Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (on behalf of the Ministry of Spatial Planning and Environment – Montenegro) Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment for Detailed Spatial Plan for Hydro Power Projects (HPPs) on the Morača River Morača River Draft Final Report January 2010 Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (on behalf of the Ministry Spatial Planning and Environment – Montenegro) Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment for Detailed Spatial Plan for Hydro Power Projects (HPPs) on the Morača River Draft Final Report January 2010 Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment for Detailed Spatial Plan for HPPs on the Morača River i TABLE OF CONTENTS Page No LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS......................................................................................................IX 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - (NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY) ................................................................................... 1 1.1 Outline of the Plan ............................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Existing Environmental Status ........................................................................................................................... 1 1.2.1 Environmental factors ............................................................................................................................... 2 1.2.2 Socio-Economic factors .............................................................................................................................. 5 1.3 Risk, Environmental Characteristics and Problem Areas .................................................................................. 5 1.4 Environmental Protection Legislation ............................................................................................................... 5 1.5 Evaluation of impacts ........................................................................................................................................ 6 1.6 Mitigation measures .......................................................................................................................................... 7 1.7 Alternatives ........................................................................................................................................................ 8 1.8 Transboundary impacts ..................................................................................................................................... 9 1.9 Environmental Monitoring ............................................................................................................................... 9 1.10 Conclusions ..................................................................................................................................................... 9 1.10.1 Environmental Issues ............................................................................................................................... 9 1.10.2 Socio Economic Issues ............................................................................................................................ 11 1.11 Recommendations ........................................................................................................................................ 12 1.11.1 General .................................................................................................................................................. 12 1.11.2 Environmental, geological and hydrological ......................................................................................... 12 1.11.3 Socio Economic ...................................................................................................................................... 13 PART 1 – ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING AND CONTEXT.......................................................................................14 2 OUTLINE OF DSP AND SEA ........................................................................................................................... 14 2.1 The Detailed Spatial Plan for HPPs on the Morača River ................................................................................ 14 2.1.1 Objectives of the DSP ............................................................................................................................... 16 2.1.2 DSP Relationship with other plans and programs ................................................................................... 17 2.1.3 Boundaries and Scope of the DSP ............................................................................................................ 18 2.1.4 Detailed Development Zones ................................................................................................................... 18 2.1.5 Review of the Proposed Hydropower Sites .............................................................................................. 18 2.1.6 Required Preparatory Works for the HPPs .............................................................................................. 22 2.1.7 Roads ....................................................................................................................................................... 22 2.1.8 Belgrade – Bar Railway ............................................................................................................................ 23 2.1.9 Wastewater and Sewerage ..................................................................................................................... 23 2.1.10 Power Houses and Power Lines from the HPPs ..................................................................................... 23 2.2 Upper Catchment Reservoirs .......................................................................................................................... 24 2.3 Background to the SEA .................................................................................................................................... 26 2.3.1 Terms of Reference and Objectives for the SEA ......................... 27 Report no. 7 2.3.2 Scope of Work and Rationale ..................................................... 27 Issue no. 9 2.4 The Project Area for the SEA .............................................................. 28 Date of issue January 2010 3 PROJECT CONTEXT .............................................................................. 30 Prepared DAH Checked RSS/INL/JHH/SEH/EVS/MOH/URS 3.1 Introduction ....................................................................................... 30 Approved BIL 3.2 Description of Project Area - Project Setting ..................................... 30 3.3 Environment .................................................................................................................................................... 30 3.3.1 Biodiversity .............................................................................................................................................. 30 Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment for Detailed Spatial Plan for HPPs on the Morača River ii 3.3.2 Land Use .................................................................................................................................................. 39 3.3.3 Soil ........................................................................................................................................................... 39 3.3.4 Geology .................................................................................................................................................... 40 3.3.5 Seismic Conditions ................................................................................................................................... 41 3.3.6 Natural Resources .................................................................................................................................... 43 3.3.7 Water Quality .......................................................................................................................................... 44 3.3.8 Hydrology ................................................................................................................................................ 47 3.3.9 Air Quality ................................................................................................................................................ 61 3.3.10 Climatic Factors ..................................................................................................................................... 62 3.3.11 Climate Change ..................................................................................................................................... 63 3.3.12 Material Assets ...................................................................................................................................... 64 3.3.13 Cultural Heritage and Cultural Monuments .......................................................................................... 65 3.3.14 Landscape .............................................................................................................................................. 69 3.4 Socio-Economic ............................................................................................................................................... 71 3.4.1 Settlements and Population ...................................................................................................................