Ministry of agriculture of the republic of Kazakhstan Committee of water resources Consulting Center "NEDRA" LLP ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (Pre-EIA) FEASIBILITY STUDY "UST-KAMENOGORSK ENVIRONMENT REMEDIATION PROJECT" (SUMMARY) ConsultingCenter "NEDRA"LLP Vice ExecutiveOfficer V.V. Noskov Committee ofwater resources DeputyDirector KenshimovA.K. Almaty 2005 Table of contens TABLE OF CONTENTS CTP. INTRODUCTION 1 1. LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK 1-1 1.IBasic legislative requirements applicable to EIA projects 1-1 2. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION USED FOR EIA PROJECT DEVELOPMENT 2-1 3. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS OF UST-KAMENOGORSK AREA 3-1 3.1. General natural and climate conditions 3-1 3.2. Ambient air conditions 3-6 3.3. Surface water conditions 3-7 3.4. Ground water conditions in Ust-Kamenogorsk city area 3-10 3.5. Conditions of the city soils 3-18 4. BASIC TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS OF FEASlBlLTlY STUDY 4-1 5. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT DURING THE PROJECT IMPLEMENTAT10N 5-1 5.1. Impact upon the environmental components during the facilities' construction 5-1 5.2 Impact on the environmental components at the stage of the facilities exploitation 5-4 6 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 6-1 6.1. Construction stage 6-1 6.1.1 Monitoring of ambient air 6-1 6.1.2. Environmental protection measures during the drilling operations and soils extraction for temporary use 6-5 6.2. Period of exploitation 6-5 6.3. Institutional allocations of responsibilities 6-9 7. RESULTS OF THE PUBLIC OPINION ANALYSIS WITH REGARD TO THE FS SOLUTIONS IMPLEMENTATION 7-1 I List o f tables Table 3.1 Quality characteristic of ground waters in major water-intake facilities of 3-18 Ust-Kamenogorsk Table 4.1 Table 4.1 Characteristic of the available methods of contaminated 4-3 ground waters interception Table 4.2 Remediation measures stipulated in FS and acceptability of alternative forecasts 4-5 Table 5.1 Maximum annual zinc discharge into lrtysh river according to the 5-4 simulation results (without considering a slowdown) Table 5.2 Integrated impact assessment of major technological operations on 5-10 elements of the environment Table 6.1 Instruments for measuring meteorological characteristics 6-4 Table 6.2 Methods and instruments for measuring pollutants' concentrations in I I ambient air 6-4 Table 6.3 Measures on the environmental impact remediation, schedule of the remediation measures and their cost 6-9 I1 List of figures LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1.1 Scheme of pre-project and project documentation preparation to state ecological expertise 1-8 Figure 3.1. Main environmental contamination sources and domestic/drinking water 3-5 i intake facilities in the city of Ust-Kamenogorsk Figure 3.2. Contribution of enterprises into air pollution in Ust-Kamenogorsk 3-6 Figure 3.3. Shares of air pollutants emitted by Ust-Kamenogorsk city enterprises 3-7 Figure 3.4. Map of Ust-Kamenogorsk alluvial basin ground waters contamination 11 11 with pollutants of 1 & 2 hazard class 3-15 Figure 3.5. Map of Ust-Kamenogorsk alluvial basin ground waters contamination 3-16 i with pollutants of 3 & 4 hazard class Figure 3.6. Spread of ground waters, characterized by a & p radioactivity exceeding 3-17 standards of SanR&N Figure 5.1 Pollutant emissions (%) into atmosphere during restoration at dumps and slurry storage reservoirs of Ust-Kamenogorsk city Map of forecasted ground water level lowering. Forecast option No.4 5-6 1 1IFigure 6.1 Scheme of air sampling I 6-3 I Figure 6.2 Layout scheme of observation wells I i I11 Abreviation Abbreviation FS - Feasibility Study EKO - East Kazakhstan Oblast HM-Heavy Metals RPC - Research & Production Center U M P -Ulba Metallurgical Plant UKHPP-Ust-Kamenogorsk HeatPower Plant SHPP - Sogrinskiy Heat Power Plant UKMEJSC KazZinc - Ust-Kamenogorsk MetallurgicalEnterprise JSC KazZinc OJSC AES Ust-Kamenogorsk Heat Power Plant JSC UMP-Joint Stock Company "Ulba MetallurgicalPlant" OJSC UK TMP - Open Joint Stock Company Ust-Kamenogorsk Titanium-Magnesium Plant MPC -maximum permissible concentration M P D - maximum permissible discharge MPCfishingindustry -maximum permissible concentration inwater bodies, used by industry MPCsUrface Water- maximum permissible concentration inwater bodies usedfor drinkingwater supply MPC,a,,,um single- maximum single permissible concentration o fpollutants MPCdailyaverage - maximum single permissible daily average concentration EKHMC -East Kazakhstan Hydro-Meteorological Center PCB - polychlorbiphenyl BODs- Biological Oxygen Demand SRC USSR - State Reserves Committee o f the UnitedSoviet Socialist Republics JSC "UKTMP" - Joint Stock Company "Ust-Kamenogorsk Titanium -MagnesiumPlant S R N -sanitary rules & norms WRD -Working regulatory document CIZ - central industrial zone SRLI - safe reference levels o f impact GOST- State Industrial Standard BF-buffer zone SES - sanitary & epidemiological station EKRTDEP - East KazakhstanRegional Territorial Administration for Environment Protection TA - TerritorialAdministration IBRD-International Bank for ReconstructionandDevelopment Introduction INTRODUCTION Ust-Kamenogorsk city i s the regional center o f East Kazakhstan Oblast (EKO). It i s one o f the major industrial centers in the Republic o f Kazakhstan. Favorable location o f the territory, which i s expressed in the immediate proximity to the primary mineral resources (nonferrous ore and rare metals, gold, coal, construction materials), low-cost hydro-energy (Ust- Kamenogorsk and Bukhtarma HPP), have fostered rapid formation and development o f the city's economic potential. Major enterprises o f nonferrous metallurgy, nuclear -industrial, gold and rare metal complexes, heat-power engineering, machinery industry and instrument - making, transport, building industry, light and food industry, timber-processing, public utilities and agriculture are localized in the city o f Ust-Kamenogorsk. Main marketable outputs of the above listed enterprises are as follows: lead, copper, zinc, gold, silver, tantalum, niobium, cadmium, stibium, selenium, indium, tellurium, uranium pellets, titanium, magnesium, sulhric acid, miningequipment, paints, etc. Distinctive feature o f Ust-Kamenogorsk city infrastructure i s a close spatial setting o f the industrial and residential areas. Superabundance with large industrial facilities, close setting o f industrial zones and residential areas in this regional center, over fifty-year activity o f the enterprises which i s far from beingperfect from the ecological viewpoint, led to the pollution with toxic components, and primarily with heavy metals (HM), o f all environmental components: ambient air, surface and ground waters, soils, biota. It should be notedthat withinthe recent years the city enterprises putmuchefforts to improve the ecological situation inthe city. Thus, some o f the waste dumps were reclamated and new, much safer, wastes storages were constructed. However this does not mean that serious environmental problems o f the city are solved. Ground waters within the certain areas remain to be highly contaminated, and, as well known, such contaminations are spreading with the water flows, that i s why the area o f ground waters contamination i s still becoming larger. Thus, now is the critical moment when everyone realizes the necessity for rigid measures on the environmental protectionand focused, inparticular, on ground waters protection. Initiator of FS development was the Committee o f Water Resources under the RoK Ministry of Agriculture. The Feasibility Study "Ust-Kamenogorsk environment remediation" was developed by Wismut LLP, G.E.O.S. Freiberg Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH, Wisutec and VHIPIPromtechnologija, Moscow. This FS was aimed at developing a general strategy necessary for adaptation and determination o f the following priority steps in terms o f ground waters reclamation. With the help o f hydrogeological modeling, various remediation measures were analyzed and worked out. As a result, an optimal option was selected allowing to solve the problem o f the city water supply, to reduce pollutants migration within the aquifer and thus to prolong the life time o f the water supply stations which ensure fresh water supply to the population. This Feasibility Study is another proposal showing the ways to improve the environmental situation o f the city. As early as in 1999 ecological and hydrogeological surveys were performed with the purpose to justify the method o f polluted ground waters interception, Suggestions were developed under that project in order to improve the currently existing system o f contaminated ground waters interception within the areas o f certain industrial enterprises. However the analysis o f results o f ground waters interception within the chosen localities proves in many aspects the low efficiency o f this method. Strictly speaking, local water supply facilities cannot cope with the regional contamination o f ground waters. 1 Introduction One o f the reasons o f such ineffective polluted waters interception i s the fact that most o f the enterprises have not yet liquidated infiltration o f waste water discharges which allows for their penetration into the aquifer. In2001 the study (BGR,2001) was completedwith the purpose to develop suggestions onthe reduction o f ground waters contamination by Ust-Kamenogorsk industrial waste storage dumps.Most o fthe developedrecommendations haven't been implementedyet. Spread o f the pollution plum spread towards the ground waters flow is the reason o f ceasing the exploitation o f many water supply facilities inthe city. Inthe nearest future the water supply problem will become very critical. At present the ground waters occurring inthe right bank o f Ulba and Irtysh rivers are totally unsuitable for usage. Now the only way to establish control upon the environmental pollution i s to take radical measures for the aquifer waters treatment. This FS stipulates for the extensive suite of measures for ground waters rehabilitation. They include a liquidation of infiltration (leakages) from the technological systems of the industrial enterprises, providing a protective covering for the slurry ponds (sludge storages) and ash disposal site. Peculiar proposal o f this Project i s necessity to intercept the ground waters at the peripheral part o f the Central Industrial Complex, to perform such ground waters treatment and their injection into the upper reach of the ground waters flow, although the Feasibility Study provides the review o f other alternative options for ground waters rehabilitation. The FS project providesjustifications for the key aspects o fthe estimations which enable to ensure the significant control upon the contamination spread within the aquifer. However the effect from ground water treatment depends upon the efficiency o f covering or eliminating the ground waters contamination sources. 2 1. Legal and administrative framework 1. LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK 1,l BASIC LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO EIA PROJECTS System o f the environmental laws and environmental provisions pertaining to the environment and natural resources protection has been worked out in the Republic o f Kazakhstan. Legal framework o f the environment and natural resources protection, in the context o f this project, encompasses the following issues: 0 General environmental issues, 0 Land use & protection, 0 Subsurface use & protection, 0 Water use & protection, 0 Use, protection, safeguard and reproduction o f woods and fauna, 0 Ambientair protection. The basic legislative documents pertaining to this EIA are summarizedbelow. The legislative base for general environmental issues includes those documents, which regulate powers of the state bodies and the local governmental authorities; the environmental rights and obligations o f legal entities and physical persons; licensing o f the activity associated with use o f natural resources. The legislative base also covers the documents on ecological regulation; environmental monitoring; ecological expertise; legislative documents specifying ecological requirements put to economic and other activities; requirements to wastes disposal; ecological requirements on the environmental audit; specially protected territories and objects, the laws o f economic mechanisms on the environmental protection. Basic legislative documents covering the general environmental issues are as follows: Constitution o f the Republic o f Kazakhstan (adopted at the republican referendum on August 30, 1995) (amended and alteredby RoK Laws dated 07.10.98 No. 284-1). Acting as fundamental law, Constitution specifies legal framework for ecological, social and economical stable development o f the country. Clause 38 o f R o K Constitution reads as follows: "Citizens o f the Republic of Kazakhstan must protect the environment" Law o f the Republic o f Kazakhstan as o f July 15, 1997 No. 160-1 "On environment protection" (altered and amended by RoK Laws dated 24.12.98; as o f 11.05.99 No. 381- 1; as o f 29.11.99. No. 488-1; as of 04.06.01 No. 205-11; as o f 24.12.01. No. 276-11; as o f 09.08.02 No. 346-11; as o f 25.05.04 No. 553-11; as o f 09.12.04. No. 8-111; as o f 20.12.04. No. 13-111; as o f 15.04.05.No. 45-111; as o f 08.07.05. No. 71-111) This law is intended to ensure favorable natural environment for person's life and health. The law specifies legal, economical and social foundations o f environment protection for the sake o f present and future generations, it is aimed at prevention o f the environment against harmful impact caused by economic activity, preservation o f ecological balance and arrangement o f rational nature use. It was established special body, which supervises the activity o f ministries, administrations, enterprises, institutions and organizations in the field o f environment protection (Ministry o f environment protection of the Republic o f Kazakhstan). The law reveals economical mechanism on environment protection and environmental management. It had been as well specified types o f nature management and main conditions o f their existence. Moreover, it was determined payment system for special nature management and procedure for nature protection funds formation. 1-1 1. Legaland administrativeframework The law regulates issues on standardization o f environment quality, including kinds o f standards, and approval procedure. Ecological requirements to economic and other activity and principles o f ecological expertise have been laid down. It had been as well regulated the issues o f control and supervision, regulation o f disputes in the field o f environment protection, responsibility for legislation violation and compensation for damage caused. Water Code of the Republicof KazakhstandatedJuly 9, 2003 No. 481-11(amendedand alteredby RoK Law as of 20.12.04No. 13-111). The law explains conception o f water fund, specifies the priority o f water supply for drinking & domestic needs. It was specified the competence o f government and management bodies in the field o f water relations regulation. It had been defined the procedure o f work production in water bodies and water conservation zones. It was also regulated kinds o f water use and conditions o f their existence, including payment for the use o f water resources. Conditions for water bodies' use for drinking, domestic needs, agriculture, industrial purposes, for the needs o f hydro energy, transport, fishing industry and hunt, for fire fighting needs o f reserved areas and special nature reserves had been differentiated. It had also been spotlighted basic legal requirements to waters protection and prevention o f their adverse impact, including protection o f water against contamination and exhaustion, protection o f underground waters and small rivers. Itwas stipulated the procedure o f state registration and planning o fwater use. It had been specified responsibility for water legislation violation and procedure for water disputes regulation. Clause 55 o f this L a w reads that placing o f enterprises and other structures, which have impact upon water bodies' condition, is undertaken in line with provisions and conditions o f environment protection, subsurface protection, sanitation & epidemiological, industrial safety, reproduction and rational use o f water bodies, considering ecological effect caused by the activity o f the mentioned objects. Clause 56 stipulates the requirements on reduction o f contaminants emission into water bodies: 1, Use and protection o f water resources are based on standardization o f contaminants at discharge point, on total standardization o f water management activity o f overall organizations within the limits o f relevant basin, channel or site. 2. Requirements to treatment and quality rate o f discharged waters are determined according to directions of possible intended use o f water body and justified by calculations, such requirements should also take into account real condition o f water body, technical and economical potentialities and terms o f the expected parameters achievement. Clause 60. State monitoring o f water bodies 1. State monitoring o f water bodies is deemed as the constituent element o f the system o f state monitoring of environment and natural resources. 2. State monitoring o f water bodies represents system of regular observations over hydrological, hydrogeological, hydrogeochemical, sanitary & chemical, microbiological, parasitological, radiological and toxicological parameters o f water bodies' condition, collection, processing and transmission o f the acquired information with a view t o timely identify negative processes, assessment and forecast o f their development, working out o f recommendations o n harmful effects prevention and determination o f efficiency rate o f water related activities. 3. State monitoring o f water objects i s undertaken by the authorized body in the field o f use and protection of water fund jointly with central executive body o f the Republic o f Kazakhstan in the field of environment protection, authorized body in the field o f sanitary & epidemiological welfare o f population, authorized body on subsurface use and protection Clause 112. Protection o f water bodies 1. Water bodies should be protected against: natural and man-caused contamination with harmful hazardous chemical and toxic agents and their compounds, thermal, bacterial, radiation pollution; 1-2 1. Legal and administrative framework choking with hard, insoluble objects, wastes o f industrial, domestic and other origin; exhaustion. 2. Water bodies should be safeguarded inorder to prevent: violation o f ecological sustainability o f natural systems; damage to life and health o f population; reduction o f fish reserves and other shellfish; worsening o fwater supply conditions; reduction o f water bodies' ability to natural reproduction and purification; worsening o f hydrological and hydrogeological water bodies' condition; other unfavorable events, which have adverse impact on physical, chemical and biological properties o f water bodies. 3. Protection o f water bodies is undertaken by: specifying general requirements on water bodies protection t o all water users; specifying special requirements to certain kinds o f economic activity; improvement and employment o f water protective measures by implementing new equipment and environmentally, epidemiologically safe technology; conduction o f state and other forms o f control over use and protection o f water bodies. 4. Central and local executive bodies o f oblasts (city o f the republican level, capital) in accordance with RoK legislation take measures, consistent with principles o f stable development, on protection o f water bodies, prevention o f their pollution, chocking and exhaustion, as well as on mitigation o f consequences. 