Environmental management plan for the proposed sewage treatment plant in Maayaafushi Tourist Resort, Alif Alif Atoll, Maldives

Abstract

This 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.