1256 Farm Karibib Charcoal Pla
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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF A CHARCOAL PROCESSING AND PACKAGING PLANT ON THE REMAINING EXTENT OF PORTION A OF FARM KARIBIB NO. 54, KARIBIB DISTRICT, ERONGO REGION 2020 GREEN EARTH Environmental Consultants 1 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF A CHARCOAL PROCESSING AND PACKAGING Project Name: PLANT ON THE REMAINING EXTENT OF PORTION A OF FARM KARIBIB NO. 54, KARIBIB DISTRICT, ERONGO REGION Africa Burns (Pty) Ltd The Proponent: P O Box 1094 SWAKOPMUND Prepared by: Release Date: July 2020 C. Du Toit C. Van Der Walt Consultant: Cell: 081 127 3145 Fax: 061 248 608 Email: [email protected] GREEN EARTH Environmental Consultants 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Green Earth Environmental Consultants have been appointed by Africa Burns (Pty) Ltd to attend to and complete an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Management Plan (EMP) in order to obtain an Environmental Clearance Certificate for the construction and operation of a charcoal processing and packaging plant on the Remaining Extent of Portion A of Farm Karibib No. 54, in the Karibib District, Erongo Region as per the requirements of the Environmental Management Act (No. 7 of 2007) and the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations (GN 30 in GG 4878 of 6 February 2012). The land within the immediate vicinity of the proposed charcoal plant is predominately characterized by natural open spaces associated with farming, mining, industrial and residential activities. In terms of the Regulations of the Environmental Management Act (No 7 of 2007) an Environmental Impact Assessment has to be done to address the following ‘Listed Activities’: HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE TREATMENT, HANDLING AND STORAGE 9.1 The manufacturing, storage, handling or processing of a hazardous substance defined in the Hazardous Substances Ordinance, 1974. 9.2 Any process or activity which requires a permit, licence or other form of authorisation, or the modification of or changes to existing facilities for any process or activity which requires an amendment of an existing permit, licence or authorisation or which requires a new permit, licence or authorisation in terms of a law governing the generation or release of emissions, pollution, effluent or waste. The key characteristics/environmental impacts of the proposed project are as follows: Positive Impacts Negative impacts ± 45000kg/day of briquettes will be Charcoal dust will be created in the handling manufactured from FSC certified and crushing of the charcoal. charcoal to be exported. Value will be added to charcoal by Noise will be generated from the operations processing it into briquettes. of the electrical motors powering the crusher, hoppers, mixer, forklift and trucks offloading and collecting the product. ±40 permanent jobs will be created General dust will be generated during once the project is fully operational. construction and by the trucks delivering charcoal and collecting briquettes. Land currently underutilized will be put Water is required for the activities (drinking, to productive use. cleaning and toilets) of the workforce as well as for the manufacturing of the briquettes. New skills will be transferred to unskilled Electricity is required for the operation of the labourers. plant. Mitigation measures will be provided that can control the extent, intensity and frequency of these named impacts in order not to have substantial negative effects or results. GREEN EARTH Environmental Consultants 3 The type of activities that will be carried out on the site does not negatively affect the amenity of the locality and the activities do not adversely affect the environmental quality of the area. None of the potential impacts identified are regarded as having a significant impact to the extent that the proposed project should not be allowed. However, the operational activities further on need to be controlled and monitored by the assigned managers and the proponent (Africa Burns). The Environmental Impact Assessment which follows upon this paragraph was conducted in accordance with the guidelines and stipulations of the Environmental Management Act (No 7 of 2007) meaning that all possible impacts have been considered and the details are presented in the report. Based upon the conclusions and recommendations of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report and Environmental Management Plan following this paragraph the Environmental Commissioner of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism is herewith requested to: 1. Accept the Environmental Impact Assessment; 2. Approve the Environmental Management Plan; 3. Issue an Environmental Clearance Certificate for the construction and operation of a charcoal processing and packaging plant on the Remaining Extent of Portion A of Farm Karibib No. 54, in the Karibib District, Erongo Region and for the following “listed activities”: HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE TREATMENT, HANDLING AND STORAGE 9.1 The manufacturing, storage, handling or processing of a hazardous substance defined in the Hazardous Substances Ordinance, 1974. 9.2 Any process or activity which requires a permit, licence or other form of authorisation, or the modification of or changes to existing facilities for any process or activity which requires an amendment of an existing permit, licence or authorisation or which requires a new permit, licence or authorisation in terms of a law governing the generation or release of emissions, pollution, effluent or waste. GREEN EARTH Environmental Consultants 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................... 7 LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................... 7 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................ 8 LIST OF APPENDIXES .................................................................................................. 9 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 10 2. TERMS OF REFERENCE .................................................................................. 10 3. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON PROJECT................................................ 11 3.1. LOCALITY OF SITE ........................................................................................... 11 4. BULK SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROVISION ................................ 15 4.1. ACCESS ROAD .............................................................................................. 15 4.2. WATER SUPPLY ............................................................................................ 16 4.3. ELECTRICITY RETICULATION ..................................................................... 17 4.4. SEWAGE DISPOSAL ..................................................................................... 17 4.5. SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL/REFUSE REMOVAL .......................................... 17 4.6. FIRE PROTECTION ........................................................................................... 18 5. PROJECT DESCRIPTION ................................................................................. 18 6. THE CHARCOAL INDUSTRY ............................................................................ 25 7. ENVIRONMENTAL AND PLANNING ISSUES IDENTIFIED .............................. 29 8. APPROACH TO THE STUDY ............................................................................ 30 9. ASSUMPTIONS AND LIMITATIONS ................................................................. 31 10. ADMINISTRATIVE, LEGAL AND POLICY REQUIREMENTS ........................... 31 11. AFFECTED RECEIVING ENVIRONMENT ......................................................... 45 11.1. BIODIVERSITY AND VEGETATION .................................................................. 45 11.2. CLIMATE ........................................................................................................... 47 11.3. WIND .................................................................................................................. 47 11.4. GEOLOGY AND SOILS ..................................................................................... 49 11.5. GEOHYDROLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SITE ............................. 49 11.6. GROUNDWATER............................................................................................... 51 11.7. SURFACE WATER ............................................................................................ 52 11.8. SOCIAL-ECONOMIC COMPONENT ................................................................. 52 11.9. CULTURAL HERITAGE ..................................................................................... 53 11.10. SENSE OF PLACE ............................................................................................ 53 11.11. HEALTH ............................................................................................................. 53 11.12. ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE ............................................................................... 53 12. ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION .................................................................. 54 12.1. IMPACTS DURING CONSTRUCTION ............................................................... 55 GREEN EARTH Environmental Consultants 5 12.1.1. WATER USAGE .........................................................................................