Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized National Broadband Backbone and Government Network ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK
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List of Abbreviations
GoA Government of Armenia EEA European Environment Agency EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EIF Enterprise Incubator Foundation EKENG E-Governance Infrastructure Project Implementation Unit OJSC EMEP European Monitoring and Evaluation Program EMP Environmental Management Plan ESMF Environmental and Social Management Framework FFPMC Foreign Financing Projects Management Center GDCA General Department of Civil Aviation IFC International Finance Corporation IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change LLC Limited Liability Company ME Ministry of Economy MTC Ministry of Transport and Communication MF Ministry of Finance MNP Ministry of Nature Protection NCFA National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia NGO Non Governmental Organization NSRs Noise Sensitive Receivers OJSC Open Joint-Stock Company PIA Project Implementing Agency PSC Project Steering Committee PSRC Public Services Regulatory Commission RoA Republic of Armenia SEE State Environmental Expertise SNCO SEI State Environmental Inspectorate SNCO State Non-Commercial Organization ToR Terms of Reference WB World Bank
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CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION 7 1.1 Objective and Scope of the ESMF 7 1.2 Contents of the ESMF 7 1.3 Applicable guidelines 8 2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION 9 2.1 Background 9 2.2 Objective 9 2.3 Key Development Issues and Rationale for World Bank Involvement 10 2.3.1 Proposed World Bank Objective(s) 11 2.3.2 Preliminary description of the World Bank Project Components 11 2.4 World Bank Safeguard Policies Triggered 13 3. LEGISLATIVE, REGULATORY AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK 15 3.1 Introduction 15 3.2 Institutional Roles and Responsibilities for the Telecommunications and Environmental Sector 15 3.2.1 Ministry of Nature Protection 15 3.2.2 Ministry of Emergency Situations 17 3.2.3 Ministry of Healthcare 17 3.2.4 Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs 17 3.2.5 Ministry of Transport and Communication 17 3.2.6 Public Services Regulatory Commission 18 3.2.7 The former incumbent telecom operator ArmenTel 19 3.2.8 Non-Governmental Organizations 20 3.3 Legal and Regulatory Framework 20 3.3.1 Environmental and Social Legal and Regulatory Framework 20 3.4 Laws Regulating the Exploitation of Telecommunications Services 26 4. GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL BASELINE 28 4.1 General Environmental Baseline 28 4.1.1 Geography and Topography 28 4.1.2 Geology 30 4.1.3 Hydrology 32 4.1.4 Climate 33 4.1.5 Key Ecosystems 34 4.1.6 Threatened Ecosystems 37 4.1.7 Vegetation 37 4.1.8 Land use 38 4.1.9 Biodiversity and Protected Areas 39 4.1.10 Fauna 40 4.2 General Socioeconomic Baseline 42 4.2.1 General information 42
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4.2.2 Political Divisions 42 4.2.3 Population 42 4.2.4 Economy Overview 43 4.2.5 Telecommunication infrastructure 44 4.2.6 Other infrastructure 45 5. POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF THE PROJECT AND MITIGATION MEASURES 46 5.1 Introduction 46 5.2 Environmental Issues 46 5.3 Potential Environmental Impacts 46 5.3.1 Terrestrial Habitat Alteration 47 5.3.2 Avian Collisions 47 5.3.3 Aquatic Habitat Alteration 48 5.3.4 Visual Impacts 48 5.3.5 Hazardous and Non-Hazardous Materials and Waste 48 5.3.6 Air Emissions 48 5.3.7 Noise 49 5.4 Potential Socio-economic, Community Health and Safety Impacts 53 5.4.1 Investments in Telecommunication Sector 54 5.4.2 Economic conditions 54 5.4.3 Land Acquisition and Modification of Land Use 54 5.4.4 Cultural and Archaeological Findings 54 5.4.5 Public Health and EMF 55 5.4.6 Public Safety 55 5.4.7 Physical and Aircraft Security 55 5.5 Potential Occupational Health And Safety Risks 58 5.5.1 Contingencies 58 5.5.2 Electrical Safety 59 5.5.3 Electromagnetic Fields (occupational) 59 5.5.4 Optical Fiber Safety 59 5.5.5 Elevated and Overhead Work 59 5.5.6 Fall Protection 59 5.5.7 Confined Space Entry 59 5.5.8 Motor Vehicle Safety 59 6. REFERENCE FRAMEWORK FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROJECT 64 6.1 Project Implementing Agency 64 6.2 Project Screening, Review and Implementation Process 64 6.2.1 Procedures Set for Environmental and Social Impact Assessment 65 6.2.1.1 Step 1. Site Selection and Screening 65 6.2.1.2 Step 2: Categorization and Appraisal process 68 6.2.1.3 Step 3: Approval, Disclosure and Public Consultation 69 6.2.1.4 Step 4: Implementation 71
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6.2.1.5 Step 5: Monitoring and Evaluation 73 6.2.2 Land acquisition screening 73 7. ACTION PLAN FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REFERENCE FRAMEWORK AND URGENT REGULATORY MEASURES 75 7.1 Contents 75 7.2 Action Plan for the Implementation of the Reference Framework 75 7.3 Capacity Building and Technical Assistance Requirements 75 8. PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND DISCLOSURE PROCESS 78 8.1 Process for Public Consultation 78 8.2 Proposed Disclosure Plan 78 ANNEX A. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 79
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1. INTRODUCTION
This document provides an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) for the sub component 1.1 “National Broadband Backbone and Government Network” of “E-Society and Innovation for Competitiveness” Project implemented in the Republic of Armenia. The mentioned sub component is financed by the World Bank. The Ministry of Economy is the agency responsible for implementing the project including the provisions of this ESMF.
