ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE PROPOSED HYDROPOWER ENERGY PROJECT MAGGOTTY ST. ELIZABETH IN JAMAICA January 2011 Environmental Impact Assessment For The Proposed Hydropower Energy Project Maggotty, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica – January 2011 Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 5 2.0 Project Rationale .................................................................................................................. 5 3.0 Regulatory Framework ......................................................................................................... 9 3.1 Applicable Policies ........................................................................................................... 9 3.2 Applicable Legislation .................................................................................................... 11 4.0 The Application Process .................................................................................................... 15 5.0 Baseline General ................................................................................................................ 17 5.1 Climate, Temperature and Wind ..................................................................................... 17 5.2 Natural Hazards ............................................................................................................. 17 6.0 Hydropower Project Description ....................................................................................... 19 6.1 Project Location and Siting ............................................................................................ 20 6.2 Existing Wood stave Penstock and Power Plant ............................................................. 24 6.3 Flora and Flora Survey ................................................................................................... 44 6.4 Summary of Floral and Faunal Assessment .................................................................... 51 6.5 Potential Impacts on Flora and Fauna ............................................................................ 52 7.0 Project Design Elements and Footprint ............................................................................. 52 7.1 Seismic Design Requirements ......................................................................................... 53 7.2 Modifications to Existing Structures ............................................................................... 54 7.3 Water Conveyance System ............................................................................................. 54 7.4 Powerhouse and Connection to Existing Switchyard ...................................................... 55 7.5 Mechanical and Electrical Installations ........................................................................... 56 7.6 Control Centre ............................................................................................................... 57 7.7 Water Level Monitoring System ..................................................................................... 57 7.8 Ancillary Works ............................................................................................................. 57 7.9 Spare Parts ..................................................................................................................... 57 8.0 Project Schedule ................................................................................................................. 58 9.0 Resource Usage .................................................................................................................. 58 9.1 Risks of Hazards and Accidents ..................................................................................... 58 10.0 Hydropower Environmental Description ........................................................................... 59 10.1 Black River Watershed - Hydrology, Drainage and Aquatic Ecology .............................. 59 10.2 Hydrologic data for project design ................................................................................. 60 10.2.1 River Flow ............................................................................................................ 60 10.3 Geology ......................................................................................................................... 62 10.4 Soils ............................................................................................................................... 63 10.5 Geotechnical Survey ....................................................................................................... 64 11.0 Socio-Economic Environment ........................................................................................... 67 11.1 Major Industries/Sources of Employment ..................................................................... 67 11.2 Major Historical/Cultural/Recreational/Ecological Sites ............................................... 68 11.3 Demographics ................................................................................................................ 70 11.4 Housing ......................................................................................................................... 71 11.5 Land Use and Settlement Patterns .................................................................................. 71 11.6 Land Ownership ............................................................................................................ 72 11.7 Utilities ........................................................................................................................... 72 11.8 Municipal and Health Services ....................................................................................... 72 1 Environmental & Engineering Managers Ltd. Environmental Impact Assessment For The Proposed Hydropower Energy Project Maggotty, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica – January 2011 12.0 Socio-economic Survey Regarding the Hydropower Project ............................................... 73 12.1 Methodology .................................................................................................................. 73 12.2 General Profile of Respondents ..................................................................................... 73 12.3 Electricity Services and Cost .......................................................................................... 76 12.4 Resource Use and Management ...................................................................................... 78 12.5 Resource Quantity and Quality ....................................................................................... 79 13.0 Assessment of Impacts: Community Perspective ............................................................... 82 13.1 Knowledge of Uses of Hydropower Plants and Project Awareness ................................ 82 13.2 Potential Positive Impacts .............................................................................................. 83 13.3 Potential Negative Impacts ............................................................................................. 84 14.0 Identification of Environmental Impacts ........................................................................... 86 14.1 Adverse Impacts associated with the Proposed Project .................................................. 86 14.2 Potential Adverse Impacts – Construction ..................................................................... 89 14.3 Potential Adverse Impacts - Operation Phase ................................................................ 93 14.4 Potential Adverse Impacts – Maintenance ...................................................................... 94 14.5 Decommissioning .......................................................................................................... 95 15.0 Significant Environmental and Social Impacts .................................................................... 96 15.1 Positive impacts of the proposed project ...................................................................... 108 15.2 Summary of Significant Negative Impacts .................................................................... 111 16.0 Hydropower Environmental Mitigation Plan .................................................................... 114 17.0 Hydropower Analysis of Alternatives ............................................................................... 116 18.0 Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Management and Monitoring Plan .................... 118 Figures Figure 1- Spot Oil Price: West Texas Intermediate January 2008 – May 2010 ................................... 7 Figure 2- Energy Supply Matrix 2008-2030 (%) .............................................................................. 10 Figure 3 - Earthquake events affecting Jamaica 1973-2010 ............................................................. 17 Figure 4 - Storms (including Hurricanes, Tropical Storms and Depressions) Affecting Jamaica between 1990-2009 ................................................................................................................ 18 Figure 5 - Location Map - Maggotty ............................................................................................... 21 Figure 6 - Location Map - Maggotty Hydro Power Plant ................................................................ 22 Figure 7 – Existing Intake Works