Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized i Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR MASTARA RESERVOIR CONSTRUCTION PROJECT June - 2018 WATER SECTOR PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION UNIT Mastara Reservoir Preparation Project ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR MASTARA RESRVOIR CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MRP/GR/CQS/SW-16/001 Yerevan June - 2018 Content EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................................. I INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................................... I ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT .................................................................................................................................... I PROJECT DESCRIPTION .......................................................................................................................................................... II Methodology ............................................................................................................................................................. iv Environmental Baseline ............................................................................................................................................. iv Social Baseline ............................................................................................................................................................ v ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS ................................................................................................................................... V Environmental Impacts in the Construction Phase ..................................................................................................... v Social Impacts in the Construction Phase .................................................................................................................. vi Environmental Impacts in the Operation Phase ........................................................................................................ vi Social Impacts in the Operation Phase ...................................................................................................................... vi MITIGATION AND ENHANCEMENT MEASURES ......................................................................................................................... VII Environmental and Social Impacs Mitigation in the Design Phase........................................................................... vii Environmental Impact Mitigation in the Construction Phase................................................................................... vii Social Impact Mitigation in the Construction Phase ................................................................................................. vii Environmental Impact Mitigation in the Operation Phase ...................................................................................... viii Social Impact Mitigation in the Operation Phase .................................................................................................... viii Cultural Heritage Impact Mitigation ....................................................................................................................... viii GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM ......................................................................................................................................... IX ARRANGEMENTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL SAFEGUARDS’ APPLICATION AND REPORTING ..................................................... IX ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT PLAN ................................................................................................................. IX PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ......................................................................................................................................................... X 1. GENERAL INFORMATION .................................................................................................................................... 1 2. POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK .......................................................................................... 2 2.1. NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK ......................................................................................................................... 2 2.2. WORLD BANK OPERATIONAL POLICIES ........................................................................................................................ 7 2.3. ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES OF IFC ........................................................................................... 9 2.4. COMPARISON OF RA LEGISLATION AND WORLD BANK OPERATIONAL POLICIES .................................................................. 9 2.5. INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK .................................................................................................................................. 10 3. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY ......................................................................... 12 3.1. ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION AND ASSESSMENT METHODS ...................................................................................... 12 3.2. SOCIAL STUDY METHODS ....................................................................................................................................... 13 4. PROJECT DESCRIPTION ...................................................................................................................................... 14 4.1. PROJECT OBJECTIVE .............................................................................................................................................. 14 4.2. PLANNED CONSTRUCTION WORKS ........................................................................................................................... 14 5. ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES ............................................................................................................................. 17 5.1. “NO ACTION” OPTION .......................................................................................................................................... 17 5.2. MASTARA RESERVOIR DAM AND ADJACENT STRUCTURES ............................................................................................. 17 Dam Type Selection .................................................................................................................................................. 17 ANALYSIS ......................................................................................................................................................................... 18 6. ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE DATA.................................................................................................................... 20 6.1. RELIEF AND GEOMORPHOLOGY, PHYSICAL-GEOGRAPHICAL CONDITIONS ......................................................................... 20 6.2. CLIMATE CONDITIONS ........................................................................................................................................... 22 6.3. CHARACTERISTIC OF SEISMIC CONDITIONS ................................................................................................................. 27 6.4. LANDS ................................................................................................................................................................ 28 6.5. CHARACTERISTIC OF SURFACE AND UNDERGROUND WATER QUALITY ............................................................................. 30 6.5.1. Surface Waters ........................................................................................................................................ 30 6.5.2. Meteorological Characteristic of Mastara Reservoir Water Basin ......................................................... 31 6.5.3. Akhuryan Basin Hydrological Characteristics .......................................................................................... 33 6.5.4. Collection and Analysis of Existing Materials and Data on Mastara Reservoir Water Basin .................. 33 6.5.5. Mastara reservoir water-catchment basin water resource pollution background level ......................... 43 6.5.6. Ground Water ......................................................................................................................................... 48 6.6. BIODIVERSITY ....................................................................................................................................................... 49 6.6.1. Terms and general provisions ................................................................................................................. 49 6.6.2. Flora ........................................................................................................................................................ 50 6.6.3. Fauna ...................................................................................................................................................... 55 6.6.4. Aquatic Life ............................................................................................................................................. 60 6.7. HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT ...............................................................................................................