DCN: 2012-GEO-006 USAID FROM THE AMERI CAN PEOPLE Programmatic Environmental Assessment Approval Sheet Reference lEE: DCN: 20 10-GEO-021 Country: GEORGIA Project Name: lOP Durable Housing Activity Type of documen t(s): I:8J Programmatic Environmental Assessment Document Prepared by: Tetra Tech EM, INC. Document Preparation Date: Nov 20 II Locatioo(s) Covered by this document: Georgia Environmental Media and/or Human Health Potentially Impacted (check all that applies): I:8J Air I:8J Water I:8J Land I:8J Biodiversity Introduction: This document records Mission clearance and Bureau Environmental Officer (BEO) approval of the Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for USAID/Caucasus's lDP Durable Housing Activity. A draft version of the PEA was vetted with the BEO. Background: USAID's environmental regulation (22 CFR pru1216 or Reg. 216) establishes the conditions and procedures for environmental review of new projects, programs, or activities authorized by USAIO. It includes a process for the review of environmental and social impacts to ensure that projects funded by USAID are environmentally sound, designed to operate in compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, and not likely to cause a significant environmental, health or safety hazard. The Initial Environmental Examination (lEE) for the lOP Durable Housing Activity was approved by the Europe and Eurasia BEO on June 22, 20 10, DCN: 20 I O-G EO-021. The lEE established the requirement for a PEA for the following interventions funded under IDP Durable Housing Activity: Component 2 (Infrastructure upgrades as part of the rehabilitation of buildings and hospitals for lOPs from Georgia's 1990s contlict). As per the lEE and Regulation 22 CFR pm 21.6, a Scoping Statement for the PEA was prepared and approved on September 6, 20 I I. Action: We request your approval of the Programmatic Environmental Assessment for the IDP Durable Housing Activity. Clearance: .-- ~d II Mission Director: .:h/ ·t~~ Date: Stephen M. Haykin Deputy Mission Direct" ~ - v¥ ......J~ ~"",(.;;l!'- ) Date: Joakim 1. Parker ~ .. .L L. .~-'- ( Project COT R: ....::..:... --loo~~:e:..l>--.o..t..w,..;" Date : z..4~ G-. Brad Carr DeN 2012-GEO-006 Mission Environ menral Mariam Ubil ava Approval: Burea u Envir(J nme ntal 0 fi William Gibson Disapproved: MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND IDP HOUSING REHABILITATION PROJECT PROGRAMMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR IDP DURABLE HOUSING ACTIVITY REPORT CONTRACT: AID-EDH-I-00-08-00027-00, TASK ORDER: AID-114-TO- 11-00002 26 August 2011; Revised 03 February 2012;Revised 23 March 2012;Revised 30 March 2012 This document was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development. It was prepared by Tetra Tech for the Municipal Infrastructure and IDP Housing Rehabilitation Project, Task Order number AID-114-TO-11-00002 under the USAID Architectural and Engineering (A&E IQC). MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND IDP HOUSING REHABILITATION PROJECT PROGRAMMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (PEA) FOR IDP DURABLE HOUSING ACTIVITY REPORT CONTRACT: AID-EDH-I-00-08-00027-00, TASK ORDER: AID-114-TO-11-00002 26 August 2011; Revised 03 February 2012; Revised 23 March 2012; Revised 30 March 2012 The following document was prepared by Tetra Tech EM, Inc. (http://www.tetratech.com). DISCLAIMER This report is made possible by the support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the sole responsibility of Tetra Tech EM, Inc. and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. March 30, 2012 Mr. Bradley Carr Water Irrigation and Infrastructure Advisor Office of Economic Growth US Agency for International Development 11 George Balanchine Street Tbilisi, 0131 Georgia Re: Revised Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for IDP Durable Housing Activity (Report) Dear Mr. Carr: This report is being submitted to you in accordance with the requirements of task order no. AID- 114-TO-11-00002 of contract AID-EDH-I-00-08-00027-00. It provides Tetra Tech’s Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for IDP Durable Housing Activity for the Municipal Infrastructure and IDP Housing Rehabilitation Project after updating the PEA to include consideration of water supply and drainage improvements for IDP cottage settlements. The revised PEA includes changes based on comments from the COTR dated 28 March 2012. We look forward to your review and welcome your comments and suggestions. Very ttruly yours, Jeffrey W. Fredericks, P.E., PhD Chief of Party Tetra Tech, Inc. CC: USAID (George Kokochashvili); MDF (Kartlos Gviniashvili); Tetra Tech (Firouz Rooyani, Dean White, Tom Chicca, Ilia Eloshvili, Jim Gallup, Karen Menczer) USAID/ Caucasus Municipal Infrastructure and IDP Housing Rehabilitation Project 10th Floor 154 Aghmashenebeli Ave.Tbilisi, 0102, Georgia Tel: +995-322910401, Fax: +995-322910401, TABLE OF CONTENTS Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................... I List of Tables ................................................................................................................................ iv 1. SUMMARY ............................................................................................... 1 1.1 Program Description .................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Project Context ............................................................................................................ 1 1.3 Summary of 22 CFR 216 Requirements, IEE Summary, Scoping Process ....... 2 1.4 Major Conclusions ........................................................................................................ 2 1.5 Areas of Controversy and Issues to be Resolved ................................................ 4 2. PURPOSE ................................................................................................. 6 2.1 Project Description ...................................................................................................... 6 2.2 Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action ......................................................... 7 2.3 IEE Threshold Determination .................................................................................... 8 2.4 Host Country Context ................................................................................................ 8 2.5 Summary of Environmental Scoping Process ......................................................... 9 2.6 Stakeholder Engagement and Host Government Consultation ...................... 10 2.7 PEA Methodology ....................................................................................................... 10 3. ALTERNATIVES INCLUDING THE PROPOSED ACTION ........... 11 3.1 Description of Program Alternatives ..................................................................... 11 3.1.1 Alternative 1 – Proposed Action ...................................................................... 11 3.1.2 Alternative 2 – Cash or Voucher Transfer Program ................................... 12 3.1.3 Alternative 3 – No Action Alternative ............................................................ 12 3.2 Comparison of Environmental Impacts of Program Alternatives ................... 13 3.3 Rationale for Eliminating Program Alternatives for Further Evaluation in the PEA .......................................................................................................................... 17 3.4 Ranking of Alternatives with Respect to Significance of Environmental Impacts ........................................................................................................................... 17 3.5 Activity-Specific Alternatives for IDP Cottage Settlements ............................. 17 3.5.1 Description of Activity-Specific Alternatives ................................................. 18 3.5.2 Comparison of Environmental Impacts of Activity-Specific Alternatives 18 3.5.3 Rationale for Eliminating Activity-Specific Alternatives for Further Evaluation ................................................................................................................ 18 4. AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT .............................................................. 18 4.1 Description of Project Beneficiaries....................................................................... 24 4.1.1 Population Size and Ethnicity ............................................................................. 24 4.1.2 Gender..................................................................................................................... 27 4.1.3 Age Distribution .................................................................................................... 28 i 4.1.4 Socioeconomic Characteristics ......................................................................... 28 4.1.5 Public Health Status .............................................................................................. 31 4.2 Geographic and Geologic Characteristics ............................................................ 31 4.3 Land Use Characteristics .......................................................................................... 32 4.4 Cultural and Historic Resources ............................................................................. 33 4.5 Environmental Baseline Information ...................................................................... 34 4.5.1 Environmental Data .............................................................................................