Proposed Dalyshope Coal Mining Project, Situated in the Magisterial District of Lephalale, Limpopo Province
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Proposed Dalyshope Coal Mining Project, Situated in the Magisterial District of Lephalale, Limpopo Province Aquatic Biodiversity and Impact Assessment Report Prepared for: Project Number: Anglo Operations Proprietary Limited UCD6170 DMR Ref. number: August 2020 LP30/1/2/3/2/1(10183) MR Turnberry Office Park, Phone: +27 (0) 11 789 9495 Directors: J Leaver (Chairman)*, Digby Wells and Associates Digby Wells House. Fax: +27 (0) 11 789 9495 NA Mehlomakulu*, A Mpelwane, DJ Otto, (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd 48 Grosvenor Road, E-mail: [email protected] M Rafundisani Company Registration: 2010/008577/07 Bryanston,2191 Website: www.digbywells.com *Non-Executive This document has been prepared by Digby Wells Environmental. Report Type: Aquatic Biodiversity and Impact Assessment Report Proposed Dalyshope Coal Mining Project, Situated in the Project Name: Magisterial District of Lephalale, Limpopo Province Project Code: UCD6170 Name Responsibility Signature Date Tebogo Khoza Field survey, data collation and report February 2021 Cand.Sci.Nat. writer Byron Bester Field survey, and February 2021 Pr.Sci.Nat. technical review Danie Otto February 2021 Senior Review Pr.Sci.Nat. 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 ii www.digbywells.com Aquatic Biodiversity and Impact Assessment Report Proposed Dalyshope Coal Mining Project, Situated in the Magisterial District of Lephalale, Limpopo Province UCD6170 DETAILS AND DECLARATION OF THE SPECIALIST Digby Wells and Associates (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd Contact person: Tebogo Khoza Digby Wells House Cell : 078 230 1762 Turnberry Office Park Tel: 011 789 9495 48 Grosvenor Road Fax: 011 789 9498 Bryanston E-mail: [email protected] 2191 Specialist Background Tebogo Khoza is an Aquatic and Wetland Ecologist with a M.Sc. in Biodiversity and Conservation. He has recently joined the Digby Wells team as a Junior Ecologist, having over a years’ worth of experience in the environmental consulting industry with focus on aquatic- related studies. Full name: Tebogo Khoza Title/ Position: Junior Aquatic Ecologist Qualification(s): MSc. Biodiversity & Conservation Experience (years): 2 South African Council for Natural Scientific Professionals: Professional Natural Registration(s): Scientist (Reg. No. 119651) DIGBY WELLS ENVIRONMENTAL iii www.digbywells.com Aquatic Biodiversity and Impact Assessment Report Proposed Dalyshope Coal Mining Project, Situated in the Magisterial District of Lephalale, Limpopo Province UCD6170 I, Tebogo Khoza , declare that: – ● I act as the independent specialist in this application; ● I will perform the work relating to the application in an objective manner, even if this results in views and findings that are not favourable to the applicant; ● I declare that there are no circumstances that may compromise my objectivity in performing such work; ● I have expertise in conducting the specialist report relevant to this application, including knowledge of the Act, Regulations and any guidelines that have relevance to the proposed activity; ● I will comply with the Act, Regulations and all other applicable legislation; ● I have no, and will not engage in, conflicting interests in the undertaking of the activity; ● I undertake to disclose to the applicant and the competent authority all material information in my possession that reasonably has or may have the potential of influencing - any decision to be taken with respect to the application by the competent authority; and - the objectivity of any report, plan or document to be prepared by myself for submission to the competent authority; ● All the particulars furnished by me in this form are true and correct; and ● I realise that a false declaration is an offence in terms of regulation 48 and is punishable in terms of section 24F of the Act. February 2021 Signature of the Specialist Date Findings, recommendations and conclusions provided in this report are based on the best available scientific methods and the author’s professional knowledge and information at the time of compilation. Digby Wells employees involved in the compilation of this report, however, accepts no liability for any actions, claims, demands, losses, liabilities, costs, damages and expenses arising from or in connection with services rendered, and by the use of the information contained in this document. No form of this report may be amended or extended without the prior written consent of the author and/or a relevant reference to the report by the inclusion of an appropriately detailed citation. Any recommendations, statements or conclusions drawn from or based on this report must clearly cite or make reference to this report. Whenever such recommendations, statements or DIGBY WELLS ENVIRONMENTAL iv www.digbywells.com Aquatic Biodiversity and Impact Assessment Report Proposed Dalyshope Coal Mining Project, Situated in the Magisterial District of Lephalale, Limpopo Province UCD6170 conclusions form part of a main report relating to the current investigation, this report must be included in its entirety. DIGBY WELLS ENVIRONMENTAL v www.digbywells.com Aquatic Biodiversity and Impact Assessment Report Proposed Dalyshope Coal Mining Project, Situated in the Magisterial District of Lephalale, Limpopo Province UCD6170 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This study was commissioned by Universal Coal Development IV (Pty) Ltd on behalf of Anglo Operations Proprietary Limited to assess the baseline ecological state of the lotic aquatic ecosystems associated with the proposed Dalyshope Coal Mining Project. Digby Wells Environmental (hereafter Digby Wells) conducted an aquatic ecological state assessment in 2013/14 high and low-flow (dry and wet season) surveys for the proposed Dalyshope Coal Mine. The current survey therefore refers to the findings of the previous wet season assessment – wherein a flood was experienced – for comparison purposes. The project is located in the Lephalale area, Limpopo Province, and entails the establishment of a contractor operated, truck and shovel opencast mine producing approximately 2.4 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of thermal coal product for approximately five years. After five years, the mine will ramp up production to approximately 12 Mtpa of product for approximately 25 years from a single open pit (OC1), giving a total life of mine of 30 years. This document serves as the Aquatic Specialist Study for the proposed Project. The goal of the Aquatic Study was to describe the baseline conditions within the aquatic ecosystems associated with the Project and proposed surface infrastructure prior to the commencement of construction activities. Foreseeable aquatic-related impacts were also identified and appropriate mitigation measures were provided for the preservation of the assessed aquatic ecosystems. The main aquatic ecosystem of focus in the Aquatic Study is the Limpopo River (SQR A41E- 00126) wherein sampling was undertaken from the 12th to 14th February 2020. This watercourse drains from south-west along the north-western boundary of the Project Area. The Limpopo River is a transboundary resource shared with Botswana and Zimbabwe, flows in an easterly direction, into Mozambique and drains into the Indian Ocean. The Project Area lies in an endorheic region – an area that does not contribute to surface water flow to river systems – with several depression pans present within the Project’s boundary. Water drainage into the Limpopo from the project area can be limited to diffuse overland flow. The timing of the baseline aquatic survey coincided with the wet season for the Study Area. At the time of the survey, the Limpopo River system was in flood and had water levels exceeding the water table. Instream channels along the Limpopo system were too deep to sample without a boat, the presence of crocodiles and hippos presented a high risk as well. As such, these negatively affected the depth of sampling as suitable habitat for aquatic biota could not be accessed and sampling was limited to the marginal banks of the defined river channel where it was deemed safer to sample. This is reflected in the ecological health indices utilised during the baseline determination. Baseline Ecological Conditions Water quality results within the sampled Limpopo River reach were variable. The pH values recorded exhibited largely close to neutral, slightly alkaline conditions. Conductivity values and oxygen levels were predominantly low at all assessed sites. These were suspected to be DIGBY WELLS ENVIRONMENTAL vi www.digbywells.com Aquatic Biodiversity and Impact Assessment Report Proposed Dalyshope Coal Mining Project, Situated in the Magisterial District of Lephalale, Limpopo Province UCD6170 attributed to the flooding event at the time of the survey, i.e. a dilution effect causing lower levels of the parameters. None of the parameters recorded extreme levels, therefore were not expected to deter indigenous aquatic biota from colonisation and/or inhabiting the associated extent of the watercourse to a notable degree. In comparison to the 2014 wet season survey, only conductivity and dissolved oxygen levels differ at a single upstream site, most notably the conductivity levels. The relatively higher conductivity and dissolved oxygen levels were probably a result of increased turbidity and aeration caused by the high flows. Along the assessed Limpopo River reach, the ecological condition of the habitat was