BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT Draft SAND MINING PERMIT APPLICATION
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BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT Draft SAND MINING PERMIT APPLICATION Application to mine Silica Sand over an approximate 4,68ha section of the Mtwalume River, over Remainder of Portion 6 of Glen Alie No. 2037 and over Portions 104, 107 and 128 of Southern Home No. 2052 situated within the Ugu District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal. Prepared on behalf of Lancelot Estates cc BY DMR Reference: Pending March 2016 Basic Assessment Report for the proposed Sand Mining of the Mtwalume River _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ DETAILS OF THE INDEPENDENT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PRACTITIONER (EAP) Compiled by: EAP: Justin Ellero Qualifications: MSc (Geography) (UKZN) • BSSH (Environmental Science – Cum Laude) (UKZN) • BSoc (Geography and Environmental Management) (UKZN) Work Experience: Justin Ellero is a Junior Environmental Scientist with experience in conducting Full Scoping and Basic Environmental Assessments, Water Use License Applications, Mining applications and Waste Management Licensing. His project experience list includes municipal pipelines, Eskom powerlines and development at the King Shaka International Airport to name a few. Reviewer: Michael Haynes Approved by: Karl Wiggishoff I, Justin Ellero, declare that this report has been prepared independently of any influence or prejudice as may be specified by the Department of Mineral Resources. I hereby confirm that all comments received from I&APs will be included in the Final Basic Assessment Report and will be submitted to the Kwa-Zulu Natal Department of Mineral Resources (DMR). A record will be kept of all comments and will be submitted in the form of a Comments and Responses Report. 1 Basic Assessment Report for the proposed Sand Mining of the Mtwalume River _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 BACKGROUND INFORMATION .............................................................................................7 1.1 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND .......................................................................7 1.2 TERMS OF REFERENCE ............................................................................................8 1.3 APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY ...........................................................................8 1.4 ASSUMPTIONS AND LIMITATIONS ...........................................................................9 1.5 OBJECTIVE OF THE BASIC ASSESSMENT PROCESS ............................................9 1.6 REPORT STRUCTURE ................................................................................................9 1.7 APPLICABLE LEGISLATION, POLICIES AND GUIDELINES .................................. 10 2 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTIVITY ........................................................................... 11 2.1 PROJECT LOCATION ............................................................................................... 11 Co-ordinates ............................................................................................................................... 11 Farm Name ................................................................................................................................. 11 21 Digit Surveyor General .......................................................................................................... 11 2.2 ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION .......................................................................................... 11 Extent of development ................................................................................................................ 11 Description of the proposed activity ........................................................................................... 11 2.2.3 Access to site ................................................................................................................................. 16 Mining operation ......................................................................................................................... 16 Decommissioning of sand mine.................................................................................................. 16 2.3 CONSIDERATION OF ALTERNATIVES .................................................................... 16 Activity alternatives ..................................................................................................................... 17 Location alternatives ................................................................................................................... 17 Layout Alternatives ..................................................................................................................... 17 Scheduling alternatives .............................................................................................................. 17 Infrastructure alternatives ........................................................................................................... 17 Input Alternatives ........................................................................................................................ 18 2 Basic Assessment Report for the proposed Sand Mining of the Mtwalume River _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ “No-go” alternative ...................................................................................................................... 18 3 SITUATION ASSESSMENT OF PROJECT AREA AND AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ........ 19 3.1 CLIMATE ................................................................................................................... 19 3.2 LANDSCAPE CHARACTERISTICS........................................................................... 19 3.3 GEOLOGY ................................................................................................................. 19 3.4 FLORA AND FAUNA ................................................................................................. 19 3.5 WATER MANAGEMENT AREAS .............................................................................. 20 3.6 PHOTOGRAPHIC OVERVIEW OF SIGHT ................................................................. 21 3.7 SITES WITH ARCHEALOGICAL INTEREST ............................................................. 23 3.8 MINERAL DEPOSITS ................................................................................................ 23 3.9 SOCIAL-ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT ...................................................................... 23 4 IMPACT ASSESSMENT ........................................................................................................ 24 4.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 24 4.2 IMPACT ASSESSMENT CRITERIA ........................................................................... 24 Nature of impact ......................................................................................................................... 24 Extent/Scale................................................................................................................................ 24 Duration ...................................................................................................................................... 25 Intensity ...................................................................................................................................... 25 Probability ................................................................................................................................... 25 4.2.5.1 Determination of significance .................................................................................. 26 Assessment of Potential Impacts ............................................................................................... 28 4.2.6.1 Ecological characteristics ........................................................................................ 28 4.2.6.2 Soil characteristics and geology .............................................................................. 28 4.2.6.3 Fauna and flora ....................................................................................................... 31 4.2.6.4 Ground and surface water ....................................................................................... 32 4.2.6.5 Archaeological, historical and cultural significance ................................................... 32 3 Basic Assessment Report for the proposed Sand Mining of the Mtwalume River _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 4.2.6.6 Socio-economic impacts ......................................................................................... 33 4.2.6.7 Safety and Security ................................................................................................. 33 4.2.6.8 Potential Environmental Impacts ............................................................................. 34 4.3 SPECILAIST STUDES UNDERTAKEN ..................................................................... 35 4.4 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT AND SUMMARY ON NEED AND DESIRABILITY ........................................................................................................... 35 Environmental Impact Statement ..............................................................................................