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Item Environmental management plan for the proposed sewage treatment plant in Maayaafushi Tourist Resort, Alif Alif Atoll, Maldives(2014-09) SandcaysThis EMP will identify key aspects of environmental management of the proposed Sewage Treatment Plant to be installed at Maayaafushi Tourist Resort, Alif Alif atoll with emphasis on how to manage environmental impacts and take necessary measures to minimize any impacts that may arise during the construction phase and operational phase of the project. The report will further provide a monitoring plan which can be implemented during and after completion of the proposed development works. The EMP was compiled based on qualitative and quantitative data collected from Maayaafushi during the site inspections and assessments carried out on 4th of June 2014. It has to be noted, the limitation on collecting and compiling the data on a very short period due to logistical and other issues such as unavailability of long-term base line data has made the consultants to restrict the management plan on data collected recently from the field, personal judgments and experiences gained from similar projects. Similarly, long term data on some aspects such as meteorology and climate were collected from secondary sources through previously published reports. This EMP report has been compiled in accordance with EIA Regulations 2012, which is enforced by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the Maldives. It was initially believed that the proposed project would involve the installation of an outfall for the disposal of treated sewage including an emergency outfall as required by EPA. However, during the scoping meeting the Proponent identified that there would be no additional discharge pipeline but the existing pipeline would be used. Therefore, it was decided by EPA during the Scoping Meeting that this project does not require an EIA and an Environmental Management Plan would suffice. This EMP is prepared in accordance with the guidelines given in the EIA Regulations of the Maldives. The principal environmental institution that implements the EIA process in the country is the Environmental Protection Agency. Additionally, the Ministry of Environment and Energy provides policy guidance and directions while Atoll Councils and Island Councils also provide approvals before projects are implemented.Item Environmental impact assessment for the proposed project to upgrade the sewerage system Chaaya Island Dhonveli, Kaafu Atoll, Maldives(2013-04) SandcaysThis report discusses the findings of an environmental impact study under the proposed sewerage system upgrading project at Chaaya Island Dhonveli. The project is proposed by Tranquility Pvt. Ltd. The project entails upgrading the sewerage system to incorporate sewage treatment. The proposed system is similar to sewerage systems in other resorts. As such a comprehensive sewerage system with gravity flow pipes that convey the wastewater from buildings to several lift stations that pump the wastewater to the sewage treatment works for tertiary treatment of the influent. The treated effluent is proposed to be used for gardening/landscaping and toilet flushing. Upon recommendation from the EIA Consultants and the EPA (during the EIA Scoping Meeting), an emergency bypass has been included in the design with a pumping station that pumps the wastewater to a location beyond the reef at about 10-15m depth. Alternatives have been identified in the project document. Of these the recommended alternative involves minimizing the number of lift stations/pump stations and to maximize the use of gravity flow pipes to the greatest possible extent. Other alternative proposed include the no project option, which is the most practicable option in terms of economic as well as environmental impacts, however, this option is not feasible due to legal requirements that a sewage treatment plant has to be incorporated in the sewerage system of any tourist resort in the Maldives, as per Tourism Regulations. The main environmental concern in the project is the number of lift stations/pump stations in the revised design, which is too many for a small island. According to the project Engineers, it is difficult to get appropriate gradients without altering the existing sewer network. However, the EIA Consultants are of the opinion that the number of lift stations can be minimized and it has been recommended to minimize the number of lift stations/pump stations to the greatest possible extent. Environmental impacts were assessed for both the construction and operation phase of the project. Most of the environmental impacts identified for the proposed development were positive; these include reduced use of RO plant, reduced pollution of the groundwater and recycling of minerals such as nitrates, phosphates and sulphates. The main negative environmental impacts of the project would be temporary loss of groundwater quality during the construction phase due to dewatering and small amount of sedimentation induced from installing the emergency outfall. The latter could be regarded as insignificant due to its small magnitude and spatial constriction. The proponent is willing to undertake monitoring during and after the construction phase in addition to undertaking the mitigation measures proposed by the consultants. The main mitigation measures for this project during the construction phase is similar to other construction projects such as dust control plans, working during low- tide as much as possible and avoiding operation of loud machineries during late hours. As for the operation phase, implementation of backup systems and trained maintenance staff to service the STP and reducing the production of fatty and oily waste from the resort has been proposed. In conclusion, it appears justified from a technical, administrative and to some extent environmental point of view, to carry out the proposed project to upgrade the existing sewerage system to incorporate a treatment plant into the existing sewerage network. However, there are alternative that may be more suitable and shall be considered with caution and after understanding the costs and discussions with relevant government authorities.Item Environmental impact assessment for the proposed harbour development in Velidhoo, Noonu Atoll, Maldives(2011-03) SandcaysThe proposed harbour development project in Noonu Velidhoo is of medium scale project in which the proposed project falls under rehabilitation of an existing harbour, which has been in need of extensive repair and improvement through modification and improved design. Under the proposed project, a 24 m wide entrance will be dredged (modification of an existing entrance) along with deepening of harbour basin. The existing harbour basin from quay wall will be dredged to a width of 76.2 m and a length of 289m. An additional 30m quaywall with