ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT M2 SARATENI – S O R O C A – UNGURI MCC Moldova Roads Rehabilitation Program SUBMITTED TO Millennium Challenge Corporation SUBMITTED BY Nathan/URS/Universcons UNDER CONTRACT NO. MCC-06-0086-CON-90/TO1 NOVEMBER 23, 2009 Environmental Impact Assessment Moldova Road Improvements Project M2 Sarateni – Soroca - Unguri Table of Contents 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Background ............................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Scoping ..................................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.3 Policy, Legal, and Administrative Framework ......................................................................... 1-2 1.4 Baseline Data ............................................................................................................................ 1-3 1.5 Environmental Impacts ............................................................................................................. 1-3 1.5.1 Protected Areas .................................................................................................................... 1-3 1.5.2 Fisheries, Aquatic Ecology .................................................................................................. 1-3 1.5.3 Wetlands .............................................................................................................................. 1-4 1.5.4 Forests .................................................................................................................................. 1-4 1.5.5 Rare, Endangered Species.................................................................................................... 1-4 1.5.6 Animal Migration ................................................................................................................ 1-5 1.5.7 Natural Industry ................................................................................................................... 1-5 1.5.8 Soil Erosion and Siltation .................................................................................................... 1-6 1.5.9 Local Flooding ..................................................................................................................... 1-6 1.5.10 Stream Channel Regime Changes ........................................................................................ 1-6 1.5.11 Landslides ............................................................................................................................ 1-6 1.5.12 Air Pollution ........................................................................................................................ 1-7 1.5.13 Noise .................................................................................................................................... 1-7 1.5.14 Surface Water and Groundwater Quality ............................................................................. 1-8 1.6 Socio-economic Impacts ........................................................................................................... 1-8 1.6.1 Potential Positive Impacts .................................................................................................... 1-8 1.6.2 Summary of Potential Negative Social Impacts ................................................................ 1-11 1.6.3 Human Trafficking, Drug Use, HIV/AIDS, and STIs ....................................................... 1-11 1.6.4 Traffic Safety ..................................................................................................................... 1-13 1.6.5 Cultural Resources ............................................................................................................. 1-13 1.6.6 Potential Resettlement ....................................................................................................... 1-13 1.7 Transboundary Impacts ........................................................................................................... 1-14 1.8 Analysis of Alternatives .......................................................................................................... 1-14 1.8.1 Background ........................................................................................................................ 1-14 1.8.2 No Action ........................................................................................................................... 1-14 1.8.3 Alternative Concepts.......................................................................................................... 1-15 1.9 Environmental Management Plan ........................................................................................... 1-15 1.10 Consultation ............................................................................................................................ 1-16 1.11 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................. 1-16 2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION .................................................................................................................................. 2-1 3. METHODOLOOGY AND SCOPING ................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1 Study Methodology ................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.1 Environmental Classification ............................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.2 Approach .............................................................................................................................. 3-1 3.2 Summary of Scoping Process ................................................................................................... 3-2 3.2.1 Scoping Meeting in Soroca (9 October 2008) ..................................................................... 3-2 3.2.2 EIA Approach to Addressing Scoping Comments .............................................................. 3-3 M2 EIA – Moldova Road Improvements Project -- November 2009 i 4. POLICY, LEGAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK ............................................................................... 4-1 4.1 National Policy on Road Sector ................................................................................................ 4-1 4.2 National Policy on Environmental Protection........................................................................... 4-1 4.3 Moldovan Legislation and Administrative Framework ............................................................ 4-2 4.4 MCC Requirements .................................................................................................................. 4-8 4.5 Administrative Infrastructure .................................................................................................... 4-9 4.6 Environmental Impact Assessment ......................................................................................... 4-10 5. BASELINE DATA ................................................................................................................................................ 5-1 5.1 Ecological Information ............................................................................................................. 5-1 5.1.1 Flora ..................................................................................................................................... 5-1 5.1.2 Fauna.................................................................................................................................... 5-1 5.1.3 Sensitive Ecosystems and Habitats ...................................................................................... 5-4 5.1.4 Protected Areas .................................................................................................................... 5-5 5.2 Physical Background ................................................................................................................ 5-7 5.2.1 Geology and Hydrogeology ................................................................................................. 5-7 5.2.2 Hydrology ............................................................................................................................ 5-8 5.2.3 Natural Disaster Risks ....................................................................................................... 5-11 5.2.4 Soils ................................................................................................................................... 5-14 5.2.5 Climate ............................................................................................................................... 5-15 5.2.6 Water Use .......................................................................................................................... 5-16 5.2.7 Traffic ................................................................................................................................ 5-17 5.2.8 Air Quality ......................................................................................................................... 5-18 5.2.9 Noise .................................................................................................................................