FINAL BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT - PROPOSED NGODWANA DAM REMEDIATION (REF: 1/3/1/16/1E-268) FINAL BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT (FBAR) in terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2014, promulgated in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998), as amended. File Reference Number: 1/3/1/16/1E-268 Project Title: Proposed Remediation of the Sappi Ngodwana Dam, Ngodwana, Mpumalanga Province. Prepared for: Errol Von Berg Sappi Paper and Paper Packaging Sappi Southern Africa Ltd Ngodwana Mill Private Bag X1001, Ngodwana, 1209 Tel: +27 (0)13 734 6644 Fax +27 (0)86 681 7995 Email: [email protected] Website: www.sappi.com Compiled by: Ecoleges Environmental Consultants 2 Generaal Street eNtokozweni (Machadodorp) P.O. Box 516, Machadodorp, 1170 Tel: +27 (0)83 644-7179 Fax: +27 (0)86 697 9316 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ecoleges.co.za i MEMBERS: J.A. Bowers (M Tech, Pr.Sci.Nat. MGSSA) & S.D. MacGregor (M.Sc., Pr.Sci.Nat.) Reg: 2006/023163/23 FINAL BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT - PROPOSED NGODWANA DAM REMEDIATION (REF: 1/3/1/16/1E-268) DOCUMENT CONTROL Table 1: Document Control. PHASE AUTHOR STATUS REVISION DISTRIBUTED ON SIGNATURE Author Philip Draft 00 04 September 2020 Radford Review Justin Draft 01 10 October 2020 Bowers Approved Justin Draft 01 28 October 2020 Bowers Approved Justin Final 00 12 January 2021 Bowers Table 2: General Site Information. Descriptions of all affected farm portions Farm Ngodwana 1030JT 21-digit Surveyor General codes of all affected farm portions Farm Ngodwana 1030 JT T0JT00000000103000000 Copies of deeds of all affected farm portions Appendix A: Annexure C GPS coordinates of approximate centre of dam wall 25°34‘58.92“S, 30°40‘21.09“E ii MEMBERS: J.A. Bowers (M Tech, Pr.Sci.Nat. MGSSA) & S.D. MacGregor (M.Sc., Pr.Sci.Nat.) Reg: 2006/023163/23 FINAL BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT - PROPOSED NGODWANA DAM REMEDIATION (REF: 1/3/1/16/1E-268) Table 3: Checklist: Content of BAR Report in terms of Appendix 1 of the EIA Regulations, 2014, as amended. (1) “A basic assessment report must contain the information that is necessary for the competent authority to consider and come to a decision on the application, and must include- “ (a) details of- Page/Appendix (i) the EAP who prepared the report; and Page 16 (ii) the expertise of the EAP, including a curriculum vitae; Page 17 (b) the location the activity, including: (i) the 21-digit Surveyor General code of each cadastral land parcel; Page ii & 19 (ii) where available, the physical address and farm name; Page ii & 19 (iii) where the required information in items (i) and (ii) is not available, the N/A coordinates of the boundary of the property or properties; (c) a plan which locates the proposed activity or activities applied for Appendix A: as well as associated structures and infrastructure at an appropriate Annexure A scale, or, if it is (i) a linear activity, a description and coordinates of the corridor in which the N/A proposed activity or activities is to be undertaken; or (ii) on land where the property has not been defined, the coordinates within N/A which the activity is to be undertaken; (d) a description of the scope of the proposed activity, including- Page 20 - 33 (i) all listed and specified activities triggered and being applied for; and Page 20 - 22 (ii) a description of the activities to be undertaken including associated Page 32 - 33 structures and infrastructure; (e) a description of the policy and legislative context within which the Page 34 - 43 development is proposed including; (i) an identification of all legislation, policies, plans, guidelines, spatial tools, Page 34 - 36 municipal development planning frameworks, and instruments that are applicable to this activity and have been considered in the preparation of the report; and (ii) how the proposed activity complies with and responds to the legislation Page 37 - 43 and policy context, plans, guidelines, tools frameworks, and instruments; (f) a motivation for the need and desirability for the proposed Page 44 - 67 development including the need and desirability of the activity in the context of the preferred location; (g) a motivation for the preferred site, activity and technology Page 68 - 72 alternative; (h) a full description of the process followed to reach the proposed Page 73- 114 preferred alternative within the site, including - iii MEMBERS: J.A. Bowers (M Tech, Pr.Sci.Nat. MGSSA) & S.D. MacGregor (M.Sc., Pr.Sci.Nat.) Reg: 2006/023163/23 FINAL BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT - PROPOSED NGODWANA DAM REMEDIATION (REF: 1/3/1/16/1E-268) (i) details of all the alternatives considered; Page 74 - 114 (ii) details of the public participation process undertaken in terms of Page 115 - 120 regulation 41 of the Regulations, including copies of the supporting documents and inputs; (iii) a summary of the issues raised by interested and affected