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INTRODUCTION 0.1Project Background and Objective of the Study
This study has been prepared as part of the preparation of the detailed engineering design and environmental assessment for the rehabilitation of the Baku – Shamakhi road. This road section is a 124 km segment located between km 10 and km 134 of the Baku – Shamakhi – Yevlakh road, which is classified as category II1. The proposed rehabilitation is one of the subprojects under the Azerbaijan Motorway Improvement and Development or 'Highway II' Project. It shall utilize the savings from a previous loan of the Government of Azerbaijan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) for the preceding Azerbaijan Highway Project. The project proponent is the Road Transport Service Department (RTSD) of the Ministry of Transport (MOT).
A Regional Environmental Review (RER), Environmental Assessment and Management Framework (EA&MF) and Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF) have been prepared to facilitate implementation and to ensure that sub-projects included in the ‘Highway II’ Project will comply with Azerbaijan’s legislation, procedures and policies, international conventions and WB safeguard policies, in particular in terms of environment, resettlement and land acquisition. These tools have guided the conduct of the present EA study and provided the framework for the elaboration of the various impact mitigation measures and provisions for environmental management during project implementation.
The objective of this Environmental Assessment is to address the environmental impacts and management issues associated with the proposed road rehabilitation. The EA Report, which includes an environmental management plan, addresses the needs of applicable laws and regulations of the Government of Azerbaijan including provisions of the World Bank’s Environmental Assessment: OP 4.01, January 1999.
0.2Methodology and Scope of the Study
The preparation of this EA was undertaken through field investigations, consultations with RTSD, and Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources (MENR) and stakeholder consultations. An assessment of tree plantations along the project corridor was also conducted in coordination with the State Forest Fund in Cengi.
In addition to the RER, EA&MF and RPF, other references used for this EA are studies prepared by other consultants such as Finnroad Ltd. for Tovuz Bypass and Engconsult Ltd. for Yevlakh-Ganja Road Rehabilitation. Findings of field investigation and consultations conducted in October and November 2005 supplemented the information provided in the RER.
This EA covers the applicable national and WB environmental policies and guidelines, description of existing environmental conditions, environmental impacts associated with road rehabilitation, recommended mitigation measures and environmental monitoring program. For better perception and understanding of environmental issues associated with road projects, as well as with implementation of mitigation measures and monitoring, a training component for RTSD staff is proposed under the Project.
0.3The Study Area
The Project road is a section of the shortest way from Baku to the Georgian border and to western Azerbaijan. The Project road passes through three administrative districts namely, from east to west; Absheron, Qobustan, and Shamakhi.
On the average, the potential direct area of influence along the entire length of the Project road is an estimated 25 m width strip (i.e., 15 meters total road width and about an average 5 m wide embankment slopes on each side of the road) within the 60 m ROW. This area is expected to be directly affected by reconstruction of road embankment and embankment slopes as well as in sections where bridge reconstruction or repairs will be undertaken. The extended area of influence will include borrow areas and access roads, contractor’s yard, workers’ camp, asphalt plants and disposal sites for excavation spoils and solid wastes and watercourses in the vicinity. Critical receptors, such as settlements, along the Project corridor may also be affected by noise, dust and gaseous emissions during construction and operation.
Figure 1. Project location
1POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK 1.1World Bank Environmental Policies and Guidelines
The Project has been classified as a Category B project under the provisions of the World Bank’s OP 4.01. The potential adverse impacts of Category B projects on human populations or environmentally important areas are considered less adverse than those of Category A projects. Such impacts are site-specific; few if any of them are irreversible; and in most cases mitigation measures can be designed more readily than for Category A projects. The scope of EA examines the project’s potential negative and positive environmental impacts and recommends any measures needed to prevent, minimize, mitigate or compensate for adverse impacts and improve environmental performance.2 An Environmental Management Plan detailing the mitigation measures, monitoring program, institutional strengthening and implementation schedule and costs are included in this EA.
The EA report will be presented to both the Government of Azerbaijan and WB and shall serve as a background document for approval by the competent authority (MENR). The borrower (i.e. the Government of Azerbaijan) will have to make the draft EA Report available in Azerbaijan at a public place accessible to project-affected groups and local NGOs in accordance with OP/BP 4.01, Environmental Assessment. The borrower must also officially transmit the EA report to the Bank before the Bank begins formal appraisal of the project. Once the EA report has been locally disclosed and officially received by the Bank, the Bank will also make it available to the public before it begins formal appraisal of the project.3
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