Final Comment in Terms of Section 38(8) of the National Heritage Resources Act (Act 25 of 1999)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Licencing (Operational) for Koopmansfontein landfill Our Ref: Enquiries: Natasha Higgitt Date: Friday April 15, 2016 Page No: 1 Email: [email protected] CaseID: 9292 Final Comment In terms of Section 38(8) of the National Heritage Resources Act (Act 25 of 1999) Attention: Ms Nkhensani Khandlhela GA Environment (Pty) Ltd The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) is assisting the Dikgatlong Local Municipality to licence various waste facilities within its jurisdiction. Dikgatlong Municipality has about four landfill sites (Koopmansfontein, Barkley West, Windsorton and Delportshoop landfill) within its jurisdiction that are currently operating without any Waste Management Licences. The Koopmansfontein landfill is one of the landfill sites that will require an operational licence from the Northern Cape Department of Environment, Nature and Conservation (DENC). The DEA has thus appointed GA Environment (Pty) Ltd. as independent Environmental Consultants, to undertake the Scoping and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process as part of the Waste Management Licence Application Processes. The Dikgatlong District Municipality proposes to formally license the existing Koopmansfontein landfill site for the disposal of waste from the community. The Koopmansfontein landfill is located in Koopmansfontein town, Dikgatlong Local Municipality, Northern Cape Province, refer to locality map. The proposed landfill site can be accessed via R31 main road that provides a link to the R373 road leading to the Koopmansfontein area. The landfill site is located adjacent to a community access road that provides the main access to the Koopmansfontein area. Currently the access road that provides direct access to the site is a gravel road. The site co-ordinates are 28°14'11.45"S; 24°2'8.86"E. It must be noted that the Koopmansfontein landfill has been operating illegally/without a waste licence. It is not exactly known when the Koopmansfontein landfill commenced with the operation. It must be noted that the landfill has been operating illegally/without a waste licence. The Koopmansfontein landfill is currently operational and receiving general waste, mainly domestic waste. The Dikgatlong Local Municipality is applying for a Waste Management Licence in order to legally operate the facility, and to ensure that the site adheres to the NEM: WA, 2008 requirements, and other key legislation. The licensing of the landfill will ensure that the final condition of the site is environmentally acceptable and that there will be no adverse long term effects on the surrounding areas. Dikgatlong Local Municipality assisted by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) appointed GA Environment (Pty) Ltd to prepare the necessary applications to license the existing un-licensed Koopmansfontein Landfill, outside Koopmansfontein, Northern Cape Province. A Draft Scoping Report (DSR) was completed in compliance with the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008) as amended (NEMWA), the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998) as Licencing (Operational) for Koopmansfontein landfill Our Ref: Enquiries: Natasha Higgitt Date: Friday April 15, 2016 Page No: 2 Email: [email protected] CaseID: 9292 amended (NEMA) and the EIA Regulations, 2014. Infrastructure such a fence, general waste cell, access gate, waste sorting facility, guardhouse and ablution block will be built within the already disturbed application area. The DSR did not identify any impact to heritage resources as the application area has been previously disturbed by the waste activities and the existing landfill footprint will be utilized for the future activities. Final Comment Based on the information provided, it is unlikely that significant heritage resources will be impacted by the proposed Waste Management License Application and required infrastructure. In accordance with section 38(2)b of the National Heritage Resources Act, 1999 (NHRA), SAHRA waives the requirement for further heritage assessment within the boundaries of the site as presented in the draft Scoping Report. The following additional conditions must be adhered to and must form part of the final EMPr: In future, should the licensed landfill site require authorization for activities such as the construction of storm water management infrastructure outside the application area, the expansion of the landfill site or any other activities outside the application area, SAHRA must be notified of the development in terms of section 38 (1) and 38 (8) of the National Heritage Resources Act, 1999 (Act No. 25 of 1999) (NHRA); If any evidence of archaeological sites or remains (e.g. remnants of stone-made structures, indigenous ceramics, bones, stone artefacts, ostrich eggshell fragments, charcoal and ash concentrations), fossils or other categories of heritage resources are found during the proposed development, SAHRA APM Unit (Natasha Higgitt/Phillip Hine 021 462 5402) must be alerted. If unmarked human burials are uncovered, the SAHRA Burial Grounds and Graves (BGG) Unit (Itumeleng Masiteng/Mimi Seetelo 012 320 8490), must be alerted immediately. A professional archaeologist or palaeontologist, depending on the nature of the finds, must be contracted as soon as possible to inspect the findings. If the newly discovered heritage resources prove to be of archaeological or palaeontological significance, a Phase 2 rescue operation may be required; The Final EIA and EMPr must be submitted to SAHRA for proof that the above mitigation measures have been included. Should you have any further queries, please contact the designated official using the case number quoted above in the case header. Yours faithfully Licencing (Operational) for Koopmansfontein landfill Our Ref: Enquiries: Natasha Higgitt Date: Friday April 15, 2016 Page No: 3 Email: [email protected] CaseID: 9292 ________________________________________ Natasha Higgitt Heritage Officer South African Heritage Resources Agency ________________________________________ Phillip Hine SAHRA Head Archaeologist (Acting) South African Heritage Resources Agency ADMIN: Direct URL to case: http://www.sahra.org.za/node/360660 (DENC, Ref: ) Terms & Conditions: 1. This approval does not exonerate the applicant from obtaining local authority approval or any other necessary approval for proposed work. 2. If any heritage resources, including graves or human remains, are encountered they must be reported to SAHRA immediately. 3. SAHRA reserves the right to request additional information as required. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org).