Bi-annual Environmental Monitoring Report Project Number: 49244-002 December 2019 ARM: Armenia–Georgia Border Regional Road (M6 Vanadzor–Bagratashen) Improvement Project Prepared by the “Transport Project Implementation Organization” State Non-Commercial Organization of the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of the Republic of Armenia for the Asian Development Bank. This environmental monitoring 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. Your attention is directed to the “terms of use” section on ADB’s website. 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. Semi-annual Environmental Monitoring Report Project Number: 3449 - ARM Jan- June 2019 Armenia: M6 Vanadzor-Alaverdi-Georgian Border Interstate Road (Section Km 38+450 – Km 90+191) (Financed by the ADB) Prepared by the “Transport Project Implementation Organization” SNCO based on the monthly Environmental Monitoring Reports of the Technical Supervision Consultant/Engineer TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................... 4 2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND CURRENT ACTIVITIES ................................................................. 5 3. ENVIRONMENTAL SAFEGUARD ACTIVITIES .............................................................................. 13 4. RESULTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING .......................................................................... 15 5. FUNCTIONS OF THE SEMP .......................................................................................................... 21 6. GOOD PRACTICE AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT ................................................ 23 7. SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS ....................................................................................... 24 ANNEXES ANNEX 1: THE STATUS OF LARP IMPLEMENTATION PHASES PER LOTS ANNEX 2: PHOTOS OF ACTIVITIES DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD APPENDIX 3: PROGRESS OF ISSUES IDENTIFIED DURING THE ADB&TPIO`S SITE VISIT HELD ON MARCH 7, 2019 ANNEX 3. STATUS OF MEASUREMENTS ON DUST, NOISE, WATER QUALITY AND VIBRATION IN THE REPORTING PERIOD ANNEX 5: PHOTOS OF INCIDENT IN LOT 2 APPENDIX 6: SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ENCOUNTERED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD List of Abbreviations ADB Asian Development Bank CEMP Contractor’s Environmental Management Plan CR Completion Report DNVW Dust, Noise, Vibration and Water EMP Environmental Management Plan IEE Initial Environmental Examination ES Environmental Specialist LARP Land Acquisition and Resettlement Plan LAR Land Acquisition and Resettlement MNP Ministry of Nature Protection MOTCIT Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies MoC Ministry of Culture NCN Non-Compliance Notice SSEMP Site Specific Environmental Management Plan TMP Traffic Management Plan TPIO Transport Project Implementation Organization” SNCO EMR Environmental Monitoring Report 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. Preamble 1. This report represents the Semi-Annual Environmental Monitoring Review (SAEMR) for Rehabilitation and Improvement of the M6 Vanadzor-Alaverdi-Georgian Border Interstate Road (Section Km 38+450 – Km 90+191) (Loan No.: 3449-ARM). 2. As defined by LARP, the LARP implementation has to be implemented in “section by section” principle to simplify the implementation process in terms of deadlines to be met under the Law, as well as for the commencement of construction. The LARP implementation has been divided into 3 Phases, the division of LARP implementation Phases per Lots and status are presented in the Annex 1. The LARP implementation in all 3 Phases 1 has been completed and the respective CRs have been approved by ADB and consequently the LAR-completed sections have been handed over to the Contractors. 1.2. Headline information 3. Lot 1: As of June 30, 2019, the following road sections are handed over to the Contractor: km38+450-km47+030, km47+065-km47+540, km47+670-km47+780 and km47+900- km48+140. The completion rate in Lot 1 is 60.6%. 4. Lot 2: As of June 30, 2019 the following road sections are handed over to the Contractor: km48+140-km48+935, km49+060-km49+510, km49+540-km54+515, km54+540-km54+695, km54+825-km56+135, km56+280-km56+450, km56+475-km58+540, km58+780-km60+745 and km60+810-km62+300. The completion rate in Lot 2 is 10.7%. 5. Lot 3: As of June 30, 2019 the following road sections are handed over to the Contractor: km62+300-km64+895, km64+900-km67+850, km68+070-km71+670, km71+710-km72+450, km72+475-km72+575, km72+905-km75+520, km75+595-km75+860 and km76+251- km90+191. The completion rate in Lot 3 is 15.8%. 