SUMMARY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REGIONAL ROAD DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN MONGOLIA March 2004 CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (as of 31 January 2004) Currency Unit – Togrog (MNT) MNT1.170 = $1.00 CNY8.26 = $1.00 CNY1 = MNT130 ABBREVIATIONS ADB – Asian Development Bank DOR – Department of Roads EIA – environmental impact assessment EMP – environmental management plan MNE – Ministry of Nature and the Environment NGO – nongovernment organization WEIGHTS AND MEASURES °C – Centigrade dB(A) – decibel acoustic g – gram km – kilometer km2 – square kilometer l – liter m – meter m2 – square meter mm – millimeter NOTE In this report, "$" refers to US dollars CONTENTS Page MAP I. INTRODUCTION 1 II. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT 1 III. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT 1 A. Physical Environment 1 B. Ecological Environment 3 C. Sociocultural Environment 4 IV. ALTERNATIVES 5 V. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES 6 A. Physical Environment 9 B. Ecological Environment 12 C. Sociocultural Environment 13 VI. ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT 13 VII. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 15 A. Institutional Requirements 15 B. Environment Monitoring and Permits 16 VIII. PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND DISCLOSURE 17 IX. CONCLUSIONS 18 APPENDIXES 1. Red Book and CITES Species in the Project Area 19 2. Summary of Project Related Stakeholder Participation and Consultations 20 I. INTRODUCTION 1. This document summarizes potential environmental impacts and appropriate mitigation and enhancement measures for the proposed Regional Road Development Project (the Project) in Mongolia. The summary environmental impact assessment is based on the environmental assessment of the Project commissioned by the Department of Roads (DOR) of Mongolia, and has been prepared in accordance with the “Environmental Assessment Requirements and Environmental Guidelines for Selected Infrastructure Development Projects” of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the requirements of the Government of Mongolia. The Government has requested financial assistance for the Project, and ADB is considering a loan of $32.8 million to fund it. II. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT 2. The proposed road will connect Mongolia’s border with the People’s Republic of China near Zamyn-Uud with the southern end of the Nalayh-Choyr Road (funded by an ADB loan).1 Currently, short stretches of paved roads occur at Saynshand and Zamyn-Uud towns. Most of the 428 kilometers (km) of the road proposed for upgrading is unpaved and unmarked, and is a series of earth tracks. These tracks are abandoned when rutted or rough, with new tracks created by vehicles seeking traversable ground. 3. Most of the proposed alignment is parallel to an existing railway line. The northern section of the alignment lies east of the railway beginning about 5 km south of Choyr to Saynshand, with a length of approximately 218.6 km. From Saynshand to the PRC border at Zamyn-Uud the alignment is west of the railway line, with a length of approximately 209.1 km. III. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT A. Physical Environment 4. Topography, Geology, and Soils. The road is in the hilly Khalkh central steppe and Dariganga steppe subregion, which is a part of the Mongolian Eastern Steppe region. The project area is mostly low hills and mountains, typical of the region. Valleys range from altitudes of 800–1,000 meters (m) above sea level, with surrounding mountains rising an additional 200–300 m. From Choyr to Dalanjargalan, the hills and valleys are aligned in random directions, while in the areas near Altanshiree, Erdene, Orgon, and Saynshand districts topographic features are aligned with ancient faults. The landscape varies with latitude, changing from desert steppe with light brown soil, shrubs, and grasses, to desert with gray soil in the south. 5. The bedrock geology is varied, including deposits ranging from Permian through Cretaceous ages, comprising rocks of sedimentary and volcanic origin. Commercial mineral resources include coal, being mined approximately 30 km southeast of Choyr, and petroleum and zeolite, both produced in the area about 45 km southwest of Saynshand. 6. A typical geological section in the project area consists of (i) up to 6 m depth of sand and argillaceous gravel strata; (ii) at 6.0–26.7 m depth, red clays strata; (iii) at 26.7–32.2 m, depth 1 ADB. 1999. Report and Recommendation of the President to the Board of Directors on a Proposed Loan and Technical Assistance Grant to Mongolia for the Second Roads Development Project. Manila. 2 gravel and stones; (iv) at 32.2–37.7 m depth, weathered granite; and (v) 37.7 m depth and below, unweathered granite. 7. The road from Choyr to Zamyn-Uud crosses a number of soil-geographical zones starting from the gobian, gobian-steppe, and desert-steppe soils to steppe brown soils, which prevail over the majority of the country. 