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Item Environment impact assessment for the proposed construction of Island Waste Management Centre at Maabaidhoo, Laamu Atoll(2017-10) CDE ConsultingThe purpose of this document is to fulfil the requirements to get necessary environmental clearance from the Environmental Protection Agency to construct the Island Waste Management Centre (IWMC) in Maabaidhoo, Laamu Atoll. The proponent of this project is United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) The contractor for this project is Uni Maldives Private Limited. The main rationale for the project is to establish a sustainable waste management system in the island so that the waste is disposed and managed properly. The project is intended at constructing an island level waste management centre, with a compost ground and machineries and equipment to collect and to manage the waste. This project forms part of Low Emission and Climate Resilient Development (LECReD), a United Nations joint programme which seeks to mainstream LECReD issues into local development planning and service delivery for greater community-level ownership and sustainability of programme benefits. The proposed project involves the construction of the waste management centre. The IWMC will have a compost pit, waste segregation lots, equipment room, toilet, rainwater tank. This will be implemented as part of this project. The proposed IWMC will measure 89ft by 83ft and will be built at southern tip of the island. The proposed centre will be developed to manage the waste generated in the island and to ensure proper and sustainable disposal of waste. The waste management centre will also composting tools, compacting machineries to manage the waste. A truck of 1.5 tonnes and bins will be provided for waste collection. The duration of the construction of IWMC will take approximately 3 months. Once constructed, it will be handed over to the council for operation. The island community previously disposed waste at different locations of the island and the waste is not segregated. Following the efforts during the mangrove conservation project, all waste is now disposed to the location designated to build the IWMC under this project. All project activities will be in conformance to the laws and regulations of the Maldives, and relevant international conventions that Maldives is party to. The key laws and regulations applicable to this project are: Environmental Protection and Preservation Act, Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation 2012 and Waste Management Regulations and Maldivian Land Act and Decentralisation Act. The existing condition of the island and the proposed IWMC was assessed for this report. Assessments conducted include groundwater quality assessments, and terrestrial assessments. Baseline noise levels were also recorded at the site. The assessment shows that during construction stage of IWMC, main impacts will be increased noise level, air quality degradation, loss terrestrial flora and fauna. The proposed location is a vegetated area where already most of the vegetation has been cleared. However, prior to construction few of the pioneer species will need to be cleared. Other impacts during construction stage possible contamination of groundwater and soil due to leakage of chemical and oil. During operational stage, the most significant impacts on the groundwater, greenhouse gas emission and on biodiversity. If the IWMC is poorly constructed including composting pit, likelihood leachate leaking into the ground is high and this may have irreversible impacts on groundwater quality. During operational stage, the IWMC may be receiving waste that cannot be managed at the site if unsupervised, this may result in open burning waste that result in the emission of toxic gases and chemicals which will degrade the air quality and cause GHG emission. Accumulation and mismanagement of waste also has the tendency to impact the biodiversity in the island whereby certain species are replaced by crows and rats, which will feed on waste stockpiles. The proposed is an aesthetically pleasing site and the visual amenity of the area will also be disrupted. Since the proposed site used to be a wetland, before it was reclaimed from waste, risk of flooding the area during swell tides or torrential rain is high. This may significantly impact the operation of the IWMC. Proper mitigation measures must be taken to reduce the risk of flooding. Overall this is an environmental improvement project.. Through composting and selling recyclable materials the project will also open up business opportunities for the island. In addition, irresponsible dumping and littering around the island may be stopped following the implementation of IWMC and waste management plan. The alternative options were evaluated for the no project option and alternative locations for IWMC. The “No Project” option is deemed infeasible, given the current condition of waste management and disposal in the island. Alternative locations for IWMC were also considered, however as there are no other apt locations in the island, it is proposed to go ahead with the proposed location, with stringent measures to mitigate flooding in the area. Monitoring plan is designed to assess any changes to the physical of the island, ground water quality as these are the key areas that will be impacted from this project. Monitoring costs is estimated at MVR 25,000 – 35,000 per annum. The management plan for this project is designed to produce a framework for anticipated impacts, including practicable and achievable performance requirements and systems for monitoring, reporting and implementing corrective actions. In addition provide evidence of compliance to legislation, policies, guidelines and requirements of relevant authorities. Stakeholder consultations were held with Maabaidhoo Island council, Maabaidhoo public, Laamu Atoll Council, Ministry of Environment and Energy, Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure and Environmental Protection Authority. Both Maabaidhoo Island Council and public are in favour of this project. In conclusion, this project has been designed in conformance to the relevant laws and regulations of Maldives. Operational stage impacts are mainly on climate change, groundwater contamination and on biodiversity. Overall, the project will have positive impacts to the island community under supervised and effective management of the IWMC. . The EIA recommends to go ahead with the project and to develop the IWMC and to follow the mitigation measures to avoid significant impacts. Stringent mitigation measures must be taken to reduce the risk of flooding at the proposed location. It is strongly recommended to develop and implement an environmental management plan to maximise the benefits of IWMC and ensure sustainability of operations.Item Environment impact assessment for the proposed construction of island waste management centre at Kunahandhoo, Laamu Atoll(2017-10) CDE ConsultingThe purpose of this document is to fulfil the requirements to get necessary environmental clearance from the Environmental Protection Agency to construct the Waste Management Centre (IWMC) in Kunahandhoo, Laamu Atoll. The proponent of this project is United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The main rationale for the project is to establish a sustainable waste management system in the island so that the waste is disposed and managed properly. The project is intended at constructing an island level waste management centre, with a compost ground and machineries and equipments to collect and to manage the waste. This project forms part of Low Emission and Climate Resilient Development (LECReD), a United Nations joint programme which seeks to mainstream LECReD issues into local development planning and service delivery for greater community-level ownership and sustainability of programme benefits. The proposed project involves the construction of the waste management centre. The IWMC will have a compost pit, waste segregation lots, equipment room, toilet, rainwater tank. This will be implemented as part of this project. The proposed IWMC will measure 84ft by 89ft. The proposed centre will be developed to manage the waste generated in the island and to ensure proper and