Palaeontological Impact Assessment for the proposed WWTW near Ngwenya Lodge, Mpumalanga Province Desktop Study For Nuleaf Planning and Environmental 04 March 2018 Prof Marion Bamford Palaeobotanist P Bag 652, WITS 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa [email protected] Expertise of Specialist The Palaeontologist Consultant is: Prof Marion Bamford Qualifications: PhD (Wits Univ, 1990); FRSSAf, ASSAf Experience: 30 years research; 22 years PIA studies Declaration of Independence This report has been compiled by Professor Marion Bamford, of the University of the Witwatersrand, sub-contracted by Nuleaf Planning and Environmental, Pretoria, South Africa. The views expressed in this report are entirely those of the author and no other interest was displayed during the decision making process for the Project. Specialist: Prof Marion Bamford Signature: 1 Executive Summary The proposed new sewerage treatment facility for Ngwenya Lodge is on Portion 213 Tenbosch 162, situated within the Nkomazi local Municipality, in the Ehlanzeni District Municipality, approximately 15 km northwest of Komatipoort. Ancient volcanic rocks surround the region but the site is on undifferentiated Permo-Triassic sediments. From borehole cores the Vryheid and Volksrust Formations (Ecca Group), Nyoka Formation (Molteno Group) and Ntabene and Cave Sandstone of the Clarens Group Formation could occur below the site. Surface soils have already been disturbed by agricultural activities but there is a very small chance that fossils could occur below the surface. It is recommended, therefore, that a Chance Find Protocol be included in the EMPr so that once excavations commence the responsible person will check for fossils and contact the palaeontologist concerned to assess the scientific value of the fossils. As far as the palaeontological heritage is concerned the project can continue and no further assessment is required until fossils are found. 2 Table of Contents Expertise of Specialist.................................................................................................................... 1 Declaration of Independence ......................................................................................................... 1 1. Background .................................................................................................................................... 4 2. Methods and Terms of Reference ................................................................................................. 5 3 i. Project location and geological context ..................................................................................... 7 3 ii. Palaeontological context ........................................................................................................... 8 4. Impact assessment ........................................................................................................................ 9 5. Assumptions and uncertainties .................................................................................................... 10 6. Recommendation ......................................................................................................................... 11 7. Chance Find Protocol……………………………………………………………………………………..11 8. References .................................................................................................................................. 12 3 1. Background In terms of the 2014 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations, published in terms of Section 24(5) of the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 (NEMA), the Project Applicant has given notice of its intention to apply for Environmental Authorisation from the Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs (DARDLEA) as the competent authority, for the proposed development of a sewage treatment facility near Ngwenya Lodge, Mpumalanga Province. The Basic Assessment process provided for in Regulation 19 read with Appendix 1 of GN R326 of 4 December 2014 of the 2014 EIA Regulations, as amended published under NEMA will be followed for the application for Environmental Authorisation. The reason for the development of a new sewage treatment facility near Ngwenya Lodge is to replace the current aging facility. Significant advances have been made in sewage treatment systems technology and the applicant now wishes to install a better, more environmentally responsible facility. The affected property, Portion 213 Tenbosch 162, is situated within the Nkomazi local Municipality, in the Ehlanzeni District Municipality, approximately 15 km northwest of Komatipoort. The proposed development entails the construction of a new Sewage Treatment Facility to serve both the existing Ngwenya Lodge, its proposed extension and eventually the Ngwenya Royale Development. The facility, located on Portion 213 Tenbosch 162, will comprise a new Sewage Treatment Plant (Violeo System, Two Phases 400m3 & 300m3, 30 x 15m each), associated pipelines to discharge treated wastewater to an existing dam on site and connections to the existing Ngwenya Lodge, as well as a new sump. The current sewage treatment facility will also be decommissioned. As required here is the palaeontological impact assessment for the project. Table 1: Specialist report requirements in terms of Appendix 6 of the EIA Regulations (2014) A specialist report prepared in terms of the Environmental Impact Relevant section in Regulations of 2014 must contain: report Details of the specialist who prepared the report Appendix A The expertise of that person to compile a specialist report including a curriculum Appendix A vitae A declaration that the person is independent in a form as may be specified by the Page 1 competent authority An indication of the scope of, and the purpose for which, the report was prepared Section 1 The date and season of the site investigation and the relevance of the season to N/A the outcome of the assessment A description of the methodology adopted in preparing the report or carrying out Section 2 the specialised process 4 The specific identified sensitivity of the site related to the activity and its Section 4 associated structures and infrastructure Figure 2 An identification of any areas to be avoided, including buffers N/A A map superimposing the activity including the associated structures and infrastructure on the environmental sensitivities of the site including areas to be N/A avoided, including buffers; A description of any assumptions made and any uncertainties or gaps in Section 5 knowledge; A description of the findings and potential implications of such findings on the impact of the proposed activity, including identified alternatives, on the Section 4 environment Any mitigation measures for inclusion in the EMPr Section 7 Any conditions for inclusion in the environmental authorisation n/a Any monitoring requirements for inclusion in the EMPr or environmental Section 7 authorisation A reasoned opinion as to whether the proposed activity or portions thereof should N/A be authorised If the opinion is that the proposed activity or portions thereof should be authorised, any avoidance, management and mitigation measures that should be N/A included in the EMPr, and where applicable, the closure plan A description of any consultation process that was undertaken during the course N/A of carrying out the study A summary and copies if any comments that were received during any N/A consultation process Any other information requested by the competent authority. N/A 5 Figure 1: Detailed map from Google Earth of the proposed WWTW route near Ngwenya Lodge, northwest of Komatiepoort, on Portion 213 Tenbosch 162 farm, Mpumalanga Province. Sections are shown in white, blue and green lines 2. Methods and Terms of Reference The Terms of Reference (ToR) for this study were to undertake a PIA and provide feasible management measures to comply with the requirements of SAHRA. The methods employed to address the ToR included: 1. Consultation of geological maps, literature, palaeontological databases, published and unpublished records to determine the likelihood of fossils occurring in the affected areas. Sources included records housed at the Evolutionary Studies Institute at the University of the Witwatersrand and SAHRA databases; 2. Where necessary, site visits by a qualified palaeontologist to locate any fossils and assess their importance; 3. Where appropriate, collection of unique or rare fossils with the necessary permits for storage and curation at an appropriate facility (not applicable to this assessment); and 4. Determination of fossils representivity or scientific importance to decide if the fossils can be destroyed or a representative sample collected. 6 3. Geology and Palaeontology i. Project location and geological context Figure 2: Geological map of the area northwest of Komatipoort, Mpumalanga Province where the proposed WWTW will be situated. The proposed site is indicated by the blue arrow. Abbreviations of the rock types are explained in Table 2. Map enlarged from the Geological Survey 1: 1 000 000 map 1984. Table 2: Explanation of symbols for the geological map and approximate ages (Cornell et al., 2006; Duncan and Marsh, 2006; Erikssen et al., 2006. Johnson et al., 2006; Partridge et al., 2006). SG = Supergroup; Fm = Formation. Symbol Group/Formation Lithology Approximate Age Undifferentiated Karoo P-Tr Permo-Triassic sediments, shale, coal, Ca 300 – 180 Ma sandstone, mudstone Movene Fm, Lebombo Jm Basalt Ca 195 –