Uch-Kurgan Hydropower Plant Modernization Project RRP KGZ 49240-002 Initial Environmental Examination Project Number: 49240-002 Loan and Grant Numbers: Xxxx 23 September 2018 KGZ: Uch-Kurgan Hydropower Plant Modernization Project Prepared by the Consulting Joint Venture TRACTEBEL ENGINEERING S.A/ Endustriel Elektrik Maden LLC for the Open Joint-Stock Company Electric Power Plants and for the Asian Development Bank. This initial environmental examination 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. In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. Abbreviations APs Affected people ADB Asian Development Bank CAREC Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EHS Environment, Health and Safety EMP Environmental Management Plan EPP Electric Power Plants Open Joint Stock Company (EPP OJSC) GRM Grievance Redress Mechanism HPP Hydro Power Plant IEE Initial Environmental Examination LARF Land Acquisition and Resettlement Framework MES Ministry of Emergency Situations MoA Ministry of Agriculture, Food Industry and Melioration of the Kyrgyz Republic MoF Ministry of Finance MPC Maximum Permissible Concentration NGO Non-Governmental Organization PC Public Consultation PCB Polychlorinated Biphenyls PPE Personnel protective equipment PS GES Lead Company of HPPs under EPP SAEPF State Agency on Environmental Protection and Forestry SER State Environmental Review SIETS State Inspectorate for Ecological and Technical Safety SSEMP Site specific Environmental Management Plan SPS ADB’s Safeguard Policy Statement SMP Sediment management plan UK HPP Uch Kurgan HPP UK reservoir Uch Kurgan HPP water reservoir 2 TABLE OF CONTENT 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................................10 Introduction .......................................................................................................................10 Policy, Legal, and Administrative Framework ....................................................................10 Project Location and General Situation .............................................................................11 Category of the Project ......................................................................................................12 Description of the Project ..................................................................................................12 Description of the Environment .........................................................................................13 Analysis of Alternatives .....................................................................................................14 Anticipated Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures ............................................15 Environmental Management Plan ......................................................................................16 Information, Disclosure, Consultation, and Participation ....................................................17 Grievance Redress Mechanism.........................................................................................18 Costs of the EMP ..............................................................................................................18 Conclusion and Recommendation .....................................................................................18 Structure of the Report ......................................................................................................19 2. POLICY, LEGAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK .............................................20 Administrative base ...........................................................................................................20 Environmental legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic ..............................................................21 International Conventions and Agreements .......................................................................23 Required ADB Environmental Approval .............................................................................24 Permitting Processes in Kyrgyz Republic ..........................................................................26 Environmental Standards ..................................................................................................27 3. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT ..................................................................................30 Purpose and need of the Project .......................................................................................30 Project location ..................................................................................................................30 Existing situation ...............................................................................................................34 Project description .............................................................................................................38 General view of process ................................................................................................40 Approaches to methods of dredging ..............................................................................41 Further description and alternatives of dredging works ..................................................43 Transportation method ...................................................................................................47 Sediment disposal scenarios .........................................................................................47 Scenario 1 – No Contamination of sediments ................................................................48 Location of temporary disposal site (dewatering quarry) ................................................48 Location of permanent storage site for dry sediments ....................................................51 Scenario 2 – Contaminated Sediments ..........................................................................53 Sediments analysis ...........................................................................................................53 First analysis campaign: March 2018 .............................................................................53 3 Second analysis campaign: June 2018 ..........................................................................57 Conclusion on sediment analysis ...................................................................................58 Responsibility of dredging operations ................................................................................59 Time schedule of the Project implementation ....................................................................59 Health and safety in HPP in KR .........................................................................................60 4. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT .....................................................................61 General location and physical environment .......................................................................61 Climate and Meteorology in Fergana valley and Jalal-Abad Oblast................................62 Geology and Hydrogeology ...........................................................................................62 Hydrography ..................................................................................................................63 Laboratory measurements of baseline water quality of the Naryn River .........................64 Historical characteristics of the siltation of the UK HPP reservoir on the Naryn river ......68 Topography ...................................................................................................................70 Soils ...............................................................................................................................71 Natural Disasters ...........................................................................................................71 Seismic activity ..............................................................................................................72 Ecological resources .........................................................................................................73 Flora of the Naryn River and UK HPP water reservoir ...................................................73 Fauna and Ichtyofauna ..................................................................................................73 Red Data Book ..............................................................................................................74 Protected Areas in vicinities of the Project Site ..............................................................75 Social, cultural and economic resources ...........................................................................77 Infrastructure .................................................................................................................77 Historical and Cultural Heritage .....................................................................................78 Population of Kyrgyzstan and Jalal-Abat Oblast.............................................................78 Economy of Jalal-Abat Oblast, including agriculture