NKOMATI ANTHRACITE (PTY) LIMITED - Sentula Mining

Environmental Impact Assessment Report: Nkomati Anthracite (Pty) Limited, Madadeni Opencast
Mining Project Page 80
water areas of the mine, and no mining must be conducted within one hundred meters from a
watercourse or within the 1:100 year floodline of the nearest streams, whichever is the greatest. All
dirty water management structures must be designed to handle water from flood events (1:50 and
1:100 year flood event).
7.1.4 Re c o m m e n d a t i o n s R e l a t i n g t o I m p a c t s o n g r o u n d w a t e r
Impacts that would result on groundwater will be the drawdown during mining and the migration of the
pollution plume after mining. However, structures of preferred groundwater flow, like dolerite dykes
and local fault zones or fissures could increase the effect considerably if encountered.
In view of the above it is recommended that the static groundwater levels and ground water quality be
monitored during the mining operation in order to confirm the predicted impacts and to determine if
any unacceptable decrease of the yield or pollution of any affected boreholes, occurs. In such a
situation the affected groundwater users must be compensated for the affected boreholes.
7.1.5 Re c o m m e n d a t i o n s R e l a t i n g t o I n t e r e s t e d a n d Af f e c t e d P a r t i e s
Nkomati Anthracite (Pty) Limited held several meetings with the leaders of community who are legally
occupying and using the land on which the proposed mining operation will be undertaken. These
meetings were used to determine concerns that the community may have on the proposed project.
Based on the outcome of the meetings an agreement was reached between the community (via their
leaders) and Nkomati Anthracite (Pty) Limited regarding the proposed mining operation. See
Appendix 4 for a copy of the agreement between the Mawewe Royal Family Trust and Mawewe
Community Trust and Nkomati Anthracite (Pty) Ltd.
The objectives for this report were outlined in Section 1.4. These objectives were as follows:
Present information to the authorities about the proposed project.
Provide information regarding alternatives that have been considered by Nkomati Anthracite (Pty)
Limited.
Show how interested and affected parties will be afforded the opportunity to contribute to the project,
to comment on the findings of the impact assessment and show that their issues were considered.
Describe the baseline environment. A description of the receiving environment is given in Section 3.
Describe the extent of environmental consequences for the construction, operating and closure
phases. A summary of the impact assessment findings, for construction, operation and closure, is
given in Section 6 and is supported by the specialist assessment reports.
Proposed Mitigation Measures for impacts that are considered significant. Mitigation Measures are
outlined in Section 6 and presented in more detail in the specialist reports and the EMP. A summary
of recommendations is given in Section 7.1 above.
Describe the environmental feasibility of the proposed project – the potential negative impacts relating
to environment can be mitigated appropriately while significant socio-economic benefits to the
country, could be realised if the project proceeds.
Present findings of the EIA in a manner that facilitates decision-making. The completeness of
information for decision-making is outlined in Section 7.4 below.
7.2 E N V I R O N M E N T A L FEA S I B I L I T Y O F T H E PRO P O S E D PRO J E C T
Based on the environmental assessment conducted as described in this EIA Report, there are no
significant environmental impacts associated with the proposed project that cannot be mitigated.
NKOMATI ANTHRACITE (PTY) LIMITED COMPILED BY GEOVICON ENVIRONMENTAL (PTY) LTD