Annesley Andalusite Mine: Section 24G Rectification Process. Consultation with community members 15 June 2017

Transcription

1 Annesley Andalusite Mine: Section 24G Rectification Process Consultation with community members 15 June 2017

2 AGENDA Welcome and introduction Meeting protocol Purpose of the meeting Project background Project location Project description 2

3 AGENDA CONTINUED Site plan Summary of environmental impacts Regulatory process followed Regulatory process going forward Questions / Comments 3

4 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION Introduction of parties involved in the project. Annesley Andalusite Mine Shangoni Management Services 4

5 MEETING PROTOCOL Please sign the attendance register. Please feel free to ask questions. Please ask questions that are specific to this project: Section 24G process 5

6 PURPOSE OF THE MEETING To present background information on the project to the community and to provide an opportunity for questions and comments relating to the project. This consultation forms part of the public participation process, and will be structured in the format of a Public Participation / Consultation Meeting. All concerns/comments will be recorded and included within a Public Participation Report that will be submitted to the DMR along with the S24G Technical document. 6

7 PROJECT BACKGROUND Applicant: Imerys Refractories South Africa Annesley Andalusite Mine Project Name Section 24G Rectification Process: Construction and Operation of silt traps, pollution control dam and overflow dams. Project Location Farm Annesley 109 KT 7

8 PROJECT LOCALITY MAP 8

9 PROJECT DESCRIPTION Imerys Refractory Minerals South Africa: Annesley Andalusite Mine is an existing opencast mining operation located 32km from the town of Burgersfort in the Limpopo Province. Annesley Andalusite Mine has submitted an application form to the Department of Mineral Resources on the 24th of January 2017 for Environmental Authorisation in terms of the Section 24G of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) (Act no 107 of 1998) as amended and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations, 2014 for the commencement of a listed activity. 9

10 PROJECT DESCRIPTION The application form was acknowledged by the DMR on the 6th of February A letter on further instructions for the S24G process was issued on the 28th of February On the 14th of March 2017, the DMR confirmed the administrative fine to be paid by Annesley. Annesley Andalusite Mine submitted an appeal against the administrative fine on 04 May 2017 to the Department of Environmental Affairs. 10

11 PROJECT DESCRIPTION Interested and Affected Parties are hereby notified of the appeal submission. Comments on the appeal should be submitted to within 20 days from the date of receipt of the appeal submission. Annesley Andalusite Mine constructed 2x silt traps (constructed in 2014), pollution control dam (constructed in 1986) and overflow dams (which were naturally established in 2001 and 2012). 11

12 PROJECT DESCRIPTION Activity applied for: Listed activity number 6 of GNR 984 The development of facilities or infrastructure for any process or activity which requires a permit or licence in terms of national or provincial legislation governing the generation or release of emissions, pollution or effluent, excluding 12

13 PROJECT DESCRIPTION There are two silt traps and three dams (one PCD and two overflow dams (which naturally established). The dams collects process water and water runoff from the plant during emergencies i.e. power failure and heavy rains. Name of facility Date of commencement Comments Silt trap 1 June 2014 As per google image in Silt trap 2 Appendix A PCD Dam 1986 As per IWULA dated 2013 Overflow Dam 1 December 2002 As per google image in Appendix A Overflow Dam 2 January 2012 As per google image in Appendix A Name of facility Area of the facility Capacity of the facility Silt trap m m 3 Silt trap m m 3 PCD Dam 195 m m 3 Overflow Dam m m 3 Overflow Dam m m 3 13

14 SITE PLAN 14

15 SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS The following were assessed in the risk assessment: Geology Air quality Topography Soil Land capability and land use Vegetation Fauna Surface water Groundwater Protected area and conservation planning Archaeology (Heritage Resources) Socio-economic All environmental impacts identified are rated low after mitigation. 15

16 SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS Geology Impact: No impact on geology is anticipated to have occurred during the small-scale excavation of the silt traps. Air Quality Impact: Small scale, short term deterioration of air quality due to dust generated during the small-scale excavation of the silt traps and PCD. Topography Impact: The construction of the silt traps and pollution control dam, and the natural establishment of the overflow dams has led to an alteration of the topography 16

17 SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS Soil Impact: Impact on soil namely soil compaction (as a result of movement of heavy vehicles) may have occurred during the construction of the facilities. Impact: In addition, the soil may have been exposed to wind and stormwater following clearance of vegetation thus resulting in soil erosion. Impact: Soil contamination may have occurred during construction and operation or may continue to occur during the operation of the silt traps, PCD and overflow dams due to these facilities not having been lined. 17

18 SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS Land capability and land use Impact: The area is said to be a suitable grazing land. The area surrounding the mine is used for grazing by local livestock farmers. The silt traps, PCD and overflow dams are located within an existing mining right area. The land capability and land use of the area has already been impacted on by current mining activities. Low impact on the land capability and land use is anticipated to have been caused by the construction and operation of the above-mentioned facilities. During the site visit, cattle were observed on site. The facilities pose a threat for the cattle as the cattle may fall into the facilities 18

