Durres-Morine Road Corridor - Milot to Rreshen Environmental Impact Assessment Review FINAL REPORT (EIA) E986 Contents Volume 2 Executive Summary 6 Brief Project Description 6 Public Disclosure Authorized Main Environmental Impacts 6 Institutional Strengthening 10 I Independent EIA Review by Scott Wilson 11 1.1 Introduction 11 1.2 Confirmation that the project falls within the A Category Rating 11 1.3 Priority Environmental Issues Identified 12 1.4 Appropriateness of the EA Document 12 1.5 Appropriateness of the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) 12 1.6 Assistance with Public Consultation 13 Public Disclosure Authorized 1.7 Resettlement Plan 13 1.8 Introduction to the Mott Macdonald/ Tecnics EIA Report 14 1.9 Description of the Proposed Project assessed by the Mott Macdonald/ Tecnics EIA Report 14 1.10 Milot to Rreshen (26km Section) Reviewed by Scott Wilson 16 2 Policy, Legal and Administrative Framework 19 2.1 Policy 19 2.2 Legislative Background 20 2.3 Institutional Regulatory Public Disclosure Authorized Framework 22 2.4 The Rights of the Citizen 24 3 Environmental Baseline 26 3.1 Geology 26 3.1.1 Tectonic Zones 26 3.1.1.1 Krasta Zone 26 3.1.1.2 Mirdita Zone 27 3.1.2 Stratigraphy 27 3.1.3 Structure 28 3.1.4 Seismicity 29 3.2 Soils 30 3.2.1 Natural Soils and Agricultural Soils 30 Public Disclosure Authorized 3.2.2 Contaminated Land 31 3.3 Air Quality and Noise 32 3.3.1 Air Quality 32 Mott MacDonald TECNIC Consulting Engineers 1 Updated and Revised by Scott Wilson June 2004 FIE OP Durres-Morine Road Corridor - Milot to Rreshen Environmental Impact Assessment Review FINAL REPORT (EIA) 3.3.2 Noise 33 3.4 Climate 35 3.4.1 Snowfall 35 3.4.2 Temperature 36 3.4.3 Wind 36 3.4.4 Rainfall 37 5 Surface and Ground Water 40 3.5.1 Surface Water 40 3.5.2 Groundwater 40 3.6 Fauna and Flora 43 3.6.1 Fauna 43 (i) Mammals 43 (ii) Fish 44 (iii) Birds 45 3.6.2 Flora 46 3.7 Landscape 46 3.7.1 Landscape Resources 47 3.7.2 Visual Receptors 47 3.8 Land Use 48 3.9 Socio-Economics 48 3.9.1 Introduction 48 3.9.2 Population 49 3.9.3 Employment 50 3.9.4 Housing 51 3.9.5 Industries 51 3.10 National and Cultural Heritage 51 3.10.1 Cultural Heritage and Undiscovered Archaeology 51 3.10.2 Built Heritage 51 3.11 Traffic and Road Safety 53 4 Environmental Impact Prediction and Effect 56 4.1 Construction Camps, Borrow Pits and Quarries 56 4.2 Soils 57 4.2.1 Natural and Agricultural Soils 57 4.2.2 Contaminated Soils 59 4.3 Air and Noise 59 4.3.1 Air Quality 59 4.3.1.1 Background 59 4.3.1.2 Methodology 60 4.3.1.3 Results 60 4.3.1.4 Conclusions and Recommendations 61 4.3.2 Noise 62 4.4 Climate 64 4.5 Surface and Groundwater 64 4.5.1 Surface Water 64 Moft MacDonald TECNIC Consulting Engineers 2 Updated and Revised by Scott Wilson June 2004 Durres-Morine Road Corridor - Milot to Rreshen Environmental Impact Assessment Review FINAL REPORT (EIA) 4.5.2 Groundwater 67 4.6 Flora and Fauna 68 4.7 Landscape 69 4.8 Land Use 70 4.9 Socio-economic 70 4.9.1 Population and Economy 70 4.9.2 Induced Development 71 4.10 National and Cultural Heritage 72 4.10.1 Cultural Heritage and Undiscovered Archaeology 72 4.10.2 Built Heritage 73 4.12 Mitigation Measures 75 4.12.1 Preliminary and Detailed Design Phase 75 (i) Soils 75 (ii) Surface and Groundwater 75 (iii) Flora and Fauna 76 (iv) Landscape 76 (v) National and Cultural Heritage 76 (vi) Public Consultation and Institutional Involvement 76 4.12.2 Construction Phase 76 (i) Air Pollution 76 (ii) Soil Erosion 77 (iii) Surface and Groundwater 78 (iv) Noise 79 (v) Flora and Fauna 79 (vi) Landscape and Land Use 80 (vii) National and Cultural Heritage 80 (viii) Stakeholder Involvement 81 (ix) Traffic and Road Safety 81 4.12.3 Operation phase 81 (i) Soils 82 (ii) Noise 82 (iii) Landscape and Land Use 82 (iv) Surface and Groundwater 82 (v) Flora and Fauna 82 (vi) Institutional Strengthening 82 4.12.4Road Maintenance Institutional Strengthening 84 5 Analysis of Alternatives 85 5.1 Alternatives 85 5.2 Assessment 85 5.3 Cumulative Assessment 95 5.4 Main Conclusions of Assessment of Alternatives 97 5.5 Preferred Alternative 98 6 Public Consultation 99 Mott MacDonald TECNIC Consulting Engineers 3 Updated and Revised by Scott Wilson June 2004 Durres-Morine Road Corridor - Milot to Rreshen Environmental Impact Assessment Review FINAL REPORT (EIA) 6.1.1 Consultation undertaken by Mott Macdonald/Tecnics on Alternatives in Durres Morine Road Corridor 99 6.1.2 House-to-House Survey of Inhabitants 99 6.1.3 Characteristics of the Communities 100 6.1.4 Economical and Living Characteristics 101 6.2. Public Consultation undertaken during Scott Wilson EIA Review 101 6.2.1 Scoping Meetings 101 6.2.2 Public Meetings 101 6.2.3 Attendees 102 6.2.4 Public Debate with questions, answers, clarifications etc. 102 6.2.5 Questionnaires 107 7 Environmental Management Plan 104 7.1 Environmental Management Plan Components 104 7.2 Environmental Mitigation Measures 104 7.3 Other Mitigation Measures 106 7.4. Mitigation Programme 106 7.4.1.1 Costs 106 7.4.1.2 Institutional Arrangements 107 7.5 Environmental Monitoring Plan 1ll 7.5.1 Monitoring Plan 111 7.5.1.1 Standard Monitoring 114 7.5.2 Reporting 123 7.5.3 Estimated Monitoring Cost 123 7.5.4 Institutional Arrangements 123 8 Resettlement Plan 128 List of Tables Table 3.1 Stratigraphy of the Study Area ................................................. 