1.
INTRODUCTION
Fik-Segeg section of the Fik-Segeg-Gerbo-Danan construction Project (Lot 1) as a whole is
located mainly in the Fik zone of the Somali Regional State, located in south eastern part of
Ethiopia. It connects two administrative woredas in Fik zone namely, Fik and Segeg traversing
via several towns and villages with total road length of about 90 Km. The major Towns and
villages traversed along the route corridor are Fik – Osman – Beshero – Shinel – Nurgesat – Yohobe –
Ensirar – Hangey – Segeg
The Ethiopian Road Authority awarded the Fik - Segeg Road Project (Lot 1) construction to
Diriba Defersha General Contractor (DDGC) with commitment to build the road project in a
manner that would protect the environment by maintaining water quality through erosion and
sediment control, minimizing disturbance to land use, wildlife and habitat, practicing safe waste
disposal and hazard materials handling systems and etc. during the life time of the Project
construction as per ERA’s code of conduct of road construction and operations that would meet
best practices in ensuring that the environment and communities are protected at all stages of the
operations. The role of the environmental assessment (EIA) for this project is to determine the
baseline environmental conditions and to evaluate and reduce, or prevent, the direct and indirect
negative effects of the road construction on the biological, physico-chemical, social and cultural
environment. It also aims to develop an Environmental Management plan for management
actions during the construction of the project.
Therefore, the scope of this environmental assessment report at inception level is to give insight
about the project environment by assessing the socio-environmental condition of the road project
and its immediate surroundings.
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2. EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
2.1PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
2.1.1 Topography
On the basis of ERA quality manual, the topography of the project route is classified as flat and
rolling terrain. ERA quality manual classify terrain based on both transverse and longitudinal
slope of the road x-section. The summarized terrain characteristics along the route can be
classified as 86% Flat and 24% rolling. No mountainous and escarpment sections seen along
the project.
2.1.2 Geological and soil
Regional Geological Setting Preliminary assessment of soils and materials of the project area
were undertaken during the site reconnaissance. During the visit, geomorphology of the
area, soil extension, availability of construction materials and potentials of earth work and
geologic hazard were investigated. According the geological map of Ethiopia at scale of
1:2,000,000, the project route corridor is comprised of sedimentary rock formation with minor
volcanic rock. Sedimentary Rock. The sedimentary rocks contain early – late Jurassic Haman
lei formation (Jh), late Jurassic Urn dab Formation (Ju) and Gabredare formation (Jg) –
Oxifordian - Kimmerdian marl and shally lime stone with Paleogene Ashangi formation. It
contains thinly bedded and weathered limestone rocks. They can be fractured in to gravelly
material for potential use as selected fill, gravel wearing course and sub-base course material
for road construction. In flat section it is covered with reddish brown silty clay soils deposited
by fluvial conditions.
Another sedimentary formation is ghinir formation (Qg)- rayolite with sub-ordinate basalt. This
formation is recent quaternary sediments of light grayish rayolitic rocks overlying limestone
rocks. They are potential sources for masonry stones. Sedimentary formation of Late Jurassic-
Gebredarre formation-Kimmerdigain-Tihonian (Jg) containing lime stone with shale and
gypsiferous unit makes the geology of intermediate section. It is covered with fractured
limestone gravels with few gypsum gravels mixed with reddish brown sandy silty clay soil that
can be used as fill material for embankment construction.
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The geological formation around Ali Ethiopia area is cretaceous era Korahe Formation: - main
gypsum formation of Neocoronia Baremain with upper korahe contains gypsum, shale,
dolomite and anhydrite intercalation and lower unit containing shale and limestone with basal
sandstone. It is covered with sandy gravel material which is potentially suitable for select
material. The volcanic rock contains Ashange Formation,deeply weathered alkaline and
transitional basalt flows. These formations contain surface scattered basaltic rock boulders
overlying tuff rocks. They form distinct morphological unit of separated hills near to Fik
Town. The basaltic rock boulders can be crushed into gravels to be used concrete aggregates,
base course and asphalt aggregates, the quantity and quality of this basaltic formation will be
checked during detailed investigation.
The extrusive rocks are those volcanic products in which their destination is on the surface of
the earth; those products can be acidic or basic nature whereas the Intrusive rocks are those that
can’t expose them on the surface of the earth instead they crystallize within the earth at some
depth. The volcanic formation of dark colored fine grained basaltic rock was observed near to
Fik town just before entrance on the left-hand side hill. This source may be the only rock
quarry source for crushed aggregate.
