Threats and Opportunities for Post-Closure
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Environmental Impact Assessment for the Blyvoor Gold Mining Project, West Rand, Gauteng
Environmental Impact Assessment for the Blyvoor Gold Mining Project, West Rand, Gauteng Biodiversity Report Project Number: BVG4880 Prepared for: Blyvoor Gold Capital (Pty) Ltd October 2018 _______________________________________________________________________________________ Digby Wells and Associates (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd Co. Reg. No. 2010/008577/07. Turnberry Office Park, 48 Grosvenor Road, Bryanston, 2191. Private Bag X10046, Randburg, 2125, South Africa Tel: +27 11 789 9495, Fax: +27 11 069 6801, [email protected], www.digbywells.com _______________________________________________________________________________________ Directors: GE Trusler (C.E.O), GB Beringer, LF Koeslag, J Leaver (Chairman)*, NA Mehlomakulu*, DJ Otto, RA Williams* *Non-Executive _______________________________________________________________________________________ This document has been prepared by Digby Wells Environmental. Report Type: Biodiversity Report Environmental Impact Assessment for the Blyvoor Gold Project Name: Mining Project, West Rand, Gauteng Project Code: BVG4880 Name Responsibility Signature Date Aquatics and Kieren Bremner wetlands surveying October 2018 and report writing Kathryn Roy Report writing October 2018 Fauna and flora Rudi Greffrath October 2018 baseline Brett Coutts OpsCo review October 2018 This report is provided solely for the purposes set out in it and may not, in whole or in part, be used for any other purpose without Digby Wells Environmental prior written consent. Digby Wells Environmental i Biodiversity Report Environmental Impact Assessment for the Blyvoor Gold Mining Project, West Rand, Gauteng BVG4880 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Digby Wells Environmental (hereinafter Digby Wells) was appointed by Blyvoor Gold Capital (Pty) Ltd (hereafter Blyvoor Gold) to undertake a freshwater impact assessment and fauna and flora baseline update as part of an Environmental Application Process to obtain the required authorisation for the Blyvoor Gold mining operation. -
ABSTRACT As Early As 1987, the US Environmental Protection
Registration Number: 2006/217972/23 NPO NUMBER: 062986-NPO ABSTRACT As early as 1987, the US Environmental Protection Agency recognised that “.....problems related to mining waste may be rated as second only to global warming and stratospheric ozone depletion in terms of ecological risk. The release to the environment of mining waste can result in profound, generally irreversible destruction of ecosystems1.” Gold tailings dams from the Witwatersrand Basin usually contain elevated amounts of heavy metals and radionuclides. With slimes dams in the goldfields of the Witwatersrand Basin 2 covering an area of about 400 km and containing some 430 000 tons of U3O8, and 6 billion tons of iron pyrite tailings, they constitute an environmental problem of extraordinary spatial dimensions. Due to inadequate design, poor management and neglect, these tailings dams have 1 CSIR. Briefing Note August 2009. Acid Mine Drainage in South Africa. Dr. Pat Manders. Director, Natural Resources and the Environment. European Environmental Bureau (EEB). 2000. The environmental performance of the mining industry and the action necessary to strengthen European legislation in the wake of the Tisza-Danube pollution. EEB Document no 2000/016. 32 p 1 been subject to varying degrees of water and wind erosion. Effects range from water pollution, the result of acid mine drainage, and air pollution in the form of airborne dust from unrehabilitated or partially rehabilitated and reprocessed tailings dams. As a result of acid mine drainage (AMD), from point discharges and seepage uranium is released into the groundwater and fluvial systems. (Figure 1) Figure 1 2 West Wits Pit Figure 2 Recent public domain official and scientific studies indicate that there is active leaching of uranium from the tailings, transport of soluble uranium species through water systems, with subsequent deposition of insoluble uranium species in sediments of fluvial systems. -
Fosaf Proceedings of the 13Th Yellowfish Working