27 Table 3.2 Rainfall Depth/Duration/Frequency Curves ................................................. 37 Table 3.3: Spring Locations and Approximate Flows ................................................. 42 Table 4-1 Possible Construction Camp Locations ................................................. 56 Table 4.2: World Bank Recommended Noise Levels (Leq as dBA) ................................................. 63 Table 5.1: Analysis of Alternatives ................................................. 87 Table 6.1.1: The Types and Numbers of Buildings Surveyed ............................ ..................... 95 Table 6.1.2: The Structures by Type, Number and Location ................................................. 95 Table 6.1.2: Key issues of public debate at Milot ................................................. 97 Table 6.2.1: Key issues of public debate at Rubik ................................................. 99 Table 6.2.2: Key issues of public debate at Rreshen .................................................. 100 List of Figures Figure 1-1: Location Map .............................................. 17 Figure 1-2: 26km Milot to Rreshen Section .............................................. 13 Figure 3-3 : Daily Temperature Data, Kukes .............................................. 36 Figure 3-4: Daily Temperature Data, Lezhe .............................................. 36 Mott MacDonald TECNIC Consulting Engineers 4 Updated and Revised by Scott Wilson June 2004 Durres-Morine Road Corridor - Milot to Rreshen Environmental Impact Assessment Review FINAL REPORT (EIA) Figure 3-5: Rainfall Depth/Return Period/Duration Curves - Kukes .................................... 38 Figure 3-6: Rainfall Depth/Return Period/Duration Curves - Puke ....................................... 39 Figure 7.5.4.1 :Environmental Management Organisation ........................................... 131 Figure 7.5.4.2: Ministry of Environment - Organisation Chart ............................................. 132 Figure 7.5.4.3 :Management of Environmental Aspect - Organisation Chart ...................... 133 Figure 7.5.5 :General Road Directorate's Organisation Chart ............................................. 134 Mott MacDonald TECNIC Consulting Engineers 5 Updated and Revised by Scoff Wilson June 2004 Durres-Morine Road Corrdor - Milot to Rreshen Environmental Impact Assessment Review FINAL REPORT (EIA) Executive Summary Brief Project Description Introduction Scott Wilson has been commissioned to carry out an independent review and update of the EIA for the Durres-Morine Road Corridor. This review is to cover the specific 26km section of the route from Milot to Rreshen. The most significant changes to the original design are the construction of an embankment across the river terrace to the south of Milot and the overpass at Milot. The alignment is shown in Figure 1.1. This document is the non-technical summary of the main issues and impacts. Alternatives The Alternatives that were considered under this project were: Alternative 1: Milot - Mejha Dilemma - Puke - Hodroja Dilemma - Kukes - Morine Alternative 2: Milot - Rreshen - Blinisht - Hodroja Dilemma- Kukes - Morine Alternative 3: Milot - Rreshen - Blinisht - Reps - new alignment up the River Fani i Vogel River valley including tunnel - Kolshi -- Kukes - Morine Main Environmental Impacts Natural Soils and Agricultural Soils The proposed road could have a significant impact on soil erosion, particularly where increased cuttings and embankments are required. This erosion would lead to loss of land for production, loss of habitat, increased flood risk (by more rapid and higher levels of runoff), undermining of the road and increased siltation of the River Fani and the River Matit. This would have to be mitigated through proper engineering, the use of gabions (stackable wire cages filled with stone rubble) in appropriate places and the rapid replanting of bare soil with grasses and other ground cover. In the absence of detailed information on the design of the gabions this impact is predicted to be significant. The road design incorporates groynes that can result in erosion on the opposite river bank. As the current design does not include mitigation measures to protect the opposite bank this impact is predicted to be significant. The proposed road embankment to the south of Milot, may affect groundwater flows, resulting in water ponding behind the embankment and an adverse impact on agricultural land. Any flood flows that overtop the embankment could also pond behind it Mott MacDonald TECNIC Consulting Engineers 6 Updated and Revised by Scoff Wilson June 2004 Durres-Morine Road Corridor - Milot to Rreshen Environmental Impact Assessment Review FINAL REPORT (EIA) and have a similar impact on the agricultural land.