5. Individuals and legal entities whose activity has impact upon water bodies' condition, are obliged to conduct organizational, technological, timber reclamative, agronomical, hydro-technical, sanitary - epidemiological and other measures, which ensure protection o f water bodies against pollution, chocking and exhaustion. Clause 113. Protection o fwater bodies against pollution 1. Pollution o f water bodies means discharge or inflow, by any way, into the water bodies o f objects or contaminants, which aggravate qualitative condition and complicate usage o f water bodies. 2. Water bodies are protected against all kinds o f pollution, including diffusive pollution (pollution through ground surface and air). 3. With the purpose to protect water bodies against pollution it is prohibited to: use toxic chemicals, fertilizers at water catchment area for water bodies. Disinfecting, disinsective and disinfestation activities at water catchment area and in the sanitary protection zone are held upon agreement with the authorized body in the field o f sanitary - epidemiological welfare o f population; discharge and dispose radioactive and toxic substances into water bodies; discharge into water bodies wastewaters from industrial, food objects, which don't have treatment facilities and don't ensure effective treatment in accordance with standards; employ the equipment and technology in water bodies and water facilities, jeopardizing population health and environment. Clause 120. Specifics o f undergroundwater bodies protection 1. Individuals and legal entities, whose production activity might have adverse impact on underground waters condition, are obliged to undertake monitoring of underground waters and timely take measures on prevention o f pollution and exhaustion o f water resources as well as adverse impact o f waters. 2. I t is prohibited to dispose radioactive and chemical wastes, dumps, cemeteries, burial grounds for animal refuse and other objects influencing on underground water conditions at water catchment areas for underground waters, which are used or might be used for drinking and domestic sanitary water supply. 3. It i s prohibited to irrigate lands with wastewaters, if it has impact or might have impact upon underground water condition. 4. Those individuals and legal entities, who maintain water intake facilities for underground waters, are required to organize protective sanitary zones and monitoring o f underground waters. 1-3 1. Legal and administrative framework 5.During disposal, design, construction, commissioning o f water intake facilities associated with underground water use, it is required to stipulate measures oriented to prevention o f adverse impact on surface water bodies and environment. 6. During geological survey o f subsurface, exploration and production o f minerals, construction and maintenance of underground structures, which are not associated with miningoperations, subsurface users are requiredt o take measures for underground waters pollution and exhaustion prevention. Water Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan (June 20,2003, No. 442-11). The l a w specifies lands' character, land use principles and procedure, land withdrawal procedure for state and public needs, use o f land plots for survey works. It was defined competence o f government authorities inthe field o f regulation ofland relations, rights, obligations and protection o f landowners and land users' rights. The l a w revealed legal requirements to allocation, provision and use o f lands for agricultural needs, lands for populated area, lands for industry, transport, communication, defense and other purposes, lands for nature-conservative, health improvement, recreation and historical -cultural purpose, lands o f forest resources and reserves, water bodies, etc. It was envisaged legislative procedure, which stipulates compensation for damages to landowners, land users and losses o f agricultural and forestry-based production. The l a w specified goals and objectives o f land protection, including standards for maximum permissible concentrations o f chemical agents in soil; formulated principles for land cadastre and land development and adapted responsibility for land legislation violation and procedure for land disputes regulation. Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated March 11, 2002 No. 302-11 On ambient air protection (amendedby RoK Law as of 20.12.04 No. 13-111). The law specifies measures on ambient air protection. Amidst these measures one can find standards for maximum permissible concentration o f contaminants in ambient air levels o f harmful physical impact on air, as well as standards for maximum permissible emissions o f contaminants released into ambient air. Issues regarding regulation o f contaminants' emissions released into atmosphere by stationary contamination sources, motor-vehicles, airplanes, other mobile facilities, as well as regulation o f harmful physical impact upon atmosphere, had been settled. It had been specified conditions o f disposal, design, construction and commissioning o f plants, structures and other objects influencing on ambient air. The law exposed legal matters on state registration o f adverse impact upon ambient air, monitoring and control in the field o f ambient air protection, responsibility for legislation violation and procedure for settling the disputes on ambient air protection. Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated March 18, 1997 No. 85-1 "On ecological expertise" (amendedby RoK Law as o f 24.12.98 No. 334-1; as of 11.05.99 No. 381-1; as of 02.07.03 No. 454-11; as of 20.12.04 No. 13-111) The law regulates social relation in ecological expertise sphere, aiming to prevent negative impact of managerial, economic and other activity upon the environment, life and health o f Kazakhstani population. The intention o f ecological expertise is to prevent negative effects, which might occur as a result of implementation o f the expected managerial, economic and other activity. The law considers expertise as the obligatory, objective, independent EIA process, transparent for publicity. Any projects should undergo state ecological expertise. Law on ecological expertise outlines EIA concept (integrated ecological -social and economical impact assessment o f the expected activity upon the environment, population health for the entire period o f activity). According to this law, conduction o f EIA is deemed as obligatory procedure during projects development. Initiators o f ecological expertise are required to notify mass media on such expertise. If required, this should be done by the body, who undertakes ecological expertise. Clause 16 Environmental Impact Assessment should include as follows: determination o f impact kinds and levels o f the expected activity upon the environment, inclusive o f ecological risk; forecasting o f environmental change, and their socio-economic effects, should the expected activity be undertaken; 1-4 1. Legal and administrative framework e working out o f measures ensuring environment protection while the expected activity i s performed; e development o f all regulatory requirements inthis field. According to results o f environmental impact assessment, customer should prepare and submit, as part o f exported materials, statement on ecological effects, which might occur as a result o f the expected or performed economic activity, the mentioned statement will serve as the basis enabling to prepare decisions for its implementation. Inthe Republic of Kazakhstan process of State ecological expertise, in addition to abovementioned law, is regulated by the following normative acts: 1. Instruction on state ecological expertise of pre-projectand project materials (approved by the order o f R o K Ministry o f Environment Protection dated February 16, 2005 No. 57-n) [Section 6. item 12. paragraphs 1,2, 3,4.]. 2. Instruction on environmental impact assessment of the expected economic and other activity while developingpre-planned, pre-projectand project documentation (Approved by the order o f R o K Ministry o f Environment Protection dated February 28,2004 No. 68-11 "On approval o f the Instruction on environmental impact assessment o f the expected economic and other activity while developing pre-planned, pre-project and project documentation ") [Chapter 1. item 3. paragraph 3,4., chapter 4. item 22, 23., chapter 5. item 35.1. For convenience, w e provide graphical scheme o f pre-project and project documentation preparation for undergoing State ecological expertise, which is produced in strict compliance with the aforesaid regulatory acts and existing practice. (Figure 1.1) Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated July 16, 2001 No. 242-11 "On architectural, town planning and construction activity in the Republic of Kazakhstan" (amended by RoK Laws as of 20.12.04 No. 13-111; as of 12.04.05 No. 38-111; as of 13.04.05 .No. 40- 111). The law ensures favorable environment and life activity while undertaking construction operations. Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated January 27, 1996 No. 2828 "On subsurface and subsurface use" (amended by RoK Laws dated 11.05.99, No. 381-1; as of 11.08.99, No. 467- I;as of 16.05.03, No. 416-11; as of 01.12.04, No. 2-111; as of 20.12.04 , No, 13-111). The law specifies general ecological requirements t o subsurface users while undertaking operations, it also determines rights and obligations o f Subsurface users and conditions for performing operations on subsurface use. Pursuant to this decree, withdrawal o f subsurface plots representing special ecological, scientific, cultural or other value it not allowed. Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated April 23, 1998 No. 219-1"On radiation safety ofpopulation" (amendedby RoK Law as of 20.12.04 No. 13-111) The law reads that while selecting land lots for construction o f buildings and structures, it is required to perform survey and assessment o f radiation situation aiming to protect population and staff against impact o f natural radionuclide. Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated July 5, 1996 No. 19-1 On emergency situations of natural and man-caused character (amended by RoK Laws as o f 09.12.98. No. 307-1; as of 12.03.99. No. 347-1; as of 19.05.2000. No. 51-11). Protection o f population, environment and economic agents against emergency situations and effects caused by them, it is one o f the priority area where state policy is conducted. This law regulates social relations within the territory of the Republic o f Kazakhstan, on prevention and liquidation o f emergency situations o f natural and man-caused character. The law specifies rights and obligations o f population in the field o f emergency situation o f natural and man-caused character. It was defined power o f state bodies and local government authorities inthe field o f emergency situation. The law framed measures on emergency situation prevention, specified objectives o f scientific research. 1-5 1. Legal and administrative framework Declaration by the government o f the Republic o f Kazakhstan or local executive bodies on emergency situation o f natural and man-caused character acts as the basis enabling to implement actions on emergency situations liquidation. The l a w describes mechanism on liquidation o f emergency situation o f natural and man-caused character The l a w specifies aims and objects o f expertise, procedure stipulating financing o f the activities on emergency situations prevention and liquidation, objectives o f control and supervision, responsibility for violation o f legislation inthe field o f emergency situations. L a w o f the Republic o f Kazakhstan as o f July 8, 1994 No. 110-XI11 On sanitary - epidemiological welfare o fpopulationas o f 04.12.02 No. 361-13 RoK. The law envisages rights and obligations o f individuals and legal entities in the field o f sanitary- epidemiological welfare, organization and conduction o f sanitary -anti-epidemiological activities. Law of the Republic o f Kazakhstan as o f May 19, 1997 No. 111-1 On protection o f health o f Kazakhstani citizens (amended and altered by RoK Laws as o f 1.07.98 No. 259-1; as o f 17.12.98. No. 325-1; as o f 7.04.99 No. 374-1; as of 22.11.99 No. 484-1, as o f 21.03.02 No. 308 11). This law specifies legal, economical and social bases for protection of health o f Kazakhstani citizens, regulates participation o f state bodies, individuals and legal entities, irregardless o f form o f ownership, in realization o f citizens' constitutional right for health protection. Governmental regulation o f the Republic o f Kazakhstan dated June 27, 2001 No, 885 "On approval o f the Provision for organization and conduction o f Unified system of state monitoring o f the environment and natural resources" (amended by Governmental regulation o f RoK as o f 01.07.05. No. 675). The following monitoring systems are distinguished depending on objects o f monitoring: monitoring of ambient air; monitoring o f surface water resources; monitoring of land resources; monitoring of fauna and flora (reproduction and use); monitoring o f subsurface (as related to pollution). Unified system o f state monitoring of the environment and natural resources encompasses as follows: 1) collection, storage, processing o f initial data on environmental condition and use o f natural resources according to complex o f parameters, stipulated by state and industrial monitoring programs, maintenance o f cadastres and informational data banks pertaining to monitoring o f environmental components and nature management; 2) preparation and transmission o f regulated data and data processing results , including the forecasts, references, reports and other forms o f information t o be submitted to governmental authorities, republican and regional state bodies relating to monitoring o f the environment and natural resources; 3) development of recommendations stipulating the activities on liquidation or mitigation o f the effects of adverse impact upon the environment, protection and rational use o f natural resources; 4) information support to perform state statistics, ecological expertise, environmental audit, control in the field o f environment and use o f natural resources. Governmental regulation o f the Republic o f Kazakhstan dated 12.03.04 No. 311 approved the list of specially authorized bodies, empowered with the functions of environment protection, nature use management and state control, and Provisions for arrangement o f measures to be carried out by the mentioned bodies. The following organizations pertain to specially authorized bodies, empowered with the functions of environment protection, nature use management and state control in ecology sphere: 1-6 1. Legal and administrative framework 1) RoK Ministry of Environment Protection, as the central executive body o f the Republic o f Kazakhstan in the field o f environment protection, which coordinates the activity o f other central executive bodies, empowered with the functions o f environment protection and nature use management; 2) RoK Agency for land resource management, performs functions - use and protection o f land resources; 3) RoK Ministry of agriculture, undertakes control-supervision functions in the field o f protection, reproduction, use o f forest and water resources, resources o f flora and fauna, water, specially protected natural territories; 4) RoK Ministry of energy and mineral resources, undertakes functions in the field o f subsurface use and protection; 5) RoK Ministry of internal affairs, empowered with the functions - control over contaminants' emissions released into atmosphere from motor vehicles; fight against poachers, illegal chopping o f trees and bushes, violating huntingand fishing rules; investigation o f ecological crimes; 6) Local executive bodies undertake their functions within their competence, specified by RoK legislation. 1-7 r - - - - - - - - - 1I 1 - I I I I I TI I -1 9 t '5 5 2. Supplemental informationusedfor EIA project development 2. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION USED FOR EIA PROJECT DEVELOPMENT To perform the environmental elements impact assessment, the following supplemental information was used: 0 L L P "EcoService" - ambient air, radiation pollution, surface waters, 0 VostKazNedra - geology, groundwaters, 0 Institute o f Geological Sciences (Altay Branch) - conditions o f soils, 0 SIC o f fishery industry- current state o fUlba & Irtyshriversbiocenose 0 Department o f environmental programs o f the City Administration - flora & fauna o f Ust-Kamenogorsk city Hydrogeology and hydrology data acquired by WISMUT LLP were employed to a considerable extent for the development o f the Feasibility Study. Information about the city industrial enterprises (UMP, KazZinc, UK HPP, SHPP, TMP, Vodocanal, etc.), volumes o f disposed waste, discharged sewage and emitted pollutions was obtained duringthe visits o f EIA project developers to the mentioned enterprises. Inaddition to that, fieldworks were performed inthe middle of March 2005 followed by the laboratory analytical studies. The following operations were carried out during the fieldworks: 0 Visual observations and photographing o f groundwater pollution sources, 0 Radiological surveys o f the residential part o f the city as well as the peripheral part o f the industrial complex. 0 Surface waters sampling and analyses from Ulba & Irtyshrivers 0 Snow water sampling. Laboratory analyses were conducted in the certified LOTOS laboratory (Ust-Kamenogorsk). List of analytes to be assessed was substantiated by the presence of these components in the sources o f the environmental pollution. 2-1 3. Environmental conditions o f Ust-Kamenogorsk area 3. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS OF UST-KAMENOGORSKAREA The city ofUst-Kamenogorsk is the regional center o fEast KazakhstanOblast (EKO) and one o f the biggest industrial centers o f Republic o f Kazakhstan. Favorable location o f the city in immediate proximity to the natural resources (deposits o f nonferrous and rare metals, gold, coal, construction materials, etc.), availability o f inexpensive hydro-power facilities (Ust- Kamenogorsk and Bukhtarminskaya Hydroelectric Power Plants) contributed to the fast growth and development o f economic potential o f the city. The city i s famous o f having large enterprises o f nonferrous metallurgy, nuclear power, gold- and rare metal plants, heat power plants, mechanical engineering and instrument-manufacturing works, facilities of transportation, construction industry, enterprises o f light industry, food and timber works, utilities and agriculture production as well as many other enterprises belonging to other industries. Major marketable products o f the said industrialcomplexes are lead, copper, zinc, gold, silver, tantalum, niobium, cadmium, antimony, selenium, indium, tellurium, uranium fuel pellets, titanium, magnesium, sulfuric acid, miningequipment, paints, etc. Close location o f the industrial complexes and residential zones i s the specific feature o f the city infrastructure. Superabundant industrial infrastructure o f Ust-Kamenogorsk, close proximity o f the industrial complexes to the districts o f residential housing in this regional center, as well as semi- centennial activity o f the industrial enterprises, being far from perfect in terms o f the environmental aspects, led to pollution with toxic components, including first o f all the pollution o f all the environment elements with heavy metals (HM) which impacted the atmospheric air, surface and ground waters, soils and biota o f the city area. 3.1. GENERAL NATURAL AND CLIMATE CONDITIONS Geographical location of the city Ust-Kamenogorsk i s located inthe north-east o f Kazakhstan, stretching at foothills o f Rundy Altay mountains at the confluence o f Irtysh and Ulba rivers. Pursuant to the current general city plan, the city covers an area o f 23300 hectares. Shape o f the city territory i s determined by the valley o f Irtyshand Ulba rivers. Major part o f Ust-Kamenogorsk facilities are situated on the right-banks o f these rivers, occupying the territory from Novaya Sogra village in the north-east up to the Airport site in the north-west. The valley o f Irtyshriver lying within the city area i s o f SE-NW direction. Major part o f the city i s o f the same direction. The line along Irtyshriver bank stretching near Ablaketka village was the southern border o f the surveyed area, and the line linking Opytnoye Pole village and Titanium-Magnesium Plant (TMP) served as the northern border o f the survey area. Geographical coordinates o f the center point o f the survey area were 49'59' North and 82'37' East. Distance between Ust-Kamenogorsk and such nearest and biggest towns in East Kazakhstan Oblast as Semipalatinsk, Ridder and Zyryanovsk i s 200, 120 and 150 km respectively. Ust-Kamenogorsk i s linked with the said towns by railway and motor roads. Relief and hydrography It is a very important ecological factor that Ust-Kamenogorsk is situated in the plain area formed o f the valleys o f Irtyshand Ulba rivers. The city i s surroundedby the mountainridges o f up to 800 m height from the north, east, south and south-west. The plain valley remains open from the north-west only and less open - from the south-east. This factor considerably reduces a possibility o f quick dispersal o f toxic pollutants emitted by the city enterprises. 