parties, and Appendix C an indication of the manner in which the issues were incorporated, or the reasons for not including them; (iv) the environmental attributes associated with the alternatives focusing on Page 121 - 128 the geographical, physical, biological, social, economic, heritage and cultural aspects; (v) the impacts and risks identified for each alternative, including the nature, Appendix D significance, consequence, extent, duration and probability of the impacts, including the degree to which these impacts- (aa) can be reversed; (bb) may cause irreplaceable loss of resources; and (cc) can be avoided, managed or mitigated; (vi) the methodology used in determining and ranking the nature, Appendix D significance, consequences, extent, duration and probability of potential environmental impacts and risks associated with alternatives; (vii) positive and negative impacts that the proposed activity and alternatives Appendix D will have on the environment and on the community that may be affected focusing on the geographical, physical, biological, social, economic, heritage and cultural aspects; (viii) the possible mitigation measures that could be applied and level of Appendix F residual risk; (ix) the outcome of the site selection matrix; Page 129 (x) if no alternatives, including alternative locations for the activity were N/A investigated, the motivation for not considering such; and (xi) a concluding statement indicating the preferred alternatives, including Page 129 preferred location of the activity (i) full description of the process undertaken to identify, assess and Appendix D rank the impacts the activity will impose on the preferred location through the life of the activity, including; (i) a description of all environmental issues and risks that were identified Appendix D during the environmental impact assessment process; and (ii) an assessment of the significance of each issue and risk and an indication Appendix D of the extent to which the issue and risk could be avoided or addressed by the adoption of mitigation measures; (j) an assessment of each identified potentially significant impact and Appendix D risk, including- iv MEMBERS: J.A. Bowers (M Tech, Pr.Sci.Nat. MGSSA) & S.D. MacGregor (M.Sc., Pr.Sci.Nat.) Reg: 2006/023163/23 FINAL BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT - PROPOSED NGODWANA DAM REMEDIATION (REF: 1/3/1/16/1E-268) (i) cumulative impacts; Appendix D (ii) the nature, significance and consequences of the impact and risk; Appendix D (iii) the extent and duration of the impact and risk; Appendix D (iv) the probability of the impact and risk occurring; Appendix D (v) the degree to which the impact and risk can be reversed; Appendix D (vi) the degree to which the impact and risk may cause irreplaceable loss of Appendix D resources; and (vii) the degree to which the impact and risk can be avoided, managed or Appendix D mitigated; (k) where applicable, a summary of the findings and impact Page 134 - 148 management measures identified in any specialist report complying with Appendix 6 to these Regulations and an indication as to how these findings and recommendations have been included in the final report; (l) an environmental impact statement which contains- Page 148 (i) a summary of the key findings of the environmental impact assessment: Appendix D (ii) a map at an appropriate scale which superimposes the proposed activity Appendix A and its associated structures and infrastructure on the environmental Annexure B sensitivities of the preferred site indicating any areas that should be avoided, including buffers; and (iii) a summary of the positive and negative impacts and risks of the proposed Appendix D activity and identified alternatives; (m) based on the assessment, and where applicable, impact Appendix F management measures from specialist reports, the recording of proposed impact management outcomes and the development for inclusion in the EMPr; (n) any aspects which were conditional to the findings of the Page 149 assessment either by the EAP or specialist which are to be included as conditions of authorisation; (o) a description of any assumptions, uncertainties and gaps in Appendix D knowledge which relate to the assessment and mitigation measures proposed; (p) a reasoned opinion as to whether the proposed activity should or Page 150 should not be authorised, and if the opinion is that it should be authorised, any conditions that should be made in respect of that authorisation; (q) where the proposed activity does not include operational aspects, Page 151 the period for which the environmental authorisation is required, the date on which the activity will be concluded, and the post construction monitoring requirements finalised; (r) an undertaking under oath or affirmation by the EAP in relation to- Page 153 (i) the correctness of the information provided in the reports; Page 153 (ii) the inclusion of comments and inputs from stakeholders and l & APs; Page 153 v MEMBERS: J.A. Bowers (M Tech, Pr.Sci.Nat.