Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Bohlweki-SSI Environmental June 2010 i
REVISED DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
REPORT (EIR) AND DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT PLAN (EMP) FOR THE
PROPOSED REGIONAL GENERAL AND
HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITY
IN THE EASTERN CAPE
DWEA REFERENCE NO: 12/12/20/445
June 2010
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Bohlweki-SSI Environmental June 2010 ii
Please note that due the former Department’s of
Water Affairs and Forestry, and Environmental
Affairs and Tourism having been reconstituted as
the Depart of Water and Environmental Affairs
(DWEA) during 2009, all previous policies,
guidelines, regulations and permitting requirements
and procedures authored by these entities, will be
referenced in the text of this report as the latter.
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Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Bohlweki-SSI Environmental June 2010 iii
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1. INTRODUCTION
The C oega D evelopment C orporation ( CDC) a nd t he N elson M andela B ay
Municipality (NMBM) have identified the need for the establishment and operation
of a new Regional General and Hazardous Waste Management Facility (GHWMF)
in the Eastern Cape to serve the Municipality and surrounding areas. General
waste generated in the NMBM is presently disposed of at Arlington (G:L:B-) and
other general waste disposal sites, while hazardous waste is disposed of at the
privately o wned A loes I I h igh h azard (H :H) w aste facility o r the municipally
owned Koedoeskloof low hazard (H:h) waste facility. EnviroServ’s Aloes II H:H
landfill site has limited available airspace and it is expected to be at capacity by
mid-2011 (an e nvironmental impact a ssessment is currently underway f or a n
extension to this site that will increase i ts lifespan to beyond 2016, with a lease
extension f rom t he N MBM r ecently g ranted). The K oedoeskloof ( H:h) w aste
facility is also limited in the types and volumes of hazardous waste that may be
disposed of there. It is further anticipated that the development of the Coega
Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) and associated industries will significantly add
to the demand for hazardous waste disposal facilities within the proximity of the
NMBM area. Therefore, the proposed GHWMF is required in order to serve the
region, N MBM a nd t he C oega IDZ. T he GHWMF s ite u nder in vestigation is
proposed to be a H:H s ite. T he site will be a co-disposal si te ( i.e. i t will accept
both hazardous and general waste) and although it is a regional waste site it will
primarily serve the greater NMBM.
The disposal of all waste in South Africa is managed in terms of the Environment
Conservation Act (Act 73 of 1989) and the recently promulgated National
Environmental M anagement Waste Act (Act 59 of 2008). Section 20 o f the
Environment Conservation Act (ECA) stipulates that all waste disposal sites
require a permit issued by the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry. Chapter 5 of
the National Environmental Management Waste Act also stipulates the
requirements for licensing waste sites. The proposed activity is subject to the
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations (R1184 - R1186) of 5
September 1 997 published i n terms of the ECA (Act No 73 of 1 989) as the
application was initiated when these regulations were still in effect, as well as the
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations (GN. R 385-387 of 2006)
published in terms of Section 24(5) read with Section 44 of the National
Environmental Management Act (NEMA), 1998 (Act No 107 of 1998 as amended).
Also applicable as of 3 July 2009 is GN. R 718 which lists the waste management
activities which are likely to have a detrimental effect on the environment, as well
as the required environmental reporting and waste permitting processes to be
adhered to in attaining approval for new waste management facilities.
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Accordingly, a full EIA has b een carried out f or this project in terms of ECA
Regulations 1184 - 1186 as the application process for environmental
authorisation was initiated prior to the promulgation of the NEMA EIA Regulations
in June 2006 and GN. R 718 in July 2009. The process followed to date is,
however, in accordance with the requirements of GN. R 718.
The Department of Water and Environmental Affairs (DWEA) was mandated to
devise a permitting system that would improve waste disposal in South Africa. In
1994 DWEA published the f irst edition of the 'Minimum Requirements for Waste
Disposal by Landfill' (referred to as t he Minimum Requirements). The se cond
edition of the Minimum Requirements was published in 1998, and the third edition
published i n draft form i n 2005. T he m ain o bjectives o f t he M inimum
Requirements are: to improve the standard of waste disposal in South Africa, to
facilitate the enforcement of the landfill permitting system provided for in the
Environment Conservation Act, and to take steps to prevent the degradation of
water quality and the environment. Hazardous waste disposal sites are classified
as either high hazard (H:H) or low hazard (H:h) in terms of DWEA Minimum
Requirements for Waste Disposal to Landfill. In addition to the EIA, the Permit
Application Report (PAR) Procedure outlined in the Minimum Requirements
(Version 2, 1998) will be adhered to, in order to obtain a conceptual landfill
permit for the proposed GHWMF.
The National Environmental Management Act No. 107 of 1998 (NEMA) builds on
the Environment Conservation Act and provides a link between new developments
and environmental protection. One of the main principles proposed in NEMA is
that o f Integrated Waste M anagement (I WM) which p romotes t he a voidance,
minimisation, recycling and treatment of waste in preference to its disposal to
landfill. T he N ational W aste M anagement Strategy ( NWMS), a j oint p roject
between DWEA and the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
(DWEA), and funded by the Danish Co-operation for Environment and
Development (DANCED), was published in July 1999. The NWMS implements the
government’s IWM policy on waste, and the action plans arising from it have
considerable implications for the approach that should be used to address the
waste m anagement n eeds of t he C oega IDZ a nd t he g reater P ort E lizabeth
Region. The strategy includes short, medium, and l ong-term action plans that,
once implemented, will lead to greatly improved waste management practices in
South Africa.
In order to fulfil the DWEA Minimum Requirements for Waste Disposal by Landfill
(Version 2, 1998), the main purpose of this Revised Draft Environmental Impact
Assessment Report (EIR) is to further assess project specific impacts, mitigation
measures, alternatives a nd p otential f atal f laws a ssociated with the p referred
footprint (Footprint F – on the Farm Grassridge 190 Remainder that is currently
owned by Pretoria Portland Cement - PPC) for the siting of the proposed facility.
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These were previously identified and subjected to initial assessment during the
site s election s tages of th e pr ocess and t he r esults p resented in th e F inal
Footprint Ranking Report dated November 2006 and a lso in the Final Feasibility
Report dated December 2007 prepared by Bohlweki-SSI Environmental. It must
be noted that the EIA and PAR processes are separate application processes but
are conducted in parallel w ith each other. Accordingly, there i s some overlap in
these processes with b oth the W ater a nd Env ironmental A ffairs line f unction
Departments of DWEA being obliged to review the Final EIR within the context of
their respective decision making processes, and with the EIR being an obligatory
minimum requirement of the PAR application process.
The p roposed facility provides a n opportunity f or th e region t o d evelop a n
approach to the management of its waste that takes into account the NWMS. The
final design of the proposed waste processing facility depends on the nature of
the waste that needs to be managed. Determination of the actual waste disposal
requirements of the region over the long-term (<12 years) is extremely difficult,
due in part to changes in industry types and the possibility of new technologies
for disposal recovery or treatment of waste. However, in order to determine the
required capacity for the proposed waste processing facility, as well as to
determine the types o f t reatment facilities that may be needed, an initial waste
market survey was conducted in 2000 by Chemical Marketing and Consulting
Services. T he results are summarised in an Inception Report that was compiled
for the CDC by Bohlweki Environmental in 2000. Subsequently, a waste
inventory covering the expected waste volumes and types likely to be generated
by the Coega IDZ was prepared by Arcus Gibb in 2007. The proposed landfill will
be developed in phases but will function as a total waste management facility that
could, in future, include a combination of the following:
• a l eachate m anagement s ystem i ncluding t reatment b efore d ischarge t o
sewer or, if appropriate, to water course;
• a short-term co-disposal landfill cell;
• a small waste stabilisation, immobilisation and micro-encapsulation plant;
• a small chemical treatment plant for the neutralisation of acids and alkalis,
precipitation o f h eavy m etals, oxidation o f c yanide and r eduction o f
chromate;
• a t hermal t reatment f acility f or h igh h azard org anic waste, a nd p ossibly
difficult wastes such as abattoir waste;
• a mono-disposal area for stabilised inorganic wastes;
• a medical waste treatment facility to support facilities already available in
Port Elizabeth, if quantities warrant it; and
• a recovery plant for heavy metals and other valuable materials, i f quantities
warrant it.
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It is important to note that the current design does not include certain of the
abovementioned future options such as a thermal treatment facility, a medical
waste treatment facility or a recovery plant for heavy metals. Should the
development of certain of the above be proposed then this would be subject to a
separate EIA application process. The Sundays River Valley Community Forum
(SRVCF), a significant and constructive stakeholder in the process to date, has
indicated that they are vehemently opposed to any incineration of waste on site.
They have engaged in the s ite selection and environmental reporting process to
date on the understanding that waste incineration will never occur at the
proposed facility. This option has not been part of the scope of works for this EIA
process a nd w as n ot t he su bject t o sp ecialist a ssessment. Accordingly, it is
recommended that no waste incineration of any classification be allowed at the
facility du ring its lifespan, a nd th at th is i s i ncluded a s a c ondition o f
environmental authorisation.
Bohlweki-SSI Environmental was appointed by the CDC and NMBM to undertake
the required environmental studies according to the Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA) Regulations (R1184 - R1186) of 5 S eptember 1997, published
in terms of the Environment Conservation Act (No 73 of 1989), and the DWEA
permitting procedures. This process was initiated in 2000 and is due for
completion in early 2010. The process followed to date and that is currently
being undertaken is outlined below.
2. PROCESS TO DATE
A d etailed d escription of th e p rocess f ollowed to d ate m ay b e f ound in th e
following documents:
• Environmental Scoping Report and Appendices (July 2003)
• Project Background Information Document (2004)
• Final Footprint Ranking Report (November 2006)
• Final Feasibility Report (December 2007)
All of these documents are available in electronic format upon request at the
following location: www.bohlweki.co.za
• Scoping Phase
The first phase of work (2000 - 2003) culminated in the production of the
scoping report and its associated appendices in July 2003. The process leading
up to the release of the scoping report provided extensive opportunities for
I&APs to b ecome involved and comment on the results and process (e.g.
workshops, document review, focus group meetings and background
information documents). On release of the scoping report there were also
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further meetings and presentations as well as opportunities to review reports
at a number of local venues e.g. libraries.
The key objectives of the scoping phase were:
∗ Establishing the key issues associated with the development of a General
and Hazardous waste management facility;
∗ Undertaking a site selection process in order to establish the preferred
areas f or f urther research. This i nvolved a s ystematic p rocess of
evaluating p otential s ites a nd establishing which a reas w ere m ost
suitable; and
∗ Involving I&APs in the entire process.
Outlined below is a chronological overview of the process up to completion of
the Scoping Report:
∗ Early 2000 - ‘Windows’ identified (i.e. areas that are most suitable for the
development of the site)
∗ Early 2000 – Farms/sites of suitable size identified within the ‘windows’
∗ Mid 2000 - Top candidate sites selected after environmental scan
∗ Late 2000 – Initial land acquisition negotiations
∗ Mid 2002 - Top 6 potential sites identified for further investigation
∗ Mid 2002 - Environmental Scoping Study commences
∗ Mid 2003 - Scoping study completed and approved - 2 s ites selected for
further work, namely:
Coega Kammas Kloof Portion 1-6 (Excluding remainder)
Blauw Baatjies Vley portions 2 - 3 (Including Grassridge 190 Portion 3)
• Final Footprint Ranking Report (2006)
The screening of six potential footprints within the s ites identified as
warranting further investigation through the scoping report was undertaken
within the Footprint Ranking report. The objective of this process was to
select preferred facility footprints for further investigation. The fine screening
process involved:
∗ Sensitivity mapping
∗ Field investigations
∗ Ranking exercises
∗ Criteria weighting exercises
∗ Workshops
The ranking report was made available for review by I&APs and the
authorities d uring M arch 2 006. T he F ootprint Ra nking Re port n ominated
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footprints C and F as the preferred facility footprints for further investigation
and concept design, however, footprint E was also highlighted as being a
potential site depending on the outcome of further studies.
• Final Feasibility Report (2007)
The feasibility phase (fine screening) of the process outlined the conceptual
designs, l ayout o f the f acilities, si ze o f the waste p rocessing facility and the
current projections on expected waste volume and types. The Final Feasibility
Report included a preliminary EIA that provided the results of further
investigations of the three preferred facility footprints, including conceptual
designs, preliminary geohydrological evaluations. An important function of the
Feasibility Report was to highlight any fatal flaws, i f any, associated with the
three alternative sites that focussed on the following:
* In addition to the sites identified as part of the scoping process additional
sites on the PPC properties (Grassridge 190/RE and Grassridge 227/RE)
were motivated for inclusion in the fine screening process by the Sundays
River Valley Community Forum (SRVCF);
* Assess the three preferred footprints (i.e. footprints C, E and F) identified
during the footprint ranking exercise for fatal flaws:
Footprint C
: Grassridge 190 Portion 3.
Footprint E
: Grassridge 227 Remainder.
Footprint F
* Conduct a preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment on the
preferred three footprints;
: Grassridge 190 Remainder.
* Prepare concept designs for the potential footprints;
* Evaluate the identified facility footprints within the sites on which concept
facility designs can be produced. In short, this process aimed to identify
a single footprint for more detailed studies which were then conducted
during the detailed EIA phase; and
* Update I&APs as t o t he process undertaken thus far and outline the
process to be followed until completion of the study.
The F easibility Re port was m ade a vailable to I &APs i n O ctober/November
2007. I &APs w ere a fforded t he op portunity t o re view t he re port on t he
feasibility of the facility. The purpose of this feasibility report was to allow the
authorities to establish whether the proposed facility and alternative positions
thereof are viable for detailed engineering and environmental studies.
While the f easibility report was designed to establish whether there are any
fatal f laws, the authorities do not give f inal approval for the facility until the
detailed s tudies, w hich form part o f th e detailed d esign a nd f ull E IA, a re
completed and confirm the final desirability of the site and facility design.
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3. CURRENT ACTIVITIES (2008-2010)
Based on Edition 2 of the DWEA Minimum Requirements for Waste Disposal by
Landfill (DWEA, 1998) the activities currently taking place can be divided into two
sections. Firstly, a detailed EIR (the Revised Draft EIR being this report) has been
completed on the candidate site, Footprint F, which was identified as being the
preferred a lternative in the Final Feasibility Report. This E IR has t aken into
consideration the proposed design and operation of the facility.
Secondly, the detailed EIR will form part of the required PAR (See DWEA
minimum requirements – Edition 2 , 1998) that w ill be reviewed by DWEA. This
PAR report will contain the following components:
• Detailed site investigation
• Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment
• Landfill design
• Operating Plan
• End land-use plan
• Air and Water Monitoring Plan
The relevant delegated authorities will only authorise the proposed facility and
issue a permit for it once they are confident that the above criteria have been
met.
4. GENERAL APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY
The EIA process is an obligatory component of the DWEA minimum requirements.
Therefore the EIA must be undertaken in a manner that is also in accordance with
the p rinciples discussed i n S ection 7 o f th e M inimum Re quirements ( DWEA,
1998). As per agreement with the relevant authorities, the structure and content
of the EIR (this report) was based on the requirements of Edition 2 of the Waste
Management Series (DWEA, 1998). As part of the overall project planning
process, this EIR aims to achieve the following:
• to provide an overall assessment of the social and biophysical aspects of the
area a ffected b y th e proposed establishment o f a r egional g eneral a nd
hazardous waste processing facility on Footprint F;
• to revisit the environmental s iting criteria investigated during the Feasibility
Report (preliminary environmental impact assessment phase);
• to confirm that identified critical factors can be addressed;
• to confirm that there are no fatal flaws; and
• to undertake a public participation process to ensure that I&AP issues and
concerns are recorded.
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Although specialists were given free reign on how they conducted their research
and obtained information, they were requested to provide the reports in a specific
layout and structure, so that a uniform specialist report volume could be
produced. A s th e r esults o f th e Feasibility Report (preliminary e nvironmental
impact assessment) were to be used as a basis for the selection of the preferred
footprint (Footprint F) to be i nvestigated in more detail in the full EIA phase, i t
was necessary that the same impact rating system be used for all issues.
To ensure a direct comparison between various specialist studies, six standard
rating scales are defined and used to assess and quantify the identified impacts.
The rating system used for assessing impacts (or when specific impacts cannot be
identified, t he b roader t erm issue should a pply) is b ased on t hree c riteria,
namely:
• The relationship of the impact/issue to temporal scales;
• The relationship of the impact/issue to spatial scales; and
• The severity of the impact/issue.
These t hree c riteria a re c ombined t o d escribe t he o verall importance rating,
namely the significance. In addition, the following parameters are used to
describe the impact/issues:
• The risk or likelihood of the impact/issue occurring; and
• The degree of confidence placed in the assessment of the impact/issue.
A detailed description of the abovementioned assessment criteria is
included in Chapter 2 of this EIR.
5. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
The Public Participation Process for the identification of a new Regional General
and Hazardous Waste Management Facility was initiated in 2000 (nine years ago)
with Bohlweki - SSI Environmental as the lead consultant. The Public Participation
Process can be divided into the following three phases with Sandy and Mazizi
Consulting taking lead responsibility for the last two phases:
• Phase One: Identification of Potential Windows and Sites (2000/2)
• Phase Two: E nvironmental Scoping of Potential Sites including Site Ranking
(2003/6):
* Environmental Scoping Public Consultation Process
* Footprint Ranking Report Consultation Process – Part 1
* Footprint Ranking Report Consultation Process – Part 2
• Phase Three: Environmental Impact Assessment Phase (present stage in the
process):
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* Preliminary EIA (Feasibility Report) Consultation Process
* Draft EIA and PAR Consultation Process (February 2009)
* Revised Draft EIA and PAR Consultation Process (April 2010)
* Notification of Record of Decision
The P ublic P articipation P rocess i s b ased o n th e g uidelines p rovided i n th e
Minimum Requirements for Waste Disposal by Landfill (DWEA, Version 2, 1998),
and was developed in consultation with Bohlweki - SSI Environmental, Coega
Development Corporation, Sandy & Mazizi Consulting, DWEA, Eastern Cape
Province Department of E conomic Development a nd Environmental Affairs
(DEDEA) and NMBM.
The current stage in the process will entail consultation with I&APs around the
Revised Draft EIR as well as the Draft Permit Application Report. It i s proposed
that the consultation process for these two reports runs in parallel as for the prior
release of these documents during 2009 and that all registered I&APs be informed
in w riting o f th e a vailability o f th e d raft reports. It m ust b e n oted th at a n
extensive round of public and stakeholder meetings occurred during February and
March 2009. The salient issues and concerns relating to the proposed facility
emerging as unresolved from that round of consultation mostly pertain to the
current landowner (PPC) and the SRVCF. The following participation opportunities
are proposed during the current review process:
• Written Notification to all I&APs on the project database (Letter 12 to I&APs)
including an invitation to attend Focus Group Meetings
• Advertising in two local and two regional newspapers
• Report d istribution, includes Draft EIR and PAR to all p reviously used public
review venues
• Full report to targeted key I&APs (PPC and SRVCF)
• All reports placed on the project website (www.bohlweki.co.za)
• Focus Group Meetings (Sunlands and Port Elizabeth)
The participation process is designed in such a manner that it has the flexibility to
respond to and include I&AP groups as they emerge over time. A combination of
both passive and active participation techniques, verbal and written
communication is used in order to meet the varying and sometimes conflicting
needs of I&APs. Capacity building will continue to form an integral component of
the process and is viewed not as a once off event but as a series of events over
time, which develops understanding on the project and capacity to participate in
the process. This process will be supported by a proactive process of ongoing
consultation with key groups and communication with I&APs.
In addition to th is, consultation meetings and presentations w ill a lso be held a t
the request of I&APs. The I&AP database will be updated throughout the process
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to r eflect I&AP p articipation a nd input. A t t he c onclusion o f th e process th e
comments raised by I&APs will be included in the issues and responses t rail for
inclusion in the Final EIR as well as Permit Application Report.
More details regarding the public participation undertaken to date and
planned in the future is available in chapter 3 of this EIR.
6. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS
The conclusions of this EIR are the result of comprehensive studies and specialist
assessments. These studies were based on issues identified through the Scoping,
Footprint Ranking and Final Feasibility Reports and the parallel process of public
participation. T he public consultation p rocess has been rigorous and extensive,
and every effort has been made to include representatives of all stakeholders
within the process.
6.1. Flora
Based on specialist analysis of the floral composition of the preferred footprint
throughout the course of the EIA process the following has been concluded:
• Presence of Rare and Endangered species: Although the diversity in habitat
is low and the Mesic Succulent Thicket is in a poor condition there is still
potential for Rare and Endangered species to occur within this vegetation
type. Several healthy specimens of the sensitive species Syncarpha striata
were recorded within Bontveld in a good condition which is located along the
northern boundary of the site. This portion of the site should therefore be
regarded as sensitive. However, due to the low species diversity of the Mesic
Succulent Thicket (MST) vegetation on-site compared to pristine MST the
impact of the proposed GHWMF on existing MST vegetation is deemed to be
of low negative significance. Due to the limited availability of good condition
Bontveld in the area surrounding the proposed GHWMF site as compared to
the more prevalent MST, the impacts on the Bontveld habitat w ill be of
increased negative significance at a Regional level.
• Ecological function: The vegetation within the area of the proposed GHWMF
footprint is providing the basic functions within the greater ecological
system. Vegetative cover is medium. Although some limited erosion does
occur within the game/livestock paths as well as on the old lands, the soil on
the rest of the footprint is adequately covered and protected.
• Uniqueness/conservation value: In general the footprint displays no specific
or important features different from the vegetation in the surrounding area.
The only area of real concern is the ecotone boundary between MST and
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Bontveld as well as the small section of Bontveld along the northern
boundary of the site that needs to be protected.
Overall the impacts on f loral h abitat a re deemed to be of low significance if
appropriate mitigation measures are put in place for the construction and
operational phases of the project.
6.2. Fauna
Based on specialist analysis of the faunal composition of the p referred footprint
throughout the course of the EIA process the following has been concluded:
• Loss a nd f ragmentation o f h abitats: P roject a ctions a ssociated with th e
construction of the proposed GHWMF and the development of transport links
will result in the loss and fragmentation of sensitive habitats. The proposed
waste facility on Footprint F will impact a variety of habitats, particularly
Bontveld a nd MST. As th e l oss and f ragmentation o f h abitats w ill b e
localised, and careful siting of the proposed GHWMF has directly avoided
intact Bontveld habitat, the impact after mitigation will be low.
• Loss of faunal diversity: Although the region for the proposed GHWMF has a
rich faunal diversity, some vertebrate groups in the region are now
characterised by reduced faunal diversity due to direct and indirect effects of
previous and current l and use. The loss of faunal diversity will be localised
and the fauna i s a lso relatively impoverished. T he unmitigated impact will
therefore be moderate, but with the possible rehabilitation of MST on closure
this may be reduced to low significance.
• Barriers to animal movement: The proposed GHWMF will result in habitat
fragmentation and the construction of linear developments (road linkages
and power l ines). T hese w ill f orm barriers to animal movement w ithin the
region, both for terrestrial fauna and to the aerial f light routes of migrating
birds. Impacts on animal movements will be greatest in regions with high
habitat fragmentation, or where linear developments such as roads transect
migratory paths. A s the barriers to animal movements will be localised and
many of the transport linkages already exist, the impact of the additional
development will be of low significance.
• Loss of Species of Special Concern (SSC): Project actions associated with the
proposed G HWMF m ay re sult in the loss of Species of S pecial C oncern.
Project actions impacting SSC include the destruction and loss of sensitive
habitats, particularly Bontveld, and increased mortality and disturbance due
to increased road traffic and the possibility of bird species flying into
powerlines during operation of the facility. T he possible loss of SSC will be
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localised and usually of low impact for most SSC. Ho wever, because of the
close proximity and possible p resence of a Globally Critically Endangered
species (the Albany adder) the impact will be of potentially moderate to high
significance.
• Increase in problem animals and alien species: Project actions associated
with th e c onstruction o f t he p roposed G HWMF a nd th e d evelopment o f
transport links will result in an increase in problem animals and alien species.
Their numbers in the area surrounding the proposed GHWMF may displace
local fauna from its habitat; cause increased predation on local fauna and
introduce or spread wildlife diseases. As the potential impact can be
effectively controlled it will be of low significance.
• Increased disturbance and mortality due to road traffic: Although the new
roads associated with access to the proposed GHWMF are short, the
operational phase of the facility will involve a significant increase in road
traffic to and from the facility on existing roads. This will result in increased
disturbance and faunal mortality due to increased road traffic over the long-
term. An increase in faunal mortality due to increased road traffic will not be
entirely avoided, but the impact will be of low significance.
• Changes in natural fire regime: Changes in water flow dynamics following
road construction and other developments that reduce vegetation cover, may
reduce the water t able locally, drying vegetation to unnatural levels and
making it m ore s usceptible t o f ire. C onstruction a nd planning o f r oads
should anticipate an increased fire ri sk, a nd increased h uman population
growth in the area will also lead to an increase in accidental fires.
• Pollution: Pollution may result from periodic accidents, or from slow, ongoing
contamination. Operation of the proposed GHWMF, particularly in relation to
the use of liquid fuels, could result in periodic spillages. Heavy vehicle traffic
is also associated with increased local pollution resulting from exhaust
fumes, oil spillage and accumulation of rubber compounds from tyre wear.
These pollutants can cause localised impacts. However, the impact on fauna
will be low if correctly mitigated during the operational phase.
• Loss or reduction of ecosystem functioning: Although there is a long history
of agricultural use and transformation in the region, i t still retains relatively
high faunal and floral diversity and contributes to local ecosystem
functioning. The impact can be proactively avoided and partially mitigated by
avoiding direct loss of Bontveld habitat, wetlands, steep valley sides, and the
limestone ‘rubble edge’ often associated with the ecotone between Bontveld
and adjacent MST in the final siting of the GHWMF.
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6.3. Geohydrology
Based on the available geological and geohydrological information for the
proposed site and the immediate surrounding farms, the preferred footprint is
considered s uitable f or t he d evelopment of the G HWMF waste p rovided th e
design, c onstruction a nd op erational re quirements a s s pecified i n t he DWEA
guideline document are adhered to. The main reasons for the site being regarded
a suitable area, are the following:
• The g eological c onditions o f th e u nderlying f ormations, b oth i n te rms o f
lithology and depth extent are very favourable.
• The static groundwater level in the vicinity of the site is of the order of 70 m
below surface.
• Borehole yields are generally very low as illustrated by the four recently
drilled boreholes that were all dry on completion of drilling.
• The groundwater quality in the region is generally poor to very poor and as a
result v ery l ittle u se i s b eing m ade of g roundwater for d omestic, s tock
watering or irrigation. The poor water quality is a direct result of the marine
depositional conditions that existed during the formation of the geological
formations hosting the groundwater.
• The und erlying f ormations, t he S undays R iver a nd Ki rkwood f ormations,
comprise o f a v ery thick s uccession ( estimated t o b e > 300 m) of
predominantly siltstone and mudstone, with minor interlayered sandstone
layers. These f ormations have a v ery low hydraulic conductivity and will
prevent the migration of contaminants in the case of liner system failure.
• The deep artesian aquifer associated with the Table Mountain Group
sediments, is well protected from any contamination by the thick succession
of Uitenhage Group sediments. T hat the latter sediments form an effective
barrier to groundwater flow to the deeper aquifer.
• The site is situated close to a local surface water divide and none of the
drainage lines at or upstream of the site represent perennial flow conditions.
• The Waste-Aquifer Separation Principle (WASP) analysis, which takes into
consideration a number of geological, geohydrological, water use and design
criteria, also indicated that the site can be classified as “suitable”.
• No geological or geohydrological conditions within the study can be regarded
as “fatal flaws” according to the definitions described in the DWEA guideline
documents.
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6.4. Tourism
Based on specialist analysis of tourism in the area throughout the course of the
EIA process the following has been concluded:
• The Sundays River Valley is an important tourism destination that depends
heavily o n its image as a n e co/wildlife de stination. T he A ddo E lephant
National Park is the key attraction in the a rea and is being marketed on
environmental grounds i.e. the animals are free to roam across a large area,
and the p ark has a range of b iodiversity. The area thus a ppeals to t he
environmentally conscious tourist.
• Internationally tourists are becoming more environmentally conscious and are
basing their decision to visit a destination on environmental grounds. T hese
tourists m ay th us d ecide n ot to v isit th e S undays Ri ver V alley a rea i f a
GHWMF is l ocated i n th e a rea d ue to th e p erception t hat th ese t ypes of
facilities are harmful to the environment.
Based on the above it should be stated that none of the footprints assessed
during the course of the EIA process, including Footprint F , are i deal for such a
facility as they are located in a tourism area that markets itself as an eco/wildlife
destination that is environmentally sensitive. Although potential Visual, Odour and
Traffic impacts a re p redicted t o b e of l ow s ignificance a s i t re lates t o t heir
relationship with the overall predicted Tourism impacts, perceptions of the facility
prior to, a nd d uring, a visit to t he area a re deemed to be of h igh negative
significance. Similarly, the development potential of any tourism related facilities
in the GHWMF area will be limited as a result
6.5. Visual
Footprint F is a valley infill site and ranks as the preferred location for the GHWMF
from a visual impact perspective for the following reasons:
• It has the most contained area of visual impact and lends itself to the highest
level of successful impact mitigation measures. This is due to the enclosed
nature of t he v alley w ithin w hich it re sides. T he f act t hat t he f acility is
theoretically visible from the R335 is not a major cause for concern. The
likelihood of it ever being noticed or recognised as a landfill from a distance of
6 km is slim to negligible, as the site would never appear in its entirety.
• The selection of Footprint F as the preferred alternative, even with its own
associated visual impact concerns, highlights the need to shield the facility
from ob servers t ravelling along th e R3 35. T he b enefit o f th is f ootprint
placement is that no one travelling from Port Elizabeth to Addo, or the Greater
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Addo Elephant National Park, would even be aware of the existence of this
facility th rough a ccidental o bservation. T his i s d ue t o th e f act t hat th e
footprint is far removed from the R335 and because of the hidden nature of
the infill site.
• The associated benefits o f placing the w aste p rocessing facility o n m ining
land, where borrow materials could be sourced without breaking new ground
and c learing large tracts of l and, counts in Footprint F ’s favour. Th e mining
and quarrying activities a nd a waste processing facility are complimenting
land-uses, as opposed to the potential conflict between waste processing and
agriculture/cattle and game farming/tourism and eco-tourism.
• Another clear benefit of this footprint's placement is its closer proximity to
Port Elizabeth from where most of the waste to be treated will be transported.
The distance of 4 km does not sound like much, but over a period of 20 years
it would translate to a considerable amount of kilometres. This, and the fact
that access will be afforded by a private road, minimises the visual impacts
associated with the increase in heavy vehicle t raffic to and f rom the facility.
This increase in heavy vehicle traffic might raise awareness of the fact that
such a facility exists in the vicinity.
6.6. Air Quality
The o dour, nu isance, dust a nd h ealth impacts o f th e c andidate s ite f or th e
GHWMF were assessed. The main findings of the study are as follows:
• Particulates (P M10): N o e xceedances of th e c urrent o r p roposed a mbient
South A frican standards f or P M10 w ere p redicted t o oc cur a t a ny of t he
sensitive receptors included in the study for any of the scenarios. The impacts
from landfill activities associated with the Scenario 1 transport option (refer to
Chapter 13) were predicted to be the least significant and will result in the
lowest g round l evel P M10 c oncentrations a t t he m ajority of t he sensitive
receptors. The highest PM10 concentrations predicted as a result of emissions
associated with the four scenarios were predicted to occur at Rooidam.
• Particulates (Dustfall): Slight dustfall levels (<250 mg/m²/day) were
predicted to occur at the all of the sensitive receptors located around the
proposed GHWMF s ite. Overall, the impacts from landfill activities associated
with Scenario 1 were predicted to be the least significant and will result in the
lowest dustfall levels at the majority of the sensitive receptors. Dust
emissions from of activities associated with Scenario 2 transport option were
predicted to r esult i n the h ighest d ustfall levels a t m ost o f th e sensitive
receptors. The highest dustfall levels as a result of emissions associated with
Scenarios 1 and 2 w ere p redicted to occur at Ro oidam while the highest
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dustfall levels as a result of emissions associated with Scenarios 3 and 4 were
predicted to occur at Centlivres.
• Non-carcinogenic exposures: None of the pollutants considered in this study
flagged for the proposed GHWMF. The hazard quotient for chronic exposures
for the proposed landfill was predicted to be 0.012. T he hazard quotient for
the site was therefore predicted to be less than 1.0 for all exposure periods.
• Cancer risks: Total maximum incremental cancer risk levels were predicted to
be less than ~ 1 in 3.5 million for the proposed landfill operations and would
therefore b e r egarded a s a cceptable b y t he r egulatory a uthorities. Th e
maximum cancer risk at the sensitive receptors as a result of emissions from
the pr oposed l andfill s ite w as p redicted to o ccur at Ro oidam (~ 1 i n 4 5
million).
• Odour impacts: No odour threshold exceedances were predicted to occur due
to on-site concentrations of odoriferous gasses. Off-site odour impacts were
predicted to far below the acceptable 3 OU/m³ odour unit level at all the
sensitive receptors.
6.7. Heritage
The study has shown that Footprint F was suitable for the proposed facility as
potential impacts on heritage resources are deemed to be of low significance.
6.8. Land Use
The a ssessment o f possible land us e impacts included t he p otential f or
resettlement of individuals, fatal flaws associated with the proximity to airfields,
rezoning issues and potential impacts on the citrus industry. The key f indings of
this aspect of the study were that:
• Footprint F will require the resettlement of one household but the number of
people involved is small and if the recommendations are implemented it could
be undertaken in a satisfactory manner.
• Although it has not yet been confirmed that the site can be rezoned for waste
disposal, no reasons have been given as to why this should not be possible.
• The proximity of registered airfields would not constitute a fatal flaw.
• Any future land use planning or development in the a rea w ill have to be
cognizant o f th e c onstraints th e G HWMF a nd a ssociated b uffer z one m ay
impose on certain land uses. Similarly, should the facility be authorised, these
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constraints must be incorporated into any future spatial planning frameworks
that are developed or revised at local and regional level.
• Based on a review of the EUREPGAP®
regulations, it is considered unlikely that
the establishment of a regional waste disposal facility would impact negatively
on the certification of citrus farms to the north-east of the site.
6.9. Transport
The transport study has estimated the costs for the transportation of waste to the
proposed regional general and hazardous waste d isposal facility by road and by
rail with the following findings:
• A cost comparison between these two modes of transport concluded that the
road o ptions a re f ar more e conomical t han t he r ail o ptions. T he c ost o f
upgrading the roads to Footprint F were estimated at R 16,0 million and R
24,2 million for gravel and tar respectively. The Province is committed to
upgrading Addo Road regardless of the proposed waste site development and
once upgraded to the recommended design standard it will be able to
accommodate t he heavy v ehicle t raffic t hat w ill b e g enerated b y t he
operational waste facility. It can therefore be concluded that transportation of
waste by road is the better option.
• If an environmental authorisation is not given to extend the l ife of the Aloes
hazardous waste facility beyond 2016, the new site at Grassridge will need to
become operational prior to this. As PPC will still be mining their land north of
the P1954 road until a fter 2012, it is recommended that the P1958 be
regravelled for use by construction phase vehicles t ravelling to the site f rom
the R335 (Addo Road).
• A new 0,5 km access road should be constructed from P1958 to the site to
replace the currently d isused skew junction where P1954 joins P1958. It i s
essential that the Addo Road (R335) be upgraded from the R334 to P1958
junction b efore t he w aste f acility b ecomes o perational. S imilarly, it is
recommended that the P1958, as well as all other haul routes to the facility
that are currently gravel roads, are upgraded to b itumen standard and fulfil
the same design criteria as that proposed for the R335 (Addo Road).
• If an environmental authorisation is granted to extend the life of the Aloes
hazardous waste facility, the decision on whether to upgrade P1954 or
regravel P1958 can be delayed until it is known when PPC will complete their
mining operations north of P1954. I f these operations are completed by the
time th e n ew w aste f acility is r equired, th e u pgrading o f P 1954 and th e
relocation of i ts j unction on R 335 i s p referred, b ecause it will result in a
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shorter travel distance than via P1958 for the majority of waste vehicles that
will use the R335 coming from Port Elizabeth and the Coega IDZ.
• It can therefore be concluded that transportation of waste by road is the
better option, provided that the Addo Road between the R334 and P1958
junctions is upgraded before the operation of the waste facility commences.
6.10. Social
Based on the findings of the SIA, it can be concluded that the social environment
in g eneral p oses n o f atal flaws t o t he development of t he proposed regional
GHWMF provided that the identified mitigation measures, as recommended for
inclusion in the EMP, are implemented and adhered to, particularly where
construction activities either take place or pass through in close proximity to
residential areas. It is believed that such activities could affect the quality of lives
of these households in terms of noise, dust, safety and security. In summation:
• The pre-construction and construction phase of the proposed project is
characterised by a number of negative impacts. This is mainly due to the
nature of the activities that take place during these phases. The same holds
true for the operational phase of the p roposed project. Most of the negative
impacts within these various phases can be mitigated successfully. There are
also a number of positive impacts, which could be further enhanced if
managed effectively. These impacts mostly relate to a temporary change in
the employment and economic profile of the local area by means of
employment opportunities, which in turn leads to a positive economic impact
on local households.
• The g eographic, d emographic, b iophysical a nd s ocio-cultural p rocesses a ll
have a number of negative impacts. However all of these impacts can be
mitigated successfully if effectively managed. Economic impacts as a result of
the project are for the most part positive in nature, which is mainly due to the
economic investment and development that will take place in the community
as a result of the project. Although the expected construction impacts across
all the change processes are mostly negative, these impacts are for the most
part only temporary in nature and only expected to last over the construction
period, which is approximately 12 months.
• Operational impacts are expected to last over the longer term and therefore
would have a prolonged effect on especially the biophysical environment in
terms of an effective waste management strategy. People are more inclined to
get “used” to the facility in their area if waste management strategies are
applied effectively and with due diligence. Based on the findings of this report,
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it c an b e c oncluded that the overall si gnificance o f i mpacts o n t he social
environment will be low.
7. INTERESTED AND AFFECTED PARTY ISSUES, CONCERNS AND
COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT EIR
The major areas of I&AP concern relating to the establishment of the facility are
as follows:
• Waste incineration
• Potential impacts on the citrus industry
• Traffic and transport corridor impacts owing to the current state of the R335
• Illegal dumping and litter along transport routes
• Tourism impacts
• Impacts on PPC’s operations
• Overall management and monitoring of the operational facility
It is anticipated that these concerns have been suitably addressed in this revised
report. These issues and concerns have been incorporated in the Draft EMP as
well as the recommendations for conditions of environmental authorisation
contained in Chapter 17. For a detailed account of these issues and concerns
please refer to Chapter 16, as well as the Issues and Responses Register that is
included as an appendix to this report.
8. OVERALL CONCLUSION
This report has investigated the preferred footprint (F) on Grassridge 190
Remainder for the siting of the GHWMF. Footprint F was selected as the most
preferable site for the proposed facility as the result of an extensive screening
and preliminary assessment process that culminated in a Final Feasibility Report
that d etermined t hat t his s ite w as t he l east e nvironmentally s ensitive of a ll
alternatives taken into consideration.
The results of the studies undertaken within this report provide an assessment of
both the potential benefits and potential negative impacts anticipated as a result
of the proposed GHWMF. T he studies conclude that there are no environmental
fatal flaws that should prevent the proposed project from proceeding and that the
majority of impacts should be regarded as either low or moderate provided that
the recommended mitigation and management measures are incorporated into
the Final C onstruction a nd O perational EMP’s and effectively implemented. It
must b e mentioned that the Draft EM P w ill h ave t o b e f urther r efined a nd
submitted for authority approval once detailed design information is made
available, and the preferred operator and construction contractor appointed.
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Based o n th e b alance o f a dvantages a nd d isadvantages associated with th e
proposed facility, there would not appear to be any s ignificant reasons why the
proposed development should not proceed. It is hoped that all significant issues
and concerns raised by I&APs have been addressed through the revision o f the
EIR where relevant, and more specifically, in the recommendations for conditions
of environmental authorisation put forward by the EAP.
