Lulamisa Diepsloot East Crowthorne DBAR March18 (Reduced).Pdf

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION OF THE LULAMISA-DIEPSLOOT EAST-BLUE HILLS-CROWTHORNE 88 kV POWER LINE AND ASSOCIATED SUBSTATIONS NEAR MIDRAND IN GAUTENG PROVINCE DRAFT BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR PUBLIC REVIEW 15 MARCH 2018 – 18 APRIL 2018 VOLUME 1: (MAIN REPORT & APPENDIX A to D) COMPILED BY: PREPARED FOR: Envirolution Consulting (Pty) Ltd Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd. Eskom Distribution PO Box 1898 P.O.Box 1091 Sunninghill Johannesburg 2157 20001 Tel: (0861) 44 44 99 Tel: (011) 800 2706 Fax: (0861) 62 62 22 Fax: 086 662 2236 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.envirolution.co.za COPYRIGHT WARNING With very few exceptions the copyright of all text and presented information is the exclusive property of Envirolution Consulting (Pty) Ltd. It is a criminal offence to reproduce and/or use, without written consent, any information, technical procedure and/or technique contained in this document. Criminal and civil proceedings will be taken as a matter of strict routine against any person and/or institution infringing the copyright of Envirolution Consulting (Pty) Ltd. THE PROPOSED LULAMISA-DIEPSLOOT-BLUE HILLS-CROWTHORNE 88 KV POWER LINE AND ASSOCIATED SUBSTATIONS Draft Basic Assessment Report March 2018 PROJECT DETAILS DEA Reference No. : Not assigned as yet Title : The proposed construction of the Lulamisa-Diepsloot East-Blue Hills- Crowthorne 88 kV Power Line and Associated Substations near Midrand in Gauteng Province Report compiled by : Envirolution Consulting Contact person: Ms Sheila Bolingo Postal Address: P.O.Box 1898, Sunninghill, 2157 Telephone Number: 0861 44 44 99 Fax Number: 0861 62 62 22 Email: [email protected] Client : Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd Status : Draft Basic Assessment Report Review period : The 30-day period for review is from 15 March 2018 to 18 April 2018 Reviewed by: Jubilee Bubala Approved By: Gesan Govender EXECUTIVE SUMMARY iii THE PROPOSED LULAMISA-DIEPSLOOT-BLUE HILLS-CROWTHORNE 88 KV POWER LINE AND ASSOCIATED SUBSTATIONS Draft Basic Assessment Report March 2018 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Consulting (Pty) Ltd, as independent environmental consultants, to INTRODUCTION undertake the BA process and compile the BA Report and Eskom Holdings SOC Limited (the applicant) is proposing the Environmental Management Programme (EMPr). construction of the Diepsloot East and Blue Hills Substation and an 88kV overhead power line from the existing Lulamisa Substation to the PROJECT NEED AND DESIRABILITY proposed Diepsloot East Substation to the proposed Blue Hills The proposed project is in response to the electricity challenges substation and an 88kV underground cable from the proposed Blue detailed above, that Eskom SOC Limited (“Eskom”) intends to increase Hills Substation to the existing Crowthorne Substations within the City its capacity to meet the growing demand in the Diepsloot/ Midrand area as it is evident that the existing network does not have the capacity to of Johannesburg and Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, in Gauteng meet the required supply. In addition, future planned developments will Province. increase the demand for electricity. Hence, new power lines and substations are required to support the existing network and new The project has been previously submitted for environmental planned developments. authorisations (EA) as three (3) separate projects to the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA); these three applications have been SUMMARY OF FINDINGS withdrawed and are hereby combined into one application.. Vegetation Assessment: This assessment found that the majority of the vegetation that could be REQUIREMENT FOR A BASIC ASSESSMENT impacted on by the proposed electrical infrastructure comprised PROCESSNTRODUCTION secondary grassland and modified areas. However, a patch of grassland, representative of the Egoli Granite Grassland, is present The proposed project is subject to the requirements of the between the Lulamisa SS and the Diepsloot East SS, while moist Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations (2014 EIA Regulations) grasslands, riparian vegetation and ridge vegetation are present in terms of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA, Act throughout the project area and are regarded as vulnerable to 107 of 1998, as amended). NEMA is national legislation that provides development. The secondary grasslands provide habitat to the for the authorisation of certain controlled activities known as “listed provincially protected Gladiolus vinosomaculatus and included moist activities”. In terms of Section 24(1) of NEMA, the potential impact on grasslands wherein the Declining Hypoxis hemerocallidea and Eucomis the environment associated with these