sustainable disposal of waste. The waste management centre will also composting tools, compacting machineries to manage the waste. A truck of 1.5 tonnes and bins will be provided for waste collection. The duration of the construction of IWMC will take approximately 3 months. Once constructed, it will be handed over to the council for operation. At present, there is no designated site waste disposal. The island community disposes waste at different locations of the island and the waste is not segregated. All project activities will be in conformance to the laws and regulations of the Maldives, and relevant international conventions that Maldives is party to. The key laws and regulations applicable to this project are: Environmental Protection and Preservation Act, Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation 2012 and Waste Management Regulations and Maldivian Land Act and Decentralisation Act. The existing condition of the island and the proposed IWMC was assessed for this report. Assessments conducted include groundwater quality assessments, and terrestrial assessments. Baseline noise levels were also recorded at the site. The assessment shows that during construction stage of the IWMC, main impacts will be increased noise level, air quality degradation and loss terrestrial flora and fauna. The proposed location is a vegetated area where already most of the vegetation has been cleared. However, prior to construction few of the pioneer species will need to be cleared. Other impacts during construction stage possible contamination of groundwater and soil due to leakage of chemical and oil. During operational stage, the most significant impacts on the groundwater, greenhouse gas emission and on biodiversity. If the IWMC is poorly constructed including composting pit, likelihood leachate leaking into the ground is high and this may have irreversible impacts on groundwater quality, especially given the island has low groundwater lens is prone to flooding. The IWMC may be receiving waste that cannot be managed at the site if unsupervised, this may result in open burning waste that result in the emission of toxic gases and chemicals which will degrade the air quality and cause GHG emission. Accumulation and mismanagement of waste also has the tendency to impact the biodiversity in the island whereby certain species are replaced by crows and rats, which will feed on waste stockpiles. The visual amenity of the area will also be disrupted. However, through composting and selling recyclable materials the project will also open up business opportunities for the island. In addition, irresponsible dumping and littering around the island may be stopped following the implementation of IWMC and waste management plan. Overall this is an environmental improvement project. The alternative options were evaluated for the no project option and alternative locations for IWMC. The “No Project” option is deemed infeasible, given the current condition of waste management and disposal in the island. Alternative locations for IWMC were also considered, however as there are no other apt locations in the island, it is proposed to go ahead with the proposed location, since the IWMC will be built with 1ft elevated as a mitigation measure. Monitoring plan is designed to assess any changes to the physical of the island, ground water quality as these are the key areas that will be impacted from this project. Monitoring costs is estimated at MVR 25,000 – 35,000 per annum. The management plan for this project is designed to produce a framework for anticipated impacts, including practicable and achievable performance requirements and systems for monitoring, reporting and implementing corrective actions. In addition provide evidence of compliance to legislation, policies, guidelines and requirements of relevant authorities. Stakeholder consultations were held with Kunahandhoo Island council, Kunahandhoo public, Laamu Atoll Council, Ministry of Environment and Energy, Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure and Environmental Protection Authority. Both Kunahandhoo Island Council and public are in favour of this project, although the newly elected council not fully acquainted with the project. In conclusion, this project has been designed in conformance to the relevant laws and regulations of Maldives. Operational stage impacts are mainly on climate change, groundwater contamination and on biodiversity. Overall, the project will have positive impacts to the island community under supervised and effective management of the IWMC. . The EIA recommends to go ahead with the project and to develop the IWMC and to follow the mitigation measures to avoid significant impacts. It is strongly recommended to develop and implement and environmental management plan to maximise the benefits of IWMC and ensure sustainability of operations.Item Environment impact assessment for the proposed construction of island waste management centre at Dhanbidhoo, Laamu Atoll(2017-10) CDE ConsultingThe purpose of this document is to fulfil the requirements to get necessary environmental clearance from the Environmental Protection Agency to construct the Waste Management Centre (IWMC) in Dhanbidhoo, Laamu Atoll. The proponent of this project is United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The main rationale for the project is to establish a sustainable waste management system in the island so that the waste is disposed and managed properly. The project is intended at constructing an island level waste management centre, with a compost ground and machineries and equipments to collect and to manage the waste. This project forms part of Low Emission and Climate Resilient Development (LECReD), a United Nations joint programme which seeks to mainstream LECReD issues into local development planning and service delivery for greater community-level ownership and sustainability of programme benefits. The proposed project involves the construction of the waste management centre. The IWMC will have a compost pit, waste segregation lots, equipment room, toilet, rainwater tank. This will be implemented as part of this project. The proposed IWMC will measure 98ft by 98ft and it will be developed on the southern tip of the island. The proposed centre will be developed to manage the waste generated in the island and to ensure proper and sustainable disposal of waste. The waste management centre will also composting tools, compacting machineries to manage the waste. A truck of 2 tonnes and bins will be provided for waste collection. The duration of the construction of IWMC will take approximately 3 months. Once constructed, it will be handed over to the council for operation. The location, which has been approved, by EPA and MLSA is approximately 1km from the residential and requires the development of an access road. This will incur additional cost and the distance also makes it impractical to transfer waste on a daily basis. At present, there is no designated site waste disposal. The island community disposes waste at two different locations of the island and the waste is not segregated. All project activities will be in conformance to the laws and regulations of the Maldives, and relevant international conventions that Maldives is party to. The key laws and regulations applicable to this project are: Environmental Protection and Preservation Act, Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation 2012 and Waste Management Regulations and Maldivian Land Act and Decentralisation Act. The existing condition of the island and the proposed IWMC was assessed for this report. Assessments conducted include groundwater quality assessments, air quality and terrestrial assessments. Baseline noise levels were also recorded at the site. The assessment shows that during construction stage of the IWMC, main impacts will be increased noise level, air quality degradation and loss terrestrial flora and fauna. The proposed location is a vegetated area where already some of the vegetation has been cleared. However, if the allocated site is chosen for the construction of IWMC, an access road will need to be developed which will require more vegetation to be cleared including palm trees. Other impacts during construction stage possible contamination of groundwater and