Proposed Inca Energy Solar Energy Facility Near Vredendal, Matzikama Municipality, Western Cape Province
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PALAEONTOLOGICAL SPECIALIST STUDY: DESKTOP ASSESSMENT Proposed Inca Energy Solar Energy Facility near Vredendal, Matzikama Municipality, Western Cape Province John E. Almond PhD (Cantab.) Natura Viva cc, PO Box 12410 Mill Street, Cape Town 8010, RSA [email protected] October 2011 PALAEONTOLOGICAL HERITAGE IMPACT STATEMENT The company INCA Vredendal Solar (Pty) Ltd (a subsidiary of INCA Energy) is proposing to establish a commercial photovoltaic solar energy facility as well as associated infrastructure on the Remainder of Farm 277 (Seekoigat) situated approximately 10 km northwest of Vredendal, Matsikama District Municipality, Western Cape. The study area for the proposed solar energy facility is underlain by a range of Late Caenozoic superficial deposits, most of which are of low palaeontological sensitivity. This applies especially to the Pleistocene to Recent wind-blown sands that mantle most of the study area. Alluvial gravels of possible Late Tertiary to Recent age are mapped just to the north of the study area and may underlie the aeolian cover sands there. These sediments are considered to be of moderate palaeontological sensitivity since a variety of significant fossils ( e.g. skeletal remains of mammals, petrified woods, calcified termitaria, possible sharks teeth) have been recorded from comparable alluvial deposits of the Quagga’s Kop Formation in the Knersvlake region around Vanrhynsdorp as well as near Vredendal. The overall impact significance of the proposed development is likely to be LOW because the study area is mantled by superficial sediments of low palaeontological sensitivity. Furthermore, extensive, deep excavations are unlikely to be involved in this sort of solar energy facility project. In terms of fossil heritage the proposed development does not present any fatal flaws and no no-go areas have been identified on palaeontological grounds. There are no recommendations for further palaeontological studies or specialist mitigation for this project, unless significant new fossil finds are made during construction. The following recommendations should be included within the EMP for this project: • The ECO responsible for the development should be aware of the possibility of important fossils being present or unearthed on site and should monitor all substantial excavations into fresh ( i.e. unweathered) sedimentary bedrock for fossil remains; • In the case of any significant fossil finds ( e.g. vertebrate teeth, bones, burrows, petrified wood, calcretised termitaria) during construction, these should be safeguarded - preferably in situ - and reported by the ECO as soon as possible to the relevant heritage management authority (Heritage Western Cape) so that any appropriate John E. Almond (2011) 1 Natura Viva cc mitigation by a palaeontological specialist can be considered and implemented, at the developer’s expense. Should fossils be discovered before or during construction and reported by the responsible ECO to the responsible heritage management authority (HWC) for professional recording and collection, as recommended here, the overall impact significance of the project would be further reduced. Residual negative impacts from any loss of fossil heritage would be partially offset by an improved palaeontological database as a direct result of appropriate mitigation. This is a positive outcome because any new, well-recorded and suitably curated fossil material from this palaeontologically under-recorded region would constitute a useful addition to our scientific understanding of the fossil heritage here. 1. INTRODUCTION The company INCA Vredendal Solar (Pty) Ltd (a subsidiary of INCA Energy) is proposing to establish a commercial photovoltaic solar energy facility as well as associated infrastructure on the Remainder of Farm 277 (Seekoigat) situated approximately 10 km northwest of Vredendal, Matsikama District Municipality, Western Cape (Figs. 1, 2). The proposed solar energy facility will comprise an array of photovoltaic (PV) panels with a generating capacity of up to 30 MW. Associated infrastructure will include: • An on-site generator transformer and a small substation to facilitate the connection between the renewable energy facility and the Eskom electricity grid; • Foundations to support the PV panels; • Cabling between the project components, to be lain underground where practical; • An overhead power line (66kV) of ~1 km in length feeding into the Eskom electricity network at the existing Juno Substation; and • Internal access roads; and • A workshop area for maintenance and storage. The proposed development area overlies a variety of Late Caenozoic superficial sediments, some of which may contain fossil remains. The