This report is to be used within the “National Broadband Backbone and Government Network” Project to ensure that all environmental and social safeguards are adequately addressed and that the relevant capacity and training needs are established.
1.1 Objective and Scope of the ESMF
The main purpose of the ESMF is to:
• Establish clear procedures and methodologies for the environmental and social assessment, review, approval and implementation of investments to be financed under the project. • Specify appropriate roles and responsibilities, and outline the necessary reporting procedures, for managing and monitoring environmental and social concerns related to project investments. • Determine the training, capacity building and technical assistance needed to successfully implement the provisions of the ESMF. • Provide practical information resources for implementing the ESMF.
1.2 Contents of the ESMF
The ESMF has been developed to include:
• A project description, its components and implementation arrangements with a focus on the environmental and social sensitivities and on how the subprojects will be designed, approved and implemented. • An understanding of the legislative, regulatory and institutional framework that the Project will operate within, including an analysis of laws, regulations and agencies with a focus on requirements that will apply to the planning, approval and implementation of the ESMF for the telecommunication sector. • A general environmental and social baseline of Armenia in order to identify and evaluate potential impact that may arise from the Project. • Identification of potential environmental, socioeconomic and health and safety impacts derived from the subprojects to be financed, including measures to mitigate and manage such impacts. • A reference framework designed to address the environmental and social screening, appraisal and review process for telecommunication subprojects to be financed. It is in effect a management system to identify and effectively mitigate potential future impacts of telecommunication subprojects which the project is likely to finance.
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• An action plan for the implementation of the reference framework including: training and capacity building program for the institutions responsible for implementing the ESMF; budget for implementing the ESMF.
1.3 Applicable guidelines
The project proponent and PIA will comply with the following guidelines:
• The World Bank Safeguard Policies. • IFC’s EHS Guidelines for Telecommunications, dated April 30 2007. • IFC’s General Environmental, Occupational, Health and Safety Guidelines. • EBRD’s Sub-sectoral Environmental Guidelines for Telecommunications.
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2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
2.1 Background
With the support from the World Bank, the Government of the Republic of Armenia through its Ministry of Economy is preparing for the Technology Competitiveness Enhancement Project, also known as “E-Society and Innovation for Competitiveness Project”. This project aims to create a supportive environment for the development of an innovative and competitive knowledge-based society in Armenia, with improved information infrastructure, electronic services, and strengthened local technology industries.
The project is split up into several components, the first one being related to the development of the necessary infrastructure to enable an e-society in Armenia (E-Society Infrastructure Development Component). One of its sub-components, the Nationwide Broadband Backbone and Government Network, has a main objective to support the development of a world-class ICT infrastructure serving major regions, communities, government and local self-government bodies and private industry in Armenia. It also includes the following other objectives:
• Enhance the telecom sector enabling environment • Promote broadband access nationwide, including in rural areas • Create a government intranet on the basis of the national broadband network
Specifically, this sub-component will provide financing for: (i) technical assistance for regulatory framework and backbone implementation; and (ii) the government contribution towards the deployment on a private-public partnership (PPP) basis of a nationwide broadband backbone network with adequate international linkages, as well as with the necessary connections for public institutions throughout the country (government virtual private network), i.e., government agencies, schools, health care facilities, etc.
