Environmental Management Plan
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PROPOSED 2D SEISMIC SURVEY, SONAR BATHYMETRY AND DROP CORE SAMPLING IN THE OUTENIQUA SOUTH AREA OFF THE SOUTH COAST OF SOUTH AFRICA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN Prepared for: Petroleum Agency South Africa On behalf of: Total E and P South Africa (Pty) Ltd Prepared by: CCA Environmental (Pty) Ltd TOT01OBE/EMP OCTOBER 2012 PROPOSED 2D SEISMIC SURVEY, SONAR BATHYMETRY AND DROP CORE SAMPLING IN THE OUTENIQUA SOUTH AREA OFF THE SOUTH COAST OF SOUTH AFRICA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN Prepared for: Petroleum Agency South Africa Tygerpoort Building, 7 Mispel Street BELLVILLE, 7779 On behalf of: Total E and P South Africa (Pty) Ltd JHI House, 11 Cradock Avenue ROSEBANK, 2196 Prepared by: CCA Environmental (Pty) Ltd Contact person: Eloise Costandius Unit 35 Roeland Square, Drury Lane CAPE TOWN, 8001 Tel: (021) 461 1118 / 9 Fax (021) 461 1120 E-mail: [email protected] TOT01OBE/EMP OCTOBER 2012 Total E&P: Proposed 2D, Sonar Bathymetry and Drop Coring, Outeniqua South Area, South Coast, South Africa EXPERTISE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PRACTITIONER NAME Jonathan Crowther RESPONSIBILITY ON PROJECT Project leader and quality control. DEGREE B.Sc. Hons (Geol.), M.Sc. (Env. Sci.) PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION Pr.Sci.Nat., CEAPSA EXPERIENCE IN YEARS 24 Jonathan Crowther has been involved in environmental consulting since 1988 and is currently the Managing Director of CCA Environmental (Pty) Ltd. He has expertise in a wide range of environmental disciplines, including Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), Environmental Management Plans/Programmes, Environmental Planning & Review, EXPERIENCE Environmental Auditing & Monitoring, Environmental Control Officer services, and Public Consultation & Facilitation. He has project managed a number of offshore oil and gas EIAs for various exploration and production activities in South Africa and Namibia. He also has extensive experience in projects related to roads, property developments and landfill sites. NAME Eloise Costandius RESPONSIBILITY ON PROJECT Project consultant and report compilation DEGREE B.Sc. Hons (Zoo.), M.Sc. (Ecol. Ass.) PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION Pr.Sci.Nat. EXPERIENCE IN YEARS 7 Eloise Costandius has worked as an environmental assessment practitioner since 2005 and has been involved in a number of projects covering a range of environmental disciplines, including Faunal Specialist Studies, Basic Assessments, Environmental Impact EXPERIENCE Assessments and Environmental Management Programmes. She has gained experience in a wide range of projects relating to mining (e.g. oil exploration and borrow pits), infrastructure projects (e.g. roads), and housing and industrial developments. CCA Environmental (Pty) Ltd ii EMP Total E&P: Proposed 2D, Sonar Bathymetry and Drop Coring, Outeniqua South Area, South Coast, South Africa EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. INTRODUCTION Total E and P South Africa (Pty) Ltd (Total E&P) is proposing to explore for oil and gas reserves in the deep offshore area of the South Coast of South Africa, referred to as the Outeniqua South Area (see Figure 1). Exploration activities would include a 2D seismic survey, a sonar bathymetric survey and drop core sampling. In order to undertake the proposed exploration activities, Total E&P lodged an application for an Exploration Right with the Petroleum Agency of South Africa (PASA) in terms of Section 74 of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (No. 28 of 2002) (MPRDA). PASA accepted the application on 28 June 2012. The proposed Exploration Right area is approximately 76 060 km2 in extent. The proposed seismic survey would be approximately 7 000 km in length comprising a number of low density spaced survey lines covering Total E&P’s entire licence block area in the Outeniqua South Area between Cape Agulhas (20°E) and Cape St Francis (25°E). Although survey commencement would ultimately depend on a permit award date, it is anticipated that the seismic survey would commence during the last quarter of 2013 and would take in the order of two to three months to complete (between November 2013 and March 2014). Following analysis of the 2D seismic data, a sonar bathymetry survey and drop core sampling would be undertaken. These activities are proposed to take place from November 2014, with an estimated duration of 30 to 45 days. In terms of the MPRDA an Exploration Right must be issued prior to the commencement of the proposed exploration activities. A requirement of obtaining an Exploration Right is that an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) has to be compiled in term of Section 39 of the MPRDA and submitted to PASA for consideration and for approval by the Minister of Mineral Resources. Furthermore, Interested and/or Affected Parties (I&APs) must be notified and consulted in this regard. Total E&P appointed CCA Environmental (Pty) Ltd (CCA) to compile an EMP to meet the relevant requirements of the MPRDA and the Regulations thereto. 