3-1 3. Environmental conditions o f Ust-Kamenogorsk area Ust-Kamenogorsk i s situated on the border o f Kazakh low hills and Rudny Altay mountains. Locatedwest o f Ust-Kamenogorsk city, Kazakh low hills are characterized by a hilly relief o f low and middle height (up to 1600 m). Rudny Altay mountains, consisting o f several mountain ridges, are characterized as the relief o f low and middle mountains belonging to West Altay chain. Ust-Kamenogorsk i s located in the place o f Irtysh and Ulba rivers outflow from the mountains, the city's elevation marks are ranging within 280-340 m. Maximum elevation marks for the major part o f the city area are limited to 300 m. Slopes o f the right-bank o f Ulba river and the left-bank o f Irtyshriver are characterized by the relief o f hills and ridges. The valleys o f Irtysh and Ulba rivers are characterized as a smooth terrain, covered with terrace benches, flow channels, former river beds. Irtyshand Ulbarivers are the major water bodies, which water flows are generated inadjacent lands. Water flow o f the rivers i s replenished by virtue o f the surface and ground waters drain. Major water replenishment i s provided by snow thawing. Irtyshriver flow is regulated by Bukhtarminsky and Ust-Kamenogorsk water storage reservoirs which ensure a long-lasting river flow control. Flows o fUlbariver and small brooks are o f uncontrollable nature. Irtyshriver is one o fthe biggestrivers inEurasia. The river lengthis 4248 km, and area ofthe river basin i s 1643 thousand km2.Irtysh i s a typical lowland river which forms a wide and clearly defined valley. The main river channel i s 170-380m wide, total width o f the river bed together with the channels and islands reaches up to 3-3,5 km, being 3m and sometimes 5m deep. An average flow rate o f Irtysh river section, located upstream o f the city, is around 400 m3/sec. Within the region o f Ust-Kamenogorsk city, the hydrologicalregime o f Irtyshriver is mainly determined by the operational regime o f Ust-Kamenogorsk Hydroelectric Power Plant. Air inversion phenomenon, occurring above the water surface of Irtysh river, forms the atmospheric barrier which favorably affects the city ecology, because such barrier prevents a distribution to the left-bank o f Irtyshriver o f the toxic substances, emitted by the enterprises o f the North industrial zone. The part o f Ulba river runningwithin Ust-Kamenogorsk city is 24 km long, crossing the city area starting from Ulba-Perevalochnaya Hydro-station and ending at the place o f Ulba river inflow into Irtyshriver. Tributary of Ulba river, crossing the survey area, i s Makhovka river, being supplied with waters from brooks o f Bezymyanniy, Ovechiy Kluch and other small brooks, inflowing into Makhovka river from the right and left river banks. Terrace complexes are developed in the river valley. Width o f the flood-lands near the city i s changing from 150-200m in the east up to 4 km in the west. Terrain of the river valley i s changeable due to impact o f intensive floods. Most part o f the residential housing and industrial facilities o f the city are located on the first terrace above the flood-plain, composed o f alluvial boulder bed, pebbles, overlaid with a 2-3 m thick layer o f sand and loam. The second terrace above the flood-plain i s formed o f diluvial-proluvial loesslike loams, sandy loams with inter-layers of sand and less often- with gravel, crushed rock and gruss. Spring floods in Ulba river are o f quite remarkable character. The river waters are supplied from various water sources. WithinUst-Kamenogorsk city waters ofUlbariver are polluted withtoxic discharges from the city enterprises. In this connection pollution o f Ulba river waters i s changing from average pollution level upstream of the bypass road bridge up to a strong pollution level - downstream o f the bypass roadbridge. 3-2 3. Environmental conditions o fUst-Kamenogorsk area Surface waters o f Ulba and Irtyshrivers are hydraulically connected with the ground waters of alluvial Quaternary horizon, such ground waters being accumulated mainly due to waters infiltration from the rivers. Therefore groundwater pollution i s mostly caused by the polluted river waters. Major pollution impact i s brought by Ulba river, which water flow i s not regulated and i s strongly affected by seasonal water level fluctuations. Waters o f Ulba river are more pollutedthan waters o f Irtyshriver. Climate Climate in Ust-Kamenogorsk city area i s sharply continental. The coldest month i s January, when the average air temperature i s - 16,lOC. The lowest observed temperature was -490C. Summer i s usually hot, with average air temperature o f +20,60C. Average annual quantity o f precipitationi s about 500 mm. Stable snow cover i s usually formed in the second decade o f November and sometimes - in the third decade o f October. Average monthly thickness o f the snow cover i s 20 cm. Depth o f ground frost penetration is 90 cm on average. Ground surface i s usually cleared o f snow cover in the first decade of April. Spring floods in Irtysh river are usually in the first decade of April. Average wind speed i s 2,5-3,5 mlsec, and speed o f strong winds reaches up to 15 dsec. As per the long-observed wind rose, the prevailing winds inUst-Kamenogorsk area are o f north- west and south-east directions (along the watercourse o f Irtyshriver). Windy days comprise upto 50-70% ofa year period. Ust-Kamenogorsk area belongs to the regions with insufficient precipitation. Minimum monthly precipitation i s observed inwinter months (20-22 mm in January - February period). Maximum precipitationi s observed June and July (56-65 mm). Changes o f air temperature in Ust-Kamenogorsk area depend on specific features o f atmospheric air circulation and radiation factors. These factors determine considerable daily changes and day-to-day variations o f the air temperature. Amplitude o f monthly average change o f air temperature in summer and winter seasons is 370C. Absolute extreme air temperature values reach up to 490C. Inversions o f air temperature are o f special interest from viewpoint o f environmental studies. Such air temperature inversions hinder from turbulent air exchange and contribute to aerosol concentration inthe near-surface air layer. Number o f foggy days and daily foggy weather duration are very important factors affecting the environmental conditions in Ust-Kamenogorsk. Owing to construction o f Hydroelectric Power Plant in Irtysh river, number o f foggy days considerably increased from 35-40 up to 65-70. Both air pollution level and number o f various air polluting substances are changing in foggy days. The most prevailing air pollutant is sulfur dioxide gas dissolved in drops of fog, resulting in formation o f sulfuric acid aerosol, which i s a typical phenomenon for Ust- Kamenogorsk area. Furthermore, such sulfuric acid aerosol contained in drops o f fog i s of higher toxicity than sulfur dioxide gas emitted by the industrial enterprises. Lowering of polluted fog drops downward from the upper and most polluted air layers down to the near- surface air layer and onto the ground surface leads to strong deterioration o f environmental conditions, which i s similar to acid rain impact. Close relationship was identified between a number o f foggy days and the ambient air pollution level, and the factor o f such correlation i s assessedas equal to 0,9. Specificfeatures of thegeologic structure Paleozoic rock and Neogene patches are overlaid by Quaternary sediments, which are formed o f various complexes being different in terms o f lithology, genesis and age. Quaternary sediments in the valleys o f Irtysh and Ulba rivers are composed o f alluvial and diluvial 3-3 3. Environmental conditions o fUst-Kamenogorsk area sediments in a form o f deep erosion trench in the Paleozoic basement. Total thickness o f Quaternary sediments reaches up to 20-120 m. Lower part (40-60 m thick) o f Quaternary sediments i s formed o f sand-gravel-pebble sediments with clay inter-layers. Age o f these sediments i s Lower Quaternary. This formation i s overlaid by alluvial sand-gravel horizon o f Middle Quaternary, characterized by less content o f clay and practical absence o f clay inter-layers. Thickness o f Middle Quaternary horizon i s 40-60 m. Lower- Middle Quaternary strata form a single grey-color alluvial complex, being the main aquifer inUst-Kamenogorsk alluvial basin. The alluvial complex i s overlaid with Middle-Upper Quaternary diluvial & proluvial sediments, which thickness i s varying from several meters near the river bottomlands up to 30-40 m strata occurring in the flanges o f the valley. These sediments play a role o f the sedimentary cover that protects sediments o f alluvial aquifer from infiltration o f toxic pollution from the ground surface resultedfrom the activities o f the industrial enterprises and the city population. It i s believed that just minimum 4 m thickness o f the loamy covering layers may provide the effective protection for underlying layers from their pollution. However, the protection efficiency depends not only on the covering layer thickness but depends to a greater degree on the presence o f sandy inter-layers within the covering loamy layers. So, despite good thickness o f loamy layers occurring in the region o f North industrial zone (8 m thick and more), efficiency o f the covering layers protection i s low because of a big number o f sandy inter-layers which are worsening the protective properties, so that this horizon may not prevent pollution penetrating from the industrial sites into ground waters o f the alluvial complex. Infrastructure of Ust-Kamenogorsk city At present Ust-Kamenogorsk city is one of the biggest industrial centers o f nonferrous metallurgy in Kazakhstan. Nonferrous metallurgy and mechanical engineering, which are the most developed industries in this region, have been growing in close cooperation with local facilities o f the electric power industry. The administrative register o f the legal entities operating in Ust-Kamenogorsk includes 6072 commercial enterprises. There are 143 joint-stock companies, 2335 limited liability partnerships, 48 agricultural farms, 1333 trade companies inthe city. 78,7 thousand people are engaged in the operation o f the large-scale and moderate-size enterprises of Ust-Kamenogorsk, including 31,4 thousand people involved in the industrial production, 5,8 thousand people engaged in the construction activity, 16,l thousand people involved in the fields of education and public health services, 9,7 thousand people - in trading activity, 10,3 thousand people - transport and communication services, etc. about 17,7 thousand people are engaged inthe business o f small and medium-size enterprises. Ust-Kamenogorsk i s characterizedby a bignumber o f technogenic pollution sources, such as the industrial enterprises, transport facilities, agricultural farms, gas stations, food industry enterprises and the sector o f private houses. Major environmental impact i s caused by the industrial enterprises and transport facilities o f the city. As for the industrial enterprises, the major pollution sources in Ust-Kamenogorsk are such enterprises as JSC "KazZinc", OJSC Ust-Kamenogorsk Heat Power Plant, JSC UMP, OJSC UK TMC (Fig. 3.1). Ust-Kamenogorsk is one o f the cities characterized by the most adversely impacted environment and the highest concentration o f industrial enterprises causing considerable pollution o f the city environment, as well as a number o f enterprises located inthe immediate proximity to the city. Summary of the city environmental features i s providedbelow. 3-4 m I 0 I 3. Environmental conditions o f Ust-Kamenogorsk area 3.2. AMBIENT AIR CONDITIONS Under conditions of insufficient ambient air ventilation in the city (days with calm weather comprise 48% on average), a big number o f constant pollution sources and transport facilities in the city bring to the unquestionable fact of critical situation with air pollution is Ust-Kamenogorsk. Monitoring o f Ust-Kamenogorsk ambient air pollution i s carried out by East Kazakhstan Hydro-Meteorological Center through involving 5 stationary observation stations and 1 mobile observation station, as well as using the industry-controlled monitoring stations establishedat the industrial enterprises. There are about 170 enterprises in the city that create over 3 thousand constant pollution sources bringing an adverse impact on both biocenoses and the city population. The city enterprises are divided into several categories in terms o f their potential environmental hazard, air pollutants quantities and composition. Six enterprises are placed into the 1'` hazard group, including such industrial giants as Ust-Kamenogorsk JSC "KazZinc" (76,8% o f air pollution) ,Ust-Kamenogorsk Heat Power Plant (12,21?4 o f air pollution), Ust-Kamenogorsk Heating Network (4,91% of air pollution), Sogrunsky Heat Power Plant (4,01% o f air pollution) (Fig. 3.2). Contribution o f small enterprises into the city air pollution i s not big, buttaken altogether, such small enterprises also cause certain impact onthe city environment, Motor transport causes an essential impact to the near-surface air layer of the city, contributing 30% o f the total air pollution. 76,80% 0HPP UMP 0TMP lant USHPP Figure 3.2. Contributiono f enterprises into air pollutioninUst-Kamenogorsk Up to 92 chemical components are emitted by the enterprises of Ust-Kamenogorsk city. In 2004 about 92,2 thousand tons o f air polluting substances were emitted by the industrial enterprises, including 6,206 thousand tons o f solid pollutants and 85,98 thousand tons o f gaseous and liquidpollutants. Figure 3.3 demonstrates the shares o f major air pollutants emitted by the city enterprises. Sulfur dioxide comprises 72,38% o f the overall pollutants. 3-6 3. Environmental conditions o f Ust-Kamenogorsk area Figure 3.3. Shares o f air pollutants emittedbyUst-Kamenogorsk city enterprises In 2004 the average concentrations of air pollutants were as follows: sulfur dioxide - 1,7 MPCaveragedaily, dust - 1,5 MPCavemgedaily, nitrogen dioxide - 1,3 MPCaveragedaily, formaldehyde - 1,1 MPCaveragedaily, chlorine - 1, 0 MPCavemgedaily, lead - 1,o MPCaveragedaily. Average concentration of carbon oxide, phenol and arsenic did not exceed 1,0 MPCaverage dally. Maximum single concentrations o f air pollutants were as follows: sulfur dioxide - 5,7 MPC,, single,phenol-6,9 MPCmax single, nitrogen dioxide - 5 MPCmax single,dust - 5,O MPC,,, single, carbon oxide-2,8 MPC,, slng~e,chlorine - 2,4 MPC,,, single.There were no any registered cases of pollutant concentrations inexcess of 10 MPCmaxsingle The city area located close to the site o f 6, Rabochaya Street i s characterized as the most polluted with all controllable substances. In 2004 the air pollution index (API5) was ranging within 4,5-9,5. Regions o f Zaschita station and 30, Uritsky Street were slightly less polluted areas. Sites o f Novaya Sogra, Silk Factory, Ablaketka village, Airport area were relatively clean parts o f the city. 3.3, SURFACE WATER CONDITIONS Major pollution sources o f Ust-Kamenogorsk surface waters are discharges o f industrial and household sewage into the rivers. Major volumes o f sewage waters are discharged into Ulba river from such enterprises as Sogrinsky Heat Power Plant and Ust-Kamenogorsk Heat Power Plant. Less volumes o f sewage waters are discharged into Ulba river from the state enterprise "Novaya Sogra", JSC UMP, JSC UK TMP, OJSC UK "Heating Network". According to the enterprises' records and reports, in 2004 the total o f 48913 thousand m3/year o f industrial sewage were discharged into Irtysh river, and the total of 66930 thousand m3/year of industrial sewage were discharged into Ulba river. Hence, the total discharge o f pollutants into Ulba river was about 19896 tons, and the total discharge o f pollutants into Irtysh river was 9439 tons. I'f to refer to the enterprises' records and reporting documentation, the aggregate total pollutants discharge from these enterprises did not exceed the discharge volumes which were specified as the limits o f Maximum Permissible Discharge for the mentioned enterprises. Inaddition to that, the smaller enterprises also discharge their industrial sewage into the rivers without having any preliminarily approved limits for volumes o f such sewage discharge. In certain seasons of the year ground waters also become the source of pollution supplied together with water drain into Ulba river. 