Public Disclosure Authorized REPUBLIC OF TAJIKISTAN MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT Public Disclosure Authorized CENTRAL ASIA ROAD LINKS – REPUBLIC OF TAJIKISTAN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT Public Disclosure Authorized (EIA) Public Disclosure Authorized Date: August 27, 2014 Rehabilitation and Upgrade of Road Sections in Sugd Region - Republic of Tajikistan Environmental Impact Assessment Table of Contents 1. Introduction and Background 6 1.1 Introduction 6 1.2 Project Background 6 1.3 Background of the Study Road 7 2. Legal, Policy and Administrative Framework 7 2.1 Country Policies and Administrative Framework 8 2.2 Assessment Requirements of the World Bank 12 2.3 Recommended Categorization of the Project 13 2.4 World Bank Safeguards Requirements 14 2.4.1 Environmental Assessment (OP/BP 4.01) 14 2.4.2 Natural Habitats (OP/BP 4.04) 14 2.4.3 Physical Cultural Resources (OP/BP 4.11) 14 2.4.4 Forests (OP/BP 4.36) 15 2.4.5 Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP 4.12) 15 3. Methodology of the Environmental Impact Assessment 15 4. Description of the Project 16 4.1 General 16 4.2 Description of the Sections to be financed under the Project and potential Impacts 16 4.3 Need for the Project – the “Do – Nothing – Option” 19 4.4 Traffic Volumes and Transport Modes 20 4.5 Borrow Pits and Quarries - Construction Material 20 5. Description of the Existing Environment 22 5.1 Physical Characteristics 22 5.1.1 Topography, Geology and Soils 22 5.1.2 Landslides, Avalanches and Earthquake Activity 23 5.1.3 Erosion 24 5.1.4 Climate and Air Quality 25 5.1.5 Hydrology and Water Quality 26 5.2 Biological Resources 27 5.2.1 Flora 27 D:\48439_CAR_TAJ\04_Reports\05 EIA\48439_Final EIA CARs-2 270808_en.docx Page 2 Rehabilitation and Upgrade of Road Sections in Sugd Region - Republic of Tajikistan Environmental Impact Assessment 5.2.2 Fauna 28 5.2.3 Protected Areas 28 5.3 Socio – Economic Characteristics 29 5.3.1 Industry 29 5.3.2 Agriculture 29 5.3.3 Population and Demographics 29 5.3.4 Livelihood and Poverty 29 5.3.5 Cultural Heritage 30 6. Assessment of the Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures 30 6.1 Baseline Environmental Considerations 30 6.2 Screening of Impacts 31 6.2.1 Impacts and Mitigation Measures - Design Phase 33 6.2.2 Impacts and Mitigation Measures – Construction Phase 35 6.2.3 Impacts and Mitigation Measures - Operating Phase 48 7. Institutional Requirements 51 7.1 Organization Roles and Responsibilities 51 7.2 Ministry of Transport 51 8. Environmental Mitigation Plan 55 9. Environmental Monitoring Plan 63 10. Disclosure and Public Consultation 69 10.1 Public Consultation 69 10.2 Disclosure 69 11. Findings, Recommendations and Conclusions 70 D:\48439_CAR_TAJ\04_Reports\05 EIA\48439_Final EIA CARs-2 270808_en.docx Page 3 Rehabilitation and Upgrade of Road Sections in Sugd Region - Republic of Tajikistan Environmental Impact Assessment Tables Tab. 1 Tajik standards for air quality ................................................................................. 9 Tab. 2 Tajik standards for noise ........................................................................................ 9 Tab. 3 Sections of the project roads, impacts, mitigation measures and categorization according to World Bank requirements ................................................................ 14 Tab. 4 Traffic forecast for Isfara bypass and Kyrgyz / Usbek border (annual average daily traffic) .......................................................................................................... 20 Tab. 5 Traffic forecast for Kuhjand road options and Kyrgyz border (annual average daily traffic) .................................................................................................................. 20 Tab. 6 temperature data from Tajik weather stations close to the project road (monthly average, annual average, maximum, minimum) .................................................. 25 Tab. 7 Responsibilities for Environmental Monitoring ..................................................... 53 Tab. 8 Environmental Management Plan ........................................................................ 63 Tab. 9 Environmental Monitoring Plan ............................................................................ 68 Figures Figure 1: Republic of Tajikistan .................................................................................................... 7 Figure 2: Overview of road design sections ................................................................................ 17 Figure 3: Overview of eastern design sections ........................................................................... 18 Figure 4: Overview of western design sections ........................................................................... 