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Item Environment impact assessment for the proposed swimming pool construction and beach replenishment project in Irufushi Beach and Spa Resort, Noonu Atoll(2013-12) 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 swimming pools construction and beach replenishment project in Irufushi Beach and Spa, N. Atoll. The proponent of this project is Sun Travels & Tours Pvt. Ltd. The main rationale for the project is to enhance and upgrade the tourism operations at Irufushi Beach and Spa Resort by building 45 swimming pools attached to existing 45 Beach Villas and to replenish the beach to provide a better product for the visiting guests. Moreover, Irufushi Island has ongoing seasonal erosion which requires to be mitigated. The project involves upgrading and expanding the resort operations by construction of 45 swimming pools attached to existing 45 Beach Villas on the Northern side of the resort and ongoing beach replenishment for the next two years (on a need basis) on Irufushi Island for mitigating seasonal erosion. Two areas have been proposed for replenishment totalling a maximum of 11,100 cbm. Replenishment height is 1.5 m and will be sloped as a beach at 1:7 scales. Replenishment width is 10 m from the registered shoreline. Five areas have been proposed for borrow areas totalling a maximum volume of 20900 cbm. The dredge depth will be a maximum of 1.0 m from the existing depths. In exceptional circumstances depths may be increased to 1.5 m. The borrow area distance from the registered shoreline is 50 m. The borrow area had no visible live corals. The area mainly consists of rubble and mussy sand. 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 the Tourism Act. Significant impact associated with the components of the project; beach replenishment and swimming pool construction involves sedimentation on the marine water quality and consequent impact on marine life, direct loss of marine life within the project footprint, impact on the islands groundwater, impact on the flora at the project site and the health and safety of construction workers and swimming pool users. All these impacts can be minimized with proper mitigation measures recommended in the report. The main mitigation measures include carrying out sand pumping and construction activities during low tide hours and calm weather, and proper supervision of all activities by qualified personnel. The work schedule and duration will also be planned to avoid disruptive weather conditions and complete construction activities in the shortest time possible. And continuous monitoring for the diagnosis of further problems. The alternatives evaluated for the project are dredging methods as the project involves dredging the lagoon for materials required for beach replenishment. The use of sand pump is the preferred option for beach replenishment work, since it is the most common, practical and cost-effective method. The “No Project” option has also been explored for both beach replenishment and construction of swimming pools nonetheless, this option is not deemed preferable, given the current condition of the beach and the status of the resort. Monitoring plan is designed to assess any changes to the coral reef environment of the island, coastal changes and depth variations of harbour area as well the marine water quality as these are the key areas that will be impacted from this project. 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. In conclusion, this project has been designed in conformance to the relevant laws and regulations of Maldives. The most significant impacts are expected to be short-term impacts on the marine water quality, coral reef and lagoon bottom habitats. However, mitigation measures have been proposed to adequately minimise these significant impacts.Item Environment impact assessment for the proposed tourist hotel development project in Ifuru Island, Raa Atoll(2014-08) CDE ConsultingThe purpose of this document is to fulfil the requirements to get necessary environmental clearance from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement the proposed airport hotel development project in Ifuru Island, Raa Atoll. Ifuru Island was initially leased for tourism in 2011 in conjunction with the proposed airport development project in Ifuru. In addition, a resort and a marina were to be developed in Madivaafaru Island, and resort was to be developed in Muravandhoo Island. These three properties were awarded on the condition that Ifuru Island Airport be operational before the resort opens. Ifuru airport is nearing completion and is scheduled to open in late-2014. The proponent of this project is Ifuru Investments Pvt Ltd. The project is a joint venture between the Government of Maldives and Ifuru Investments to partly to ensure that the Ifuru airport is operation and partly to ensure that more beds are operational in Raa Atoll. The main rationale for the project is to develop tourism in the outer atolls of the Maldives to increase the tourism bed capacity and their contribution to the local and national economic growth. Tourism development lags behinds in Raa Atoll and this project is expected to increase the speed of development in the atoll. The objective of this project is to develop and operate a four star hotel on Ifuru Island. The project broadly involves the development and operation of a stand-alone 200 bed hotel. Although, referred to as a hotel for legal purposes, the property has the same features as a resort island in the Maldives. The proposed project covers seven main components: construction of island transport infrastructure; construction of the back-of-the-house and administrative infrastructure; construction of guest rooms; construction of guest facilities; construction of utilities – sewerage, power and water infrastructure; landscaping and; hotel operations. The project is estimated to take 24 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, Tourism Act, tourism resort development regulations, Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation 2012, Waste Management Regulation, Regulation on Cutting Down and Uprooting Trees, Dredging and Reclamation Regulation and Dewatering Regulation. Approvals have been granted for the concept by the Ministry of Tourism. Further approvals are required before construction and operations. It is a small island approximately 500 m long and 1400 m wide (at its widest point), and has a land area of approximately 51 Ha within low tide line in March 2014. The island is being developed as an airport and is in the construction stage of the project. Large areas of the vegetation have been cleared for the airport. However, the areas proposed for the hotel has not been cleared yet. The proposed runway and apron has been constructed. The other facilities such as the passenger terminal and ancillary services buildings are being constructed at the time of the survey. There is an existing harbour on the island but requires maintenance dredging. The reef condition is generally in good condition and the coastal environment is functioning well in most parts of the island. The island lacks a wide beach