Environmental Impact Assessment Draft April 2012 Proposed Multitranche Financing Facility Republic of Azerbaijan: Second Road Network Development Program Prepared by the Ministry of Transport Azaryolservice for the Asian Development Bank. This environmental impact assessment is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB's Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR ALAT-MASALLI MOTORWAY 1. The Second Road Network Development Program (the investment program) will promote regional cooperation and integration, and widen access to social and economic opportunities via improved road infrastructure in Azerbaijan. Built on the results of the ongoing first Road Network Development Program1 and through a holistic road subsector based approach involving physical investment and capacity development, Azerbaijan’s road network will become more effective and efficient. The investment program fits well with the transport strategy and action plan agreed under the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC)2 program. This investment program will also strengthen the government’s capacity in strategic planning, project preparation and implementation, maintenance and governance in the road subsector. 2. The government prepared the State Program for Rehabilitation and Development of Azerbaijan Republic Highways (2006–2015), which calls for a considerable increase of funding to rehabilitate and upgrade critical road links, both from loans from international financial institutions and the state budget. It is proposed that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to finance the new motorway of Alat-Masalli section (63 km) of M3 Highway, and widening of sections (Ganja– Gazakh–Georgian border) of East-west highway. The ADB Country Partnership Strategy supports improving transport infrastructure to achieve the goals of improved connectivity, increased governance, and economic and social development. Thus, the investment program supports the government’s strategy and follows ADB’s Country Partnership Strategy 2012–2017. 3. Accordingly, the project roads to be developed under this investment program are: • Project 1: Alat-Masalli road section 1 (35km) four-lane new highway (map attached) • Project 2: Alat-Masalli road section 2 (28km) four-lane new highway (map attached) • Project 3: Ganja to Gazakh (70km) widening from two-lane to four-lanes • Project 4: Ganja to Georgian boarder (65km) widening from two-lane to four-lanes 4. In 2007 the Alat-Masalli road project feasibility was prepared by the government for submission to the World Bank, by dividing the road into four sections: 2A, 3A, 3B, and 3C. Two environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports were prepared such that one EIA covered sections 2A and 3A, while the other EIA covered sections 3B and 3C. Now the same project has been submitted to ADB for financing, with all design features and details of the project: design and alignment remain the same. Both EIAs presented a good discussion on the impacts and the possible mitigation measures and cover the proposed ADB projects 1 and 2 referred above. Section 3A is aligned parallel to an existing railway line that passes through a wetland. In July 2011, an addendum to the two EIAs was prepared that investigated the status of the wetland’s sensitivity, and public consultations with respect to the wetlands and associated avifauna was conducted. ADB considers these EIAs as draft documents for disclosing. However, these EIAs are in the process of being updated to reflect the requirements of ADB’s safeguards Policy Statement 2009. The update will include the results of a new public consultation, as the consultations for the original project were conducted between 2005–2007; provide a Grievance Redress Mechanism: a mechanism to consider, manage and solve environmental complaints that may arise; an updated EMP and environmental monitoring plan, both during project implementation and operation. The two EIAs, addendum and their appendices are linked to this note. 1 ADB. 2007. Report and Recommendation of the President to the Board of Directors for the Proposed Multitranche Financing Facility to the Republic of Azerbaijan for the Road Network Development Program. Manila. 2 ADB. 2007. CAREC Transport and Trade facilitation Strategy, Manila. 