Development of Environmental Impact Assessment and Update of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Reports for the Mine Tailings Disposal Facility Gradac Pljevlja, Montenegro Final Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Report JULY 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................... 1 I. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................... 11 I.1. Description of the Project ................................................................................................... 11 I.2. Scope and Purpose of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Studies.......... 13 I.3. Structure of the ESIA Report ............................................................................................. 14 II. POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK ...................................................... 16 II.1. Legal Framework for Environmental Protection and Conservation ................................... 16 II.2. Legal Framework for Health and Safety ............................................................................ 16 II.3. Montenegrin/European Environmental Legislative and Permitting Framework ................. 17 II.3.1. EU Directives .............................................................................................................. 17 II.3.2. Horizontal Legislation ................................................................................................. 17 II.3.3. Nature Protection ........................................................................................................ 18 II.3.4. Air Quality ................................................................................................................... 18 II.3.5. Waste Management.................................................................................................... 18 II.3.6. Water Quality .............................................................................................................. 18 II.3.7. Industrial Pollution ...................................................................................................... 19 II.3.8. Inspections .................................................................................................................. 19 II.4. National EIA Procedure ..................................................................................................... 19 II.5. International Environmental and Social Regulatory Framework ....................................... 21 II.5.1. International Treaties and Conventions ...................................................................... 21 II.5.2. World Bank Group Environmental and Social Framework and Safeguard Policies ... 21 II.5.3. Gaps between the World Bank OP 4.01 and Montenegrin EIA Procedure ................ 23 II.5.4. Good International Industry Practice .......................................................................... 24 III. PROJECT DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................ 25 III.1. Basic Characteristics of Design Solution ....................................................................... 25 III.2. Project Solution of the Remediation Process ................................................................. 28 III.3. Recultivation Layers ....................................................................................................... 29 III.3.1. Geomembrane ............................................................................................................ 31 III.3.2. Drainage Pipes ........................................................................................................... 32 III.4. Levelling ......................................................................................................................... 32 III.5. Land Clearance .............................................................................................................. 33 III.6. Excavation, Moving and Installation of Tailings ............................................................. 34 III.7. Technology of the Excavation of Tailings ...................................................................... 34 III.8. Installation of Stabilization Layer .................................................................................... 34 III.9. Excavation Works ........................................................................................................... 35 III.10. Recultivation ................................................................................................................... 35 III.11. Material Quantities ......................................................................................................... 36 III.12. Project Duration .............................................................................................................. 37 DEVELOPMENT OF EIA AND UPDATE OF ESIA REPORTS FOR THE MINE TAILINGS DISPOSAL FACILITY GRADAC, PLJEVLJA Pg. i ESIA REPORT IV. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL BASELINE CONDITIONS .................................................. 38 IV.1. Study Area and Sources of Baseline ............................................................................. 38 IV.1.1. Potential Area of Influence of the Project ................................................................... 38 IV.1.2. Sources of Baseline Data ........................................................................................... 40 IV.2. Characteristics of the Physical Environment .................................................................. 40 IV.2.1. Topography, Geology, Hydrogeology and Hydrology of the Region .......................... 40 IV.2.2. Erosion and Land Use ................................................................................................ 45 IV.2.3. Climate ........................................................................................................................ 45 IV.2.4. Seismicity .................................................................................................................... 46 IV.3. Quality of Physical Environment .................................................................................... 47 IV.3.1. Water Quality .............................................................................................................. 47 IV.3.2. Soil Quality .................................................................................................................. 52 IV.3.3. Air Quality ................................................................................................................... 54 IV.3.4. Noise ........................................................................................................................... 54 IV.3.5. Landscape Features ................................................................................................... 55 IV.3.6. Radioactivity ............................................................................................................... 56 IV.4. Ecology and Biodiversity ................................................................................................ 57 IV.4.1. Definition of Study Area and Impact Area .................................................................. 57 IV.4.2. Assessment Methodologies and Data Sources .......................................................... 57 IV.4.3. Ecological Researches ............................................................................................... 61 IV.4.4. Findings ...................................................................................................................... 61 IV.5. Socioeconomic Environment .......................................................................................... 74 IV.5.1. Settlements ................................................................................................................. 74 IV.5.2. Demographic Characteristics ..................................................................................... 74 IV.5.3. Employment ................................................................................................................ 74 IV.5.4. Education .................................................................................................................... 74 IV.5.5. Vulnerable Groups ...................................................................................................... 74 IV.5.6. Health and Social Security ......................................................................................... 74 IV.5.7. Social Infrastructure and Services .............................................................................. 75 IV.5.8. Economy in the Municipality of Pljevlja and Livelihoods ............................................ 76 IV.5.9. Affected Settlements by the Project ........................................................................... 77 IV.6. Protected Areas and Cultural Heritage and Assets ....................................................... 77 V. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS ........................................................................... 78 V.1. Area of Influence and Impact Assessment Approach ........................................................ 78 V.1.1. Area of Influence ........................................................................................................