ENVIRONMENT IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE PROPOSED OUTER REEF MAINTENANCE DREDGING PROJECT IN MAAFARU ISLAND, NOONU ATOLL February 2018 Prepared for Regional Airports, Ministry of Tourism, Maldives Male’, Maldives Consultant CDE Consulting, Maldives ްނިއުޢޫރްޝަމ ގުމުރުކާޅުފ ުރ ނ ުރޭބ ގުރަފާމ .ނ ގްޓޯޕިރ ާރުކްނާޔަބ ުރަވްނިމ ނާރުކުރަސައ ްށަޓްއ ވާމިތ 8102 ީރައުރްބ ފ :ުރާޔިދ އ ގުޢޫރްޝަމ ްސްވިޑްލޯމ ްޓޯޕރައ އ ްލަނަޖީރ :ްޓްނަޓްލަސްނޮކ ޭއ .ިއައ .ީއ ގުޢޫރްޝަމ ްޑ ޓިމިލ ްޓ ވިއަރްޕ ީއ.ީޑ.ީސ EIA for the proposed Outer Reef Maintenance Dredging Project in Maafaru Island, Noonu Atoll Table of Contents Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................. i List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ vi List of Tables ................................................................................................................................ vii List of Abbreviations ..................................................................................................................... ix Acknowledgement .......................................................................................................................... x Lead Consultant’s Declaration ....................................................................................................... xi Proponent’s Declaration................................................................................................................ xii Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................... xiii 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Purpose of the EIA ........................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Project Proponent ............................................................................................................. 1 1.3 Legal Status of channel area............................................................................................. 1 1.4 Background and Rationale of the Project ......................................................................... 2 1.5 Project Scope .................................................................................................................... 2 1.6 Aim and Objectives .......................................................................................................... 3 1.7 Project Location ............................................................................................................... 3 1.8 Consultants, Contractors and Government Institutions.................................................... 8 1.9 Project Financing.............................................................................................................. 8 1.10 Scope and Terms of Reference of EIA ............................................................................. 8 1.11 Assessment Methodology ................................................................................................ 9 1.11.1 General Approach ........................................................................................................ 9 1.11.2 The Study Area.............................................................................................................. 9 1.11.3 Field Observations ..................................................................................................... 11 1.11.4 Desk Study Review ...................................................................................................... 12 1.11.5 Public and Key Stakeholder Consultation .................................................................. 13 1.11.6 Data Analysis .............................................................................................................. 13 1.11.7 Report Format ............................................................................................................ 13 1.12 Study Team Members .................................................................................................... 14 1.13 Limitations of the study.................................................................................................. 14 2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ................................................................................................... 16 2.1 Project Outline and Project Site Plan ............................................................................. 16 2.2 Existing Site Conditions ................................................................................................. 20 Prepared by: CDE Consultancy Page|i EIA for the proposed Outer Reef Maintenance Dredging Project in Maafaru Island, Noonu Atoll 2.3 Detailed Project Outline and Work Methodology.......................................................... 21 2.3.1 Dredging Reef Entrance ............................................................................................. 21 2.4 Work Methodology ........................................................................................................ 25 2.4.1 Mobilization and Site Setup ........................................................................................ 25 2.4.2 Dredging ..................................................................................................................... 25 2.5 Project Schedule and Life Span ..................................................................................... 26 2.5.1 Work Sequence ........................................................................................................... 26 2.6 Waste Management, Logistics and Safety Measures ..................................................... 26 2.6.1 Site Office and Temporary Accommodation ............................................................... 26 2.6.2 Utilities and waste management ................................................................................. 26 2.6.3 Pollution Control Measures ....................................................................................... 26 2.6.4 Health and Safety Measures ....................................................................................... 27 2.6.5 Emergency Spill Response Plan ................................................................................. 27 2.6.6 Fire Prevention ........................................................................................................... 28 2.7 Summary of Project Inputs and Outputs ........................................................................ 28 2.8 Demobilization ............................................................................................................... 28 3 POLICY AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK .............................................................................. 29 3.1 Relevant Legislation ....................................................................................................... 29 3.1.1 Environment Protection and Preservation Act (Act no. 4/93).................................... 29 3.2 Relevant Regulations and Guidelines ............................................................................ 30 3.2.1 Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations 2012 ................................................ 30 3.2.2 Regulation on Sand and Coral Mining ....................................................................... 31 3.2.3 Regulation on Dredging and Land Reclamation ........................................................ 31 3.2.4 Waste Management Regulation 2013 ......................................................................... 32 3.2.5 The Environmental Liability Regulation (Regulation 2011/R-9) ............................... 33 3.2.6 Compliance ................................................................................................................. 33 3.3 Environmental Permits Required for the Project ........................................................... 33 3.3.1 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Decision Note ........................................... 33 3.3.2 Dredging and Reclamation Permit ............................................................................. 34 3.3.3 Operating License for Aerodrome .............................................................................. 34 3.4 Responsible Institutions ................................................................................................. 34 3.4.1 Ministry of Environment and Energy ......................................................................... 34 3.4.2 Atoll Council ............................................................................................................... 35 3.5 Guiding Policies and Documents ................................................................................... 35 3.5.1 National Environmental Action Plan II (NEAP II) .................................................... 35 Prepared by: CDE Consultancy Page|ii EIA for the proposed Outer Reef Maintenance Dredging Project in Maafaru Island, Noonu Atoll 3.5.2 Waste Management Policy ......................................................................................... 36 3.6 International Conventions .............................................................................................. 36 3.6.1 Convention on Biological Diversity ..........................................................................