48 o 30'E 50 o 00'E Altyaghadz Astrachanka Kirovka PROOF ONLY Chilmilli Sumgayit Shamakhy Nabur Agshu Gobustan Suvelan Pirallahl Pirallahl Island Bidsov Kyrdalan Baku Chilov Island Kyurdamir Sangachal REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN SECOND ROAD NETWORK DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM Hajiqabal Alyat Sabirabad 39 o 00'N Shirvan N 0 5 10 20 30 40 Kilometers National Capital District Capital City/Town Salyan World Bank’s 3A, 3B, 3C (ADB’s Project 1 and 2) Nasimi National Road Sarvan Other Road Bilasuvar Banka Sorsulu Railway River Soverabad International Boundary Boundaries are not necessarily authoritative. Takla Project 2 (28 km) This map was produced by the cartography unit of the Asian Development Bank. Usuptapa The boundaries, colors, denominations, and any other information shown on this map do not imply, on the part of the Asian Development Bank, any judgment on the Jalilabad legal status of any territory, or any endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries, colors, denominations, or information. o Project 1 (35 km) 50 00'E Masally o o o o 40 00'N 40 00'N 46 00’E 50 00’E Gasymly Dzarskij RUSSIAN GEORGIA Balaken FEDERATION Zagatala C A S P I A N S E A Yardymly Sheki Guba Agstafa Siazan o Oghuz o 41 00’N Tovuz 41 00’N Mingechevir Ismailly Sumgayit Lerik Pirallahl Lenkaran Khanlar Yevlakh Terter Kyurdamir Khyrdalan Baku Sangachal ARMENIA Agdere Hajiqabul Sabirabad Alyat Imishli Khankendi Shirvan Heidarabad Salyan Lachin NAKHCHIVAN Bilasuvar AUTONOMOUS REPUBLIC Archivan Nakhchivan Jalilabad o Masally o Note : First Proof, 28 March 2012 39 00’N Julfa 39 00’N Astara Zangilan Second Proof, 28 March 2012 Yardymly Lenkaran Lerik I R A N PROJECT o Astara 48 30'E o LOCATION o 46 00’E 50 00’E 12-0899 AV AZERBAIJAN REPUBLIC MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AZARYOLSERVICE Preparation of Environmental Assessment and Management Plans and Capacity Building Azerbaijan Highway Improvement and Development SECTIONS 2A-3A: KÜR RIVER BRIDGE TO JALILABAD INTERCHANGE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT & ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN August 2007 Preparation of Environmental Assessment and Environmental Assessment & Environmental Management and Capacity Building Environmental Management Plan Disclaimer This document has been prepared in accordance with the scope of Scott Wilson’s appointment with its client and is subject to the terms of that appointment. It is addressed to and for the sole use and reliance of Scott Wilson’s client. Scott Wilson accepts no liability for any use of this document other than by its client and only for the purposes, stated in this document, for which it was prepared and provided. No person other than the client may copy (in whole or in part) use or rely on the contents of this document, without the prior written permission of the Company Secretary of Scott Wilson Ltd. Any advice, opinions or recommendations within this document should be read and relied upon only in the context of the document as a whole. The contents of this document are not be construed as providing legal, business or tax advice or opinion. © Scott Wilson Group plc 2006 Scott Wilson Ltd August 2007 D112140EAEMP/Section 2/07/08/2007 Preparation of Environmental Assessment and Environmental Assessment & Environmental Management and Capacity Building Environmental Management Plan CONTENTS Page EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 1 Introduction 1-1 2 Policy, Legal and Administrative Framework 2-1 3 Project Description 3-1 4 Analysis of Alternatives 4-1 5 Baseline Data 5-1 6 Environmental Impacts and Mitigation 6-1 7 Environmental Management Plan 7-1 8 Public Consultation 8-1 APPENDICES A Terms of Reference A-1 B Site Photographs (April 2007) B-1 C Hydrological Monitoring Study C-1 D Ecological Monitoring Study D-1 E Environmental Mitigation Plan E-1 F Environmental Monitoring Plan F-1 G List of Consultees G-1 H Environmental Guidelines for River Gravel Extraction H-1 I Proposal for Conservation of Gyzyl-Agach Protected Areas I-1 J Bibliography J-1 Scott Wilson Ltd August 2007 D112140EAEMP/Section 2/07/08/2007 Preparation of Environmental Assessment and Environmental Assessment & Environmental Management and Capacity Building Environmental Management Plan FIGURES Map of Azerbaijan 3.1 Alignment for Kür River Bridge and Central Section 3.2 Outline Design for Kür River Bridge 3.3 Outline Design for Salyan Interchange/Railway Crossing 3.4 Outline Layout of Salyan Interchange/Railway Crossing 4.1 Alternatives for Kür River Bridge to Jalilabad Interchange 4.2 Alternatives for Kür River Bridge 5.1 Topography of the Caspian Sea Region 5.2 Azerbaijan Soils Map 5.3 Azerbaijan Climate Map 5.4 Wind Rose for Salyan 5.5 Annual Average Level of Caspian Sea – 1837-2007 5.6 Potential Areas Flooded due to Rising Sea Level 5.7 Hydrological Regime in Wetland Area 5.8 Ecological Survey Locations 6.1 Location of Potential Borrow Sites (Bähramtapa and Vilesh River) 6.2 Material Extraction at Bähramtapa 6.3 Culverts in Railway Embankment TABLES 1.1 Design Sections 2.1 International Agreements and Conventions 3.1 Traffic on M3 in 2005 (AADT) 3.2 Traffic Forecast – Medium Scenario 3.3 Severe Traffic Accidents (Annual Average, 2001-2005) 3.4 Proposed Highway Under/Overpasses 3.5 Estimate of Quantities