EIA-REP-325d-12 _BB_ - 201.09.14.pdf - SAHRA

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• The clearance of vegetation on the proposed site during construction of mining infrastructure such as the plant area, change houses, offices and workshops. • Clearing of vegetation for the construction of roads from the box cut and opencast operations and the processing area; • Clearing of vegetation for the establishment of the opencast operations; • The clearing of vegetation for the construction camp, temporary access onto the site, spoil areas, materials storage and topsoil stockpiles. Description of the impact: The grassland and hydrophilic vegetation on site provides habitat for faunal species and links the area with other areas of open space. They are therefore able to provide important migration corridors and dispersal patterns for faunal species by linking various sections of open land that would otherwise be fragmented from one another. Should construction occur, the possibility that the connectivity between areas of open space and therefore the migration corridor, would be lost, is high. The wetlands on site furthermore provide unique habitat for faunal species and links the aquatic and terrestrial areas with other areas of open space. They are therefore able to provide important migration corridors for faunal species by linking various sections of open land that would otherwise be fragmented from one another. Should construction and mining occur, the possibility that the connectivity between these wetlands, and therefore the migration corridor, would be lost is high. Mitigation: • The Ecological assessment conducted in terms of the Usutu site suggests the demarcation of ecological corridors to link sensitive habitats. This should be implemented where possible and where agricultural activities have not impacted on the natural environment. 13.3.5 Increase in exotic vegetation Table 29: Impact on increase in exotic vegetation Activity Construction and operational activities -Vegetation clearance and habitat destruction Nature of the Increase in exotic vegetation Status - impact Receiving environment Magnitude Weighting factor (WF) Mitigation Efficiency (ME) Significance EIA-REP-325d-11 October 2012 Usutu Site Extent (footprint; site; regional; national; international) REGIONAL Intensity (low; medium; high) MEDIUM Duration (short; short-med; medium; long; permanent) LONG Probability (Improbable; possible; likely; highly likely; definite) LIKELY WF (low; low-medium; medium; medium-high; high) LOW MEDIUM ME (high; medium-high; medium; low-medium; low) LOW MEDIUM Without mitigation (WOM) (Extent + Intensity + Duration + Probability) x Weighting Factor (3 + 3+ 4+ 3) x 2 = 26 Low to Medium 135
Significance With Mitigation (WM) EIA-REP-325d-11 October 2012 With mitigation (WM) LOW WOM x ME = WM 26 x 0.4 = 10.4 Low Source of impact: Landscaping associated with the development during the operational phase could cause an increase in the exotic vegetation on the site. Description of the Impact: Operational Phase Exotic vegetation may be introduced to the environment via rehabilitation activities. If no mitigation is present some of these plants may further spread into the surrounding area increasing the opportunity for exotic plants to invade the surrounding vegetation. Significance: Processes such as urbanisation, acceleration of agricultural production and industrialisation have a drastic impact on terrestrial ecosystems through degradation, alteration of processes and the introduction (both intentional and unintentional) of many exotic species. In order to prevent the further destruction of the ecosystem, it is important to plan and co-ordinate human activities and development so as to include studies of the natural environment involving soil, water, floral, faunal and cultural or historical aspects. The impact is considered to have a low significance based on the impact identification matrix. The key impact is the rehabilitation associated with the mining and rehabilitation phase could cause an increase in the exotic vegetation on the site. Mitigation measures have been set out in the Environmental Management Plan (See Annexure 5: Environmental Management Programme (EMPr)). The impacts will become more pronounced if the suggested mitigation measures are not implemented. Mitigation: • Minimising the loss of indigenous flora and fauna in areas that are not directly affected by the opencast mining of coal; • Reduce the levels of disturbance on the area during mining; • All mining areas should be suitably top soiled and vegetated as soon as is possible after mining; and • Disturbed surfaces to be rehabilitated must be ripped, and the area must be backfilled with topsoil or overburden. • Footprint size should be kept at a minimum so as to maintain as much natural vegetation cover as possible; • Only vegetation indigenous to the area should be considered for rehabilitation purposes; and • Wastewater limit values applicable to discharge of wastewater into watercourses as stipulated by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry should be strictly adhered to. 136
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November 2012 VUNENE COLLIERY (PTY)
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Photograph of site: EIA-REP-325d-11
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town of Ermelo. The area falls unde
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Figure 1: The Regulation 2(2) map o
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Figure 3: Cross section 2 from west
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There are increased demands for coa
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• All pillars in the panel are un
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• Potential reduction in crime be
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PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS A comp
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The Scoping exercise concluded that
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effect on the environment will be m
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• Choose an appropriate lining to
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were caused by extensive anthropolo
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Land capability Assessment Accordin
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EIA-REP-325d-11 October 2012 1 CONT
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10.4.1.2 DURATION .................