In order to analyze and account for any environmental and/or social impact that the project implementation may bring about, the Government of Armenia (GoA) jointly with the World Bank wishes to conduct an environmental assessment of the telecommunications sector in Armenia, which will serve as a general guide for the design and execution of the infrastructure development projects, in particular those to be financed with the World Bank’s support.
2.2 Objective
The overall objective of this study is to develop a sectoral environmental assessment of the Armenian telecommunications sector, as well as to outline options for an environmental management plan, which will strengthen the environmental management of the telecommunications projects in Armenia. It will also provide guidelines for the selection of sites for the construction activities related to the implementation of the E-Society Infrastructure Development component of the proposed Technology Competitiveness Enhancement Project, particularly with regards to the rural telecommunications component, and for the design of mitigation measures of environmental impacts.
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2.3 Key Development Issues and Rationale for World Bank Involvement
The GoA has demonstrated significant commitment to developing the ICT and knowledge- intensive sector by adopting its Information Technology Sector Development Concept Paper (Annex to the RA Government Decree No. 35 dated August 28, 2008), which lays out the government’s vision for the sector as achieving a “sustainable information society with advanced ICT infrastructure, high-level computer literacy, high level of computer saturation and Internet access, extended use of e-services systems, existence of large local IT market and progressive knowledge-based industry”.
The IT Sector Development Concept paper calls for accelerated ICT infrastructure development in order to converge with European standards and to meet the government’s expectations of economic development of the country. The results expected within the next five years include the following: 50% of priority government services are available online, 80% public sector computer penetration and 70% Internet penetration among country population, implying that the majority of government offices would need to be provided with broadband Internet access within that time frame.
However, the current pace of uptake of broadband services in Armenia is not sufficient to achieve these ambitious but reachable targets. According to the United Nations’ global e-government readiness report for 2008, Armenia was ranked after 100 countries of the world, despite enjoying since 2007 a fully liberalized telecommunications sector, with three major competing mobile operators, numerous Internet Service Providers, and a number of new entrants. Substantial growth over the past few years in mobile penetration, which has now exceeded 100%, places Armenia in third place within the CIS, ahead of its sub-regional neighbors. Nevertheless, the level of Internet penetration is still far from being satisfactory, at around 5-10% of the entire population according to various surveys, and broadband penetration of just around 1-2%.
In particular, when it comes to the service delivery in the regions, the provisioning gaps are immense due to poorly developed or almost non-existent infrastructure. Major inequalities in access to modern ICTs between citizens residing in the capital city and rural areas, as well as high prices for advanced services, notably broadband Internet, are to a large extent due to the lack of competition in access to international telecommunication networks and a dearth of investment in domestic backbone networks. Although after the liberalization of the Armenian telecom market the cost of international connections has substantially decreased, it is still notably higher in comparison to that of connections in European and certain CIS countries.
The government is a major user of telecommunications services. The Ministry of Economy estimates that the central government alone spends somewhere between US$ 10 and 15 million annually. The government wishes to consolidate this spending by creating a government virtual private network that will at the same time save costs and increase the quality of telecommunications services provided to all public institutions, and become a key building block in the provision of a wide range of online government services to both citizens and businesses. The currently available bandwidth is insufficient, due to the lack of reliable broadband internet connections to the municipalities. Also, the existing infrastructure serving the government intranet is mainly based on connectivity to most ministries within Yerevan with broadband internet connections and LAN interconnectivity. All other connections to provinces and municipalities are based on the public Internet connectivity only. The broadband backbone extensions to the
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regions are therefore urgently necessary to avoid a major digital divide from emerging within Armenia.
The World Bank involvement may play a crucial role in the area of information society formation in Armenia based on the Bank’s extensive experience in financing similar projects worldwide. Examples include numerous broadband development and e-government projects in different parts of the world. The World Bank is also well positioned due to its prior involvement in the ICT sector in Armenia. Notably, the Bank has been supporting Armenia’s liberalization efforts in the telecommunications sector from 2001 through a series of non-lending technical assistance activities and grants, and is currently involved in the e-government space through the Public Sector Modernization Project.
2.3.1 Proposed Project Objective(s)
In June 2009, the World Bank adopted its new Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for Armenia for 2009-2012. The CPS was developed in close partnership with the Government of Armenia and is firmly grounded on Armenia's Sustainable Development Program (SDP). The new CPS has a two-pillar approach: (i) Addressing Vulnerability, with the aim of mitigating the impact of the global economic crisis on Armenia and the most vulnerable population groups; and (ii) Promoting Competitiveness and Growth, with the objective of helping Armenia to position itself to take advantage of the recovery of the global economy and maintain high and sustained growth over the medium term.
