Public Disclosure Authorized - Documents & Reports...Artak Ter-Torosyan . Project Coordinator....

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E2538 v1

National Broadband Backbone and Government Network

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK

12.08.2010 2/80 ATMS Solutions

ATMS SOLUTIONS LLC

www.atms.am

Please contact:

Artak Ter-Torosyan Project Coordinator

E-mail: [email protected]

Tel.: +37410 577425




List of Abbreviations

GoA Government of Armenia EEA European Environment Agency EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EIF Enterprise Incubator Foundation EKENG E-Governance Infrastructure Project Implementation Unit OJSC EMEP European Monitoring and Evaluation Program EMP Environmental Management Plan ESMF Environmental and Social Management Framework FFPMC Foreign Financing Projects Management Center GDCA General Department of Civil Aviation IFC International Finance Corporation IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change LLC Limited Liability Company ME Ministry of Economy MTC Ministry of Transport and Communication MF Ministry of Finance MNP Ministry of Nature Protection NCFA National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia NGO Non Governmental Organization NSRs Noise Sensitive Receivers OJSC Open Joint-Stock Company PIA Project Implementing Agency PSC Project Steering Committee PSRC Public Services Regulatory Commission RoA Republic of Armenia SEE State Environmental Expertise SNCO SEI State Environmental Inspectorate SNCO State Non-Commercial Organization ToR Terms of Reference WB World Bank




CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION 7 1.1 Objective and Scope of the ESMF 7 1.2 Contents of the ESMF 7 1.3 Applicable guidelines 8 2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION 9 2.1 Background 9 2.2 Objective 9 2.3 Key Development Issues and Rationale for World Bank Involvement 10 2.3.1 Proposed World Bank Objective(s) 11 2.3.2 Preliminary description of the World Bank Project Components 11 2.4 World Bank Safeguard Policies Triggered 13 3. LEGISLATIVE, REGULATORY AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK 15 3.1 Introduction 15 3.2 Institutional Roles and Responsibilities for the Telecommunications and

Environmental Sector 15 3.2.1 Ministry of Nature Protection 15 3.2.2 Ministry of Emergency Situations 17 3.2.3 Ministry of Healthcare 17 3.2.4 Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs 17 3.2.5 Ministry of Transport and Communication 17 3.2.6 Public Services Regulatory Commission 18 3.2.7 The former incumbent telecom operator ArmenTel 19 3.2.8 Non-Governmental Organizations 20 3.3 Legal and Regulatory Framework 20 3.3.1 Environmental and Social Legal and Regulatory Framework 20 3.4 Laws Regulating the Exploitation of Telecommunications Services 26 4. GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL BASELINE 28 4.1 General Environmental Baseline 28 4.1.1 Geography and Topography 28 4.1.2 Geology 30 4.1.3 Hydrology 32 4.1.4 Climate 33 4.1.5 Key Ecosystems 34 4.1.6 Threatened Ecosystems 37 4.1.7 Vegetation 37 4.1.8 Land use 38 4.1.9 Biodiversity and Protected Areas 39 4.1.10 Fauna 40 4.2 General Socioeconomic Baseline 42 4.2.1 General information 42




4.2.2 Political Divisions 42 4.2.3 Population 42 4.2.4 Economy Overview 43 4.2.5 Telecommunication infrastructure 44 4.2.6 Other infrastructure 45 5. POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF THE PROJECT AND MITIGATION MEASURES 46 5.1 Introduction 46 5.2 Environmental Issues 46 5.3 Potential Environmental Impacts 46 5.3.1 Terrestrial Habitat Alteration 47 5.3.2 Avian Collisions 47 5.3.3 Aquatic Habitat Alteration 48 5.3.4 Visual Impacts 48 5.3.5 Hazardous and Non-Hazardous Materials and Waste 48 5.3.6 Air Emissions 48 5.3.7 Noise 49 5.4 Potential Socio-economic, Community Health and Safety Impacts 53 5.4.1 Investments in Telecommunication Sector 54 5.4.2 Economic conditions 54 5.4.3 Land Acquisition and Modification of Land Use 54 5.4.4 Cultural and Archaeological Findings 54 5.4.5 Public Health and EMF 55 5.4.6 Public Safety 55 5.4.7 Physical and Aircraft Security 55 5.5 Potential Occupational Health And Safety Risks 58 5.5.1 Contingencies 58 5.5.2 Electrical Safety 59 5.5.3 Electromagnetic Fields (occupational) 59 5.5.4 Optical Fiber Safety 59 5.5.5 Elevated and Overhead Work 59 5.5.6 Fall Protection 59 5.5.7 Confined Space Entry 59 5.5.8 Motor Vehicle Safety 59 6. REFERENCE FRAMEWORK FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT OF

TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROJECT 64 6.1 Project Implementing Agency 64 6.2 Project Screening, Review and Implementation Process 64 6.2.1 Procedures Set for Environmental and Social Impact Assessment 65 6.2.1.1 Step 1. Site Selection and Screening 65 6.2.1.2 Step 2: Categorization and Appraisal process 68 6.2.1.3 Step 3: Approval, Disclosure and Public Consultation 69 6.2.1.4 Step 4: Implementation 71




6.2.1.5 Step 5: Monitoring and Evaluation 73 6.2.2 Land acquisition screening 73 7. ACTION PLAN FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REFERENCE FRAMEWORK

AND URGENT REGULATORY MEASURES 75 7.1 Contents 75 7.2 Action Plan for the Implementation of the Reference Framework 75

7.3 Capacity Building and Technical Assistance Requirements 75

8. PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND DISCLOSURE PROCESS 78

8.1 Process for Public Consultation 78

8.2 Proposed Disclosure Plan 78

ANNEX A. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 79




1. INTRODUCTION

This document provides an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) for the sub component 1.1 “National Broadband Backbone and Government Network” of “E-Society and Innovation for Competitiveness” Project implemented in the Republic of Armenia. The mentioned sub component is financed by the World Bank. The Ministry of Economy is the agency responsible for implementing the project including the provisions of this ESMF.

This report is to be used within the “National Broadband Backbone and Government Network” Project to ensure that all environmental and social safeguards are adequately addressed and that the relevant capacity and training needs are established.

1.1 Objective and Scope of the ESMF

The main purpose of the ESMF is to:

• Establish clear procedures and methodologies for the environmental and social assessment, review, approval and implementation of investments to be financed under the project.

• Specify appropriate roles and responsibilities, and outline the necessary reporting procedures, for managing and monitoring environmental and social concerns related to project investments.

• Determine the training, capacity building and technical assistance needed to successfully implement the provisions of the ESMF.

• Provide practical information resources for implementing the ESMF.

1.2 Contents of the ESMF

The ESMF has been developed to include:

• A project description, its components and implementation arrangements with a focus on the environmental and social sensitivities and on how the subprojects will be designed, approved and implemented.

• An understanding of the legislative, regulatory and institutional framework that the Project will operate within, including an analysis of laws, regulations and agencies with a focus on requirements that will apply to the planning, approval and implementation of the ESMF for the telecommunication sector.

• A general environmental and social baseline of Armenia in order to identify and evaluate potential impact that may arise from the Project.

• Identification of potential environmental, socioeconomic and health and safety impacts derived from the subprojects to be financed, including measures to mitigate and manage such impacts.

• A reference framework designed to address the environmental and social screening, appraisal and review process for telecommunication subprojects to be financed. It is in effect a management system to identify and effectively mitigate potential future impacts of telecommunication subprojects which the project is likely to finance.




• An action plan for the implementation of the reference framework including: training and capacity building program for the institutions responsible for implementing the ESMF; budget for implementing the ESMF.

1.3 Applicable guidelines

The project proponent and PIA will comply with the following guidelines:

• The World Bank Safeguard Policies. • IFC’s EHS Guidelines for Telecommunications, dated April 30 2007. • IFC’s General Environmental, Occupational, Health and Safety Guidelines. • EBRD’s Sub-sectoral Environmental Guidelines for Telecommunications.




2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

2.1 Background

With the support from the World Bank, the Government of the Republic of Armenia through its Ministry of Economy is preparing for the Technology Competitiveness Enhancement Project, also known as “E-Society and Innovation for Competitiveness Project”. This project aims to create a supportive environment for the development of an innovative and competitive knowledge-based society in Armenia, with improved information infrastructure, electronic services, and strengthened local technology industries.

The project is split up into several components, the first one being related to the development of the necessary infrastructure to enable an e-society in Armenia (E-Society Infrastructure Development Component). One of its sub-components, the Nationwide Broadband Backbone and Government Network, has a main objective to support the development of a world-class ICT infrastructure serving major regions, communities, government and local self-government bodies and private industry in Armenia. It also includes the following other objectives:

• Enhance the telecom sector enabling environment • Promote broadband access nationwide, including in rural areas • Create a government intranet on the basis of the national broadband network

Specifically, this sub-component will provide financing for: (i) technical assistance for regulatory framework and backbone implementation; and (ii) the government contribution towards the deployment on a private-public partnership (PPP) basis of a nationwide broadband backbone network with adequate international linkages, as well as with the necessary connections for public institutions throughout the country (government virtual private network), i.e., government agencies, schools, health care facilities, etc.

In order to analyze and account for any environmental and/or social impact that the project implementation may bring about, the Government of Armenia (GoA) jointly with the World Bank wishes to conduct an environmental assessment of the telecommunications sector in Armenia, which will serve as a general guide for the design and execution of the infrastructure development projects, in particular those to be financed with the World Bank’s support.

2.2 Objective

The overall objective of this study is to develop a sectoral environmental assessment of the Armenian telecommunications sector, as well as to outline options for an environmental management plan, which will strengthen the environmental management of the telecommunications projects in Armenia. It will also provide guidelines for the selection of sites for the construction activities related to the implementation of the E-Society Infrastructure Development component of the proposed Technology Competitiveness Enhancement Project, particularly with regards to the rural telecommunications component, and for the design of mitigation measures of environmental impacts.




2.3 Key Development Issues and Rationale for World Bank Involvement

The GoA has demonstrated significant commitment to developing the ICT and knowledge-intensive sector by adopting its Information Technology Sector Development Concept Paper (Annex to the RA Government Decree No. 35 dated August 28, 2008), which lays out the government’s vision for the sector as achieving a “sustainable information society with advanced ICT infrastructure, high-level computer literacy, high level of computer saturation and Internet access, extended use of e-services systems, existence of large local IT market and progressive knowledge-based industry”.

The IT Sector Development Concept paper calls for accelerated ICT infrastructure development in order to converge with European standards and to meet the government’s expectations of economic development of the country. The results expected within the next five years include the following: 50% of priority government services are available online, 80% public sector computer penetration and 70% Internet penetration among country population, implying that the majority of government offices would need to be provided with broadband Internet access within that time frame.

However, the current pace of uptake of broadband services in Armenia is not sufficient to achieve these ambitious but reachable targets. According to the United Nations’ global e-government readiness report for 2008, Armenia was ranked after 100 countries of the world, despite enjoying since 2007 a fully liberalized telecommunications sector, with three major competing mobile operators, numerous Internet Service Providers, and a number of new entrants. Substantial growth over the past few years in mobile penetration, which has now exceeded 100%, places Armenia in third place within the CIS, ahead of its sub-regional neighbors. Nevertheless, the level of Internet penetration is still far from being satisfactory, at around 5-10% of the entire population according to various surveys, and broadband penetration of just around 1-2%.

In particular, when it comes to the service delivery in the regions, the provisioning gaps are immense due to poorly developed or almost non-existent infrastructure. Major inequalities in access to modern ICTs between citizens residing in the capital city and rural areas, as well as high prices for advanced services, notably broadband Internet, are to a large extent due to the lack of competition in access to international telecommunication networks and a dearth of investment in domestic backbone networks. Although after the liberalization of the Armenian telecom market the cost of international connections has substantially decreased, it is still notably higher in comparison to that of connections in European and certain CIS countries.

The government is a major user of telecommunications services. The Ministry of Economy estimates that the central government alone spends somewhere between US$ 10 and 15 million annually. The government wishes to consolidate this spending by creating a government virtual private network that will at the same time save costs and increase the quality of telecommunications services provided to all public institutions, and become a key building block in the provision of a wide range of online government services to both citizens and businesses. The currently available bandwidth is insufficient, due to the lack of reliable broadband internet connections to the municipalities. Also, the existing infrastructure serving the government intranet is mainly based on connectivity to most ministries within Yerevan with broadband internet connections and LAN interconnectivity. All other connections to provinces and municipalities are based on the public Internet connectivity only. The broadband backbone extensions to the




regions are therefore urgently necessary to avoid a major digital divide from emerging within Armenia.

The World Bank involvement may play a crucial role in the area of information society formation in Armenia based on the Bank’s extensive experience in financing similar projects worldwide. Examples include numerous broadband development and e-government projects in different parts of the world. The World Bank is also well positioned due to its prior involvement in the ICT sector in Armenia. Notably, the Bank has been supporting Armenia’s liberalization efforts in the telecommunications sector from 2001 through a series of non-lending technical assistance activities and grants, and is currently involved in the e-government space through the Public Sector Modernization Project.

2.3.1 Proposed Project Objective(s)

In June 2009, the World Bank adopted its new Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for Armenia for 2009-2012. The CPS was developed in close partnership with the Government of Armenia and is firmly grounded on Armenia's Sustainable Development Program (SDP). The new CPS has a two-pillar approach: (i) Addressing Vulnerability, with the aim of mitigating the impact of the global economic crisis on Armenia and the most vulnerable population groups; and (ii) Promoting Competitiveness and Growth, with the objective of helping Armenia to position itself to take advantage of the recovery of the global economy and maintain high and sustained growth over the medium term.

The proposed project contributes to promoting Armenia’s competitiveness by simultaneously addressing supply and demand constraints, providing support for two key pillars of the strategy, namely development of the broadband ICT infrastructure and enabling enterprise innovation on the basis of a competitive national IT/knowledge-intensive industry and an ICT-equipped and adequately skilled society, including citizens, businesses and the government.

The components of this project go in line with the e-Society Strategy and are expected to simultaneously contribute to government efficiency, transparency and citizen-centric service delivery, social inclusion and employment, effectiveness and growth of the local IT and high-tech industries, and ultimately to the overall economic competitiveness.

The primary Project Development Objective is to strengthen the infrastructure and enabling environment for e-society and enterprise innovation in Armenia, by promoting competitiveness and growth of the local knowledge- and technology-intensive industry and affordable, efficient and secure access to broadband, computers and e-services.

2.3.2 Description of the Project Components

The objective of the E-Society Infrastructure Development component of the proposed project is to increase access to affordable broadband services for citizens, businesses and public institutions, to equip citizens and businesses with a tool for identification and authentication for electronic transactions and to increase access to affordable computers, content and e-services for citizens. To achieve this objective, the following three interrelated sub-components are included:




Sub-component 1.1: National Broadband Backbone and Government Network (US$ 6.5 mln)

This sub-component will support the deployment on a PPP basis of a nationwide broadband backbone network with adequate international linkages, which will facilitate broadband access in the whole territory of Armenia, as well as with the necessary connections for public institutions throughout the country (government virtual private network). The sub-component will also provide the necessary technical assistance for regulatory framework and backbone implementation.

Sub-component 1.2: Digital Citizen (US$ 3 mln)

This sub-component will support the implementation of the Digital Citizen program aimed at the development and distribution of electronic identification documents to equip citizens with a tool for identification, authentication and electronic signatures. As part of the given sub-component, a Certification Authority for electronic signatures will also be established.

Sub-component 1.3: Computer for All (US$ 3.5 mln)

This sub-component will promote increased computer penetration and digital literacy through a Computer for All initiative, which will be financed through a Revolving Fund.

Although the project is targeted at the whole population of Armenia, the regions most likely to benefit from the investments are the rural areas, where the telecommunication networks are least developed. In particular, Sub-component 1.1 of the project mainly aims at developing broadband access in the Marzes of the country outside the capital.

The responsibility for the project lies fully with the Ministry of Economy, which will have the overall project coordination role. The high-level management of the project will be carried out by a Project Steering Committee (PSC), set up in accordance with the requirements of Government Decree 765 (Credit Governance Board), chaired by the Minister of Economy with the right of veto, and with the representation of several key participating institutions: the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Transport and Communication (MTC), the Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC), the Foreign Financing Projects Management Center (FFPMC), the Enterprise Incubator Foundation (EIF), the National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia (NCFA), the E-Governance Infrastructure Project Implementation Unit OJSC (EKENG).

Day-to-day management of specific activities under the project would be assured by the respective Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs), namely EIF, NCFA and EKENG, alongside FFPMC, which will manage the fiduciary aspects of the project. The PIAs will be responsible for preparing and monitoring implementation plans (work programs and budgets) for their own sub-components and activities, drafting Terms of Reference (TORs), preparing technical specifications, participating in selection processes, signing contracts and monitoring the performance of consultants/ suppliers, collecting project monitoring indicators and handling any other project implementation matters in accordance with the Project Operational Manual (POM).

NCFA will be the PIA responsible for sub-component 1.1, Nationwide Broadband Backbone Infrastructure and Government Network. NCFA will coordinate the participation of other key government stakeholder agencies, in particular the MTC and the PSRC, among others.

NCFA is an independent entity founded through a partnership between the GoA and a group of leading representatives of the private sector from the United States, Russia, the European Union and the Middle East. The Foundation aims to achieve breakthrough development toward national




competitiveness in key areas of economic activity. One key sector of activity chosen as a priority by NCFA is the telecommunications sector, with a view in particular to accelerating broadband development in the country. NCFA also sees the IT/knowledge-intensive sector as a key enabler of innovation and competitiveness for Armenia and has also included it among its list of priority sectors.

EKENG will be the PIA responsible for sub-component 1.2, Digital Citizen. EKENG will coordinate the participation of other key government stakeholder agencies including the Republic of Armenia Police, the Central Bank of Armenia, and other government agencies.

EIF will be the PIA responsible for sub-component 1.3, Computer for All. EIF will coordinate the participation of other key stakeholders, including the Central Bank of Armenia, the Competition Authority, the Ministry of Science and Education, among others.

2.4 World Bank Safeguard Policies Triggered

The World Bank has several Operational Policies (OPs) and Directives that outline World Bank lending requirements regarding social and environmental aspects (the Safeguard Policies). Three of the ten World Bank safeguard policies were triggered by this project as explained below; two additional safeguard policies would be triggered, for certain sub-projects only, on a case-by-case basis. The triggered policies are discussed in more detail in the following table:

Yes If applicable, how might it apply?

[+] Environmental Assessment (OP/BP 4.01) While environmental impact from the investments in rural telecom infrastructure financed through this project is expected to be minimal, indirect impacts could emerge from ancillary infrastructure (access roads into environmentally sensitive areas).

[+] Natural Habitats (OP/BP 4.04) The sub-projects to be financed under the broadband backbone component have the potential to impact natural habitats, given the potential need for deployment of ancillary infrastructure into sensitive regions.