in the proposed hotel area and has beach rock that gets exposed seasonally. The proposed hotel area is also subject to strong SW monsoon winds and wave activity. The negative impacts from this project are typical impacts associated with resort development in Maldives. The most significant impact from this project during construction stage would be the damage to coral reef due to over water construction activities, dredging and beach replenishment, removal of limited vegetation, excavation and dewatering, changes to coastal processes due to coastal developments, degradation of the terrestrial and marine environment due to the worker activities, lost marine life due to overwater construction, dredging, replenishment and disposal of waste. Main social impacts include potential conflicts with the atoll public if equal job opportunity is not available for construction stage or operations stage of the hotel. Negative impacts during operations stage are the impacts on marine flora and fauna due to, impacts on the beach due significant erosion and accretion patterns and social impacts associated with foreign workers or general lack of opportunities. Apart from the impacts from this project on the environment, the coastal environment itself will have a major impact on the project itself. Beach will have to be created artificially in some areas to use the proposed beach villas as classified. If coastal structures are erected, it will reduce the aesthetic beauty of the island and will permanently alter the coastal processes. The project mainly has positive socio-economic benefits, including increased direct and indirect job opportunities and tourism growth. The key mitigation measures proposed for the construction stage include finding options to mitigate severe erosion on the island. A number of mitigation measures have been proposed in this assessment to mitigate the most significant impacts associated with the development, including reef clearance, worker activities, vegetation removal, marine construction, excavation works and utilities operation. Alternative options were evaluated for the activities that are identified to have significant impacts on the project. Alternative options have been proposed mitigate erosion and preference has been given to beach replenishment. Alternative options for dredging were also considered and barge/excavator operation was preferred. Consultations were held with the island councils and public of Ugoofaaru, Dhuvaafaru and Maakurathu. This project has strong support from the island communities and all site plans have been seen by the Island Councils. There is a general dissatisfaction due to the slow pace of resort development projects in the atoll. 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, 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 hotel. The total cost of mitigation and monitoring are estimated between US$10,000 per year. The main conclusion of this report is to move forward with the proposed development after with the proposed alternatives and the suggested mitigation measures.Item Environment impact assessment for the proposed tourist resort development project in Huruvalhi Island, Lhaviyani Atoll(2014-09) CDE ConsultingThe purpose of this document is to fulfil the requirements to get necessary environmental clearance from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement the proposed resort development project in Huruvalhi Island, Lhaiyani Atoll. Huruvalhi Island was leased for tourism in 2014 as part of the Ministry of Tourism’s policy to lease small islands within the 10 km of an existing resort for resort development, by the owners of the existing resort. The proponent of this project is Champa Lars Pvt Ltd, which is owned by the shareholders of Kuredhoo Island Resort. The main rationale for the project is to expand tourism in the outer atolls of the Maldives to increase the tourism bed capacity and their contribution to the local and national economic growth. Tourism development lags behinds in Lhaviyani Atoll and this project is expected to increase the speed of development in the atoll. The objective of this project is to develop and operate an extension of the Kuredhoo Island Resort as a five-star resort on Huruvalhi Island Island. The project broadly involves the development and operation of a stand-alone 200 bed extension of Kuredhoo Island. The proposed project covers eight main components: construction of island transport infrastructure; erosion mitigation, construction of the back-of-the-house and administrative infrastructure; construction of guest rooms; construction of guest facilities; construction of utilities – sewerage, power and water infrastructure; landscaping and; resort operations. The project is estimated to take 24 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, Tourism Act, tourism resort development regulations, Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation 2012, Waste Management Regulation, Regulation on Cutting Down and Uprooting Trees and Dewatering Regulation. Approvals have been granted for the concept by the Ministry of Tourism. Further approvals are required before construction and operations. It is a small island approximately 440 m long and 195 m wide (at its widest point), and has a land area of approximately 8.1 Ha within low tide line in August 2014. The island is generally in natural condition but not in pristine condition. Vegetation has been heavily modified and the water quality is poor. The lagoon and reef environment is in pristine condition. There are large areas of live coral cover on the reef slopes. The island has a generally calm embayment in the reef on the northern side which has been proposed as the main jetty area. No dredging is required. The beach environment on the southern side is in poor condition with very limited dry beach and ongoing severe erosion. Severe erosion is also prevalent on the northwest corner of the island. Erosion mitigation and beach mitigation are required. The negative impacts from this project are typical impacts associated with resort development in Maldives. The most significant impact from this project during construction stage would be the damage to coral reef doe to over water construction activities, removal of limited vegetation, excavation and dewatering, changes to coastal processes due to coastal developments, degradation of the terrestrial and marine environment due to the worker activities, lost marine life due to overwater construction and disposal of waste. Main social impacts include potential conflicts with the atoll public if equal job opportunity is not available for construction stage or operations stage of the resort. Negative impacts during operations stage are the impacts on marine flora and fauna due to potentially high number of vessels using the lagoon, impacts on the beach due significant erosion and accretion patterns and social impacts associated with foreign workers or general lack of opportunities. Apart from the impacts from this project on the environment, the coastal environment itself will have a major impact on the project itself. Erosion is likely to continue and if left unprotected, it will pose challenges and economic losses for the operation of the property. Beach will have may have to be created artificially in the future to mitigate erosion. If the coastal structures are erected, it will reduce the aesthetic beauty of the island and will permanently alter the coastal processes. The project mainly has positive socio-economic benefits, including increased direct and indirect job opportunities and tourism growth. The key mitigation measures proposed for the construction stage include finding options to mitigate severe erosion on the island. A number of mitigation measures have been proposed in this assessment to mitigate the most significant impacts associated with the development, including reef clearance, worker activities, vegetation removal, marine construction, excavation works and utilities operation. Alternative options were evaluated for the activities that are identified to have significant impacts on the project. Alternative options have been proposed mitigate erosion and preference has been given to shore protection and future consideration to undertake beach replenishment. Alternative options assessment for beach replenishment showed that more detailed assessments are required and additional approvals are recommended once more details are available. An alternative jetty has also been recommended on the south as the northern side may not be accessible year-round. Consultations were held with the island councils and some members of the public of Hinnavaru. In addition, consultations were made with the two nearest resorts (Komandoo Island Resort and Kuredhoo Island Resort) and Ministry of Tourism. This project has strong support from the island communities and all site plans have been seen by the Island Councils. There is a general dissatisfaction due to the slow pace of resort development projects in the atoll. There were also concerns raised about lack of picnic islands, but they were generally willing to sacrifice such needs in return for economic benefits. 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, 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 resort. The total cost of mitigation and monitoring are estimated between US$10,000 per year. The main conclusion of this report is to move forward with the proposed development after with the proposed alternatives and the suggested mitigation measures.Item Environment impact assessment for the proposed tourist guest house development project in Huraa Island, Kaafu Atoll(2014-06) CDE ConsultingThe purpose of this document is to fulfil the requirements to get necessary environmental clearance from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement the proposed guest house development project in Huraa Island, Male’ Atoll. The proposed site is the northern end or Thundi area of the Huraa Island. The proponent acquired the right to develop the guest house after in open bidding initiated by the Huraa Island Council. The proponent of this project is Pearl Sands of Maldives Pvt Ltd, which was registered specifically to develop the guesthouse business in Huraa. The main rationale for the project is to develop guesthouse tourism in the Maldives to increase the tourism bed capacity and their contribution to the local and national economic growth. The purpose of the project from the Council’s perspective is to increase the revenue of the Council and to provide direct benefits of tourism to the community. The island currently has a number of guest houses but servicing mainly locals. The project broadly involves the development and operation of 25 room guest house. The proposed project covers four main components: construction of guest rooms; construction of guest facilities; seagrass removal, and beach replenishment, and; guesthouse operations. The project is estimated to take 12 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, Tourism Act, Guesthouse regulations, Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation 2012, Waste Management Regulation, Regulation on Cutting Down and Uprooting Trees and Dewatering Regulation. Approvals have been granted for the concept by the Ministry of Tourism. Further approvals are required before construction and operations. The project is being undertaken in an inhabited island which has a heavily modified Environment. The island has undergone land reclamation, shore protection, vegetation removal and habour construction, among other modifications. The settlement occupies more than 60% of the island and settlement areas are generally devoid of continuous vegetation cover. There is a wetland environment on the island, which is considered the only such environment in the region. However, this site is not in the best of conditions, with signs of waste and reclamation around it. The proposed site has not been used for settlement but the areas have a highly modified vegetation system. Much of the project footprint comprises of coconut palms. The undergrowth in much of the area has been long removed and the palms appear to be planted by the locals. There is as Cadet Corp training camp within the vicinity of the project site. The biggest challenges from the natural environment are current erosion, lack of beach and seagrass overgrowth. The beach areas close to the proposed site are in poor condition with most areas lacking any beach and with severe erosion. There is sand pit which is a preferred picnic area for the locals. The immediate lagoon is covered with seagrass and will need to be removed to make the lagoon useable for swimming and other guest activities. The negative impacts from this project are typical impacts associated with tourism facilities development in Maldives, but with a much reduced scale. The most significant impact from this project during construction stage would be the loss of live coral colonies due to dredging and reclamation, removal of vegetation, excavation and dewatering, changes to coastal processes due to coastal developments, degradation of the terrestrial and marine environment due to the worker activities and disposal of waste. Main social impacts include potential conflicts with the public if equal job opportunity is not available for construction stage or operations stage of the property and social conflicts associated with sharing of utilities, beach areas and lagoon. The main anticipated negative impact during operations stage is the impacts on the beach due significant erosion and accretion patterns and social impacts associated with the above mentioned potential conflicts. The project mainly has positive socio-economic benefits, including increased direct and indirect job opportunities, growth of small businesses, growth in transport sector and improvement in transport to the island. Key mitigation measures for the construction stage include finding options to mitigate severe erosion on the island. A number of mitigation measures have been proposed in this assessment to mitigate the most significant impacts associated with the development, worker activities, vegetation removal, seagrass removal and beach replenishment. Alternatives options were evaluated for the activities that are identified to have significant impacts on or from the project. These include the options for erosion mitigation and seagrass removal. Alternative options have been proposed mitigate erosion and preference has been given to construct groynes on the NW corner. Alternative options assessment for seagrass removal was assessed but the currently proposed option to use excavators on sand beds was preferred. The Island Council, public and the nearest two resort islands were consulted on the project and all stakeholders have strong support to implement this project. The resorts have some reservations with some components of the project. 