The proposed project contributes to promoting Armenia’s competitiveness by simultaneously addressing supply and demand constraints, providing support for two key pillars of the strategy, namely development of the broadband ICT infrastructure and enabling enterprise innovation on the basis of a competitive national IT/knowledge-intensive industry and an ICT-equipped and adequately skilled society, including citizens, businesses and the government.
The components of this project go in line with the e-Society Strategy and are expected to simultaneously contribute to government efficiency, transparency and citizen-centric service delivery, social inclusion and employment, effectiveness and growth of the local IT and high-tech industries, and ultimately to the overall economic competitiveness.
The primary Project Development Objective is to strengthen the infrastructure and enabling environment for e-society and enterprise innovation in Armenia, by promoting competitiveness and growth of the local knowledge- and technology-intensive industry and affordable, efficient and secure access to broadband, computers and e-services.
2.3.2 Description of the Project Components
The objective of the E-Society Infrastructure Development component of the proposed project is to increase access to affordable broadband services for citizens, businesses and public institutions, to equip citizens and businesses with a tool for identification and authentication for electronic transactions and to increase access to affordable computers, content and e-services for citizens. To achieve this objective, the following three interrelated sub-components are included:
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Sub-component 1.1: National Broadband Backbone and Government Network (US$ 6.5 mln) This sub-component will support the deployment on a PPP basis of a nationwide broadband backbone network with adequate international linkages, which will facilitate broadband access in the whole territory of Armenia, as well as with the necessary connections for public institutions throughout the country (government virtual private network). The sub-component will also provide the necessary technical assistance for regulatory framework and backbone implementation.
Sub-component 1.2: Digital Citizen (US$ 3 mln) This sub-component will support the implementation of the Digital Citizen program aimed at the development and distribution of electronic identification documents to equip citizens with a tool for identification, authentication and electronic signatures. As part of the given sub-component, a Certification Authority for electronic signatures will also be established.
Sub-component 1.3: Computer for All (US$ 3.5 mln) This sub-component will promote increased computer penetration and digital literacy through a Computer for All initiative, which will be financed through a Revolving Fund.
Although the project is targeted at the whole population of Armenia, the regions most likely to benefit from the investments are the rural areas, where the telecommunication networks are least developed. In particular, Sub-component 1.1 of the project mainly aims at developing broadband access in the Marzes of the country outside the capital.
The responsibility for the project lies fully with the Ministry of Economy, which will have the overall project coordination role. The high-level management of the project will be carried out by a Project Steering Committee (PSC), set up in accordance with the requirements of Government Decree 765 (Credit Governance Board), chaired by the Minister of Economy with the right of veto, and with the representation of several key participating institutions: the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Transport and Communication (MTC), the Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC), the Foreign Financing Projects Management Center (FFPMC), the Enterprise Incubator Foundation (EIF), the National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia (NCFA), the E-Governance Infrastructure Project Implementation Unit OJSC (EKENG).
Day-to-day management of specific activities under the project would be assured by the respective Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs), namely EIF, NCFA and EKENG, alongside FFPMC, which will manage the fiduciary aspects of the project. The PIAs will be responsible for preparing and monitoring implementation plans (work programs and budgets) for their own sub- components and activities, drafting Terms of Reference (TORs), preparing technical specifications, participating in selection processes, signing contracts and monitoring the performance of consultants/ suppliers, collecting project monitoring indicators and handling any other project implementation matters in accordance with the Project Operational Manual (POM).
NCFA will be the PIA responsible for sub-component 1.1, Nationwide Broadband Backbone Infrastructure and Government Network. NCFA will coordinate the participation of other key government stakeholder agencies, in particular the MTC and the PSRC, among others.
NCFA is an independent entity founded through a partnership between the GoA and a group of leading representatives of the private sector from the United States, Russia, the European Union and the Middle East. The Foundation aims to achieve breakthrough development toward national
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competitiveness in key areas of economic activity. One key sector of activity chosen as a priority by NCFA is the telecommunications sector, with a view in particular to accelerating broadband development in the country. NCFA also sees the IT/knowledge-intensive sector as a key enabler of innovation and competitiveness for Armenia and has also included it among its list of priority sectors.
EKENG will be the PIA responsible for sub-component 1.2, Digital Citizen. EKENG will coordinate the participation of other key government stakeholder agencies including the Republic of Armenia Police, the Central Bank of Armenia, and other government agencies.
