Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized FINAL Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Public Disclosure Authorized Nurek Hydropower Rehabilitation Project Phase 2 Republic of Tajikistan May 2020 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Nurek HPP Rehabilitation Contents 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ........................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Purpose of the ESIA ............................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Organization of the ESIA ....................................................................................................... 3 2 Project description .......................................................................................................................... 4 2.1 Description of Nurek HPP ..................................................................................................... 4 2.2 The Project ............................................................................................................................ 7 Dam Safety ............................................................................................................... 9 Details of work to be performed ............................................................................. 9 Refurbishment Work Schedule .............................................................................. 11 3 Policy, Legal and Regulatory Framework ...................................................................................... 12 National Legal and Regulatory Framework ......................................................................... 12 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment in Tajikistan .................................. 12 Other Relevant Legislation on Environmental and Social Matters ........................ 14 Permits and permissions required ......................................................................... 17 Central Asian Water Management Agreements ................................................................. 18 Protocol 566 ........................................................................................................... 18 September 19, 1988 Decree .................................................................................. 19 October 12, 1991 Declaration ................................................................................ 19 February 18, 1992 Agreement ............................................................................... 19 September 20, 1995 Nukus Declaration ................................................................ 19 International Obligations .................................................................................................... 20 World Bank Environmental and Social Standards............................................................... 21 Environmental and Social Framework ................................................................... 21 World Bank Operational Policy 7.5, Projects on International Waterways ........... 22 World Bank Group Environmental, Health, and Safety Guidelines ....................... 22 World Bank Good Practice Notes .......................................................................... 22 Environmental and Social Risk Classification ...................................................................... 23 4 Baseline Conditions ...................................................................................................................... 30 Methodology ....................................................................................................................... 30 Project Area of Influence .................................................................................................... 30 Physical Environment .......................................................................................................... 31 Hydrology ............................................................................................................... 31 Baseline .................................................................................................................. 31 Flooding.................................................................................................................. 33 Water Quality ......................................................................................................... 34 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services .................................................................................. 37 Downstream Protected Areas ................................................................................ 37 Downstream Terrestrial Flora ................................................................................ 40 Downstream Terrestrial Fauna .............................................................................. 41 Downstream Aquatic Fauna ................................................................................... 42 Human Environment ........................................................................................................... 43 Administrative Context .......................................................................................... 43 Socio-economic Context ........................................................................................ 44 Nurek HPP Workplace Safety .............................................................................................. 56 5 Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts ................................................................................ 58 Scope ................................................................................................................................... 58 i Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Nurek HPP Rehabilitation Methodology ....................................................................................................................... 58 Methodology for Assessing Environmental Impacts ............................................. 59 Methodology for Assessing Social Impacts ............................................................ 60 Environmental and Social Impact Mitigation and Enhancement .......................... 61 Environmental and Social Monitoring ................................................................... 61 Identification and Evaluation of Potential Impacts............................................................. 61 Potential Impacts Due to Changes in Vakhsh River Downstream Flow Regime .... 62 Potential Impacts Due to Changes in Nurek HPP Reservoir Management ............ 63 Potential Impacts Due to Floods During Rehabilitation and Operation ................ 64 Potential Impacts Due to Waste Management ..................................................... 64 Potential Impacts of Water Pollution .................................................................... 66 Potential Impacts from Asbestos Exposure ........................................................... 66 Potentials Impacts on Worker Health, Safety, and Welfare .................................. 67 Potential Impacts of Safety Improvements During Operation .............................. 76 Potential Impacts on Community Health, Safety, and Welfare ............................. 76 Potential Impacts of Improvements of Dam Safety ............................................... 80 Potential Increase in Operational Issues During Rehabilitation ............................ 81 Potential Impacts on and from Climate Change .................................................... 81 Summary of Potential Impacts ............................................................................................ 82 6 Cumulative Impact Assessment .................................................................................................... 84 Objectives............................................................................................................................ 84 Cumulative Impacts Due to Nurek HPP Rehabilitation Project .......................................... 84 Definition of Boundaries ........................................................................................ 84 Impacts of Upstream Water Releases.................................................................... 84 Selection of Valued Environmental and Social Components ................................. 84 Cumulative Impact Assessment Over Selected VECs ............................................. 85 Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 87 Cumulative Impacts of Vakhsh River Cascade .................................................................... 87 7 Stakeholder engagement .............................................................................................................. 88 Objectives............................................................................................................................ 88 Methodology for Stakeholder Engagement........................................................................ 88 Outcomes of the Consultation Process ............................................................................... 90 Stakeholder Identification ....................................................................................