CAPITATA), wheat (TRITICUM ARARAICUM), tamarisk (TAMARIX), tamarisk (TANARIX OCTANDRA), etc.

Out of wild useful plant species there are thorn apple (Datura stramonium), squirting-cucumber (Ecballinum elaterium) and Syrian rue (Reganum harmala).

The area endangered species are sweet sedge (Acorus calamus L.), bindweed (Connvolvulus commutatus Boiss), lettuce (Lactuca Takhtadzani Sosn), milk-vetch (Astragalus paradoxus), etc.

Fauna In the studied area there 113 commonly occurred vertebrate species, the dominant of which are widely spread in Armenia Crocidura (white-toothed shrews), Vulpes vulpes L. (fox), Cricetus auratus Nat. (golden hamster), Mucrotus arvalis Pall. (field mouse), Perdix perdix L.(partridge), Grus grus L. (crane), Armenian Gull (Larus armeniacus But.), etc.

The area widely spread vertebrates are marsh frog, grass snake, levantine, magpie, fox, wolf, ermine, out of invertebrate: ants, crickets, moths, blue butterflies, cabbage white butterflies, etc.

Among the species recorded in the Red Book there are Long-eared hedgehog (Erinaceus auritas Gmelin), Mehely's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus Mehelyi), Marbled polecat (Vormela peregusna peregusna Guld), Glossy Ibis (Plagadis falcinellus Linneaus).

6. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS Due to the implementation of works aimed at the improvement of water supply systems of Musaler, Shahumyan, Shahumyan P/F, Ptghunk and Norakert villages of the RA Armavir region, the expected positive environmental and population health effects are as follows:

water resource protection and sustainable use,

excluding mixing of drinking, irrigation and sewerage water,

preventing, excluding penetration of infectious disease viruses into drinking water,

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reduction of drinking water pollution hazard,

providing high drinking water quality,

improvement of health condition of population,

water loss reduction,

increasing duration of water supply to population,

introduction of water metering system,

increasing water consumption efficiency.

IEE reveals that the implementation of works aimed at water supply systems improvement in Musaler, Shahumyan, Shahumyan P/F, Ptghunk and Norakert villages of the RA Armavir region will have no harmful effects on the selected for this purpose area - either landscape, or flora and fauna.

The negative effects might be mainly caused by construction works implementation, with little damage and carrying temporal character. To prevent negative impacts, or facilitate them there have been developed facilitating measures which are involved into the EMP.

EMP is the prime part of bidding document and based on the IEE the expected negative impacts are as follows:

air pollution

noise

traffic and pedestrian roads damage and loading

soil erosion and soil eroding processes

environment pollution by construction and household waste

soil and water resources pollution by fuels and lubricants,

soil and water resources pollution by chlorine.

Subproject implementation will have positive social effects directly improving the population life quality providing sustainable and reliable water supply and water resource rational use for about 11788 men.

7. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT MITIGATION MEASURES The probable harmful impacts on the environment and people’s health, caused by the works aimed at the water supply internal system improvement of Musaler, Shahumyan, Shahumyan P/F, Ptghunk and Norakert villages, depend on construction works of water pipeline trenches and pits for control and water measuring juncs.

To prevent soil erosion and eroding processes the preventive measures should be performed on slopes protection on the inclined areas designed for the pipe laying, providing minimal short time of keeping open the trenches and pits made for the pipelines and control and water measuring junctions.

The slopes protection measures should be performed to prevent soil eroding processes on the areas close to the riverbeds.

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After construction work completion the sites should be recovered by performing the mentioned beneath activities:

remove the excess soil mass and building material from the construction sites,

recover the asphalt – concrete pavement, providing its previous good condition and quality,

provide graveling with compaction on the streets with damaged and half-destroyed asphalt- concrete pavement, as well as on dirt roads.

To prevent the topsoil layer damage, or landscape degradation, the topsoil should be stored on the previously assigned for this purpose site, thereafter used for the areas restoration. The construction site should be cleaned from the household and construction waste providing the landscape previous view and state.

To prevent the soil and water resources pollution by fuels and lubricants, the latter should be stored on the area isolated from soil and water resources, in special tanks. Special containers should be prepared for the utilized lubricants, which thereafter will be disposed in landfills or places for reprocessing.

To prevent the invironment pollution by construction waste and excess soil mass they should be disposed on special sites according to the agreements signed beforehand between community head and disposal site superintendent.

