NOVEMBER 2007 MARINEASSESSMENT FIBRALINKNEWCABLELAY [PreparedforFibralinkJamaicaLimited] CONRADDOUGLAS&ASSOCIATESLIMITED 14CarvalhoDrive Kingston10 JamaicaW.I. Telephone:929Ͳ0023/0025/8824 Email:[email protected]; [email protected];[email protected] MARINEASSESSMENT FibralinkNewCableLay September2007 Preparedfor: FibralinkJamaicaLimited Fibralink New Cable Lay Table of Contents Table of Contents Page Number Table of Contents ............................................................................................................... i List of Tables ............................................................................................................................ iv List of Figures............................................................................................................................ v List of Plates ............................................................................................................................ vii List of Appendices..................................................................................................................viii 1 Executive Summary................................................................................................. 1-1 1.1 Introduction..................................................................................................................1-1 1.2 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................1-3 2 Project Description...................................................................................................2-1 2.1 Introduction..................................................................................................................2-1 2.2 Background..................................................................................................................2-2 2.2.1 Regional Cable History........................................................................................2-3 2.3 The Proposed Project ...................................................................................................2-4 2.3.1 The Cable.............................................................................................................2-4 2.3.2 Proposed Implementation ....................................................................................2-7 2.3.3 Landing Sites......................................................................................................2-10 2.3.4 Marine Ducts and Near-Shore Manhole (NSM) Design and Construction Methodology ......................................................................................................................2-20 2.3.5 Recommended Fibre-Optic Cable Installation Techniques...............................2-28 2.3.6 Cable Repair Techniques...................................................................................2-35 2.3.7 Waste Streams....................................................................................................2-38 3 Legislative and Regulatory Framework................................................................... 3-1 3.1 Introduction..................................................................................................................3-1 3.2 National Policies..........................................................................................................3-2 3.3 Applicable Legislation................................................................................................. 3-2 3.3.1 The Natural Resources Conservation Authority Act, 1991..................................3-2 3.3.2 The Wildlife Protection Act, 1945........................................................................3-6 3.3.3 The Beach Control Act, 1956...............................................................................3-6 3.3.4 The Town and Country Planning Act ..................................................................3-7 3.3.5 The Public Health Act, 1985................................................................................3-9 3.3.6 The Jamaica National Heritage Trust Act, 1985...............................................3-10 3.3.7 The National Solid Waste Management Authority Act, 2001 ............................3-10 3.3.8 Draft National Building Code for Jamaica, 2007 .............................................3-10 3.3.9 St. Thomas Parish Development Plan, ..............................................................3-11 3.4 International Policy....................................................................................................3-11 3.4.1 Agenda 21 ..........................................................................................................3-11 4 Analysis of Alternatives...........................................................................................4-1 Conrad Douglas & Associates LTD i CD*PRJ 1056/07 Fibralink New Cable Lay Table of Contents 4.1 Introduction..................................................................................................................4-1 4.2 No-Action Alternative................................................................................................. 4-1 4.3 Landing Site Alternatives ............................................................................................4-1 4.3.1 Bull Bay, St Andrew Alternatives.........................................................................4-1 4.3.2 Prospect - Morant Point, St Thomas Alternatives ...............................................4-2 4.4 Technology Alternatives..............................................................................................4-3 4.4.1 Radio....................................................................................................................4-4 4.4.2 Telephony.............................................................................................................4-4 4.4.3 Satellite Data Transmission.................................................................................4-5 5 Description of the Environment............................................................................... 5-1 5.1 Physical Environment .................................................................................................. 5-1 5.1.1 Meteorology .........................................................................................................5-1 5.1.2 Hydro- and Geophysical Environment ................................................................5-4 5.2 Hazard and Risk Assessment.......................................................................................5-7 5.2.1 Offshore Cable Operations..................................................................................5-7 5.2.2 Onshore Cable Operations ..................................................................................5-8 5.2.3 Seismic Vulnerability ...........................................................................................5-9 5.2.4 Hurricane Vulnerability.....................................................................................5-16 5.2.5 Flooding Potential .............................................................................................5-18 5.2.6 Overall Assessment of Natural Hazard Vulnerability of Sites...........................5-19 5.3 Biological Environment............................................................................................. 5-20 5.3.1 Bull Bay, St. Andrew ..........................................................................................5-20 5.3.2 Prospect, St. Thomas..........................................................................................5-23 6 Socio-Cultural Environmental .................................................................................6-1 6.1 Introduction..................................................................................................................6-1 6.2 Methodology................................................................................................................6-1 6.3 Survey Findings...........................................................................................................6-3 6.3.1 Segment 1: Bull Bay Proposed Landing Site .......................................................6-3 6.3.2 Segment 2: Prospect Proposed Landing Site.......................................................6-6 6.3.3 Impact on the Marine Community (Fishermen, Bathers etc.) .............................6-9 6.3.4 Interpretation .....................................................................................................6-11 7 Determination of the Potential Impacts of the Proposed Project.............................7-1 7.1 Introduction..................................................................................................................7-1 7.2 Potential Impacts [Physical, Biological, Socio-Cultural] ............................................7-4 7.2.1 Aesthetics .............................................................................................................7-4 7.2.2 Water Quality/Surface Water Hydrology and Groundwater...............................7-4 7.2.3 Air Quality ...........................................................................................................7-4 7.2.4 Noise & Vibration................................................................................................7-5 7.2.5 Wildlife & Vegetation Resources.........................................................................7-5