Bi-annual Environmental Monitoring Report Loan Nos. 2561 and 2729-ARM July–December 2013 ARM: North–South Road Corridor Investment Program, Tranches 1 and 2 Prepared by the “Organization for Implementation of North–South Road Corridor Investment Program” State Non-Commercial Organization (PMU) based on the Bi-annual Environmental Monitoring Report of the Project Management Consultant (PMC) This bi-annual environmental monitoring report is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB's Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. Table of Contents Part I Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 6 1. Construction activities and Project progress during reporting period .............................................. 7 1.1 Section 1 Ashtarak-Talin M1 road from Km29+600 to Km 71+500: ........................................ 7 1.2 Section 2 Yerevan-Ararat M2 Road from Km9+312 to Km47+400: ......................................... 7 1.3 Section 3 Yerevan-Ashtarak M1 Road from Km18+370 to Km29+773: ................................... 8 2. Environmental Safeguards Staffing................................................................................................ 8 2 . 1 PMU Social and Environmental Safeguards Unit .................................................................... 9 2.2 The PMC Environmental Safeguards Unit .............................................................................. 9 2.3 The Contractor’s Environmental Unit ...................................................................................... 9 Part II Environmental Management ........................................................................................................ 11 3. Environmental Safeguards Program ............................................................................................ 11 3.1 Compliance with National Safeguards .................................................................................. 11 3.2 Compliance with ADB Safeguards ........................................................................................ 11 3.3 Contractor’s Compliance with the EMP ................................................................................. 12 3.4 Evaluation and Approvals of the Sites for Quarries, Borrow Pits, Excavated Material Dumping, Topsoil Stockpiling and Concrete Batching Plants .......................................................... 12 3.5 Presentation of Environmental Safeguards ........................................................................... 13 3.6 Archaeological Works Program ............................................................................................ 14 3.7 Grievance redress mechanism and Consultations ................................................................ 16 3.8 ADB Mission ......................................................................................................................... 17 3.9 Communication .................................................................................................................... 18 Part III Environmental Monitoring ........................................................................................................... 20 4. Monitoring .................................................................................................................................... 20 4.1 Monitoring of the compliance with EMPs in road Section 1, Section 2 and Section 3. ........... 20 4.2 Environmental monitoring of noise and vibration, water quality, air quality. ........................... 21 4.3 PPMS indicators .................................................................................................................. 22 4.4 Non-compliance notices ....................................................................................................... 22 5. Conclusions and recommendations ................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. 6. Action plan for the upcoming reporting period: ............................... Error! Bookmark not defined. A N N E X E S ANNEX A. Ashtarak Dumping Site Inspection Report No15 ANNEX B. Reminder on request confirmation on Jrahovit pit operation ANNEX C. Topsoil stockpiling sites in Katnaghbyur 1 (PK 64+000-PK64+080), Katnaghbyur 2 (PK 65+700-PK65+800), Yeghnik (63+650km- 64+00km) and Talin (PK km 67+580-PK 68+750) ANNEX D. Proposed topsoil stockpiling and excavated material dumping sites in Kaqavadzor (section 1 and section 2) ANNEX E. Topsoil stockpiling site in Nerkin Bazmaberd 1, Nerkin Bazmaberd 2 and Nerkin Bazmaberd 3 ANNEX F Excavated material dump sites in Davtashen 1 and Davtashen 2 ANNEX G. Non-compliance notices no 0109 to CEMP in Section 3 ANNEX H. Non- compliance repeated notice to Contractor ANNEX I Implementation report on the environmental impact assessment (EIA) mitigation requirements ANNEX J Extracts from Noise and Dust Baseline Assessment N1, N2, N3 Reports List of Abbreviations ADB Asian Development Bank CEMP Contractor’s Environmental Management Plan EMP Environmental Management Plan EIA Environmental Impact Assessment IEE Initial Environmental Examination IES International Environmental Specialist NES National Environmental Specialist PMC Project Management Consultant organization PMU Project Management Unit MNP Ministry of Nature Protection MoTC Ministry of Transport and Communications MoC Ministry of Culture SMP Site Management Plan TMP Traffic Management Plan EMR Environmental Monitoring Report Part I Introduction The present Bi-annual Environmental Monitoring Report covers the time period between July and December of 2013. The Report was prepared with close cooperation with PMC1. 1. The RA has selected the Bavra-Yerevan-Agarak route as the north-south road corridor to be rehabilitated, reconstructed and expanded and has appointed the “North-South road Corridor Investment Program PMU” SNCO (“NSRP” PMU SNCO) of the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) to co-ordinate the work. The Program is funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) under a multi-tranche funding facility (MFF). 2. The MFF is designed to rehabilitate and upgrade national north-south roads to form a new, upgraded and expanded North-South highway. The main objective is to widen the existing 2-lane roads (often in poor condition) to become 4-lane divided roads along existing alignments wherever possible or to construct new alternate 2-lane roads where a single 4-lane road would not be feasible. 3. Tranche 1 Project is to improve two road sections of the North-South Corridor, namely, the M-1 section of road north from Yerevan to Ashtarak from km 18+370 to km 29+773 (Section 3 in the contract with Contractor) and the M-2 section of road south from Yerevan to Ararat from km 9+312 to km 47+400 (Section 2 in the contract with Contractor). 4. The Tranche 2 Project starts at km 29+600 in Ashtarak and end at km 71+500 close to Talin (Section 1 in the contract with Contractor). Two bypasses will be constructed in Agarak starting at km 29+934 to km 32+600, and in Ujan from km 36+600 to km 40+300. The Project will also have a new road alignment (8.95 kilometres) at Katnagbyur starting from km 59+950 to km 68+900 that will be located on the left side of the existing highway to join the existing alignment in Talin. 1 Project Management and Supervision Consultant for T1 and T2 is the joint venture of French “Safege” and Spanish “Eptisa” companies. Figure 1. Tranche1 and Tranche2 of North-South Road Corridor 1. Construction activities and Project progress during reporting period During the reporting period the following construction activities were implemented: 1.1 Section 1 Ashtarak-Talin M1 road from Km29+600 to Km 71+500: Top soil removing and stockpiling Excavation and excavated material dumping works. 1.2 Section 2 Yerevan-Ararat M2 Road from Km9+312 to Km47+400: Earth works and demolition of structures: removal of existing pavement and curbstones, common excavation, cleaning and grubbing; Subgrade (capping layer h=27cm), sub base (18cm) and aggregate base course C6 preparation; Removal of existing traffic signs; Removal of existing guardrail and delivery to store; Reinforcement of r/c culverts; Repair to existing bridge in Km 180+41; Embankment; Concrete pavement. 1.3 Section 3 Yerevan-Ashtarak M1 Road from Km18+370 to Km29+773: Earth works and demolition of structures: common excavation, rock excavation, clearing and grubbing; Removal of existing pavement and curbstones, Demolition of existing drainage structures; Dismantling and storage of the existing guardrails, Dismantling of the billboards, Subgrade (capping layer h=27cm), sub base (18cm) and aggregate base course C6 preparation; Reinforcement or installation of r/c culverts, Embankment; Concrete pavement, Also the following works were implemented: road maintenance works, flattening works at the territories of the concrete plants; transporting curbstones; installation and relocation of the safety concrete blocks; road markings for temporary traffic regulation; compacting works; 2. Environmental Safeguards