BASIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT for the BEER PROPERTY MANAGEMENT FILLING STATION

Transcription

1 BASIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT for the BEER PROPERTY MANAGEMENT FILLING STATION DEDEA Ref: EC04/C/LN1/M/ BACKGROUND INFORMATION DOCUMENT & INVITATION TO COMMENT: Return address for comments: EOH Coastal & Environmental Services Justin Green 67 African Street Grahamstown P.O Box 934 Grahamstown, 6140 Tel: (046) Fax: (046) COASTAL & ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES 1 BEER PROPERTIES BID

2 AIM OF THIS DOCUMENT The purpose of this document is to ensure that people interested in or affected by the proposed project are provided with information about the proposal, the process being followed and provided with an opportunity to be involved in the environmental assessment process. Registering as an Interested and/or Affected Party (I&AP) allows individuals or groups the opportunity to contribute ideas, issues, and concerns regarding the project. I&APs also have an opportunity to review all reports and submit comments on those reports. All comments received are included in the reports submitted to the Competent Authority. THE PROPONENT Beer Property Management (Pty) Ltd, a land development company has proposed the installation of underground fuel storage tanks and associated infrastructure on Erf 9562, Grahamstown, Cacadu District Municipality, Eastern Cape Province. THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PRACTITIONER EOH COASTAL & ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES (CES) specialises in environmental and social impact assessments and environmental management has been appointed by Beer Properties to conduct the required Basic Assessment for the proposed project. CES was established in 1990 when we were involved as lead consultants for a large mineral mining Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in South Africa, and since completing that first EIA, we have expanded our scope of work to provide a wide variety of environmental advisory services to public and private-sector clients both within South Africa and internationally. PROJECT DESCRIPTION The project will entail the following operations: The removal of an existing fuel tank; The insertion of new fuel tanks with a capacity of 98,000L. COASTAL & ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES 2 BEER PROPERTIES BID

3 FIGURE 1: LOCATION OF THE FUEL STATION IN GRAHAMSTOWN COASTAL & ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES 3 BEER PROPERTIES BID

4 FIGURE 2: AERIAL OVERVIEW OF THE FUEL STATION LOCATION. COASTAL & ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES 4 BEER PROPERTIES BID

5 THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS EOH Coastal & Environmental Services (CES) has been appointed by Beer Property Management (Pty) Ltd to undertake the necessary environmental investigations for the insertion of a new fuel tank at an existing and operational Filling Station, and to apply for approval from the Competent Authority (Department of Economic Development Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT)), as required by South Africa s environmental legislation. RELEVANT LEGISLATION The Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations (2010), promulgated in terms of section 24(5) of Chapter 5 of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA)(Act No 107 of 1998, as amended) identify activities which may not commence without an authorisation from the competent authority, who in this case is Department of Environmental Affairs, (DEA- National). In order to apply for authorisation for the development, the assessment and communication of potential impacts of the activities must follow the procedure as described in regulations 26 to 35 of Government Notice No. R 543 of the EIA Regulations. The proposed project is subject to a Basic Assessment Report in terms of the following listed activities: GNR. 544 ITEM 13 GNR. 544 ITEM 42: LISTED ACTIVITY AS DESCRIBED IN GN R.544, 545 AND 546 The construction of facilities or infrastructure for the storage, or for the storage and handling, of a dangerous good, where such storage occurs in containers with a combined capacity of 80 but not exceeding 500 cubic metres The expansion of facilities for the storage, or storage and handling, of a dangerous good, where the capacity of such storage facilities will be expanded by 80 cubic metres or more. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT ACTIVITY THAT TRIGGERS LISTED ACTIVITY The filling station will require the insertion of a new fuel storage tank. The new tank will have a capacity of approximately 93 cubic meters. The filling station will have its previous storage tank removed. A new storage tank will be placed in the place of the old tank. The new tank will have a capacity of approximately 93 cubic meters. APPROACH TO THIS BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT This Basic Assessment study will commence with an application to the Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs & Tourism (DEDEAT) for Environmental Authorisation (EA) of the proposed project. A Public Participation Process (PPP) and reporting on the outcome of the BA, then follow (Figure 3Error! Reference source not found.). A Draft Basic Assessment Report (BAR) will be compiled which will comprehensively describe the activities and impacts that the project may have on the receiving environment, including specialist reports and details from the PPP process. The Draft BAR and COASTAL & ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES 5 BEER PROPERTIES BID