[ ] Pest Management (OP 4.09)

[ ] Indigenous Peoples (OP 4.10)

[+] Physical Cultural Resources (OP 4.11) The sub-projects to be financed under the broadband backbone component have the potential to impact physical cultural resources, through the potential need for deployment of ancillary infrastructure.

[ ] Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP 4.12)

[ ] Forests (OP/BP 4.36)

[ ] Safety of Dams (OP/BP 4.37)

[ ] Projects in Disputed Areas (OP/BP/GP 7.60)

[ ] Projects on International Waterways (OP/BP/GP 7.50)

Note: + indicates Safeguard Policy is triggered by the project




Environmental Assessment, OP 4.01

OP 4.01 requires the borrower to undertake an Environmental Assessment (EA) of projects. EA evaluates a project’s potential environmental risks and impacts in its area of influence; examines project alternatives; identifies ways of improving project selection, siting, planning, design, and implementation by preventing, minimizing, mitigating, or compensating for adverse environmental impacts and enhancing positive impacts; and includes the process of mitigating and managing adverse environmental impacts throughout project implementation.

Natural Habitats, OP 4.04

OP 4.04 seeks to ensure that World Bank supported infrastructure and other development projects take into account the conservation of biodiversity, as well as the numerous environmental services and products which natural habitats provide to human society. The policy strictly limits the circumstances under which any Bank-supported project can damage natural habitats (land and water areas where most of the native plant and animal species are still present).

Specifically, the policy prohibits Bank support for projects which would lead to the significant loss or degradation of any Critical Natural Habitats, whose definition includes those natural habitats which are either:

• legally protected, • officially proposed for protection, or • unprotected but of known high conservation value.

In other (non-critical) natural habitats, Bank supported projects can cause significant loss or degradation only when:

• there are no feasible alternatives to achieve the project's substantial overall net benefits; • acceptable mitigation measures, such as compensatory protected areas, are included

within the project.

Physical Cultural Resources, OP 4.11

The objective of OP/BP 4.11 on Physical Cultural Resources is to avoid, or mitigate, adverse impacts on cultural resources from development projects that the World Bank finances.

See Section 6, Reference Framework for further details on the requirements induced for the project’s implementation agency.




3. LEGISLATIVE, REGULATORY AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK

This section comprises an overview of the current legislative, regulatory and institutional framework applicable for the telecommunications and environmental sectors in Armenia.

3.1 Introduction

The Ministry of Nature Protection is the main institution responsible for environmental matters in Armenia. In addition, there are a number of institutions that have partial responsibility over telecommunications and environmental matters. To date, Armenia does not have an integrated legal framework to regulate the telecommunications sector or an integrated set of environmental provisions specifically applicable to the telecommunications sector. Most of the current environmental provisions in are applicable to all types of projects and do not consider telecommunications as an independent category.

3.2 Institutional Roles and Responsibilities for the Telecommunications and Environmental Sector

This section identifies the Armenian authorities and institutions involved in the telecommunications sector and in the protection of the environment, natural habitats, and cultural resources, as well as agencies in charge of the application, enforcement, and effective control of the regulations and norms in these thematic areas.

3.2.1 Ministry of Nature Protection

The Ministry of Nature Protection elaborates and implements the policies of the Republic of Armenia in the areas of environmental protection and sustainable use of natural resources and is represented by the Minister and the Staff of the Ministry. Within the system of the Ministry there are also State Non-Commercial Organizations and Institutions. The main functions of the Ministry of Nature Protection of RoA are listed below:

1. Develop and coordinate implementation of the state policy and strategy on environmental protection and efficient use and reproduction of the natural resources.

2. Develop the environmental regulations. 3. Develop the economic instruments for efficient use and reproduction of environment

and national resources. 4. Facilitate fulfillment of international environmental commitments. 5. Development of the main directions of environmental education and awareness raising

strategy. 6. Execute the state environmental monitoring. 7. Carry out the investigation on the negative impact on the environment. 8. Regulate and ensure sustainable use of natural resources.

The above mentioned functions of the Ministry are implemented through the following units:




Structural Units

• Department of Environmental Protection • Department of Underground Resources Protection and Geological Monitoring • Department of Normative and Methodological Documentations • Department of International Cooperation • Legal Department • Division of Hazardous Substances and Waste Management • Division of Nature protection and Environmental Economics • Division of Financing and Environmental Economics • Division of Meteorology and Monitoring of Atmosphere Pollution • Division of Public Relations • Division of Financing and Accounting.

Separate Units

• Agency of Water Resources Management with its five Basin Management Organizations is the key institution responsible for the water resources management including, but not limited to, the development and implementation of the National Water Policy, National Water Program and basin Management Plans; regulation of water use by issuance of permits for use of surface and ground water resources; assessment and classification of water resources by their use; participation in development of water standards and control of application, etc.

• Agency of Bioresources Management participates in the environmental impact assessment of eco-system; ensures protection, reproduction and rational usage of bioresources; draws up inventory and carries out monitoring of flora and fauna, etc.

• State Environmental Inspectorate with its 11 regional offices oversees the implementation of legislative and regulatory standards on natural resources protection, use and renewal.

Organizations of Ministry

• State Environmental Expertise SNCO conducts environmental assessments of design documentation for construction, reconstruction, extension and maintenance of industry related production units, auxiliary facilities and infrastructure, including waste utilization sector, according to the requirements of National legislation and ratified International agreements and issues experts’ conclusions.

• Information Analytical Center provides data concerning environmental issues and natural resources for stakeholders, such as state authorities, NGOs, mass media, community, etc.

• Center for Waste Investigation SNCO contributes to the environmentally friendly waste treatment and management and prevention of the waste negative impacts on the environment.

• Environmental Impact Monitoring Center monitors water and air quality in different areas of Armenia through its network of observation points.




3.2.2 Ministry of Emergency Situations

Ministry of Emergency Situations is responsible for development and implementation of RoA policy in the area of civil defense and protection of the population in emergency situations. The following separate divisions and state agencies, such as State Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Service of Armenia, National Technical Safety Center, Armenian Rescue Service, National Reserves Agency and National Seismic Protection Service Agency, are also included in the structure of the Ministry.

• Armenian State Hydro-Meteorological Monitoring Service conducts regular monitoring of meteorological and hydrological conditions in different areas of Armenia through its network of metrological stations.

• National Technical Safety Center organizes and carries out measures and actions for provision of technical safety in the industrial dangerous objects operated (constructed, modernized, decommissioned, demolished) in Armenia except nuclear and power stations, radioactive substances treatment, aviation, auto and railway transport as well as military objects.

3.2.3 Ministry of Healthcare

The Ministry of Healthcare elaborates and implements the policy of the Republic of Armenia in the healthcare sector. The structure of the Ministry includes main staff and two subordinate bodies: National Healthcare Agency and National Hygiene and State Anti-Epidemiological Surveillance Inspectorate.

State Anti-Epidemiological Surveillance Inspectorate with its 19 regional offices is responsible for participation in development of sanitary norms and standards; coordination of all issues related to healthcare; supervision of sanitary norms, hygienic and anti-epidemiological measures implementation by organizations and citizens.

3.2.4 Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs

The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs among others is responsible for development and implementation of the state policy, legislation and programs in the following areas: social security, labor and employment, social assistance, social assistance to disabled and aged people, social protection of families, women and children, etc.

3.2.5 Ministry of Transport and Communication

Ministry of Transport and Communication is Governmental Body in charge for development and implementation of government policy in telecommunication field as well as for issuing of licenses for business entities acting in the field of electronic communication.

State policy in the telecommunication field is implemented through the following line departments/divisions established within the Ministry:




• Telecommunication Division of Communication Department is the key policy maker in telecommunication field. Department fulfils the following main functions:

Provision of recommendations on electronic communication sector development policies;

Elaboration of main objectives of provision of electronic communication universal services in the Republic of Armenia;

Development of relevant legal and regulatory framework, Gathering of relevant statistical data and maintenance of state register of electronic

communication field, Supervision of construction standards, regulations and safety rules for electronic

communication networks and sites operated by licensed entities, Supervision of production, import and application of end use electronic

communication equipment.

• Division of inspection and licensing is in charge for state supervision of compliance of the licensed entities with the existed regulations, standards and rules.

3.2.6 Public Services Regulatory Commission

Public Services Regulatory Commission has been established pursuant to the RA Law on the Regulatory Body for Public Services, with the legal powers of regulating the following sectors:

1. Energy sector 2. Water sector 3. Electronic Communications 4. Postal Communications 5. Railway sector 6. Mandatory technical inspection of transportation means

In the sector of electronic communications, the Public Services Regulatory Commission through its Telecommunication Department shall perform the following functions, as prescribed by the RA Law on Electronic Communications:

• Provide for competition in the sector of public electronic communications services and networks by:

a) Ensuring that the end-users derive maximum benefit in terms of choice, price, and quality of provided services and ancillary facilities thereof;

b) Excluding any distortion of competition in the sector of electronic communication services and networks;

c) Encouraging efficient investment in infrastructure and promoting innovation; and d) Encouraging efficient use of radio spectrums, orbital slots, and numbering resources and

ensuring the effective management thereof.

• Regulate public electronic communications networks and services in accordance with the law, and for that purpose shall:

a) Classify services and/or facilities; b) Establish criteria and procedures for application for and issuance, renewal, suspension,




and termination of network license and service provider license; number or code reservations, and frequency authorizations;

c) Establish universal service obligations; d) On its own initiative or upon requests by interested parties, conduct inspections and

audits to guarantee the compliance with the requirements of legislature and license; e) Ensure fair and effective competition for competitive services and networks; f) Draft regulations governing interconnection of public electronic communications networks; g) Establish and enforce rate regulation rules; h) Establish service quality standards for public electronic communications network

operators and service providers; i) Recommend to the Authorized Body technical standards for public electronic

communications; j) Establish accounting standards and reporting requirements for network operators and

service providers of public electronic communications; k) Establish procedures to determine the dominant operators or service providers as well as

adopt special rules governing the activities of such operators or service providers (including special rules related to the universal services);

• Adopt justified, fair, and transparent regulations, which conform to laws and public interest, and establish procedures to implement those regulations.

There are also other units of PSRC dealing with different aspects of regulation of telecommunication sector such as: tariff department - setting tariffs, appraisal of financial reports submitted by regulated entities; licensing department - issuing of licenses for the relevant services.

3.2.7 The Former Incumbent Telecom Operator ArmenTel

The incumbent operator ArmenTel, a vertically integrated fixed, mobile and Internet service provider, was established in March 1995. In 1997 the Government of Armenia launched the privatization of the operator. At the end of the same year Greece's Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) won an international tender for a 90% stake in ArmenTel, which it finally acquired in March 1998. The remaining 10% shares still belonged to the government.

Upon its creation in 1995, ArmenTel was granted an exclusivity period of 15 years, which initially covered all telecommunications services throughout Armenia. The company remained the sole licensed provider of fixed-line communications services in Armenia until late 2007, and until July 2005 was the only operator offering mobile services.

In November 2004, an agreement was reached between the government and ArmenTel to end the operator's exclusivity over mobile communications service. According to this agreement, Armenia’s Government was entitled to allow only one mobile competitor until 2009. ArmenTel's monopoly over cellular communications was ended in 2005 with the entrance of another GSM operator Karabakh Telecom (K-Telecom, brand Vivacell), which was already selected in November 2004 by the government as the second national mobile licensee. K-Telecom launched commercial operations on 1 July 2005.

In November 2006, the Russian mobile operator Vimpelcom acquired a majority stake in ArmenTel by purchasing the 90% shares of the former majority shareholder, Hellenic




Telecommunications Organization (OTE) of Greece. This marked a tremendous change in Armenia's telecoms market, culminating in sector liberalization in the fourth quarter of 2007.

By April 2007, Vimpelcom had acquired full control of ArmenTel, purchasing the government's remaining 10% of shares to raise its equity holding in the company to 100%. In return, Vimpelcom agreed to relinquish ArmenTel’s exclusivity on the fixed-line voice, data and internet services markets. As a result, the privatization is complete to date and the Armenian state has no ownership stake in any operator.

In October 2007, ArmenTel’s License No. 60 was amended to remove its exclusivity on the provision of fixed line services in the country, and the active process of transitioning telecoms markets from a monopoly dominated by ArmenTel to a competitive liberalized market began. However, the company still holds a de facto monopoly, which results from the time competitors will need to deploy alternative networks. ArmenTel’s fixed telephony and data services licenses are valid to 3 March 2013.

On 29 March 2008, MTC announced its intention to license a new mobile operator. Orange, which was declared a winner of the international tender in October 2008, was formally awarded the license in November 2008, becoming the third mobile licensee. The company launched services commercially on 5 November 2009. The award of the third mobile license is reported to be the result of initial pressure from the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on Armenia’s Government to reduce ArmenTel's cellular monopoly.

3.2.8 Non-Governmental Organizations

NGOs have dealt with environmental and social issues in terms of research, including data and information gathering, public awareness and training. Within the scope of this project it is expected that NGO’s will be involved in social welfare, resettlement and social management plans.

3.3 Legal and Regulatory Framework

3.3.1 Environmental and Social Legal and Regulatory Framework

The Constitution of the Republic of Armenia (article 10) guarantees protection and reproduction of the environment and reasonable utilization of natural resources. To fulfill this obligation, the Republic of Armenia has adopted a number of environmental laws and regulations since its independence in 1991 and also signed and ratified a list of international conventions and protocols.

• Water Code of RoA, 2002 • Land Code of RoA, 2001 • Code on Underground Resources of RoA, 2002 • Labour Code of RoA, 2004 • Law on Environmental Impact Assessment of RoA, 1995 • Law on Waste of RoA, 2004 • Law on Atmospheric Air Protection of RoA, 1994




• Law on Nature Protection and Nature Utilization Payments of RoA, 1998 • Law on Fauna of RoA, 2000 • Law on Flora of RoA, 1999 • Law on Environmental Oversight of RoA, 2005 • Law on Inspection of Use and Protection of Land of RoA, 2008 • Law on the Protection and Use of Fixed Cultural and Historic Monuments and

Historic Environment of RoA, 1998 • Law on Licensing of RoA, 2001 • Law on Sanitary and Epidemiologic Security of Population of RoA, 1992 • Law on State Regulation of Technical Safety of RoA, 2005.

A brief description of the main provisions of the laws that are most relevant to proposed Project activities is presented below.

Water Code

The main purpose of the Water Code is to provide the legal basis for the protection of the water resources, the satisfaction of water needs of citizens and economic sectors through effective management of water resources and ensuring the protection of water resources for future generations. The Water Code addresses the following key issues: responsibilities of state/local authorities and public, development of the national water policy and national water program, water cadastre and monitoring system, public access to the relevant information, water use and water system use permitting systems, trans-boundary water resources use, water quality standards, hydraulic facilities safe operation issues, protection of water resources and state supervision.

Adoption of the Water Code in 2002 generated the need for development of a number of Governmental regulations and procedures, including permitting procedures, drainage water use, water alternative accounting, access to information on trans-boundary water, water use for fishery purposes, reservation of underground water sources, registration of documents in state water cadastre, public awareness and publicity of the documents developed by Agency of Water Resources Management and other normative documents which provide guidelines directly linked with water and environmental issues.

Land Code

The Land Code defines the main directives for use of the lands allocated for energy production, water economy (water supply, water discharge, pumping stations, reservoirs, etc.), and other purposes. The Code defines the lands under the specially protected areas as well as forested, watered and reserved lands. It also establishes the measures aimed at protection of the lands as well as the rights of state bodies, local authorities and citizens towards the land.

Code on Underground Resources

This Code contains the main directives for use and protection of mineral resources and underground water, including the sanitary protection zones for the underground water resources.




Labour Code

The Labour Code regulates the collective and individual employment relationship; defines the basis and procedure of implementation for the establishment, revision and cessation of that relationship; assigns duties, authorities and responsibilities of the parties of employment relationship, as well as defines conditions for the provision of occupational health and safety of workers.

The Law on Environmental Impact Assessment

The Law on Environmental Impact Assessment contains the standard steps of the EIA process for various projects and activities in Armenia. Articles 2-5 define the legal, economic, and organizational principles for conducting the mandatory state EIA for various projects and “concepts” of sectoral development (e.g. energy, mining, chemical industry, construction, metallurgy, pulp and paper, agriculture, food and fishery, water, electronics, telecommunication infrastructure, services, tourism and recreation). The Law forbids any economic unit to operate or any concept, program, plan or master plan to be implemented without an EIA positive conclusion. In addition, an EIA may also be initiated for projects that exceed “threshold” value requirements set by Governmental Decree #193 issued on March 30, 1999. The “special status” of a particular territory may also trigger a review of environmental impact. The Ministry of Nature Protection can initiate a review of environmental impact when it considers it necessary to do so. The EIA Law specifies notification, documentation, public consultations, and appeal procedures and requirements.

Law on Waste

The law provides the legal and economic basis for collection, transportation, disposal, treatment, re-use of wastes as well as prevention of negative impacts of waste on natural resources, human life and health. The law defines the roles and responsibilities of the state authorized bodies as well as of waste generator organizations in waste management operations.

Article 4 defines licensed/certified landfills for which a permit is issued. The certification or permit procedure for a landfill is not defined in the Law on Waste. Also, Article 4 regulates that for “specially provided areas”, these are sites for the placement of waste (such as landfills), and “removal of waste” a permit is required. This is the only hint that for waste collection services a permit is required. In due course, the Law on Waste only mentions landfills and dangerous waste in connection with permits (licenses).

Article 7 (e) requires the Government of RoA to establish a licensing regime for dangerous waste. Articles 8 (h) and 9 (c) subject any waste management area to the “approval” of the Ministry of Nature Protection and the Ministry of Health.

Article 10 (d) stipulates that the authorities of territorial administration issue a permit for the “allocation of waste”. The “allocation of waste” is the “final placement of waste in the specially provided areas” (Article 4).




Law on Atmospheric Air Protection

The purpose of Law on Atmospheric Air Protection is to define main principles of the RoA, directed to provision of purity of atmospheric air and improvement of air quality, prevention and mitigation of the chemical, physical, biological and other impacts on air quality and regulation of public relation. This Law also regulates the emission licenses and provides maximum allowed loads/concentrations for atmospheric air pollution, etc.

Law on Nature Protection and Nature Utilization Payments

The law defines the concept of nature protection and utilization payments, identifies the potential taxpayers and types of payments, determines the methodology for calculation and payment, as well as assigns responsibilities for the violation of this law.

Law on Flora and Law on Fauna

The Laws on Flora and Fauna outline the State's policies for the conservation, protection, use, regeneration, and management of natural populations of plants and animals, and for regulating the impact of human activities on biodiversity. These laws aim to the sus-tainable protection and use of flora/fauna and the conservation of biodiversity. There are provisions for assessing and monitoring species, especially rare and threatened species.

