E473 vol 2

REPUBLIC OF ALBANIAMINISTRY OF CONSTRUCTION AND TOURISM

GENERAL ROAD DIRECTORATE

REHABILITATION AND IMPROVEMENTOF ELBASAN - QAFE THANA (BORDER) ROAD

ENVIRONMENT IMPACT REPORT

prepared

S-l A. INFRAPROJECT CONSULTING SH.p.K.TIRANA -Rr. Sami FrasheriTeU/Faz 0035542 - 28321

TIRANE. MARCH 1996

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Preliminary Designof Elbasan - Q. Thane (Border) road

Environmental Impact Report

March 1996

TABlE OF CONTENTS

*. 1-xCK9iseunwmin

2 Prect Desriion

5 Yational Enmiromnental Poicv legal and admin%trafixv framnework existimn in the Countrv andunder wich the EIA X%as prepared

-I Baseline data assessnent of the stud) area including description of the relevant phvsical.biological and socio-economic conditions.

Enviromnental Impacts: identification and assessment of both positiNe and negative impactslikely to restlt from the proposed project

6 Identification of alternatives: comparison of different alternatives in relation to the overallbenefits accruing from selection of the proposed route

7 Mitigation pla: identification of cost-effectiive measures to reduce potentialy adverseenviroental impacts including costinz of measures, institutonal traininst and monitonngrequireents,

8 EEnviromnental -Management and Training: assessment of environmntal capacity within theAlbanian Committee for Environmental Protection or at the Ministerial level includinglejdslation re2ulations, etc- based on the findin_s. recommendations on the buildin ofcapacitv in the avencv

9 Environmental monitoring plan: specification on the type of monitoring, the responsible agencyand the approx. costs.

10. Summary of mTitigation measures

I I Conclusions

2

LIST OF ACRYM ADOPTED

CEP - C 4 t C~,etteoutn' romeia,recwn (Albanlia?ILXK = Instiute of0orUeu ts of Cukure\RC = tial; Natioral Research CounCtiEBUI= Europeaa Bank} for ReconAsucion and DevelopmEIA = Envionmea ImPact AssessmentEl European UmnioGRD = General Road Dirctorate of the Alaia Mstiy of Construction and TounsmMoH = Ministry of-HealthNUo = Mirnistry of InteriorMoCT = Ministry of Constuction and TourismO0 = Operational DirectivePtU = Project bImp entation UnitToR = Terms of RefirenceWB = The World Bank

3

1. Execulive summury

Uhe pr &wnt in tor t measures of the Enmiroamental ImpactAssa~i~m fot the pro Fit-tof&tEdasan-Po stradec road kcated in the Republic of

Z -h*itdimz to the tF# urepared biv t VN1~ .taff ; nd bised on the Prelimtnar. )csiegn prepared

lle -aim of EIA is to ensure that the competent .Authorities gi'.e exhaustive consideration to thejx)tential3ly negative and positi'-e effects on the eniromwnt froni implemenmion oF the propsedinfrastrucres at an ealy amf preventi e stage, in order to supwn the decision-mak{ing process withthe necessary informtion. The environment which will be affected by the s-called targetenvironment, should be regarded in its natural. economic and cultural-sociaf components. in order tohave a holistic approach when addressina- issues at stak-e

The ELA also ensures that in case anticipated negate effects are unavoidable, ad hoc mitigationmeasues are proposed and impeented dig contuction of the infrmsucture. In this context itis stressed that mitigation measures are an inkrtant component of design of the road schemes andare related to standards on road traffic, safety, emwomental and economic temis.

The methodology adopted for carrving out the assessmen consisted in field visits to the location ofthe road to collect data, followed by office work to refine findings and write the Report Meetings%vith Albania officials from GRD. the inisty of Heakth CEP IMC and the ICP staff have playedan important part in the work executed

The present document is orgamsed according to the ToR starting with project description. the legaland institutional framework on the EIA context the AMbanian national environmental policv, baselinedata on the studs area- identification of potemially negative impacts. selected solution- mitigarionplas, suggestions for environmental management training, en,ironmental nionitorintr pian-

2. jD .:,.,

The prct concerS the hilition and upgraditn of the Elaasan - afe hana (Border) sectionoftbe, -esa East CoridocF t no 8 to Macedonian and Greece

