ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT For the Proposed Development of a Harbour Kudafari, Noonu Atoll, Maldives Proponent: Ministry of Housing, Transport and Environment Sndcys June 2010 EIA for the proposed harbour development in Kudafari, Noonu Atoll Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 9 1.1 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................... 9 1.2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE EIA ............................................................................................. 9 1.3 METHODOLOGIES .................................................................................................................. 10 1.4 EIA IMPLEMENTATION ........................................................................................................... 10 2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ....................................................................................................... 11 2.1 GENERAL CONTEXT OF THE STUDY ............................................................................................. 11 2.2 THE PROPONENT ................................................................................................................... 11 2.3 PROJECT LOCATION AND STUDY AREA ....................................................................................... 12 2.4 THE PROJECT ........................................................................................................................ 13 2.4.1 Brief Description of Final Concept ............................................................................................. 14 2.4.2 Process and Materials ................................................................................................................ 14 2.5 PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION ..................................................................................................... 15 2.6 OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE .............................................................................................. 15 2.7 PROJECT INPUTS AND OUTPUTS ............................................................................................... 16 2.8 PROJECT JUSTIFICATION .......................................................................................................... 16 3 ALTERNATIVES ................................................................................................................... 19 3.1 NO PROJECT OPTION .............................................................................................................. 19 3.2 HARBOUR LOCATION ALTERNATIVES ......................................................................................... 20 3.3 ALTERNATIVE STRUCTURES ...................................................................................................... 21 3.4 ALTERNATIVE HARBOUR DESIGN ............................................................................................... 23 3.5 ALTERNATIVE PROJECT OPTIONS ............................................................................................... 23 3.6 RECOMMENDED ALTERNATIVE ................................................................................................. 24 4 THE SETTING ...................................................................................................................... 26 4.1 APPLICABLE POLICIES, LAWS AND REGULATIONS ......................................................................... 26 4.1.1 Environmental Protection and Preservation Act ....................................................................... 26 4.1.2 Third National Environment Action Plan ................................................................................... 26 4.1.3 National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan ......................................................................... 27 4.1.4 Protected Areas and Sensitive Areas ......................................................................................... 27 4.1.5 Regulation on sand and aggregate mining................................................................................. 27 4.1.6 Consultation and public participation laws ................................................................................ 28 Proponent: Ministry of Housing, Transport and Environment Page | i Consultant: Ahmed Zahid (EIA08/2007) EIA for the proposed harbour development in Kudafari, Noonu Atoll 4.1.7 Population Policy ....................................................................................................................... 28 4.1.8 Regulation on Cutting Trees ....................................................................................................... 28 4.1.9 Maritime and Port Legislation ................................................................................................... 29 4.1.10 Relevant Government Policies ................................................................................................... 29 4.2 INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS, TREATIES AND PROTOCOLS .......................................................... 30 4.2.1 United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) .................................................... 30 4.2.2 Marpol Convention .................................................................................................................... 30 4.3 RELEVANT ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES .......................................................... 31 4.4 NEW DEVELOPMENTS ............................................................................................................ 32 4.5 ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITS REQUIRED FOR THE PROJECT .............................................................. 33 4.5.1 EIA Decision Note ....................................................................................................................... 33 5 METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................................. 34 5.1 GENERAL METHODOLOGIES OF DATA COLLECTION ....................................................................... 34 5.1.1 Quality of marine water ............................................................................................................. 34 5.1.2 Bathymetry and Ocean Currents ............................................................................................... 34 5.1.3 Condition of the housereef ........................................................................................................ 35 5.1.4 Socio‐economic condition and public consultation ................................................................... 36 6 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ................................................................................................... 37 6.1 EXISTING COASTAL AND MARINE ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................ 37 6.2 EXISTING ACCESS ................................................................................................................... 38 6.3 GENERAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS .................................................................................. 39 6.3.1 Wind ........................................................................................................................................... 40 6.3.2 Waves ......................................................................................................................................... 41 6.3.3 Tides ........................................................................................................................................... 42 6.3.4 Currents ..................................................................................................................................... 42 6.3.5 The Impact of Indian Ocean Tsunami ........................................................................................ 44 6.3.6 Natural Vulnerability of Kudafari ............................................................................................... 44 6.4 FEATURES OF THE COASTAL ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................... 45 6.4.1 Lagoon ........................................................................................................................................ 45 6.4.2 The jetty ..................................................................................................................................... 45 6.4.3 Exposed beach rock ................................................................................................................... 46 6.4.4 Beach erosion ............................................................................................................................ 46 6.5 MARINE ENVIRONMENT ......................................................................................................... 47 6.5.1 The Eastern Reef ........................................................................................................................ 48 6.5.2 The Western Reef ...................................................................................................................... 49 Proponent: Ministry of Housing, Transport and Environment Page | ii Consultant: Ahmed Zahid (EIA08/2007) EIA for the proposed harbour development in Kudafari, Noonu Atoll 6.5.3 The North‐North Western Reef ................................................................................................