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506295 Holfontein Ecological Impact Section Final 2015 06 23 Kvdw PROPOSED HOLFONTEIN PROJECT: Ecological Impact Assessment SEF Reference No. 506295 Prepared for: Prime Resources (Pty) Ltd P.O. Box 2316 Parklands 2121 Tel No.: (011) 447 4888 Fax No.: (011) 447 0355 Prepared by: Strategic Environmental Focus (Pty) Ltd P.O. Box 74785 Lynnwood Ridge 0040 Tel. No.: (012) 349-1307 Fax. No.: (012) 349-1229 E-mail: [email protected] June 2015 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ COPYRIGHT WARNING Copyright in all text and other matter, including the manner of presentation, is the exclusive property of the author. It is a criminal offence to reproduce and/or use, without written consent, any matter, 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 the author and/or proprietors. Holfontein: Ecological Impact Assessment 506295 Compiled by: Authorised by: Karin van der Walt Cert. Sci. Nat. Byron Grant Pr. Sci. N at. Terrestrial Ecologist Principal: Specialist Services SACNASP Reg. No. 300028/12 SACNASP: Reg. No. 400275/08 _______________ Date: 09/07/2015 Strategic Environmental Focus (Pty) Ltd ii Holfontein: Ecological Impact Assessment 506295 Declaration of Independence I, Karin van der Walt, in my capacity as a specialist consultant, hereby declare that I - • Act as an independent consultant; • Do not have any financial interest in the undertaking of the activity, other than remuneration for the work performed in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998) (NEMA); • Have and will not have vested interest in the proposed activity proceeding; • Have no, and will not engage in, conflicting interests in the undertaking of the activity; • Undertake to disclose, to the competent authority, any material information that has or may have the potential to influence the decision of the competent authority or the objectivity of any report, plan or document required in terms of the NEMA; • Will provide the competent authority with access to all information at my disposal regarding the application, whether such information is favourable to the applicant or not; • As a registered member of the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP), will undertake my profession in accordance with the Code of Conduct of the Council, as well as any other societies to which I am a member • Based on information provided to me by the project proponent, and in addition to information obtained during the course of this study, have presented the results and conclusion within the associated document to the best of my professional judgement; • Reserve the right to modify aspects pertaining to the present investigation should additional information become available through ongoing research and/or further work in this field; and • Undertake to have my work peer reviewed on a regular basis by a competent specialist in the field of study for which I am registered. ___________________________________ 06/07/2015 Karin van der Walt Cert. Sci. Nat. Date Terrestrial Ecologist SACNASP Reg. No. 300028/12 Strategic Environmental Focus (Pty) Ltd iii Holfontein: Ecological Impact Assessment 506295 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of the Holfontein Project is to supplement the drop in production once the New Kleinfontein Goldmine (Pty) Ltd Modder East Mine (MEM) tonnage profile begins to decline. The life of mine schedule for Holfontein has been incorporated into the MEM life of mine so as to maintain a profitable production profile for the combined entity. The Holfontein section will include various infrastructure such as winders, access control facility, a containerised office, chemical toilets, haul truck loading area, ventilation shaft and outlet, power lines between MEM and Holfontein, standby generators, surface water storage infrastructure, pollution control dam etc. The study area is located in the Grassland Biome, which can be further divided into vegetation units. The proposed shafts as well as the eastern section of the proposed haul road are located in the Eastern Highveld Grassland vegetation type (currently listed as Endangered), while the remainder of the haul road is located in the Soweto Highveld Grassland vegetation type (currently listed as Endangered). Eastern Temperate Freshwater Wetlands are associated with the Blesbokspruit and are located north and east of the haul road. According to the latest C-Plan, various areas which are associated with the proposed Holfontein project have been listed as Ecological Support Areas and/or Important Areas due to the presence of suitable habitat for Red and Orange Listed plant species, Red Listed mammal species, Red Listed bird species as well as the presence of primary habitat. In addition to this, the proposed shaft and portion of the haul road falls into the Blesbokspruit Highveld Grassland ecosystem (original extent) which is currently listed as Critically Endangered, while the remainder of the haul road is located in the Soweto Highveld Grassland ecosystem which is currently listed as Vulnerable. These ecosystems are listed in terms of Section 52 of NEMBA. The study area and immediate surroundings consisted of dry grasslands, moist grasslands (including the Blesbokspruit), disturbed areas dominated by alien species, and transformed areas (agricultural fields and residential areas). The dry grassland, moist grasslands (including the Blesbokspruit) as well as the disturbed area west of the shaft location were all classified as medium to high ecological sensitivity. The dry grassland was considered to be intact and dominated by indigenous vegetation, including one species which is of conservation concern (and Orange Listed) namely Hypoxis hemerocallidea. In addition to this, the dry grassland is classified as Important according to the latest Gauteng C-Plan. From a faunal perspective, the grassland also provides suitable habitat for at least two mammal species of conservation concern namely Atelerix frontalis (South African Hedgehog; currently listed as Near Threatened), and Leptialurus serval (Serval; currently listed as Near Threatened). The moist grasslands associated with the Blesbokspruit was also considered to be of medium to high ecological sensitivity with at least one plant species of conservation concern, Crinum bulbispermum (currently listed as Declining), confirmed adjacent to the Blesbokspruit. In addition to this, the Blesbokspruit Important Bird Area (IBA) is located less than 10km south of the study area. In addition to Strategic Environmental Focus (Pty) Ltd iv Holfontein: Ecological Impact Assessment 506295 this, the moist grassland east of the Blesbokspruit supported healthy populations of the rare butterfly, Metisella meninx (Marsh Sylph), while providing suitable habitat for mammal species of conservation concern such as Leptailurus serval (Serval; currently listed as Near Threatened) and Dasymys incomtus (African Marsh Rat; currently listed as Near Threatened). The disturbed area east of the proposed shaft (north of the eastern portion of the haul road) was also classified as medium to high ecological sensitivity with at least two plant species of conservation concern, Hypoxis hemerocallidea (currently listed as Declining) and Kniphofia typhoides (currently listed as Near Threatened) confirmed in this area. All the areas which have been classified as medium to high ecological sensitivity are listed as Important and/or Ecological Support Areas on the latest Gauteng C-Plan, and also play an important role as dispersal corridors through a transformed landscape. Although portions of the study area was considered to be of medium to high ecological sensitivity, it is possible that the impacts associated with the proposed project can be mitigated to minimize to adverse effects on the fauna and flora. Strategic Environmental Focus (Pty) Ltd v Holfontein: Ecological Impact Assessment 506295 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................................... iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ...................................................................................................... vi LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................. vii LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................... vii 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Project Description .................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Methodology ........................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Limitations .............................................................................................................. 3 2 BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................. 3 2.1 Location .................................................................................................................. 3 2.2 Climate ................................................................................................................... 3 2.3 Regional Vegetation ................................................................................................ 3
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