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, 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 guesthouse. The total cost of mitigation and monitoring are estimated between US$5,000 per year. The main conclusion of this report is to move forward with the proposed development after with the proposed alternatives and the suggested mitigation measures.Item Environment impact assessment : first addendum for the proposed tourist resort redevelopment project in Gasfinolhu Island, Kaafu Atoll(2014-01) CDE ConsultingThe purpose of this document is to fulfil the requirements to get necessary additional environmental clearance from the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out the proposed changes to the resort redevelopment project in Gasfinolhu Island Resort, Male’ Atoll. The proponent of this project is Global Pvt Ltd. The primary rationale for the proposed additional activity is to adjust the re-development plan from the observed shortcomings of the initial plan. The proposed revisions include increase in the number of rooms, changes to the room design and relocation of some guest facilities, revegetation, reclamation/replenishment of a 10,000 – 11,000 sq m on the main island and beach replenishment of about 500 sq m of the small islet on the eastern side. 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, Dredging and Reclamation Regulations 2013 and Tourism Act. Approvals for the project have been granted from Ministry of Tourism and EPA (for coastal modifications). The study area for the project is Gasfinolhu Island and baseline conditions are based on Original EIAs (Phase I and Phase II EIA’s) and monitoring reports/data. Baseline conditions indicate that most of the developments highlighted in the EIAs have been undertaken as specified. Existing coastal modifications such as replenishment and dredging has had short term impacts on the marine environment but has been very localised. Impacts from the current proposal will be cumulative and will mainly have impacts on the marine environment. Significant impacts of this project during construction phase of the project are the potential impact of sedimentation on the marine water quality and consequent impact on marine life, direct loss of marine life within the project footprint and the health and safety risks to construction workers. All these impacts can be minimized with proper mitigation measures recommended in the report and as practiced in the current environmental management framework. The main mitigation measures include carrying out construction activities during low tide hours and calm weather, deployment of silt screen or construction of bunds in the project area and where appropriate to reduce sediment dispersal and avoid adverse sedimentation impacts, and proper supervision of all activities by qualified personnel. The work schedule and duration will also be planned to avoid disruptive weather conditions and complete construction activities in the shortest time possible. The alternatives evaluated for the project are alternative near shore breakwater technologies and alternatives for borrow areas. The “No Project” option has also been explored and this option is not deemed preferable, given the current condition of the shore and the need for mitigation of ongoing seasonal and long-term erosion problem. The monitoring plan is designed to extend the existing monitoring programme. The management plan for this addendum will also be the same framework existing for the project. In conclusion, the proposed additional activities for this project have been designed in conformance to the relevant laws and regulations of Maldives. The most significant impacts are expected to be short-term impacts on the marine water quality, coral reef and lagoon bottom habitats. However, mitigation measures have been proposed to adequately minimise these significant impacts. PreparedItem Environment impact assessment for the proposed tourist resort and marina development project in Madivaafaru Island, Raa Atoll(2014-04) CDE ConsultingThe purpose of this document is to fulfil the requirements to get necessary environmental clearance from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement the proposed resort and marina development project in Madivaafaru Island, Raa Atoll. Madivaafaru Island was initially leased for tourism in 2011 in conjunction with the proposed airport development project in Ifuru. Both these islands were awarded on the condition that Ifuru Island Airport be operational before the resort opens. Ifuru airport is nearing completion and is scheduled to open in mid-2014. The proponent of this project is Ifuru Investments Pvt Ltd. The project is a joint venture between the Government of Maldives and Ifuru Investments to partly to ensure that the Ifuru airport is operation and partly to ensure that more beds are operational in Raa Atoll. The main rationale for the project is to develop tourism in the outer atolls of the Maldives to increase the tourism bed capacity and their contribution to the local and national economic growth. Tourism development lags behinds in Raa Atoll and this project is expected to increase the speed of development in the atoll. The objective of this project is to develop and operate a five star resort on Madivaafaru Island. The project broadly involves development and operation a stand-alone 56 bed resort and a 24 berth marina. The proposed project covers nine main components: construction of island transport infrastructure; construction of the back-of-the-house and administrative infrastructure; construction of guest rooms; construction of guest facilities; construction of utilities – sewerage, power and water infrastructure; construction of a 24 berth marina; Landscaping and; resort operations. The project is estimated to take 24 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, Tourism Act, tourism resort development regulations, Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation 2012, Waste Management Regulation, Regulation on Cutting Down and Uprooting Trees and Dewatering Regulation. Approvals have been granted for the concept by the Ministry of Tourism. Further approvals are required before construction and operations. An approval is required for the proposed channel clearing activity under the Dredging and Reclamation Regulation. Madivaafaru Island is a small island approximately 300 m long and 90 m wide, and has a land area of approximately 2.1 Ha within vegetation and 3 Ha within high tide line in March 2014. The island is generally in pristine condition, apart