ENVIRONMENT IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE PROPOSED SEAGRASS REMOVAL AT MAAFARU ISLAND, NOONU ATOLL August 2017 Prepared for Noonu Maafaru Council Consultant CDE Consulting, Maldives ެގުމުގެދ ަދިވުދޫމ ިއަގުރަފާމ .ދ ެދާފްފޮކ ުރަސައ ްށަޓްއެވާމިތ ްނިއުޢޫރްޝަމ ްޓޯޕިރ ާރުކްނާޔަބ ުރަވްނިމ 1027 ްޓްސަގޯއ :ުރާޔިދެއ ެގުޢޫރްޝަމ ްލިސްނުއަކ ުރަފާމ .ނ :ްޓްނަޓްލަސްނޮކ ޭއ .ިއައ .ީއ ެގުޢޫރްޝަމ ްޑެޓިމިލ ްޓެވިއަރްޕ ީއ.ީޑ.ީސ Table of Contents Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... iii List of Figures ............................................................................................................................... vii List of tables ................................................................................................................................. viii List of Abbreviations ..................................................................................................................... ix Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... x Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................... xiii 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Purpose of the EIA ........................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Project Proponent ............................................................................................................. 1 1.3 Project Scope .................................................................................................................... 1 1.4 Project Background and Rationale ................................................................................... 2 1.5 Aims and Objectives ........................................................................................................ 2 1.6 Consultants, Contractors and Government Institutions.................................................... 2 1.7 Project Financing.............................................................................................................. 2 1.8 Scope and Terms of Reference of EIA ............................................................................. 2 1.9 Assessment Methodology ................................................................................................ 3 1.9.1 General Approach ........................................................................................................ 3 1.9.2 The Study Area.............................................................................................................. 4 1.9.3 Field Observations ....................................................................................................... 5 1.9.4 Desk Study Review ........................................................................................................ 7 1.9.5 Public and Key Stakeholder Consultation .................................................................... 7 1.9.6 Data Analysis ................................................................................................................ 7 1.9.7 Report Format .............................................................................................................. 7 1.10 Study Team Members ...................................................................................................... 8 2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ..................................................................................................... 9 2.1 Project Location ............................................................................................................... 9 2.2 Project Outline and Project Site Plan ............................................................................... 9 2.3 Detail Project Outline and Work Methodology ............................................................. 15 2.3.1 Seagrass removal ........................................................................................................ 15 2.4 Project Schedule and life span ....................................................................................... 16 2.5 Environmental Management, Logistics and Safety Measures ....................................... 17 2.5.1 Workforce and Services .............................................................................................. 17 2.5.2 Utilities ....................................................................................................................... 17 2.5.3 Construction Waste Management and Disposal ........................................................ 17 2.5.4 Pollution and Emission Control Measures ................................................................. 17 2.5.5 Sediment Containment and Turbidity Control Measures ........................................... 18 2.5.6 Health and Safety Measures ....................................................................................... 18 2.6 Summary of Project Inputs and Outputs ........................................................................ 18 2.7 Demobilization ............................................................................................................... 19 3 POLICY AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK .............................................................................. 20 3.1 Relevant Legislation ....................................................................................................... 20 3.1.1 Environment Protection and Preservation Act (Act no. 4/93).................................... 20 3.2 Relevant Regulations and Guidelines ............................................................................ 21 3.2.1 Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations 2012 ................................................ 21 3.2.2 Regulation on Sand and Coral Mining ....................................................................... 22 3.2.3 The Environmental Liability Regulation (Regulation 2011/R-9) ............................... 22 3.3 Regulation on Dredging and Land Reclamation ............................................................ 23 3.4 Waste Management Regulation 2013 ............................................................................ 24 3.5 The Environmental Liability Regulation (Regulation 2011/R-9) .................................. 24 3.5.1 Compliance ................................................................................................................. 25 3.6 Environmental Permits Required for the Project ........................................................... 25 3.6.1 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Decision Note ........................................... 25 3.6.2 Dredging and Reclamation Permit ............................................................................. 25 3.7 Responsible Institutions ................................................................................................. 26 3.7.1 Ministry of Environment and Energy ......................................................................... 26 3.7.2 Atoll Council ............................................................................................................... 26 3.8 Guiding Policies and Documents ................................................................................... 26 3.8.1 National Environmental Action Plan II (NEAP II) .................................................... 26 3.8.2 Waste Management Policy ......................................................................................... 27 3.9 International Conventions .............................................................................................. 28 3.9.1 Convention on Biological Diversity ........................................................................... 28 3.9.2 International Plant Protection Convention ................................................................ 28 3.9.3 UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol .................................................................................... 28 4 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT .............................................................................................. 30 4.1 Physical Environment .................................................................................................... 30 4.1.1 Meteorology ................................................................................................................ 30 4.1.2 Hydrology ................................................................................................................... 36 4.1.3 Beach .......................................................................................................................... 42 4.1.4 Marine Water Quality Assessment ............................................................................. 49 4.2 Biological Environment ................................................................................................. 50 4.2.1 Marine Environment ................................................................................................... 50 5 IMPACTS IDENTIFICATION ............................................................................................. 52 5.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 52 5.2 Nature of potential impacts on key components