Rapid Surveys of Marine Habitats on South Coast of Dent Peninsula

Review of the DEIA indicated a low density of marine surveys using an unsuitable methodology, indicating a seabed habitat largely devoid of sealife. In order to assess the validity of this assumption, a rapid survey of marine habitats was undertaken by a team of volunteers (and a professional photographer subsidised by a public donation). This field survey was supported by WWF-Malaysia and Sabah Environmental Protection Association (SEPA).

The surveys found a wide range of marine ecosystems; both pristine and under existing pressures from pollution due to agricultural development (Oil Palm Plantations and Palm Oil Mills).

The findings of this rapid assessment are not reflected in the DEIA, and impacts are therefore under assessed. These comments seek to highlight the marine conditions present in the area, and lead the reviewers of the DEIA (public and government) to reassess the validity of the baseline assessments, and the impacts stated in the DEIA.

The images below indicate some of the key findings of the rapid assessment.

Location map of the Proposed Project Site

Based on these comments, it is hoped that the review panel will request a more detailed marine habitat assessment using a wider variety of methods more appropriate to fringing reefs, mangroves, sandy mudflats and biotic reefs in the sub tidal area, as well as at a wider variety of water depths.

A detailed habitat map of the area should be produced to accurately show what the seabed conditions are and allow a detailed environmental impact assessment to be undertaken.

Prepared by:
Will Unsworth
Tan Kai Yee
Davies Austin Spiji


Submitted to DOE as public comments on the DEIA for the 300MW Coal Fired Power Plant Project, FELDA Sahabat, Sabah.

Call to Include SSME in Coal Plant Study

Include Sulu Sulawesi in coal plant study

http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=54069

by Sandra Sokial

July 31, 2010, Saturday

KOTA KINABALU: An in-depth study on the extent of the environmental impact of the proposed Lahad Datu coal-fired power plant on the Sulu Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion should be undertaken.Director of Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau of the Philippines, Theresa Mundita Lim, said this would help all affected nations to work together to mitigate the impact and probably address any possible implications as a result of the construction of the plant.

Theresa was responding to a question on the possible rise in sea temperature due to the coal-fired power plant operation, and its effect on marine life and seafood supply within the Sulu Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion, which also includes her country.

The proposed 300MW coal-fired plant is expected to be built at Kampung Sinakut in Lahad Datu, which utility company Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd claimed to be the only answer to overcome power supply problem, especially in the east coast of Sabah.

Theresa said anything undertaken on one side of the Sulu Sulawesi would always affect the other side of the area.

“That is why cooperation is very important for us. Whatever next step (we undertake), we should be able to think as one. We are not isolated in the Sulu Sulawesi Ecoregion.

“Everyone is affected, so we need to work with each other to mitigate any impact of any activity,” she stressed.

The Sulu Sulawesi Eco-region encompasses three countries – Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Too Early to judge DEIA report - Masidi

The Borneo Post, July 31st,2010

Re-Look Into DEIA Report

Bernama, Thursday, July 29, 2010 15:21 PM

KOTA KINABALU, July 29 (Bernama) -- There will be a re-look into the Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) report on the proposed coal-fired power plant in Lahad Datu, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said Thursday.

He said he would ask state tourism, culture and environment minister Datuk Masidi Manjun to look into the DEIA to ensure it was properly done.

This followed allegations the DEIA was faulty and ridden with mistakes, Musa told reporters after opening the country's largest palm oil technology expo, Palmex 2010, here.

He was commenting on news reports on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) here, which claimed the DEIA was faulty and should be re-done.

On Wednesday, Green SURF (Sabah Unite to Re-Power the Future), a coalition lobbying for cleaner energy options for Sabah, wanted the DEIA report re-done, claiming some of its baseline data collections were inappropriate.

It said, the mistakes included comparison with the wrong ecosystem, mention of species foreign to Borneo and misrepresentation of the Orang Tidong and Orang Sungai who were classified as being of Indonesian origin.

The non-governmental coalition and state agencies were engaged in a DEIA panel meeting here on Tuesday.

According to Green SURF, on the basis the report was a scientifically inadequate representation of the area, the DEIA should be rejected by the department of environment.

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsgeneral.php?id=517319