EIA Lakhami 1-2 HPP 1/ 384 “Austrian Georgian Development” LLC Construction and Operation Project of HPP Cascades (Lakhami 1 HPP with installed capacity of 6,4 MW, Lakhami 2 HPP with installed capacity of 9,5 MW) on the riv. Lakhami in Mestia Municipality Environmental Impact Assessment Report (Preliminary Version) Executor “Gamma Consulting” Ltd. Director V. Gvakharia Tbilisi 2015 Gamma Consulting EIA Lakhami 1-2 HPP 2/ 384 GAMMA Consulting Ltd. 17a. Guramishvili av, 0192, Tbilisi, Georgia Tel: +(995 32) 260 44 33 +(995 32) 260 15 27 E-mail: [email protected] www.gamma.ge; www.facebook.com/gammaconsultingGeorgia Table of Contents 1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 10 1.1 General Review ................................................................................................................................................ 10 1.2 EIA Preparation Basis ...................................................................................................................................... 11 1.3 Objectives of the EIA ...................................................................................................................................... 11 2 Legislative Framework ....................................................................................... 12 2.1 Environmental Legislation of Georgia ............................................................................................................ 12 2.2 Environmental Standards of Georgia ............................................................................................................. 13 2.3 International Agreements ............................................................................................................................... 14 3 Project Description ............................................................................................ 15 3.1 General Review ................................................................................................................................................ 15 3.2 Brief Description of Infrastructural Facilities of the HPP Cascade .............................................................. 21 3.2.1 Lakhami 1 HPP ............................................................................................................................................ 21 3.2.2 Lakhami 2 HPP ............................................................................................................................................ 28 3.3 Fishway ............................................................................................................................................................ 30 3.4 Organization of Construction Works ............................................................................................................. 32 3.4.1 General Review ........................................................................................................................................... 32 3.4.2 Construction Camps .................................................................................................................................... 32 3.4.2.1 Concrete Plant .................................................................................................................................... 35 3.4.3 Access Roads ................................................................................................................................................ 35 3.4.3.1 Brief Description of the Project on Rehabilitation of Existing Road and Bridges within Lakhami River Valley .......................................................................................................................................................... 36 3.4.4 Removal of Vegetation Cover and Humus Layer of Soil .......................................................................... 37 3.4.5 Personnel Training and Qualification ........................................................................................................ 37 3.4.6 Local Construction Materials ...................................................................................................................... 38 3.4.7 Description of Main Construction Works and Relevant Requirements .................................................. 38 3.4.7.1 Ground Works .................................................................................................................................... 38 3.4.7.2 Concrete Works .................................................................................................................................. 40 3.4.8 Occupational Safety .................................................................................................................................... 43 3.4.9 Recultivation Works ................................................................................................................................... 44 3.5 Water Supply and Sewage System .................................................................................................................. 44 3.5.1 Construction Phase ..................................................................................................................................... 44 3.5.2 Operation Phase .......................................................................................................................................... 45 3.6 Power Supply ................................................................................................................................................... 46 3.7 Expected Waste ................................................................................................................................................ 46 3.7.1 Waste Expected on Construction Phase .................................................................................................... 46 3.7.2 Waste Expected on Operation Phase ......................................................................................................... 47 4 Environmental Baseline Conditions .................................................................... 47 Gamma Consulting EIA Lakhami 1-2 HPP 3/ 384 4.1 General Review ................................................................................................................................................ 47 4.2 Description of Physical-Geographical Environment ..................................................................................... 49 4.2.1 Climate and Meteorological Conditions .................................................................................................... 49 4.2.1.1 Ambient Air Temperature (0C) .......................................................................................................... 50 4.2.1.2 Relative Humidity (%) ....................................................................................................................... 50 4.2.1.3 Precipitation, mm ............................................................................................................................... 51 4.2.1.4 Snow Cover ......................................................................................................................................... 51 4.2.1.5 Wind Characteristics .......................................................................................................................... 51 4.2.1.6 Normative Depth of Seasonal Freezing of Soils, cm ......................................................................... 52 4.2.2 Geological Environment ............................................................................................................................. 53 4.2.2.1 Geomorphology .................................................................................................................................. 53 4.2.2.2 General Geological Composition of the Region ............................................................................... 54 4.2.2.3 Engineering Geological Conditions ................................................................................................... 56 4.2.2.3.1 Engineering Geological Survey – I Phase .................................................................................... 56 4.2.2.3.1.1 Construction Site of Lakhami 1 HPP Headworks ................................................................ 57 4.2.2.3.1.2 Penstock Corridor of Lakhami 1 HPP .................................................................................. 58 4.2.2.3.1.3 Lakhami 1 HPP Building and Lakhami 2 HPP Headworks ................................................ 58 4.2.2.3.1.4 Penstock Corridor of Lakhami 2 HP ..................................................................................... 59 4.2.2.3.1.5 Lakhami 2 HPP Building ....................................................................................................... 60 4.2.2.3.1.6 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................ 61 4.2.2.3.2 Phase II of the Engineering-Geological Survey (Detailed Study) .............................................. 62 4.2.2.3.2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 62 4.2.2.3.2.2 Lakhami HPP 1 .....................................................................................................................