soil due to leakage of chemical and oil. During operational stage, the most significant impacts on the groundwater, greenhouse gas emission and on biodiversity. If the IWMC is poorly constructed including composting pit, likelihood leachate leaking into the ground is high and this may have irreversible impacts on groundwater quality. The IWMC may be receiving waste that cannot be managed at the site if unsupervised, this may result in open burning waste that result in the emission of toxic gases and chemicals which will degrade the air quality and cause GHG emission. Further to this, distance to the IWMC from the residential zone means a longer commute route which will further contribute to GHG emission from transportation. Accumulation and mismanagement of waste also has the tendency to impact the biodiversity in the island whereby certain species are replaced by crows and rats, which will feed on waste stockpiles. The visual amenity of the area will also be disrupted and given that the nearest island in the vicinity will be developed to a resort this poses major issues in the long term. However, through composting and selling recyclable materials the project will also open up business opportunities for the island. In addition, irresponsible dumping and littering around the island may be stopped following the implementation of IWMC and waste management plan. The alternative options were evaluated for the no project option and alternative locations for IWMC. The “No Project” option is deemed infeasible, given the current condition of waste management and disposal in the island. Given the unfeasibility of the proposed site for IWMC due to the long distance for transportation from the residential zone and from the harbour, alternative locations for the IWMC explored. It is recommended that any other location within 200ft from either the northern or southern direction from the residential zone is feasible or building IWMC. This provides a feasible transportation distance from the collection entities also to the harbour where the recyclable materials can be easily traded. Monitoring plan is designed to assess any changes to the physical of the island, ground water quality as these are the key areas that will be impacted from this project. Monitoring costs is estimated at MVR 25,000 – 35,000 per annum. The management plan for this project is designed to produce a framework for anticipated impacts, including practicable and achievable performance requirements and systems for monitoring, reporting and implementing corrective actions. In addition provide evidence of compliance to legislation, policies, guidelines and requirements of relevant authorities. Stakeholder consultations were held with Dhanbidhoo Island council, Dhanbidhoo public, Laamu Atoll Council, Ministry of Environment and Energy, Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure and Environmental Protection Authority. Both Dhanbidhoo Island Council and public are in favour of this project, although the newly elected council not fully acquainted with the project. In conclusion, this project has been designed in conformance to the relevant laws and regulations of Maldives. Operational stage impacts are mainly on climate change, groundwater contamination and on biodiversity. Since the proposed location for the IWMC is not practical in terms of transportation of waste and the need to develop an access road which will incur additional cost, it is recommended to consider alternative locations for the IWMC. Overall, the project will have positive impacts to the island community under supervised and effective management of the IWMC. . The EIA recommends to go ahead with the project and to develop the IWMC at a site that will not cause major loss of biodiversity or cause GHG emissions. It is strongly recommended to develop and implement and environmental management plan to maximise the benefits of IWMC and ensure sustainability of operations.Item Environment impact assessment for the proposed international airport development project in Maafaru Island, Noonu Atoll(2017-11) CDE ConsultingThe purpose of this document is to fulfil the requirements to get necessary environmental clearance from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to carry out the proposed international airport development project on Maafaru Island, Noonu Atoll. The proponent of the project is Regional Airports, Ministry of Tourism, Maldives. Maafaru Island is one of the largest inhabited islands in Noonu Atoll and the airport is being built on the uninhabited southern half of the island. Main rationale of the proposed project is to facilitate the overall development of the region and to cater to the tourist resort transfers to Noonu Atoll. The aim of the airport project is to provide more convenient, safer and faster transportation to Noonu atoll region and boost the socioeconomic development of the region through enhancement of tourism, commerce and trade. Maafaru Island has been leased to separate developers on three occasions. Each of these developers had developed airport master plans and two of them had approved EIAs. The third EIA was being prepared, before developer changed again. Regional Airports have now decided to develop the airport themselves with assistance from Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD). The project has two main components: (i) site preparation and; (ii) airport construction. Site preparation involves land reclamation, channel dredging, sea grass removal in front of arrival areas, vegetation removal and backfilling. Airport construction involves building a 2200 m runway with all ancillary services, VIP facilities and a transit hotel. The proposed site has been modified due to human activities. The island and its reef system represents a typical inhabited island with modified vegetation for forestry, contaminated groundwater and moderately good reef system. The proposed site has been partially cleared under the original area but 80% of the vegetation is still intact. There is a sand bed on the western side created by the first developers during mobilization. Maafaru Island’s vegetation system is extensive. There are five marshland areas on the island, three of which will be backfilled under this project. One of the marshland areas contains limited mangrove vegetation. The central marshland area has recently connected to open lagoon, allowing juvenile marine life to thrive. The site may be considered a breeding site but no concrete evidence was found in this evaluation to classify the site as a permanent breeding site. The mangrove vegetation area is very small and contain about 10-15 medium to large trees, but 85% of these trees will have to be removed. The island topography is varied and will require extensive backfilling to level the site. The deep lagoon contains some good live coral colonies. The proposed dredging footprint does not contain any live coral colonies but contains an extensive seagrass bed. The island is undergoing erosion on the northern and eastern side but the proposed airport site is generally stable. Significant impacts are expected to arise mainly during the construction phase of the project. These impacts include significant loss of terrestrial biodiversity. Of particular concern is the removal of over 20,000 medium-to-large trees and about 50,000 small trees, removal of mangrove vegetation, and backfilling a recently active marshland with juvenile life. Impacts will also be felt on marine biodiversity due to dredging and reclamation due to associated direct removal, turbidity and sedimentation; potential contamination of marine and ground water and soil due to accidental spillage/leakage of construction materials and waste; increased turbidity and sedimentation of the water column due to coastal activities; changes to coastal hydrodynamics; salinization of ground water due to use of dredged sand for backfilling and risks to the health of construction workers. Major potential impacts from the operations phase include air, water and soil pollution due to emissions from island operations such as power generation, water production and flight operations; noise impacts on the settlement; bird collisions; potential fuel leaks into soil and ground water; impacts from waste accumulation and alteration of faunal species