Appendix D: Specialist Reports
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APPENDIX D: SPECIALIST REPORTS Annexure A: Wetland Delineation and Risk Assessment © 2018 POPLAR CREEK FARM (PTY) LTD \\ \ MOOIFONTEIN 292 JT EIA Specialist Report: Aquatic Delineation and Risk Assessment DRAFT 1. 0 th 29 June 201 8 [Caption} Episodic Dranage Line, Mooifontein 292 JT [11th May 2018]. Prepared for: Prepared by: Rob Palmer Steven Henwood Nepid Consultants CC Henwood Environmental Solutions (Pty) Ltd P O Box 4349 PO Box 12340 WHITE RIVER STEILTES 1240 1213 SOUTH AFRICA Email: [email protected] Cell: +27 082 5744 486 Fax: 08668 28220 e-mail: [email protected] Web: www.nepid.co.za i © 2018 Disclaimer This report was based on the author’s best scientific and professional knowledge and information available at the time of writing. Although Nepid Consultants has tried to ensure that all information contained within this report is accurate, Nepid does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of the information presented in this report. TERMS OF REFERENCE Conduct wetland delineation and functionality report for clearing and cultivation on the farm Mooifontein 292 JT [Email request from Steven Henwood, 2018-05-07]. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The following are gratefully acknowledged for assisting with the information presented in this report: • Dawie Janse van Rensburg, Poplar Creek • Felicity Weir, White River ii © 2018 Requirements for Specialist Reports Reference Appendix 6 of Amendments to the environmental impact assessment regulations, 2014 (Government Notice No 326, 7th April 2017), promulgated in terms of National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998). a(i) the specialist who prepared the report Appendix A a(ii) the expertise of that specialist to compile a specialist report including a Appendix A curriculum vitae (b) a declaration that the specialist is independent in a form as may be Appendix B specified by the competent authority; (c) an indication of the scope of, and the purpose for which, the report was Chapter 1 prepared; (cA) an indication of the quality and age of the base data used for the Section 3.3 specialist report (cB) a description of existing impacts on site, cumulative impacts of the Section 5.3 proposed development and levels of acceptable change Section 6.3 (d) the duration, date and season of the site investigation and the relevance Section 3.3 of the season to the outcome of the assessment; (e) a description of the methodology adopted in preparing the report or Chapter 3 carrying out the specialised process inclusive of equipment and modelling used; (f) details of an assessment of the specific identified sensitivity of the site Chapter 5 related to the proposed activity or activities and its associated structures (alternatives were and infrastructure, inclusive of a site plan identifying site alternatives; not considered) (g) an identification of any areas to be avoided, including buffers; Figure 5-2 (h) a map superimposing the activity including the associated structures Figure 5-2 and infrastructure on the environmental sensitivities of the site including areas to be avoided, including buffers; (i) a description of any assumptions made and any uncertainties or gaps in Section 3.10 knowledge; (j) a description of the findings and potential implications of such findings on Chapter 6 the impact of the proposed activity, including identified alternatives on the environment, [ including identified alternatives on the environment], or activities (k) any mitigation measures for inclusion in the EMPr; Appendix F (l) any conditions for inclusion in the environmental authorisation n/a (m) any monitoring requirements for inclusion in the EMPr or environmental Section 8.3 authorisation; (n) a reasoned opinion- Section 8.1 (i) as to whether the proposed activity, activities or portions thereof should be authorised; (iA) regarding the acceptability of the proposed activity, activities, and (ii) if the opinion is that the proposed activity, activities or portions thereof should be authorised, any avoidance, management and mitigation measures that should be included in the EMPr, and where applicable, the closure plan; (o) a description of any consultation process that was undertaken during None the course of preparing the specialist report; (p) a summary and copies of any comments received during any n/a consultation process and where applicable all responses thereto; and (q) any other information requested by the competent authority; n/a (2) Where a government notice by the Minister provides for any protocol or n/a minimum information requirement to be applied to a specialist report, the requirements as indicated in such notice will apply. iii © 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS TERMS OF REFERENCE ................................................................................................................ II ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .................................................................................................................. II TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................................... 1 LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................................ 3 LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................................... 3 ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................................................ 4 GLOSSARY OF TERMS .................................................................................................................. 4 1. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................... 5 1.1 BACKGROUND ...................................................................................................................... 5 1.2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THIS REPORT ............................................................................... 5 1.3 EXPERTISE OF THE SPECIALIST ............................................................................................. 5 1.4 LEGISLATION ........................................................................................................................ 6 2. STUDY AREA ........................................................................................................................... 8 2.1 GENERAL ............................................................................................................................. 8 3. METHODS .............................................................................................................................. 10 3.1 APPROACH ........................................................................................................................ 10 3.2 REVIEW ............................................................................................................................. 10 3.3 FIELD SURVEY ................................................................................................................... 10 3.4 AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM CLASSIFICATION ............................................................................... 10 3.5 AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM DELINEATION .................................................................................... 10 3.6 ECOLOGICAL AND FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT ...................................................................... 10 3.7 PRESENT ECOLOGICAL STATE ............................................................................................ 11 3.8 RISK ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................................. 11 3.9 BUFFER ZONES .................................................................................................................. 11 3.10 ASSUMPTIONS AND LIMITATIONS ...................................................................................... 12 4. REGIONAL CONTEXT ........................................................................................................... 13 4.1 GEOLOGY AND SOILS ......................................................................................................... 13 4.2 TOPOGRAPHY .................................................................................................................... 14 4.3 DRAINAGE.......................................................................................................................... 15 4.4 TERRESTRIAL VEGETATION ................................................................................................. 15 4.5 AQUATIC ECOREGION ......................................................................................................... 16 4.6 STRATEGIC WATER SOURCE AREAS ................................................................................... 16 4.7 PROVINCIAL FREWATER ASSESSMENT................................................................................. 16 4.8 LAND USE .......................................................................................................................... 17 5. BASELINE ASSESSMENT .................................................................................................... 18 5.1 AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM CLASSIFICATION AND DELINEATION .................................................... 18 5.2 ECOLOGICAL AND FUNCTIONAL IMPORTANCE ......................................................................