Law on Environmental Oversight

The Law regulates the issues of organization and enforcement of oversight over the implementation of environmental legislation of the Republic of Armenia and defines the legal and economic bases underlying the specific characters of oversight over the implementation of environmental legislation, the relevant procedures, conditions and relations as well as environmental oversight in the Republic of Armenia. The existing legal framework governing the use of natural resources and environmental protection includes a large variety of legal documents. Government resolutions are the main legal implementing instruments for environmental laws. The environmental field is also regulated by presidential orders, Prime-Minister’s resolutions and ministerial decrees.

Law on Inspection of Use and Protection of Land

This law provides objectives and types of effective use and protection of lands of the Republic of Armenia, inspection related to enforcement of land legislation and institutions, procedures of control, rights and responsibilities of entities controlling land use and protection. The law applies to all lands of the Republic of Armenia Land Fund, irrespective of purpose, ownership and/or right to use.

Law on the Protection and Use of Fixed Cultural and Historic Monuments and Historic Environment

The Law provides the legal and policy basis for the protection and use of such monuments in Armenia and regulates the relations among protection and use activities. Article 15 of the Law among others describes procedures for the discovery and state registration of monuments, the assessment of protection zones around them and the creation of historic-cultural reserves. Article 22 requires the approval of the authorized




body (Department of Historic and Cultural Monuments Preservation) before land can be allocated for construction, agricultural and other types of activities in areas containing monuments.

Law on Licensing

The Law on Licensing (adopted on 30 May 2001) regulates the licensing regimes (simple and compound) for certain activities. According to the Chapter VII, which provides the list of business activities to be licensed, public telecommunication network are subject for compound licensing.

Law on Sanitary and Epidemiologic Security of Population

This Law defines the legal, economic and organizational basis for provision of sanitary and epidemiological security of the RoA population, as well as the State guarantees, eliminating negative impact of the harmful and dangerous parameters of working area on the human health and makes provision for the creation of favorable conditions for human life and vital activities of future generations.

Law on State Regulation of Technical Safety

The main purpose of the Law on State Regulation of Technical Safety is to define the State strategic principles and their implementation mechanisms in the field of technical safety, directed to prevention of incidents (and accidents), elimination of their consequences, minimization of the damages and losses arose due to that incidents and protection of population and environment. This Law also defines the legal, economic and social basis for ensuring of the technical safety in RoA, as well as the system of technical safety provision and regulates the relationship connected with technical safety.

A number of other legal and normative acts as well as regulations in the field of health safety, environmental and social issues will be applied during the implementation of the EIA. A set of sanitary-hygienic norms and standards that regulating the noise, air contamination and other harmful and dangerous parameters will also be considered by Consultant.

The Republic of Armenia has signed and ratified a number of environmental conventions and protocols which are presented below in the Table 1. Highlighted items are most relevant to this EA study.

Table 3.1. List of environmental conventions and protocols signed and ratified by RoA

№ Convention or Protocol, Name and Place In force Signed Ratified Comment

1 Convention on Wetlands of International Significance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar, 1971)

1975 1993 Ratified

by USSR

2 Convention on Biological Diversity (Rio-De-Janeiro, 1992) 1993 1992 1993

Re-registered in

UN 1993

3 Cartagena Protocol on Biological Safety (Cartagena, 2000) 2000 2004




№ Convention or Protocol, Name and Place In force Signed Ratified Comment

4 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (New York, 1992) 1994 1992 1993

Re-registered in

UN 1993

5 Kyoto Protocol (Kyoto, 1997) 2002 Re-

registered in UN 2003

6 Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (Geneva, 1979) 1983 1996

Re-registered in

UN 1997

7

Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo, 1991)

1997 1996 Re-


Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment (Kiev, 2003) 2003

8

Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents (Helsinki, 1992) 2000 1996

Re-registered in

UN 1997 Protocol on Civil Liability and Compensation for Damage caused by the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents on Transboundary Waters (Kiev, 2003)

2003

9 UN Convention to Combat Desertification (Paris, 1994) 1996 1994 1997

Re-registered in

UN 1997

10 Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal (Basel, 1989)

1992 1999 Re-


11

Convention for the protection of Ozone Layer (Vienna, 1985) 1988 1999

Re-registered in

UN 1999

Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Montreal, 1987) 1989 1999

Re-registered in

UN 1999

12

Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus, 1998)

2001 1998 2001

13

Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (Rotterdam, 1998)

1998 2003

14

Convention on Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Helsinki, 1992)

1996 1999

Protocol on Water and Health (London, 1999) 1999

15 Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (Stockholm, 2001) 2001 2003

16 Convention on the Prohibition of Military or any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques (Geneva, 1976)

1978 2001 Re-


17 European Convention on Landscape (Florence, 2000) 2004

18 Convention on Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (Paris 1972) 1993

Energy Charter Treaty (Lisbon, 1994) 1997




№ Convention or Protocol, Name and Place In force Signed Ratified Comment 19

20 Energy Charter Protocol on Energy efficiency and Related Environmental Aspects (Lisbon, 1994)

1997

21 European Convention on Protection of Wild Nature and Habitat (Bern, 1979) 1982 2006

3.4 Laws Regulating the Exploitation of Telecommunications Services

Armenia is currently in the process of transitioning its telecoms markets from a monopoly dominated by the former incumbent ArmenTel to a developed competitive market.

From February 20, 1998 to date, the telecommunications sector in Armenia is regulated under the Law on Electronic Communications. A new revision of the Telecom Law entered into force on September 3, 2005. It is complemented by other regulations and decisions of the Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC), the national regulatory agency. The 2005 Law and subsidiary legislation are modeled on the fundamental principles and approaches of the European regulatory package for electronic communications services and networks and have been developed with the technical assistance from the World Bank and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The former incumbent ArmenTel holds a license that was amended in 2007 (amended version of ArmenTel's License No. 60 from August 27, 2007). The license term is until March 3, 2013. The scope of the license includes amongst others:

• ArmenTel has the right and obligation to operate public electronic communication networks for the provision of public electronic communication services on a national basis (Art. 4.1 License No. 60).

• ArmenTel can provide new services, as long as the following requirements are fulfilled (Art. 4.2 License No. 60):

15 days prior notice to the PSRC No limitation by the PSRC on the number of licenses for the given services or for the

given geographical area for a certain period of time, which cannot exceed year 2013 No license auction carried out by the PSRC for those specific services in order to

best meet customers’ demands • As a result of the obligation established in Art. 4.1 License No. 60 to provide public

electronic communication services, ArmenTel can decline provision of some services only with the formal approval of the PSRC (Art. 4.3 License No. 60).

The concept of universal access and services goes along with establishing a defined minimum of services that has to be offered by a designated public service provider to the public, independent of the profitability of these services. Viewed as such, an appropriate Universal Access Strategy would reinforce the commitment of Armenia’s Government to social welfare by providing even currently isolated villages with electronic communications infrastructure. It would as well dramatically reduce communications costs to local potential businesses and promote local entrepreneurship related to the provision of ICT services.




The general framework for universal services is laid down in Art. 40 Law and understood as a “specified minimum set of services to be defined” by regulation and “to be made available at an affordable price and with quality parameters specified for all end users, irrespective of their geographical location." This framework was introduced to provide the PSRC with legal instruments towards ensuring the availability of electronic communications throughout the country, which is one of the key objectives of the Law (Art. 1.3).

For the ICT sector to fully unleash its potential for the country’s development, Armenia needs an enabling regulatory environment to promote efficient competition and correct market failures. Recognizing this importance of an appropriate regulatory framework for a flourishing ICT environment in Armenia, Article 57 of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with the European Union (EU) that was entered into force in 1999 commits the country to developing “an appropriate regulatory basis for the provision of telecommunications and postal services and for the use of the radio frequency spectrum.”

Armenia is also a key stakeholder within the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP). As far as its partnership within the ENP is concerned, the country is committed to common shared values and effective implementation of political, economic and institutional reforms. An EU-Armenia ENP Action Plan that is based on the PCA specifies the strategic objectives arising from these commitments. The ENP Action Plan is geared towards encouraging and supporting Armenia’s objectives of further integration into European economic and social structures. In order to pave the way for such integration and facilitate the country’s European aspirations, Armenia needs to accelerate its efforts to harmonize its domestic legislation with that of the EU. In this connection, implementation of the ENP Action Plan is intended to advance the “approximation of Armenia’s legislation, norms and standards to those of the European Union.”

This is expected to be done amongst others by taking measures to improve convergence to the EU legislation in key areas of the Armenian legislation, including the information society. One of the cornerstones of the country’s specific commitments with regard to the information society involves acceleration of the progress in electronic communications and regulation. In this context, Armenia needs to perform amongst others the following tasks:

• Elaborate a national policy on the development of the sector including regulatory, economic, technological and social aspects, including advanced services, and promote the use and exchange of views on new technologies and electronic means of communications by businesses, government and citizens in the areas such as e-Business (including standards for e-signatures), e-Government, e-Health, e-Learning, and e-Culture.

• Work towards adopting a comprehensive regulatory framework including licensing, access and interconnection, cost-orientation of tariffs, numbering, Universal Service and users rights, privacy protection and data security.

• Switch from an analogue to a digital system in the field of radio and television and proximate digital television and audio broadcasting to the European standards.

The adoption of the new Electronic Communications Law in 2005, which moves the country’s communications policy and regulatory framework towards harmonization with that of the EU, is to be seen in this context.




4. GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL BASELINE

4.1 General Environmental Baseline

4.1.1 Geography and Topography

Armenia is located in the north-eastern part of the Armenian plateau, occupying most of the mountainous area between the Rivers Kur and Arax. It lies between 38°50- 41°18 N and 43°27- 46°37 E and measures 400 km from north-west to south-east and at the widest point 200 km. In north-east it forms a projection that measures only 26 km at its narrowest point. The Republic has an area of 29740 sq km. It is located 145 km from the Black Sea, 175 km from the Caspian Sea, 750 km from the Mediterranean Sea and 960 km from the Persian Gulf. The length of Armenia's state borders with neighboring countries is 1,479 km. Armenia borders Georgia in the north, Azerbaijan in the east, Iran in the south and Turkey in the west.

Fig. 4.1. Location of Armenia in the region

Armenia is a typical mountainous territory with well-defined mountainous relief and ramified river drainage. Indeed, 87% of the Armenian territory is between 1,000m and 3,000m high. Furthermore, there is a wide range of altitude. The lowest points are the Debed river at the Northern border of Armenia with Georgia, located 379m above sea level, and the town of Meghri at the Southern border of Armenia with Iran, while the highest point, Mount Aragats in Central Armenia, is 4,090m above sea level. Armenia's mountainous nature helps create a series of highly diverse landscapes, with variations in geological substrate, terrain, climate, soils and water resources.

The Ararat Valley, where the capital Yerevan is located, represents the lowest part of the Ararat depression, which is still undergoing tectonic movement. The average elevation of Ararat Valley is 900m above sea level and partially semi-desert, with green orchards and gardens along the Arax River. The Ararat plain serves as the major agricultural basin for Armenia where more than 35% of Armenia's vegetables and fruits are grown.




In the North of the Armenia, the landscape is dominated by the Bazoom and Halab mountain ranges, and parallel to them, the Pambak mountains further South. These mountains are approximately 2,800m high and are characterized by gentle grass covered slopes. The northeast of Armenia (Lori and Tavush districts) have extensive forest coverage. Rainfall is more abundant in the northeast and the variation between winter and summer is softer than in most other parts of Armenia.

Fig. 4.2. Altitude variations within Armenia (measured in meters above sea level)

Lake Sevan is Armenia's largest surface water resource, covering 4% of Armenia's territory. The lake is situated at an altitude of 1900m and is considered one of the largest alpine lakes in the world. Lake Sevan is surrounded by several mountain ranges.

Mount Aragats, the highest mountain in Armenia (4,090m), dominates the landscape of Central Armenia. It is a huge volcanic mountain with four peaks and a deep crater of 350m. The landscape of Central Armenia is characterized by meadows and mountainous steppes with isolated small forests in Tsakhadzor and Hankavan.

In the south of Armenia, the Vayk and Zangezur ranges run from North to South and form a natural border with the Autonomous Republic of Nakhichevan, an Azerbaijani enclave located between Turkey and Armenia. The Sunik range, also running from North to South, forms the natural border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Two smaller mountain ranges, the Bargooshat and Meghri mountains, run across the far South of Armenia. The Armenian high plateau between Vayk and Goris is characterized by a wild, treeless landscape of alpine meadows and mountain steppes. The climate is dry and harsh, with hot summers and cold winters. The region further




South around Kapan is dominated by Mount Khustup. This region is covered with grasslands, lakes and forests.

Fig. 4.3. Main geographic regions of Armenia

4.1.2 Geology

The territory of Armenia has undergone a complex process of geological development. It is located in the central part of the Alp-Himalayan mountain system. Formation of its surface began in the Paleozoic period - an early geological period. The main types of the Armenia’s surface have been formed as a result of miocene, pliocene and modern tectonic shifts and volcanism brought about by the earth's inner forces, as well as modern glacial processes. Armenia's territory is a classic example of volcanism. Such classic forms of volcanic surface of relief as lava flows, volcanic cones, craters, etc. are strongly pronounced here. In mountains above 3,000 meters traces of ancient glacial period are preserved in the form of troughs, circuses, as well as morenas.




Fig. 4.4. Geological map of Armenia

Seismicity

The territory of Armenia is located in interfacing zone of Eurasian and Arabic large lithospheric plates. This basically determines the high seismicity of the region. Earthquake magnitudes reach M = 7.1 (according to historical and paleoseismic estimations). Focal depth is, on average, ten kilometers. All sources are located on active faults, with an average slip rate of about one centimeter per year. The duration of destructive earthquakes may last one minute under adverse ground conditions. The average recurrence interval of large earthquakes (M ³ 5.5) is about 30 to 40 years. The above-mentioned characteristics of the seismic regime indicate a high-level seismic hazard in Armenia.

Maximum seismic risk is concentrated around the capital city of Yerevan, where 40 percent of the republic’s population resides. The seismic hazard risk for Yerevan is based on active faults and historical earthquake data.

Numerous large earthquakes have been recorded in Armenia. The most destructive event occurred on 7 December 1988 at 11:41 local time at 40.84o N and 44.32o E. The main shock epicenter was located in 7 km NW of the town of Spitak. The magnitude was 7±0.1 and the focal depth was 3 to 10-15 km. More than 3,000 earthquake aftershocks were recorded during the following year. The earthquake caused incalculable damage to the Armenian people. According to official data more than 25,000 were killed and hundreds of thousands lost their homes. The




town of Spitak nearly razed to the ground, and the towns of Gyumri and Vanadzor, as well as more than 200 villages, were severely damaged.

Volcano activity

Armenia is a landlocked country located between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea in the Southern Caucasus. The terrain is mountainous with all land above 400 m altitude. Three volcanoes located in Armenia and another two located along Armenia-Azerbaijan border may be considered as potential sources for natural disaster:

• Mt Aragats Volcano

Aragats volcano is located 48 km NNW of Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. Mt Aragats is the highest mountain in Armenia. The mountain has 4 peaks around the volcanic crater. North (4,090 m), West (4,080 m), South (3,879 m) and East (3,916 m). Aragats volcano contains a 13 km long line of craters and tephra cones stretching in a west-southwesterly direction. Mt Aragats may have erupted in the past 10,000 years.

• Ghegam Volcano

Ghegam volcano is located between Yerevan and Lake Sevan. It contains lava domes and pyroclastic cones. The eruption centres cover a 65 km long, 35 km wide area west of Lake Sevan and south of the Hrazdan River. Lava flows from the central and eastern areas flowed into Lake Sevan. The central and eastern portions of the Ghegam Ridge contains fresh lava flows devoid of vegetation. Young looking lava flows indicated recent activity.

• Dar-Alages Volcano

The volcano is located 100 km SE of Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, near the town of Vayk. Eruptions of Dar-Alages Volcano took place 3000-5000 years ago.

• Porak Volcano

Porak volcano lies in the Vardeniss volcanic ridge about 20 km SE of Lake Sevan, on the Armenia/Azerbaijan border. The volcano group consists of the central Porak volcano with 10 parasitic cones and Holocene fissure eruption centers. Jermouk and Histissou thermal areas are located 15-20 km away from the Porak volcano. There are two lava flows, up to 21 km long, extending north and northwest. Petroglyphs from fifth century BC have shown eruptions of Porak volcano.

• Tskhouk-Karckar Volcano

Tskhouk-Karckar Volcano is located in the central Siunik volcanic ridge along the Armenia/Azerbaijan border about 60 km SE of Lake Sevan. Eruptions from the volcano about 5000 years ago were explosive and produced lava flows.

4.1.3 Hydrology

The water resources of Armenia are limited. The average annual amount of precipitations in the water balance is 18.5 billion cubic meters, almost 2/3 of which evaporates. The annual surface flow is 7.5 billion cubic meters. The river system belongs to basins of the Kur (24 %) and the Arax




(74%) Rivers. The Debed, Aghstev, Voskepar, Hakhum, Tavush, Khndzorut Rivers with a catchment basin of 7890 sq km belong to the Kur River basin. The Akhurian, Kasakh, Hrazdan, Azat, Vedi, Vorotan, Voghji, Meghri Rivers with a catchment basin of 2190 sq km belong to the Arax River basin. Rivers are fed by melted snow, rainwater and underground waters. They flood in spring. All rivers are mountainous, fast flowing and have deep narrow valleys.

The Republic's lakes are not numerous. They have tectono-volcanic, glacial and crater origins. Volcanic, crater and lava origin lakes like Kare, Akna, Arpi, Aghmaghan, Al, Alagjoz, Nazeli, Tagavorats, Vanki, etc, as well as glacial origin lakes like Kapuit, Tsakhkar, Gazana, etc. are especially noted for their unique beauty and clean drinking water reserves. Lakes of residue origin in Lori and landslide origin lakes like Pars, Gosh, Tsover, Zhangot (Taush marz), Piros, Martiros, Kapuit, Hartavan (Vayk marz) are famous for their landscape uniqueness and give this forest zone great value.

Lake Sevan Lake Sevan, which is one of the world's largest fresh water lakes is located in the center of the Geghama, Vardenis, Sevan and Areguni mountain ranges and lies at an altitude of 1916 meters. It has a tectono-volcanic origin. In natural state the absolute altitude of the lake's mirror is 1916 meters, the maximum depth is 99 meters, the area is 1,416 sq km.

4.1.4 Climate

A wide range of climatic zones have been recorded within Armenia. The country is located centrally in the sub-tropical zone, and thus is prone to arid (desert and semi-desert) conditions. However, the altitudinal variation within the country results in further variation in climatic zones, in addition to existing latitudinal clines.