extent of the proposed development (over 5000 m 2) falls within the requirements for a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) as required by Section 38 (Heritage Resources Management) of the South African Heritage Resources Act (Act No. 25 of 1999). The various categories of heritage resources recognised as part of the National Estate in Section 3 of the Heritage Resources Act include, among others: • geological sites of scientific or cultural importance • palaeontological sites • palaeontological objects and material, meteorites and rare geological specimens John E. Almond (2011) 2 Natura Viva cc Minimum standards for the palaeontological component of heritage impact assessment reports are currently being developed by SAHRA. The latest version of the SAHRA guidelines is dated May 2007. The present desktop report forms part of a comprehensive EIA of the proposed solar park project (National DEA application reference number 12/12/20/2178) that is being carried out on behalf of the client, INCA Vredendal Solar (Pty) Ltd, by Savannah Environmental (Pty) Ltd in order to identify any risks or threats to heritage resources and to propose appropriate mitigation and managements measures for incorporation into the EMP. Contact details of the environmental practitioner are: Savannah Environmental (Pty) Ltd PO Box 148 Sunninghill, 2157 Tel: +2711 234-6621 Fax: +2786 684 0547 www.savannahSA.com 2. APPROACH & METHODOLOGY 2.1. Details of specialist Dr John Almond has an Honours Degree in Natural Sciences (Zoology) as well as a PhD in Palaeontology from the University of Cambridge, UK. He has been awarded post-doctoral research fellowships at Cambridge University and in Germany, and has carried out palaeontological research in Europe, North America, the Middle East as well as North and South Africa. For eight years he was a scientific officer (palaeontologist) for the Geological Survey / Council for Geoscience in the RSA. His current palaeontological research focuses on fossil record of the Precambrian - Cambrian boundary and the Cape Supergroup of South Africa. He has recently written palaeontological reviews for several 1: 250 000 geological maps published by the Council for Geoscience and has contributed educational material on fossils and evolution for new school textbooks in the RSA. Since 2002 Dr Almond has also carried out palaeontological impact assessments for developments and conservation areas in the Western, Eastern and Northern Cape, Free State and Mpumalanga under the aegis of his Cape Town-based company Natura Viva cc. He is a long-standing member of the Archaeology, Palaeontology and Meteorites Committee for Heritage Western Cape (HWC) and an advisor on palaeontological conservation and management issues for the Palaeontological Society of South Africa (PSSA), HWC and SAHRA. He is currently compiling technical reports on the provincial palaeontological heritage of Western, Northern and Eastern Cape for SAHRA and HWC. Dr Almond is an accredited member of PSSA and APHP (Association of Professional Heritage Practitioners – Western Cape). John E. Almond (2011) 3 Natura Viva cc 2.2. General approach used for palaeontological impact desktop studies In preparing a palaeontological desktop study the potentially fossiliferous rock units (groups, formations etc ) represented within the study area are determined from geological maps. The known fossil heritage within each rock unit is inventoried from the published scientific literature, previous palaeontological impact studies in the same region, and the author’s field experience (Consultation with professional colleagues as well as examination of institutional fossil collections may play a role here, or later during the compilation of the final report). This data is then used to assess the palaeontological sensitivity of each rock unit to development (Provisional tabulations of palaeontological sensitivity of all formations in the Western, Eastern and Northern Cape have already been compiled by J. Almond and colleagues; e.g. Almond & Pether 2008). The likely impact of the proposed development on local fossil heritage is then determined on the basis of (1) the palaeontological sensitivity of the rock units concerned and (2) the nature of the development itself, most notably the extent of fresh bedrock excavation envisaged. When rock units of moderate to high palaeontological sensitivity are present within the development footprint, a field-based assessment by a professional palaeontologist is usually warranted. Most detrimental impacts on palaeontological heritage occur during the construction phase when fossils may be disturbed, destroyed or permanently sealed-in during excavations and subsequent construction activity. Where specialist palaeontological mitigation is recommended, this may take place before construction starts or during