Amendment to the Union Section Joint Venture's ... - SRK Consulting

S p e c i a l i s t s t u d i e sDuring the EIA Phase of the project, the specialists,engineers and scientists, with appropriate knowledge andexperience in evaluating the proposed expansion anddevelopment on the socio-environmental context of theproject, evaluate and identify potential environmental andsocial impacts the project may have and propose mitigationand management measures. Mitigation and managementmeasures are proposed to minimise negative impacts andenhance benefits, within the context of the projectsituational analysis.The findings of the specialist studies are recorded in anEnvironmental Impact Report (EIR) and an EMP, which will bepresented to I&AP’s for their comment. Thereafter, thedocuments will be updated and submitted to DMR for adecision and authorisation regarding the project.E n v i r o n m e n t a l A u t h o r i z a t i o n Pr o c e s sThe EIA process will be conducted in terms of Section 102 ofthe Minerals Petroleum Resources Development Act (Act No.28 of 2002) and Regulation 48 – 52.Section102:“A reconnaissance permission, prospecting right, miningright, mining permit, retention permit, technical corporationpermit, reconnaissance permit, exploration right andproduction right work programme; mining workprogramme, environmental management programme, andenvironmental management plan may not be amended orvaried (including by extension of the area covered by it or bythe addition of minerals or a share or shares or scams,mineralised bodies, or strata, which are not at the time thesubject thereof) without the written consent of TheMinister”The owner of mining authorisation is Rustenburg PlatinumMines Ltd. They have authorisation for the mining ofPlatinum group metals. The licence is subject to certainprovisions. An amendment to the current EMPR is requiredto incorporate the specific details of the proposedventilation shaft at RPM Spud Shaft (South Mine).The key competent authority is the DMR.Anglo Platinum Rustenburg Platinum Mine (RPM) – UnionSection, is required by law to appoint independentconsultants to undertake an EIA and prepare an EMPRamendment to assess the potential biophysical and socialimpacts of the proposed project.SRK Consulting will evaluate and identify potentialenvironmental and social impacts of the project andprovide mitigation and management measures tominimise negative impacts and enhance benefits, withinthe context of the project situational analysis.The process that will be followed to deliver an EMPRamendment will include:MPRDA Section 102 Application;An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)application (Figure 0-12); andA Joint Public Participation Process.P u b l i c Pa r t i c i p a t i o n Pr o c e s s a n d Pr o j e c t S c h e d u l i n gPublic Involvement is seen as an integral part of theEnvironmental Authorization Process and will aim to includeI&AP’s in the process by notifying them of the proposedproject and encouraging them to raise their issues andconcerns. This will aid the Environmental AssessmentPractitioner (EAP) to gather local knowledge on the area andN o t i f i c a t i o nidentify the common concerns. The following section detailsthe methodology SRK proposed to undertake the PublicParticipation Process during the Environmental ImpactAssessment Process.Should the DMR authorize the EIA Report, RPM proposes toinitiate construction in approximately December 2013.Advertisements have been lodged in the following manner: Rustenburg Herald newspaper on the 24 th ofJanuary 2013. Kwevoel paper, 25 th of January 2013; andThis was conducted in order to ensure broad spectrums ofstakeholders are notified of the proposed project.In addition, I&AP’s will be notified of the project andopportunities for interaction by means of:The placement of site notices;Distribution of BID’s (this document) to identifyI&AP’s.The commencement of the public meeting will becommunicated to all registered I&AP’s followingconfirmation of the time and date with RPM.