NAMAGROEN EMPR Amendment.pdf - DLIST Benguela

Addendum to EMPR for Concessions 8(a), 9(a) and 8(b) 7levels will include Managers (4) and Supervisors (2), as well as additional 12 work stationsoperating 24/7 at the processing facility. A further 14 short-term contracts will be required forthe pipeline launch and preparation of the reclamation site. Technical training will beprovided for all personnel as required.Indirectly, the proposed dredging and processing operations will add to the general economicactivity in the region, as operations will be provisioned from local suppliers and will utiliselocal services. This will help to create and/or maintain businesses and associated employmentin local population centres. It is also planned to renovate a hostel formerly used by Trans Hexpersonnel, thereby providing improved accommodation facilities in the town.Decades of terrestrial mining operations along the Namaqualand coastline have significantlyaltered the coastal landscape between the Orange and Olifants River mouths. Prior to theminerals Act of 1991, no rehabilitation and restoration of mining-impacted areas was required,and much of the prospecting/mining conducted on the coastal plain and fore dune area wasuninformed, unscientific and uncontrolled. On the Farm Hondeklip, for example, past miningoperations have resulted in severe disturbance and alteration of the physical profile of thecoastal strip by extensive excavations, and tailings disposal. Although the Trans Hex Grouphold the mining licence for the farm, they are not accountable for the rehabilitation ofenvironmental damage or disturbance created prior to 1980. Rehabilitation and re-vegetationof such areas will have to be conducted in co-operation between those responsible for creatingthe impact, and the relevant national and regional authorities. As a consequence many ofthese past impacts have resulted in severe long-term/permanent scarring of the landscapethereby significantly impacting both the visual quality and topographic form of the coastalenvironment. By back-filling some of the historic excavations with tailings resulting from theprocessing of dredged sediments, the proposed project represents an important milestone inthe rehabilitation of past damage to the coastal environment by terrestrial mining operations.2.2 Compatibility with policies, plans, strategies etc.The project is compatible with other marine diamond mining operations in the area. However,the coastal strip between the Spoeg and Groen Rivers is part of a proposed National Park. Theland is partly owned by the State, and partly by De Beers Consolidated Mines, who have leasedout the farms between the Spoeg and Groen Rivers, on a 99-year lease, to South AfricanNational Parks to create the national park. The seaward extent of the park has not beenfinalised, and its proclamation is undecided at present. Although situated directly offshore ofthe proposed national park, proposed dredging operations in Concessions 8(a), 9(a) and 8(b)should in no way interact with the Groen-Spoeg coastal National Park. The coastal habitats ofthe national park would only be at risk from mining operations in an emergency situation suchas the wrecking of the dredger and the associated pollution. Should a Marine Protected Areabe proclaimed offshore of the coastal National Park, conflict can be expected as regardsimpeding and prevention of mining development and expansion, particularly in concessionareas that fall within the proposed conservation areas and for which Namagroen hold indefinitemining licences.Namagroen Prospecting & Investments October 2008