National Roads Rehabilitation Project Public Disclosure Authorized Osh – Batken- Isfana Public Disclosure Authorized Environmental Impact Assessment Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized July 2009 National Roads Rehabilitation (Osh-Batken-Isfana) Project (NRRP): Updated Feasibility Study Report Table of Contents Abbreviations Executive Summary 1. INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. COUNTRY BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT................................................................................................ 1 1.2. EXISTING ROAD NETWORK AND TRANSPORTATION ................................................................................ 3 1.3. BACKGROUND TO THE PROJECT........................................................................................................... 4 1.3.1 Rationale for the Project.............................................................................................................. 5 1.3.2 Links to Other Studies................................................................................................................. 5 1.4. SCOPE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES............................................................................................. 6 1.4.1 Requirements for Environmental Assessment in Kyrgyz Republic.............................................. 6 1.4.2 Assessment Requirements of the World Bank............................................................................ 8 1.4.3 Recommended Categorization of the Project.............................................................................. 9 1.4.4 Comparison of Kyrgyz and World Bank Safeguards Requirements.......................................... 10 1.5. PURPOSE AND METHODOLOGY OF EIA ............................................................................................... 12 2. THE PROJECT ...................................................................................................................................... 14 2.1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT ................................................................................................. 14 2.2. TRAFFIC VOLUMES AND TRANSPORT MODES....................................................................................... 19 2.3. DESCRIPTION OF THE ROAD .............................................................................................................. 20 2.3.1 Osh to Pulgon Section .............................................................................................................. 20 2.3.2 Pulgon to Batken Section.......................................................................................................... 21 2.3.3 Batken to Isfana Section ........................................................................................................... 23 2.4. ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES ............................................................................................................. 24 2.5. CONSTRUCTION FORCE AND EQUIPMENT ............................................................................................ 25 3. DESCRIPTION OF THE EXISTING ENVIRONMENT............................................................................ 27 3.1. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS ............................................................................................................ 27 3.1.1 General ..................................................................................................................................... 27 3.1.2 Topography............................................................................................................................... 27 3.1.3 Geology, Soils & Minerals ......................................................................................................... 28 3.1.4 Landslides, Avalanches & Earthquake Activity.......................................................................... 28 3.1.5 Climate and Air Quality ............................................................................................................. 31 3.1.6 Groundwater Resources ........................................................................................................... 32 3.1.7 River Systems & Surface Water Resources.............................................................................. 32 3.2. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES .................................................................................................................. 33 3.2.1 Flora.......................................................................................................................................... 33 3.2.2 Fauna........................................................................................................................................ 34 3.2.3 Protected Areas ........................................................................................................................ 36 3.3. SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS................................................................................................. 38 3.3.1 Industry ..................................................................................................................................... 38 3.3.2 Agricultural Activities................................................................................................................. 38 3.3.3 Population and Demographics .................................................................................................. 38 3.3.4 Livelihoods and Poverty ............................................................................................................ 39 3.3.5 Physical Cultural & Heritage Resources ................................................................................... 40 4. ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES ........................................................... 41 4.1. ROAD PROJECTS: BASIC ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS ............................................................... 41 4.2. SCREENING OF IMPACTS ................................................................................................................... 42 4.3. CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS ON THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT .................................................................. 44 4.3.1 Air Quality ................................................................................................................................. 44 4.3.2 Impacts from Quarry Sites and Borrow Pits .............................................................................. 45 4.3.3 Soils, Erosion, and Slope Stability............................................................................................. 46 4.3.4 Water Quality ............................................................................................................................ 48 4.3.5 Emergency Response Measures .............................................................................................. 49 4.4. CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS ON THE BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT............................................................... 49 4.4.1 Flora and Fauna........................................................................................................................ 49 4.4.2 Protected Areas ........................................................................................................................ 51 Volume 3 - Environmental Impact Assessment Page i National Roads Rehabilitation (Osh-Batken-Isfana) Project (NRRP): Updated Feasibility Study Report 4.5. CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS ON THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT ..................................................................... 51 4.5.1 Noise and Vibration................................................................................................................... 51 4.5.2 Impacts on Access and Traffic .................................................................................................. 53 4.5.3 Health and Safety...................................................................................................................... 54 4.5.4 Land Acquisition and Resettlement........................................................................................... 56 4.5.5 Impacts on Physical Cultural Resources................................................................................... 58 4.5.6 Other Social Impacts................................................................................................................. 58 4.6. OPERATION IMPACTS ON THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT........................................................................ 59 4.6.1 Air Quality ................................................................................................................................. 59 4.6.2 Soils, Erosion, and Slope Stability............................................................................................. 59 4.6.3 Water Quality ............................................................................................................................ 60 4.7. OPERATION IMPACTS ON THE BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT..................................................................... 60 4.7.1 Flora and Fauna........................................................................................................................ 60 4.7.2 Protected Areas .......................................................................................................................