ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT For Proposed Coastal Protection Works in Dh. Maaenboodhoo Island November 2015 Prepared for: SAS e Senok JV Pvt. Ltd. Prepared by: Mohamed Zuhair (EIA01/15) & Ibrahim Shakir EIA for Proposed Coastal Protection Works in Dh. Maaenboodhoo November 2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS ާސާ ލާ ހު ދާ ސާ ................................................................................................................................................ 8 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................ 10 2. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 12 2.1 PROJECT BACKGROUND................................................................................................. 12 2.2 PROPONENT AND CONTRACTOR ................................................................................. 12 2.3 BACKGROUND TO THE EIA ............................................................................................ 13 2.4 RATIONALE ........................................................................................................................ 14 2.5 EIA SCOPE AND APPROACH........................................................................................... 14 2.6 REVIEW OF RELEVANT STUDIES ................................................................................. 16 2.7 EIA STRUCTURE ................................................................................................................ 16 2.8 IMPACT PREDICTION AND EVALUATION .................................................................. 17 2.9 EIA TEAM ............................................................................................................................ 17 3. STUDY AREA ............................................................................................................................ 19 4. PROJECT DESCRIPTION ...................................................................................................... 23 4.1 PROJECT LOCATION ........................................................................................................ 23 4.2 JUSTIFICATION ................................................................................................................. 24 4.3 PROJECT OUTLINE ........................................................................................................... 25 4.3.1 Project Scope ............................................................................................................... 25 4.3.2 Detailed Design ............................................................................................................ 26 4.3.3 Excavation and Fill Material Sourcing ..................................................................... 27 4.3.4 Rock Boulder Revetments .......................................................................................... 29 4.3.5 Geo-Bag Revetments ................................................................................................... 29 4.4 PROJECT MOBILIZATION ................................................................................................ 30 4.5 PROJECT INPUT/OUTPUT ................................................................................................ 31 4.6 PROJECT SCHEDULE ........................................................................................................ 32 4.7 KEY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND AFFECTED BOUNDARIES ....................... 34 5. LEGAL, POLICY AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK ........................................... 35 5.1 APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATIONS.................................................................... 35 5.1.1 Environmental Protection and Preservation Act (Law No. 4/93) ........................... 35 5.1.2 Maldives EIA Regulation, 2012 ................................................................................. 36 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 5.2 RELEVANT POLICIES ....................................................................................................... 38 5.2.1 National Framework for Development, 2009-2013 .................................................. 38 5.2.2 3rd National Environmental Action Plan, 2009-2013 .............................................. 39 5.2.3 Maldives national Strategy for Sustainable Development, 2009 ............................. 40 5.2.4 National Solid Waste Management Policy, 2007 ...................................................... 41 5.3 RELEVANT AUTHORITIES .............................................................................................. 42 5.3.1 Ministry of Environment and Energy, MEE ............................................................ 42 5.3.2 Environment Protection Agency, EPA ...................................................................... 42 5.3.3 Dh. Maaenboodhoo Island Council ........................................................................... 42 5.3.4 Dhaal Atoll Council ..................................................................................................... 43 5.4 PERMITS GIVEN AND REQUIRED ................................................................................. 43 Page 2 EIA for Proposed Coastal Protection Works in Dh. Maaenboodhoo November 2015 5.4.1 Dredging and Land Reclamation Approval ............................................................. 43 5.4.2 Approval of the Detailed Design ................................................................................ 43 5.4.3 EIA Decision Statement .............................................................................................. 43 6. EXISTING ENVIRONMENT .................................................................................................. 44 6.1 DATA COLLECTION METHODS ..................................................................................... 44 6.1.1 Geophysical Environment .......................................................................................... 44 6.1.2 Climatic Environment ................................................................................................ 44 6.1.3 Coastal Environment .................................................................................................. 44 6.1.4 Marine Environment .................................................................................................. 45 6.1.5 Socio-Economic Environment .................................................................................... 45 6.1.6 Uncertainties on Data Collection Methods ............................................................... 45 6.2 GEOPHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT ..................................................................................... 45 6.2.1 Geography ................................................................................................................... 45 6.2.2 Geology ......................................................................................................................... 46 6.2.3 Topography and Geomorphology .............................................................................. 47 6.3 CLIMATIC ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................................. 47 6.3.1 Climatic Setting ........................................................................................................... 48 6.3.2 Monsoons ..................................................................................................................... 48 6.3.3 Temperature ................................................................................................................ 49 6.3.4 Sunshine and Rainfall ................................................................................................. 49 6.3.5 Relative Humidity ....................................................................................................... 50 6.3.6 Winds ........................................................................................................................... 50 6.3.7 Currents, Tides and Swells ......................................................................................... 51 6.4 COASTAL ENVIRONMENT .............................................................................................. 52 6.4.1 Beach and Coastal Area ............................................................................................. 52 6.4.2 Coastal Dynamics and Erosion .................................................................................. 52 6.4.3 Lagoon Bathymetry .................................................................................................... 55 6.4.4 Currents ....................................................................................................................... 56 6.5 MARINE ENVIRONMENT................................................................................................. 58 6.5.1 Assessment Locations ................................................................................................. 58 6.5.2 Assessments on Coral Reefs ......................................................................................