Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Environmental Impact Assessment in Turkish Dam Planning

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Turkey's Water Policy

Abstract

By supplying water and generating hydroelectricity, dams play a prominent role in Turkey’s economic and social development. Hydroelectric energy generation, for instance, enjoys high priority in the domestic energy mix, and it factors as one of the core elements in Turkey’s climate mitigation strategy because it compares favourably with fossil energies in terms of carbon emissions. As the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSI) reasons: “(…) hydroelectric power is environment-friendly, clean, renewable, able to meet peak demands, highly efficient (over 90 percent), involves no fuel cost, is a balancer of energy prices, has a long life-span (200 years), its cost recovery is short-run (5-10 years) its operational costs are low (approximately 0.2 cent/kWh), and it is an indigenous source of energy which is (…) natural.”.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Http://www.dsi.gov.tr/english/service/enerjie.htm. Accessed 16 May 2008.

  2. 2.

    E.g. Hürriyet, Radikal, Taraf, and Zaman.

  3. 3.

    This article is based on a study carried out between February and May 2009 (Scheumann et al., forthcoming in 2011). Expropriation and resettlement were part of the study, but is not covered in this article.

  4. 4.

    For Ilisu Dam: http://www.dsi.gov.tr/ilisu/ilisu_yyp_eke.pdf; http://www.dsi.gov.tr/ilisu/coe_reposts.htm; for Yusufeli Dam: http://www.ilisu-wasserkraftwerk.com; http://www.dsi.gov.tr/english/yusufeli_report.htm. Accessed 8 April 2010.

  5. 5.

    Including dams with reservoirs and run-off the river type projects.

  6. 6.

    According to DSI, 24 dams have a generating capacity equal/larger than 100 MW www.dsi.gov.tr/. Accessed 23 March 2010.

  7. 7.

    According to OECD estimates, only Canada and Turkey have considerable not yet exploited potential (IEA 2008, 19).

  8. 8.

    The By-Law on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was prepared on the basis of Article 10 of Environment Law No. 2872 dated on 09 August 1983.

  9. 9.

    The environmental acquis communautaire describes the sum of all environment-related EU regulations that must be taken over by EU member states.

  10. 10.

    The water acquis comprises foremost the EU Water Framework Directive, the Urban Wastewater Directive, and the Directive of Protecting Waters against Nitrate Pollution from Agricultural Sources.

  11. 11.

    UNECE Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context, 1991.

  12. 12.

    UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters, 1998.

  13. 13.

    Http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eia/full-legal-text/9711.htm. Accessed 24 March 2010.

  14. 14.

    projects got environmental clearance (“EIA is positive”), one was not approved (“EIA is negative”).

  15. 15.

    Http://www2.cedgm.gov.tr/dosya/cedsonuckarar/cedsonuc.htm. Accessed 22 March 2010.

  16. 16.

    Http://www.dsi.gov.tr/. Accessed 21 November 2008.

  17. 17.

    TC Republic of Turkey, Official Gazette No: 26939, 7 July 2008, Provisional Article 3 (1): “As per the projects whose application projects have been approved, for which required approval, permit, license, or expropriation decision has been taken, which have been included in the investment program, or whose local zoning plans have been approved before the By-law on Environmental Impact Assessment published in the Official Gazette No 21489 dated 7 February 1993 and those with documented proof of production initiation and / or operation stage inception before this date the provisions of this Bylaw shall not apply […].” The EU EIA Directive too exempts projects from EIA requirements if they serve “national defense purposes” (Art 1 (4)), and if the Directive’s objectives “including that of supplying information, are achieved through the legislative process“ (Art 1 (5)).

  18. 18.

    Both the Environment Law and the EIA By-Law rule that the judicial path can be used if somebody is not satisfied with the decisions taken during the EIA process after having exhausted administrative appeal steps (OECD 2008, 167).

  19. 19.

    Danistay is the highest administrative court whose ruling is final in the sense that there is no other institution to appeal.

  20. 20.

    An EIA has not been undertaken according to the Istanbul Water Tribunal (2009).

  21. 21.

    Http://www2.cedgm.gov.tr/dosya/cedsonuckarar/cedsonuc.htm. Accessed 22 March 2010.

  22. 22.

    After approving a number of international agreements including the ratification of the Ramsar Convention in 1994, Turkey increased the number of wetlands classified as “Wetlands of International Importance” according to Ramsar criteria progressively to 135, of which 12 are designated Ramsar Sites (Karadeniz et al. 2009, 1108). In 2002, the MoEF issued the Regulation for the Protection of Wetlands (No. 25818, revised on 17 May 2005), set up a National Wetlands Commission and Provincial Local Wetlands Commissions, and prepared the National Wetlands Strategy 2003 - 2008. [23] Management plans are being developed for fourteen Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean under the Barcelona Convention of which the Goksu Delta under the Authority for the Protection of Special Areas is one.

  23. 23.

