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Environmental Impact Assessment for the Proposed Integration of the Concentrated Solar Park (CSP) Just Outside Upington Into the Eskom Network

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Environmental Impact Assessment for the Proposed Integration of the Concentrated Solar Park (CSP) Just Outside Upington Into the Eskom Network Issues and Responses Report (Version 4) i 12726 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES Proposed integration of the Concentrated Solar Park (CSP) into the Eskom network DEA REF: 12/12/20/2606 to 12/12/20/2610 NEAS REF: DEA/EIA/0000767/774/778/785/786/2011 Issues and Responses Report Version 4 This Issues and Responses Report (IRR) captures the comments and issues raised by stakeholders during the five separate environmental studies and the proposed amendment of an existing environmental impact assessment for the proposed integration of the Concentrated Solar Park (CSP) just outside Upington into the Eskom network. As part of the announcement phase, a Background Information Document (BID), with a comment and registration sheet was distributed to potentially interested and affected parties during November 2011. The BID was also handed out and site notices were put up during the second week of November 2011 along the various alternative corridors being investigated for this proposed development. An advertisement was also placed in various newspapers along the proposed corridors during November 2011 to announce this project. The Draft Scoping Reports (DSRs) were available for public review from 23 January to 2 March 2012. Stakeholders were notified of the availability of the DSRs for comment through the placement of advertisements and notification letters. Meetings were also held from 6 to 9 February 2012 in Kathu, Olifantshoek, Upington, Keimoes, Kakamas and Kenhardt to discuss the content of the DSRs with stakeholders. Comments and issues raised at these meetings and as a result of the public review process of the DSR were captured in this report which were an appendix to the two Final Scoping Reports. The two Draft Environmental Impact Reports (DEIRs), three Draft Basic Assessment Reports (DBARs) and the Amendment to an existing EIA were available for public review from 8 November 2012 to 25 January 2013. Stakeholders were notified of the availability of these various reports for comment through the placement of advertisements and notification letters. Meetings were held from 19 to 21 November 2012 in Kathu, the Olifantshoek district, Upington, Kakamas and Kenhardt to discuss the content of these reports with stakeholders. Comments and issues raised at these meetings and as a result of the public review process are captured in Version 4 of this report. Issues and Responses Report (Version 4) ii 12726 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESSES...................................................................................................................................................... 1 2 ALTERNATIVE ROUTES ................................................................................................................................................................... 6 (2.1) Solar Park to Ferrum (Kathu) .................................................................................................................................................... 12 (2.2) Solar Park to Nieuwehoop ....................................................................................................................................................... 15 (2.3) Solar Park to Aries (near Kenhardt) ......................................................................................................................................... 18 3 BIOPHYSICAL COMMENTS ............................................................................................................................................................ 20 (3.1) Avi-fauna ................................................................................................................................................................................. 20 (3.2) Soils ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 21 (3.3) Water-related matters ............................................................................................................................................................... 22 (3.4) Climate ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 23 (3.5) Biodiversity ............................................................................................................................................................................... 24 (3.6) Electromagnetic fields ............................................................................................................................................................... 25 (3.7) Ecology ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 26 (3.8) Visual........................................................................................................................................................................................ 26 4 SOCIO-ECONOMIC COMMENTS ................................................................................................................................................... 27 (4.1) Social........................................................................................................................................................................................ 27 (4.2) Land Use .................................................................................................................................................................................. 28 (4.3) Health issues ............................................................................................................................................................................ 29 5 CONSTRUCTION ............................................................................................................................................................................ 29 (5.1) Deterioration of roads ............................................................................................................................................................... 30 6 TRANSMISSION LINE SERVITUDE ................................................................................................................................................ 31 7 OTHER ISSUES ............................................................................................................................................................................... 31 Issues and Responses Report (Version 4) iii 12726 (7.1) Solar Park ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 35 8. DRAFT REPORTS – COMMENTS RECEIVED ................................................................................................................................ 38 (7.1) Main Reports ............................................................................................................................................................................ 38 (7.2) Biophysical Report .................................................................................................................................................................... 45 (7.2) Aquatic Report .............................................................................................................................................................................. 50 (7.3) Appendix F: Impact Assessment................................................................................................................................................... 52 (7.4) Appendix G: EMPr ........................................................................................................................................................................ 54 (7.4) Issues and Responses Report ...................................................................................................................................................... 54 (7.5) General ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 55 Issues and Responses Report (Version 4) 1 12726 COMMENTS, QUESTIONS AND COMMENTATOR(S) SOURCE(S) RESPONSE(S) ISSUES 1 ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESSES 1 The feasibility of the proposed project should be Mr Albert van Niekerk, Registration sheet Response by EAP: investigated. In this study, the specific area and its Klipkoppies, PO Box 1831, November 2011 The aim of the EIA and the specialist studies special features should be assessed. Upington, 8800 will be to determine the feasibility as well as the impacts of the project. 2 Why can the Solar Park not be built where there is Mr Theo Spengler, Rooiwal Registration sheet Response by EAP: a need for power such as in Sishen? That will Farmers Association, November 2011 The bulk of the power from the CSP will be minimise the length of the proposed power lines Olifantshoek and other fed into the Upington area and the Sishen- that has to be constructed now. stakeholders Saldanha railway line, not the mine. In Public meeting in addition a solar development has to be in an Mr John Becker, Stellaland Upington at area where there is enough sunlight to 18:00:30 on 7 generate the power, so the location of the February 2012
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