As it is generally stated in the above section, the region/general geology of the project area is
part of the south-eastern flank of the rift system. The regional geological constituents are those
Sedimentary and volcanic complexes composed of Mesozoic limestone and late Mesozoic
Gypsum to marl with minor basaltic deposits, with the Pliocene and quaternary residual
sediments being very much dominant.
The simplified stratigraphic succession of the geological constituent of the region is presented
in table below:
Chrono -stratigraphy Litho-stratigraphy
Tertiary Basaltic rock (basaltic dike)
Aptian - Albian Mustahil Series: Limestone, marls sandstone
Neocomian Main Gypsum: Shale gypsum, anhydrite, limestone
Upper Jurassic (portlandian) Gebredare series: limestone, marly limestone, shale
Upper Jurassic Uarandab series: Dark shale, marly limestone, gypsum
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limestone
Lower - Upper Jurassic Hamanlei series: Limestone, Oolitic limestone
2.1.3 Climatic condition of the project area
According to Ethiopian agro climatic zones with Hot and humid climatic features, the climatic
condition of the project area is dominantly “Semi-arid and Kolla” (about 80%) and the remaining
is (20%) agro climatic zone.
The project road is located in Somali Regional State, Somali is located in the east and southeast
of the country and lies between 4 and 11-degree north latitude and 40 and 48- degree east
longitude. Climate is arid in most parts of the region and weather is therefore hot in most parts
of the year, with annual mean temperatures ranging from 18oc to 450c. Annual rainfall ranges
from 150 mm in low lands to 660 mm in highlands. The road project falls in Kolla
agroecological zones. The project area has kola climatic condition from km 0+000 – km
90+000 with altitude ranging from 496 - 615 m.a.s.l. As per ERA Quality Manual Vol.4
Climatic Condition classification of the road project climate as shown below: -
Agro-Climatic Zone of the Project Weredas and the Route Corridor (Reference No.
28)
Location Type Climate Altitude (m) Temperature Rainfall
(oC) (mm)
Km 0+000 --- Km C2 Kola 500 --- 1170 20 -- 28 600 -- 1000
90+000
2.1.4 Water Resources
Water is a scarce resource in the road project area and people in the project area and its
surroundings depend mainly on ponds and unprotected shallow wells for meeting their water
supply requirements. The access to potable water supply is limited. An increase in the population
will further increase the already strained poor sources of water in the area. Moreover, with poor
accessibility to safe water, it is likely that there will be an increase in incidence of water related
diseases.
The contractors will require considerable volumes of water with various aspects of the works,
and these will probably be drawn from water courses adjacent to the road, where flows are
limited during the dry season. As wells and ponds are the main sources of potable water for the
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local people, the contractor is advised to develop his own water supply sources (like borehole or
pond source) for the road construction and the campsites requirements in order to avoid conflicts
with existing uses.
2.1.5 Land Use and Land Cover
Fig-Segeg Road project construction corridor is characterized by semi-arid climate and the
predominant land use and land cover along the existing road route are dense shrub land, which
covers more than 90% of the land cover along the route corridor. The predominant land use is
livestock production with very small-scale crop production areas at intervals. Other land use type
such as settlement and open bush land are also found but covers very small sections of the
corridor.
Picture-1: View of dominant land Use type around the road corridor
2.2BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT
2.2.1 Vegetation and Flora
The dominant vegetation type of the Fik – Segeg Road project corridor is characterized by dense
shrubs mainly covered with Acacia dominated bush- and shrub-land. Thus, the natural vegetation
in the area is mainly characterized by short bushes and shrubs most of which are up to 3m tall. It
is dominated by Acacia bushes and shrubs predominantly A. senegal. Other bushes and shrubs
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include Acacia tortilis, Sterculia africana, Dichrostachys cinerea, Ximenia americana,
Commiphora sp., Capparis sp., Solanum spp. etc. Picture 2 below depicts an example of this
vegetation type.
Picture-2: View of dominant Vegetation type around the road corridor
2.2.2 Wildlife/Fauna
There is no any protected wildlife area in Fik - Segeg Road project route corridor. However, the
less disturbed natural habitats in this lowland and semi-arid parts of the project area sustain a
number of wildlife species. The Woreda authorities and experts as well as local people
interviewed during the field visit indicated the occurrence of several mammalian species in the
route corridor. These include, Common jackal, Common warthog, Bush pig, Serval cat,
Abyssinian hare and Ground Squirrel. Particularly, common jackals and the antelope like small
hare, called ‘Inshu’ by locals are commonly seen here and there during the field visits.
2.2.3 National Park and Protected Areas
Ethiopia is making efforts to protect biodiversity and conserve resources through the creation of
protected parks, wildlife resources, and controlled hunting areas. The establishment of these
Conservation and Protection Areas has been one of the more farsighted and ecologically
beneficial occurrences in the country.
