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Item Environmental impact assessment report : development of Transit Hotel and Marina Finolloss, Baa Atoll(2011-09) Land and Marine Environmental Resources GroupBackground The non-technical summary outlines the findings of the Environmental Impact Assessment of the proposed Transit Hotel and a Marina facility on the island of Finolhoss, Baa atoll. This hotel is developed as part of the airport development project in Dharavandhoo, Baa atoll. The Transit Hotel at Finolhoss will be operated by Coastline Hotels and Resorts under Coastline Group of Companies Pvt Ltd. Project Detail Finolhoss will be developed as a luxury hotel, accommodating 200 beds offering a unique and exclusive product. The project will involve construction of 17 land villas (duplex), 32 water villas, and a small marina catering for small to medium sized yachts (8-15m yachts). The water villas would be constructed at the lagoon area from the northwest point of the island, while the land villas are to be built on the northern side of the Island. The marina and support facilities would be constructed at the southern side of the island within the shallow lagoon. Environmental Component of the project As the project is set in a coral reef based island the proposed component of the project are very much related to the surrounding environmental components. These include, the terrestrial vegetation, marine environment which includes reef, near-shore lagoon and intertidal beach. Use of field data collected during the field visit to the site in October 2010 and available secondary data on the said environmental components has been used to assess and evaluate potential environmental impacts that are likely to arise from implementation of the proposed project activities especially in the context of the magnitude and duration of the project components. Key impacts, mitigation measures and alternatives Possible impacts arising from the resort development and operation works are categorized into reversible and permanent (irreversible) impacts. The impacts identified are also described according to their location, extent (magnitude) and characteristics. Reversible and irreversible impacts are further categorized into intensity of impacts (negligible, minor, moderate and major) for identifying best possible remedial (mitigation measures) actions to be taken. In any development project major direct impacts to the environment (either short term or long term) occur mainly during the construction phase. Potential direct or indirect impacts on the environment (on land and reef system) from the proposed works are limited to number of causes. These include: Construction debris blown away by wind or spillage during transportation on to the reef or lagoon (initially material will be unloaded using barge, but after completion of harbor dredging works, the harbor will be used for material unloading), Potential changes to the long shore transport and littoral regime of the island due to the coastal developments (beach creation, backfilling works and harbor deepening works), Possible impacts from excessive sedimentation on the reef by beach creation works and harbor deepening works, as these may alter the local hydrodynamic regime within the system resulting in siltation and increased water turbidity, Direct loss of habitat and disturbance to the lagoon bottom and reef flat area by harbor dredging and piling works at the water bungalow construction areas, Direct loss of habitat and disturbance to the lagoon bottom by footing clearance for piling works for the over water structures, Loss of vegetation due to clearing vegetation for creating space for new constructions, Groundwater contamination by digging trenches or dewatering for placing foundations of building and possible spillage of fuel or other hazardous chemicals. Operation of heavy machinery and construction related equipment will contribute to noise pollution. Noise pollution during the construction works will be mainly due to the operation of excavators, trucks and concrete machines. Air pollution due to the project will be mainly due to operation of heavy machinery like excavators, trucks, concrete machines, power generator, burning of waste and boat operations. Mitigation measures Mitigation measures are discussed for the construction and operational stages of the project. During the construction stage it is important to take measures to minimize generation of construction waste; impacts due to disposal of construction waste may cause significant degradation of terrestrial habitat or groundwater quality or reef health. Method of construction also has to be taken in to account for minimized impact. A construction method that has the least impact on terrestrial or marine environment has to be utilized. Waste generated during the construction phase will be sorted and reused as much as possible (construction debris for construction works as filling, timber for form work). All burnable items will be burnt, rest sorted and sent to local disposal site or Thilafushi (disposal at Thilafushi will be costly due to long distance transportation). Project management staff will be appointed for monitoring waste generation and management of the contractors working on the island. All waste generated at end of each working day will collected and sorted and then sent to the waste management building. All burnable waste (timber flakes, saw dust, paper, and packing material) will be incinerated. Reusable items such as gunny bags, saw dust (for making compost) will be reused as much as possible. Food waste generated at the temporary accommodation and kitchen area will be collected in waste collection bins. Separate bins will be placed for collection of metal tins/glass bottles and plastics. All burnable items will be incinerated; glass bottles crushed, metal tins compacted and sent to local disposal site or disposed at deep sea. During construction stage green waste will be generated from the vegetation clearance works. All major vegetation (large mature trees) removed will be replanted elsewhere to the greatest extent possible. Daily cleaning works will also generate green waste; these would be used for making compost at the nursery. Alternatives Considering the alternatives for the project in terms of location, type of economic activity to be carried out has been decided by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. Apart from the type of economic activity and location other aspects that can