3-7 3. Environmentalconditions o f Ust-Kamenogorsk area Pursuant to results o f the environmental surveys conducted in 2003-2004 by the order of Ust-Kamenogorsk city administration, conditions o f the surface waters were assessed as follows. Ulba river Stone Pit -the mouth of Makhovka river Within this river section surface waters are already polluted with sewage discharges from the big mining enterprises located upstream of the said area. Within the city boundaries o f Ust- Kamenogorsk, polluted waters of Ulba river are intensivelysupplementedwith waters drained from TMP waste storage dumps. Average integrated index o f water pollution was Zp = 2,2. Concentrations o f T1, Cd and oil products exceeded the limitso f maximum permissible concentration (MPC). The mouth of Makhovka river - the railway bridge This river section is characterized by very high level o f water pollution. During water sampling, concentration of thallium (Tl) was assessed as being6 times higher than the limit o f maximum permissible concentration for surface waters (MPCs,rface water), concentration o f cadmium (Cd) was assessed as being 1,7 times higher than maximum permissible concentration for waters o f fishing industry (MPCfishingindustty), concentration o f vanadium was 10 times higher than the relevant MPCfishingindustry. Mahovka river, Sogra village, etc. are the sources o f pollution impact for this river section. The railway bridge - Ulba river mouth The biggest number o f polluting sources are located within this sector o f Ulba river channel including such polluting sources as the industrial sites o f UK M P JSC KazZinc, JSC UMP, Heat Power Plant, storm water drain and others. Integrated index o f surface waters pollution (Zp) was equal to 4,3. Concentration ofthallium (Tl) was on average 3,2 times higher than the relevant limit o f maximum permissible concentration for surface waters (MPCs,,face water), concentration of cadmium (Cd) was 2,67 times higher than MPCs,,face water,concentration o f lead was 1,2 times higher than MPCs,face water,as well as concentration o f oil products was 1,3 times higher than MPCswfacewater. Irtysh river Strelka (the mouth of Ulba river) - the Pontoon bridge Within the said river sector, a stream o f Ulba river polluted waters inflows into Irtyshriver, resulting in a considerable deterioration o f Irtysh waters quality. Water quality is worsening from the level o f ``increased pollution" to the level o f "high pollution". Polluting substances are delivered into this sector o f Irtyshriver together with a stream o f polluted ground waters from the city o f Ust-Kamenogorsk and together with discharges o f storm water drain system. Here, concentration o f thallium was assessed as being 7,O times higher than MPCsurfacewater, concentration of oil products was 1,46 times higher than MPCsurface water, concentration o f cadmium was 1,06 higher than MPCsuracewater. The Pontoon bridge - Uvarovopassage This river section is the last one located within the territory under study, and this river section i s reflecting the overall impact caused to Irtyshriver by the whole o f Ust-Kamenogorsk city territory. The city's Sewage Treatment Facilities (STF) discharge sewage into this part o f Irtysh river. Since volumes of the current sewage are more than twice bigger than the STF 3-8 3. Environmentalconditions o f Ust-Kamenogorsk area nominal treatment capacity, these treatment facilities fail to ensure a proper treatment o f all sewage volumes. Pollution o f the river waters with groundwater drain was also identified. Within the given sector, the river channel is of rather twisted shape and covered with numerous islands associated with a considerable increase o f the bottom sediments thickness. This insufficient treatment o f supplied sewage is clearly observed 3-5 km downstream o f the Sewage Treatment Facilities, where concentrations o f thallium and oil products exceeded the established limits o f MPCSu,~,,, water,and concentrations o f ammonium ions and nitrites were higher than the limitso f MPCfishingindustry. All these factors lead to classifying the pollution o f this river section as of "high level". Ust-Kamenogorsk Heat Power Plant -Strelka (mouth of Ulba river) This Irtysh river section may be regarded as the river part where water pollutant concentrations are assessed as being within the background limits. At the same time, this river section i s supplied with waters from Ust-Kamenogorsk water storage reservoir, which are still carrying pollutants from Zyryanovsky mining enterprise and Ognevsky mine (additionally contaminated with stable organic pollutants). Contamination with stable organic pollutants i s resulted from the operations o f Ust-Kamenogorsk Condenser Plant, where trichlorbynethyl (THB) (with up to 2,5% o f high-chlorinated bynethyls (PHB) o f chloren type (A-50 and A-60) i s usedas dippingelectric insulating liquid. Surface waters contamination i s also caused by pollutants supplied from the adjacent territories. Sector o f private housing i s predominanting on the river's banks, and its population use the river banks as the place for disposal o f household, construction and other wastes. Based on results o f water sample tests, pollution o f this Irtyshriver sector i s assessed as having the "increased pollution level". Continuous monitoring o f the surface waters pollution is carried out by East Kazakhstan Hydro-Meteorological Center (EK HMC). Water quality in the upper reach o f the river within Ust-Kamenogorsk city area is assessedat the place called as "Stone Pit", located 3 km. upstream o f Sogrinsky industrial complex. Variation o f macro-components composition inthe river waters is predetermined by the seasonal changes. Minimal ion concentration is observed in April - May, i.e. during the springhighwaters. The second minimum o f the river water mineralization i s detected in November-December. Throughout a year term ion concentrations in the waters are fluctuating from 50 up to 250 mg/dm3.Hydro-physical characteristics o f the river waters, such as transparency, chromaticity, temperature, pH, quantity o f suspended matters are subjected to sharp changes. At the same time such river water parameters as content o f oxygen, BOD5 and carbon-dioxide gas were relatively unchangeable throughout a year term. Concentrations o f all nitrogen-containing ions in the river waters were below the limits o f the specified maximum permissible concentrations established for the fishing industry (MPCfishing industry). AS for micro-component concentrations in the river waters, in certain months o f a year term concentrations o f some heavy metals exceeded their relevant MPCfishingindustry as follows: for copper such excess over the limit of MPCfishlngindustrywas 2-6 times, for zinc -3,8-16 times, for beryllium -1-2 times, for manganese -1-2,5 times. Just at the place o f the river stream reaching the city area, in certain months oil products concentrations were 1-1.8 times higher than the limits o f MPCfishingindustry. Other hydro-monitoring station o f East Kazakhstan Hydro-Meteorological Center (EK HMC) i s located just in the city area, at the motor road bridge, 1,45 km upstream o f the mouth o f Ulba river. Changes o f total ion concentrations are of the same character as in the previous river sections, because such changes are basically depending on the seasonal factors. Concentration o f water-dissolved oxygen i s remaining practically the same throughout a year term, however concentration o f carbon dioxide gas i s slightly growing. Chemical oxygen 3-9 3. Environmental conditions o f Ust-Kamenogorsk area demand (COD) i s insignificantly fluctuating within a year term, still being within the same limits, as detected at the previous monitoring station. Concentration of nitrogen ions does not exceed the limit o f MPCfishingindustry. In certain months copper concentration in this river section i s 1-7 times higher than the appropriate limit o f MPCfishingindustry, zinc concentration i s 1-24 times higher than the appropriate limit o f MPCfishingindustry, concentration o f beryllium i s 1-3 times higher than the appropriate limit o f MPCfishingindustry, concentration o f manganese i s 1-3,7 times higher than the appropriate limit O fMPCfishingindustry. In general, concentrations o f practically all water pollutants and values o f other water parameters, characterizing the worsening river water quality, are increasing from the upper to lower river sections. River waters pollution with oil products i s detected at the both monitoring stations. Just immediately in the upper reach o f the river concentrations o f some pollutant are higher than the established limits o f MPCfishingindustrycaused as a result o f sewage drain from Leninogorsk city and agricultural farms situated upstream inthe upper reaches o fUlba river. Results of water pollution sampling at three observations stations were taken into consideration at performing the water quality studies. These stations include the first one located 0,8 km downstream o f the dam of UK Hydroelectric Power Plant, the second observation station was placed 0,5 km downstream of the Condenser Plant and the third hydro-post was located 0,35 km downstream o f the pontoon bridge (i.e. 3,2 km downstream of Ulba and Irtyshrivers junction). Concentrations o f macro-components in the river waters are remaining more or less stable in all seasons o f the year. Increased copper concentration was detected in the river waters (source o f such copper pollution i s the ore mining zone o f Zyryanovsky city). Concentrations o f other analytes were below the specified limits o f MPCfishingindustry. In the middle o f March 2005 LOTUS laboratory (Ust-Kamenogorsk) undertook water sampling inIrtyshand Ulba rivers pursuant to the work order o f CC "NEDRA" LLP. List of analytes included such heavy metals as beryllium, iron, magnesium, manganese, copper, lead, chromium, and zinc. Concentrations o f manganese, copper and zinc in the river waters exceeded the specified MPC limits, established for fishing industry (MPCfishlngindustry). Oil products concentration in the river waters also considerably exceeded the limits of MPCfishingindustry, moreover within the city area oil products concentration in the upstream river section was higher than the oil products concentration, detected in the area o f the river mouth. Similar character of pollution distribution was also observed for zinc concentration in the river waters. Hence, at performing the river waters monitoring it was revealed that metal concentrations are higher in the upstream river section within the city area comparing to metal concentrations detected at Ulba river confluence into Irtysh river. The acquired results showed that the river waters coming into the city were already polluted and underwent certain purification within the city zone. 3.4. GROUND WATER CONDITIONS IN UST-KAMENOGORSK CITYAREA Ust-Kamenogorsk region i s characterizedby the unique groundwater accumulations confined to Quaternary alluvial sedimentary strata, forming Ust-Kamenogorsk alluvial basin. The basin i s composed o f paleo-channel sediments o f Irtyshs and Ulba rivers, retaining hydraulic connection with the waters within the recent river channel sediments o f these rivers and with the surface watercourses. Water-bearing thickness reaches up to 20-120 m. Volume of groundwater static accumulations i s about 5 billion m3.General direction o f groundwater drainage coincides with the direction o f the surface water flows. There i s a hydraulic contact between alluvial aquifer and Ulba and Irtysh rivers. When the rivers water level is low, ground waters are supplemented into the said rivers, however duringthe season o f high waters 3-10 3. Environmental conditions o fUst-Kamenogorsk area in the rivers, the river waters are feeding groundwater bearing horizon. Duringthe autumn season a hydraulic continuum i s practically established between the groundwater table and the river waters. Major part of the natural groundwater resources i s accumulated within the alluvial water bearing horizon due to surface waters absorption from the current river water flows (about 95%). Additional water supply to the aquifer i s providedby water leaks from the city municipal water supply and sewage networks. Based on results o f modeling, the size o f such leaks was assessed o f 17 l/sec per each K M ~ area, which i s equivalent to about 20-25% o f the total volume ofgroundwater intake carried out byVodocanal water supply facilities. According to the information from "VostokKazNedra" Territorial Committee, the following groundwater reserves were explored, estimated and proven within the limits o f Ust- Kamenogorsk alluvial basin: Korshunovsky, Severo-Atamanovsky, Nizhne-Sogrinsky, Atamanovsky, Pionersky, Elevatorny, Topolinny, Levoberezhny, Novo-Ust-Kamenogorsky groundwater deposits. Total useful groundwater resources, proven for A+B+C, categories and approved by the State Committees o f Reserves o f the USSR and the RoK, were equal to 1217,7 thousand m3/day, including 774,9 thousand m3/day o f groundwater resources o f industrial quality. Ground waters o f the explored deposits are characterized by 0,l- 0,6g/l mineralization containing calcium bicarbonate. At the time of groundwater resources exploration, water quality corresponded to the state GOST standard specified for "Drinking Waters". In2004 five groundwater intake facilities have been operating inthe sites with the explored and proven groundwater reserves, including Pioneer intake facility with 34,9 thousand m3/day output capacity, Elevatorny (19,2 thousand m3/day), Severo-Atamanovsky (55,6 thousand m3/day), Novo-Sogrinsky (IO$ thousand m3/day) and Atamanovsky (19,3 thousand m3/day), shown in Fig. 3.1. Total output capacity o f these water-intake facilities was equal to 139,8 thousand m3/day (equivalent to 1618 dm3/sec), inclusive o f 19,3 thousand m3/day (i.e 234 dm3/sec) used for industrial/technical purposes. Novo-Ust-Kamenogorsky groundwater deposit i s not being utilized. In2004 about 15 grouped groundwater intake facilities of various output capacity have been operated in the sites with non-proven water reserves. The biggest o f them were Oktyabrsky (27,3 thousand m3/day), Ablaketsky (2,3 thousand m3/day), Lesozavodsky (7,s thousand m3/day), Microdistrict I11 (3,l thousand m3/day), JSC Adil (1,4 thousand m3/day), Akhmirovsky (6,85 thousand m3/day) and others (Fig.3.1). Total output capacity o f these groundwater intake facilities was around 50 thousand rn3/day (579 dm3/sec), including 47 thousand m3/day (544 dm3/sec) supplied for residential & sanitary use. Major part o f these water intake facilities are not provided with any sanitary buffer zones, and their supplied water quality i s low. For this reason in the 90-ties o f the last century several groundwater intake facilities were abandoned, including those located in Stary Ploschadka district, in the city blocks 19 and 20, the area o f Zaschita district. Waters o f Octyabrsky water intake facilities are under the threat o f beingpolluted beyond the maximumpermissible limits. There i s a significant number o f the groundwater pollution sources located within the territory o f aquifer occurrence. Basically all the pollution sources are caused by the industrial enterprises. At present the industry-runenvironmental monitoring i s carried out practically at all the industrial enterprises, and such monitoring includes investigations o f groundwater conditions. Major groundwater pollution sources and groundwater monitoring results are summarized below. Within UMP tailing dump area, aquifer is polluted with toxic components. Mineralization o f groundwater inthe area o f UMP tailing dump is ranging from 10 up to 48 g/dm3.The overall concentrations o f polluting substances are equal to thousands o f the maximum permissible limits. Concentrations of such polluting substances as dry residue, nitrates, sulfates, 3-11 3. Environmentalconditions o f Ust-Kamenogorsk area ammonium, lead, cadmium, fluorine and lithiumexceeded the concentration limits established for the standards of drinking water quality. Concentration o f beryllium assessed in the environmental monitoring wells in the territory o f the tailing dump were 1,5 higher than the maximum permissible concentration limits (MPC). The integrated pollution indices were estimated as equal to 647 MPC limits for polluting substances o f 1 & 2 hazard classes and equal up to 2624 MPC limits for polluting substances of 3 & 4 hazard classes, total level o f alpha- and beta-radioactivity was up to 1650 and 130 MPCsUrfacewater limits accordingly. Ecological parameters o f ground waters occurring in the area o f the U M P tailing dump were assessed as "dangerous" in terms of their overall pollution level which was considerably exceeding the specified MPCsurfacewater limits. Dry residue, sulfates, ammonium, manganese, beryllium, fluorine, total alpha- and beta- radioactivity pollution were measured inthe environmental monitoringwells at the previously used UMP tailing dump and assessed as exceeding the specified MPC norms. The overall pollution level (measured in a number o f the relevant MPC limits) was up to 76 MPC limits for polluting substances of 1 & 2 hazard classes, and up to 48 MPC limits for polluting substances o f 3 & 4 hazard classes, total level o f alpha-radioactivity was equal to 250 MPC limits. Pollution from the waste dump site of JSC KazZinc. Major groundwater pollutants in this area are cadmium, thallium, zinc, manganese, beryllium, selenium, arsenic, mercury, lead, lithium, ammonium salt. The biggest polluting impact was caused by thallium (39-53%), cadmium (20%), ammonia (6-18 %), manganese (9-13 %). Pollution from the operational premises of JSC KazZinc. Major groundwater pollutants in the area o f the operational premises include cadmium, thallium, zinc, manganese, beryllium, selenium, arsenic, mercury, lead, lithium, ammonium salt. Pollution from the ash disposal dumps of Heat Power Plants 1 and 2. Results o f ground water surveys conducted in 2003-2004 in this site showed that the maximal pollutants concentrations in groundwater occurring inthe area o f the ash dumps (taking into account the background level as well) was 4,6 MPCs,face water limits - for fluorine, 2,29 MPC,,face limits - for manganese, 2,5 MPCs,face limits for nitrates, 3,7 MPCsWace - waterlimits for -water boron. Concentrations o f other polluting components spreading from the ash dump into ground waters were below the MPCsUfacewater limits. Pollution from the waste disposal sites of UK Condenser Plant. The largest toxic wastes disposal site used for disposing trichlorodiphenyl, i.e. the lSt hazard class pollutant i s the waste storage pond at the Condenser Plant. This waste storage pond i s a source of local pollution. Here the polluting elements are thallium (20 MPCsWface water limits), lead (3,3 MPCsurface waterlimits), iron (2 MPCsurface water limits), mineral salts (2 MPCsurace Water limits), sulfates (1 MPCS,,facewater limits).Trichlorodiphenyl, i.e. the major pollutant generated from the waste storage pond, was not subject to metering. Pollutionfrom the solid waste disposal sites of UK TMP and Slurry Pond No.3. UK TMK solid waste disposal facilities are located in two different places including one place used for solid waste disposal (sites No.1 and 2), and the second place used for the slurry pond (site No.3) and disposal facilities for solid chlorine-containing waste. Since there i s no any reliable waterproofing o f the previously usedwaste disposal facilities, chlorine-containing compounds are escaping from the waste disposal site together with atmospheric precipitation. The major polluting substances are chlorides. As for pollutants which concentrations were exceeding the established norms for drinking waters, lead concentrations in ground waters were ranging within 6-57 MPCsurface water limits, cadmium and lithium concentrations were up to 280 MPCsurface water limits, manganese concentration was up to 800-3510 MPCsurface water limits. 3-12 3. Environmental conditions o f Ust-Kamenogorsk area Pollution from the operational premises of JSC UK TMP. Ust-Kamenogorsk Titanium- Magnesium Plant i s located in the northwest part o f the city. Assuming the overall polluting impact o f the operational premises, the waste disposal sites and slurry ponds, groundwater o f the alluvial aquifer within about 3,5 KM* area do not meet the requirements specified to drinkingwater norms. The drainage water-intake facilities used for supplyingtechnical water from the currently operable water wells ensure quite efficient water supply in the controlled mode, thus contributing to limiting and localizing groundwater pollution. These drainage water-intake facilities enable to provide a successful pollution protection o f Novaya Sogra drinking water intake facilities located in the immediate proximity (600 m to the south) as well as to ensure protection for the municipal water intake facilities o f the city located downstream o f the groundwater flow. Inaddition to the pollution sources inthe survey area as mentioned above, there is a number o f smaller pollution sources caused by the ash disposal site No. 1 o f Sogrinsky Heat Power Plant, waste disposal dumps o f City Municipal Utility Enterprise "GorComChoz", operational premises o f OJSC "Adil", the solid waste disposal site, the city water treatment installations, the previously used storage o f mineral fertilizers and pesticides, storm drain storage pond o f Silk Factory, Ust-Kamenogorsk Condenser Plant. Furthermore, there are areas in the city where ground waters are polluted from the outskirts housing blocks which are not outfitted with the sewage drain system and lead therefore to a significant pollution o f ground waters with nitrogen-containing substances. Fig.3.4 and 3.5 illustrate the areas o f ground water pollution with 1" hazard class substances (Tl, Be, Hg), 2ndhazard class substances (Se, Cd, Sr, Co, B, Li), 3rdhazard class substances (Mn,V, Ni,Cr'6) and4th hazardclass substances.As clearly seen inthe saidFig. 