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Item Environmental impact assessment for the construction of island waste management centers at HA. Maarandhoo, SH. Kaditheem, SH.Feydhoo and SH. Lhaimagu(2017-07) މޯލްޑިވުސް އެނާޖީރ އެންޑް އެންވައިރުމެންޓަލް ކޮންޕެނީ; Maldives Energy and Environmental CompanyThis Report highlights the results of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) carried out for the Development of Island Waste Management Centre (IWMC) and associated access road in Ha.Maarandhoo, Sh.Kanditheem, Sh.Feydhoo and Sh.Lhaimagu proposed by the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MEE). Development of IWMC is a component of a nationwide two tier waste management concept formulated by MEE to address the challenging waste management issue of the Maldives. The proposed two tier waste management system involves Island Level Waste Management (ILWM) and Regional Level Waste Management (RLWM). ILWM involves: 1. Sorting waste; 2. reducing volume of waste; 3. temporarily storing waste; and 4. composting 20-30% of organic waste at the IWMC. RLWM Involves, routine transport of waste from the IWMC’s of specified zones and managing the waste at the Regional Centre by 1. Sorting waste; 2. Incinerating waste; 3. landfilling rejects; and 4. composting up to 70-80% of the organic waste incoming from allocated zones. The nationwide waste management plan will be implemented according to the Saafu Raajje Waste Management Policy, which forms the basis of waste management framework and lays out the implementation strategy of the waste management plan. The goals of the nationwide waste management plan and policy are to: •Protect the environment and ensure health and wellbeing; •prevent pollution of natural environment and safeguard natural resources; and •promote best practices of waste management and utilise waste as a value addition. The project has been developed in line with these goals. The major components of the project include: 1. Land clearance (IWMC plot area and access road); 2. construction of IWMC; 3. equipping IWMC with relevant waste management machines; 4. operation of IWMC according to approved waste management plan and waste management framework; and 5. monitoring and adaptation of waste management plan/policy. Components one and four of the project will be undertaken by the respective island council. The councils shall prepare island level waste management plans in line with the waste management EIA for the construction of IWMC at Ha.Maarandhoo, Sh.Kanditheem, Sh.Feydhoo and Sh.Lhaimagu MEECO | xx policy and waste management regulation implemented by EPA. Components two, three and five will be undertaken by MEE. Since the proposed project in the above mentioned islands involve significant land clearance preparation of an EIA was commissioned by the EPA after screening the proposed project. The EIA Regulation 2012/R-27 of the Maldives states that projects carried out in the Maldives which require significant land clearance and removal of coconut palm trees (under Annex 4 bullets 8 of EIA 2012/R-27) will have to undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment prior to its construction and operation. Hence the EIA report is primarily aimed at capturing and presenting information needed to meet the legal requirements of both Environmental Protection and Preservation Act (4/93) and the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations of the Maldives. Major findings of this report are based on as much information as possible that could be gathered within the study time constraints, including field inspection of both the existing environment assessments and the features and possible effects of the planned activities. The assessment also included reviewing of virtually the same types of works and methods that will be used at project islands and review of actual effects arising from their construction and operation in very similar island environments. Stakeholder consultations undertaken with the island councils and public was used when assessing the existing waste management situation of the island and alternatives of the project. The following observations and findings were made for the project islands based on field surveys and data analysis: Ha.Maarandhoo – The island did not have a proper waste management system. Existing waste management practices have led to the pollution of island. The proposed IWMC plot is located on the eastern side of the island and consists of a coconut grove. There is no access road to the proposed area hence a significant part of the coconut grove will have to be cleared. Total number of trees cleared to prepare the site was determined to be 127. Nearest public areas to the site are residential houses. There were no environmentally sensitive or protected sites close to the proposed area are located at the distance recommended by EPA. Alternative site analysis showed that the alternative location at the northern side of the island was more preferred compared to the proposed area based on evaluation of impacts arising from site location (See Section 8.2.1 for details). Sh.Kanditheem – The island did not have a proper waste management system. Existing waste management practices have led to the pollution of island. The proposed IWMC plot is located on the northeastern side of the island and consists of mixed vegetation dominated by privately owned palm trees. There is no access road to the proposed area hence a significant area of vegetation will have to be cleared. Total number of trees cleared to prepare the site was determined to be 161 Nearest public areas to the site are residential lands located at the distance recommended by EPA. There were no environmentally sensitive or protected sites that will be directly affected by the project. However, a significant Bruguiera cylindrica forest was located west of the IWMC site (See Section 5.6.5 B)for details). Alternative site analysis showed that the proposed location scored the highest (See Section 8.2.2 for details). Sh.Feydhoo – The island did not have a proper waste management