Eurosib has presented plans to address these impacts to ensure that the proposed project will, upon implementation of the specific agreed measures, comply with the environmental and social requirements – Russian Federation, regional, and local municipal laws and regulations and the World Bank Group environment and social policies. The information about how these potential impacts will be addressed by the company is summarized in the paragraphs that follow.
- Site Selection and Land Acquisition
Varying in area from 5 to 30 hectares, the six terminal sites are located in industrial/commercial zones on previously undeveloped land. Eurosib has either purchased the sites in market-based transactions, or has arranged for long-term property leases with the responsible government authorities, again under prevailing market terms. No people or squatters occupy the sites or use them for any economic purpose, and no persons have been or will be physically or economically displaced to develop the new facilities. Geotechnical investigations have been, or will be, conducted to confirm the absence of environmental contamination or other conditions of environmental concern. Eurosib has obtained (or will obtain) all necessary environmental and health and safety approvals and permits from the relevant regional and local authorities to construct and operate the terminals according to national Sanitary & Epidemiological rules and norms.
- Water, Sewage, and Waste Management
Sites will receive potable water supply from connection to the existing municipal water supply system, or from on-site groundwater wells. Employee-generated domestic sewage will be discharged to the local sewerage systems serving each area, or will be treated in on-site septic tank and drainfield systems. Stormwaters collected on the properties and oily wastewaters generated from the equipment washing areas in maintenance workshops will be treated in on-site facilities to remove oils and other pollutants prior to discharge to the municipal stormwater drainage systems in conformance with local requirements. No other liquid effluents are generated.
Treatment plant sludges will periodically be removed by licensed waste removal contractors. The small amounts of solid and hazardous wastes generated by workshops along with any oils recovered will be temporarily stored on-site in designated areas and periodically collected by licensed contractors and properly disposed at approved government-operated facilities.
Oil/Hazardous Materials Storage and Handling and Emergency Planning and Response
Because of the limited day-to-day maintenance activities conducted at the terminals, only incidental amounts of hazardous materials – paints, solvents, and petroleum lubricants – will be stored and handled in the workshop areas. Because some terminal machinery (loaders and haulers) will be fueled with diesel oil, terminals will be provided with some fuel storage capacity. The diesel storage tanks will be designed to contain and prevent any leaks from being released to the environment and comply with all fire protection regulations.
Some of the containerized cargo that may be handled at the Eurosib terminals may be considered hazardous under Russian Federation rules and international norms. This material would include flammable gases, poisons, flammable liquids, corrosives, reactive and spontaneously combustible substances, oxidizing substances, etc. Containerized hazardous cargo will be stored by material class in segregated areas within container storage yards with good access to containment resources and emergency response equipment; no radioactive materials or explosives will be handled. The majority of containers with dangerous cargoes will be handled as full containers, and the inventory will be monitored continuously.
Eurosib will have its own emergency plans and procedures and the necessary equipment for preventing and combating oil and chemical spills and fires and major accidents during terminal operation, including coordination with local government fire and spill response brigades. Eurosib''s emergency response program will includes appropriate personnel training in emergency response.
- Employee Health and Safety
Eurosib will develop an Occupational Safety and Health (OH&S) program for each terminal that includes an OH&S management system to enable the company to ensure the health and safety of all employees, including pre-employment and periodic medical evaluations, provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and regular training in hazards, safe work procedures, and emergency response activities. Policies and supporting documentation (i.e., a health & safety manual) will be created, and Eurosib will implement detailed procedures and the specifics of how performance is to be measured and monitored.
Facilities feature fire protection and life safety systems and designs consistent with international best practice and in compliance with local rules administered by the respective Fire Marshalls, and include full sprinkler and hydrants, smoke detector, and fire alarm systems throughout the buildings. Through the establishment of hot lines and other communication procedures, personnel coordinate with local fire brigades for fire fighting and emergency response.