ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS FINAL EIA REPORT PROPOSED DORPER WIND ENERGY FACILITY ON A SITE NEAR MOLTENO EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE (DEA Ref No: 12/12/20/1778) FINAL EIA REPORT October 2010 Prepared for: Dorper Wind Farm (Pty) Ltd Facility to be developed by Rainmaker Energy Projects (Pty) Ltd PO Box 12546 Mill St, Capetown 8010 Prepared by: Savannah Environmental Pty Ltd Unit 606, 1410 Eglin office park 14 Eglin road, sunninghill, Gauteng po box 148, sunninghill, 2157 Tel: +27 (0)11 234 6621 Fax: +27 (0)86 684 0547 E-mail: [email protected] www.savannahsa.com PROPOSED DORPER WIND ENERGY FACILITY ON A SITE NEAR MOLTENO, EASTERN CAPE Final EIA Report October 2010 PROJECT DETAILS DEA Reference No. : 12/12/20/1778 Title : Environmental Impact Assessment Process Final EIA Report: Proposed Dorper Wind Energy Facility on a site near Molteno, Eastern Cape Province Authors : Savannah Environmental (Pty) Ltd John von Mayer & Karen Jodas Sub -consultants : MetroGIS David Hoare Consulting Avisense Consulting Albany Museum Outeniqua Geotechnical Services M2 Environmental Connections Tony Barbour John Almond Sustainable Futures ZA Project Developer : Dorper Wind Farm (Pty) Ltd Report Status : Final EIA report for authority review When used as a reference this report should be cited as: Savannah Environmental (2010) Final EIA Report: Proposed Dorper Wind Energy Facility on a site near Molteno, Eastern Cape. COPYRIGHT RESERVED This technical report has been produced for Dorper Wind Farm (Pty) Limited. The intellectual property contained in this report remains vested in Savannah Environmental and Dorper Wind Farm. No part of the report may be reproduced in any manner without written permission from Savannah Environmental (Pty) Ltd and Dorper Wind Farm. Project Details Page 1 PROPOSED DORPER WIND ENERGY FACILITY ON A SITE NEAR MOLTENO, EASTERN CAPE Final EIA Report October 2010 PURPOSE OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT Dorper Wind Farm (Pty) Ltd is proposing to establish a commercial wind energy facility and associated infrastructure on a site located within Inkwanca Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province. The proposed wind energy facility is to be developed by Rainmaker Energy Projects (Pty) Ltd (Rainmaker). The proposed facility is referred to in this report as the Dorper Wind Energy Facility. Dorper Wind Farm has appointed Savannah Environmental, as independent environmental consultants, to undertake the EIA. The EIA process is being undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA; Act No. 107 of 1998). This Final Environmental Impact Assessment Report represents the outcome of the EIA Phase of the EIA process and contains the following sections: Chapter 1 provides background to the proposed Dorper Wind Energy Facility project and the environmental impact assessment Chapter 2 describes the activities associated with the project (project scope). This chapter also describes wind energy as a power option and provides insight to technologies for wind turbines Chapter 3 describes the legal context and background with regard to the EIA process Chapter 4 outlines the process which was followed during the EIA Phase of the project, including the consultation program that was undertaken Chapter 5 describes the existing biophysical and socio-economic environment Chapter 6 describes the assessment of environmental impacts associated with the proposed wind energy facility Chapter 7 presents the conclusions of the impact assessment as well as an impact statement Chapter 8 contains a list references for the EIA report and specialist reports The Scoping Phase of the EIA process identified potential issues associated with the proposed project, and defined the extent of the studies required within the EIA Phase. The EIA Phase addresses those identified potential environmental impacts and benefits associated with all phases of the project including design, construction and operation, and recommends appropriate mitigation measures for potentially significant environmental impacts. The EIA report aims to provide the environmental authorities with sufficient information to make an informed decision regarding the proposed project. The release of a draft EIA Report provided stakeholders with an opportunity to verify that the issues they have raised to date have been captured and Purpose of Report Page ii PROPOSED DORPER WIND ENERGY FACILITY ON A SITE NEAR MOLTENO, EASTERN CAPE Final EIA Report October 2010 adequately considered within the study. The Final EIA Report now incorporates all issues and responses for to submission to the National Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), the decision-making authority for the project. PUBLIC REVIEW OF THE DRAFT EIA REPORT