system. Existing waste management practices have led to the pollution of island. The proposed IWMC plot (750m2) is located on the southwestern side of the island and consists of mixed vegetation dominated by privately owned palm There is no access road to the proposed area hence a significant area of vegetation will have to be cleared. Total number of trees cleared to prepare the site was determined to be 137. Nearest public areas to the site are residential lands which are located at the distance recommended by EPA. The proposed area has an altered small patch of wetland that is being disintegrated which will have a direct impact during construction phase (See Section 5.6.5 A for details). Alternative site analysis showed that the proposed location scored the highest (See Section 8.2.1 for details). Sh.Lhaimagu – The island did not have a proper waste management system. Existing waste management practices have led to the pollution of island. The proposed IWMC plot (700m2) is located on the southern side of the island and consists of privately owned palm trees. There is no access road to the proposed area hence a significant area of vegetation will have to be cleared. Total number of trees cleared to prepare the site was determined to be 219. Nearest public areas to the site is the public school which is located at the distance recommended by EPA. The proposed area does not have environmental sensitive or protected area. Alternative site analysis showed that the proposed location scored the highest (See Section 8.2.4 for details). The study has identified a number of potential adverse effects arising out of the project. The study also notes that it is during the developmental phase of the project that will have the most significant impacts as opposed to the operational phase of the project. There are factors which could cumulate into major negative impacts during the operational phase unless proper mitigation and management is not implemented. The assessment has not identified any negative effects of national or regional importance and will not result in the loss of nationally endangered or globally endangered species as a result of the project. The assessment identified the following activities of the project to have impacts on the environmental receptors (See section 8 for details). Construction phase: 1. Settlement of workers: evaluated to be a minor impact activity; 2. Site demarcation and fencing: evaluated to be a minor impact activity; 3. Material storage: evaluated to be a minor impact activity; 4. Land clearance: evaluated to be a major impact activity; 5. IWMC construction: evaluated to be a moderate impact activity; 6. Transportation of trees, waste etc: evaluated to be a moderate impact activity; 7. Waste generation: evaluated to be a moderate impact activity; and 8. Resource consumption (Waster, Electricity and Sewerage): evaluated to be a minor impact activity. Operational phase: 1. Waste collection and transportation: A major activity of IWM. Apart from Ha.Maarandhoo the other islands do not have a local waste management plan; 2. Waste sorting, separating and compost making: The biggest component of IWM. If carried out as per the waste management concept plan, this activity would result in the most positive impacts. However, based on fair assessment of the existing condition, this activity was observed to have the highest potential for failure which would result in major negative impacts; 3. Waste generation: considered a minor impact activity; 4. Resource consumption (water/electricity): considered a minor impact activity; The direct footprint area in all the islands is localized only on land and much of the roads are concentrated in the area where introduced coconut grove is found. Within this area, the biodiversity richness was observed low since much of the area has been utilized for monoculture of coconut palms. Flora and fauna enclosed within the direct impact boundary will be effected by construction activities. Nesting areas for birds and other fauna will be effected. Habitat fragmentation and permanent change to the existing island ecosystem will occur as a result. Removal of vegetation will also affect the net carbon balance as vegetation act as a carbon sink. Noise generated from these activities are also envisaged to have a direct impact on the biodiversity. Significant volumes of yard waste will be produced during the site clearance works. The island has no waste management system and therefore additional waste created if left on the island will have multiple direct and indirect impacts on the island. During the, operational phase of the project management of waste at the IWMC is considered to have numerous impacts which include emission of GHG, smell/odor impacts and health impacts. These arise from compost pile, sorting activities and volume reduction activities. There is a high risk of accidents and injuries during the operational phase of the IWMC. Due to the volume of incoming organic waste the risk of running out of storage capacity is imminent during the operational phase of the IWMC if not managed properly. This would lead to significant cumulative negative impacts, as a result of burning waste at the IWMC. Continued burning of waste could potentially convert the IWMC into a dumpsite resulting in loss of investment. It would also impede the progress of the waste management framework of the country. However, if the waste management plan is implemented accordingly the overall impact of IWMC during the operational phase will be positive. It would create job opportunities and new markets which would develop the local economies. As a practical and a reasonable mitigation measure to minimize the impacts arising from removal of large number of trees, translocating and replanting trees have been proposed (see Section 8.5 for details). Trees specially coconut palm trees which make up 85-90% of vegetation at project sites, shall be encouraged to be translocated to another island. Due to numerous challenges faced by the island councils to undertake land clearance and translocation of trees, the