behaviour. Mitigation measures have been proposed to minimise anticipated impacts. These include transplanting trees to recently reclaimed lagoons in Male’ Atoll, bunding dredging and reclamation works to minimise sedimentation and turbidity in the lagoon, reducing salinization and preventing contamination of ground water, relocate or replant mangrove vegetation, reduce social discontent, control coastal erosion and focus on safety of workers and passengers. All mangrove plants need to be relocated to the southernmost wetland or to the nearest point where they can be grown. The trees may not survive and a mangrove planting programme needs to be conducted on the southernmost wetland. Alternative options have been evaluated for the most significant impacts. Among these alternative locations for the proposed airport were considered, including Manadhoo, Dhigurah and Medhufaru. Among these, only Medhufaru has the space to build a 1800 m runway but it has a number of pristine marshlands which may involve higher impacts than Maafaru. Alternative layouts for the airport were also considered but all other options involve significant reclamation, which subsequently will involve high marine environmental impacts. Alternative borrow areas were evaluated, including an option not to dredge the lagoon. It involved excavating the foot print of vegetation removal area and using the material to level the low lying areas. However, since dredging is required, the reuse of dredge waste for reclamation was preferred. Alternatives were also evaluated for shore protection design and material, and dredging technologies. Alternative designs have been recommended for reclaimed areas due to high coastal impacts from current design. Consultations were carried out with members of Noonu Maafaru Island Council. Island community of Maafaru, Noonu Atoll Council, Maldives Civil Aviation Authority, Regional Airports - Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure, and Ministry of Environment and Energy. There is overwhelming support from the community and the Island Council of Maafaru. Key concern raised by the Ministry of Environment and Energy was the loss of coconut forest, and recommended measures to take to mitigate this loss. Maldives Civil Aviation Authority officials pointed out potential aviation hazards resulting from the presence of the islands waste dump in the flight approach path, and advised to relocate this dumpsite. The Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for this project is designed to produce a framework for anticipated impacts, including practicable and achievable performance requirements and systems for monitoring, reporting and implementing corrective actions. In addition, it will also provide evidence of compliance to legislation, policies, guidelines and requirements of relevant authorities. Monitoring plan is designed to assess any changes to the physical environment as well as operational aspects of the airport. Environmental monitoring cost of pre-construction stage (if required) is approximately MVR 167,500. Monthly environmental monitoring cost during the construction phase ranges between MVR 100,500 to MVR 150,000. The estimated annual environmental monitoring cost during operation is MVR 127,000. All project designs are in conformance to most of the laws and regulations of the Maldives, and relevant international conventions that Maldives is party to. The key laws and regulations applicable to this project are: Environmental Protection and Preservation Act, Decentralization Act, Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation 2012, Waste Management Regulation, Regulation on Cutting Down and Uprooting Trees, Dredging and Reclamation Regulation, and Dewatering Regulation. There are a number of permits to be obtained for the operation of aerodrome. The project at present is non-compliant to some of the clauses in Regulation on Cutting Down and Uprooting Trees, and Dredging and Reclamation Regulation. The removal of mangrove and coastal vegetation poses a challenge to meet the requirements of the Regulation on Cutting Down and Uprooting Trees and, the requirement for seagrass removal within 50 m of the shoreline make it difficult to remove all seagrass areas identified. Project will require special consideration and approval from EPA on grounds of high socio-economic benefits. EPA has the authority to provide approval in exceptional circumstances. Public has raised questions about why the runway is being located on the island, when there is potential to reclaim land from the lagoon and build the airport, as has been done in other islands. The proponents view on the matter is, that, it is cheaper to build the airport on land and therefore is more likely that the project will get implemented. This issue is explored in the alternatives section. From an environmental perspective, reclamation itself has irreversible damage to the marine life but when compared with significant loss of vegetation, forestry resources, wetland environments and future land for Maafaru Island development, land reclamation with proper mitigation may involve lower long-term impacts than building on the island. Nonetheless, the project’s implementation is dependent on financial viability and the Government has taken the decision based on this aspect. The loss of wetland and large quantities of coconut palms is an irreversible damage from this project. Measures have been proposed soften this impact as described above but residual impacts will remain from the loss of trees. The developer will need to undertake replanting, with 2 trees for every tree permanently lost as a guideline. The scale of the impacts on the wetland is not irreversible at a regional or atoll level. The loss of the mangrove vegetation is insignificant compared to the mangrove vegetation that exists in Noonu Atoll. The number of wetlands in the near vicinity of Maafaru is also quite substantial and will allow for the migratory birds to relocate. The establishment of marshland on Maafaru as a habitat for juveniles is a very recent development and it does not appear that the marine species are using it as a permanent breeding site. The site is also not listed as a sensitive environment owing to the limited presence of sensitive ecosystems. The main conclusion of this report is to move forward with the proposed development on grounds of high socio-economic benefits. Environmental and socio-economic risks associated with the project are expected to be significantly reduced if the mitigation measures and monitoring programme presented in the report are properly implemented within the framework of the environmental management plan.Item Environment impact assessment for the proposed harbour re-development project at Mahibadhoo Island, Alif Dhaalu Atoll(2017-11) CDE ConsultingThis document is submitted to the Environment Protection Agency, by the proponent to fulfil the requirement of an EIA under the Environmental Protection and Preservation Act (EPPA) of the Maldives (4/93). This report provides the background to the proposed project components as well as an assessment of their likely environmental and social impacts, both beneficial and adverse. The proposed enhancement and mitigation measures are outlined where necessary together with an environment management plan and a monitoring programme. This project was initiated by the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure with the aim of providing an adequate and safe harbouring and beaching area for the locals of Mahibadhoo island while providing coastal protection for the immediate surroundings. The present harbour is unable to facilitate the growing size of vessels using the harbour, particularly the increased number of small vessels on the island. Similarly, the make-shift beaching area (boat yard area) which the locals are currently using does not have the proper facilities to service the island’s fleet. The scope of this project comprises of the following activities: 1. Maintenance dredging at the entrance channel and basin 2. Expanding the existing north harbour basin 3. Re-constructing quay wall, revetment and breakwater 4. Paving around quay wall landing areas 5. Installing road lights and navigation lights around harbour 6. Constructing beaching area 7. Backfilling and reclamation