3.4 and 3.5, ground waters occurring between Ulba and Irtysh rivers are characterized by significantly large areas o fpollution. Ground waters o f the right bank o f Irtyshriver occurring downstream of the junction o f Irtysh and Ulba rivers are practically deprived o f any volumes o f good- quality groundwater, as pollution level o f these ground waters i s assessed as "high" (3-10 MPC,,,face waterlimits) and "extremely high" (10-100 MPCS,,face waterlimits) in terms of pollutants concentrations o f the 1'` and 2ndhazard classes. Regular monitoring o f the city ground waters radiation pollution was started after the introduction and implementation o f the Sanitary Regulations and Norms SanR&N 3.01.067- 97, specifying a maximum allowable limit for total a-radioactivity (0,l Bq/l) and a maximum allowable limit for total P-radioactivity (1,O Bq/l), deemed acceptable to ensure the radiation safety o f drinking waters. According to the results o f laboratory sample analyses accomplished in 2003-2004, pollution level o f groundwater radiation in the central and western parts o f Ust-Kamenogorsk city was characterized by the values which exceeded maximum permissible limits specified for a- and P-radioactivity (Fig.3.6) The adverse ground waters radiation pollution was identified within the zone o f impact caused by the U M P (Ulba Metallurgical Plant) operational premises and the neighboringtailing dumps. According to the results o f analyses accomplished in 2004, total a-radioactivity level o f ground waters occurring in the close vicinity to the pollution sources, was 16 - 80 times higher than the norms specified for drinking waters, total P-radioactivity level was up to 6 times higher as against the norms specified for drinking waters. The water intake facilities belonging to the Airport, the Factory o f construction materials, as well as "Altay geologist" water intake facilities, etc. and a big number o f groundwater wells, aimed for personal use, are located in the area where ground waters are assessed as being adversely polluted with radioactive elements (downstream o f the groundwater flow). As per the results o f sampling undertaken in 2004, the total a-radioactivity level o f ground waters was 2-4 times higher than the Maximum Permissible. Concentration (MPC) limits specified for drinking waters, and total 0-radioactivity level o f the ground waters was within the limits o f MPC norms specified for 3-13 3. Environmental conditions o f Ust-Kamenogorsk area drinking waters. Taking into account the specific character of the production operations of JSC UMP, total a-radioactivity pollution o f ground waters was probably caused by the occurrence o f natural uranium, so that uranium concentrations in ground waters were lower than the permissible sanitary-toxicological limit o f 1,8 mg/ 1. The city's major water intake facilities used to ensure water supply for residential & sanitary purposes are included into the program o f the state ground waters monitoring, being focused on the control upon the water pollutants concentrations. As per the monitoring results, several aspects were identified as follows. As of the beginning of 2005, ground waters insuch major water intake facilities ofthe city, as Nizhne-Sogrinsky, Octyabrsky, Novo-Sogrinsky, Severo-Atamanovsky, Pionersky, Lesozavodskoy, Elevatorny, Ablaketsky (Table 3.1) may be recognized as o f satisfactory quality (i.e. concentrations of controllable pollutants did not exceed the limit of MPC,,race water , and the aggregate of pollutants concentrations measured in a number of the specified MPCSurace waterlimits, did not exceed 3 MPC,,,faCe waterlimits, what corresponded to the permissible and moderate degree o f pollution). However, constant use o f waters with a moderate degree o f pollution adversely affects the population health, resultinginthe revealed intoxication symptoms. Concentrations o f certain controllable pollutants in ground waters of the intake facilities subjected to polluting impact o f the city's North Industrial Zone, periodically exceed the established MPC,,faCe waterlimits, and the aggregate pollutants concentration is constantly exceeding the MPCsurface water limit, being equal to 6 or more MPCs,,face Water limits, which was assessed as moderate and high degree o f water pollution (such as "Altay geologist" groundwater intake facilities located outside the western part o f the surveyed area, and such as the intake facilities o f the Airport and Microdistrict 111). Ground waters o f these water intake facilities are not fit for drinkingpurposes. So far, radiation pollution o f the water intake facilities used for the municipal residential & sanitary water supply i s remaining satisfactory. It is necessary to note that in 2004 about 185,O thousand m3/day of water were supplied to meet the residential & sanitary needs o f over 305 thousand people. Water supply of 5,4 thousand m3/day(2,9%) o f unsatisfactory quality was provided to 23,770 people (7,8%), and such groundwater was taken from small intake facilities (Microdistrict 111, the Airport facilities, "Altay geologist", Opytnoye field) as well as from the private water wells (in Menovoye and Stepnoye villages, close to Zaschita station). Thus, so far some water intake facilities o f the city provide clean water o f drinking quality, however there i s a certain probability o f their quality deterioration in the near future because o f the fact that these water wells are located on the way o f the pollution migration along the aquifer. Inspite ofthe fact that quantities ofnatural groundwater resources are significant in Ust-Kamenogorsk area, such ground waters are becoming less fit for satisfying drinking water needs o f certain parts o f the city because o f their highpollution. There is an urgent need o f undertaking cardinal remediation measures with the purpose to prevent pollution spread throughout the aquifer. 3-14 P If I C 3. Environmentalconditions o f Ust-Kamenogorsk area Table 3.1 Quality characteristic of ground waters in major water-intake facilities of Ust-Kamenogorsk Water-intake Symbol Summary pollution factor, (ref. No. on the map) calculated in numbers of MPC limits; Fig. 3.1 Major pollutants, (pollution degree) Pollutants of 1 & 2 class Pollutants of 3 & 4 class hazard hazard 2002-2004 2002-2004 Altaisky geologist, No1 I * I2,4-12,9; Cd, TI, B, Pb (2-4) 13,3-4,7; NO3,SO4(2-3) I Airport, No2 * 1,7-5,9; Cd, Pb, Ba (2,3) 2,4-2,6; NO3,SO4(2) 111 Microrayon, KSM, No3 d 3,2-5,4; TI, Cd, Pb, Ba (3) 2,7-3,7; NO3,SO4(2) I Octyabrsky, No19 I g 11,3-2,6; Cd, Pb (2) 10,4-0,9; No3 (1) I Nizhne-Sogrinsky, No27 a 0,5-1; Cd (1) 0,3-0,4; NO3(1) Novo-Sogrinsky, No31 k 0,9-1,3; Cd (1-2) 0,4-0,9; NO3,Fe (1) Severo-Atamanovsky, No32 b 0,251; Cd (1) 0,3-03; NO3,SO4(1) I Pionersky, No39 I c 10,3-1,2; Cd (1-2) I0,3-1,34; Mn, NO3(1-2) I Lesozavod, No54 f 0,4-1,1; Cd (1-2) 0,4-1,57; Mn, NO3(1-2) Elevatorny, No55 c 0,5-1,5; Cd (1-2) 0,5-1,2; NO3,SO4,Mn (1-2) IAblaketsky, No57 I h I0,2-1; Cd, Pb (1) 10,2-0,5; NO3,Fe (1) I * - water intakefacilities located outside the western boundary of the city 3.5. CONDITIONS OF THE CITY SOILS The industrial giants o f non-ferrous and ferrous metallurgy, nuclear industry, heat & power engineering are locatedjust within the residential areas o f Ust-Kamenogorsk and cause strong adverse impact on the city soils. Such soils impact i s resulted from ambient air pollution with heavy metals which subsequently fall-out on the city soils, that are the major depository element o f the environment. Soils pollution with heavy metals o f certain intensity was detected in all parts o f the city - on the area o f more than 200 sq. km. Now soils are regarded as the areal source o f secondary contamination with heavy metals that might cause an adverse impact to the contacting elements o f the environment. Summary o f the soils environmental surveys earlier accomplished inUst-Kamenogorsk city i s providedhereunder. Inthe beginningo f 90-ties o f the last century sampling was carried out in the area of Altay Hydro-Geological Expedition, and in 2000 JSC Institute of Geologic Sciences performed the laboratory sample analyses and accomplished the report preparation. The areal distribution o f soils pollution with heavy metals i s characterized by a well-defined zoning, expressed in reducing range o f toxicants and decrease o f toxicant concentrations versus the increasing distance from the major pollution sources. Soils pollution within the city territory i s configured into concentric-zonal shape. The zone with ZC> 128 i s characteristic for the industrial sites o f OJSC "KazZinc", JSC UMP and UK Heat Power Plant as well as for the adjacent territories. In these areas the average value o f integrated contamination index Zc i s 1534 times bigger than the background concentration value. Range o f heavy metals i s wide enough and includes the following elements ranged based on their relevant K,values: 3-18 3. Environmental conditions o f Ust-Kamenogorsk area Sb624,Pb406,Ag"', Asloo,Cd62,Zn49,C U ~Sn3*, ~ , Bi2',Hg8,Mo3,Ba3 (Kc- is the ratio of actual and background concentrations of each polluting element, Zc- is the integrated index showing the total sum of abnormally sincreased concentrations of polluting elements versus the background concentrations) As per snow sampling results, beryllium was additionally detected amongst the area pollutants. Total area o f this zone i s 7.38 sq. km. Soil contamination intensity eas definedas extremely hazardous. The Zone with ZC = 32 - 128. The area characterized by the specified level o f soils contamination i s of complicated shape being close to an oval stretched in the north-west direction of the prevailing winds. The area includes housing blocks, which surround the industrial sites o f OJSC "KazZinc" and UK Machinery Plant lovated at 2.5-5 km distance (housing blocks are located in Lenin Avenue, Bazhova Street, at Zachita station, Melzavod, Shmelev Log, and include a part o f Krasina village, blocks o f many-storied buildingsnear the ash disposal sites o f UK Heat Power Plant, etc.) Practically the full range o f major polluting elements, typical for this zone, was identified in soils of this zone and assessed in anomalously high concentrations (ZC > 128). However, their average concentrations were the order-lower: for lead - 25 times lower, for antimony - more than 200 times lower, for silver 23 times lower, etc. The integrated sum o f toxicants - concentrations ZC was 28 times lower that the anomalously high integrated concentrations. Associative range o f heavy metals distributioni s as follows: PbI6,Hgl5,Cd11,Zn8, Ag8,Cu3, Sb3,Sn2 Same as in the zone with (ZC > 128) predominant pollutants include the toxicants o f the 1st hazard class, such as lead, mercury, cadmium and zinc, appropriately placed inthe left part o f the associative range of heavy metals group. Arsenic, bismuth,berylliumand zirconium were additionally identifiedinsolid snow residue. Total area o f this zone i s 22.92 sq. km. Soils Contamination with heavy metals was assessed as corresponding to a high level o f hazard. Zone with (ZC= 16 - 32). This zone i s shaped in a form o f the swath beingfrom 1 to 4 km wide. It is surrounding the territory of the zone with (ZC = 32 - 128) and includes narrow plumsmapped inthe north-east of the survey area (i.e. Sogrinsly plumdetected inUlba river valley) and the plums inthe north-west part close to the Airport area. Most o f housing blocks in the regional center o f Ust-Kamenogorsk are contaminated with pollutants which concentrations are ranging within the above specified limits: many-storied buildingsadjacent to the Ust-Kamenogorsk railway station; Palace o f Sports, Ushanova square; Prombaza as well as including the private housing sector in Stary Podhoz village; and partially - in Staraya Sogra, Krasina settlement, Staraya Zachita, KSM, Airport, etc. Composition range o f heavy metals detected in soils o f this zone (ZC = 16 - 32) i s somewhat narrower comparing to the zones described above, however heavy metals o f the 1st class o f hazardremain to be predominant pollutants inthis area: Hg8,Pb7,Zn5,Ag4,Cu2, Sn2 ZCaverage =23 (inthe city) Polluting components detected in Sogrinsky pollution plum are remaining within the same composition, retaining the same prevailing character and concentrations, thus testifying to their emission from the same pollution source: Hg8,Pb7,Zn3,Ag3,Cu2, Sn2 ZCaverage =20 3-19 3. Environmental conditions o f Ust-Kamenogorsk area The results o f snow cover sampling within the described zone are very much indicative. Antimony, cadmium, bismuth, arsenic were additionally identified in atmospheric precipitation together with a wide range o f the toxicants typical for rare-metals industrial production (Ulbinsky Metallurgical Plant), including such elements as zirconium, niobium and beryllium,which concentrations were assessed at the level o f 2 4 higher than the relevant soils background concentration limits. Titanium and vanadium were identified within Sogrinskiy pollution plumnear the Titanium-Magnesium Plant. Soils contamination within the described zone corresponds to a moderate level o f hazard [20]. Area o f contamination i s 47.91 sq. km. Zone with (ZC= 4 - 16). The specified pollutant concentrations are most typical for the zones o f remote suburbs, surrounding the city from the north, east and north-west. Most part o f this area i s devoid o f inhabitants. Among the housing blocks o f the regional center, such contamination o f a relatively low level i s typical to the most comfortable part o f the city ("Strelka", the embankment o f Irtyshriver). Similar situation was detected in Ablaketka area and inthe housingblock adjacent to Ust-Kamenogorsk Hydroelectric Power Station Associative range o f heavy metals distributionwas as follows: Pb4,Zn3,Ag`, Cu', Hg'. The average value is ZC= 9, i.e. the integrated pollutant concentration is 9 times higher than the value o f the relevant backgroundpollution concentration limit. Based on snow sampling results, transgression impact from such elements as Cd, Sb, Sn, Bi, As, Nb, Zr was additionally revealed. Soils contamination with pollutants, which concentrations are 16 times higher than the background value o f such pollutants concentrations, i s regarded as admissible [Methodological Guidelines on soils chemical pollution assessment, Moscow, 19871. Assuming the specific features o fthe regional center area, where the toxicants of the 1st class o f hazard are prevailing (lead, zinc, mercury), as well as the transgress impact from arsenic and cadmium, a "permissible" contamination is divided into two ranges, including the range for average pollution level (Zc = 4 - 16) and the range for moderate pollution level (ZC = 2 - 3). So, the area of 166.47 sq. km in Ust-Kamenogorsk city i s characterized by medium soils contamination (4-1 6 times higher than the background concentration level). Zone with (Zc = 2 - 3) i s outlined in a form o f separate spots located in the northernpart o f the survey area, covering mainly the left bank o f Irtyshriver. These areas coincide with the crop-lands and probably this fact led to decreased pollution concentrations in the top soil (0 - 5) layer, which was sampled at performing the environmental and geochemical surveys. Inthiszone only leadwas identifiedinthe increased concentration equalto 2 regionalClarks. As per snow sampling results, such pollutants as Ag, Cd, Zn, Cu, Hg, Bi, Sn, Nb, Zr. Zpwere detected in the atmospheric precipitation in addition to the detected lead. The area, characterized by the specified level of soils contamination, i s equal to 19.32 sq. km. Hence, pursuant to the results o f the environmental-geochemical surveys accomplished inthe beginning o f the 90-ties o f the last century within Ust-Kamenogorsk city and its outskirts, there were no any detected areas with the background level o f pollutant concentrations. As a result o f over fifty-year operations o f two large industrial enterprises, a technogenic areal anomaly was formed in Ust-Kamenogorsk city, being characterized by high heavy metal concentrations in soils. Soils pollution, caused by small spotted pollution sources including the heat power installations and motor transport facilities, is shaded by the strong impact made by the above specified industrial facilities. So small spotted pollution sources were therefore inaccessible for their pollution interpretation. 3-20 3. Environmental conditions o f Ust-Kamenogorsk area In 2004 Altay Branch of the Institute of Geological Sciences named after K.I. Satpaev performed the controlling soils sampling in the regional center o f Ust-Kamenogorsk city, such sampling program comprised o f 802 soil samples in total. These investigations were accomplished within the program "Environmental surveys o f soils contamination in Ust-Kamenogorsk area" focused on analyzing the distribution regularity o f integrated heavy metals concentrations and their vertical migration invarious surface terrain conditions. Comparative analysis showed that by the year o f 2004 the previously revealed technogenic anomaly retained its general morphologic, structural and genetic properties. Same as in the beginning o f the 90-ties o f the last century, the soils contamination within the city temtory was shaped in concentric oval zones, affected by the inversion air flows along the valley of Irtysh and Ulba rivers. Heavy metal concentrations and number of polluting metals were detected to be gradually reducing versus the growing distance from the major pollution source. Irtyshriver retained its function o f a thermal-hydrodynamic bamer, hindering from pollution spread from the North IndustrialZone to the left side o f the river valley. Residential areas close to the sites o f Silk Factory (SF), Strelka, IrtyshQuay and Novaya Sogra remained to be relatively environmentally sound. As for polluting elements detected in the zones of adverse environmental impact, the list of pollutants as well as the range o f prevailing major pollutants (Pb, Sb, Cd, Ag) remained practically unchanged, and it remained the same as before for the left part of the associative range of toxicants distribution. There were several new polluting elements newly detected incertain zones, such as Bi, P - detected inthe zone o fhighhazard, Cd-detected inthe zone o f moderate hazard, etc. When assessing quantitative parameters o f the area o f technogenic impact, there was revealed a tendency o fthe pollution level increase, leading to worsening o f soils pollution category, the increase o f Zc values and growth o f heavy metals concentrations. Areas characterized by hazardous and extremely hazardous contamination became more than twice larger, and average Pb concentrations increased by 10 - 34% in the said zones, leading to 1034 ton increase inPb quantity occurring inthe soils layer o f 0-5 cm thickness. Hence, all major environmental elements o f the city area were seriously changed owing to long-lasting adverse impact upon the elements o f the city environment caused by the city enterprises. All components o f the environment within the surveyed area (over 260 km2), including the residential & the industrial zones, the nearest outskirts and the city suburbs, were found to be polluted with heavy metals. 