report proposes to procure parties interested in buying and relocating surveyed trees (See Section 8.5.2 A for details). Procurement announcement shall be advertised as widely as possible. Evaluation shall be undertaken as described in the report. Except when all options to relocate trees have been exhausted only the decision to cutting down of a tree for timber or any other use shall be considered. Hence it is strongly recommended to give the highest priority to transplanting trees as an impact mitigation measure. The volume of waste that is expected from land clearance is closely linked to the number of trees that can be salvaged from those that get uprooted. Without a robust tree translocation plan it is believed over 163 tons of yard waste will be generated from all the islands. This would require costly long distance transportation from project islands to Thilafushi. With the proposed mitigation measures combined with burning of dried yard waste requiring transportation could be significantly reduced. During the operational phase best practices in compost management, together with strict health safety guidelines, emergency planning and implementation of monitoring/management program have been recommended to mitigate noise/odour impacts, avoid injuries and reduce carbon footprint. In order to address the issue of organic waste accumulation at the site, the assessment proposes to install 660 L waste bins at the IWMC. Based on size of the IWMC at the project islands, a maximum of 1-2 week of organic waste can be stored at the project islands using such bins (See Section 2.3.2 for details). Hence it is recommended to schedule waste collection trips more frequently for islands that have a larger population. Due to the project being located in inhabited islands, negative social impacts arising as a direct consequence of the Project have been found to be moderate. Major activities of the project having a direct impact on local stakeholders include land clearance which involve removal of privately owned trees. Cumulative negative impacts have been envisaged during operational phase due to poor management of the IWMC which can result in smell/odour impacts to nearby public areas. Hence the monitoring plan of the project is designed to address the constructional and operational phase impacts by identifying assessable indicators and assigning relevant stakeholders to prepare and assess the outcome of these indicators. The management plan of the IWMC is designed based on adaptability from feedback provided by different levels of management. This is to ensure that cumulative negative impacts do not exceed to a level that could disrupt the proposed waste management system (See Section 10 for details of monitoring and management plan). On the basis that mitigation measured proposed in this EIA report will be implemented by proponent and the robust environmental monitoring plan suggested in the report will be fully taken into consideration and the recommendations set forth in the report will be duly considered, it is concluded that the benefits of the planned Island Level Waste Management when implemented will substantially outweigh its imposition on the environment.Item Environmental impact assessment for the construction of island waste management centers at HA. Uligamu(2017-08) މޯލްޑިވުސް އެނާޖީރ އެންޑް އެންވައިރުމެންޓަލް ކޮންޕެނީ; Maldives Energy and Environmental CompanyThis Report highlights the results of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) carried out for the Development of Island Waste Management Centre (IWMC) and associated access road in Ha. Uligam proposed by the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MEE). Development of IWMC is a component of a nationwide two tier waste management concept formulated by MEE to address the challenging waste management issue of the Maldives. The proposed two tier waste management system involves Island Level Waste Management (ILWM) and Regional Level Waste Management (RLWM). ILWM involves: 1. Sorting waste; 2. reducing volume of waste; 3. temporarily storing waste; and 4. composting 20-30% of organic waste at the IWMC. RLWM Involves, routine transport of waste from the IWMC’s of specified zones and managing the waste at the Regional Centre by 1. Sorting waste; 2. Incinerating waste; 3. landfilling rejects; and 4. composting up to 70-80% of the organic waste incoming from allocated zones. The nationwide waste management plan will be implemented according to the Saafu Raajje Waste Management Policy, which forms the basis of waste management framework and lays out the implementation strategy of the waste management plan. The goals of the nationwide waste management plan and policy are to: •Protect the environment and ensure health and wellbeing; •prevent pollution of natural environment and safeguard natural resources; and •promote best practices of waste management and utilise waste as a value addition. The project has been developed in line with these goals. The major components of the project include: 1. Land clearance (IWMC plot area and access road); 2. construction of IWMC; 3. equipping IWMC with relevant waste management machines; 4. operation of IWMC according to approved waste management plan and waste management framework; and 5. monitoring and adaptation of waste management plan/policy. Components one and four of the project will be undertaken by the respective island council. The councils shall prepare island level waste management plans in line with the waste management policy and waste management regulation implemented by EPA. Components two, three and five will be undertaken by MEE. Since the proposed project in the above mentioned island involve significant land clearance preparation of an EIA was commissioned by the EPA after screening the proposed project. The EIA Regulation 2012/R-27 of the Maldives states that projects carried out in the Maldives which require significant land clearance and removal of coconut palm trees (under Annex 4 bullets 8 of EIA 2012/R-27) will have to undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment prior to its construction and operation. Hence the EIA report is primarily aimed at capturing and presenting information needed to meet the legal requirements of both Environmental Protection and Preservation Act (4/93) and the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations of the Maldives. Major findings of this report are based on as much information as possible that could be gathered within the study time constraints, including field inspection of both the existing environment assessments and the features and possible effects of the planned activities. The assessment also included reviewing of virtually the same types of works and methods that will be used at project island and review of actual effects arising from their construction and operation in very similar island environments. Stakeholder consultations undertaken with the island councils and public was used when assessing the existing waste management situation of the island and alternatives of the project. The following observations and findings were made for the project island based on field surveys and data analysis: Ha.Uligam – The island did not have a proper waste management system. Existing waste management practices have led to the pollution of island. The proposed IWMC plot is located on the northern side of the island and consists weeds shrubs and small bush type trees. The area did not have coconut palms or significantly large tress. There is an access road to the proposed area, however a minor road shall be cleared to access the IWMC. There are nor large trees which will have to be removed at the proposed site. Nearest public areas to the site are the football field and public school. There were no environmentally sensitive or protected sites close to the proposed area. All residential, public and environmental sites are located at the distance recommended by EPA. Alternative site analysis showed that the alternative location at the southern side of the island was more preferred compared to the proposed area based on evaluation of impacts arising from site location. The study has identified a number of potential adverse effects arising out of the project. The study also notes that the developmental phase and operational phase of the project will have equally significant impacts. There are factors which could cumulate into major negative impacts during the operational phase unless proper mitigation and management is not implemented. The assessment has not identified any negative effects of national or regional importance and will not result in the loss of nationally endangered or globally endangered species as a result of the project. The assessment identified the following activities of the project to have impacts on the environmental receptors. Construction phase: 1. Settlement of workers: evaluated to be a minor impact activity; 2. Site demarcation and fencing: evaluated to be a minor impact activity; 3. Material storage: evaluated to be a minor impact activity; 4. Land clearance: evaluated to be a major impact activity; EIA for the construction of IWMC at Ha.Uligam MEECO | xix 5. IWMC construction: evaluated to be a moderate impact activity; 6. Transportation of trees, waste etc: evaluated to be a moderate impact activity; 7. Waste generation: evaluated to be a moderate impact activity; and 8. Resource consumption (Waster, Electricity and Sewerage): evaluated to be a minor impact activity. Operational phase: 1. Waste collection and transportation: A major activity of IWM. Ha.Uligam has a draft waste management plan prepared which has yet to be approved 2. Waste sorting, separating and compost making: The biggest component of IWM. If carried out as per the waste management concept plan, this activity would result in the most positive impacts. However, based on fair assessment of the existing condition, this activity was observed to have the highest potential for failure which would result in major negative impacts; 3. Waste generation: considered a minor impact activity; 4. Resource consumption (water/electricity): considered a minor impact activity; The direct footprint area in Uligam is localized only on land Within this area, the biodiversity richness was observed low since much of the area has been utilized for the wind turbine project. Flora and fauna enclosed within the direct impact boundary will be effected by construction activities. Nesting areas for birds and other fauna will be effected. Habitat fragmentation and permanent change to the existing island ecosystem will occur as a result. Removal of vegetation will also affect the net carbon balance as vegetation act as a carbon sink. Noise generated from these activities are also envisaged to have a direct impact on the biodiversity. Significant volumes of yard waste will be produced during the site clearance works. The island has no waste management system and therefore additional waste created if left on the island will have multiple direct and indirect impacts on the island. During the, operational phase of the project management of waste at the IWMC is considered to have numerous impacts which include emission of GHG, smell/odor impacts and health impacts. These arise from compost pile, sorting activities and volume reduction activities. There is a high risk of accidents and injuries during the operational phase of the IWMC. Due to the volume of incoming organic waste the risk of running out of storage capacity is imminent during the operational phase of the IWMC if not managed properly. This would lead to significant cumulative negative impacts, as a result of burning waste at the IWMC. Continued burning of waste could potentially convert the IWMC into a dumpsite resulting in loss of investment. It would also impede the progress of the waste management framework of the country. However, if the waste management plan is implemented accordingly the overall impact of IWMC during the operational phase will be positive. It would create job opportunities and new markets which would develop the local economies. As a practical and a reasonable mitigation measure