E-60 SAMTREDIA-GRIGOLETI HIGHWAY km 42,0 – km 51,570 SECTION CONSTRUCTION

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

VOLUME I

Project No Financed by EIB Prepared Road Department

Foundation WEG Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure COBA Ltd / TRANSPROJECT Ltd

June 2014

I Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION...... 1 1.1 Background...... 1 1.2 Objective of the project and Terms of Reference ...... 1 1.3 Methodology...... 3 2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION...... 4 2.1 Main road Design Criteria and Project parameters...... 4 2.2 Project section location and characteristic...... 4 2.3 Plan of the road and plain land...... 5 2.4 Road pavement construction ...... 2 2.5 Interchanges ...... 3 2.6 Underpasses and Culverts...... 5 2.8 Construction works ...... 9 2.9. Waste formation...... 9 2.10 Equipment Used During Construction...... 11 2.11 A Complex of Ancillary Construction Facilities ...... 12 2.12 Querries and Borrow Pits...... 12 3. LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK...... 14 4. DESCRIPTION OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IN THE PROJECT AREA .21 4.1 Climate, Air Quality, Background Noise and Radiation...... 21 4.1.1 Climate ...... 21 4.1.2 Air Quality and Noise...... 22 4.1.3 Background level of radiation...... 25 4.1.4. Surface water objects and soil...... 25 4.2 Physical-geographical Features...... 26 4.2.1 Topography and Geomorphology of Project Area ...... 26 4.2.2 Geology and TectonicsG G ...... 31 4.2.3 Seismic Risks...... 33 4.2.4 Hydrogeology ...... 35 4.2.5 Engineering-geological features of Samtredia-Lanchkhuti Section of the design motorway...... 36 4.2.6 Hydrology ...... 41 4.2.7 Soils...... 42 4.4. Landscape and flora...... 43 4.4.1. Landscape ...... 43 4.4.2 Flora ...... 44 4.5 Fauna ...... 48 5. SOCIAL IMPACT ANALYSIS...... 52 5.1. Demographic indicators...... 52 5.3. Socio-cultural environment...... 60 5.4 Land Acquisition and Resettlement...... 62 6. ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES...... 69 7. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS...... 72

II 7.1 Summary of Activities and Anticipated Impacts...... 72 7.2 Specific Environmental Impacts...... 78 7.2.1 Air Emissions Related to Construction Activities ...... 78 7.2.2 Noise Impacts Related to Construction Activities and Highway Operations ...... 81 7. 3 Potential Impacts Related To the Construction Activities...... 81 7.3.1. Dangerous geological processes, soil erosion, soil contamination...... 81 7.3.2 Pollution and Waste...... 81 7.3.3 Topsoil losses due to topsoil stripping...... 84 7.3.4 Impacts on Flora...... 84 7.3.5 Impacts on Fauna...... 85 7.3.6 Protected Areas...... 86 7.3.7 Landscape...... 86 7.3.8 Water use...... 86 7.3.9 Impacts on Archaeological Sites...... 87 7.3.10 Transport related impacts ...... 87 7.3.11 Infrastructure...... 87 7.3.12 Impact related to quarries ...... 88 7.3.13 Construction Related Impacts at the Camp Site...... 88 7.3.14 Impacts Related to Asphalt Plant and Gravel Braking Mounting...... 88 8. MITIGATION & ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN...... 90 8.1 Mitigation Measures ...... 90 8.1.1 Mitigation Measures related to construction works...... 90 8.1.2 Mitigation of Long-term and Operation Related Impacts...... 109 8.2 Monitoring and enforcement ...... 111 8.3 Costs of Implementation...... 113 8.4 Environmental Management Plan...... 114 9. PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS ...... 138 9.1. Georgian legislation and requirements ...... 138

III ABBRAVIATION AND ACRONYMS

BP Bank Procedures CAS Center of Archaeological Search of the Ministry of Culture and Sports CBR Californian Bearing Ratio CPS Country Partnership Strategy CCP Contractor Control Plan CMP Contractor’s Management Plan EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EIB EuropeanInvestmentBank EMP Environmental Management Plan ESA Equivalent Standard Axel GDP Gross Domestic Product GIS GeographicalInformationSystems GP Good Practices GPS GlobalPositioningSystem HEC – RAS Hydrologic Engineering Center – River Analysis System IFI International Financial Institution JBIC Japan BankforInternationalCooperation KP KilometerPoint MoE Mi