+IAS u X El 593 I~ U -- FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE Public Disclosure Authorized PROGRAMMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT - RURAL ENERGY PROGRAM IN GEORGIA Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized U'-¢, Zr NO.N - / ~. - Public Disclosure Authorized PROGRAMMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT - RURAL ENERGY PROGRAM IN GEORGIA July 2006 Prepared By: Dale Shileikis, URS Corp. Miguel Franco, PA Government Services Greg Michaels, PA Government Services Craig VanDevelde, PA Government Services Mariam Bakhtadze, PA Government Services George Ramishvili, PA Government Services George Tcheishvili, PA Government Services Natalia Nikuradze, PA Government Services Prepared For: United State Agency for International Development USAID/Caucasus/Georgia DISCLAMER This information was made possible through support provided by U.S. Agency for International Development, under the terms of Cooperative Agreement No. 114-A-00-05-00106-00. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Agency for International Development. Programmatic Environmental Assessment - Rural Energy Program in Georgia TABLE OF CONTENT List of Acronyms ......................................................................... iv Acknowledgements ......................................................... v 1. Introduction and Summary ............................................ 1 1.1 Introduction .......................................................................................... 1 2. Project Description ................................................. 3 2.1 The USAID/Caucasus/Georgia Rural Energy Program ........................ 3 2.1.1 O bjective 1: Increased Energy Supply ........................................................................ 4 2.1.2 Objective 2: Improved Management of Local Energy Production ............................... 6 2.1.3 Objective 3: Improved In-Country Capacity In Rural Energy and Alternative Energy Applications .................................................. 6 2.1.3 Objective 4: Improved Capacity to Utilize and Protect the Local Energy Resource Base ....................................................... 8 2.2 Relationship of the PEA to the Rural Energy Program ..................................................... 9 2.2.1 Representative Sites for Rehabilitation of Energy Facilities ....................................... 9 2.2.2 RE and EE Projects ............................................ 9 2.2.3 Natural Resource Management Plans ................................ 9 2.3 Typical Construction Activities ........................................ 11 2.3.1 Small Hydropower Projects ...................................... 12 2.3.2 Natural Gas Distribution Projects .................................. 19 3. Analysis and Alternatives .............................................. 23 3.1 Types of Energy-Related Activities Considered ............................ 23 3.2 Development of Alternatives ......................................... 25 3.3 Description of Alternatives .......................................... 26 3.3.1 Alternative 1- No Action ........................................................... 26 3.3.2 Alternative 2 - Comprehensive Support for Rural Energy Development ................... 26 3.3.3 Alternative 3 - Mid-Scale Energy Infrastructure Support and Development; Preferred Alternative ....................... ................................................. 26 3.3.4 Alternative 4 - RE / EE & IRMP Support and Activities Development ....................... 27 3.3.5 Alternative 5 - Rural Energy Activities Development ................................................ 27 3.4 C om parison of A lternatives ........................................................................ 28 4. Environmental Regulations, Legislation and Policies ........................... 29 4.1 Executive Summary ............................................... 29 4.2 Institutional Framework for Proposed Activities ............................ 30 4.3 Construction / Rehabilitation Permitting and Environmental Policy ............... 31 4.4 Conclusion ......................................................................................... 33 5. Baseline Data / Affected Environment ..................................... 34 5.1 Geology and Soils ................................................ 34 5.1.1 Abhesi .................................................... 35 5.1.2 Dzama (Kekhijvari) ............................................ 36 5.1.3 Kabali ..................................................... 36 5.1.4 Kalauri .................................................... 36 5.1.5 Kakhareti ................................................... 37 5.1.6 Khidistavi .................................................. 37 5.1.7 Lopota (Napareuli) ............................................ 37 5.1.8 Machakhela (Ked-kedi) ......................................... 38 5.1.9 Pshaveli ................................................... 38 5.1.10 Sartichala ................................................. 39 5.2 Water Resources ................................................. 40 5.2.1 Meteorology and Climate ........................................ 40 5.2.2 Hydrology .................................................. 42 5.2.3 Water Quality ................................................ 45 5.3 Biological Resources .............................................. 49 5.3.1 Overview of Major Biomes ....................................... 49 5.3.2 Abhesi .................................................... 53 Programmatic Environmental Assessment - Rural Energy Program in Georgia i 5.3.3 Dzama (Kekhijvari) ............................................ 54 5.3.4 Kabali .................................................... 55 5.3.5 Kalauri .................................................... 57 5.3.6 Kakhareti .................................................. 58 5.3.7 Khidistavi .................................................. 61 5.3.8 Lopota (Napareuli) ............................................ 61 5.3.9 Machakhela (Ked-kedi) ......................................... 63 5.3.10 Pshaveli .................................................. 66 5.3.11 Sartichala ................................................. 67 5.4 Socioeconomics ............................................... 69 5.4.1 Country Overview ............................................ 69 5.4.2 Abhesi .................................................... 70 5.4.3 Dzama (Kekhijvari) ............................................ 71 5.4.4 Kabali .................................................... 72 5.4.5 Kalauri .................................................... 73 5.4.6 Kakhareti .................................................. 73 5.4.7 Khidistavi .................................................. 74 5.4.8 Lopota (Napareuli) ............................................ 74 5.4.9 Machakhela (Ked-kedi) ......................................... 75 5.4.10 Pshaveli .................................................. 75 5.4.11 Sartichala ................................................. 76 5.5 Cultural Resources ............................................... 78 5.5.1 Country Overview ............................................ 78 5.5.2 Abhesi .................................................... 78 5.5.3 Dzama (Kekhijvari) ............................................ 79 5.5.4 Kabali .................................................... 79 5.5.5 Kalauri .................................................... 79 5.5.6 Kakhareti .................................................. 79 5.5.7 Khidistavi .................................................. 80 5.5.8 Lopota (Napareuli) ............................................ 80 5.5.9 Machakhela (Ked-kedi) ......................................... 80 5.5.10 Pshaveli .................................................. 80 5.5.11 Sartichala ................................................. 81 6. Environmental Impacts ............................................... 82 6.1 Methodology: Environmental Screening ................................. 82 6.1.1 Small Hydropower Projects ..................................... 83 6.1.2 Natural Gas Distribution Systems .................................. 84 6.1.3 RE and EE Projects ........................................... 84 6.1.4 Integrated Resource Management Plan Grants ........................ 84 6.2 G eology and Soils ........................................... 85 6.2.1 Significance Criteria ........................................... 85 6.2.2 Small Hydropower Projects ...................................... 85 6.2.3 Natural Gas Distribution System Projects ............................ 86 6.3 Water Resources ............................................... 87 6.3.1 Significance Criteria ........................................... 87 6.3.2 Small Hydropower Projects ...................................... 88 6.3.3 Natural Gas Distribution Projects .................................. 90 6.4 Biological Resources .............................................. 92 6.4.1 Significance Criteria ........................................... 92 6.4.2 Small Hydropower Projects ...................................... 92 6.4.3 Natural Gas Distribution Systems .................................. 95 6.5 Socioeconomics ................................................. 98 6.5.1 Significance Criteria ........................................... 98 6.5.2 Small Hydropower Projects .....................................