ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS FINAL SCOPING REPORT PROPOSED KLEINZEE 300MW WIND ENERGY FARM, SOUTH OF KLEINSEE NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE (DEA Ref: 12/12/20/2212) FINAL FOR SUBMISSION TO DEA FEBRUARY 2012 Prepared for: Eskom Holdings SOC Limited Megawatt Park, Maxwell Drive, Sandton, Johannesburg 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 KLEINZEE 300MW WIND FARM & ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE, NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE Final Scoping Report February 2012 PROJECT DETAILS DEA Reference No. : 12/12/20/2212 Title : Environmental Impact Assessment Process Final Scoping Report: Proposed Kleinzee 300MW Wind Farm south of Kleinsee in the Northern Cape Province Authors : Savannah Environmental (Pty) Ltd Alicia Govender & Jo-Anne Thomas Sub-consultants : David Hoare Consulting BergWind Botanical Surveys Rob Simmons Animalia Terrasoil Science MetroGIS Archaeology Contracts Office, Department of Archaeology: University of Cape Town John Pether M2 Environmental Connections cc Tony Barbour Environmental Consulting and Research Sustainable Futures ZA Project Developer : Eskom Holdings SOC Limited Report Status : Final Scoping Report for public review Submission Date : 08 February 2012 When used as a reference this report should be cited as: Savannah Environmental (2012) Final Scoping Report: Proposed Kleinzee 300 MW Wind Farm south of Kleinsee in the Northern Cape Province COPYRIGHT RESERVED This technical report has been produced for Eskom Holdings Limited (SOC). The intellectual property contained in this report remains vested in Savannah Environmental and Eskom Holdings SOC Limited. No part of the report may be reproduced in any manner without written permission from Savannah Environmental (Pty) Ltd and Eskom Holdings SOC Limited. Project Details Page i PROPOSED KLEINZEE 300MW WIND FARM & ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE, NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE Final Scoping Report February 2012 PURPOSE OF THE SCOPING REPORT Eskom Holdings SOC Limited is currently undertaking an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process to determine the environmental feasibility of a proposed wind farm on the West Coast, on a site south of Kleinsee, in the Northern Cape Province. Eskom Holdings SOC Limited 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). Scoping is an important part of the EIA process, as it helps to ensure that the impact assessment is appropriately focussed. The main objectives of the Scoping process are: » To engage with stakeholders at an early stage of the development so that they may contribute their views with regards to the proposed project; » To identify potential issues and impacts associated with the proposed development; » To define the scope of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA); » To define the methodology that is required for the EIA; and » To describe the plan of study for the EIA. In terms of NEMA, the Scoping Report is submitted to the competent authority (i.e. the National Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA)) as part of the decision-making process with regard to the proposed wind farm. The Scoping Report is also intended to provide sufficient background information to other Organs of State, non-statutory bodies, the general public, organisations and local communities in order to obtain their commentary and input on the proposed development. The Scoping Phase of the EIA process identifies and describes potential issues associated with the proposed project, and defines the extent of the studies required within the EIA Phase of the process. The EIA Phase will assess those identified potential environmental impacts and benefits associated with all phases of the project including design, construction, operation and decommissioning, and will recommend appropriate mitigation measures for potentially significant environmental impacts. The Scoping Report consists of eleven sections: » Chapter 1 provides background to the proposed wind farm project and the environmental impact assessment » Chapter 2 provides the strategic context for energy planning in South Africa » Chapter 3 describes wind energy as a power option and provides insight to technologies for wind turbines Invitation to Comment on Final Scoping Report Page ii PROPOSED KLEINZEE 300MW WIND FARM & ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE, NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE Final Scoping Report February 2012 » Chapter 4 provides a description of the processes followed in the determination of acceptable sites for the development of the proposed Kleinzee 300MW Wind Farm Project » Chapter 5 outlines the process which