ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN The Proposed Utilisation of Borrow Pits Road: DR07460 (Chris Hani District Municipality) Department of Roads and Public Works Province of the Eastern Cape Report Number: 2011-R600 February 02, 2012 Biotechnology & Environmental Specialist Consultancy cc PO Box 8241, Nahoon, 5210, East London, South Africa 9 Douglas Road, Vincent, 5241, East London, South Africa Telephone 043 726 4242; Facsimile: 043 726 3199 E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.besc.co.za Leaders in Industrial Ecology, Environmental Impact & Site Assessments & Safety Health & Environmental Management Systems FINAL REPORT 2011-R600 – EMP - Borrow Pits – DR07460 – DRPW Prepared exclusively for Department of Roads and Public Works Province of the Eastern Cape by Biotechnology and Environmental Specialist Consultancy cc Head Office - East London PO Box 8241, Nahoon, 5210, East London, South Africa 9 Douglas Road, Vincent, 5247, East London, South Africa Telephone 043 726 6200/4242/5766; Facsimile: 043 726 3199 E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.besc.co.za Durban 590 Clare Road, Clare Estate, Durban, 4091 Contact details until further notice Telephone 043 726 6200/4242/5766; Facsimile: 043 726 3199 E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.besc.co.za Page 2 of 131 Leaders in Industrial Ecology, Environmental Site Assessments & Safety, Health & Environmental Management Systems PO Box 8241, Nahoon, 5210, East London, South Africa 9 Douglas Road, Vincent, 5247, East London, South Africa Telephone 043 726 4242; Facsimile: 043 726 3199 Email: [email protected]; Web site: http://www.besc.co.za FINAL REPORT 2011-R600 – EMP - Borrow Pits – DR07460 – DRPW CONTENTS 1 Proposal Release Notice ........................................................................................................... 7 2 Limitations .................................................................................................................................. 8 3 Limiting Conditions .................................................................................................................... 8 4 Special Conditions ..................................................................................................................... 8 5 Natural Science Professions Act................................................................................................ 9 6 Legal Requirements ................................................................................................................. 10 6.1 National Acts and Regulations.......................................................................................... 10 6.1.1 The Constitution of South Africa, Act No 106 of 1996 ................................................. 10 6.1.2 Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act .................................................. 10 6.1.3 Mineral and Petroleum Resources Regulations .......................................................... 10 6.1.4 Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Amendment Act ............................. 11 6.1.5 National Environmental Management Act ................................................................... 11 6.1.6 National Environmental Management Amendment Act ............................................... 12 6.1.7 Environment Conservation Act .................................................................................... 13 6.1.8 National Water Act ...................................................................................................... 13 6.1.9 National Forests Act .................................................................................................... 13 6.1.10 Conservation of Agricultural Resources .................................................................. 14 6.1.11 National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act ........................................... 18 6.1.12 Provincial Nature Conservation Ordinance ............................................................. 18 6.1.13 National Heritage Resources Act ............................................................................ 19 6.1.14 National Environment Management: Air Quality Act ............................................... 19 6.1.15 Explosives Act, 1956 (Act No 26 of 1956) ............................................................... 19 6.1.16 Occupational Health and Safety Act ........................................................................ 19 6.1.17 Mine Health and Safety Act ..................................................................................... 20 6.2 Plans, Policies & Guiding Principles ................................................................................. 20 6.2.1 Provincial Spatial Development Plan .......................................................................... 20 6.2.2 Chris Hani District Municipality - Integrated Development Plan 2009/2010 ................ 21 6.2.3 DWAF – Best Practice Guidelines ................................................................................ 22 6.2.4 Department of Environmental Affairs Guidelines ........................................................ 23 7 Primary Legislative Specifications ........................................................................................... 24 8 Responsibilities of the Role Players ........................................................................................ 25 8.1 Developer ......................................................................................................................... 25 8.2 Consulting Engineer ......................................................................................................... 25 8.3 Contractor ......................................................................................................................... 25 8.4 Environmental Control Officer (ECO) ............................................................................... 25 8.5 Environmental Liaison Officer (ELO) ................................................................................ 26 9 Introduction & Overview ........................................................................................................... 27 9.1 Objectives of the Environmental Management Plan ......................................................... 29 9.2 Integrated Environmental Management ........................................................................... 29 9.3 Project Details .................................................................................................................. 30 10 Need and Desirability ........................................................................................................... 31 11 Description of the Borrow Pits .............................................................................................. 31 11.1 Borrow Pit 07460_BP02 ................................................................................................... 32 12 Description of the Environment ............................................................................................ 36 12.1 Landform & Geology ......................................................................................................... 36 12.1.1 Geology & Soils ....................................................................................................... 36 12.1.1.1 Erodibility Index ................................................................................................... 38 12.1.2 Topography and Drainage ....................................................................................... 38 12.2 Hydrogeology ................................................................................................................... 40 12.3 Archaeology, Palaeontology & Heritage Sites .................................................................. 41 Page 3 of 131 Leaders in Industrial Ecology, Environmental Site Assessments & Safety, Health & Environmental Management Systems PO Box 8241, Nahoon, 5210, East London, South Africa 9 Douglas Road, Vincent, 5247, East London, South Africa Telephone 043 726 4242; Facsimile: 043 726 3199 Email: [email protected]; Web site: http://www.besc.co.za FINAL REPORT 2011-R600 – EMP - Borrow Pits – DR07460 – DRPW 12.4 Climate ............................................................................................................................. 41 12.5 Flora ................................................................................................................................. 43 12.5.1 General vegetation .................................................................................................. 43 12.5.2 Eastern Cape Biodiversity Conservation Plan ......................................................... 44 12.5.1 Protection status and legislation and Species of Special Concern .......................... 45 12.5.2 Alien Invasive Plant species .................................................................................... 45 12.6 Fauna ............................................................................................................................... 46 12.6.1 Reptiles & Amphibians ............................................................................................ 46 12.6.2 Mammals ................................................................................................................. 47 12.6.3 Birds .......................................................................................................................