8. Climate. The climatic conditions along the Choyr-Zamyn-Uud road section have been documented by systematic monitoring since 1940 at meteorological stations in Choyr, Saynshand, and Zamyn-Uud. Strong winds, snowstorms, sandstorms, droughts, and severe winter conditions are typical. The project area experiences subarid summers and severe winters. The annual mean value of total solar radiation is 1,300–1,500 kilowatt hour per square meter (m2). The annual mean air temperature is 2–4 degrees Centigrade (°C). The highest air temperature values are recorded as 39°C in Choyr, 42°C in Saynshand, and 40.6°C for Zamyn-Uud. Several days have temperature of minus 30°C and below. December and February have absolute minimum values of -36.5°C to -39.8°C. Days with temperatures below -40°C occur just once or twice in January along any part of the road section. The average difference between winter and summer temperatures is 35–43°C. The annual probability of severe/unfavorable winter conditions (zud) is 13–16%, which means that severe winters occur once every 6–7 years along this road section. The drought frequency is once every 4–6 years. 9. The most precipitation falls in July. Maximum daily precipitation often exceeds the monthly average precipitation. Daily maximum values are 90 to 121 millimeters (mm) in Saynshand and Zamyn-Uud for July, and 50–60 mm in Choyr for June-July. However, according to the historical mean data, the monthly precipitation in Saynshand and Zamyn-Uud for July is 30–35 mm, and in Choyr is 61.2 mm. Rainy occurs on 35–40 days during May- September, or 7–9 days of rain per month. Daily precipitation in winter often exceeds the monthly precipitation. Stable snow cover is present toward the end of November until early March. Snow cover is about 5–12 cm on the average. 10. The average wind speed is 2.5–5.6 meters per second (m/s), with averages at Saynshand and Zamyn-Uud, about 1.5–2.0 m/s higher than in Choyr. Westerly winds dominate. The absolute wind speed values are 16–24 m/s for Choyr and Saynshand on the average, and 20–28 m/s for Zamyn-Uud. Wind speeds of up to 40 m/s occur in Choyr and Saynshand during April and August, respectively. Low wind speeds associated with a steady anticyclone established in the cold period over the area are experienced from December to February, and July to August. 11. On the average, the area has 5–10 days with snowstorms and 10–20 days with sandstorms per year. The sandstorms occur mostly in May and winds with speeds over 15 m/s are recorded 10–20 times a year. In the spring, severe and extremely dangerous snowstorms and sandstorms heavily impact the country's animal husbandry. 12. Air Quality. Air quality in the project area is inherently good due to the low number of large stationary pollution sources and low traffic volume. There are no major emissions sources other than community heating systems and small enterprises operating in the cities. Dust storms are common, depending on the season. Along the alignment, consistent winds rapidly disperse vehicular emissions. 13. Due to the absence of major air pollution sources, there has been no project-specific air quality monitoring to support the environmental impact assessment. However, air quality 3 information available from the Ulaanbaatar area can be used to estimate baseline conditions in the project area.2 Air pollution loads exhibit seasonal variation, corresponding to winter heating season. Ambient standards for primary air pollutants, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and total suspended particulate matter were met for 1994 through 1999 on an annual average basis. Less densely populated areas with lower mass pollutant loads can be expected to have lower pollutant concentrations. 14. Indoor air quality, which is largely influenced by the type of fuel used for heating and cooking, has not been analyzed on a project-specific basis. Recent reports, based on available residential fuel use data from Ulaanbaatar3, concluded that, while indoor air quality poses potential health problems for poor residents, morbidity data indicate the problem may not be as severe as believed. 15. Noise. Noise sources are limited to the existing railway, vehicular traffic, and the cities and industrial operations in the existing road corridor. Project-specific noise surveys have not been conducted but noise levels are believed to be within acceptable norms. 16. Water Quality. No perennial streams are in the project area. Surface water flows depend on precipitation and snow melt. Groundwater quality, flow rates, and depth vary with local geologic conditions. Depth to groundwater varies from 4.2 m to 22.9 m. Mineral content ranges from 0.3 grams (g) per liter (l) to 11.8 g/l. Flow rates vary from 0.4 to 23.3 l/s. Cities and settlements have been built in areas with available groundwater of acceptable quality. Additional groundwater surveys are being conducted with external support.