The Bronkhorstspruit and Wilge River Conservancy Association (Gca067)

NOTICE OF OBJECTION AND REQUEST TO BE REGISTERED AS AN INTERESTED OR AFFECTED PARTY IN RESPECT OF THE FOLLOWING EXPLORATION RIGHTS AND ENVIROMENTAL AUTHORISATION APPLICATION: NAME OF APPLICANT: Rhino Oil & Gas PASA REF: 12/3/291ER, 12/3/294, 12/3/295, 12/3/317, 12/3/318 Please note my objection to the abovementioned applications to explore for oil and gas and please register me as an interested or affected party in all applications. NAME: Jackie Nightingale EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] REASON FOR Environmental INTEREST: Environmental Health Community Economic ISSUES & CONCERNS: Water Climate Change I reserve my right to elaborate and/or add to these issues and concerns at a later stage. Jackie Nightingale ………………………………………………………………………………. SIGNATURE EMAIL TO: SLR Stella Moeketse [email protected] THE BRONKHORSTSPRUIT AND WILGE RIVER CONSERVANCY ASSOCIATION (GCA067) email : [email protected] contact nr : 082 442 2483 20 Sept 2016 To: The Regional Manager DMR Braamfontein [email protected] [email protected] To : Rhino Oil and Gas Exploration SA Att : SLR [email protected] [email protected] COMMENTS AND OBJECTION – 12/3/294ER - EIR AND EMP FOR AN EXPLORATION RIGHT APPLICATION FOR PETROLEUM PRODUCTS ON VARIOUS FARMS IN THE FREE STATE , MPUMALANGA, GAUTENG – Steynsrus, Frankfort, Petrus Steyn, Heilbron, Vrede,Standerton,Villiers, Oranjeville The Bronkhorstspruit and Wilge River Conservancy Ass is a constituted Association, operating in the greater catchment areas of the Bronkhorstspruit and Wilge river, with 150 concerned members. This Conservancy is affiliated to the Gauteng Conservancy Stewardship Association and The National Conservancy of SA. Although these application areas are far removed from our Conservancy borders, the impact it will have on the environment and health of all living in the said areas, and the probable impact on the wider communities around those areas, and South Africa as a whole, makes this Conservancy and all its members Interested and Affected Parties. The EAP states that Rhino Oil and Gas has excluded ground based core drilling and seismic surveys from their proposed “early phased exploration” Nothing stops them however from applying to do this in the nearby future in some “interim or final phase exploration”. Herewith, our objections against any type of exploration by Rhino Gas and Oil, that well may result in future fracking of these areas. From news articles and social media it is well know, and it has been proven now in the USA and other countries, that fracking pollutes the environment and especially underground and surface water, is the cause of earthquakes and is detrimental to people’s health. Leaking pipelines and fracking wells that explode just worsen the pollution. We are there for against all prospecting for gas and/or fracking, now and in the future anywhere in the mentioned areas, and for that matter anywhere else in South Africa. We reserve the right to further comments. Management Bhs and Wilge River Conservancy Ass RHINO OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION MINUTES OF EIR FEEDBACK MEETING DATE 28 September 2016 09:00 VENUE: Siesta Guesthouse Frankfort PROJECT: Rhino Oil and Gas Free State SLR COMPANY: South Africa PROJECT NUMBER: 723.18034.00003 PURPOSE: Environmental Impact Report Feedback Meeting ATTENDANCE: An attendance register is presented in Appendix 2. 1. OPEN AND INTRODUCTION The meeting was called off due to a lack of attendance. The attendance register of people who attended the open day is attached in Appendix 2. 1 APPENDIX 1: RECORD OF ISSUES RAISED AND RESPONSES GIVEN Issue raised By whom Response (given by JC Pretorius unless stated otherwise) 2 APPENDIX 2: ATTENDANCE REGISTER Name Interest/Village Postal address Contact details 3 RHINO OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION MINUTES OF EIR FEEDBACK MEETING DATE 28 September 2016 15:00 VENUE: Heilbron Golf Club PROJECT: Rhino Oil and Gas Free State SLR COMPANY: South Africa PROJECT NUMBER: 723.18034.00003 PURPOSE: Environmental Impact Report Feedback Meeting ATTENDANCE: An attendance register is presented in Appendix 2. 1. OPEN AND INTRODUCTION No meeting took place due to lack of attendance. The attendees that did arrive were satisfied by the information provided during the open day and opted not to have a formal meeting. The comments and queries that were given during the open day discussions are captured in Appendix 1. 