However, the project area is neither contiguous with nor in close proximity with any of the
nationally delineated parks nor protected areas.
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3 MAJOR ENVIRONNEMENTAL ISSUES
3.1 Quarry and Crasher Plant Site
The contractor has currently been developing a quarry site at few distance on the RHS at km
22+000 at which the crasher plant will also be installed there. Currently, the contractor is
clearing the area for quarry site. The crasher plant not yet installed.
The quarry site is located in a hilly area which is recommended for quarry site. At this initial
time no environmental issues observed.
The quarry is contagious with a seasonal river on the western side to which the impacts of
siltation, sedimentation and pollution due to the quarry activities will be hazardous to the river
during rainy season. In addition, the quarry site is surrounded by hills on the eastern and northern
side which will cause erosion during the rainy season again. Hence, the contractor shall device a
carful mitigation measure to protect the river from pollution and erosion protection measures
shall be designed and implemented.
Picture-3: Partial View of the major quarry site (RHS at km 22+000)
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3.2CAMP SITE
The contracter had already selected an area for camp site and started construction of the camp.
The camp site located at km 27+000 in the right-hand side (RHS). However, by considering the
dominant Wind direction in the area, it should have been located in the left- hand side (LHS) to
minimize the impact of dust on the camp facilities. Moreover, care should be taken in the
selection of Septic Tank site to minimize the impact of odor problem on the different facilities of
the camp.
3.3SOIL EROSION
Although project area is characterized by a semi-arid climatic condition with very small amount
and erratic annual rain fall (receives less than 800mm annual rain), there are still signs of soil
erosion in some sections of the road; particularly, sign of erosion was observed in different parts
of the road corridor at Km 2+700, 12+000, 19+600 and other parts of the alignment (see pictures
below). Hence, in spite of flat terrain dominated in the project corridor, soil erosion including
gully formation is one the problem in the area. As we observed, areas that are endowed with
unsuitable drainage systems along the existing road and devoid of vegetation cover are highly
prone to soil erosion.
Picture-4: View of soils exposed to erosion at road side, at about km 12+000 & 19+600
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Therefore, it is strongly recommended that the contractor shall design proper mitigation
measures in its environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) and implement accordingly.
3.4VEGETATION CLEARANCE
The dominant vegetation and land cover type of the Fik – Segeg Road project corridor is
characterized by dense shrubs mainly covered with Acacia dominated bush- and shrub-land. The
whole stretch has a gravel existing route which is very narrow and covered with dense shrub
vegetation on both sides of the existing road. It will be inevitable that extensive land clearing
will be one of the major activities to be carried out during the starting period of the construction.
Hence, the following mitigation measures shall be incorporated in the contractors ESMP so as to
minimize the impacts on biological environment during clearing.
i) Clearing of vegetation shall be restricted to the approved by engineer.
ii) Where trees and shrubs are encountered, they shall be replanted at a location to be
determined by the Engineer
iii) Prior to commencing clearing or earthworks, robust fencing and a gate shall be
erected in the vicinity of the Access road entrance to the Quarry site.
iv) Materials deemed as useful for vegetation such as logs, mulch and some topsoil
material shall be transported to the stockpile yard for rehabilitation.
v) Temporary stockpiles and exposed surfaces shall be immediately vegetated.
vi) Neighboring vegetation shall remain undisturbed; operations personnel will be
deterred from conducting any work outside of the fenced area.
vii) Spoil and other materials shall not be deposited in any vegetation area
viii) Where necessary, topsoil may be used to improve plant growth in vegetation area.
ix) No foreign material and overburden from clearing operations at the Quarry site shall
be abandoned in an area designated to be vegetated.
x) Induction shall be organized for all personnel working at the site on the importance of
avoiding any disturbance in the vegetated area.
xi) Signs shall be erected on the fence to make it clear that vegetated areas must be
disturbed or must not be accessed by unauthorized vehicles.
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xii) Vegetated area shall only be visited for vegetation, weed control, rubbish removal
and erosion control purposes.
xiii) Vegetation shall only be done using native plant species.
3.5AIR POLLUTION
As the project corridor is semi-arid with erratic rain fall, dust pollution will be one of the major
environmental issues during construction. Hence, the contractor shall develop a proper air
pollution management plan to addresses the potential air and noise quality impacts associated
with construction activities of the Road Project. Potential receptors in and around the project area
include construction workers, local residents and fauna. The purpose of this plan is therefore, to
facilitate the avoidance, remediation and mitigation of any adverse effects of emissions of air
pollution including dust and Greenhouse Gases (GHG) generated from the different construction
activities, and to promote proactive solutions to the control of emissions from the site.