to minimize the impacts arising from removal of vegetation, translocating and replanting trees have been proposed (see Section 8.5 for details). Trees at project site, shall be encouraged to be translocated within the island or to other islands. Due to numerous challenges faced by the island council to undertake land clearance and translocation of trees, the report also proposes to procure parties interested in buying and relocating trees (See Section 8.5.2 A for details). Procurement announcement shall be advertised as widely as possible. Evaluation shall be undertaken as described in the report. Except when all options to relocate treeshave been exhausted only the decision to cutting down of a tree for timber or any other use shall be considered. Hence it is strongly recommended to give the highest priority to transplanting trees as an impact mitigation measure. The volume of waste that is expected from land clearance is closely linked to the number of trees that can be salvaged from those that get uprooted. Without a robust tree translocation plan it is believed that up to 5-10 tons of waste will be generated from the island. This would require costly long distance transportation from project island to Thilafushi. With the proposed mitigation measures combined with burning of dried yard waste, waste requiring transportation could be significantly reduced. During the operational phase best practices in compost management, together with strict health/ safety guidelines, emergency planning and implementation of monitoring/management program have been recommended to mitigate noise/odour impacts, avoid injuries and reduce carbon footprint. In order to address the issue of organic waste accumulation at the site, the assessment proposes to install 660 L waste bins at the IWMC. Based on size and population of the IWMC at the project island, a maximum of 1-2 week of organic waste can be stored at the project island using such bins (See Section 2.3.2 for details). Hence it is recommended to schedule waste collection trips more frequently for islands based on population size. Due to the project being located in an inhabited island, negative social impacts arising as a direct consequence of the Project during construction phase have been found to be minor. The project does not involve removal of privately owned palm trees from coconut groves. Cumulative negative impacts have been envisaged during operational phase due to poor management of the IWMC which can result in smell/odour impacts to nearby public areas. Hence the monitoring plan of the project is designed to address the constructional and operational phase impacts by identifying assessable indicators and assigning relevant stakeholders to prepare and assess the outcome of these indicators. The management plan of the IWMC is designed based on adaptability from feedback provided by different levels of management. This is to ensure that cumulative negative impacts do not exceed to a level that could disrupt the proposed waste management system. On the basis that mitigation measures proposed in this EIA report will be implemented by proponent and the robust environmental monitoring plan suggested in the report will be fully taken into consideration and the recommendations set forth in the report will be duly considered, it is concluded that the benefits of the planned Island Level Waste Management when implemented will substantially outweigh its imposition on the environment.Item Environmental management plan for the establishment of island waste management center in HA. Muraidhoo, HA. Thakandhoo, HA. Molhadhoo, HDH. Finey, HDH. Hirimaradhoo, HDH, Kurinbi and HDH. Vaikaradhoo(2017-08) މޯލްޑިވުސް އެނާޖީރ އެންޑް އެންވައިރުމެންޓަލް ކޮންޕެނީ; Maldives Energy and Environmental Company1. The Ministry of Environment and Energy has proposed a project to establish an Island Waste Management Centre (IWMC) in nineteen (19) islands of Zone One (Haa Alif, Haa Dhaal and Shaviyani) in order to manage waste generated, on an island level. This project is funded by the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) under the “Provision of Water Supply, Sanitation and Solid Waste Management Project”. The proponent has requested consultancy services of MEECO for the preparation of an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for the proposed project. Of the nineteen (19) islands. Maldives Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) screening process resulted in 14 islands being classified as requiring an EMP. This EMP includes 7 of the 14 islands, namely HA.Muraidhoo, HA. Molhadhoo, HA. Thakandhoo, HDH. Hirimaradhoo, HDH. Finey, HDH. Kurinbi and HDH. Vaikaradhoo. 2. Current state of waste management in the project islands are as follows: HA. Muraidhoo There is currently no waste management system in place in HA. Muraidhoo. No area has been demarcated or established to dispose of waste. Therefore, residents have been dumping waste at the periphery of the residential zones. These waste include plastic, organic waste, metals, and glass. Kitchen waste is thrown on the beach areas around the island. Along with the kitchen waste, metal cans and glassware are also dumped on the beaches. Nappies have been buried at the western beach of the island. The Island Council of Muraidhoo has developed a Waste Management Plan (WMP) in 2017 for the subsequent 5 years. The WMP has not been approved by the EPA as of date. HA. Thakandhoo There is currently no waste management system in place in HA. Thakandhoo. In 2014, the Island Council cleared two areas on both the northern and southern end of the island to be used as dumpsites. While there was cooperation within some residents of the island, the two areas established for waste dumping are unused as of today. This was mainly due to the lack of a budget and waste management equipment, in addition to a lack of cooperation from the residents. Therefore, residents have been disposing waste at the periphery of the residential zones. HA. Thakandhoo Island Council has formulated a Waste Management Plan (WMP) in 2017 for the next five