National Railway Infrastructure Company

FINAL

REPUBLICOFBULGARIA

NATIONAL RAILWAY INFRASTRUCTURE COMPANY

PROPOSED RAILWAY INFRASTRUCTUREREHABILITATION PROJECT

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

Sofia

MARCH, 2010

1. Introduction

TheNational Railway Infrastructure Company (NRIC) has requested a Loan from the World Bank, to be guaranteed by the Republic of Bulgaria, to finance the proposed Railway Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project.The Project aims to improve the quality and efficiency of railway infrastructure services in Bulgaria. This will be achieved through an investment program aimed primarily at stopping the deterioration and at upgrading the condition of existing railway infrastructure assets on selected lines on Bulgaria’s core railway network. The overall Project activities should lead to increased operational and financial performance of rail transport in Bulgaria, and thereby support the objectives of the government and the EU to develop railways as a viable transport option.

The Bulgarian rail network has 4,071 route-km of standard gauge, of which 24 percent is double track, and 67 percent is electrified. About 2,915 km of the railway network form the main railway lines in Bulgaria. Most of the railway network was constructed more than 50 years ago, while the power supply and safety facilities were installed during 1960 to mid-1980s. Underinvestment has led to poor conditions that now require speed restrictions on almost 75 percent of the rail network. Over the past 15 years, an annual average of 25-30 kilometers were renewed and 30-40 kilometers repaired—only 10 percent of the levels of system repairs achieved each year before 1990.

The Transport Strategy for Bulgaria over the period 2010-2020 includes significant commitments from the government to modernize the Bulgarian railway infrastructure, in line with the priorities of Bulgaria and the European Union. One of the immediate priorities is the modernization of the railway line Sofia-Plovdiv-Burgas, which is part of the Trans-European Network Transport (TEN-T). The modernization of this line includes upgrading the design speed and the overhaul of the signaling, telecommunications, and energy systems. The modernization is planned over the period 2010–2020. Future EU Cohesion funds received under the Transport Operational Program and the Regional Development Program are planned to finance the Sofia-Plovdiv section and Mihailovo-Burgas section (see attached map).

The public railway infrastructure is managed by the National Railway Infrastructure Company (NRIC), and railway transport services are provided by the State-owned Bulgarian Railways Company BDZ EAD and several private freight operators. In addition to managing the railway trаcks NRIC is also responsible for the maintenance of related railway infrastructure such as 830 railway level crossings; 145 tunnels (total length of 44,432 m)located on standard railway lines and 41 tunnels (total length of 3,071 m) locatedon narrow gauge railway lines; about 940 bridges (total length of 38,842 m)on standard railway lines and another 23 with total length of 686 m located on narrow gauge railway lines; about 7,600 railway switches, 1,728km joint less track, and 234,953 km sections with UIC 60 rails.

The first phase of NRIC’s investment program until 2015 focuses on the east-west European Corridors IV, VIII, and X between Sofia and Burgas on the Black Sea, Sofia and Dragoman (Serbian border), and between Sofia and the Turkish border, respectively. The line between Plovdiv and the Turkish border is being mostly modernized under the pre-accession ISPA program (Plovdiv-Svilengrad), and the final link to the border under the OPT program. Investments are about to start under the SOPT program for the rehabilitation of two sections between Sofia and Plovdiv (Sofia – Elin Pelin, and Septemvri – Plovdiv) and between Mihailovo and Burgas. The proposed project would support investments on the section between Plovdiv and Orizovo and modernization of the energy, signaling and telecommunication systems, and thus complementing these programs. Completing the rehabilitation of the final section between Sofia and Plovdiv (Elin Pelin - Septemvri) and between Orizovo and Mihailovo is now planned under OPT’s next planning period 2014-2020. Additionally, NRIC is preparing a portfolio of investments to be included under the next OPT focusing on the north-south corridor IV between Vidin (Romanian border), Sofia, and Kulata (Greek border).

The proposed Project would support investments on the section between Trakia-Skutare and modernization of the energy, signaling and telecommunication systems, and thus complementing theNRIC programs. It will mainly finance rehabilitation works of existing railway section, modernization of existing operable power substations, and small-scale construction building relevant to NRIC operations. Given the nature of these rehabilitation works, the project has been classified as environmental category “B” in accordance with the World Bank operational polices for environmental assessment purposes. Under Bulgarian regulation and EU directives, such types of works are not subject to mandatory environmental impact assessment.