I&APs have been afforded the opportunity to review this Revised Draft EIR on the
significance of the potential impacts associated with the proposed facility. The
purpose of t his re port i s t o provide a f ull environmental a ssessment of t he
proposed GHWMF in order to fulfil the requirements of informed decision making
by the relevant authorities in terms of their respective authorisation and
permitting mandates. It should be noted that the more technical details to the
design and operation of the proposed facility are contained in the Draft Permit
Application Report and, as such, both documents should be read i n conjunction
with each other.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION 1
1.1. Introduction 1
1.1.1. Rationale 1
1.1.2. Objectives 1
1.2. Process Overview 4
1.2.1. Process to date 4
1.2.2. Current activities 8
1.3. Summary of Process Phases 11
2. GENERAL APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY 13
2.1. Impact Rating Scales 13
2.1.1 Temporal Scale 14
2.1.2. Spatial Scale 14
2.1.3. Severity/Beneficial Rating Scale 13
2.1.4. Significance Scale 16
2.1.5. Risk or likelihood 18
2.1.6. Degree of confidence or certainty 18
2.2. Authority Consultation 19
2.3. Specialist Studies 19
3. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 20
3.1. Introduction 20
3.2. Phase One: Identification of Potential Windows and Sites
(2000 – 2002) 21
3.3. Phase Two: Environmental Scoping of Potential Sites 23
3.4. Ranking Report Consultation Process 27
3.5. Footprint Ranking Report Consultation Process 29
3.6. EIA Stage Public Consultation Process
(Present Stage in the Process) 31
3.7. Draft Environmental Impact Assessment Report and Permit
Application Report 35
3.8. Revised Draft EIR notification and Distribution
(current stage in the process) 38
3.9. Final EIR and Permit Application Report 41
3.10. Environmental Authorisation and Appeal Period 42
3.11. Concluding Remarks 42
4. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY AREA 43
4.1. Locality of the Study Area 43
4.2. Biophysical Environment 43
4.2.1. Topography 43
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4.2.2. Climate 44
4.2.3. Geology 47
4.2.4. Soils 47
4.2.5. Hydrology and Geohydrology 48
4.2.6. Flora 48
4.2.7. Fauna 48
4.2.8. Protected Areas 49
4.3. Social Environment 51
5. FLORA 52
5.1. Introduction 52
5.2. Description of the Floral Habitat 52
5.3. Vegetation characteristics 55
5.4. Main Potential Impacts on the Natural Vegetation 58
5.4.1. Integrity and functioning of sensitive vegetation types 58
5.4.2. Loss of endemic, protected and rare/endangered
species 59
5.4.3. Introduction and spread of alien plant species, weeds
and invader plants 59
5.5. Impact Assessment 60
5.6. Conclusion 62
5.7. Recommendations 63
6. FAUNA 67
6.1. Introduction 67
6.2. Methodology 68
6.2.1. Survey 68
6.2.2. Faunal diversity 68
6.2.3. Species of special concern (SSC) 68
6.2.4. Habitat Associations 68
6.3. Faunal diversity 71
6.3.1. Protected Areas 71
6.3.2. Invertebrates 71
6.3.3. Amphibians 73
6.3.4. Reptiles 74
6.3.5. Birds 76
6.3.6. Mammals 77
6.4. Impact Assessment 78
6.4.1. Loss and fragmentation of habitats 79
6.4.2. Loss of faunal diversity 80
6.4.3. Barriers to Animal movement 81
6.4.4. Loss of Species of Special Concern 83
6.4.5. Increase in problem animals and alien species 84
6.4.6. Increased disturbance and mortality due to
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road traffic 85
6.4.7. Changes in natural fire regime 87
6.4.8. Pollution 87
6.4.9. Loss or reduction of ecosystem functioning 88
6.5. Conclusion 91
6.5. Recommendations 92
7. GEOLOGY AND GEOHYDROLOGY 94
7.1. Background 94
7.2. Terms of Reference 94
7.3. Description of the Affected Environment 95
7.3.1. General Description of larger area served by
the proposed GHWMF 95
7.3.2. Local geological and geohydrological conditions at
Footprints F 100
7.3.3. Results of the geophysical survey and additional
exploration drilling 105
7.3.4. Groundwater use and quality 107
7.4. Risk Assessment 108
7.4.1. Aquifer classification and vulnerability 108
7.4.2. Risk of Contamination of Coega and Sundays Rivers 110
7.4.3. Evaluation of the site for a waste disposal facility 110
7.4.4. Identification of Risk Sources 111
7.4.5. Groundwater monitoring 112
7.5. Impact Description and Assessment 113
7.5.1. General Comments 113
7.5.2. Impact Assessment 113
7.6. Conclusion 121
7.7. Recommendations 121
8. TOURISM 126
8.1. Introduction 126
8.2. Scope of Work 126
8.3. Method 127
8.3.1. The tourism experience 127
8.3.2. Potential tourism impacts 129
8.4. Site Assessment 131
8.5. Impact Assessment 131
8.5.1. Perception before decision to visit 132
8.5.2. Perception of experience in the area 132
8.5.3. Visual 133
8.5.4. Wind/Smell 134
8.5.5. Traffic 134
8.5.6. Limitation of future tourism development 134
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8.6. Conclusion and Recommendations 137
9. VISUAL IMPACT 138
9.1. Introduction 138
9.2. Methodology 138
9.2.1. General 138
9.2.2. Assessment Methodology 139
9.3. Site Description 141
9.3.1. The affected environment 141
9.3.2. Footprint F 142
9.3.3. Visual impact assessment 142
9.4. Results 148
9.4.1. Visual impact index 148
9.4.2. Visual impact severity 148
9.4.3. Impact Analysis 150
9.5. Conclusion and Recommendations 152
10. AIR QUALITY 153
10.1. Introduction 153
10.2. Scope of Study 153
10.3. Methodology 153
10.3.1. Emissions Inventory and Dispersion Simulations 154
10.3.2. Landfill Gas Concentrations, Health and Odour
Impacts 157
10.3.3. Significance of Impacts 158
10.3.4. Buffer Zone Projection 159
10.4. Results and Conclusions 159
10.5 Impact Assessment 167
10.6. Summary and Recommendations 171
11. HERITAGE 174
11.1. Introduction 174
11.2. Scope of Work 174
11.3. Methodology 174
11.4. Site Assessment 176
11.5. Impact Assessment 177
11.6. Conclusions 178
12. LAND USE AND RESETTLEMENT 179
12.1. Introduction 179
12.1.1. Resettlement 179
12.1.2. Land availability and rezoning 179
12.1.3. Land Use 180
12.1.4. Aviation 180
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12.1.5. Scope and Limitations 180
12.2. Methods and Results 180
12.2.1. Resettlement 180
12.2.2. Land availability and rezoning 181
12.2.3. Surrounding Land Use 184
12.2.4. Aviation 186
12.3. Conclusions 187
13. TRANSPORT STUDY 188
13.1. Introduction 188
13.2. Site Location and Existing Roads 188
13.3. Rail Transport 192
13.4. Traffic Analysis 193
13.4.1. Approach and Methodology 193
13.4.2. Data obtained 194
13.4.3. Predicted waste disposal volumes 195
13.4.4. Trip generation and distribution 196
13.4.5. Structural Pavement Analysis 196
13.4.6. Road and Intersection capacity Analysis 198
13.5. Existing and Future road Infrastructure 202
13.5.1. Condition of Road Infrastructure 202
13.5.2. Cost of upgrading road infrastructure 202
13.6. Site Access Options and PPC Mining Activity 203
13.7. Anticipated Transport Corridor and Traffic Impacts 204
13.8. Conclusions and Recommendations 206
16. SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT 208
14.1. Introduction 208
14.1.1. Definition of a SIA 208
14.1.2. Objectives of the SIA 209
14.1.3. Approach and Methodology 210
14.1.4. Preliminary Findings of the SIASR 210
14.1.5. Findings of the Footprint Ranking Report 214
14.1.6. Findings of the Feasibility Report 214
14.1.7. Preferred Footprint 215
14.1.8. Assumptions and Limitations of Study 215
14.2. General Overview of the Affected Area 216
14.3. Social Change Processes and Impact Assessment 218
14.4. Demographic Processes 219
14.4.1. Demographic Change Processes and Resultant Impacts 222
14.5. Economic Processes 227
14.5.1. Economic Change Processes and Resultant Impacts 229
14.6. Institutional and Empowerment Processes 232
14.6.1. Institutional and Empowerment Change Processes
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and Resultant Impacts 234
14.7. Socio-Cultural Processes 236
14.7.1. Socio-Cultural Change Processes and
Resultant Impacts 236
14.8. Geographical Processes 237
14.8.1. Geographical Change Processes and
Resultant Impacts 242
14.9. Biophysical Processes 243
14.9.1. Biophysical Change Processes and
Resultant Impacts 244
14.10. Summary 246
14.11. Conclusion and Recommendations 252
14.11.1. Demographic Change Processes 252
14.11.2. Economic Change Processes 253
14.11.3. Institutional and Empowerment Change Processes 254
14.11.4. Socio-Cultural Change Processes 256
14.11.5. Geographical Change Processes 257
14.11.6. Biophysical Change Processes 258
15. PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS AND PRELIMINARY DESIGN 259
15.1. Introduction 259
15.2. Terms of Reference and Deliverables 259
15.3. Site Description 261
15.4. Geotechnical and Geohydrological Aspects 263
15.5. Site Classification 264
15.6. Design Philosophy 265
15.6.1. Constraints and Factors Affecting Design 266
15.6.2. Access and Infrastructure 267
15.6.3. Landfill Design 270
15.6.4. Drainage Systems 272
15.6.5. Contaminated water drainage and management 273
15.6.6. Leachate Drainage 275
15.6.7. Landfill Gas Management Systems 278
15.7. Closure and Rehabilitation 281
15.7.1. Proposed final landform 282
15.7.2. Phased capping 282
15.7.3. Capping design 283
15.7.4. Storm water management post-closure 285
15.7.5. Maintenance and Monitoring 285
16. SALIENT ISSUES AND CONCERNS RAISED BY I&AP’S AND
STAKEHOLDERS
16.1. Issues related to roads and transportation of hazardous waste 286
16.2. Potential Impacts on Addo Elephant National Park 292
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16.3. Potential Impacts on Air Quality 292
16.4. Potential Impacts on Ground and Surface water 293
16.5. Socio Economic Impacts of Concern 293
16.6. Impact on PPC Operations 294
16.7. Project Implementation and Monitoring 295
16.8. EIA Process and Public Participation 298
16.9. Conclusions 305
17. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 306
17.1. Final Conclusions of the Specialist Studies 306
17.1.1. Flora 306
17.1.2. Fauna 307
17.1.3. Geohydrology 309
17.1.4. Tourism 310
17.1.5. Visual 311
17.1.6. Air Quality 312
17.1.7. Heritage 313
17.1.8. Land Use 313
17.1.9. Transport 313
17.1.10. Social 314
17.2. Recommendations for Mitigation and Management Measures 315
17.2.1. Flora 315
17.2.2. Fauna 318
17.2.3. Geohydrology 319
17.2.4. Tourism 321
17.2.5. Visual 321
17.2.6. Air Quality 322
17.2.7. Transport 323
17.2.8. Social 324
17.3. Overall Conclusion 330
17.4. Recommendations for Conditions of Environmental
Authorisation 331
18. REFERENCES 333
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LIST OF TABLES
2.1. Proposed specialist team and their areas of expertise 20
4.1. Temperature data for Port Elizabeth, Addo and Uitenhage 45
4.2. Average Rainfall and Evaporation data from Addo, Groendal Dam and
Uitenhage 46
4.3. The geology of the study area 7
5.1. Floral impact assessment of Footprint F 61
6.1. Faunal impact assessment of Footprint F 90
7.1. The geological sequence in the Port Elizabeth/Uitenhage/Addo area 97
7.2. Geological legend for the geological map shown in Figure 7.1 100
7.3. Geological formations present on the farm Grassridge 190 103
7.4. Stratigraphic correlation between boreholes 106
7.5. Geohydrological impact assessment of Footprint F during the design
and construction phase 114
7.6. Geohydrological impact assessment of Footprint F during the
operational phase 116
7.7. Geohydrological impact assessment of Footprint F during the
decommissioning phase 119
7.8. Proposed mitigation actions to reduce geohydrological impacts
during the lifespan of the GHWMF 123
8.1. Tourism impact assessment of Footprint F 136
9.1. Severity of the visual impact 148
9.2. Visual impact assessment of Footprint F 151
10.1. Synopsis of estimated fugitive emissions 163
10.2. Summary of predicted cancer risks at the sensitive receptors 165
10.3. Air quality impact assessment for the construction and
operational phases 169
10.4. Air quality impact assessment for the post-closure phase 170
11.1. Assessment of the archaeological impacts on Footprint F and proposed
access roads without mitigation 177
13.1. Alternative routes to the three sites 189
13.2. Rail infrastructure establishment costs 193
13.3. Predicted Traffic Loading 197
13.4. Current and future traffic volumes 199
13.5. Average vehicle delay 200
13.6. Road upgrade costs 203
13.7. Comparative costs of road versus rail transport of waste 205
14.1. Scoping phase impact variables in relation to social change processes
in the impact assessment phase 211
14.2. Justification for the selection of Footprint F as the preferred site 214
14.3. Summary of population characteristics 221
14.4. Overview of Employment and Economic Sectors 228
14.5. Overview of Municipal Services 233
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14.6. Socio-economic impact assessment of Footprint F
(Pre Construction/Construction) 248
14.7. Socio-economic impact assessment of Footprint F
(Operational) 250
14.8. Socio-economic impact assessment of Footprint F
(Decommissioning) 251
15.1. Airspace provided by phases 270
LIST OF FIGURES
1.1. Sites assessed in the Footprint Ranking Report 6
1.2. Sites assessed in the Final Feasibility Report 7
1.3. Proposed extent of Footprint F 9
1.4: Corner point co-ordinates for Footprint F
1.5. Process phases 11
1.6. Conceptual figure of the process to arrive at a preferred facility
location (Footprint F) selected for EIA 12
4.1. Map of the Port Elizabeth area showing the approximate position of
Footprint F 43
4.2. Wind roses for the period 18 May 2005 – 31 May 2006 44
4.3. Hourly average temperature recorded for the period 18 May 2006
to 31 May 2006 45
4.4. Google earth image showing the approximate distance between
Footprint F and the closest current boundary of the Addo Elephant
National Park 50
5.1. Google image with Footprint F development boundary indicating
the vegetation condition on site 54
5.2. Cultivated lands on Footprint F 56
5.3. Highly degraded Mesic Succulent Thicket in foreground with
vegetation in poor condition in the background 56
5.4. Example of Mesic Succulent Thicket in a degraded poor condition 57
5.5. A small patch of Bontveld in the foreground and remainder of the
site in the background 57
5.6. A healthy specimen of Syncarpha striata found on site 58
5.7. Ecotone boundary between MST and the Bontveld area to be
excluded from development 63
6.1. Natural Bontveld grassland with bush clumps in the Grassridge area 69
6.2. Exposed limestone bedrock in Bontveld habitat in the northern section
of Footprint F 70
6.3. Bush clump in Bontveld grassland in the northern section of
Footprint F 70
6.4. Cleared and degraded Mesic Succulent Thicket habitat in the southeast
section of Footprint F 71
6.5. The Critically Endangered Albany adder (Bitis albanica) 75
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6.6. Tasman’s Girdled Lizard (Cordylus tasmani) 75
7.1. Portion of the 1:50 000 Geological map 3325DA Addo showing
the geology on the farms Grassridge 190, Grassridge 227 and
Grassridge 228 and the approximate location of Footprint F 101
9.1. Visual exposure of Footprint F to surrounding area 144
9.2. Visual distance and viewer incidence of Footprint F to the
surrounding area 146
9.3. Visual Impact Index of Footprint F 149
10.1. Alternative access routes to the proposed landfill site 157
10.2. Scenario 1 – Predicted annual average PM10 concentrations 160
10.3. Scenario 1 – Predicted highest daily average PM10 concentrations 160
10.4. Scenario 1 – Predicted average daily dustfall 162
10.5. Scenario 1 – Predicted maximum daily dustfall 162
10.6. Predicted odour impact areas 165
10.7. Projected 500 m buffer zone around the proposed GHWMF site 167
11.1. Footprint F: View facing north-east 175
11.2. Footprint F: View facing north-west 176
11.3. Footprint F: Collection of stone tools 176
12.1. Letter from the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality regarding the
potential rezoning of Footprint F for a waste disposal facility 182
12.2. Letter from the Commission of Restitution of Land Rights confirming
that no land claims have been lodged on any of the farms 183
12.3. Location of airfields within the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality 186
13.1. R75 – MR00470 - P1958 – P1954 access route 190
13.2. R75 – MR00470 - P1958 – R335 - P1954 access route 190
13.3. R335 – P1954 access route 191
13.4. R335 – P1958 – P1954 access route 191
14.1. Approximate location of the preferred site depicting the land use of
the surrounding area 217
14.2. Access roads to the various farmlands in vicinity of the proposed site 219
14.3. Educational profile (Grouped) for affected areas 222
14.4. House located in close proximity to the proposed site 223
14.5. Overview of Annual Household Income 229
15.1: Preliminary general layout of the GHWMF 262
15.2: Preliminary infrastructure layout of the GHWMF 269
15.3: Preliminary leachate and storm water dam layout for the GHWMF 274
15.4: Preliminary leachate collection and drainage plan for the GHWMF 277
15.5: Conceptual gas extraction layout for the GHWMF 280
15.6: Conceptual final rehabilitation plan for the GHWMF 283
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APPENDICES
A: DWEA approval of the Plan of Study for EIA
B: I&AP Database
C: Draft EIR availability advertisements
D: Issues and Responses Register (including minutes of public meetings and
written correspondence received from I&APs)
E: Geological and Geohydrological Assessment
F: Letter from Grant Thornton
G: Air Quality Assessment
H: Comments from the South Africa Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA)
I: Social Impact Assessment
J: Draft Environmental Management Plan
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ACRONYMS
ADT - Average Daily Traffic
ADTT - Average Daily Truck Traffic
CBO - Community Based Organisation
CDC - Coega Development Corporation
CITES - Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
DANCED - Danish Co-operation for Environment and Development
DEDEA - Eastern Cape Province Department of Economic Development and
Environmental Affairs
DME - Department of Minerals and Energy
DOT - Department of Transport
DTM - Digital Terrain Model
DWEA - Department of Water and Environmental Affairs
EC - Electrical Conductivity
ECA - Environment Conservation Act
ECDRT - Eastern Cape Department of Roads and Transport
ECP - Eastern Cape Province
EIA - Environmental Impact Assessment
EIR - Environmental Impact Report
EMP - Environmental Management Plan
EO - Environmental Officer
ESAL’s - Equivalent Standard Axle Loads
ESS - Environmental Scoping Study
ESR - Environmental Scoping Report
GHWMF - General and Hazardous Waste Management Facility
GIS - Geographic Information System
GWCA - Government Water Control Areas
HCM - Highway Capacity Manual
I&AP – Interested and Affected Party
IDP - Integrated Development Plan
IDZ – Industrial Development Zone
IRIS - Integrated Risk Information System
IUCN - International Union for Conservation of Nature
IWM - Integrated Waste Management
LA – Local Authority
LFG - Landfill Gas
LOS - Level of Service
LUV’s - Light Utility Vehicles
MST – Mesic Succulent Thicket
NEMA - National Environmental Management Act
NGO - Non-Government Organisation
NMBM - Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
NMMU - Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
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NWMS - National Waste Management Strategy
PPC – Pretoria Portland Cement
PPP - Public Participation Process
ROD - Record of Decision
SAHRA - South African Heritage Resources Agency
SANParks - South African National Parks
SANRAL - South African National Roads Agency Limited
SARCA - Southern African Reptile Conservation Assessment
SDF - Spatial Development Framework
SGWCA - Subterranean Government Water Control Area
SIA - Social Impact Assessment
SSC - Species of Special Concern
SRVCF - Sundays River Valley Community Forum
TSP - Total Suspended Particulates
US-EPA - United States Environmental Protection Agency
VOCs - Volatile Organic Compounds
WASP - Waste-Aquifer Separation Principle
WELC - Coega Waste Environmental Liaison Committee
WHO - World Health Organisation
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1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Introduction
1.1.1. Rationale
The C oega D evelopment C orporation ( CDC) a nd t he N elson M andela B ay
Municipality (NMBM) have identified the need for the establishment and operation
of a new Regional General and Hazardous Waste Management Facility (GHWMF)
in the Eastern Cape to serve the Municipality and surrounding areas. General
waste generated in the NMBM is presently disposed of at Arlington (G:L:B-) and
other general waste disposal sites, while hazardous waste is disposed of at the
privately o wned A loes I I h igh h azard (H :H) w aste facility o r the municipally
owned Koedoeskloof low hazard (H:h) waste facility. EnviroServ’s Aloes II H:H
landfill site has limited available airspace and it is expected to be at capacity by
mid-2011 (an e nvironmental impact a ssessment is currently underway f or a n
extension to this site that will increase i ts lifespan to beyond 2016, with a lease
extension f rom t he N MBM r ecently g ranted). The K oedoeskloof ( H:h) w aste
facility is also limited in the types and volumes of hazardous waste that may be
disposed of there. It is further anticipated that the development of the Coega
Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) and associated industries will significantly add
to the demand for hazardous waste disposal facilities within the proximity of the
NMBM area. Therefore, the proposed GHWMF is required in order to serve the
region, N MBM a nd th e C oega IDZ. T he GHWMF s ite u nder i nvestigation is
proposed to be a H:H s ite. T he site will be a co-disposal si te ( i.e. i t will accept
both hazardous and general waste) and although it is a regional waste site it will
primarily serve the greater NMBM.
The GHWMF site under investigation is proposed to be a H:H site. The site will be
a co -disposal s ite (i .e. i t w ill a ccept both hazardous a nd general waste) and
although it is a regional waste site it will primarily serve the greater NMBM.
1.1.2. Objectives
The disposal of all waste in South Africa is managed in terms of the Environment
Conservation Act (Act 73 of 1989) and the recently promulgated National
Environmental M anagement Waste Act (Act 59 of 2008). Section 20 o f the
Environment Conservation Act stipulates that all waste disposal sites require a
permit issued by the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry. Chapter 5 of the
National Environmental Management Waste Act also s tipulates the requirements
for licensing waste sites. The proposed activity is subject to the Environmental
Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations (R1184 - R1186) of 5 September 1997
published in terms of the Environment Conservation Act (No 73 of 1989) as the
application was initiated when these regulations were still in effect, as well as the
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Ch 1 - Introduction June 2010 2
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations (GN. R 385-387 of 2006)
published in terms of Section 24(5) read with Section 44 of the National
Environmental Management Act (NEMA), 1998 (Act No 107 of 1998 as amended).
Also applicable as of 3 July 2009 is GN. R 718 which lists the waste management
activities which are likely to have a detrimental effect on the environment, as well
as the required environmental reporting and waste permitting processes to be
adhered to in attaining approval for new waste management facilities.
Accordingly, a full EIA has been carried out for this project in terms of
Regulations R 1184 - R1186 a s t he a pplication p rocess f or e nvironmental
authorisation was initiated prior to the promulgation of the NEMA EIA Regulations
in June 2006 and GN. R 718 in July 2009.
The Department of Water and Environmental Affairs (DWEA) was mandated to
devise a permitting system that would improve waste disposal in South Africa. In
1994 DWEA published the f irst edition of the 'Minimum Requirements for Waste
Disposal by Landfill' (referred t o a s t he M inimum R equirements). The se cond
edition of the Minimum Requirements was published in 1998, and the third edition
published i n draft f orm i n 2005. T he m ain o bjectives o f t he M inimum
Requirements are: to improve the standard of waste disposal in South Africa, to
facilitate the enforcement of the landfill permitting system provided for in the
Environment Conservation Act, and to take steps to prevent the degradation of
water quality and the environment. Hazardous waste disposal sites are classified
as either high hazard (H:H) or low hazard (H:h) in terms of DWEA Minimum
Requirements for Waste Disposal to Landfill. In addition to the EIA, the Permit
Application Report (PAR) Procedure outlined in the Minimum Requirements
(Version 2, 1998) will be adhered to, in order to obtain a conceptual landfill
permit for the proposed GHWMF.
The National Environmental Management Act No. 107 of 1998 (NEMA) builds on
the Environment Conservation Act and provides a link between new developments
and environmental protection. One of the main principles proposed in NEMA is
that o f Integrated Waste M anagement (I WM) which p romotes t he a voidance,
minimisation, recycling and treatment of waste in preference to its disposal to
landfill. T he N ational W aste M anagement Strategy ( NWMS), a j oint p roject
between DWEA and the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
(DWEA), and funded by the Danish Co-operation for Environment and
Development (DANCED), was published in July 1999. The NWMS implements the
government’s IWM policy on waste, and the action plans arising from it have
considerable implications for the approach that should be used to address the
waste m anagement n eeds of t he C oega IDZ a nd t he g reater P ort E lizabeth
Region. The s trategy includes short, medium, and l ong-term action plans that,
once implemented, will lead to greatly improved waste management practices in
South Africa.
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In order to fulfil the DWEA Minimum Requirements for Waste Disposal by Landfill
(Version 2, 1998), the main purpose of this Revised Draft Environmental Impact
Assessment Report (EIR) is to further assess project specific impacts, mitigation
measures, alternatives a nd p otential fatal flaws a ssociated with the p referred
footprint (Footprint F – on the Farm Grassridge 190 Remainder that is currently
owned by Pretoria Portland Cement - PPC) for the siting of the proposed facility.
These were previously identified and subjected to initial assessment during the
site s election s tages of th e pr ocess and t he r esults p resented in th e F inal
Footprint Ranking Report dated November 2006 and a lso in the Final Feasibility
Report dated December 2007 prepared by Bohlweki-SSI Environmental. It must
be noted that the EIA and PAR processes are separate application processes but
are conducted in parallel with each other. Accordingly, there is some overlap in
these p rocesses with both t he W ater a nd E nvironmental A ffairs line f unction
Departments of DWEA being obliged to review the Final EIR within the context of
their respective decision making processes, and with the EIR being an obligatory
minimum requirement of the PAR application process.
The p roposed facility provides a n opportunity f or th e region to d evelop a n
approach to the management of its waste that takes into account the NWMS. The
final design of the proposed waste processing facility depends on the nature of
the waste that needs to be managed. Determination of the actual waste disposal
requirements of the region over the long-term (<12 years) is extremely difficult,
due in part to changes in industry types and the possibility of new technologies
for disposal recovery or treatment of waste. However, in order to determine the
required capacity for the proposed waste processing facility, as well as to
determine the types o f t reatment facilities that may be needed, an initial waste
market survey was conducted in 2000 by Chemical Marketing and Consulting
Services. T he results are summarised in an Inception Report that was compiled
for the CDC by Bohlweki Environmental in 2000. Subsequently, a waste
inventory covering the expected waste volumes and types likely to be generated
by the Coega IDZ was prepared by Arcus Gibb in 2007. The proposed landfill will
be developed in phases but will function as a total waste management facility that
could, in future, include a combination of the following:
• a l eachate m anagement s ystem i ncluding t reatment b efore d ischarge t o
sewer or, if appropriate, to water course;
• a short-term co-disposal landfill cell;
• a small waste stabilisation, immobilisation and micro-encapsulation plant;
• a small chemical treatment plant for the neutralisation of acids and alkalis,
precipitation o f h eavy m etals, oxidation o f c yanide a nd r eduction o f
chromate;
• a t hermal t reatment f acility f or h igh h azard org anic waste, a nd p ossibly
difficult wastes such as abattoir waste;
• a mono-disposal area for stabilised inorganic wastes;
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• a medical waste treatment facility to support facilities already available in
Port Elizabeth, if quantities warrant it; and
• a recovery plant for heavy metals and other valuable materials, if quantities
warrant it.
It is important to note that the current design does not include certain of the
abovementioned future options such as a thermal treatment facility, a medical
waste treatment facility or a recovery plant for heavy metals. Should the
development of certain of the above be proposed then this would be subject to a
separate EIA application process. It i s important to note that the Sundays River
Valley Community Forum (SRVCF), a significant and constructive stakeholder in
the process to date, has indicated that they are vehemently opposed to any
incineration of waste on site. Accordingly, it is recommended that no incineration
of any classification be allowed at the facility during its l ifespan, and that this is
included as a condition of environmental authorisation.
Bohlweki-SSI Environmental was appointed by the CDC and NMBM to undertake
the required environmental studies according to the Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA) Regulations (R1184 - R1186) of 5 S eptember 1997, published
in terms of the Environment Conservation Act (No 73 of 1989), and the DWEA
permitting procedures. This process was initiated in 2000 and is due for
completion in early 2010. The process followed to date and that is currently
being undertaken is outlined below.
1.2. Process Overview
1.2.1. Process to date
A d etailed d escription of th e p rocess f ollowed to d ate m ay b e f ound in th e
following documents:
• Environmental Scoping Report and Appendices (July 2003)
• Project Background Information Document (2004)
• Final Footprint Ranking Report (November 2006)
• Final Feasibility Report (December 2007)
All of these documents are available in electronic format upon request at the
following location: www.bohlweki.co.za
• Scoping Phase
The first phase of work (2000 - 2003) culminated in the production of the
scoping report and its associated appendices in July 2003. The process leading
up to the release of the scoping report provided extensive opportunities for
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I&APs to become involved and comment on the results and process (e.g.
workshops, document review, focus group meetings and background
information documents). On release of the scoping report there were also
further meetings and presentations as well as opportunities to review reports
at a number of local venues e.g. libraries.
The key objectives of the scoping phase were:
∗ Establishing the key issues associated with the development of a General
and Hazardous waste management facility;
∗ Undertaking a site selection process in order to establish the preferred
areas for further research (see Figure 1.4). This involved a systematic
process of evaluating potential sites and establishing which areas were
most suitable; and
∗ Involving I&APs in the entire process.
Outlined below is a chronological overview of the process up to completion of
the Scoping Report:
∗ Early 2000 - ‘Windows’ identified (i.e. areas that are most suitable for the
development of the site)
∗ Early 2000 – Farms/sites of suitable size identified within the ‘windows’
∗ Mid 2000 - Top candidate sites selected after environmental scan
∗ Late 2000 – Initial land acquisition negotiations
∗ Mid 2002 - Top 6 potential sites identified for further investigation
∗ Mid 2002 - Environmental Scoping Study commences
∗ Mid 2003 - Scoping study completed and approved - 2 s ites selected for
further work, namely:
Coega Kammas Kloof Portion 1-6 (Excluding remainder)
Blauw Baatjies Vley portions 2 - 3 (Including Grassridge 190 Portion 3)
• Final Footprint Ranking Report (2006)
The screening of s ix potential footprints (refer to F igure 1 .1 overleaf) within
the sites identified as warranting further investigation through the scoping
report was undertaken within the Footprint Ranking report. T he objective of
this process was to select preferred facility footprints for further investigation.
The fine screening process involved:
∗ Sensitivity mapping
∗ Field investigations
∗ Ranking exercises
∗ Criteria weighting exercises
∗ Workshops
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The ranking report was made available for review by I&APs and the
authorities d uring M arch 2 006. T he F ootprint Ra nking Re port n ominated
footprints C and F as the preferred facility footprints for further investigation
and concept design, however, footprint E was also highlighted as being a
potential site depending on the outcome of further studies.
Figure 1.1: Sites assessed in the Footprint Ranking Report
• Final Feasibility Report (2007)
The feasibility phase (fine screening) of the process outlined the conceptual
designs, l ayout o f the f acilities, si ze o f the waste p rocessing facility and the
current projections on expected waste volume and types.
The F inal F easibility Re port i ncluded a p reliminary E nvironmental Impact
Assessment (EIA) that provided the results of further investigations of the
three preferred facility f ootprints (refer t o F igure 1 .2 ov erleaf), i ncluding
conceptual designs, preliminary geohydrological evaluations.
An important function of the Feasibility Report was to highlight any fatal flaws,
if any, associated with the three alternative sites.
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Figure 1.2: Sites assessed in the Final Feasibility Report
* In addition to the sites identified as part of the scoping process additional
sites on the PPC properties (Grassridge 190/RE and Grassridge 227/RE)
were motivated for inclusion in the fine screening process by the Sundays
River Valley Community Forum (SRVCF);
* Assess the three preferred footprints (i.e. footprints C, E and F) identified
during the footprint ranking exercise for fatal flaws:
Footprint C
: Grassridge 190 Portion 3.
Footprint E
: Grassridge 227 Remainder.
Footprint F
* Conduct a preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment on the
preferred three footprints;
: Grassridge 190 Remainder.
* Prepare concept designs for the potential footprints;
* Evaluate the identified facility footprints1
* Update I&APs as t o t he process undertaken thus far and outline the
process to be followed until completion of the study.
within the sites on which
concept facility designs can be produced. In short, this process aimed to
identify a s ingle footprint f or more d etailed s tudies w hich were t hen
conducted during the detailed EIA phase; and
1 A footprint is the actual area that the facility will cover and will thus only be a small portion of a site. The areas investigated by the specialists are slightly bigger than expected footprint size to allow for flexibility in the siting of infrastructure.
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The F easibility R eport was m ade a vailable t o I &APs i n O ctober/November
2007. I &APs w ere a fforded t he op portunity t o re view t he re port on t he
feasibility of the facility. The purpose of this feasibility report was to allow the
authorities to establish whether the proposed facility and alternative positions
thereof are viable for detailed engineering and environmental studies. W hile
the feasibility report was designed to establish whether there are any fatal
flaws, th e a uthorities d o n ot gi ve f inal a pproval f or th e f acility until th e
detailed s tudies, w hich form p art o f th e detailed d esign a nd f ull E IA, a re
completed and confirm the final desirability of the site and facility design.
1.2.2. Current activities (2008-2009)
Based on Edition 2 of the DWEA Minimum Requirements for Waste Disposal by
Landfill (DWEA, 1998) the activities currently taking place in 2008 can be divided
into two sections.
Firstly, a detailed EIR (current report) has been completed on the candidate site,
Footprint F (refer to Figures 1.3 and 1.4), which was identified as being the
preferred a lternative in the Final Feasibility Report. This E IR took i nto
consideration the proposed design and operation of the facility.
Secondly, the detailed EIR will form part of the subsequent Permit Application
Report (PAR) (See DWEA minimum requirements – Edition 2, 1998) that will be
reviewed by DWEA. This PAR report will contain the following components:
• Detailed site investigation
• Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment
• Landfill design
• Operating Plan
• End land-use plan
• Air and Water Monitoring Plan
The relevant delegated authorities will only authorise the proposed facility and
issue a permit for it once they are confident that the above criteria have been
met.
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Ch 1 - Introduction June 2010 9
Figure 1.3: Proposed extent of Footprint F (yellow border: final landform boundary; blue border: footprint
boundary; green border: leachate and stormwater dams)
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Ch 1 - Introduction June 2010 10
Figure 1.4: Corner point co-ordinates for Footprint F
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 1 - Introduction June 2010 11
1.3. Summary of Process Phases
In summary, according to the key objectives the process to date has entailed
three main components (refer to Figure 1.5 below):
Figure 1.5: Process phases
Figure 1 .6 overleaf p rovides a s chematic/conceptual f igure o f th e S creening,
Scoping a nd A ssessment p rocesses c onducted to d ate f or th e siting o f th e
preferred footprint for the proposed Regional GHWMF.
SCOPING (COMPLETED) Timing - 2000 to 2003 Objective - Identify best sites for a facility Involve I&APs Deliverable - Scoping report and associated appendices
DETAILED STUDIES & AUTHORISATION (IN PROGRESS) Timing - 2007 to late 2009 Objective - Conduct detailed EIA studies and examine the no
go option. (Completed) Involve I&APs (In Progress) Deliverable - Detailed site investigation (Completed) Detailed EIA (In Progress) End land-use plan (In Progress) Operating plan (In Progress)
Air & Water monitoring plan (In Progress) Permit Application Report (In Progress)
SITE RANKING & FEASIBILITY (COMPLETED) Timing - 2004 to early 2007 Objective - Identify best facility footprints within the sites
that warranted further investigation. Confirm the lack of possible fatal flaws
Involve I&APs Deliverable - Final Footprint Ranking Report Final Feasibility Report – Preliminary EIA
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Ch 1 - Introduction June 2010 12
Figure 1.6: Conceptual figure of the process to arrive at a preferred facility location (Footprint F) selected for EIA.
Exclusionary a nd c autionary c riteria a re overlaid on a regional map.
Farms of over 2000 hectares which fall outside of the exclusionary zones were identified.
The n umber of f arms was s ystematically re duced through an environmental screening process. The scoping process resulted i n Coega Kammas Kloof, Blauw Baatjies Vlei and Grassridge 190/3 being selected f or f urther s tudies. I n a ddition t wo P PC properties were identified by IAP’s for further study.
Within C oega Ka mmas Kl oof, B lauw Baatjies Vlei, Grassridge 190/3, PPC Grassridge 190/RE & PPC Grassridge 227/RE s ix facility footprints were selected and evaluated as part of the fine screening.
From these six footprints three were examined as part of the feasibility report stage.
In the feasibility report stage - Concept design and a preliminary E IA were u ndertaken on t he t hree footprints to establish the feasibility of the designs and positions of the proposed facility. This Draft EIA Report assesses the preferred candidate site (Footprint F) that emerged form the feasibility report stage to establish the final suitability of the design and location of the facility. T hese s tudies w ere u ndertaken from 2007 - 2009
Excluded areas
Selected farms
Farms excluded through the review process
Potential facility
Facility footprints excluded through the fine screening process
Concept landfill design
Tree screening
Possible facility road
Facility infrastructure
SCOPING (2000 - 2003)
SITE RANKING & FEASIBILITY 2004 to 2007
Legend
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
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Ch 2 – General Approach and Methodology June 2010 13
2. GENERAL APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY
The Environmental Impact Assessment i s an obligatory component of the DWEA
minimum requirements. Therefore the EIA must be undertaken according to the
principals discussed in Section 7 of the Minimum Requirements (DWEA, 1998).
As per agreement with the relevant authorities, the structure and content of the
EIR (this r eport) w as based o n th e r equirements o f Edition 2 o f th e W aste
Management Series (DWEA, 1998). As part of the overall project planning
process, this EIA aims to achieve the following:
• to provide an overall assessment of the social and biophysical aspects of the
area a ffected b y t he proposed establishment of a regional g eneral a nd
hazardous waste processing facility on Footprint F;
• to revisit the environmental s iting criteria investigated during the Feasibility
Report (preliminary environmental impact assessment phase);
• to confirm that identified critical factors can be addressed;
• to confirm that there are no fatal flaws; and
• to undertake a public participation process to ensure that I&AP issues and
concerns are recorded.
2.1. Impact Rating Scales
Although specialists were given free reign on how they conducted their research
and obtained information, they were requested to provide the reports in a specific
layout and structure, so that a uniform specialist report volume could be
produced.
As the results of the Feasibility Report (preliminary environmental impact
assessment) were to be used as a basis for the selection of the preferred footprint
(Footprint F ) to b e investigated i n m ore d etail in t he f ull E IA p hase, i t w as
necessary that the same impact rating system be used for all issues.
To ensure a direct comparison between various specialist studies, six standard
rating scales are defined and used to assess and quantify the identified impacts.
The rating system used for assessing impacts (or when specific impacts cannot be
identified, t he b roader t erm issue should a pply) is b ased o n th ree c riteria,
namely:
• The relationship of the impact/issue to temporal scales (Box 2.1);
• The relationship of the impact/issue to spatial scales (Box 2.2); and
• The severity of the impact/issue (Box 2.3).
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Ch 2 – General Approach and Methodology June 2010 14
These t hree criteria a re c ombined t o d escribe t he o verall importance r ating,
namely the significance (Box 2.4). In addition, the following parameters are used
to describe the impact/issues:
• The risk or likelihood of the impact/issue occurring (Box 2.5); and
• The degree of confidence placed in the assessment of the impact/issue
(Box 2.6).
2.1.1. Temporal Scale
The temporal scale defines the significance of the impact at various time scales,
as an indication of the duration of the impact.
Box 2.1: Temporal scale used in assessing issues
• Short term
•
- less than 5 years. Many construction phase impacts will be of a
short duration.
Medium term
• - between 5 and 15 years.
Long term
• - between 15 and 30 years
Permanent
- over 30 years and resulting in a permanent and lasting change
that will always be there.
The spatial scale defines physical extent of the impact.
Box 2.2: Spatial scale used in assessing issues
• Individual
• - this scale applies to person/s in the area.
Household
• - this scale applies to households in the area.
Localised
•
- small scale impacts- from a few hectares in extent to e.g. the
local district area.
Regional
• - Provincial
National
• - South Africa
International
- Trans boundary
2.1.3. Severity/Beneficial Rating Scale
The severity scale is used in order to scientifically evaluate how severe negative
impacts w ould be, o r how be neficial po sitive impacts would be on a particular
affected system or a particular affected party.
It i s a methodology that a ttempts t o re move a ny v alue j udgements f rom t he
assessment, although it relies on the professional judgement of the specialist.
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Ch 2 – General Approach and Methodology June 2010 15
Box 2.3: Severity/beneficial scale use in the EIA
Very severe Very beneficial
An irreversible and permanent change to
the a ffected s ystem(s) or p arty ( ies)
which cannot be mitigated. For example,
the p ermanent c hange t o t opography
resulting from a quarry.
A permanent and very substantial
benefit to the affected system(s) or
party(ies), with no real alternative to
achieving t his benefit. F or example,
the creation of a large number of long
term jobs.
Severe Beneficial
Long t erm i mpacts on t he a ffected
system(s) or p arty(ies) t hat c ould b e
mitigated. However, this mitigation would
be d ifficult, expensive or t ime consuming
or s ome c ombination of t hese. F or
example, the clearing of forest vegetation.
A l ong term impa ct and s ubstantial
benefit to the affected system(s) or
party(ies). A lternative w ays of
achieving t his be nefit w ould be
difficult, expensive or time
consuming, or s ome c ombination of
these. F or example, a n increase i n
the local economy.
Moderately severe Moderately beneficial
Medium to long term impacts on the
affected system(s) or party(ies), which
could be mitigated. For example
constructing a narrow roa d t hrough
vegetation with a low conservation value.
A medium to long term impact of real
benefit to the affected system(s) or
party(ies). Other ways of optimising
the beneficial effects are equally
difficult, e xpensive a nd t ime
consuming (or some c ombination of
these), as achieving them in this way.
For example a s light improvement in
the (local) roads.
Slight Slightly beneficial
Medium or short term impacts on the
affected s ystem(s) or p arty(ies).
Mitigation is very easy, cheap, less time
consuming or not necessary. For example,
a temporary fluctuation in the water table
due to water abstraction.
A short to medium term impact and
negligible benefit to the affected
system(s) or party(ies). Other ways
of optimising the beneficial effects are
easier, cheaper and quicker, or some
combination of these. For example, a
slight increase in the amount of goods
available for purchasing.
No effect Don’t know/Can’t know
The system(s) or party(ies) is not
affected by the proposed development.
In certain cases it may not be
possible to determine the severity of
an impact.
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Ch 2 – General Approach and Methodology June 2010 16
2.1.4. Significance Scale
The environmental significance scale is an attempt to evaluate
the importance of a
particular impact. T his evaluation needs to be undertaken in the relevant context,
as an impact can either be ecological or social, or both. The evaluation of the
significance of an impact relies heavily on the values of the person making the
judgement. For this reason, impacts of especially a social nature need to reflect the
values of the affected society. A five-point significance scale has been applied (see
Box 2.4).
Box 2.4: The significance rating scale
Very High
These impacts would be considered by society as constituting a major and usually
permanent change to the (natural and/or social) environment, and usually result
in severe or very severe effects, or beneficial or very beneficial effects.
Example: The loss of a species would be viewed by informed society as being of
VERY HIGH significance.
Example: The establishment of a large amount of infrastructure in a rural area,
which previously had very few services, would be regarded by the affected parties
as resulting in benefits with a VERY HIGH significance.
High
These impacts will usually result in long term effects on the social and/or natural
environment. Impacts rated as HIGH will need to be considered by society as
constituting an important and usually long term change to the (natural and/or
social) environment. Society would probably view these impacts in a serious light.
Example: The loss of a diverse vegetation type, which is fairly common
elsewhere, would have a significance rating of HIGH over the l ong term, as the
area could be rehabilitated.
Example: The change to soil conditions will impact the natural system, and the
impact on affected parties (in this case people growing crops on the soil) would
be HIGH.
Moderate
These impacts will usually result in medium- to long-term effects on the social
and/or natural environment. Impacts rated as MODERATE will need to be
considered by society as constituting a fairly important and usually medium term
change to the (natural and/or social) environment. These impacts are real but not
substantial.
Example: The loss of a sparse, open vegetation type of low diversity may be
regarded as MODERATELY significant.
Example: The provision of a clinic in a rural area would result in a benefit of
MODERATE significance.
Low
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Ch 2 – General Approach and Methodology June 2010 17
These impacts will usually result in medium to short term effects on the social
and/or natural environment. Impacts rated as LOW will need to be considered by
the public and/or the specialist as constituting a fairly unimportant and usually
short term change to the (natural and/or social) environment. These impacts are
not substantial and are likely to have little real effect.
Example: The temporary changes in the water table of a wetland habitat, as
these systems are adapted to fluctuating water levels.
Example: The increased earning potential of people employed as a result of a
development would only result in benefits of LOW significance to people who live
some distance away.
No Significance
There are no primary or secondary effects at all that are important to scientists or
the public.
Example: A change to the geology of a particular formation may be regarded as
severe from a geological perspective, but i s of NO significance in the overall
context.
In many cases scientists have to produce an assessment in the absence of all the
relevant and necessary data. Where there is incomplete or unavailable
information, i t is i mportant t o a lways m ake c lear th at c ertain i nformation i s
lacking, if the incomplete information is essential to a re asoned c hoice a mong
alternatives.
There are two acceptable procedures to follow to compensate for a shortage of
data:
• It is more important to identify likely environmental impacts than to
precisely evaluate the more obvious impacts
All assessors (the different specialists) try to evaluate all the significant impacts,
recognising that precise evaluation is not possible. It is better to have a possible
or unsure level of c ertainty on important issues t han t o b e definite about
unimportant issues (see Box 2.6).
• It is important to be conservative when reporting likely environmental
impacts
Because of the fact that assessing impacts with a lack of data is more
dependable on your own scientific judgement, the rating on the certainty scale
cannot be too high. If the evidence for a potential type of impact is not definitive
in either direction, the conservative conclusion is that the impact cannot be
ruled out with confidence, not that the impact is not proven. It is for these
reasons that a degree of certainty scale has been provided, as well as the
categories DON’T KNOW and CAN’T KNOW.
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Ch 2 – General Approach and Methodology June 2010 18
2.1.5. Risk or likelihood
The risk or likelihood of all impacts taking place as a result of project actions differs.
There is no doubt that some impacts would occur if the project goes ahead, but
certain other (usually secondary) impacts are not as likely, and may or may not
result from the project. Although these impacts may be severe, the likelihood of
them occurring may affect their overall significance and will be taken into account.
The rating scale is shown in Box 2.5.
Box 2.5: The risk or likelihood scale
• Very unlikely to occur
– the chance of these impacts occurring is extremely
slim, e.g. an earthquake destroying a bridge.
• Unlikely to occur
– the risk of these impacts occurring is slight. For example
an impact such as an increase in a lcoholism and associated family v iolence
as a result of increased wealth is unlikely to occur
• May occur
– the risk of these impacts is more likely, although it is not definite,
for example the chance that a road accident may occur during the construction
phase
• Will definitely occur
– there is no chance that this impact will not occur, for
example the clearing of vegetation.
