Cover Summary - Enviro Dynamics Namibia

CUMULATIVE IMPACTSThere is a growing amount of shipping activity inthe Namibian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)including, Fishing (Namibian and foreign) vessels,Oil tankers en route from Angola to China, generalcargo vessels, vessels exploring/mining fordiamonds and industrial minerals as well asactivities relating to oil and gas includingexploration deep seismic survey vessels and oil rigsAccording to data provided by MFMR and CNFA, aproportion of the seabed within the vicinity of theMining Licence Area (MLA) is already beingrepetitively disturbed by trawling, primarily formonk fish. It is estimated from trawl records(appendix 1a) that for 2007 – 2009, 26,022 hoursof monk trawling was conducted in the generalvicinity of the MLA.The proposed dredging will remove sediments upto a depth of 3 m below the sea floor over anapproximate area of up to 3 km 2 annually whichrepresents a total of approximately 60 km 2 for a 20year life of mine (which is the current term of theML tenure).In order for the cumulative and additive effects ofall relevant marine activities on the Namibiancontinental shelf to be comprehensivelyaddressed, an integrated assessment of all the userimpacts needs to be undertaken. While this level ofinvestigation lies within the responsibility of thegoverning entity, it is considered that the BenguelaCurrent Commission could provide the platform forthis important collaborative initiative.ASSESSMENT OF THE MANAGEMENTPLANFollowing receipt of feedback from the review ofthe Draft EIA/EMPR, in order to ensure theeffective implementation of mitigation andmanagement actions the Final EnvironmentalManagement Plan (EMP) has now been preparedfor the proposed project. This incorporates adetailed verification programme and long termmonitoring protocol compiled by the Specialistscientists that have contributed to the EIA. Theverification programme is to be completed prior tocommencement of dredging .The Final Environmental Management Plan reporthas been produced to provide the framework toensure that :• all corporate, legal and socio-economicrequirements are complied with. This appliesequally to subcontracting companies;• the authorities and I&APs are appropriatelyconsulted, advised and included in relevant ongoing project matters;• all vessel operations are managed inaccordance with Namibian, vessel flag stateand International requirements as appropriateto the nature and location and scope ofactivities;• a programme of field work is carried out priorto commencement of dredging operations toprovide data for the verification of theSpecialists current conclusions andconsidered impact assessments .;• an on going monitoring programme isimplemented to assess the recovery and or recolonisationof the dredge areas after dredgingoperations have commenced.If the verification survey data show no significantdeparture from the specialists’ current conclusionsand assessments then these assessments will beconsidered to remain fully valid. Alternatively, if onanalysis of the site-specific validation data thereare any significant departures for the initialspecialist interpretations and assessments thenthose specific aspects of the EIA need to berevaluated and modified as may be deemedappropriate by the relevant specialist(s) and resubmittedfor approval.OVERALL ASSESSMENTThe significance of the potential impactsassociated with the proposed Sandpiper project fordredging of marine phosphate enriched sedimenthas been investigated and assessed by relevantappointed specialists in the Environmental ImpactAssessment and independently audited by CSIR.Final ReportNamibian Marine Phosphate (Pty) Ltd.Page xi