Marine Life Assessment And Coral Relocation For The Proposed Lojemwa Shoreline Dredging Project: Long Island, Majuro Atoll Prepared for The RMI Environmental Protection Authority

This report presents the findings and recommendations from a marine survey carried out by the Republic of the Marshall Islands Environmental Protection Authority (RMI EPA) and the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program (UH Sea Grant) on August 21, 2014 at the Lojemwa Quarry on Long Island in Majuro Atoll. Its purpose is to inform the earthmoving and environmental assessment permitting process for the shoreline dredging proposed for the area. The proponent for the project is Pacific International Inc., a local contractor. The report does not constitute a Preliminary Environmental Assessment (PEA). The results of this marine life assessment are ideally combined with a PEA to determine whether a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is necessary, or if work can proceed based on the recommendations made. The recommendations in this report may be incorporated into the proponent's Environmental Management Plan (EMP), which is currently under review by the RMI EPA. Note: The adjusted boundary recommendations in this report originate from discussions with the RMI EPA post survey. UH Sea Grant presented a number of options, including substantive coral relocation for consideration. The findings in this report should therefore only be viewed as supporting documentation for the RMI EPAs decision. The findings and recommendations in this report are needed promptly, so the decision was made to exclude most details in sections 2 and 3 on Introduction and Method. These can be added at a later date if desired by the RMI EPA.