This setion starts at the intersection of the Firana - Flbasan ro ad i.tith the Rrog±ozhine - Elbasanroa& 100 m a-s.l about 5 Km before Elbasan citv and following the narro% valley ol the Shkumnbiiniriver- cfimbs to Tharn Pass. 930 m a.s.l.. where one branch proceeds through to Pogradec andKora to the Greek. border, and the oter to iacedonian Border. end of this pro ect_Alone the same alignm up to Km 64. runs the railway Elbasan - Povadec

It aims at upgrading the existing road conditions. with limited realignments in critical points in viewof the anticipated traffic increase from the present 2000 vehicles/day, 50 o of which conmnercial toabout 5500 veh.idav. Average travel speed is planned to increase from the present 15-20 lnh fortruckls and 25-30 km/h for cars (accordinat to weather conditions) to 45-50 km/h fbr trucks and 60-70 kminh for cars.

The foilovving are the main data of the project:

- Lngth of road section; 721 km- Road Cross-section: 2 x 3-75 m asphalt paved -t 2 X 1. Iravel shoulders in flat or gently rollimg

terraiin (V> 80 km/A);2 x 3-50 m asphalt paved - 2 x 1 25 gravel shoulders in mountainous section('V6 0 knih);trucks climbing lane 3 m wide between Km 64-03 and 69,70 (Qafe Thana U

- Longitudinal slope: max. 8°.absolute max- 40,% (three sections for 1300 m in total)gradient < 1%o = 28% of the total length

- railwav over and underpasses- no. 11- intersection with secondary roads: no. 10- 22 bridges > 10 ni plus I I under constructions (previous WB financin!v)- Planimetric trend: winding- General orientation: WSW-ENE

More comprehensive details are provided in Technical Report prepared bv ICP. together wvitbdimate and hydrological conditions, geological and stability conditions, structures, road safety worksand sisns and cost estimate.

Only minor expropriation action are foreseen, beeing the 'idening of the existing road along mainlgovemmental and municipal properties

3. \alional l n ironmealt. Pefin . kgal and aOdaais rzitve I,ra.merik etwre*t iu Albmioa.d in ronrOrnslv t. whbel* lle tlA '- prcare5 -

1l-; \..:wt -. tOnaii p9;iC\ A;rtr'i- E'-icn'!8 trc [n .t?.-'- .!t .wct'Z' -;l:nci'c': . Jt..tcd ai

tindinr. the pi.pcr awasures tt) tackle the problem fiT this end tte Comminve tfor EmironinemitalProtectiOn i(.TP) uas created rlw Committee comes within the Mlinistr% ot I leath &l:r'~ r~i 4 P'!cP-rite n rtio ( ilre"tntias haJqurtCr ; . w. "...,\,,lrm . 1 leklljt ;lp t-

bracne-ie !ocated in the capital 1.,.ns of veachi nati-onal dis'rr'C' -ec \!rcle ; ( h:llu L _ of .l

7c- of January 1')q3j One of these branches is located at SlbasanIt is planrned to strentahen the CEP in the near future so as to enhance its role in proposing andenrorcin- measures aimed at en% ironmental prorection

Aithoughn at present laws on specitic matters of'the environment ha\e not been enacted vet. tihe main

reference in this regard can be represented bv Law No 7ob47 dated 2i January 1993, (hereinafter

referred as the Law). enclosed as Annex 11 to the present document The Law refers to saeneral

clauses Chapter I L EIA (Chapter 2) W'rth re,tard to the latter it is to be noted that the preSent

document -points out that the Law- identities CEP as the Authorit% empowered to require

environmental impact assessments in accordance With that Lav for this type of intervention

Howeker. the MoH is the authority responsible for establishing the procedures regarding ELA

activities and the activities of individuals or leyal entities Chapter 111 deals w%ith the licenses to be

issued .or actix ities that affect the em. ironment. and a specific list of ,aid activities is oresented. Thie

La- then comprises Chapter IV (inspections of and information for the environmental situation).

Chapter V' (duties and rights of central and local institutions on envirronmental protection). ChapterVI (responsibilities and related sanctions), and Chapter V-iI reporting final provisions

Homwex er it should be noted that the NloH from time to time issues documents otf -arious nature

such as -uidelines, provisions and re-ulations which also affect the activ-ities of CEP For this reason

a comnlete reviewt of relevant legrislation is not Possible- even if it is believed that the Law can be

taken as a nenchmark

Aknother lawv which is adopted in the execution of the ETA' is the Laxw on expropriation- required

whene%er am strip of land has to be expropriated for public purposes. Law No 7848 dated 25 Jul%

I 9)-I aritd osed as Annex III to the present document For th'le purpzoes o this dJocument Tlhe ma'p

prokii.rr represented by the right to appeal k r citizens Whaopter \ i dgainst the excpuprirt;icor

land Here the owner of immovable properties has the rid.tht to appeal to the district court w\ithin 6i'

davs from the date of receiving notification (Articles 22 and 23). Foilowman this, three experts arenominated for the appraisal of the propertv and the amount due for compensation. and the dead!-,e

for presentm-n; the appraisal of the proper-tv to be exprocriated is hecd Tt\o vt the cxncrts Are

nominatefi b\ the court and one by the ovw ner of the land

Chapter \ is tile section of the laws to which reference is made in case portions ot land are

expropriated tor the Construction of the road Chapter VI is section or rele\anl interest in Our Csdr;

as it addresses the teniporan. use of immnevable properzt_ which h!. be the caise duri:' .hc

execution of the en\ isaged works

[he leVal framtr.%ork is coompleted bv La.\ No 79o8 dated I" April l)99)i. hich addrc-sses the

restitution of land and compensation measures in the e\n ct portions of1 land ha\.e been or *.0iII heexpropriated It is enclosed as .Annex l\ to the present document.

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4. Bseline data: assessment Or the sludv arft 'icl.di- decit 's*r 1he relei aiidphysycaL bW 1ical sed socio-cconoMw rdtiouss.

I3tt'. paragrapp tilmes thee tinu irrray,on. nrJxn_ ' th --.. ' n(i

4.1 Phvsical environment

The road passes in the Shkumbin river %alle- On its e a, the road passes diflierent geoloigwaformations that sarv from Quaternary alluvial sediments to siliceous and carbonatic sediments fromNeov_emnc Fhvsh to Trias and metamorphic rocks. The geological conditions report and the climaticand hvdrological conditions of the road are reDorted in the Technical report prepared bv ICP

4-2 Biological environment

The road to be implemented passes through a segment of river valley that despite human presencehas conserved a oood degree of biodiversitv in the remaining natural environments. It is worthmentionine that while upstream of Elbasan in the Shkumbini river there hav e been identified 12' fishspecies. immediatelv dow-nstream of it are present only 4. The Shkuumbir river vaHey servLes asgeographical border for the distnbution of some species but what is important in our case. it cutsthrough natural migration wavs of big mammals like bear, wolf, jackal etc- At the same time. there isa consistent population of amphibians that use the water environment for breedingF purposes on bothsides of the vallevReclaimed area in the Domosdova field (Prrenjas field area Km 60 - 64) represent a high degree ofhuman settlements for asgricultural purposes therefore there is a scarcity of bioloetical diversitv- whichis mostly represented by the common animal and vegetal species of scarce X alue

4.3 Socio-economic conditions of the studv area

The area is characterised bv a marginal agricultural actis ities in the small aliuxial fields on tile loodplain with the exception of Domosdosa tleld wvhere atriculture is the rmaii, acti;its Crops arerepresented by maize which is cultivated in farmed stnrps alternating to unfa-med strips and w-heat inDomosdov-a area, whilst the rest of the land is left to extensiBe pasture for sheep and goats.Additional economic activities are represented by a number of scattered shops sellinLy Loods oc

various nature. The area used to rely heavily for employment on mininm acti.ities that nave stoppedduring the political changes. At the present there is a gireat degree ofunemple-ment %%ith an a&,raivCincome per capita that is amongst the lowest in Albania The remaining part of the residentpopulation is employed in economic activities in the towns of Elbasan. Librazhd and Prrenjas.comprising shops ot various nature. ,sorkshops. etcAlso the activits of the Steel Plant of Mbasan ha c been -reat!% reduced hx the obsoletscence otfheprocesses in use

7

*. EAR nirornnimental lmpacis: ide nlifea a no *d a eis oositiv; mm ajr.aji feimnpacl% fiLel% to result fos 18w

lw'1-.> >;an, !vSs vt-mh tht Jem:5: ;i-n ,, i xt .^.;r:id o :Jr wti;uof P.rti-

ikorks In the I.rhti ofthe cointcvt in vthitch 'th prcsvt.t.Et kLs tx-n erwcutci idcntifiiatiu of'Impacis fibr s%%il. vaier. air quallt%. Ilora and fauna. noise pllution. land acqui%ition and resettlement.cuXira! .lsia_tj .m.. road salie "' Jcr>tcd - the !tIloxun- loieo ' ;

5.1 KIN)D OF IMP CTS f IDE\TIFICATION OF 1IPACTSOi 1-E SOIL

-_i PRfESENCE \131S1iCWU

Soil erosion X ___

Unstable s-lopl5 xSide-tipping of spoil niatxnal \ (2) XI!adjointne ancicultural Lind _

Soil conlanunation l1-m runoff !_____ x, .

Key1 ) This in the case when top soil is utilised to create vegetation strips on the road slopes

(2) If inert portions of soils uwill be spoiled. as the\ are neither utilisab{e for creatin '*e<etation stripsnor for cultivation purposes they constitute a "`waste" generating negative impacts(3) This can be the case if water cominz from the road surface is not collected in an appropriatedrainag e svstemn

5.2 KIND OF I\MPACTSON WATER _ _ I IDE NTIFICATION OF IMIPACTS

. ____________________ ___ PRESENCE ABSENC-E

Water polltttion froni lead. /inc. dust.accidental spi?kaec and other X (I (IsubsLanceslncrc-sves tirbOdiit froIIw 'ionc

the: rner bead-BSecondarN inpacts of polluted %vaterio aencultural land eround uac<^rpollution and poIlhimotn 4 the 2)

Shktuibin rrier IModificationi of at,er druinatl I NX )

it e n _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Key(I J rhe presence and or absence o:' icad and zinc depends upon the c)rrect u-e ot' unleaded tuel andthe maintenance of en-ines The main pollutants produced by running vehicles are solid particles(corrosion,_ metal, tvres. road surfacey lead, cadmium and orgtanic compounds (grease, lubricatingoils. rubber etc ) I'he effects are siuniticant in streams at the points of'emissiOn (runoff dischar-epoints) Accidental spillage could represent the most dan-ewrous pollutants tofr *kater course T'lhe

presence of impoirt;ant rIIer like ShlkurnNn place-$ an nlptwttlt rnkm he c i(1 ciiaer qaband associaied teetal biotai2j I 'hcencratitn oi thir kind of pqHutn l tge finorcm th p road due -imn tr tc i ne'coLzJ n(;) Road intedrcres tiithelo dii.i ' IAnJ id i in s A stem on1x in P'rrcrjas

,.3 k t\I lBW P tP -TS FMAkIR Q1 Al,r IDENTIFltC.akNot: itstp A 's

PRESENCE Ai SENCE

(iGcration ol'desLt N t2 _____ __

Pollulion frronI lte:ded casoline kladand aerosols X 0 I

Enission of carbo-n monoxide andsulphtr dioxide X

Kev(1) Both impacts depend upon the use of leaded gasoline(2) Dust is usually ne-ligible for new paved road

5J4 KINID OF IMPACTS FORFLORA AND FAU-NA IDENTIFICATION OF iMPACTS

PRESENCE ABSENCE

Passine throuh '. IrLn aras r N - _Disrupoion,solatton of wvildfife N i1hab iiais . _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _

Interference with the natual . X(Itmutrauon routes of big mammals and

amphibians

Ke%(I) The presence of underpasses and frequent bridges can compensate this handicap There are 7bndides -Aith a span of over 2m and 16 bridges u-ith a span -2m in the road seginent Zibrake-UraMurrashit tm ! 2-'b ?) where the main misratnon w%a is located

.. 5 KIl\D OF I.N.PACTS FOR IDENTIFICATION OF I.MPACTS

NO(ISE POLLL-TI0?%

PRESEN\( E I ABSENCEI

Passing throiuah populiated areas N

Noise fromi qua-rries- crushe^rs anld

;asphall-ni;ak\sri planis ._ _ _ _ _ [ N'

Key(T) The mentloncd sources ol impacts are located tar avoax from the site of 1tc road anid \,liagesFurthermore, no scattered residential areas are present in the zone

Tht: itcoal nc cfTccr ol-f hlbitat disniptionlisolilion in the %iIdhir poptil. tioni is rclat.d to. in) inirferefic: with thl

SeaSOn.ll ntI<r;rl2l h zh;n ionr of wild popnllatuinns du: to food a\I.>I;bi ctu anid (ni sol.atrui .f F ild populaiuons

with tlln risk of inbreWing- or consinguincous crosshng thuat uan result in loss of coitipetiti cncss xnud loweriLtg of

surviN;ti rttcs for the whole populattoio for a certain spc:ics

9

NA D '41,14)\% I ib w- PR1!s

I rhe occupation area ol'the road upgradirm is estimated t be about 27 ha. bit the surface lost for

zitriculture mav be esimated .approximatekv nil. e-xilidinu v%alenwavs. ahandoned land and the

wcr', Ice areas

5.7 KIND OF EMPACTS FOR IDENTIFICATIO\ OF IMPACTS

I CULTrURAL HERIT AGE _________________

. ______._____.___________ PRESE E ABSEN CE

Damag',es to aonimnts of X() __ _x

archaeokimicaI value__ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Kev0) It ca be ocausp-on aread ulse road uthre inceais irnedte tab%ut '7h. u eh srac os o(2iOn there conaiv. the inerusee ofuitardols inil dnernu peits and roads-rs aan masand an h

reduce athenritreras c1d dents.

.;;.t7n ecusdtora users bF thetfT inceas aDNnICTO C)F~: llPtTSei~

reduce the number PRESf accidents.C

6. lde.ifircation of alternatihes: comparison of different alternatnes in relation to theo%emll benefils of selectinpt the proposed route.

C.rlia scklriJOf IS JI !tk) n IIdIOI .>IDOCCfl1 [)i ' \ *1' . t;" :i! *dnt11it\ lith ' !:' J,!rit'!-:J:'ssoIufion respeCsing the needs of both lice targct en, ironment .nd the proposed de- elopiucot hI ulhisv'.a' henetits from the implementaltio+n ot developmenits canl he ma\urnised and potentiall\ nceuative:iuOJcts can tK pre\ entedi or x ; icr!IiCantk Iit:' Ijd .l' n An ! a' e

Alernati\es hawe been cornpared anion-st each oyther in [he lkht ol' the abo\e concepts l1e choiceof the selected alternatixe is supported bv findings acqluiredt durimL the field visit and inlirmationfiom the road and by- readinl± protect maps from Elbasan loQ afe e Thanes (Pogradec) The des-ILnniaps permit to include specitic comments on the opunia! alhirnment of the road

l'he study of the road aigYnment idientifies sexeral 'hot spots' vxith the related necessitv to axoid to)

pass nearbv or across the towxns of Librazhd and Perrenias Therefore. the most appropriatealignment is represented by locating the road in areas %\ith the louest density of buildinus. which inour case is: (i) buildintt a fly over brid'^e servin" as a newx rim: road tbr Librazhd (700m b (this ¶.ariantis the mnost recommendable in comparison to variant I -Passim! across Librazhd and Variant 2-Passing through some residential area at the outskirts of the Librazhdi town);and (ii) avoidine todestroy and/or resettle any dwsellings in Prrenjas tow-n [he compromnise requiring the road to passnearbx a limited number of houses is the outcome ot this ehoice vwhich is unavoidable due to thescattered pattern of houses in the area

The selected upgrading solution improves enormnousR! traffic flow conditions w~ith the possibilit.s tcmaintain constant travel speed. wvhich means less accelerations and deceleration's, in turn increasing-the en ine performance. Re\olutions per MOinute (RPM! of the enuiles would then be ver- close tothe optimnal 65°.% ratio; consequentk. the 'runningJ enJinne time't would be reduced ot at least 700o asthe time to travel along the road would be reduced as so and unburned gas emissions will also bereduced of about one third The Ibhloxw ing Table expiains the reduction ot the time reaui r e to,ra\eiaior.;; the road

T:riic of Ira.c

C.irs Exisu:no romd _ >.u road3(1 km/h = (1 5 kn'n -O kmih I I * knLnmin

.i km U ' knintirn- 144 rinl . U" kinl I 1 kitti -0 (d mtm

Truck-s: HK Ikni/h- 6(1 mtin= U kmn nnn 54 kr!h @ nminii U :3 k_m/nin|2 km (I :1U - '-stEl mm kimi 't XV kim rini S_ FIlmFI

-. litiiigliion $a: idenitirw;.iio o efferlive 7s i -re" 49 advseme,wironmental imrp"t inrIIKif Co%tUi. ' .e3 fr*a!i ;a USo iui,rquirem' n#' for ih#%e i3aS%nrrs.

\lis, '_nioal meaNurcS are &r4sted rJr t,nJULifls tlh' iflijJCIs ..en,crae b\ ilk cnstrutioin .mnd .w-;ieatod operati4ms In this case 3 Md Uf mitigation fnca_.-ures is projx.dsW in rtlation to each kindL of,-i' t: a; >d Ld!cn;e *n?l3 r};F

;.A. litigation measures against impactson soil. (Table to 5 1)

ioi: erosion can be mit',nted b, piantinrt naai' e 'cuetation (shrab±bs dnd irasJ on embankmcn! Alcpe-, >' soil taken fromn exca lations rhi, also litoids -he spoK of top soil which ca r. - .ed

It is recommended that other erosion controlling techniques like riprap covering and soil comp-actinttechniques are paraelev used in order to compensate for a hi7h gurazin- pressure (manly soats) - the!nhtnil stitaes.r.e sioue of the embankments and the use of uranular materiais provide also good conditions tor re-gfowth of vegetation

7.2. M\litigation measures against impacts on water. (Table to 5.2)

U Wter from the road surtace is collected bk the drainage swstersr and the speed of poiluted wxa-er canle reduced and inFiltratior rate increased b% turfin_ the embankment slopes, Water drainage pa ternsin reclaimed areas should not be modified in order to avoid the contact between polluted andimlratlon wvater For this purpose on both sides of the embankment the drafinage canals tt iI bempairtained and,or cempleted at o t.er e\ation than the adacent 'rnnaiion canals (Labinot Fae &-Donesdo-va field!

Concernino the Shkumbin river, provisions should be made to protect the rivers waters froin beingthe direct recipient of polluted nmoff collectin- the pa,-ement waters of major bridges ivte sidenines w-hich final.x w.,ill be dispersed into infiltration pits r"e main bridges should ha\. cloiseddrainaue S%stems that end up in intfiravon ditches on both sides of the road or are coynnecte `o .7zeside pipes. Due to the immediate ;icinitw of the ri'ver %&aters with the road embankment for more than40 km there is a ttreat concern for pollution fromil accidental spillage due to road accidents For thisreason is necessarx thai the road ha, side pipes wNhich end _t' penodicailb in some oil separaiurfa1cities Plantine of nati\e tree%. shlub and herbaceous c-ops would represent a fur.he- da]dmeasure to benefit the biotic potential and better harmonise the road w,ith the surrounding landscape

Uoncerning the vwater pollution durinu the constructien phasz: cause-d b'. the stone Lnrsnm.' "!a-ictvractuon plants pro\isions should be nmade .iiat process wareri i -. ater used t(r twashin- tikc rha%e to pass throui-h precipitation ponds before enterine the main .water course of the riRer

I I

7.3. :Iiitigation mea-sres arais imp*ets i t*A tj't* i; 1

Iitat;ior nieas%tr.s fiir air poAmoiion c VntI ;an bL rn hmp ntkming xegetatirscecsn% to ;tizte jr ,pllutiom. v irh posswi;e .MT.h%nalso fornp?l"o Ic' 'r&sent tihx 2eneravio;nol paat of air poillution is e isaw d the use of unk-aded saine and proper engine maintenance.which als-o irnpro% es % ehicle elliciencv

Durinha ic or.iL is important to tr. to a oid the euneratiion ofdust Jtue io .uarries and asphAtplants actix it, Hote%er. in the case ot the present road. since the ma4i(t (if cotinstruction materialscome from existing quarries located outside the project area the possible impacts are 'erv limited andcan be a%oided 3 *ith the use of bag houses. mechanical cyclones. etc- as prcr-nibed in therequirements for nev concrete and asphalt plants

The road in its greater part is far from most of inhabited areas and sensitive receptors closer thanlOOm The most critical point is the sector of the road passifug across the Prrenjas and Labinot plainwhere the .ic-iniix voith apartment tlats and houses is less than lOOm- \exertheless the area is alsorather nindy. this means that the atmosphere can be easily self-cleaned attaching limited importanceto this item

7.4. Mitigation measures against impacts on flora and fauna. (Table " 4)

From the project desism. underpasses connecting both sides of the road are scheduled on average Ievery 2 km in correspondence of brid-es At the same time the prolects foresees 2-3 drainanepipelines of 0 1 -2 m everv I kmn AJthou uh the communication ways (bridges and drainage pipelines)normalIh coincide vith small tributanres and hence are located in the preferential mrigrating routes thissituation mig!ht be ameliorated bv constructing firther underpasses-

The trespassinm- of the road should be avoided in critical spots by fencint (for bi.- mammals) and bvthe presence of drainage system located at each side of the road, which is arother mitigation measurein place In the km XX [34 km trom Qafe e Bushitj close to Kuterman hunting reserve it isnecessarv that the area is fenced at least I Om on both sides of the small v allev and proper wildlifewarning signs are placed in the main road.

7.5. Mlitigation measures against noise pollution. (Table 5 5)

Generall% noise xxIll be mitigated bh the same xe-etation screens adopted for air poilution Tlnere areno settlements located near the road, except the crossed urban areasIn Prrenjas and Lahinot plains is foreseen to adopt vood and vegetal barriers a-ainst noise

Since the road is not located near dwvellings. impact mitigation measures 'Ai,ll concern mainly theaccess ot 1rucki to the xork vards The trucks traffic x-ill increase durine 1he construction works andthe txortst inconenvences are likel' to occur dunng construction of the most critical sections like theones constrained betxxeen the rail%'av and the ri'er_ obliging to lower speed and consequent trafficslow dow n

7.b. Mi8;igt i sares a fl npcai: pr tfiaN 't

rne_;tit sw FLi.&-\+.i' .)ctn; -. :~.r- i+-&::s '~..sre:. nat:o :. I.. r t W;'

are mitiigaid -and pri*iK handled

. M. li2iy: 11iem measures against intp;acts en the erhunrl herhage and the landscape. (L!TM%

The cultural heritage is tlhe product of human acti%ir carried out throueh centuries and it may be the

case t!iat rurns mnd settlements of archaele-eical importance are present in the itudx- area

The present project does not aftect the kocal heritage w%ith the exception of t h sinall mosque in theimmediate % icinitv of the Elbasan. Due to the vicinitv of the railroad restricting the w-idening of theroad this case has to be deat with special attention It is recommended that the road is diverted andspecial attention should be given to neatiae effect. due to vibration during the construction phase.

From the landscape point of views- mitigation measures for high embankments vv-ill be provided,through the plantins of native trees. shrubs and herbaceous plants The proxision of extensive treeplantations in suitable areas on the rixer %ides is also important

7.8. Nliti_ation measures ag.tinst impacts on road s;afety. (Table 5 8y

The road-i eneral a\oids to cross intenseix in.habited areas and the road sai',t reters mainlv to theroad users thenisehes In this case appropriate road tra-fic sigs.s markiinu and road intersectionslavout, road barrers are the most appropriate measures to be enforced. Setting up of speed limitsand related oatroilinu from the Police service is another effiective tool

An important point the authority is called to define for the safetv of road users is to discourage thecrossing of the road by farmers with tractors and. above all. bv animal-drawvn carts domestic animalsand pedestri-ans rn rhe lowest sections

14

8. En%uromsucmhil Mana emetwd. TrAn _e_ fi* liat i

Training is an imptruufm copmL E. bi j '0afujNe uating ?t)t) pJirtixutluh in tN.%iba andhzo oxkpehrT efleci;: triJ:a it i po Jes v;elp. ad ho e rac ; e sqrw : pre~ eni and or nutiaat :ad i from roads. %'hich can then iib refineddurinn the course of practical application of CEA to roads

-\UthouLsh it -s tireseen that CEP be the central autheritr Jeaiinu %,ith E:l. matters in XIani-a. it -Srecommended that F nit to establish within GRD. to acquire specific expertise on en% ironmentalissues related to road design. constuction and maintenance This replies on the one hand to the needto develop dedicated expertise. and on the other to ha. e nooinion liaisonine betm een thos-eresponsible lor road de' elopment and those responsible tfr enmironmental issues applied to roadschemes

A list of potential subiects to be dealt with in the training courses for EIA and road schemes ispresented belou%

- Available resources and the environment with elements for sustainable development- The EIA process: eeneral information and specific focus on roads- Environmental mana_rement and conservation of natural areas with focus on the main biotopes

present in Albania- Principles of environmental economics- Principles of biolog'- Principles of eeolou - EnN ironmental pollution and environmental chemistr-

The followiing is a list of elective courses:

- Latest impact assessment methods- Cumulative impact analysis- EIA at strategic level, policies, programmes and plans- Environmental Health Impact Assessment- Social Impact Assessment- Principles of en'ironmental mnonitoring- Noise diffusion and barriers- V ibrations- Recent techniques to produce asphalt- Leaded and unleaded uasoline- Road safer'- Traffic rnanagement

Is

9. Environateutlal mnutiiorini plan: specification on Ihe t.pe of monitoring. responsible

\!tkr iakrnhniaititr .of l a roud the, detgrete of ;.'dsb of aswssrnent ol t11 imilp;1c %%iIl hce\liLttaed. h\ inonitorin-, p3rameters utilised to asness c; imiipact Firthermnore. rnwitoring atlhwo.

't' a2vsin- .! .7'i. .].>twtl1 :%ai reWlah1c. z\ CIT . wd,; W^ln ); l;1jd<'il!'' !t

*;,'.M Ivv . 1 ' f" d '; and to) anticinatC t'c:x:s '." a'' em 'rer m(Rrrerjid pr 1s

Ihe GRD) should no! he responsible for monitortnn emnironmental parameters for roads that (iRI)ha-; desianed and tfor %hich has been invobied in the construction Theretbre it is ad\isable that a

ifr narix shouild he in charLe for monilorin2 Tll ri bn artv can be identified in CEP Js oerationanhod\- inder the suLpeTsrtiszon et \loH responsibi; 60x, ,i-ordination ot moniturimne act,i1ms; in, hOcWlture

14

10. Summnary of miligation measures

rI' , ,I ,rIG \l( )\S l)L(i\ & \ i\l I l t'II G\(&U

-\(st'\('X'~~~~~~01 I

Soil erosion Plantin- ICP & CEIP | CEP .

a tiier oolflution Bridoes drainau.esvstems. ICP & CEP CEP 000).O()

embankmentdrainaue canals _ __

Air pollution Vetetai.n_1screens, unleaded ICP & CEP CEP

. _______________ gasolineFlora & Fauna Avoid animaf road \one

trespassinit ICP'& CEP CEP

Noise pollution Woodivegetal I-(JOGO

_____________ barriers ICP & CEP CEP

Land acquisition Correct use of law MoCT NoneDama-e to None none INIC. CEP

cultural herita_ze

Traffic and Speed limits. 101 !Mol

workers accidents police patrolling TI 1. Conclosions

Trhe considerations presented abo- e indicate that no sigrnificant enflironment31 M.oIar wTill be-enerated bv the construction ot the Elbasan - Q Thana (Border) road and also indicate tint trreatbenetits vill! ne derived conceinino work opportunities and impro-emenit ot the sociai conaiitions ot

the resident population

Positr%e exaluations can be the attained on condition that road -)orks and subscqucnt m2autenanceare caried out according to the parameters and sug-gestions pro, ided in paraur;ph v o rth particular

emphasis on avoidance of pollution of Shklumbini ri-er

17

ANNEX I

Terms of Reference for the Execution of the El.\

Prepared by WB Staff

I I

ANNEX II

Law No. 7644 dated 21 January 1993

for

Environmental Protection

,.)

ANNEX III

Law No. 7848 dated 25 July 1994

for

Expropriation for Public Purposes andTemporary Use of Immovable Property

20

ANNEX IV

Law No. 7698 dated 15 April 1993

for

Restitution and CompensatingFormer Owner Property

.