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

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Ecological Assessment The Usutu Colliery is located in the Msukaligwa Local Municipality (MP302) 5-10 kilometers south east of Ermelo in the Mpumalanga Province. From a biodiversity point of view, the area has no formal land base protected areas, thus it has been prone to extensive natural habitat loss due to land-use activities within the area. The study has found and concluded that the proposed mining activity will cause a significant environmental impact to the remaining natural environment. The study area contains numerous wetlands types. A few of those wetland types, mainly the floodplains still maintain their functionality and offer a series of species ecological important ecosystem services. These include their use as breeding sites and as general species habitat. The proposed activity will include the removal of vegetation thus causing habitat loss for species such as African grass owl. The obstruction of water flow would result in wetland drainage or dryness which will prevent species functioning, mainly for birds that use this environment for breeding and migratory purposes. Further disturbance to the area will lead to more alien species invasion and remaining natural area loss. It is therefore recommended that the proposed mine, should it be authorized, includes rehabilitation, especially of wetlands in their Environmental Management Plans. Furthermore, there should be an allowance for species movement by leaving strips of natural vegetation that would serve as corridors for species movement. The client should adhere to the buffering zones recommended by the specialists. Lastly, further monitoring of the ecological function pre- and during mining should be considered in order to maintain and manage the biodiversity of the area prior to rehabilitation. Due to the intensity of land-use activity in the area, it should be understood that the cumulative environmental impacts on the area are the results of the combination of the agricultural, infrastructure and mining activities in the vicinity. Therefore, it is important to consider the severity of each activity and where they interlink in order to implement correct ecological management of the area. Ambient Air Quality Report The South and East monitoring points are the only monitoring points that exceeded the lower limit of 600 mg/m 2 /day for dust fallout. None of the monitoring point exceeded the 2400 mg/m 2 /day limit and none of the monitoring points exceeded the 1200 mg/m 2 /day limit more than 3 times in a calendar year. The North monitoring point is the only monitoring point that exceeded the 1200 mg/m 2 /day limit in two sequential months. It can be concluded that the mine is compliant with the South African National Standards 1929:2004 most of the time. The Ambient Air Quality at Usutu Mine is of a very high standard and although the mining activities, such as blasting and transportation of coal is having a negative effect on the receiving environment. This impact is mitigated by means of dust suppression and other management measures to such a level that the impact is negligible small. It is recommended that the following area be managed to ensure that dust fallout across the site do not increase to such levels that the dust exceeds the 2400 mg/m 2 /day. Pollution Control Dam Design Report The conclusions that were reached during the design process can be summarised as follows: EIA-REP-325d-11 October 2012 xxi
• Choose an appropriate lining to be used when constructing the pollution control dam; • Construct a 4 450m 3 pollution control dam with emergency overflow at the position to be determined on site; • Construct trenches / berms in close proximity to the mining activities to minimise the amount of clean water (storm water run-off) that will infiltrate into the mining area; and • Construct trenches / berms (channel type 12) with 2 000mm base width and minimum 660mm depth at minimum 1:50 gradient Geohydrological Report The results of the investigation were: • Groundwater levels were measured in twelve boreholes during a hydrosensus conducted in November 2011 for the proposed Usutu opencast mine on the Farm Jan Hendriksfontein portion 263 IT and Transitu 257 IT. The depth of the static groundwater level was found to vary between 1m and 10m below ground level; • A seasonal aquifer perched on the bedrock probably develops in the upper weathered soil layer, especially after high rainfall events. Flow in the perched aquifer is expected to follow the surface contours closely and emerge as fountains or seepage at lower elevations; • From the chemical analysis of the water samples an overall assumption can be made that the groundwater sampled in the proposed mining area is of poor quality and not acceptable for domestic use. It can be deducted from the water quality of the sampled boreholes that the groundwater has been negatively affected by historic mining related contaminants; • The acid base analysis (ABA) of exploration drill cores from the six opencast areas showed material that is intermediate to potentially acid forming material; • Geophysics indicated that structures such as dykes are present across the opencast mining area. Surface water Report Resource Sensitivity and Integrity: The Present Ecological State (PES) of the Witpuntspruit is classified as moderately modified (class C). This status is caused by upstream anthropogenic and agricultural activities as well as mining operations in close proximity to the stream. In addition the area is characterised by 14 hectares of seasonal wetlands and permanent wet zones. All wetlands in the area are described as palustrine wetland types with areas adhering to non-channelled and valley bottom descriptions. Most of the wetlands in the study area obtained a low PES category status. In terms of the wetland study it was found that the biodiversity of the wetlands range from sensitive to less sensitive in the study area. The wetlands are considered to be of ecological importance and sensitivity but due to their current low significance status rehabilitation measures need to be instated. Surface water impacts: Surface water resources within the vicinity of the project area are already impacted due to mining activities. The historic water quality of the Witpuntspruit exceeds the Resource Quality Objectives for the catchment. Currently EIA-REP-325d-11 October 2012 xxii
