Lancelot Estates cc SAND MINING APPLICATION Mtwalume River (KwaZulu-Natal) BACKGROUND INFORMATION DOCUMENT DMR REFERENCE: KZN30/5/1/3/2/10420PR BACKGROUND INFORMATION An application has been submitted to the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) on behalf of Lancelot Estates cc, for a permit to mine Silica Sand along a 4.68 ha section of the Mtwalume River (KwaZulu-Natal), over Remainder of and Portion 6 of GLEN ALIE No. 2037 and over Portions 104, 107 and 128 of SOUTHERN HOME No. 2052all situated within the UGU District Municipality, KwaZulu Natal. LOCATION The proposed mining site is situated in and around the Mtwalume River on the KwaZulu Natal south coast, slightly inland of Ifafa beach and located between the R102 (inland) and the N2 freeway running perpendicular to the coast. The area falls within the UGU (district) and Umdoni (Local) Municipalities respectively. Locality plans are enclosed below as Figures 1 and 2 respectively, while the detailed mining sketch plan is enclosed as Appendix 1. Figure 1 Lancelot Estates cc: Background Information Document: Sand Mining Permit application Page 1 Figure 2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION The Project involves the winning of silica sand from the sandbars and river bed of a 4. 68 ha section of the Mtwalume river, which area is bounded by various farms owned by the applicant. The operation will require the use of an excavator, and a small floating dredge system respectively. The sandbars will be skimmed to water level and deeper sediments dredged. The Riparian zone will be avoided to ensure that the river and riverbanks will not be disturbed or diverted. Loading, stockpile & drainage pad areas shall be located on fallow lands on the edge of sugar cane fields. The water drains out on the drainage pad and is then gravitated back into the river through a filter berm system. There are no construction related activities required to establish the mine. An access road, stockpile area and access ramp have already been constructed by the Mtwalume Water Works. These activities are not anticipated to have any adverse impacts on the environment. Lancelot Estates cc: Background Information Document: Sand Mining Permit application Page 2 Extraction of sand will be facilitated by use of an excavator to skim the sandbars, and stack the sand on the river bed. A front-end loader will move the sand from the river bed to the stockpile area, from where it will be despatched. Access and haulage will involve the entry of vehicles for the collection of sand. Entry is from the R102 along an existing access road to the edge of the stockpile pad where loading will take place The nature and extent of the sand mining operation is designed to create minimal disturbance to the surrounding natural environment, including the river banks, the river bed and the river’s environmental status further downstream. The mine will operate for a two year permit period and will be renewable for a further two consecutive year periods thereafter. MOTIVATION FOR THE PROJECT The sand in the Mtwalume River is a high grade silica sand (of granitic origin) that will provide good quality sand to the local building industry for cement and concrete work. There are some small sections on the river sandbars that have coarse gravel fraction that will need to be sieved out. The broader socio-economic benefits of the project include employment, job creation, local economic development through the availability and affordability of the sand, and increased business development for the area generally. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS . Background The Mtwalume river in and around the proposed permit site is highly denuded and silted, and no longer resembles its former state from years gone by. In addition, the river banks are highly infested with alien vegetation, with very little indigenous flora remaining. Several illegal mining operations have existed and/or continue to exist further upstream of the proposed permit area. The proposed impacts (general and specific) of the proposed sand mining operation, in an area less than 5ha (which includes the stockpiling area), have been assessed and a draft Basic Assessment Report will be prepared and made available to the public and stakeholders alike for review. A specialist aquatic report has been prepared in the meantime for application purposes, and is enclosed as Annexure A hereto. Lancelot Estates cc: Background Information Document: Sand Mining Permit application Page 3 . Assessment The Applicant is in the process of preparing an Environmental Basic Assessment Report (BAR), coupled to an Environmental Management Plan (EMP), as prescribed by the applicable legislation, which documentation and information will be included in, and form an integral part of the Mining Permit application, and decision making processes to be followed by the relevant authorities. Importantly, the BAR and EMP will be required to contain all relevant information which can demonstrate that the mining operations will be conducted in