2.1.6. Degree of confidence or certainty
It is also necessary to state the degree of certainty or confidence with which one
has predicted the significance of an impact. For this reason, a ‘degree of certainty’
scale has been provided (Box 2.6) to enable the reader to ascertain how certain
we are of our assessment of significance:
Box 2.6: The degree of certainty or confidence used in this EIA
• Definite
- More than 90% sure of a particular fact. To use this one will need to
have substantial supportive data.
• Probable
- Over 70% sure of a particular fact, or of the likelihood of that impact
occurring.
• Possible
- Only over 40% sure of a particular fact or of the likelihood of an
impact occurring.
• Unsure
- Less than 40% sure of a particular fact or the likelihood of an impact
occurring.
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Ch 2 – General Approach and Methodology June 2010 19
2.2. Authority Consultation
Consultation with Supervisory Authorities
The relevant a uthorities required t o r eview t he proposed project and p rovide
Environmental Authorisation were consulted from the outset of this study, and
have been engaged throughout the project to date. These supervisory (decision-
making) authorities include DWEA and DWEA, who are the lead authority for this
project, and the Eastern Cape Province Department of Economic Development
and Environmental Affairs (DEDEA) who are the commenting authority for this
project. To date authority c onsultation has included the following specific
activities:
• Review a nd a cceptance o f th e p receding r eporting s tages o utlined in t he
previous chapter;
• Consultation regarding project specifics, and the receipt of Authority approval
of the Plan of Study for EIA dated 8 April 2004 (refer to Appendix A);
• Meeting with Mr Leon Bredenhann (DWEA) in October 2007 to confirm the
way forward for the remainder of the project (EIR and Permit Application);
• Ongoing presentations to the Coega Waste Environmental Liaison Committee
(WELC). Members of this committee include provincial and national authorities
(DWEA, DEDEA & DWEA) and representatives from NMBM and the CDC.
Consultation with other Relevant Authorities
Consultations with other authorities were undertaken. The following departments
were inter alia were consulted:
• Department of Minerals and Energy (DME)
• South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA)
• South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL)
• Various Provincial Departments
• Local and District Municipalities
• South African National Parks (SANParks)
Background information regarding the proposed project was provided to these
departments, together with a registration and comment form formally requesting
their input into the EIA process.
2.3. Specialist Studies
The CDC have requested Bohlweki-SSI Environmental to undertake all required
studies to achieve a new permitted hazardous (H:H) waste processing facility to
serve t he E astern C ape R egion. T he following s pecialists (Table 2.1) were
appointed by Bohlweki-SSI Environmental to assist in the s ite selection and the
environmental impact assessment processes:
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Ch 2 – General Approach and Methodology June 2010 20
Table 2.1: Proposed specialist team and their areas of expertise
Name and Organisation Specialist study to be undertaken
Mark Freeman of B ohlweki-SSI
Environmental
Project D irector - provide s trategic
advice a nd r eview of EIA p rocess
documentation
Dr Kevin Whittington-Jones of
Coastal and Environmental Services
Review of EIA process documentation
Marc H ardy of Coastal a nd
Environmental Services
Project Manager - collection and review
of data, authority consultation, and the
compilation of all project documentation
Airshed Planning Professionals Air quality assessment
Dr William Branch (Bayworld) Assessment of potential impacts on
fauna
Joggie van Staden of Bohlweki – SSI
Environmental
Assessment of potential impacts on flora
Reinhard M eyer (Geotechnical
consultant)
Assessment of geological, hydrological
and geohydrological impacts
Dr Angus Paterson and Dr Kevin
Whittington-Jones of Coastal and
Environmental Services
Assessment of all issues related to land
such as resettlement, land availability
and rezoning, land use and aviation
Lourens du Plessis of MetroGIS Assessment of all potential visual
impacts and compilation of all
environmental GIS maps
Danie Brink and Riva Nortje of Jones
and Wagener
Assessment of potential geotechnical
impacts and responsible for preliminary
design of the waste facility
Stewart Scott International (SSI) –
Port Elizabeth office
Responsible for the traffic impact and
transport study assessments
J. Kaplan of the Agency for Cultural
Resource Management
Assessment of potential impacts on
palaeontological s ites a nd h eritage
impact assessment
Martin Jansen van Vuuren of Grant
Thornton.
Assessment of potential impacts on
tourism
Anita Bron of Master Q Research Responsible for the EIA phase Social
Impact Assessment
Sandy Wren of Public Process
Consultants
Responsible f or the public p articipation
processes
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Ch 3 – Public Participation June 2010 21
3. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
3.1. Introduction
The Public Participation Process for the identification of a new Regional General
and Hazardous Waste Management Facility was initiated in 2000 with Bohlweki -
SSI Environmental as the lead consultant. The Public Participation Process can be
divided into the following three phases with Sandy and Mazizi taking lead
responsibility for the last two phases:
• Phase One: Identification of Potential Windows and Sites (2000/2)
• Phase Two: Environmental Scoping of Potential Sites including Site Ranking
(2003/6):
* Environmental Scoping Public Consultation Process
* Footprint Ranking Report Consultation Process – Part 1
* Footprint Ranking Report Consultation Process – Part 2
• Phase Three: Environmental Impact Assessment Phase (present stage in the
process):
* Preliminary EIA (Feasibility Report) Consultation Process
* Draft EIA and Permit Application Report Consultation Process
* Notification of Record of Decision
The P ublic P articipation P rocess i s b ased on th e g uidelines p rovided i n th e
Minimum Requirements for Waste Disposal by Landfill (DWEA, Version 2, 1998),
and was developed in consultation with Bohlweki-SSI Environmental, Coega
Development Corporation, Sandy & Mazizi Consulting, DWEA, DEDEA and NMBM.
The f ollowing p rovides a n ov erview of t he procedure f ollowed t hus f ar and
outlines t he p roposed p rocess t o b e i mplemented f or t he P hase Three:
Environmental Impact Assessment Phase of the process.
3.2. Phase One: Identification of Potential Windows and Sites (2000 –
2002)
The following provides an overview of the Public Participation Process
implemented f or th e i dentification o f p otential s ites a nd w indows for f urther
investigation in the Environmental Scoping Phase of the Project.
• Advertising of Proposed Project
Eight advertisements were placed in local and national newspapers to
announce Open Days, three weeks prior to the scheduled Open Days. I&APs
were also informed of the proposed project through flyers, press releases and
street posters. Street posters advertising the Open Day were erected 1 week
before the first Open Day in different areas in and around Port Elizabeth.
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• Identification of I&APs
I&APs were identified during a process of advertising, networking meetings
and w ord-of-mouth, a nd included N ational a nd L ocal G overnment,
Community Based Organisations, Non-Government Organisations,
Environmental Forums, the business community and members of the general
public. The names and contact addresses of all identified persons, groups
and institutions were entered into a database to form a preliminary list of
I&APs. This database grew to 544 registered I&APs at the conclusion of
Phase One of the process and now presently stands at 1 098 I&APs, reflecting
ongoing interest being expressed and contact being made with I&APs. It i s
important to note that the registration of I&APs has not been restricted to the
two week period given to I&APs to register their interest in the project but is
an iterative process with the database constantly being updated to reflect
attendance at meetings.
• Distribution of First Briefing Paper
The first briefing paper was faxed, mailed or e-mailed to all registered I&APs
during the initial phase of the project in January and February 2000.
Depositing these briefing papers into post boxes at the post office proved to
be a very e ffective means of d istributing these documents. The briefing
paper was available at the Open Days, Networking and Public Meetings.
• Open Days
Four Open Days were held on 21, 22, 23 and 25 February 2000 respectively.
Formal i nvitations w ere s ent t o k ey I&APs, and I& APs w ho h ad already
registered on the p roject database. The main purpose o f these Open Days
was to d isseminate information on the proposed p roject, answer a ny
questions regarding the project and process, note any issues and concerns
from I&APs and receive input regarding possible sites for the GHWMF.
• Question and Answer Book
A 20 page Question and Answer book raising and responding to some key
issues around hazardous waste management and the site identification
process was produced. This was made available at all the Open Days and
mailed to all I&APs on the database.
• Ongoing Distribution of Information
I&APs were updated regarding the environmental and site identification
processes through the distribution of a series of letters.
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Ch 3 – Public Participation June 2010 23
• Networking Meetings
Networking m eetings a re one o n one m eetings b etween th e p articipation
consultant and a specific I&AP grouping and/or individual. I&APs are
proactively identified by the participation consultant to participate in these
meetings. T he p urpose of t hese m eetings is to p rovide I &APs w ith th e
opportunity to receive background information on the project, EIA and Public
Participation process as well as raise issues and/or concerns. These meetings
play a key r ole in developing the c apacity of I &APs to p articipate in the
process through the sharing of key project and process information.
• Site Ranking Meetings
A key aspect of the Public Participation Process has been the participation of
key I&AP groups in the ranking of potential sites. Guideline site selection
criteria were identified from the Minimum Requirements and presented to
I&APs during the Site Ranking Meeting. Three site ranking meetings were
held for broad generic I&AP groupings. T he purpose of these meetings was
to provide participants with an overview o f the s ite ranking criteria and the
opportunity to comment on these criteria as well as rank the proposed sites.
Participation at these meetings was as follows:
* environmental, business, farming associations and NGO sector (7);
* community based organisations and labour (15); and
* authorities (6).
3.3. Phase Two: Environmental Scoping of Potential Sites
The first phase of the Public Participation Process (outlined above) was conducted
from the beginning of 2000 to the end of 2002, a period of two years. Th is
process is characterized by the active participation of I&APs through numerous
meetings that were held at the outset of the process with a subsequent lull in
active participation of over a year. The lull in participation is as a direct result of
land a cquisition n egotiations d uring w hich t ime I&APs w ere u pdated on th e
process in writing.
Since the initiation of the process a number of changes took place within society
which impacted on the process, namely, the establishment of the Nelson Mandela
Metropolitan Municipality, changes in leadership within organisations, the
emergence o f n ew o rganisations a s w ell a s t he d isbanding of ot hers. These
changes necessitated a revision of the Public Participation Process to ensure that
all n ew a nd/or e merging organisations w ere p rovided th e o pportunity to
participate in the process. In order to accommodate these changes the following
occurred prior to commencing Phases Two and Three of the Public Participation
Process:
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Ch 3 – Public Participation June 2010 24
• Detailed database revision;
• Re-advertising of the Project;
• Networking Meetings; and
• Development of a Briefing Paper in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa
At the time of production of the Draft Scoping Report 733 I&APs were registered
on the database. T his number increased to 962 I&APs at the conclusion of the
Scoping Phase. The following provides more detail on the process implemented.
• Advertising
Newspaper a dvertisements w ere p laced i n local, re gional, p rovincial a nd
national newspapers notifying I&APs of the Environmental Impact
Assessment Process as follows:
* Die Burger 4 April 2003
* The Eastern Cape Herald 4 April 2003
* The Weekend Post 5 April 2003
* Sunday Times 6 April 2003
* Daily Dispatch 7 April 2003
The advertisement notified I&APs of the EIA and Public Participation Process
and again requested t hem t o r egister t heir interest i n t he p roject. T he
advertisements p layed a key role i n creating the opportunity for new I&APs
not yet on the database to register their interest in the project. Additional
newspaper advertisements were placed notifying I&APs of the release of the
Draft Environmental Scoping Report and its availability in various libraries
around the Metropole and other centers. These advertisements further
notified I&APs of Public Meetings that were to be held as part of the release
of the Draft Environmental Scoping Report.
• Briefing Paper 2 and Communication with I&APs
To update I&APs on the project, EIA and Public Participation Process a second
Briefing Paper was developed in English and translated into Xhosa and
Afrikaans. The purpose of the Briefing Paper was to assist in bridging the
information gap between I&APs that have been part of the process from the
outset and I&APs that had recently registered their interest in the project.
The B riefing Paper was mailed to a ll I&APs on the database together w ith a
brief covering letter in April 2003. In May 2003 a second letter was
distributed to a ll I&APs on the database. Included with this correspondence
was an Executive Summary of the Draft Environmental Scoping Report,
Comment Form as well as a Question and Answer B ook on the proposed
Regional General Hazardous Waste Processing Facility.
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 3 – Public Participation June 2010 25
• Networking Meetings
Networking Meetings were held with key I&AP groups prior to the re lease of
the Draft Scoping Report in March and April 2003. The purpose of these
meetings was to update them on the process, disseminate EIA, Public
Participation and Project information, as well as present candidate landfill sites
and selection criteria. I &APs were p rovided with the opportunity to raise
issues and concerns for consideration in the Draft Scoping Report.
Approximately 100 I&APs were personally met and consulted directly as part
of the networking process prior to the release of the Draft Scoping Report.
Upon the release of the Draft Scoping Report additional networking meetings
were held with I&APs. At the conclusion of the Scoping Process a total of 151
I&APs are registered as having participated in networking meetings. Copies of
registration forms are available for all meetings.
• Issues Report
Issues received in writing or raised at networking meetings during the Scoping
Phase Public P articipation w ere i ncluded i n the Issues Trail of t he D raft
Scoping Report. The Issues Trail was compiled by the PPP consultant and
forwarded to B ohlweki Environmental for them to coordinate t he response
from the relevant parties. Once the Final Issues and Response Trail has been
completed all I&APs that submitted written comments on the project were
provided with a letter of acknowledgement and a copy of the Final Issues and
Response Trail.
• Distribution of Draft Scoping Report
The Draft Scoping Report was made available to I&APs for comment at various
libraries and educational institutions within the Metropolitan area on 16 May
2003. The report was made available for a period of 30 days that is until 17
June 2003. In addition, the Draft Scoping Report was also placed on the
Internet at www.bohlweki.co.za for review and comment. I&APs attending
either the Public Meetings or Site Ranking Meetings were given a presentation
on the Draft Report and the opportunity to raise any additional concerns or
comment on the outcome of the site ranking process. I &APs were notified of
the a vailability of t he report i n w riting. T he a vailability t hereof w as a lso
advertised i n local, r egional a nd n ational newspapers. T he Draft S coping
Report was placed in the following locations:
* Nelson Mandela Metro Libraries: Govan Mbeki Avenue Main Library,
Uitenhage Library, Despatch L ibrary, Motherwell Library, New B righton,
Library and Newton Park Library
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 3 – Public Participation June 2010 26
* National L ibraries: U CT G overnment P ublications D epartment a nd East
London Main Library
* Other: Agri Eastern Cape, Fitzpatrick Library - Addo and Sundays River
Citrus Company
• Public Meetings
Upon release of the Draft Scoping Report, a series of Public Meetings were
advertised and held as follows:
* 2 June 2003, PE City Hall Auditorium – attendance 38
* 2 June 2003, Raymond Mhlaba Sports Centre, Motherwell – attendance 41
* 3 June 2003, Valentine Hall, Addo – attendance 9
* 3 June 2003, Babs Madlakane Hall, Uitenhage – attendance 78
Additional requests were received from various organisations for Public
Meetings and were held as follows:
* 09 June 2003, Valencia Community Hall, Addo – attendance 71
* 09 June 2003, Nomathamsanqa Community Hall, Addo – attendance 9
* 09 June 2003, James Ndulula Primary School, Kwa Langa Uitenhage –
attendance 12
* 11 June 200, Sunday’s River Irrigation Board, Addo - attendance 30
A to tal o f 2 88 I &APs a re registered a s h aving p articipated i n the P ublic
Meetings. The presentation at the Public Meetings included an overview of the
candidate landfill sites together with the site ranking criteria for comment and
input by I&APs. The Public Meetings were advertised in local and regional
newspapers and all I&APs on the database were sent written notification of the
meetings.
• Focus Group Meetings
Additional s ite ranking meetings were held. A ll I&APs on the database were
notified of these meetings in advance and were provided the opportunity to
book a space to attend. In addition, key I&APs were identified to participate
in these meetings and were sent a separate invitation to remind them of these
meetings and encouraging them to attend. This reminder was followed up
with a telephone call. A t the meetings the key findings of the Draft Scoping
Report and the site ranking criteria were presented for comment by I&APs and
an o pportunity w as p rovided f or I&APs to rank th e p roposed s ites. T he
following Focus Group Meetings were held:
* 4 June 2003, PE City Hall, Civil Society, NGOs and Environmental Groups –
attendance 35
* 5 June 2003, PE City Hall, Business, Farmers, Land Owners, Local
Authorities – attendance 21
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 3 – Public Participation June 2010 27
• Final Scoping Report
At t he c onclusion o f t he S coping P hase c omment p eriod, t he Issues a nd
Response Trial was amended to include any additional issues raised by I&APs
and the responses to the issues raised was co-ordinated by Bohlweki
Environmental. I&APs were notified in writing of the submission of the Final
Scoping Report to the DWEA for their consideration and decision making. The
Final Scoping Report will a lso be made available on the p roject website and
placed at strategic locations around the Metropole for viewing by I&APs.
3.4. Ranking Report Consultation Process
Public consultation around the Site Ranking Report was initiated in June 2004.
The following provides an overview of opportunities for public input prior to the
release of the site ranking report.
• Networking Meetings
To c reate a l ink b etween t he S coping P hase a nd E IA P hase, a s eries o f
networking meetings were held with key I&APs. These meetings are one-on-
one meetings between the public participation consultant and key I&APs. The
purpose of the meetings was to provide them with an update on the project
and participation process as well as to proactively create the opportunity for
I&APs to issues and concerns that directly affect them. The following I&APs
were targeted for consultation during this stage of the project:
* PERCCI,
* SANParks (including Addo National Elephant Park),
* Democratic Alliance,
* Wildlife and Environment Society of SA,
* Worktops Trust,
* EC Agriculture Union,
* Sundays River Irrigation Board,
* Cicada Municipality,
* East Cape Clean Air Initiative,
* PE Tourism,
* ANC Regional Executive Committee,
* SACP Community Based Structures,
* COSATU PE,
* SANCO,
* Sundays River Valley Municipality,
* Sundays River Valley Tourism,
* Sundays River Valley Citrus Company,
* Affected Landowners,
* Nomathamsanqua Community
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 3 – Public Participation June 2010 28
A total of 59 I&APs are recorded as having participated in the networking
meetings. All networking meetings were held prior to the Ranking Workshops.
• Ongoing Distribution of Information
In late August 2004 I&APs were updated on the EIA and site identification
process through the distribution of a letter which included the third briefing
paper. A t th is s tage of th e p rocess 1 006 I&APs w ere r egistered on th e
database. This was followed up w ith a second letter i n S eptember 2 004
inviting all I&APs on the database to attend Site Ranking Meetings proposed
for later in the same month.
• Distribution of Third Briefing Paper
The t hird b riefing p aper was d eveloped a nd m ailed t o a ll I &APs on t he
database together with the summary letter noted above. T his briefing paper
provided I&APs with an overview of the process to date and included two
maps, outlining the exclusionary and cautionary criteria for the i dentification
of potential sites and the Phase 1 EIA site map.
• Site Ranking Meetings
The legislation requires public input into the site ranking process. In line with
this I&APs have been included in site ranking throughout the process
(meetings h eld d uring th e Scoping Phase). In k eeping w ith these
requirements a ll 1 006 I &APs r egistered on the d atabase w ere i nvited to
attend one of the five site ranking workshops proposed. The purpose of these
workshops was to provide I&APs with the results of field studies conducted on
the sites, update them on the process and provide them with the opportunity
to rate the criteria used for ranking of the sites. Workshops were held as
follows:
* 20 September 2004, Valentine Hall, Addo
* 21 September 2004, Valentine Hall, Addo
* 21 September 2004, Nomathamsanqa Community Hall
* 22 September 2004, PE City Hall Auditorium
* 23 September 2004, PE City Hall Auditorium
In response to requests received f rom I&APs, the workshops held on the 22
and 23 September 2004 included a site visit to the proposed sites. A total of
98 I&APs are recorded as having participated in the Site Ranking Workshops.
The Workshop proposed on 21 September in Nomathamsanqua was poorly
attended. In order to ensure that this community is kept updated on the
process, a meeting was held with the local leadership on 14 October 2004.
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 3 – Public Participation June 2010 29
The I&AP database was updated in line with the participation at these
meetings.
• Advertising
Newspaper a dvertisements w ere p laced b y th e C oega D evelopment
Corporation outlining the EIA and DWEA process and listing all the site ranking
workshops held. These advertisements were placed as follows:
* Die Burger 21 September 2004
* The Herald 21 September 2004
• Strategically Targeted Consultations
The consultation process allows for additional meetings with key I&AP groups.
The purpose of these meetings is to ensure that key I&APs are updated on the
process and that their issues and concerns are included in the EIA process.
Two additional meetings were held with SANParks and the newly constituted
Sundays River Valley Community Forum which will form an additional key
I&AP grouping to be included in the ongoing consultation process.
3.5. Footprint Ranking Report Consultation Process
Following the Ranking Consultation Process (as outlined in section 3.4 above) in
September 2004 a submission was made by the Sundays River Valley Community
Forum (SRVCF) motivating for the inclusion of two additional sites located on PPC
land for consideration. Based on the submission of the SRVCF a decision was
made t o d elay t he re lease of t he S ite R anking R eport t o a llow f or further
assessment and consideration of these sites. I&APs on the project database were
notified in writing of this delay in the process. The assessment of the additional
footprints p roposed b y the S RVCF t ook l onger than o riginally anticipated and
I&APs were again updated on the process in writing on 25 September 2005. The
Footprint Ranking Report was released on 10 April 2006 for public comment with
the original date for closure for comment being 25 May 2006. Due to the number
of public holidays during the comments period an extended comments period was
provided. I&APs were encouraged to submit their comments via fax, email, in
writing or by attending one of the public meetings held. K ey I&APs were sent a
reminder notification of the closure date on 18 May 2006.
• Notification of I&APs to Comment
The database of I&APs, which has been maintained since 2000 and regularly
updated th roughout th e p rocess, w as u sed as th e starting p oint for th e
notification o f I&APs. I &APs on th e p roject da tabase w ere s ent written
notification of the process, which indicated the availability of the Footprint
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 3 – Public Participation June 2010 30
Ranking Report for comment, the closure period for comments and notification
of Public Meetings to be held.
• Advertising
In addition to the written notification provided to I&APs newspaper
advertisements w ere placed in one P rovincial newspaper, one regional
newspaper and two local newspapers, as follows:
* Daily Despatch, Monday 10 April 2006
* Weekend Post of the 15 April 2006
* The Herald, Monday 10 April 2006
* Die Burger, Monday 10 April 2006
• Information Dissemination and Availability (Capacity Building)
All I&APs were notified of the availability of the Footprint Ranking Report as
follows:
* Copies of the report were made available on the following website
www.bohlweki.co.za as well as at the following libraries:
− Nelson Mandela Metro Libraries: Govan Mbeki Avenue Main Library,
Uitenhage Library, Despatch Library, Fitzpatrick Library - Addo,
Motherwell Library, New Brighton Library, Newton Park Library
− National Libraries: UCT Government Publications Department and East
London Main Library
− Other: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Library (UPE) as well as
the former Technicon campus and Vista Campus libraries
• Public Meeting and Focus Group Meetings
In order to further develop the understanding of I&APs on the process being
followed as well as the Footprint Ranking Report the following Public Meetings
were held:
* 8 May 2006, Addo Valentine Hall (20)
* 8 May 2006 Addo, Nomathamsanqa (0)
* 9 May 2006, PE City Hall, (13)
The Public Meeting scheduled to be held at the Addo Nomathamsanqa
Community Hall on the 8 May was not successful with only 2 participants
arriving to attend the meeting. A previous meeting scheduled in September
2004 at the Nomathamsanqua Hall was also not successful. In order to attract
participants to th e meeting p amphlets a nnouncing th e m eeting w ere
distributed to schools i n the a rea and l oudhailer announcements were made
on th e S unday p rior to th e m eeting. T o e nsure t he p articipation of t his
community i n the p rocess a delegation of 11 representatives f rom the Addo
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 3 – Public Participation June 2010 31
community attended the Civil Society Focus Group Meeting held on the 10
May 2006 at the PE City Hall (see below). A follow up public meeting in this
area was not rescheduled.
• Focus Group Meetings
In a ddition th e p ublic m eetings o utlined a bove th e f ollowing f ocus g roup
meetings were held as part of the public review process:
* 9 May 2006, PE City Hall, Environmental Sector (12)
* 10 May 2006, PE City Hall, Civil Society (52)
A c opy of th e e xecutive summary of t he F ootprint Ra nking Re port w as
available for I&APs at all the Public as well as Focus Group Meetings. The
issues raised by I&APs were compiled into an Issues and Response Trail and
included in the Final Footprint Ranking report.
• Ongoing Communication with I&APs
On the 8 December 2006 all I&APs were notified in writing of the availability
of the Final Footprint Ranking Report. T he report was again placed in public
libraries and on the project website for I&AP viewing.
3.6. EIA Stage Public Consultation Process
This s tage i n t he C onsultation P rocess f ocuses on p ublic c onsultation f or t he
following reports:
• Preliminary E nvironmental I mpact A ssessment (F easibility Re port, October
and November 2007)
• Draft Environmental Impact Assessment and Permit Application Report
• Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment (Feasibility Report)
This section of the report provides an overview of the public consultation process
implemented from 3 October to 5 November 2007 for I&AP review of the Draft
Feasibility Report for the proposed project.
• Written Notification to I&APs and Project Database
A key component of the public consultation process is the maintenance of a
database of I&APs. A t the time of the release of the Draft Feasibility Report
for the project 1 049 I&APs were registered on the project database. Written
correspondence was mailed to all 1 049 I&APs notifying them of the release
of the Draft Feasibility Report for comment and inviting them to a ttend the
Public Meetings to be held during the review process. Appendix S of the Final
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 3 – Public Participation June 2010 32
Feasibility Report contained copies of the correspondence sent to I&APs, to
notify them of the public review process which was held from the 3 October
2007 to the 5 November 2007. At the conclusion on the public review process
for the Feasibility Report the database was amended and 1 117 I&APs were
registered on the project database. Subsequent to the conclusion of this
stage of the process the database has been amended and currently includes
1118 registered I&APs.
• Advertising
In a ddition to th e written c orrespondence s ent to I &APs n ewspaper
advertisements were placed as follows:
* Herald 3 October 2007
* Die Burger 3 October 2007
* Weekend Post 6 October 2007
* Daily Despatch 3 October 2007
The newspaper advertisements placed included a list of venues where the
Draft Feasibility Report could be viewed, notification of the public meetings as
well as the project website where copies of the report could be downloaded,
namely, www.bohlweki.co.za. Appendix U of the Final Feasibility Report
contained a copy of the newspaper advertisements placed.
• Report Distribution and Access to Information
Access to information by I&APs plays an important role in the sharing of
information for the public consultation process. In addition to the project
website, where copies of the report could be downloaded, the Draft Feasibility
report was placed at the following public venues:
* Nelson Mandela Metro Libraries: Govan Mbeki Avenue Main Library,
Uitenhage L ibrary, Despatch L ibrary, S ir Percy F itzpatrick L ibrary - Addo,
Motherwell Library, New Brighton Library, Newton Park Library
* National L ibraries: U CT G overnment P ublications D epartment a nd East
London Main Library
* Other: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Library (UPE) as well as
former Technicon and Vista campus libraries
In addition to the above the following key I&APs were provided with a hard
copy of the Draft Feasibility Report:
* Affected Organs of State (distributed by Bohlweki - SSI Environmental)
* Sundays River Valley Community Forum
* Wildlife and Environment Society
* Sundays River Citrus Company
* Swartkops Trust
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 3 – Public Participation June 2010 33
Prior to the initiation of the process it was planned that all I&APs on the
project database would be provided with an executive summary of the Draft
Feasibility Re port. H owever d ue to th e s ize o f t he extended e xecutive
summary the distribution of this to all I&APs on the project database was not
possible. It should however be noted that I&APs had access to the report
through the project website. In addition, copies of the extended Executive
Summary were made available and distributed at both Public Meetings as well
as networking meetings that were held.
• Public Meetings
An additional method of providing information on the project, the
environmental assessment process as well as to document comments from
I&APs is the holding of public meetings. All I&APs were invited to attend the
following public meetings which were held during the review process:
* 24 October 2007, 2pm, Sunday River Water Users Association, Sunlands
(12 participants)
* 25 October 2007, 2pm, Edward Hotel Grill Room (26 participants)
The issues raised by I&APs as well as meeting registration forms are
contained in the appendixes to the Final Feasibility Report. The participation
of I&APs at the public meetings was also reflected in the project database.
• Strategically Targeted Consultation Meetings
In addition to the public meetings, targeted consultation meetings were held
with k ey I &AP g roups, th e ta rget o f t hese m eetings w as p redominantly
disadvantaged communities in order to provide them with an overview of the
project in their language. T he following provides a list of meetings held and
participation by community based structures:
* Kwanobuhle and Khayelitsha – 30 October 2007, 7 participants
* Despatch – 29 October 2007, 3 participants
* New Brighton and KwaZakhele – 01 November 2007, 4 participants
* KwaLanga – 29 October 2007, Zero attended
* Motherwell – 31 October 2007, 5 participants
* Wells Estate – 31 October 2007, 7 participants
* Zwide – 01 November 2007, 16 participants
* COSATU PE Local and SACP Regional – Zero attended but this was followed
up with a telephonic consultation to each organisation
* COSATU Uitenhage Local – 30 October 2007, 1 participant
* SANCO Regional – 02 November 2007, 5 participants
* ANC Regional – 05 November 2007, 2 participants
* Sundays River Valley Municipality – The technical department attended the
Addo Public meeting
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 3 – Public Participation June 2010 34
* Nomathamsanqa (Addo) – 05 November 2007, 5 participants
* Swartkops Trust – 6 November 2007, 5 participants
A total of 60 I&APs were met with through the networking meetings, and all
I&APs were provided with a copy of the extended executive summary at the
meetings with the exception of the Zwartkops Trust which was provided with
a full copy of the Draft Feasibility Report. The notes from the meetings were
included in th e A ppendices to th e F inal F easibility Re port a s w ell a s th e
comments and response trail.
• Public Participation Report and Comments and Responses Trail
Comments on the Draft Feasibility Report were received through the following
mechanisms:
* Comments made at Public Meetings
* Comments made during targeted consultation meetings
* Emails/written comments received
* Comment forms faxed or mailed
The following provides a n ov erview of t he key issues ra ised b y I&APs i n
response to the Draft Feasibility Report:
* Issues related to air quality (20)
* Issues related to traffic and transportation (20)
* Issues related to land use and availability (4)
* Socio Economic related issues (17)
* Issues related to ground water and ground water contamination (7)
* Issues pertaining to the operational phase of the project (46)
* EIA and public participation related issues and comments received (21)
* General issues raised (8)
The detailed Comments and Reponses Trail was included as Appendix W of
the Final Feasibility Report.
• Final Feasibility Report Notification and Distribution
On 12 December 2007, Letter 11 was mailed to all I&APs on the project
database which notified them of the submission of the Final Feasibility Report
to the authorities for their decision making. Copies of the report were placed
at t he v enues i ndicated b elow a s w ell a s being m ade a vailable on t he
following website www.bohlweki.co.za:
* Nelson Mandela Metro Libraries: Govan Mbeki Avenue Main Library,
Uitenhage L ibrary, Despatch L ibrary, S ir Percy F itzpatrick L ibrary - Addo,
Motherwell Library, New Brighton Library, Newton Park Library, Gelvandale
Library, Allenridge Library in the Civic Centre
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 3 – Public Participation June 2010 35
* National L ibraries: U CT G overnment P ublications D epartment a nd East
London Main Library
* Other: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Library (UPE) as well as
former Technicon and Vista campus libraries.
In addition to the above the following key I&APs were provided with a hard
copy of the Final Feasibility Report:
* Affected Organs of State (distributed by Bohlweki Environmental)
* Sundays River Valley Community Forum
* Wildlife and Environment Society
* Sundays River Citrus Company
* Swartkops Trust
3.7. Draft Environmental Impact Report and Permit Application Report
This stage in the process has entailed consultation with I&APs around the Draft
EIR as well as the Draft PAR. The Draft PAR includes detailed facility designs and
operational p lans a nd aims t o address m any o f th e i ssues r aised during th e
previous rounds of public participation.
This section of the report provides an overview of the public consultation process
implemented from 20 January to the 20 February 2009 for I&AP review of the
Draft EIR and PAR. As a direct result of I&AP comment received from the Sundays
River Valley Community Forum during the review of the Draft EIR and PAR a
decision was made to revise the Draft EIR and release this report for an additional
30 day public review period prior to the reports being finalised for submission to
DWEA for their decision making. This section of the report therefore provides an
overview of the process that was followed for the review of the Draft EIR and PAR
and provides an overview of the process to be followed for the additional 30 day
comment period.
• Written Notification to I&APs and Project Database
A key component of the public consultation process is the maintenance of a
database of I&APs. The database was last updated in December 2007, prior
to commencing this stage of the public consultation process, the database
was reviewed and amended which resulted in a database of 1105 I&APs
(Appendix B). The reduction in registered I&APs is due to, amongst others,
requests received from I&APs to be removed from the database, the removal
of organisations no longer in existence and I&APs that may no longer hold
positions in organisations. Written correspondence, dated 20 January 2009,
was mailed to all 1105 I&APs notifying them of the release of the Draft EIR as
well as the PAR for comment and inviting them to attend the Public Meetings
to be held during the review period. A t the conclusion on the public review
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 3 – Public Participation June 2010 36
process (20 February 2009) the database was amended and 1136 I&APs are
currently registered on the project database.
• Advertising
In a ddition to the w ritten correspondence s ent t o I &APs n ewspaper
advertisements were placed as follows:
* Herald 20 January 2009
* Die Burger 20 January 2009
* Weekend Post 17 January 2009
* Daily Despatch 20 January 2009
The newspaper advertisements p laced included a l ist of venues where Draft
EIA Report could be viewed, notification of the public meetings as well as the
project website where copies of the report could be downloaded, namely,
www.bohlweki.co.za. Appendix C of the Revised Draft EIR contains a copy
of the newspaper advertisements placed.
• Report Distribution and Access to Information
Access to information by I&APs plays an important role in the sharing of
information for the public consultation process. In addition to the project
website, w here copies o f th e r eport c ould b e d ownloaded, th e Draft E IA
report was placed at the following public venues:
* Nelson Mandela Metro Libraries: Govan Mbeki Avenue Main Library,
Uitenhage L ibrary, D espatch L ibrary, S ir P ercy F itzpatrick L ibrary -
Sunlands, Motherwell Library, New Brighton Library, Newton Park Library,
Allenridge Library in the Civic Centre
* National L ibraries: U CT G overnment P ublications D epartment a nd East
London Main Library
* Other: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Library (UPE) as well as
former Technicon and Vista campus libraries
In addition to the above the following key I&APs were provided with a hard
copy of the Draft EIR:
* Affected Organs of State (distributed by Bohlweki-SSI Environmental)
* Sundays River Valley Community Forum
* Wildlife and Environment Society
* Sundays River Citrus Company
* Swartkops Trust
* CETT Committee, Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
Prior to the initiation of the process it was planned that all I&APs on the
project database would be provided with an executive summary of the Draft
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 3 – Public Participation June 2010 37
EIR. H owever d ue t o t he s ize of t he e xtended e xecutive s ummary t he
distribution o f th is to a ll 1 105 I &APs on t he p roject d atabase was n ot
possible. It should however be noted that I&APs had access to the report
through the project website, at public meetings as well as networking
meetings.
• Public Meetings
An additional method of providing information on the project, the
environmental assessment process as well as to document comments from
I&APs is the holding of public meetings. All I&APs were invited to attend the
following public meetings which were held during the review process:
* Tuesday, 3 February 2009, 12 Noon, Edward Hotel, Side Bar, Port
Elizabeth (21 participants)
* Wednesday, 4 February 2009, 12 Noon, Sundays River Water Users
Association, Belmont Road, Sunlands (Old Sundays River Irrigation Board
Offices) (18 participants)
The issues raised by I&APs, meeting registration forms and notes from the
public meetings are contained in the appendices to the Revised Draft EIR.
The attendance of I&APs at the public meetings is also reflected in the project
database.
• Strategically Targeted Consultation Meetings
In addition to the public meetings, targeted consultation meetings were held
with key I&AP groups, the target of these meetings are key affected I&AP
groups as well as disadvantaged communities in order to provide them with
an overview of the project in their language. The following provides a list of
meetings held:
* NMBM, Cllr Ward 60, 18 February 2009 (participants 1)
* South African Communist Party(SACP) Nelson Mandela Region, 19
February 2009
* (participants 1)
* Addo Nomathamsanqa Community Based Structures, 20 February 2009
(participants 5)
* Sunday’s River Valley Municipality, 24 February 2009, (participants 6)
* Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality, Cllr. Ward 53, 10 March 2009
(participants 1)
* ANC Nelson Mandela Region, 10 March 2009 (participants 1)
* Motherwell Councillor’s Forum, 10 March 2009 (participants 1)
* SANCO Nelson Mandela Region, 09 March 2009 (participants 1)
* Wildlife and Environment Society of SA, 10 February 2009 (participants 1)
* Swartkops Trust, 19 February (participants 5 )
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 3 – Public Participation June 2010 38
A total of 23 I&APs were met with through the networking meetings. All
I&APs were provided with a copy of the extended executive summary at the
meetings with the exception of the Zwartkops Trust which was provided with
a full copy of the Draft EIR and PAR at the outset of the comment period. The
notes from the meetings are included in the appendices to the Revised Draft
EIR as well as being summarised in the Issues and Reponses Register.
• Public Participation Report and Comments and Responses Trail
Comments on the Draft Feasibility Report were received through the following
mechanisms:
* Comments made at Public Meetings
* Comments made during targeted consultation meetings
* Emails/written comments received
* Comment forms faxed or mailed
The following p rovides an overview of the k ey i ssues raised by I&APs in
response to the Draft EIR:
* Biophysical Issues of Concern (Fauna and Flora) (8)
* Issues related to roads and transportation of hazardous waste (30)
* Potential Impacts on Addo Elephant National Park (2)
* Potential Impacts on Air Quality (8)
* Potential Impacts on ground and surface water (17)
* Impact on PPC Operations (4)
* Project Monitoring and Detailed Implementation (53)
* EIA and Public Participation (20)
* General (9)
The detailed Issues and Reponses Register is included as Appendix D of this
report, including the minutes of meetings held during the Draft EIR review
period. It is important to note that some of the concerns raised cut across
issues, e.g. issues raised regarding transport may also have an economic
impact. When reading the Issues and Reponses Register it is important to
note that this is a summary of the issues and concerns raised by I&APs and in
order to obtain the full context of the submission the reader is referred to the
copy of the comment submitted by a given I&AP.
3.8. Revised Draft EIR notification and Distribution (current stage in
the process)
As outlined in section 3.7 above a decision was made to revise the Draft EIR and
PAR for a n additional I&AP review p eriod prior to f inalizing these reports for
submission to DEA for decision making. This stage in the process entailed
consultation with I&APs around the Revised Draft EIR.
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 3 – Public Participation June 2010 39
The following provides more detail on the participation opportunities provided for
the review of the Revised Draft EIA and PAR.
• Written notification to all I&APs (Letter 13)
All I&APs on the project database, 1 131 I&APs, were notified in writing via
letter 13, of the 40 day comment period, which extended from the 30 March
to the 10 April 2010. Included with this correspondence was notification of
the Public Meeting scheduled to be held in Sunlands on the 20th
April 2010, a
comment f orm, a lis t o f lib raries a nd o ther venues ho lding c opies o f t he
Revised Draft EIA and PAR as well as the website through which copies of the
reports could be downloaded. A copy of the correspondence sent to I&APs is
included as an Appendix to this Report.
• Report Distribution and Information Availability
Copies of the Revised Draft EIA and PAR were made available for viewing at
the following public venues:
* Nelson M andela B ay L ibraries
*
: G ovan M beki A venue M ain L ibrary,
Uitenhage L ibrary, Despatch L ibrary, S ir Percy F itzpatrick L ibrary - Addo,
Motherwell Library, New Brighton Library, Newton Park Library, Gelvandale
Library, Allenridge Library in the Civic Centre
National L ibraries
*
: U CT G overnment P ublications D epartment a nd East
London Main Library
Other
: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (UPE) Library as well as
former Technicon Campus and Vista Campus Libraries
In addition t he r eports c ould b e d ownloaded through th e website
www.bohlweki.co.za
In a ddition to th e a bove, c opies of t he Re vised D raft E IA and P AR were
provided to the following key I&AP’s, Zwartkops Trust, WESSA, Sundays River
Valley Community Forum and the Sundays River Citrus Cooperative.
• Public Meeting in Sunlands
In order to facilitate public comment and input on the Revised Draft EIA and
PAR a Public Meeting, to which all I&APs on the project database were invited,
was held in Sunlands on the 20th April 2010. P resent at the Public Meeting,
to engage with I&APs, were representatives from Bohlweki-SSI Environmental
(Environmental Consultants) and the Coega Development Corporation (project
applicant).
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 3 – Public Participation June 2010 40
The issues raised by I&APs, meeting registration forms and notes from the
public meeting are contained in Appendices to this Report. The public meeting
was a ttended by 12 I&APs, their participation at this meeting is re flected i n
the project database contained in an Appendix to this report. The comments
received f rom I&APs h ave b een i ncluded i n t he c omments a nd responses
report included as an Appendix to this Report.
• Strategically Targeted Consultations
A key component throughout the public participation process has been
strategically targeted consultations with community and other organizations.
These meetings have played a key role in sharing information with I&APs and
obtaining their comment on the Revised Reports. These meetings ensured the
ongoing participation of I&APs in the process. The following provides a list of
meetings held and includes the number of participants at each meeting.
*
*
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality, Cllr. Ward 60, 18 February 2009
(participants 1)
*
South African C ommunist P arty (SACP) Nelson M andela Re gion, 19
February 2009, (participants 1)
*
Addo Nomathamsanqa Community Based Structures, 20 February 2009,
(participants 5)
* Sunday’s River Valley Municipality, 24 February 2009 (participants 6)
*
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality, Cllr. Ward 53, 10 March 2009,
(participants 1)
* ANC Nelson Mandela Region, 10 March 2009 (participants 1)
* Motherwell Councillor’s Forum, 10 March 2009 (participants 1)
SANCO Nelson Mandela Region, 9 March 2009 (participants 1)
The notes from the meetings, including registration forms have been included
as Appendices to this report. The comments made at the meetings have also
been included in the Comments and Responses Trail for this report. The
project database has also been updated to reflect participation by I&APs at
the meetings. A total of 17 I&APs participated in these meetings.
• Database Maintenance
A key component of the public participation process is the maintenance of the
project database. At the start of this stage of the Public Participation Process
1132 I&APs were registered on the p roject database. In response to Letter
13 mailed to I&APs, 4 requests were received to remove I&APs from the
database and three requests were received to amend I&AP details. I n order
to r eflect th e p articipation o f I &APs a t M eetings a nd P ublic Meetings th e
database has been amended and now includes 1149 registered I&APs. A
copy of the database is included as an Appendix to this Report.
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 3 – Public Participation June 2010 41
• Comments and Responses Trail
Comments made by I&APs during this stage of the public participation
process have been included in the Issues and Responses Trail included as an
Appendix to this Report. All hard copies of comments received including
notes from meetings held are included as an appendix to this report.
Comments from I&APs have been captured a nd received t hrough the
following mechanisms:
* Faxes, e mails, w ritten c omment f orms, c omments m ade a t th e p ublic
meeting, comments made at targeted I&AP meetings, written
correspondence received.
The following provides a brief overview of the comments received during this
stage of the Public Consultation Process:
*
* Biophysical Issues of Concern (Fauna and Flora) (2)
* Potential Impacts on Groundwater (2)
* Impacts on Air Quality (1)
* Traffic Impacts (8)
* Socio Economic Impacts of Concern (5)
* Heritage related impacts of concern (1)
*
Concerns a nd R ecommendations f or operational M anagement a nd
Monitoring (16)
* Project detail (3)
* EIA and Public Participation (17)
General (6)
3.9. Final EIA and Permit Application Report
The F inal E IA report has b een p repared ta king into a ccount t he c omments
received from I&APs in response to the review of the Revised Draft EIA and PAR.