To avoid water and soil resources polution by chlorine, the works on chlorine washing and disinfection should be arranged considering special calculations. Chlorine handling needs treating the appropriate way, following the established technological procedures. After washing the pipes, the chlorine outflow to the surface water unit, or land area, should be controlled according to the designed mode and calculation.

Water quality change. While performing the environment monitoring the supervision on water quality and residual chlorine should be arranged.

To minimize dust emission caused by construction works the site should be regularly watered.

To prevent noise impact the schedule should be developed on limiting the night works on the residential areas, avoiding noisy vehicles and equipment use, installing mufflers, if necessary.

To minimize the population disturbance caused by roads damage and loading, the special parking lots for trucks should be allotted, and the construction works should be performed by stages, arranging population awareness campaign, including placing special traffic signs, providing bypasses, or barricades.

To provide population and builders’ safety and prevent risks during the construction, the unauthorized persons’ entrance to the construction site should be controlled, warning signs should be placed in the accident-prone sectors, regular inspection of equipment by qualified specialists should be performed, including safety audits, first aid and safety courses organization for builders.

The affected parties and local population should be appropriately informed through public consultations on the coming activities, their schedules and all measures involved in the EMP, since information lack can bring forth discontent causing complains. Providing the communities’ participation in the Subproject will minimize the disturbance caused by construction works to the social life of community.

Potable water quality change. The EMP should involve monitoring of water quality and residual chlorine level.

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To provide potable water quality in Musaler, Shahumyan, Shahumyan P/F, Ptghunk and Norakert rural communities, the AWSC should perform routine sampling from the springs feeding the communities, testing the water for all criteria required by the MoH. Water quality monitoring is also performed by the State Hygiene Anti-Epidemic Inspectorate according to the document “Potable water. Requirements on water quality of centralized water supply systems. Sanitation rules and norms of quality inspection № 2- III-A2-1” (recorded on 28.12.2002), which specifies the potable water quality requirements, including the rules of quality inspection of water produced and supplied through water distribution systems to the residential areas.

Since water disinfection is performed by chlorine, the monitoring of residual chlorine level is also of great importance.

8. INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT To perform the proposed facilitating measures, the commitments on their arrangement have been allocated between the agencies, as follows:

Executive agencies, which are responsible for implementation of the measure.

1. To perform this special task the implementing unit (JV of HGSN and JINJ) in the Designing stage should provide the procurement of all required agreements and permissions from the corresponding public administrative and local self-governing bodies before civil works distribution according to the tender terms.

environmental expertise (if necessary),

consent of Protection Agency of Historical and Cultural Heritage, in case of expected impact on the latter.

2. The implementing units in the construction stage (Contractors) will covenant to physically implement the specified in the MEP facilitating measures, as well as procure all permissions and consents relating to the civil works implementation, which are as follows:

local municipal bodies’ written consents on the specified sites for household and construction waste disposal,

consent of Historical and Cultural Heritage Protection Agency, in case of historical, cultural or ancient monuments accidental occurrence during civil works implementation.

3. Before civil works startup, if necessary, the mentioned beneath permissions and certificates should be procured by ADB/PMU:

certificate on land use right registration,

water use permission, if necessary.

Controlling agencies, which are responsible for controlling the executive units to provide implementation of the EMP measures by the latter

1. The environment and safety specialists of “AWSC” CJSC/ADB PIU will be responsible to supervision over the implementation of mitigation measures specified in EMP. The mentioned experts will regularly perform sites visits to supervise the proper implementation of works and corresponding activities on

17 mitigating the impacts. During the checkups the probable omissions will be revealed by the check list, as well as violations of mitigation measures implementation by Contractors.

“AWSC” CJSC/ADB PIU is also entitled to demand and checkup the availability and validity (expiration date) of all permissions, complete implementation of impact facilitating measures and monitoring according to the EMP in terms of ADB environmental instructions and the RA nature protection and social legislation.

2. The JV of HGSN and JINJ are also to carry out the supervision over the implementation of mitigating measures during civil works implementation.

State monitoring agencies, which are responsible for observing the extent and efficiency of EMP implementation and making corrections in the project, if needed

The state agencies, which are to carry out monitoring, are as follows:

State Environmental Inspectorate of the RA MoNP,

State Hygiene and Anti-Epidemic Inspectorate of the RA MoH,

Historical and Cultural Heritage Protection Agency of the RA MoC, if necessary,

The RA local self-governance bodies,

The RA MoT&C.