19 Figure 5: Existing licensed asphalt plant and gravel quarry for western sections of the project area ............................................................................................................................ 21 Figure 6: Existing asphalt plant and crusher southwest of Kuhjand ............................................ 21 Figure 7: Seismic Activity Map of Republic of Tajikistan ............................................................. 24 Figure 8: River basins of Republic of Tajikistan .......................................................................... 27 Figure 9: Protected areas of Republic of Tajikistan ..................................................................... 28 Figure 10: Outline of a Borrow Area Operation Plan - sample cross section ............................... 37 Figure 11: Contamination with mineral oil in road side ditches (Section 6).................................. 40 Figure 12: Oil pump close to the road Kim - Kuchkak (Section 6) ............................................... 40 Figure 13: Warning sign informing about radioactive radiation at the fence of the uranium tailing47 Figure 14: Uranium tailing close to the city of Chkalovsk ............................................................ 47 Appendices Annex A: Chance Find Procedure Plan Annex B: Minutes of Meetings on review of the Drafts of Reports on Resettlement Policy Framework and Environment Impact Assessment Annex C: List of Participants D:\48439_CAR_TAJ\04_Reports\05 EIA\48439_Final EIA CARs-2 270808_en.docx Page 4 Rehabilitation and Upgrade of Road Sections in Sugd Region - Republic of Tajikistan Environmental Impact Assessment Abbreviations ACP Asphalt concrete plan AADT Average Annual Daily Traffic BCP Border Crossing Post BoQ Bill of Quantities CEP Committee for Environmental Protection CFPP Chance Find Procedure Plan EA Environmental Assessment EFR Environmental Framework Report EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EMP Environmental Mitigation Plan EPNR Especially Protected Natural Reserve FS Feasibility Study GDP Gross Domestic Product IEE Initial Environmental Examination IUCN International Union for the Conservation of Wildlife FSU Former Soviet Union HGV Heavy Goods Vehicle HPP Hydro power plant LGV Light Goods Vehicle MGV Medium Goods Vehicle MoC Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Tajikistan MoT Ministry of Transport NAEP National Environment Action Plan NTFP Non-Timber Forest Products NGO Non-Government Organization NSC National Statistical Committee NMT Non-Motorized Transport NRRP National Road Rehabilitation Project OP/BP Operational Policy / Bank Procedure (World Bank) PCR Physical Cultural Resources PIG Project Implementation Group PSC Project Supervision Consultant RoW Right of Way RAP Resettlement Action Plan RMU Road Maintenance Unit RPF Resettlement Policy Framework SNiP FSU Construction Norms and Standards / Строительные нормы и правила SEE State Ecological Expertise ToR Terms of Reference RoT Republic of Tajikistan USAID US Agency for International Development USD US Dollar WB World Bank WHO World Health Organization WWF World Wildlife Fund for Nature D:\48439_CAR_TAJ\04_Reports\05 EIA\48439_Final EIA CARs-2 270808_en.docx Page 5 Rehabilitation and Upgrade of Road Sections in Sugd Region - Republic of Tajikistan Environmental Impact Assessment 1. Introduction and Background 1.1 Introduction The Republic of Tajikistan is a landlocked country and the smallest nation in Central Asia, by area, located between Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan in the west and in the north, Afghanistan in the south and China in the east. It is covered by mountains of Pamir range, and more than fifty per- cent of the country is over 3,000 meters (9,800 ft) above sea level. The Tajik Republic depends on external trade for its development, and is export-driven business in agriculture and industry requires fast, reliable and economically affordable transport (Figure 1). 70% of the Tajik population is under the age of 30 and 35% are between the ages of 14 and 30. The Republic of Tajikistan has a population of 7,349,145 (July 2009). Tajiks who speak the Tajik language (a variety of Persian) are the main ethnic group, although there is a sizable minority of Uzbeks and Russians, whose numbers are declining due to emigration. In 1989, ethnic Rus- sians made up 7.6% of the population, but they are now less than 0.5%, after civil war spurred Russian emigration. The Pamiris of Badakshan are considered to belong to the larger group of Tajiks. Tajikistan’s economic performance has been impressive in recent years, with an annual GDP (US$6.52 billion in 2011) growth of 8% during 2005-2009 and poverty level decreased from 81% in 1999 to 47.2% in 2009. (World Bank, TLSS ). In 2005 the Tajik GDP grew by 6.7%, to about US$1.89 billion,