NAMAGROEN EMPR Amendment.pdf - DLIST Benguela

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Addendum to <strong>EMPR</strong> for Concessions 8(a), 9(a) and 8(b) 21RatingDefinition of RatingIntensity – the magnitude of the impact in relation to the sensitivity of the receivingenvironmentNegligible Natural functions and processes are negligibly alteredMildModerateSevereNatural functions and processes continue albeit in a modified way thatdoes not appear to have a significant disruptive effect (i.e. changes aretemporary)Natural functions and processes continue albeit in a modified way thatdoes appear to have a noticeable disruptive effect (i.e. changes are longtermto permanent)Natural functions or processes temporarily or permanently cease resultingin severe deterioration or complete disruption of the impactedenvironmentThe application of the above criteria to determine the significance of potential impacts uses abalanced combination of duration, extent and intensity, modified by probability, potentialcumulative effects and confidence. Significance is described as follows:LowMediumHighWhere the impact will have a negligible influence on the environment and nomodifications or mitigations are necessary for the given project description. Thiswould be allocated to impacts of any severity/magnitude, if at a local scale/extent and of temporary duration/time.Where the impact could have an influence on the environment, which will requiremodification of the project design and/or alternative mitigation. This would beallocated to impacts of moderate severity, locally to regionally, and of shortduartion.Where the impact could have a significant influence on the environment and, inthe event of a negative impact, the activity(ies) causing it should not bepermitted without substantial mitigation and management, and pro-activerehabilitation commitments (i.e. there could be a ‘no-go’ implication for theproject). This would be allocated to impacts of severe magnitude, locally overthe medium-term, and/or of severe magnitude regionally and beyond.4.3 Assessment of Environmental ImpactsProposed diamond mining activities will interact both directly and indirectly with existinginfrastructure, as well as with the biophysical environment. The potential impacts of dredgingactivities on the marine environment are detailed in the individual impact assessment tablesbelow. Active rehabilitation of the marine environment below the LWM is not required, asrecovery of impacted communities within this highly dynamic environment is a naturallyoccurring process. There are thus no discernable differences between impacts in the settingup,operational and decommissioning phases of the dredging operations, and consequently theimpacts on the marine environment are addressed in a single matrix. Impacts associated withland-based aspects will be treated separately in a basic assessment to be submitted to therelevant authorities.Namagroen Prospecting & Investments October 2008
Addendum to <strong>EMPR</strong> for Concessions 8(a), 9(a) and 8(b) 224.3.1 Marine Habitats and Associated CommunitiesBy their very nature, diamond mining operations will interact with the physical marineenvironment as overburden sediments and target gravels will be removed from gullies, potholesand bedrock features during the dredging process. Removal of the superficial sediments by thedredger is likely to result in the total or near-total loss of the associated benthic biota. Inaddition, the destruction of macrofauna in the mined areas reduces the amount of foodavailable to demersal fishes and/or rock lobsters and any of their prey that utilise the ssameresources.The ecological recovery of the disturbed seafloor is generally defined as the establishment of asuccessional community of species, which progresses towards a community that is similar inspecies composition, population density and biomass to that previously present (Ellis 1996).The rate of recovery (recolonisation) depends largely on the magnitude of the disturbance, thetype of community that inhabits the deposits in the mined-out area, the extent to which thecommunity is naturally adapted to high levels of sediment disturbances, the sedimentcharacter (grain size) and physical factors such as depth and exposure (waves, currents)(Newell et al. 1998). Generally, recolonisation starts rapidly after cessation of dredging, andspecies numbers may recover within short periods (weeks). Opportunistic species may recovertheir previous densities within months. Long-lived species, however, like molluscs andechinoderms need longer to re-establish the natural age and size structure of the population.Biomass therefore often remains reduced for several years (Kenny & Rees 1994, 1996; Kenny etal. 1998). Important for the recovery process is the rate of sediment movement back into themined-out areas. This is highly dependent on the water depth of the affected area. Proposeddredging operations in Concession 8(a) and 9(a) are in depths within the wave base (
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