CONSTRUCTION OF E-60 HIGHWAY SAMTREDIA- GRIGOLETI - SECTION Km 0 - Km11,5 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT VOLUME I. Project No Road Department Financed by EIB Ministry of Regional Develo-pment and Prepared for Infrastructure KOBA Ltd / TRANSPROJECT Ltd Foundation WEG November 2013 1 Contents 1. Project Description ......................................................................................................................... 5 1.1. Background .............................................................................................................................. 5 1.2. Objective of the project ......................................................................................................... 5 1.3 Methodology............................................................................................................................. 7 2. Project Description ............................................................................................................................. 9 2.1 Main road Design Criteria and Project parameters ............................................................. 9 2.2 Project section location and characteristic .......................................................................... 9 2.3 Road Layout and Road bed .................................................................................................... 10 2.4 Road pavement construction .................................................................................................. 12 2.5 Interchanges ................................................................................................................................. 13 2.6 Bridges and Underpasses ......................................................................................................... 14 2.7 Construction works ................................................................................................................... 21 2.8. Waste formation ......................................................................................................................... 22 2.9 Equipment Used During Construction .................................................................................. 24 2.10 A Complex of Ancillary Construction Facilities ................................................................ 25 2.11 Querries and Borrow Pits ....................................................................................................... 26 3 LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK ...................................................................... 27 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 27 3.2 Environmental Laws of Georgia........................................................................................ 27 3.3 Georgian Legislation Related to Environmental Permitting ...................................... 28 4. DESCRIPTION OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IN THE PROJECT AREA ................. 35 4.1 Climate, Air Quality and Radiation ................................................................................... 35 4.1.1 Climate ...................................................................................................................................... 35 4.1.2 Air Quality ................................................................................................................................ 37 4.1.3 Background level of radiation ............................................................................................. 39 4.1.4. Surface water objects and soil ............................................................................................ 40 4.2. Geology, Geomorphology and Hydrogeology .................................................................... 41 4.2.1. Geomorphology....................................................................................................................... 41 4.2.2. Geology and Tectonics ......................................................................................................... 46 4.2.3 Seismic Risks ............................................................................................................................ 47 4.2.4 Hydrogeology ............................................................................................................................ 48 4.2.5 Geotechnical Characteristics of Samtredia-Lanchkhuti section of the design road ........................................................................................................................................................ 50 4.3. Hydrology ..................................................................................................................................... 52 4.4 Soils ............................................................................................................................................... 56 4.5 Land Use ....................................................................................................................................... 56 4.6. Landscape and flora .................................................................................................................. 56 4.6.1. Landscape ................................................................................................................................ 56 4.6.2 Flora ............................................................................................................................................ 57 4.7 Fauna ............................................................................................................................................ 63 5. Description of social situation in the region .............................................................................. 71 5.1. Demographic indicators ........................................................................................................... 71 5.2 Anticipated Social Impact of the project ............................................................................. 88 5.3. Socio-cultural environment. .................................................................................................... 89 5.4 Land Acquisition and Resettlement ...................................................................................... 90 2 6. Analysis of alternatives ............................................................................................................... 97 6. Analysis of alternatives ............................................................................................................... 97 7. Environmental Impacts .............................................................................................................. 100 7.1 Summary of Activities and Anticipated Impacts............................................................. 100 7.2 Specific Environmental Impacts ..................................................................................... 107 7.2.1 Air Emissions Related to Construction Activities and Operation of Highway ... 107 7.2.2 Noise Impacts Related to Construction Activities and Highway Operations .... 109 7. 3 Potential Impacts Related To the Construction Activities ....................................... 111 7.3.1. Dangerous geological processes, soil erosion, soil contamination ....................... 111 7.3.2 Pollution and Waste ............................................................................................................ 111 7.3.3 Topsoil losses due to topsoil stripping ......................................................................... 114 7.3.4 Impacts on Flora. .................................................................................................................. 114 7.3.5. Impacts on Fauna ................................................................................................................. 114 7.3.6 Protected Areas ...................................................................................................................... 116 7.3.7 Landscape. ............................................................................................................................ 116 7.3.8 Water use. .............................................................................................................................. 116 7.3.9 Impacts on Archaeological Sites. .................................................................................... 117 7.3.10 Transport related impacts ............................................................................................... 117 7.3.11 Infrastructure. ...................................................................................................................... 117 7.3.12 Impact related to quarries ................................................................................................. 118 7.3.13 Construction Related Impacts at the Camp Site ....................................................... 118 7.3.14 Impacts Related to Asphalt Plant and Gravel Crushers ............................................ 119 8. Mitigation & Environmental Management Plan ................................................................... 120 8.1 Mitigation Measures ............................................................................................................... 120 8.1.1 Mitigation of Construction Related Impacts ................................................................... 120 8.1.2 Mitigation