AECOM Final Report Environment 9-1 9.0 GEOLOGY AND SOILS 9.1 Introduction This section discusses environmental issues associated with geology, soils, hydrogeology (groundwater) and waste management conditions relating to the Project. The current conditions within the route corridor are described below and likely effects of the development on potentially sensitive receptors assessed. These impacts have been divided into two categories: • Short-term construction impacts; and • Permanent and operational impacts. The potential impacts during construction and operational activities and mitigation measures proposed for each parameter are described. Some of the impacts are indirect impacts; some of them are direct impacts. For direct impacts, the Project site and development of the Project affect the issue directly. For indirect impacts, the Project site and development of the Project do not affect the issue directly, in the other words, if mitigation measures do not apply for these issues, there will be possible negative consequences and these cause negative impacts on the environmental issues. Note that some of the conditions and effects described, particularly with regard to contamination and hydrogeology, may interact with other parameters such as ecology and surface water. Such interactions are described where appropriate. 9.2 Approach and Methods 9.2.1 Baseline Methods This section explains the potential impacts on ground (Geology & Soil, Hydrogeology and Waste Management) conditions with the proposed Project. Potential impacts within the Project sites as well as adjacent receptors have been considered. In addition, potential impacts associated with the construction phase of the Project have been considered as well as potential impacts associated with permanent infrastructure and operational activities. In addition, mitigation ways are given based on these impacts. This section will be based on available and accessible desktop studies and geotechnical reports prepared for this Project and it will include qualitative assessments, anticipated major risks and potential impacts, and mitigation ways of these impacts. During this integration study, Istanbul Environmental Condition Report (2009), Directorate of Ground and Earthquake Analysis of Istanbul Municipality Reports (September 2005 & December 2011), MTA Istanbul Mineral and Energy Resources Report (2012) and Environmental Plan from Istanbul City Guide Web Site (2012) and Geotechnical Reports (prepared by Emay International Engineering Cons. & Trd. Co. Ltd. and Protek Proje Danışmanlık Mühendislik Bilgi İşlem İnşaat Turizm San. Ve Tic. Ltd. Şti.) (2012-2013) have been reviewed and interpreted in detail. Although previous studies regarding geology were not prepared specifically undertaken for the Project site, the level of geological study can be expanded to scale. Therefore, the actual level of geological information of reference reports is adequate for this stage of the assessment. Information on hydrogeology was collected from reports prepared for the Hydrologic Survey Report (Emay International Engineering Cons. & Trd. Co. Ltd. and Protek Proje Danışmanlık Mühendislik Bilgi İşlem İnşaat Final ESIA 2 August 2013 AECOM Final Report Environment 9-2 Turizm San. Ve Tic. Ltd. Şti.) (2012) and maps prepared by AECOM using Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs database with Istanbul Environmental Plan from Municipality of Istanbul. 9.2.2 Assessment Methods After necessary the information was collected to evaluate the impacts in relation to the Project, the assessment procedures have been conducted with the guidance set out in Water Quality and Drainage, Geology and Soils sections, below. 9.2.2.1 Geology and Soil The main issues for impacts on geology and soils include damage to the Project site designated for their geological interest or zones where the development of the Project may affect active or potential mineral extraction activities. In addition, potential issues associated with loss or damage to soils, have been considered. Assessment of the impact of the scheme on geology and soils is based on the criteria shown in Table 9-1 below. Table 9-1 Criteria for Assessing Impact on Geology and Soils Criteria for Assessing Impact on Geology and Soils Impact Definition Assessment An internationally or nationally designated site of geological interest, located within or immediately adjacent to the Project and that will be damaged or destroyed by the proposed development. Also, important area of high quality or rare soil type that will be destroyed or damaged Major by the development. A significant or active mineral resource or mining area, that lies within the site that will be sterilized by the proposed development. A locally important site of geological interest, located within or near to the Project and that will be damaged or destroyed by the proposed development. In addition, an area of high quality or rare soil type that Moderate will be destroyed or damaged by the development. Inactive mineral resource or un-mined area that will be sterilized by the proposed development. Any site of geological interest, located within or near to the Project and that will not be damaged or destroyed by the proposed development. But, the poor soil type can be destroyed or damaged by the Minor development Any mineral resource or un-mined area can be affected by the development Negligible Any geological feature, soil type or any mineral resource or un-mined area will not be affected by the Project. 