3-21 4. Basic technical solutions of feasibilitiy study 4. BASIC TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS OF FEASlBlLTlY STUDY As stated above, ground waters o f the main aquifer in Ust-Kamenogorsk city are greatly contaminated. Especially strong contamination o f groundwater was observed in the western part o f the city. Some water intake facilities designed for drinking purposes have been abandoned at the mentioned place. Water intake facility located in I11Microrayon i s at the stage o f being closed. Drinking water from Oktyabrskiy water intake facility, situated westward o f Ulba and Irtyshrivers, i s under the threat o f becoming non-conformable to the standards o f drinking water quality. Contamination o f ground water gained a regional character. Currently, only ground waters of the river bank territories remain clean (i.e. meet the standards of drinking water quality). Certain industry-controlled water intake facilities o f industrial plants, maintained with the purpose to intercept polluted waters, formed within the Central Industrial Complex, are not capable o f providing a fully resisting barrier to contaminated ground waters progressing to south and south-west. It i s required to take more thoroughgoing measures for the ground waters remediation. This Feasibility Study proposes to conduct remediation measures on ground waters treatment in a form o f two groups. The purpose of the first group of measures is to prevent further infiltration of contamination from the slurry ponds into the subsurface horizons, and the second group o f measures i s aimed at intercepting the contaminated ground waters by usinga hydraulic barrier, then to perform ground waters treatment and injection into the aquifer at the location upstream o f the Central Industrial Complex. In this case it will be required to liquidate any leakages from the industrial facilities, which i s to be undertaken by the enterprises themselves. The required measures on improving the situation with ground waters in the city o f Ust-Kamenogorsk are grouped into 3 classes: 0 measures at the industrial sites o f highpriority; 0 measures at the industrial sites o f minor priority; 0 measures inthe areas o f the municipal facilities. This classification does not imply that the environmental hazards of the "minor priority" objects are negligible and could be postponed for too long. But i s does mean that, given the limited funding available, these funds should be used for performing the high-priority activities first where the most pressingproblems must be solved. This Feasibility Study concentrates on the first group o f measures, i.e. at the sites o f high priority. The strongest contamination o f ground waters i s localized in the area o f KazZinc Industrial Complex - U M P - UHPP. Flow o f contaminated ground waters spreads towards the major water-supply sources o f Ust-Kamenogorsk city. It i s requiredto prevent spread o f ground waters contamination downstream o f the water intake facilities through the liquidation of the following main sources o f ground waters contamination: 0 uranium slurry pond o fUMP-6; 0 "new slurry" terricone No. 6 KazZinc (State-owned facilities); 0 slurry reservoir o f the Condenser Plant; 0 removal o f leakages, if any, within the territory o f KazZinc, UMP, UKHPP premises. List o f the main (alternative) cardinal measures on the leaks removal or the impact mitigation i s as follows: 4-1 4. Basic technical solutions o f feasibilitiy study 0 relocation o f contamination sources to better suited sites; 0 covering o f dumps to minimize leakage through the sedimentary thickness; 0 wastes immobilization aiming to minimize leaching o f hazardous substances from wastes; 0 removal o f contaminated soil and formations o f aquifer; 0 repair o f processing equipmentwith leakages; 0 minimization o f wastes toxicity prior to storing. More realistic way to reduce infiltration o f contamination into the aquifer under prevailing conditions (according to FS developers) might be a creation o f covering systems (Store and Release Cover), which may serve as a barrier preventing filtered atmospheric precipitation from further penetration. SRC-systems are based on the principle o f "storage and evaporation", i.e. exclusion o f infiltration into the aquifer by making a storage layer o f certain thickness. The said layer can restrain penetrated atmospheric precipitations o f wet seasonuntil a dry season, when the accumulated moisture from SRC system i s evaporated. Moreover, evaporation process, root system o f vegetation, which are slated to be planted along the surface o f the covering, will fortify the consumption o f moisture accumulated in SRC system. According to FS developers' experience, brown loam i s suitable for overlapping, and the mentioned loam i s abundant in the region o f Ust-Kamenogorsk. Usable water capacity o f this loam i s estimated at about 10%. At such water capacity, loam thickness o f about 250 cm seems appropriate. Final landscape designwill consist o f grass sowing on the entire area o f settling vessel as well as in planting o f about 10 softwoods aiming to fortify process o f water evaporation, which accumulates in the center o f the reservoir, and to minimize volume o f water, which needs to be collected and processed. Guarantee period o f such covering i s almost 200 years. As stated above, second group o f remediation measures is intendedto intercept contamination through making a hydraulic barrier, to purify and inject treated waters into the aquifer upstream o f the Central Industrial Complex. Hydraulic practice has several approaches on ground waters interception. Characteristic o f the said approaches i s detailed inTable 4.1. Removal o f contaminated soil might be includedinto this category of the aquifer treatment. Two last options deemed to be as the most suitable from this list o f ground waters treatment measures. The idea o f ground waters pump-out and treatment leads to the arrangement that the contaminated ground waters are to be withdrawn from the aquifer and subjected to treatment. Next, purifiedwater i s either discharged into the river or pumped into the aquifer upstream o f the Central Industrial Complex, aiming to fortify the dilution process. The repeated infiltration can significantly reduce time and costs requiredfor ground waters remediation. The specified capacity o f ground water intake consumption at the peripheral parts o f the Industrial Complex totals 830-1000 m3/hour. Each well i s able to yield 10 l/sec, it should be noted that the water level lowering in the water intake facility will comprise less than 1 m. Therefore, the well field will consist o f 23 wells, and a distance between water wells will be 150 m, wells' depth will equal to 20-50 m. (dependingon the bedrock occurrence), lengtho f meshfilters will be 10-40m. MmC :: a, a, 4. Basic technical solutions o f feasibilitiy study Total operational capacity o f infiltration water intake facilities i s 830 m3/h. Production capacity o f one well i s 5-6 lisec, number o f wells - 46, distance between the wells- 100 m, wells' depth is 20-50m. Increase of injected wells number comparing with a number of wells within the water intake facilities is conditioned by the fact that, under such conditions it will be minimal raise o f ground waters level at water injectionpoint. Removal of contaminants from drinking water before supplying to central water supply network i s a technically resolvable task. In connection with the fact that ground waters contain great number o f various components, including toxic ones, which significantly threaten the water quality, it i s required to apply multistage treatment. Treatment process i s based on a combination o f physical-chemical and biological stages. Biological treatment i s required for neutralizing nitrates in water. The proposed stations o f ground waters treatment are constructed inthe form o f two linear systems 500 m3/hour each. Untilwater supply system inthe city ofUst-Kamenogorsk is repaired, all purified water from the water treatment unit will be either discharged into Irtysh or Ulba river (since filtration volume from water-distribution system i s enough for diluting contaminated flow of ground waters) or used by any consumers (ifthe consumer for this water volume will be announced). Purified waters will be discharged upon agreement with the environmental authorities, on the basis o f discharge standardization. Inother words, withdrawn waters should be treated to the limitsspecified inthe applicable standards. Developers o f the Feasibility Study reviewed various ways o f groundwater treatment, however preference was given to sedimentation. Ferric chloride (100 g/m3)and lime milk (pH increases up to 10,s) i s used in the water treatment unit as the sedimentation agent. Formed sediments inthe volume of 7,5 t/year are anticipated to be transported to one o f U M P slurry reservoirs. The effectiveness o f the implemented remediation measures will be traced by way of monitoring ground waters in the area o f Industrial Zone, towards Oktyabrskiy and I11 Microrayon water intake facilities, as well as towards Irtysh river. Wells' position should correspondto the expected migration o f ground waters pollutionplum. Monitoring system should be arranged so that all the companies involved into such monitoring should have an access to the monitoring data, and observations should be undertaken according to the joint program usingcertaintechnical means. Based on combination o f the above listed remediation measures, (Table 4.2) Developers o f the Feasibility Study proposed 11 options for ground waters remediation. According to these options future ground waters conditions were forecasted on the basis o f the mathematical simulation. Based on results o f Table 4.2 only options 4, 7, 9 deserve due attention: Option 4 - exclusion o f contamination sources, elimination o f leakages from water supply network, remediation o f water intake facilities as well as the water intake facilities for purified ground waters injection; Option 7 - removal of contamination sources, remediation wells, elimination o f leakages from water supply network. However, treatment processes run slower than inoption4. Option 9 - relocation of Oktyabrskiy water intake facilities to the left bank o f Irtysh river, removal o f contamination sources. 4-4 .* 1 I t + + + LI 0 + c h I .I I 3euum c - I I - Y tn m + + & -I 0 - .-C0 p* I + I I BE - - + + + + - m Q, .-C0 - W a 0 .-c C 0 ._ 0 0" 0" CI .-C .- c 0Q 0" 4. Basic technical solutions o f feasibilitiy study Obligatory condition for ground waters remediation as per all three options (4, 7, 9), being o f interest, appears to be the removal o f contamination sources. Remediation wells are typical for options 4 and 7. The advantage o f such options i s the restriction o f contamination spread along the aquifer. Infiltration wells are envisaged only in Option 4. This option cardinally changes hydrochemical situation for much shorter time, if compared to Option 7, i.e. Option 4 seems to be the most optimal. 4-6 5. Environmentalimpact assessment duringthe progect impelementation 5. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT DURING THE PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION Great positive effect associated with ground waters remediation i s anticipated while implementing technical solutions stipulated inthe Feasibility Study. However, achievement o f this effect i s linked with some slight negative impacts upon environmental components, for example, during objects construction. Option enabling to optimally solve problem on ground water remediation will require construction o f remediation and infiltration water intake facilities (Table 4.2), plant for extracted ground water purification, the said option will as well stipulate overlapping o f tailings storages, ash-disposal areas. Therefore, construction stage will be formed as follows: Overlapping of tailings storages and ash-disposal areas, Wells drilling 0 Pipelining, construction o f purificationplant for ground waters. Construction o fpurification plant for ground water. Maintenance stage includes: Ground water withdrawal /injection, 0 Ground water purification, Discharge of purifiedwaters into the river (provisional arrangements), 0 Storage o f wastes o f purification. At the stage of the Feasibility Study development, the FS section of Pre-EIA summarized the impact factors upon the environmental components, and provides only with qualitative characteristics o f impact level. At the subsequent design stage it is planned to provide with detailed qualitative assessment o f impact upon environmental components, which might be caused as a result o f construction operations while building remediation facilities for ground waters. 5.1, IMPACT UPON THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENTS DURING THE FACILITIES' CONSTRUCTION Impact on ambient air Emissions caused by internal combustion engines of the equipment, which serve the well at construction stage, and by dusting o f well site surface will be discharged into atmosphere in the course of wells construction. It must be noted that emissions into atmosphere will be minimal. Owing to the fact that wells will be drilled in the city, drilling equipment will operate on electric power, inother words, no emissions into atmosphere will be made. The same will be true duringconstruction o f water-pipe trenches (construction o f the conduit) -pollutants' emissionswillbeminimal. Period o f purification plant construction includes those works, during which contaminants' emission into atmosphere is anticipated. Main impact factors upon ambient air will be: leveling of the site, access road construction; excavation for foundation; soil loading into dump-trucks and transportation; operation of internal combustion engines o f the main equipment and mechanisms; transportation, unloading and storage of inert materials and cement; transportation and supply of inert materials and cement into drilling rig bowl; weldingoperations; cutting o f reinforcement; productiono f casing; standby diesel-generator. 5-1 5. Environmental impact assessment during the progect impelementation Level of impact upon ambient air of the adjacent urban areas during overlapping of slurry reservoirs and ash-disposal areas arouses special interest, since excavationworks (contouring, leveling, final covering, building and development of hydrotechnics) are accompanied with dusting o f movable stored wastes and emission of exhaust gas released by the internal combustion engine. Overlapping is plannedto be undertakenat the following objects: 0 cone-shapeddump No.6 of KazZinc; 0 dump 6 of UMP; 0 slurry reservoir of Condenser Plant 0 ash disposal site 1of UHPP; 0 ash disposal sites 2a and 2b of UHPP; 0 TMPdump; 0 dump of the experimental Lead-Zinc Plant; 0 dump of Sogrinski Heat & Power Plant; Process o f covering these waste storage reservoirs slightly differs, however common features of such covering are as follows: relocation of the material, contouring, extraction and filling of the material, delivery and unload of the loam, compressingof under layers, construction of drainage channels. It is expectedto employ special equipment at dumps and slurry reservoirs, suchas: bulldozers, excavators, ditch diggers, truck cranes, self-dumping vehicles. During restoration of all dumps and slurry reservoir, gross pollutant emissions into atmosphere will total 296,6385 t of contaminants, including 119,2178 t of harmfbl agents, 177,32068 t of gaseous polluting components. Contribution share of each contaminating agent into total volume of gross emissions during dumps' restoration is provided in Figure 5.1. 34,98 % 0319% 17,55% I I 4,89% 5,32% 25,00% Zinc oxide 0Arsenic anhydride Sulfurous i lCarbonoxide, nTnnmDn;r Cupric sulphide.7n-m% rlllat c ; ~ ? Figure 5.1 Pollutant emissions (%) into atmosphereduring restoration at dumps and slurry storage reservoirs of Ust-Kamenogorsk city 5-2 5. Environmental impact assessmentduring the progect impelementation Forecasting o f atmospheric contamination (calculation o f pollutant ground level concentration) is carried out according to software system "Era", version 1.6, which was developed by "Logos-Plus'' firm, Novosibirsk, and approved with the Main State HydrometeorologicalObservatory named after A.I. Voyekov No.998/25 dated 30.04.99 o f the RoKMinistryo fNatural Resources and Environment Protection. "Procedure on calculation of contaminants' concentration (in ambient air), which are contained inthe emissions caused by plants" hadbeen implementedincalculations WRD 211.2.01.01-97 (IRD-86). According to calculations, the expected maximum ground level concentrations o f all analyzing ingredients at the border o f residential area won't exceed quality criterion for ambient air, specified for populated area, air condition in the area o f projected site location will be changedwithin specified limits. Impact on surface and ground waters No impact will be caused upon surface waters, since there are no any surface waters within the area o f objects construction. Main impact factor upon ground waters while constructing the aforesaid objects might be penetration o f contaminants (chemical reagents) into the aquifer, which are contained in drilling fluid. However, geologic profile and wells' depths indicate that in the course of drilling fluids preparation, no any chemical agents will be used. Therefore, one shouldn't expect any impact upon ground waters. Construction works on overlapping o f slurry reservoirs, ash-disposal areas won't cause any impact on ground waters inplace o f their location, impact factors are not observed. Land withdrawal, soil impact Construction o f wells (wells drilling), pipelines, plant for ground water treatment will be associated with withdrawal o f urban lands inclusive o f the permanent land allocation for placing the wells and treatment plants and land location for the temporary use will be done during the water pipeline construction. Land withdrawal procedure within the limits o f the city i s stipulated inthe relevant legislative documents. Line o f remediation and infiltration wells will be located along the periphery o f the industrial complex; where land territories are available, i.e. not occupied by private housing sector and industrialbuildings. As a part o f temporary soils withdrawal, certain adverse impact will be caused to soils integrity. It i s planned to reclaim soil incompliance with the relevant regulatory documents. Land will also be withdrawn for the construction o f ground water treatment facilities, which will be located west o f the industrial complex. Here land areas are available for the construction o f the mentioned facilities. When construction works are completed, the territory o f the treatment facilities construction should be cleaned o f the construction waste and reclaimed. No any additional land withdrawal is envisaged during operations o f covering the slurry storage reservoirs and ash disposal sites. Works on covering these objects will be aimed at improvement o f the soil-vegetation layer o f slurry storage reservoirs' surface. Flora impact There i s a park zone located west o f Central Industrial Complex, where construction o f the ground water treatment facilities i s planned. Land allotment for construction o f the building should be made outside o f this park zone. At the subsequent facilities' design stages it i s requiredto identify character o fvegetation within the construction area. 5-3 I 5. Environmentalimpact assessment duringthe progect impelementation Wastesformation Drillwastes will be formed inthe course ofwells construction. Mainly, drilling wastes would be represented by slurry o f drill cuttings, small amount of waste drilling mud, drilling wastewater. Drilling wastes might be temporarily stored and then transported to the pre- specified place, according to the agreement concluded with organization, which i s capable o f storing these wastes. Duringconstruction of the ground water treatment facility, it is anticipated that construction wastes will be generated, and removal o f such wastes will be agreed upon with the relevant organizations. Maximum annual zinc Forecast Characteristic of the forecast option discharge into the Yeardischarge of maximum basin of lrtysh river, tlyear 1 2 3 4 Inaction, leakages inwater mains are not ' ' Option liquidated 320 Contamination sources are liquidated, Option leakages in water mains are not liquidated 284 In 33 years Contaminationsources are not liquidated, water supply intake in commissioned, 192 In 50 years ~ leakages in water mains are not liquidated. Contaminationsources are liquidated, leakages in water mains are liquidated, Option remediation and infiltration wells are 204 In 43 years commissioned Contamination sources are liquidated, remediationwells are commissioned, , Option leakages in water mains are not liquidated, 84 In 38years infiltrationwells are not commissioned 5-4 5. Environmental impact assessment during the progect impelementation 1 2 3 4 Contamination sources are liquidated, 7.0ption leakages inwater mains are liquidated, remediation wells are commissioned, 220 In 44years infiltration wells are not commissioned Contamination sources are not liquidated, leakages are not liquidated, remediation and 8 option infiltrationwells are not commissioned. 