Final Third document for comment July 2008 Scoping Phase ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROPOSED NEW 765/400 kV KAPPA SUBSTATION, WESTERN CAPE DEAT REF NO: 12/12/20/1085 Proponent: Eskom Transmission FINAL SCOPING REPORT FINAL SCOPING REPORT Project 10636 Final Scoping Report for Eskom Kappa i 10636 PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT The Western Cape buys most of its electricity from Eskom, much of which comes from coal generated energy plants elsewhere in the country. The growing demand for electricity is placing increasing pressure on Eskom’s existing power generation and transmission capacity. Eskom and the Western Cape provincial government are committed to implementing a Sustainable Energy Strategy that complements the policies and strategies of National Government. Eskom aims to improve the reliability of electricity supply to the southern areas of the country, and in particular to provide for the growth in electricity demand in the Western Cape. The proposed new Kappa 400 kV substation is a facility that will ensure easy integration of existing and future electricity supply infrastructure including the existing Droërivier and Muldersvlei substations. Apart from gaining the interconnected power systems required in the region, the substation will also prevent over-voltages and enhance the current power infrastructure capacity between the existing Omega and Gamma Substations. Eskom Transmission has appointed Zitholele Consulting (Pty) Ltd, an independent company, to conduct an EIA to evaluate the potential environmental and social impacts of the proposed project. The first phase of an EIA is the Scoping Phase. This is the phase during which public issues, concerns and suggestions are identified so that they can be evaluated by the EIA technical specialists during the next phase (the Impact Assessment Phase) of the EIA. According to the EIA Regulations, interested and affected parties must have the opportunity to comment on the proposed project and verify that all the issues raised during the Scoping Phase have been recorded. This was the main purpose of the Draft Scoping Report. The due date for comment on the draft report was 26 June 2008. All issues, comments and concerns received during the public review period were noted and incorporated into this Final Scoping Report (FSR). This FSR is submitted to National Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) to evaluate the scoping phase conducted during this EIA, as well as to approve the proposed specialist investigations to take place and the work methods proposed for the Environmental Impact Assessment Phase. Interested and affected parties will also have an opportunity to comment on the findings of the EIA, which will be presented in a draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR). After public review, the Draft EIR will be updated and submitted to the lead authority, the National Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) for a decision about the project. Summary of what the Final Scoping Report Contains Thiis report contaiins the follllowiing for comment by stakehollders: · The background to and description of the proposed project · An overview of the EIA process, including the public participation process · A description of the existing environment in the project area · The potential environmental issues and impacts which have already been identified · The terms of reference for the specialist studies · A list of comments raised to during the Scoping Phase of the EIA. AN EIA CONSISTS OF SEVERAL PHASES Scoping Impact Assessment Environmental Decision-making Phase Phase Impact Report Phase To identify issues, Detailed studies of Consolidate findings Proponent and authorities to focus the EIA potential impacts, positive of impact use EIA findings to decide and negative assessment studies if project goes ahead Final Scoping Report for Eskom Kappa 10636 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION PAGE 1 INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................1 1.1 Environmental Impact Assessment Practitioner (EAP).......................1 1.2 EAP Contact details:..........................................................................2 1.3 Proponent details...............................................................................2 1.4 Legal Requirements..........................................................................2 1.5 Objectives of this report.....................................................................5 2 PROJECT DETAILS.....................................................................................6 2.1 Project Description............................................................................6 2.2 Location.............................................................................................6 2.3 Project Schedule...............................................................................7 2.4 Project Site Alternatives.....................................................................9 2.5 Project motivation............................................................................18 3 RECEIVING ENVIRONMENT.......................................................................18 3.1 Topography.....................................................................................18 3.2 Climate............................................................................................18 3.3 Geology...........................................................................................19 3.4 Surface Water, Groundwater and Drainage Features......................19 3.5 Infrastructure...................................................................................19 3.6 Air Quality........................................................................................19 3.7 Land use.........................................................................................19 3.8 Ecology...........................................................................................20 3.9 Cultural and Historical Resources....................................................22 3.10 Sensitive Landscapes......................................................................22 3.11 Conservation value..........................................................................22 3.12 Visual Degradation..........................................................................22 4 SCOPING PROCESS.................................................................................23 4.1 Technical Process...........................................................................23 4.2 Public Participation Process............................................................24 5 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT....................................................31 5.1 Identified Potential Environmental Impacts......................................31 6 PLAN OF STUDY FOR EIA..........................................................................32 6.1 Technical Process...........................................................................32 6.2 Public Participation..........................................................................35 7 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS....................................................37 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Map indicating the approximate location of the study area within the Western Cape. A, B and C represent three alternative sites investigated, where A = Kolkies River, B = Jurgens Fontein and C = Plat Fontein. .........................................................................................7 Figure 2: Map indicating the exact location of the three alternative sites assessed in the EIA for the new proposed Kappa 400 kV Substation..........................................................................8 Final Scoping Report for Eskom Kappa 10636 iii Figure 3: Aerial photograph of the proposed Kolkies River substation site (indicated in yellow), adjacent to the R 46, with the Kolkies River indicated in blue and the existing 400 kV Droërivier-Muldersvlei No 2 line indicated in red..........................................................................9 Figure 4: Photograph indicating the proposed alternative substation site at Kolkiesrivier. ....10 Figure 5: Map indicating the location of the gypsum deposit of 50 Ha, for which the owner has mining rights...........................................................................................................................10 Figure 6: Locality map of the alternative site, Farm Kolkies River. ..........................................11 Figure 7. Aerial photograph of the proposed Jurgens Fontein substation site (indicated in green), adjacent to the R 46, with the drainage channels occurring on site indicated in blue. ........................................................................................................................................................12 Figure 8. Photograph indicating the proposed alternative substation site at Kolkiesrivier. ....13 Figure 9. Map indicating the locality of the alternative site, Farm Jurgens Fontein................14 Figure 10: Aerial photograph of the proposed Plat Fontein substation site (indicated in yellow), adjacent to R 46..............................................................................................................15 Figure 11: Photograph indicating the proposed alternative substation site at Plat Fontein. .....16 Figure 12: Map indicating the locality of the alternative site, Farm Plat Fontein.....................17 Figure 13: Photograph