Scoping Report and Emp for Rosh Pinah Zinc Corporation's (Rpzc) Exploration Activities on Epl 2616
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SCOPING REPORT AND EMP FOR ROSH PINAH ZINC CORPORATION'S (RPZC) EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES ON EPL 2616 AMENDMENT OCTOBER 2019 Compiled for: Rosh Pinah Zinc Corporation Private Bag 2001 / Rosh Pinah Namibia Compiled by: A. Speiser Environmental Consultants cc PO Box 40386 Windhoek Namibia TABLE OF CONTENTS ACRONYMS .............................................................................................................................. 6 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 7 1.1 Reason for the amendment .......................................................................................... 7 1.2 Introduction to the existing exploration activities ........................................................... 8 1.2.1 History of EPL 2616 .............................................................................................. 8 1.3 Motivation for the exploration activities ......................................................................... 9 1.4 Introduction to the environmental impact assessment for the proposed exploration activities ....................................................................................................................... 9 1.4.1 EIA process for the proposed exploration activities on EPL 2616 ........................ 10 1.4.2 EIA Scoping process ........................................................................................... 11 1.4.3 EIA team ............................................................................................................. 11 2 SCOPING AND METHODOLOGY ..................................................................................... 12 2.1 Information collection ................................................................................................. 12 2.2 Scoping Report .......................................................................................................... 12 2.3 Public participation process ........................................................................................ 13 2.3.1 RPZC stakeholders ............................................................................................. 13 2.3.2 Steps in the consultation process ........................................................................ 13 2.3.3 Summary of issues raised ................................................................................... 15 3 LEGAL FRAMEWORK....................................................................................................... 15 3.1 Applicable laws and policies ....................................................................................... 15 4 DESCRIPTION OF THE EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES ...................................................... 17 4.1 Exploration Activities and target areas since March 1999........................................... 17 4.1.1 Geological studies and field mapping .................................................................. 21 4.1.2 Geochemistry surveys (sampling) ....................................................................... 21 4.1.3 Geophysical surveys ........................................................................................... 21 4.1.4 Drilling ................................................................................................................. 22 4.2 Personnel and machinery / vehicles ........................................................................... 23 4.3 Waste Management ................................................................................................... 23 4.4 Sanitation ................................................................................................................... 23 4.5 Water supply .............................................................................................................. 23 4.6 Power supply ............................................................................................................. 24 4.7 Access routes ............................................................................................................ 24 4.8 Rehabilitation ............................................................................................................. 24 4.9 Environmental Work conducted by RPZC .................................................................. 25 5 DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT ........................................................ 27 5.1 Climate....................................................................................................................... 27 5.1.1 Rainfall ................................................................................................................ 27 5.1.2 Evaporation ......................................................................................................... 29 5.1.3 Temperature ........................................................................................................ 29 5.1.4 Fog ...................................................................................................................... 30 5.1.5 Wind Direction and Velocity ................................................................................. 30 Scoping Report and EMP for EPL 2616 – Amendment September 2019 October 2019 2 5.2 Topography / Soils ..................................................................................................... 31 5.3 Groundwater and Surface water ................................................................................ 31 5.4 Flora .......................................................................................................................... 32 5.4.1 Botanical sensitivity of the project area ................................................................ 32 5.4.2 Description of habitats within EPL 2616 (middle and southern part of EPL 2616) 32 5.5 Fauna ........................................................................................................................ 38 5.5.1 Reptiles and Mammals ........................................................................................ 38 5.6 Social / Economic ...................................................................................................... 38 5.6.1 Directly Affected Parties ...................................................................................... 38 5.6.2 The Karas Region ............................................................................................... 38 5.6.3 Rosh Pinah.......................................................................................................... 39 5.6.4 Rosh Pinah Town Management .......................................................................... 40 5.6.5 Tutungeni ............................................................................................................ 40 5.6.6 Education and Health .......................................................................................... 40 5.6.7 Security ............................................................................................................... 41 5.6.8 Mining ................................................................................................................. 41 5.6.9 Tourism ............................................................................................................... 41 5.6.10 Business and Development ................................................................................. 41 5.7 Archaeology ............................................................................................................... 42 6 ALTERNATIVES ................................................................................................................ 44 6.1 General Discussion .................................................................................................... 44 6.2 Termination of the Project .......................................................................................... 44 7 IDENTIFICATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS AND IMPACTS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT ................................................................................................................... 45 8 ADDITIONAL MANAGEMENT AND MITIGATION MEASURES TO THE EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN ....................................................................... 54 8.1 Aims ........................................................................................................................... 54 8.2 Action Plans to Achieve Objectives ............................................................................ 54 9 WAY FORWARD................................................................................................................ 60 9.1 Way forward for the scoping report ............................................................................ 60 10 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT AND CONCLUSIONS .................................... 60 9 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................... 61 Appendix 1: Exclusive Prospecting Licence (EPL) 2616 and Environmental Clearance Certificate June 2019 ................................................................................................................ 62 Appendix 2: Mineral Deposit Retention Licence 2616 ............................................................... 63 Appendix 3: Historical Documents of EPL 2616 .......................................................................