    Gunes and Elvan 2010, http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/ARTICLE/WFC/XII/0165-B2.HTM. Accessed 08 April 2010.

  24. 24.

    Most of them are run-off the river type.

  25. 25.

    Http://www.wirth-erkelenz.de/fileadmin/resources/pdf/Tunneling/Fullface_TBM/Ermenek_TUN12.pdf. Accessed 31 March 2010.

  26. 26.

    Other interviewees were less certain about this obligation, and it could not be verified whether there is a minimum in-stream requirement.

  27. 27.

    See Ferrari (2010, 81-86) for the Alara hydropower project.

  28. 28.

    Elektrik Isleri Etud Idaresi (Electrical Investigation Administration).

  29. 29.

    DSI/EIE Projelerinde Istenecek (On)Fizibilite Raporunda Yer Alacak Ana Basliklar, Bolum -7. Cevresel Etkiler (Genel).

  30. 30.

    According to the Turkish Constitution of 1982, water resources are vested in the State domain, and the government only can transfer / assign user rights. These transfers have inadequately been coined as “selling the rivers.” However, a subsequent problem of water use-right transfers is whether the state maintains control over private activities – one being monitoring the implementation of environmental requirements (see Baskan in this volume).

  31. 31.

    Yonetmelik Hidroelektrik Santrallarin Su Kullanim Anlasmasi, No. 25150, 26 June 2003, Madde 12, http://www.dsi.gov.tr/ska/yonetmelik_tamami.htm. Accessed 30 March 2010.

  32. 32.

    See for instance, the OECD’s Common Approaches, the International Hydropower Association’s hydropower sustainability assessment protocol, and the Equator Principles for the financial industry to manage social and environmental issues in project financing.

  33. 33.

    If EIAs are done on the request of e.g. ECAs, then they serve as advisory for mitigation means and are not part of a project’s environmental clearance process. Whether mitigation means are considered binding by the respective project developer and the authority is rather questionable, and depends on the arrangements agreed upon between ECAs, Turkish authorities and the project developer.

  34. 34.

    Http://www.oekb.at/de/unternehmen/Presse/pressetexte/Seiten/070709-ausstieg-ilisu.aspx. Accessed 08 April 2010.

References

  • Adem C (2005) Non-state actors and environmentalism. In: Adaman F, Arsel M (eds) Environmentalism in Turkey Between Democracy and Development? Ashgate Publ. Company, Aldershot, pp 71-86

    Google Scholar 

  • Aydin Z (2005) The state civil society, and environmentalism In: Adaman F, Arsel M (eds) Environmentalism in Turkey Between Democracy and Development? Ashgate Publ. Company, Company, Aldershot, pp 53-86

    Google Scholar 

  • BM Group (24 February, 6 March 2009, 18 March 2010) Personal communication, Ankara

    Google Scholar 

  • Caspary G (2009) Assessing, mitigating and monitoring environmental risks of large infrastructure projects in foreign finance decisions: the case of OECD country public financing for large dams in developing countries. Impact Assessment and project Appraisal, 27(1), March 2009:19-32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coskun A (2005) An evaluation of the environmental impact assessment system in Turkey. International Journal Environment and Sustainable Development. 4(1):47–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doga Dernegi (23 February 2009) Personal communication, Ankara

    Google Scholar 

  • DSI (2009) Water and DSI. 5th World Water Forum Istanbul, Bridging Divides for Water, Ankara

    Google Scholar 

  • DSI 6th Regional Directorate (2009) Personal communication, Adana

    Google Scholar 

  • Encon (2006) Yusufeli Dam and HEPP: Environmental Impact Assessment. Ankara

    Google Scholar 

  • Enerji Dunyasi (2008) Eylul. Enerji Dunyasi. www.enerji-dunyasi.com. Accessed 13 March 2010

  • European Commission (Commission of the European Communities) (2007) Turkey 2007 Progress Report. Brussels, 6 November, SEC(2007) 1436

    Google Scholar 

  • European Commission (Commission of the European Communities) (2009) Turkey 2009 Progress Report. Brussels, 14 October, SEC(2009) 1334/3

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferrari H (2010) Alara-Wasserkraftwerkprojekt Tuerkei – Ingenieurleistungen im Spannungsfeld des Machbaren. In: Schuettrumpf H (ed) Mitteilungen 158, 15. Deutsches Talsperrensymposium, Talsperren im Wandel, 14-16 April 2010, pp 81-86

    Google Scholar 

  • Gunes Y, Elvan OD (2010) The impact of statutory controversy on wetland degradation in Turkey. FAO. http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/ARTICLE/WFC/XII/0165-B2.HTM. Accessed 31 March 2010

  • Innanen S (2004) Environmental Impact Assessment in Turkey: capacity building for the European Union accession. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, 22(2): 141-151