years. The WMP has been approved by the EPA. HA. Molhadhoo Waste is currently dumped at one specified plot of land located 250m to the east of the islands residential zones. This plot is located 160m to the west islands wetlands. There is currently no waste management system with the lack of a waste collection service or staff at the dumpsite to handle waste sorting and disposal. Locals transport their waste to the designated area themselves, mostly in wheel barrows. The area demarcated for dumping waste is managed by the Council. Waste is sorted at the dumpsite as locals follow the Council’s guidelines while dumping waste, with metal and construction waste, yard waste and sanitary waste dumped separately. Organic kitchen waste is regularly dumped to the sea with no specific areas allocated for this purpose. Sanitary wastes are buried and covered with sand in a ditch at the existing dumpsite, when the ditch is full the waste inside is burned and covered with sand reducing the volume of waste in the plot so that it can be used again. The island does not have an established Waste Management Plan (WMP) as of yet. During field visit, the Council highlighted that the WMP is in the drafting stage HDH. Finey An area has been cleared in HDh. Finey to dump the waste. The area is currently next to the proposed IWMC site, with part of the footprint overlapping. The dump site is not fenced off. It was observed on the field visit that there was an attempt to separate waste types using sign boards. According to the Island Council, this was attempted during 2016. Although the separation has been attempted, it was noticed that due to lack of any waste management equipment or machinery, the stockpiles quickly became difficult to manage due to the sheer volume. Putrescible wastes such as kitchen wastes are not dumped in this area, and as is the norm in majority of the islands without a waste management system, they are dumped at certain beach areas. Even though a dumpsite has been allocated by the Council, biodegradable wastes such as green wastes are still burnt in some areas of the island. HDh. Finey currently has no Waste Management Plan formulated as of the date of visit. HDH. Hirimaradhoo No area has been demarcated or established to dispose of waste. Waste has been dumped in places such as the area south of the football ground, and a considerable amount of tree trunks have been dumped at the periphery of the south-eastern beach area. Kitchen waste is thrown on the beach areas around the island. Along with the kitchen waste, metal cans and glassware are also dumped on the beaches. The Island Council has formulated a Waste Management Plan (WMP) in 2017 for the next five years, although it has not been approved by the EPA as of date. HDH. Kurinbi The island currently has an Island Waste Management Center (IWMC), which was established during 2013. Although the infrastructure is present, the island currently has no equipment or machinery to manage the waste generated within the island. Waste such as plastics and metals cannot be reduced in volume, therefore the unmanaged waste is stockpiled inside the IWMC. Other types of (biodegradable) waste is burnt regularly near the IWMC. Waste is burnt every week except on Saturdays and Sundays. The residue from the burning is then taken and disposed of near the beach. Nappies are burnt in an enclosed container along with dry wastes. Composting was attempted previously, and the IWMC workers report that 6 bags (25 kg each) of compost was produced in 4 months. HDH Kurinbi Island Council formulated a Waste Management Plan on 23 November 2015. The WMP was not approved by EPA at the time of visit HDH. Vaikaradhoo Vaikaradhoo Council has set guidelines for disposal of waste, and waste disposal is done on a set schedule on allocated days. It was noted that a minority do not follow these guidelines. Waste is dumped at a demarcated dumpsite, but there are no facilities within it, therefore the island faces difficulty in burning and reduction of waste. Kitchen waste is dumped at the coastal area. The current dumpsite was constructed under a UNDP project by Vaikaradhoo Il’haaru Jamiyya. The waste brought to the dumpsite is currently separated and stockpiled inside the dump site. The Island Council has allocated staff to conduct the separation, stockpiling and burning of waste in the dumpsite. Currently, there is no mechanism set up to transport unmanaged waste from the island. HDH. Vaikaradhoo has formulated a Waste Management Plan (WMP) on 29 November 2016 for a period of 5 years. The WMP was not approved by EPA at the time of visit. 3. The project locations and site conditions for the islands are as follows: HA. Muraidhoo The proposed site for the construction of IWMC is located in the southern region of Muraidhoo. The site has been largely cleared of vegetation except for a few shrubs and young beach hibiscus shoots, and is accessible by the main road “Nala Magu” stretching from the harbour area towards the southern end of the island. The site is 26 m south of the recreational area of Muraidhoo, while the nearest coastal vegetation is at distance of 31 m from the site. The nearest residential area of the island is 215 m away from the site. HA. Thakandhoo The project site is located north of the residential area at 6°50'46.96"N, 72°59'42.17"E. An unpaved access path is present which connects to the residential areas from the western side. The project footprint falls on an area which includes 7 mature palm trees in addition to young vegetation including approximately 15 young palm trees and 2 juvenile palms. In addition to these, the site also contains sea lettuce and padanus shrubs. The site is 49 m from the closest coastal vegetation belt, and 73 m from the nearest residential area, which fits into the buffer zone recommended by the EPA. However, it should be noted that the site is approximately 10- 15 m away from the wetlands in the north of the island, and therefore adjustment of the proposed site location is proposed to ensure at least a 15 m buffer. HA. Molhadhoo An area of 1000 sqm has been cleared for the construction of IWMC by the council. The plot is located at the south western side of the island. 