1 FOSAF THE FEDERATION OF SOUTHERN AFRICAN FLYFISHERS PROCEEDINGS OF THE 13TH YELLOWFISH WORKING GROUP CONFERENCE STERKFONTEIN DAM, HARRISMITH 06 – 08 MARCH 2009 Edited by Peter Arderne PRINTING SPONSORED BY: 13th Yellowfish Working Group Conference 2 CONTENTS Page Participants 3 Chairman’s Opening Address – Peter Mills 4 Water volumes of SA dams: A global perspective – Louis De Wet 6 The Strontium Isotope distribution in Water & Fish – Wikus Jordaan 13 Overview of the Mine Drainage Impacts in the West Rand Goldfield – Mariette 16 Liefferink Adopt-a-River Programme: Development of an implementation plan – Ramogale 25 Sekwele Report on the Genetic Study of small scaled yellowfishes – Paulette Bloomer 26 The Biology of Smallmouth & Largemouth yellowfish in Lake Gariep – Bruce Ellender 29 & Olaf Weyl Likely response of Smallmouth yellowfish populations to fisheries development – Olaf 33 Weyl Early Development of Vaal River Smallmouth Yellowfish - Daksha Naran 36 Body shape changes & accompanying habitat shifts: observations in life cycle of 48 Labeobarbus marequensis in the Luvuvhu River – Paul Fouche Alien Fish Eradication in the Cape rivers: Progress with the EIA – Dean Impson 65 Yellowfish Telemetry: Update on the existing study – Gordon O’Brien 67 Bushveld Smallscale yellowfish (Labeobarbus polylepis): Aspects of the Ecology & 68 Population Mananagement– Gordon O’Brien Protected River Ecosystems Study: Bloubankspruit, Skeerpoort & Magalies River & 71 Elands River (Mpumalanga) – Hylton Lewis & Gordon O’Brien Legislative review: Critical -
1214 Final Report SF 10 03 06-CS
AN ASSESSMENT OF SOURCES, PATHWAYS, MECHANISMS AND RISKS OF CURRENT AND POTENTIAL FUTURE POLLUTION OF WATER AND SEDIMENTS IN GOLD-MINING AREAS OF THE WONDERFONTEINSPRUIT CATCHMENT Report to the WATER RESEARCH COMMISSION Compiled by Henk Coetzee Council for Geosience Reference to the whole of the publication should read: Coetzee, H. (compiler) 2004: An assessment of sources, pathways, mechanisms and risks of current and potential future pollution of water and sediments in gold-mining areas of the Wonderfonteinspruit catchment WRC Report No 1214/1/06, Pretoria, 266 pp. Reference to chapters/sections within the publication should read (example): Wade, P., Winde, F., Coetzee, H. (2004): Risk assessment. In: Coetzee, H (compiler): An assessment of sources, pathways, mechanisms and risks of current and potential future pollution of water and sediments in gold-mining areas of the Wonderfonteinspruit catchment. WRC Report No 1214/1/06, pp 119-165 WRC Report No 1214/1/06 ISBN No 1-77005-419-7 MARCH 2006 Executive summary 1. Introduction and historical background The eastern catchment of the Mooi River, also known as the Wonderfonteinspruit, has been identified in a number of studies as the site of significant radioactive and other pollution, generally attributed to the mining and processing of uraniferous gold ores in the area. With the establishment of West Rand Consolidated in 1887 gold mining reached the Wonderfonteinspruit catchment only one year after the discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand. By 1895 five more gold mines had started operations in the (non-dolomitic) headwater region of the Wonderfonteinspruit as the westernmost part of the West Rand goldfield. -
Library of the Basler Afrika Bibliographien New Acquisitions from and on Namibia
Bibliothek der Basler Afrika Bibliographien Neuerwerbungen aus und zu Namibia (Neuzugänge 1. Januar – 31. Dezember 2018) 1. Monographien S. 1 2. Zeitschriften, Jahresberichte und Zeitungen S. 118 3. Elektronische Dokumente S. 144 Library of the Basler Afrika Bibliographien New acquisitions from and on Namibia (New acquisitions January 1 – December 31, 2018) 1. Monographs p. 1 2. Journals, annual reports and newspapers p. 118 3. Electronic documents p. 144 1. Monographien / Monographs "In Christus - eine neue Gemeinschaft". Folter in Südafrika? Reihe: epd Dokumentation, 1977, Nr. 31 Frankfurt a.M.: Evangelischer Pressedienst (epd), 1977; 83p.. Übersetzung des englischen Originals von 1977. Für das englische Original mit dem Titel Torture in South Africa? siehe Sig. 2090.. Deskriptoren: Apartheid + Folter + Strafvollzug + Namibia + Südafrika Signatur: 47560 15 Jahre Afrikastudien an der Universität Basel Reihe: Regio Basiliensis. Basler