Chapter 7 Environmental Baseline SCP Expansion Project, Azerbaijan Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Final TABLE OF CONTENTS 7 ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE........................................................................7-1 7.1 Introduction ...............................................................................................7-1 7.2 Geology, Geomorphology and Geohazards..............................................7-1 7.2.1 Introduction................................................................................................... 7-1 7.2.2 Methodology................................................................................................. 7-2 7.2.3 Underlying (Solid) Geology .......................................................................... 7-3 7.2.4 Drift Geology ................................................................................................ 7-6 7.2.5 Geohazards.................................................................................................. 7-8 7.2.6 Economic Geology ..................................................................................... 7-17 7.2.7 Geomorphology and Topography............................................................... 7-20 7.2.8 Sensitivities ................................................................................................ 7-22 7.3 Soils and Ground Conditions ..................................................................7-22 7.3.1 Introduction................................................................................................. 7-22 7.3.2 Methodology............................................................................................... 7-22 7.3.3 Soils and Ground Conditions...................................................................... 7-29 7.3.4 Contamination ............................................................................................ 7-49 7.3.5 Sensitivities ................................................................................................ 7-58 7.4 Landscape and Visual Receptors ...........................................................7-59 7.4.1 Introduction................................................................................................. 7-59 7.4.2 Methodology............................................................................................... 7-59 7.4.3 Landscape Context .................................................................................... 7-62 7.4.4 Landscape and Visual Baseline ................................................................. 7-62 7.4.5 Landscape and Visual Importance and Sensitivity..................................... 7-87 7.4.6 Sensitivities ................................................................................................ 7-88 7.5 Surface Water.........................................................................................7-88 7.5.1 Introduction................................................................................................. 7-88 7.5.2 Methodology............................................................................................... 7-89 7.5.3 Surface Water Bodies and Watercourses .................................................. 7-92 7.5.4 Surface Water Run-off and Flooding.......................................................... 7-97 7.5.5 River Hydraulics ....................................................................................... 7-102 7.5.6 River Channel Instability........................................................................... 7-102 7.5.7 River Water Quality .................................................................................. 7-109 7.5.8 Temporary Facilities ................................................................................. 7-115 7.5.9 Environmental Change............................................................................. 7-115 7.5.10 Sensitivities .............................................................................................. 7-116 7.6 Groundwater .........................................................................................7-116 7.6.1 Introduction............................................................................................... 7-116 7.6.2 Methodology............................................................................................. 7-116 7.6.3 Pipeline Route .......................................................................................... 7-118 7.6.4 Groundwater Monitoring........................................................................... 7-123 7.6.5 Sensitivities .............................................................................................. 7-126 7.7 Ecology .................................................................................................7-127 7.7.1 Introduction............................................................................................... 7-127 7.7.2 Methodology............................................................................................. 7-127 7.7.3 Ecological Context.................................................................................... 7-135 7.7.4 Protected Areas........................................................................................ 7-135 7.7.5 Forest Fund Areas.................................................................................... 7-138 Environmental Baseline i SCP Expansion Project, Azerbaijan Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Final 7.7.6 Flora and Vegetation ................................................................................ 7-140 7.7.7 Riparian Habitats and Fauna.................................................................... 7-158 7.7.8 Temporary Construction Camp, Pipe Storage Areas, Rail spurs and Offloading Areas ...................................................................................................... 7-170 7.7.9 Fauna ....................................................................................................... 7-172 7.7.10 Sensitivities .............................................................................................. 7-179 7.8 Climate and Air Quality .........................................................................7-188 7.8.1 Introduction............................................................................................... 7-188 7.8.2 Methodology............................................................................................. 7-188 7.8.3 Temperature............................................................................................. 7-189 7.8.4 Atmospheric Moisture............................................................................... 7-191 7.8.5 Precipitation.............................................................................................. 7-192 7.8.6 Wind Speed and Direction........................................................................ 7-195 7.8.7 Air Quality................................................................................................. 7-197 7.8.8 Dust .......................................................................................................... 7-198 7.8.9 Climate Change........................................................................................ 7-199 7.8.10 Sensitivities .............................................................................................. 7-200 7.9 Noise.....................................................................................................7-200 7.9.1 Introduction............................................................................................... 7-200 7.9.2 Methodology............................................................................................. 7-200 7.9.3 Noise Environment and Receptors........................................................... 7-201 7.9.4 Sensitivities .............................................................................................. 7-203 7.10 Archaeology and Cultural Heritage .......................................................7-203 7.10.1 Introduction............................................................................................... 7-203 7.10.2 Desktop Literature Survey........................................................................ 7-204 7.10.3 Overview and Context of the Cultural Heritage Resources of Azerbaijan 7-205 7.10.4 Methodology and Data Gaps.................................................................... 7-210 7.10.5 Baseline Archaeological Conditions ......................................................... 7-214 7.10.6 Sensitivities .............................................................................................. 7-219 Tables Table 7-1: General Stratigraphic Column of Sedimentary Rocks along the Proposed Pipeline ............................................................................................................7-4 Table 7-2: Comparison of Energy Classes and Magnitudes of Earthquakes ........7-10 Table 7-3: Intensity of Earthquakes Occurring in Other Areas within the BTC Pipeline Corridor ..........................................................................................................7-11 Table 7-4: Probability of Strong Earthquakes in the Kura Trough and the Shemaka– Ismaili Area (calculated per 1000km2)............................................................7-12 Table 7-5: Severity of Earthquakes Along the Pipeline Route