The amounts envisaged for implementation of environmental measures included in the EMP are included in the detailed design.

Implementation of mitigating measures for environmental impacts will be controlled regularly through visits to the construction sites. With the help of the specially developed check list the gaps and drawbacks will be discovered.

In case of not implementing or infringing the implementation of the mitigating measures, after warning, the next payment will be terminated until the infringement is completely eliminated.

9. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN The EMP will be based on the results of IEE prepared by subproject and will include appropriate mitigation measures.

EMP consists of two components:

1. Mitigation measures and institutional responsibilities for implementation;

2. Environmental monitoring.

The Contractor should strictly follow the environmental mitigation measures prescribed in the EMP. The costs foreseen for the implementations of all the measures prescribed in the EMP are included the total value of the Contract and reflected in the bill of quantities.

Notice on the failure to implement measures prescribed by the Technical Supervision Company (TSC) or the Client would be sent to the Contractor in written. After the Notice to Correct, the next recorded violation would trigger charging of liquidated damages in the amount of 0,1% of the total value of the

18 contract. The liquidated damages do not relieve the Contractor from remedying the violation. The recorded violation should be remedied in two working days period. Liquidated damages would be retained from the next Performance Certificate and after the completion of the construction activities the liquidated damages for the recorded violation will be retained from the Retention Money. In case of three liquidated damages the Contract could be terminated unilaterally.

Above described remedies of EMP violation will be included in the contracts for provision of works concluded by AWSC under the W&W project.

The environmental management matrix is presented in Appendix A.

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Appendix A

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT MATRIX

Works and possible Responsible Proposed mitigating measures Monitoring impacts bodies Construction 1. Air pollution, noise, - Install fencing around construction site Daily site Constructor, traffic congestion - regularly water the construction site and roads, inspection Consultant, PIU - limit night work in residential areas, Dust and noise during - Avoid usage of machines/equipment with extra noise; installation of silencers if the construction works needed, - Provide safe area for trucks, Disturbance to - Do not accumulate and burn waste on the construction site, population because of - Carry out construction in stages, give adequate notice of construction activities overloaded roads to the population, - Provide effective road signs, diversions or barricades, - Provide community participation in subproject design, which will minimize disruption to community social activities

2. Environmental pollution - In inclined sites of the water line route implement measures for retaining the Daily inspection of Constructor, inclinations to prevent soil erosion and sediment transport, construction Consultant, PIU Soil erosion and - Minimize the time during which trench and pit excavations for regulation and contract and sediment transport metering nodes are open maintenance Environment pollution - Rehabilitate disturbed surfaces as soon as possible after completion of with construction waste construction activity, according to the design Land and water - Store oil, fuels and lubricants on a sealed surface, away from water resources, resources pollution with - Remove construction waste to corresponding landfill of the community, having fuels and lubricants in advance a contract agreement with the community heads or landfill Land and water operators, resources pollution with - Organize works for washing the water supply distribution network with chlorine chlorine, according to technical calculations. Provide appropriate technical means. - Implementation of chlorine discharge to surface water body or land area after washing the pipes, according to the regime planned under the design.

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Works and possible Responsible Proposed mitigating measures Monitoring impacts bodies Health and Safety - Install fencing around construction site Daily inspection Constructor, Hazards for Workers - Control access of unauthorized persons to site throughout Consultant, and the population - Place warning signs in dangerous places construction stage. PIU, - Carry out regular examination of equipment by highly qualified staff, as well as Monthly inspection Population make regular safety audits, of accident reports - Provide first aid and safety training to construction staff and complaints register

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Appendix B

Դաշտային այցերի ստուգաթերթիկ Field visits checklist

Ընդհանուր տեղեկատվություն Ամիս/ամսաթիվ D/M/Y General information

/ Subproject Ենթածրագիր

Տեղակայում / Location Շինարարական կազմակերպություն/ Constriction contractor Մարզ / Marz Նախագծում Design

Անհրաժեշտ Բնապահպանական փորձ, Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ թույլտվություններ Required եզրակացություն / Yes No N/A permissions EEC Հողհատկացման գրավոր Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ համաձայնություն / writen consent on Yes No N/A land acquisition Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ Պատմամշակութային Yes No N/A փորձաքննություն / assessment of impact on cultural heritage Շինարարություն Construction