a way which will: Minimise the potential for ground and surface water pollution Maintain the hydrology of the landscape level Minimise soil erosion Limit the disturbance and destruction of vegetation and habitat Prevent the creation of hazards for fauna and barriers to movement Reduce atmospheric emissions Minimise dust generation Control noise Reduce the visual impact . Mitigation In addition, the BAR and EMP will be required to demonstrate the extent of the environmental impact mitigation measures to be imposed by the applicant throughout the duration of the mining operations. These will include inter alia the following: o Mining volume is based on measured annual replenishment o Establish an absolute elevation below which no extraction may occur o Limit in-stream mining methods to bar skimming o Extract sand and gravel from the downstream 2/3rds portion of the bar o Concentrate in-stream extraction activities to minimise area of disturbance o Review cumulative effects of sand and gravel extraction o Maintain river channel flood discharge capacity o Establish a long-term monitoring program o Minimise activities that release fine sediment to the river o Retain riparian buffer at edge of water and against river bank o Limit in-stream operation to the period between April and November and during dry season only o An annual basic assessment report will establish the status and effect of the mining operation. o A copy of the EMP will be retained in the mine manager’s possession at all times. o The manager will be responsible for ensuring that all mitigation measures are duly enforced. o Mining operators shall be educated in the contents of the EMP in relation to all mitigation measures required. o The water course will not be diverted or altered. o Regular environmental monitoring and management of the mine will take place in accordance with the MPRDA. o An Environmental Control Officer (ECO) shall be appointed by the applicant to manage and monitor all operational impacts, and associated processes and procedures. o On-going inspection by the Mine Manager and monthly Inspections by the ECO shall take place. Lancelot Estates cc: Background Information Document: Sand Mining Permit application Page 4 . Public Participation The sharing and dissemination of all relevant information associated with the mining permit application process forms an important component of the Public Participation Process (PPP) required as part of the preparation of a BAR and EMP. The PPP provides Interested and Affected Parties (IAPs) with the opportunity to participate in the application process from the outset. The information provided by the IAPs is of crucial importance in the gathering of information, identification of issues and concerns, and acquiring local knowledge that will contribute towards the design and implementation of the project in a manner that will promote minimisation of negative impacts and optimisation of benefits. Rehabilitation: The rehabilitation process remains the responsibility of the permit holder and involves the ripping of the stockpile/ loading area, replacement of topsoil, and planting and re-establishment of vegetation. The Applicant will be responsible for compiling a rehabilitation plan as part of the BAR and EMP process. The applicant is required to pay to the DMR a significant amount of money, relative to the perceived sensitivity of the applicable permit environment, in advance by way of cash or a bank guarantee to provide the DMR with the necessary security to ensure that the applicant in fact attends to the rehabilitation of the site upon the closure of the mine, and as per the undertakings contained in the rehabilitation plan. Closure: The permit holder is required to compile and submit a Closure Plan at the end of the mining permit period, which Plan is required to incorporate a Performance Assessment Report and Environmental Risk Report. The rehabilitation guarantee amount will only refunded to the permit holder once the DMR is satisfied that the permit holder has complied with all terms and conditions relating to: o The BAR o The EMP o The Rehabilitation Plan o The Closure Plan Lancelot Estates cc: Background Information Document: Sand Mining Permit application Page 5 CONCLUSION IAPs are encouraged to register as such and/or receive additional information regarding the project. To assist the consultants, the form enclosed below should be completed by all IAPs who wish to participate in the process going forward. Lancelot Estates cc: Background Information Document: Sand Mining Permit application Page 6 STAKEHOLDER REGISTRATION AND COMMENT FORM Title Name Surname Company Designation Address Postal code Tel No. Fax No. Email Cell No. I would like to receive my notifications by (mark with X): Post Email Fax Please indicate why you have interest in the abovementioned project? Please write your comments and questions here: Please feel free to attach a separate document Please add any person you think may be interested and affected parties: Full Name Company Address Email Tel/ Cell No.