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

from Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs) in order to ensure that these are captured in time for submission
of the various reports. The comment periods during the EIA phase will be implemented according to the
Guideline 4 of the NEMA (107/1998), Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations in terms of Section 24(5).
The EIA Regulations emphasises the importance of public participation. In terms of the EIA regulations,
registered interested and affected parties:
• May participate in the application process;
• May comment on any written communication submitted to the competent authority by the applicant or
environmental consultant;
• Must comment within the timeframes as stipulated in the EIA Regulations;
• Must send a copy of all comments to the applicant or Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) if
the comments were submitted directly to the competent authority; and
• Must disclose any direct business, financial, personal or other interests that the person has in the
application being granted or refused.
The following actions were taken upon receiving comments / queries / issues:
• The contact details provided were entered into the project database for use in future notifications;
• Communication of receipt of comments; and
• Addressed comments in the Issue and Responses Report.
9.6.1 Identification of interested and affected parties
Public Participation is the involvement of all parties who are either potentially interested or affected by the
proposed development. The principle objective of public participation is to inform and enrich decision-making.
This is also its key role in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process. Generally, the following
information is included:
Interested and affected parties (I&APs) representing the following sectors of society have been identified (see
Annexure 2: Public Participation) for a complete I&AP distribution list:
• National, provincial and local government;
• Agriculture, including local landowners;
• Community Based Organisations;
• Non-Governmental Organisations;
• Water bodies;
• Tourism;
• Industry and mining;
• Commerce;
• Historically disadvantaged groups, including women, youth and the disabled;
• Research; and
• Other stakeholders.
EIA-REP-325d-11
October 2012
96