In general, the country receives high levels of sunshine; ranging from 2600 hours per year (Yerevan) to 2800 hours per year (shore of Lake Sevan). The average temperature throughout the year varies geographically from 2.7°C (Mount Aragats) to 14°C (Meghri, in the north-east). The highest average monthly temperature is recorded in July-August; in low lying areas, such as the Ararat valley, average summer temperatures reach 24-26°C, while cooler temperatures are recorded at higher altitudes (averaging 15-20°C at mid-altitude, and 10-15°C at high altitude). Significant temperature variations are also recorded in winter, average January temperatures range from 0.3°C (Meghri) to -13°C (Mount Aragats). Average minimum temperatures in winter range from -18.9°C (Berdashen) to -3.1°C (Meghri), with an absolute minimum of -45°C recorded near Berdashen. Relative humidity averages around 60% (Yerevan), but varies with season and altitude. Highest levels of humidity are observed in winter (80% and above), while in summer recorded humidity is as low as 44% in some places.

Average annual precipitation is between 600mm and 1000mm, but varies in different altitudinal zones (from 250mm in semi-arid zones to 1100mm in alpine zones). Most rainfall occurs in the spring, while the second half of the summer is dry. Long-lasting snows exist on mountains over 1300m. In these places snow over may reach up to 2m in depth (for example on Mount Araragts), while snowfall is much sparser on the steppes (30-50cm deep).




4.1.5 Key Ecosystems

The mountainous nature of Armenia results in a series of highly diverse landscapes, with variations in geological substrate, terrain, climate, soils, and water resources. Seven distinct altitude landscape zones have been described in Armenia: deserts, semi-deserts, dry steppes, steppes, woodlands, sub-alpine and alpine lands. The areas covered by the seven main landscape types are shown below (Table 4.1), along with a more detailed description of each landscape zone.

Table 4.1. The area of Armenia covered by different landscape types, along with their altitudinal distributions

Landscape type Altitude (meters above sea level)

Percentage cover across the country

Deserts and semi-deserts 700-1300 10% Mountain steppes 1300-2400 37% Forests, thin forests, shrubs 600-2500 20% Alpine and sub-alpine meadows > 2100 28%

• Deserts

Regions: Vayk lowlands, Meghri gorge.

Climate: dry and continental: hot summers and moderately cold winters.

Soils: generally of the semi-desert grey type, and have been managed for cultivation over the last millennia.Sand accumulations in the Arax river area result in a desert landscape, which are also found in saline lowlands.

Cultivation: requires intensive irrigation. Areas do not support fruit, vegetable, flower, and wine production.

Typical Flora

Group Comments Distinctive Species Higher plants

Most plants are specific to deserts and relatively rare throughout Armenia. Distinctive vegetation structure and composition is associated with saline and chalk substrates in the Ararat Valley

Calligonum polygonoides, Achillea tenuifolia, Seidlitzia florida, Rhinopetalum gibbosum, Ceratocarpus arenarius, Salsola spp., Kalidium caspicum, Halostachys caspica, Halocnemum strobilaceum, Gypsophila spp., Halanthium rarifolium

• Semi-deserts

Typical flora

Group Comments Distinctive Species Higher plants

Many endemic invertebrate species. Invertebrates from different regions occur (including species of Mediterranean, Iranian,

Phytodrymadusa armeniaca, Nocarodes armenus, Dictyla subdola, Geotomus punctulatus, Amphicoma eichleri, Cantharis araxicola, Tomomyza araxana, Bombilius




Caucasian and Crimean origin). Some of the same species occur in steppe habitats.

schelkovnikovi, Shadinia akramowskii, Gabbiella araxena, Pupilla bipapulata, Zodarion petrobium

• Steppes

Altitude range: 1200 and 2000m (sometimes as high as 2500m).

Cultivation: vegetables, frost-tolerant fruit trees (in lower altitudes) and fodder plants (in highland areas).

Mountain steppes 37% of national territory Altitude range: 1300 Wet grassland: 375-700m. asl Dry grassland: 1300-1600m. asl Dominant landscape for most of the country, particularly at altitudes above 1500m (and at altitudes up to 2000m in the north, 2400-2500m in the south)

Meadow steppes Occur in the highlands, while patches of forest also occur on ridge tops among steppes in the north-east and Syunik regions. Vegetation cover is varied, but particularly important plants include fescue (Festuca sulcata) and feather grass (Stipa spp.). Climate: generally moderate, with warm, cool summers, and moderate or cold winters. Soils: generally have a humus content of between 6-7%.

Dry mountainous steppes

Found at higher altitudes than semi-deserts (above 1500m) in the Ararat Valley, and some other areas, but are also found at lower altitudes (above 800m) in the lowlands to the north-east of the country, which were originally forested. Climate: in the dry steppes is characterized by warm, dry summers and mild winters. A range of soils: are found, but in the Ararat Valley these lands are typically stony. Cultivation: of crops, vegetables and fruit is possible due to Irrigation Suffered severe from human impact.

Typical flora

Group Distinctive Species Higher plants Stipa lessingiana, S. pulcherrima, S. capillata, Festuca sulcata, F.

ovina, Bothriocloa ischaemum, Agropyrum cristatum, Astragalus microcephalus, A. laguris, Onobrychis cornuta, Bromopsis variegatum, Phleum phleoides, Koeleris cristata

• Forests

Soil types: red soil in the lowlands and forest gray soils in the highlands.




Generally cover the mid-zone of mountains, occurring at altitudes between 500m and 2100m in the north (up to 2500m in the south). In central Armenia forests occur in small areas rather than as a continuous zone, and forests can be found on steep slopes, and other areas with limited human access.

• Alpine and sub-alpine meadows

Alpine meadows Altitude range: up to 3000m in the north, 3800m in the south. Occupy the highest altitudes above sub-alpine meadows and represent the principal pasturelands for the country, with meadow and alpine vegetation. Climate: Severe, with long, cold winters. Annual temperature is less than -40 average. Snow cover lasts up to 9 months, and permanent snows may occur in some areas.

Sub-alpine meadows

Occur at higher altitudes than steppes and forests, including highland mountain ranges. Climate: Moderate with short, cool summers and long, cold winters. Much of the land here is meadow. Soils: High humus content.

• Azonal landscapes

Occur independently of altitude (unlike the previously described landscapes). These include wetlands, as well as saline and alkaline lands, which cover about 25,000 ha, including areas in the Ararat Valley where the underground waters are close to the earth surface, resulting in water vaporization and salt precipitation. Upland wetlands are dominated by fresh (non-brackish) water, while lowland wetlands (particularly those around the River Arax) are usually drained in summer, resulting in high salinity.

There is number of specific ecosystems having global or regional significance from the viewpoint of endemic, relict or rare species protection.

• A unique assemblage of species of wild relatives of crops occurring near Yerevan. • Stands of plane trees (Platanus orientalis) near the Tzav river valley. • Psamophpil desert on the bank of the Vedi river. • The habitats supporting the endemic species of insect 'vordan karmir' (Porphyrophora

hamelii) in the Ararat valley. • The open woodland and semi-desert ecosystems of Central Armenia, with its unique and

rich associated fauna and flora. • Relict wetland meadows in the Lori area. • Stands of yew (Taxus baccata) and hazel (Corylus colurna) in the Agstev river basin and

Zangezour. • Rhododendron habitats in sub-alpine regions of the Pambak and Tsaghkunyats ranges. • Habitats of the sub-Arax mountain ridges where populations of Armenian mouflon (Ovis

orientalis gmelinii) occur.




4.1.6 Threatened Ecosystems

Forests

Forests are one of the most seriously threatened ecosystems in Armenia. Archaeological data indicates that around 40% of the land was originally forested. Since then forest cover has declined significantly as a result of both changes in climate and human impacts.

Today, forests cover less than 10% of the land surface of Armenia. Forests are now concentrated in the north-east of the country, and in some areas, such as the Ararat valley, Vayk and Sevan regions, only small scattered patches of forest remain. These isolated patches are prevented from regenerating due to the pressure of uncontrolled felling and their use as pasture land. Further forest declines in some areas (such as Vayk and Sevan) have resulted from increases in forest pests and changes in the hydrological regime of forests.

Wetlands

The threats to wetlands in Armenia are clearly illustrated by the changes in Lake Sevan. This large, alpine lake is extremely important to Armenia, in terms of its water resources, ecological role, and unique fauna and flora. Lake Sevan effectively represents an important reservoir of water for Armenia and the wider Southern Caucasus region. The decline in water levels affected the whole of the Sevan watershed. Around 10000ha of surrounding wetland and semi-wetland areas dried out, as did the neighbouring Lake Gilly.

The drainage of the lake also had significant effects on the biodiversity of the lake and surrounding areas. Populations of around 60 species of plant are considered to have declined as a result of the draining of Lake Sevan. Within the lake, the principal breeding sites for Sevan trout were lost, and populations of this and other endemic fish species, have declined.

Semi-deserts

Cultivated lands represent 80-90% of the area of the semi-desert zone, and natural ecosystems have been extensively damaged as a result of uncontrolled irrigation and agricultural intensification, which has resulted in increased soil erosion, salinity and pollution.

Steppes and meadows

Uncontrolled grazing by livestock threatens many of the natural pastures of the mountain steppes and alpine and sub-alpine meadows. Serious degradation of pastures and meadows has occurred over the last 100 years, with the most significant impacts recorded in the grasslands of Vayk, Zangezur, Mount Aragats and Pambak.

4.1.7 Vegetation

The vegetal cover of Armenia varies with the altitude and climate in different regions. The major areas and their characteristics are presented in Figure 4.5.




Fig. 4.5. Distribution of different vegetation types in Armenia

4.1.8 Land use

Table 4.2. Land use in Armenia

Category Area, 1000 ha

Agricultural land 2121.2

Land of special protected territories 229.7

Forest land 369.8

Land with special purpose 31.7

Settlement land 151.2

Land of industrial use, of entrails of the earth and other production purpose 29.2

Land of objects of energetic communication, transport, communal infrastructure 12.2

Source: Statistical Yearbook of Armenia, 2009




4.1.9 Biodiversity and Protected Areas

Armenia supports a surprisingly high diversity of plants and animals, including many endemic, relict and rare species. Armenia is botanically diverse; some 3,500 species of vascular plants have been recorded, giving a density of higher plants (100 spp./km2) that is one of the highest in the world. In addition, tens of thousands of lower plants and bacteria species have been recorded from Armenia. More than 17,500 species of animals have been recorded from Armenia, including 500 vertebrate species. Armenia is considered one of the most important centres for agrobiodiversity in the world, and represents a relatively large area supporting wild relatives of crops and agricultural varieties. Natural pastures and meadows represent a crucial natural resource for Armenia, occupying a third of the area of the country.

In 1993 the Republic of Armenia was among the first countries to ratify the Convention on Biological Diversity. Under its obligations to this convention the Government of Armenia has undertaken the production of a First National Report on Biodiversity in Armenia, and the development of a Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP). The Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan outlines a national strategy for biodiversity conservation, defines the priorities for implementation of this strategy, and integrates these priorities with plans for sustainable development and other relevant projects and programs. The BSAP provides the basis for effective and integrated conservation, taking into account the current socio-economic conditions, and incorporates a range of short-, medium- and long-term actions to promote biodiversity conservation, sustainable use and regeneration.

The environmental protection in Armenia is implemented both through in-situ and ex-situ approaches. A network of protected areas (including State Reserves, State Conservation Areas, National Parks and Natural Monuments) covers 10% of the land in Armenia. However, many important habitat types are not represented in this network, and protected area management has been undermined by a lack of finances. Outside protected areas, conservation is approached through a series of laws and regulations to limit the use of biological resources. Few species are maintained in ex-situ conditions, and captive breeding for reintroduction does not currently take place (see Figure 4.6).

The Ministry of Nature Protection has overall responsibility for the management of biodiversity conservation and sustainable use in Armenia. The Ministry implements State policy relating to biodiversity conservation, sustainable use and species regeneration, and oversees environmental regulations, the development of principles for and monitoring of natural resource use. The central department of the Ministry is responsible for biodiversity conservation, inter-ministerial co-ordination and international collaboration on this issue. Other departments of the MNP have more specific responsibilities:

• Hayantar State Enterprise is responsible for management of some forestry concessions (23 Forest Areas) and a number of protected areas (14 Conservation Areas).

• The Department of Protected Areas is responsible for management and conservation within protected areas, and manages five Reserves, one Conservation Area, and Lake Sevan National Park.

• The State Inspectorate is responsible for monitoring of legal limits on use, in relation to conservation of biodiversity, through six regional inspectorates.




• At a regional level, marz-level authorities also undertake the responsibilities of the Ministry of Nature Protection, and at a local level, local authorities undertake Ministry’s responsibilities.

Fig. 4.6. Map of Protected Areas of Armenia

The Ministry of Agriculture is responsible for the management of agro-biodiversity in Armenia, and this is implemented through a number of structures within the Ministry:

• The State Land Cultivation Inspectorate. • The State Soil Inspectorate. • The Department for Protection of agro-biodiversity. • The State Inspectorate for Livestock Breeding and Husbandry. • The Veterinary and Animal-breeding Department. • Livestock Breeding and Valuable Livestock Species Treatment Department. • The Department for Plant Cultivation, Selection and Nurseries. • Regional Agrarian Inspectorates are responsible for monitoring of agro-biodiversity.

4.1.10 Fauna

Armenia holds a large diversity of fauna, including the Wild Armenian Goat, Deer, Wild Ram, Leopard, Caucasian Bear (all endangered), lynx, wildcat, Reed Wildcat, Wild Bore, Porcupine, Squirrel, Jackal, Mole, Prairie Dog, Marten, Royal Stag and Nutria. Other species normal to




vegetation zones elsewhere will be found in Armenia. Unique fish found in Armenia are the Ishkhan (red-spotted trout) and Sig. Most popular habitats for specific fauna are listed under each Region.

Distribution of popular fauna by regions is the following:

NORTH Shirak The largest prairie dog population in Armenia is in Shirak, located west of

Maralik. Nutria, moles, jackals and wildcats are frequently seen in the region as well.

Lori/ Tavush Notable fauna include sylvan wildcat, reed wildcat, lynx, fox, royal stag, deer, caucasian squirrel, porcupine, bear, wild bore, marten.

CENTRAL Aragatsotn - Kotaik

On Aragats, mountain leopard (very rare), caucasian wildcat, caucasian ram and mountain goat (very rare), mole, lynx, porcupine, squirrel and marten. In Kotaik, deer, wildcat, mountain leopard (very rare), squirrel, wild bore, lynx, nutria, white panther (extremely rare), fox and bear.

Gegharkunik - Sevan

Wild Armenian Goat, Wild Ram, mountain leopard (endangered species), wild bore, fox, wildcat, Ishkhan and Sig.

Ararat Valley Armavir - Yerevan - Ararat

Endangered species include the wild bore, leopard, royal stag, wild ram and mountain goat (Khosrov Nature Preserve). Others include the lynx, deer, wild bore, wildcat, reed wildcat, prairie dog, mole and nutria.

SOUTH Vayots Dzor Primary species include caucasian goat, ram, mountain leopard

(endangered species), wild bore, caucasian bear, jackal, lynx, mole, porcupine, fox, wildcat, squirrel, marten.

Siunik Kapan City and its immediate surroundings lie on the Iranian Plateau, a semi-arid land inhabited by field deer, jackals and marten. Immediately to the West of Kapan City, between Goris and Meghri the landscape suddenly changes, marking the border of the Caucasian Land mass, with wild mountain goats, lynx, porcupines and sylvan wild cats. There are still a few wild boars in the deepest parts of the forest, and even the rare Caucasian leopard in the most remote mountain areas. This territory is pocked with small sections of the Asia Minor Plateau, with a few jackals, reed wildcats, hawks and eagles crossing between nature zones. Sissian is home to part of the surviving Caucasian bearded goat and wild ram

Migratory Birds

The Sevan wetlands were previously used by up to 160 species of migratory birds, only 50 of which are now recorded. Today the numbers of birds using the whole Sevan watershed are lower than those recorded on Lake Gilly alone in 1939, and waterbird populations continue to decline. The populations and diversity of mammal and reptile species in the area have also declined significantly, and a number of spaces are considered to be threatened.




4.2 General Socioeconomic Baseline

4.2.1 General information

Armenia (official name Republic of Armenia) is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia which covering an area of 29743 sq. km. The country is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia to the north, Azerbaijan to the east, and Iran and the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan to the south.

Politics of Armenia takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic. According to the Constitution of Armenia, the President is the head of government and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament.

4.2.2 Political Divisions

Armenia is divided into ten provinces (Marzes), with the city of Yerevan having special administrative status as the country's capital. The chief executive in each of the ten provinces is the marzpet (Marz governor), appointed by the government of Armenia. In Yerevan, the chief executive is the mayor elected by doyen’s council.

Within each province are communities. Each community is self-governing and consists of one or more settlements. Settlements are classified as either towns or villages. As of April 2010, Armenia includes 915 communities, of which 49 are considered urban, 866 are considered rural. The capital, Yerevan, also has the status of a community. Additionally, Yerevan is divided into twelve semi-autonomous districts.

Province Capital Area Aragatsotn Ashtarak 2,753 km² Ararat Artashat 2,096 km² Armavir Armavir 1,242 km² Gegharkunik Gavar 5,348 km² Kotayk Hrazdan 2,089 km² Lori Vanadzor 3,789 km² Shirak Gyumri 2,681 km² Syunik Kapan 4,506 km² Tavush Ijevan 2,704 km² Vayots Dzor Yeghegnadzor 2,308 km² Yerevan – 227 km²

4.2.3 Population

Armenia has a population of 3,251,900 (National Statistical Service: Population of Republic of Armenia as for 1-st of April 2010, Reference book, Yerevan 2010). The share of urban and rural population is estimated at 64% and 36% respectively. The major cities are Yerevan, the capital,




with an estimated population of 1,117,700; Gyumri, Vanadzor, Hrazdan, Vagharshapat, Abovyan, Kapan. More than 40% of population of Armenia is concentrated in Yerevan and area within 40 km from the capital.

Table 4.3. Distribution of population per region

Provinces (Marzes) Population Percentage Yerevan 1,117,800 34,4 Aragatsotn 141,800 4,4 Ararat 279200 8,6 Armavir 284500 8,7 Gegharkunik 241600 7,4 Kotayk 280900 8,6 Lori 281600 8,7 Shirak 281500 8,7 Syunik 152800 4,7 Tavush 134400 4,1 Vayots Dzor 55800 1,7 Total 3251900

Source: National Statistical Service of Republic of Armenia

4.2.4 Economy Overview

After several years of double-digit economic growth, Armenia is facing a severe economic recession with GDP declining at least 15% in 2009, despite large loans from multilateral institutions. Sharp declines in the construction sector and workers' remittances, particularly from Russia, are the main reasons for the downturn. However there are positive perspectives for GDP growth in 2010, 6-7% GDP growth for the first half of 2010 is expected. GDP per capita is 5900 USD (2009 year est.), unemployment rate- 7.2% (April 2010).

Table 4.4. GDP composition by sectors

Agriculture 18.6% Industry 33.5% Services: 48% (2009 est.)

Since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, Armenia had made progress in implementing some economic reforms, including privatization, price reforms, and prudent fiscal policies, but geographic isolation, as well as narrow export base have made Armenia particularly vulnerable to the sharp deterioration in the global economy and the economic downturn in Russia.