All I&APs will be notified in writing (via letter 14) of the submission of the Final
EIA and PAR to DEA for their decision making. Key I&APs will again be provided
with a copy of the Final EIA and PAR, and a copy of the report will be available for
downloading through the website www.bohlweki.co.za Copies of the report will
also be made available at the following public venues:
* Nelson M andela B ay L ibraries
*
: G ovan M beki A venue M ain L ibrary,
Uitenhage L ibrary, Despatch L ibrary, S ir Percy Fitzpatrick L ibrary - Addo,
Motherwell Library, New Brighton Library, Newton Park Library, Gelvandale
Library, Allenridge Library in the Civic Centre
National L ibraries: U CT G overnment P ublications D epartment a nd East
London Main Library
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 3 – Public Participation June 2010 42
* Other
: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (UPE) Library as well as
former Technicon Campus and Vista Campus Libraries
3.10. Environmental Authorisation and Appeal Period
The final stage in the Public Participation Process will entail notification to I&APs
of the outcome of the decision making process, and appeal period, including the
manner of appeal. I&APs will be notified of this in writing via Letter 15. A copy
of the ROD will be made available as follows: through the website and be placed
at Public venues. I&APs will also be able to request a copy in writing.
3.11. Concluding Remarks
The participation process implemented was designed in such a manner that it had
the flexibility to respond to and include I&AP groups as they emerged over time.
A combination of both passive and active participation techniques, verbal and
written communication has been used in order to meet the varying and
sometimes conflicting needs of I&APs. C apacity building has formed an integral
component of the process and is viewed not as a once off event but as a series of
events over time, which develops understanding on the project and capacity to
participate in the process.
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 4 – Study Area General Description June 2010 43
4. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY AREA
4.1. Locality of the Study area
The broader study area is located within the greater Port Elizabeth region, within
the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s area of jurisdiction. The study area which
encompasses Footprint F (the Remainder of the Farm Grassridge 190,) is depicted
in F igure 4.1. Th is Revises Draft EIR focuses on t he site i dentified a s th e
preferred option (Footprint F) during the Final Feasibility Report exercise.
Figure 4.1: Map of the Port Elizabeth area showing the approximate position of
Footprint F (red circle)
4.2. Biophysical Environment
4.2.1. Topography
Footprint F (Grassridge 190 Remainder) is situated on a plateau at an elevation of
170 to 250 mamsl. This plateau forms the watershed between the Sundays River
and C oega Ri ver catchments a nd b oth f ootprints a re w ithin th e C oega Ri ver
catchment. Footprint F is located within a broad, low slope valley draining in a
southerly direction. No perennial rivers or streams drain the area.
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Ch 4 – Study Area General Description June 2010 44
4.2.2. Climate
The greater Port Elizabeth region l ies at the junction of several climatic regions,
resulting in unpredictable variations in wind, rainfall and temperature patterns.
The climate is generally warm and temperate.
A meteorological station was installed on Portion 2 of the Farm Blauw Baaitjies
Vley 189 in May 2005. T he station recorded hourly average temperature, w ind
speed and wind direction, precipitation and solar radiation.
• Wind
The p revailing w ind d irection is f rom th e south-southwest, no rthwest a nd
southeast. Winds are on average strong ranging between 10 and 30 metres
per second. Figure 4.2 shows the period, daytime and night time wind roses.
Figure 4.2: Wind roses for the period 18 May 2005 – 31 May 2006
• Temperature
Table 4.1 shows the average maximum and minimum temperatures as
recorded at the Port Elizabeth Weather Station (1961 – 1990) and Addo (158
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 4 – Study Area General Description June 2010 45
– 1984), while Fi gure 4.3 shows the hourly average t emperature ranges f or
the meteorological s tation on Portion 2 of the Farm Blauw Baatjies Vley 189
(18 May 2005 – 31 May 2006). The meteorological station recorded
temperatures ranging between 4ºC and 39ºC. A maximum temperature of
38.77ºC and a minimum temperature of 4.44ºC were recorded.
Table 4.1: Temperature data for Port Elizabeth, Addo and Uitenhage
(SA Weather Services, Port Elizabeth)
Month
Monthly Minimum/Maximum/Average Temperature (°C)
Port Elizabeth Addo Uitenhage
Min Max Ave Min Max Ave Min Max Ave
Jan 17.9 25.4 21.7 16.6 29.2 22.9 17.3 27.8 22.6
Feb 17.9 25.4 21.6 16.6 29.3 22.9 17.5 27.9 22.7
Mar 16.9 24.6 20.7 15.4 28.1 21.8 16.1 27.0 21.5
Apr 14.3 23.0 18.7 12.1 26.2 19.1 13.0 25.8 19.4
May 11.5 21.7 16.6 8.7 24.0 16.3 9.6 24.0 16.8
Jun 9.2 20.3 14.7 6.0 21.9 14.0 6.9 22.3 14.6
Jul 8.8 19.7 14.3 5.2 21.9 13.6 6.4 21.8 14.1
Aug 9.8 19.6 14.7 6.4 22.6 14.5 7.9 22.0 14.9
Sep 11.4 20.0 15.7 8.8 23.6 16.2 10.2 22.7 16.4
Oct 13.1 20.8 17.0 11.0 24.6 17.8 12.3 24.3 17.8
Nov 14.6 22.3 18.5 12.9 26.3 19.6 14.3 24.8 19.6
Dec 16.4 24.3 20.3 14.7 28.1 21.4 15.9 26.8 21.4
Figure 4.3: Hourly average temperature recorded for the period 18 May 2005
to 31 May 2006
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Ch 4 – Study Area General Description June 2010 46
• Rainfall and Evaporation
While the South African weather bureau has data for Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage
and Addo in the area, evaporation is no longer measured. DWAF Hydrology
has weather stations at Addo, Groendal Dam and Port Elizabeth which
measure rainfall and evaporation. The data for Addo and Groendal Dam has
been included in Table 4.. The data from Port Elizabeth was not included, as
the coastal conditions were not taken to be representative of climatic
conditions inland. Rainfall data for Uitenhage from the SA Weather Bureau has
also been included in the table.
Table 4.2: Average Rainfall and Evaporation data from Addo, Groendal Dam and Uitenhage
Place Addo Groendal Dam Uitenhage
DWAF Station number
N4E001 M1E001 -
Data Source DWAF Hydrology DWAF Hydrology SA Weather
Bureau
Month Average Rainfall (mm)
Average S Pan
Evaporation (mm)
Average Rainfall (mm)
Average A Pan
Evaporation (mm)
Average Rainfall (mm)
Oct 37.9 126 63.1 138.5 33
Nov 41.7 155.3 69.8 152.4 35
Dec 34 189.2 58.5 182.3 44
Jan 32 188.7 60.7 183.5 41
Feb 33.1 150.6 52.4 144.5 30
Mar 42.7 126.6 68 135.4 23
Apr 39.7 85.2 56.8 100.2 29
May 26.5 63.4 35.6 85.8 36
Jun 22.4 49.6 26.6 73.3 28
Jul 23 53.6 33.9 81.3 42
Aug 33.2 68 55.7 95.2 46
Sep 27.6 91.4 53.5 109.6 30
Annual 395 1345.9 635.2 1480.1 417
Record Period 1959-2008 1959-2008 1950-2006 1958-2006 1964-1990
• Solar Radiation
The meteorological station on Portion 2 of the Farm Blauw Baatjies Vley 189
recorded an annual average solar radiation o f 192.7 W/m2
. This average i s
representative of day and night-time hourly average concentrations measured
during the period under review.
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 4 – Study Area General Description June 2010 47
Incoming solar radiation increases from sunrise (07h00) reaching a maximum
of 1094 W/m2 in the afternoon (12h00) then decreasing again until sunset
(18h00) to a minimum of -0.482 W/m2
(Airshed Planning Professionals,
2006).
4.2.3. Geology
The geology of the study area is summarised in Table 4.3. The youngest
sequence is Quaternary and the o ldest is Cape S upergroup. A m ore d etailed
description of the geology is included in Chapter 7 of this report.
Table 4.3: The geology of the study area
Period Group Formation Lithology
Quaternary Fluvial terrace gravel
Bluewater Bay Alluvial sheet gravel and sand
Nanaga Aeolianite
Tertiary Alexandria Calcareous sandstone, shelly
limestone, conglomerate
Cretaceous Uitenhage Sundays River Greenish-grey mudstone, sandstone
Kirkwood Reddish, greenish mudstone,
sandstone
Cape
Supergroup
Witteberg Witpoort White quartzitic sandstone
Bokkeveld Karies Shale, discontinuous sandstone
Gamka Feldspathis sandstone, fossiliferous
Table
Mountain
Nardouw Arenite, quartz sandstone
Peninsula Quartzite, quartz sandstone
Graafwater Arenite, quartz sandstone, Quartzite
4.2.4. Soils
The footprints under investigation are all found within the Mesic Succulent Thicket
vegetation type, which usually occurs on deep, apedal, sandy loams to sandy-clay
loams. Within thickets, soils are richer in organic matter and moister than the
surrounding areas (Allsopp, Fabricius and Burger, 1996). Moreover, Allsopp et al
(1996) emphasised the importance of mycorrhizal symbiotic relationships within
thicket bushclumps.
Since this vegetation is located in the warm temperate climatic zone (Kopke,
1988), organic decomposition is high, enhancing nutrient cycling. This makes
this vegetation system efficient in terms of nutrient cycling. T his symbiosis also
generates a crumbly s oil t exture, w hich i ncreases w ater i nfiltration a nd c an
withstand wind and water erosion effectively (Allsopp et al (1996).
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 4 – Study Area General Description June 2010 48
4.2.5. Hydrology and Geohydrology
No perennial rivers or s treams are located within the study area. F ootprint F is
located within the Coega River Catchment.
The most prominent regional aquifer in the area is the Uitenhage Artesian Basin
Aquifer. H owever a ll s ites u nder i nvestigation a re ou tside o f t he proclaimed
boundaries of the Uitenhage Artesian Basin. Although the boreholes in the study
area are considered to be fairly low yielding, groundwater in the area is used to
support basic human needs, stock watering and agriculture.
A more detailed description of the Geohydrology in the study area is included
within Chapter 7 of this report.
4.2.6. Flora
The study area lies within the Thicket Biome (Low and Rebelo, 1996) and consists
predominantly of two broad vegetation types, Valley Thicket and Bontveld. T he
Thicket vegetation contains numerous species that are endemic to the Eastern
Cape, and are mostly succulents and bulb-forming plants.
Bontveld is a unique vegetation type occurring in the Eastern Cape. It consists of
circular clumps of bush up to 3 meters high, which can vary in diameter from 1 to
20 meters. The thicket biome has been identified as being in need of urgent
conservation. Besides the current extensions to the Addo Elephant National Park,
the c onservation s tatus o f t his v egetation is c onsidered to b e r elatively p oor
(Lubke et al 1986; Palmer, 1989).
Conservation of representative areas of the Thicket Biome is important as this
vegetation type has been stressed and/or degraded in many areas and is still
under i ntense p ressure t hrough he avy g razing ( Hoffman a nd C owling, 1 990;
Kerley et al., 1995) and bush clearing for various forms of development (La Cock,
1992).
The vegetation occurring on all three sites considered in the Feasibility Report can
be described as Mesic Succulent Thicket with pockets of Bontveld occurring in
some areas.
A more detailed description flora is included within Chapter 5 of this report.
4.2.7. Fauna
Since the Mesic Succulent Thicket vegetation type supports a high diversity of
species and growth forms, it is correspondingly rich in animal life. The spiny
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Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 4 – Study Area General Description June 2010 49
nature of this vegetation suggests a co-evolutionary process between herbivores
and the vegetation. Kerley et al (1995) suggests that herbivory i s an important
process in structuring communities in this vegetation. Herbivory by
megaherbivores is thought to have been the major source of disturbance in pre-
colonial times (Stuart-Hill, 1992; Kerley et al., 1995).
Historically, th is v egetation w as s ubjected to i ntensive b rowsing by a b road
diversity o f i ndigenous h erbivores (S kead, 1 987; M idgley, 1 991; Stuart-Hill,
1992). These herbivores have created the mosaic structure within the thicket
vegetation (Holmes and Cowling, 1993) through browsing and path formation
(Stuart-Hill, 1992). W ith the arrival of European and Xhosa settlers in the early
1700s, megaherbivores were systematically eradicated (Kerley et al., 1995) and
are presently restricted to a few conservation areas.
The medium and smaller herbivores such as kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros),
bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus), B lue duiker (Philantomba monticola), common
duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia) and grysbok (Raphicerus melanotis), have persisted
and are still found on farm land outside of protected areas. Kudu in particular
form the basis of an important hunting industry in the Eastern Cape.
This vegetation has a high diversity of insectivorous and frugivous birds. Cowling
(1984) suggests that this thicket relies on mammals and birds for seed dispersal.
The dense nature of this vegetation offers a unique microclimate for reptiles and
invertebrates. Disturbance in the vegetation alters the microclimate and then
presents an unsuitable habitat for a number of these small animals.
It has been confirmed that disturbance has negative impacts on the biodiversity
of animals (Dean and Milton, 1995). A number of the animal species that live in
thickets are dependent on undisturbed vegetation, for example, those that lay
their eggs on litter or are arboreal such as chameleons and tree snakes.
A more detailed description of site specific fauna is included in Chapter 6 of this
report.
4.2.8. Protected Areas
The nearest current boundary of the Greater Addo Elephant National Park
(Colchester section) is situated approximately 14 km from the study area (see
Figure 4.5). T he South African National Parks p lan to expand Addo to 270 000
hectares.
This p ark w ill incorporate re presentative e cosystems from f ive of t he seven
biomes in South Africa and will also boast the Big Seven, namely Rhino, Elephant,
Lion, Leopard, Southern Right Whale and the Great White Shark.
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Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 4 – Study Area General Description June 2010 50
Figure 4.4: Google Maps and Earth image showing the approximate distance
(14km) between Footprint F and the closest current boundary of
the Addo Elephant National Park in the Colchester area
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 4 – Study Area General Description June 2010 51
4.3. Social Environment
The study area falls within the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) and the
Sundays River Valley Local Municipality (SRVLM) in the Eastern Cape Province.
The closest towns to the study area are Addo and Uitenhage. All of the potential
alternative sites fall within rural areas with the farms zoned for agricultural or
mining land use. Demographic and socio-economic data such as population
grouping, language, industry, occupation and employment status are provided
and discussed in further detail in Chapter 14.
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Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 5 - Flora June 2010 52
5. FLORA
The findings of the vegetation assessment undertaken by Mr. J van Staden of
Bohlweki–SSI Environmental in his ca pacity as a vegetation specialist for the
Footprint Ranking Report (2006) remain valid for the EIA phase assessment. A
supplementary site visit was undertaken in mid-December 2007 to confirm the
previous assessment findings.
5.1. Introduction
Vegetation can be seen as the first order interface between man and his
environment. V egetation in its natural, undisturbed condition is fully integrated
and in balance with the environment. A pristine plant community therefore has a
built-in resilience to environmental disturbances, enabling it to withstand most
external pressures in the short term (i.e. fires) as well as long term catastrophes
(i.e. p rolonged d rought). Through t he a ges, m an ha s i mpacted o n t he
environment in many ways. Most often, the first and primary impact has been on
the vegetation. M an has altered vegetation to suit his needs in many ways, the
ultimate impact of which we have only begun to understand in recent times. The
loss o f b iodiversity ( especially in S outh A frica w ith its h igh level o f n atural
biodiversity), climate change and desertification are just some of the long-term
impacts we are trying to understand. The impact of human intervention on the
natural vegetation is often severe on a local scale because of the intensity and
persistency thereof ( e.g. cultivation, i nfrastructure development). T herefore, t o
adequately a ssess th e i mpact o f a m anagement i ntervention o n th e n atural
vegetation, it is important to know amongst others:
• Basic species composition and structure of the vegetation impacted upon;
• Current vegetation condition and reasons for degradation;
• Status of conservation and ecological value; and
• Basic ecological processes contributing to the vegetation cover of a specific
area.
5.2. Description of the floral habitat
In order to establish the most suitable footprint for the regional General and
Hazardous Waste Management Facility (GHWMF) in terms of vegetation several
potential sites within the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality were originally
assessed (Refer to F inal Feasibility Report dated December 2007). The status of
the existing natural vegetation, in combination with several other aspects for all
sites (i .e. f auna, g eotechnical, g eohydrology, a ir q uality, l and u se and v isual
impacts etc.), were used to decide where the proposed development was likely to
have the least environmental impact. Based on the outcome of the combined
assessment of several specialists, the current site, Footprint F, was chosen. This
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 5 - Flora June 2010 53
Footprint is located on the farm Grassridge 190 RE. The vegetation occurring on
and s urrounding th e p roposed f ootprint c an b e de scribed a s p rimarily M esic
Succulent Thicket with some Bontveld areas occurring on thick calcareous layers
on the higher lying areas (Figure 5.1).
According to Lubke (1996), the Mesic Succulent Thicket (MST) occurs a long the
coastal areas of Port Elizabeth. I t extends from the Sundays River Mouth to the
Gamtoos Valley, in areas with an annual rainfall varying from 450 to 550 mm per
year and occurring mainly in the winter or spring-autumn months. In their more
detailed d escription o f s ubtropical th icket v egetation, Vlok a nd E uston-Brown
(2002) classify the vegetation of the study area as part of the Sundays Valley
Thicket. Temperatures may range from 10 to 35°C, with a mean maximum of
29°C a nd a m ean minimum o f 5 .9°C. The p redominant s oils m ay v ary
considerably and include consolidated dune sands, as well as lime-rich, sandy
clays derived from the Uitenhage Group. The densest thickets usually occur on
deep, apedal, sandy loams to sandy-clay loams (Hutton and Clovelly forms) and
this is regarded as one of the main factors responsible for the confined
distribution of this vegetation type.
Mesic S ucculent T hicket i n a g ood c ondition c an b e d escribed a s a n a lmost
impenetrable t hicket o f a bout 2 .5 m t o 3 m in h eight. T he c anopy c over is
estimated at approximately 90% and consists mainly of spinescent shrubs, woody
creepers and a variety of succulents. Species diversity is high and a high
proportion of endemic s pecies i s k nown to occur w ithin this v egetation ty pe.
Characteristic woody species include White milkwood (Sideroxylon inerme), Dune
Koko t ree (Maytenus procumbens) and S eptember b ush (Polygala myrtifolia),
while succulent species such as Uitenhage Aloe (Aloe africana), Bitter Aloe (A.
ferox), Noorsdoring (Euphorbia ledienii) and E. grandidens
may be locally
common (Lubke, 1996).
Although t he d ense n ature of p ristine t hicket m akes i t less s uitable f or g oat
farming, large areas have been opened up through intensive stocking of boer
goats a nd a ngora g oats. T his r esulted in s erious d egradation o f t he th icket
vegetation ov er l arge areas, which i s of ten irreversible. L arge areas o f t his
vegetation type were also lost through clearing for agricultural cultivation and
development of urban areas and coastal resorts. According to Lubke (1996), more
than 50% of the Mesic Succulent Thicket has been transformed while
approximately 5% is conserved in nature conservation areas along the Swartkops
River. During the screening process to determine the optimal localities of the
proposed footprints, areas with potentially sensitive vegetation (e.g. along the
main drainage lines, Eco-tones, Bontveld) or vegetation in a good to excellent
condition, w ere e xcluded f rom f urther c onsideration. T he proposed f ootprint,
therefore, occurs within vegetation that is regarded to be in a fair to degraded
condition, at best.
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Figure 5.1: Google image with Footprint F development boundary indicating the vegetation condition on site
A – Bontveld B – Mesic Succulent Thicket in a bad to fair condition C – Mesic Succulent thicket in poor to highly degraded condition
D – Cultivated land in varying degrees of re-vegetation
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5.3. Vegetation characteristics
The si te has been v isited on several occasions. The l ast two site v isits occurred
during September 2005 and again on 4 December 2007. T he potential footprint
for the GHWMF (Footprint F) is located in a shallow south-facing valley, close to
the watershed. The footprint is currently utilised for game farming.
Habitat diversity: Habitat diversity within the demarcated footprint is low due to
very little variation in the landscape and soils. The outer boundary of the footprint
is formed by a natural ecotone between the Bontveld and the Mesic Succulent
Thicket. This area is characterised by shallow calcareous soils and concretions.
The ecotone though, was excluded from the actual footprint due to i ts sensitive
nature and its potential as microhabitat for rare faunal species.
Species composition/richness: Species diversity of the Mesic thicket
vegetation on-site i s considerably low compared to Mesic Succulent Thicket in a
pristine condition. During the revised Footprint Ranking exercise, Footprint F was
identified as "preferred", and this "preferred" status was confirmed during the
Feasibility Phase
A large percentage (20%) of the footprint was cleared through cultivation (D on
Figure 5.1). A significant area (30%) was opened up through overgrazing with
many l ivestock and game footpaths (C on F igure 5.1). About 40% of the s ite i s
covered with Mesic Succulent thicket in a poor to fair condition (B on Figure 5.1).
In general these areas have been heavily infested with prickly pear.
The most common trees and shrubs include Euclea undulata, Schotia afra,
Portulacaria afra, Euphorbia ledienii, Aloe africana, Sideroxylon inerme, Rhus
robusta, Azima tetracantha, Carissa haematocarpa and Protasparagus
suaveolens. G rasses r ecorded i nclude Panicum maximum, Panicum coloratum,
Eragrostis curvula, Perotis patens and Cynodon dactylon. A small portion (10%)
along the northern boundary of the site is covered by Bontveld in a fair to good
condition (A on Figure 5.1).
Several healthy specimens of the sensitive species, Syncarpha striata were
recorded w ithin this s ection. A ccording to the proposed layout p lan f or th e
development th is patch of Bontveld will be destroyed by the construction of the
site offices and entrance buildings.
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Figure 5.2: Cultivated lands on Footprint F
Figure 5.3: Highly degraded Mesic Succulent Thicket in foreground with
vegetation in poor condition in the background
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Figure 5.4: Example of Mesic Succulent Thicket in a degraded poor
condition. The exposed areas have been colonised by mainly Aloe
ferox and Acacia karoo
Figure 5.5: A small patch of Bontveld in the foreground and remainder of the
site in the background. Except for the track and evidence of
grazing, the vegetation is in a good condition.
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Figure 5.6: A healthy specimen of Syncarpha striata found on site
5.4. Main Potential Impacts on the Natural Vegetation
The main potential impacts of the development of the proposed GHWMF on the
vegetation are:
5.4.1. Integrity and functioning of sensitive vegetation types
All vegetation within the construction area of the actual waste site footprint (40 -
50 hectares) will be permanently removed. Access and service roads have the
potential to fragment even larger sections of vegetation, while dust deposition
around t he w aste s ite a nd a long t he a ccess a nd s ervice roads may h ave a
negative impact on the photosynthesis, transpiration and pollination processes of
most of t he plant s pecies. T his may upset the n atural competition b etween
species and may lead to long term changes in the species composition.
Within th e regional study a rea, th e B ontveld c an b e r egarded a s th e m ost
sensitive in this regard. This vegetation type occurs in a very restricted area and
is very poorly conserved. On Footprint F, Bontveld occurs on t he high-lying
calcrete ridges and is under increased pressure from adjacent mining activities.
This vegetation type could, therefore, be severely impacted by a waste s ite and
its associated infrastructure. Appropriate mitigation measures will be proposed in
the EMP to avoid any unnecessary damage to or loss of this vegetation type.
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Mesic Succulent Thicket is the dominant vegetation type in the A lgoa Bay area,
but is also unique in composition and occurrence in the Eastern Cape region.
Urban s prawl, m ining a ctivities, i ndustrial d evelopment and agricultural
cultivation present a constant and ever-increasing threat to this vegetation.
Footprint F falls mainly within the Mesic Succulent Thicket while a small area of
Bontveld will be affected. Both of these vegetation types are regarded as
sensitive in a regional context. Removal of vegetation for the construction of a
waste site will have a similar type of impact on both of the vegetation types with
respect to ecosystem function. However, due to the good condition of the
Bontveld existing on site (Refer to Figure 5.1) and the comparatively smaller
amount of good condition Bontveld remaining in the surrounding area due to
intensive mining of this habitat, the impacts on the Bontveld habitat will be of
increased significance at a local and regional level.
5.4.2. Loss of endemic, protected and rare/endangered species
Recent s tudies r evealed s everal e ndemic, p rotected a nd/or e ndangered p lant
species in the Bontveld. Further studies are urgently needed to map, describe and
clarify Bontveld dynamics. Similarly to Bontveld, Mesic Succulent Thicket is poorly
conserved i n s pite of a h igh n umber of endemic, p rotected a nd e ndangered
species found in this vegetation type. In order to avoid damage to these
vegetation types, sensitive habitats and areas with a high biodiversity and of a
good to pristine condition were avoided as far as possible during the screening
process of potential sites for the proposed waste plant. In both of these
vegetation types, s pecific a ssociations b etween v egetation habitats and
rare/endangered animals occur. Impacts on the vegetation will, therefore, also
have secondary impacts on the sensitive animal species.
The sensitive plant species in especially the Bontveld should not be disturbed. The
relocation of species is not an option with both of these vegetation types due to
the inability of Succulent Thicket and Bontveld to re-establish i tself after severe
disturbance. Conservation of the succulent thicket and Bontveld must, therefore,
be done in situ - meaning that areas where rare and endangered species are
recorded should preferably be avoided.
5.4.3. Introduction and spread of alien plant species, weeds and invader
plants
The development of a waste s ite will cause a s ignificant amount of d isturbance,
especially d uring the c onstruction p hase. D isturbance o f s oil w ithin t he roa d
reserves and along the edges of the waste facility will be long term and the
original vegetation in these areas will be permanently lost. These areas may act
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as invasion corridors for alien and invader plant species, which can be devastating
to the surrounding natural vegetation in the long term.
The invasion of large patches of vegetation in the area with Acacia cyclops (in the
Bontveld) and Opuntia ficus-indica or prickly pear (in the Mesic and Succulent
thicket) are just two examples indicating the high level of probability for alien
plant species invasion to occur.
5.5. Impact Assessment
Table 5.1 below provides an evaluation of the potential floral impacts on the
proposed s ite. A t a Local e xtent i t h as b een d etermined t hat site c learing
activities will have permanent impacts on the existing and largely transformed
Mesic Succulent Thicket and Bontveld system functioning and integrity.
However, due to the low species diversity of the Mesic thicket vegetation on-site
compared to pristine Mesic Succulent Thicket the impact of the proposed GHWMF
on existing Mesic thicket vegetation is deemed to be of low negative significance.
Due to the limited availability of good condition Bontveld in the area surrounding
the proposed GHWMF site as compared to the more prevalent Mesic Succulent
Thicket, the impacts on the Bontveld habitat will be of increased negative
significance at a Regional level.
It is predicted that the introduction and/or spread of alien invasive plant species
as a result of the proposed activity is likely, but the significance of this will be low
if adequately mitigated. The impacts on floral habitat are deemed to be of low
significance if the recommended mitigation measures (refer to Section 5.7 and
the Draft EMP) are implemented for the construction and operational phases of
the project.
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Table 5.1: Floral impact assessment of Footprint F
Potential Impact Status Extent Duration Probability
Severity /
Intensity
scale
Significance
Post
mitigation
significance
Integrity and
functioning of Mesic
Succulent Thicket
Negative Local
Permanent
Improbable
Moderate
Low Low -
Integrity and
functioning of
Bontveld
Negative Local
Permanent
Probable
Moderate
Moderate Low -
Loss of endemic,
protected and
rare/endangered
species – Mesic
Succulent thicket
Negative Regional
Permanent
Improbable
Moderate
Low Low -
Loss of endemic,
protected and
rare/endangered
species – Bontveld
Negative Regional
Permanent
Definite
Moderate
Moderate Low -
Introduction and
spread of alien plant
species, weeds and
invader plants
Negative Local
Permanent
Highly
Probable
Moderate
Moderate Low -
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5.6. Conclusion
From the above findings the following conclusions about the potential impacts of
the proposed GHWMF on the various aspects of the floral habitat are deemed to
be the following:
Presence of Rare and Endangered species: Although the diversity in habitat
is low and the Mesic Succulent Thicket is in a poor condition there is still potential
for Rare and Endangered species to occur within this vegetation type. Several
healthy specimens of the sensitive species Syncarpha striata were recorded within
Bontveld in a good condition which is located along the northern boundary of the
site and should be regarded as sensitive.
Ecological function: The vegetation within the area of the proposed GHWMF
footprint is providing the basic functions within the greater ecological system.
Vegetative cover is medium. Although some limited erosion does occur within the
game/livestock paths as well as on the old lands, the soil on the rest of the
footprint is adequately covered and protected.
Uniqueness/conservation value: In general Footprint F displays no specific or
important features different from the vegetation in the surrounding area. The only
area of real concern is the ecotone boundary between Mesic Succulent Thicket
and Bontveld as well as the small section of Bontveld along the northern
boundary of the site that needs to be protected (Figure 5.7).
The current preliminary layout and design detail for the GHWMF on Footprint F
will not infringe on the sensitive Bontveld area and ecotones boundary identified
during specialist assessment of the area. These areas should be fenced off during
the construction phase of the project
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Figure 5.7: Ecotone boundary between MST and the Bontveld area to be excluded from development
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5.7. Recommendations
Any development within this area should be approached with caution with regard
to the potential site specific sensitivity of patches of the composite vegetation
cover existing on site. The following recommendations are put forward:
Bontveld: Development on the Bontveld area along the northern boundary of the
site should not be allowed at all. Due to the available space on the proposed site,
a change in layout in order to exclude this Bontveld from all construction and
operational activity is required. This recommendation has been accommodated in
the preliminary layout and design detail for the GHWMF.
Loss of rare, endangered and/or protected species: The actual lay-out of
the site to be developed, along with the access routes and associated structures
should be marked clearly with hazard tape before commencement of construction.
This would allow a proper search and rescue effort to be executed. The
indigenous plants within these areas should be removed to an established nursery
(or one set out on the s ite) for use in the rehabilitation of disturbed areas after
construction. The plant search and rescue operation can be done with the help of
the local botanical society, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) and
Eastern Cape Nature Conservation.
Loss of Mesic Succulent Thicket: The permanent loss of vegetation within the
footprint area cannot be prevented. It can, however, be minimised by ensuring:
• Construction activities should be restricted to the minimum area needed.
• Complete r emoval of a ll e xcavated m aterial a nd c onstruction ru bble a fter
construction is completed.
Rehabilitation of disturbed areas: According t o c urrent e nvironmental
legislation, it has to be rehabilitated to resemble the surrounding and historical
vegetation. The establishment of a waste site provides an opportunity to recreate
the previous landscape to a large extent. This is possible by using landscaped
cells to conform to the general landscape of the area instead of the traditional
square cells with flat tops used at waste facilities.
Stormwater drainage: Stormwater from within the developed site should be
properly contained and should not be allowed drain off-site at all. Stormwater
flow p atterns a fter construction s hould b e c arefully c ontrolled to p revent
alteration of natural water flow patterns of the receiving vegetation downslope
from the site as far as possible.
Disturbance of vegetation: Due to t he difficulty to restore Mesic Succulent
Thicket a nd B ontveld v egetation, d isturbance o f n atural v egetation a long th e
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access routes and around the site through trampling or compaction by motor
vehicles must be minimised through proper management. Accordingly:
• Optimal use should be made of existing access roads.
• Construction of new access roads should be minimised.
• After completion of construction, all access roads that will not be used during
the operational phase, should be rehabilitated and re-vegetated i f necessary
to blend in with the surrounding vegetation.
• Areas on the construction site that were notably compacted by construction
activities should be ripped to allow re-establishment of natural vegetation.
Alien Invasive Control: An alien plant control and monitoring programme must
be developed starting during the construction phase and to be carried over into
the o perational p hase. T he f ollowing e lements s hould b e i ncluded i n s uch a
programme:
• The active control of a ll a lien invasive species by means of manual removal,
ring-barking, chemical control or a combination of these methods.
• The bigger trunks and branches should be removed while the smaller
branches can be used as a soil stabiliser against wind erosion in exposed
areas, while providing micro-habitat for seedling establishment.
• Rehabilitation of the cleared areas, starting with the establishment of a grass
cover and phasing in the re-establishment of shrub species by sowing in of
appropriate seed mixes.
• All emergent alien plant seedlings must be removed by hand and re-sprouting
from existing rootstock must be chemically treated in a continual monitoring
and follow-up programme.
Soil pollution: Pollution of the surface and or ground water with petrol, d iesel,
oil, cement, paint, litter etc., secondarily affecting the vegetation of the receiving
environment must be prevented. Appropriate measures include:
• Construction activities should be l imited to the Hazardous Waste s ite a nd
servitude areas.
• Movement by construction personnel outside of the demarcated development
areas should be strictly prohibited.
• Adequate n umbers a nd p lacement of p ortable c hemical t oilet f acilities a t
construction sites is crucial to prevent unnecessary pollution of the
surrounding vegetation. A ratio of one toilet per fifteen persons is proposed.
• During c onstruction, littering, s pecifically o f t he n atural a reas, s hould b e
prevented. Adequate containers for l itter removal should be supplied on site.
These c ontainers s hould b e e mptied on a regular b asis a nd t he c ontents
removed to an appropriate and licensed waste disposal site.
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• During operation specific care should be taken to prevent the spread of a ir-
blown and other litter from the site. Screening of the site with diamond mesh
fences of appropriate height may help to contain most of the air-blown litter.
Regular cover with soil and compaction of the waste layer should also be
implemented.
Risk of fire: The risk of accidental fires to occur during the construction phase is
considered to b e h igh, e specially d uring th e d ry s ummer m onths and w indy
periods. F ires could s pread to vegetation o n p roperties a djacent t o th e s ite,
especially t o t he p rivate G rassridge n ature r eserve w hich c ould lead l oss of
biodiversity. Accordingly:
• Accidental fires should be prevented through proper sensitisation of the
contractors a nd t heir workers t owards t he associated r isks, d angers a nd
damage of property.
• An emergency preparedness plan should be in place to fight accidental veld
fires, should they occur. The adjacent land owners/users/managers should
also be informed and involved in the establishment of a Fire Protection Agency
according to the Veld and Forest Fire Act.
• Enclosed areas for food preparation must be provided. The use of open f ires
for cooking of food by construction personnel should be strictly prohibited.
• Use of branches of trees and shrubs for fire making purposes must be strictly
prohibited.
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6. FAUNA
This faunal assessment was undertaken and compiled by Dr William Branch from
the Port Elizabeth Museum (Bayworld), in his capacity as a faunal specialist. This
chapter has been revised to be specific to Footprint F , but remains re flective of
the specialist report conducted for the Footprint Ranking Report (2006).
6.1. Introduction
The terrestrial fauna of the proposed site for the GHWMF was discussed in an
earlier assessment of p otentially suitable footprints (Branch 2 004) during the
Screening p hase of t he p roject. The f ollowing d iscussion o f f aunal d iversity
focuses on the preferred site, Footprint F.
The terms of reference for the EIA phase specialist faunal study required the
faunal assessment of the following in more detail for Footprint F:
• areas of high biodiversity;
• the presence of faunal species of special concern, including sensitive, endemic
and protected species;
• the presence of areas sensitive to invasion by alien species; and
• the presence of conservation areas and sensitive habitats where d isturbance
should be avoided or minimised.
The faunal study had to investigate mammals, avifauna, reptiles, amphibians,
and insects. The deliverables resulting from these studies have included:
• A report detailing the following for footprint F:
∗ faunal diversity;
∗ habitat associations and conservation status of the identified fauna;
∗ an assessment of the potential direct and indirect impacts resulting from
the p roposed d evelopment, both o n th e f ootprint a nd th e i mmediate
surrounding area; and
∗ a discussion of monitoring and mitigatory measures that can be adopted
to reduce negative impacts for each phase of the project, where required.
These measures have also been included within the Environmental
Management Plan.
• Checklists o f faunal g roups i dentified i n th e r egion to da te, h ighlighting
sensitive species and their possible areas of distribution.
• A sensitivity map of the areas highlighting sensitive areas that should be
avoided during planning and construction, or recommending specific
mitigatory measures that may alleviate impacts.
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6.2. Methodology
6.2.1. Survey
A supplementary site visit was undertaken in mid-December 2007. It
supplements earlier visits to the site (Branch 2004). Visual surveys were
undertaken of the varied habitats. Birds were recorded visually, and some reptiles
collected opportunistically. Most faunal diversity was assessed on the basis of the
presence of suitable habitat. In some cases the presence of species was
confirmed by d irect observation o r i nference of p resence f rom i ndirect evidence
(e.g. t racks, faeces, nest si tes, etc.), o r a fter discussion w ith PPC (current l and
owners) personnel and land owners in adjacent areas.
6.2.2. Faunal diversity
The f ollowing r eview o f f aunal d iversity e xpands a nd u pdates th at of B ranch
(2004), which was based on published accounts summarized in: Branch (1998),
Channing (2001), Minter et al (2004), Harrison et al (1997), and Skinner and
Smithers (1990). Relevant updates include Branch (2008), Skead (2007) and
Skinner & Chimimba (2005).
6.2.3. Species of Special Concern (SSC)
Species of Special Concern (SSC) are species that are:
• known to be endemic to the region;
• considered to be of conservation concern; or
• in commercial trade (CITES listed species).
Endemic species (derived from references above) are considered to be species
with at least 90% of their range restricted to the Algoa Bay region. Species of
conservation concern are those South African Red Data Listed Threatened Species
(using IUCN categories) detailed in: Amphibians (Harrison et a l. 2004), Reptiles
(Branch 19 88, a nd SA RCA o ngoing r evision), B irds ( Barnes 20 00), M ammals
(Friedmann and Daly 2004), and butterflies (Henning and Henning 1989).
Species whose international trade is regulated are derived from the CITES
appendices (http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/species.html).
6.2.4. Habitat Associations
Abiotic (wetlands, rock outcrops) and biotic (vegetation types) habitats are
important to different faunal groups. Footprint F contains relatively few habitats,
and these include:
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• Bontveld
• Bontveld limestone outcrops
• Mesic Succulent Thicket
• Wetlands
Bontveld: Patches of open Bontveld (Figure 6.1) are located in the northern
section of Footprint F. More extensive areas of Bontveld are traversed by the
major road l inkages between Footprint F and the municipal and industrial areas
that the proposed GHWMF will serve.
Figure 6.1: Natural Bontveld grassland with bush clumps in the Grassridge
area - Note the threatened Blue Crane foraging in habitat
Bontveld limestone outcrops: A characteristic feature of Bontveld habitat is
patches of exposed l imestone bedrock. These are important for a suite of small
reptiles, including the critically endangered Albany adder.
Mesic Succulent Thicket (MST): Patches of MST occur in drainage lines where
erosion has removed the limestone layer that prevents the development of large
shrubs and t rees. Bush clumps d evelop where b reaks i n this l ayer occur in
Bontveld grassland. Much of the MST on Footprint F has been cleared for
agriculture and is now heavily degraded.
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Figure 6.2: Exposed limestone bedrock in Bontveld habitat in the northern
section of Footprint F
Figure 6.3: Bush clump in Bontveld grassland in the northern section of
Footprint F
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Figure 6.4: Cleared and degraded Mesic Succulent Thicket habitat in the
southeast section of Footprint F
Wetlands: No permanent or significant temporary wetlands occur on Footprint F
as the site is situated at the head of a drainage l ine to avoid potential f looding.
The c atchment b elow F ootprint F d rains in a s outherly d irection t owards th e
Coega River. This catchment, potentially affected by discharge from the proposed
GHWMF, does not contain any wetlands of significance for water birds or other
aquatic fauna. The Coega River is small and its water is not used for irrigation or
as a municipal water source.
6.3. Faunal diversity
The Algoa Bay region in which Footprint F is situated has a relatively diverse
fauna, and for reptiles, it is a minor centre of endemism (Branch 1988).
6.3.1. Protected areas
Footprint F does not fall in an official national, provincial or municipal protected
area, or Important Bird Area (Barnes 1998), or Ramsar wetland site (Ramsar
2007).
6.3.2. Invertebrates
Due t o t heir s heer n umbers i nvertebrates a re ra rely c onsidered i n d etail in
environmental impact assessments. Butterflies are an exception, but this reflects
the charisma of the group, the easy availability of field guides (e.g. Migdoll, 1987;
Woodhall, 2005), and a recent synopsis of threatened taxa (e.g. Henning and
Henning, 1989). However, it does not reflect any greater importance, or any
exceptional or seminal role that they play in ecosystem functioning relative to
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other invertebrate groups, such as beetles or ants. Velvet Worms (Onychophora,
Hamer et al. 1997) and dragonflies (Odonata, Tarboton & Tarboton 2002) are
some of the few invertebrate groups whose conservation status has been
assessed. No threatened or endemic species for these groups are found in the
Algoa Bay region.
• Butterfly Diversity:
Over 1 20 b utterfly s pecies m ay occur i n t he r egion, b ased on W oodhall’s
(2005) ma ps. T his d iversity is do minated by t he f amilies Lycaenidae,
Nymphalidae, Pieridae, Hesperiidae and Papilionidae.
• Habitat associations:
Butterfly habitat associations are usually linked to the f ood plants of their
larval stages, and/or their symbiotic associations. M ore butterflies are l inked
to M esic S ucculent T hicket (M ST) th an Bontveld d ue t o t he g reater p lant
diversity of the former habitat. However, the more sensitive butterflies are
associated with Bontveld grasslands.
• Conservation status:
In S outhern A frica t he b utterflies m ost a t e nvironmental ri sk a re t he
myrmecophilous (ant-associated) Lycaenidae. These species are often quite
local and rare, as they require the presence both of the host ant and host plant
as well as optimal climatic conditions. Due to the complex interaction between
the co-adapted ant, caterpillar and host plant these species are particularly
vulnerable to disturbance of their preferred habitat. Two such species occur in
the Grassridge region, although only one has an important breeding site. The
small blue lycaenid butterfly Lepidochrysops bacchus is known from widely-
scattered localities in the Western and Northern Cape, as well as from four
localities in the Eastern Cape (Henning and Henning, 1989). O ne of these is
reported to occur in the “general area” of Grassridge (Pringle, 1999), where its
preferred habitat is given as “well-vegetated, rocky mountain slopes” (Henning
and Henning, 1989). There i s no evidence t hat this ra re butterfly occurs on
Footprint F or that suitable habitat for the species exists in the area. The rare
lycaenid b utterfly Aloeides clarki inhabits c oastal flats to th e north of P ort
Elizabeth and along the Sundays River. It has a complex life cycle. The female
lays her eggs on the food plant, a species of Aspalanthus. After emergence
the larva feeds on the leaves of the plant, hiding themselves by spinning small
shelters between the leaves. The larva only develops a honey gland from the
third instar stage and it is probable that from this stage onwards the larvae
cohabit with their host ant, Acantholepis capensis in the ant nest. The larva
pupates and the butterfly can be found throughout the warmer months f rom
September to April (Clark 2006). The species is rare, but colonies still exist
near Barkley Bridge in the Sundays River Valley and also in Butterfly Valley
within the Coega IDZ. The scientifically important type locality for the species
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(Aloes, Coega Flats, Cape Province) has been destroyed by development in the
region, particularly of the Aloes waste disposal facility. Other known sites
include (Clark 2006):
* Coega Flats – type locality, unlocated (possibly near Aloes waste facility)
* Butterfly V alley, C oega I DZ. A ‘ No Go’ p rotected a rea w ithin t he IDZ,
comprising approximately 1km of l imestone edge on the west bank of the
Coega River valley, south of the N2 (between 33˚ 47’26.61”S,
25˚39’49.94”E and 33˚47’19.81”S, 25˚40’12.69”E).
* Coega R iver v alley e dge, n ortheast of C oega B rickworks clay p it, IDZ
(33˚44’45”S, 25˚40’14”E). It lies approximately 4.96km northeast of
Butterfly Valley.
* Coega q uarry (33̊43’43.5”S, 25˚39’06.2” E), north of Coega Brickworks,
IDZ.
* Sunday River Mouth (33̊ 43’01.45”S, 25˚51’23.96”E), approximately 20km
east of Butterfly Valley.