EIF will be the PIA responsible for sub-component 1.3, Computer for All. EIF will coordinate the participation of other key stakeholders, including the Central Bank of Armenia, the Competition Authority, the Ministry of Science and Education, among others.
2.4 World Bank Safeguard Policies Triggered
The World Bank has several Operational Policies (OPs) and Directives that outline World Bank lending requirements regarding social and environmental aspects (the Safeguard Policies). Three of the ten World Bank safeguard policies were triggered by this project as explained below; two additional safeguard policies would be triggered, for certain sub-projects only, on a case-by- case basis. The triggered policies are discussed in more detail in the following table:
Yes If applicable, how might it apply?
[+] Environmental Assessment (OP/BP 4.01) While environmental impact from the investments in rural telecom infrastructure financed through this project is expected to be minimal, indirect impacts could emerge from ancillary infrastructure (access roads into environmentally sensitive areas). [+] Natural Habitats (OP/BP 4.04) The sub-projects to be financed under the broadband backbone component have the potential to impact natural habitats, given the potential need for deployment of ancillary infrastructure into sensitive regions. [ ] Pest Management (OP 4.09) [ ] Indigenous Peoples (OP 4.10) [+] Physical Cultural Resources (OP 4.11) The sub-projects to be financed under the broadband backbone component have the potential to impact physical cultural resources, through the potential need for deployment of ancillary infrastructure. [ ] Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP 4.12) [ ] Forests (OP/BP 4.36) [ ] Safety of Dams (OP/BP 4.37) [ ] Projects in Disputed Areas (OP/BP/GP 7.60) [ ] Projects on International Waterways (OP/BP/GP 7.50)
Note: + indicates Safeguard Policy is triggered by the project
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Environmental Assessment, OP 4.01
OP 4.01 requires the borrower to undertake an Environmental Assessment (EA) of projects. EA evaluates a project’s potential environmental risks and impacts in its area of influence; examines project alternatives; identifies ways of improving project selection, siting, planning, design, and implementation by preventing, minimizing, mitigating, or compensating for adverse environmental impacts and enhancing positive impacts; and includes the process of mitigating and managing adverse environmental impacts throughout project implementation.
Natural Habitats, OP 4.04
OP 4.04 seeks to ensure that World Bank supported infrastructure and other development projects take into account the conservation of biodiversity, as well as the numerous environmental services and products which natural habitats provide to human society. The policy strictly limits the circumstances under which any Bank-supported project can damage natural habitats (land and water areas where most of the native plant and animal species are still present).
Specifically, the policy prohibits Bank support for projects which would lead to the significant loss or degradation of any Critical Natural Habitats, whose definition includes those natural habitats which are either:
• legally protected, • officially proposed for protection, or • unprotected but of known high conservation value.
In other (non-critical) natural habitats, Bank supported projects can cause significant loss or degradation only when:
• there are no feasible alternatives to achieve the project's substantial overall net benefits; • acceptable mitigation measures, such as compensatory protected areas, are included within the project.
Physical Cultural Resources, OP 4.11
The objective of OP/BP 4.11 on Physical Cultural Resources is to avoid, or mitigate, adverse impacts on cultural resources from development projects that the World Bank finances.
See Section 6, Reference Framework for further details on the requirements induced for the project’s implementation agency.
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3. LEGISLATIVE, REGULATORY AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK
This section comprises an overview of the current legislative, regulatory and institutional framework applicable for the telecommunications and environmental sectors in Armenia.
3.1 Introduction
The Ministry of Nature Protection is the main institution responsible for environmental matters in Armenia. In addition, there are a number of institutions that have partial responsibility over telecommunications and environmental matters. To date, Armenia does not have an integrated legal framework to regulate the telecommunications sector or an integrated set of environmental provisions specifically applicable to the telecommunications sector. Most of the current environmental provisions in are applicable to all types of projects and do not consider telecommunications as an independent category.
3.2 Institutional Roles and Responsibilities for the Telecommunications and Environmental Sector
This section identifies the Armenian authorities and institutions involved in the telecommunications sector and in the protection of the environment, natural habitats, and cultural resources, as well as agencies in charge of the application, enforcement, and effective control of the regulations and norms in these thematic areas.