Page 1 and 2: November 2012 VUNENE COLLIERY (PTY)
Page 3 and 4: Photograph of site: EIA-REP-325d-11
Page 5 and 6: town of Ermelo. The area falls unde
Page 7 and 8: Figure 1: The Regulation 2(2) map o
Page 9 and 10: Figure 3: Cross section 2 from west
Page 11 and 12: There are increased demands for coa
Page 13 and 14: • All pillars in the panel are un
Page 15 and 16: • Potential reduction in crime be
Page 17 and 18: PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS A comp
Page 19 and 20: The Scoping exercise concluded that
Page 21: effect on the environment will be m
Page 25 and 26: were caused by extensive anthropolo
Page 27 and 28: Land capability Assessment Accordin
Page 29 and 30: EIA-REP-325d-11 October 2012 1 CONT
Page 31 and 32: 10.4.1.2 DURATION .................
Page 33 and 34: Table 33: Assessment of the possibl
Page 35 and 36: PHRA - Provincial Heritage Resource
Page 37 and 38: The "Equator Principles": A financi
Page 39 and 40: INTRODUCTION Environmental Assuranc
Page 41 and 42: iii) The undertaking of a linear ac
Page 43 and 44: Due to the nature of the existing e
Page 45 and 46: The typical sequence of mining will
Page 47 and 48: Sub-surface erosions (Potholes): Po
Page 49 and 50: • Characterise the topsoil and re
Page 51 and 52: 3.4 Storage of ore The Run of Mine
Page 53 and 54: • Development must be sustainable
Page 55 and 56: Item 13: The clearance of an area o
Page 57 and 58: If a Phase 1 report finds that cert
Page 59 and 60: aims to achieve a desirable balance
Page 61 and 62: precautionary measures contemplated
Page 63 and 64: EIA-REP-325d-11 October 2012 2008 8
Page 65 and 66: 7.3.2 Electricity Numerous main dis
Page 67 and 68: The water management will be undert
Page 69 and 70: No housing facilities will be provi
Page 71 and 72: Figure 7: Mining layout plan for op
Page 73 and 74:
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
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Table 12: Mean monthly evaporation
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Taphozous mauritianus Tomb Bat Witl
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The major economic activities and s
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8.1.10 Heritage Resources Based on
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Dust suppression Dust suppression m
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EIA-REP-325d-11 October 2012 Enviro
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from Interested and Affected Partie
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In addition, the Draft Scoping Repo
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their properties and how the mining
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• Determination of Significance -
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The impact will be relevant through
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10.4.1.7 Determination of significa
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. Significance Following Mitigation
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location is the most suitable due t
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11.6.2 Contour Mining The contour m
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Figure 14: Underground coal mining
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12.3 Pollution control dam design r
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sensitive to flow and habitat modif
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for the project. Shift changes time
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EIA-REP-325d-11 October 2012 13. DE
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Source of impact Seepage from the s
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Description of impact: Construction
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Source of impact: Mining activities
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• Dust Deposition The predicted m
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• Construction vehicles should re
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Destruction of faunal habitat and t
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Significance With Mitigation (WM) E
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• All construction areas should b
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• Affected communities must be no
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• Dust from heavy vehicles; • O
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• The illumination of Vunene Coll
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Erosion may be accelerated where wa
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areas can also transfer pollutants
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• Stockpiles can be used as a bar
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Weighting factor (WF) Mitigation Ef
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The impact is considered to have a
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Significance of impact: The transpo
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Mitigation measures • The areas c
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Description of impact: The most sen
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EIA-REP-325d-11 October 2012 15. AU
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• The cumulative impact on wetlan
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• Labour guidelines should be dra
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Surface water impacts: Surface wate
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• Number of human inhabitants loc
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Table 43: Land capability classes o
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EIA-REP-325d-12 _BB_ - 201.09.14.pdf - SAHRA

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