2. EMP APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY 2.1 OBJECTIVES The objectives for the EMP process are: To provide a reasonable opportunity for I&APs to be consulted on the proposed project; To ensure that all potential key environmental issues and impacts that could result from the proposed project are identified; To identify feasible alternatives to the implementation of the proposed project; To assess potential impacts related to the proposed project; To present appropriate mitigation or optimisation measures to minimise potential impacts or enhance potential benefits; and Through the above, to ensure informed, transparent and accountable decision-making by the relevant authorities. 2.2 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS The Public Participation Process has involved an open, participatory approach and involvement of I&APs to ensure that all potential impacts are identified and that planning and decision-making takes place in an informed, transparent and accountable manner. CCA Environmental (Pty) Ltd iii EMP Total E&P: Proposed 2D, Sonar Bathymetry and Drop Coring, Outeniqua South Area, South Coast, South Africa Plettenberg Cape Town Bay Mossel Bay Port Elizabeth Cape St Francis Cape Agulhas Total E&P: Outeniqua South Area Figure 1: Location of Total E&P’s 2D seismic survey off the South Coast of South Africa, with approximate survey lines indicated. CCA Environmental (Pty) Ltd iv EMP Total E&P: Proposed 2D, Sonar Bathymetry and Drop Coring, Outeniqua South Area, South Coast, South Africa As part of compiling the EMP, a Background Information Document (BID) and Response Form were distributed for a 21-day comment period (02 October 2012 to 23 October 2012). Advertisements announcing the proposed project and the availability of the BID were placed in four regional newspapers on 02 October 2012, i.e. Cape Times (Western Cape), Die Burger (Western Cape), Die Burger (Eastern Cape) and The Herald (Eastern Cape). Comments received have been collated and responded to in an Issues and Responses Trail, which is appended to the EMP. 2.3 SPECIALIST STUDIES AND REPORT COMPILATION Two specialist studies were undertaken to address the key issues that required further investigation, namely the impact on fishing and marine fauna. The specialist studies involved the gathering of data relevant to identifying and assessing environmental impacts that may occur as a result of the proposed project. These impacts were then assessed according to pre-defined rating scales. The specialist information and other relevant information were then integrated into this EMP. The EMP aims to present all information in a clear and understandable format and suitable for easy interpretation by authorities. The EMP will be distributed for a 30-day review and comment and any comments received will be forwarded directly to PASA for consideration. 3. PROJECT DESCRIPTION 3.1 GENERAL INFORMATION 3.1.1 Exploration Right Applicant Total E&P as the applicant for the Exploration Right will also be the operator for the proposed project. Address: Total E and P South Africa (Pty) Ltd 11 Cradock Avenue JHI House Rosebank 2196 Project Manager: Renaud Lions Telephone: +33 (0)1 47 445006 Facsimile: +33 (0)1 47 447805 Cell: +33 (0)6 09 625106 E-mail: [email protected] 3.1.2 Exploration block area The Outeniqua South Area is situated in the deep offshore area of the South Coast of South Africa roughly between Cape Agulhas and Cape St. Francis (see Figure 1). It covers an area of approximately 76 060 km2 with water depths ranging from 200 m to over 4 000 m. The block is roughly located between 20° and 25° east and 35° and 38° south. The proposed exploration activities would be undertaken over most of the defined block area. CCA Environmental (Pty) Ltd v EMP Total E&P: Proposed 2D, Sonar Bathymetry and Drop Coring, Outeniqua South Area, South Coast, South Africa 3.1.3 Financial Provision In terms of Section 41 of the MPRDA and Sections 52 and 53 of the MPRDA Regulations, Total E&P would provide for rehabilitation, management and remediation of negative environmental impacts associated with the exploration work programme. This would be provided by means of an insurance policy to the value of USD 10 000 000. 3.2 SEISMIC SURVEY Seismic surveys are carried out during marine oil and gas exploration in order to investigate subsea geological formations. During seismic surveys high-level, low frequency sounds are directed towards the seabed from near-surface sound sources towed by a seismic vessel. Signals reflected from geological interfaces below the seafloor are recorded by multiple receivers (or hydrophones) towed in a number of streamers. Analyses of the returned signals allow for interpretation of subsea geological formations. For this investigation Total E&P is proposing to undertake a 2D seismic survey. The proposed seismic survey would be approximately 7 000 km in length comprising a number of low density spaced survey lines covering a large area off the South and East coasts (refer to Figure 1). Although survey commencement would ultimately depend on a permit award date, it is anticipated that the survey would be undertaken during the summer of 2013/2014 and would take in the order of three months to complete.