500 sqm is the recommended size for the IWMC with regard to island’s population. The site is accessible directly from the island’s main road and it has been cleared of all vegetation. The closest residential area is at a distance of 99 m from the site. The vegetation line of the island is 52 m from the site. There is an empty plot of 4800 sqm next to the site which has been proposed to be leased out and used for industrial purposes. The council highlighted that this plot could also be used to construct an extension for the IWMC of the need arises in the future. HDH. Finey The proposed IWMC is located in the southwestern side of the island. The site is accessible by a main road stretching north to south through the Island. The site allocated has an area of 25 m by 25 m. The site location has been chosen in order to reduce the impact of odour due to monsoonal winds and proximity to residential locations. The project site has a buffer of 300+ m from the residential as well as the recreational areas, while the site is approximately 290 m from the wetlands, and 90 m from the coastal vegetation belt. HDH. Hirimaradhoo The proposed site is located in the southern region of HDH Hirimaradhoo. The site has been cleared and has no vegetation, and is accessible by the road “Mirihi Magu” The site is 138 m south of the recreational area of Hirimaradhoo, while the nearest coastal vegetation line is at distance of 49 m from the site. The nearest residential area of the island is 120+ m away from the site. HDH. Kurinbi HDh. Kurinbi currently has an IWMC constructed in the island. The Island Waste Management Centre (IWMC) infrastructure is located in the eastern side of the island. The site is accessible by a cleared road. The site complies with the EPA recommended buffers for the coastal vegetation (37 m), nearest freshwater well (114 m), nearest recreational / public area (132 m), wetlands (160+ m) and residential areas (165 m). HDH. Vaikaradhoo The project site is located in the south of HDH. Vaikaradhoo. Access roads are present on both sides of the site. The site is located next to the current waste dumpsite used in the island. The site has been cleared by the Island Council. Therefore, no vegetation, mature or young, is present on site. The site is at a distance of 57 m from the closest vegetation line, and the closest residential area is 130 m from the site. 4. The main activities involving the construction of the IWMC include shallow excavation, substructure and superstructure works as well as masonry works. The proposed design of the IWMC requires a shallow foundation due to the structure being a single story structure. After the structural works are done, masonry, plastering, roofing works are completed prior to the addition of the services components such as electricity and plumbing. The construction phase of the project is expected to be completed within 10 weeks. The IWMC is made up of an equipment room, and separate areas to store metal waste, paper and cardboard, plastic waste, glass waste as well as hazardous waste. 5. The operational phase of the project includes waste collection from households, institutions, and public spaces, sorting, volume reduction and stockpiling of recyclables, composting of organics, and storage of hazardous waste. The IWMC has a capacity of 39 m3 for composting, and approximately 7.9 m3 capacity compartments for glass, plastic, metals and hazardous wastes. 6. Key activities anticipated to have a negative impact during construction phase are: Table 2: Impacts envisaged during construction phase and proposed mitigations Activity Main Impacts Major mitigations Workers Influx and Settlement Impacts on flora and fauna Orient workers on sensitive sites, against catching birds and animals, damage to flora, workforce kept at minimum, littering prohibited. Impacts on resource use Encourage choosing of local contractors, Sociocultural impacts Encourage choosing of local contractors, ensure work permits, worker orientation. Transportation of Materials Marine and terrestrial pollution Cleaning of litter, hazardous waste management and spill kits, secure loads. GHG Emissions Obtain materials from closest source, buy materials in bulk, reduce wastage, use of well serviced, efficient, vehicles conforming to regulations. Roads deterioration Include in agreement to repair any damages after project, Use the shortest route for transportation, only the required amount and size vehicles shall be used. Accidents & Injuries Licensed drivers, avoid transportation at night, secure loads being transferred. Site Demarcation and Fencing Impacts on flora and fauna Surveyors understand scope of works, qualified surveyors, accurate equipment used. Environmental Management Plan for Establishment of IWMC 7 Islands Zone 1 Page 10 Accidents & Injuries Protective clothing, works done during daytime, insect repellent to be available Site clearing and earthworks Loss of vegetation Setting out survey, demarcate the plot, fence off, vegetation targeted for removal marked Terrestrial pollution Excavated material used as backfilling and grading. Accidents & Injuries Licensed machine operators, secure loads being transferred. Noise Provide PPE equipment, use well serviced plant and machinery, reduce vehicle idling time. Construction Material storage Equipment fenced off, no new facilities developed, National Fire Code followed for handling fuel, firefighting equipments available. Terrestrial pollution Temporary storage area set onsite, cleaning of litter, hazardous waste and spill kits, transfer all waste to Thilafushi Noise Provide PPE equipment, use well serviced plant and machinery, reduce vehicle idling time. Impacts on flora and fauna Setting out survey, demarcate the plot, fence off site. Accidents & Injuries Occupational safety plan, orientation, PPE provided. Waste Generation Marine and terrestrial pollution Waste management plan followed, follow 3R steps, municipal and sanitary waste managed, waste transported to