ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT For Proposed Sheet Piling Works at Slot No. 5 Thilafushi, Kaafu Atoll August 2018 Prepared for: V.A. Pvt. Ltd. Prepared by: Mohamed Zuhair (EIA01/15) Ibrahim Shakir (BP03106) TABLE OF CONTENTS ާސާ ލާ ހު ދާ ސާ .............................................................................................................................................. 10 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................... 13 2. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 16 2.1 PROJECT BACKGROUND................................................................................................. 16 2.2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT .................................................................. 16 2.3 POJECT DONOR ................................................................................................................. 16 2.4 LEGAL REQUIREMENT .................................................................................................... 17 2.5 OTHER REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................................. 17 2.6 EIA APPROACH, SCOPE AND OBJECTIVE ................................................................... 17 2.7 EIA METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................ 18 2.8 REVIEW OF RELEVANT STUDIES ................................................................................. 19 2.9 EIA TEAM ............................................................................................................................ 20 2.10 EIA TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR) ............................................................................ 20 3. STUDY AREA ............................................................................................................................. 21 4. PROJECT DESCRIPTION .......................................................................................................... 24 4.1 PROJECT LOCATION ........................................................................................................ 24 4.2 PROPONENT ....................................................................................................................... 24 4.3 JUSTIFICATION ................................................................................................................. 24 4.4 PROJECT OUTLINE ........................................................................................................... 25 4.4.1 Project Scope ................................................................................................................ 25 4.4.2 Project Design ............................................................................................................... 25 4.5 KEY PROJECT ACTIVITIES.............................................................................................. 26 4.5.1 Sheet Piling Works........................................................................................................ 26 4.5.2 Backfilling ..................................................................................................................... 27 4.5.3 Concrete Works............................................................................................................. 28 4.6 PROJECT MANAGEMENT ................................................................................................ 28 4.6.1 Project Mobilization ...................................................................................................... 28 4.6.2 Temporary Setup and Arrangement .............................................................................. 28 4.6.3 Project Schedule ............................................................................................................ 28 4.6.4 Environmental Monitoring During Project Implementation ......................................... 29 4.6.5 Work Safety .................................................................................................................. 29 4.6.6 Emergency Plan ............................................................................................................ 29 4.6.7 Demobilization .............................................................................................................. 29 4.6.8 Project Input and Output ............................................................................................... 29 4.7 KEY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND AFFECTED BOUNDARIES ....................... 30 5. LEGAL, POLICY AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK ................................................. 32 5.1 APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATIONS.................................................................... 32 5.1.1 Environmental Protection and Preservation Act (Law No. 4/93) ................................. 32 5.1.2 Maldives EIA Regulation (Amended), 2015 ................................................................ 34 5.1.3 Environmental Damage Liabilities Regulation, 2011 ................................................... 35 5.1.4 Dredging and Reclamation Regulation, 2013 ............................................................... 35 5.1.5 Waste Management Regulation, 2013 .......................................................................... 35 5.2 RELEVANT POLICIES ....................................................................................................... 36 5.2.1 National Framework for Development, 2009-2013 ...................................................... 36 Page 2 5.2.2 3rd National Environmental Action Plan, 2009-2013 ................................................... 37 5.2.3 Maldives National Strategy for Sustainable Development, 2009 ................................. 38 5.2.4 National Solid Waste Management Policy, 2007 ......................................................... 38 5.2.5 National Biodiversity and Action Plan 2016-2015 ....................................................... 39 5.3 RELEVANT AUTHORITIES .............................................................................................. 40 5.3.1 Ministry of Environment and Energy, MEE ................................................................. 40 5.3.2 Environment Protection Agency, EPA ......................................................................... 40 5.3.3 Greater Male’ Industrial Zone (GMIZ) ......................................................................... 40 5.4 PERMITS GIVEN AND REQUIRED ................................................................................. 40 5.4.1 Concept Approval ......................................................................................................... 41 5.4.2 EIA Decision Statement ................................................................................................ 41 6. EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ..................................................................................................... 42 6.1 DATA COLLECTION METHODS ..................................................................................... 42 6.1.1 Geophysical Environment ............................................................................................. 42 6.1.2 Climatic and Hydrodynamic Environment ................................................................... 42 6.1.3 Marine Environment ..................................................................................................... 42 6.1.4 Socio-Economic Environment ...................................................................................... 43 6.1.5 Hazard Vulnerability ..................................................................................................... 43 6.1.6 Derivation of Environmental Indicators........................................................................ 43 6.1.7 Uncertainties on Data Collection Methods ................................................................... 43 6.2 ASSESSMENTS UNDERTAKEN....................................................................................... 44 6.3 GEOPHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT ..................................................................................... 47 6.3.1 Geography and Environmental Setting ......................................................................... 47 6.3.2 Geology ......................................................................................................................... 47 6.4 CLIMATIC AND HYDRODYNAMIC ENVIRONMENT ................................................. 48 6.4.1 Climatic Setting............................................................................................................. 48 6.4.2 Monsoons ...................................................................................................................... 48 6.4.3 Temperature .................................................................................................................. 49 6.4.4 Rainfall .......................................................................................................................... 50 6.4.5 Winds ............................................................................................................................ 51 6.4.6 Currents and Waves ...................................................................................................... 53 6.4.7 Tides .............................................................................................................................