have alternatives are; Construction method of over water structures Location of over water structures Sewage treatment method Feed water intake method, outfall and brine discharge pipes Beach creation and back filling work Harbor basin deepening method Conclusion Assessment of the project components and their associated impacts have been considered in the context of baseline environmental information collected at the project location as part of this EIA report. It has been the general finding that the project components will bring environmental alterations to the project site if the activities are implemented. Several projects of similar nature have been developed over the past several decades as part of the Maldives tourism industry. No serious environmental damage has been reported or documented due to implementation of these projects. With due consideration given to the fragility of the natural environment, this document has discussed and identified mitigation measures for the potential impacts to the natural environment. The economic benefits from the project are likely to beneficial to the national economy at large.Item Item First addendum to the environmental impact assessment report : harbour extension works at Fares-Maathoda, Fares-Maathoda, Gdh. atoll(2018-02) Land and Marine Environmental Resource GroupItem Item Second addendum : F. Nilandhoo : environmental impact assessment to Nilandhoo harbour construction project, Faafu atoll, Maldives(2018-02) Hussain, FirdousThis is the second Addendum to the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) for the harbour development project in Nilandhoo, Faafu Atoll. The project is proposed by Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure. No scoping meeting was held as the proposed change is minor. This EIA addendum report aims to assess the issues highlighted in Terms of Reference (ToR) agreed between EPA and proponent. Furthermore, it is to fulfil the requirement of the Environmental Protection and Preservation Act of the Maldives (Law No. 4/93). Construction of Nilandhoo harbour was contracted with MTCC on 14th April 2015, whereas the EIA was undertaken for this project on September 2015 by Water Solutions Pvt ltd. Construction phase of the project was commenced thereafter in late 2015. Need and justification of the harbour construction project has been described in the initial EIA. First addendum to the EIA of Nilandhoo was made to change the sand borrow site. The 2nd addendum is to address a proposed design change to the quay-wall structure where the initially proposed revetment and concrete quay-wall will be replaced by a 346m long steel sheet pile quay-wall along the same line. The total length of 346m will be achieved in two stages where 223m will be completed in the first stage. Environmental impacts of the proposed change were assessed for both construction and operation stage of the project. Other than vibration which will also be localized in the project area, no additional negative impacts are expected due to the proposed change in design. Effective impact mitigation measures identified in the report are to be taken during the construction to minimise the magnitude of their occurance Environment monitoring program discussed in 2015 EIA is sufficient and should be followed. In an environmental and technical point of view, the proposed change to F.Nilandhoo harbour project can be continued as proposed.Item First addendum to the environmental impact assessment to Gahdhoo harbour construction project, Gaafu Dhaal atoll, Maldives(2018-01) Hussain, FirdousThis is the first Addendum to the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) for the harbour development (rehabilitation) project in Gahdhoo, Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll. The project is proposed by Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure. A Scoping Meeting for EIA addendum was held on 13 July 2017, following the addendum application where main issues related to the proposed change were discussed. This EIA addendum report aims to assess the issues highlighted in Terms of Reference (ToR) agreed between EPA and proponent. Furthermore it is to fulfil the requirement of the Environmental Protection and Preservation Act of the Maldives (Law No. 4/93). Construction of Gahdhoo harbour was contracted with MTCC on 08th June 2015, whereas the EIA was undertaken for this project on September 2015 by Water Solutions Pvt ltd. Construction phase of the project was commenced thereafter in late 2015. Need and justification of the harbour construction project has been described in the initial EIA. According to the EIA report, dredge material is to be used for backfilling the landward side of proposed harbour quay-wall and replenishing the beach area on south west of the island. However, during the course of the harbour project, a shore protection project has taken place in the island from December 2016 to April 2017 during which the proposed dredge material disposal area in harbour EIA report was replenished and protected by rock boulder revetment. Hence, the purpose f this EIA addendum is to allocate a new area to dispose the excess dredge material obtained from the harbour project as Gahdhoo council has requested to reclaim the area on north east of the harbour with the excess material which is expected to be 8,500cbm in total Environmental impacts of the proposed change were assessed for both construction and operation stage of the project. Most of the identified impacts are positive as they will improve the socio-economic situation of the island. As in all construction projects of this nature, the main negative environmental impact of the project is identified to be the movement and settlement of sediment around the reclamation area during the construction. However, the benthic cover of the reclamation area is predominantly composed sea grass and sand. Hence, combined negative effects are considered to be insignificant compared to the positive effects of the project with the proposed change. Effective impact mitigation measures are to be taken during the construction. It is recommended to keep the fill area enclosed with a bund wall as a mitigation measure against the movement of silt and sediments around the project area. Environment monitoring program discussed in 2015 EIA is sufficient and should be followed.. In an environmental and technical point of view, the proposed change to Gdh. Gahdhoo harbour rehabilitation project of is justified and beneficial in number of ways.