300 In 50years IIOktvbarskiv water intake facility is relocated to . the iefl bank of lrtysh river Contamination sources are liquidated, leakages are liquidated, Oktyabrskiy water Option intake facility is relocated to the lefl bank, 72 In 36 years remediation and infiltration wells don't operate Section 5. Environmental impact assessment duringthe project implementation Figure 5.2. M a p of forecasted ground water level lowering. Forecast option No.4 5-6 5. Environmental impact assessment duringthe progect impelementation Change of ground water quality Principal intention o f this FS i s to work out the program on ground water remediation, Le. to work out the proposals oriented to improvement o f ground water quality. FS analyzes various options o f ground water remediation. These options are characterized by different combination o f remediation actions (Table 4.2). All the options had been implemented on hydrogeological model, including option "inaction", which is based on the fact that contamination sources are not liquidated. The only positive moment, for ground waters, found in this option is presence of leakages from water supply and sewage systems, which are currently observed. These leakages act as dilutant. Meanwhile, pollution keeps on easily spreading along the aquifer. At present, ground waters inthe majority o f the river-bank water intake facilities still remain suitable for drinkingpurposes (contamination i s lower Maximum Permissible Concentrations for drinking waters), however, some day, according to forecast, there won't be any water intake facilities on the left bank which would withdraw water o f good quality. Acting water intake facility Oktyabrskiy, at this option, worsens the rate o f contamination spread along the aquifer. Closure o f Oktyabrskiy water intake facility will enable to reduce hydraulic gradient, and Contamination spreading speed insouth direction. Water intake facility o f I11Microrayon, located inthe west part of the city, i s currently on the verge o f its hydrochemical capacities. Naturally, according to the forecast, it i s abandoned once and for ever. "Inaction" option i s not acceptable, since all water intake facilities along Ulba river and inthe area o f its confluence with Irtysh river should be closed for a long period. Closure of Oktyabrskiy water intake facility will entail reduction o f pollutant transport from Central industrial complex towards the said water intake facility, however, it will cause stronger progression o f contaminants from Central industrial complex inwest direction towards gravel pits on the right coast o fIrtyshriver. Based on the analysis o f forecasting alternatives, it was made a conclusion stating that the most optimal solution o fproblem associated with ground water quality improvement is: 0 unquestionable liquidation o f ground water's contamination sources, 0 implementation o f ground water treatment system (remediation and infiltration water intake facilities), 0 liquidation o f leakages inwater supply and drainage systems. This option o f forecast showed as follows. According to simulation results, for some time, when the above listed technical solutions are implemented, strengthening o f contaminations will be observed in Oktyabrskiy water intake facility, and only after 10-15 years water quality inthis water intake facility will be drastically improved. On the whole, it will take almost 30 years for ground water treatment, as opposed to the option, when infiltration line o f wells i s not envisaged- treatment process inthis option i s extended for 50 years. Implementation o f this option will have positive impact on ground water condition in west part o f the territory. However, even inthis case it won't be possible to improve water quality of I11Microrayon water intake facility. Negativemoment o f the option o f non-infiltration line o f wells i s regional recession o f ground water level, which might lead to the necessity to deepen filters o f exploitation wells o f the municipal single water intake facilities, including Oktyabrskiy. Necessity to discharge withdrawn water into Irtyshriver i s also deemed as negative. Itmustbe noted, that during simulation, migration o f ideal indicators was imitated. Therefore, sorption processes by clayey materials, chemical, biological, radioactive disintegration hadn't 5-7 5. Environmental impact assessment duringthe progect impelementation been taken into account. Whereas the processes o f diffusion, hydrodynamic dispersion, dilution had beentaken into account. Therefore, it should be stated that heavy metals move in nature much slower comparing to those calculated in model. In this connection, forecasting concentrations according to model, are higher than those in nature. However, while modeling, FS developers made attempts to take into accountmoderation factor usingtwo methods-first method stipulates usage o f moderating coefficient according to literature data and the second one stipulates solution o f reverse stationary problem using monitoring investigations data in order to obtain migrational characteristics o f the aquifer. Both methods o f problem solution appeared to be unsuccessful- the obtained model result i s far from real results. Therefore, pursuant to FS, it was made the decision on the necessity to conduct (during a year) monitoring investigations on aquifer's migration characteristics identification. Only when these characteristics are received it will be possible to make the adjustment o f these model solutions. Inspite o f the fact that the obtained forecasting results (exclusively of moderation factor) are more "offensive", these forecasts enable to evaluate tendencies o f change o f ground water quality condition in prospect, based on these model solutions one can make univocal conclusions regarding solution o f the problem associated with supplying the water o f good quality. Impact on soil andjlora Overlapping o f environmental contamination sources will definitely play positive role in remediation o f the environment, including soil. Membrane will allow reducing filtration o f atmospheric precipitations into ground waters, it will protect atmosphere against dusting, increased radiation, keep from contact with harmful agents, while the landscape arrangements (planting o f vegetation) will add not only aesthetic appearance to the territory, but it will as well play positive role inpurifyingair o f the adjacent territory. Emissions into atmosphere will be considerably reduced, and this, in its turn, will greatly slow down further soil pollution through ambient air. Change o f balanced surface o f ground waters might influence on root system o f vegetation. However, natural level o f ground waters in the area o f maximum recession o f level during water withdrawal by remediation water intake facility comprises almost 7-10 m. Recession o f ground water level inthe volume o f 1-2 m no more o f the amplitude o f ground water level seasonal fluctuations. Inother words, root system i s adapted to such level fluctuations o f ground water, and such changes will unlikely have great impact upon vegetation. Impact on geotechnical soil properties (assessment of possible change of territoiy shakability and stability of buildings and structures). Such changes o f level will hardly influence on territory shakability. Increase o f shakability approximately by +1 might be resulted in such case when it would be thinning o f ground waters if these waters will significantly rise. Meanwhile, in this particular case, thinning o f ground waters i s not the subject o f discussion. Ground water level will stay, as before, at considerable depths. As for the changes o f soil bearing capacity, if its water saturation is changed, mainjeopardy will be represented by soil, loams and sandy soil. Rubbly-pebbles and half-rocks don't change bearing capacity incase o f soaking. Situation with level change, to this or other way, in both cases won't entail worsening o f buildings' stability. Value o f ground water level change as a result o f maintenance o f both lines o f wells will be no more o f the value o f natural level fluctuation. It should be noted that 5-8 5. Environmental impact assessment duringthe progect impelementation natural level o f ground water occurs at the depths, which exceeds the capacity o f sealing cover, i.e. it i s set at occurrence depth of loam bottom, and, as a rule, it i s set in gravel - pebbles. In this connection, level recession as a result o f pumping out, won't influence on bearing capacity o f the said soil. Wastes Special attention deserves formation o f great wastes' volumes resulted inwater treatment, the mentioned wastes should be either sent to one o f slurry reservoirs o f UMP, or subject to further processing for extraction o f metals, production o f construction materials, etc. Thus, analyzing the impact upon environmental components it might be stated that both at construction stage, and at the stage o f objects (designed for ground water remediation) maintenance all forecasted negative impact will be o f low intensity (Table 5.2). No any great negative consequences are envisaged for the environment. However, at the same time it i s planned to solve acute problems associated with ground water quality condition. Positive effect as a result of project implementation i s obvious. All these positive moments o f FS implementation will positively influence on population health. The necessity o f FS solutions realization i s dictated by the following circumstances. 0 Inthe nearest future the issue regarding supply with qualitative drinkingwater to Ust-Kamenogorsk city will escalate. 0 Ground waters on the right bank in the nearest 5-15 years will be, as before, polluted even in case o f treatment o f the aquifer through pumping-injection o f ground waters. 0 Contamination o f Oktyabrskiy water intake facility in the nearest future i s inevitable. The effect o f treatment will appear only after 20-25 years. 0 Inthe nearest time one shouldn't expect qualitative ground waters inthe rightbank o f Ulba and Irtyshrivers. 0 Real solution o f the problem regarding qualitative water supply for the forthcoming time appears to be maintenance o f ground water intake facilities located on the left bank o f Irtyshand Ulba rivers. 0 Relocation o f drinking water intake facilities to the left bank doesn't rule out the necessity inremediation water intake facility. Therefore, water supply problem mightbe solved providedthat: 0 Contamination sources are liquidated 0 Ground waters are purified (pumping out or pumping outlinjection) 0 Drinkingwater intake facilities located incentral and western part of the city are relocated to the left bank o f Irtyshriver 0 Water intake facilities located in south-east and eastern part o f the city are involved into water supply process Exclusion o f the measures on pumping out and treatment o f ground waters will entail rapid spread o f contaminants towards Irtyshriver to the zone o f acting Oktyabrskiy water intake facility. Regardless o f the fact that the process o f aquifer remediation will encompass several decades, it is required to start implementation now so that not to dramatize today's situation. 5-9 E 3 I I I I I I l l I I l l E 0 I l l L I I l l I I I I 1 I I I I I I I I I I c) - c m a c a C -mE u 6. Environmental management plan 6. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN This FS i s the environment targeted project, that proposes ways of ground waters remediation in the form of the environmental measures. As mentioned above, FS proposed two main measures aimed at ground waters quality improvement: 0 Covering o f slurry reservoirs for liquidation o f atmospheric precipitation infiltration through the body o f slurry reservoir and contaminants penetration into ground waters (liquidation o f leakages, elimination o f contaminants infiltration within the area o f ground waters pollution sources deemed as obligatory activity, however, this activity i s not a part o f the measures stipulated inthis project), 0 Interceptionof ground waters usingthe remediation water intake facility, purification and injection o f waters upstream o f ground water flow. According to investigations, while implementing FS solutions, resultant impact upon ground waters i s expected to be significantly positive, it should be noted that the impact will be observed on the other environmental components, however, such impact will be slight. Meanwhile, it i s anticipated to undertake complex o f activities directed to reduce impact at the stage o f the facilities' construction and maintenance. 6.1. CONSTRUCTION STAGE As it was previously noted, during the stage of construction of ground waters remediation facilities (construction o f water supply wells and infiltration wells, water pipeline, plant for ground water treatment, covering o f slurry reservoirs and ash-disposal areas), certain adverse impact upon the environmental components may be detected within the operational area. Notably, it will be impact on ambient air, caused by dusting o f stored wastes, excavation, loading, unloading operations. In this connection it i s planned to undertake monitoring o f ambient air. 6.I.1. Monitoring of ambient air The purpose of this monitoring i s to monitor ambient air conditions while performing reclamation works at dumps and slurry reservoirs and after implementation o f the activities stipulated by the project. Main objectives: Quality control o f ambient air at the border of buffer zones o f Cone-shaped dump No.6 o f KazZinc, dump 6 o f UMP, slurry reservoir o f Condenser Plant, ash disposal site No. 1 o f UK HPP, ash-disposal sites 2a, 2b o f UK HPP, TMP dump, dump o f Experimental Lead-Zinc Plant, dump o f SHPP and inthe residential areas closely locatedto these dumps. Monitoring should be carried out in compliance with the "Instruction on atmospheric contamination control" WD 52.04.186-89 and "Standard rules for arrangement and conduction o f the industrial environmental monitoring", approved by the Ministry o f Natural Resources and Environment Protection No.2 15-Il dated 16.08.1999, According to RoK Law "On Environment Protection" as o f 15.07.1997 and clauses 21,22,23 o f RoK Law On Ambient Air Protection" as o f 23.03.2002, all enterprises, which operate in " the city o f Ust-Kamenogorsk and have sources o f contaminants' emissions, should carry out industrialmonitoring o f ambient air. 6-1 6. Environmentalmanagementplan Monitoring o f ambient air includes as follows: monitoring o f ambient air quality at the border o f buffer zones o f plants and control o f contaminants' emissions in accordance with the approved projects o f standards for maximum permissible emissions. As a part o f this work, due to the fact that in the course of dumps and slurry reservoirs reclamation all sources o f contaminants' emission are fugitive, it i s slated to undertake monitoring only at the adjacent territories: at the border o f buffer zones and in the nearest residential zones. While undertaking monitoring o f ambient air during reclamation works it i s expected to obtain information on near-surface air layer concentrations o f contaminants in ambient air. Ambient air quality will be monitored for ingredients, acting as the main contaminants during works performance. The following substances relate to main contaminants: inorganic dust with silicon content 20 to 70%, carbonic oxide, nitrogendioxide, sulphur dioxide, lead and its inorganic compounds. Industrial monitoring o f ambient air i s required to be carried out on a contractual basis with the certified laboratories o fplants (lead-zinc plant, UHPP and others). Values o f measurement results obtained in-situ are compared with maximum single permissible concentrations (MPCm.s.) or with tentative safe exposure level (TSEL) for populated areas, as per the lists o f RoK 3.02.036.99 and RoK 3.02.037.99 and additionally with the values o f near-surface air layer concentrations, which are obtained by using an approach o f the mathematical simulation, provided insection 5.4. As required, near-surface air layer concentrations will be monitored in working area, and criterion for ambient air assessment will be maximum permissible concentrations for working area, adopted according to GOST (state standard) 12.1.005-88 "General sanitary-hygienic requirements to air o f working area". Should the concentrations o f this or another components be increased it i s expected to use personal protective equipment (e.g., respirators with relevant filter for protectionagainst dust, gloves). Peculiar feature, while measuring atmospheric contamination at the border o f the buffer zone, i s a continuous or periodic variation o f wind direction, almost 40-500, in this connection, in order to get reliable data on air pollution, sampling should be undertaken according to the fan system-simultaneously in3 points from leeward side and in 1point from windward side. Inresidential zone measurements will be undertaken inone -two points taking into account wind directionand impact o f the main contamination sources. Duration o f air sampling, which i s intended to define single concentrations o f contaminants, will total 20-30 minutes. Some 3 samples will be collected during one sampling cycle ineach point. Sampling will be performed at height o f 1,8-2,0 m above the ground surface. Monitoring frequency of near-surface air layer concentrations will be once per 10 days. Quality control o f ambient air i s anticipated to be undertaken at the border o f buffer zone o f Cone-shaped dump No.6 o f KazZinc, dump 6 o f UMP, slurry reservoir o f condensator factory, ash-disposal area 1 o f UHPP, ash-disposal areas 2a, 2b o f UHPP, TMC dump, dump o f experimental lead-zinc plant, SHPP dump and in residential zones closely locatedto these dumps. Size o f buffer zones is specified for each plant in the projects o f standards for maximum permissible emissions. Location o f sampling points during instrumental measurements i s given inFigure 6.1. 