R50 Realignment Draft Environmental Impact Report
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63 Wessel Road, Rivonia, 2128 PO Box 2597, Rivonia, 2128 South Africa Tel: +27 (0) 11 803 5726 Fax: +27 (0) 11 803 5745 Web: www.gcs-sa.biz R50 Road Realignment Draft Environmental Impact Assessment Report MDARDLEA ref: 1/3/1/16/1N-47 Version – Draft for Public and Authority Review 21 September 2016– 21 October 2016 Exxaro Leeuwpan GCS Project Number: 15-070 Client Reference: R50 Road Realignment GCS (Pty) Ltd. Reg No: 2004/000765/07 Est. 1987 Offices: Durban Johannesburg Lusaka Ostrava Pretoria Windhoek Directors: AC Johnstone (Managing) PF Labuschagne AWC Marais S Pilane (HR) W Sherriff (Financial) www.gcs-sa.biz Non-Executive Director: B Wilson-Jones Exxaro Leeuwpan R50 Road Realignment Report Version – Draft for Public and Authority Review 21 September 2016– 21 October 2016 Exxaro Leeuwpan 15-070 DOCUMENT ISSUE STATUS Report Issue Draft for public and authority review GCS Reference Number GCS Ref - 15-070 Client Reference R50 Road Realignment Title R50 Road Realignment Draft Environmental Impact Assessment Report Name Signature Date Matthew Muller Author 21 September 2016 Samantha Munro Document Reviewer Riana Panaino 21 September 2016 Renee Janse van Unit Manager 21 September 2016 Rensburg Director Pieter Labuschagne 21 September 2016 LEGAL NOTICE This report or any proportion thereof and any associated documentation remain the property of GCS until the mandatory effects payment of all fees and disbursements due to GCS in terms of the GCS Conditions of Contract and Project Acceptance Form. Notwithstanding the aforesaid, any reproduction, duplication, copying, adaptation, editing, change, disclosure, publication, distribution, incorporation, modification, lending, transfer, sending, delivering, serving or broadcasting must be authorised in writing by GCS. 15-070 21 September 2016 Page ii Exxaro Leeuwpan R50 Road Realignment EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Project Description Leeuwpan wishes to extend its mining operations onto portions 1 and 2 on Farm Rietkuil 249 and portion 3 of Farm Moabsvelden 248, referred to as Block OI. These areas fall within the current mining right area owned by Leeuwpan, and an application to the Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land & Environmental Affairs (MDARDLEA), formerly Mpumalanga Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (MDEDET) (reference number: 17/2/3N-180), and the Department Mineral Resources (DMR) (reference number: MP 30/5/1/2/2/171 MR) has been submitted. The mining of Block OI would mean that the current R50 road to the south of the current operations will need to be realigned around the proposed mining block (Figure 1-1). The mining of this block would also remove the current access road to Thaba Chueu Mining (TCM) (formerly Samquarz). A new access road to this mine would therefore be required. Environmental Authorization Processes The environmental processes involved with the project will be undertaken in two (2) parallel processes namely the NEMA process for all the associated listed activities, and the NWA process regarding the water uses that will be associated with the proposed development. The following documents will be submitted to the indicated competent authorities: EIA/EMP under NEMA: Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs (hereinafter referred to as “MDARDLEA”); and IWULA under NWA: Department of Water and Sanitation (hereinafter referred to as “DWS”). Public Participation The Public Participation Process (PPP) has been initiated as part of the requirements of the NEMA and NWA. A Background Information Document (BID) was sent to all stakeholders and Interested and Affected Parties (IAPs) on the existing Leeuwpan database and the identified stakeholders as per the requirements of the NEMA. The database is being updated continuously as new stakeholders and/or IAPs register for the project. Advertisements regarding the project background and the assessment process being followed were placed in the following newspapers: The Citizen; and Streeknuus. Site notices regarding the project background and the assessment process being followed were also put up around the project site. 15-070 21 September 2016 Page iii Exxaro Leeuwpan R50 Road Realignment Specialist Studies conducted Soils, Land Use and Land Capability Assessment; Biodiversity Assessment including both Flora and Fauna Assessments; Hydrology Report; Wetlands Assessment; Air Quality Assessment; Historical Assessment; Noise Assessment; Social Impact Assessment; and Traffic Assessment. Environmental Impacts and Mitigation: The