DMS Powders Final Environmental Impact report for the Atmospheric Emission License Application for the R&D furnace at DMS Powders Locality: Meyerton Departmental Ref No: GAUT: 002/12-13/E0204 Date: October 2014 FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT DMS Powders Final Environmental Impact report for the Atmospheric Emission License Application for the R&D furnace at DMS Powders Location: Meyerton Departmental Ref No: GAUT: 002/12-13/E0204 Unit C8 Block @ Nature 472 Botterklapper Street DATE: 27 October 2014 Pretoria Office: + 27 (0)12 807 7036 Fax: +27 (0)12 807 1014 DMS Powders – Final Environmental Impact Report Page 3 of 101 PROJECT DETAILS Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Reference No.: GAUT: 002/12-13/E0204 Project Title: Atmospheric Emission License Application for DMS Powders, Meyerton. Project Number: DMS-EIA-12-01-31 Compiled by: Ms Patricia van der Walt and Ms Lizette Crous Date: 27 October 2014 Location: Meyerton Technical Reviewer: Brian Hayes _________________ RB Hayes (Pr.Eng.) DMS Powders – Final Environmental Impact Report Page 4 of 101 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................................. 5 LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................ 6 LIST OF APPENDICES ....................................................................................................... 8 REFERENCES .................................................................................................................... 9 DEFINITIONS .................................................................................................................... 12 ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................................. 17 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................... 18 1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 21 1.1 Process followed ...................................................................................................... 21 1.2 Details of the project applicant ................................................................................ 24 1.3 Appointed Environmental Assessment Practitioner .............................................. 24 1.4 Current situation ....................................................................................................... 25 1.4.1 Licensing ............................................................................................................ 25 1.4.2 Atomised FeSi Production Process ................................................................. 27 1.4.3 Milled FeSi Production Process ....................................................................... 28 1.5 Proposed activity ...................................................................................................... 29 2. NATURE AND EXTENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AFFECTED BY ACTIVITY ......... 37 2.1 Regional climate ...................................................................................................... 37 2.1.1 Rainfall and Evaporation ................................................................................ 37 2.1.2 Temperature .................................................................................................... 37 2.1.3 Wind................................................................................................................. 38 2.2 Biophysical aspects affected ................................................................................... 41 2.2.1 Geology ........................................................................................................... 41 2.2.2 Topography ..................................................................................................... 42 2.2.3 Soils ................................................................................................................. 42 2.2.4 Fauna and Flora .............................................................................................. 46 2.2.5 Surface water .................................................................................................. 47 2.2.6 Groundwater ................................................................................................... 48 2.2.7 Water authority ............................................................................................... 49 2.2.8 Air Quality ....................................................................................................... 52 2.2.9 Aesthetics ....................................................................................................... 56 2.2.10 Socio-economic aspects ................................................................................ 57 Shangoni Management Services (Pty) Ltd DMS Powders – Final Environmental Impact Report Page 5 of 101 3. APPLICABLE LEGISLATION AND GUIDELINES ..................................................... 61 4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS ....................................................................... 64 4.1 Objectives of the Public Participation Process (PPP) ............................................ 64 4.2 Legislation and guidelines followed for the PPP .................................................... 64 4.3 Public Participation Process followed .................................................................... 65 5. NEED AND DESIRABILITY FOR THE ACTIVITY ...................................................... 83 5.1 Developer/Applicant ................................................................................................. 83 5.2 Local community ...................................................................................................... 83 6. CONSIDERATION OF ALTERNATIVES .................................................................... 83 6.1 No-Go option ............................................................................................................. 83 6.2 Alternatives considered ........................................................................................... 85 7. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT ............................................................. 86 7.1 Aims of Environmental Impact Assessment ........................................................... 86 7.2 Environmental Impact Assessment Procedure ...................................................... 87 7.3 Description of Environmental Impacts .................................................................... 88 8. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT ............................................................... 99 8.1 Summary of key findings ......................................................................................... 99 8.2 Comparative assessment of positive and negative implications of the proposed activity and alternatives ........................................................................................... 99 9. CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................... 100 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Atomised FeSi Production ..................................................................................................... 28 Figure 2: Milled FeSi Production ........................................................................................................... 29 Figure 3: Google earth image illustrating the location of the proposed R&D Furnace (1). ................... 32 Figure 4: Google earth image illustrating the location of the proposed R&D (2). ................................. 33 Figure 5: Map depicting the proposed locality of the R&D Furnace in relation to adjacent land. ......... 34 Figure 6: Site photograph 1................................................................................................................... 35 Figure 7: Site photograph 2................................................................................................................... 35 Figure 8: R&D Furnace Emission Control Technology ......................................................................... 36 Shangoni Management Services (Pty) Ltd DMS Powders – Final Environmental Impact Report Page 6 of 101 Figure 9: Wind rose for January ............................................................................................................ 39 Figure 10: Wind rose for February ........................................................................................................ 39 Figure 11: Wind rose for March ............................................................................................................ 39 Figure 12: Wind rose for April ............................................................................................................... 39 Figure 13: Wind rose for May ................................................................................................................ 39 Figure 14: Wind rose for June ............................................................................................................... 39 Figure 15: Wind rose for July ................................................................................................................ 40 Figure 16: Wind rose for Augustus ......................................................................................................