Environment Impact Assessment Report Project on Relocation of Batumi (Angisa) - Akhaltsikhe Intrastate Highway Section on Khulo Municipality Project Number: 47919 – 014 06 August 2015 GEO: Adjaristsqali Hydropower Project Prepared by Gamma Consulting Limited for Adjaristsqali Georgia LLC (AGL) as a requirement of the Asian Development Bank This environment impact assessment report 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. EIA Road Batumi - Akhaltsikhe Page 1 of 123 Adjaristskali Georgia LLC Project on Relocation of Batumi (Angisa) - Akhaltsikhe Intrastate Highway Section on Khulo Municipality Environmental Impact Assessment Report (Draft version) Executor Ltd Gamma Consulting Director V. Gvakharia Tbilisi 2015 Gamma Consulting EIA Road Batumi - Akhaltsikhe Page 2 of 123 GAMMA Consulting Ltd. 17a. Guramishvili av, 0192, Tbilisi, Georgia Tel: +(995 32) 260 44 33 +(995 32) 260 15 27 E-mail: [email protected] www.gamma.ge; www.facebook.com/gammaconsultingGeorgia Table of Contents 1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 5 1.1 General Overview ................................................................................................................................................ 5 1.2 Basis for Preparation of EIA Report .................................................................................................................... 6 1.3 Objectives of EIA Report ..................................................................................................................................... 6 2 Legislative Framework ...................................................................................................................... 7 2.1 Environmental Legislation of Georgia ................................................................................................................ 7 2.2 Environmental Standards of Georgia .................................................................................................................. 7 2.3 International Agreements .................................................................................................................................... 9 3 Project Alternatives .........................................................................................................................10 3.1 No-Action Alternative ....................................................................................................................................... 10 3.2 Alternative Locations for the Arrangement of Road and Ghorjomi River Bridge .......................................... 10 3.3 Pavement Alternatives ....................................................................................................................................... 10 4 Description of the Project ................................................................................................................11 4.1 General Overview .............................................................................................................................................. 11 4.2 Brief Description of Project Corridor ................................................................................................................ 11 4.3 Design Road Plan ............................................................................................................................................... 15 4.4 Profile of the Road ............................................................................................................................................. 15 4.5 Roadbed .............................................................................................................................................................. 17 4.6 Design Bridge ..................................................................................................................................................... 17 4.7 Road Structures .................................................................................................................................................. 19 4.8 Road Pavement ................................................................................................................................................... 20 4.9 Road Accessory and Arrangement .................................................................................................................... 21 4.10 Organization of Construction Works ............................................................................................................ 22 4.10.1 General Overview ................................................................................................................................. 22 4.10.2 Types of Construction Works ............................................................................................................... 23 4.10.3 Dismantling the Old Infrastructure ...................................................................................................... 24 4.10.4 List of Required Main Construction Equipment-Machinery .............................................................. 25 4.10.5 Labour Protection and Safety ............................................................................................................... 25 4.11 Recultivation Works ....................................................................................................................................... 26 5 Environmental Baseline Description ...............................................................................................26 5.1 Physical-geographic Environment .................................................................................................................... 27 5.1.1 Climate and Meteorological Conditions ............................................................................................... 27 5.1.2 Geological Environment ....................................................................................................................... 29 5.1.2.1 Tectonics ................................................................................................................................................ 29 5.1.2.2 Relief and General Geological Conditions ........................................................................................... 30 5.1.2.3 Engineering-geological Conditions of Project Route .......................................................................... 31 5.1.2.4 Seismic Conditions ................................................................................................................................ 32 5.1.3 Hydrography .......................................................................................................................................... 33 5.1.4 Biodiversity ............................................................................................................................................ 34 5.1.4.1 Flora ....................................................................................................................................................... 34 5.1.4.1.1 Detail Description of Flora and Vegetation Cover of Project Corridor .................................. 35 Gamma Consulting EIA Road Batumi - Akhaltsikhe Page 3 of 123 5.1.4.2 Fauna ...................................................................................................................................................... 37 5.2 Socio-Economic Conditions............................................................................................................................... 37 5.2.1 General Overview ................................................................................................................................. 37 5.2.2 Population and Demographic Situation ............................................................................................... 37 5.2.3 Economy ................................................................................................................................................ 38 5.2.4 Agriculture ............................................................................................................................................. 38 5.2.5 Road Infrastructure ............................................................................................................................... 39 5.2.6 Healthcare .............................................................................................................................................. 39 5.2.7 Historical-Cultural Monuments ........................................................................................................... 39 6 Environmental Impact Assessment and Analysis ............................................................................40 6.1 General Principles of EIA Methodology ........................................................................................................... 40 6.1.1 Impact Receptors and their Sensitivity ...............................................................................................