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IEA (International Energy Agency) (2008) Deploying renewables. Principles for effective policies, in support of the G8 Plan of Action. OECD/IEA, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • IAIA (2010) International Association for Impact Assessment. http://www.iaia.org/. Accessed 7 June 2010

  • Istanbul Water Tribunal (2009) Case: Yusufeli Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant Project in the Coruh Valley. Handout, Istanbul Water Tribunal

    Google Scholar 

  • Izci R (2005) The impact of the European Union on environmental policy. In: Adaman F, Arsel M (eds) Environmentalism in Turkey Between Democracy and Development? Ashgate Publ. Company, Aldershot, pp 87-100

    Google Scholar 

  • Karadeniz N, Tiril A, Baylan E (2009) Wetland management in Turkey: problems, achievements and perspectives. African Journal of Agricultural Research, vol 4(11):1106-1119

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayor of Ermenek (6 March 2009) Personal communication, Ermenek

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayor of Yusufeli (19 March 2009) Personal communication, Yusufeli

    Google Scholar 

  • MoEF Balikesir (25 March 2009) Personal communication, Balikesir

    Google Scholar 

  • MoEF Sanliurfa (12 March 2009) Personal communication, Sanliurfa

    Google Scholar 

  • McCartney M (2009) Living with dams: managing the environmental impacts. Water Policy 11, Supplement 1 (200):121-139

    Google Scholar 

  • Mine O (2001) Challenge of Turkey in dam construction and hydroelectric energy potential development in the 21st century. Paper prepared for the World Energy Council, 18th Congress, Buenos Aires, October.

    Google Scholar 

  • MoEF EIA Department (March 2009) Personal communication, Ankara

    Google Scholar 

  • MoEF (2009) Ministry of Environment and Forestry. http://cevreorman.gov.tr. Accessed 15 May 2009

  • OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) (2008): Environmental performance reviews: Turkey. OECD Publishing, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheumann W, Baumann V, Mueller A, Mutschler D, Steiner S, Walenta T (2010) International standards for sustainable dam development: dynamics and conditions enhancing their implementation in Turkey. DIE Study. German Development Institute, Bonn

    Google Scholar 

  • Screening Report Turkey (2007) Chapter 27 – Environment, 22 June 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  • SPO (State Planning Organisation) (2001): National Programme for the Adoption of the Acquis. SPO, Ankara

    Google Scholar 

  • T.C. Republic of Turkey, Resmi Gazette, No. 26939, 7 July 2008, By-Law on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

    Google Scholar 

  • T.C. Republic of Turkey, Yönetmelik Hidroelektrik Santrallarin Su Kullanim Anlasmasi, No. 25150, 26 June 2003, Madde 12. http://www.dsi.gov.tr/ska/yonetmelik_tamami.htm. Accessed 30 March 2010.

  • Tigrek S (August 2010) Personal Communication, Middle East Technical University, Ankara

    Google Scholar 

  • TOBB (Turkiye Odalar ve Borsalar Birligi), http://www.tobb.org.tr/abm/taramaraporlari/Chapter%2027%20-%20Environment.pdf. Accessed 17 February 2010

  • Turgut N (2003) EIA with reference to the EU Directive. Environmental Policy and Law, 33 (3-4), 163-169

    Google Scholar 

  • TSKB (23 March 2009) Personal communication, Istanbul

    Google Scholar 

  • WCD (2001) Response to the Final Report of World Commission on Dams, ICOLD members – Turkey: General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSI). World Commission on Dams. http://www.dams.org/report/reaction/icold_turkey.htm. Accessed 15 May 2009

  • WWF Turkey (World Wide Fund for Nature Turkey) (2003) Ermenek Dam & Hydropower Project: Evaluation of ecological issues. Research and evaluation report, Istanbul

    Google Scholar 

  • WWF-Turkey (22 February 2009) Personal communication, Ankara

    Google Scholar 

  • Yucel M (March 2009) Personal communication, Cukurova University, Adana

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik, Bonn, Germany

    Waltina Scheumann, Vera Baumann, Anna Lena Mueller, Dennis Mutschler, Sylvia Steiner & Thomas Walenta

Authors
  1. Waltina Scheumann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Vera Baumann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Anna Lena Mueller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Dennis Mutschler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Sylvia Steiner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Thomas Walenta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Waltina Scheumann .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Adelphi Research GmbH, Caspar-Theyß-Str. 14 A, Berlin, 14193, Berlin, Germany

    Annika Kramer

  2. Okan University, International Relations Department, Istanbul, Turkey

    Aysegul Kibaroglu

  3. Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolit, Tulpenfeld 6, Bonn, 53113, Berlin, Germany

    Waltina Scheumann

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Scheumann, W., Baumann, V., Mueller, A.L., Mutschler, D., Steiner, S., Walenta, T. (2011). Environmental Impact Assessment in Turkish Dam Planning. In: Kramer, A., Kibaroglu, A., Scheumann, W. (eds) Turkey's Water Policy. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-19636-2_8

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation