Initial Environmental Examination VOLUME 1 Document: Initial Environmental Examination (Draft) Date: December 2020 Loan 3285-UZB: Northwest Region Power Transmission Line Project: Syrdarya TPP – Zafarabad Substation 220kV Transmission Line Project Prepared by the Joint-Stock Company National Electric Grid of Uzbekistan (NEGU) for the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The 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. Preparing Sustainable Energy Investment Projects, Regional Energy Transmission and Dispatch Enhancement, Uzbekistan Syrdarya TPP – Zafarabad Substation 220kV Transmission Line Project Initial Environmental Examination Date: December 2020 Issue and Revision Record Revision Date Originator Approver Description 1.0 26 October 2020 N. Skinner N. Skinner For Client Review 1.1 7 December N. Skinner N. Skinner Including updates based on 2020 ADB first review Document Reference: UZB.ADB.TRANS200kV.IEE Syrdarya TPP – Zafarabad Substation 220kV Transmission Line Project Initial Environmental Examination Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................................... 9 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 9 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT ........................................................................................... 9 ALTERNATIVES.................................................................................................................... 9 EXISTING CONDITIONS ...................................................................................................... 10 KEY IMPACTS .................................................................................................................... 13 KEY MANAGEMENT AND MITIGATION ACTIONS .................................................................... 15 MONITORING ACTIONS ...................................................................................................... 18 CONSULTATIONS ............................................................................................................... 19 CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................................. 19 IMPLEMENTATION .............................................................................................................. 20 1. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 22 1.1. GENERAL .............................................................................................................. 22 1.2. ENERGY SECTOR BACKGROUND ............................................................................ 22 1.3. PROJECT OVERVIEW AND OBJECTIVES ................................................................... 22 1.3.1. Technical Assistance Overview ....................................................................... 22 1.3.2. Project Overview .............................................................................................. 23 1.3.3. Implementation ................................................................................................ 23 1.3.4. Objectives ........................................................................................................ 23 1.4. PURPOSE OF THE IEE REPORT .............................................................................. 23 1.5. CATEGORY OF THE PROJECT ................................................................................. 24 1.6. IEE BOUNDARIES .................................................................................................. 24 1.7. METHODOLOGY APPLIED ....................................................................................... 24 1.8. REPORT STRUCTURE ............................................................................................. 25 2. POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK ........................................ 27 2.1. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION ............................................................... 27 2.2. ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK ............................................................................... 30 2.3. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA) LEGISLATION ..................... 31 2.4. ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS ................................................... 33 2.4.1. Air Quality and Emissions ................................................................................ 33 2.4.2. Water quality .................................................................................................... 34 2.4.3. Noise ............................................................................................................... 35 2.4.4. Vibration .......................................................................................................... 36 2.4.5. Waste .............................................................................................................. 37 2.4.6. Hazardous material .......................................................................................... 37 2.5. SANITARY PROTECTION ZONES AND ELECTRO MAGNETIC FIELD .............................. 37 2.5.1. Sanitary Protection Zone ................................................................................. 37 2.5.2. International Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Standards ...................................... 39 2.6. PERMIT AND LICENSES .......................................................................................... 39 2.7. INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS AND CONVENTIONS .................................................. 41 2.8. ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK SAFEGUARD POLICIES 2009 ........................................ 42 2.9. GAP ANALYSIS ....................................................................................................... 45 3. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT ............................................................................ 47 3.1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................... 47 3.2. PROJECT OVERVIEW AND LOCATION....................................................................... 47 3.3. PROJECT FOOTPRINT ............................................................................................ 50 3.4. TRANSMISSION LINE DESIGN .................................................................................. 51 3.4.1. Design Standards ............................................................................................ 51 3.4.2. Length of Line, Number and Height of Towers and Tower Dimensions ............ 52 3 Syrdarya TPP – Zafarabad Substation 220kV Transmission Line Project Initial Environmental Examination 3.4.3. Construction Materials ..................................................................................... 52 3.4.4. Other Design Characteristics ........................................................................... 52 3.5. TRANSMISSION LINE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES ..................................................... 54 3.5.1. Land Acquisition .............................................................................................. 54 3.5.2. Surveying the Transmission Centreline, Other Project Features and Work Areas 54 3.5.3. Upgrading or Construction of Temporary and Permanent Access Roads......... 54 3.5.4. Clearing and Grading Activities for the Right-of-Way, Tower Sites and Camps 55 3.5.5. Excavating and Installing Foundations ............................................................. 55 3.5.6. Assembling and Erecting Towers with Temporary and Permanent Pad Sites .. 55 3.5.7. String Conductors, Ground Wires, and Fiber Optic Cable ................................ 57 3.5.8. Installing Counterpoise (Tower Grounds) Where Needed ................................ 58 3.5.9. Clean-up and Reclamation of Affected Areas .................................................. 58 3.6. DESIGN CHARACTERISTICS OF ZAFARABAD SUBSTATION ......................................... 59 3.7. SYRDARYA TPP SWITCHGEAR ................................................................................ 60 3.8. CONSTRUCTION CAMPS AND LAYDOWN AREAS ....................................................... 60 3.9. EQUIPMENT REFUELLING ....................................................................................... 60 3.10. MANPOWER AND EQUIPMENT ................................................................................. 60 3.11. ASSOCIATED FACILITIES ........................................................................................ 62 4. ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES ................................................................................ 63 4.1. GENERAL .............................................................................................................. 63 4.2. ‘NO PROJECT’ ALTERNATIVE .................................................................................. 63 4.3. ALTERNATIVE LOCATION .......................................................................................