2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND CURRENT ACTIVITIES 2.1. Project Description 6. The Republic of Armenia (hereinafter called "Borrower") has received financing from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in a form of loan towards the costs for the Armenia – Georgia Border Regional Road (M6 Vanadzor–Bagratashen) Improvement Project. Actually, ADB has approved a $50 million loan to improve the transport efficiency and safety of the M6 Highway from Vanadzor in Armenia to the border with Georgia at Bagratashen, one of the strategic roads for internal and external trade. The Government is now giving priority to the rehabilitation of transport infrastructure and the proposed project is meant to promote economic development and support transit traffic, having in mind that the ports on the Black Sea, accessed through Georgia, provide one of the major access routes for this traffic. Map 2-1: M6 Vanadzor–Alaverdi–Georgian Border Interstate Road Rehabilitation and Improvement Project Area 2.2. Project Contracts, Contact Details and Management 7. The Employer/Client: “Transport Projects Implementation Organization” SNCO Address: 4 Tigran Mets ave, 0010 Yerevan, Armenia Email: [email protected] Tel: (+37412) 20-10-09, 20-10-10 Webpage: www.tpio.am 8. Contract and Sub-contract for Construction Works: The Contractor: Horizon-95 LLC &Oberosler Cav Pietros SRL Joint Venture Address: Amiryan 26, 0002 Yerevan, Armenia Email: [email protected] Tel: (+37410) 53-88-56, 53-88-52 Webpage: www.horizon.am The Sub-Contractor: Charagayt CJSC Address: 1st street of Haghtanak district. 46 building, 0081 Yerevan, Republic of Armenia Email: [email protected] Tel: +(374 60) 75 75 25 Webpage: www.charagayt.com Lot 1 Civil works for rehabilitation/reconstruction of the existing M6 -Vanadzor-Alaverdi -Georgian border interstate road (km 38 +450 -Km 48 +140) Date of Signature: 30 November 2017 Commencement Date: May 29, 2018 Time for Completion: 900 days Defects Notification Period: 365 days The Contractor: Joint Venture: " Black Sea Group & AAB Project " Address: 39/1a Arabkir str., 0037 Yerevan, Armenia Email: [email protected] Tel: (+37410) 25-92-59 Webpage: www.aabconstruction.am Lot 2 Civil works for rehabilitation/reconstruction of the existing M6 -Vanadzor-Alaverdi -Georgian border interstate road (km 48 +140 -Km -Km 62 +300) Date of Signature: 30 November 2017 Commencement Date: May 29, 2018 Time for Completion: 900 days Defects Notification Period: 365 days The Contractor: SUARDI JSC Armenian Branch Address: 2nd Inuastrial str., №24 Transport Enterprise, Abovyan, Armenia Email: [email protected] Tel: (+37499) 55-14-69 Webpage: www.suardispa.it The Sub-Contractor: KAPAVOR LLC Address: 47bld. Shirak street, 0085 Yerevan, Armenia Email: [email protected] Tel: (+37493) 80-00-15 Webpage: www.kapavor.am Lot 3 Civil works for rehabilitation/reconstruction of the existing M6 -Vanadzor-Alaverdi -Georgian border interstate road (km 62 + 300 -Km 90 +191) Date of Signature: 30 November 2017 Commencement Date: May 29, 2018 Time for Completion: 900 days Defects Notification Period: 365 days 9. Contract for Consultancy Services: Engineer: Joint Venture Safege SAS and Hill International N.V. Address: 1704 Hakhpat Kisakayaran, Alaverdi, Armenia Email: [email protected] Tel: (+37455) 55 08 30 Contract Signed: April 03, 2018 Commencement April 03/May 03, 2018 Date/Effective Date: Duration of the Services: 30 months Defect Notification Period 12 months 2.2.1. Environmental Safeguards Staff of TPIO 10. The Project Environmental Impact Management activities are undertaken by Head of Environmental Impact Management Service and Environmental Specialist: 11. Mr. Gevorg Afyan - Head of Environmental Impact Management Service is responsible for Environmental management of the project and compliance with the national environmental legislation of the RA and safeguard policies of financing donors during the preparation and implementation of the Projects, including design, construction and supervision. 12. Mr. Mikael Tevosyan - Environmental and Archaeological Specialist is responsible for the compliance of the projects to safeguard policies of financing donors and RA legislation. 2.2.2. The Environmental Safeguards Staff of the Engineer 13. Presently the Environmental Safeguards Staff of the Supervision Consultant/Engineer consists of: 14. Mr. Arsen Hayriyan, the National Environment Specialist. He is responsible for (i) review all documents and reports regarding the integration of environmental including contractor’s environmental action plan, (ii) supervise the contractors'