No potential habitat for this species occurs on Footprint F. The Coega
Development C orporations’ Open S pace M anagement P lan p rovides f or t he
conservation of Butterfly Valley, w here the rare lycaenid butterfly Aloeides
clarki has previously been found (Bullet 2 above).
6.3.3. Amphibians
The Eastern Cape has a diverse amphibian fauna, with a total of 32 species and
subspecies present (Channing 2001).
• Diversity:
Amphibians a re t he l east s pecious g roup of t errestrial v ertebrates i n t he
proposed GHWMF region, and 16 species may occur. This represents almost a
sixth of the species known from South Africa. However, none are endemic to
the Algoa Bay region. Fortunately most species are probably widely distributed
throughout the coastal regions. However, amphibian populations are declining
globally under a variety of local and global threats, and they have been aptly
termed b io-indicator s pecies f or e cosystem s tability. D ue t o t he lack of
permanent water on Footprint F, few amphibians are likely to be present.
• Habitat associations:
Due to the limestone substrate Bontveld has few permanent aquatic habitats,
and thus has lower amphibian diversity than adjacent MST. However, it is
used temporarily by many amphibians out of the breeding season (e.g. toads,
Amietophrynus sp.) and by the rain frog ( Breviceps adspersus) which is a
terrestrial breeder, not dependent upon standing water for reproduction.
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• Conservation status:
No t hreatened a mphibians o r a mphibian S SC o ccur i n t he r egion o f t he
proposed GHWMF.
6.3.4. Reptiles
Of 421 reptiles recorded from South Africa, at least 144 occur in the Eastern Cape
(Branch, 1998, plus subsequent studies). This diversity is greater than that of
Western Europe, and reptiles form an important component of vertebrate
diversity w ithin t he P rovince. T hey a lso h ave lo w m obility a nd h igh h abitat
specificity, particularly lizards and tortoises.
• Diversity:
Reptile diversity in the Algoa Bay region is high, with 52 species known or
likely to occur (Branch, 1998; Branch and Braack, 1987). This includes 26
snakes, 22 lizards, and 4 chelonians. Only 12 species were confirmed in the
general vicinity of Footprint F, although the presence of two-thirds (66.7%) of
these have been confirmed as occurring on or within 15 km of the site (Branch
unpublished observation). They represent a lmost half of a ll reptiles recorded
from the Eastern Cape.
• Habitat associations:
The majority of reptiles within the region are found in MST (45: 86.5%), but
many also occur in the Bontveld grassland and bush clump mosaic
(35: 67.3%).
• Conservation status:
The most important threatened reptile in the region is the Albany dwarf adder
(Bitis albanica) (B ranch 1999). This s mall adder (Fig. 6.5) w as described
initially from the vicinity of Grahamstown (Hewitt 1937). Subsequently it is
only known from the Sundays River area, particularly in the Grassridge area.
The species is known from less than 20 specimens, and the Grassridge area
contains the only extant known population.
The s pecies i s of P riority C onservation i mportance, a nd current k nowledge
indicates that it is Globally Critically Endangered. The species is not recorded
from any conserved area, and has only been collected in some of the few
remaining patches of Bontveld habitat. Although not previously recorded on
Footprint F, it has been found on PPC land within 1km of Footprint F and is
likely to occur in the northern part of the site in Bontveld habitat. In addition,
access roads t o a nd f rom t he si te w ill p ass t hrough si tes f rom w hich t he
species has been recorded.
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Figure 6.5: The Critically Endangered Albany adder (Bitis albanica)
Three other reptiles are endemic to Algoa Bay and also occur in the region of
the proposed GHWMF, including:
* Tasman's girdled lizard (Cordylus tasmani): A small, arboreal girdled lizard
(Fig. 6.6) restricted to MST in the Algoa Bay region. I t has a preference
for sheltering under dead bark on trees and in the apron of dead leaves of
large Aloe species, particularly A. ferox. It i s th reatened by habitat loss
from farming activities resulting in large scale clearance of MST for the
production of pasture and arable land. The informal and formal collection
of aloe leaves for their sap also destroys its specific habitat, although the
aloe plants themselves remain. Although not listed in the SA RDB for
reptiles and amphibians (Branch, 1988), international trade in the species
is controlled by CITES legislation. It is well protected in a number of
conserved areas, including the Addo Elephant National Park (Branch and
Braack, 1987).
Figure 6.6: Tasman’s Girdled Lizard (Cordylus tasmani)
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* Tasman’s l egless sk ink (Acontias tasmani): A thin legless skink restricted
to leafy, humic, surface soils in the Algoa Bay region. It is well protected
in a number of conserved areas, including the Addo Elephant National Park
(Branch and Braack, 1987).
* Algoa dwarf burrowing skink (Scelotes anguineus): Another thin, gracile
legless skink restricted to sandy soils in the Algoa Bay region. It is well
protected in a number of conserved areas, including the Addo Elephant
National Park (Branch and Braack, 1987).
A number of species probably present on Footprint F are a lso l isted in CITES
Appendix II, including the rock monitor (Varanus albigularis), the water
monitor (Varanus niloticus), the southern dwarf chameleon (Bradypodion
ventrale), Tasman’s g irdled l izard ( Cordylus tasmani), l eopard t ortoises
(Stigmochelys pardalis), a ngulate to rtoise ( Chersina angulata) a nd th e
common p adloper ( Homopus areolatus). All a re c ommon th roughout t he
Eastern Cape, and well protected in existing conserved areas with no evidence
of illegal or unsustainable exploitation in the region.
6.3.5. Birds
South Africa has a very rich avifauna, comprising resident breeders and migrants
(including Intra-African migrants and Palaearctic migrants).
• Diversity:
A total of approximately 120 common bird species can be expected in the
region of the proposed GHWMF site. Of these, 70 were recorded during the
site surveys. Nearly 200 bird species have been recorded from the core Addo
Elephant National Park, which comprises mainly MST habitat with Bontveld
patches (Urquart & Klages, 1997).
• Habitat associations:
The majority of birds within the region are found in MST (95, 80.5%), but
many also occur in the Bontveld grassland and bush clump mosaic
(74, 62.7%).
• Conservation status:
Three threatened bird species, the martial eagle, Stanley’s bustard and Blue
Crane, all listed as Vulnerable in the SA RDB (Barnes 2000), occur in the
vicinity of the p roposed GHWMF. A ll species a re scarce with a d iscontinuous
breeding r ange and h ave d eclined t hroughout m uch o f t heir r ange d ue t o
habitat a lteration, h unting, s naring a nd c ollisions w ith p ower l ines ( Barnes
2000). Stanley’s bustard and the blue crane both use open habitats such as
Bontveld grassland, and both were observed during the site surveys, and are
frequently recorded i n the a rea. T he b lue c rane has undergone a noticeable
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decline in numbers over most of its range in southern Africa, with poisoning by
farmers and afforestation of grasslands given as the major reasons. In the
Eastern Cape the decline has been particularly dramatic, with numbers falling
from about 8000 birds in the early 1980’s to around 1500 birds by the late
1980’s (Vernon et al. 1992). One other bird species is considered to be of
regional conservation concern. T he secretary bird is a widespread but scarce
resident species, and on e w as ob served i n Bontveld g rassland a djacent to
Footprint F during t he first site survey. An overall decrease in numbers is
ascribed to loss of habitat due to overgrazing, bush encroachment,
disturbance, a fforestation and cu ltivation. The species i s presently considered
Near Threatened (Barnes 2000).
6.3.6. Mammals
Despite the emphasis placed on large mammals in the conservation literature
they make up less than 15 percent of the total mammal diversity in South Africa.
The majority of mammals are small or medium-sized, with rodents being the
most successful of all living mammals. Swanepoel (1988) noted that of 292
terrestrial mammal species in southern Africa, 128 (44%) were recorded from the
Eastern Cape. Although these figures are now somewhat out of date they do
demonstrate the mammalian diversity of the Province. Few of the large and
medium-sized mammal fauna that previously occurred in the region now occur
naturally in t he w ild. Most a re locally extinct or occur in s mall, f ragmented
populations usually in forest reserves or in protected areas.
• Diversity:
In developed and farming areas, such as the region for the proposed GHWMF,
mammal f aunas a re g reatly r educed, w ith t he v ast m ajority o f m ammals
present being small or medium-sized. Rodents are without doubt the most
successful of all living mammals and most rodent species are small. However,
what they lack in size, they make up for in numbers and the biomass of small
mammal communities is often significant. The mammal fauna of the nearby
Addo Elephant National Park (69 species; Urquhart & Klages 1997), indicates
the type of d iversity h istorically occurring in the region. O nly about half (35
indigenous, 2 introduced) of this diversity probably r emains, and it is
disproportionately represented by small to medium-sized species. D uring the
field s urveys t he p resence o f 1 5 m ammal s pecies ( two i ntroduced) w ere
confirmed, including:
Vervet Monkey Cercopithecus aethiops
Black-backed Jackal Canis mesomelas
Yellow Mongoose Cynictis penicillata
Small Grey Mongoose Galerella pulverulenta
Rock Hyrax Procavia capensis
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Aardvark Orycteropus afer
Cape Grysbok Raphicerus melanotus
Steenbok Raphicerus campestris
Kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros
Scrub Hare Lepus saxatilis
Porcupine Hystrix africaeaustralis
Common Molerat Chryptomys hottentotus
House Rat (introduced) Rattus rattus
House mouse (introduced) Mus musculus
Striped mouse Rhabdomys pumilo
• Habitat associations:
The m ajority o f m ammals w ithin t he r egion a re f ound in M ST ( 36 o f 3 7
species, 97.3%), with fewer favouring open Bontveld habitat (15 of 37 species,
41.2%). M ost species i n B ontveld h abitat a re n octurnal f oragers i n th e
grasslands, sheltering during the day in the bush clump mosaic.
• Conservation status:
The f ew ma mmal s pecies s urviving i n t he re gion g enerally c onsidered of
conservation c oncern a re t he A frican wild c at, aardvark and honey badger
(previously classified as Vulnerable; Smithers 1986). However, neither the
African wild cat nor the aardvark are now considered threatened (Least
Concern, Friedmann & King 2004), whilst the honey badger is classified as
Near Threatened (Friedmann & King 2004). The African wild cat is threatened
by hybridisation with domestic cats. Besides the loss of habitat that would be
caused if the proposed development of the GHWMF went ahead, it is
anticipated that there would be an influx of feral domestic cats which would
threaten the population of African wild c at in the surrounding a reas. The
aardvark i s a w idespread s pecies b ut i s locally t hreatened b y d irect
persecution. The proposed development would lead to a loss of habitat as well
as i ncreased p redation b y h umans, e specially a s t his sp ecies i s p rized i n
traditional medicines. The honey badger or ratel is threatened by habitat loss
and direct persecution.
6.4. Impact Assessment
A variety of impacts will be associated with the construction and operation of the
proposed GHWMF on Footprint F. These can be summarised as:
• Loss and fragmentation of habitats
• Loss of faunal diversity
• Barriers to animal movement
• Loss of Species of Special Concern
• Increase in problem animals and alien species
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• Increased disturbance and mortality due to road traffic
• Changes in natural fire regime
• Air pollution
• Loss or reduction of ecosystem functioning
These impacts are assessed in detail below, and summarised in Table 6.1.
6.4.1. Loss and fragmentation of habitats
Phase
: Construction
Discussion
: Footprint F is situated in a complex of habitats that have been termed
Grass Ridge Bontveld, and can be considered as a mixture of Mesic Succulent
Thicket (MST), Bontveld and Grassy Fynbos. MST and Bontveld are both
considered sensitive habitats, with Bontveld containing the greater number of
threatened fauna. The most sensitive part of Footprint F is along the northern
boundary where Bontveld exposures occur.
Nature
Mesic Succulent Thicket habitat is under severe pressure in the Eastern Cape due
to extensive bush clearance. It is the major habitat occupied by the endemic
Tasman’s g irdled lizard ( Cordylus tasmani) and T asman’s b urrowing s kink
(Acontias tasmani). It also supports the greatest diversity of mammals, birds and
reptiles. Bontveld vegetation has been classified as highly sensitive and the total
extent o f t his unique vegetation t ype is v ery l imited. T he G rassridge a rea
contains one of the largest intact regions of Bontveld, but is already under severe
threat f rom m ining a ctivities b y P PC. B ontveld is th e m ain habitat f or th e
endemic and Globally Critically Endangered Albany adder (Bitis albanica), and the
karst formation in the limestone pavement may provide essential refugia for other
: Project actions associated with the construction of the proposed GHWMF
and the development of transport links will result in the loss and fragmentation of
sensitive habitats. The proposed waste facility on Footprint F will impact a variety
of habitats, particularly Bontveld and MST. D ifferent and often specialized fauna
are associated with these habitats, and they may be impacted in different ways.
Both habitats are naturally fragmented by topographic and edaphic factors. In
general, any development process that results in habitat fragmentation can affect
faunal diversity in a number of ways. It can lead to the loss of viable populations,
especially in animals requiring large home ranges (e.g. birds of prey, bovids,
carnivores, p rimates, e tc). In addition to i ncreased mortality o f animals moving
between habitat fragments, the disruption to gene flow between isolates reduces
biological fitness in the long-term, compromising the ability of a population to
adapt to future environmental perturbation. T errestrial fauna obviously differ in
the extent to which they are dependant upon specific habitats. S pecies may be
habitat specialists in terms of their need for specific resources.
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hibernating re ptiles a nd invertebrates. I ts op en g rassland a lso s upports
threatened birds such as Stanley’s bustard, blue crane and secretary bird.
Impact summary
• Status: Loss and f ragmentation of MST and Bontveld habitats will occur and
will form a negative impact.
:
• Extent: The impact will be local and l imited to the footprint of the proposed
GHWMF.
• Duration: The impact will occur over the lifetime of the proposed GHWMF
(long term, > 15 years), but for MST this need not be permanent with full
rehabilitation on closure.
• Probability: The impact will definitely occur.
• Severity/beneficial scale: The impact w ill be moderately severe as i t i s long-
term, but for MST habitat can be mitigated by rehabilitation on closure.
• Proposed mitigation: The impact has proactively been partially mitigated by
avoiding d irect l oss o f intact B ontveld habitat. A ll p roject a ctions d uring
construction and subsequent operation of the proposed GHWMF should avoid
Bontveld habitat. After closure of the facility all habitats, where possible,
should b e r ehabilitated to th e e xisting v egetation type. T his is p robably
attainable f or M ST, b ut B ontveld is a g rowth f orm d ependent u pon t he
underlying limestone pavement, and once this has been removed it cannot be
re-habilitated.
• Significance (after mitigation): As the loss and fragmentation of habitats will
be l ocalised, and careful s iting o f the proposed GHWMF has d irectly avoided
intact Bontveld habitat, the impact will be Low, after mitigation.
6.4.2 Loss of faunal diversity
Phase
: Construction and operation
Discussion
: Although the r egion f or th e p roposed GHWMF has a r ich faunal
diversity, some vertebrate groups in the region are now characterised by reduced
faunal diversity due to direct and indirect effects of previous and current land use.
This is p articularly n oticeable f or la rge ma mmals that h ave b een la rgely
extirpated. The a vifauna re mains re latively ri ch, a lthough n umbers of c ertain
groups ( e.g. ra ptors and large t errestrial birds) a re r educed. T he l ess
conspicuous reptile and amphibian fauna remains re latively unaffected. There i s
no information on whether certain invertebrate groups have undergone reductions
in population numbers. T he highest faunal diversity occurs in MST habitats, but
bush clumps in Bontveld serve as refugia for many species, and Bontveld
grasslands are home to a number of specialist species. Highest faunal diversity is
associated with the habitat mosaics occurring along and adjacent to drainage
lines.
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Nature
: P roject a ctions a ssociated with the c onstruction a nd operation of t he
proposed GHWMF will result in the loss of faunal diversity. This w ill occur in
numerous ways, including increased mortality, loss of habitat and disturbance.
The extent o f the impact will vary in the d ifferent groups due to their ability to
migrate to and from the area, to tolerate disturbance, and/or to re-colonize the
region. T he greatest impact will occur with diurnal, visible species such as large
mammals, b irds s uch as r aptors a nd b ustards, etc., a nd l arge s nakes, e.g.
cobras.
Impact summary
• Status: Loss of faunal diversity will occur and will form a negative impact.
:
• Extent: The impact will be local and limited to the immediate area of the
proposed GHWMF.
• Duration: The impact will occur over the lifetime of the proposed GHWMF
(long term, > 15 years), but need not be permanent if mitigation is
implemented.
• Probability: The impact is highly probable.
• Severity/beneficial scale: The impact will be moderately severe as it will occur
over a relatively long-term period, but can be mitigated on closure.
• Proposed mitigation: The impact can be mitigated in various ways, including:
* restricting disturbance to degraded MST habitat;
* prohibiting hunting, disturbance and collection of animals in the area; and
* promoting an undeveloped buffer zone around the proposed GHWMF to
serve as reservoir of fauna for future rehabilitation.
• Significance (after mitigation): the loss of faunal diversity will be localised and
the fauna is also relatively impoverished. The unmitigated impact will
therefore be Moderate, but with possible rehabilitation of MST on closure this
may be reduced to Low significance.
6.4.3 Barriers to Animal movement
Phase
: Construction and operation
Discussion
: The proposed GHWMF and the construction of linear developments
(road linkages and power lines) will result in habitat fragmentation. These will
form barriers to animal movement within the region, both for terrestrial fauna
and to the aerial flight routes of migrating birds.
Nature: Linear developments such as roads may disrupt the movement of species
within their normal home ranges, or the seasonal movement of migratory
species. Habitat fragmentation may require species to make long movements
between patches of suitable habitat in search of mates, breeding sites or food. At
such times they may suffer increased mortality, e ither d irectly by road vehicles,
or from their natural predators due to unnatural exposure. The disruption of gene
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flow between small mammals in fragmented habitats can rapidly lead to genetic
divergence, l oss o f genotypic f itness and i ncreased extinction potential (Gerlach
and Musolf, 2000).
Impacts o n a nimal m ovements w ill b e g reatest i n r egions w ith h igh h abitat
fragmentation, or where linear developments such as roads transect migratory
paths. Most large mammals that may have undertaken seasonal movements are
mainly extirpated throughout the region. However, kudu and other small game
survive a nd m ove b etween h abitat pa tches, p articularly a t n ight in a djacent
Bontveld grassland from MST.
Reptiles and amphibians do not undertake long distance migrations, but both
groups may undertake short seasonal movements. T he m ini-karst formation o f
Bontveld limestone provides many small underground cavities and caves in which
small vertebrates and invertebrates can over-winter. Similarly, many frogs move
to wetlands during the breeding season, and when moving en masse to breeding
ponds may suffer heavy casualties whilst crossing roads (Langton, 1989; Fahrig,
et al., 1995).
Impact summary
• Status: B arriers t o a nimal m ovement w ill oc cur a nd w ill f orm a n egative
impact.
:
• Extent: The impact will be local and limited to the immediate area of the
proposed GHWMF and the approach transport links.
• Duration: The impact will occur over the lifetime of the proposed GHWMF
(long term, > 15 years), and the impact of transport linkages will probably
continue after closure.
• Probability: The impact will definitely occur.
• Severity/beneficial s cale: T he i mpact w ill b e m oderately s evere a s i t is a
relatively long-term impact, and is difficult to mitigate.
• Proposed mitigation: Mitigation of the impact is difficult. M easures to reduce
speeds o n r oads t o min imise m ortalities t o wildlife a re u sually d ifficult t o
enforce. Most deaths occur at night, and restricting operations to day light
hours will r educe th e impact. For small a mphibians migrating t o breeding
sites, various solutions have been proposed (summarised in Langton, 1989).
However, no suitable breeding ponds for amphibians occur on the site.
Mortalities on roads, particularly of threatened species such as the Albany
adder, should be monitored by the site Environmental Officer. If certain areas
are found to involve unusually high mortality rates then suitable mitigation
(e.g. the erection of low fences alongside the problem area) may be required.
• Significance (after mitigation): As the barriers to animal movements will be
localised and many of the transport l inkages already exist, the impact of the
additional development will be Low.
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6.4.4 Loss of Species of Special Concern (SSC)
Phase
: Construction
Discussion
: A number of SSC occur in the region. Among invertebrates, colonies
of the threatened Myrmecophilous lycaenid butterfly Aloeides clarki occur in close
proximity, and possibly on Footprint F (Clark 2006). The species is rare, but is not
strictly e ndemic to th e p roposed GHWMF site, a nd a s pecial re serve f or t he
species has already been established (‘Butterfly Valley’) in the Coega IDZ.
Studies on the species’ biology are currently underway (Clark 2006). A number
of reptilian SSC occur in the region, including a Globally Critically Endangered
snake (A lbany a dder, Bitis albanica), t hree endemic l izard s pecies ( Tasman’s
girdled lizard, Cordylus tasmani; Tasman’s legless skink, Acontias tasmani; and
the A lgoa d warf b urrowing s kink, Scelotes anguineus), a nd s ix C ITES-listed
species. W ith t he e xception of t he A lbany a dder, a ll t he ot her re ptiles a re
relatively common, w idespread i n the region, and protected w ithin the adjacent
Addo Elephant National Park. The lack of protection for the Albany adder is
critical and is of urgent national conservation concern. A number of birds of
special concern occur in the region, e.g. Stanley’s Bustard, Blue Crane, Martial
Eagle and Secretary bird. Most appear to be occasional visitors to the region and
no b reeding p opulations of t hese s pecies a re k nown i n the re gion. A mong
threatened mammals, only the honey badger (Nationally Near Threatened) may
occur in the region.
Nature
: Project actions associated with the proposed GHWMF may result in the
loss of Species of Special Concern. Project actions impacting SSC include the
destruction and loss of sensitive habitats, particularly Bontveld, and increased
mortality and disturbance due to increased road traffic and the possibility of bird
species flying into powerlines during operation of the facility.
Impact summary
• Status: Loss of SSC may occur and would form a negative impact.
:
• Extent: The impact would be local and limited to the proposed GHWMF and
immediate surrounds.
• Duration: The impact may occur over the lifetime of the proposed GHWMF
(long term, > 15 years), but need not be permanent if on closure habitat
reclamation and faunal re-colonisation occurs.
• Probability: The impact will probably occur.
• Severity/beneficial scale: The impact may be High to Moderately severe as i t
occurs over a relatively long-term.
• Proposed mitigation: The impact can be mitigated in various ways, including:
* avoiding disturbance in Bontveld habitat;
* prohibiting hunting, disturbance and collection of animals in the area;
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* promoting a b uffer z one a round th e p roposed GHWMF to serve a s a
reservoir for faunal recolonization;
* the possible presence and population status of adjacent threatened
species, particularly the Albany adder and butterfly Aloeides clarki, should
be regularly monitored by specialists; and
* a viable and committed conservation plan for the Albany Adder must be
developed by the proponents of major projects that impact endangered
Bontveld habitat and its threatened fauna. Since the adder’s description in
1937, the Grassridge area is the only known site in which a small
population of the species has been found.
• Significance (after mitigation): The possible loss of SSC will be localised and
usually of low impact for most SSC. However, because of the close proximity
and possible presence of a Globally Critically Endangered species (the Albany
adder) the impact will be of potentially Moderate to High significance.
6.4.5 Increase in problem animals and alien species
Phase
: Construction and operation
Discussion
: P roject a ctions a ssociated w ith t he co nstruction o f t he proposed
GHWMF and t he d evelopment o f t ransport l inks w ill re sult in a n increase i n
problem animals and a lien species. Problem animals including jackal, feral dogs
and cats, grey-headed gulls, various crows, and introduced rats and mice that are
attracted to refuse disposal areas. In addition to social impacts such as the
spread of d isease, e.g. plague carried by rat f leas, they are a lso responsible for
various faunal impacts. Their numbers in the area surrounding the proposed
GHWMF may displace local fauna from i ts habitat; cause increased predation on
local fauna and introduce or spread wildlife diseases.
Nature: Both plant and animal invasives may be accidentally introduced and
impact on faunal diversity. Alien vegetation may be poisonous to the native
fauna, or m ay r eplace e xisting indigenous v egetation. T here a re f ew a lien
reptiles and no alien amphibian invasives in South Africa. The tropical house
gecko (Hemidactylus mabouia) has expanded its range throughout much of the
KwaZulu-Natal south coast (Bourquin, 1987) and scattered towns in the Eastern
Cape and Free State, including Port Elizabeth (Branch, 1998). It is thought to be
directly responsible for the decline in coastal populations of the Pondoland flat
gecko, Afroedura pondolia (Lambiris and Bourquin, 1993). Alien birds, such as the
house sparrow (Passer domesticus), European starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Indian
myna (Acridotheres tristis), and House crow (Corvus splendens) have also
actively expanded their range in association with urbanization along road routes
(Harrison et al., 1997). The latter two species are aggressive aliens that have
recently been observed in the Port Elizabeth region, and are likely to become
established in disturbed areas. Urban rodent pests such as the house mouse
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Ch 6 – Fauna June 2010 85
(Mus musculus) and house rat (Rattus rattus) are now widespread. The Norway
rat (Rattus norvegicus) is larger and more aggressive than the house rat, but is
currently restricted to major c ities and towns in the coastal region (Skinner and
Smithers, 1990). It may prove a greater danger to indigenous small mammals
than its cousin. Both rats can serve as carriers of plague. Once introduced, alien
species are often difficult and costly to eradicate.
Impact summary
• Status: An increase in problem animals and alien species may occur and will
form a negative impact.
:
• Extent: The impact will be local and limited to the proposed GHWMF and
adjacent areas.
• Duration: The impact will occur over the lifetime of the proposed GHWMF
(long term, > 15 years), but need not be permanent if aliens and problem
species are adequately controlled.
• Probability: The impact will probably occur.
• Severity/beneficial scale: The impact could be moderately severe as it is an
ongoing threat over a relatively long-term.
• Proposed mitigation: The increase in problem animals and alien species is
difficult to mitigate, and requires adequate monitoring of the arrival of a lien
species and the development of humane and effective protocols for the control
of problem species. These should be incorporated into the Environmental
Management P lan f or the proposed GHWMF. T he n ecessity fo r co ntrol is
ongoing; the House Crow was successfully controlled in Durban from 1989-
1991, when control was curtailed after which crow numbers increased rapidly.
This species, l ike rodent pests, has the potential to become a human health
hazard at the proposed GHWMF and in adjacent areas. To restrict attraction
and a ccess t o t he proposed G HWMF the p erimeter of t he site s hould b e
surrounded with suitable fencing to restrict the movement of problem
animals, such as jackal and vervet monkeys, onto the site. D omestic waste
should a lso b e c overed a s s oon as p ossible t o r educe t he a ttraction o f
scavenging animals, e.g. gulls.
• Significance (after mitigation): As the potential impact c an b e e ffectively
controlled the impact will become Low.
6.4.6 Increased disturbance and mortality due to road traffic
Phase
: Construction and operation
Discussion: A lthough t he ne w r oads associated w ith a ccess t o t he p roposed
GHWMF are short, the operational phase of the facility will involve a significant
increase in transport to and from the facility on existing roads. This will result in
increased disturbance and faunal mortality due to increased road traffic over the
long-term.
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Ch 6 – Fauna June 2010 86
Nature
: Ve hicle t raffic is n oisy a nd a t n ight a lso in volves c onsiderable li ght
pollution from car headlights or lighting in peri-urban areas. Together t hese
factors ca n d epress l ocal p opulations o f se nsitive birds a nd large m ammals.
Animals differ in the degree to which they tolerate such disturbance. Most large
breeding birds do not tolerate continuous disturbance, particularly raptors and
large t errestrial b irds ( bustards, c ranes, e tc). I ncreased n oise a nd motor
vibrations in wetlands may a lso impact amphibian breeding choruses, which are
also intolerant of increased light levels (Buchanan, 1993). Many animals are killed
or injured whilst crossing roads. This may occur during normal movements within
a sp ecies h ome ra nge, e .g. v iverids, s nakes ( Rosen a nd L owe, 1 994), a nd
hedgehogs (Huijser and Bergers, 2000); during annual breeding migrations (e.g.
frogs; Fahrig et al., 1995) or seasonal migrations (e.g. many birds); or when
attracted t o r oads either f or w armth (s nakes a nd l izards) o r for f ood f rom
previous road kills (e.g. v ultures, crows and carnivores) or wind-accumulated
seeds (many small granivorous passerines and rodents).
Mortalities on roads, particularly in pristine areas, may impact significantly on
long-lived, wide-ranging species. Tortoises in North America occur in significantly
lower numbers in areas transected by busy roads than they do in comparable
habitats w ith n o r oads ( Nicholson, 19 78). Si milarly, s hort-lived, e xplosive
breeders, i .e. species t hat undertake mass m igrations to well-defined and l ong-
established breeding sites (e.g. many amphibians) are very susceptible to
vehicles when crossing roads during their mass breeding migrations. Populations
can be easily decimated at such times, and massive road mortality can soon lead
to local extinction. Noise pollution and physical disturbance associated with road
traffic c an a lso d isturb m any l arge m ammals. Increased f ire r isks a re a lso
associated with road traffic.
Impact summary
• Status: Increased mortality due to increased road traffic will occur and will
form a negative impact.
:
• Extent: The impact will be local and limited to the immediate area of the
proposed GHWMF and transport linkages.
• Duration: The impact will occur over the lifetime of the proposed GHWMF
(long term, > 15 years).
• Probability: The impact will definitely occur.
• Severity/beneficial scale: The impact will be moderately severe as it will occur
over a relatively long-term and cannot easily be mitigated.
• Proposed mitigation: Disturbance and road mortalities can be reduced by:
* limiting road activity to daylight working hours;
* by maintaining low speed limits (<40km) on site; and
* by maintaining wide road margins with low vegetation cover.
• Significance (a fter m itigation): A s a n i ncrease i n f aunal m ortality d ue t o
increased road traffic cannot be avoided, the impact will be Low.
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6.4.7 Changes in natural fire regime
Phase
: Construction and operation
Discussion
: Fire in many ecosystems, particularly grasslands, is a natural
phenomenon and prevents thicket development. However, industrial
developments may directly increase the danger of accidental fires, as well
indirectly leading to adjacent developments and increased urbanisation that also
increase the fire risk. Climate change, via global warming, also has the potential
to increase the existing fire risk.
Nature
: Changes in water flow dynamics following road construction and other
developments that reduce vegetation cover, may reduce the water table locally,
drying vegetation t o u nnatural levels and m aking it more s usceptible to f ire.
Construction and p lanning of roads should anticipate an increased f ire r isk, and
increased human population growth in the area will also lead to an increase in
accidental fires.
Impact summary
• Status: An increase in fire risk may occur and will form a negative impact.
:
• Extent: The impact is local.
• Duration: The probability of the impact will occur over the lifetime of the
proposed GHWMF (long term, > 15 years).
• Probability: The impact will probably occur.
• Severity/beneficial scale: The impact w ill be low, although it will probably
occur over a relatively long-term, i t can be mitigated during the operational
phase.
• Proposed mitigation: Sections of the road running through, or adjacent to
sensitive habitats (e.g. Bontveld), should have sufficient buffer zones to allow
the presence of suitable f ire breaks. T hese should be maintained at regular
intervals t o ensure t heir e fficacy. R oad b orders s hould b e re gularly
maintained to ensure that vegetation remains short and that they therefore
serve as an e ffective f irebreak. S uitable f irebreaks should surround s torage
depots of f lammable materials, which should be bunded, s ituated away from
sensitive habitats, and equipped with adequate fire control facilities.
• Significance (after mitigation): Low.
6.4.8 Pollution
Phase
: Construction and operation
Discussion: Many faunal groups are sensitive to pollutants. Lead concentrations
are higher in small terrestrial mammals collected alongside roads than in bats
caught in the same areas (Clark, 1979). Frog diversity in ponds affected by
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Ch 6 – Fauna June 2010 88
pollution from road run-off is depressed (Hecnar and Mcloskey, 1996), and the
accumulation of herbicides and their residues in adjacent wetlands can lead to
developmental abnormalities in tadpoles and metamorphosing froglets. Traffic on
unpaved road sections generates dust that can negatively impact vegetation in
the region.
Nature
: P ollution m ay r esult f rom p eriodic accidents, o r f rom slow, o ngoing
contamination. Operation of the proposed GHWMF, particularly in relation to the
use of liquid fuels, could result in periodic spillages. Heavy vehicle traffic is also
associated with increased local pollution resulting from exhaust fumes, oil spillage
and accumulation of rubber compounds from tyre wear. These pollutants can
cause localised impacts.
Impact summary
• Status: An increase in local air and water pollution could occur and will form a
negative impact.
:
• Extent: The impact is local, although increased road traffic will cause a low
regional impact.
• Duration: The impact will occur over the lifetime of the proposed GHWMF
(long te rm, > 1 5 y ears), b ut n eed n ot b e p ermanent i f m itigation a nd
rehabilitation on closure occurs.
• Probability: The impact will probably occur.
• Severity/beneficial scale: The impact on fauna will be low if correctly
mitigated during the operational phase.
• Proposed mitigation: Sensitive wetlands o r patches of th reatened vegetation
may need protection from road surface water run-off containing pollutants,
and the application of herbicides to control plant growth in road reserves and
around the proposed GHWMF should be monitored.
• Significance (after mitigation): Low.
6.4.9 Loss or reduction of ecosystem functioning
Phase
: Construction and operation
Discussion
: P roject a ctions a ssociated w ith t he c onstruction o f th e proposed
GHWMF and the development of transport links will result in the loss or reduction
of ecosystem functioning. The general region of the proposed GHWMF comprises
a mosaic of vegetation and abiotic habitats, on an elevated region with drainage
into the nearby Coega and Brak River catchments. Although there is a long
history of agricultural use and transformation in the region, it still retains
relatively high f aunal and f loral d iversity a nd c ontributes t o l ocal e cosystem
functioning (e.g. nutrient cycles and transfer, maintenance of biodiversity, the
biological components of hydrological cycles, etc.).
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Nature
: The distribution of biodiversity within the region is not uniform.
Different habitats have different carrying capacities, and biodiversity in grassland
is usually low. H ighest levels of biodiversity occur in habitat mosaics and at the
ecotones between habitats.
Impact summary
• Status: Negative impacts on ecosystem functioning will occur.
:
• Extent: The impact will be local and limited to the immediate area of the site;
• Duration: The impact will occur over the lifetime of the proposed GHWMF
(long term, > 15 years).
• Probability: The impact will definitely occur.
• Severity/beneficial scale: T he impact w ill be moderate provided m itigation
measures are implemented.
• Proposed mitigation: The impact has proactively been partially mitigated by
avoiding direct loss of Bontveld habitat, wetlands, steep valley sides, and the
limestone ‘rubble edge’ often associated with the ecotone between Bontveld
and adjacent MST. All project actions during construction and subsequent
operation o f the proposed GHWMF must a void t hese e cologically sensitive
areas. O n c losure a ll affected habitats (mainly MST) should be rehabilitated
to the existing vegetation type.
• Significance (after mitigation): As the impact will be localised, the significance
will be Low.
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Ch 6 – Fauna June 2010 90
Table 6.1: Faunal impact assessment of Footprint F
Potential Impact Status Extent Duration Probability
Severity /
Intensity
scale
Significance
Post
mitigation
significance
Loss and
fragmentation of
habitats
Negative Local
Long-term
Definite
Moderate
Low Low -
Loss of faunal
diversity
Negative Local
Long-term
Probable
Moderate
Moderate Low -
Barriers to Animal
movement
Negative Local
Long-term
Definite
Moderate
Low Low -
Loss of Species of
Special Concern
Negative Local
Long-term
Probable
Moderate
High Moderate -
Increase in problem
animals and alien
species
Negative Local
Long-term
Probable
Moderate
Moderate Low -
Increased disturbance
and mortality due to
road traffic
Negative Local
Long-term
Definite
Moderate
Low Low -
Changes in natural fire
regime
Negative Local
Long-term
Probable
Low
Low Low -
Pollution Negative Local
Long-term
Probable
Low
Low Low -
Loss or reduction of
ecosystem functioning
Negative Local
Long-term
Definite
Moderate
Moderate Low -
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6.5. Conclusion
Project actions associated with the construction of the proposed GHWMF and the
development of transport links will result in the loss and fragmentation of
sensitive habitats at a local extent. The resulting habitat f ragmentation and the
construction of linear developments (road linkages and power lines) will form
barriers to animal movement within the region, both for terrestrial fauna and to
the aerial flight routes of migrating birds. Impacts on animal movements will be
greatest in regions with high habitat fragmentation, or where linear developments
such as roads transect migratory paths. As the barriers to animal movements will
be localised and many of the transport l inkages already exist, the impact of the
additional d evelopment w ill b e of low significance w ith r egard to habitat
fragmentation and loss of faunal diversity. Overall, losses in faunal diversity can
be expected, but the impact w ill be localised and limited to the footprint o f the
proposed GHWMF.
A number of Species of Special Concern occur in the region such as the
threatened Myrmecophilous lycaenid butterfly Aloeides clarki occur in close
proximity, and possibly on Footprint F (Clark 2006). The species is rare, but is not
strictly e ndemic to th e p roposed GHWMF site, a nd a s pecial re serve f or t he
species h as a lready b een established (‘Butterfly Valley’) in th e Coega I DZ. A
number of reptilian SSC occur in the region, including a Globally Critically
Endangered snake (Albany adder, Bitis albanica), three endemic lizard species
(Tasman’s gi rdled l izard, Cordylus tasmani; T asman’s l egless sk ink, Acontias
tasmani; a nd th e A lgoa d warf b urrowing s kink, Scelotes anguineus), a nd s ix
CITES-listed s pecies. With th e e xception o f th e A lbany a dder, a ll th e o ther
reptiles are relatively common, widespread in the region, and protected within the
adjacent Addo Elephant National Park. Project actions impacting SSC include the
destruction and loss of sensitive habitats, particularly Bontveld, and increased
mortality and disturbance due to increased road traffic and the possibility of bird
species flying into powerlines during operation of the facility. The possible loss of
SSC will be localised and usually of low impact for most SSC. However, because
of the c lose p roximity and possible p resence of a G lobally C ritically Endangered
species (the Albany adder) the impact will be of potentially moderate to high
significance.
The construction of the proposed GHWMF and the development of transport links
will result in an increase in problem animals and alien species. Problem animals
including j ackal, f eral dogs a nd c ats, g rey-headed g ulls, v arious c rows, a nd
introduced rats and mice that are attracted to refuse disposal areas. In addition
to social impacts such as the spread of disease, e.g. plague carried by rat fleas,
they are also responsible for various faunal impacts. Their increased numbers in
the area surrounding the proposed GHWMF may displace local fauna from its
habitat, cause increased predation on local fauna and introduce or spread wildlife
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diseases. As the potential impact can be effectively controlled through the
implementation o f a ppropriate m itigation measures the overall impact is
considered to be of low significance.
Changes in water flow dynamics following road construction and other
developments that reduce vegetation cover, may reduce the water table locally,
drying vegetation to unnatural levels and making it more susceptible to fire, but
this is deemed to be of low significance.
Pollution m ay r esult f rom p eriodic a ccidents, or from slow, o ngoing
contamination. Operation of the proposed GHWMF, particularly in relation to the
use of liquid fuels, could result in periodic spillages. Heavy vehicle traffic is also
associated with increased local pollution resulting from exhaust fumes, oil spillage
and accumulation of rubber compounds from tyre wear. These pollutants can
cause localised impacts of low significance.
The general region of the proposed GHWMF comprises a mosaic of vegetation and
abiotic habitats, on an elevated region with drainage into the nearby Coega and
Brak River catchments. A lthough there i s a long h istory of agricultural use and
transformation in t he r egion, it s till r etains relatively h igh f aunal and f loral
diversity and contributes to local ecosystem functioning (e.g. nutrient cycles and
transfer, maintenance of biodiversity and the biological components of
hydrological cy cles). The d istribution o f b iodiversity w ithin t he r egion is not
uniform. D ifferent habitats have different carrying capacities, and biodiversity in
grassland i s u sually l ow. The h ighest le vels o f b iodiversity o ccur in h abitat
mosaics and at the ecotones between habitats. The proposed GHWMF will result
in the loss or reduction of ecosystem functioning, but due to the localised extent
of these impacts, the overall significance thereof will be low.
6.6. Recommendations
Over and above the mitigation measures proposed in Section 6.4 of this report,
the following recommendations should be incorporated into the Environmental
management Plan (EMP) for the proposed project.
• Due to known presence of threatened fauna in Bontveld habitat in areas
adjacent to Footprint F, and the presence of similar habitats in the northern
section o f F ootprint F a nd a longside tr ansport l inkages to th e p roposed
GHWMF, a detailed and committed conservation plan for the critically
endangered Albany Adder must be developed by a suitably qualified specialist
for implementation prior to the commencement of construction activities. A
thorough site inspection must be conducted on the entire Footprint to
ascertain whether the species is present on site. Where necessary
appropriate search and rescue operations should be conducted prior to the
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initiation of construction activities. The potential for in situ conservation, if
possible, m ust b e a ssessed for a ny species th at m ay b e found on th e
periphery or adjacent to the site. The plan must incorporate a similar plan for
the adjacent PPC lands, on which the only known population of the Albany
Adder is situated. The conservation plan will be binding on the developer,
contractor and all operational personnel involved with the construction and
operation of the facility.
• The Environmental Officer (EO) for the proposed GHWMF should be familiar
with the other threatened and endemic fauna detailed in this report. The EO
should record the presence in the area of any breeding populations or large
congregations o f such s pecies, a nd b ring th ese to th e a ttention o f l ocal
conservation authorities.
• The quality of sensitive habitats, particularly Bontveld, should be monitored.
Any i ndications o f d egradation, p ollution o r c ontamination o f t his habitat
should be recorded and the causative agents identified for
correction/mitigation.
• There has been little research done with regard to how successfully MST can
be fully rehabilitated. However, there is also a degree of confusion ov er
habitat from a faunal and floristic perspective. The continued presence of so
many f aunal g roups i n d egraded M ST h abitat s hows th at ‘ functional
rehabilitation’ is possible, even if recovery of full floristic diversity may be
very difficult or take a long time. Accordingly, the impact can be partially
mitigated b y a voiding direct l oss o f i ntact MST a nd Bontveld h abitat. All
project actions during construction and subsequent operation of the proposed
GHWMF should avoid MST and Bontveld habitat where possible. After closure
of th e f acility a ll habitats, w here p ossible, s hould b e r ehabilitated to th e
existing vegetation type. This is probably attainable for MST, at least in
terms of functional rehabilitation for faunal groups, but Bontveld is a growth
form dependent upon the underlying limestone pavement, and once this has
been removed it cannot be re-habilitated.
• GHWMF staff should be informed of the need for environmental protection,
and the diverse impacts that the GHWMF activities may have on the
environment.
• The GHWMF operation will be l imited to the site. However, off-site impacts
will occur on the proposed access roads. T hese secondary impacts must be
monitored to assess whether potential cumulative effects may need to be
addressed.
• Rehabilitation of f aunal d iversity on c losure of t he p roposed GHWMF will
require h abitat corridors a long w hich f auna can m igrate f rom refugia
retaining ori ginal f auna. T he l icense h older or operator of t he p roposed
GHWMF should t herefore i ntegrate t heir EM P, p articularly f or t hreatened
species (e.g. the Albany Adder) with neighbouring properties to ensure
successful faunal rehabilitation on closure.
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Ch 7 – Geology and Geohydrology June 2010 94
7. GEOLOGY AND GEOHYDROLOGY
The geological and geohydrology components of this report were compiled by
Reinhard Meyer. The full specialist report is contained in Appendix E.
7.1. Background
A report evaluating four potentially suitable sites for the development of a new
waste management facility north of Port Elizabeth was issued in 2004 (Meyer,
2004). These four sites were identified following an earlier Geographic Information
System (GIS) based study of the Greater Port Elizabeth area during which
potentially su itable fa rms o n w hich su ch a f acility co uld b e e stablished w ere
identified (Godfrey et al, 2000). During 2004, suitable areas located on four of the
identified farms were selected for further investigation.