This EIA has found that the proposed backfill volume required do not match the available dredged material. Hence, an alternative site plan has been proposed whereby reclamation activities are restricted to backfilling purposes only and the required sand volume within the available limits. Project activities will be in conformance to the laws and regulations of the Maldives, and relevant international conventions that Maldives is party to. The key laws and regulations applicable to this project are: Environmental Protection and Preservation Act, Employment Act (2/2008), Immigration Act (1/2007), Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation 2012, Dredging and Reclamation Regulation, Waste Management Regulation 2013, and the Environmental Liability Regulation. The project parameters cannot adhere to the dredging reclamation regulation as is states that no dredging shall be undertaken within 50 m of the vegetation line or 500 m from the ocean side reef edge. The harbour proposed in this project is located within both these restricted zones. For projects of economic or social importance, the regulations allow for exceptions to be made. Therefore, discussions must be held between the proponent and the EPA before the commencement of the project in order to resolve this issue. The assessment shows that the proposed developments result in significant positive socioeconomic benefits during the operational phase. However, both the construction phase and the operational phase of the development result in negative impacts on the marine and coastal environment. The main impacts from the project are on sediment movement patterns around the island, marine biodiversity due to sedimentation and turbidity related to the construction activities, potential marine and groundwater contamination, and noise pollution. While the construction of the quay wall and shore protection measures will prevent erosion around the harbour basin thereby facilitating better usage of the harbour, there will be residual impacts around the project site in the medium term as the island works towards obtaining equilibrium with the new shore protection measures. It is unlikely that the construction stage of this project will result in significant damage to live coral colonies due to the enclosed nature of the harbour basin and limited live coral cover within vicinity of the project site. Key mitigation measures for the construction stage include finding options to minimise turbidity and sedimentation through the use of sediment control measures especially during the dredging and reclamation works, carrying out project activities only in the allocated areas, and ensuring that activities are a carried out in as short a time period as possible to allow normal conditions to re-establish in the area. The construction staff should also be properly educated on the sensitivity of the reef system and measures which can be taken to minimise impacts on the marine environment. Operational stage impacts are mainly related to changes in the coastal hydrodynamics arising from the coastal modifications of the proposed harbour. It is not possible to accurately predict erosion accretion patterns without high level modelling. Therefore, appropriate mitigation measures and actions will be decided after monitoring the changes. Consequently, environmental monitoring is crucial, particularly changes to hydrodynamics, shoreline, and water quality. The management plan for this project is designed to produce a framework for anticipated impacts, including practicable and achievable performance requirements and systems for monitoring, reporting and implementing corrective actions. In addition provide evidence of compliance to legislation, policies, guidelines and requirements of relevant authorities. The main conclusion of this report is to move forward with the proposed development with the suggested mitigation measures.Item Environment impact assessment for the proposed provision of sewerage network at Gemanafushi, Gaafu Alifu Atoll(2017-11) CDE ConsultingThis document is submitted by the proponent to Environmental Protection Agency to fulfil the requirements for an EIA under Environmental Protection and Preservation Act. The EIA Regulations 2012 has been used as the basis for preparing this document. The proponent of this project is Ministry of Environment and Energy, the sewerage network was designed by Malé Water and Sewerage Company, and EIA was undertaken by consultants from CDE Consulting. At present, sewage disposal for most households is by collection in septic tanks, which are laborious to maintain, and susceptible to leakage if poorly maintained. The main rationale for replacing the existing sewage disposal system with a conventional sewerage network is to improve the sanitation facilities and health of the island community. The proposed project covers five main components: installation of the sewerage network, collection pump stations, sewerage outfall, house connections, and construction of an Administrative Building. The project is estimated to take about 36 to 40 months to complete. All project designs are in conformance to the laws and regulations of the Maldives, and relevant international conventions that Maldives is party to. The key laws and regulations applicable to this project are: Environmental Protection and Preservation Act, Decentralization Act, Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation 2012, Waste Management Regulation, Regulation on Dredging and Reclamation, Regulation on Cutting Down and Uprooting Trees and Dewatering Regulation. Decision Statement for this EIA report, Dewatering permit, and Domestic Wastewater Disposal Consent should be obtained from the EPA prior to commencement of the project. Gemanafushi Island is situated on a large reef system that forms part of the eastern rim of Gaafu Alif atoll. The island measures roughly 55 ha; census conducted in 2014 reports a population of 1223 people. The island is surrounded by a rich dynamic reef system, the shallow lagoon around the island forms a thick seagrass bed, and terminates to a healthy reef slope on the ocean side which is frequented by a variety of shark species, and diverse range of fish species. The north eastern corner of the reef system is listed an Environmentally Sensitive Area by the EPA, for this reason. Most of the negative impacts from this project are typical impacts associated with sewerage network and building construction in Maldives. The most significant impact from this project during the construction phase would be potential contamination of islands groundwater lens, marine water, and disturbance and loss of marine flora and fauna. The project is expected to have positive impact on overall quality of islands groundwater, health of the island community, and sanitation system of the island. Of particular concern is the proximity of the proposed sewage disposal site to Maahera located on the north eastern corner of the Gemanafushi reef. This dive site is popular with tourists due to sightings of Hammerhead sharks and numerous other marine species. Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has designated this site as an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA). Alternative options for disposal sites were evaluated in this EIA. The key mitigation measures proposed during the construction stage focuses on reducing the most significant environmental impacts. These include measures to prevent accidental spillage, and spill clean-ups, discharge of any groundwater extracted back to the islands aquifer. Relocation of vegetation, and live corals within the footprint of sewage outfall pipeline. Alternative options were evaluated for the activities that are identified to have significant impact on the environment. The main concern identified as stated earlier is the proximity of the proposed sewage disposal point to Maahera ESA. Two alternative locations were evaluated, in addition no project option was also compared against the proposed sewerage network. Stakeholder consultations were held with Gemanafushi Island Council, FENAKA (local branch), and Ampus (local cable service provider). The key concern by Gemanafushi council was whether two pump stations would be sufficient, especially as they plan to develop a tourism zone on the southern end of the island. FENAKA stated based on their experience at GA Villingili, two pump stations may not be sufficient to handle sewage, once tourism zone is developed. Ampus requested to setup a grievance mechanism in case any damages to the islands existing cable lines. The following actions needs to be carried out by the proponent prior to the implementation of the project; proponent to present details of the proposed sewerage system to the island council, and FENAKA, and setup a grievance mechanism prior to initiation of the project. Monitoring plan is designed to assess any changes to the physical environment during construction and operation phase of the project. Estimated environmental monitoring cost of preconstruction stage (if required) is about MVR 112,000. Estimated monthly environmental monitoring cost for construction phase is approximately MVR 90,000. Estimated annual environmental monitoring cost during operation phase is about MVR 125,000. The management plan for this project is designed to produce a framework for anticipated impacts, including practicable and achievable performance requirements and systems for monitoring, reporting and implementing corrective actions. In addition provide evidence of compliance to legislation, policies, guidelines and requirements of relevant authorities. The main conclusion of this report is to move forward with the proposed development with the suggested mitigation measures, and alternatives.Item Environment impact assessment for the proposed harbour quay wall construction at Maakurathu, Raa Atoll, Maldives(2017-12) CDE ConsultingThis document is submitted to the Environment Protection Agency, by the proponent to fulfil the requirement of an EIA under the Environmental Protection and Preservation Act (EPPA) of the Maldives (4/93). The EIA Regulations 2012 has been used as a basis for preparing this document. This report provides the background to the proposed project components as well as an assessment of their likely environmental and social impacts, both beneficial and adverse. The proposed enhancement and mitigation measures are outlined where necessary, together with an environment management plan and a monitoring programme. This project was initiated by the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure with the aim of upgrading and increasing the usability of the existing harbour at R. Maakurathu. The project involves deepening some shallow areas within harbour basins and constructing a quay wall on the western side of the basin. The western side has been left as a beaching area with no quaywall during original harbor construction project. The estimated time for project completion is nine months. Project activities will be in conformance to the laws and regulations of the Maldives, and relevant international conventions that Maldives is party to. The key laws and regulations applicable to this project are: Environmental Protection and Preservation Act (4/93), Employment Act (2/2008), Immigration Act (1/2007), Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation 2012, Dredging and Land Reclamation Regulation, Waste Management Regulation 2013, and the Environmental Liability Regulation (Regulation 2011/R-9). Decision Statement for this EIA report and a Dredging and Reclamation Permit need to be obtained from the EPA prior to commencement of the project. The assessment shows that the proposed developments results in significant positive socioeconomic benefits during the operational phase. However, both the construction phase and the operational phase of the development result in negative impacts on environment. The main impacts from the project are potential impact on marine water quality and biodiversity from increased turbidity, and suspended solids generated from dredging works. In addition, as the public and Island Council expects expansion of the harbour, conducting the project without dialog with these key stakeholders may result in strong opposition to the project. Key mitigation measures for the project include finding options to minimise turbidity and sedimentation by carrying out dredging activities only in the allocated areas, during calm sea conditions preferably when the tide is low. The construction staff should also be properly educated on the sensitivity of the reef system and measures which can be taken to minimise impacts on the marine environment. Measures such as proper maintenance of vehicles and management of the site area can aid in minimising air as well as noise pollution. Contamination of the marine water, groundwater and land can also be limited by taking appropriate measures detailed in this report. Public consultations were carried out for the project with the island council and the public. The results show a difficult situation where the project proposed by MHI does not exactly match the expectations and demands of the community. The public and the Council indicates while they want the harbour upgrade project, they want to see the harbour expanded on the western side rather than construct the quaywall at the currently proposed position. They also complained that they were not consulted on the detailed design. MHI notes that the project has limited funds and therefore risks delaying the project if such major changes are to be accommodated. This issue needs to be resolved through dialogue between MHI, Council and the public prior to commencement of project. Alternative options were evaluated for the harbour layout and sand borrow area. The harbour layout favoured by the public included expanding the harbour to the west and constructing the quay wall. There is no design prepared for this. However, the proponent has stated that this is not practical within the funds available for the current project. The alternate sand borrow area is where vessel repairs are carried out and locals can benefit from dredging. However, this area is not recommended for this project due to concerns of erosion raised by public for other dredging activities around the island. The “no-project” option was also compared against the proposed project. A monitoring plan has been designed to assess any changes to the physical environment for the duration of the project. Estimated costs of monitoring of the preconstruction stage is approximately USD 5000 and USD 5500 for the construction stage. Monitoring costs for the operational stage is approximately USD 4700. The management plan for this project is designed to produce a framework for anticipated impacts, including practicable and achievable performance requirements and systems for monitoring, reporting and implementing corrective actions. In addition, provide evidence of compliance to legislation, policies, guidelines and requirements of relevant authorities. The main conclusion of this report is for MHI to discuss and agree on the outstanding issues relating to project scope with the Council and public, before continuing with the project. If there is an agreement this EIA recommends to move forward with the proposed development with the suggested mitigation measures, and alternatives.Item Environmental impact assessment for the proposed shore protection project in Bilehffahi, Shaviyani Atoll(2015-11) CDE ConsultingThe purpose of this document is to fulfil the requirements to get necessary environmental clearance from the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out the proposed harbour maintenance project in Bilehffahi, Shaviyani Atoll. The proponent of this project is Ministry of Environment & Energy. The main rationale for the project is to improve the access facilities of Bilehffahi Island to facilitate improvement in the social and economic condition of the island. The island has a harbour and a reef entrance, but the reef entrance has become shallow overtime and has become dangerous for navigation due to the narrow width. This project mainly involves widening the reef entrance, relocating a section on the breakwater and disposing the dredge waste in designated locations near the harbour. The development is designed based on environmental best practices suitable for marine construction in Maldives. The project involves constructing erosion mitigation measures in Bilehffahi Island on the northern and a section of the western beach. The proposed structures are nearshore breakwaters