Initial Environmental Examination Project No. 46122-003 July 2020 Maldives: Preparing Outer Islands for Sustainable Energy Development Project (Phase 3a Sub-project - Noonu Atoll) Prepared by Ministry of Environment and Energy, Government of Maldives for the Asian Development Bank. This initial environmental examination report is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB's Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. Initial Environmental Examination for Noonu Atoll (POISED Phase 3a sub-Project) Prepared for Preparing Outer Islands for Sustainable Energy Development (POISED) Project Ministry of Environment and Energy 1 Initial Environmental Examination: POISED Phase 3a islands, Noonu Table of Contents Table of Contents ........................................................................................................... 2 List of Figures ................................................................................................................. 3 List of Tables .................................................................................................................. 3 1 Executive summary .................................................................................................. 5 1.1 Natural and Social Environment at Site ............................................................. 5 1.2 Impacts assessment and mitigation ................................................................... 6 1.3 Consultation, participation and information disclosure ....................................... 8 2 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 9 2.1 Purpose of IEE .................................................................................................. 9 2.2 Scope of IEE ..................................................................................................... 9 2.3 Background ....................................................................................................... 9 2.4 IEE Methodology and Outline ...........................................................................10 3 Description of the Sub-project .................................................................................11 3.1 Project location .................................................................................................12 3.2 Project Activities ...............................................................................................14 3.2.1 Project Activities: Construction Phase .........................................................16 3.2.2 Project Activities: Operational Phase ..........................................................17 3.3 Project Management and Implementation Plan ................................................17 3.4 Project budget ..................................................................................................18 4 Policy legal and administrative framework ...............................................................19 4.1 EIA Process of the Maldives .............................................................................19 4.1.1 Government Requirements for proposed Phase 3a sub-project ..................19 4.2 Environmental Standards .................................................................................20 5 Existing Environment ...............................................................................................22 5.1 The Physical environment ................................................................................23 5.1.1 Meteorology and Climate ............................................................................27 5.1.2 Geology, Soils and Mineral Resources .......................................................28 5.1.3 Water Resources ........................................................................................28 5.1.4 Biodiversity .................................................................................................29 5.1.5 Protected areas ...........................................................................................30 5.2 The social environment ....................................................................................31 6 Impacts assessment and mitigation measures ........................................................33 6.1.1 Impacts and mitigation: Planning phase ......................................................36 6.1.2 Impacts and mitigation: Construction phase ................................................37 6.1.3 Impacts and mitigation: Operational phase .................................................41 2 Initial Environmental Examination: POISED Phase 3a islands, Noonu 7 Alternatives analysis ................................................................................................44 8 Consultation, Participation and Information Disclosure ............................................44 8.1 Summary of consultations ................................................................................45 8.2 Information Disclosure ......................................................................................46 9 Environmental monitoring plan ................................................................................46 9.1 Grievance Redress Mechanism ........................................................................48 10 Conclusion ..............................................................................................................49 Appendices ....................................................................................................................50 Appendix 1: EIA Decision Note for POISED projects .................................................50 List of Figures Figure 1. Map of Noonu Atoll (adapted from: Google Earth Pro map) ............................13 Figure 2. RE hybrid systems for POISED islands. a) Type A, b) Type B and Type C .....16 Figure 3. N. Hembadhoo ...............................................................................................23 Figure 7. N. Landhoo .....................................................................................................24 Figure 6. N. Kudafari .....................................................................................................24 Figure 5. N. Maalhendhoo .............................................................................................24 Figure 4. N. Kendhikulhudhoo .......................................................................................24 Figure 9. N. Lhohi ..........................................................................................................25 Figure 8. N. Maafaru ......................................................................................................25 Figure 11. N. Magoodhoo ..............................................................................................25 Figure 10. N. Miladhoo ..................................................................................................25 Figure 13. N. Holhudhoo ...............................................................................................26 Figure 12. N. Manadhoo ................................................................................................26 Figure 15. N. Velidhoo ...................................................................................................26 Figure 14. N. Fodhdhoo .................................................................................................26 Figure 16. Annual wind rose for Hanimaadhoo station in the north, 2012 ......................27 Figure 17. Percentage vegetation cover in the islands of Noonu Atoll, Maldives ............29 Figure 19. Population distribution of islands in Noonu atoll ............................................32 Figure 20. Distribution of local and foreign population in islands of Noonu Atoll .............33 List of Tables Table 1. Summary of Negative Impacts and Mitigation for Noonu islands ....................... 7 Table 2. Summary of RE hybrid system for islands in Noonu Atoll .................................12 Table 3. Summary of existing features on each island in Noonu Atoll ............................14 Table 4. Generic designs of RE hybrid systems for POISED project islands..................15 Table 5. PV installation in Noonu Islands .......................................................................17 Table 6. Estimated Budget for Implementing RE Hybrid Systems in Noonu Atoll ...........18 Table 7. Some Selected Noise Standards .....................................................................20 Table 8. Ambient Air Quality Standards of WHO/WB EHS .............................................21 Table 9. Ecologically sensitive areas in Noonu Atoll (Information: Environment Protection Agency, Maldives) .....................................................................................................................31 Table 10. Impacts matrix for the Phase 3a sub-project in Noonu Atoll ...........................35 Table 11. Criteria for evaluating significance of impacts ................................................36