During 2 005 tw o a dditional p otentially s uitable s ites o n tw o a djacent f arms,
Grassridge 1 90 ( Remainder) a nd G rassridge 2 27 ( Remainder) were b riefly
investigated. In the report by Meyer (2004) the original four sites, referred to as
Footprints A to D, were evaluated and ranked in terms of their suitability for the
development of a regional general and hazardous waste p rocessing facility. In a
subsequent report by Bohlweki Environmental (Pty) Ltd (2005) the two additional
sites, referred to as Footprints E and F, were also provisionally evaluated and
ranked based on very limited information and according to the same criteria as
the original four sites.
The Final Feasibility Report (December 2007) describes the more detailed
information collected during the geohydrological investigation of the two farms
Grassridge 190 and 227 and describes the impacts associated with the three sites
on th ese f arms (F ootprints C , E a nd F ) p rovisionally identified a s p otentially
suitable sites. Based on the original information, Footprint C on the farm
Grassridge 190, Portion 3 was identified as the most suitable of the four original
sites (Footprints A-D) that was then compared with Footprints E and F in the Final
Feasibility Study with Footprint F emerging as the preferred site. This Chapter
focuses o n F ootprint F a s th e p referred option f or f ull e nvironmental impact
assessment.
7.2. Terms of Reference
The t wo f arms G rassridge 1 90 R emainder (Footprint F ) and G rassridge 2 27
(Footprint E) are owned by the cement manufacturing company PPC (Pretoria
Portland Cement). Their interest in the two farms stems from the large economic
deposits of calcrete used in the manufacturing of cement on the farms and which
are currently actively mined on the farm Grassridge 227. Further geotechnical and
geohydrological investigations were done with the permission of PPC.
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Ch 7 – Geology and Geohydrology June 2010 95
Bohlweki-SSI E nvironmental appointed Reinhard M eyer, Geohydrological
Consultant, to conduct the geohydrological investigation. He has been involved in
the selection and development of a new Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Disposal F acility since the i nception o f t he p roject. This se ction of t he report
reviews t he geological and geohydrological conditions around the farm
Grassridge 190 based on previously accumulated information as well as
information collected during a recent geophysical survey and exploration drilling
programme on the farm. This chapter describes climatic conditions in the
catchment area, the physiography, geology and geohydrological conditions in the
area, and an evaluation of the suitability of Footprint F as a GHWMF site. Finally,
environmental impacts and mitigation actions are described.
7.3. Description of the Affected Environment
7.3.1. General description of larger area served by the proposed GHWMF
• Physiography (or biophysical environment)
The farm Grassridge 190 RE is located approximately 35 km north of Port
Elizabeth and 15 km southwest of Addo. The farm is located within the Nelson
Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality's area of jurisdiction. The main access
route from Port Elizabeth is from the R335 towards Addo, while from
Uitenhage following the R75 towards Kirkwood, and taking the gravel road
turnoff towards Addo, provides access to the farm.
The farm is situated in a broad valley with gentle rolling topographic features
and flanked on the sides by hills that reach an elevation of approximately 300
mamsl. Topographically Footprint F is within the elevation range of 200 to
250 mamsl. No perennial rivers or streams drain the area under investigation.
• Climate and Hydrology
The Remainder of the farm Grassridge 190 is located within the Quaternary
catchment of M30B. T his catchment drains into the secondary catchment of
the Coega River to the south. Footprint F is very c lose to the surface water
divide between the drainage areas of the Sundays and Coega Rivers.
Quaternary catchment N40F is part of the secondary catchment of the
Sundays R iver b asin, while d rainage f rom t he Q uaternary s ub-catchments
M30A a nd M 30B i s to wards th e C oega Ri ver to th e s outh. The n orthern
boundary o f F ootprint F a lmost c oincides w ith the b oundary b etween
quaternary catchment N40F of the Sundays River (north) and the quaternary
catchment M30B of the Coega River (south). The preferred site is located at
the upper reaches of a small stream and within one kilometre south of the
DWEA defined catchment boundary between the Quaternary Catchments
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Ch 7 – Geology and Geohydrology June 2010 96
M30B and N40F. Because of the proximity to catchment boundaries and the
local topographic conditions, no perennial rivers or streams occur in close
proximity t o t he s ite a nd t herefore 1 :50 y ear f lood l ines a re n ot re ally
applicable. Nevertheless an assessment of the 1:50 year flood conditions for
the stream flowing through the broad valley in which the site is located, has
been done. Two assumed catchment areas (100 ha and 200 ha) and existing
rainfall records for the area (Rain gauge 0034762, Uitenhage district) were
used in the simulation. C alculations show that a peak 24 hour rainfall event
of 149 mm would result in a 50-year peak flow of 7.7 m/s and 11.1 m/s for a
100 ha and 200 ha catchment size respectively. This flow would result in a
water depth of 0.7 m and 0.8 m in a 30 m wide channel of concave shape for
the 100 ha and 200 ha catchment areas respectively.
Should the area be approved for further development, these calculations have
to be revised once the geometry of the channel has been established more
accurately. P reliminary designs for the waste disposal site have taken these
predicted flow rates and water depths into account.
• Geology
The geology of the larger study area (i.e. the Uitenhage - Port Elizabeth –
Addo area) is summarized in Table 7.1, with the youngest sequence being of
Quaternary age a nd the oldest being Cape S upergroup (information taken
from the 1:250 000 geological map 3324 of Port Elizabeth). A prominent
feature of the area is a basin structure formed by the erosion of the folded
basement of the Cape Supergroup sedimentary succession. During the late-
Jurassic period pebble and boulder alluvial deposits accumulated in the basin
being w ashed f rom t he s urrounding m ountains under a h igh energy
environment to form the Enon Formation. A thick succession of clays was
then deposited unconformably onto the Enon Formation forming the
mudstones and siltstones of the Kirkwood formation. Subsequently marine
and estuarine clays were deposited in the basin during a transgression period
forming the Sundays River formation.
During t he T ertiary n umerous t ransgressions p eriods o ccurred t o f orm
terraces in the Cretaceous sediments while calcareous sandstones were
deposited d uring t hese t imes. Intense east-southeast t rending f olding
characterises the Cape Supergroup rocks to form the Elands River Syncline
towards the south and the Swartkops River anticline in the north (Toerien and
Hill, 1 989). Apa rt f rom t he do minant f olding, t he other ma jor s tructural
feature i s t he n ormal t ensional C oega f ault t raceable e astwards f rom th e
Groendal Dam to the coast. Vertical southward displacement along this fault is
substantial; Maclear (2002) cites a value of 1 800 m, while Marais and
Snyman (1965) report the average displacement to be of the order of 550 m.
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Ch 7 – Geology and Geohydrology June 2010 97
As part o f an oi l exploration drilling programme, deep d rilling north o f Addo
indicated a t hickness of 1 8 63 m f or t he Sundays R iver f ormation. T he
combined thickness of the Sundays River and Kirkwood formations over large
parts of the area, is in excess of 1 000 m. Due to intense folding and the
presence of an anticlinal s tructure underlying the specific farms i nvestigated
during this phase, the combined thickness of these two formations is however
significantly less in the area under investigation.
Table 7.1: The geological sequence in the Port Elizabeth/Uitenhage/Addo area
Period and
age range
(Ma)
Group Sub-
Group
Formation Lithology
Quaternary
(1.65-0 Ma)
Algoa
Fluvial terrace gravel
Bluewater Bay Alluvial sheet gravel and
sand
Nanaga Aeolianite
Tertiary
(67-1.65Ma)
Alexandria Calcareous sandstone,
shelly limestone,
conglomerate
Cretaceous/
Jura
(210-67 Ma) Uitenhage
Sundays River Greenish-grey mudstone,
sandstone
Kirkwood Reddish, greenish
mudstone, sandstone
Enon Conglomerate
Devonian
(410-360 Ma) Witteberg
Witpoort White quartzitic
sandstone
Bokkeveld
Traka Adolphspoort Shale and siltstone with
sandstone at base.
Karies Shale, discontinuous
sandstone
Ceres Gamka Feldspathic sandstone,
fossiliferous
Table
Mountain
Nardouw Baviaanskloof/
Skurweberg/
Goudini
Arenite, quartz sandstone
Peninsula Quartzite, quartz
sandstone
Graafwater Arenite, quartz
sandstone, quartzite
Note:
Outcrops p resent n ear t he i nvestigated a rea on
Grassridge 190
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Ch 7 – Geology and Geohydrology June 2010 98
Apart from the anticlinal structure described above, there are no other
significant structural features mapped within the study area. The geophysical
exploration programme of the late 1960s also did not reveal any deep
structural features in this area (Winter, 1973). Hattingh and Goedhart (1997)
reported on structural evidence of Neogene to Quaternary period (23 - 2 Ma)
tectonic activity in the Algoa Basin. Observations of displacement in Neogene
age strata near the Coega fault in the south suggest that some older faults in
the Algoa Basin may have been rejuvenated.
They a lso propose that the Eastern Cape area experienced renewed tectonic
activity as recent as the Holocene triggered by tectonic activity along the
offshore Agulhas Fracture Zone. A lthough seismic events are recorded f rom
time t o t ime along t he south-eastern A frican c ontinental m argin, t he
epicentres a re l ocated far northeast of the A lgoa Basin and are according to
Hartnady (1990), linked to extension of the East African Rift system.
Hattingh and Goedhart (1997) report that no modern seismic a ctivity has
been recorded in the southern part of the Eastern Cape by either of the two
seismic stations located at Grahamstown and Port Elizabeth.
• Geohydrology
The coastal sands, alluvial and aeolianite deposits and selected formations in
the Table Mountain Group host the more important aquifers in the larger area
around Port Elizabeth. The most prominent aquifer in the area is the
Uitenhage Artesian Basin Aquifer (UAB) with an estimated total sustainable
yield of 80 l/s (Venables, 1985).
Yields f rom i ndividual boreholes a re generally in excess of 5 l/s. The natural
boundaries of the UAB are formed by the Indian Ocean to the southeast, the
Table Mountain Group-Bokkeveld Group contact in the vicinity of the Coega
River to the north, the Great Winterhoek Mountains to the west and the St
Albans Flats in the south.
According to Maclear (2001) the Coega fault divided the UAB into two main
aquifers: the Coega Ridge Aquifer (to the north of the fault) and the deeper
Swartkops A quifer t o t he s outh. He s uggests a f urther s ubdivision o f th e
Swartkops aquifer into two units, the Kruisrivier and the Bethelsdorp Units.
The Coega Ridge, Kruisrivier and Bethelsdorp aquifers are artesian to sub-
artesian, intensely fractured secondary aquifers in the quartzites of the Table
Mountain Group. Groundwater quality of the artesian aquifer is excellent, with
electrical conductivity generally less than 15 mS/m (Maclear, 2001). The work
by Maclear (2001) confirms the earlier statement that the combined thickness
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Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 7 – Geology and Geohydrology June 2010 99
of the Uitenhage Group formations that act as confining layers exceeds 500 m
at G rassridge 1 90. T he U AB a quifer p rovides t hrough, for example t he
Uitenhage spring, significant baseflow in places to the surface water drainage
systems. Groundwater is a lso used to a limited extent within the larger area
to support basic human needs, stock watering and agriculture.
As a result of over–exploitation of the artesian aquifer, a portion of the UAB
covering an area of 1 125 km2, was declared a Subterranean Government
Water Control Area (SGWCA) in 1957. This controlled area has been described
in more detail in earlier reports (Godfrey et al, 2000; Bohlweki Environmental,
2003). The farms that were investigated are located outside the boundaries of
the Control Area (Bohlweki Environmental, 2003) as the southern boundary of
the farms Grassridge 190 and 227 form the part of the northern edge of the
old Uitenhage SGWCA (Maclear, 2001).
Under the old Water Act (Act 54 of 1956) Government Water Control Areas
(GWCA) were proclaimed, two of these within the broader study area,
namely:
* The Sundays River GWCA (surface water); and
* The Uitenhage Subterranean GWCA
These GWCA’s were e stablished to control and manage the abstraction of
water for, amongst others, irrigation purposes. Under the current National
Water Act (Act 36 of 1998) where both surface and ground water are now
regarded as public water, GWCAs effectively have been extended to include
the entire country. The GWCAs declared under the previous Water Act (1956)
have t herefore b een d issolved. H owever, a n umber o f s o c alled 'water-
stressed' areas or catchments have since been identified and relate closely to
the previous GWCAs.
The use of water within these stressed areas is closely regulated and excluded
from the General Authorisations issued by DWEA. The Sunday's River
downstream of the Darlington Dam is seen as a water-stressed area and is
excluded from the General Authorisations for surface water abstraction. As
such any water use within this area, as defined by the National Water Act
(1998), w ill require a water use licence, which in turn will require that a
Reserve Determination be undertaken for the area.
As the area under investigation is directly underlain by rocks of the Uitenhage
Group, the geohydrological characteristics of the rocks forming part of this
Group are of particular interest. M eyer (1998) reports that c lose to 40% of
the boreholes on record drilled into these formations have a groundwater yield
of less than 0.5 l/s. T he percentage of low yielding boreholes is expected to
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Ch 7 – Geology and Geohydrology June 2010 100
be even higher, as it is known that numerous unsuccessful boreholes have
been drilled in the area, but no records of these exist.
In addition, the electrical conductivity (EC) of the water from these formations
is generally in excess of 300 mS/m, with sodium, calcium, magnesium,
chloride and, occasionally sulphate often exceeding the maximum allowable
drinking water limits (SABS 241, 2006; Meyer, 1998).
The high salt content is a reflection of the marine conditions under which
these formations were deposited. Generally high yields (up to 15 l/s) can be
obtained from the coastal sand and alluvial aquifers associated with the flood
plains of the major rivers draining the area. Water quality is variable, but
mostly below 300 mS/m (Meyer, 1998).
7.3.2. Local geological and geohydrological conditions at Footprint F
• Local geology
The geological conditions underlying the present study area is discussed in
this section. A portion of the 1:50 000 scale geological map 3325DA Addo
(CGS, 2000) showing the surface geological conditions in the study area is
presented as Figure 7.1 overleaf. The legend for the map is presented in Table
7.2 below.
Table 7.2: Geological legend for the geological map shown in Figure 7.1
Symbol Colour Formation name Lithology
T-Qn Brown Nanaga Aeolianite/Calcareous sandstone/sand
Ta Pink Alexandria Calcareous m arine/ e stuarine/
lagoonal s andstone, c onglomerate,
coquinite
Ks Plum Sundays River Grey mudstone, siltstone, sandstone
J-Kk Yellow Kirkwood Reddish and greenish mudstone,
sandstone and conglomerate
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Ch 7 – Geology and Geohydrology June 2010 101
Figure 7.1: Portion of the 1:50 000 Geological map 3325DA Addo showing the
geology on the farms Grassridge 190, Grassridge 227 and Grassridge 228
and the approximate location of Footprint F
Footprint F
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Chapter 7 – Geology and Geohydrology June 2010 102
A prominent E-SE plunging anticlinal structure (generally referred to as the
Addo Ridge) is shown on isopach maps of the Sundays River and Kirkwood
formations prepared by Winter (1973). The associated synclinal structure to
the south is referred to as the Coega Embayment by Winter (1973). Footprint
F is located along the axis of this syncline where prominent aeolianite
outcrops of the Nanaga formation, flanked by calcareous marine and estuarine
sandstones of the Alexandria formation, occur.
These t wo f ormations a re u nderlain b y t hick s edimentary successions of
Sundays River and Kirkwood formations. Both these formations consist
predominantly of mudstone and siltstone, with minor sequences of sandstone
and conglomerate. F rom a deep oi l exploration borehole (Borehole CK1/68 -
approximately 4 k m n orth o f A ddo), i t is k nown th at t he S undays Ri ver
formation has a thickness of 1863 m (le Roux, 2000). However, from the
isopach maps prepared by Winter (1973) the thickness of the Sundays River
formation i s interpolated to be approximately 300 m on the farm Grassridge
190. At another deep oil exploration borehole (AD1/68) some 7 km east-
north-east of the farm Grassridge 190, and on the north-eastern flank of the
Addo Ridge anticline only 203m of Sundays River Formation was intersected.
Based on th e i sopach m aps p repared b y W inter (1 973) a nd th e s ynclinal
structure (Coega Embayment), it is concluded that the Sundays River
formation should be at least 300 m thick in the study area.
Isopach maps for the underlying Kirkwood formation (Winter, 1973) indicate
that th is f ormation i s a t l east 2 00m th ick. I t i s th erefore concluded th at
surface calcrete and calcareous sandstones outcrops at Grassridge 190 are
underlain b y a t least 500 m o f m udstone, s iltstone a nd m inor s andstone
layers of the Sundays River and Kirkwood formations. The Kirkwood formation
is a gain un derlain b y another t hick s edimentary s uccession o f s hale a nd
sandstone formations deposited in a moderately shallow marine environment
to form what is known as the Bokkeveld Group. From these thickness
estimates it is clear that the Table Mountain Group rocks hosting the
strategically important artesian aquifer, and occurring stratigraphically below
the B okkeveld Group, is o verlain by a t least 1 000 m of l ow pe rmeability
sedimentary rocks largely deposited in a marine environment.
Within the boundaries of the preferred site located on Grassridge 190
Remainder, outcrops of three geological formations are present (Figure 7.2).
These formations, with a short description of the lithology, are listed in the
table below, i n order of i ncreasing age (Table 7.3). B ased on the 1:50 000
geological map of the area it appears that the Sundays River formation is
often exposed in the topographically lower lying areas where the overlying
Nanaga and Alexandria formation have been removed by erosion. Outcrops of
Alexandria f ormation a re found a long t he valley slopes, while t he Nanaga
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Chapter 7 – Geology and Geohydrology June 2010 103
formation often occupies the local higher topographic f eatures. N o l inear
structural features have been mapped in the area. It also appears that the
densely vegetated areas are mostly associated with outcrops of the Sundays
River formation, while the open grasslands developed on outcrop areas of the
Nanaga formation.
Table 7.3: Geological formations present on the farm Grassridge 190
Age period Formation Lithology
Estimated
thickness
(m)
Pliocene to Early
Pleistocene (~ 5
to ~1 Ma)
Nanaga
Formation
Calcareous sandstone/sandy
limestone, aeolianite, <25
Miocene to
Pliocene (~22 to
~2 Ma)
Alexandria
Formation
Calcareous marine/estuarine/
lagoonal sandstone,
conglomerate, coquinite
<20
Late Cretaceous
(~145 to ~110
Ma)
Sundays
River
Formation
Grey mudstone, siltstone,
sandstone >300
• Local geohydrology
Over large portions of the farms Grassridge 190, 227 and 228 outcrops of the
Alexandria and Nanaga Formations are present. These are only a few metres
thick and are extensively mined on the farm Grassridge 227. While closer to
the coast the Alexandria formation is often regarded as a separate aquifer
unit, in the present study area i t appears to be mostly developed above the
regional static water level and is therefore not regarded as a separate aquifer
unit. As described i n the p revious section, the s tudy a rea i s underlain by a
thick succession of argillaceous rocks, predominantly mudstones and
siltstones of the Sundays River and Kirkwood Formations. The fine grained
sedimentary rocks of the Cretaceous Sundays River formation were shown by
Bush (1985) and Venables (1985) to be the confining layer in the Uitenhage
artesian aquifer system. This is also an indication of the low hydraulic
conductivity (or permeability) of the succession. A further indication of its low
permeability is shown by the use of the term “Uitenhage Aquiclude” for the
combination o f t hese two f ormations ( Parsons, 1 994; M aclear, 20 01). I n
addition, the underlying sediments of the Bokkeveld Group are
hydrogeologically described by Maclear (2001) as an “aquitard”. W iid (1990)
reports on laboratory permeability te sts o n shale from the S undays River
Formation near Aloes which indicated permeability values around 1 x 10-9
cm/sec or ~8.6 x 10-7 m/d.
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Chapter 7 – Geology and Geohydrology June 2010 104
To put this value in perspective, the liner requirements at waste disposal sites
specified in the DWEA Minimum Requirements for Waste Disposal by Landfill
(1998), should have a permeability of the order of 1 x 10-7 cm/sec (8.6 x 10-5
m/d). The dominant clay mineral group in these argillaceous rocks is
montmorilionite, a clay mineral that is characterized by i ts swelling in water.
From these descriptions it is clear that the geological formations underlying
the proposed site all have a very low hydraulic conductivity. The outcrops of
limestone and calcareous sandstone of the Nanaga Formation form a relatively
thin cover and are in turn underlain by thin marine deposits of calcareous
sandstone of the Alexandria Formation. Both of these formations are not
regarded as aquifers in the study area.
From the information supplied by PPC, the maximum yield of the boreholes
drilled on the farms Grassridge 190 and 227 is approximately 2 l/s, but this
would however, be an exception rather than the ru le. Many boreholes in the
area are only equipped with wind pumps, which often is a reflection of low
yield conditions. The observed l ow borehole y ields are typical o f the type of
basement g eology (‘ tight’ o r m assive m udstone a nd s iltstone). Parsons
(1983) f ound th e b orehole y ield in th e K irkwood a nd S undays Ri ver
formations to range between 0.1 and 1.5 l/s with 0.5 l/s being the average.
Meyer (1998) reports that close to 40% of the boreholes drilled into
formations of the Uitenhage Group have a groundwater yield of less than 0.5
l/s. L ow yielding or “ dry” boreholes in these formations is further confirmed
by the recent drilling of four exploration boreholes at the site under
investigation. All four boreholes were dry at completion. It must also be
emphasised t hat n o g roundwater i s c urrently u sed, w hether f or d omestic,
stock watering or irrigation purposes, within a radius of 2-3 km around the
site.
Depth to static water level as measured in 20 boreholes on surrounding farms,
ranges between 4 m and >120 m below ground level. The shallower water
levels are mostly confined to topographically lower areas such as in valleys or
near drainage courses. The distribution of water level information was used to
construct a g round w ater l evel m ap s hown i n F igure 1 0 of t he S pecialist
Report.
This map c learly shows a g round water d ivide near the surface water d ivide
and that groundwater flow is in a north-easterly and south-easterly direction.
Several of the boreholes are situated on a plateau area close to the watershed
between Quaternary catchments N40F (Sundays River), and M30A and M30B
(Coega River) where static groundwater levels are generally deeper than 75 m
below surface. Static groundwater levels around the proposed site are
between 69 m and 73 m below surface.
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Chapter 7 – Geology and Geohydrology June 2010 105
7.3.3. Results of the geophysical survey and additional exploration
drilling
According to the DWEA Minimum Requirements for Site Investigations (DWEA,
1998) o f a H :H type la ndfill it is a requirement to dr ill a minimum of t hree
exploration boreholes as part of the site investigation. It is a further requirement
that a n a ppropriate g eophysical s urvey b e conducted t o d etermine w hether
geological structures that may influence geohydrological conditions are present
and to guide the selection of drilling sites. Accordingly a geophysical services
company, Engineering and E xploration G eophysical S ervices c c ( E&EGS), w as
appointed to conduct a ground magnetic and electromagnetic survey of Footprint
F. Ground m agnetic surveying w as u sed to d etermine w hether m agnetic
geological structural features such as dykes traverse the area, while the
electromagnetic method is sensitive to changes in weathering depth, conductive
strata, faults a nd l ithological c ontacts. T hese te chniques w ere c onsidered th e
most appropriate given the local geological conditions.
The magnetic and electromagnetic measurements were done at station spacing of
20 m a long profile lines covering Footprint F. The magnetic profiling revealed a
very constant magnetic field across the entire area with no anomalous regions
that could b e a ssociated with linear s tructures. T his was in a greement w ith
expectations. The electromagnetic profiling showed large variations in electrical
conductivity o f th e s ubsoil, f rom ~ 30 mS/m t o 12 0 mS/m (F igure 5 of t he
Specialist Report). Interpretation of these results suggested the following
correlation between electrical conductivity and surface mapped geology:
• High conductivity - Sundays River formation
• Intermediate conductivity - Alexandra formation
• Low conductivity - Nanaga formation
A prominent feature of Footprint F is the low conductivity zone extending across
the site towards the south-eastern corner of the survey area flanked by ridges of
very high conductivity. Based on the initial interpretation of the geophysical
survey results, and taking cognisance of the local geological conditions and the
preliminary design of the disposal cells (Jones & Wagener, 2008), four drilling
targets were identified for the drilling of the exploration boreholes.
Four boreholes were drilled during the period 14-19 May 2008 c lose to the four
selected p ositions b ased on th e geophysical su rvey results t o d epths ranging
between 69 m and 93 m (Boreholes GR190/6 to GR190/9). It is important to
note t hat in no ne o f t hese b oreholes w as water encountered d uring d rilling,
although some water d id accumulate i n three of the boreholes and water l evels
could be measured in these a few days after completion of the drilling.
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Chapter 7 – Geology and Geohydrology June 2010 106
The dominant lithology in all boreholes was mudstone with interlayered thinner
sandstone l ayers. T he u pper s ections ( 0-15 m ) a re of ten c alcareous. T he
maximum t hickness of sandstone l ayers ob served w ithin t he S undays R iver
formation was about 20 m and occurred in boreholes GR190/7, GR190/8 and
GR190/9. A provisional stratigraphic interpretation of the geological succession in
each borehole is given in Table 7.4.
Although the 1 :50 0 00 g eological m ap indicates o utcrops of the N anaga
Formation at borehole GR190/6, i t is proposed that the surface calcrete l ayer i s
directly underlain by the older Alexandra Formation. Similarly, at borehole
GR190/8 where according to the map, Alexandria Formation rocks should
outcrop, the 20 m thick sandstone layer underlying the 3 m thick clay layer, is
interpreted to be part of the upper Sundays River formation and not the
Alexandria formation. Borehole GR190/9 in the south and in the valley floor only
intersected the Sundays River formation. The calcareous nature of the upper
14 m may suggest that this material has been transported and deposited into
lower lying areas of a deeply eroded palaeo-topography.
Table 7.4: Stratigraphic correlation between boreholes
GR190/6 GR190/7 GR190/8 GR190/9
Depth
interval Formation
Depth
interval Formation
Depth
interval Formation
Depth
interval Formation
Str
ati
gra
ph
ic S
eq
uen
ce
0-3 m Surface
calcrete 0-5 m
Surface
calcrete 0-5 m
Weathered
Sundays
River
formation
0-3 m Soil
3-13 m Alexandria
formation 5-75 m
Sundays
River
formation
5-75 m
Sundays
River
formation
3-14 m
Transported
(valley fill)
material or
weathered
Sundays
River
formation
13-69
m
Sundays
River
formation
14-93m
Sundays
River
formation
Slightly moist conditions were encountered in boreholes GR190/6, GR190/7 and
GR190/9, while much dryer conditions were observed, especially in the upper
sections, during the drilling of GR190/8. This is believed to be a contributing
reason f or t he low e lectrical c onductivity re flected i n t he g eophysical re sults.
Despite th e fact th at all b oreholes w ere d ry o n c ompletion, th e s light m oist
conditions encountered during drilling is believed to have been responsible for
some water seepage into the borehole to eventually establish a water level a few
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Chapter 7 – Geology and Geohydrology June 2010 107
metres above the base of the borehole. It i s suspected that the slight seepage
originates mainly from the thinner sandstone horizons and not the mudstone.
Except in the case of borehole GR190/6 (69 m deep), which remained completely
dry four days after drilling was completed, seepage along the borehole sides
resulted in the formation of a tight clay making it very difficult to lower any
probes into the boreholes for the measurement of water levels or to collect water
samples. T his i s a n i ndication t hat t he m onitoring b oreholes t o be i nstalled
(should the permit application be successful and the site be developed into an
operating waste disposal facility) will have to be constructed very carefully to
prevent formation collapse and clogging of screened sections. T his will probably
involve the drilling of a larger diameter borehole to accommodate the installation
of a suitable gravel pack and uPVC screened sections.
7.3.4. Groundwater use and quality
A borehole census of the farms Grassridge 190 (including Grassridge 190 Portion
3), Grassridge 227, Grassridge 228, Coega Kammas Kloof 191 and a part of
Blaauw Baatjies Vley 189, with a minimum radius of 3 km around the proposed
site, was done during the different stages leading up to the permit application. Of
the 43 existing boreholes on the farm Grassridge 190 and surrounding farms,
only two were found to be used currently for domestic or stock watering
purposes. Both of these are on the farm Grassridge 190 Portion 3; a distance of
approximately 4 km from the proposed waste disposal site.
The m ain re asons f or t he v ery l imited u se of g roundwater i n t he a rea a re
threefold:
• The general very poor quality of the groundwater
• The low yield of boreholes, and
• The reliable and e asy access f armers have t o v ery g ood quality water a t
affordable cost from the Sundays River / Port Elizabeth pipeline that traverses
the area.
Water samples could b e obtained from 17 of the boreholes on t he surveyed
farms, including three from the recently drilled boreholes. W ith the exception of
one borehole (GR190/3/1), none of the boreholes are equipped with pumps that
are still in operation, and therefore all samples could only be obtained from those
open boreholes accessible with a bailer. Water quality information is captured in
Table 8 of the Specialist Report. For reference purposes the SABS 241 (2006)
Drinking Water Standard for Class I (Ideal condition) and Class II (Maximum
allowable), as well as the analysis of a water sample taken from the reservoir
supplied from the Sundays River pipeline on the farm Grassridge 227, are l isted
in Table 8 of the Specialist Report.
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Chapter 7 – Geology and Geohydrology June 2010 108
The sediments of the Sundays River F ormation w ere d eposited u nder marine
conditions. Sea water and salts trapped during the depositional process, explain
the general poor quality of the groundwater in the area. This has been recognised
in reports by Maclear (1994), Bush (1985), Venables (1985) and Parsons (1983).
Maclear (1 994) compiled a m ap s howing t he e lectrical c onductivity (E C)
distribution of groundwater between Uitenhage and Addo. According to this map
EC values of >500 mS/m are the dominant feature. In the present study area,
his map shows values i n the range of 70 to 1500 mS/m. EC measurements on
samples collected during the recent borehole census are shown in Table 8 of the
Specialist Re port, and r ange be tween 9 9 a nd 80 4 mS/ m. T his c onfirms th e
observations by Maclear (1994). From the above it is clear that the Sundays
River and Kirkwood geohydrological units in terms of the groundwater quality,
and have no strategic potential or value as a water resource.
As referred to earlier, the most prominent regional aquifer of strategic importance
in the area is the Uitenhage Artesian Basin Aquifer (UAB) with an estimated total
sustainable yield of 80 l/s (Venables, 1985) and yields from individual boreholes
often in excess of 5 l /s. The artesian nature of this aquifer is mainly due to two
factors:
• the n atural re charge a rea i s t he h igh g reat Winterhoek M ountains to t he
north, and
• the Sundays River and Kirkwood formations overlying this aquifer and forming
the confining layer.
At the site under investigation and in the immediate surrounding area, the deeper
Table Mountain sandstone aquifer is however not exploited for its groundwater
potential due to the excessive depth (estimated to be i n the order of 300 m to
500 m below surface).
7.4. Risk Assessment
7.4.1. Aquifer classification and vulnerability
Parsons (1995) developed a South African aquifer system management
classification consisting of two parts: (i) a weighted aquifer class classification and
(ii) a groundwater quality management index, that when combined, provides a
decision support tool to define the required level of protection of the aquifer. The
Ground Water Management Classification System ratings are given in Table 9 of
the Specialist Report.
The two hydrogeological units or aquifers present in the area, the upper aquifer
associated w ith the S undays Ri ver a nd K irkwood F ormations, a nd a d eeper
aquifer (>200 m below surface) associated with the Table Mountain Group
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formations, have already been classified as a Non-Aquifer System and a Major
Aquifer System respectively, while the Uitenhage Artesian Basin (which is
regarded as part of the Table Mountain Aquifer System) would be classified as a
Special Aquifer System.
Non-aquifer Systems are d efined a s f ormations o r p otentially f ractured rocks
which do not have a high primary permeability, or other formations of variable
permeability. Aquifer extent may be variable and water quality variable.
Major aquifer Systems on t he other h and, are d efined a s h ighly p ermeable
formations, usually with a known or probable presence of significant fracturing.
They may be highly productive and able to support large abstractions for public
supply and other purposes (Parsons, 1995).
The Uitenhage Artesian Basin is part of the Table Mountain Group Aquifer System,
and although it is situated to the south of the study area, could be classified as a
Special A quifer S ystem, b ecause i t h as p reviously b een cl assified a s a n
Underground Water Control Area. The deeper Table Mountain Group aquifer is
artesian where overlain by the Uitenhage Group due to the argillaceous nature of
the overlying succession. This geological composition and the associated very low
hydraulic conductivity create a very thick natural protection layer that will ensure
that no potential contamination originating at the proposed waste disposal site
will reach the artesian aquifer. According to this classification system the aquifers
underlying the proposed s ite on the farm Grassridge 190 can be described as a
‘Non-Aquifer System’ (score = 0) w ith a ‘Low Aquifer Vulnerability’ (score = 1),
and requiring only a limited degree of protection (score = 0).
On the adjacent farm (Grassridge 227) and approximately one kilometre east of
the proposed waste d isposal facility PPC i s mining surface calcrete. The mining
operation covers an area of approximately 1.5 km x 1.5 km, while the thickness
of the deposit is on average about 3 m. The calcrete layer is broken into smaller
blocks with l arge m echanical e xcavators and then t aken to a crushing p lant.
Occasionally hard calcrete layers are encountered at a depth of approximately 1.5
m that cannot be broken up by the normal mining technique.
According to Mr Erasmus of PPC, blasting using 3 m deep drill holes is
occasionally used (approximately once every two years) to mine these layers.
These hard calcrete deposits sometimes have to be mined to ensure the
availability of a continuous supply of ore to the crushing plant at times when
mechanical f ailure of e xcavating e quipment is e ncountered. T he m ining
techniques applied in this mining operation, are totally different to deep level
underground and some open cast mining operations, and therefore mining
induced s eismicity a nd e arth tr emors a s a risk to th e s tability o f the w aste
disposal cells, can be ruled out.
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Hattingh and Goedhart (1997) report that no modern seismic activity has been
recorded in the southern part of the Eastern Cape by either of the two seismic
stations located at Grahamstown and Port Elizabeth.
7.4.2. Risk of Contamination of Coega and Sundays Rivers
As all the footprints are underlain by low permeability soils and aquifer material,
deep groundwater levels, very low groundwater movement rates, there is no risk
for contamination by groundwater entering the surface water drainage systems of
the Coega and Sundays Rivers.
Similarly, b ecause of t he p osition of t he s ites i n re lation t o t he catchment
boundaries and surface drainage lines, contamination of the Coega and Sundays
Rivers by surface waters originating at the proposed waste disposal facility can be
ruled out.
7.4.3. Evaluation of the site for a waste disposal facility
The re sults of t he g eological a nd g eohydrological investigation w ere u sed in
assessing the Waste-Aquifer Separation Principle (WASP) index of Footprint F, i.e.
a risk assessment of the proposed landfill site with respect to the groundwater
environment (Parsons and Jolly, 1994). T he WASP index is an indication of the
suitability of a site for waste disposal, which takes into account:
• The threat factor, i .e. the threat o f the s ize and type of waste facility to the
ground water;
• The barrier factor, i.e. the potential for pollutant attenuation in the upper
unsaturated zone and the resultant potential for ground water pollution; and
• The r esource factor, i .e. t he s ignificance of t he a quifer f or l ocal a nd/or
regional water supply.
Threat Factor
The size of the landfill (final landfill footprint) is estimated to be approximately 25
ha and will be classified as a H:H site. According to the DWEA Minimum
Requirements (DWEA, 1998) such a landfill should be designed, engineered and
operated to the most stringent standards and must be a containment landfill with
a liner and leachate detection and collection system.
Barrier Factor
The underlying siltstone and the significant depth to groundwater, is shown to
have a g ood b arrier effect a gainst the vertical movement o f p ossible ground
water pollutants. E stimated t ravel ti me, b ased on h ydraulic p arameters a nd
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water level typical for the area, from on-surface to the aquifer are calculated to
be ~566 days. Due to the l ack of water i n t he n ewly d rilled b oreholes, no
pumping tests could be done and travel times were calculated using the
estimated p ermeability o f th e u nderlying g eological f ormations a nd d epth to
water level.
Resource Factor
The site overlies a non-aquifer system containing very poor quality water and
with a low potential for use. Groundwater is currently not used in the immediate
vicinity of the site.
The results of the WASP assessment determine Footprint F to be ‘suitable’ for the
development of a landfill site, in terms of the geology and geohydrology of the
area.
7.4.4. Identification of Risk Sources
Poorly constructed waste disposal facilities and poor management of waste
disposal s ites a nd o perations p ose a g reat risk o f g round a nd surface w ater
contamination. The potential for groundwater and surface water contamination
resulting from waste disposal activities must therefore be minimised at all costs.
Therefore identifying and managing the sources of risk to water contamination
are crucial to the successful operation of a waste disposal facility and in particular
the planned new Regional general and hazardous waste treatment facility to be
developed for the Coega Industrial Development Zone, the Greater Port Elizabeth
and wider areas.
Some of the main sources of ground and surface water contamination are:
• Poor design of waste disposal facilities
• Poor construction of liner system
• High leachate production rate and poor leachate control measures
• Poor storm water control and management
• Insufficient water quality monitoring (storm, surface and groundwater)
• Poor management of waste handling and storage, including illegal dumping of
waste
• Bad housekeeping on site
• Poor capping of disposal cells when full capacity is reached
• Poor management, monitoring and control after closure of site
Accordingly, appropriate management and mitigation actions that address the
above potential risk sources have been incorporated in the EMP for the project.
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7.4.5. Groundwater monitoring
In the documents Minimum Requirements for Waste Disposal by Landfill (DWEA,
2nd edition, 1998 and draft 3rd edition, 2005a) and the Minimum Requirements
for Water Monitoring at Waste Management Facilities (DWEA, 2005b, 3rd edition)
issued by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, specifications for the
monitoring o f g roundwater at w aste d isposal f acilities are discussed.
Groundwater monitoring can be described as the repetitive and continued
observation, measurement and evaluation of geohydrological information such as
water level and groundwater quality to follow changes over a period of time to
assess the e fficiency of control measures. I n essence, monitoring serves as an
early w arning s ystem s o t hat a ny c orrective a ctions re quired c an b e t aken
promptly. A detailed account of the proposed monitoring specifications, including
that for groundwater, is contained in the report entitled “Draft Operating Manual
for the proposed Hazardous Waste Disposal Facility” prepared by Jones &
Wagener (2008b) for the Coega Development Corporation.
Should t he s ite re ceive a p ermit, it is re commended t hat t he n ewly d rilled
boreholes GR190/6 to GR190/9 as well as the existing borehole GR190/5 be used
as monitoring boreholes. Apart from obtaining geological and geohydrological
information, it was also the intension to use borehole GR190/6 as a background
monitoring borehole. However, no water was encountered in the borehole during
drilling and even a few days after completion it was still dry. Should this borehole
remain dry, and depending on the final approved design of the site, a position for
a new background monitoring borehole may have to be selected. According to
the 3rd edition draft of the Minimum Requirements for Water Monitoring at Waste
Management Facilities (2005), between five and ten boreholes would typically be
required for a hazardous waste disposal site. It is therefore possible that
additional boreholes will be required for monitoring.
The e xisting e xploration b oreholes h ave a lso n ot b een e quipped t o s erve a s
monitoring boreholes. Therefore, in the event of the proposed site being
approved f or f urther development, th e d esign o f th e g roundwater monitoring
network will have to be revised. Some of the existing boreholes may be included
in this design provided suitable uPVC casing can still be installed. Because of
unstable f ormation c onditions, s ome m inor w ater seepage i nto t he b oreholes
shortly a fter dr illing a nd th e f act th at th e b oreholes w ere n ot c ased, some
collapse of the boreholes was already recognised shortly after completion. It is
therefore recommended that the groundwater monitoring network be reviewed
should a permit be issued for the site. This may include the re-drilling of some of
the existing boreholes due to e ither collapse of the existing boreholes, or i f t he
final design and layout of the different components of the facility necessitate that
these boreholes be moved.
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In the draft operating manual prepared by Jones & Wagener (2008b) a detailed
account of the proposed monitoring specifications, including that for groundwater,
can be found. In this preliminary specification it is recommended that ground
water monitoring and sampling should be done on a quarterly basis (January,
April, July and October), with detailed analyses to be undertaken once a year
(July). In their report (Jones & Wagener (2008b) only pH, electrical conductivity
and chemical oxygen are required during the ot her three s ampling exercises.
Field m easurements f or a ll s ample ru ns m ust i nclude t emperature, p H a nd
electrical conductivity, and must be recorded on a log sheet while on site. P ost-
closure monitoring is to continue for 30 years following closure of the site, unless
otherwise motivated, and authorised by the authorities. A l ist of constituents to
be analysed during the July sampling is also included in the Jones and Wagener
(2008) draft operating manual. This list is based on sampling for Holfontein
Hazardous Waste Disposal Facility in Gauteng. Although this list can be used as a
guideline, the f inal list of constituents to be analysed for at the Grassridge s ite,
will however depend on the type of waste accepted for d isposal at this s ite and
when the site-specific a uthorizations a re issued. In the following sections
potential impacts on ground and surface water are identified.
7.5. Impact Description and Assessment
7.5.1. General comments
The aquifers present in the area can be described as being of low significance,
deep, and with an extremely poor water quality and generally low y ield, except
for in the low lying areas along drainage lines. There are no known perched
aquifers of any significance. There are no perennial drainage systems on any of
the sites.
7.5.2. Impact assessment
Potential impacts on the ground and surface water environment are described
under three headings:
• Site construction phase
• Operational phase
• Decommissioning phase
The impacts described only pertain to operations on the waste s ite itself and in
the immediate vicinity, but does not include for example impacts on ground and
surface water along the access routes to the site. In the impact assessment tables
(Tables 7.5 - 7.7) an indication is given of the severity of the impacts before and
after mitigation. Recommended mitigation measures are put forward in Table
7.8.
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Table 7.5: Geohydrological impact assessment of Footprint F during the design and construction phase
Potential Impact Nature Status Extent Duration Probability
Severity/Intensity
scale Significance
Before
mitigation
After
mitigation
Excavation and site
preparation
resulting in the
disruption of natural
runoff conditions
Excavations may cause
interception and/or
disruption of natural
runoff resulting in less
surface water entering
natural drainage lines
Negative Local
Short term
Improbable
Low Low
Low -
Groundwater
contamination of
existing boreholes
Development of a site
over an existing open
borehole
Negative Local
Long term
Probable
Very high
Low
Moderate -
Storage and
stockpiling areas for
construction
material resulting in
soil and
groundwater
contamination
Uncontrolled storage of
harmful products used
during construction
resulting in possible soil
and groundwater
contamination
Negative Local
Short term
Probable
Low
Low
Low -
Construction camp
and temporary
infrastructure such
as workshops, wash
bays. - soil, surface
water and
Disposal of domestic
and construction
process waste water
and effluent affecting
surface water quality
Negative Local
Short term
Probable
Low
Low
Low -
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groundwater
contamination
Domestic sewage -
soil, surface and
groundwater
contamination
Irresponsible disposal of
domestic sewage
eventually affecting soil,
surface and
groundwater quality
Negative Local
Long term
Probable
Low
Low
Low -
Storm water on and
around site
impacting on
natural surface
water flow in
drainage lines
Natural storm water
runoff pattern disrupted
and end destination
affected through
excavations and
stockpiling areas
Negative Local
Permanent
Probable
Low
Low
Low -
Groundwater
recharge -
Improving
groundwater
recharge
Excavations for
construction and liner
material may leave
open pits that can
enhance infiltration of
rainfall
Positive Local
Long term
Probable
Low
Low
Low +
Fuel storage and
distribution point -
soil and
groundwater
contamination
Irresponsible
housekeeping around
fuel depot and
distribution point can
contaminate shallow soil
profile through spillages
Negative Local
Long term
Probable
Low
Low
Low -
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Table 7.6: Geohydrological impact assessment of Footprint F during the operational phase
Potential Impact Nature Status Extent Duration Probability
Severity/Intensity
scale Significance
Before
mitigation
After
mitigation
Waste disposal -
soil, surface and
groundwater
contamination
Poor liner design/
construction and
ineffective leachate
collection system
causing leakage through
liner resulting in
leachate infiltration into
ground
Negative Local
Long term
Possible
High
Low
Moderate -
Leachate holding
dams Surface and
groundwater
contamination
Poor design and/or
construction or
insufficient capacity
causing leakage
resulting in leachate
infiltration into ground,
storm water or natural
drainage systems
Negative Local
Long term
Probable
High
Low
Moderate -
Leachate treatment
facilities - soil and
surface water and
eventually
groundwater
contamination
Spillages affecting soil
conditions
Negative Local
Medium
term
Probable
Low
Low
Low -
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Leachate seepage
from disposal cells.