9.2.2.2 Hydrogeology The significance of potential impacts on hydrogeological resources, which comprises groundwater sources and dependent surface water sources, which can be affected by the Project development, is based on the criteria given in the table below. Final ESIA 2 August 2013 AECOM Final Report Environment 9-3 Table 9-2 Criteria for Assessing Impact on Hydrogeology Criteria for Assessing Impact on Hydrogeology Impact Definition Assessment The construction or operation will pollute, damage or destroy water Major supplies that are important for drinking water or industry, or are a particularly rare or valuable resource. The construction or operation will pollute or give a damage or Moderate destruction to water supplies that may be used for local drinking water or for industry The construction or operation may pollute, damage or destruction water Minor supplies that are not used for public usage or where impermeable units overlie the aquifer The construction or operation will not pollute, damage or destroy water Negligible supplies and/or there is no hydrogeological resource near or within the Project site. 9.2.2.3 Waste management There are two classes of waste management issues associated with the development. These include: • The presence of licensed waste management sites within or in the vicinity of the site (Solid Waste Disposal Facilities in Istanbul); • Issues associated with disposal of waste material as part of the construction and operation of the planned route (İZAYDAŞ (İzmit Metropolitan Municipality, İzmit Waste and Residue Treatment and Incineration and Recycling Co. Inc.), ERDEMİR (Ereğli Iron and Steel Manufacturing Inc.), and İSKEN (İskenderun Energy Production and Trade Company). The following table sets out the assessment criteria used in this chapter for assessing the impact of waste management issues associated with this Project. Table 9-3 Criteria for Assessing Impact on Waste Management Criteria for Assessing Impact on Waste Management Impact Definition Assessment In the Project area, there is disposal of Hazardous Waste, or large Major quantities of Non-Hazardous waste during construction or operation, where the wastes cannot be re-used In the Project area, there is disposal of Non-Hazardous Waste, or Inert Moderate waste during construction or operation, where the wastes cannot be re- used In the Project area, there are disposal of Inert waste during construction Minor or operation; the wastes may be re-used Negligible In the Project area, there are minimum quantities disposal of Hazardous Waste, during construction or operation; the wastes may be re-used Final ESIA 2 August 2013 AECOM Final Report Environment 9-4 9.3 Baseline Conditions 9.3.1 Geology and Soil Istanbul District is located on Çatalca Peninsula in the west, the Kocaeli Peninsula in the east separated by a waterway (the Bosphorus) between these peninsulas. Furthermore, the region is one of the two linking points of Asia and Europe. It only covers 0.7% of the country’s territories and the shape of the district resembles a rectangle with the long edge in the E-W direction (approximately 100 km) and short edge in the N-S direction (approximately 50-60 km). Stratigraphy The general geology of the Istanbul District is formed by Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic, Quaternary and actual sedimentary materials with soils, according to the Istanbul Environmental Condition Report (2009). Boundary relations of these rock formations are mostly unconformities that are sourced from tectonic activities. Paleozoic deposits are observed in Çatalca Peninsula, the Bosphorus shores, and the Asian (Kocaeli Peninsula) continuation of linked formations, whereas Cenozoic and Quaternary deposits are examined mostly in the western side of the district. Alluvial formations are mostly encountered at the Bosphorus coast and valley bottoms. Antique and actual artificial fillings (made ground) can be seen at the Marmara Sea coasts apart from these natural deposits. In the northern side of Çatalca Peninsula a rock unit called the “Istranca