JULY 2007 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT TREASURES OF TRELAWNY RESORT DEVELOPMENT [Prepared for Treasures of Trelawny] CONRAD DOUGLAS & ASSOCIATES LIMITED 14 Carvalho Drive Kingston 10 Jamaica W.I. Telephone: 929‐0023/0025/8824 Email: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT TREASURES OF TRELAWNY RESORT DEVELOPMENT July 2007 Prepared for: Treasures of Trelawny Treasures of Trelawny 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.............................................................................................................. ix 1 Executive Summary...............................................................................................1-1 1.1 Introduction............................................................................................................1-1 1.2 Project Objective and Concept...............................................................................1-1 1.3 Approach & Methodology .....................................................................................1-3 1.4 Regulatory Framework ..........................................................................................1-3 1.5 Impact Identification..............................................................................................1-4 1.5.1 Impact Mitigation...............................................................................................1-4 1.6 Environmental Monitoring Plan ............................................................................1-4 1.7 Conclusions............................................................................................................1-5 1.7.1 Recommendations ..............................................................................................1-5 2 Project Description ................................................................................................2-1 2.1 Introduction............................................................................................................2-1 2.2 Site Description and Layout...................................................................................2-5 2.2.1 Drainage Basin ..................................................................................................2-5 2.2.2 Site Run-off.........................................................................................................2-5 2.2.3 Design Criteria ..................................................................................................2-5 2.2.4 Roadways ...........................................................................................................2-8 2.2.5 Water supply ......................................................................................................2-8 2.2.6 Sewerage Treatment and Disposal ....................................................................2-9 2.2.7 LPG System......................................................................................................2-10 2.2.8 Swimming Pool Filtration................................................................................2-10 2.2.9 Foreshore Lagoon and Storm Drainage..........................................................2-10 2.2.10 Beach Protection Work................................................................................2-11 2.2.11 Landscaping.................................................................................................2-11 2.3 Building Design ...................................................................................................2-11 2.3.1 Building Structure............................................................................................2-11 2.3.2 Building Services .............................................................................................2-15 3 Analysis of Alternatives.........................................................................................3-1 3.1 Introduction............................................................................................................3-1 3.2 No-Action Alternative ...........................................................................................3-1 3.3 The Proposed Development...................................................................................3-2 3.4 Site Location Alternatives......................................................................................3-3 3.4.1 Proposed Development with Modifications.......................................................3-3 3.4.2 Proposed Development in another Location .....................................................3-4 i Conrad Douglas & Associates LTD CD*PRJ 1058/07 Treasures of Trelawny Table of Contents 4 Policy, Legislation, Standards, and Regulatory Framework.............................4-1 4.1 Introduction............................................................................................................4-1 4.2 Summary of the Legislation and Responsible Agencies........................................4-1 4.3 Development Guidelines........................................................................................4-1 4.4 Relevant Legislation ..............................................................................................4-2 4.4.1 The NRCA Act, 1991..........................................................................................4-2 4.4.2 The Beach Control Act 1956; ............................................................................4-3 4.4.3 The Watershed Protection Act, 1963 .................................................................4-4 4.4.4 The Wildlife protection Act, 1945 ......................................................................4-4 4.4.5 Water Resources Act, 1995; Underground Water Control Act, 1959 ...............4-4 4.4.6 The Town and Country Planning Act, 1987 ......................................................4-5 4.4.7 The Jamaica National Heritage Trust Act, 1985...............................................4-5 4.4.8 The Public Health Act, 1974..............................................................................4-5 4.5 International Policy................................................................................................4-6 4.5.1 Agenda 21 ..........................................................................................................4-6 5 Description of the Environment ...........................................................................5-1 5.1 Introduction............................................................................................................5-1 5.2 Physical Environment ............................................................................................5-1 5.2.1 Climate Overview...............................................................................................5-1 5.2.2 Geophysical Environment..................................................................................5-7 5.2.3 Hydrology and Groundwater Resources .........................................................5-29 5.2.4 Existing Land-Use............................................................................................5-30 5.3 Hazard and Risk Assessment...............................................................................5-31 5.3.1 Seismic and Tsunami Vulnerability .................................................................5-31 5.3.2 Hurricane Vulnerability...................................................................................5-38 5.3.3 Flooding and Storm Surge Potential ...............................................................5-40 5.3.4 Sea Level Rise ..................................................................................................5-41 5.3.5 Overall Assessment of Natural Hazard Vulnerability .....................................5-42 5.4 Biological Environment.......................................................................................5-44 5.4.1 Floral Resources..............................................................................................5-44 5.4.2 Faunal Resources.............................................................................................5-46 5.4.3 Aquatic & Marine Resources...........................................................................5-51 5.5 Cultural Heritage Resources ................................................................................5-63 6 Socio-Cultural Environmental..............................................................................6-1 6.1 Introduction............................................................................................................6-1 6.2 Survey Findings .....................................................................................................6-2 6.2.1 Demographics....................................................................................................6-2 6.2.2 Social and Economic Findings