from its terrestrial environment. Its vegetation is very young comprising mainly of coastal littoral shrubs and a few introduced trees. The water quality is poor. It has deep lagoon and a natural reef entrance which is to be used for the marina development. Its reef condition is good on the eastern side but poor on the western side. One of the most important finding from this assessment is the volatility of the coastal environment particularly during the last 5 years. Over the last two years the impacts have been so dramatic that most of the structures initially planned on land based on 2012 studies are now all in the water. The size of the island combined with the volatility of beach environment makes it a very unsafe island to build land based structures closer to the beach. Given the limited land area, not building closer to the beach is also not an option. This island is highly vulnerable to climate change and potential sea level rise and could be among the first group islands that are severely affected. The negative impacts from this project are typical impacts associated with resort development in Maldives. The most significant impact from this project during construction stage would be the loss of live coral colonies due to reef entrance clearance, removal of limited vegetation, excavation and dewatering, changes to coastal processes due to coastal developments, degradation of the terrestrial and marine environment due to the worker activities, lost marine life due to overwater construction and disposal of waste. Main social impacts include potential conflicts with the atoll public if equal job opportunity is not available for construction stage or operations stage of the resort. Negative impacts during operations stage are the impacts on marine flora and fauna due to potentially high number of vessels using the lagoon and marina, impacts on the beach due significant erosion and accretion patterns and social impacts associated with foreign workers or general lack of opportunities. Apart from the impacts from this project on the environment, the coastal environment itself will have a major impact on the project itself. Severe erosion is likely to continue and if left unprotected, it will pose serious challenges and economic losses for the operation of the property. If the coastal structures are erected, it will reduce the aesthetic beauty of the island and will permanently later the coastal processes. The project mainly has positive socio-economic benefits, including increased direct and indirect job opportunities and tourism growth. The key mitigation measures proposed for the construction stage include finding options to mitigate severe erosion on the island. Uncontrolled erosion would have significant financial costs on the investment and will face severe erosion issues during operation stage. A number of mitigation measures have been proposed in this assessment to mitigate the most significant impacts associated with the development, including reef clearance, worker activities, vegetation removal, marine construction, excavation works and utilities operation. Alternatives options were evaluated for the activities that are identified to have significant impacts on the project. The most important finding is that the environmental and financial costs of going forward with this project on Madivaafaru Island is higher than considering an alternative site. Alternative islands have been suggested for the project including Kottefaru, Naainfaru and Faarufushi. Other alternatives considered, should the project goes ahead in Madivaafaru, includes an extensive coastal protection system, alternative options for reef entrance, alternative methods for dredging and changes to site plan. It has been recommended to move this project to a more stable and slightly larger island. Consultations were held with the island councils and public of Ugoofaaru, Dhuvaafaru and Maakurathu. This project has strong support from the island communities and all site plans have been seen by the Island Councils. There is a general dissatisfaction due to the slow pace of resort development projects in the atoll. 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, 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 resort. The total cost of mitigation and monitoring are estimated between US$15,000 per year. The main conclusion of this report is to relocate the proposed development to another island on grounds of its small size, coastal instability and future vulnerability to erosion hazards and climate change. It is also recommended to designate the island as a sensitive coastal environment and to prevent any physical developments on the island for the next 10 years. However, given the financial implications and legal complications that may be associated with such a drastic action, the final decision should rest on the outcome of a discussion between the proponent and the Ministry of Tourism. Should the project go ahead, extensive shore protection will be necessary and proponent should accept coastal adaptation may be an ongoing expenditure during operation as well.Item Environmental impact assessment for the proposed resort development Maareha Gaaf Alif Atoll, Maldives(2014-04) SandcaysThis report addresses the environmental concerns of the proposed development of a resort on Maareha, Gaafu Alifu Atoll. The island is about 16.5hectares in its size and is located on a shared reef system at the eastern side of Gaafu Alifu Atoll. The Proponent of the proposed development is Moving International Pvt. Ltd. The Proponent proposes to develop a modern resort on Maareha with 20-bed Family Villas, 98-bed Water villas, 208-bed Beach Bungalows, 84-bed Beach Twin Villas and 4-bed Presidential Villas. Furthermore, it also includes Arrival Pavillion, Diving school, Medical Clinic, Mosque, Service jetty, Main Restaurant, Souvenir and Jewellery shops, Coffee shop / Bar, Swimming pool, Sports and recreation center for guests, Cinema, AV room, Karoake, Disco, Water Sports Center, Football Ground, Basketball Court, Tennis Court, Spa Complex, Children Play, Recycle House, Staff Recreation Center, Staff Training Center, Cafes and different utilities including desalination plant, sewage treatment plant, waste management center and powerhouse. The proposed development will conform to all current environmental legislation including the Regulation on the Protection and Conservation of the Environment in the Tourism Industry. The main negative impact of the proposed development will be the impact of sedimentation on the areas of the housereef on the west where the proposed harbour and access channel will be developed and the impact of deforestation due to land clearance for proposed buildings. These impacts are inevitable. Yet, every effort is to be made to minimize the impact and footprint of the impact. The impact of sedimentation on the reef will be minimized by taking into consideration appropriate hydrodynamic and tidal conditions, creating settlement basins as the dredging activity proceeds or by using silt screens. To minimize the impact of deforestation, buildings will be designed around mature trees minimizing their