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Table 33: Assessment of the possibl
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PHRA - Provincial Heritage Resource
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The "Equator Principles": A financi
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INTRODUCTION Environmental Assuranc
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iii) The undertaking of a linear ac
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Due to the nature of the existing e
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The typical sequence of mining will
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Sub-surface erosions (Potholes): Po
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• Characterise the topsoil and re
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3.4 Storage of ore The Run of Mine
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• Development must be sustainable
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Item 13: The clearance of an area o
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If a Phase 1 report finds that cert
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aims to achieve a desirable balance
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precautionary measures contemplated
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EIA-REP-325d-11 October 2012 2008 8
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7.3.2 Electricity Numerous main dis
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The water management will be undert
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No housing facilities will be provi
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Figure 7: Mining layout plan for op
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the present day erosional surface h
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Table 7: The Usutu opencast extract
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Figure 8: Witpuntspruit catchment a
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Figure 9: Tertiary and quaternary d
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HGM units encompass three key eleme
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Thunderstorms occurring frequently
Page 85 and 86: Table 12: Mean monthly evaporation
Page 87 and 88: Taphozous mauritianus Tomb Bat Witl
Page 89 and 90: The major economic activities and s
Page 91 and 92: 8.1.10 Heritage Resources Based on
Page 93 and 94: Dust suppression Dust suppression m
Page 95 and 96: EIA-REP-325d-11 October 2012 Enviro
Page 97 and 98: from Interested and Affected Partie
Page 99 and 100: In addition, the Draft Scoping Repo
Page 101 and 102: their properties and how the mining
Page 103 and 104: • Determination of Significance -
Page 105 and 106: The impact will be relevant through
Page 107 and 108: 10.4.1.7 Determination of significa
Page 109 and 110: . Significance Following Mitigation
Page 111 and 112: location is the most suitable due t
Page 113 and 114: 11.6.2 Contour Mining The contour m
Page 115 and 116: Figure 14: Underground coal mining
Page 117 and 118: 12.3 Pollution control dam design r
Page 119 and 120: sensitive to flow and habitat modif
Page 121 and 122: for the project. Shift changes time
Page 123 and 124: EIA-REP-325d-11 October 2012 13. DE
Page 125 and 126: Source of impact Seepage from the s
Page 127 and 128: Description of impact: Construction
Page 129 and 130: Source of impact: Mining activities
Page 131 and 132: • Dust Deposition The predicted m
Page 133 and 134: • Construction vehicles should re
Page 135: Destruction of faunal habitat and t
Page 139 and 140: • All construction areas should b
Page 141 and 142: • Affected communities must be no
Page 143 and 144: • Dust from heavy vehicles; • O
Page 145 and 146: • The illumination of Vunene Coll
Page 147 and 148: Erosion may be accelerated where wa
Page 149 and 150: areas can also transfer pollutants
Page 151 and 152: • Stockpiles can be used as a bar
Page 153 and 154: Weighting factor (WF) Mitigation Ef
Page 155 and 156: The impact is considered to have a
Page 157 and 158: Significance of impact: The transpo
Page 159 and 160: Mitigation measures • The areas c
Page 161 and 162: Description of impact: The most sen
Page 163 and 164: EIA-REP-325d-11 October 2012 15. AU
Page 165 and 166: • The cumulative impact on wetlan
Page 167 and 168: • Labour guidelines should be dra
Page 169 and 170: Surface water impacts: Surface wate
Page 171 and 172: • Number of human inhabitants loc
Page 173 and 174: Table 43: Land capability classes o
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