6 Environmental Management Plan (EMP) will be submitted for a 40 day public comment period. Subsequent to the review and commenting period, a Final BAR will be compiled for submission to DEDEAT. This will include all public comments and response to issues raised by I&APs. Should the authorities grant approval via an environmental authorisation, all registered I&APs will be notified accordingly and given the opportunity to appeal against the decision, should they so wish. 1. Traffic Impact POTENTIAL IMPACTS AND BENEFITS The proposed development may have an effect on the volume and characteristics of the traffic moving in the area. 2. Groundwater The storage and handling of petrochemicals presents the opportunity for the contamination groundwater. Guidance shall be sort from the Department of Water Affairs as to whether they require a groundwater assessment and the level of study. 3. Stormwater management The increased coverage of paved areas may increase the stormwater runoff created by the sites hard surfaces. A stormwater management plan shall form part of the assessment. COASTAL & ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES 6 BEER PROPERTIES BID

7 FIGURE 3: PROPOSED BASIC ASSESSMENT PROCESS INCLUDING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. COASTAL & ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES 7 BEER PROPERTIES BID

8 HOW CAN YOU BE INVOLVED? A Public Participation Process (PPP) is being conducted as part of the BAR. The aim of the PPP is to allow everyone who is interested in, or likely to be affected by, the proposed development to provide input into the process. The Public Participation Process will include: Advertisements in the EP Herald and the Grocotts Mail; Notice Boards on site; Circulation of the BID (this document) to all I&APs and stakeholders; Registration of all I&APs and stakeholders; Community and focus group meetings; and Review of all comments by registered I&APs and stakeholders. If you consider yourself an interested and/or affected person/party, it is important that you become and remain involved in the PPP. In order to do so please follow the steps below in order to ensure that you are continually informed of the project developments and will ensure your opportunity to raise issues and concerns pertaining to the project. STEP 1: Please register by responding to our notification and invitation, with your name and contact details (details provided on cover page and below). As a registered I&AP you will be informed of all meetings, report reviews and project developments throughout the EIA process. STEP 2: Please send us any comments, concerns or queries you may have in relation to the proposed Fuel Station activities. STEP 3: Attend meetings that will be held throughout the BAR process. As a registered I&AP, you will be invited to these meetings. CES is required to engage with all private and public parties that may be interested and/or affected by the proposed Fuel Station BAR, in order to distribute information for review and comment in a transparent manner. In the same light, it is important for I&APs to note the following: 1. In order for CES to continue engaging with you, please ENSURE that you register on our database by contacting the person below. 2. As the BAR process is regulated by specific review and comment timeframes, it is your responsibility to submit your comments within these timeframes. Who to contact for enquiries and/comments: 67 African Street Grahamstown, 6139 Justin Green P.O Box 934 Grahamstown 6140 Tel: (046) Fax: (046) Justin.Green@eoh.co.za COASTAL & ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES 8 BEER PROPERTIES BID

9 I hereby wish to register as an Interested and Affected Party (I&AP) for the Beer Property Fuel Station BAR process Name: Organization: Postal address: Phone #: Fax #: My initial comments, issues or concerns are: Other individuals, stakeholders, organisations or entities that should be registered are: Name: Organization: Postal address: Phone #: Fax #: Please return details to: Justin Green: P.O. Box 934, Grahamstown, 6139 Telephone: (046) Fax: (046) COASTAL & ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES 9 BEER PROPERTIES BID