ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT Proposed Beach and Swimming Area Development Himmafushi Island, Male’ Atoll June 2016 Prepared for: The Secretariat of the Himmafushi Council, Male’ Atoll Prepared by: Mohamed Zuhair (EIA01/15) & Ibrahim Shakir EIA – Proposed Beach and Swimming Area Development Himmafushi, Male’ Atoll June 2016 TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................................................................. 14 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................... 16 2. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 18 2.1 OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT ......................................................................................... 18 2.2 LEGAL REQUIREMENT .................................................................................................... 19 2.3 PROJECT JUSTIFICATION AND RATIONALE .............................................................. 19 2.4 DONORS AND INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS ................................................... 20 2.5 EIA BACKGROUND ........................................................................................................... 20 2.6 EIA APPROACH, SCOPE AND OBJECTIVE ................................................................... 21 2.7 EIA METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................ 22 2.8 REVIEW OF RELEVANT STUDIES ................................................................................. 22 2.9 EIA TEAM ............................................................................................................................ 23 2.10 EIA TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR) ............................................................................ 24 3. STUDY AREA ............................................................................................................................. 25 4. PROJECT DESCRIPTION .......................................................................................................... 28 4.1 PROJECT LOCATION AND SETTING ............................................................................. 28 4.2 PROJECT PROPONENT ..................................................................................................... 28 4.3 PROJECT OUTLINE ........................................................................................................... 29 4.3.1 Scope of the Project ...................................................................................................... 29 4.3.2 Beach and Swimming Area Development Concept ...................................................... 29 4.3.3 Work Methodology ....................................................................................................... 29 4.3.4 Environmental Monitoring During Project Implementation ......................................... 31 4.3.5 Key Measures for Environmental Protection During Project Implementation ............. 32 4.4 PROJECT MANAGEMENT ................................................................................................ 32 4.4.1 Project Duration ............................................................................................................ 32 4.4.2 Communication ............................................................................................................. 32 4.4.3 Site Access .................................................................................................................... 32 4.4.4 Temporary Arrangements ............................................................................................. 33 4.4.5 Work Safety .................................................................................................................. 33 4.4.6 Fuel Management .......................................................................................................... 33 4.4.7 Emergency Plan ............................................................................................................ 33 4.4.8 Key Project Inputs ......................................................................................................... 33 4.4.9 Key Project Outputs ...................................................................................................... 34 4.5 ACTIVITIES THAT ARE LIKELY TO CAUSE MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS 34 4.6 AFFECTED BOUNDARIES ................................................................................................ 35 5. LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK............................................................ 36 5.1 RELEVANT LAWS AND REGULATIONS ....................................................................... 36 5.1.1 Environmental Protection and Preservation Act (Law No. 4/93) and First Amendment (Law No. 12/2014) ....................................................................................................................... 36 5.1.2 EIA Regulation (2007), First Amendment (2012) and Second Amendment (2015) .... 37 5.1.3 Environmental Damage Liabilities Regulation (2011) ................................................. 37 5.1.4 Dredging and Reclamation Regulation (2013) ............................................................. 38 5.1.5 Waste Management Regulation, 2013 .......................................................................... 38 Page 2 EIA – Proposed Beach and Swimming Area Development Himmafushi, Male’ Atoll June 2016 5.2 RELEVANT POLICIES ....................................................................................................... 39 5.2.1 National Framework for Development, 2009-2013 ...................................................... 39 5.2.2 Maldives National Strategy for Sustainable Development, 2009 ................................. 40 5.2.3 National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, 2016 – 2025 ..................................... 41 5.3 RELEVANT AUTHORITIES .............................................................................................. 41 5.3.1 Ministry of Environment and Energy, MEE ................................................................. 41 5.3.2 Environment Protection Agency, EPA ......................................................................... 42 5.3.3 Ministry of Environment and Energy, MEE ................................................................. 42 5.3.4 Environmental Protection Agency, EPA ....................................................................... 42 5.3.5 Islands Councils and Atolls Councils ........................................................................... 42 5.4 PERMITS OBTAINED AND REQUIRED ......................................................................... 43 5.4.1 Concept Approval ......................................................................................................... 43 5.4.2 Dredging and Land Reclamation Permit ....................................................................... 43 5.4.3 EIA Approval ................................................................................................................ 43 6. EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ..................................................................................................... 44 6.1 DATA COLLECTION METHODS ..................................................................................... 44 6.1.1 Geophysical Environment ............................................................................................. 44 6.1.2 Climate Environment .................................................................................................... 44 6.1.3 Coastal and Marine Environment.................................................................................. 45 6.1.4 Socio-economic Environment ....................................................................................... 45 6.1.5 Derivation of Environmental Indicators........................................................................ 45 6.1.6 Uncertainties on Data Collection Methods ................................................................... 46 6.2 ASSESSMENTS UNDERTAKEN....................................................................................... 46 6.3 GEOPHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT ..................................................................................... 51 6.3.1 Geography and Environmental Setting ......................................................................... 51 6.3.2 Geology and Geomorphology ....................................................................................... 51 6.3.3 Characteristics of Seabed Sediments ............................................................................ 52 6.4 CLIMATE ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................................... 54 6.4.1 Climatic Setting............................................................................................................. 55 6.4.2 Temperature .................................................................................................................. 55 6.4.3 Rainfall .......................................................................................................................... 56 6.4.4 Sunshine ........................................................................................................................ 56 6.4.5 Winds ...........................................................................................................................