1 APPENDIX 1: RECORD OF ISSUES RAISED AND RESPONSES GIVEN Issue raised By whom Response (given by JC Pretorius unless stated otherwise) Suggestions from Free State Agriculture: reduce the project area, Francois Maartens Phillip Steyn: The process Rhino has followed is not as different as consult with the farmers individually, the advantages for the you suggest. The large study area is so that a potential source is not farmers must be laid out, and remove fracking from the project omitted. For this reason we have not consulted with the farmers completely. If you are considering fracking, then no exploration will individually since it is not practical. The project area will decreased as take place in the Free State. Free State Agriculture has taken a the project moves forward and more properties are relinquished. The resolution not to allow fracking. general benefits are being explained to the farmers, but Rhino can’t promise farmer specific benefits at this stage. Rhino cannot exclude fracking from the possible extraction methods, and Rhino will only know how extraction will have to take place once the exploration studies are done. In my opinion, seismic surveys won’t be of much use for you. Noted. Your approach must change if you want a better reaction. Talk Koot Naude Noted. Rhino hopes that the FTG will provide a better idea of the with each individual farmer on the list. If you want to meet with the geology, which will decrease the project size and make consulting farmers, come to the Farmer’s Union Meetings. Communication is with individual landowners more practical, especially where work on my biggest concern at this stage. the ground is concerned. Cobus van der Walt raised the suggestion to rather investigate Phillip Steyn: Mozambique is a good prospect, though new places like Mozambique, because this area is of vital importance applications have been stopped. The Mozambique government does for food security. invite companies to explore, but offer very little to promote it from their side. Attachments on the website can’t be opened. Noted. CDs are available and can be posted to individuals. Do you know how many holes you want to drill? Phillip Steyn: Not yet, as this will only be made clear in the FTG. The address of the Heilbron library you have listed as a location Noted. for the review of the report is wrong. The address that is listed is in the township area. I acknowledge that coal sources are decreasing and gas is Phillip Steyn: A question that is asked often is why South Africa? probably a good energy alternative. South Africa has good infrastructure in place like Mosgas and SASOL which is a big advantage. South Africa also has 5 oil refineries, but oil is imported to each of them. The government recognises that the economy needs an injection of some sorts, and this could assist in providing it. Is fracking one of the proposed methods of extraction? Phillip Steyn: It cannot be excluded as a method of extraction at this stage. It is possible, but not a certainty. 2 Does any negotiations have to take place with the local They are interested and affected parties, but only if the municipality governments? owns land outside the residential area of the towns are they considered landowners. The process has to be simplified and explained to the farmers. Noted. The technical language and the fact that the report is in English make things more difficult for them. I propose a SWOT analysis as a method to explain some of your points, as it is something the farmers do often themselves. Please send us 2 CDs with the report per Farmer’s Union. Noted What’s the way forward? Until 14 October comments can be submitted to SLR on the Draft EIR. The comments will be included in the final report that will be submitted to PASA before 4 November. PASA then has 107 days to make a decision. After the decision was made, it can be appealed by the public (if approved) or by Rhino (if denied). If drilling and seismic studies need to supplement the FTG work, it can only continue if an amendment to the Environmental Authorisation is undertaken to include and assess the sites for drilling and seismic surveys. Is there an indication how deep the resource is? Phillip Steyn: Between 600m and 2km. anything shallower than that will be a small resource and will have to be connected with each other to make it viable. If you publish something in the local paper that can assist in Noted. explaining the process better, please let us know so that we can look at it and understand better ourselves. 3 APPENDIX 2: ATTENDANCE REGISTER Name Interest/Village Postal address Contact details 4 RHINO OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION MINUTES OF EIR FEEDBACK MEETING DATE 27 September 2016 15:00 VENUE: Vrede Town Hall PROJECT: Rhino Oil and Gas Free State SLR COMPANY: South Africa PROJECT NUMBER: 723.18034.00003 PURPOSE: Environmental Impact Report Feedback Meeting ATTENDANCE: An attendance register is presented in Appendix 2. 1. OPEN AND INTRODUCTION Anelle Lotter opened the meeting and explained the purpose of the meeting, and introduced herself, JC Pretorius, Adriaan Botha and Phillip Steyn (Rhino Oil and Gas Exploration). Anelle Lotter continued to outline the purpose of the meeting and proposed agenda. 2. APOLOGIES No apologies were made. 3. RECAP OF THE PROJECT JC Pretorius gave a background to the process that has been followed thus far and where the process is at currently as per the presentation.

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