Soil, surface and
groundwater
contamination
Too high volumes of
leachate generated in
cells resulting in high
leachate levels in waste
pile and eventual
seepage from waste pile
Negative Local
Short term
Probable
Low
Low
Low -
Waste storage
areas (temporary
storage, recycling
facilities). Soil,
surface and
groundwater
contamination
Inappropriate storage
facilities resulting in
leaching of
contaminated effluent
into ground and storm
water system
Negative Local
Medium
term
Probable
Low
Low
Low -
Sewage disposal
(septic tank
systems) Surface
and groundwater
contamination
Inappropriately
designed/constructed
sewage disposal
systems and bad
maintenance resulting
in groundwater
contamination
Negative Local
Long term
Improbable
Low
Low
Low -
Runoff and storm
water management
on and around site.
Surface and
groundwater
contamination
Insufficient storage
capacity causing
overflow of storm water
holding facilities and
impacting negatively on
stream water quality
and eventually
groundwater
Negative Local
Medium
term
Improbable
Low
Low
Low -
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Washing areas
(Vehicles, re-
useable containers,
etc) Surface and
groundwater
contamination
Inappropriate design
and/or construction of
wash bays, bunded
areas and effluent
control resulting in soil
contamination
Negative Local
Medium
term
Probable
Low
Low
Low -
Workshops Surface
and groundwater
contamination
Bad housekeeping and
irresponsible disposal of
workshop waste
products (oil, cleaning
agents, etc.) resulting
in soil contamination
through leaching.
Negative Local
Long term
Probable
Low
Low
Low -
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Table 7.7: Geohydrological impact assessment of Footprint F during the decommissioning phase
Potential Impact Nature Status Extent Duration Probability
Severity/Beneficial
scale Significance
Before
mitigation
After
mitigation
Closure/ capping of
individual waste
disposal cells
Uncontrolled
leachate generation
and build-up of
leachate level
Insufficient /
inappropriate cover
construction resulting in
rainwater infiltration,
leachate generation and
eventually leachate
seepage from disposal
cells
Negative Local
Medium
term
Probable
High
Low
Moderate -
Treating / disposal
of surplus leachate
and storm water in
holding dams at
final closure
Contamination of
ground and surface
water resources
Poor leachate
management resulting
in surplus at closure
Negative Local
Medium
term
Probable
High
Low
Moderate -
Maintenance of
storm water control
system. Soil erosion
at closed disposal
cells
Erosion of cells resulting
in collapse and
exposure of waste
material
Negative Local
Medium
term
Probable
High
Low
Moderate -
Maintenance of Capping losing its low Negative Local Medium Probable High Low Moderate -
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capping
Uncontrolled
leachate generation
permeability character
resulting in rainwater
infiltration and leachate
generation
term
Maintenance of
water monitoring
systems (boreholes
and surface water)
and maintaining a
sampling and
analysis programme
after closure
according to permit
conditions Quality
deterioration of
water resources
Poor maintenance and
control of groundwater
and surface water
monitoring points and
boreholes, as well as
neglecting regular
sampling and analyses
as stipulated in permit
conditions.
Negative Local
Long term
Probable
High
Low
High -
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7.6. Conclusion
Based on the available geological and geohydrological information for the
proposed site and the immediate surrounding farms, the identified site on the
Remainder of the farm Grassridge 190 is considered suitable for the development
of a large H:H type waste disposal facility provided the design, construction and
operational requirements as specified in the DWEA guideline document are
adhered to. The main reasons for the site being regarded a suitable area, are the
following:
• The geological conditions of the underlying formations, both in terms of
lithology and depth extent are very favourable.
• The static groundwater level in the vicinity of the site is of the order of 70 m
below surface.
• Borehole yields are generally very low as illustrated by the four recently
drilled boreholes that were all dry on completion of drilling.
• The groundwater quality in the region is generally poor to very poor and as
a result very little use is being made of groundwater for domestic, stock
watering or irrigation. The poor water quality is a direct result of the marine
depositional conditions that existed during the formation of the geological
formations hosting the groundwater.
• The underlying formations, t he Sundays River and Kirkwood formations,
comprise of a v ery thick s uccession ( estimated t o b e > 300 m) of
predominantly siltstone and mudstone, with minor interlayered sandstone
layers. These formations have a very low hydraulic conductivity and will
prevent the migration of contaminants in the case of liner system failure.
• The deep artesian aquifer associated with the Table Mountain Group
sediments, is well protected from any contamination by the thick succession
of Uitenhage Group sediments. That the latter sediments form an effective
barrier t o g roundwater f low is i llustrated b y t he a rtesian n ature o f t he
deeper aquifer.
• The site is situated close to a local surface water divide and none of the
drainage lines at or upstream of the site represent perennial flow conditions.
• The WASP analysis, which takes into consideration a number of geological,
geohydrological, water use and design criteria, a lso i ndicated that the s ite
can be classified as “suitable”.
• No g eological o r geohydrological conditions w ithin th e s tudy can b e
regarded as “fatal flaws” according to the definitions described in the DWEA
guideline documents.
7.7. Recommendations
From the tables above it will be noticed that the impacts related to ground and
surface water are in most cases rated as of low environmental significance. This
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rating is applicable in the case of the extent of the impact, the duration, the
probability, the severity and the significance. The reason for the expected low
impact on the groundwater environment is due to the favourable geological and
geohydrological conditions. Similarly, the impact on surface water is also
expected to be low, as the proposed site is located outside important and high
yielding surface water catchment areas. Nevertheless, this should not lead to
compromises on mitigation and management actions during the design,
construction, operation and closure phases of the project.
The recommended mitigation and management actions for the different phases of
the project are listed in Table 7.8.
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Table 7.8: Proposed mitigation actions to reduce geohydrological impacts during the lifespan of the GHWMF
Phase Activity Impact description Proposed mitigation
Design and
construction
Installation o f r equired
infrastructure f or water q uality
(surface and groundwater)
monitoring a nd d esign o f
monitoring programme
Approval o f w ater q uality m onitoring s ystems b y th e
relevant government authorities
Design of site Design to be d one according to th e l atest Minimum
Requirement documents and specifications of the
Departments of Water and Environment Affairs (DWEA).
Approval o f a ll d esigns to b e o btained f rom the r elevant
National and Regional/Provincial regulatory authorities.
Closure of boreholes Sealing of all boreholes with cement and final bentonite at
the top. Sanitary seal consisting of a bentonite and sand
mixture around the upper 4 m of the borehole.
Excavation and site preparation,
storm water control on and around
site
Proper storm water control measures must be implemented
to m inimize s torm w ater collection w ithin t he e xcavated
areas and to reduce erosion.
Construction a nd i nstallation o f
liners a nd l eachate c ollection a nd
drainage systems.
Selection of good quality natural clay for liner construction,
alternatively addition of bentonite to l iner material to attain
the prescribed permeability for l iners. Regular i nspection of
construction and testing of liner permeability and
compaction ch aracteristics d uring co nstruction. P roper
control and supervision during the placement of synthetic
liners, and testing after completion.
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Construction camp a nd temporary
infrastructure such a s w orkshops,
wash bays, fuel storage and
distribution point, etc.
Proper management of all construction material storage
areas and bunding of facilities where required.
Operation Leachate g eneration c ontrol a nd
management
Ground and surface water
contamination
Minimize leachate generation through proper landfill
management and control of ratio between liquid and solid
waste disposed in each cell. Proper control of leachate
seepage a nd c ollection th ereof a nd d iverting to p roperly
designed holding and/or treatment facility.
Leachate holding dams Groundwater contamination Approved designed and constructed leachate holding dams.
Waste s torage a reas ( temporary
storage, recycling facilities, storage
for incineration, etc.)
Disruption of natural runoff
conditions, Groundwater
contamination
Bunding of all storage facilities and disposal of all effluent
collected in bunded areas to leachate or storm water holding
dams.
Sewage disposal (septic tank
systems)
Surface a nd g roundwater
contamination
Properly designed and constructed according to building
regulations of all sewage disposal systems on site and
regular removal of sewage from tank to prevent overflow.
Runoff a nd s torm w ater
management on and around site
Surface a nd g roundwater
contamination
Proper storm water control and drainage canals around
disposal area, together with storm water control dams with
sufficient c apacity to s upport a 1 :50 y ear r ainfall e vent.
Monitoring programme for storm water quality and disposal
of storm water to be in place.
Washing areas (Vehicles, re-
useable containers, etc)
Surface a nd g roundwater
contamination
Approved design a nd constructed w ash bays a nd effluent
collection and disposal systems.
Workshops Surface a nd g roundwater
contamination
All workshop waste to be disposed of in accordance with the
relevant regulations.
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Decommissioning Closure/capping of individual waste
disposal cells
Uncontrolled l eachate
generation and s eepage,
build-up of leachate level
Proper c apping of e ach c ell a nd re gular m aintenance of
capping according to permit conditions to avoid infiltration of
rainwater a nd th us leachate g eneration w ithin th e w aste
pile. Installation of leachate level monitoring facility for each
cell monitoring point
Treatment/disposal of s urplus
leachate and storm water in
holding dams at final closure
Contamination of ground
and surface water resources
Treatment and/or proper disposal of final leachate volumes
and draining of holding dams.
Maintenance of storm water control
systems
“Soil” and waste pile erosion
after closure
Development a nd i mplementation of a storm w ater
management p lan a s well a s t he p roper m aintenance of
storm water control systems on site after closure according
to pe rmits a nd r egulations issued f rom ti me to t ime b y
relevant authorities. Regular inspections by authorities.
Maintenance of water monitoring
systems (boreholes and surface
water) and programme
Quality deterioration of
water resources
Regular water quality monitoring according to permit
conditions and in c ompliance to M inimum Requirement
documents of DWEA. Reporting of results to the authorities
on a six monthly basis.
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8. TOURISM
The tourism assessment was undertaken and compiled by Mr Martin Jansen van
Vuuren of Grant Thornton for the Footprint Ranking Report (2006). The f indings
of this assessment are still deemed to be valid as per correspondence from Mr
Jansen van Vuuren in this regard (Appendix F).
8.1. Introduction
The S undays Ri ver V alley i s a n i mportant to urism d estination t hat de pends
heavily on its image as an eco/wildlife destination. The Sundays River Valley
currently receives an estimated 54 000 overnight tourists and the Addo Elephant
National Park receives around 102 000 tourists per annum. T he Addo Elephant
National Park is the key attraction in the area and is being marketed on
environmental grounds i.e. the animals are free to roam across a large area and
the Park has a range of biodiversity. The area thus appeals to the
environmentally conscious tourist.
Internationally, tourists are becoming more environmentally conscious and are
basing t heir d ecision t o v isit a d estination on e nvironmental c onsiderations.
Tourists may perceive the Regional Hazardous Waste Site as having a negative
impact on the environment and accordingly the following aspects that may affect
tourism could be identified:
• Perception of the area before a tourists decision to visit;
• Perception of the tourists experience of the area while visiting;
• Visual state of an area;
• Wind / smell;
• Volumes/density of traffic; and
• Limitation of future tourism.
8.2. Scope of Work
The purpose was to undertake an analysis of the tourism industry relevant to the
Eastern Cape, followed by establishing the impact that the proposed facility will
have o n t ourism a nd th e m ost suitable f ootprint in te rms o f th e p redicted
impacts. The study included:
• An analysis of existing South African Tourism (SA Tourism) international and
domestic tourism statistics available on the Eastern Cape.
• Interviews with officials at Tourism Boards and local area information offices
to verify the number of visitors to the study area and their perception of the
potential impact of the facility on the local tourism industry.
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From the above research the following have been provided:
• Estimated current tourist visitor volumes to destinations near the study area
(with particular emphasis on the Greater Addo Elephant National Park and the
Sundays River Valley);
• Estimated future tourist visitor volumes to destinations near the study area in
the medium to long term;
• Information regarding existing tourism establishments such as guesthouses
and restaurants near the area to determine:
∗ size of establishments;
∗ tourism demand levels;
∗ current markets;
∗ origin;
∗ length of stay; and
∗ issues hampering tourism development such as security and accessibility.
• Predicted impact of the proposed new facility and a ranking of the proposed
footprints in terms of suitability.
8.3. Method
In order to assess the three identified footprints for the proposed regional general
and hazardous waste processing facility the following were conducted:
• A site visit to each of the three sites.
• Interviews with representatives from:
∗ Sundays River Tourism Forum.
∗ Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism.
∗ Addo Elephant National Park.
• Analysis o f the l atest available tourism data f rom South A frica Tourism and
Statistics South Africa.
The analysis was u tilised to i dentify the impact that the proposed facility would
have on tourism and the severity of the identified impact.
8.3.1. The Tourism Experience
In order to understand the impact on tourism of a general and hazardous waste
processing facility it is important to understand how tourists take a decision to
visit a destination, what they purchase at the destination and what influences a
tourist’s experience of a destination.
Firstly, i t is important to understand that a tourist purchases a tourism product
when th ey v isit a d estination. T he d efinition o f a t ourism p roduct i s sh own
overleaf.
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A tourist does not only purchase accommodation, car hire and activities, but also
the intangible aspects of these such as how it makes them feel and how it affects
their self-esteem. F or example, a tourist to Cape Town may visit Clifton Beach
because it is the most “trendy” beach in Cape Town. The tourist is not only
visiting the beach for a beach experience but also for the image and symbolic
values.
The same principle applies to tourists that visit for example a township. They
wish to i nteract w ith the l ocal community and feel that they have i n some way
contributed to the upliftment or economic improvement of that community by
purchasing arts and crafts from them. The tourist could have purchased the
same arts and crafts at another venue but because of the image and symbolic
values they rather purchase the arts and crafts in a township.
Just as a tourist decides to purchase a tourism product based on image and
symbolic v alues, t hey m ay d ecide n ot t o p urchase a to urism p roduct. F or
example, a tourist may decide not to visit the Sundays River Valley because the
location of a general and hazardous waste processing facility in the area may be
against their beliefs in environmental issues. Their perception is that the
proposed facility may have a negative impact1
on the environment and may be in
conflict with the tourist’s view on environmental protection.
1 It is widely recognised that Integrated Waste Management is essential in managing the environment and that well managed H:H sites are required. It is however also recognised that people’s perceptions of hazardous waste facilities are negative.
A TOURISM PRODUCT
Is an ensemble of TANGIBLE and INTANGIBLE components
including:
Tourism resources (natural and cultural assets) and attractions
+ Basic Facilities and Infrastructure (airports, roads, trains etc.)
+ Tourism Infrastructure and Services (accommodation, catering,
transport) +
Leisure activities (things to do and see) +
Image and Symbolic Values (to do with development, lifestyle, self-esteem, status, etc.)
which offers BENEFITS that may draw certain types of consumers as it appeals to their specific travel MOTIVATIONS and NEEDS
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8.3.2. Potential tourism impacts
Against the background of how a tourist decides to v isit a destination and what
the tourist purchases, a list of the potential impacts on tourism that a general and
hazardous waste processing facility located in the Sundays River Valley could
have, is also provided.
• Perception before decision to visit
Before a tourist visits an area they have a specific perception as to what they
will e xperience d uring their v isit. T his p erception is influenced b y a re al
experience if they have visited an area before, but if it is their first visit to an
area their perception is influenced by word of mouth accounts (mainly from
friends and family), the media (television, radio and newspaper reports) and
marketing material (website, brochures, etc).
The tourist will take the information available and measure it against their
personal m orals, s tandards a nd se lf-esteem. I f t heir p erception of a
destination is in conflict with their morals, standards and self-esteem they will
not visit the destination. This can be most clearly illustrated by the refusal of
tourists to visit South Africa during the apartheid years because, despite the
country’s tourism appeal, the political regime was in conflict with the tourist’s
morals, standards and self-esteem.
The same principle applies to the development of a general and hazardous
waste processing facility in or close to a tourist destination. International
tourists, in particular, have become more environmentally conscious and are
basing more of their decisions to visit a destination on environmental
considerations. For example, tourists may not visit destinations where
deforestation is occurring. T ourists could apply the same principle to visiting
the Sundays River Valley if a general and hazardous waste processing facility
is located in the area. They could view the facility as not environmentally
friendly and accordingly their perception of the area could deter them from
visiting the area.
• Perception of experience in the area
Once a t ourist i s i n a n a rea t heir experience i s i nfluenced b y t he a ctual
tourism product i.e. the actual tourism resources and attractions, basic
facilities a nd i nfrastructure, t ourism i nfrastructure a nd s ervices, leisure
activities and image and symbolic values. T he actual tourism product could
either reinforce or change their perception of the area before their v isit. The
perception of the tourist m ay b e negatively affected s hould they come to
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know of the facility in the area, see i t or smell i t because their perception of
the facility is seen as being harmful to the environment.
• Visual
The visual impact is an important, if not the most important factor, in the
experience of a tourist. A tourist is greatly affected by what they see and
that is the main reason why tourists take photographs of a destination.
The visibility of the proposed general and hazardous waste processing facility
may negatively affect a tourist’s experience of the Sundays River Valley area
as it may be in conflict with the natural view of the area.
• Wind / smell
Smell is an important impact on the experience of a tourist. The actual
experience of a tourist may be negatively affected should they be able to
smell p otential od ours f rom t he g eneral a nd h azardous w aste p rocessing
facility.
• Traffic
The R335 i s the m ain access to the S undays Ri ver V alley a nd th e Addo
Elephant National Park from Port Elizabeth. The road would be used by
tourists in passenger vehicles and tour busses as well as trucks to the waste
management facility. The road is a single lane road and overtaking is difficult
due to the various turns in the road and blind rises.
An increase in traffic on the R335 would negatively affect the experience of
tourists to the area if their journey is delayed b y t rucks and if the road
deteriorates due to increased usage by heavy vehicles.
• Limitation of future tourism development
The main type of tourism development in close proximity to the identified
footprints in the Sundays River Valley would be game reserves. T he land is
not suited to too much else and with the proliferation of similar developments
in the area, the footprints could b e incorporated in a g ame re serve
development. The DWEA minimum requirements prohibit the development of
a general and hazardous waste management facility in nature reserves, and
waste facilities cannot be regarded as complimentary land uses. Accordingly
the placement of such a facility would limit future tourism development in
close proximity to the facility.
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8.4. Site Assessment
Following the analysis of the tourism industry in South Africa, the Eastern Cape,
Nelson Mandela Bay, Sundays River Valley and the Addo Elephant National Park
the following conclusions can be made:
• NMB, Sundays River Valley and Addo Elephant National Park are established
tourism destinations that have plans to expand and attract more tourists.
• The Sundays River Valley receives approximately 54 000 overnight tourists
per annum, while the Addo E lephant National Park receives 102 000 v isitors
per annum of which 30 000 stay overnight.
• The m ain t ourism p roduct of fered i n t he a rea i s g ame a nd w ildlife
experiences.
• One of the main reasons for tourists to visit South Africa and the Eastern Cape
is f or t he g ame and w ildlife e xperiences a nd t he N MBM h as l aunched a
strategy to attract these tourists by linking with destinations that offer wildlife
experiences.
• Consequently, the Sundays River Valley and the Addo Elephant National Park
are an important part of the marketing of not only their own destination but
the NMBM as well.
8.5. Impact Assessment
In this section we assess the impact that the development of a general and
hazardous waste processing facility would have on tourism in the area. In Table
8.1, we assess each impact for Footprint F. The nature of each impact has been
explained in Section 8.3.2 and is not included again.
Most of the assessments of the potential impacts are similar for all potential sites
assessed during the course of the EIA process to date due to their close proximity
to one another. The tourism impacts would be similar for these footprints as the
experience of a tourist and their perception of an area is not as localised as these
footprints, for example a tourist’s perception of the area before they decide to
visit would not be different due to the location of the proposed waste processing
facility.
The main differentiating factor between the footprints would be the visual impact
of the footprint, i.e. whether the tourist would be able to see the footprint or not.
The a ssessment o f t he p otential impacts on t ourism a s a r esult o f t he
development of a waste management facility on Footprint F is discussed overleaf.
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8.5.1. Perception before decision to visit
The main observations relating to the potential impacts of the waste disposal
facility on the perception of tourists prior to visiting the area are:
• The status of the impact would be negative as the knowledge of the waste
processing facility in the area may deter tourists from visiting the area;
• The extent will be regional as their decision not to visit the area would impact
on other destinations that they may have visited during their trip, such as Port
Elizabeth;
• The duration of the impact i s permanent as the tourist i s unlikely to change
their mind once they have decided not to visit the area;
• The likelihood of th e i mpact o ccurring is probable based on the fact that
tourists are becoming more environmentally conscious and are basing their
travel decisions on environmental criteria;
• The severity is severe as the Sundays River Valley is a tourist destination and
a reduction in the number of tourists would lead to a loss in income and
employment;
• The significance is high because the impact would be severe;
• The post mitigation significance c ould be reduced t o moderately s evere if
detailed information is provided to reassure tourists that the proposed facility
would n ot h ave a s ignificant impact o n t he e nvironment. T he following
mitigation measures are suggested:
∗ Regular media re leases i ndicating the actual impact and operation of the
proposed facility and the proposed mitigation measures;
∗ Provision o f detailed information to tourism establishments regarding the
proposed facility and the mitigation measures undertaken to limit potential
impacts regarding visual impacts, smell, etc;
∗ A public participation process to inform all stakeholders of the proposed
facility a nd th e m itigation m easures t o b e employed regarding v isual
impacts, smell, etc.
8.5.2. Perception of experience in the area
The main observations relating to the potential impacts of the waste disposal
facility on the perception of tourists while visiting the area are:
• The status of the impact would be negative as the knowledge of the waste
processing facility in the area may result in a negative perception of the area;
• The extent will be regional as the tourist would have a negative perception of
the whole experience and not just a section of their experience;
• The duration of the impact is permanent as the tourist’s perception would be
permanently affected;
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• The likelihood of th e i mpact o ccurring is probable based on the fact that
tourists are becoming more environmentally conscious and are more sensitive
to environmental issues;
• The severity is severe as the Sundays River Valley is a tourist destination and
a negative perception of the area could lead to a reduction in the number of
tourists that would in turn lead to a loss in income and employment;
• The significance is high because the impact would be severe;
• The post mitigation significance could be reduced to moderately severe if the
following mitigation measures could be employed:
∗ Provision of d etailed information t o tourists in t he a rea to explain t he
mitigation measures taken to reduce the potential environmental impacts
of the proposed facility;
∗ Provision o f detailed information to tourism establishments regarding the
proposed facility and the mitigation measures undertaken to limit potential
impacts regarding visual impacts, smell, etc; and
∗ The implementation of mitigation measures to limit environmental impacts
such as visual, doors, etc.
8.5.3. Visual
The visual impact of the potential footprint is the differentiating factor between all
footprints assessed during the course of the EIA process as the footprint that is
the least visible would have less of an impact on tourists than the most visible
footprint. The main observations relating to the potential impacts of the waste
disposal facility on the perception of tourists while visiting the area are:
• The status of the impact would be negative as a visible waste processing
facility would have a negative impact on the experience of a tourist;
• The extent of the impact will be localised to the footprint specific viewshed
area. Strictly speaking the impact would be local, however, the visual impact
is closely related to the perception of the experience of the tourists which
would be regional;
• The duration of the impact is permanent as the facility is likely to remain
visible without mitigation measures;
• The likelihood of the impact occurring is improbable for Footprint F (Valley
Infill) as the site is located within a valley and would not be visible from the
R335;
• The impact i s low for Footprint F (Valley Infill) as the footprint is not visible
from the R335;
• The significance of the impact is low for Footprint F (Valley Infill) as the
footprint is not visible from the R335;
• Even though the visual impact is considered low/negligible, it is recommended
that some mitigation measures be employed in order to further reduce the
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visual impact of the proposed facility. These measures could include planting
trees to act as a visual barrier to the footprint; and
• The post mitigation significance of Footprint F (Valley Infill) will be of little to
no effect.
8.5.4. Wind/Smell
The assessment of the identified impact was the same for all footprints assessed
during t he c ourse o f t he EIA p rocess. T he main o bservation r elating to th e
potential impacts of the waste disposal facility on the perception of tourists as a
result of odours are that:
• The status of the impact would be negative as odours from the facility would
have a negative impact on the experience of a tourist; and
• The extent w ill be l ocal as the odours would be in a particular area but any
potential o dours f rom th e f acility w ould h ave a n egative i mpact o n th e
perception of the tourist of the region;
8.5.5. Traffic
The assessment of the identified impact will be the same for all potential
footprints assessed during the course of the EIA process. The main observations
relating to the potential impacts of the waste disposal facility on the perception of
tourists as a result of traffic are:
• The status of the impact would be negative as an increase in traffic on the
R335 to the Sundays River Valley could delay tourists on their trip and be
frustrating and dangerous and would contribute to the deterioration of the
road;
• The extent will be local as mainly the R335 would be effected;
• The duration of the impact is permanent as the usage of the road is unlikely
to decline;
• The likelihood of the impact occurring is highly probable as it is the main
access into the Sundays River Valley and Footprint F;
• The severity is high as the increase in traffic and deterioration of the road
would have a negative impact on tourist’s perception of the area; and
• The si gnificance i s low should a ppropriate m itigation m easures b e
implemented.
8.5.6. Limitation of future tourism development
The main observations relating to the potential impacts of the waste disposal
facility on the future development of tourism are:
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• The status of the impact would be negative as the establishment of a general
and hazardous waste processing f acility w ould limit the d evelopment o f a
tourist facility in close proximity to the facility;
• The extent will be regional as the facility could have a negative impact on
tourists d ecision to visit t he a rea a s w ell a s a n egative i mpact on t heir
experience in the area;
• The duration of the impact is permanent as the facility would be permanent;
• The likelihood of the impact occurring is highly probable as it is highly likely
that a new tourism facility would not be placed in close proximity to a general
and hazardous waste processing facility;
• The severity is very severe as the Sundays River Valley is a tourist destination
and a limitation on the expansion of its tourism product would limit potential
revenue and employment creation;
• The significance is high because the impact would be very severe; and
• The post mitigation significance remains very severe as no mitigation
measures could be foreseen. Unless the proposed facility is moved to another
site outside the Sundays River Valley, the impact would remain very severe.
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Table 8.1: Tourism impact assessment of Footprint F
Potential
Impact Status Extent Duration Probability
Severity /
Intensity
scale
Significance
Post
mitigation
significance
Perception
before d ecision
to visit
Negative Regional
Permanent
Probable
Very High
High High
Perception of
experience in
the area
Negative Regional
Permanent
Probable
Very High
High High
Visual Negative Local
Permanent
Improbable
Low
Low Low
Wind/Smell Negative Local
Permanent
Improbable
Moderate
Low Low
Traffic Negative Local
Permanent
Highly Probable
High
High Low
Limitation of
future tourism
development in
areas a djacent
to the facility
Negative Regional
Permanent
Highly Probable
Very High
High Very High
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8.6. Conclusion and recommendations
Based on the analysis of tourism in the area and assessment of all footprints
assessed during the course of the EIA process the following is concluded:
• The Sundays River Valley is an important tourism destination that depends
heavily o n its image a s a n e co/wildlife d estination. T he A ddo E lephant
National P ark is the key attraction i n the area and is being m arketed on
environmental grounds i.e. the animals are free to roam across a large area,
and the p ark has a range of b iodiversity. The a rea th us appeals to the
environmentally conscious tourist.
• Internationally tourists are becoming more environmentally conscious and are
basing their decision to visit a destination on environmental grounds. T hese
tourists m ay th us d ecide n ot to v isit th e S undays Ri ver V alley a rea i f a
regional general and hazardous waste processing facility is located in the area
due to the perception that these types of facilities are harmful to the
environment.
Based on the above it should be stated that none of the footprints assessed
during the course of the EIA process, including Footprint F , are i deal for such a
facility as they are located in a tourism area that markets itself as an eco/wildlife
destination that is environmentally sensitive. However, the following mitigation
measures can be implemented:
• Provide detailed information regarding the facility to all tourism
establishments in the area so that they can deal with queries from tourists.
• Obtain e ditorial c opy in lo cal a nd r egional media t o in form r esidents a nd
tourists o f th e f acility and its p otential impact o n t ourism a s w ell a s t he
mitigation measures that will be employed to address environmental impacts.
• Ensure the facility is not visible from the R335.
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9. VISUAL IMPACT
The visual assessment was undertaken by Mr Lourens du Plessis of MetroGIS
(Pty) Ltd for the Footprint Ranking Report (2006). The findings remain valid for
EIA phase assessment.
9.1. Introduction
A visual impact assessment of any structure or facility that is perceived to be
potentially hazardous can often create a perception of impact that is larger than
the actual visual impact itself. People do not want to see something that could be
potentially dangerous, no matter how small the potential threat may be. The
impact often only occurs once the viewer knows what he is looking at. It is,
therefore, i mperative to identify and address these perceived impacts as real
concerns and treat them as critical factors that may override conventional visual
impact criteria.
It was clear from the concerns raised by Interested and Affected Parties, that the
proposed general and hazardous waste processing facility in question would be no
different. Two distinct groups mentioned virtually the same concern, albeit for
different r easons. T he f irst, the tourism industry, mentioned that the p roposed
footprints are situated near the R335, the main connecting route between Port
Elizabeth and the Greater Addo Elephant National Park, and that the view of a
hazardous w aste s ite w ould d etract f rom t he n ature/wildlife e xperience a nd
ultimately impact negatively on the tourism potential of the area. The same
concern w as r aised b y t he c itrus industry, n ear A ddo, w ith re gards t o t he
negative p erception o f l ocating a h azardous w aste s ite i n p roximity t o c itrus
farms. Specific mention was made of t he strict European Union export
accreditation and the possibility of inspectors seeing the waste disposal facility en
route from Port Elizabeth to Addo, whereby farms could be adversely affected i f
importers see the fruit being produced in the same region as a hazardous waste
disposal facility. With this in mind, the conventional visual impact assessment
procedure t ook t he v isibility, or d egree of visibility, of t he w aste p rocessing
facility from the R335, into account as a critical factor regarding the
recommendation of t he p referred s ite. The sco pe of w ork i ncluded a v isual
analysis of Footprint F according to visual sensitivity, visual absorption capacity
and viewshed.
9.2. Methodology
9.2.1. General
The study was undertaken using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software
as a tool to model the proposed waste processing facility, generate viewshed
analyses and to apply relevant spatial c riteria to Footprint F. A de tailed Digital
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Terrain M odel ( DTM) f or t he study a rea w as c reated from t he 5 m i nterval
contours that w ere digitally c aptured f rom 1: 10 0 00 s cale o rtho-photos. The
rectangular extent of these ortho-photos was used to delineate the study area
boundary for the visual impact analysis. Detailed preliminary landform designs of
each footprint with the proposed facility were received from Jones and Wagner
Consulting Civil Engineers and incorporated into the DTM. These landform designs
were u sed to v isualise th e e xtent o f change to th e n atural landform a nd to
accurately calculate the visual exposure of the facility for each footprint. Site
visits w ere u ndertaken t o s ource i nformation re garding land use, vegetation
cover, topography and general visual quality of the affected environment. It
further served the purpose of verifying the results of the spatial analyses and to
identify o ther p ossible m itigating/aggravating c ircumstances r elated to th e
potential visual impact. The results of the spatial analysis and other relevant
orientation data are displayed on a number of figures further on in this chapter.
9.2.2. Assessment Methodology
The f irst step i n u ndertaking a v isual impact a ssessment i s to i dentify a nd
understand the crucial issues related to the specific impact. These issues or
concerns, as stated by Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs) through the public
participation process, highlight the envisaged potential impact and help to identify
the c ritical f actors t hat s hould b e a ddressed. It a lso focuses th e a nalytical
procedures on site-specific issues, rather than to apply general assumptions that
might n ot b e a pplicable to th e a ffected p arties or s tudy a rea. Once a clear
understanding was formed about the perceived visual impact of the proposed
facility, procedures were set in place to firstly, determine the potential visual
impact of the footprint, and secondly, to identify the locations (place) where the
likely impact would occur i s determined by the v iewer i ncidence v iewshed. The
potential visual impact and location of likely impact is indicated by a visual impact
index for the f ootprint. T he v isual impact index comprises the following spatial
criteria:
• Visual exposure (visibility) of the facility
This procedure is generally referred to as the viewshed analysis, indicating all
the areas from which the facility will be visible.
• Proximity to the facility (visual distance)
The principle that visual impact decreases over distance is applied through the
creation of buffer radii around the facility. These buffer radii indicate whether
the observer/viewer has a short, medium or l ong d istance experience of the
footprint. T he concept of visual distance and the determination of the buffer
radii will be discussed in Section 8.4.3.
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• Viewer incidence
Visual impacts occur where there are people to be impacted on, and where
more people occur, the potential impact (or frequency of impact) increases.
By this rationale densely populated areas (such as residential areas) or areas
frequented by observers (e.g. roads) would increase viewer incidence a nd
need to be identified.
Once th e p otential impact a nd a rea o f l ikely i mpact h ad b een i dentified,
another set of criteria was applied to footprint F in order to determine the
severity of the impact.
The criteria/elements for the evaluation for Footprint F include:
• The visual exposure (size of the visible area) within the study area
The size of visual exposure of the facility footprint gives a good indication of
the possible area within which a visual impact could occur. The larger the
visual a rea, t he g reater t he p otential f or i mpact a nd t he m ore d ifficult it
becomes to contain or mitigate the impact.
• Viewer perception in area of likely impact
Visual impacts occur where the observer's perception of the proposed facility
is negative. This rationale is applied to the area of likely impact, indicated by
the visual impact index, to determine if the dominant area of impact
constitutes a negative perception.
• Line of sight (approach viewfield) from main roads (R335)
Line of sight approach viewfield indicates areas where the observer is virtually
guaranteed to see the proposed facility when travelling along the R335. It is
an almost forced sighting as apposed to an accidental sighting.
• Line of sight (approach viewfield) from other roads
Line of sight approach viewfield indicates that the observer is virtually
guaranteed t o s ee the p roposed f acility w hen tr avelling a long t he g ravel
roads.
• The distance (length) of road from which a facility is visible
The longer the facility is visible along a stretch of public road, the greater the
likelihood that it will be noticed.
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• Distance of the facility from major tar roads (access from the R335)
This element relates to the impact of heavy vehicles travelling to and from the
waste p rocessing fa cility. T he v isual impact o f t rucks t ravelling a long a
secondary road is difficult to quantify, as the frequency of visits and type of
vehicle is not yet known. The rational assumption, in this case, is that the
greater the distance the vehicle travels the greater the potential visual
intrusion.
• The construction of access roads
The study area is criss-crossed by road clearings, servitudes and cutlines that
all create visual scars across the landscape. The construction of new access
roads to the proposed facility would further increase the visual impact of the
facility and lower the overall natural visual quality of the area. T hese access
roads would either be upgrades of existing roads or cutlines, or they would
have to be the construction of new roads.
• The potential to mitigate the impact through vegetation screening
Vegetation screening is a tried and trusted method of mitigating visual
impacts. It is however not always a viable option and depends greatly on the
type of structure you're trying to conceal and the strategic placement of both
the structure and the screening. In this case it seems highly unlikely that
vegetation a lone w ould c onceal a 34 m high landfill s ite, a ssociated
infrastructure and access road at any of the preferred sites. S ometimes it is
possible, if the visual exposure is contained enough and the impact occurring
is localised, to actually shield the observer f rom the structure rather than to
shield the structure from the observer.
9.3. Site Description
9.3.1. The affected environment
The b road t opography o r t errain m orphological u nit f or t his a rea is s trongly
undulating plains and hills. T he vegetation cover in the area i s Mesic Succulent
Thicket with significant infestation of alien invasive species. The natural
vegetation has been altered by farming practises (over-grazing), encroachment of
exotic species, the creation of hundreds of cutlines throughout the region and
quarrying. Citrus and game farming, conservation and nature-oriented tourism
take place north-east of the study area. T he area is sparsely populated, due to
the p redominantly agricultural n ature o f activities, a nd relatively f ar removed
from major urban centres.
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9.3.2. Footprint F
It is mainly the orientation/aspect and the height and slope of the GHWMF design
landform that changes to conform to the existing landform. The height is
approximately 32 m at the highest point above ground level. The total functional
area for th e f ootprint, i ncluding a ssociated i nfrastructure (b uildings, s upport
structures, etc.) will not exceed 30 hectares. This does not include access roads
and b orrow a reas. Footprint F is n estled in the to p o f a v alley o n th e f arm
Grassridge 1 90 (a djacent to G rassridge 2 27), a lso o wned b y P PC a nd a lso
earmarked for mining and quarrying. The footprint area has not yet been mined,
but has generally been degraded by cattle and game farming practises. The
orientation of the landfill is south-east along the steepest slope and i t measures
about 720 m by 420 m.
Footprint F has one advantage that sets it apart from all of the other footprints.
This footprint is an infill site, which would greatly reduce its visibility and potential
visual e xposure t o r andom o bservers. It d oes n ot pr otrude a bove th e
Sundays/Coega River watershed boundary and therefore appears to not be
exposed to the north. I t seems that the footprint would theoretically be visible,
due to the valley's south-eastern orientation, from the R335 at a distance of
almost 6 km. The likelihood of it ever being noticed or recognised as a landfill
from a distance of 6 km is slim to negligible, as the site would never appear in its
entirety.
9.3.3. Visual impact assessment
The visual impact assessment is based on the visual exposure (visibility), the
visual distance (proximity of the observer) and the v iewer incidence (number of
observers) o f e ach f acility. I t w as c alculated u sing t he p reliminary l andfill
landform designs and takes into account the size (width, height and length) of
each facility. These spatial criteria will be discussed in the following sections and
are displayed in Figures 9.1-9.3.
• Visual exposure
Figure 9.1 i llustrates t he v isual e xposure o f th e F ootprint F f or th e
construction o f a h azardous waste processing facility. An accurate d igital
terrain model, calculated from the 5 m interval contours, and the preliminary
landform designs, illustrates how the topography of the area and the
placement of the footprints either shield or expose each facility. The effect of
existing vegetation cover, as a potential to absorb the visual exposure, was
not c onsidered, a s th e f acility e xceeds 3 0 m i n h eight a nd th e average
vegetation cover (thicket and bushland) is 2 to 3 m high.
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Footprint F h as a m uch s maller a rea o f v isual e xposure th an th e o ther
alternatives assessed. T he extent of its visibility is contained, to a large
degree, to scattered sighting down the valley within which it is situated. It
does not extend above the Sundays/Coega River watershed boundary, and is
therefore not v isible from the north. V isibility from the R335 is theoretically
possible at a distance of approximately 6 km, though it is highly unlikely due
to th e r elatively s mall v isual p orthole a fforded b y th e ridges f lanking the
footprint's valley. T he visibility would further be h ighly interrupted, because
no considerable length of road is ever exposed to the facility.
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Ch 9 – Visual June 2010 144
Figure 9.1: Visual exposure of Footprint F to surrounding area
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
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Ch 9 – Visual June 2010 145
• Visual distance
The visual distance theory relates to the scale of the proposed landfill site,
and the distance over which it is viewed in order to determine the prominence
of t he s tructure i n r elation t o i ts s urrounding e nvironment. Figure 9 .2
indicates the visual distances as buffer radii from Footprint F.
The buffer distances chosen for this study are 500 m, 1 000 m, 1 500 m,
3 000 m and greater than 3 000 m. The 500 m buffer interval was calculated
from the average maximum width of the landfill sites added to the average
maximum height.
0 - 500 m . T his bu ffer z one i ncludes th e w aste d isposal f acility and its
immediate surroundings. T he structure being viewed f ills and dominates the
frame of vision and constitutes a very high visual prominence.
500 – 1 000 m. At a distance of twice its combined width and height, the
structure is easily and comfortably visible and constitutes a high visual
prominence.
1 000 – 1 500 m. At a distance of three times the combined width and
height, the structure is seen as being framed by its surroundings and becomes
part of the visual environment. This zone constitutes a high to medium visual
prominence.
1 500 – 3 000 m. At a distance of three to six times its combined width and
height, the structure begins to blend into the surroundings and ceases to be
seen as an individual element. This zone constitutes a medium visual
prominence.
Greater than 3 000 m. At a distance greater than six times its combined
width a nd h eight, th e s tructure b egins to f ade i nto i ts s urroundings a nd
constitutes a lower visual prominence.
The above theory was developed by Rodney Brown of Van Riet and Louw
Landscape Architects and has been used successfully in determining the visual
impact of landfill sites and the subsequent mitigation thereof. Variations of
the original theory might occur due to the varying visual natures of structures.
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Figure 9.2: Visual distance and viewer incidence of Footprint F to the surrounding area
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Ch 9 – Visual June 2010 147
• Viewer incidence and viewer perception
The number of observers and their perception of a structure determine the
concept of visual impact. If there are no observers or if the visual perception
of the structure is favourable to all the observers, there would be no visual
impact.
It is necessary to identify areas of high viewer incidence and to classify certain
areas a ccording to t he o bserver's v isual s ensitivity to wards th e p roposed
hazardous waste processing facility. I t would be impossible not to generalise
the v iewer i ncidence a nd s ensitivity t o s ome d egree, a s t here a re m any
variables when trying to determine the perception of the observer; regularity
of sighting, cultural background, state of mind, purpose of sighting, etc. which
would create a myriad o f options. For the purpose o f th is s tudy three a reas
were classified as having differing observer incidences and perceptions.
The first area of viewer incidence and perception is indicated as a 500 m
buffer zone around the R335 (see Figure 9.2). The rationale is that this area
is likely to contain the most observers, being the main road between PE and
Addo (and PE and the Greater Addo Elephant National Park), and that the
purpose of these observers would be, either tourism related or associated with
the citrus producing industry near Addo. If the proposed facility were sighted
from this area it would more than likely have a negative impact on the viewer.
The second area of viewer incidence and perception is a 500 m buffer zone
around the other roads (gravel roads) in the study area. The viewer incidence
would be higher than the surrounding cattle and game farming areas, but i t
would be less than the first zone around the main road. The perception or
sensitivity towards the proposed facility would also be less critical than the
first zone, because these roads are more than often frequented by farmers
and farm workers who are going about their daily business. This zone is seen
as having a lower effect on the visual impact of the proposed facility.
The third area is the remainder of the study area (excluding the first two
zones). This area is predominantly devoid of observers, as it covers great
tracts of vacant cattle and game farming land. P ossible exceptions occur on
each farm were the homestead is situated. Even at these homesteads the
perception of the proposed facility is assumed to be predominantly neutral.
This zone is seen as having a very low effect on the visual impact of the
proposed facility.
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9.4. Results
9.4.1. Visual impact index
The combined results of the visual exposure, viewer incidence and visual distance
of Footprint F are displayed on Figure 9.3. Here the weighted impact and the
likely areas of impact are indicated as a visual impact index. It must be borne in
mind that in the areas where the proposed facility is visible from the R335, the
impact was considered to be higher. The design and location of Footprint F, being
an infill site, has to a large degree contained the visual impact to the valley in
which it is s ituated a nd a lmost e ntirely to th e t wo P PC m ining p roperties.
Scattered patches of visual exposure could occur along the R335 at a distance of
about 6 km, but it is highly unlikely to raise awareness to potential observers.
This is especially true for southbound traffic, which would not be able to see the
facility. T he footprint and its associated infrastructure would not be visible from
most of the other roads in the study area.
9.4.2. Visual impact severity
Having indicated the potential visual impact and the area of likely impact, another
set of c riteria or e valuation e lements w ere applied to t he p roposed f ootprint
location. These elements analysed other factors, which may either mitigate or
aggravate, the visual impact and create a basis for severity rating. Table 9.1
shows the value rating for the proposed footprint according to the above
evaluation criteria.