The Draft EIA Report was made available for public review at the following public places in the project area from 17 September 2010 – 16 October 2010: » Molteno Library » Sterkstroom Library The report was also made available on: » www.savannahSA.com PUBLIC MEETING In order to facilitate comments on the findings of the draft EIA report and provide feedback of the findings of the studies undertaken, a public feedback meeting was held. All interested and affected parties were invited to attend the public feedback meeting held on 16 August 2010 at the Molteno Farms Union Building from 18:00 to 20:00. Purpose of Report Page iii PROPOSED DORPER WIND ENERGY FACILITY ON A SITE NEAR MOLTENO, EASTERN CAPE Final EIA Report October 2010 SUMMARY Background and Project Overview The overarching objective for the wind energy facility planning process Dorper Wind Farm (Pty) Ltd is is to maximise electricity production proposing to establish a commercial through exposure to the wind wind energy facility and associated resource, while minimising infrastructure on a site located within infrastructure, operational and Inkwanca Local Municipality in the maintenance costs, as well as social Eastern Cape Province. The and environmental impacts. As local proposed facility is referred to as the level environmental and planning Dorper Wind Energy Facility. The issues were not assessed in sufficient proposed wind energy facility is to be detail through Rainmaker’s regional- developed by Rainmaker Energy level site identification process, these Projects (Pty) Ltd. issues have now been considered within site-specific studies and Based on an extensive pre-feasibility assessments through the EIA process analysis and site identification in order to delineate areas of processes undertaken by Rainmaker sensitivity within the broader site Energy, a favourable area has been and ultimately inform the placement identified for consideration and of the wind turbines and associated evaluation as per the requirements infrastructure on a site. of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The proposed As the performance of the turbines is site for the Wind Energy Facility is determined by disturbances to the situated between the towns of wind resource, turbines must be Sterkstroom and Molteno along the appropriately spaced within the R397 regional road. A cluster of up facility to minimise the potential for to 244 wind turbines, collectively reduced turbine efficiency. A referred to as a Wind Energy Facility preliminary design for the wind is planned to be constructed over an turbines is being considered within area of approximately 13 200 ha this EIA report. The exact (132 km2) in extent. positioning or detailed layout of the components of this proposed wind The wind energy facility is proposed energy facility will be developed by on the following farms: Spreeukloof taking cognisance of environmental (portion 18), Paarde Kraal (portion sensitivities and mitigation measures 7), Uitekyk (portions 1 and 3), Farm identified through the EIA process. A 68 (portion 4), Cypher Gat (portions final layout of the turbines within the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9 and facility would be prepared prior to remaining extent), Highlands construction. (remaining extent), Tolkop (portions 1 and 4) and Post Houers Hoek (remaining extent). Summary Page iv PROPOSED DORPER WIND ENERGY FACILITY ON A SITE NEAR MOLTENO, EASTERN CAPE Final EIA Report October 2010 The total permanent infrastructure initial feasibility assessments that the associated with the facility would proposed site is appropriate when include: considering the financial viability of a project of this nature in the area, as » Up to 244 wind turbine units (up well as both environmental and to 90 m high steel tower and social considerations. nacelle; up to 100 m diameter rotor - consisting of 3x50m The site displays specific blades); characteristics which make it a » Concrete foundations preferred site for a wind energy (approximately 20m x 20m x facility. 2m) to support the turbine towers; The nature and extent of this facility, » Underground electrical as well as potential environmental distribution cabling between the impacts associated with the turbines; construction of a facility of this » Up to four substations (the nature is explored in more detail in largest being up to 150 x 250 this EIA Report. m) on the site in an appropriate position to receive generated power via underground distribution cabling from each wind turbine; » Power lines (132 kV distribution lines) linking to the existing Eskom transmission grid » An access road to the site from the main road/s within the area; » Internal access roads to each wind turbine to link the turbines on site (approximately 3-6 m in width); and » A workshop area for