Initial Environmental Examination Project No.: 50063 31 August 2016 (Draft) – Main Report UZB: Kashkadarya Regional Road Project Prepared by the Republican Road Fund for the Asian Development Bank. This 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. Your attention is directed to the “terms of use” section of this website. 1 Karshi–Shahrizabz–Kitab Regional Road Project Initial Environmental Examination Table of Contents Executive Summary ............................................................................................................ 1 A. Introduction ............................................................................................................... 10 A.1 Purpose of the report ................................................................................................................ 10 A.2 Identification of the Project and Project Proponent ..................................................... 10 A.3 The Nature, Size, Location and Importance of the Project ......................................... 10 A.4 IEE Boundaries ............................................................................................................................ 10 A.5 Methodology Applied ................................................................................................................ 11 A.6 Constraints and Limitations ................................................................................................... 11 A.7 Structure of the Report ............................................................................................................ 11 B. Legal, Policy and Administrative Framework .......................................................... 13 B.1 General ........................................................................................................................................... 13 B.2 Country Policies and Administrative Framework ......................................................... 13 B.2.1. Overall legal framework .......................................................................................................... 13 B.2.2. Administrative Framework .................................................................................................... 15 B.3 Air, Water, Noise and Waste Standards and Regulations ........................................... 16 B.3.1. Air Quality Legislation and Standards ............................................................................... 16 B.3.2. Water Quality Legislation and Standards ......................................................................... 18 B.3.3. Noise Standards .......................................................................................................................... 19 B.3.4. Waste Regulations ..................................................................................................................... 19 B.3.5. Other Regulations Relating to Road Construction ......................................................... 20 B.3.6 International Conventions and Agreements .................................................................... 22 B.4 Asian Development Bank Safeguard Policies 2009....................................................... 22 C Description of the Project .......................................................................................... 27 C.1 Type of project ............................................................................................................................. 27 C.2 Category of Project..................................................................................................................... 28 C.3 Need for the Project ................................................................................................................... 28 C.3.1 General ............................................................................................................................................. 28 C.3.2 Status of the Project Road ........................................................................................................ 29 C.4 Locations & Size of Operations ............................................................................................. 32 C.4.1 Project Locations ......................................................................................................................... 32 C.5 Scope of Works ............................................................................................................................ 32 C.5.1 Project Phases ............................................................................................................................... 32 C.5.2 Major Components and Design Characteristics ............................................................... 33 C.5.3 Source of Materials...................................................................................................................... 38 C.5.4 Tree Cutting ................................................................................................................................... 40 C.5.5 Temporary Storage Areas ........................................................................................................ 40 C.5.6 Road Safety ..................................................................................................................................... 41 C.6 Contracting and Institutional Issues ................................................................................... 41 C.7 Government Funded Road Sections .................................................................................... 42 C.7.1 General ............................................................................................................................................. 42 Karshi–Shahrizabz–Kitab Regional Road Project Initial Environmental Examination C.8 Alternatives .................................................................................................................................. 43 C.8.1 The No Action Alternative ........................................................................................................ 43 C.8.2 Alignment Alternatives .............................................................................................................. 43 C.8.3 Alternative Road Corridor ........................................................................................................ 44 C.8.4 Alternative Transport Modes .................................................................................................. 44 C.9 Proposed schedule for implementation & Cost .............................................................. 45 D. Description of the Environment ................................................................................ 46 D.1 Physical Resources .................................................................................................................... 46 D.1.1 Air quality & Climate .................................................................................................................. 46 D.1.2 Topography & Seismicity ......................................................................................................... 48 D.1.3 Hydrology ....................................................................................................................................... 50 D.1.4 Soils & Geology ............................................................................................................................. 53 D.2 Ecological Resources ................................................................................................................. 54 D.2.1 Flora ................................................................................................................................................. 54 D.2.2 Fauna ................................................................................................................................................ 54 D.2.3 Forests & Protected Areas ...................................................................................................... 56 D.3 Economic Development ........................................................................................................... 57 D.3.1 Industries & Agriculture ........................................................................................................... 57 D.3.2 Infrastructure and Transportation facilities .................................................................... 58 D.3.3 Land use .......................................................................................................................................... 58 D.4 Social and Cultural Resources ............................................................................................... 59 D.4.1 Socio-economic conditions ...................................................................................................... 59 D.4.2 Health & Education facilities ................................................................................................ 61 D.4.3 Physical and Cultural Resources ........................................................................................... 61 D.4.4 Noise & Vibration ........................................................................................................................ 63 E. Screening of Potential