Thilafushi after works are completed. Resource Use Water Initiate rainwater harvesting and storage, practice water conservation. Electricity consumption Use well maintained and efficient equipment The impacts identified for the construction phase were all identified to be minor due to the scale of the works of the project. Key activities anticipated to have a negative impact during operation phase were: Table 3: Impacts envisaged during operational phase and proposed mitigations Activity Main Impacts Major mitigations Waste collection and transportation Terrestrial pollution Covered vehicles, littering is prohibited and impose penalties on littering. Climate impacts Regularly service vehicles. Restrict use of vehicles only during stated time in WMP Environmental Management Plan for Establishment of IWMC 7 Islands Zone 1 Page 11 Accidents and injuries Occupational safety plan, orientation, well trained personnel to use vehicles. Air quality Well serviced vehicles, vehicle covered, spray water to suppress dust. Waste management activities (sorting, reduction and composting) Health impacts Regular transport of unmanaged waste to a central waste management facility, provision of temporary storage for untransported waste, reduction of bio aerosol release to the atmosphere by best practices, siting of IWMC, provide protective clothing to workers. Groundwater impacts HDPE linings provided through design, leachate collection system, usage of windrow covers, waste not stockpiled on the ground. Amenity impacts Prohibit littering within the premises and en route to the site on the island, impose penalties for littering, regular cleaning and supervision of the IWMC, keep stockpiles of organics low, keep pest and vermin population low. Air quality impacts Cover putrescible wastes, follow composting best practices Fire hazards Formulate fire management plan, provide firefighting equipment and training, Naked flames shall not be allowed at IWMC, placing awareness signs at the premises. Noise and vibration impacts Provide PPE, equipment well maintained and use scheduled Accidents and injuries Formulate occupational safety plan, worker training, provide PPE, use licensed drivers and operators, placing a first aid kit at IWMC. Waste generation Groundwater pollution Hazardous waste managed in closed containers, spill kits provided. Terrestrial pollution Prohibit eating and cooking in IWMC Resource consumption Water Ensure compost windrow is shaded during dry periods, use a spray hose to decrease water consumption, Electricity consumption Ensure the equipment are properly serviced and maintained, use the shredders and compactors under a plan Positive impacts are expected from the operation of the IWMC, which includes positive impacts to the overall health and well-being of the island community, and positive impacts on the groundwater, terrestrial and marine environment. The local economy is also envisaged to have such impacts due to the generation of jobs, business opportunities through transportation of waste, and income from selling of compost, and other recyclable materials such as metals, glass and plastics. 7. It is expected that approximately 20 - 30% of the waste generated within the islands can be managed at the IWMC. Therefore in order to avoid the IWMCs reaching capacity for storage and composting, it is recommended to conduct regular trips to transport unmanaged waste to a central waste management facility. In contingency for cases where transportation is delayed, it is recommended to provide 660 L wheelie bins within the premises to temporarily store the unmanaged organic waste. Within the given size of the IWMCs, 25 nos. of wheelie bins can be kept on site, which can store unmanaged organic waste while alternative transportation options are arranged. 8. It should be noted that without the proper assistance, financially (in terms of budgetary allowances) and technically (in terms of provision of trainings and equipment), the IWMC runs the risk of potentially turning into a dumpsite, exacerbating the possible negative impacts to the receptors. Provision of resources to the Island Councils, in the form of budgetary allocations, proper training and waste management equipment is seen as a central cog in ensuring the proper management of waste in the island. The proponent shall ensure the aforementioned assistance is provided to the IWMC. 9. Implementation of the Islands’ Waste Management Plan, in addition to the Waste Management Regulations and Guidelines for the islands is seen as crucial in achieving proper waste management within the island. The Island Councils shall ensure the proper operation of the IWMC and waste management within the island through enforcing penalties on nonconformances to gazetted waste management regulations and guidelines for the islands. This will ensure the positive impacts envisaged through this EMP. 10. A reporting mechanism has been proposed for each island with this EMP, which includes the IWMC occupier, the Island Council, and the Proponent. Proper reporting of the IWMC operations within the mechanism can ensure the continued monitoring and evaluation of the operations, provision of required assistance, and provide crucial information for future planning and policy decisions for the Proponent. 11. The Proponent of the project, Ministry of Environment and Energy guarantees their commitment to undertake the necessary mitigation measures and monitoring during all stages of the project that has been proposed in the report. 12. In conclusion, the findings of the EMP shows that the proposed activities for this project has minor negative impacts during the construction phase, and minor negative impacts as well as positive impacts during the operational phase. With appropriate measures, the envisaged negative impacts can be mitigated, and the positive impacts enhanced. Given that the Proponent has committed to the mitigation actions it is anticipated that the project can be implemented with minimum negative environmental impacts, and ensure the positive impacts envisaged from this much-needed project.