Zeitschrift für Geographie, 58(3) Basel: Universität Basel, Departement Umweltwissenschaften, 2017; pp. 149-199, ill., maps. Mit einem Vorwort von Veit Arlt und Lena Bloemertz. Mit Beiträgen von Elísio Macamo, Dag Henrichsen, Giorgio Miescher, J. Krenz, N.J. Kuhn, B. Kuhn, P. Greenwood, G. Heckrath, Brigit Obrist, Jakob Zinsstag, Fiona Siegenthaler, Till Förster. Deskriptoren: Zeitschriften (Form) + Afrikastudien + Ethnologie + Europäisch-afrikanische Beziehungen + Forschung + Gesundheitswesen + Kunst + Ökologie + Physische Geographie + Städte + Namibia + Schweiz + Südafrika + Südliches Afrika Signatur: 46592 22 Years. DTA Achievements = 22 Jaar. DTA Prestasies [o.O.]: Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA), ca. 2000; [ohne Seitenzählung]. Deskriptoren: Democratic Turnhalle Alliance + Wahlen + Namibia Signatur: 46835 79. Auktion: Spezialauktion Deutsche Kolonien am 13. November 2001 in unseren eigenen Räumen, Relenbergstrasse 78, Stuttgart-Mitte Stuttgart: Würtembergisches Auktionshaus, 2001; 80p., ill.. Ergänzung zum Titel: Umschlagtitel: Spezialauktion Deutsche Kolonien, 13. -
Biodiversity Impact Assessment
March 2020 19121900-328397-9 APPENDIX H Biodiversity Impact Assessment REPORT Specialist Assessment for the Proposed Surface Pipeline and Associated Infrastructure - Biodiversity Impact Assessment AngloGold Ashanti (Pty) Limited South African Operations Submitted to: Anglo Gold Ashanti (Pty) Limited South African Operations Mr J van Wyk Carletonville - Fochville Road R500 Carletonville Gauteng 2501 Submitted by: Golder Associates Africa (Pty) Ltd. Building 1, Maxwell Office Park, Magwa Crescent West, Waterfall City, Midrand, 1685, South Africa P.O. Box 6001, Halfway House, 1685 +27 11 254 4800 19121900-327695-6 February 2020 February 2020 19121900-327695-6 Distribution List 1 eCopy to Anglo Gold Ashanti (Pty) Limited South African Operations 1 eCopy to [email protected] i February 2020 19121900-327695-6 Executive Summary Project overview The AGA operations in the West Wits mining lease areas are at risk of flooding due to ingress of fissure water from surrounding mining operations. Approximately 25 Mℓ/day of fissure water flows into the underground workings of the defunct Blyvooruitzicht Mine, which spans a strike of 6 km along the boundary with AGA. If dewatering at the Old Blyvooruitzicht Shafts (#4, #5 & 6#) shafts were to cease, uncontrolled fissure water would report to the AGA operations, which would pose both a flood and safety risk of AGA personnel and the mining operations. This report provides a professional opinion regarding the anticipated terrestrial, wetland and aquatic impacts from this proposed project. Location The proposed water pipeline and associated infrastructure is located approximately 80 km west of Johannesburg. It originates at CWC 4#, approximately 3.3 km south east of Carletonville and ends at the North Boundary Dam (NBD) approximately 6 km south-south-west of Carletonville in Blyvooruitzicht, Merafong City Local Municipality, West Rand District Municipality in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. -
Sibanye Gold Limited: Driefontein Operations Integrated Water and Waste Management Plan
SIBANYE GOLD LIMITED: DRIEFONTEIN OPERATIONS INTEGRATED WATER AND WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN DRAFT INTEGRATED WATER AND WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN 20 November 2020 Draft Integrated Water and Waste Management Plan Project: Driefontein Operations IWWMP Report Title: Amendment of the Driefontein Operations IWWMP, Gauteng Province Client: Sibanye Gold Limited Project No: SIBY#005 Compilation Date: 20 November 2020 Status of Report: Draft IWWMP for Public Review Verification Capacity Name Signature Date By Author The EAP Gerlinde Wilreker 19 October 2020 Reviewed Legal Michael Hennessy 05 October 2020 by: Director Authorised Chief Bradly Thornton 19 November 2020 by Executive Approved Client Simone Liefferink by Copyright © 2020 Kongiwe Environmental (Pty) Ltd All rights reserved. Absolutely no part of this report may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written consent of Kongiwe Environmental (Pty) Ltd. All content and methodologies remain intellectual property of Kongiwe Environmental (Pty) Ltd. Where applicable, the contents of this document are confidential and protected by legal privilege and must not be distributed to other parties without prior written permission. This report is to be used for the sole purpose intended and should not be used for any other purpose without prior written permission Page | Driefontein Operations IWWMP © 2020 Kongiwe Environmental (Pty) Ltd Table of Contents CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... -
Peatlands As Filters for Polluted Mine Water?
Water 2011, 3, 391-423; doi:10.3390/w3010391 OPEN ACCESS water ISSN 2073-4441 www.mdpi.com/journal/water Article Peatlands as Filters for Polluted Mine Water?—A Case Study from an Uranium-Contaminated Karst System in South Africa Part IV: Quantifying the Chemical Filter Component Frank Winde School of Environmental Sciences and Development, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa; E-Mail: [email protected]; Tel.: +27-18-299-1582; Fax: +27-18-299-1582 Received: 12 February 2011 / Accepted: 10 March 2011 / Published: 15 March 2011 Abstract: This is the final part of a paper series on the ability of peat to filter uranium (U) from mining-polluted water. The focus is on the characterization and site-specific quantification of the chemical component of the filter model introduced in Part II. Based on U levels in different sediment-water systems of the study area that were analyzed in this paper, peat generally displays the highest geochemical U enrichment even though absolute U levels are relatively low. Results of batch experiments suggest that peat removes U from local mine waters exceptionally well, reaching a removal efficiency of close to 100%. However, almost all of the initially sorbed U is released again on subsequent contact with clean dolomitic water. A synoptic summary of the findings presented in Parts I to IV concludes the paper series. Keywords: peat; uranium; batch experiments; geochemical enrichment; remobilization; dolomitic water; Gerhard Minnebron peatland; karst 1. Introduction As the fourth and final part of the series on the filter function of peat at the Gerhard Minnebron (GMB) wetland, this paper emphasizes the chemical filter component. -
The Impact of the Gold Mining Industry on the Water Quality of The
COPYRIGHT AND CITATION CONSIDERATIONS FOR THIS THESIS/ DISSERTATION o Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. o NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes. o ShareAlike — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original. How to cite this thesis Surname, Initial(s). (2012) Title of the thesis or dissertation. PhD. (Chemistry)/ M.Sc. (Physics)/ M.A. (Philosophy)/M.Com. (Finance) etc. [Unpublished]: University of Johannesburg. Retrieved from: https://ujdigispace.uj.ac.za (Accessed: Date). IAAI() HALA, The Impact ofthe Gold Mining Industry on the Water Quality of the Kromdraai Catchment· by JOeL D. MALAN MINI-DISSERTATION Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree MASTER OF SCIENCE IN GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT in the FACULTY OF SCIENCE at the RAND AFRIKAANS UNIVERSITY SUPERVISOR: DR. P.J. WOLFAARDT SEPTEMBER 2002 11 LIST OF CONTENTS OPSOMMING , IV SUMMARY VI ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Vlll CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 2 1.1 Project motivation for this study 4 r.a Purpose and objective ofthis study 5 1.3 Study Area 6 CHAPTER 2: NATURAL CATCHMENT CHARACTERISTICS 9 2.1 INTRODUCTION 9 2.1.1 General Description and relief 9 2.1.2 Geology and soils 10 2.1.3 Climate 11 2.1.4 Natural Vegetation 11 2.1.5 Hydrology 12 2.2 GENERAL IMPACTS -
BA and Empr for the Proposed Surface Pipeline and Associated Infrastructure Anglogold Ashanti (Pty) Ltd