removal. If a mature tree were to be removed, they will be carefully uprooted and transplanted elsewhere. The negative impacts of the water villas include impacts on sediment transport around the northwestern side of Maareha and some minor degree of sedimentation on the reef nearby. There will be no impact on neighbouring Medhuhutta, which is about 50m, due to the strong currents in the channel between the two islands (over 0.5m/s) helping them to behave as two separate littoral systems. However, there are uncertainties given the lack of data and hence monitoring hydrodynamics and changes to shoreline of both islands during the construction as well as operational phase will further help to evaluate this impact more accurately. To minimize this impact on longshore sediment transport, the walkways of water villas will stand on piles with their footings buried in the seabed. The impact of sedimentation will be minimized by taking care to move the water villas as far away from the live reef areas as possible and transplanting any live corals that may be directly impacted. Care will also be taken to minimize sedimentation on the reef when placing water villa footings and columns. Precast footings and columns will be used and excavator movements shall be minimized. Excavator is preferably moved on barge to minimize sedimentation and if high bed excavators were to be used, they shall move as far from coral reef flat areas as possible. This impact of sedimentation will be short-lived given that tidal and wind-driven currents would normally carry the sediments away from the reef at all tides and monsoons. It is vital, therefore, to monitor the condition of the reef prior to the start of works, during the works and after the works to establish the true nature of the impact. The other environmental impacts of the proposed development include solid waste management, water supply, sewage disposal and energy generation. Solid waste will be generated both during the constructional and operational phase of the resort. Constructional waste will be disposed of by the Contractor to Thilafushi if a regional landfill or waste management site does not exist. During the operational phase, a waste management center established on the island will segregate waste and dispose of them in a manner prescribed in tourism regulations. It is during the construction stage that the waste is often not managed properly and waste ends up in the environment. Therefore, it is vital that waste management procedures are in place during construction phase to ensure waste is appropriately dealt with. Supervision and awareness of construction workforce is highly recommended. Desalination, sewage treatment and power generation are fuel-dependent processes and fuel efficient desalination technology, STPs and, especially, generator sets will be installed in the island. Solar water heaters have been proposed and photovoltaic system incorporated, the costs of which have already been taken into consideration. Gravity sewers will deliver the sewage and only a single pumping station will be used. Treated effluent with low levels of BOD (less than 20mg/l) will be disposed to the sea at not less than 10m below MSL and 5m away from the reef edge. Therefore, the impact from sewage disposal will be almost negligible. In fact, the daily peak flows is quite small that the proposed sea outfall would provide over 500-fold dilution to the sewage effluent even if it were raw sewage, which would occur only in the unlikely event that the sewage treatment plant fails. Hence, no further mitigation measures have been considered for sewage disposal and treatment. The project encompasses clean technology and an initial investment worth a million dollars would be spent on solar energy system. This will complement the proposed diesel generator sets. In addition, solar water heaters will be installed to provide hot water to all guest units. Also, to minimize fuel and water consumption, it is proposed to install energy and water efficient technology including faucets. The costs of these have already been included in the project. Environmental monitoring has also been incorporated into the project. Arrangements for monitoring during constructional and operational phase will be considered immediately upon EIA approval. Monitoring will be undertaken according to the monitoring programme recommended in this report. Recommended monitoring for the project includes the monitoring of shoreline at predetermined and bench-marked tide level, beach profiles and drogues at locations given in the EIA report, marine water quality at the location of the intake, brine discharge, sea outfall and a control location, groundwater at a location close to the powerhouse and desalination plant and a control location and quality of product water at 3 specified locations including product water tank. Annual monitoring reports have to be submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency over the monitoring period and shall include fuel and water consumption data and greenhouse gas emission calculations. 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 major socio-economic benefits although there would be some negative environmental impacts, it is recommended to allow the project to proceed as proposed.Item Environment impact assessment for the proposed airport development project in Maafaru Island, Noonu Atoll(2014-12) CDE ConsultingThe purpose of this document is to fulfil the requirements to get necessary environmental clearance from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement the proposed airport development project at Maafaru Island, Noonu Atoll. The proponent of this project is Millenium Capital Management (MCM) Private Limited, Male’ Maldives. The southern half of Maafaru Island has been leased by the Island Council and Regional Airport to the proponent in 2013. 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. Maafaru Island was originally leased to Noonu Hotels Private Limited for airport development. An EIA was prepared and approved for the original project in 2009. Since then, the Government has cancelled the agreement with Noonu Hotels. It was then rebid and MCM won the rights to develop the airport. This EIA is to get the approvals for their revised airport development plan. The aim of this project is to improve the transport link between Male’ and north central Maldives, particularly Noonu Atoll. The project involves construction of a domestic airport on Maafaru Island. The airport will consist of a 1800m runway, aircraft parking aprons, passenger terminal, air traffic control facilities, fire and safety facilities and utilities among others. The airport will also dredge a reef entrance and harbour basin, and construct a jetty specifically to access the airport. The eastern shoreline of the airport will be protected using a revetment. The operation stage of the project involves operating the domestic airport. The main components of this project are mobilization and setup; vegetation clearance, dredging reef entrance and harbour basin; backfilling and levelling low lying areas and marshlands in Maafaru; constructing runway and apron; constructing service building and utilities; establishing air traffic controls, fire and safety and navigation systems; and constructing shore protection measures. 