Chapter 7 Environmental Baseline WREP Sectional Replacement Project, Georgia Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Final TABLE OF CONTENTS 7 ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE ........................................................................ 7-1 7.1 Introduction ............................................................................................... 7-1 7.1.1 Background .................................................................................................... 7-1 7.1.2 Literature Reviews .......................................................................................... 7-1 7.1.3 Corridor and Route-Specific Field Surveys ..................................................... 7-2 7.1.4 Geographical Context ..................................................................................... 7-3 7.2 Geology, Geomorphology and Geohazards .............................................. 7-4 7.2.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 7-4 7.2.2 Geology .......................................................................................................... 7-4 7.2.3 Geomorphology .............................................................................................. 7-5 7.2.4 Geohazards .................................................................................................... 7-5 7.3 Soils and Ground Conditions .................................................................. 7-11 7.3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................... 7-11 7.3.2 Description of Soils ....................................................................................... 7-11 7.3.3 Soil Erosion Potential along the Proposed Route Sections ........................... 7-12 7.3.4 Land Contamination ...................................................................................... 7-14 7.3.5 Summary of Land Contamination along the Route Sections ......................... 7-18 7.3.6 Soil Sensitivities ............................................................................................ 7-18 7.4 Landscape and Visual Receptors ........................................................... 7-18 7.4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................... 7-18 7.4.2 Landscape Character Assessment ............................................................... 7-18 7.4.3 Landscape Character of the Pipeline Sections .............................................. 7-20 7.4.4 Landscape Sensitivities ................................................................................ 7-21 7.5 Surface Water Resources ....................................................................... 7-21 7.5.1 Overview of Hydrological Regime in Georgia ................................................ 7-21 7.5.2 Hydrology ..................................................................................................... 7-22 7.5.3 Water Quality ................................................................................................ 7-27 7.5.4 Surface Water Sensitivities ........................................................................... 7-30 7.6 Groundwater ........................................................................................... 7-30 7.6.1 Introduction ................................................................................................... 7-30 7.6.2 Hydrogeology ............................................................................................... 7-31 7.6.3 Groundwater Sensitivities ............................................................................. 7-35 7.7 Ecology ................................................................................................... 7-36 7.7.1 Overview and Field Survey Methodology ...................................................... 7-36 7.7.2 Protected Areas ............................................................................................ 7-39 7.7.3 Plant and Animal Species of Conservation Value ......................................... 7-42 7.7.4 Forest Fund Land ......................................................................................... 7-44 7.7.5 Biodiversity of the Pipeline Sections ............................................................. 7-45 7.7.6 Ecology Sensitivities ..................................................................................... 7-54 7.8 Climate and Air Quality ........................................................................... 7-57 7.8.1 Introduction ................................................................................................... 7-57 7.8.2 Climate ......................................................................................................... 7-57 7.8.3 Air Quality ..................................................................................................... 7-60 7.8.4 Climate and Air Quality Sensitivities .............................................................. 7-62 7.9 Noise and Vibration ................................................................................. 7-63 7.9.1 Noise and Vibration Sensitivities ................................................................... 7-63 Environmental Baseline i August 2016 WREP Sectional Replacement Project, Georgia Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Final 7.10 Cultural Heritage ..................................................................................... 7-64 7.10.1 Introduction ............................................................................................... 7-64 7.10.2 Phased Approach to Cultural Heritage Protection for Construction Projects .. 7- 64 7.10.3 Overview and Context of Georgian Heritage Resources ........................... 7-65 7.10.4 Heritage Resources in WREP-SR Project Area ........................................ 7-72 7.10.5 Legal Protection of Heritage Resources in Georgia ................................... 7-73 7.10.6 Baseline (Phase I) Assessment Methodology ........................................... 7-77 7.10.7 Heritage Sites within the Project Area ....................................................... 7-78 7.10.8 Mtskheta Heritage Impact Assessment ..................................................... 7-81 7.10.9 Key Cultural Heritage Sensitivities ............................................................ 7-82 7.11 Traffic ...................................................................................................... 7-82 7.11.1 Introduction ............................................................................................... 7-82 7.11.2 Survey Location and Methodology ............................................................ 7-82 7.11.3 Analysis of Survey Data ............................................................................ 7-82 7.11.4 Traffic Sensitivities .................................................................................... 7-84 7.12 Key Sensitivities ...................................................................................... 7-84 Tables Table 7-1: Erosion Severity Classes (Morgan et al., 2001) ................................... 7-12 Table 7-2: WREP-SR Sections with High Erosion Potential (Class 4 and Above) ............................................................................................................ 7-13 Table 7-3: Potential Contaminants along the WREP-SR Route ............................ 7-14 Table 7-4: Sites of Known Contamination along WREP-SR Sections (pre-1996) ...................................................................................................... 7-17 Table 7-5: Hydrological Characteristics of Watercourses Crossed by the WREP ............................................................................................................ 7-23 Table 7-6: Water Quality Results: Physico-Chemical Parameters, Chemistry (exc. Metals and TPH) and Microbiology ...................................................... 7-29 Table 7-7: Water Quality Results: Metals and Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons ...... 7-29 Table 7-8: Summary of Hydrogeology beneath WREP SRP Sections .................. 7-35 Table 7-9: Domin Scale of Cover-Abundance ....................................................... 7-38 Table 7-10: Threatened Species Status Categories .............................................. 7-42 Table 7-11: Species of Conservation Value Recorded during 2015/2016 Surveys .......................................................................................................... 7-42 Table 7-12: Areas of High Biodiversity Interest within RP-001a ............................ 7-46 Table 7-13: Areas of High Biodiversity Interest within RR-001 .............................. 7-49 Table 7-14 Summary of Habitats and their Biodiversity Value .............................. 7-55 Table 7-15: GHG Emissions Trends in Georgia in 1990-2011 (Gg CO2 eq) ......... 7-61 Table 7-16: Dust Sensitive Locations .................................................................... 7-62 Table 7-17: Noise Sensitive Locations .................................................................. 7-63 Table 7-18: Heritage Sites in the WREP-SR Project Area .................................... 7-79 Table 7-19: Sensitive Environmental Receptors ................................................... 7-84 Figures Figure 7-1: Geographical Map of Georgia ..............................................................