was followed during the Scoping Phase of the EIA process, including the consultation program that was undertaken and input received from interested parties » Chapter 6 describes the existing biophysical and socio-economic environment » Chapter 7 describes the activities associated with the project (project scope) » Chapter 8 presents the evaluation of environmental impacts » Chapter 9 presents the conclusions of the scoping evaluation » Chapter 10 describes the Plan of Study for EIA » Chapter 11 provides a list of references and information sources used in undertaking this Scoping Study. The Draft Scoping Report provided the public with an opportunity to verify that all potential issues associated with the proposed project have been identified through this scoping study, and provides an opportunity for additional key issues for consideration to be raised. The Final Scoping Report incorporates all comments received prior to submission to the National Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA). The draft Scoping Report was made available for public review at the following locations from 12 December 2011 to 30 January 2012. » www.savannahsa.com » www.eskom.co.za/eia » Kleinsee Tourism centre » Buffelsrivier office of the Nama Khoi Municipality » Komaggas office of the Nama Khoi Municipality? Invitation to Comment on Final Scoping Report Page iii PROPOSED KLEINZEE 300MW WIND FARM & ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE, NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE Final Scoping Report February 2012 SUMMARY Background and Project Overview Substation (Gromis Substation is situated approximately 16 km Eskom Holdings Ltd has identified from the proposed site) a site south of the town of Kleinsee » Internal access roads between within the Nama Khoi Local wind turbines Municipality (Northern Cape) for the » Borrow pits within the site for establishment of a commercial wind the construction of access roads farm. The identified site (as » Office/Workshop area for assessed in this final scoping report) maintenance and storage for the establishment of the proposed » Information centre Kleinzee 300 MW Wind Farm is » A possible desalination plant1 situated on the West Coast, about 6 to de-salt water to be used for km south of Kleinsee in the of the the construction phase Northern Cape. The facility is proposed to accommodate up to The identified site (as assessed in 200 appropriately spaced this final scoping report) for the turbines over an extent of establishment of the proposed approximately 8 682 hectares for Kleinzee 300 MW Wind Farm is as the purpose of electricity generation. follows: The total generating capacity of the » RE of Brazil 329 proposed facility will be up to » RE of Goraap 323, 300 MW. » RE of Honde Vlei 325, » RE of Kannabieduin 324, Associated infrastructure proposed » Portion 4 of Rooivlei 327 includes: The nature and extent of this facility, » A cluster of between 150 and as well as potential environmental 200 wind turbines to be impacts associated with the constructed over an area of ~ 8 construction of a facility of this 682 ha in extent nature is explored in more detail in » Concrete foundations to this Scoping Report. support the turbine towers » Cabling between the turbines to The Scoping Study for the proposed be lain underground where Kleinzee 300 MW Wind Farm south of practical Kleinsee in the Northern Cape » An on-site substation to Province has been undertaken in facilitate the connection between accordance with the EIA Regulations the facility and the electricity grid published in Government Notice » An overhead power line 33306 of GN R543, R544, R545 and (400kV) feeding into Eskom’s electricity grid at Gromis 1 To be investigated as a possible water supply source Summary Page iv PROPOSED KLEINZEE 300MW WIND FARM & ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE, NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE Final Scoping Report February 2012 R546 (18 June 2010), in terms of Document (BID) to all identified Section 24(5) of the National I&APs and key stakeholders. Environmental Management Act » On-going consultation with (NEMA; Act No 107 of 1998). identified I&APs and stakeholders, including Environmental Impact Assessment Telephonic communication, Focus Group Meetings and one-one-one The scoping phase for the proposed meetings. project forms part of the EIA process » Compilation and maintenance of and has been undertaken in a database containing the accordance with the EIA Regulations. names and addresses of all The Scoping Report aimed to identify identified I&APs and key potential issues associated with the stakeholders. proposed project, and define the » Preparation of a Comments and extent of studies required within the Response Report detailing