NAMAGROEN EMPR Amendment.pdf - DLIST Benguela

Addendum to EMPR for Concessions 8(a), 9(a) and 8(b) 26Habitat alteration Status NegativeAlteration of sediment structure / Probability Definite; removal of unconsolidatedseabed habitat due to thesediments and their associated biota is anexcavation of mined sediments andunavoidable consequence of dredgingresultant effects on benthicoperations.community structureConfidence MediumExtent Site-specific; confined to the mining targetarea.Duration (a)-concessions:Short- to Medium-term; infill rates bynaturally depositing sediments will berapid in the wave-influenced regions andchanges in seabed geomorphology will betemporary only.(b)-concession:Permanent; infill rates by naturallydepositing sediments are slow and changesin seabed geomorphology will persist in thevery long-term, possibly over decades.Intensity (a)-concessions:Mild; being dependent on the infill rate,recovery through natural recolonisationand establishment of successioncommunities will be rapid.(b)-concession:Moderate; being dependent on the infillrate, recovery through naturalrecolonisation and establishment ofsuccession communities is slow. Althoughecological processes will ultimately be reestablished,community structure may bedifferent.Significance (a)-concessions: Low(b)-concession: MediumMining excavations: WaterqualityPotential trapping of organic matterin excavations and subsequentpooling of low oxygen waterStatusProbabilityConfidenceExtentDurationIntensitySignificanceNegative(a)-concessions: Improbable(b)-concession: ProbableHighSite-specific; within the excavation.Short-term; flushing is likely to occurperiodically during storms when the wavebase reaches the seabed.Moderate; different community structuresmay develop but ecological processes willprobably be maintained.LowNamagroen Prospecting & Investments October 2008