Krasnodar GRES Project Volume I11 Environmental Assessment

' - European feather grass Anapa, Laba river. Included in the list of rare and
extinct species of the Russian Federation)
- Jacob's rod (from the Laba river to Pyatigorye. Included in the list of
protected flora species of the Russian Federation)
These species are not found within the construction site or transmission line
corridors.
Impacts on environmental systems of the Caucasus biosphere reserve. The
northern boundary of the reserve is 48 km from the construction site. Water
quality impacts, electromagnetic field impacts, and noise will not reach the
reserve.
The existing NOx background concentration within the biosphere reserve is 0.008
mg/m3. The estimated NOx emissions attributable to the Krasnodar GRES is
0.001 1 mg/m3. Therefore, the combined NOx level within the biosphere reserve is
estimated to be 0.0091 mg/m3 which is well below the MPC of 0.04 mg/m3.
Nitrogen oxide concentration increases in the atmosphere of the reserve are within
measurement accuracy limits and will show a minor difference from the
background values. MPC for the reserve are much lower (see section 2.1 .I)
compared to MPC for populated areas. Environmental impact on the reserve can
be caused only through acid rains.
In Russia there is no established methodology to predict acid rains. Therefore, this
type of impact is considered to be an unregulated impact. Mathematical modeling
of acid rains conducted for a previous site study indicate that:
1. With existing wind velocities and directions, nitrogen oxides, given their 30
to 70 hour atmospheric residence time may reach the reserve;
2. Majority of acid fallout shall fall on north-western stepped part of the
Krasnodar Territory;
3. Probability rate of the oxides fallout in the reserve is 0.01 and that of acid
rains is even less.
In accordance with the International convention on trans-boundary transfer, acid
rain mitigation measures include a decrease of total emissions of sulfur oxides and
nitrogen oxides (tons per year). According to the Environmental Report of the
Krasnodar Territory in 1994 the Territory met the Convention requirements as of
1993. Decrease rates of total emissions are ahead of schedule by 23.8 %, i.e.
USAID/KRASEIA/OFFICIAL/EIACHS.DOC 3/26/96 PAGE 5-28