Armenia – NSRC Investment Program Tranche 3: Talin –Gyumri Road EIA Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Armenia North-South Road Corridor Investment Program Tranche 3: Talin-Gyumri Road August 2012 Armenia – NSRC Investment Program Tranche 3: Talin –Gyumri Road EIA Abbreviations ADB Asian Development Bank AARM ADB Armenian Resident Mission CO2 Carbon dioxide EA Executing Agency EARF Environmental Assessmentand Review Framework EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EMP Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature LARP Land Acquisition and Resettlement Plan MFF Multi-Tranche Financing Facility MNP Ministry of Nature Protection MOC Ministry of Culture MOH Ministry of Health MOTC Ministry of Transport and Communication NGO Non Government Organization NO2 Nitrogendioxide NO Nitrogenoxide MPC Maximum Permissible Concentration NPE Nature Protection Expertise NSS National Statistical Service PAHs Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons PMU Project Management Unit PPTA Project Preparatory Technical Assistance RA Republic of Armenia RAMSAR Ramsar Convention on Wetlands REA Rapid Environmental Assessment (checklist) SEI State Environmental Inspectorate SNCO State Non-commercial Organization SO2 Sulfur Dioxide SPS Safeguard Policy Statement (2009) TOR Terms of Reference UNECE United Nations Economic Commission for Europe UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 2 Armenia – NSRC Investment Program Tranche 3: Talin –Gyumri Road EIA Weights and Measures dBA decibel (A -weighted) Km kilometer(s) km2 square kilometer(s) M meter(s) mg/m3 milligram(s) per cubic meter µg/m3 microgram(s) per cubic meter Glossary Marz province marzpet provincial governor tuff volcanic rock Note In this report, “$”refers to US dollars 3 Armenia – NSRC Investment Program Tranche 3: Talin –Gyumri Road EIA Table of Contents A. Executive Summary ..................................................................................................... 8 The Project ...................................................................................................................................... 8 Executive Agency and Implementing Agency ................................................................................. 8 The Environmental Impact Assessment.......................................................................................... 8 Ecology ............................................................................................................................................ 8 Archaeology..................................................................................................................................... 9 Baseline data ................................................................................................................................... 9 Conclusion / Recommendation........................................................................................................ 9 B. Policy, Legal, Institutional and Administrative Framework......................................10 B. 1 Armenian Laws Governing Environmental Management and Assessment.................................. 10 B. 2 Armenia’s Participation in International Environmental Conventions and Protocols .................... 12 B. 3 National Institutional Framework.................................................................................................. 14 C. Description of the Tranche 3 Project .........................................................................17 C. 1 Project Scope............................................................................................................................... 17 C. 2 Major Components....................................................................................................................... 19 C. 3 Highlights of EIA Updates ............................................................................................................ 21 C. 4 Project Context and Environmental Category .............................................................................. 22 D. Description of the Environment (Baseline Data).......................................................24 D. 1 Ecology ........................................................................................................................................ 24 D. 2 Archaeology ................................................................................................................................. 24 D. 3 Geographical Location and Relief................................................................................................ 24 D. 4 Geology and Seismology ............................................................................................................. 25 D. 5 Climate, Air Quality, and Noise .................................................................................................... 25 D. 6 Climate......................................................................................................................................... 25 D. 7 Air Quality..................................................................................................................................... 26 D. 8 Greenhouse Gas Emissions......................................................................................................... 28 D. 9 Noise............................................................................................................................................ 28 4 Armenia – NSRC Investment Program Tranche 3: Talin –Gyumri Road EIA D. 10 Hydrology and Water Quality ....................................................................................................... 29 Rivers............................................................................................................................................. 29 Ponds, Reservoirs and Ground Water........................................................................................... 30 Groundwater .................................................................................................................................. 30 Water Quality................................................................................................................................. 30 D. 11 Soils and Land Contamination ..................................................................................................... 32 D. 12 Biodiversity................................................................................................................................... 33 Flora............................................................................................................................................... 33 D. 13 Environment, Protected Areas and Natural Monuments .............................................................. 37 E. Anticipated Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures.................................42 E. 1 Impacts due to Location............................................................................................................... 46 Flora and Fauna ............................................................................................................................ 46 Archaeological/Historical Sites, Natural and Cultural (Memorial) Monuments.............................. 50 E. 2 Impacts Related to Design........................................................................................................... 61 E. 3 Indirect Impact Receptors Due to Design..................................................................................... 61 E. 4 Impacts during Construction......................................................................................................... 62 E. 5 Impacts Related to Operations..................................................................................................... 67 E. 6 Cumulative Environmental Effects ............................................................................................... 67 F. Analysis of Alternatives / Alternatives to the Pre-Design.........................................68 F. 1 Mastara Archaeological Complex................................................................................................. 68 F. 2 Hayrenyats Archaeological Site ................................................................................................... 70 F. 3 Benyamin Archaeological Complex.............................................................................................. 71 F. 4 Azatan Megalithic Structures........................................................................................................ 71 G. Information Disclosure, Consultation and Participation ..........................................72 G. 1 Public Consultations..................................................................................................................... 72 1st Public Consultation .................................................................................................................. 72 2nd Public Consultation................................................................................................................. 72 G. 2 Information Disclosure ................................................................................................................. 73 G. 3 Stakeholder Meetings .................................................................................................................. 74 5 Armenia – NSRC Investment Program