ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT For the Proposed resort development in Kabaalifaru Resort, Shaviyani Atoll, Maldives Proposed by Ali Shareef Signature: Prepared by Aslam Shakir For Water Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Maldives September 2007 EIA for Kanbaalifaru, Vol 1, Rev 0 Page | ii Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE EIA .................................................................................................. 1 1.2 TERMS OF REFERENCE AND SCOPE FOR THIS EIA ............................................................................ 1 1.3 METHODOLOGIES .............................................................................................................................. 2 1.4 EXECUTION OF THE EIA .................................................................................................................... 3 2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION .......................................................................................................... 4 2.1 PROJECT PROPONENT ........................................................................................................................ 4 2.2 PROJECT LOCATION ........................................................................................................................... 4 2.3 PROJECT JUSTIFICATION .................................................................................................................... 5 2.4 PROJECT DURATION .......................................................................................................................... 5 2.5 BOUNDARIES OF THE AREAS AFFECTED BY THE PROJECT ................................................................. 6 2.6 CONCEPT, DESIGN DETAILS AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT .................................................................. 6 2.7 DESCRIPTION OF RESORT FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE .......................................................... 9 2.8 ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS ................................................................................. 10 2.9 ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT .................................................................................. 11 2.9.1 Water Supply .................................................................................................................................... 11 2.9.2 Sewage & Wastewater Management ............................................................................................... 12 2.9.3 Waste management .......................................................................................................................... 12 2.9.4 Power Generation and fuel management ........................................................................................ 12 2.10 CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION & DECOMMISSIONING ...................................................................... 13 2.10.1 Site mobilization .............................................................................................................................. 13 2.10.2 Workforce and workforce related services ..................................................................................... 13 2.10.3 Waste Management and Disposal ................................................................................................... 14 2.10.4 Health and Safety Measures ............................................................................................................ 14 2.10.5 Fire Prevention ................................................................................................................................ 14 2.10.6 Transport .......................................................................................................................................... 14 2.10.7 Other Considerations....................................................................................................................... 14 2.11 PROJECT INPUTS AND OUTPUTS ...................................................................................................... 15 3 PROJECT SETTING ................................................................................................................... 18 3.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 18 3.2 OVERVIEW OF THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATORY FRAMEWORK ............................... 18 3.2.1 Environmental Protection Act ......................................................................................................... 18 3.2.2 Second National Environment Action Plan ..................................................................................... 19 3.2.3 National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan ............................................................................. 19 3.2.4 Protected Areas and Sensitive Areas .............................................................................................. 19 3.2.5 Cutting down, uprooting, digging out and export of trees and palms from one island to another 20 3.2.6 Waste management policy ............................................................................................................... 20 3.2.7 Laws and Regulations Concerning Public participation ................................................................ 21 Proposed by Mr. Ali Shareef Prepared by: Water Solutions EIA for Kanbaalifaru, Vol 1, Rev 0 Page | iii 3.2.8 Population policy ............................................................................................................................. 21 3.2.9 Regulation on sand and aggregate mining ..................................................................................... 21 3.2.10 Ban on coral mining ........................................................................................................................ 21 3.2.11 Land Act (Law no. 1/02) .................................................................................................................. 21 3.2.12 Policy on water ................................................................................................................................ 22 3.2.13 Regulation on registration of desalination plants .......................................................................... 22 3.2.14 General guidelines for wastewater disposal (draft) ....................................................................... 22 3.2.15 National energy policy (draft June 2005) ....................................................................................... 22 3.2.16 Regulation on providing electricity services ................................................................................... 23 3.2.17 Tourism Act (Law no. 2/99) ............................................................................................................. 23 3.2.18 Ministry of Tourism Regulations and Circulars ............................................................................. 23 3.2.19 Fisheries Act (Law no. 5/87) ........................................................................................................... 23 3.3 FRAMEWORK FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ........................................................................ 24 3.3.1 Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations ............................................................................. 24 3.3.2 Post EIA Monitoring, Auditing and Evaluation .............................................................................. 24 3.4 INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS, TREATIES AND PROTOCOLS ........................................................ 25 3.4.1 United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol .................. 25 3.4.2 United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) ..................................................... 25 3.4.3 United Nations Conference on Desertification (UNCCD) ............................................................. 26 3.4.4 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ......................................................................... 26 3.4.5 International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) ....................... 26 3.4.6 Malé Declaration on Control and Prevention of Air Pollution and its Likely Transboundary Effects for S. Asia............................................................................................................................ 26 3.5 ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITS REQUIRED FOR THE PROJECT ............................................................... 26 3.5.1 EIA Decision Note ........................................................................................................................... 26 3.5.2 Registration of desalination plant ................................................................................................... 27 3.5.3 Permit for electricity ........................................................................................................................ 27 3.5.4 Wastewater disposal permits ........................................................................................................... 27 3.6 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ........................................................................................................ 27 3.6.1 Environment Ministry .....................................................................................................................