NOTICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS: APPLICATION FOR THE MINING OF SAND AT BORROW PIT MR771/8.6/R/80, VAN WYKSVLEI, NORTHERN CAPE.

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1 ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORISATION AMENDMENT APPLICATION NOTICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS: APPLICATION FOR THE MINING OF SAND AT BORROW PIT MR771/8.6/R/80, VAN WYKSVLEI, NORTHERN CAPE. BACKGROUND INFORMATION DOCUMENT (BID) AND INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE 15 June 2018 GNEC No: *Please Note: A Copy of the document currently on review is available at the Van Wyksvlei Public Library and on the GNEC Website. 1. PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT The purpose of this document is to: Provide stakeholders with information about the proposed mining of the proposed borrow pit MR771/8.6/R/80, Van Wyksvlei, Northern Cape; Introduce and explain the Basic Assessment and Public Participation process to be followed for the proposed mining activities, in terms of applicable environmental legislation (National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), (Act No.107 of 1998), as amended; Invite all stakeholders to register as an Interested and Affected Party for the proposed development. Notify all stakeholders that a copy of the Draft Basic Assessment Report is available for comment from Friday the 22 nd of June 2018 until Wednesday the 25 th of July 2018, at the Van Wyksvlei Public Library at Main Street, Van Wyksvlei. Please contact Ms Arina Phillipus at PROJECT DESCRIPTION The Kareeberg Municipality proposed to mine sand from the borrow pit listed below to use the sand as a bedding material for the previously authorised water pipeline to be constructed between Carnarvon and Van Wyksvlei. Borrow-pit Name Farm Name Hereinafter referred to as: MR771/8.6/R/50 Vredelus (7) Km 8.6 Borrow Pit P.O. Box

2 In order to meet the requirements stipulated in the Minerals & Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (Act No. 28 of 2002) (MPRDA) and associated Regulations (GN R 7949) it was imperative that an Environmental Management Programme (EMPr) should be undertaken to comprehensively address the environmental impacts and propose suitable mitigation measures, pertaining to the proposed Km 8.6 borrow pit on MR 771. A comprehensive scoping exercise as part of the Environmental Management Programme (EMPr) process was undertaken to fully comply with the requirements of the MPRDA. Guillaume Nel Environmental Consultants (GNEC) has been appointed by Kareeberg Municipality to facilitate the requirements of a Basic Assessment process for the proposed borrow pit MR771/8.6/R/80 application. Taking the above mentioned proposal of the proposed development into account, the following legislation was considered: 3. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ACT (Act No. 107 of 1998), AS AMENDED 4 DECEMBER 2014 Environmental Assessment The National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) (Act No. 107 of 1998) does not identify the proposed mining of Borrow Pit MR771/8.6/R/80 as an activity that constitute additional investigation. Therefore, application is made under the Minerals & Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (Act No. 28 of 2002) only. Definition of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) An environmental impact assessment is a good planning tool to assist in the identification, evaluation and assessment of potential positive and negative impacts of the proposed mining on the environment. It also recommends ways to avoid or reduce negative impacts, and ensure that developments are sustainable without affecting people s lives and the environment adversely. However, a full Basic Assessment Process, as stipulated in NEMA (Act 107 of 1998) Regulation 982, will be followed with the Department of Mineral Resources acting as the competent authority. 4. POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES Potential environmental issues for the proposed residential development that will be addressed in the assessment include inter alia: Impact on fauna and flora: No significant impacts are expected on any fauna or flora in the area. Furthermore, mining activities (footprint) will be restricted and adjacent areas will be regarded as no-go areas. Freshwater: P.O. Box

3 The proposed mining operations will not have an impact on any freshwater resources. Noise pollution: There will be a temporary noise impact due to the construction of the development, however this will be short lived during the mining activities. Visual impact: The proposed mining operations will not have a significant visual impact. Traffic Impact: There will be mining vehicles moving to and from the proposed site during the operational phase of the development, however this will only be temporary until operation is complete. 5. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION In terms of the NEMA, public participation forms an integral part of the Basic Assessment process. The public participation process provides people who may be affected by the proposed development with an opportunity to provide comment and to raise issues of concern about the project or to make suggestions that may result in enhanced benefits for the project. Comments and issues raised during the public participation process will be captured, evaluated and included in a Comment and Response Report, which will be incorporated into the Final Basic Assessment Report for authorisation. 6. DELIVERABLES The environmental assessment will culminate in the compilation of Basic Assessment Report, and an Environmental Management Plan. These documents will be submitted to the Department of Environment and Nature Conservation (DENC), who are the regulatory authority responsible for the review of these reports within the Northern Cape. The DENC has to reach a decision as to whether, and under what conditions, the project may proceed, based on environmental considerations. An Environmental Authorisation will be issued based on the information provided in the Basic Assessment Report and the Environmental Management Plan. Interested and Affected Parties who have registered will be notified of the environmental authorisation. 7. TIMEFRAMES Activity The table below provides an indication of the proposed timeframes for the project. Estimated Timeframe Compile first draft Basic Assessment Report and EMP June 2018 First Draft BAR submitted to DMR 22 June 2018 Public Participation Process (30 days) 22 June 25 July 2018 Possible Specialist Studies July August 2018 Compile Application for Environmental Authorisation August 2018 Submission of Application for Environmental Authorisation August 2018 Compile Second Draft BAR and EMP August 2018 P.O. Box

4 Second Draft BAR submitted to DMR August 2018 Second Public Participation Process (30 days) August September 2018 Compile Final BAR & EMP October 2018 Submission of Final BAR & EMP October 2018 DMR to Acknowledge Receipt of Final Report October 2018 DMR Review of BAR & EMP October February 2018 Authorisation Mining Permit & EA February 2018 Authorisation Notify all I&APs February INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE Guillaume Nel Environmental Consultants were appointed as an independent environmental consultancy by Kareeberg Municipality to facilitate the Environmental Impact Assessment Application and public participation process for the requirements of NEMA for the proposed mining of sand on Farm Vredelus (No. 7). A hardcopy of the first Draft Basic Assessment Report will be available at the Van Wyksvlei Public library (Ms. Arina Philippus (Cell: ) and an electronic copy will also be available on GNEC s website ( We would like to invite and encourage all stakeholders to complete and return the enclosed registration sheet and submit any written comments to: GNEC Att: Carina Nel P.O. Box 2632,, 7620 Tel: Fax: carina@gnec.co.za GNEC Ref No: Please submit the registration sheet to GNEC by no later than Wednesday, 25 July P.O. Box

5 NOTICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS FOR THE APPLICATION FOR THE MINING OF SAND AT BORROW PIT MR771/8.6/R/80, VAN WYKSVLEI, NORTHERN CAPE. REGISTRATION AND COMMENT SHEET 22 June 2018 GNEC REF: Title Name and Surname Company Name/Interest Postal-or-Residential Address Area Postal Code Tel: Cell Phone Fax: Address Please indicate you preferred method of communication (Please indicate with an X) Fax Post Comments (You are welcome to attach more sheets if necessary (Your comments will be considered in the Basic Assessment process) Please provide details of any other person/company whom you would like us to add to our mailing list Title Name and Surname Company Name Tel: Fax No: Please complete and return to GNEC by no later than Wednesday 25 July Attention Carina Nel P.O. Box 2632,, 7620 Tel: , Fax: Thank you for your participation P.O. Box