Environmental Impact Assessment Of The Mountain Pine Ridge ...

2. THE PROJECT ENVIRONMENT
Provide details of the basic physical environment of the project site and zone of influence. This should include:
1. Topography: including degree of slopes, drainage patterns around project site, and flood hazard;
2. Include a map outlining the boundaries of zone of influence in relation to protected areas, surrounding villages
and communities etc.
3. Climate, hydrology and meteorology: including rainfall average per year, prevailing wind patterns;
4. Geology: description of the characteristics of landform, land surface including exposed rock types, types of
unconsolidated materials exposed (sediments), watershed, rivers, tributaries, if they can be determined by field
mapping.
5. Provide physical description of surrounding receiving water bodies including creeks and rivers and provide a
baseline on the current water quality, both surface and ground water, of the project area. Parameters to be
tested should include, but not limited to the following:
• pH
• Temperature
• Dissolved Oxygen
• Nitrates
• Sulfates & Phosphates
• Phosphates
• Total Suspended Solids
• Hardness
6. Provide information on soils: soil fertility, agricultural value;
7. Assess the current land use of project site and adjacent properties including existing road infrastructure.
8. Assess the potential effect that the developmental activities will have on any local wells and springs, aquifer or
nearby water bodies, particularly as it relates to disposal of waste and overburden.
9. Provide a description of the existing socio-economic conditions, giving a brief overview of the socio-economic
background to the study area.
METEOROLOGICAL AND HYDROLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Hurricanes
Review of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data for hurricane and tropical
storm landfalls in Belize has established that at least 4 hurricanes traveled across western Belize in
the vicinity of the Mountain Pine Ridge area, and subsequently on to one or more neighboring
countries between 1960 and present. These cyclones included Hurricanes Abby (1960), Hattie
(1961), Fifi (1974) and Greta (1978), which in general passed through western Belize as Category 2
Storms (96 - 110 mph), and therefore undoubtedly imposed rainfall-borne impacts on the Mountain
Pine Ridge area of Belize (see Illustration 14).
The Mountain Pine Ridge Granite Quarry EIA / Ecoworks Page 28 of 167