NonTechnical Summary of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment of the Alibunar A Wind Project in the Alibunar Municipality, Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Serbia View from Seleuš Future Views of Alibunar A and B Wind Projects View from Vladimirovac April 2015 NonTechnical Summary of Alibunar A Wind Project Table of Contents 1. Foreword ............................................................................................................................. 1 2. Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 1 3. The Proposed Project.......................................................................................................... 2 4. Legal and Bank Requirements ............................................................................................ 4 5. Project Activities that Could Affect the Environment and People ..................................... 6 6. Potential Environmental and Social Effects and Required Mitigation ............................... 6 6.1 Air quality ................................................................................................................... 7 6.2 Soil .............................................................................................................................. 7 6.3 Water ......................................................................................................................... 7 6.4 Noise & vibration ....................................................................................................... 7 6.5 Shadow flicker & ice throw ........................................................................................ 8 6.6 Landscape .................................................................................................................. 8 6.7 Birds & bats ................................................................................................................ 9 6.8 Other animals ........................................................................................................... 11 6.9 Plants, habitat, and protected areas ....................................................................... 12 6.10 Telecommunications ................................................................................................ 12 6.11 Aviation .................................................................................................................... 12 6.12 Public & occupational health & safety ..................................................................... 13 6.13 Income & employment ............................................................................................ 13 6.14 Roads & traffic ......................................................................................................... 13 6.15 Cultural heritage ...................................................................................................... 14 6.16 Electricity infrastructure .......................................................................................... 14 6.17 Health (Electrical and magnetic radiation) .............................................................. 14 7. Cumulative effects ............................................................................................................ 14 7.1 Landscape ................................................................................................................ 15 7.2 Biodiversity – birds, bats, and protected areas ....................................................... 16 7.3 Traffic ....................................................................................................................... 16 8. Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 16 List of Figures 1 Location and layout of Alibunar wind project .................................................................... 3 2 Saker falcon ....................................................................................................................... 10 3 Predatory bush cricket ...................................................................................................... 11 4 Proposed wind projects in the South Banat ..................................................................... 15 WindVision Wind Farm A d.o.o. i NonTechnical Summary of Alibunar A Wind Project 1. Foreword This document provides a Non‐Technical Summary (NTS) of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) of the Alibunar A Wind Project, which is being developed in the Republic of Serbia. The document describes in a non‐technical manner the proposed Project and presents major findings of the ESIA. The document provides a summary of environmental and socioeconomic conditions and of how the project could affect the environment and people. In addition, the NTS describes what actions will be taken to reduce the effects on the environment and people. The information contained within the NTS can be further researched in the detailed ESIA. The way in which to contact the company with requests for additional information is provided below and in the Stakeholder Engagement Plan. Both documents are provided on the WindVision website (www.windvision.com). 2. Introduction The company WindVision Windfarm A d.o.o, a subsidiary of the Dutch company WindVision (both referred to in this NTS as WindVision or the Company), intends to develop and operate a wind energy power plant near the settlements of Seleuš, Vladimirovac, and Alibunar on the territory of the municipality of Alibunar, in the south Banat region of the autonomous province of Vojvodina in Serbia. The project will include Alibunar A and B windfarms (also known as Alibunar 1 and 2), a substation, and an 11.8 kilometre transmission line. WindVision prepared an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) that was approved by the Vojvodina General Secretariat for Urbanism, Building, and Environmental Protection in 2014. This EIA covered only the Alibunar A wind project, not the entire development. Another EIA was prepared for Alibunar B and approved by the General Secretariat. If required, EIAs will also be prepared for the substation and the transmission line. As required by Serbian law, the EIAs for Alibunar A and B were disclosed for public review and comment in 2014 before being approved by the General Secretariat. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) (together, the Lenders) are considering providing financing for the Alibunar A project, the substation, and the transmission line. To meet their requirements, WindVision prepared an assessment that covered the entire development, and this NTS is a summary of this larger Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), written in nontechnical language. WindVision is now disclosing this NonTechnical Summary and a series of companion documents. Documents are in Serbian and in English and include: The ESIA that covers the entire project and the EIAs for Alibunar A and B. A Stakeholder Engagement Plan that describes how WindVision will communicate with people and institutions, and how they may communicate with WindVision and be assured of being heard. An Environmental and Social Action Plan that identifies actions WindVision and its contractors will have to take to make sure there are no unacceptable impacts on people or the environment from construction and operation of the Project. WindVision Wind Farm A d.o.o. Page 1 of 17 NonTechnical Summary of Alibunar A Wind Project In addition, WindVision is disclosing the results of a year’s monitoring of birds and bats (Serbian only) as well as archaeological studies conducted by the Institute for Protection of Cultural Heritage Pančevo. All these documents will be publicly available on the internet at www.windvision.com and www.ebrd.com. They may also be reviewed (in Serbian) at the following places: WindVision, 18‐20 Obilicev venac str., Floor VII, Apr. 1 &2, Belgrade (also in English) and 10 Zarka Zerenjanina str., Alibunar Opština Alibunar, TRG Slobode 4, Alibunar MZ Vladimirovac, Cara Lazara 76, Vladimirovac MZ Seleuš, Branka Radičeviċa 2, Seleuš MZ Banatsko Novo Selo, Maršala Tita 67, Banatsko Novo Selo EBRD, One Exchange Square, London EC2A 2JN, UK (also in English) EBRD Belgrade Resident Office, Bluecentre building, Spanskih boraca 3, 6th floor, 11070 Novi Beograd. Copies of this NTS may be requested from Milicia Vukojicic at the WindVision Alibunar address above, by calling +381 11 3283 527, or by sending an email to milicia.vukojicic@ windvision.com. WindVision will hold a public hearing in Alibunar in late May or early June 2015 to present information on the project and to receive comments on the project and the documentation. The date, time, and location of the meeting will be advertised in the following newspapers at least a week before the meeting: Dnevnik (Novi Sad), Hlas Ludu (Novi Sad), Libertatea (Pančevo), and Familia (Vladimirovac) and will also be announced on the radio station Radio‐ TV Serbia in Belgrade. 3. The Proposed Project The Project is in the south Banat region of northeast Serbia (Figure 1) about 50 kilometres northeast of Belgrade. It is located on a gently rolling loess plateau on land that is currently used to grow maize, sunflowers, and other crops. The Project is being developed in two phases, Alibunar A and Alibunar B. The Project will include the following