The main industrial domains are diamond-processing, metal-cutting machine tools, forging-pressing machines, electric motors, tires, knitted wear, hosiery, shoes, silk fabric, chemicals, trucks, instruments, microelectronics, jewelry manufacturing, software development, food processing, brandy. Highly cultivated agricultural products are fruits (especially grapes), vegetables, Livestock farming is also sufficiently developed.




The prime export commodities are pig iron, unwrought copper, non ferrous metals, diamonds, mineral products, foodstuffs, beverage and energy (electricity).

Armenia joined the WTO in January 2003.

4.2.5 Telecommunication infrastructure

Existing telecom infrastructure in the capital

Optical fiber network resources within the region of Yerevan are widely available. Besides the fact that the former incumbent network provider ArmenTel (operated under the brand name Beeline) is owning the most extensive optical and copper based fixed network in Yerevan, there are at least 6 other optical fiber networks in the urban area, used as backbone and backhaul for alternative mobile operators and ISPs. Concerning the last mile, the service providers offer in Yerevan all kinds of access technologies, including three 3G mobile networks, wireless WIMAX services, ADSL incl. ADSL2+, Fiber To The Building (FTTB) in combination with the power line communications as a distribution means within the buildings, and last but not least a passive Fiber To The Home (FTTH) solution following the gigabit passive optical network (GPON) standard and another FTTH solution based on the active optical network (AON) technology.

The good news about the actual situation in Yerevan is that the recent developments/ investments into the ICT infrastructure within the area have been extensive. This already provides a solid basis for real competition in the broadband access service area. On the other hand, due to the lack of regulatory advice concerning infrastructure sharing, both open access to passive infrastructure (e.g., duct systems) and unbundling of local loops are not developed at all.

Several overlay networks (wireless and fiber based) have been installed. Also, new start-up companies were forced to use alternative installation methods (e.g., aerial cabling at street light poles). Whereby the quality of installation is disputable and its reliability has to be proven, the public appearance of multiple aerial cabling is definitely not a long-term solution. This fact does reflect the low penetration of regulatory obligations. It is suggested that aerial cabling should only be permitted initially to allow access providers the ability to get up and running and start to generate cash flow. Once the access providers are established, then there should be a move towards requiring that cabling should be ducted. This is the approach which is being followed in a number of other countries, notably Romania.

Existing telecom infrastructure outside the capital

All three mobile operators offer 2G and 3G services. The 2G population coverage is about 99% (Beeline and Vivacell-MTS, the 2nd national mobile network provider). Orange Armenia (a wholly-owned subsidiary of France Telecom) as a recent newcomer has already reached a 2G population coverage of about 83% (~35% of geographic area, November 2009 data) and is closing up fast. When it comes to 3G services (also capable of delivering broadband data services), all three operators claim population coverage between 60 and 70%.

Besides the three big mobile operators, several ISPs have also extended their business from Yerevan to major cities in the country: Arminco, Armenian Datacom Company (ADC), Cornet/Comstar, iCON and others. Cornet-AM provides the biggest alternative national broadband coverage within 18 major cities in Armenia through WIMAX technology. There are




also some regional smaller ISPs active in bigger cities, however they are currently not considered as major players.

National backbone infrastructure (optical fiber network)

Beeline operates the most extensive optical fiber network in the country. Almost all main distribu-tion frames of the fixed network are connected via the optical fiber cable. Nevertheless, it appears that the rural digitization has still a long way to go. Many districts are still operating analogue ex-changes and hence cannot offer ADSL services. Moreover, there are also many villages for which the only fixed-line service offered by Beeline relies upon the CDMA wireless local loop. While in principle capable of offering broadband access, it appears that this is not available in practice.

The two alternative national optical fiber network providers are Fibernet and GNC-Alfa. Both companies started with international connections from Yerevan to the borders of Georgia and Iran. Their plans for 2010 do include the connection of major cities (including the individual Marz centers) and the establishment of national ring configurations in order to improve network availability and coverage. These networks clearly represent an alternative to Beeline for the delivery of dark fiber or leased capacity products, which are urgently demanded by ISPs and alternative mobile network operators. Since the demand for 3G services is quite high, mobile operators may face shortages on their backhaul networks very soon.

International connectivity

The international connectivity in terms of wholesale internet services has been increased in competition and bandwidth. At the end of 2009 the cumulative capacity reached approximately 2.5 Gbps, provided by three different network providers: Beeline, Fibernet and GNC-Alfa. The internet throughput by the end of 2010 is predicted to be approximately 6 Gbps. The average price of Mbps per month of international connectivity was about US$ 600 (end of 2009). The same bandwidth will be offered for less than US$ 270 in 2010. In general, the introduction of alternative network providers for international connectivity should lead to a significant price reduction also for the broadband services delivered to the end customers.

All three network providers have international connectivity via Georgia. Beeline and GNC-Alfa provide additional connectivity via Iran, and Fibernet plans a connection via Iran in 2010. Besides, all three providers have plans to extend the international connectivity via Turkey. Once the political situation is normalized, the connections can easily be established and will result in another price decrease for international internet connectivity.

4.2.6 Other infrastructure

Total length of roadways is 8,888 km from which 7,079 paved roadways (includes 1,561 expressways) and 1,809 unpaved roadways. The total length of rail road lines is 845 km, however some of rail road are currently out of service. There is no air transportation service within Country. There are 11 airports in Armenia (10 with paved run ways as well as 1 with unpaved run way). Two airports: Zvartnots International Airport (Yerevan) and Shirak airport (Gyumri) are currently used for commercial aviation.




5. POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF THE PROJECT AND MITIGATION MEASURES

5.1 Introduction

This section describes the potential positive and negative environmental, socio-economic and health and safety related impacts of the proposed Project based on:

• Review of IFC’s Environmental, Health and Safety Guidelines for Telecommunications, IFC’s General Environmental, Occupational, Health and Safety Guidelines and EBRD’s Sub-sectoral Environmental Guidelines for Telecommunications;

• Available maps, survey reports, and other secondary sources; • Desk study of existing impacts; • A preliminary analysis of possible impacts likely to arise from the planned investments to

be financed by the World Bank.

5.2 Environmental Issues

Environmental issues in the proposed Project mainly include the following:

• Terrestrial habitat alteration • Aquatic habitat alteration • Visual impacts • Hazardous materials and waste • Electric and magnetic fields • Emissions to air • Noise.

5.3 Potential Environmental Impacts

The potential environmental impacts associated with the telecommunications sector can be divided into three broad categories (EBRD, Sub-sectoral Environmental Guidelines for Telecommunications):

• Impacts associated with the manufacture of telecommunications equipment (not addressed within this report);

• Impacts associated with the construction, installation and setting up of telecommunications systems (e.g. mast erection, cable laying, telephone pole erection, and construction of exchange buildings); as well as the construction of access roads in unaltered, sensitive or protected areas;

• Impacts associated with the operation and maintenance of the telecommunications systems (e.g. energy consumption, maintenance of telephone exchange systems and cables and the generation of hazardous wastes).

The impacts associated with setting up a telecommunications network are generally more significant than those associated with ongoing maintenance.




The potential environmental impacts identified for the proposed Project are based on: IFC’s EHS Guidelines for Telecommunications; IFC’s General Environmental, Occupational, Health and Safety Guidelines; and EBRD’s Sub-sectoral Environmental Guidelines for Telecommunications.

5.3.1 Terrestrial Habitat Alteration

Terrestrial habitats can potentially be altered primarily during the construction phase, depending on the type of infrastructure component and proposed location. The potential impacts to habitats may be more significant during construction and installation of linear infrastructure, such as long distance fixed line cables. In addition, roads may need to be developed to allow access to infrastructure located at previously undeveloped land. The impacts of road construction may have greater and irreversible effects on unaltered land (such as forests), and in protected areas and biological corridors. The loss of vegetation coverage increases the potential for soil erosion especially in areas subject to heavy rainfall and may also reduce the production capacity of soils.

Care must be taken to avoid disruption of critical ecosystems and existing transport/utility corridors should be used if possible. Re-vegetation of disrupted land must be undertaken once installation work has been completed.

As of today, most site installations are accessible by road. The presence of a paved road for access to the site is one of crucial criteria for site selection. Where there is no road in the area of the foreseen project or in remote areas in which access to sites by road is not possible, sites are accessed by foot.

5.3.2 Avian Collisions

Overhead cables and transmission towers could cause physical harm to birds through collisions. The height and design of some towers can pose a significant fatal risk to birds mainly through collisions. The likelihood of avian collisions is thought to increase, connected with the impact of the following factors:

• Height and design of the communications tower (guyed towers, represent a higher potential for collisions).

• Lighting of towers (e.g., birds tend to fly at night, and certain types of lights tend to attract greater numbers of birds, resulting in greater mortality, especially on misty or foggy nights).

• The tower location with respect to flyways or migration corridors.

The impacts of telecommunications towers on birds are not well known in Armenia and preventive as well as control measures are not applied. Wires are not used for cellular phone towers. Landline posts are connected by wires. No bird diverter devices are used to minimize possible impact on birds. Little consideration seems to have been given to the potential impact of tower facilities on birds during site selection. In addition, there are limited information in Armenia about migratory birds’ corridors, and towers have been constructed regardless of these.




5.3.3 Aquatic Habitat Alteration

Depending on their location, the installation of fixed line components, including shore approaches for long distance fiber optic cables, and access roads to transmission towers and other fixed infrastructure, may require construction of corridors across aquatic habitats with the potential to impact watercourses, wetlands, and riparian vegetation.

5.3.4 Visual Impacts

Overhead cables and transmission towers and antennas may have an effect on the physical scenery. The visual impacts from tower and antennae equipment is a function of the perception of the local community as well as the aesthetic value assigned to the scenic landscape (e.g., scenic and tourism areas). The design of the equipment shall incorporate a balance between the functional requirements of the infrastructure with the landscape of the neighborhood. The visual impact of towers is likely to be greater in protected areas, tourist destinations and rural areas, and lesser in urban and industrial areas. The degree of impact will depend on the type of land (rural vs. urban), surrounding land use (nature reserve, housing, commercial etc.), and local attitudes.

In some cases, local mobile service operators (Beeline, Viva Cell- MTS and Orange Armenia) co-locate antennae on shared towers. However, this practice follows no requirement or existing guideline, but is rather done according to the demand in the area of influence of the radio base. There are also installations of antennae on existing buildings in Armenia.

5.3.5 Hazardous and Non-Hazardous Materials and Waste

Telecommunications processes neither generate significant amounts of waste nor require the use of significant amounts of hazardous materials. However, if the scale of operations is large the impacts could be significant. For example, data centers sometimes store significant quantities of fuel (such as diesel) for backup generators. Fuel and batteries (which may contain lead, nickel or cadmium) might be used in back-up power systems and generators. Transformer equipment may potentially contain Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) as coolants/lubricants. These and other wastes (servers, optical fibres) should be disposed in compliance with national and international standards. If they are improperly disposed by dumping in landfills these toxic compounds could leach into the soil and cause contamination.

Besides, Armenia has no industrial wastes landfill. The Project of the industrial waste landfill design and construction is ongoing. Before that, the hazardous waste, including lead-acid batteries must been collected and stored in the site.

5.3.6 Air Emissions

Beside construction operations, air pollution from telecommunications activities is not significant: they are associated with pollution from vehicle fleets; the use of backup power generators. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) can be used as coolants in the telecommunications industry and




halons as fire suppressants. International and national agreements are in place to plan the phasing out of these ozone depleting substances (ODSs).

5.3.7 Noise

The principal source of noise associated with telecommunications facilities arises from construction activities. The operation of backup power generators may also cause some noise.

Noise from the equipment huts are maintained under certain limits according to national legislation. Accordingly, noise levels do not exceed 55 decibels in residential and rural areas and 80 decibels in industrial areas. Monitoring of emission levels is not done on a regular basis.

Table 5.1 outlines the potential environmental impacts and the level of impact associated with the foreseen investments in the Project.

Table 5.1. Potential Environmental Impacts

Issue Impact Project Phase

Construction works

Operation and Maintenance

Terrestrial Habitat Alteration

Loss of vegetation coverage due to deforestation for road construction and access Alteration of natural habitat and fauna biological corridors due to road construction, infrastructure and maintenance

Loss of soil ecosystems and land capacity due to erosion caused by rainfall in deforested areas of steep slope

Changes in the geomorphologic structure of the terrain

Avian Collisions Fatal physical risks on birds caused by collisions with tower infrastructure during migration flyways

Aquatic Habitat Alteration

Natural habitat and water resources alteration due to fixed line construction in water courses Surface water contamination caused by construction wastes handling and disposal

Visual Impacts Visual impacts from tower and antennae equipment in protected areas, tourist destination, and rural areas

Visual impacts from tower and antennae equipment in urban and industrial areas

Hazardous and Non-Hazardous Materials and Waste

Soil contamination from non-hazardous waste generation during construction (dust, construction materials)

Soil contamination from hazardous waste generation during maintenance and renovations (lead acid batteries, backup power batteries, optical fibers, mercury and PCB containing oils)





Construction works


Soil and groundwater contamination due to spillage from diesel in bulk storage tanks and/or oil from generators and transformers

Air Emissions Air pollution from vehicle fleets, backup power

generators, and ozone depleting substances releases from the use of cooling and fire suppression systems

Air pollution during construction operations Noise Noise generated by construction and

maintenance activities Noise generated by the operation of backup power generators

Note: - minimal impact - minor impact - major impact

☺ - positive impact

The potential environmental impacts associated with this project are minimal to minor. Notably, impacts are associated with the construction of access roads for installation of towers and antennas primarily in rural areas (including protected areas) that may require cutting of vegetation. Air pollution during construction operations is also can be significant. Other potentially considerable impacts are on birds due to collisions with the infrastructure. Regarding the maintenance and operation of telecommunication infrastructure, spillage of hazardous substances from storage tanks and PCB containing equipment has the potential to contaminate soil and groundwater. Finally, visual impacts are considerable especially in the tourism attracted areas.

Summary of Mitigation Measures

Measures to Mitigate Impacts on Terrestrial Habitat Alteration

• Site fixed line infrastructure (e.g. fiber optic cable) and other types of linear infrastructure rights-of-way, access roads, lines, and towers to avoid critical habitat through use of existing utility and transport corridors, whenever possible;

• Avoidance of construction activities during the breeding season and other sensitive seasons or times of day;

• Re-vegetation of disturbed areas with native plant species.

Measures to Mitigate Impacts on Avian Collisions

• Installation towers to avoid critical habitats (e.g. nesting grounds, heronries, rookeries, foraging corridors, and migration corridors);




• Avoiding the cumulative impact of towers by collocating antennae on existing towers or other fixed structures, designing new towers structurally and electrically to accommodate future users, and removing towers no longer in use;

• To the extent feasible, limiting the tower height and giving preference to non-guyed tower construction designs (e.g. using lattice structures or monopoles);

• If guy wired towers are located near critical bird habitats or migratory routes, installing visibility enhancement objects (e.g. marker balls, bird deterrents, or diverters) on the guy wires;

• Limiting the placement and intensity of tower lighting systems to those required to address aviation safety. Possible alternatives include the use white and / or strobe lighting systems.

Measures to Mitigate Impacts on Aquatic Habitat Alteration

• Site power transmission towers and substations to avoid critical aquatic habitat such as watercourses, wetlands, as well as fish spawning habitat, and critical fish over-wintering habitat, whenever possible;

• Maintaining fish access when road crossings of watercourses are unavoidable by utilizing clear span bridges, open-bottom culverts, or other approved methods;

• Minimizing clearing and disruption to riparian vegetation.

Measures to Mitigate Visual Impacts

• Minimizing construction of additional towers through collocation of proposed antennae in existing towers or existing structures such as buildings or power transmission towers;

• Use of tower and antennae camouflaging or disguising alternatives (e.g. masts or towers designed to look as trees);

• Taking into account public perception about aesthetic issues by consulting with the local community during the siting process of antenna towers.

Measures to Mitigate Impacts from Hazardous Materials and Waste

• Implementing fuel delivery procedures and spill prevention and control plans applicable to the delivery and storage of fuel for backup electric power systems, preferably providing secondary containment and overfill prevention for fuel storage tanks;

• Implementing procedures for the management of lead acid batteries, including temporary storage, transport and final recycling by a licensed facility;

• Ensuring that new support equipment does not contain PCBs or ODSs. PCBs from old equipment should be managed as a hazardous waste;

• Purchasing electronic equipment that meets international phase out requirements for hazardous materials contents and implementing procedures for the management of waste from existing equipment according to the hazardous waste guidance on best available practices.




Measures to Mitigate Impacts from Air Emissions

• Implementation of vehicle fleet and power generator emissions management strategies and avoiding the use of backup power generators as a permanent power source;

• Substitution in use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in cooling and fire-suppression systems, using contractors who are properly trained or certified in the management of CFCs.

Measures to Mitigate Noise Impacts

• Application of noise suppression shields and mufflers, as well as the location of noise generating sources away from residential or other noise-sensitive receptors to meet the noise emission levels.

Measures to Mitigate Impacts from Construction Phase

Soil Erosion

• Reducing exposure of sediment generating materials to wind or water by providing proper placement, minimizing bare areas, and covering highly erodible soils;

• Where applicable reducing or preventing erosion by: avoiding areas with sensitive soils, scheduling to avoid heavy rainfall periods (i.e., during the dry season), phasing construction areas and times, contouring and minimizing length and steepness of slopes, mulching to stabilize exposed areas, re-vegetating areas promptly, designing channels and ditches for post-construction flows, lining steep channel and slopes;

• Reducing or preventing off-site sediment transport through use of settlement ponds, silt fences and suspending activities during extreme rainfall;

• Segregating or diverting clean runoff to prevent it mixing with dirty water, which typically results in larger volumes of water needing treatment prior to release;

• Providing effective short term measures for slope stability until long term measures for the operational phase can be implemented.

Air Quality

• Minimizing dust from material handling sources, such as conveyors and bins, by using covers and/or control equipment (water suppression, bag house, or cyclone);

• Minimizing dust from open area sources, including storage piles, by using control measures such as installing enclosures and covers, and increasing the moisture content;

• Controlling dust from paved/unpaved roads by sweeping or using water suppressants;

• Selectively removing potential hazardous air pollutants, such as asbestos, from existing infrastructure prior to demolition

• Avoiding open burning of solid waste through segregation and recycling, and through disposal according to solid waste management guidance on best available practices.




Solid Waste and Hazardous Materials

• Segregating recyclable materials for further sale or distribution to recycling entities;

• Making scrap wood and other potentially reusable, nonhazardous materials available to local residents;

• Securing site from contaminant migration or public access, if necessary, to isolate future environmental impacts;

• Providing temporary secondary containment for portable storage tanks and for temporary storage of new and used lubricating fluids, including the use of portable impervious systems for lubricating oil and fuel storage and transfer areas;

• Training workers on the correct transfer and handling of petroleum products and response to spills;

• Providing portable spill containment and cleanup equipment;

• Assessing the presence of hazardous substances in or on materials (e.g., polychlorinated biphenyls absorbed into concrete, asbestos-containing flooring or insulation) and decontaminating or properly managing contaminated materials.

