Public Participation Process
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION DOCUMENT (BID) & INTERESTED AND AFFECTED PARTY (I&AP) REGISTRATION PROPOSED MINING DEVELOPMENTS “TGME MINE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT”: GOLD MINING PROJECT - PRE-MINED RESIDUE AND HARD ROCK MINING NEAR SABIE (10161), MPUMALANGA PROVINCE DMR Ref No: MP 30/5/1/2/2/10161MR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS April 2017 Project undertaken in terms of the following legal PROJECT BACKGROUND Transvaal Gold Mining Estates Limited (TGME), Mpumalanga Province is framework: applying to rework Pre-Mined Residue (PMR) mines in the Sabie area, as Mineral and Petroleum Resources well as undertake Hard Rock Mining (HRM) which will form part of a Development Act, Act 28 of 2002 larger project named the TGME Mine Development Project (Project (MPRDA); 10161). National Environmental In order for the PMR Mining and HRM Projects to be part of the Life of Management Act, Act 107 of 1998 Mine Plan, a rapid build-up of tons that could be sustained for at least the first 5 years would be developed. The planned strategy is to open-up (NEMA) and associated EIA the historical entrances/portals to the mines. regulations and listed activities; This will be followed by ensuring that these portals and access ways are National Environmental safe to use, to access the PMR sources, sampling the reserves and Management: Waste Act, Act 59 of verifying the conditions in detail. Hereafter it is planned that equipping 2008 (NEMWA) and associated would start and finally the removal/mining of the Reserve referred to as listed activities; Hard Rock Mining. National Environmental The application for a Mining Right is thus an outcome of the prospecting Management: Air Quality Act, Act completed over the past 8 years. This application will be undertaken in 39 of 2004(NEMAQA) and terms of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002, associated listed activities; (Act No. 28 Of 2002). National Water Act, Act 36 of 1998 Transvaal Gold Mining Estates Limited (TGME) has appointed (NWA). Globesight (Pty) Ltd as the independent Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) to undertake the required applications. Batho Earth Social and Environmental Consultants have been appointed as the Public PUBLIC Participation consultants for the project. PARTICIPATION PURPOSE OF THE BID This document contains background information regarding the proposed ENQUIRIES – TGME Mine Development Project. The aim of this document is thus to: Provide an overview of the proposed TGME Mine Development CONTACT Project and study area; Provide information on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Process to be followed to assess the proposed project; and Indicate how you, as an Interested and Affected Party (I&AP), can become involved in the process, receive information and raise issues. PROJECT DESCRIPTION In the Sabie area, a significant mineral resource of pre-mined residue (PMR) and virgin hard rock gold and other mineral reserves remain in Ms Ingrid Snyman the ground. Tel: 082 779 2750 Recent sampling and analysis of previously mined material were carried E-mail: [email protected] out which indicated that the material carried significant grade, and that the bulk of the gold could be concentrated up into the finer size fractions. Significant quantities of PMR are thus available which resulted Or in the project initiation by TGME. This new Mining Rights at Sabie are required to mine gold and other precious metals from the mines located on the farms: Ms Diana Verster Tel: 073 157 7362 Vertroosting 218JT; Olifants Geraamte 198JT; E-mail: [email protected] Grootfontein 196JT; Remaining Extent and Portion 1 of the farm Hendriksdal 216JT; Sheba 219JT; Fax: 087 807 4536 Spitzkop 195JT; Waterval 168JT; and Rietfontein 193JT. Postnet Private Suit 415, Private The proposed new mining sections, excluding those already approved, Bag x8 are the following (but are not limited to historic mines only): ELARDUSPARK Nestor; 0047 Olifantsgeraamte; Ross Hill Mine; Hendriksdal; and Leader Hill Mines. TGME is planning to reopen these mines at the position of the old main entrances. They will exploit the PMR gold resources of the historic mines defined above. This would lead the way to open-up, make safe, equip and continue with hard rock mining (HRM) on the reef to exploit the reserves in virgin ground. THE ROLE OF I&APS The Minerals to be mined are Gold and other precious metals and associated commodities i.e. Gold ore; Silver ore; Stone aggregate (from You can participate by: rock dumps – surface PMR); Copper Ore; Zinc; Bismuth; Arsenic and Iron. Studying all documentation; The pre-planning phase would commence should authorisation be Contacting the public participation granted. The life span for the individual mines ranges from 11 months to some 84 months (7 years) at a production rate of 22kton/month. office; The mines are planned to deliver the monthly volumes in a 15-hour operating day. The mine will operate three eight hours shifts per day Providing the project team with