THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION The Republic Water Directorate REPORT ON STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF THE WATER MANAGEMENT STRATEGY IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN & SPATIAL PLANNING OF SERBIA Bulevar kralјa Aleksandra 73/II, Beograd, phone: 3370-091, fax: 3370-203, web: www.iaus.ac.rs Belgrade, October 2015 PROJECT TITLE: REPORT ON STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF THE WATER MANAGEMENT STRATEGY IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA PROJECT PROMOTER: Ministry of agriculture and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Serbia Republic Water Directorate Acting director: Nataša Milić, BA Forestry Engineering STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT REPORT DEVELOPER: Institute of Architecture and Urban & Spatial Planning of Serbia, Bulevar kralja Aleksandra 73/II, 11000 Belgrade Director: Saša Milijić, Ph. D. in Spatial Planning ______________________________________ TEAM LEADER: Boško Josimović, Ph. D. in Spatial Planning ______________________________________ SYNTHESIS TEAM: Boško Josimović, Ph. D. in Spatial Planning Prof. Branislav Đorđević, B. Sc. in Construction Eng. Saša Milijić, Ph. D. in Spatial Planning Vladimir Vukajlović, BA in Sociology PROJECT TEAM: Prof. Dejan Filipović, Ph. D. in Spatial Planning, Božidar Manić, M. Sc. in Architecture Dušan Banićević, MA in Ecnomics Ljubiša Bezbradica, MA in Forestry Engineering ASSOCIATES AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT: Gordana Vukšić Srđan Milosavljević 2 C O N T E N T S INTRODUCTORY NOTES.................................................................................................5 1. STARTING POINTS FOR STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT... ................................................................................................................7 1.1. Overview of the subject, contents and objectives of the strategy and relationship to other documents............................................................................................................7 1.1.1 Subject of the Strategy.............................................................................................7 1.1.2 Contents of the Strategy..........................................................................................9 . 1.1.3 Objectives for environmental protection, development and planning in the Strategy……………………………………………………………..............9 1.1.4 Relationship to other documents – strategies, plans and programs..........................11 1.2. Overview of environmental quality and the current state of the environment.........16... 1.2.1. Natural Characteristics.............................................................................................16 1.2.1.1. Climate and meteorological characteristics.................................................16 1.2.1.2. Hydrographical network and hydro geological characteristics...................18 1.2.1.3. Pedological properties................................................................................23. 1.2.1.4. Biodiversity, geodiversity, area-specific diversity and nature protection................................................................................................24 1.2.2. Quality of basic environmental factors...................................................................25 1.2.2.1. Ambient Air Quality....................................................................................26 1.2.2.2. Water quality...............................................................................................29 1.2.2.3. Soil quality................................................................................................39.. 1.2.2.4. Transboundary impacts.............................................................................43. 1.2.3. Elements of the environment exposed to impacts of hydroelectric power plants........................................................................................................................44 1.2.4. The impact of other multipurpose reservoirs...........................................................56 1.2.5. Considered issues and problems of the nature and environmental protection in the Plan and reasons for omitting certain issues from the SEA.........................60. 1.2.6. Prior consultations with authorities and organisations concerned........................61... 2. GENERAL AND SPECIAL OBJECTIVES OF THE STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND SELECTION OF INDICATORS............62. 2.1 General SEA objectives....................................................................................................62. 2.2 Special SEA objectives......................................................................................................62 2.3 Selection of indicators........................................................................................................62 3. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT..............................................................67. 3.1 Assessment of alternative solutions..................................................................................68 3.2 Evaluation of characteristics and significance of effects of strategic commitments.......................................................................................................................72 3 3.3 Summary of significant strategic impacts........................................................................89 3.3.1. Systematisation of positive impacts of the solutions envisaged by the Strategy........................................................................................................89 3.3.2. Systematisation of some negative impacts of the solutions envisaged by the Strategy.........................................................................................................91 3.3.3. Transboundary impact.............................................................................................94 3.4 Cumulative and synergistic environmental effects assessment ....................................95 3.5 Description of guidelines for preventing and mitigating negative impacts and maximizing positive impacts on the environment...........................................................97 3.5.1. General guidelines...................................................................................................97 3.5.2. Guidelines for important priority activities envisaged in the Strategy....................98 4. GUIDELINES FOR UNDERTAKING THE SEA AT LOWER HIERARCHICAL LEVELS...............................................................................................102. 5. PROGRAM FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING DURING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRATEGY....................................................... 105 5.1. Description of Strategy objectives................................................................................... 105 5.2. Indicators for environmental monitoring........................................................................106 5.2.1. Water Quality Monitoring System...........................................................................107 5.2.2. Soil Quality Monitoring System..............................................................................107 5.2.3. Emissions monitoring...............................................................................................108 5.2.4. Natural resource monitoring....................................................................................108 5.3 Rights and Obligations of Competent Authorities...........................................................109. 6. OVERVIEW OF THE USED METHODOLGY AND PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN CARRYING OUT STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT........................................................................................................................111 6.1. Methodology for undertaking the SEA............................................................................111 6.2. Difficulties in undertaking the SEA.................................................................................114 7. OVERVIEW OF DECISION MAKING METHODS......................................................115.. 8. OVERVIEW OF CONCLUSIONS OF THE STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT REPORT....................................................................................................116 8.1. General Conclusion.............................................................................................................119 SUMMARY......................................................................................................................... 121 GRAPHIC APPENDICES...................................................................................................128 4 INTRODUCTORY NOTES Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is an assessment of the possible impacts that a proposed project and programme may have on the environment, and the specification of measures for prevention, minimization, mitigation, remediation or compensation of adverse effects on the environment and human health. The SEA implementation in planning gives the scope for considering the changes occurring in space, also taking into account the needs of the subject environment. Within the SEA, all activities envisaged in the plan are critically considered from environmental aspects, after which a decision is made on whether to implement the plan and under which conditions, or whether to abandon the planned activities. Planning implies development, while a strategy for sustainable development requires environmental protection.