ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT For the Proposed Harbour Rehabilitation Holhudhoo, Noonu Atoll Proponent: Ministry of Housing and Environment Sndcys February 2014 EIA for the Proposed Harbour Rehabilitation, N. Holhudhoo Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................................................... I TABLE OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................ V TABLE OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. VI CONSULTANTS DECLARATION ................................................................................... VII PROPONENT’S DECLARATION AND COMMITMENT ........................................... VIII EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................... IX 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 1 1.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 BACKGROUND TO THE EIA .............................................................................................. 2 1.3 SCOPE OF THE EIA AND APPROACH ................................................................................ 2 1.4 RELEVANT STUDIES ........................................................................................................ 3 1.5 EIA IMPLEMENTATION AND METHODOLOGIES ................................................................ 4 2 LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS.................................... 5 2.1 POLICY GUIDANCE .......................................................................................................... 5 2.1.1 National Framework for Development 2009-2013 .......................................................................... 5 2.1.2 Third National Environment Action Plan ......................................................................................... 6 2.1.3 Maldives National Strategy for Sustainable Development 2009-2013 ............................................ 7 2.1.4 Waste Management Policy ............................................................................................................... 8 2.1.5 National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan............................................................................... 9 2.2 REGULATORY BODIES ..................................................................................................... 9 2.2.1 Ministry of Environment and Energy ............................................................................................... 9 2.2.2 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ...................................................................................... 10 2.2.3 Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure .......................................................................................... 10 2.2.4 Atoll, City and Island Councils ...................................................................................................... 10 2.3 LAWS AND REGULATIONS ............................................................................................. 10 2.3.1 Maldivian Land Act ....................................................................................................................... 11 2.3.2 Maldives Land use and Planning Regulations ................................................................................ 12 2.3.3 Environmental Protection and Preservation Act ............................................................................ 13 2.3.4 Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation 2012 ..................................................................... 13 2.3.5 Regulation on Environmental Damage Liabilities ......................................................................... 14 2.3.6 Dredging and Reclamation Regulations ......................................................................................... 14 Proponent: Ministry of Housing and Environment Page | i Consultant: Ahmed Zahid (EIA08/2007) EIA for the Proposed Harbour Rehabilitation, N. Holhudhoo 2.3.7 Waste Management Regulation ...................................................................................................... 15 2.3.8 Regulation on Cutting Trees .......................................................................................................... 16 2.3.9 Regulations of N. Holhudhoo Council ........................................................................................... 16 2.3.10 Regulation on sand and aggregate mining ...................................................................................... 17 2.4 INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL CONTEXT ................................................................... 18 2.4.1 Environment Sector ........................................................................................................................ 18 3 PROJECT DESCRIPTION .......................................................................................... 20 3.1 GENERAL CONTEXT OF THE STUDY ................................................................................ 20 3.2 THE PROPONENT ........................................................................................................... 20 3.3 PROJECT LOCATION AND STUDY AREA ......................................................................... 20 3.4 THE PROJECT ................................................................................................................. 21 3.4.1 Brief Description of the Proposed Concept .................................................................................... 22 3.4.2 Dredging and dredge material disposal .......................................................................................... 22 3.4.3 Construction materials.................................................................................................................... 23 3.5 WORK METHODS ........................................................................................................... 23 3.5.1 Workforce and machinery .............................................................................................................. 23 3.5.2 Shore Protection Measures ............................................................................................................. 24 3.6 PROJECT DURATION ....................................................................................................... 25 3.7 PROJECT INPUTS AND OUTPUTS ..................................................................................... 25 3.8 NEED AND JUSTIFICATION ............................................................................................. 26 4 PROJECT ALTERNATIVES ....................................................................................... 29 4.1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 29 4.2 NO PROJECT OPTION ...................................................................................................... 29 4.3 ALTERNATIVE STRUCTURES .......................................................................................... 30 4.4 ALTERNATIVE HARBOUR LOCATION .............................................................................. 31 4.5 ALTERNATIVE HARBOUR DESIGN ................................................................................... 32 4.6 PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE ............................................................................................. 32 5 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ...................................................................................... 33 5.1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 33 5.2 METHODOLOGIES .......................................................................................................... 33 5.2.1 Location identification ................................................................................................................... 33 5.2.2 Marine Water Quality..................................................................................................................... 34 5.2.3 Coastal processes ........................................................................................................................... 34 5.2.4 Bathymetry ..................................................................................................................................... 34 Proponent: Ministry of Housing and Environment Page | ii Consultant: Ahmed Zahid (EIA08/2007) EIA for the Proposed Harbour Rehabilitation, N. Holhudhoo 5.2.5 Marine Ecology .............................................................................................................................. 34 5.2.6 Socio-economic conditions ............................................................................................................ 35 5.3 OVERVIEW OF PROJECT SITE ......................................................................................... 35 5.4 GENERAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS .................................................................... 36 5.4.1 Wind ..............................................................................................................................................