Noise and Vibration

• Planning activities with the potential to generate the greatest levels of noise and vibration, such as pile driving, earth moving, and materials deliveries, in consultation with local communities or during periods of the day when disturbance to potentially affected communities can be minimized;

• Locating stationary equipment that is noisy as far as possible from the NSRs;

• Use of temporary noise baffles and noise fencing during the construction, if necessary, to protect adjacent NSRs;

• Switching off unnecessary or idle equipment, fitting of noise mufflers to mobile plant and equipment;

• Preventative maintenance of equipment to minimize noise emissions.

5.4 Potential socio-economic, community health and safety impacts

The potential socio-economic, community health and safety impacts identified with the proposed Project are based on the IFC’s EHS Guidelines for Telecommunications. Socioeconomic impacts are usually not significant in the telecommunication sector. However, the Project has proposed investments in rural areas with limited infrastructure and areas home to communities, which may result in changes to their traditions, practices and customs.

As mentioned above, the health and safety impacts on community are generally minimal for the telecommunication sector. However, there is public concern regarding potential impacts of electromagnetic fields (EMFs). Other concerns include security of the radio bases and their surroundings because of theft incidences that occur on a regular basis.




Improved access to telecommunication plays a major role in economic, social and cultural growth and development. As a result, the proposed Project is expected to generate socio-economic benefits, such as increased range of the network, quality of service and competitiveness.

5.4.1 Investments in Telecommunication Sector

Investments in the telecommunication sector under the acting regulatory and institutional framework that complies with the country’s social objectives of universality and solidarity will provide the following benefits:

• Geographic and socio-economic range extension, providing access to tele-communications for rural, isolated and poor communities, contributing to sustained social progress.

• Price and service advantages for consumers as a result of increased global competitiveness in the telecommunications sector; and

• Enhanced quality of service, reduced delays in technological and market innovation, increased investment in the sector, and efficient allocation of scarce resources.

5.4.2 Economic Conditions

The local economic footprint of facilities is generally low in the telecommunication sector. However, the economic conditions (access to water and other public services) of the populations living nearby telecommunication facilities may be affected by the construction and operation of such facilities. This may be true if the construction and operation of the facilities utilizes local services, such as water, waste disposal, etc.

In addition, the construction and operation of telecommunication facilities may be a source of employment for nearby residents.

5.4.3 Land Acquisition and Modification of Land Use

All civil works financed under the Project are expected to conduct within the existing Right of Way or publicly owned land. No acquisition or private land, restriction of access to income or income generating activities, or loss of assets including buildings, trees and standing crops, are expected. In order to ensure this, the screening procedure has been established based on which proposals and all investment plans are assessed during the initial screening process. The details of the screening procedure will be described below in section 6.2.

5.4.4 Cultural and Archaeological Findings

During construction works, archaeological findings may be encountered and potentially damaged, or broken. Culturally sensitive areas (i.e. where cultural practices occur) may become impacted both by construction and operation works, by modifying the religious or cultural value of a certain area.




Nevertheless, the construction contractors should be instructed to ensure there are pre-excavation checks for any cultural or archaeological artifacts. In case of «Chance Find» they shall stop all works and inform the Ministry of Culture of Armenia and resume only after securing proper clearances from the authorities.

5.4.5 Public Health and EMF

Although there is public and scientific concern over the potential health effects associated with exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs), there is no conclusive data demonstrating adverse health effects from exposure to typical EMFs levels from communication base transceiver stations. EMFs levels in Armenia are controlled by National Hygiene and Anti-Epidemiological Surveillance Inspectorate while monitoring is performed by Center of Control and Prevention of Sickness as well as Scientific-technical Center of Nuclear and Radiation Security (in case of X-ray and Ionizing Radiation).

Antennae in urban areas are often located in close proximity to residential housing or above the buildings. In some cases, the antennas were located within less than five meters of the nearest residential area. The cases of complaints of residents nearby antennas in residential urban areas regarding public health risks of exposure to EMFs are usually happened.

5.4.6 Public Safety

Communities may be exposed to structural safety risks in the event of structural failure of antennas or towers, especially in vulnerable areas such as those prone to earthquakes, flooding or steep slopes. Regarding internet and cellular phone usage, telecommunication companies who provide such services have little or no influence over the safe use of these devices by the users.

5.4.7 Physical and Aircraft Security

Physical security issues may arise in cases where thieves enter telecommunication facilities to steal copper wires or other parts. The intrusion to facilities may be a physical hazard to the thieves themselves, as well as to the surrounding neighbors. There have been many reported cases of intrusion into the sites in urban and semi-urban areas.

Antenna towers located near airports or known flight paths can pose a risk to aircraft navigation security through collision to towers or through radar interference. The telecommunication companies have to consult with the General Department of Civil Aviation (GDCA) prior to installation of any free-standing tower and adhere to their safety regulations.

Table 5.2 outlines the potential socio-economic impacts and the level of impact associated with the foreseen investments in the Project.




Table 5.2. Potential Socio-economic Impacts


Construction works


Investments Geographic and socio-economic range extension of telecom services ☺ Price and service advantages to consumer through competition ☺ Enhanced quality of service and efficient allocation of scarce resources ☺

Economic conditions

Impacts on livelihoods, access to public services and infrastructure Employment creation ☺ ☺

Land acquisition and modification of land use

Agreed compensation to landlord No land acquisition in indigenous territories. If agreement is done, changes in lifestyle are foreseen

Changes in land use (i.e. from agricultural to transport) and new access to previously uninhabited areas

Cultural and archaeological findings

Archaeological findings may be damaged, broken or missed Culturally sensitive areas (i.e. where cultural practices occur) may become affected by modifying the religious or cultural value of a certain area

Public health and EMF

Adverse health effects from exposure to typical EMF levels from towers

Public safety Structural failure of towers; especially in vulnerable areas with risk of earthquakes, flooding or steep slopes

Physical and aircraft security

Physical security issues include security risks for the thieves when entering facilities and the nearby residents

Collision of aircrafts with antennas and towers or through radar interference



The potential socio-economic impacts associated with this Project are diverse. Extending the telecommunication services to rural areas increases the quality of service, competitiveness, contributing to sustained economic and social growth. The major risks associated with the Project connect with the potential installation of towers in areas, which requires additional permitting and public consultation processes. Acquiring land for the planned investments may also be source of impacts on current land use.





Measures to Mitigate Impacts on Livelihoods, Access to Public Services and Infrastructure

• Planning activities that can affect on population's living conditions and access to public services and infrastructure in consultation with local communities, undertaking measures to eliminate or minimize disturbance of potentially affected communities;

• Following good engineering practice in project design, construction and operation stage avoiding the use of local public service utilities, if possible;

• Involvement of local community population's labour forces in telecommunication facilities construction and operation.

Measures to Mitigate Land Use Impacts

• Prevent access and vegetation clearing of undeveloped areas for settlement;

• Avoid road construction by the use of existing accesses;

• When construction of access roads is imminent; minimize road length to a pathway for settlement of new areas;

• Camouflage the road entrance with local vegetation or similar landscape features;

• Provide local people with information on the secondary impacts associated with road access construction.

Measures to Mitigate Impacts on Cultural and Archaeological Findings

• Ensure pre-excavation check for any cultural or archaeological artifacts;

• In case of «Chance Find» stop all works and inform the Ministry of Culture of RoA;

• Resume only after securing proper clearances from the authorities.

Measures to Mitigate EMF Impacts on Public Health

• Evaluating potential exposure to the public against the reference levels developed by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). Average and peak exposure levels should remain below the ICNIRP recommendation for General Public Exposure;

• Limiting public access to antennae tower locations;

• Following good engineering practice in the siting and installation of directional links (e.g. microwave links), to avoid building structures;

• Taking into account public perception about EMF issues by consulting with the local community during the siting process of antenna towers.




Measures to Mitigate Impacts on Public Safety

• Assess risk of erosion during site selection (i.e., soil characteristics, topography, climate, etc.);

• Do not site towers in areas with high risk of natural disasters (landslides, earthquakes, flooding, or slopes >30º);

• If location in residential area is necessary, respect the required distance between towers and closest residential building;

• Elaboration of emergency response plan and undertaking of periodical training session for operating personnel and awareness raising for population of nearby communities.

• Design and install tower structures and components according to good international industry practice.

Measures to Mitigate Impacts on Physical and Aircraft Security

• Avoid sites that fall within the area ruled by GDCA regulations;

• If siting within the aviation agency area is required, comply with the GDCA’s design and construction requirements;

• Consultation with aviation agency prior to installation and adherence to national air traffic safety regulations;

• Use strobe lights and other safety devices as required by the GDSA guidelines;

• Installation and maintenance of security devices.

5.5 Potential Occupational Health And Safety Risks

Occupational health and safety (OHS) risks or hazards in proposed Project may occur during the construction works and maintenance and operation of telecommunication facilities. These are based on IFC’s EHS Guidelines for Telecommunications and EBRD’s Sub-sectoral Environmental Guidelines for Telecommunications. OHS issues include the following:

• Contingencies • Electrical safety • Electromagnetic fields (occupational) • Optical fiber safety • Elevated and overhead work • Fall protection • Confined space entry • Motor vehicle safety.

Excavation, construction and repair of some components of a telecommunications system may result in workers’ exposure to existing aboveground or underground utilities, including aerial or buried electric transmission lines or buried natural gas and petroleum pipelines. Identification and




location of all relevant existing underground utilities should be undertaken prior to any excavation and trenching activities.

5.5.1 Contingencies

Workers may be exposed to contingencies or situations of emergency in case of an accident or a natural disaster during the construction or operational phases.

5.5.2 Electrical Safety

Workers may be exposed to occupational hazards from potential contact with live power lines during construction, maintenance and operation activities.

5.5.3 Electromagnetic Fields (occupational)

Electric utility workers typically have a higher exposure to EMF than the general public due to working in proximity to electric power lines. Radio wave strength is generally much greater from radio and television broadcast stations than from cellular phone communication base transceiver stations. Microwave and satellite system antennas transmit and receive highly concentrated directional beams at even higher power levels.

5.5.4 Optical Fiber Safety

Workers involved in fiber optic cable installation or repair may be at risk of permanent eye damage due to potential exposure to laser light during cable connection and inspection activities. Workers may also be exposed to minute or microscopic glass fiber shards that can penetrate human tissue through the skin or eyes, or by ingestion or inhalation. Optic fiber installation activities may pose a risk of fire due to the presence of flammable materials in high-powered laser installation areas.

5.5.5 Elevated and Overhead Work

The assembly of towers and installation of antennae can pose a physical hazard to workers using lifts and elevated platforms, and to those located below due to the potential of falling objects.

5.5.6 Fall Protection

Workers may be exposed to occupational hazards when working at elevation during construction, maintenance, and operation activities. The absence of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and safety devices poses additional risks.

5.5.7 Confined Space Entry

The type of confined spaces encountered in telecommunication projects varies but may include underground fixed line infrastructure in urban areas. Telecommunications facility operators should develop and implement confined space entry procedures.




5.5.8 Motor Vehicle Safety

The geographically dispersed nature of the infrastructure of some telecommunication operators may require the frequent use of ground transportation for maintenance activities.

Based on accumulated experience the experts of ATMS Solutions has identified the following breaches in the compliance of national and international OHS practices that are generally occurred in telecommunication projects:

• Access to the sites was sometime precarious and dangerous. • The fall protection along the towers was insufficient: the cable lines had no fixtures, the

ladders along the towers had no secondary protection. • Workers were wearing no PPE during maintenance operations. • Work at elevation was done without harness or other PPE. • Hazardous material (gasoline) was stored without label or secondary containment. • There were no signs indicating the presence of possible health and safety hazards. • Workers receive no training or information on the possible risks of exposure to EMF. • There was waste in and around the site in several locations.

The conditions contained in the bidding documents prepared for the providers shall require obligations to comply with the existing national legislation and regulations, in particular the Section 23 of RoA Labour Code, Law on State Regulation of Technical Safety, Law on Sanitary and Epidemiologic Security of Population and other OHS acts and standards. In these bidding documents supervision during construction works and maintenance falls within the responsibility of the providers of services. However, an overall supervision for ensuring that OHS regulations and best practices are applied should be undertaken. The major issue related to OHS seems to be non-compliance with the existing laws and regulations by the telecommunication service providers and sub-contractors’ workers.

Table 5.3 outlines the potential occupational health and safety risks and the level of risks associated with the foreseen investments of the Project.

Table 5.3 Potential Occupational Health and Safety Hazards


Construction works


Contingencies Eventual accidents or natural disasters causing emergency contingencies

Electrical safety Contact with live power lines Electromagnetic fields

Higher exposure to EMF due to working in proximity to electric power lines

Optical fiber safety

Risk of permanent eye damage due to exposure to laser light during cable connection and inspection activities

Microscopic glass fiber shards that can penetrate human tissue through skin or eyes, or by ingestion or inhalation

Risk of fire due to the presence of flammable materials in high-powered laser installation areas





Construction works


Elevated and overhead work

Physical hazard due to the potential for falling objects

Fall protection Risk of fall when working at elevation during construction, maintenance and operation activities

Confined space entry

Underground fixed line infrastructure in urban areas

Motor vehicle safety

Frequent use of ground transportation for maintenance activities increases risk of car accident



The potential occupational health and safety impacts associated with the Project are minimal to minor. They are likely to occur mainly during the construction works. The major issue related to OHS to date seems to be the non-compliance of telecommunication service providers and sub-contractors’ workers with the existing laws and regulations.


Measures to Mitigate Impacts on Electrical Safety

• All electrical installations should be performed by certified personnel and supervised by an accredited person. Certification for such work should include theoretical as well as practical education and experience;

• Strict procedures for de-energizing and checking of electrical equipment should be in place before any maintenance work is conducted. If de-energizing is not possible, electrical installations should be moved or insulated to minimize the hazardous effects;

• Prior to excavation works, all existing underground cable installations should be identified and marked. Drawings and plans should indicate such installations;

• All electrical installations or steel structures, such as masts or towers, should be grounded to provide safety as the electrical current chooses the grounded path for electrical discharge. In cases where maintenance work has to be performed on energized equipment, a strict safety procedure should be in place and work should be performed under constant supervision;

• Personnel training should be provided in revival techniques for victims of electric shock.

Measures to Mitigate EMFs Impacts

• Identification of potential exposure levels in the workplace, including surveys of exposure levels in new projects and the use of personal monitors during working activities;

• Training of workers in the identification of occupational EMF levels and hazards;




• Establishment and identification of safety zones to differentiate between work areas with expected elevated EMF levels compared to those acceptable for public exposure, limiting access to properly trained workers;

• Implementation of action plans to address potential or confirmed exposure levels that ex-ceed reference occupational exposure levels developed by international organizations such as the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Action plans may include deactivation of transmission equipment during maintenance activities, limiting exposure time through work rotation, increasing the distance between the source and the worker, when feasible, use of shielding materials; or installation of ladders, etc.

Measures to Mitigate Optical Fiber Safety Impacts

• Worker training on specific hazards associated with laser lights, including the various classes of low and high power laser lights, and fiber management;

• Preparation and implementation of laser light safety and fiber management procedures which include: switching off laser lights prior to work initiation, when feasible, use of laser safety glasses during live optical fiber systems installation, prohibition of intentionally looking into the laser of fiber end or pointing it at another person, placing warning signs and labeling of areas with potential for exposure to laser radiation, and providing adequate background lighting to account for loss of visibility with the use of protective eyewear, inspecting the work area for the presence of flammable materials prior to the installation of high powered laser lights;

• Implementation of a medical surveillance program with initial and periodic eye examinations;

• Avoiding exposure to fibers through use of protective clothing and separation of work and eating areas.

Measures to Mitigate Impacts from Elevated and Overhead Work

• The area around which elevated work is taking place should be barricaded to prevent unauthorized access. Working under other personnel should be avoided;

• Hoisting and lifting equipment should be rated and maintained and operators trained in their use. Elevating platforms should be maintained and operated according to established safety procedures that include such aspects as equipment and use of fall protection measures (e.g. railings), movement of location only when the lift is in a retracted position, repair by qualified individuals, etc;

• Ladders should be used according to pre-established safety procedures including proper placement, climbing, standing, and the use of extensions.

Measures to Mitigate Impacts on Fall Protection

• Implementation of a fall protection program that includes training in climbing techniques and use of fall protection measures; inspection, maintenance, and replacement of fall protection equipment; and rescue of fall-arrested workers, among others;




• Establishment of criteria for use of 100 percent fall protection (typically when working over 2 meters (m) above the working surface, but sometimes extended to 7m, depending on the activity). The fall protection system should be appropriate for the tower structure and necessary movements, including ascent, descent, and moving from point to point;

• Installation of fixtures on tower components to facilitate the use of fall protection systems;

• Provision of an adequate work-positioning device system for workers. Connectors on positioning systems should be compatible with the tower components to which they are attached;

• Safety belts should be of not less than 16 millimeters (mm) (5/8 inch) two-in-one nylon or material of equivalent strength. Rope safety belts should be replaced before signs of aging or fraying of fibers become evident;

• When operating power tools at height, workers should use a second (backup) safety strap.

Measures to Mitigate Impacts When Working in Confined Spaces

• Engineering measures should be implemented to eliminate, to the degree feasible, the existence and adverse character of confined spaces. Unavoidable confined spaces should be provided with permanent safety measures for venting, monitoring, and rescue operations, to the extent possible;

• Safety precautions should include Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), life lines, and safety watch workers stationed outside the confined space, with rescue and first aid equipment readily available;

• Before workers are required to enter a confined space, adequate and appropriate training in confined space hazard control, atmospheric testing, use of the necessary Personal Protection Equipment (PPE). Further, adequate and appropriate rescue and / or recovery plans and equipment should be in place before the worker enters the confined space.

Measures to Mitigate Impacts on Motor Vehicle Safety

• Training and licensing industrial vehicle operators in the safe operation of specialized vehicles such as forklifts, including safe loading/unloading, load limits. Drivers should also be instructed on the benefits of driving practices which reduce both the risk of accidents and fuel consumption;

• Equipping site vehicles with back-up alarms to help warn other workers in the vicinity of the moving vehicle;

• Establishing rights-of-way, site speed limits, vehicle inspection requirements, operating rules and procedures (e.g. prohibiting operation of forklifts with forks in down position), and control of traffic patterns or direction;

• Restricting the circulation of delivery and private vehicles to defined routes and areas, giving preference to ‘one-way’ circulation, where appropriate.




6. REFERENCE FRAMEWORK FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROJECT

This Reference Framework has been designed for the project implementing agency from the GoA to assist them in the environmental and social screening, appraisal and review process for telecommunication projects to be financed.