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 Cutting Down and Uprooting Trees, Dredging and Reclamation Regulation, and Dewatering Regulation. Preliminary approvals have been granted for the concept by MoFA. This project has Dredging and Reclamation Approval has also been granted by EPA. In addition, there are a number of permits to be obtained for the operation of aerodrome. The presence of mangrove vegetation poses a challenge to meet the requirements of the Regulation on Cutting Down and Uprooting Trees but the small number of trees involved makers it suitable for relocation. The proposed site has been modified due to human activities. Overall, the island and 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 been cleared under the original area but 90% of the vegetation is still intact. There is a sand bed on the western side created by the previous developers. 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 some mangrove vegetation. The central marshland area has recently connected to open lagoon, bringing in juvenile marine life. The site may be considered a breeding site but no concrete evidence was found in this evaluation to classify the site as a breeding site. The mangrove vegetation area is very small but 85% of these trees will have to be relocated. The island topography is varied and will require extensive backfilling to level the site. The reef system is in moderately good condition. 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 trees, relocation 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; 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 pollution of air, water and soil due to emissions from island operations such as power generation, water production and flight operations; 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 measure to minimise sedimentation and turbidity in the lagoon, salinization and contamination of ground water, loss of useable trees, loss of mangrove vegetation, social discontent, coastal erosion and safety of workers and passengers. Among these, all large trees and coconut palms which can be transplanted to other islands will be made available for transport. Discussions are underway with Lh. Huruvalhi, proposed resort to be reclaimed on Dhiffushi Reef, N. Dhigurah and proposed island to be reclaimed in K. Thunbafushi. No sites have been finalised yet. All mangrove plants will be relocated to the southernmost wetland or to a nearby island such as Kendhikulhudhoo. Alternative options have been evaluated for the most significant impacts. Among these alternative locations for the proposed airport location 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. Consultations were held with Noonu Atoll Council, Maafaru Island Council, Manadhoo Island Council, Maafaru public, management of Irufushi and some staff members of Irufushi. There is overwhelming support for the project. Some members of the public from the islands on the western rim (Velidhoo and Holhudhoo) expressed concern about their distance to Maafaru Airport and would have preferred a more central location for the airport. 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 resort. The total cost of mitigation and monitoring are estimated between US$5,000 per year. The main conclusion of this report is to move forward with the proposed development on grounds of very high socio-economic benefits which out weight the environmental impacts form the project. The project does have significant terrestrial environmental impacts. However, the scale of the impacts 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 relocate. The establishment of marshland as a habitat for juveniles is a very recent development (since 2009) 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. 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 Environmental impact assessment for development of drainage works and storm water infiltration galleries in H. DH. Kulhudhuffushi, Maldives(2014-09) Maldives Energy and Environmental CompanyKulhudhuffitshi Island with a population of over 8900 people is the most populated island in the northern region of the country and is considered to be the third largest population in the Maldives. The island is currently the hub of all commercial activities in the north. Physical and infrastructure developments have although brought socio-economic improvements to the resident community it has also come at an environmental cost. Among the environmental issues faced to the island, stormwater flooding has been considered having impacts on the people in many different ways. Land reclamation, reclamation of the wetland, destruction of the coastal vegetation belt and increased use of vehicles on sandy roads without an engineered drainage system have all contributed to the occurrences of stormwater flooding in the island. In an attempt to address the issue of stormwater in Kulhudhuffushi, the Integrating Climate Change Risks into Resilient Island Planning Project (ICCRRIP) commissioned Male Water Supply and Sewerage Company (MWSC) and Engineering Consultant PVT. Ltd to undertake a study to identify technical options available to solve the flooding problem. Subsequently a report on the findings was submitted to ICCRRIP in 2013. The study proposed a number of options for stormwater management in the island. The recommended method being that stormwater from the gutters and soak pits be connected to a pipeline terminating into underground storage tanks consisting of blocks of AquaCell which has an extensive range of modular cell products and are known to provide an efficient and sustainable method of storing large volumes of run-off for water attenuation or soakaway applications. These underground water tanks would hold the water and release into the ground slow enough for the ground to be able to absorb water and ultimately re-charging the groundwater lens. The report divides the island catchment areas into four zones and recommends two flood prone areas in the northern and the southern part of the island for piloting flood control by this method. However, due to the limited financing available for the piloting flood control by this method. However, due to the limited financing available for the project, it has been decided to pilot the drainage activities in the north eastern region of the island only. This would involve diversion of storm water from six roads namely, Marukazu Magu, Miskiy Magu, Soafiya Higun, Madharusaa Magu, Dhanbu Magu and Orchid Magu. Approved project cost is MVR 16 million. Maldives Road Development Corporation (MRDC) has been selected as the contractor for the project while MWSC will supervise their work. MRDC intends to merge pilot project activities with the on-going road construction works. The project planning, design and surveying began in July 2014 and is entire project is expected to completed and handed over by the contractor during the first half of November. The site clearance and the earthworks is expected to start as soon as EIA clearance is sought