REPORT BA and EMPr for the Proposed Surface Pipeline and Associated Infrastructure AngloGold Ashanti (Pty) Ltd Submitted to: Department of Mineral Resources Submitted by: Golder Associates Africa (Pty) Ltd. Building 1, Maxwell Office Park, Magwa Crescent West, Waterfall City, Midrand, 1685, South Africa P.O. Box 6001, Halfway House, 1685 +27 11 254 4800 19121900-328397-9 March 2020 March 2020 19121900-328397-9 Distribution List 1 x copy Department of Mineral Resources 1 x copy AngloGold Ashanti (Pty) Ltd 1 x electronic copy e-projects library [email protected] 1 x electronic copy Golder project folder i March 2020 19121900-328397-9 Table of Contents 1.0 DETAILS OF APPLICANT ......................................................................................................................... 1 2.0 DETAILS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PRACTITIONER (EAP) ..................................... 1 2.1 Details of the EAP ............................................................................................................................. 1 2.2 Expertise of the EAP ......................................................................................................................... 1 2.2.1 Qualifications of the EAP .............................................................................................................. 1 2.2.2 Summary of the EAP’s past experience ....................................................................................... 2 3.0 PROJECT INFORMATION AND DESCRIPTION ..................................................................................... -
Physico-Chemical and Microbiological Data of the Mooi River: a Historical Perspective
Physico-chemical and microbiological data of the Mooi River: A historical perspective HJ Potgieter orcid.org 0000-0002-0683-4183 Dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science in Environmental Sciences at the North- West University Supervisor: Prof CC Bezuidenhout Co-supervisor: Dr JJ Bezuidenhout Graduation May 2019 24133353 i Table of contents DECLARATION ................................................................................................................................... v ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................................ vi LIST OF FIGURES ...............................................................................................................................vii LIST OF TABLES ..................................................................................................................................ix ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................................................................ x CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ........................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Problem statement ............................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Aim and Objectives ............................................................................................................. -
The Cost of Gold
The Cost of Gold: Environmental, Health, and Human Rights Consequences of Gold Mining in South Africa’s West and Central Rand Harvard Law School International Human Rights Clinic The Cost of Gold: Environmental, Health, and Human Rights Consequences of Gold Mining in South Africa’s West and Central Rand International Human Rights Clinic Harvard Law School Cover Illustration The poor community of Soul City Extension 2 sits near a gold mine waste dump in the West Rand. Mining has produced contaminated water and tailings dams that have threatened the local environment, residents’ health, and human rights. © 2012 Bonnie Docherty/IHRC. Satelite Images All satellite images © Google. Design and Maps Tutaev Design Copyright © 2016 President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. October 2016 Contents Table of Acronyms i Methodology iii Summary 1 Historical and Legal Context 2 Environmental Contamination 2 Inadequate Information and Participation 5 A Coordinated and Comprehensive Program 5 Recommendations 7 Environmental Contamination 7 Inadequate Information and Participation 8 A Coordinated and Comprehensive Program 8 PART I: Historical and Legal Context 11 1. Gold Mining and Human Rights in South Africa 13 The Origins and Early Effects of Gold Mining in the Witwatersrand 13 The Mining Industry in the Apartheid Era 15 Post-Apartheid South Africa and Its Human Rights Commitments 16 Gold Mining in Modern South Africa 18 2. Human Rights Framework 19 Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights 19 Civil and Political Rights 23 Right to a Remedy 25 A “Reasonable” Program to Realize Human Rights 26 Conclusion 27 PART II: Findings 29 3. Acid Mine Drainage 31 Creation and Spread of AMD 32 Exposure to AMD 37 Health Impacts 43 Rights and Duties 47 4.