ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT For the Development of a Domestic Airport in Fainu, Raa Atoll, Maldives. Photo: Water Solutions (2018) Proposed by: Island Aviation Services Limited Prepared by: Hassan Shah (EIA P02/2007), Mohamed Umar (EIA T07/2017), Nashfa Nashidh, Abdulla Fazeel, Abdul Aleem. For Water Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Maldives November 2018 BLANK PAGE EIA For the Development of a Domestic Airport in Fainu, Raa Atoll, Maldives. 1 Table of contents For the Development of a Domestic Airport in Fainu, Raa Atoll, Maldives. ................... 1 1 Table of contents ...................................................................................................... 3 2 List of Figures and Tables ........................................................................................ 8 3 Declaration of the consultants ................................................................................ 10 4 Proponents Commitment and Declaration ............................................................. 11 5 Non-Technical Summary ....................................................................................... 15 6 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 17 6.1 Structure of the EIA ........................................................................................... 17 6.2 Aims and Objectives of the EIA ........................................................................ 17 6.3 EIA Implementation .......................................................................................... 17 6.4 Rational for the formulation of alternatives ....................................................... 17 6.5 Terms of Reference............................................................................................ 17 7 Policy, Legal and Administrative Framework ....................................................... 18 7.1 Relevant Institutions .......................................................................................... 18 7.1.1 Ministry of environment and Energy ........................................................ 18 7.1.2 Environmental Protection Agency ............................................................ 18 7.1.3 Ministry of Tourism .................................................................................. 18 7.1.4 Civil Aviation Authority ........................................................................... 18 7.1.5 Island Aviation Services Limited .............................................................. 18 7.1.6 National Disaster Management Center ..................................................... 19 7.1.7 Local Government Authority .................................................................... 19 7.1.8 City councils , Atoll councils and Island councils .................................... 19 7.1.9 Health Protection Agency ......................................................................... 19 7.1.10 Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure .................................................... 19 7.1.11 FENAKA .................................................................................................. 19 7.2 National Policies ................................................................................................ 19 7.2.1 National Energy Policy ............................................................................. 19 7.2.2 Third National Environment Action Plan (NEAP III) .............................. 20 7.2.3 National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan ....................................... 20 7.2.4 Waste Management Policy 2015 (Saafu Raajje) ...................................... 20 7.2.5 Strategic National Action Plan .................................................................. 21 7.3 Relevant national laws, policies and regulations ............................................... 21 7.3.1 Environmental Protection and Preservation Act ....................................... 21 7.3.2 Protected Areas and Sensitive Areas ........................................................ 21 7.3.6 Maldivian Land Act .................................................................................. 22 7.3.7 Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation 2012 ............................... 22 1.2.5 First Addendum to Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation 2012 ......... 22 Prepared by Water Solutions Pvt.Ltd, Nov 2018 Page 3 EIA for the Development of a Domestic Airport in Fainu, Raa Atoll, Maldives 7.3.8 Second Addendum to Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation 2012 22 7.3.9 Third Addendum to Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation 2012 23 7.3.10 Fourth Addendum to Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation 2012 23 7.3.11 Maldives Civil Aviation Authority Act 2012 ........................................... 24 7.3.12 The Civil aviation Act of Maldives 2001 ................................................. 24 7.3.13 The Civil Aviation Regulation.................................................................. 24 7.3.13.1 Aerodrome Rules (MCAR-139) .................................................................... 24 7.3.14 Decentralization Act ................................................................................. 25 7.3.15 General Laws Act – 4/68(Public property) ............................................... 25 7.3.16 Public Services Act ................................................................................... 25 7.3.17 Waste management Regulations ............................................................... 26 7.3.18 Guidelines for Domestic Wastewater Disposal ........................................ 26 7.3.19 Regulation for cutting down, uprooting and export of trees ..................... 26 7.3.20 First amendment to the regulation for cutting down, uprooting and export of trees 27 7.3.21 Dredging and Reclamation regulation ...................................................... 27 7.3.22 Built Environment Regulation .................................................................. 29 7.3.23 Environmental Liabilities Regulation (2011/R-9) .................................... 29 7.3.24 Dewatering Regulation ............................................................................. 30 7.4 International Conventions .................................................................................. 30 7.4.1 Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation ............................... 30 7.4.2 Convention on Biological Diversity ......................................................... 31 8 Project Description ................................................................................................. 32 8.1 Project proponent ............................................................................................... 32 8.2 Project Location and Study Area ....................................................................... 32 8.3 Justification for the project ................................................................................ 32 8.4 Scope of works .................................................................................................. 35 8.5 Project Components ........................................................................................... 35 8.5.1 Mobilization and site setup ....................................................................... 35 8.5.2 Dredging, Borrow Areas and reclamation ................................................ 36 8.5.3 Shore protection for the reclaimed areas ................................................... 38 8.5.4 Vegetation clearance ................................................................................. 39 8.5.5 Phase 1 construction components ............................................................. 39 8.5.5.1 Runway, Taxiway and Apron ........................................................................ 39 8.5.5.2 Utilities .......................................................................................................... 40 8.5.6 Phase 2 Construction Components ........................................................... 40 8.5.7 Phase 3 Construction Components ........................................................... 40 Prepared by Water Solutions Pvt.Ltd, Nov 2018 Page 4 EIA for the Development of a Domestic Airport in Fainu, Raa Atoll, Maldives 8.5.8 Fire and safety during operations .............................................................. 40 8.5.9 Fuel Management ...................................................................................... 40 8.6 Project Inputs and Outputs ................................................................................. 41 8.6.1 Project Inputs ............................................................................................ 41 8.6.2 Project Outputs .......................................................................................... 42 9 Methodology .......................................................................................................... 43 10 Existing Environment of Maldives ........................................................................ 44 10.1 Existing general environment of Maldives.................................................... 44 10.2 Existing Marine Environment ....................................................................... 44 10.3 Methodology of marine surveys .................................................................... 44 10.3.1 Data Processing methodology .................................................................