Annex III “DEVELOPMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE ON KRIEVU SALA FOR RELOCATION OF PORT ACTIVITIES OUT OF THE CITY CENTRE” THE ENVIRONMANTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY Riga 2009 Environmental Impact Assessment related to Development of Infrastructure on Krievu sala for Relocation of Port Activities out of the City Centre Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 3 1. CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF PORT INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT ON KRIEVU SALA ............................................................................................................................................................ 6 1.1. PERSPECTIVE TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE ON KRIEVU SALA ................................................. 6 1.2. PLANNED DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS AND VIABLE ALTERNATIVES .......................................... 8 1.2.1. Planned Activity (Alternative 1) ........................................................................................... 8 1.2.2. Non-implementation of Planned Activity ( Alternative 0) ................................................... 10 2. SPECIFIC FEATURES OF THE TERRITORIES, RELATED TO PLANNED ACTIVITIES, AND OF THE TERRITORIES ADJACENT TO THEM. ............................................................................. 11 3. MAJOR POSSIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ............................................................... 14 3.1. AIR QUALITY CHANGE ............................................................................................................. 14 3.2. NOISE AND VIBRATION LEVEL CHANGES ................................................................................. 15 3.3. IMPACT ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY ........................................................................................ 16 3.3.1. Impact on Specially Protected Nature Territories .............................................................. 16 3.3.2. Impact on Biotopes and Plant Species ................................................................................ 16 3.3.3. Impact on Birds .................................................................................................................. 16 3.4. IMPACT ON LANDSCAPE ELEMENTS AND CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL ENVIRONMENT ........... 17 4. ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT RELEVANCE ......................................... 20 4.1. NECESSARY CHANGES IN TRANSPORT SCHEME ....................................................................... 20 4.2. AIR QUALITY CHANGES ........................................................................................................... 20 4.3. NOISE CHANGES ...................................................................................................................... 20 4.4. SUSPENDED MATTER IMPACT ON WATER QUALITY ............................................................... 21 4.5. RAINWATER IMPACT ON THE DAUGAVA RIVER ...................................................................... 22 4.6. IMPACT ON HYDRO-GEOLOGICAL CONDITIONS ........................................................................ 22 4.7. FORECASTED CONTEMPORARY GEOLOGICAL PROCESSES’ CHANGES ...................................... 22 4.8. IMPACT ON SPECIALLY PROTECTED NATURE TERRITORIES ..................................................... 22 4.9. IMPACT ON BIOTOPES AND PLANT SPECIES .............................................................................. 23 4.10. IMPACT ON BIRDS .................................................................................................................... 23 4.11. IMPACT ON LANDSCAPE ELEMENTS AND CULTURAL-HISTORICAL ENVIRONMENT .................. 23 5. FEASIBLE IMPACT ON SOCIETY ............................................................................................ 25 5.1. NECESSARY CHANGES OF TERRITORY PLANNING AND AMENDMENTS TO PLANNING DOCUMENTS 25 5.2. ASSESSMENT OF TRANSPORT GENERATED IMPACT .................................................................. 26 6. ALTERNATIVES COMPARISON AND JUSTIFICATION OF THE SELECTED ALTERNATIVE 27 2 Environmental Impact Assessment related to Development of Infrastructure on Krievu sala for Relocation of Port Activities out of the City Centre List of Abbreviations AE Andrejsala/Eksportosta EIA Environmental Impact Assessment FR Freeport of Riga FRA Freeport of Riga Authority FS Feasibility Study JSC Joint Stock Company Ltd. Limited Liability Company ha Hectare m2 Square Meter m3 Cubic Meter PM10 Particulate Matter Ten Project Development of Infrastructure on Krievu Sala for Relocation of Port Activities out of the City Centre Ro-Ro Roll-on/Roll-off dB Decibel RTU Riga Technical University UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation 3 Environmental Impact Assessment related to Development of Infrastructure on Krievu sala for Relocation of Port Activities out of the City Centre Introduction Krievu sala (Krievu island) is a vacant territory on the northern part of Riga city, on the territory of the Freeport of Riga (FR). Its development pre-requisites are stipulated by two binding Riga City Council Regulations (binding regulations Nr.34 of 20.12.2005 ” Regulations of Riga territory use and construction within its limits” and binding regulations Nr. 65 of 29.02.2000 ”On Approving of Krievu sala Detailed Planning), the Resolution of Constitutional Court of the Republic of Latvia of 17.01.20081 and the FR Development Program for 1996-2010. In compliance with the Resolution of Constitutional Court of the Republic of Latvia of 17.01.2008 the territory of Krievu sala shall be developed for the purpose of portuary construction, its detailed use for port needs is defined in the Krievu sala detailed planning. In compliance with the FR Development Program the territory of Krievu sala shall be used for the needs of general cargo and dry bulk cargo handling terminals. At present, in compliance with the amendments to Riga Development Plan, that are now being worked out2, industrial territories of the FR have to be relocated from densely populated city center to industrial suburbs of the city, with the aim to reduce environmental impact of the port’s activities, to reduce cargo traffic in the historical center of Riga, to improve social- economical environment of the city fostering strategic urban development. In compliance with the project ” Development of Infrastructure on Krievu sala for Relocation of Port Activities out of the City Centre” it is planned to develop the territory in the northern part of Krievu sala, that has not been used before, with the long-term aim to ensure port terminals’ operation. The project is being implemented in the following stages: 1) To receive technical and special terms and conditions from state and municipal institutions; 2) To elaborate feasibility study and design sketch, that provide solution for Krievu sala northern part development and functional zoning; 3) To carry out the procedure of environmental impact assessment (EIA) related to scheduled operation impact; 4) To elaborate work project documentation for engineering-technical preparation of the territory (territory’s fill and/or reclamation, construction of four berths at the Daugava River and three berths at Hapaka ditch, creation of a fairway access to the berths, main engineering networks, that will provide local connection to water supply, sewage and electricity systems on perspective terminal territories, traffic infrastructure, that will be built on Krievu sala (motor roads and railway to ensure proper functioning of perspective terminal territories). After termination of infrastructure development project it is planned to use the northern part of the developed territory for general cargo, Ro-Ro and dry bulk cargo terminal, and the terminals handling dry bulk cargo, including coal, can be deployed on the eastern part. The territories of both terminals are separated by the territory of a newly designed railway freight station. It is planned to use southern-western part and the southern part of the developed territory for the needs of administration/office building. 5) To carry out construction work stage by stage. It is planned to carry out construction work by separate stages in separate sections in accordance with technological solutions provided by the work project. 1 the Resolution of Constitutional Court of the Republic of Latvia of 17.01.2008 in regards of court proceedings Nr.2007-11-03 " On compliance of the Riga territory planning section for 2006.–2018, that is related to the Freeport of Riga territory, with clause 115 of Constitution of the Republic of Latvia ", 2 Ammendments have been approved by the Riga City Council at 18.08.2009 4 Environmental Impact Assessment related to Development of Infrastructure on Krievu sala for Relocation of Port Activities out of the City Centre The present EIA is being elaborated on the basis of resolution, adopted by the Environment State Bureau (ESB) on 29 April 2008. The said resolution refers to application of EIA after initial assessment of impact, that was completed by the Lielrigas Regional Environmental Board on 10April 2008. The EIA program was issued on 16 June 2008. In compliance with this program EIA was carried out by ”Eiroprojekts” Ltd. The planned activities are initiated by the Freeport of Riga Authority (FRA), its legal address: 40, Saivas street, Riga, LV-1030, tel. 67030800. The EIA is performed in regards of direct and indirect expected impacts,