New Kleinfontein Goldmine (Pty) Ltd Modder East Operations
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NEW KLEINFONTEIN GOLDMINE (PTY) LTD MODDER EAST OPERATIONS AIR QUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE PROPOSED HOLFONTEIN PROJECT, GAUTENG PROVINCE AUGUST 2015 PREPARED FOR: New Kleinfontein Goldmine (Proprietary) Limited P.O. Box 262 Petersfield Springs 1566 Declaration of Independence Prime Resources is an independent environmental consulting firm with no vested interest in the proposed project other than to fulfil the contract for delivery of specialised services including, among others, those stipulated in the terms of reference. I, Amanda Mooney, in my capacity as a specialist consultant, hereby declare that I – Act as an independent consultant; Do not have any financial interest in the undertaking of the activity, other than remuneration for the work performed in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998); Have no, and will not engage in, conflicting interests in the undertaking of the activity; Undertake to disclose, to the competent authority, any material information that has or may have the potential to influence the decision of the competent authority or the objectivity of any report, plan or document required in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act 107 of 1998); Will provide the competent authority with access to all information at my disposal regarding the application, whether such information is favourable to the applicant or not; Based on information provided to me by the project proponent and in addition to information obtained during the course of this study, have presented the results and conclusion within the associated document to the best of my professional ability; Reserve the right to modify aspects pertaining to the present investigation should additional information become available through ongoing research and/or further work in this field; and Undertake to have my work peer reviewed on a regular basis by a competent specialist. Report Compiled by: Report Reviewed by: Amanda Mooney Harold Annegarn (Prof.) Environmental Scientist Independent Atmospheric Consultant Project Name: Modder North Holfontein Project Page i of ix Report Title: Air Quality Impact Assessment Project Number: 140668 Date: July 2015 SUMMARY New Kleinfontein Goldmine (Pty) Ltd has targeted a gold resource in the Gauteng Province, adjacent to their existing Modder East Operations, for the extension of their operations to include the development of an underground mining operation - the proposed Holfontein Project. The project includes refurbishing the existing Holfontein shaft; the construction of a ventilation shaft near the Holfontein shaft; an area around the Holfontein shaft has been allocated for associated surface infrastructure; and a haul road from the Holfontein shaft to the existing Modder East Operations where ore will be processed. The aim of this air quality impact assessment is to assess the potential air quality impacts of the proposed Holfontein Project. In order to quantify and describe potential air quality impacts of the proposed development, the following parameters are analysed and described in this report: Meteorological characteristics; and Ambient air quality. Meteorological Characteristics 5th-generation Mesoscale Model modelled meteorological data was purchased from Lakes Environmental and used for the baseline characterisation and the atmospheric dispersion modelling. Ambient Air Quality The relevant air quality management plans including that for Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng Province and the Highveld Priority Area were reviewed to identify existing emissions in the area. A site visit was also conducted on 2 September 2014 to ground truth the desktop data relating to existing sources of emissions. Local sources of air pollution identified during the site visit include: Existing mining activities and tailings storage facility at the Gold One International New Kleinfontein Goldmine Modder East Operations; Household fuel burning at surrounding settlements; Vehicle exhaust emissions from vehicles travelling on the highway; and Fugitive dust emissions from agricultural activities; Fugitive dust emissions from historic limestone quarrying and historic gold mine tailings; Industry including Sappi Enstra and the Impala Platinum Refinery; Fugitive dust emissions from drilling for prospecting activities; The Welgedacht Wastewater Treatment Works; Agricultural biomass burning. Relevant air quality monitoring data (i.e. ambient concentrations of criteria pollutants) were sourced from the South African Air Quality Information System taken at the closest monitoring station. When comparing the annual average concentrations of criteria pollutants with the National Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), only the PM10 concentration of 104 µg/m3 exceeded the standard (40 µg/m3) for all months of the year. Sensitive Receptors Sensitive receptors include all permanently occupied surrounding areas which may be impacted by the proposed project in terms of air quality. These were identified as the Holfontein Community (comprising of the Khomponi Community residing in the historic mine house and historic mine hostel adjacent to the Project Name: Holfontein Project Page ii of ix Report Title: Air Quality Impact Assessment Project Number: 140668 Date: August 2015 proposed project site; and Holfontein Quarters Community located on the adjacent property across the N12 highway) as well as the residents of the Welgedacht Small Holdings, specifically those residing along Carnation Road Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling Atmospheric dispersion modelling was undertaken using the regulatory Gaussian plume AERMOD model to determine highest daily and annual average concentrations for fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10); the average daily Total Suspended Particles / dust fallout rates; and the highest average hourly, daily and annual concentrations for sulphur dioxide. These averaging periods were selected to facilitate the comparison of predicted pollutant concentrations / deposition with relevant NAAQS and dust fallout limits to facilitate compliance and inform the impact assessment. Impact Assessment The findings of this air quality impact assessment indicate that dust fallout and PM10 emissions during operations for the Holfontein Project will exceed National Dust Control Regulations acceptable dust fallout and NAAQS limit values at the surrounding sensitive receptors to the west of the boundary for the maximum emission scenario (24-hour operations). However, for Scenario 2 (i.e. loading and hauling hours reduced to 12 hours, from 06h00 to 18h00), dust fallout is within the acceptable limits at all sensitive receptors but PM10 emissions still exceed limit values. Therefore, the only likely pollutant to be generated from the Holfontein Project activities which may be of concern is PM10 during the operational phase, which may contain harmful metals, increasing the potential health risk and will require mitigation. With the implementation of the recommended dust control measures (controlled emissions) the PM10 concentrations fall below the NAAQs limit values at all surrounding sensitive receptors. As the cumulative impact of dust could not be modelled, it is recommended that the unpaved section of Carnation Road, between the Blesbokspruit crossing and the paved portion of the road, be paved in order to manage cumulative dust, as concerns have been raised by residents living directly adjacent to the proposed haul route. If the recommended operating hours and mitigation measures are implemented it is unlikely that the proposed Holfontein Project will result in significant air quality impacts. However, due to the fact that the Holfontein Project is located within an air quality priority area (Highveld Priority Area) and within proximity (within 200 m) to permanently occupied areas it is imperative that air quality (dust fallout) monitoring be conducted throughout the life of mine to determine whether the emissions generated at the mine correlate with those modelled and fall below National Dust Control Regulations acceptable dust fallout values at mine boundaries and surrounding sensitive receptors, specifically the historic mine house and informal settlements located to the west of the boundary. If they do not correlate with modelled concentrations and exceed acceptable dust fall, additional management measures must be implemented to ensure that these are not exceeded. Project Name: Holfontein Project Page iii of ix Report Title: Air Quality Impact Assessment Project Number: 140668 Date: August 2015 NEW KLEINFONTEIN GOLDMINE (PTY) LTD MODDER EAST OPERATIONS AIR QUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE PROPOSED HOLFONTEIN PROJECT, GAUTENG PROVINCE TABLE OF CONTENTS | REPORT STRUCTURE 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Details of Author ................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Terms of Reference ............................................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Legal Context ....................................................................................................................................... 2 1.3.1 Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (No. 108 of 1996) ............................................................. 2 1.3.2 National Environmental Management