Proposed Upgrade of the Ndabakazi Interchange Between the N2 and the R409, Near Butterworth
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
PROPOSED UPGRADE OF THE NDABAKAZI INTERCHANGE BETWEEN THE N2 AND THE R409, NEAR BUTTERWORTH AMATHOLE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY, EASTERN CAPE ECOLOGICAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT Prepared for: Prepared by: CES EAST LONDON 25 Tecoma Street Berea East London 5214 043 726 7809 [email protected] Also in Grahamstown, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, Johannesburg and Maputo www.cesnet.co.za August 2019 CES i SANRAL Ndabakazi Interchange Upgrade REVISIONS TRACKING TABLE Report Title: Ecological Impact Assessment Report: Proposed Upgrade of the Ndabakazi Interchange between the N2 and the R409, near Butterworth within the Amathole District Municipality, Eastern Cape Province DEA REF NO: Report Version: Volume 1 – Final Report CES Project Number: P40700338 Name Responsibility Date Ms Caryn Clarke Report Writer 20 September 2019 Mr Roy De Kock Reviewer 20 September 2019 Dr Alan Carter Reviewer 20 September 2019 Copyright This document contains intellectual property and propriety information that are protected by copyright in favour of CES. The document may therefore not be reproduced, used or distributed to any third party without the prior written consent of CES. The document is prepared exclusively for submission to SANRAL, and is subject to all confidentiality, copyright and trade secrets, rules intellectual property law and practices of South Africa. CES 2 SANRAL Ndabakazi Interchange Upgrade LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS CBA Critical Biodiversity Area CES Coastal & Environmental Services CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna DEDEAT Department of Economic Development Environmental Affairs and Tourism ECBCP Eastern Cape Biodiversity Conservation Plan ECO Environmental Control Officer EMP Environmental Management Plan IDP Integrated Development Plan IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature NEMA National Environmental Management Act PNCO Provincial Nature Conservation Ordinance RDB Red Data Book SANBI South African National Biodiversity Institute SDF Spatial Development Frame SPC Species of Possible Concern SSC Species of Special Concern STEP Subtropical Thicket Ecosystem Programme CES 3 SANRAL Ndabakazi Interchange Upgrade Final Ecological Impact Assessment CONTENT OF THE SPECIALIST REPORT The contents of this specialist report complies with the legislated requirements as described in Appendix 6 of the National Environmental Management Act (No 107 of 1998; NEMA) Regulations of 2014 and updated in 2017 (GN R. 326 of 2017) as listed below: Appendix 6 Specialist Reports 1. (1) A specialist report prepared in terms of these Regulations must contain— (a) details of— (i) the specialist who prepared the report; and (ii) the expertise of that specialist to compile a specialist report including a curriculum vitae; (b) a declaration that the specialist is independent in a form as may be specified by the competent authority; (c) an indication of the scope of, and the purpose for which, the report was prepared; (cA) an indication of the quality and age of base data used for the specialist report; (cB) a description of existing impacts on the site, cumulative impacts of the proposed development and levels of acceptable change; (d) the duration, date and season of the site investigation and the relevance of the season to the outcome of the assessment; (e) a description of the methodology adopted in preparing the report or carrying out the specialised process inclusive of equipment and modelling used; (f) details of an assessment of the specific identified sensitivity of the site related to the proposed activity or activities and its associated structures and infrastructure, inclusive of a site plan identifying site alternatives; (g) an identification of any areas to be avoided, including buffers; (h) a map superimposing the activity including the associated structures and infrastructure on the environmental sensitivities of the site including areas to be avoided, including buffers; (i) a description of any assumptions made and any uncertainties or gaps in knowledge; (j) a description of the findings and potential implications of such findings on the impact of the proposed activity or activities; (k) any mitigation measures for inclusion in the EMPr; (l) any conditions for inclusion in the environmental authorisation; (m) any monitoring requirements for inclusion in the EMPr or environmental authorisation; (n) a reasoned opinion— (i) whether the proposed activity, activities or portions thereof should be authorised; (iA) regarding the acceptability of the proposed activity or activities; and (ii) if the opinion is that the proposed activity, activities or portions thereof