associated harbour basin dredging will also be undertaken. The proposed concept has not been discussed with the community so far. Therefore, some of the community views that have been incorporated in this EIA report along with further formal consultations need to be given consideration in finalising the design. However, the community has been waiting for the project for quite some time and the first elected Island Council is under a lot of pressure to initiate the works. Therefore, it is recommended to allow the project to proceed while any further modifications to the proposed design can be finalized in consultation with the relevant stakeholders during the construction phase. Taking this into consideration the environmental impacts have been assessed for the worst case scenario in which the Proponent takes into consideration all demands of the community and provide the final detailed design to the EPA in due course. The recommended alternative proposed in this EIA report has been based on informal community consultations held with some key members of the community. The overall environmental impacts of the project have been assessed using appropriate matrices and the results indicated that the proposed project has net positive impact. Given that the project has several socio-economic benefits although there would be some negative environmental impacts, it is recommended to allow the project to proceed as proposed.Item Environmental impact assessment for the proposed development of a harbour Kurinbi, Haa Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives(2010-08) SandcaysThis report addresses the environmental concerns of the proposed harbour development in Kurinbi, Haa Dhaalu Atoll. The primary objective of the project is to provide safe and adequate access to the island. As such the project encompasses dredging and removal beach rock/reef flat, construction of quaywall and breakwaters and the filling of dredged materials on either side of the proposed harbour. The proposed harbour is located on eastern side close to the existing access channel. The proposed harbour project falls within the Access Improvement Programme, the size of proposed harbour under the programme is 150ft x 300ft. However, the island community in the community consultation meeting proposed to increase the width of the harbour from 150 ft to at least 200 ft by extending the harbour into landward side. Extending the breakwater into seaward side may not be possible due to close proximity of outer reef edge to shoreline where high swells and strong wave action take place. There are three access channels in use by the community. The most commonly used access channel is located at southern end of the proposed harbour location. However, the harbour location has been proposed in a fresh location. In the consultation meeting held with IDC the committee suggested that it would still be better if the proposed harbour location moved towards south approximately 200 ft such a way that harbour front will be at the eastern end of main road. The existing access channel at the southern side of the proposed harbour has been decided to use for boat beaching and services. The recommended harbour location, however is to move further south to enclose the existing channel within the proposed harbour basin. In terms of impact to environmental, moving the proposed harbour location to an already damaged location would be beneficial to environment as it would minimize further damage to natural environment dredging cost. The area is already been subjected to the impacts of dredging and is in active use, further cumulative impacts to this area would be preferable to impacts on new fresh areas in their natural state. It was also identified from the environmental surveys that the percentage of dead coral (25%) in the proposed location compared to the percentage (34%) of dead corals in the location already in use is low. Also in the environmental survey conducted in these locations indicated that fish population was more live and more diverse in the proposed location compared to the existing access channel area. Kurinbi located in the middle of the atoll, unlike other islands in the region, is continuously subjected to high swells and strong wave actions in all directions. Hence there is limited space for extending the harbour towards seaward side due to swell induced wave action. Hence the size of the harbour, particularly the width has been maintained at 150 ft by MHE which apparently is the maximum possible width that can draw from the available safe space while minimizing damage to the environment. The IDC raised the issue of small size of the harbour particularly the width of the harbour during the consultation meeting held at Kurinbi office on 17 July 2010. Community suggested increasing the width by extending towards landward side. This area is regarded as the face of the island. The overall environmental impacts of the project have been assessed using appropriate methodologies including data collection through a field survey, purpose build checklists and professional judgments. The overall results indicated that the proposed project had net positive impact. Given that the project has major socio-economic benefits although there would be some negative environmental impacts, it is recommended to allow the project to proceed as proposed. Environmental monitoring recommended for the project includes the monitoring of the shorelines of Kurinbi water quality and drogue studies of the coastal area for at least two years from the onset of the proposed project implementation. Monitoring is also expected to cover public views and grievances about the project and future harbour management information such as nos. of vessels that use the harbour. Annual monitoring reports have to be submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency over the monitoring period.Item Environmental impact assessment for the proposed development of sewerage system Hoarafushi, Haa Alifu Atoll, Maldives(2011-06) SandcaysThis Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report has been prepared in order to meet the requirements of Clause 5 of the Environmental Protection and Preservation Act of the Maldives to assess the impacts of the proposed project for developing a sewerage system in Hoarafushi, Haa Alifu Atoll. This report will identify the potential impacts (both positive and negative) of the proposed project. The report will look at the justifications for undertaking the proposed project components. Alternatives to proposed components or activities in terms of location, design and environmental considerations would be suggested. A mitigation plan and monitoring programme before, during and after the works would also be included. This EIA has been produced in accordance with the EIA Regulations 2007. The scope was finalized in consultation with the Proponent, former Island Chief, EPA and the consultant.