with a fourth shift rostered off to allow for a 7day week of operations. any issues and/or concerns you The underground section is expected to be equipped with the following general equipment and infrastructure: might have; and Conveyors; Review all public documents. Winches; Pumping infrastructure; An I&AP registration form is also Ventilation fans; attached to this document. Power; Water; In addition the public participation office can be contacted (Refer to Compressed air; and contact details provided) Communication infrastructure. On surface, at the mine adits where all access is expected to take place, the following infrastructure will be put in place: Lamp room; Change houses; Offices; Minor stores facility; Compressors for underground section; and Incoming power reticulation. The bulk of the maintenance and breakdown activities will be managed by an onsite team of skilled artisans however there is an expectation that certain specialised activities will be outsourced. LEGAL FRAMEWORK The greater TGME/Sabie areas are covered by various Prospecting and Mining rights. These rights allow for TGME and Sabie Mines to mine for gold, silver and copper as well as extract aggregates for sale. All of the PMR/HRM mines scheduled for mining are covered under these rights and there is a requirement for the inclusion of some of the prospecting rights into the existing mining rights for mining from year three onwards. The application for the Integrated Mining and Environmental Authorisation is undertaking in terms of the following activities: In terms of sections 24 and 24D of the National Environmental REGISTERING AS AN Management Act, Act 107 of 1998 (NEMA), as read with the EIA Regulations of GNR R984 and GNR 983 of December 2014, a Scoping INTERESTED AND and Environmental Impact Reporting Process integrated with a Mining AFFECTED PARTY Right Application are required to be undertaken for the proposed project. The project will be undertaken in terms of the Mineral and Petroleum (I&AP) Resources Development Act, Act 28 of 2002 (MPRDA). The following listed activities are triggered by the proposed development: Listing Notice 1: Activity 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 19, 24, 25, 27, 28, As an Interested and Affected Party 34, 45, 46, 48, 51, 56, 57, 63, and 64; (I&AP), you will be included in the Listing Notice 2: Activity 4, 6, 11, 12, 15, 17, 19, 21, 25 and 28; and stakeholder database and receive Listing Notice 3: Activity 4, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 18. further documents for comment. Your In addition, the project will also be undertaken in terms of the: National Environmental Management; Waste Act, Act 59 of 2008 (NEMWA) with comments will ensure that all relevant Listed Activity: Category B (7 and 10), Category C (2) and Schedule 3 listed activity; National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, Act issues are incorporated. Please 39 of 2004 (NEMAQA) and associated listed activities; as well as the complete and submit the enclosed National Water Act, Act 36 of 1998 (NWA). As part of the Mining Right application and in order to commence with registration/comment sheet or contact mining activities, TGME is also required to complete a Mines Works Programme (MWP). This MWP requires approval by the Department of Batho Earth (telephone, e-mail) if you Mineral Resources (DMR). All of the planned PMR/HRM mines are covered (by some extent) by wish to raise any concerns regarding approved water licenses and these licenses have been in place for some time now. As part of the approval process for the various water licenses, the proposed project. there is a requirement to complete various environmental studies prior to the granting of the license. Given that the licenses are approved for All public documents will be available certain geographical areas, there are further environmental studies, amendments or applications required. on the internet at The Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) is therefore the competent authority in terms of the required environmental authorisation and www.bathoearth.co.za. mining right application. The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) will review the application for an Integrated Water Use License (IWUL) PROJECT LOCATION The proposed study area is situated 13 kilometers to the South and 6 kilometers to the North of the town of Sabie, Mpumalanga. The proposed property area falls within the jurisdiction of the Thaba Chweu Local Municipality and within the greater Ehlanzeni District Municipality. The mineral rights area extends over 12 313,4919 hectares. The current and future mines are located on the Farms Vertroosting 218JT, Elandsdrift 220JT, Olifantsgeraamte 198JT, Grootfontein 196JT, Hendriksdal 216JT, Sheba 219JT, Spitskop 195JT, Waterval 168JT and Rietfontein 193JT. Refer to attached map. PUBLIC OPEN DAY WHY UNDERTAKE AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA) PROCESS? The main purpose of EIA is to: To further enhance public Inform decision makers of the likely impacts of a proposal before a decision is made.