6-2 6. Environmentalmanagement plan Tables 6.1 and 6.2 illustrate the controllable air parameters and instruments for their measurements. The controllable air components are as follows: nitrogen dioxide, carbonic oxide, inorganic dust, lead and its compounds, since the mentioned components dominate in ambient air at the sites targeted for reclamation. Upon completion o f each stage o f measurements, such measurements should be registered in special logs, and it i s required to prepare interim quarterly reports. Following the completion o f quarterly monitoring works it i s required to produce the final report representing the analysis and summary of the acquired measurement results. The report should be agreed upon with the relevant environmental authorities. Table 6.1 1 I 1 Instrumentsfor measuring meteorologicalcharacteristics Quantity and Parameters Device Measuring range Accuracy duration of observations * Ambient air barometric Aneroid-barometer 80 * 103 once during pressure BAMM to 106 * 103 k5yn 10 min Ambient air temperature, OC Mercury thermometer -30 to +50 k0.5 2 readings Velocity of air flow, m/s Digital anemometers 0 to 5, 0,2 M/M AP1 1 to20 0,5 M/C 3 times r 1 1 Wind direction Pennon, Compass 0 to 360 k 5 O 3 times Aspirated Air humidity, YO hydrometer 10to 100 +1.0% 2 times min each ~ MV-4M Weather condition Visual Ground surface conditions within 100 m radius Visual * - quantity and duration o f air parameters measurement duringone cycle o f sampling Table 6.2 Methodsand instrumentsfor measuringpollutants' concentrationsinambient air No. I Aircomponent I Measuring methods Main Method Accuracy dioxide on membranous sorbent KFK-3 * 18 2 Carbonicoxide Electrochemical Palladium-3 *20 Palladium-2M Control by Ecoline + 5 Plus 3 I Inorganic dust I Weight I Electrc-aspirator EA-3 *20 Lead and its Atomic -absorption method Spectrophotometer f15 compounds 6-4 6. Environmentalmanagement plan Cost o f ambient air monitoring will be specified based on the cost o f one analysis and quantity o f samples collected. As known, covering o f slurry storage reservoirs and ahs- disposal sites will be performed within 2 years: four slurry reservoirs o f highpriority will be covered during 5 months, and the facilities o f lower priority will be covered during 3 months (it is planned to perform simultaneous covering of several facilities). It is expected to undertake 3 measurements per month at each site under monitoring. And 4 samples will be collected at each measurement in accordance with Figure 6.1. Price for one sample analysis will total around 15,000 KZT. Hence, cost of sampling at the objects o f high priority will amount to 3,600 U T , while the cost o f sampling at the objects o f lower priority will be 1.800 KZT. 6.1.2. Environmental protection measures during the drilling operations and soils extraction for temporary use At performing the construction operations, there will be no impact on the surface and ground waters, therefore any environmental protection measures are not planned. Certain volume o f soils will be wthdrawn from the use during the construction of the water pipeline system. After completion of the water pipeline construction the soils must be reclaimed. Soils reclamation area will comprise of 170 thousand m2, Reclaiming will be carried out within the framework o f a separate project and will consist o f the return o f the removed soil layer to its initial location. At the places where the soil layer was absent, grass sowing must be done so as to mitigate water and wind erosion processes. Cost o f the soils reclamation on the land strip o f the water pipeline will be approximately 500 thousand KZT. During the wells drilling, all generated drill cuttings should be removed to an appropriate place (under the contract with the enterprise capable o f accepting these wastes for storage). Volume o f drill cuttings to be disposed will total 207 m3(393 t). Cost of such waste disposal will be about 43 thousand U T . 6.2. PERIOD OF EXPLOITATION Ground waters monitoring will be the main activities enabling to ensure the control upon ground waters conditions duringthe conduct of technical operations. Ground waters monitoring To monitor the environmental processes and to control the efficiency o f the pollution sources liquidation as well as to ensure the possibility o f undertaking a timely response, the Feasibility study recommended to construct a number o f monitoring wells in the area of Central Industrial Complex and on the way o f the pollution plum spread towards the water intake facilities (Octyabrsky, North-Atamanovsy, I11Microrayon) and Irtyshriver bank. Total o f 25 wells will be drilled for this purpose, their location layout i s shown in Fig. 6.2. The remediation wells at the water intake facilities will also be used for monitoring purposes (i.e. the additional 23 wells). Monitoring wells will be placed on the expected way o f the pollution plum spread, enabling to identify the pollution sources and assess the impact from various enterprises. Depth o f the monitoring wells should be equal to at least 2/3 o f the aquifer thickness, while some f the wells should be as deep as till the base o f alluvial sediments. To perform interval sampling, wells should be grouped into clusters. Monitoring wells located downstream of the remediation water intake facilities in the direction towards Octyabrsky and I11 Microrayon water intake facilities, Irtysh river and Central Industrial Complex should be used for the controlling o f the following water parameters: 6-5 6. Environmentalmanagement plan pH, dry residue, water hardness. Macrocomponents: N02,N03,C03, HCO3, C1, S04;Ca, Mg, Na, K, NH4. Microcomponents: 0 As, F, Mo, Cu, Pb, Zn, Se, Cd, T1, Be, V, Ni,Sr, B, Cr+6, Co, Li,Al, Hg, Ti, Ba, Ta, Ag. Organic matters: 0 Phenol, total hydrocarbons, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, volatile organic compounds, polyaromatic hydrocarbons Radioactivity: 0 Total a -radioactivity, total p -radioactivity. Fig. 6.2. Layout scheme o f observation wells As stated above, 25 monitoring wells inthe central part o f city (plus additional 23 wells of the remediation water intake facilities) will be purposed not only for monitoring o f the results of the project performance. Results o f the first year of observations should enable to make a reliable calibration o f the hydrochemical model. Therefore sampling frequency during the first year o f monitoring should be at least once a month. Further on the sampling frequency may be reduced down to 1-2 times per a quarter. The covered areal pollution sources belonging to the group of so called "lower priority" (TMP1, UK HPP 1, 2 a,b, Sogrinskaya HPP) should also be outfitted with the monitoring facilities so as to control the quality and efficiency o f the covering. Other 12 observation wells should be constructed on the sites o f the said enterprises. Frequency o f the observations should be twice a year (deemed as sufficient). 6-6 6. Environmental management plan Controllable groundwater parameters on the site o f TMP I - pH, water mineralization, water hardness, Ca, Mg, C1, S04, PO4, NO3, NH4,Fe, Ti, V, Mn, Pb, Cd, T1, Li,B. Controllable groundwater parameters on the site o f ash disposal dumps: Ca, Mg, Na+K, C1, total a -and p -radioactivity. S04, HCO3, pH, N03,NH4, Fe, F, As, V, Mn, Cu, Pb, Zn, Se, Cd, T1, Hg, Be, oil products, Some groundwater pollution sources such as, for example, domestic waste dump, do not contribute to pollution o f the aquifer, which i s used for the water supply to the city. Certain presence o f mercury and lead was detected in the wells located downstream o f the groundwater flow, ad it i s the unacceptable fact. It i s necessary to clarify the reasons groundwater pollution with these components, which i s possible to do by virtue o f drilling the observation wells o f about 15mdeep. Drilling o f 4 wells will be sufficient at the first stage o f monitoring, ad such monitoring program may subsequently be expanded. Controllable groundwater parameters will include: pH, dry residue, Ca, Mg, Na+K, C1, SO4, HC03,pH, NH4,N03,Fe, Cu, Pb, Cd, As, oil products. Frequency o f observations i s planned to be once per a quarter. Water sampling inwells should be taken only after a sufficient water volume i s flushed with a use o f the electric pump. Immediately after flushing such water parameters as temperature, pH, redox potential should be measured. Water samples should be taken with a use o f the sampling instrument. Accuracy o f the analytes detection method should be at least 0,5 MPCsurfacewater. Tables o f chemical composition will be compiled and hydro-chemical maps will be generated on the basis o f results o f groundwater chemical analyses. Changes in the qualitative composition o f groundwater and the reasons thereof will be revealed by virtue o f comparing the acquiredresults with results o fthe earlier accomplished analyses. As mentioned above, water sampling in monitoring wells should be at least once a month during the first year of the monitoring program. This means that (25 wells x 12 samples) = 300 samples will be taken during the first year o f the monitoring program. Cost o f 1 sample analysis for all controllable groundwater parameters will be about 13000 thousand KZT per year (for the central line o f observation wells). Inthe future, monitoring will be carried out by involving 37 wells located inthe central part o f the survey area and 12 wells located on the operational sites o f the enterprises belonging to the group o f lower priority. Analysis cost for samples taken in the in the central part o f the survey areawill be (37 x 45000 x 4) = 6660 thousand KZT per year. Assuming that the analysis cost for samples from wells o f the lower priority enterprises i s 22000 KZT, total cost o f analyses will equal to (22000 x 12 x 4) = 1056 thousand KZT per year. So, the total cost o f the sample analyses will be 20716 thousand KZT per year (151 thousand USD). Cost o f the analyses to be performed within 25 year term will amount to 517900 thousand KZT (3780 thousand USD) Analytical works under the monitoringprogram Analytical works should be carried out at the certified and approved laboratories. Currently in Ust-Kamenogorsk groundwater sample analyses are performed at the following certified laboratories: 6-7 6. Environmentalmanagementplan 0 Laboratories o f JSC UMP, JSC TMP, UKJSC KazZinc, Oskemen-Vodocanal; 0 Laboratory o f TOPAZ LLP (previously owned by the former geologic exploration committee "VostokKazNedra"); 0 Laboratories o f Sanitary-Epidemiological Station (SES) and EKO Territorial Committee of EnvironmentalProtection (i.e. the noncommercial organizations) Data acquisition, processing and management Typically, each company, which causes the environmental pollution in Ust-Kamenogorsk city, i s conducting the environmental monitoring within its premises inclusive o f ground waters monitoring as well. Results o f the environmental monitoring are compiled into summary tables and reports, which are submitted to EKO Territorial Committee o f Environmental Protection and Territorial Committee "VostokKazNedra". As monitoring under the proposed project may be classified as of local level (intended for the study of the subsurface technogenic changes in the socially-economically important areas), so the most rational approach in this case will be to entrust Territorial Committee "VostokKazNedra" to perform such monitoring, because this organization has the sufficient experience in performing the interpretation o f hydrogeological monitoring data, i s manned with the qualified experts and equipped with the relevant methods for data interpretation. At the same time local, industry-controlled and the state-run monitoring programs should be united by virtue o f usingthe up-to-date technical instrumentationand facilities. All companies, carrying out the monitoring operations, should have an access to all monitoring results. The patented software ALWIS, developed by WISMUT GmdH i s recommended for the implementation o f such large-scale environmental projects. Alternatively, it i s possible to employ the groundwater pollution database created on the basis o fthe GIS system. Continuously operable hydrogeological model, made for the river right-bank area, may serve as the basis for prediction and preventiono f hydrodynamic and hydrochemical processes. Systems of reaction measures and engineeringprotection Results o f the local monitoring data interpretation will enable to evaluate the efficiency o f the pollution sources isolation, to identify new pollution sources, to trace results o f groundwater remediation (efficiency o f groundwater treatment). At revealing a stable growth o f pollutants concentrations. in ground waters, it will be necessary to identify a source o f such growing pollution and notify the company being the pollution source, to be followed by applying the sanctions. Schedules of the remediation measures and monitoring observations i s provided in Table 6.3. 6-8 6. Environmental management plan Table 6.3 Measureson the environmentalimpactremediation, scheduleof the remediationmeasures andtheir cost Measures on Duration of the impact (months after cost of Source of the impact the impact the project commencement) remediation remediation finish measures (USD) Construction stage I I I 1 aviayc; -c..-.. Cost of drill VI I IUII-LUAIL - be.,i^ Drilling drillcuttings207m3, 12 24 cuttings storage (J4JI\ In A n 43,230 KZT (315.5 1) II II II 500 thousand KZT Pipeline construction soils reclamation I 70 I . USD)' 88 (3650 USD) Construction of water treatment facilities no Ambient air 5400 thousand Covering of the slurry monitoring KZT storage ponds 18 42 Personal protective (39.4 thousand equipment USD) Stage of the facilities exploitation 13000thousand KZT in the 1" year (94.9 thousand USD) Pump out/ injection of Groundwater 24 ground waters monitoring 7716 thousand KZT for each next year (56.3 thousand USD) 3234 thousand Ground waters treatment t/year wastes of 3rd 40 52 KZT (23.6 toxicity class thousand USD) The project i s planed to be realized under the supervision o f the Committee o f water resources under the RoK Ministry o f agriculture. The Committee o f water resources will entrust Project Management Committee with the powers to organize construction o f the planned facilities. Such construction o f ground water rehabilitation facilities will be carried out by contracted companies, which will perform the following: 0 Wells drilling, 0 Construction o f the pipeline, 0 Construction o f the ground water treatment facilities All the contracted organizations have special environmental protection divisions in their organizational structure, including as follows. 6-9 6. Environmentalmanagement plan 0 Department (agency) for the environmental protection during projects implementation, 0 Department (agency) for work safety, fire safety and industrial sanitation (responsible for supervising the compliance with work and fire safety rules, stipulated inthe relevant normative documents), 0 Department for emergency situations management (responsible for the use o f money contingencies and implementation o f emergency measures, actions coordination (as required) under the threat o f emergency or incase o f any emergency occurrence). At the stage o f the project designing, all the contracted organizations should work out EIA projects, providing for maximum permissible air emissions (MPE), maximum permissible discharges to water bodies (MPD) and the Program o f the environmental monitoring during the construction operations. In addition to that, the Plan should be developed for reclamation o f soils to be exposed to the mechanical impact. The above mentioned EIA projects, MPE and M P D projects, the Program o f the environmental monitoring and Plan o f soils reclamation should be prepared by the specialized organizations. These documents should be agreed upon with the state environmental protection authorities (Fig. 1.1.). Cost o f such projects will be 15-100 thousand USD approximately. At the sage of exploitation of the ground water rehabilitation facilities, the institutional base will be as follows. All the rehabilitation facilities will be under the management o f the independent operating body to be initiated and formed by the Committee o f water resources. This Operating Body will implement management and control o f the enterprise o f ground water treatment, the enterprise o f ground water pump out and injection. The ecologist o f higher authorities may be entrusted to supervise the implementation o f environmental protectionmeasures duringthe project fulfillment. The key aspect of the facilities exploitation stage i s the ground waters monitoring. Such monitoring may be carried out by the territorial committee "VostokKazNedra" or the Oblast Committee o f environmental protection. Alternatively, an independent committee may be formed for the ground waters monitoring within the framework o fthe plannedproject. 6-10 7. Results of the public opinion analysis with regard to the FS solutions implementation 7. RESULTS OF THE PUBLIC OPINION ANALYSIS WITH REGARD TO THE FS SOLUTIONS IMPLEMENTATION On May 11, 2005 the hall of Municipal Akimat (administration) hosted the meeting o f Working Group (inthe presence o f Ust-Kamenogorsk Deputy Akim - Kudinov A.U), that i s responsible to supervise this project. The initiator o f this meeting was CC "NEDRA" LLP. Discussion o f the FS final version and EIA project were the main issues in the meeting's agenda. Specialists o f the industrial plants, including the representatives from Territorial Administration "VostokKazNedra", WBRD representatives, representatives from "Sange" Research Center (Astana) were among the attendees o f the mentioned meeting. Specialists from the Regional Committee o f the Environmental Protection were invited to attend this meeting, but unfortunately they were absent. The attendees positively accepted the FS and EIA solutions. The FS and EIA were put for the public discussion; and such public discussions were conducted on May 12 inthe Technology park premises within the East Kazakhstan Territorial Geological Committee in Ust-Kamenogorsk. Information on the public hearings was advertised in the Republican newspaper "Kazakhstanskaya Pravda" and in the electronic newspaper "EcoPravda o f Kazakhstan". Moreover, a week before the public hearings, the facsimile messages hadbeen sent to the Regional Committee o f EnvironmentalProtection and major industrial plants o f Ust-Kamenogorsk city, indicating the place and time o f the public hearings. Representatives o f the International Bank o f Reconstruction & Development, as well as the representatives o f supervisory authorities, industrial enterprises, research organizations operating in the city o f Ust-Kamenogorsk were among the participants o f the mentioned hearings. Total number o f attendees comprised o f 98 persons. The Consulting Center "NEDRA" LLP was responsible for the public hearings arrangement: The following reports were made at the meeting: 1. Results o f the geological simulation for options o f ground waters remediation. Methods o f dumps and slurry reservoirs remediation. Report was presented by Dr. Ralf Goerner, director o f JV Geooilservice Kazakhstan LLP, Ph.D o f Mineralogy Science. 2. Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment for FS technical solutions. Report was presentedby Kalmykova N.V.,the deputy director of EcologicalResearch Department o f the Consulting Center "NEDRA" LLP (Almaty), Ph.D of Mineralogy Science. 3. Results o f Social assessment o f Ust-Kamenogorsk Environment Remediation Project. Report was presented by: Dzhandosova Janar, Director o f "Sange" Research Center, Baitugenova Nataliya, Project Manager. Mainquestions addressed to the reporters were as follows: 1. What kindo fpolluting substanceswill be subject to removal from ground waters? 2. What kind o f methods for ground waters purification from trichlorodiphenylpolluting substances o f Condenser Plant will be applied? 3. I s it expected any slurry formation while purifying polluted waters in the treatment facilities? What will be a volume o f such slurry and where will it be stored? 4. What kindo f remedial actions are proposed for Zachita station area? 7-1 7. Results o f the public opinion analysis with regard to the FS solutions implementation 5. What kind o f remediation measures will be undertaken for remediation o f 3 Mikrorayon and Zachita water intake facilities, located inthe west part o f the city? 6. Will Oktyabrszkiy water intake facility be relocated? Did you consider the option o f its relocationto the north? 7. I s it plannedto conduct any treatment to remove radionuclides? 8. What i s the expected capacity of the ground water treatment facilities? The meeting o f the public hearings approved the Feasibility Study solutions and emphasized the urgent necessity o f their implementation. 7-2