Republic of Armenia “High Voltage Electric Networks” CJSC Electricity Supply Reliability Project Replacement of Lalvar and Noyemberyan 110 kV OTLs Implementation Ready Environmental Management Plan GENERAL DIRECTOR ARTUR BAGDASARYAN Table of Contents 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 5 2 Project Description ......................................................................................................... 6 3 Legislative and Institutional Framework ......................................................................... 8 3.1. National Legislation .................................................................................................. 8 3.2. Permits and consents required prior to commencement of construction works of the Transmission lines .......................................................................................................... 10 3.3. International Agreements ....................................................................................... 10 3.4. The World Bank Safeguard Policies ....................................................................... 12 3.5. Administrative Framework ...................................................................................... 13 3.6. Gap analysis for national environmental legislation and the World Bank safeguard policies ............................................................................................................................ 17 4 Baseline Conditions ..................................................................................................... 18 4.1 Topography ............................................................................................................ 18 4.2 Meteorology and Climate........................................................................................ 19 4.3 Geology and Seismicity .......................................................................................... 20 4.3.1 Geological and tectonic description of the area ....................... 20 4.3.2 Hydro-geological conditions of the area ................................... 20 4.3.3 Seismic-tectonic conditions of the area .................................... 21 4.4 Soils........................................................................................................................ 22 4.5 Water Resources .................................................................................................... 22 4.6 Flora and Fauna ..................................................................................................... 23 4.7 Forests ................................................................................................................... 23 4.8 Landscape .............................................................................................................. 24 4.9 Protected Areas ...................................................................................................... 25 4.10 Socio-economic Conditions ................................................................................. 25 4.10.1 Population within the Construction area ................................... 25 4.10.2 Gender Aspects ........................................................................... 26 4.10.3 Land Use Pattern and Agriculture .............................................. 26 4.10.4 Living Standards ......................................................................... 28 Replacement of Lalvar and Noyemberyan 110 kV OTLs. IREMP Page 2 4.11 Historical and Cultural Sites ................................................................................ 29 5 Disclosure, Consultation, and Participation.................................................................. 29 6 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT PLAN (ESMP) ............................. 31 6.1 Capacity Development ........................................................................................... 31 6.1.1 Implementation Agency (IA)………………………………………....31 6.1.1 Implementation Support Consultant .......................................... 32 6.1.2 Construction Contractor ............................................................. 33 6.1.3 Subcontractor .............................................................................. 34 6.2 Reporting ................................................................................................................ 35 6.3 Training .................................................................................................................. 35 6.4 Cost Estimates ....................................................................................................... 36 6.5 Environmental and Social Impacts and Mitigation .................................................. 38 6.6 Monitoring Plan ...................................................................................................... 47 7 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................ 52 Annex A: Forms .................................................................................................................. 53 ANNEX B - Survey of Flora and Fauna within the ROW and adjacent areas ..................... 63 ANNEX C – Outcomes of Public Consultation Process ...................................................... 71 Replacement of Lalvar and Noyemberyan 110 kV OTLs. IREMP Page 3 ABBREVIATIONSANDACRONYMS CC ConstructionContractor EMF ElectricandMagneticFields EMP Environmental Management Plan ESIA EnvironmentalandSocialImpactAssessment ESMP EnvironmentalandSocialManagementPlan HVEN HighVoltage Electric Networks kV Kilovolt IREMP Implementation-ready Environmental Management Plan ISC Implementation Support Consultant KWh Kilowatt-hour MWh Megawatt-hour MEINR MinistryofEnergyInfrastructures andNaturalResources MNP MinistryofNatureProtection ofRA MOC Ministryof CultureofRA NGO Non-GovernmentalOrganization OTL OverheadTransmission Line PAP Project Affected Person PPE PersonalProtectionEquipment RA RepublicofArmenia RAP ResettlementActionPlan ROW RightofWay RPF ResettlementPolicyFramework SC Sub Contractor SEA StrategicEnvironmentalAssessment SEI StateEnvironmentalInspectorate SNCO StateNon-commercialOrganization TOR TermsOfReference UNDP UnitedNationsDevelopmentProgram WB WorldBank Replacement of Lalvar and Noyemberyan 110 kV OTLs. IREMP Page 4 1 Introduction The World Bank is supporting the Government of Armenia with the strengthening of the power transmission network under the ongoing Electricity Supply Reliability Project (ESRP). Development objective of this Project is to increase reliability and capacity of the transmission network. The Project consists of two components – (i) strengthening of power transmission network, and (ii) technical assistance. Under ESRP, the High Voltage Electric Networks (HVEN), the power transmission company, is already replacing a 220 kV overhead transmission line from Hrazdan TPP substation to Shinuhayr substation. There are savings under the ESRP, which the Government intends to use for replacement of 110 kV Noyemberyan Overhead Transmission Line (OTL) from the Alaverdi-2 220/110/35 kV substation to Noyemberyan 110/35 kV substation in Haghtanak village, and 110 kV Lalvar OTL from the same Alaverdi-2 substation to Noyemberyan substation with the T-branch to Sadakhlo substation in Georgia. Both OTLs run as two different OTL circuits through the same set of towers. Those OTLs supply power to large electricity consumers in the North-Eastern part of Armenia. The above mentioned existing OTLs are around 50 years old and severely dilapidated, as confirmed by the results of a representative sample of metal tests. This jeopardizes the security and reliability of the power supply in the region. Four routing alternatives were considered based on their scope of environmental interference and involuntary resettlement including No-Project Alternative. Thepresent Implementation-Ready Environmental Management plan (IREMP) has been developed on the basis of the ESIA report developed by the same team.The ESIA report, as well as the present IREMP is based on the detailed design of the OTLs and carries all necessary details required for guiding physical works as well as for performing their environmental supervision. The purpose of IREMP is to avoid and minimize the potential negative impacts of the construction and operation of Lalvar and Noyemberyan110 kV OTLs on the natural and social environment, as well as on the archaeological/historical and cultural resources along the ROW. The IREMP contains not only the detailed site-specific and activity-specific mitigation measures, but also monitoring activities to be undertaken during preconstruction, construction, and operation periods. Impacts of the construction stage are assessed to be most significant. However, they will be temporary in nature and can be managed effectively with the presented mitigation measures. The IREMP will become an integral part of Contractor’s contractual liabilities. Replacement of Lalvar and Noyemberyan 110 kV OTLs. IREMP Page 5 2 Project Description The new 110 kV double circuit OTLs will run 25.5 km from the Alaverdi-2 220/110/35 kV substation in the northern central part of the Republic of Armenia (Lori Marz) to the 110/35 kV Noyemberyan substation in Haghtanak village in the north-east (TavushMarz). The new OTLs will include new double circuit towers and foundations,