First addendum to the environment impact assessment prepared for the proposed development of 7,000 social housing units at Hulhumale’ phase II

Abstract

The purpose of this document is to fulfil the requirements to get necessary environmental clearance from the Environmental Protection Agency to construct a temporary jetty at Hulhumale’ phase II. This jetty is required for the transportation of construction goods, equipment and machineries for the development of 7,000 social housing units at Hulhumale’ Phase II. EPA has approved the original EIA for the proposed development of social housing units on 22 September 2016. This addendum is required for the construction of the jetty. The proponent of this project is China State Construction Engineering Limited (CSCEC). The rationale for the proposed construction of the jetty is to facilitate the transportation of the construction goods and machineries to the project site. The project to develop 7,000 social housing units requires large-scale machineries, equipment and high quantities of construction materials, which will need to transported in bulk to the project site. Hence, the proponent has decided to construct a temporary jetty, which will have the capacity to moor a 5,000DWT vessel. The contractor for this project is CSCEC Limited and it is financed through bank loans. For the purpose of this project, HDC has allocated an area of 3,204.20 sqm for temporary loading and unloading of materials towards the western side of Hulhumale’ Phase II. HDC has also given permission to the proponent for the construction of the jetty. The project proposes to construct a jetty that will be divided into two parts. The first part will be allocated for wharf operation area (40 m wide) and the other part for temporary transfer stacking yard. The project will involve excavation to a depth of 3 m. During this process, 1,385 m3 of sand will be dredged that will be used for backfilling at the end of the jetty. The surface of the jetty will be backfilled with sand and the sides will be protected using sand bags. In addition, 30 cm thick packaged concrete will be laid as toe protection for the foundation bed. Project duration is estimated to be 2 months. The key laws and regulations applicable to this project are: Environmental Protection and Preservation Act, Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation 2012, sand and coral mining regulation and Dredging and Reclamation Regulation. In addition, this project requires approval from HDC. The existing environment of the project was assessed for the purpose of this addendum. Assessments conducted include marine water quality and marine assessment. Marine assessment showed that no significant fish life or coral colonies occur at the site. The area is mostly made up of a sandy bottom covered in thick patches of algae. Marine water quality assessment showed that water is turbid. Significant impacts of this project during construction phase of the project are the potential impact of greenhouse gas emissions, marine water turbidity during dredging and impact on groundwater and soil condition due to oil spillages and accidental leakages. There are cumulative impacts on the site due to recent extensive land reclamation in the area. The reef, water quality and shoreline has already been extensive modified. The main mitigation measures include carrying out construction activities during low tide hours and calm weather, carrying out the work in the shortest time frame possible. Mitigation measures also include, storing oil and chemicals in sealed containers, and training workers in spill prevention and cleanup, and designate responsible individuals. The “No Project” option was explored for this project. However given the importance of this project for the overall project, the plan is to go ahead with the project. The monitoring plan is designed to assess impacts to the marine environment and impacts to groundwater quality. The cost of monitoring is estimated to be between USD 1,000 and USD 2,000 per annum. The management plan for this project has been updated to include the key management requirements during construction of jetty. Stakeholders consulted for this project include, Environmental Protection Agency and Housing Development Corporation. EPA advised to undertake appropriate mitigation measures to prevent sedimentation. HDC emphasised to not use the temporary area given for the project for storing materials. They also advised to keep the vessels moving in the area to avoid traffic since the area has other jetties in operation. Both stakeholders highlighted that the jetty must be demobilized once the overall project is complete. The main conclusion of this report is to proceed with the project but after incorporating the mitigation measures proposed in this addendum. Safety during construction must be a priority.