As part of the preparation stage of the proposed Project, NRIC has prepared the present Environmental Management Plan (EMP), in accordance with World Bank policy OP/BP 4.01 on environmental impact assessment.

TheprojectEMP consists of a set of mitigation measures, monitoring actions, and institutional aspectsto be undertaken during implementation and operation of the project to eliminate possible adverse environmental and social impacts, offset them, or reduce them to acceptable levels. The EMP also provides the responsibilities of different parties involved in the project implementation for environmental management purposes. Although major environmental issues are not anticipated during this project, the EMP identifies several mitigation measures aimed at environment protection and maintenance of environmental conditions mainly during the rehabilitation works. The proposed environmental monitoring plan is subject to revision with updated information from the bidding documents at contractor’s recommendation (subject to approval by NRIC) before works may commence. This draft EMP was discussed during a public meeting organized by NRIC in on February 18, 2010 at which a variety of stakeholders has been invited to participate and comment on the possible environmental issues that could be encountered during this proposed project.

1. Description of Project

The proposed project to be supported by the World Bank includes three main components: (1) Improvement of railway infrastructure systems performance, (2) Improvement of the railway track operational performance; and (3) Support to Project implementation. The main activitiesplanned to be finance over the period 2010-2015 through this project are the following:

(i)The upgrade of seven traction power sub-stations: five on the line Plovdiv–Burgas at Stara Zagora, Nova Zagora, Yambol, Karnobat, and Burgas; and two on the line Radomir-Kulata line at Pernik and Dupnitsa, and the replacement of circuit breakers at various traction power substations.

(ii)The installation of fiber optic cables and transmission equipment on the lines Plovdiv-Karlovo (to close the fiber optics loop Sofia-Plovdiv-Karlovo-Sofia), and Radomir-Blagoevgrad.

(iii)The construction of a Centralized Traffic Control (CTC) building in Sofia to host the Sofia regional traffic management and energy dispatching systems.

(iv)The rehabilitation of the railway section between Plovdiv and Orizovo. The rehabilitation will cover one track of the existing double-track section between Trakia and Skutare.

(v)The acquisition of specialized machinery for inspection and maintenance of railway track, catenary and electrical systems.

(vi)Technical advisory services to develop the technical designs, conduct the supervision of works, and to modernize the maintenance and traffic control and energy dispatching systems.

The attached map shows the locations of the activities to be implemented under the proposed World Bank financed project.

Legend

1. Summary of Bulgarian policy, legal and administrative framework with regards to Environmental Impact Assessment

The implementation of the activities of thisproject will be in accordance with the following current legislation, practices and standards in Bulgaria relevant to Environmental Impact Assessment and the project investments in general:

1. Environmental Protection Act
2. Air QualityAct.
3. Water Act.
4. Waste Management Act.
5. Biological Diversity Act.
6. Protected Areas Act.
7. Monuments of Culture and Museums Act
8. Environmental Noise Protection Act.
9. Low of the Spatial Planning
10. Water Supply and Sewerage Services Regulation Act.
11. Health Act.
12. MH, MRDPW and MoEW Regulation No.9/16.03.2001. on the Quality of Potable andWashing Water.
13. MoEW Regulation No 5/08.11.2000 on the Procedure and Method of Establishing theNetworks and Activity of the National Water Monitoring System.
14. Regulation No.7 on air quality assessment and management.
15. Regulation No. 2/22.03.2004 on the Minimum Labor Health and Safety Requirementsfor Construction and Erection Works
16. Regulation on the Terms and Procedure of Performance of Environmental ImpactAssessments.
17. Regulation No.26/22.10.1996 ) on Recultivation of Disturbed Lands, Amelioration ofLow-Productive Lands and Utilization of the Humus Layer.
18. Regulation No. 3 on the permissible limits for noxious substance concentration in soils.
19. Regulation No.6/26.06.2006 on Environmental Noise Indicators determining thediscomfort degree during different parts of the day, limit values of the EnvironmentalNoise Indicators, methods of assessment of the noise indicator levels and harmfuleffects of noise on the population’s health;
20. Council of Ministers Decree 131/2000 Regulation on the requirements towards

treatment and transportation of waste oils and oil produces.

1. BS EN 50121-5:2000, Electromagnetic compatibility. Emission and immunity of fixedpower supply installations and apparatus;
2. Council Directive 92/43/EEC forthe conservation of natural habitats and wild fauna and flora;
3. Ordinance for the requirements and procedures for inventory of equipment containing polychlorinated biphenyls, it's marking and cleaning, and for treatment and transport of wastes containing polychlorinated biphenyls.
4. Regulation on the terms and conditions for carrying out the Compatibility Assessmentof plans, programmes, projects and development proposals for construction with the purposes referred to the special areas of conservation.

1. Environmentalaspectsrelevant to project area

(i) Railway section rehabilitation (Trakiya-Skutare part of Plovdiv-Orizovo). In case of preservingthe existing track alignment, the activitiesenvisaged forthe rehabilitationof railway lines are expected to have a positive effect on the overall environmentincluding decrease of operational costs; reduced travel time; improved flood control through installing new drainage facilities or rehabilitation of existing ones.The proposed activity for renewalandrehabilitationinclude improvement of characteristics of the railway line in terms of its layout and profile, parameters of the engineering railway equipment such as existing bridges, railway crossings as well as energy supply equipment in the respective railway section. The section is located in Plovdiv field,which is alluvial plain formed by the Maritsa River and its tributaries, in the central part of the Gornotrakiyska Valley. The area is characterized by transitional continental climate, quite typical for the most central-sauthern parts of Europe,with the average annual temperature of 12.3 °C.

The railway line in the section Trakia-Skutare crosses the protected area of the Natura 2000 network, BG0000578 Maritsa River. Impelmentation of the rehabilitation activities in this railway section will be in accordance to the specific measurements, given by RIEW Plovdiv, which is the responsible authority for the protected area.

There are two more natural protected areas in the vicinity of the railway, Maritza Parvоmai (BG0002081) for Birds and Gradinska Gora (BG0000255); their boundaries are located at a distance of 6.5 km from Orizovo city and 3.9 km, respectively. Neither the rehabilitation nor the operation of the railway Trakiya-Skutare is expected to have any adverse effects on these nature reserves. Also, there are no known cultural relics or historic sites along the railway section.

(ii) Improvement of traction power substations.The proposed modernization activities forseven existing traction power substations, situated in or near residential areas and replacement of their container for relevant equipment include rehabilitation works at the following locations:

• Stara Zagora- Градът е разположен в Старозагорското поле — източната част на Горнотракийската низина , заключена между Сърнена Средна гора , Светиилийските възвишения , Манастирските възвишения , Сакар планина и Чирпанските възвишения със средна надморска височина 196 метра , край река Бедечка .Stara Zagora Substation is located in Stara Zagora field - east of the Gornotrakiyska Valleyenclosed between Surnena Sredna gora forest, Svetiliyskite hills, Monastery hills, Sakar Mountain and Chirpan Hills with an average altitude of 196 meters,and along the Bedechka river.The power supply substation is located in the industrial area of Stara Zagora. There are no protected areas close to this proposed power supply substation.
• град в Централна България , разположен в северната част на Горнотракийската низина ,Nova Zagora Substation is in the central part of Bulgaria, situated in the northern part of Gornotrakiyska Valley.The power supply substation is located in the industrial area of Nova Zagora

Close to the city of Nova Zagora is the protected area BG0000441Blatnitsa river.

Yambol - Град Ямбол се намира в Югоизточна България и е разположен на бреговете на р. Тунджа. Намира се на 77 км от Черно море и южно от магистралата София — Бургас .Yambol Substation is located in Southeast Bulgaria. The town of Yambol is situated on the banks of the river Tunja. It is located 77 km from the Black Sea and south of the highway Sofia-Bourgas.The power supply substation is located in the industrial area of the town.There are three protected areas close to the townof Yambol - BG0000192 Tundja 1, BG0000195 Tundja 2, BG0000196 Mochuritsa river

• Karnobat - Карноба̀т е град в Югоизточна България .Karnobat in Southeastern Bulgaria.Той се намира в Област Бургас It is located in District Burgas.

There is one protected area in the region of Karnobat; BG0000196 Mochuritsa river.

• Burgas - Бурга̀с е град в източна България , общински център , Град Бургас се намира в най-западната точка на Черно море, в едноименния Бургаски залив и в източната част на Бургаската низина , която се намира на изток от Горнотракийската низина . Burgas is a town in eastern part of Bulgaria, town of Burgas is located in the westernmost point of the Black Sea in Burgas Bay and the eastern part of Burgas Valley, located east of the Gornotrakiyska Valley.Бургас е разположен на брега на Черно море Burgas is situated on the shore of the Black Sea. Burgas Substation is situated in the village of Dolno ezerovo, which is 5 km west from the town of Burgas.There are two protected areas in the region of Burgas; BG0000270 lake Atanasovsko ezero and BG0000273 lake Burgasko ezero. The village of Dolno ezerovo is located closed to the protected area Burgasko ezero.

• Pernik - Пѐрник е град в Югозападна България в близост до град София .Pernik is situated in southwestern Bulgaria, located in Pernik valley at an altitude between 700 and 850 m, length 22 km and is surrounded by mountains Vitosha, Golo Bardo and Lyulin. The nearest residence is located at XX m from the site.

In the region of Pernik in accordance to Council Directive 92/43/EEC forthe conservation of natural habitats and wild fauna and flora, there is one protected area BG0001375 Ostritsa.

• Dupnitsa - Ду̀пница е град в Югозападна България .Dupnitsais in southwestern Bulgaria. It is located in District Kyustendil in the foothills of the Rila Mountains. Dupnitsa is situated northwest of Mount Rila about 60 km south of Sofia. През града преминават реките Джерман , Бистрица , Отовица (Саморанска река) и Джубрена.Rivers pass through town Djerman, Bistrica, Otovitsa (Samoranska River) and Gibran. The nearest residence is located at XX m from the site.

In accordance to Council Directive 92/43/EEC forthe conservation of natural habitats and wild fauna and flora

Tthere is one protected area in the region of Dupnitsa (BG0001188Rila buffer).

The existing power substations in Stara Zagora, Nova Zagora, Yambol, Karnobat, Dupnitsa and Pernik are situated 20-50 m from the existing railline.

These sites are all situated on land owned by NRICwithin the existing railway corridor and do not alter land use in the area. Access to these sites could be made easily by car or walk. The reminder of land in the surrounding area is usually used for residential purposes or railway undertakings. The existing rail infrastructure (within the territory of these substations) is fenced off from public access. No endangered ecological communities are known at these sites and it is unlikely that any threatened flora species would occur, as there is no suitable habitat. Air quality in the vicinity of the site is considered to be typical of urban areas.

Therehabilitation of the substations will include renewal of Substation building andthe container(s), which must be fully fit for equipment operation and must include storage areas, WC, control room and storage battery room. Works will also involve upgrade of the existing electrical substations as well as installation of some new electrical equipment.

As an alternative, the substation existing building and rooms can be used for the same purpose, after the necessary repair works. The repair must include exterior andinterior touch-coat and re-painting, re-covering of floors and roof and new double-glazed PVC joinery. This might include also repair of the water supply system(WSS) and electrical installations, installation of fire alarm system repair of the WC, battery room, and corridors, etc. Walls exterior final coat must be mineral, chemically treated, and silicon material. Internal rooms will be painted according to their purpose.The roof will be completed by voalit (bitumen modified with APP (Attactic polypropylene) and reinforcement in glass fibre padding and onduline corrugated sheets, and PVC gutters and draining pipes. The pipes shall drain the water to elevation terrain.

The container(s) must meet all the requirements for servicing the equipment by staff on duty or staff responsible for repairs, as well as the requirements for the assemblies placed in the container.The container shall be located on concrete platform, on foundations with access to the facilities through concrete paths.Drip boards and other protection must be considered for all specific places on the structure, for preventing water and humidity penetration. Polymer gutters and polymer draining pipes must be stipulated up to terrain elevation.

The transformers will be located within special area in accordance with relevant Bulgarian standards and material safety data sheets. Special oil/water separator would be installed to capture runoff.The modernization works for these substations do not require cut-off trees or removal of any vegetation at these sites.

There are no old condensers containing PCBs and other hazardous materials at the seven power substation sites elected for modernization works under this project In 2008, the NRIC implemented a program for removal from use of the condenser batteries in the energy supply substations, containing Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and in accordance to Ordinance for the requirements and procedures for inventory of equipment containing polychlorinated biphenyls, it's marking and cleaning, and for treatment and transport of wastes containing polychlorinated biphenyls, and the use of such equipment is prohibited.