The framework is aimed at ensuring that all new investments in telecommunications meet:

• Applicable national regulations (see Section 3 Legislative, Regulatory and Institutional Framework).

• World Bank safeguard policies (see Section 2.4 World Bank Safeguard Policies Triggered).

• International best practice in environmental management.

The Reference Framework is a management system to identify and effectively mitigate potential future impacts of telecommunication projects which likely to financed.

The Reference Framework provides the overall approach for screening, appraisal, approval, implementation and monitoring of Project as well as guidelines for mitigation measures and environmental management during operation. Figure 6.1 harmonizes in-country procedures with World Bank safeguard policies requirements and best practice designed for this process. The project implementing agency will ensure that such process is completed diligently and that Project proponents adhere to the requirements.

6.1 Project Implementing Agency (NCFA)

PIA shall be responsible for ensuring that the screening and impact mitigation mechanisms are implemented. However, the RoA MNP through its separate units (State Environmental Inspectorate and State Environmental Expertise SNCO) provides the oversight mechanism for the reviewing the process and environmental design documentation in correspondence with applicable requirements and ensuring that the process are properly implemented.

Given that the differential responsibilities of each body are not entirely clear (e.g., where PIA’s responsibilities end and MNP’s begin), it is recommended that this is a part of the Project that requires additional attention, and that the two bodies’ roles should be very clearly demarcated. Additionally, it is highly recommended that training and capacity building be provided to both PIA and MNP, preferably a joint training and that their exact differential and complementary responsibilities be one focus of the training.

6.2 Project Screening, Review and Implementation Process

As the locations for the subprojects are not clearly identified at this stage, it is important to have the appropriate tools in place to assist the PIA in screening these activities for potential environmental and social impacts and to provide guidelines for implementing measures to effectively address them.

The proposed screening, review and implementation framework has been designed based on the requirements of the national legislation and complemented to adhere to the relevant World Bank’s safeguard policies.




6.2.1 Procedures Set for Environmental and Social Impact Assessment

Figure 6.1 shows the adherence of the in-country appraisal process by State Environmental Expertise SNCO (SEE) to World Bank requirements. The pink box (to the right) presents the project appraisal process that the PIA and SEE will use to evaluate subprojects. The screening, review and implementation process consists of the following steps:

Step 1: Site selection and screening Step 2: Appraisal and review process

Step 3: Approval and disclosure Step 4: Implementation

Step 5: Monitoring

The blue box (to the left) specifies World Bank environmental and social safeguard requirements (operational policies 4.01, 4.04, 4.11 and 4.12) that will be met at each step of the appraisal process. PIA must ensure that World Bank requirements are incorporated when evaluating subprojects. If deemed necessary, the World Bank will provide technical assistance and training to PIA’s project staff to fulfill mentioned requirements.

6.2.1.1 Step 1. Site Selection and Screening

According to the RoA Law on Environmental impact assessment the Concept of the Project, including general specifications (selected sites, cable tracing, tower installation points, etc) should be submitted to the SEE for environmental impact assessment and appraisal. This includes the initial screening of sites pre-selected by PIA for Project implementation.

To comply with requirements of national environmental legislation as well as the World Bank safeguard policies PIA, should undertake pre-classification of land to be used. From the environmental point of view land is mainly divided in to three categories: “general use” lands - does not require special environmental permits or impact assessment; forest areas - permission from MNP is required; Special protected areas - environmental impact assessment done by SEE and permission issued by Ministry of Urban Development is required. From social safeguard point of view, the land will be classified into lands that are owned and/ or used by private entities and those that are owned by the state/ local governments.

According to the WB procedures the site selection process is based on the following tools: • Rapid Environmental Valorization • World Bank Environmental Site Sensitivity Compliance Criteria • World Bank Involuntary Resettlement Policy.

The sensitivity of proposed sites will be rated by means of a checklist form called VAR (Rapid Environmental Valorization). The VAR was designed by the PIA and contains all WB requirements for site selection process.

Additionally, PIA will rate the impacts (low, medium, or high) in terms of the site sensitivity of proposed sites in accordance with the World Bank safeguard criteria for environmental site sensitivities. Overall site sensitivity is determined based on the number of low, medium, and high ratings received for each sensitivity issue. Table 6.1 outlines the risk categories (A, B, and C) as defined by the World Bank that are associated with examples of telecommunications subprojects.




Figure 6.1. Screening, appraisal and implementation process

Project Appraisal Process by the “State Environmental Expertise” (SEE)

SEE approval of the Concept

SEE Comments

Concept revision and re-submission

SEE’s evaluation and decision paths:

• Rejected • Incomplete or deficient: requires

extension or modification • Approval: the EIA conclusions is granted

PIA supervises subproject implementation in compliance with approved environment instrument

PIA officers determines subproject monitoring frequency and supervises monitoring reports approved in EMP

• Identification of subproject • Site selection (natural habitats and

cultural resources considerations) • Subproject screening (A, B, or C) • Confirmation that no land acquisition,

loss of structures, income, standing crops, trees or assets is expected

WB Environmental and Social Safeguard Requirements (OP 4.01, 4.04, 4.11 and 4.12)

• Review EMP findings and results for subprojects by implementing institution, environmental agency or technical advisor

• Request additional EMP work; public consultation and institutional capacity (if needed

• Approval on the basis of compliance with safeguard policies (OP 4.01, 4.04, 4.11 and 4.10 and 4.36 if triggered) and national legislation

• Disclosure of sub project

• Ensure implementation of mitigation measures addressed in EMP and legal agreements

• Capacity building and training of project staff, local GoC officers and communities

• Public consultation and disclosure

• Ensure regular monitoring established in EMP • Capacity building and training of project staff,

local GoA officers and communities • Public consultation and disclosure

Step 2: Appraisal & Review

Step 3: Approval & Disclosure

Step 4: Implemen-tation

Step 5: Monitoring

Step 1: Site Selection & Screening

Category A (High risk)

Category B (Medium risk)

Category C (Low risk)

• Develop ToR • Alternatives

analysis • Develop EIA

or EMP • Public

consultation • Project

disclosure • Apply EMP

conditions in contracts

• Design EMP with generic mitigation measures

• Public consultation

• Project disclosure

• Apply EMP conditions in contracts

• No further action required

These requirements will be incorporated into the corresponding EIA Reports (see Figure 6-2)

SEE screens the Project’s Concept

PIA initiates the elaboration of the Project’s concept (program) with general specifications, i.e. selected sites, cable tracing, tower installments points, etc.

PIA submits the Project’s Concept with general specification to SEE for EIA

PIA initiates the elaboration of Project design documentation and EIA reports for each subproject

PIA submits Project design documentation and EIA reports for each subproject to SEE for review and approval

SEI officers may carry out field inspection




Table 6.1. Process Risk assessment for subproject categories

Type of Activities High (Category A)

Medium (Category B)

Low (Category C)

Installation of masts and towers Installation of fixed line cables and connectors

Construction of landing stations Equipment housing (e.g. shelters, cabinets, auxiliary power units)

Maintenance of linear infrastructure

For subprojects which are deemed high risk, as they may result in significant impacts, PIA should re-assess the location and design of the subproject to ensure that there are no alternatives which may minimize or avoid these potential environmental and social impacts.

Subprojects for which the overall site sensitivity is determined to be “high” does not necessarily indicate that a site is unsuitable. However, this indicates a real risk of resulting in undesirable adverse environmental and social impacts. In these cases, more substantial environmental and/or social planning may be required to adequately avoid, mitigate or manage potential effects.

Evaluation Criteria

PIA will ensure that the following pass-fail criteria have been considered:

Table 6.2. Pass-fail criteria

Issue Criteria Pass/Fail

Proximity to vulnerable populations

Telecommunication subprojects will not be developed within 50 meters of vulnerable populations such as: hospitals; clinics; elderly homes; childcare centers; and schools. Subprojects within 100 meters of these areas should be avoided

Proximity to protected areas The installation of subprojects within 50 meters of the boundary of protected areas; wetlands; bird migration corridors; and tourism destinations should be avoided. Projects in mountain passes and in areas within about 2 km the coastline should also be avoided, particularly where there is frequent nocturnal cloud cover during February-April (northward migration) or September-October (southward migration). Subprojects are encouraged to be sited in lands already converted (i.e. with access roads or existent telecommunication infrastructure). If there are no feasible alternatives to subproject siting and a protected area is selected; the subproject will include specific and more stringent mitigation measures, consultation and information disclosure to minimize the impacts




Issue Criteria Pass/Fail

Archaeological sites or areas of physical cultural resources

Archaeological sites or areas of physical cultural resources should be avoided. A site screening will be performed by an expert to assess the possible presence of physical/ cultural resources. Where the probability exists; specific mitigation measures and salvage procedures will be followed and institutional capacity will be developed if necessary

Land Acquisition and economic loss

No civil works to be supported under the Project on land that are owned/ currently used by private entities for economic or residential purpose. Loss of or damage to structures, income, standing crops and trees is not allowed. Should PIA failed to submit documents to meet the criteria, PIA is required to revise the subproject design to meet the criteria

Landscape and land use Landscape impacts should be avoided; sharing of infrastructure is highly encouraged. Scenic vistas, bird watching areas and tourism destinations should also be avoided. Regarding land use, areas already converted from natural habitat must be used. Sites where land value would decrease due the presence of a telecommunications facility should be avoided

Existent telecommunication and ancillary infrastructure

Sites with existed telecommunications and ancillary infrastructure are encouraged. Sharing of infrastructure as well as the use of existing public buildings/structures is preferred

Security Sites with safety issues such as delinquency; drug trafficking; smuggling; theft; etc will be avoided

Vulnerability to natural disasters

The site emplacement will preferably avoid areas of steep slope; volcanic risk; geotechnical instability; flooding and proximity to surface water. If no other alternatives are feasible, engineering measures will be taken to prevent and minimize damage to the installations and the surrounding areas

6.2.1.2 Step 2: Categorization and Appraisal process

Categorization

The categorization of projects by environmental risks categories is not required by national environmental legislation. According to the article 4 (Intended activities subject to assessment) RoA Law on Environmental Impact Assessment the intended activities in the field of telecommunication (large-size telecommunication facilities) are subject of EIA.




Appraisal

The Design Documentation for each component (subproject) of the Project together with relevant EIA report should be elaborated by specialized design organization and submitted to SEE reviewing and appraisal. The EIA report shall be based on national environmental requirements as well as World Bank Procedures and Guidelines.

The appraisal and approval procedures, prescribed by RoA Law on Environmental Impact Assessment and applied by SEE are given in Figure 6.2.

6.2.1.3 Step 3: Approval, Disclosure and Public Consultation

Approval

SEE may coordinate with PIA and other relevant sector authorities or specialists (e.g. telecommunications, protected areas, cultural heritage, health, etc.) to solve any technical questions regarding the design and potential environmental and social issues related to the Project. Public consultation of the professional conclusion concerning subproject design documentation and EIA Report is also undertaken with participation of all stakeholders. SEE will make a final decision based on the environmental instruments presented and compliance with required criterion.

Rejected: environmental measures are not viable for the proposed subproject. PIA will be asked to re-submit the EIA report based on recommendations.

Incomplete or deficient: environmental measures presented require an extension or modification. SEE may request additional EMP work, including public consultation. When deemed necessary, SEE may provide an environmental specialist or technician to help leverage the application of environmental measures in the instrument.

Approved: presented environmental measures comply with required procedures, national legislation, and safeguard policies (OP 4.01, 4.04 and 4.11). The environmental viability permit with mitigation measures (EIA conclusions) is granted.




Figure 6.2. The appraisal and approval procedures, applied by SEE

The head of the province/provinces

The relevant state body

The affected community/communities

Public consultation and disclosure

PIA (initiator)

Other stakeholders

SEE disseminates Documents through

PIA submits of the subproject’s design documentation and EIA Report (Documents) to the SEE

Results of the public consultation process presented to SEE

Results (comments, complaints, proposals, etc.) of the public consultation in the shape of opinion presented to SEE

Elaboration of professional conclusion by expert team of SEE and independent specialists

Public consultation of professional conclusion with all stakeholders

yes no Environmental Viability

Approved (Positive

conclusion)

Rejected (Negative

conclusion)

SEE final decision based on the results of public consultation and subproject compliance with required criterion




Disclosure and Public Consultation

In compliance with World Bank guidelines, before a subproject is approved, the project must be made available for public review. Disclosure will occur at a place accessible to local people (e.g. at a local government office, community council, town hall, municipality, etc.) and in a form, manner, and language that can be understood by the audience.

SEE will ensure that public consultation with subproject stakeholders (i.e. local communities, local authorities, local NGO’s, and project-affected groups) and appropriate disclosure occurs throughout the subproject implementation as necessary to address issues related to the environmental measures that affect said stakeholders.

6.2.1.4 Step 4: Implementation

During subproject implementation, supervision of subproject implementation is carried out by State Environmental Inspectorate to ensure its compliance with EIA conclusions as well as requirements of national environmental legislation.

It is strongly recommended for PIA to undertake its own supervision of environmental and social impacts of the subprojects implementation to assure its compliance with WB requirements. Accordingly, the supervision arrangements should summarize key areas on which supervision will focus critical risks to implementation of the EMP, how such risks will be monitored during implementation and agreements reached with the project proponent.

Supervision, along with other aspects of the subproject, covers monitoring, evaluative review and reporting and is designed to:

• determine whether the project proponent is carrying out the subproject in conformity with environmental safeguards and legal agreements;

• identify problems as they arise during implementation and recommend to the project proponent means to resolve them;

• recommend changes in subproject concept/design, as appropriate, as the subproject evolves or circumstances change;

• identify the key risks to subproject sustainability and recommend appropriate risk management strategies to the project proponent.

It is vital that an appropriate environmental supervision plan is developed with clear objectives to ensure the successful. The principal scheme of supervision is presented in Figure 6.3.




Figure 6.3. Subproject implementation supervision

The following guidelines describe general topics that PIA environmental supervisor will need to assess during subproject implementation (construction and operation). The guidelines are based on the IFC EHS Guidelines for Telecommunications, EBRD guidelines, international best practice, relevant national legislation, as well as observations made during the environmental assessment of the proposed Project (see Section 5 Potential Impacts of this ESMF). However, the topics will ultimately depend on the environment instruments approved by PIA.

Category Impacts Environmental Impacts • Terrestrial habitat • Migratory birds • Aquatic habitat • Landscape • Hazardous materials and waste • Air emissions • Noise pollutions Socio-Economic Impacts • Distributions of investments • Indigenous Populations • Cultural and archaeological findings • Public health and Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) • Public safety • Physical Security • Aircraft security Occupational Health and Safety Impacts

No further action required

Proponent applies corrective actions

Are environmental measures adequately

met?

Subproject implementation supervision by PIA’s officer

Yes

No




Category Impacts • Contingencies • Electrical safety • Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) • Optical fiber safety • Elevated and overhead work • Fall protection • Confined space entry • Motor vehicle safety

6.2.1.5 Step 5: Monitoring and Evaluation

PIA personnel will undertake regular environmental monitoring to ensure that all activities identified to have potentially significant environmental and social impacts during normal operations and upset conditions in the environment instruments are being addressed.

In particular, as part of the Monitoring Control and Adjustment System, the supervisor assigned by PIA shall:

• Ensure that undertaken environmental monitoring activities are based on direct or indirect indicators of emissions, effluents, and resource use applicable to the particular project, as stated in the EMPs of the subprojects.

• Ensure that construction workers have received Environment and Health and Safety (EHS) training; are part of the monitoring and control system and report infringements to the management plan to their supervisor;

• Ensure that access to tower sites for monitoring of bird mortality and related biodiversity issues is permitted and that monitoring is undertaken;

• Be in charge of approving environmental forms, as necessary, (i.e. waste management; erosion and reforestation; etc.);

• Decide when specific adjustments shall be applied and evaluate alternatives and costs.

State Environmental Inspectorate (SEI)’s environmental officers may carry out field inspections to audit the subprojects implementation and operation processes, as deemed necessary. During these inspections, the audit officer will audit the compliance of the environmental commitments from the EIA conclusion, EMP, the environmental contract clauses and other environmental instruments. PIA may also deem necessary to conduct brief consultation with beneficiaries and affected communities to assess impacts of the subproject.

6.2.2 Land acquisition screening

All sub-projects of the proposed Project financed by World Bank must be implemented in a way to avoid private land acquisition as well as any other impacts foreseen under the World Bank Operational Policy 4.12 will not occur as a result of their implementation. This section sets out procedure for actions and measures that should be applied to ensure that no such impact actually occurs.




Such procedure are designed in the best interest of Project smooth implementation and to contribute the PIA in timely manner to check each sub-project design components and conduct the sub-project proposals selection process to ensure that activities to be undertaken within the project implementation would not trigger OP4.12. PIA shall utilize this procedure in the process of review sub-projects and study the specificity of the planned activities of Contractors and determine whether they fail to comply with OP 4.12 and thus either reject or suggest revision and resubmission for sub-projects design and implementation. The PIA shall outline specifications, concerning the avoidance of land acquisition in the Project initial Concept as well as further sub-projects design documents, including Terms of References for Contractors.

Project Concept Document

The PIA shall apply this procedure at the starting phase – elaboration, review and appraisal of the Project Concept. The Project concept should be elaborated in a way to avoid land acquisition by utilization of existing road infrastructure for laying of broadband backbone. Whether utilization of the existing road infrastructure is not technically viable, the relevant references should be given in Project concept document, including outline of tracing of the linear infrastructure and dislocation of towers to be constructed out of existing road infrastructure. The relevant instructions should be to the company/consultant in charge for drafting the Project Concept document. PIA should review submitted draft of Project Concept to check whether the above mentioned requirements are met.

Sub-Projects Design

Sub-projects design must be drafted to avoid utilization of private land property acquisition. This requirement must be incorporated in the ToR for sub-project design companies. Design companies should request regional authorities (marzpetarans) to provide so called “land property” maps of the areas where sub-projects will be implemented. Design of linear infrastructure, towers, access roads and other infrastructure must be developed based on the provided maps. To ensure absence of private land acquisition sub projects design documentation (especially lay out of broadband backbone infrastructure) should be arranged with local authorities. This is strongly recommended since “land ownership” maps are sometimes not properly updated. Although compliance with ToR specifications is a responsibility of design company PIA should check absence of land acquisition. In practical terms it means that PIA should require copies of “ownership maps”, should follow up correspondence with local authorities etc.

Sub-Projects implementation/construction phase

PIA must supervise the construction process to ensure that lay-out of broadband backbone infrastructure is in line with sub-project design data. This will assure inter alia elimination of risk of unpremeditated deviations from sub-projects design lay out and as a result will prevent unpremeditated land acquisition.




7. ACTION PLAN FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REFERENCE FRAMEWORK AND URGENT REGULATORY MEASURES

7.1 Contents

This section describes the action plan for the implementation of Reference Framework for the Environmental Management of Telecommunication Projects, described in Section 6. The action plan presents the main elements for implementation, including: tasks; organizations responsible for execution; time frame; and estimated level of effort (see Table 7.1).