should be authorised, any avoidance, management and mitigation measures that should be included in the EMPr, and where applicable, the closure plan; (o) a description of any consultation process that was undertaken during the course of preparing the specialist report; (p) a summary and copies of any comments received during any consultation process and where applicable all responses thereto; and (q) any other information requested by the competent authority. (2) Where a government notice by the Minister provides for any protocol or minimum information requirement to be applied to a specialist report, the requirements as indicated in such notice will apply. CES i SANRAL Ndabakazi Interchange Upgrade Final Ecological Impact Assessment THE PROJECT TEAM 1. (1) A specialist report prepared in terms of these Regulations must contain— (a) details of— (i) the specialist who prepared the report; and (ii) the expertise of that specialist to compile a specialist report including a curriculum vitae; (b) a declaration that the specialist is independent in a form as may be specified by the competent authority Contact Details: Ecologist Contact Details: Report reviewer Name: Ms Caryn Clarke Name: Mr Roy de Kock Designation: Senior Environmental Consultant Designation: Botanist, CES Phone: +27 43 726 7809 Phone: +27 43 726 7809 Cell Phone: +27 72 118 6684 Cell Phone: +27 76 281 9660 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Address: Address: CES CES 25 Tecoma Street 25 Tecoma Street Berea Berea East London East London 5214 5214 www.cesnet.co.za www.cesnet.co.za Expertise: Ecological specialist Ms Caryn Clarke M.Sc., Cand. Nat. Sci. (Ecologist) SACNASP Registration Number: 500022/14 Caryn holds a M.Sc. Environmental Science (2012) from Rhodes University. Her M.Sc. thesis was titled “Responses to the linked stressors of Climate Change and HIV/AIDS amongst vulnerable rural households in the Eastern Cape, South Africa”. Her B.Sc. Hon. thesis investigated climate change perceptions, drought responses and views on carbon farming amongst commercial livestock and game farmers within the Great Fish River Valley, Eastern Cape. Caryn is a registered Candidate Natural Scientist under the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP). Mr Roy de Kock M.Sc., Pri. Nat. Sci. (Botanist) SACNASP Registration Number: 400216/16 CES ii SANRAL Ndabakazi Interchange Upgrade Final Ecological Impact Assessment Roy is a Principal Consultant holding a BSc Honours in Geology and an MSc in Botany from the Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth. He has recently started a PhD in Botany focussing on the impact of fracking fluids on vegetation and soils in the Karoo Basin. He has been working for CES since 2010 and is based at the East London branch where he focuses on Vegetation, Biodiversity, Ecological and Agricultural Assessments, Geological and Geotechnical analysis, Environmental Management Plans, mining applications and various environmental impact studies. Roy has worked on numerous projects in South Africa and Africa at large. Roy is registered with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professional (SACNASP). A signed specialist declaration and full curriculum vitae’s are attached in Appendix B. Project Expertise Relevant projects CES has worked on include: Name of project Description of responsibility Date completed Waterfall Citrus Farm EIA for the Ecological Impact Assessment April 2018 development of a new citrus farm outside Peddie, Eastern Cape Indwe Biodiverity Study on the Biodiversity study for an December 2017 development of a new essential essential oil farming oils farm outside Kidds Beach, development East London, Eastern Cape Earth Free (Pty) Ltd Biodiversity Biodiversity study for a housing October 2017 study for a housing development development extension in Kei Road, Eastern Cape City of Johannesburg Biodiversity Vegetation and Ridgeline January - April 2017 Assessment and Conservation Biodiversity Study management Plans for 4 Nature Reserves Terreco Butterworth Bypass Botanical Impact Assessment Oct 2016 Alternatives EIA (EC) Terreco Idutywa Bypass Botanical Impact Assessment Oct 2016 Alternatives EIA (EC) SANRAL N2 between Tetyana & Ecological Impact Assessment June 2015 Sitebe Komkulu EIA (EC) Laman Mining renewal of Mining Botanical Impact Assessment February 2015 License (EC) ACSA East London Airport Botanical Impact Assessment February 2014 Vegetation Study (EC) SANRAL R61 Baziya to Mthatha Ecological Impact Assessment November 2014 EIA (EC) SANRAL Rehabilitation of the N9, Ecological Impact Assessment June 2013 Middelburg (EC) CES iii SANRAL Ndabakazi Interchange Upgrade Final Ecological Impact Assessment Declarations Role on Study Declaration of independence Team Report Writing I, Caryn Clarke, declare that I am an independent consultant and have no business, and Mapping financial, personal or other