based using armour rock. All project activities will be in conformance to the laws and regulations of the Maldives, and relevant international conventions that Maldives is party to. The key laws and regulations applicable to this project are: Environmental Protection and Preservation Act, Dredging and Reclamation regulation and Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation 2012. Additional approvals are required for the following before commencement of project activities. Detailed drawings approval from the Ministry of Environment, Revision to the Dredging and Reclamation approval if the alternative site plan is chosen. At present the island is undergoing severe erosion on the north and western side. Analysis using long-term data shows that Bilehfahi is ranked among the islands with the largest changes to the shoreline in the last 50 years. The northern side has retreated alarmingly prior to 2004 but the southwestern side has also grown to an unprecedented rate. The proposed protection measures are warranted on the north as it displays a long term trend of island migration. However, the southern side erosion could be considered periodic and the deployment of erosion mitigation measures on a section of beach could have consequences for the stability of the rest of the island. The proposed project site is in the shallow reef flat. It does not contain any live corals and the neared live coral cover zone is far from the site. Moderate live coral cover was observed on the reef slope at the surveyed points. Significant impacts of this project during construction phase of the project are potential significant impacts on the marine environment due to excessive sedimentation, turbidity and direct excavation related to temporary sand bed construction. The specific impacts on the coral reef and lagoon environment are cumulative in nature and include loss of lagoon benthos organisms along the dredge site, temporary sedimentation in on the reef areas close to the northern tip of the island particularly with table corals, loss of coral life and temporary impacts on fish life. These impacts are likely to persist only in the short-term. There will positive and negative impacts on hydrodynamics and beach erosion. Changes to hydrodynamics are an intended objective of the project. The leeward side of the breakwater is expected to be calm, stabilising the beach behind it. Wave refraction around the corners of the breakwater is likely to cause focussed erosion on the corresponding beach areas. The orientation of the breakwater will have an effect on wave behaviour. During the operation phase the main concerns are the potential risks to health and safety. There is also the potential risk of erosion in unprotected sections of the beach. Most of these impacts can be minimized with proper mitigation measures recommended in the report. Key mitigation measures for the construction stage include working during calm conditions to minimise damage to the surrounding coral reefs. It has been recommended to consider alternative orientation for the northern breakwater to reduce the effects of wave refraction and costs. The southern breakwater is recommended to be redesigned to facilitate seasonal movement. Consultations were undertaken with the public, Island Council and Ministry of Environment. All persons consulted were in favour of reviewing the designs to propose designs that would have least impact on the environment and those that would allow to continue the activities undertaken on the beach such as boat maintenance and recreation. The alternatives evaluated for the project were the no project option, alternative erosion mitigation plan, alternative sediment containment measures and sand burrow areas. The no project option is viable on the island, particularly on the southern side, in geophysical terms as the island is undergoing substantial net accretion, at a scale which has not been observed anywhere else in the Maldives. The no project option is not viable socially as there will be significant public discontent if the project is stopped. It was recommend proceeding with modified design based on these conditions. Alternative erosion mitigation measures were anlaysed for both the northern and southern side and recommend over the existing site plan. The revised options are cheaper, more efficient and address public concerns as well. The monitoring plan has been designed with a focus to analyse the significant impacts over time, particularly the effect on water quality and the impacts on marine life A management framework has been proposed and it is essential that this framework be used in the construction stage of the project. The operation stage management can fall within the overall resort environmental management framework. In conclusion, project mainly has beneficial socio-economic impacts.Item Environmental impact assessment for the proposed shore protection project in Thulhaadhoo, Baa Atoll(2015-12) CDE ConsultingThe purpose of this document is to fulfil the requirements to get necessary environmental clearance from the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out the proposed erosion mitigation measures on Thulhaadhoo Island, Baa Atoll. The proponent of this project is Ministry of Environment & Energy. The main rationale for the project is to mitigate erosion on the southern shoreline of Thulhaadhoo where erosion and coastal flooding threatens the existing houses. The island has been reclaimed in 2010 and shore protection measures have been deployed in much of the island. A 550 m section was left unprotected under the original project and the area in question is a 355 m stretch of this shoreline. This project mainly involves constructing a 355 m revetment using armour rock. Approximately 7000-8000 cbm of sand will be dredged from the future boat yard area to backfill and profile the existing beach. The revetment design is the same as those presently used on the island. All project activities will be in conformance to the laws and regulations of the Maldives, and relevant international conventions that Maldives is party to. The key laws and regulations applicable to this project are: Environmental Protection and Preservation Act, Dredging and Reclamation regulation and Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation 2012. Additional approvals are required for the following before commencement of project activities including detailed drawings approval from the Ministry of Environment, Revision to the Dredging and Reclamation approval if the alternative site plan is chosen. Thulhaadhoo Island is a highly modified island with multiple land reclamation projects. The island has been enlarged 80% of its original size. There are numerous coastal development including harbour, dredged basins, groynes and shore protections measures deployed following the most recent land reclamation project. At present much of the island shoreline is protected by a revetment or other shore protection measures. The area of concern with regard to erosion is a 550 m section on the southern shoreline. In this area, a 355 m section is very close to the exiting settlement and is at risk from erosion and occasional flooding. This project is aimed at protecting this specific stretch of shoreline. The proposed revetment site is the existing beach. It is dominated by construction debris. The proposed borrow site is a shallow reef flat which not contain any live corals. The neared live coral cover zone is far from the site. Moderate live coral cover was observed on the reef slope at the surveyed points Significant impacts of this project during construction phase of the project are potential significant impacts on the marine environment due to excessive sedimentation, turbidity and direct excavation related to temporary sand bed construction. The specific impacts on the coral reef and lagoon environment are cumulative in nature due to recent reclamation projects and include loss of lagoon benthos organisms along the dredge site, temporary sedimentation in the lagoon where some patch reef are present, loss of seagrass and temporary impacts on fish life. These impacts are likely to persist only in the short-term. There will positive and negative impacts on hydrodynamics and beach erosion. Changes to hydrodynamics are an intended objective