In addition, three urgent measures have been identified for the implementation of the Project, and are described in below:

• Guidelines for the development of procedures for environmental protection measures, preservation of natural habitats; and physical cultural resources in telecommunication infrastructure projects.

• Guidelines for the development of procedures for sharing of telecommunication infrastructure.

• Development of an Environmental and Social Assessment Manual for telecommunication projects.

7.2 Action Plan for the Implementation of the Reference Framework

The following action plan has been designed as guidance for the PIA to implement the reference framework to all subprojects within National Broadband Backbone and Government Network Project. Table 7.1 summarizes the elements that will be considered in the action plan.

The process of the screening, review, appraisal, implementation and monitoring of the environmental and social issues is described in Section 6.

7.3 Capacity Building and Technical Assistance Requirements

The National Broadband Backbone and Government Network Project will require special trainig sessions for SEE staff to raise their professional capacities in environmental and social impact assessment of large-scale telecommunication projects.

The training should address the following functions SEE:

• reviewing project applications; • approving subprojects.

The staff of SEI should be also trained to raise their professional skills in telecommunication projects monitoring. In addition, the functions and training needs of other stakeholders, such as Local Communities, Municipalities, relevant PIA staff, etc. should be evaluated and specific training designed and delivered as required.




Also, as part of best practice, and in order to comply with international standards for OHS, contractors and supervisory consultants should be provided with awareness raising training and environmental and OHS training on site. The training should focus on both the construction and operational phases of the Project.

A proposed format for a 5-day training is provided below.

Table 7.1. Awareness raising and training for civil work contractors and supervision consultants

Topic Input

Awareness raising 1 day Environmental impacts and the importance of effective mitigation 0.5 day

Practice mitigation measures and environmentally sound construction techniques Compliance with international environmental, social and OHS standards for the telecommunication sector

0.5 day

Compliance with national regulations and World Bank requirements Technical training 1 day Reference Framework and Action Plan 0.5 day

Supervision of the implementation of environmental instruments, contract clauses, protocols and others Supervision and assessment of monitoring based on the environmental instruments requirements

0.5 day

Preparation and verification of budgets Total 2 days

Table 7.2. Action Plan for implementation of the framework

№ Task Responsibility Time Frame Estimated efforts

1. Project Appraisal and Launch

1.1 Special trainings for SEE and relevant PIA staff Outsourced by PIA Before project launch M

1.2 Site screening and selection for new projects. PIA. Environmental specialists might be contracted. Before project launch M

1.3 Development and approval of project concept Outsourced by PIA Approved by SEE Before project launch H

1.4 Development of sub projects design together with EIA report, appraisal and approval by SEE, issuing of EIA conclusion

Outsourced by PIA Approved by SEE Before project launch H

1.5 Public consultation and disclosure, when applicable. SEE Before project launch M 1.6 Construction permits for telecommunication infrastructure Ministry of Urban Development Before project launch L 1.7 Develop environmental clauses in contract agreements PIA Before project launch M

2. Implementation Monitoring and Supervision of Project

2.1 Trainings for SEI, local municipalities and PIA staff Outsourced by PIA Before project implementation M

2.2 Set environmental commitments PIA Before project implementation L

2.3 Supervise implementation of commitments by PIA and contractors. PIA (internal monitoring) During project

implementation H

2.4

Supervision of project implementation in compliance with established environmental commitments; including: inspections, audits, recommendations for corrective actions and sanctions.

PIA (internal monitoring), SEI (state supervision)

During project implementation and

operation M

2.5 Public consultation and disclosure of project performance, when applicable. PIA During project

implementation M

2.6 Develop a control and adjustment plan PIA During project

implementation and operation

M




8. PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND DISCLOSURE PROCESS

8.1 Process for Public Consultation

During the course of the Project, consultations should be carried out with all significant stakeholder groups (see Table 8.1).

Table 8.1. Key stakeholder groups identified

Government and regulatory agencies Relevant governmental and public sector agencies, such as Ministry of Nature Protection, Ministry Transport and Communications, PSRC, PIA, SEE, etc

Private sector operators Lead private telecommunication sector companies

Non-government organizations International and local stakeholder groups

Local stakeholders Community based organizations (CBOs), Municipal and district level committees, unions and other local groups

Academic and research institutions Environmental research groups, universities and technical institutes (SEUA, National Scientific Institute of telecommunications, etc.)

8.2 Proposed Disclosure Plan

The World Bank procedures require a public disclosure prior to project appraisal. This allows the public and other stakeholders to comment on the possible environmental and social impacts of the project, and for the Appraisal Team to strengthen as necessary the frameworks, particularly measures and plans to prevent or mitigate any adverse environmental and social impacts.

Towards this end, this document will be publicly released through the World Bank’s InfoShop, and in public locations in Armenia prior to Project.

ANNEX A

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

№ Impacts Phase Positive/ Negative Proposed Mitigation Measures Residual

Impact Cost

Estimates 1. Environment

1.1 Impacts on Terrestrial Habitat Alteration

Construction/ Operation

- • Site fixed line infrastructure (e.g. fiber optic cable) and other types of linear infrastructure rights-of-way, access roads, lines, and towers to avoid critical habitat through use of existing utility and transport corridors, whenever possible;

• Avoidance of construction activities during the breeding season and other sensitive seasons or times of day;

• Re-vegetation of disturbed areas with native plant species.

Slight to be included in

project costs

1.2 Impacts on Avian Collisions


- • Installation towers to avoid critical habitats (e.g. nesting grounds, heronries, rookeries, foraging corridors, and migration corridors);

• Avoiding the cumulative impact of towers by collocating antennae on existing towers or other fixed structures, designing new towers structurally and electrically to accommodate future users, and removing towers no longer in use;

• To the extent feasible, limiting the tower height and giving preference to non-guyed tower construction designs (e.g. using lattice structures or monopoles);

• If guy wired towers are located near critical bird habitats or migratory routes, installing visibility enhancement objects (e.g. marker balls, bird deterrents, or diverters) on the guy wires;

• Limiting the placement and intensity of tower lighting systems to those required to address aviation safety. Possible alternatives include the use white and / or strobe lighting systems.


project costs

1.3 Impacts on Aquatic Habitat Alteration


- • Site power transmission towers and substations to avoid critical aquatic habitat such as watercourses, wetlands, as well as fish spawning habitat, and critical fish over-wintering habitat, whenever possible;

• Maintaining fish access when road crossings of watercourses are unavoidable by utilizing clear span bridges, open-bottom culverts, or other approved methods;

• Minimizing clearing and disruption to riparian vegetation.


project costs


Impact Cost

Estimates 1.4 Visual Impacts Operation - • Minimizing construction of additional towers through collocation of

proposed antennae in existing towers or existing structures such as buildings or power transmission towers;

• Use of tower and antennae camouflaging or disguising alternatives (e.g. masts or towers designed to look as trees);

• Taking into account public perception about aesthetic issues by consulting with the local community during the siting process of antenna towers.

Moderate to be included in

project costs

1.5 Impacts from Hazardous Materials and Waste


- • Implementing fuel delivery procedures and spill prevention and control plans applicable to the delivery and storage of fuel for backup electric power systems, preferably providing secondary containment and overfill prevention for fuel storage tanks;

• Implementing procedures for the management of lead acid batteries, including temporary storage, transport and final recycling by a licensed facility;

• Ensuring that new support equipment does not contain PCBs or ODSs. PCBs from old equipment should be managed as a hazardous waste;

• Purchasing electronic equipment that meets international phase out requirements for hazardous materials contents and implementing procedures for the management of waste from existing equipment according to the hazardous waste guidance on best available practices.


project costs

1.6 Impacts from Air Emissions

Operation - • Implementation of vehicle fleet and power generator emissions management strategies and avoiding the use of backup power generators as a permanent power source;

• Substitution in use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in cooling and fire-suppression systems, using contractors who are properly trained or certified in the management of CFCs.


project costs

1.7 Noise Impacts Operation - • Application of noise suppression shields and mufflers, as well as the location of noise generating sources away from residential or other noise-sensitive receptors to meet the noise emission levels


project costs

1.8 Impacts from Construction Phase

Construction - • Reducing exposure of sediment generating materials to wind or water by providing proper placement, minimizing bare areas, and covering highly erodible soils;


project costs


Impact Cost

Estimates Soil Erosion • Where applicable reducing or preventing erosion by: avoiding

areas with sensitive soils, scheduling to avoid heavy rainfall periods (i.e., during the dry season), phasing construction areas and times, contouring and minimizing length and steepness of slopes, mulching to stabilize exposed areas, re-vegetating areas promptly, designing channels and ditches for post-construction flows, lining steep channel and slopes;

• Reducing or preventing off-site sediment transport through use of settlement ponds, silt fences and suspending activities during extreme rainfall;

• Segregating or diverting clean runoff to prevent it mixing with dirty water, which typically results in larger volumes of water needing treatment prior to release;

• Providing effective short term measures for slope stability until long term measures for the operational phase can be implemented

1.9 Impacts from Construction Phase Air Quality

Construction - • Minimizing dust from material handling sources, such as conveyors and bins, by using covers and/or control equipment (water suppression, bag house, or cyclone);

• Minimizing dust from open area sources, including storage piles, by using control measures such as installing enclosures and covers, and increasing the moisture content;

• Controlling dust from paved/unpaved roads by sweeping or using water suppressants;

• Selectively removing potential hazardous air pollutants, such as asbestos, from existing infrastructure prior to demolition

• Avoiding open burning of solid waste through segregation and recycling, and through disposal according to solid waste management guidance on best available practices


project costs

1.10 Impacts from Construction Phase Solid Waste and Hazardous Materials

Construction - • Segregating recyclable materials for further sale or distribution to recycling entities;

• Making scrap wood and other potentially reusable, nonhazardous materials available to local residents;

• Securing site from contaminant migration or public access, if necessary, to isolate future environmental impacts;

• Providing temporary secondary containment for portable storage


project costs


Impact Cost

Estimates tanks and for temporary storage of new and used lubricating fluids, including the use of portable impervious systems for lubricating oil and fuel storage and transfer areas;

• Training workers on the correct transfer and handling of petroleum products and response to spills;

• Providing portable spill containment and cleanup equipment; • Assessing the presence of hazardous substances in or on

materials (e.g., polychlorinated biphenyls absorbed into concrete, asbestos-containing flooring or insulation) and decontaminating or properly managing contaminated materials.

1.11 Impacts from Construction Phase Noise and Vibration

Construction - • Planning activities with the potential to generate the greatest levels of noise and vibration, such as pile driving, earth moving, and materials deliveries, in consultation with local communities or during periods of the day when disturbance to potentially affected communities can be minimized;

• Locating stationary equipment that is noisy as far as possible from the NSRs;

• Use of temporary noise baffles and noise fencing during the construction, if necessary, to protect adjacent NSRs;

• Switching off unnecessary or idle equipment, fitting of noise mufflers to mobile plant and equipment;

• Preventative maintenance of equipment to minimize noise emissions.


project costs

2. Socioeconomic issues, Community Health and Safety 2.1 Impacts on

Livelihoods, Access to Public Services and Infrastructure


- • Planning activities that can affect on population's living conditions and access to public services and infrastructure in consultation with local communities, undertaking measures to eliminate or minimize disturbance of potentially affected communities;

• Following good engineering practice in project design, construction and operation stage avoiding the use of local public service utilities, if possible;

• Involvement of local community population's labour forces in telecommunication facilities construction and operation.


project costs

2.2 Land Use Impacts Construction/ - • Prevent access and vegetation clearing of undeveloped areas for Moderate to be included in


Impact Cost

Estimates Operation settlement;

• Avoid any acquisition of private land, permanent loss of income or access to income generating activities, damage to existing structures or any other loss of assets invested by private individuals;

• Camouflage the road entrance with local vegetation or similar landscape features.

project costs

2.3 Impacts on Cultural and Archaeological Findings

Construction - • Ensure pre-excavation check for any cultural or archaeological artifacts;

• In case of «Chance Find» stop all works and inform the Ministry of Culture of RoA;

• Resume only after securing proper clearances from the authorities.


project costs

2.4 EMF Impacts on Public Health

Operation - • Evaluating potential exposure to the public against the reference levels developed by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). Average and peak exposure levels should remain below the ICNIRP recommendation for General Public Exposure;

• Limiting public access to antennae tower locations; • Following good engineering practice in the siting and installation of

directional links (e.g. microwave links), to avoid building structures; • Taking into account public perception about EMF issues by

consulting with the local community during the siting process of antenna towers


project costs

2.5 Impacts on Public Safety

Operation - • Assess risk of erosion during site selection (i.e., soil characteristics, topography, climate, etc.);

• Do not site towers in areas with high risk of natural disasters (landslides, earthquakes, flooding, or slopes >30º);

• If location in residential area is necessary, respect the required distance between towers and closest residential building;

• Elaboration of emergency response plan and undertaking of periodical training session for operating personnel and awareness raising for population of nearby communities.

• Design and install tower structures and components according to


project costs


Impact Cost

Estimates good international industry practice.

2.6 Impacts on Physical and Aircraft Security

Operation - • Avoid sites that fall within the area ruled by GDCA regulations; • If siting within the aviation agency area is required, comply with

the GDCA’s design and construction requirements; • Consultation with aviation agency prior to installation and

adherence to national air traffic safety regulations; • Use strobe lights and other safety devices as required by the

GDSA guidelines; • Installation and maintenance of security devices.


project costs

3. Occupational Health and Safety 3.1 Impacts on

Electrical Safety Construction/ Operation

- • All electrical installations should be performed by certified personnel and supervised by an accredited person. Certification for such work should include theoretical as well as practical education and experience;

• Strict procedures for de-energizing and checking of electrical equipment should be in place before any maintenance work is conducted. If de-energizing is not possible, electrical installations should be moved or insulated to minimize the hazardous effects;

• Prior to excavation works, all existing underground cable installations should be identified and marked. Drawings and plans should indicate such installations;

• All electrical installations or steel structures, such as masts or towers, should be grounded to provide safety as the electrical current chooses the grounded path for electrical discharge. In cases where maintenance work has to be performed on energized equipment, a strict safety procedure should be in place and work should be performed under constant supervision;

• Personnel training should be provided in revival techniques for victims of electric shock.


project costs

3.2 EMFs Impacts Construction/ Operation

- • Identification of potential exposure levels in the workplace, including surveys of exposure levels in new projects and the use of personal monitors during working activities;

• Training of workers in the identification of occupational EMF levels and hazards;


project costs


Impact Cost

Estimates • Establishment and identification of safety zones to differentiate

between work areas with expected elevated EMF levels compared to those acceptable for public exposure, limiting access to properly trained workers;

• Implementation of action plans to address potential or confirmed exposure levels that exceed reference occupational exposure levels developed by international organizations such as the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Action plans may include deactivation of transmission equipment during maintenance activities, limiting exposure time through work rotation, increasing the distance between the source and the worker, when feasible, use of shielding materials; or installation of ladders, etc.

3.3 Optical Fiber Safety Impacts


- • Worker training on specific hazards associated with laser lights, including the various classes of low and high power laser lights, and fiber management;

• Preparation and implementation of laser light safety and fiber ma-nagement procedures which include: switching off laser lights prior to work initiation, when feasible, use of laser safety glasses during live optical fiber systems installation, prohibition of intentionally looking into the laser of fiber end or pointing it at another person, placing warning signs and labeling of areas with potential for exposure to laser radiation, and providing adequate background lighting to account for loss of visibility with the use of protective eyewear, inspecting the work area for the presence of flammable materials prior to the installation of high powered laser lights;

• Implementation of a medical surveillance program with initial and periodic eye examinations;

• Avoiding exposure to fibers through use of protective clothing and separation of work and eating areas


project costs

3.4 Impacts from Elevated and Overhead Work


- • The area around which elevated work is taking place should be barricaded to prevent unauthorized access. Working under other personnel should be avoided;

• Hoisting and lifting equipment should be rated and maintained and operators trained in their use. Elevating platforms should be


project costs


Impact Cost

Estimates maintained and operated according to established safety procedures that include such aspects as equipment and use of fall protection measures (e.g. railings), movement of location only when the lift is in a retracted position, repair by qualified individuals, etc;

• Ladders should be used according to pre-established safety procedures including proper placement, climbing, standing, and the use of extensions.

3.5 Impacts on Fall Protection


- • Implementation of a fall protection program that includes training in climbing techniques and use of fall protection measures; inspection, maintenance, and replacement of fall protection equipment; and rescue of fall-arrested workers, among others;

• Establishment of criteria for use of 100 percent fall protection (typically when working over 2 meters (m) above the working surface, but sometimes extended to 7m, depending on the activity). The fall protection system should be appropriate for the tower structure and necessary movements, including ascent, descent, and moving from point to point;

• Installation of fixtures on tower components to facilitate the use of fall protection systems;

• Provision of an adequate work-positioning device system for workers. Connectors on positioning systems should be compatible with the tower components to which they are attached;

• Safety belts should be of not less than 16 millimeters (mm) (5/8 inch) two-in-one nylon or material of equivalent strength. Rope safety belts should be replaced before signs of aging or fraying of fibers become evident;

• When operating power tools at height, workers should use a second (backup) safety strap.


project costs

3.6 Impacts When Working in Confined Spaces

Construction - • Engineering measures should be implemented to eliminate, to the degree feasible, the existence and adverse character of confined spaces. Unavoidable confined spaces should be provided with permanent safety measures for venting, monitoring, and rescue operations, to the extent possible;

• Safety precautions should include Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), life lines, and safety watch workers stationed


project costs


Impact Cost

Estimates outside the confined space, with rescue and first aid equipment readily available;

• Before workers are required to enter a confined space, adequate and appropriate training in confined space hazard control, atmospheric testing, use of the necessary Personal Protection Equipment (PPE). Further, adequate and appropriate rescue and / or recovery plans and equipment should be in place before the worker enters the confined space

3.7 Impacts on Motor Vehicle Safety


- • Training and licensing industrial vehicle operators in the safe operation of specialized vehicles such as forklifts, including safe loading/unloading, load limits. Drivers should also be instructed on the benefits of driving practices which reduce both the risk of accidents and fuel consumption;

• Equipping site vehicles with back-up alarms to help warn other workers in the vicinity of the moving vehicle;

• Establishing rights-of-way, site speed limits, vehicle inspection requirements, operating rules and procedures (e.g. prohibiting operation of forklifts with forks in down position), and control of traffic patterns or direction;

• Restricting the circulation of delivery and private vehicles to defined routes and areas, giving preference to ‘one-way’ circulation, where appropriate


project costs

Annex News Release on the public discussion of EIC Project

(Including consultation on the presented Environmental and Social Management Framework for Backbone National Broadband Backbone and Government Network)

Public Disclosure Authorized - Documents & Reports...Artak Ter-Torosyan . Project Coordinator....

Documents

Transcript of Public Disclosure Authorized - Documents & Reports...Artak Ter-Torosyan . Project Coordinator....