NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT & PLANNING AGENCY PERMIT APPLICATION: 2012-05017-EP00136 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR A PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL SUB-DIVISION AT PART OF GREENCASTLE ESTATE, ROBINS BAY, ST MARY, JAMAICA March 2013 EIA for the Proposed Residential Sub-Division at Part of Green Castle Estate, St Mary, Jamaica ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENTFOR PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL SUB-DIVISION, PART OF GREEN CASTLE ESTATE, ST MARY, JAMAICA . March 2013 Prepared by Environmental Management Consultants (Caribbean) Ltd. on behalf of Green Castle LLC in support of their application for an Environmental Permit under the Natural Resources Conservation Act of Jamaica (1990). No part of this report may be reproduced without the written permission of Green Castle LLC. Should the document be cited, the formal citation should read: Environmental Management Consultants (Caribbean) Ltd. 2013. Environmental Impact Assessment for the Proposed Residential Sub-Division, part of the Green Castle Estate, St Mary, Jamaica. 169 p plus appendices 2 emc2 March 2013 2 EIA for the Proposed Residential Sub-Division at Part of Green Castle Estate, St Mary, Jamaica 2 emc2 March 2013 3 EIA for the Proposed Residential Sub-Division at Part of Green Castle Estate, St Mary, Jamaica Acknowledgements/List of Contributors Environmental Management Consultants (Caribbean) Ltd. was contracted by Greencastle Ltd to prepare this report. Dr. Ravidya Burrowes prepared the following sections: Executive Summary, Project Description, Analysis of Alternatives, Legal Framework Impacts Assessment and Environmental Management Plan. Mr. Marc Rammelaere was primarily responsible for the Physical Baseline. He also assisted with Stakeholder Consultations. Mr. Llewelyn Meggs prepared the Ecology Baseline section. Ms. Kamille Dwyer prepared the Socio-economic Baseline. She also contrubuted to the Land Use, Heritage Resources and Traffic Survey sections of the baseline. The preparers of the EIA are grateful to the following persons for their input to the EIA process: Mr John Marcocchio, Sub-Division Project Manager. Mr Karl McIntosh OF Noel Whyte and Associates Ltd. Ms Elaine Russell, Green Castle Estate. 2 emc2 March 2013 i EIA for the Proposed Residential Sub-Division at Part of Green Castle Estate, St Mary, Jamaica Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................... VII SECTION 1 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ...................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................................... 2 Background ......................................................................................................................................................... 2 The Proponents ................................................................................................................................................... 2 Development Rationale ...................................................................................................................................... 3 Location and Setting .......................................................................................................................................... 4 Project Overview ................................................................................................................................................. 7 DESIGN PARAMETERS & SITE PLANNING ................................................................................................................... 8 Lotting& Phasing Plan ...................................................................................................................................... 8 Phase 1 ................................................................................................................................................................ 9 PHASE 2 ................................................................................................................................................................... 12 LAND USE ................................................................................................................................................................ 12 CONCEPTUAL LANDSCAPING PLAN ........................................................................................................................... 13 INFRASTRUCTURE& UTILITIES .................................................................................................................................. 14 Roadways .......................................................................................................................................................... 14 Road Design.................................................................................................................................................................... 16 DRAINAGE ............................................................................................................................................................... 20 Water Supply ..................................................................................................................................................... 21 Power Supply ..................................................................................................................................................... 23 Sewage Disposal Options ................................................................................................................................. 23 AMENITIES AND SERVICES ........................................................................................................................................ 25 IMPACT-CAUSING ASPECTS OF ACTIVITIES .............................................................................................................. 26 Sub-Division Development Phase .................................................................................................................... 26 Post-Sale Construction .................................................................................................................................... 28 Occupancy (Operational) ................................................................................................................................ 29 SECTION 2 ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES ........................................................................................... 31 LAND USE OPTIONS ................................................................................................................................................ 33 Status Quo (No Change in Land Use) ............................................................................................................. 34 Agricultural Homestead Sub-Division ............................................................................................................ 36 The Proposed Residential Sub-Division .......................................................................................................... 37 SIMPLE COMPARISON OF COSTS AND BENEFITS ....................................................................................................... 38 SECTION 3 LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK ................................................................... 40 GENERAL PLANNING CONTEXT ................................................................................................................................ 41 DEVELOPMENT CONTROL ........................................................................................................................................ 41 CONSERVATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES .................................................................................................. 43 POLLUTION CONTROL ............................................................................................................................................. 45 SECTION 4 DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT (BASELINE) ...................................................... 48 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT ....................................................................................................................................... 49 Climate ............................................................................................................................................................. 49 Views, Ambient Noise, Air and Artificial Light................................................................................................ 51 Topography & Landforms ................................................................................................................................ 53 Geology & Soils ................................................................................................................................................. 57 Hydrology .......................................................................................................................................................... 63 Surface Drainage ........................................................................................................................................................... 63 Groundwater ................................................................................................................................................................. 68 2 emc2 March 2013 ii EIA for the Proposed