Basic Assessment Report - Transnet

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Transnet LimitedProposed RO Plant: Port of SaldanhaFinal Basic Assessment Report2.9 Ramsar Convention on WetlandsThe 1971 Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is an international treaty providing aframework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation andsustainable use of wetlands and their resources to stem the progressive encroachmenton, and loss of, wetlands due to their fundamental ecological functions and theireconomic, cultural, scientific and recreational value.Participating governments undertake to include wetland conservation considerationsin their national land-use planning and to formulate and implement this planning so asto promote, as far as possible, "the wise use of wetlands in their territory" (Article 3.1of the treaty), which has been interpreted as being synonymous with "sustainable use"(Ramsar Convention).Legal requirements for this projectSouth Africa is a contracting party to the Ramsar Convention. The LangebaanLagoon, located to the south of the Port of Saldanha, was recognised as a wetland ofinternational importance under the Ramsar Convention on 25 April 1988 (WetlandsInternational Site Number: 1ZA007). The Ramsar site measures 6 000 ha andencompasses:• Malgas, Jutten, Marcus and Schaapen islands;• Precincts of the lagoon;• The lagoon up to the high-water mark, including the marshlands and Geelbekannex;• A section of Sixteen-Mile Beach bordering the farm Stofbergsfontein; and• An area of 10.8 km 2 on Sixteen-Mile Beach between the high- and low-watermarks and parallel to the farms Schrywershoek and Stofbergsfontein.Although the Port of Saldanha does not extend into the RAMSAR site, any activitieswithin the Port that may have potential off-site impacts have to take account of thesensitive nature and international importance of the Langebaan Lagoon andsurrounding protected areas.The possibility of impacts of the proposed RO plant extending to and impacting onthe Ramsar site thus need to be determined and taken into consideration.15Prepared by the PDNA/SRK Joint Venture
Transnet LimitedProposed RO Plant: Port of SaldanhaFinal Basic Assessment Report3 Approach to the Basic AssessmentGovernment Notice R.386 lists activities identified in terms of Section 24 and 24D ofthe National Environmental Management Act No. 107, 1998 (NEMA) which requirethat a Basic Assessment process be followed prior to their commencement. Theproponent must obtain authorisation for the proposed activity from the designatedcompetent authority (DEAT).The development of a Reverse Osmosis Plant entails the following listed activitiesrequiring a Basic Assessment 3 :2 (d), (e), (f) & (g): Construction or earthmoving activities in the sea or within 100metres inland of the high water mark of the sea, in respect of: (d) embankments;(e) stabilising walls; (f) buildings* and (g) infrastructure.*3: The prevention of the free movement of sand, including erosion and accretion, bymeans of planting vegetation, placing synthetic material on dunes and exposedsand surfaces within a distance of 100 metres inland of the high water mark of thesea.*5: The removal or damaging of indigenous vegetation of more than 10 square metreswithin a distance of 100 metres inland of the high water mark of the sea.6: The excavation, moving, removal, depositing or compacting of soil, sand, rock orrubble covering an area exceeding 10 square metres in the sea or within adistance of 100 metres inland of the high water mark of the sea.*12: The transformation or removal of indigenous vegetation of 3 hectares or more orof any size where the transformation or removal would occur within a criticallyendangered or an endangered ecosystem listed in terms of section 52 of theNational Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act no 10 of 2004).13: The abstraction of groundwater at a volume where any general authorisationissued in terms of the National Water Act, 2004 (Act No. 36 of 1998) will beexceeded.25: The expansion of or changes to existing facilities for any process or activity,which requires an amendment of an existing permit or licence or a new permit orlicense in terms of legislation governing the release of emissions, pollution,effluent.*3This list of activities includes all activities associated with all of the alternatives. Activities marked with an * are specific to thepreferred alternative.16Prepared by the PDNA/SRK Joint Venture
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Basic Assessment Report - Transnet

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