19 SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS Loss of vegetation Impact: According to the report titled: Flora report for a portion of the farm Annesley 109 KT, dated June 2016, and compiled by Galago Environmental Biodiversity and Aquatic Specialists, the area where the pollution control dams are located is located within a transformed vegetation unit. It is further mentioned that the location associated with the silt traps, PCD and overflow dams area is in an area with low sensitivity. There are no suitable habitats for any known species of conservation concern on the study site Therefore, based on the above, loss of significant vegetation during construction would have been low. Alien invasive species Impact: Establishment of alien invasive species may have occurred as a result of disturbance. 19

20 SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS Fauna Impact: Clearing of vegetation communities may have resulted in a loss of habitat or fragmentation of habitat and may have altered the dynamics of fauna assemblages. Note: the silt traps, PCD and overflow dams are located within an existing mine, in an area that is stated to the in a transformed vegetation unit and of low sensitivity. Fragmentation of habitat might have already occurred prior to construction of the facilities. Impact on fauna during construction is anticipated to have been low. 20

21 SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS Surface water Impact: Spillages, seepages or overflows from the affected water containment facilities could potentially impact on the receiving surface water environment. Spillages and overflows could directly alter the hydrochemistry of the natural surface water environment while groundwater contribution to baseflow can result in an indirect impact. Although overflows and seepages is likely to occur, no perennial rivers occur within the proximity of the site and an assumption can be made that baseflow will not occur as the streams most probably react as losing streams, losing water to the aquifers rather than groundwater feeding these streams. The closest perennial river is the Olifants River situated approximately 5 km towards the north-east. 21

22 SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS Groundwater Impact: The probability of water seeping from the dams is therefore high. However, due to the general hydrogeological setting, absence of any preferential flow paths and significant receptors, and keeping in mind the low yielding boreholes within the study area, groundwater and associated plume movement will be extremely slow and localised. The host rock will have a typical hydraulic conductivity of 10-6 however not be determined due to the absence of downgradient/source monitoring boreholes. It is recommended that the extent of contamination be determined by drilling additional boreholes downgradient from the site and testing the groundwater.to

23 SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS Protected area and conservation planning Impact: According to the Greater Tubatse Local Municipality (GTM) Spatial Development Framework (SDF), dated 2007, There are however numerous legally protected nature reserves around the GTM borders including Ohrigstad Dam Nature Reserve (approximately 75 km form Annesley Mine), Wolkberg Wilderness Area (approximately 41 km form Annesley Mine), Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve (approximately 62 km from Annesley Mine) and Lekgalameetse Nature (Approximately 26 km from Annesley Mine). Although, according to the critical biodiversity area map (refer to Figure 22 in the EIAR), the area is located within an Ecological Support Area, the area should also have already been earmarked as mining in the municipalities Integrated Development Plan and SDF. Based on the distance of the mine from the protected areas and that the facilities are located within an existing mine, impact on protected areas and conservation plans is considered to be low. 23

24 SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS Archaeology Impact: According to the approved Annesley EMPR dated August 1993, no sites of archaeological and/or cultural interest have then been identified on the mining site. (BSS, 2008) Malepe Tribal Authority graves were identified during the phase 1 heritage Impact Assessment that was undertaken for Annesley mine s project to expand its mining activities before (Nzumbululo, 2013) The area where the silt traps, PCD and overflow dams are located is not included in the area where the expansion of the mining activities were undertaken but rather the area where mining and related activities originally took place, which according to the combined Havercroft and Annesley Andalusite Mine s EMPr stated that there are no sites of archaeological and/or cultural interest that were then identified on the mining site Based on the above available information and due to the fact that the mine (including the plant) has been in operation since 1980, the impact of the silt taps, PCD and overflow dams on heritage resources is considered to have been negligible. 24

25 SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS Socio-Economic Impact: The PCD and silt trap and overflow dams are located within the Annesley Andalusite mine boundary area and forms part of the current mining and related activities undertaken. Therefore, no additional negative socio-economic impact (in terms of social or economic well-being) has occurred or is anticipated to occur as a result of the construction and operation of the mentioned silt traps, PCD and overflow dams. 25

26 REGULATORY PROCESS FOLLOWED Application form Draft Section 24G Rectification Technical Report Application date: 24 January 2017 Notifications were sent via: 19 May 2017 Newspaper advert in Platinum Gazette on the 19th of May Site notices Forum Meeting (31 May 2016): Consultation with community representatives Community Meeting (15 June 2017) Consultation with the community members Minutes: Compile and distribute minutes of the meeting. Public review 18 May June 2017 The I&APs have been provided with the opportunity to review the draft BAR for 30 days. Viewing stations Annesley Andalusite mine s reception offices; Public viewing place in the village; and Shangoni website (

27 REGULATORY PROCESS GOING FORWARD Final Section 24G Rectification Technical Report and EMPr Public Participation Report: Compilation of Public Participation report for inclusion as an annexure to the final Section 24G Technical report. Final Section 24G Rectification Technical Report Submission due date: 19 June

28 QUESTIONS / COMMENTS 28