Անհրաժեշտ Շին.թափոնների տեղադրման Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ թույլտվություններ Required գրավոր համաձայնություն / written Yes No N/A permissions consent on disposal of construction waste Անսպասելիորեն հայտնաբերման Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ դեպքում պատմամշակ. Yes No N/A համաձայնություն / written consent in case of sudden discovery of cultural heritage Հասարակության իրազեկում Public awereness Շին.աշխատանքների վերաբերյալ Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ բնակչության համապատասխան Yes No N/A իրազեկում համաձայն նախագծին / awareness of population regarding construction works according to the project design

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Համայնքիի մասնակցություն Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ շինարարական աշխատանքներին Yes No N/A համաձայն նախագծին / community's participation in construction works according to the project design

Անվտանգություն Safety Բանվորների Բանվորների անվտանգության Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ անվտանգություն Safety of հանդերձանքի առկայություն Yes No N/A workers /ականջակալներ, շնչադիմակ/ availability of safety uniforms (earflaps,mask) Շինարարության մեջ ներառված Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ տեխնիկական միջոցների Yes No N/A պարբերական զննումներ` անվտանգությունը ապահովելու նպատակով / regular study of equipment used for construction for safety matter Բնակչության Երթևեկության սահմանափակման Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ անվտանգություն Safety կամ խախտման ժամանակ Yes No N/A of population համապատասխան ճանապարհային նշանների կամ պատնեշների տեղադրում, շրջանցի կազմակերպում / Installation of road signs or fences, organization of a bypass during interrupted or limited traffic Շինարարության իրականացման ժամանակ կառավարման միջոցառումներ Management measures during construction

Շին.հրապարակի/տեղանքի Շին.հրապարակի/տեղանքի Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ շահագործում / պարբերաբար ջրում / regular Yes No N/A Operation on area/construction sprinkling to area/construction site site Մեքենաների համար ապահով Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ տարածքի առկայություն Yes No N/A շին.հրապարակում / availability of safe place at the construction site for vehicles Յուղերի և քսուկների Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ համապատասխան պահեստների Yes No N/A առկայություն շին.հրապարակում / availability of storagefor oils and lubricants at the appropriate part of the construction site

Օդի ժամանակավոր աղտոտում Temporary air pollution/dust

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Շինանյութ տեղափոխող Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ բեռնատարների վրա ծածկի Yes No N/A օգտագործում / use of cover for the vehicle transporting construction waste Շինարարության տարածքի Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ խոնավեցում ջրի շիթով / moisturing Yes No N/A of the construction site by water Հողի էռոզիա Soil erosion Զառիվար տեղերում հողի Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ էրոզիայի կանխարգելման Yes No N/A միջոցառումների իրականացում ըստ նախագծի / soil erosion prevention measures at the slope places according to the project design Փոսորակների ժամանակին Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ հետլիցք / timely coverage of holes by Yes No N/A soil Շին.աշխատանքների ավարտից Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ հետո վնասված մակերեսների Yes No N/A վերանորոգում ըստ նախագծի / repair of damaged surface after completion of construction works Ջրի աղտոտում Water pollution Ջրի աղտոտում քսանյութերով և Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ վառելանյութերով / water pollution Yes No N/A caused by fuel and lubricants Խողովակների լվացումից հետո Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ քլորի արտահոսք համապատաս- Yes No N/A խան նախագծով նախատեսված ռեժիմի / Leakage of chlorine after wash up of the pipes according to the scheduled regime. Աղմուկ բնակավայրերի տարածքին մոտ Noise close to settlements Աշխատանքների իրականացում Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ սահմանված աշխատանքային Yes No N/A ժամերին, հակառակ դեպքում սահմանված կարգով / implementation of the works during working hours, otherwise in projected manner Շինարարական և կենցաղային թափոնների տեղադրում Construction west disposal

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Շինարարական և կենցաղային Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ աղբի տեղափոխում և տեղադրում Yes No N/A և համայնքի համապատասխան աղբավայրում / transportation and disposal of construction and consumer waste in appropriate community landfill

Շահագործում Operation Խմելու ջրի աղտոտում / Մնացորդային քլորի քանակի Այո Ոչ Ո/Կ Drinking water pollution համապատասխանում խմելու Yes No N/A որակի ջրի նորմերին / Correspondence of balance quantity of residual chlorine to the quality of potable water

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