Emergency Debris Management Project (EDMP)

Following the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria in September 2017, the Government of Sint Maarten embarked on a large-scale recovery and reconstruction program. The goal was to build back a more resilient Sint Maarten. The project’s main objectives are to collect and process debris caused by the hurricanes, improve the management of the solid waste disposal sites, and search for future waste management solutions for Sint Maarten.  

 The NRPB is closely coordinating these activities with the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment & Infrastructure (VROMI), the Ministry of Health, Social Development & Labor (VSA), and the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunication (TEATT).  

There are four main activities under the project:

• Reconditioning, improvement of the solid waste disposal site (SWDS) and Irma Debris Deposal Site (IDDS) operations in Pond Island
• Clean-up of shipwrecks in the Simpson Bay Lagoon and Mullet Pond, and removal of debris on the Simpson Bay shoreline
• Clean-up of metal wrecks throughout the island including car wrecks, heavy equipment wrecks, and damage shipping containers
• Installation of a temporary debris storage and reduction (TDSR) facility to reduce and recycle hurricane debris and municipal solid waste

The activities planned under EDMP can potentially affect the environment, health and safety. Therefore, due diligence must be followed by putting risk-mitigating instruments in place. To this end, the NRPB is preparing:  

• Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), and Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) to be able to start working on reconditioning and improving the SWDS.  Visit our webpage to learn more about Resettlement.
• ESMP for the Shipwreck Salvaging, Metal Wreck, and TDSR activities. 

We also have prepared documentation for the procurement and supervision of these activities. The documents take time to develop properly while taking into consideration all environmental and social aspects, and the activities needs.