listed activities must be autmnalis were recorded. Furthermore, provincially protected orchid species (Habenaria species) were also recorded in the moist grassland. considered, investigated, assessed, and reported on to the competent authority (the decision-maker) charged by NEMA with granting of the In conclusion, the proposed development(s) could proceed provided relevant environmental authorisation. Eskom requires an that the mitigation measures a set out in this report are diligently Environmental Authorisation for this project which includes the implemented to limit the potential impacts on vegetation during proposed construction of an overhead powerline, underground cables construction and operation of the developments. and substations. Application for authorisation in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998), as Fauna Assessment: amended and GNR 982, 983, 984 and 985 of the Environmental Impact The possibility of the faunal assemblages being significantly affected by Assessment Regulations, 2014 as amended 07 April 2017 (GNR 326) a the proposed development is unlikely based on the findings of this Basic Assessment (BA) Process is required for this project. assessment. Temporary changes to the abundance and distribution of faunal species may occur during the construction phase but should be An environmental impact assessment is an effective planning and insignificant with many species re-occupying the area when constructions activities have ceased. decision-making tool for the applicant as it provides the opportunity for the applicant to be fore-warned of potential environmental issues and It is recommended that the development occurs on habitat types assess if potential environmental impacts need to be avoided, identified with low or medium ecological sensitivities. Where areas of minimised or mitigated to acceptable levels. The Basic Assessment high ecological sensitivity need to be disturbed, the necessary permits process includes certain feasibility studies for a proposed project and and mitigation measures recommended by the wetland specialist will inform the final design process in order to ensure that should be implemented. Destruction of moist grassland and rank environmentally sensitive areas are avoided to an acceptable level as grassland should also be minimised in order to prevent disturbance of confirmed by the Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP). the African Grass Owls present within the study area. Comprehensive, independent environmental studies elaborated by Should all suggested mitigation measures be implemented, this specialists are required in accordance with the EIA Regulations to proposed project can be permitted. inform the EAP of its comprehensive recommendation and provide the competent authority with sufficient information in order to make an Wetlands: The proposed powerline, both overhead and underground cables, informed decision. potentially affect 11 wetland units with 16 Wetland crossings. None of the proposed new substations are located in wetlands. The route which As this is a proposed electricity generation project and thereby has the least potential negative effect on wetlands overall is Alternative considered to be of national importance, the National Department of 1 (Preferred Route). Both the Preferred Route and the Lulamisa to Environmental Affairs (DEA) is the competent authority and the Diepsloot East Alternative 2 cross the same number of wetlands. One Gauteng Department of Agriculture, Rural Development (GDARD) will line is not preferred over the other. Diepsloot East to Blue Hills act as a commenting authority. Eskom has appointed Envirolution Alternative 2 is the preferred line with only 3 crossings Diepsloot East EXECUTIVE SUMMARY iv THE PROPOSED LULAMISA-DIEPSLOOT-BLUE HILLS-CROWTHORNE 88 KV POWER LINE AND ASSOCIATED SUBSTATIONS Draft Basic Assessment Report March 2018 to Blue Hills Alternative 3 and the Preferred Route both have 6 eastern perimeter of the new development north of Lulamisa Substation crossings and therefore are least preferred. Blue Hills to Crowthorne avoids (Lulamisa to Diepsloot), avoids crossing over developed Preferred Route has 3 crossings and is therefore preferred. Blue Hills smallholdings and rather go around it (Diepsloot East to Bluehills) and to Crowthorne Alternative 3 has 4 crossings and is therefore second avoids cutting through the least number of smallholdings and will preferred The Alternative 2 route has 4 crossings and runs parallel to therefore cause the least visual intrusion (Blue Hill SS to Crowthorne). wetland 9 and is therefore least preferred. This is summarised below. Social Heritage Assessment: Based on the social assessment, the following general conclusions and No sites, features or objects of cultural heritage significance were findings should be noted: identified

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