ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT for the JAMAICAN HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT Submitted: October 14, 2020 Design Collaborative International DRAFT FINAL REPORT Prepared for: Prepared by: Design Collaborative Ltd. Environmental Solutions Ltd. 2 Renfrew Road 7 Hillview Avenue Kingston 10 Kingston 10 Jamaica Draft Report – Environmental Impact Assessment – Jamaica Houses of Parliament Draft Final Environmental Impact Assessment Environmental Impact Assessment for the Jamaican Houses of Parliament Urban Development Corporation 12 Ocean Boulevard, Kingston Mall, Jamaica W.I. Telephone: (876)-656-8031 Telefax: (876)-922-9326 Email: [email protected] Report prepared by: Dr. Theresa Rodriguez-Moodie, Environmental Solutions Ltd. Dr. Chanelle Fingal-Robinson, Environmental Solutions Ltd. George Campbell, Environmental Solutions Ltd. Danielle Nembhard, Environmental Solutions Ltd. Richard Coutou, Environmental Solutions Ltd. Ian Gage, Environmental Solutions Ltd. Rashidah Khan-Haqq, Environmental Solutions Ltd. Mario Christie, Environmental Solutions Ltd. Ivor Connolly, Environmental Solutions Ltd. Herbert Thomas, Environmental Solutions Ltd. Report reviewed by: Eleanor Jones, Environmental Solutions Ltd. ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS LIMITED 7 Hillview Avenue Kingston 10, Jamaica, W.I. Tel: (876) 978-9519, 978-6297, 978-5902 Fax: (876) 946-3745 Email: [email protected] Website: www.eslcaribbean.com ii Draft Report – Environmental Impact Assessment – Jamaica Houses of Parliament TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................................................................... VII LIST OF TABLES ...................................................................................................................................................................... IX LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ............................................................................................................................ XI EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................................................ XIV 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................................. 2 PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE EIA .................................................................................................................................. 2 PROJECT VISION AND PRINCIPLES .......................................................................................................................................... 2 CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................................................ 3 PROJECT LOCATION AND BOUNDARIES ................................................................................................................................... 5 ASSUMPTIONS AND CONSTRAINTS......................................................................................................................................... 5 2 POLICY, LEGAL AND REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS .................................................................................................... 8 LEGISLATION, REGULATIONS, POLICIES ................................................................................................................................... 8 REQUIRED PERMITS .......................................................................................................................................................... 11 3 METHODOLOGY AND APPROACH ................................................................................................................................ 13 GENERAL APPROACH ........................................................................................................................................................ 13 PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT ..................................................................................................................................................... 13 Topography, Geology and Soils .............................................................................................................................. 13 Hydrology and Drainage ......................................................................................................................................... 13 Climate and Climate Change .................................................................................................................................. 19 Natural Hazard Risk ................................................................................................................................................ 19 Air Quality and Noise .............................................................................................................................................. 19 Water Quality ......................................................................................................................................................... 27 ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT ................................................................................................................................................. 27 Avifauna ................................................................................................................................................................. 27 Vegetation .............................................................................................................................................................. 27 Other Fauna ............................................................................................................................................................ 28 ARCHAEOLOGICAL/ HERITAGE ASSESSMENT .......................................................................................................................... 28 Archival/Desk Research .......................................................................................................................................... 28 Walking Survey ....................................................................................................................................................... 28 SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT ......................................................................................................................................... 29 4 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ................................................................................................................................................ 33 THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT BUILDING .............................................................................................................................. 35 Design Concept ....................................................................................................................................................... 35 Building Components .............................................................................................................................................. 36 LANDSCAPING OF NATIONAL HEROES PARK (ACCESS, FOOTPATHS AND INTERNAL ROAD NETWORK) ................................................ 44 DRAINAGE DESIGN ........................................................................................................................................................... 48 WATER SUPPLY AND SEWAGE ............................................................................................................................................ 50 SUSTAINABILITY ............................................................................................................................................................... 50 Rainwater Harvesting ............................................................................................................................................. 52 Energy Efficiency ..................................................................................................................................................... 55 TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT .................................................................................................................................................... 56 EXTERNAL INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIREMENTS ........................................................................................................................ 58 iii Draft Report – Environmental Impact Assessment – Jamaica Houses of Parliament PROJECT TIMELINE ........................................................................................................................................................... 58 5 DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT .......................................................................................................................... 60 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT .................................................................................................................................................. 60 Topography ............................................................................................................................................................ 60 Geology and Soils ................................................................................................................................................... 60 Hydrology and Drainage ........................................................................................................................................