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    Technical Report
    Environmental impact assessment for: Hdh. Neykurendhoo channel protection and maintenance dredging project
    (2015-12) Maldives Energy and Environmental Company
    a) This Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report was prepared by Maldives Energy and Environmental Company (MEECO) upon request by the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure (MHI), the project proponent to fulfil the legal requirements of the Environment Protection and Preservation Act (Law no: 4/93) for the project entitled “HDh. Neykurendhoo channel protection and maintenance dredging”. b) The assessment was prepared addressing the key issues highlighted in the Terms of Reference (TOR) agreed between the proponent and EPA. c) Neykurendhoo is an average sized island with a population of a little over 700, where basic services are available. The island has got an average sized harbour constructed in 2007 that is currently being used by boats owned locally as well as fishing and cargo vessels from other islands as a berthing location. d) MHI proposed this project to address the requirement for providing safe access to Neykurendhoo. No maintenance dredging had been carried out since the construction of the harbour in 2007. The channel is reported to have become shallower over the years as a result of siltation in the area. In addition the breakwater at the entrance of the harbour was constructed too short to provide adequate protection from wind and waves. e) The project is in line with government policies and legislation, and the proponent is committed to obtaining all the necessary permits and approvals prior to the commencement of the project. f) The project proposes to construct a 116.2 m rock boulder extension to the existing breakwater at the entrance channel, and apply excavation techniques to conduct maintenance dredging. The dredge material is proposed to be used for levelling the access road from the residential areas of the island to the harbour. The proponent commits to put in place all the measures necessary to minimise the impacts of the development on the environment. g) Assessment of the existing environment revealed that there were relatively few benthic communities to be directly affected as a result of the proposed activities. The channel has a sandy bottom characteristic of dredged locations. The only activity expected to cause damage to the benthic communities were the placement of the rock boulder extension to the breakwater. However, the coral communities in the area were in relatively sparse abundance and consisted only of small colonies. The impact on coral reefs is expected to revert back to its original state once the environment has stabilised upon completion of the project. h) The major impact to the surrounding areas would be from sedimentation during dredging, especially since for much of the year the location will experience winds and the resulting wind-generated surface currents away from the island. Adequate silt netting would minimise the impacts to the surrounding areas during construction phase. i) The proponent is fully committed to fulfilling the requirements of the monitoring plan developed, and undertake any mitigation measures necessary to minimise the negative impacts of this project j) The benefits of this project outweigh the slight negative impacts caused by the project, and is encouraged to implement the project giving due considerations to the environmental issues.
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    Technical Report
    1st addendum to the EIA report development of city hotel, hospitality institute and resort development At Bodufinolhu And Gasfinolhu Laamu Atoll
    (2012-01) Land and Marine Environmental Resources Group
    This first addendum to EIA report for Development of City Hotel, Hospitality Institute and resort development at Bodufinolhu and Gasfinolhu is prepared to address the construction of a temporary causeway connecting L. Gan City Hotel area and Bodufinolhu for the duration of construction phase of Bodufinolhu. EPA instructed the proponent to remove the temporary cause way constructed connecting the two islands during December 2011 after a complaints raised from an individual from L. Gan. A temporary cause way was constructed by the proponent using dredged material and three concrete culverts connecting the two islands (L. Gan and Bodufinolhu) for transporting construction material from L. Gan to Bodufinolhu. In consultation with EPA and Tourism ministry it was decided that temporary cause way can be constructed with environmental clearance in the form of an addendum. The temporary cause way will be constructed at the channel area between L. Gan and Bodufinolhu (shortest length). The cause way will be constructed west of main road (to locate cause way within the City Hotel boundary) at L. Gan and connected at the southern end of Bodufinolhu. The proposed causeway is 31.59m long and 4m wide. Culverts will be placed at 1m intervals of opening size 1.5m. The culverts will be constructed with reinforced concrete. Excavators will be used for transporting the culverts to designated locations (13 culverts will be constructed). Water current speed measure was taken near the existing culverts to record the current speed flowing behind the causeway and at the eastern side of Bodufinolhu and Gasfinolhu. Water current at the eastern side of Bodufinolhu and Gasfinolhu is low (0.21m/s near Bodufinolhu and 0.16m/s near Gasfinolhu). Current speed just west of culvert is at an average 0.74m/s during high tide. During low tide due to the sediment build up near the culvert water flow is completely blocked. Shoreline survey was carried out using precision GPS; recording beach toe and low tide line. Since the eastern side of L. Gan and Bodufinolhu is an intertidal area (mostly near Gan) beach toe was recorded for the eastern side. Qualitative assessment was carried out at the proposed causeway location. Since already a causeway is construction area east of the causeway was assessed. The qualitative survey carried out at the area showed that dominant benthic substrate was sea grass. The area was sandy with few rock patches. Two species of sea grass was observed at the area these are; Thalassia hemprichii and Syringodium sp. Impacts on the environment by the construction of temporary causeway have been identified through interviews with the project management team, field data collection surveys (survey data from initial EIA and data collected for this addendum) and based on past experience in similar development projects. Possible impacts arising from the resort development and operation works are categorized in to 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 in to intensity of impacts (negligible, minor, moderate and major) for identifying best possible remedial (mitigation measures) action to be taken. Since the area is already modified and is planned for additional coastal modifications additional impacts in relation to construction of temporary causeway is minor to negligible. Operational impact envisaged due to the proposed modification is change in hydrodynamic regime (which is existing condition due to present causeway) due to the reduction of flow of water through the culverts. This change in hydrodynamic regime is expected to be moderate since the new causeway is design to allow maximum flushing (32% open based on 13 culverts of opening width 1.5m). The proposed causeway for use during the construction stage of Bodufinolhu resort development is 4m wide and 31.59m long; constructed of concrete culverts and dredged material. Alternatives are jetty structure constructed using piles or piers, barge used for transport of material across the channel and the no project scenario. Mitigation provided in the EIA report is sufficient for mitigating impacts identified in this addendum to the EIA report. Mitigation for Solid waste handling and construction related impacts are provided in the initial EIA report. No additional monitoring is required as a result of the proposed temporary causeway. Monitoring works proposed in the EIA report includes reef and shoreline monitoring of all three project islands (including beach profiles and mapping of shoreline using high precision GPS). The proposed causeway is designed to allow maximum flow of water with structural integrity to allow transport of dumper trucks across to Bodufinolhu. The design of the causeway is formulated based on the consultation with EPA (during inspection visit to site by EPA personnel in regards to complaint raised by an islander from L. Gan due to the construction of causeway blocking the flow of water between Gan and Bodufinolhu) and EIA consultant. The causeway will be used only for the duration of Bodufinolhu construction work and will be removed once construction is completed (12 months).
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