THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE (SEZ) IN UPINGTON, NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE ENVIRONMENTAL SCOPING REPORT DEA Reference: 14/12/16/3/3/2/1006 DRAFT Prepared for: Northern Cape Economic Development Agency Building no 6, Monridge Office Park Corner Memorial and Kekewich Street Kimberley, 8301 Prepared by: EOH Coastal & Environmental Services EAST LONDON 25 Tecoma Street East London, 5201 043 726 7809 Also in Grahamstown, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and Maputo www.cesnet.co.za | www.eoh.co.za March 2017 Draft Scoping Report – February 2017 THE PROJECT TEAM The following table provides the names and responsibilities of the project team. EOH Coastal & Environmental Services team and responsibilities Name Role/Responsibility Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) Dr Alan Carter Project Leader Report Review Project Manager Mr Roy de Kock Client Liaison Report Writing EOH Coastal & Environmental Services NCEDA Special Economic Zone, Upington TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Background to the Study ................................................................................................. 1 1.2. Special Economic Zone ................................................................................................... 1 1.3. Environmental Authorisation in South Africa .................................................................... 1 1.4. Scoping Phase ................................................................................................................ 2 1.5. Nature and Structure of this Report ................................................................................. 3 1.6. Assumptions and Limitations ........................................................................................... 3 1.7. Details and Expertise of the Environmental Assessment Practitioner .............................. 3 1.7.1. Details of the EAP .................................................................................................... 3 1.7.2. Expertise of the study team ...................................................................................... 4 2. PROPERTY DESCRIPTION AND ACTIVITY LOCATION ...................................................... 5 2.1. Property Description ........................................................................................................ 5 2.2. Site Photographs ............................................................................................................. 8 3. PROJECT DESCRIPTION .................................................................................................... 11 3.1. Listed activities triggered ............................................................................................... 11 3.2. Description of the SEZ ................................................................................................... 13 3.2.1. Phases of development ......................................................................................... 15 3.2.2. Provision of bulk services....................................................................................... 15 3.2.3. Photovoltaic Facility ............................................................................................... 25 4. RELEVANT LEGISLATION AND POLICY ........................................................................... 30 4.1. Relevant Environmental Legislation used in the Compilation of this Scoping Report ..... 30 4.2. Relevant Policy used in the Compilation of this Scoping Report .................................... 32 4.2.1. National ................................................................................................................. 32 5. PROJECT NEED & DESIRABILITY ..................................................................................... 35 5.1. Strategic Infrastructure Projects (SIPs) .......................................................................... 35 5.2. Renewable Energy Development Zones (REDZ) ........................................................... 35 6. PROJECT ALTERNATIVES ................................................................................................. 36 6.1. Reasonable and Feasible Alternatives ........................................................................... 36 6.2. Fundamental Alternatives .............................................................................................. 36 6.3. Incremental Alternatives ................................................................................................ 38 6.4. No-Go development ...................................................................................................... 44 7. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION .................................................................................................... 47 7.1. Notification of Interested and Affected Parties ............................................................... 47 7.1.1. Public Participation ................................................................................................ 47 7.2. Stakeholder and I&AP database .................................................................................... 47 7.3. Issues & Comments ...................................................................................................... 55 8. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................. 57 8.1. Current land use ............................................................................................................ 57 8.2. Climate .......................................................................................................................... 58 8.3. Topography ................................................................................................................... 59 8.4. Geology ......................................................................................................................... 59 8.5. Hydrology ...................................................................................................................... 59 8.6. Vegetation and Floristics ............................................................................................... 60 8.6.1. South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) ............................................. 60 8.7. Site Sensitivity ............................................................................................................... 61 8.8. Socio-Economic Profile.................................................................................................. 62 8.8.1. Population .............................................................................................................. 62 8.8.2. Income and Poverty Levels .................................................................................... 63 8.8.3. Employment ........................................................................................................... 63 9. MANNER IN WHICH THE ENVIRONMENT MAY BE AFFECTED ....................................... 64 9.1. Assessment of impacts .................................................................................................. 64 9.1.1. Issues Identification matrix ..................................................................................... 64 9.2. Impacts mind map ......................................................................................................... 66 9.3. Possible Environmental Issues and Impacts .................................................................. 66 9.4. Assessment of issues and impacts ................................................................................ 70 EOH Coastal & Environmental Services NCEDA Special Economic Zone, Upington Draft Scoping Report – February 2017 10. PLAN OF STUDY FOR EIA PHASE ..................................................................................... 78 10.1. Specific challenges to the EIA Phase ............................................................................ 78 10.2. Scope and Intent of the EIA Phase ................................................................................ 78 10.2.1. Specialist Studies .................................................................................................. 79 10.2.2. Ecological and Biodiversity Impact Assessment (EOH: Mr Roy de Kock) ............... 79 10.2.3. Groundwater Impact Assessment (Exigo 3) ........................................................... 80 10.2.4. Heritage Impact Assessment (Exigo 3) .................................................................. 80 10.2.5. Air Quality Impact Assessment (Airshed) ............................................................... 81 10.2.6. Socio-economic and Tourism Impact Assessment (EOH: Ms Nande Suka and Ms Rosalie Evans) ...................................................................................................................... 81 10.2.7. Surface Water and Wetland Impact Assessment (EOH: Ms Caitlin Smith) ............. 82 10.2.8. Traffic Assessment (Emonti) .................................................................................. 83 10.2.9. Noise Impact Assessment (EAR) ........................................................................... 84 10.2.10. Agricultural impact assessment (Mr Roy de Kock) ............................................. 84 10.2.11. Visual impact assessment (Dr Alan Carter)