of the project. Erosion will cease around the project site and risk of flooding will be reduced. The corners of the revetment where it meets the unprotected beach will erode. During the operation phase the main concerns are the potential risks to health and safety. There is also the potential risk of erosion in unprotected sections of the beach. Most of these impacts can be minimized with proper mitigation measures recommended in the report. Key mitigation measures for the construction stage include working during calm conditions to minimise damage to the surrounding lagoon. It is also recommended to put ducts in the revetment to allow exits for the existing sewage pipes. Consultations were held with the public, Island Council and Ministry of Environment. All parties were in favour of the project. Some locals would like to see a design change as the revetments reduce beach space available and is considered a breeding ground for pests. They also would like the Government to protect severely eroding north-western corner of the island. The alternatives evaluated for the project were the no project option, alternative erosion mitigation plan, alternative materials, alternative sediment containment measures and sand burrow areas. The “no project” option is not viable on this island due to ongoing erosion. Alternative erosion mitigation measures were analyzed based on the recommendations from the public. An alternative near shore breakwater design was considered but could prove to be beyond the proposed budget due to the increase in rock volume, work methodology, timing and the needs to create a wide beach between the existing settlement and the beach. At present the distance between the nearest building and beach is around 15 m. The monitoring plan has been designed with a focus to analyse the significant impacts over time, particularly the effect on water quality and the impacts on marine life. A management framework has been proposed and it is essential that this framework be used in the construction stage of the project. The operation stage management can fall within the overall resort environmental management framework. In conclusion, the project mainly has beneficial socio-economic impacts and limited environmental impactsItem Environmental impact assessment for the proposed shore protection project in Bilehffahi, Shaviyani Atoll(2015-11) CDE ConsultingThe purpose of this document is to fulfil the requirements to get necessary environmental clearance from the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out the proposed harbour maintenance project in Bilehffahi, Shaviyani Atoll. The proponent of this project is Ministry of Environment & Energy. The main rationale for the project is to improve the access facilities of Bilehffahi Island to facilitate improvement in the social and economic condition of the island. The island has a harbour and a reef entrance, but the reef entrance has become shallow overtime and has become dangerous for navigation due to the narrow width. This project mainly involves widening the reef entrance, relocating a section on the breakwater and disposing the dredge waste in designated locations near the harbour. The development is designed based on environmental best practices suitable for marine construction in Maldives. The project involves constructing erosion mitigation measures in Bilehffahi Island on the northern and a section of the western beach. The proposed structures are nearshore breakwaters based using armour rock. All project activities will be in conformance to the laws and regulations of the Maldives, and relevant international conventions that Maldives is party to. The key laws and regulations applicable to this project are: Environmental Protection and Preservation Act, Dredging and Reclamation regulation and Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation 2012. Additional approvals are required for the following before commencement of project activities. Detailed drawings approval from the Ministry of Environment, Revision to the Dredging and Reclamation approval if the alternative site plan is chosen. At present the island is undergoing severe erosion on the north and western side. Analysis using long-term data shows that Bilehfahi is ranked among the islands with the largest changes to the shoreline in the last 50 years. The northern side has retreated alarmingly prior to 2004 but the southwestern side has also grown to an unprecedented rate. The proposed protection measures are warranted on the north as it displays a long term trend of island migration. However, the southern side erosion could be considered periodic and the deployment of erosion mitigation measures on a section of beach could have consequences for the stability of the rest of the island. The proposed project site is in the shallow reef flat. It does not contain any live corals and the neared live coral cover zone is far from the site. Moderate live coral cover was observed on the reef slope at the surveyed points. Significant impacts of this project during construction phase of the project are potential significant impacts on the marine environment due to excessive sedimentation, turbidity and direct excavation related to temporary sand bed construction. The specific impacts on the coral reef and lagoon environment are cumulative in nature and include loss of lagoon benthos organisms along the dredge site, temporary sedimentation in on the reef areas close to the northern tip of the island particularly with table corals, loss of coral life and temporary impacts on fish life. These impacts are likely to persist only in the short-term. There will positive and negative impacts on hydrodynamics and beach erosion. Changes to hydrodynamics are an intended objective of the project. The leeward side of the breakwater is expected to be calm, stabilising the beach behind it. Wave refraction around the corners of the breakwater is likely to cause focussed erosion on the corresponding beach areas. The orientation of the breakwater will have an effect on wave behaviour. During the operation phase the main concerns are the potential risks to health and safety. There is also the potential risk of erosion in unprotected sections of the beach. Most of these impacts can be minimized with proper mitigation measures recommended in the report. Key mitigation measures for the construction stage include working during calm conditions to minimise damage to the surrounding coral reefs. It has been recommended to consider alternative orientation for the northern breakwater to reduce the effects of wave refraction and costs. The southern breakwater is recommended to be redesigned to facilitate seasonal movement. Consultations were undertaken with the public, Island Council and Ministry of Environment. All persons consulted were in favour of reviewing the designs to propose designs that would have least impact on the environment and those that would allow to continue the activities undertaken on the beach such as boat maintenance and recreation. The alternatives evaluated for the project were the no project option, alternative erosion mitigation plan, alternative sediment containment measures and sand burrow areas. The no project option is viable on the island, particularly on the southern side, in geophysical terms as the island is undergoing substantial net accretion, at a scale which has not been observed anywhere else in the Maldives. The no project option is not viable socially as there will be significant public discontent if the project is stopped. It was recommend proceeding with modified design based on these conditions. Alternative erosion mitigation measures were anlaysed for both the northern and southern side and recommend over the existing site plan. The revised options are cheaper, more efficient and address public concerns as well. The monitoring plan has been designed with a focus to analyse the significant impacts over time, particularly the effect on water quality and the impacts on marine life A management framework has been proposed and it is essential that this framework be used in the construction stage of the project. The operation stage management can fall within the overall resort environmental management framework. In conclusion, project mainly has beneficial socio-economic impacts.