3.2.1 Ministry of Nature Protection
The Ministry of Nature Protection elaborates and implements the policies of the Republic of Armenia in the areas of environmental protection and sustainable use of natural resources and is represented by the Minister and the Staff of the Ministry. Within the system of the Ministry there are also State Non-Commercial Organizations and Institutions. The main functions of the Ministry of Nature Protection of RoA are listed below:
1. Develop and coordinate implementation of the state policy and strategy on environmental protection and efficient use and reproduction of the natural resources. 2. Develop the environmental regulations. 3. Develop the economic instruments for efficient use and reproduction of environment and national resources. 4. Facilitate fulfillment of international environmental commitments. 5. Development of the main directions of environmental education and awareness raising strategy. 6. Execute the state environmental monitoring. 7. Carry out the investigation on the negative impact on the environment. 8. Regulate and ensure sustainable use of natural resources.
The above mentioned functions of the Ministry are implemented through the following units:
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Structural Units
• Department of Environmental Protection • Department of Underground Resources Protection and Geological Monitoring • Department of Normative and Methodological Documentations • Department of International Cooperation • Legal Department • Division of Hazardous Substances and Waste Management • Division of Nature protection and Environmental Economics • Division of Financing and Environmental Economics • Division of Meteorology and Monitoring of Atmosphere Pollution • Division of Public Relations • Division of Financing and Accounting.
Separate Units
• Agency of Water Resources Management with its five Basin Management Organizations is the key institution responsible for the water resources management including, but not limited to, the development and implementation of the National Water Policy, National Water Program and basin Management Plans; regulation of water use by issuance of permits for use of surface and ground water resources; assessment and classification of water resources by their use; participation in development of water standards and control of application, etc.
• Agency of Bioresources Management participates in the environmental impact assessment of eco-system; ensures protection, reproduction and rational usage of bioresources; draws up inventory and carries out monitoring of flora and fauna, etc.
• State Environmental Inspectorate with its 11 regional offices oversees the implementation of legislative and regulatory standards on natural resources protection, use and renewal.
Organizations of Ministry
• State Environmental Expertise SNCO conducts environmental assessments of design documentation for construction, reconstruction, extension and maintenance of industry related production units, auxiliary facilities and infrastructure, including waste utilization sector, according to the requirements of National legislation and ratified International agreements and issues experts’ conclusions.
• Information Analytical Center provides data concerning environmental issues and natural resources for stakeholders, such as state authorities, NGOs, mass media, community, etc.
• Center for Waste Investigation SNCO contributes to the environmentally friendly waste treatment and management and prevention of the waste negative impacts on the environment.
• Environmental Impact Monitoring Center monitors water and air quality in different areas of Armenia through its network of observation points.
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3.2.2 Ministry of Emergency Situations
Ministry of Emergency Situations is responsible for development and implementation of RoA policy in the area of civil defense and protection of the population in emergency situations. The following separate divisions and state agencies, such as State Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Service of Armenia, National Technical Safety Center, Armenian Rescue Service, National Reserves Agency and National Seismic Protection Service Agency, are also included in the structure of the Ministry.
• Armenian State Hydro-Meteorological Monitoring Service conducts regular monitoring of meteorological and hydrological conditions in different areas of Armenia through its network of metrological stations.
• National Technical Safety Center organizes and carries out measures and actions for provision of technical safety in the industrial dangerous objects operated (constructed, modernized, decommissioned, demolished) in Armenia except nuclear and power stations, radioactive substances treatment, aviation, auto and railway transport as well as military objects.
3.2.3 Ministry of Healthcare
The Ministry of Healthcare elaborates and implements the policy of the Republic of Armenia in the healthcare sector. The structure of the Ministry includes main staff and two subordinate bodies: National Healthcare Agency and National Hygiene and State Anti-Epidemiological Surveillance Inspectorate.
State Anti-Epidemiological Surveillance Inspectorate with its 19 regional offices is responsible for participation in development of sanitary norms and standards; coordination of all issues related to healthcare; supervision of sanitary norms, hygienic and anti-epidemiological measures implementation by organizations and citizens.
3.2.4 Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs among others is responsible for development and implementation of the state policy, legislation and programs in the following areas: social security, labor and employment, social assistance, social assistance to disabled and aged people, social protection of families, women and children, etc.
3.2.5 Ministry of Transport and Communication
Ministry of Transport and Communication is Governmental Body in charge for development and implementation of government policy in telecommunication field as well as for issuing of licenses for business entities acting in the field of electronic communication.
State policy in the telecommunication field is implemented through the following line departments/divisions established within the Ministry:
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• Telecommunication Division of Communication Department is the key policy maker in telecommunication field. Department fulfils the following main functions: