A CITIZEN S GUIDE. Awareness Raising on Hydropower Project Development and EIA for Citizens (part I)

Transcription

1 A CITIZEN S GUIDE Awareness Raising on Hydropower Project Development and EIA for Citizens (part I) Prepared by Lasha Gurgenidze and Tamar Mtvarelidze with Dr. Shivcharn S. Dhillion May, 2014

2 Content of the Presentation 1. What is a Hydropower Project (HPP) 2. What are the types of HPPs? 3. HPP development stages and time lines, actors, legal requirements 4. What is an EIA? 5. Environment Impact Assessment: baseline and potential impacts. 6. Requirements of an EIA report.

3 What is HPP? (HPP = hydropower plant/project) A Hydropower project is a hydro-technical structure, which converts the water hydropower potential to electric power, which is delivered to consumers through transmission lines; There are two types of HPPs: (A) run-off-the-river (B) regulated (reservoir or storage type)

4 Types of HPPs A. Run of the River (ROR) : A Hydro Power Plant with no or small storage (pondage), diversion of water, small environmental footprint.

5 Types of HPPs A. Run of the River (ROR) : Example of Kakhaterti HPP 2 MW. Weir Area of Flowing water

6 Types of HPPs A. Run of the River (ROR) : Example of ROR HPP on Snake River, Washington State, USA. (

7 Types of HPPs A. Run of the River (ROR) examples (www1.eere.energy.gov) Plant weir Flowing water Flowing water Plant weir

8 Types of HPPs B. Regulated (reservoir / storage) type HPP. A project with a reservoir (dam). Storage of water is necessary. Power generation can be located in the dam or away from the dam (in the latter case penstock and tail race is present). Has a larger environmental foot-print than the ROR type.

9 Types of HPPs B. Regulated (reservoir) HPP. Example of a large dam in Georgia, Enguri HPP (1300 MW) Dam wall reservoir

10 Types of HPPs B. Regulated (reservoir) HPP. Example of a large dam in Georgia, Enguri HPP (1300 MW) Dam wall reservoir reservoir dam wall downstream river stretch

11 Classification of HPPs by Size and Permit Requirements in Georgia Type Generation Permit requirements Large hydro > 100 MW EIA permit required Medium hydro MW EIA permit required Small hydro 1-13 MW > 2 MW EIA Permit required Mini hydro 100 kw 1 MW Not required Micro hydro 5 kw 100 kw Not required Pico hydro < 5 kw Not required

12 The main steps of the process of HPP development in Georgia EIA

13 What is an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Report? EIA report is the only document, which provides information about: Technical issues of a HPP project; Environmental and social baselines; The methods used to assess baselines and risks/impacts.

14 What is an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Report? EIA report is the only document, which provides information about: Potential Impacts (Risks) that are identified and classified; Measures that are proposed for mitigation and compensation; Monitoring needs and responsibilities for addressing the above.

15 What is an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Report? EIA report is the only document which can provide details on potential impacts of an HPP It is thus a pathway to address potential impacts and how these may be addressed

16 Broad time-line for project development ENVIRO-DEV FEASIBILITY STUDY Early Thinking (screening) Focusing on 1 project (scoping) Technical studies EIA Environmental Studies & Decision Making and Financial Closure Construction Social-economic and cultural studies 16

17 EIA Process and Timeline in Georgia

18 Who are the Key Governmental and Non-governmental Players Involved 1. The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia (MENRP): i. Department of Licenses and Permits ii. Department of Environment Supervision 2. The Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia (MoED) i. Technical and Construction Supervision Agency (TCSA) 3. The Ministry of Energy of Georgia (MoE) 4. The Developer (investor) 5. EIA Consulting Firms 6. Environmental NGOs, other stakeholders and the general public.

19 Process of applications and permit issuance by various stakeholders Permit type 1. Inclusion of a potential HPP to the list of priority HPPs MoE Responsible Body 2. Land ownership verification MoESD or private land owner 3. Environmental Impact Permit (EIP) (over 2 MW) 4. Construction Permit (over 50 kw) 5. Generation license (over 13 MW) Division of Permits, Department of Environmental Permits, MENRP Technical and Construction Supervision Agency, TCSA (under MoED) Georgian National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission

20 Construction Permitting Process Stage 1 No more than 30 days Land ownership verification EIA Stage 2 No more than 20 days Approval of the technical design, including Environment Impact Permit (EIP) Stage 3 No more than 10 days Issuance of construction permit

21 List of Environmental Laws Regulating Environmental Review and Permitting Law on Environmental Protection Law of Georgia on Licenses and Permits Law on Environmental Impact Permit The Law on Ecological Expertise GoG Resolution on the Rules of Issuance of Construction Permits and Permit Regulations of environmental quality standards (MACs of difference substances in air, water, noise, vibration etc.) (this is not an exhaustive list)

22 The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Now focus on the EIA, mainly covering its context and impacts Needs of an EIA report (that you as citizens can check for)

23 Project Context in an EIA 1. Refers to the collection of baseline information on physical, biological, social, economic and cultural aspects of the project s impact area; 2. Project Impact Area: The area where environmental effects and impacts are felt during the construction or operational stages of project; 3. Project alternatives (location or technological)

24 Environmental Impacts Potential impacts on air, underground or surface waters, climate, aquatic biology, flora, fauna, forest and vegetation, biodiversity, etc.

25 Environmental Impacts Potential impacts on slope stability and erosion, and water quality. Water quality downstream Weak slopes (unstable) Weak slopes

26 Social-Economic and Cultural Impacts Potential Impact on socialeconomic environment: loss of livelihoods, land, property (assets), services, access to resources or mobility, etc; Potential Impact of cultural heritage and sacred sites.

27 Social-Economic and Cultural Impacts houses road land houses land wood fish Access to water

28 Social-Economic and Cultural Impacts Livelihoods can be affected

29 Social-Economic and Cultural Impacts Cemeteries, churches and other cultural heritage

30 Potential Positive impacts Improvement of infrastructure, Employment (at least temporary) Development of local business Increased access and mobility Development aspects if built into HPP mitigation and enhancement measures Only possible if built into HPP development and included in EIA and Project Management Plan

31 Some main issues related to HPP projects Social-economic conditions; Cultural heritage; Resettlement and compensation; Land Use Change, Forest loss & Reforestation; Environmental flow / Sanitary Flow; Conservation of biodiversity; Water availability, quantity and quality; Geology and slope stability etc.

32 Requirements for an EIA report Project considered alternatives (location and technical); The choice for preferred alternatives are justified - the project is located to minimize environmental and social impacts; The types, locations and extent of roads, power lines and changes in access have been identified.

33 Requirements for an EIA report Sufficient baseline data were collected; Potential risks to biological, physical, cultural, social environment were identified and analyzed; Mitigation and monitoring measures are suggested; Emergency issues has been addressed.

34 thank you very much & we now continue with communication issues