NKOMATI ANTHRACITE (PTY) LIMITED - Sentula Mining

Environmental Impact Assessment Report: Nkomati Anthracite (Pty) Limited, Madadeni Opencast
Mining Project Page 40
Petroleum Resources Development Act, Act 28 of 2002. In view of the above, a Scoping Report must
be compiled and submitted to the Department of Mineral Resources for consideration, which will be
followed by the compilation of the Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental
Management Report. On the other hand, the National Environmental Management Act, Act 107 of
1998 requires that a Scoping Report must be submitted after submission of an application for
authorisation.
Nkomati Anthracite (Pty) Limited has in view of the above, compiled and submitted a Scoping report
to the Department of Mineral Resources in terms of regulation 49 of the regulations under the
Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act, Act 28 of 2002. The Scoping report was
compiled according to the requirements of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources development Act,
Act 28 of 2002, which partly complies with the requirements of the regulations under the National
Environmental Management Act, Act 107 of 1998. The Scoping Report (MPRDA) was forwarded to
the relevant commenting departments, which include the Department of Agriculture and Land
Administration. Note that the Department of Agriculture and Land Administration has the mandate to
ensure successful implementation of the National Environmental Management Act (Act 107 of 1998).
5.2.4 I n f o r m a t i o n G a t h e r i n g
Environmental baseline data has been obtained through various agencies, pertaining to surface water
quantities and qualities, geohydrological data and modelling, topographical analyses, soil surveys
(land capability), vegetation surveys, wetland surveys, fauna surveys, aquatic assessment and
geological conditions. Weather data was acquired from the Agricultural Research Council, who has a
weather station very close to Madadeni Opencast mining area. Historic land use was determined
through available data and by visual observations made during various field studies. Monitoring
programmes instituted by the mine and results thereof were also used in the compilation of this
document. The above-mentioned accumulated data, which was analysed, is sufficient to gain a
baseline indication of the present state of the environment. The use of this baseline study for impact
assessments is thus justified, and reliable conclusions could be made.
5.2.5 S p e c i al i s t s t u d i e s
The following specialist studies were initiated for the purposes of this Impact Assessment Report:
Soil survey over the Madadeni Opencast Mining Project Area
Vegetation survey over the Madadeni Opencast Mining Project Area
Geohydrological Survey over the Madadeni Opencast Mining Project Area and surrounds
Surface water survey over the Madadeni Opencast Mining Project Area and surrounds (including
wetlands)
Geological investigation over the Madadeni Opencast Mining Project area
Topographical survey over the over the Madadeni Opencast Mining Project Area
5.2.6 I n t e g r a t i o n o f F i n d i n g s i n t o a F i n a l E I A R e p o rt
All information generated for the proposed project is included in a Draft Environmental Impact
Assessment Report with accompanying Specialist Reports. The findings of the specialist studies
were summarised and integrated in this report.
A final draft EIA Report will be prepared after the public review of the Draft EIA Report and will
incorporate comments made by interested and affected parties during the public review period. This
EIA Report will be submitted to MDALA and other authorities for consideration.
NKOMATI ANTHRACITE (PTY) LIMITED COMPILED BY GEOVICON ENVIRONMENTAL (PTY) LTD