and have been planned to be completed within about 30 days. hi order to proceed with the proposed drainage works and installation of the stormwater infiltration galleries and EIA was commissioned to obtain environmental clearance and the EIA was conducted based on the Terms of Reference agreed between the Consultant and the EPA. The EIA recognizes the importance and urgency of addressing the heavy rain associated flooding in Kulhudhuffushi based on the field investigations backed by Detailed Island Risk Assessment in Maldives (2007) and Detailed Island Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (2013). The impact analysis show no significant negative impact expected to be arising out of any activity associated with the project. Project involves minor excavations, potential dewatering, filling back and operation of vehicles and temporary enclosure of the project sites. These may have minor and temporary negative impacts to the scenic view and vista. Potential post-project negative enviromnental impact could arise out of breeding of mosquitos and pests in the tanks, in the pipeline and soakpits due to standing water. Through proper maintenance of the system the problem could be largely avoided. Potential socio-cultural impacts associated with the pilot project include, disruption to services, and temporary obstacles to right of way. Minor negative socio-cultural and environmental impacts associated with the project are temporary and reversible in nature. These further could be mitigated through appropriate mitigation measures. The most expected positive impact expected from the project will be improvement to the drainage. With the project the project is expected to alleviate drainage issue from an area measuring 175,000m2 of urban land with better drainage, and as indirect positive impacts, the project is expected to further improve groundwater, reduce potential contaminants reaching the marine environment, leading to improved public health and quality of life through reduced risk of waterborne and water-related diseases and increased public satisfaction with the urban environment. The project is expected to bring some minor positive impacts to the local economy during the three phases of the project as a results of temporary opportunities created during the works. Several major realistic and practical alternatives have been assessed including the 'no project alternative'. Without the project, the funds allocated for the project could be saved but may run the risk of losing it since the project may not have adequate time left before closure. Since, detailed designs, engineering drawings and contractor for the project has already been selected it would be completely unrealistic and wasteful to even consider utilizing the funds for a different activity. Considering meeting the objectives of the project, environmental and economical superiority of the alternatives evaluated, undertaking a pilot project in one of the flood prone area using underground tanks in empty available space for drainage has been found to the best practical option. The Council expressed their wish implement the project in the Zone A (the south east region) as opposed to Zone B (north east region). They were of the view that Zone A floods more severely compared to Zone B and therefore, the project would have greater impact by this shift. Considering that the detailed design has already been done for this zone, it is recommended to change the project location as suggested by the Council in order to increase public acceptability of the project. The intended positive impacts of the project can only be accurately determined by the post-project monitoring scheme. In order to ensure effectiveness of underground stomi water collection tanks in mitigating against flooding it is essential to monitor, collect information, evaluate the information collected and disseminated. With the following recommendations duly considered or addressed appropriately, the ETA found that the positive aspects of the project far outweigh its negative impacts. ■ Bank of Maldives Branch at Kulhudhuffushi have not been consulted during the design phase on the possible installation of an underground tank within their compound. ETA suggests that prior to the onset of ground work that the Bank be consulted for their consent. ■ Location identified for the tank at the football ground need to be relocated from the southwest corner to the northwest corner in order to reduce the pipeline length as well as the associated costs. ■ Capacity of the underwater tank proposed for Bank of Maldives' compound seem to be of inadequate capacity since it the region covers 53% of the total pilot project area. ■ It is not clear how the existing design will address the over-flow should such a situation arise. This issue need to be resolved prior to the construction. ■ Post project maintenance and management shall be discussed and agreed with the island council in order to avoid potential mosquito and other pest issues as a result of the project. If the pilot project is successful in managing storm water in the piloted area, the system will be expended to other regions of Kulhudhuffushi Island and similar systems it could be replicated elsewhere in the Maldives.Item Environment impact assessment for the proposed swimming pool construction project in Kurehdhoo Island Resort, Lhaviyani Atoll(2014-06) 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 swimming pool construction project in Kuredu Island Resort, Lh. Atoll. The proponent of this project is Kuredu Holdings Pvt. Ltd. The main rationale for the project is to enhance and upgrade the tourism operations at Kuredu Island Resort, by building a swimming pool in front of the bar on the South West side of the resort, to provide a better product for the visiting guests. 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 the Tourism Act. Significant impact associated with the components of the project impact on the islands groundwater, impact on the flora at the project site and the health and safety of construction workers and swimming pool users. All these impacts can be minimized with proper mitigation measures recommended in the report. The alternatives evaluated for the project is The “No Project” option nonetheless, this option is not deemed preferable, given the current condition of the resort. Other alternatives explored are alternative location and alternative pool type. Given the disadvantages of the existing conditions, the preferred option is to go ahead with the proposed project of construction of a fresh water swimming pool at the proposed location. Monitoring plan is designed to assess any changes to the environment of the island, groundwater and flora and fauna that are the key areas that will be impacted from this project. 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. In conclusion, this project has been designed in conformance to the relevant laws and regulations of Maldives. The most significant impacts are expected to be short-term impacts on the water quality groundwater and flora and fauna. However, mitigation measures have been proposed to adequately minimise these impacts