Summary
Air emissions from the growing city of Toamasina include vehicle
exhaust and other fuel combustion sources that may combine with air
emissions from the process plant and port expansion during certain
meteorological conditions. The air emissions from Toamasina were not
quantified, therefore a cumulative assessment could not be made. An
ambient air quality monitoring program around the plant will be
implemented to track background levels and plant performance.
Toamasina looking south
In terms of natural risks, a natural event resulting in flood-runoff of
contaminants from the project plant site and the Logistique Pétrolière
terminal and other industrial developments south of Toamasina could
result in an elevated cumulative impact in local small watersheds and
especially in the marine environment. The probability of such an event is
very low and no additional mitigation is proposed.
During operations of both the Logistique Pétrolière terminal project and
the Ambatovy Project, there is the potential for increased cumulative risk
of ship collisions. However, Ambatovy Project mitigations, including
working with port authorities on a revision of the regional traffic
movement control system, are predicted to offset potential cumulative
negative effects.
Forest clearing
Forestry data indicate that past, current, and future clearing likely
represents the largest incremental impact to loss of plant communities in
the cumulative effects study area during the life of the Ambatovy mine.
For certain vegetation types, the magnitude and geographic extent of
impacts from deforestation are predicted to be higher relative to all other
future projects and activities in the study area, including from the
Ambatovy Project. These clearing activities will impact primary zonal
forest the greatest because it supports fertile soils for slash and burn
agriculture, the desired species used in home construction and is a
source of firewood and charcoal. The potential for logging activities to
directly impact azonal vegetation types in the mid-altitude eastern forest
region is predicted to be negligible. However, indirect impacts could
occur through fire and other disturbance, as has occurred in the past.
Azonal forest outcrops in the region are uncommon and the only intact
site known to occur in the cumulative effects region will likely be
designated as a conservation area as part of the biodiversity offsets
planned for the project. Even when other regional activities are
considered, planned mitigation and off-site compensation provided by
the Ambatovy Project will still result in a net positive effect to azonal
flora. Site clearing activities will also affect primary zonal forest within
the mine site and western portion of the slurry pipeline. Following project
mitigation and off-site conservation, analysis indicates there would be a
low negative to positive cumulative environmental consequence to this
vegetation type.
Initiatives such as the Carbon Project and public awareness programs
on the ecological benefits of conducting land use practices away from
conservation and reclamation areas should provide positive benefits to
January 2006
Ambatovy Project — 51