main activities which will create impacts during the different phases were assessed during the EIA and mitigation and management measures developed thereto. The main activities are: Construction Phase Activities: o Removal of topsoil o Road construction o Wind exposure o River/wetland bridge construction o vegetation removal o Heavy machinery movement o Poaching, illegal collection or harvesting o Hydrocarbon fuel spillage o Influx of job seekers Operational Phase Activities: o Road Operation o Vehicle and machinery movement o Hydrocarbon spills o Poor maintenance The majority of the impacts will have a Low to Medium significance after mitigation. Activities that remain with a high impact significance are the permanent loss of sections of soils structure, land capability and Grass owl habitat. Motivation for the Project 15-070 21 September 2016 Page iv Exxaro Leeuwpan R50 Road Realignment The extension of the current mining operations at Leeuwpan as is proposed with the mining of Block OI will extend the Life of Mine (LOM) by an extra 16 years. The LOM extension will ensure: Employment opportunities for a further 16 years. With the increase in job cuts in the mining sector at present, job security is of vital importance; Continued positive impact on the local economy and surrounding area through spinoff job creation; Continued coal supply to Eskom for power generation during a time when Eskom is struggling to meet the electricity demand; and Conservation and rehabilitation of wetlands and natural habitats through the implementation of off-set plans. EAP Recommendations A Soil Management Plan (SMP) is recommended to ensure the protection of soils and maintenance of the terrain of the R50 re-alignment project during Construction. Ensure the Northern road for access to TCM is constructed on already impacted areas and not in functioning wetland boundary areas of the Bronkhorstspruit. Construction areas should be demarcated and fenced off using a 5 strand cattle fence prior to the commencement of vegetation clearing or earthmoving activities. No construction activities should happen beyond the demarcated area, and clear signage of “Wetlands” should be displayed on fences at wetland areas. The current Wetland Rehabilitation and Offset plan being developed for Leeuwpan mine should be amended to account for further loss of wetland habitat and fauna due to the construction of the new roads. The Grass owl (Tyto capensis) breeding pair should be relocated to another area of suitable habitat. A Search and Rescue study should be conducted for protected faunal species and Red Data flora, prior to the start of construction. These species should then be relocated according to a relocation plan compiled by the competent specialist in that field 0f study. Ongoing wetland, soils, biodiversity and surface water monitoring should be conducted from the start of construction until the mitigation and management measures are found to be successful by competent specialists in that field of study. Should it be found that the mitigation and management measures are not successful, a rectification plan should be compiled and implemented. 15-070 21 September 2016 Page v Exxaro Leeuwpan R50 Road Realignment Impact statement The EAPs and environmental consultants responsible for the compilation of this document, and PPP feel that the project should be approved, on condition that the mine implements all identified management measures, implements the monitoring plan, as well as address all identified information gaps. 15-070 21 September 2016 Page vi Exxaro Leeuwpan R50 Road Realignment CONTENTS PAGE 1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 BRIEF PROJECT DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................... 1 1.3 LOCATION OF THE ACTIVITY .............................................................................................................. 2 1.4 DETAILS OF THE APPLICANT ............................................................................................................. 5 1.5 DETAILS OF THE EAP ...................................................................................................................... 5 1.6 LEGISLATIVE GUIDELINES ................................................................................................................. 5 The National Environmental Management Act (Act No. 107 of 1998) (NEMA) ................ 5 National Water Act (Act No. 36 of 1998) (NWA) .............................................................. 8 1.7 SCOPE OF WORK ........................................................................................................................... 8 2