Table 9.1: Severity of the visual impact
Aspect Footprint F
Visible Area 15 km2
Viewer Perception
Value = 0
Negative Value = 1
R335 Approach Line of Sight No Value = 0
Other Roads Approach Line of Sight No Value = 0
Visible Stretch of Road 3,3 km Value = 0
Distance from R335 (Access) Private Rd Value = 0
Access Road Construction / Upgrade Existing haul road
Value = 0
Mitigation through Vegetation Screening Possible Value = 0
Total Severity of Impact
00 = Lowest
12 = Highest
01
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Ch 9 – Visual June 2010 149
Figure 9.3: Visual Impact Index of Footprint F
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Ch 9 – Visual June 2010 150
9.4.3. Impact Analysis
Table 9.2 overleaf provides the impact analysis of Footprint F from a visual point
of view.
Footprint F (Grassridge 190) is a valley infill site and ranks as an ideal location for
the hazardous waste processing facility. It has the most contained area of visual
impact a nd lends i tself to t he h ighest l evel o f s uccessful impact m itigation
measures. This is due to the enclosed nature of the valley within which it resides.
The fact that the facility is theoretically visible from the R335 is not a major cause
for concern. The likelihood of it ever being noticed or recognised as a landfill
from a distance of 6 km is slim to negligible, as the site would never appear in its
entirety.
The footprint is situated within a predominantly mining and quarrying area, as
opposed t o c attle a nd g ame f arming. T his l and-use i s b etter s uited to
accommodate a landfill and offers secondary advantages such as the immediate
availability of borrow materials from decommissioned mining areas. The clearing
of vegetation and the quarrying for borrow materials, especially over large tracts
of land, can largely be avoided as a result.
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Table 9.2: Visual impact assessment of Footprint F
Potential Impact Status Extent Duration Probability
Severity /
Intensity
scale
Significance
Post
mitigation
significance
Viewer perception in
area of lik ely v isual
impact
Negative Regional
Long term
Possible
Moderate
High High -
View from R335 Negative Local
Long term
Possible
Moderate
Moderate Moderate -
View from other roads Negative Local
Long term
Possible
Moderate to
Low
Moderate Moderate -
Construction of access
roads
Negative Regional
Permanent
Possible
Moderate
Moderate Moderate -
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9.5. Conclusion and Recommendations
The s trategic p lacement of any s tructure or w aste p rocessing facility is the f irst
level of visual impact mitigation. T he p lacement should occur with utmost care
and sensitivity towards potential observers and should address both primary and
secondary a ssociated i mpacts. T he s election o f F ootprint F (G rassridge 1 90
Remainder) a s t he p referred a lternative, e ven w ith its ow n a ssociated v isual
impact concerns, highlights the need to shield the facility from observers
travelling along the R335. The benefit of this footprint placement is that no one
travelling from Port Elizabeth to Addo, or the Greater Addo Elephant National
Park, would even be aware of the existence of this facility through accidental
observation. This is due to the fact that the footprint is far removed from the
R335 and because of the hidden nature of the infill site.
The associated benefits of placing the waste processing facility on mining land,
where b orrow m aterials c ould b e s ourced w ithout b reaking n ew g round a nd
clearing large tracts of land, counts in this footprint’s favour. The mining and
quarrying activities and a waste processing facility are complimenting land-uses,
as opposed to the potential conflict between waste processing and
agriculture/cattle and game farming/tourism and eco-tourism. Another clear
benefit of this footprint's placement is its closer proximity to Port Elizabeth from
where most of the waste to be treated will be transported. The distance of 4 km
does not sound l ike much, but over a period of 20 years i t would translate to a
considerable amount of kilometres. This, and the fact that access will be afforded
by the P1954 road, minimises the visual impacts associated with the increase in
heavy vehicle traffic to and from the facility. This increase in heavy vehicle traffic
might raise awareness of the fact that such a facility exists in the vicinity.
Possible mitigation measures for th is footprint would include the upgrade of the
R335 main road to facilitate the overtaking of trucks. Being stuck behind a heavy
vehicle, tr ansporting h azardous w aste c onstitutes a v isual impact a nd
unnecessarily sensitises the observer. The potential screening of the facility,
through the strategic placement of vegetation at the areas of highest impact,
should be investigated and implemented. The placement of site infrastructure
and associated buildings must be carefully planned to further reduce unnecessary
visual clutter. Lighting of the facility should be designed to contain, rather than
spread the light, and avoid potential visual impacts at night. This would apply to
security lighting and operational lighting, should the facility function at night.
Implementation and monitoring of visual impact mitigation measures should be
done throughout the l ifespan of the facility, f rom construction phase through to
decommissioning and rehabilitation phases. A forum should be created through
which affected parties could report any shortcomings or negligence in the
mitigation and containment of the visual impact of the facility.
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10. AIR QUALITY
Airshed Planning Professionals (Pty) Ltd was appointed by Bohlweki-SSI
Environmental to undertake an a ir quality impact assessment for p roposed new
GHWMF in the Eastern Cape. The specialist report is contained in Appendix G.
10.1. Introduction
The m ain ob jective of t he s tudy w as t o u ndertake a n a ir d ispersion impact
assessment using project s pecific d ata to d etermine potential impacts o n th e
surrounding environment and human health associated with Footprint F.
10.2. Scope of Study
The scope of the air quality impact assessment included the following:
• Meteorological data processing for input into dispersion modelling.
• Estimation of fugitive dust and landfill gas emissions emanating from
proposed operations at the landfill phase during which maximum emissions
are expected.
• Simulation o f a mbient a ir p ollution c oncentrations a nd d ustfall r ates
occurring d uring t he period of ma ximum l andfill ga s a nd f ugitive du st
emissions.
• Evaluation of predicted air pollutant concentrations and dustfall rates based
on local and international air quality guidelines and standards, dose–
response relationships and odour thresholds.
• Identification of mitigation and/or management measures aimed at reducing
fugitive dust and landfill gas emissions.
• Buffer zone projection:
* Delineation of health, odour and dust impact areas associated with the
period of maximum emissions associated with the proposed landfill site.
* Recommendation of buffer zones and impact management zones based
on the health, odour and dust impact areas identified.
• A complete impact significance rating.
10.3. Methodology
The establishment of a comprehensive emission inventory forms the basis for the
assessment of the impact of the proposed GHWMF emissions on the receiving
environment. The establishment of a n e missions inventory c omprises t he
identification o f s ources o f e mission, a nd t he q uantification o f e ach s ource’s
contribution to ambient air pollution concentrations. Pollutants of concern in the
current study include fugitive dust and landfill gas emissions.
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Fugitive dust emissions can occur as a result of vehicle-entrained dust from the
unpaved road network, wind erosion from open areas and dust generation due to
material handling and pushing (bulldozing) operations. Gaseous emissions from
the landfill emanate from the work face, t renches and covered portions. In the
quantification of fugitive dust emissions use was made of emission factors which
associate the quantity of a pollutant to the activity associated with the release of
that pollutant. Due to the absence of locally generated emission factors, use was
made of the comprehensive set of emission factors published by the US
Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) in its AP-42 document Compilation of
Air Pollution Emission Factors. In the estimation of gaseous emissions from open
trenches and working faces of the landfill, the UK Environmental Agency’s GasSim
model w as u sed. This m odel w as d eveloped t o p rovide a s tandard ri sk
assessment methodology for the Agency, operator and consultants. GasSim is
designed to aid landfill gas (LFG) risk assessment, by enabling LFG generation,
emissions, m igration/dispersion a nd i mpact/exposure t o b e a ssessed i n a
reproducible manner by those familiar with the subject, but without the need to
build multiple models.
The simulation of ambient air pollutant concentrations and dust deposition due to
the GHWMF emissions were undertaken through the application of the US-EPA
AERMOD ( version 5 ). T he USA -EPA ( EPA, 1 986) c onsiders t he r ange o f
uncertainty to be -50% to 200%. In the estimation of emissions and the
simulation of patterns of dispersion, a distinction was made between Total
Suspended Particulates (TSP) and inhalable particulates (PM10, particulate matter
with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 10 μm). Whereas TSP is of interest
due to its implications in terms of nuisance dust impacts, the PM10 fraction is
taken into account to determine the potential for human health risks. The
dispersion simulations undertaken for particulate and gaseous emissions
facilitated a preliminary assessment of the health implications of the proposed
landfill site emissions, through the comparison of simulated concentrations with
local and international ambient air quality guidelines and standards. For pollutants
for which no ambient guidelines are available, use was made of health and odour
thresholds from the general literature with preference being given to refereed
sources, e.g. US-EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) data base. The
health risk screening assessment was undertaken for the proposed landfill site.
10.3.1. Emissions Inventory and Dispersion Simulations
The GHWMF is proposed to operate for 20 years. The design capacity is
approximately 5 million m³. For the purposes of the current study the projected
landfill rate was taken to be 122 696 tons per annum in year 1 and gradually
increased to 301 823 tons per annum in year 11 after which it stays constant up
to year 20. Work faces will be covered at t he end of each day. No controls
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regarding odour from leachate areas and dust from covered areas were assumed.
The capping of the landfill was taken to be carried out progressively.
• Landfill Gas Emissions
The nature of emissions emanating from a landfill site is dependant on the
following factors:
* composition of the waste to be received at the site;
* design and operational practices (e.g. treatment policies);
* chemical reactions within the landfill; and
* stage of the landfill gas generation process.
For the purpose of estimating LFG emissions, the relative proportions of the
different materials within each of the waste streams expected at the
proposed GHWMF had to be determined or a ssumed. The generation of LFG
for a n i ndividual s ite i s b ased o n th e m ass o f w aste d eposited a nd th e
composition of the waste streams. The waste is degraded following the f irst
order decay model that calculates the LFG generation for up to 200 years.
The emission model of GasSim takes this output and uses it to calculate LFG
emissions, of bulk and trace gases, to the environment after allowing for LFG
collection, f laring, u tilisation ( energy r ecovery) a nd b iological m ethane
oxidation. T he w aste composition w as u sed t o ca lculate t he q uantity o f
carbon that is available for slow, moderate and fast degradation and thus the
quantity and rate LFG production.
The identification of the landfill gasses of concern and the quantification of
these g aseous e missions w ere t herefore b ased on t he w aste s tream
classifications. The GasSim model, used to calculate LFG emissions, requires
various input parameters based on the characterisation of the waste type and
the manner in which the waste is to be stored and managed. The model
makes provision for the input of site-specific gaseous concentrations within
the w aste (i .e. s ubsurface g as c oncentrations) d espite c ontaining default
values b ased on i nformation f rom U K l andfill s ites. W here p ossible,
subsurface gas concentrations used for the Chloorkop general waste l andfill
study in Ekurhuleni (Gauteng Province), from sampling campaigns conducted
by Margot Saner & Associates (Pty) Ltd and Jean Bogner from Landfills Plus,
were used as input in the GasSim modelling. For pollutants for which no data
were available reference was made to the UK landfill figures.
• Fugitive Particulate Emissions
Impacts a ssociated w ith fu gitive d ust e missions, v arious p articulate size
fractions w ere c onsidered, i ncluding r espirable p articles (P M10) a nd to tal
suspended particulates (TSP).The PM10 size fraction was selected due to i ts
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implications for human health, with TSP being included in the modelling to
allow for the assessment of dust fall rates, which may pose a nuisance to
sensitive receptors in the vicinity of the l andfill. The following sources of
fugitive dust have been included in the current study:
* Vehicle entrainment from unpaved roads – waste carrying haul trucks from
the main road to the landfill site;
* Vehicle entrainment f rom unpaved roads – cover material t ransport f rom
the borrow pit area;
* Excavation of cover and interim material from the borrow pit;
* Front-end-loader activity in the borrow pit and at the landfill working area;
* Tipping of cover and interim material at the landfill working area; and
* Wind erosion of the covered portions of the landfill.
Four scenarios were considered for the access route to the landfill site (Figure
10.1 – also refer to Chapter 13). The scenarios are as follows:
* Scenario 1
*
: All waste hauling traffic from the R335 onto the P1954 (Route
1);
Scenario 2
*
: All waste hauling traffic from the R335 onto the P1958, an
unpaved road to the north-east of the landfill site (Route 2);
Scenario 3
*
: 80 % w aste h auling traffic f rom the R 335 o nto t he P1954
(Route 1) and 20% of the traffic from the R75 onto the MR00470 and then
the P1958 (Route 3); and
Scenario 4
: 80 % w aste h auling traffic f rom the R 335 o nto the P 1958
(Route 2), an unpaved road to the north-east of the landfill site and 20%
of the traffic from the R75 onto Route 3.
• Particulate Concentrations and Deposition Levels
Particulate concentration and dustfall levels were simulated for four emission
scenarios described a bove. T he s cenarios v aried f rom each ot her w ith
respect to the waste haul roads that are considered. The scenarios subject to
assessment were:
* Scenario 1
*
: Included emissions from wind erosion, materials handling and
vehicle entrainment from the unpaved P1954 (Route 1);
Scenario 2
*
: Included emissions from wind erosion, materials handling and
vehicle e ntrainment f rom t he unpaved P1958 to th e n orth-east of t he
landfill site (Route 2);
Scenario 3
*
: Included emissions from wind erosion, materials handling and
vehicle entrainment from the P1954 (80% of total traffic on Route 1) and
the unpaved MR00470 / P1958 to the south-west of the landfill site (20%
of total traffic on Route 3); and
Scenario 4: Included emissions from wind erosion, materials handling and
vehicle e ntrainment f rom t he un paved P1958 (80% of t otal t raffic o n
Route 2) and the MR00470 / P1958 (20% of total traffic on Route 3).
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Figure 10.1: Alternative access routes to the proposed landfill site
10.3.2. Landfill Gas Concentrations, Health and Odour Impacts
Ambient landfill gas concentrations occurring due to routine landfill operations
were simulated for the proposed GHWMF. Predicted landfill gas concentrations
were compared to respective health and odour threshold and potential cancer
risks estimated.
• Non-carcinogenic health impacts
The potential for non-carcinogenic health impacts were assessed. A synopsis
of the highest hourly, highest daily, highest monthly and annual average
pollutant concentrations predicted to occur were given as a fraction of
relevant n on-carcinogenic health t hresholds. T his was t o highlight the
potential that exists for health impacts. Fractions of greater than 1 represent
threshold exceedances.
• Cancer risks
Cancer risks were estimated based on predicted long-term average on-site
concentrations to determine the potential for cancer risks due to individual
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compounds and across all carcinogens simulated. Reference was made to
cancer risk factors published by the World Health Organisation (WHO), US-
EPA and California EPA. U se was made of the strictest risk factors available
for each pollutant when carrying out the assessment of risk. T he maximum
cancer risk calculated for site F was predicted to be 1 in 2.5 million. In order
to determine the levels of cancer risk beyond the landfill boundary such risks
were calculated for operations at the proposed landfill site (taking A, B1 and
B2 carcinogens into account). C ancer risks of < 1: 1 million are frequently
accepted by authorities in countries such as the USA as being negligible with
greater risks receiving attention.
• Odour assessment
A c omprehensive odour a ssessment p rocedure w as adopted b ased on
guidance obtained from the New South Wales (NSW) EPA. In terms of this
procedure hourly average pollutant concentrations were calculated and
compared to odour thresholds obtained from the literature. Concentrations of
odoriferous compounds are given as a fraction of relevant odour thresholds,
with fractions of greater than 1 indicating threshold exceedances and
therefore odour impact potentials. O ff-site, t he potential for odour impacts
depends on the number of persons exposed. It was recommended that the
NSW EPA draft approach be largely adopted for use in the current study given
that it h as re cently b een p ublished a nd is c omprehensively d ocumented.
Odour units at each of the sensitive receptors were for calculated for the
proposed landfill. An odour unit level of 3 OU/m³ is given as being
acceptable for areas comprising between 500 and 2000 people.
10.3.3. Significance of Impacts
This impact assessment addressed emissions from the operational phase when
landfill emissions are expected to be at a maximum. The landfill gas generation is
expected to reach a maximum when the maximum amount of waste is in place,
i.e. y ear 20. Emissions a ssociated w ith the op erational phase of the l andfill
include the following:
• Fugitive dust emissions from vehicle entrainment;
• Fugitive dust emissions from materials handling activities;
• Fugitive dust emissions from wind erosion of exposed areas; and
• Landfill gas emissions.
Possible air quality impacts associated with these emissions are:
• Health r isks associated with predicted inhalable particulate and landfill gas
concentrations;
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• Cancer risks associated with predicted landfill gas concentrations;
• Odour impacts associated with predicted landfill gas concentrations; and
• Nuisance impacts as a result of predicted dustfall levels.
The proposed GHWMF will comprise two phases, namely an operational phase and
a post closure phase. An impact significance rating for each of the phases as well
as an overall significance rating is given in the subsequent sections. Landfill gas
generation is expected to decrease exponentially from year 20. Only landfill gas
emissions are associated with the post cl osure phase. No particulate emissions
are expected during the post closure phase since no materials handling or vehicle
activities will be present and all exposed areas are expected to be closed and
rehabilitated. The proposed GHWMF will comprise two phases, namely an
operational phase and a post closure phase. An impact significance rating for each
of the phases as well as an overall significance rating is given in the subsequent
sections. Landfill gas generation is expected to decrease exponentially from year
20. Only landfill gas emissions are associated with the post closure phase. N o
particulate emissions are expected since no materials handling or vehicle
activities will be present and all exposed areas are expected to be closed and
rehabilitated.
10.3.4. Buffer Zone Projection
A buffer zone is that area defined by the application of a separation distance from
the activity boundary (EPA Australia, 2000). Buffer zone projection is a tool to
assist development proposals to ensure that incompatible land uses are located in
such a way so that impacts caused by noise, odour and polluting air emissions are
minimised. When considering buffer z one p rojection health, odour and nuisance
impacts from the proposed development are usually taken into account. The
distances of exceedance of the various health and odour criteria as a result of
emissions f rom t he p roposed d evelopment a re c ompared a nd t he m aximum
distance of exceedance applied as the buffer zone.
10.4. Results and Conclusions
The main findings of the study were as follows:
Particulates (PM10): No e xceedances o f t he c urrent (Daily A verage – 180
µg/m³; Annual Average – 60 µg/m³) or proposed (Daily Average – 75 µg/m³;
Annual Average – 40 µg/m³) ambient South African standards for PM10 were
predicted to occur at any of the sensitive receptors included in the study for any
of the scenarios. T he impacts from landfill activities associated with Scenario 1
(Figures 10.2 and 10.3 overleaf) were predicted to be the least significant and will
result in the lowest g round l evel PM10 c oncentrations at t he majority o f th e
sensitive receptors.
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The highest PM10 concentrations predicted as a result of emissions associated
with the four scenarios were predicted to occur at Rooidam. It is clear that wind
erosion of working faces and vehicle entrainment of dust from unpaved roads is
the m ost s ignificant P M10 i mpacting s ource a t th e m ajority o f th e s ensitive
receptors for all four scenarios.
Figure 10.2: Scenario 1 – Predicted annual average PM10 concentrations
Figure 10.3: Scenario 1 – Predicted highest daily average PM10 concentrations
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Particulates (Dustfall): Particulate concentration and dustfall levels were
simulated for the four emission scenarios (Figure 10.1). The scenarios vary from
each other with respect to the waste haul roads that are considered as waste
haulage routes.
Slight dustfall levels (<250 mg/m²/day), were predicted to occur at the all of the
sensitive receptors located around the proposed GHWMF site. Locally, dust
deposition is evaluated according to the criteria published by the South African
Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism ( DWEA). In t erms of these
criteria dust deposition is classified as follows:
• Slight - less than 250 mg/m2/day
• Moderate - 250 to 500 mg/m2/day
• Heavy - 500 to 1200 mg/m2/day
• Very Heavy - more than 1200 mg/m2/day
The Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) uses the uses the 1 200
mg/m2
/day threshold level as an action level. In the event that on-site dustfall
exceeds this threshold, the specific causes of high dustfall should be investigated
and remedial steps taken.
"Slight" dustfall is barely visible to the naked eye. "Heavy" dustfall indicates a fine
layer of dust on a surface; with "Very Heavy" dustfall being easily visible should a
surface not be cleaned for a few days. Dustfall levels of > 2000 mg/m2/day
constitute a layer of dust thick enough to allow a person to "write" words in the
dust with their fingers.
Overall, the impacts from landfill activities associated with Scenario 1 (waste
haulage v ia t he P 1954 road - refer t o F igures 10.4 a nd 10.5 ov erleaf) a re
predicted to be the least significant and will result in the lowest dustfall levels at
the majority of the sensitive receptors.
Dust emissions from of landfill operations associated with Scenario 2 are however
predicted to result in the highest dustfall levels at most of the sensitive receptors.
The highest dustfall levels as a result of emissions associated with Scenarios 1
and 2 were predicted to occur at Rooidam, while the highest dustfall levels as a
result of emissions associated with Scenarios 3 and 4 were predicted to occur at
Centlivres. Dust as a result of wind erosion will have the most significant impact
on sensitive receptors to the north east and south east of the site.
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Figure 10.4: Scenario 1 – Predicted average daily dustfall
Figure 10.5: Scenario 1 – Predicted maximum daily dustfall
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Total TSP and PM10 emissions calculated for the various source groups for the
landfill site are given in Table 10.1. The table depicts total emission rates from all
activities associated with the expected activities at the proposed GHWMF taking
into account the four access route scenarios.
Table 10.1: Synopsis of estimated fugitive emissions
Scenario Source Group Emissions – Tons per Annum Emissions % Contribution
PM10 TSP PM10 TSP
1
Wind Erosion 162.99 263.51 80.26% 64.02%
Materials Handling 0.25 0.54 0.13% 0.13%
Unpaved Roads 39.83 147.55 19.62% 35.85%
Total - Scenario 1 203.07 411.60 100.00% 100.00%
2
Wind Erosion 162.99 263.51 72.90% 54.04%
Materials Handling 0.25 0.54 0.11% 0.11%
Unpaved Roads 60.34 223.53 26.99% 45.84%
Total - Scenario 2 223.58 487.58 100.00% 100.00%
3
Wind Erosion 162.99 263.51 75.71% 57.69%
Materials Handling 0.25 0.54 0.12% 0.12%
Unpaved Roads 52.03 192.72 24.17% 42.19%
Total - Scenario 3 215.27 456.78 100.00% 100.00%
4
Wind Erosion 162.99 263.51 70.35% 50.91%
Materials Handling 0.25 0.54 0.11% 0.10%
Unpaved Roads 68.44 253.51 29.54% 48.98%
Total - Scenario 4 231.68 517.56 100.00% 100.00%
A comparison of all 4 access road scenario’s indicates that Scenario 1 is the
preferred haul route option in terms of lower respirable particles (PM10) and total
suspended particulates (TSP) impacts, of which wind erosion from the working
faces of the proposed GHWMF s ite will be the largest source of emissions. It i s
clear that vehicle entrainment of dust from unpaved roads is the second most
significant PM10 impacting source at the majority of the sensitive receptors for all
four scenarios. It is recommended that the preferred access road be resurfaced
to bitumen standard in order to reduce the volume of vehicle entrained dust that
will be resultant from the construction and operational phases of the proposed
GHWMF. Appropriate dust suppression measures will have to be developed and
incorporated into the Environmental Management Plan to address this potential
emission source resulting from what will be daily site operations and activities.
Non-carcinogenic exposures: The potential for non-carcinogenic health
impacts were assessed. A synopsis of the highest hourly, highest daily, highest
monthly and annual average pollutant concentrations predicted to occur on-site
due to landfill operations are given in Table 5.4 of the specialist report (Appendix
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Ch 10 – Air Quality June 2010 164
F). Such concentrations are also given as a fraction of relevant non-carcinogenic
health thresholds in order to highlight the potential that exists for health impacts.
Fractions of greater than 1 represent threshold exceedances and, i f appropriate,
are indicated in the table in bold print and a flag raised to indicate the threshold
exceeded. Although the health thresholds given are intended for public exposures
and are therefore not strictly applicable to on-site pollutant concentrations, the
use o f s uch concentrations in t he he alth s creening p rovides a n e asy w ay of
identifying pollutants that may result in significant off-site impacts. By summing
the ha zard f ractions o btained f or i ndividual pollutants, to a chieve the h azard
quotient or index, the combined non-carcinogenic health risk can be assessed.
The hazard quotient for chronic exposures from the landfill is predicted to be
0.012. The hazard quotients for the landfill are therefore predicted to be less than
1.0 for all exposure periods. Non-carcinogenic health risks are predicted to be
very low at all the sensitive receptors. The highest hazard quotient is predicted to
occur at Rooidam.
Cancer risks: Cancer risks were also estimated based on predicted long-term
average on-site concentrations to determine the potential for cancer risks due to
individual compounds and across all carcinogens simulated. Reference was made
to cancer risk factors published by the WHO, US-EPA and California EPA. Cancer
risks due to inhalation exposures to individual Volatile Organic Compounds
(VOCs) and metals are presented in Table 5.6 of the Specialist Report for the
proposed GHWMF. Use was made of the strictest risk factors available for each
pollutant when carrying out the assessment of risk. Total incremental cancer
risks calculated across all carcinogens considered are given in Table 5.7 of the
specialist report (Appendix 6 of Volume 2). From the information provided in the
tables it is evident that the greatest cancer risks are associated with B2 category
carcinogens (i.e. probable human carcinogens based on animal data). The
maximum cancer risk calculated for the proposed GHWMF is predicted to be 1 in
2.5 million. In order to determine the levels of cancer risk beyond the landfill
boundary s uch risks were c alculated t aking A , B 1 a nd B 2 c arcinogens i nto
account. Cancer ri sks o f < 1:1 m illion a re f requently accepted by authorities i n
countries such as the USA as being negligible with greater risks receiving
attention. Locally, the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DWEA)
has been noted to give an indication of cancer risk acceptability in the case of
dioxin and furan exposures.
According to the DWEA, emissions of dioxins and furans from a hazardous waste
incinerator may not result in an excess cancer risk of greater than 1:100 000 on
the basis of annual average exposure (DWEA, 1994). In the case of the proposed
landfill, excess cancer risks are less than 1:100 000 and would therefore b e
viewed as acceptable by the DWEA. It should be noted that no d ioxin or furan
emissions are expected under routine operating conditions at the proposed landfill
and reference to DWEA’s acceptable cancer risk level for dioxins and furans is
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only made in the absence of locally published acceptable cancer risk levels for
other pollutants from the landfill. The cancer risk level is not predicted to be
exceeded for the proposed landfill site. Total maximum incremental cancer risk
levels were predicted to be less than ~ 1 in 3.5 million for the proposed landfill
operations. The maximum cancer risk at the sensitive receptors as a result of
emissions from the proposed landfill site was predicted to occur at Rooidam (~ 1
in 45 million). Predicted cancer risks at the sensitive receptors as a result of
emissions from the site are given in Table 10.2.
Table 10.2: Summary of predicted cancer risks at the sensitive receptors
NOTES: Taking only A, B1 and B2 carcinogens into account
Sensitive Receptor
Calculated Cancer Risk (expressed
as a 1:xxx chance of contracting
cancer)
(a)
KOMMANDOKRAAL113 236 660 052
ADDODRIFTEAST122 211 737 537
F129 214 681 280
TZOETGENEUGD192 145 499 728
F198 148 044 132
AMANZI284 419 061 960
Sandfontein 576 178 922
Centlivres 415 454 022
Glen Mere 571 403 016
Doornkom 275 860 996
Prenticekraal 606 790 125
Heil-lof 373 924 717
Montana 353 905 278
Aloe Ridge 195 048 443
De Windmolen 128 619 937
Graskop 77 180 191
Blaauwbaatjesvley 85 173 391
Hartmanshoop 142 114 518
Rooidam 45 042 340
Kentvale 90 289 054
Alkom 120 126 922
Longhill 126 545 557
Koega Kamma 57 136 919
Eb en Vloed 80 903 654
Olifantskop 82 265 669
Grass Ridge III 291 043 333
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Odour impacts: In accordance with the assessment procedure hourly average
pollutant concentrations were calculated and compared to odour thresholds
obtained from the l iterature. Concentrations of odoriferous compounds are given
as a f raction of relevant od our t hresholds, w ith f ractions of g reater t han 1
indicating threshold exceedances and therefore odour impact potentials.
Figure 10.6: Predicted odour impact areas
No odour th reshold e xceedances w ere p redicted to occur d ue to o n-site
concentrations of odoriferous gasses. As per Figure 10.6 above, off-site odour
impacts were predicted to far below the acceptable 3 OU/m³ odour unit level at
all the sensitive receptors.
Buffer Zone projection: For the proposed GHWMF development no exceedances
of the health or odour criteria were predicted to occur off-site, hence providing no
guidance o n d etermining a pplicable b uffer d istances. It w as r ecommended to
implement as good practice a buffer zone around the proposed site.
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For this reference was made to the South Australian EPA’s draft document on
“Guidelines for Separation Distances”. Based on these different criteria associated
with health a nd nu isance i mpacts, a s eparation d istance o f 5 00 m f rom t he
operations area was used for the projection of the buffer zone for the proposed
GHWMF site (see Figure 10.7).
Figure 10.7: Projected 500 m buffer zone around the proposed GHWMF site
10.5. Impact Assessment
This impact assessment addressed emissions from the operational phase when
landfill emissions are expected to be at a maximum. The landfill gas generation is
expected to reach a maximum when the maximum amount of waste is in place,
i.e. year 20. Impact significance ratings associated with the construction,
operational and post closure phases of the landfill are indicated in Table 10.3 and
10.4 overleaf.
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Landfill gas generation is expected to decrease exponentially from year 20. Only
landfill gas emissions are associated with the post closure phase. No particulate
emissions are expected since no materials handling or vehicle activities will be
present and all exposed areas are expected to be closed and rehabilitated.
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Table 10.3: Air quality impact assessment for the construction and operational phases
Potential
Impact Status Duration Extent
Severity/Intensity
scale Probability
Degree of
Confidence
or
Uncertainty
Significance
PM10 Negative Long
Term
Local (a)
(b) Moderately Severe
(c) Definite
(d)
Possible Moderate - (e)
Dustfall
(f)
Negative Long
Term Local
Moderately Severe
Definite
Possible Moderate -
Health Risk Negative Long
Term
Local
Moderately Severe
Definite
Possible Moderate -
Cancer Risk Negative Long
Term Local
Moderately Severe
Definite
Possible Moderate -
Odour Negative Long
Term
Local
Moderately Severe
Definite
Possible Moderate -
NOTES:
(a) Between 15 & 30 years
(b) Small scale impacts – from a few hectares in extent
(c) Medium to long term impacts on the affected system(s) or party (ies) that could be mitigated.
(d) An impact will definitely occur
(e) Over 40% sure of the likelihood of an impact occurring
(f) These impacts will usually result in medium- to long-term effects on the social and/or natural environment. Impacts rated
as MODERATE will need to be considered by society as constituting a fairly important and usually medium term chance to
the environment. These impacts are real but not substantial.
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Table 10.4: Air quality impact assessment for the post-closure phase
Potential
Impact Status Duration Extent
Severity/Intensity
scale Probability
Degree of
Confidence or
Uncertainty
Significance
Health
Risk Negative Permanent
Local (a)
(b)
Moderately Severe Definite (c) Possible (d) Moderate (e)
Cancer
Risk
(f)
Negative Permanent Local Moderately Severe Definite Possible Moderate
Odour Negative Permanent Local Moderately Severe Definite Possible Moderate
NOTES:
(a) Between 15 & 30 years
(b) Small scale impacts – from a few hectares in extent
(c) Medium to long term impacts on the affected system(s) or party (ies) that could be mitigated.
(d) An impact will definitely occur
(e) Over 40% sure of the likelihood of an impact occurring
(f) These impacts will usually result in medium- to long-term effects on the social and/or natural environment. Impacts rated
as MODERATE will need to be considered by society as constituting a fairly important and usually medium term chance to
the environment. These impacts are real but not substantial.
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10.6. SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The main findings of the study were as follows:
Particulates (PM10): No exceedances of the current or proposed ambient SA
standards for PM10 were predicted to occur at any of the sensitive receptors
included in the study for any of the scenarios. The impacts from landfill activities
associated with Scenario 1 were predicted to be the least significant and will
result in the lowest g round l evel PM10 c oncentrations at t he majority o f th e
sensitive receptors. The highest PM10 concentrations predicted as a result of
emissions associated with the four scenarios were predicted to occur at Rooidam.
Particulates (Dustfall): Slight dustfall levels (<250 mg/m²/day), were
predicted t o o ccur a t t he a ll of t he s ensitive r eceptors l ocated around th e
proposed GHWMF site. Overall, the impacts from landfill activities associated with
Scenario 1 were predicted to be the least significant and will result in the lowest
dustfall levels at the majority of the sensitive receptors. Dust emissions from of
activities associated with S cenario 2 w ere however predicted to result in t he
highest dustfall levels at most of the sensitive receptors. The highest dustfall
levels as a result of emissions associated with Scenarios 1 and 2 were predicted
to occur at Rooidam while the highest dustfall levels as a result of emissions
associated with Scenarios 3 and 4 were predicted to occur at Centlivres
Non-carcinogenic exposures: None of the pollutants considered in this study
flagged for the proposed GHWMF. The hazard quotient for chronic exposures for
the proposed landfill was predicted to be 0.012. The hazard quotient for the site
was therefore predicted to be less than 1.0 for all exposure periods.
Cancer risks: Total maximum incremental cancer risk levels were predicted to be
less than ~ 1 in 3.5 mi llion for the proposed landfill operations. The maximum
cancer risk at the sensitive receptors as a result of emissions from the proposed
landfill site was predicted to occur at Rooidam (~ 1 in 45 million).
Odour impacts: No odour threshold exceedances were predicted to occur due to
on-site c oncentrations o f o doriferous g asses. Of f-site od our i mpacts w ere
predicted to far below the acceptable 3 OU/m³ odour unit level at all the sensitive
receptors.
The findings of the air quality assessment have lead to the following
recommendations:
• The p roposed G HWMF op erator should c ontrol on -site f ugitive du st
emissions b y e ffective m anagement a nd m itigation. A t least 7 5% d ust
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control efficiency is required on unpaved roads to ensure dustfall rates are
reduced to the levels predicted.
• Based on the air quality impact assessment it is recommended that the PPC
haul road be considered as the access route to the GHWMF since Scenario 1
is predicted to result in the least significant impacts at the sensitive
receptors included in the study. The scenarios are ranked as follows:
(1) Scenario 1 – most preferred
(2) Scenario 3
(3) Scenario 2
(4) Scenario 4 - least preferred
• Cognisance should be taken that the predicted impacts was based on design
criteria and emissions rates based on subsurface gas concentrations. These
subsurface c oncentrations were a combination o f UK d efault g as
concentrations and Chloorkop Landfill measured concentrations. Therefore
sub surface gas concentrations should be analysed to determine t race gas
composition and generation.
• It is also recommended that PM10 and dustfall levels be monitored in order
to:
* confirm the predicted air quality impacts associated with activities from
the landfill site;
* assess compliance o f l andfill e missions a nd associated i mpacts w ith
current air quality standards;
* determine source contributions to ambient air quality in order to
prioritise mitigation measures;
* assess the efficiency of mitigation measures
• It i s r ecommended th at g ravimetric s ampling f or P M10 b e d one using
portable mini high-volume samplers. These are battery-driven and take a
composite sample over a 24 hour period. If sampling is carried out every
third day (including week-ends) a sample series without systematic error,
yet not too labour-intensive is built up.
• It is recommended that at least four deposition gauges be placed on the
landfill site perimeter. The recorded wind field suggests that the dustfall
gauges should be situated to the north-eastern, south-eastern, south-
western and north-western boundaries of the site.
Recommendations concerning the mitigation of emissions, specifically particulate
emissions, from the proposed GHWMF are as follows:
• The haul roads going to and from the site as well as on-site were identified
as a significant source of dust emissions. Three types of measures may be
taken to reduce emissions from unpaved roads:
* measures aimed at reducing the extent of unpaved roads, e.g. paving,
* traffic control measures aimed at reducing the entrainment of material
by restricting traffic volumes and reducing vehicle speeds, and
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* measures a imed a t b inding the surface material or e nhancing moisture
retention, s uch a s w et s uppression a nd c hemical s tabilization ( EPA,
1987; Cowhert et al., 1988; APCD, 1995).
Control measures that can be applied to reduce fugitive dust emissions from
exposed s urfaces i nclude t he u se of vegetation c over. V egetal c over retards
erosion by binding the residue with a root network, by sheltering the residue
surface and by trapping material already eroded. Vegetation is also considered
the most effective control measure in terms of its ability to also control water
erosion. In i nvestigating th e f easibility o f v egetation ty pes th e f ollowing
properties are normally taken into account: indigenous plants; ability to establish
and regenerate quickly; proven effective for reclamation elsewhere; tolerant to
the c limatic c onditions o f th e a rea; h igh r ate o f r oot p roduction; e asily
propagated by seed or cuttings; and nitrogen-fixing ability.
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11. HERITAGE ASSESSMENT
The archaeological survey was undertaken b y Mr J Kaplan of t he Agency for
Cultural Resource Management in his capacity as a heritage specialist for the
Footprint Ranking Report (2006). The findings remain valid.
11.1. Introduction
According t o D r B inneman ( Pers. c omm.), t he re ceiving e nvironment f or t he
proposed project is not considered to be archaeologically sensitive, vulnerable or
threatened. However, it should be noted that large numbers of well-preserved
animal fossil bones have been found in calcrete and clay deposits in the Aloes
area near Port Elizabeth (Gess 1969). The variety of bones, teeth and horn-
cores, as well as the presence of possible bone tools suggests that prehistoric
people deposited them. T he Aloes footprint has been dated to 37 000 years BP
(Gess 1969:31).
11.2. Scope of Work
The archaeological survey was required to undertake the following:
• Determine w hether t here a re l ikely t o b e any a rchaeological re mains of
significance within the proposed footprints;
• Identify and map any remains of archaeological significance within the
proposed footprints; and
• Assess the sensitivity and significance of archaeological remains within the
proposed footprints.
11.3. Methodology
The heritage assessment adopted the following methodology:
• Two site visits were undertaken; the first from 29 – 30 July 2005 and the
second on 9 June 2006. T he study entailed a baseline archaeological survey
and assessment of each of the proposed footprints. This included the
proposed access roads;
• A desktop study was undertaken;
• Dr Johan Binneman of the Department of Archaeology at the Albany Museum,
Grahamstown was also consulted; and
• The c riteria u sed to a ssess th e p roposed f ootprints a nd to e stablish th e
potential impacts of the construction of a waste site on the proposed
footprints include the following:
* Archaeological sensitivity of the proposed footprint.
* Presence/absence of archaeological remains.
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* State of preservation of archaeological remains.
* Range and density of archaeological remains.
* Type of footprint that occurs (e.g. cave, paintings, workshop, and quarry).
* Rarity of occurrence.
* Local, regional and national importance.
11.4. Site Assessment
The p referred f ootprints, i ncluding p roposed access roads w ere searched f or
archaeological remains.
Footprint F displays signs of being overgrazed in places but parts are also infested
with dense thicket vegetation. S ome open spaces occur in places (Figures 11.1
and 11.2). Several footpaths and game tracks cut across the property.
A f ew MSA and L SA tools w ere found i n t he o vergrazed a nd degraded o pen
spaces, among nodules and chunks of calcrete. Several tools were also noted on
a gravel road. The tools include unmodified flakes, chunks and several cores
(Figure 11.3). No formal tools were noted or observed. The tools are all in
rough-grained quartzite. The archaeological finds were located in a disturbed and
degraded context and are not considered to be significant.
Figure 11.1: Footprint F: View facing north-east
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Figure 11.2: Footprint F: View facing north-west
Figure 11.3: Footprint F: Collection of stone tools (scale is in cm)
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Ch 11 – Heritage June 2010 177
11.5. Impact Assessment
Table 11.1: Assessment of the archaeological impacts on Footprint F and proposed access roads without mitigation
Activity/
Aspect
Significance Nature Status Extent Duration Probability Significance
Construction of a
regional general and
hazardous waste
landfill facility
Low Construction may cause
loss of archaeological
remains
Negative Local Short
term
Improbable Slight
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Ch 11 – Heritage June 2010 178
11.6. Conclusions
The archaeological impact a ssessment has r ated t he potential impacts to
archaeological material as being low, provided that:
• An a ppropriate s pecialist i s c ontracted t o i nspect e xcavations fo r p ossible
fossil remains during the construction phase of the project.
• Human burials uncovered during bulk earthworks must not be disturbed or
removed until inspected by an archaeologist.
The study has shown that the proposed Footprint F for the development of a
Regional General and Hazardous Waste Site is suitable for development, with
none of the footprints assessed during the EIA process being more preferable
than another in terms of potential archaeological impacts.
Note: Comments from the South Africa Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA)
have been received with regards to this report. No additional studies are required
to be undertaken during the EIA phase of the project. The comments from
SAHRA are attached in Appendix H.
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Ch 12 – Land Use and Resettlement June 2010 179
12. LAND USE AND RESETTLEMENT
12.1. Introduction
This c hapter d eals w ith a ll issues related t o l and s uch a s r esettlement, l and
availability and rezoning, land use and aviation. The resettlement assessment was
undertaken and compiled by Dr Angus Paterson of Coastal and Environmental
Services. The remaining i ssues were assessed by Dr Kevin Whittington-Jones o f
Coastal and Environmental Services.
It should be noted that due to the scope of the chapter, i.e. to identify potential
fatal flaws associated with land issues, the chapter does not provide an impact
assessment of each of the issues. Where appropriate, the assessment of impacts
is provided in other chapters of the report.
12.1.1. Resettlement
It is well known that projects that displace people involuntarily generally give rise
to severe economic, social, and environmental problems. Involuntary
resettlement m ay c ause s evere l ong-term h ardship, impoverishment, a nd
environmental damage unless appropriate measures are carefully planned and
carried out. In South Africa the issue of resettlement is compounded by the fact
that during the Apartheid era numerous forced removals were undertaken and
resulted in significant hardships for many people and subsequently South Africans
are very sensitive regarding this issue. The proposed facility will require that
people currently residing within the selected areas be relocated.
12.1.2. Land availability and rezoning
Land availability is a key issue in the DWEA Minimum Requirements for Waste
Disposal by Landfill (Second edition, Section 4.5). Land availability in terms of the
proposed regional general and hazardous waste facility can be broken down into
three key issues:
• Are the current owners willing to sell their farms on a willing seller and willing
buyer basis?
• Are there any land claim applications on the farms?
• Can the land be rezoned for waste disposal?
The Minimum Requirements (DWEA, 1998, Section 4.7.1) states that the current
zoning of the proposed sites must be included within the Feasibility Report and it
must be guaranteed that it will be possible to zone it for waste disposal.
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Ch 12 – Land Use and Resettlement June 2010 180
12.1.3. Land use
The M inimum R equirements ( DWEA, 19 98, Section 4 .7.1) li st a reas i n c lose
proximity to land-uses which are incompatible with landfilling as a potential fatal
flaw. In the current context, it was considered necessary to consider the
implications for export of fruit by the Addo citrus farming industry with respect to
international export guidelines. For the purpose of the current study the potential
implications for EUREPGAP
certification was assessed.
12.1.4. Aviation
Landfill sites are inherently known to attract a certain amount of birdlife. The
Minimum Requirements (DWEA, 1998) consider the placement of a landfill site 3
km f rom the end of any a irport runway or landing strip in the d irect l ine of the
flight path and within 500m of an airport or airfield boundary as a potential fatal
flaw, due to the fact that the landfill would create the danger of aircraft striking
birds.
12.1.5. Scope and Limitations
• The s tudy w as un dertaken t hrough i nterviews a nd d iscussions w ith f arm
owners.
• The information obtained from land claims commission is qualified in that it
indicates that while all measures have been used to ensure that their
information is correct they cannot be held responsible if additional information
surfaces.
• Aviation field information was obtained from the 2005 – 2007 Airfields
Directory. As such, the study did not consider any unregistered private
airfields in the vicinity of the proposed footprints.
12.2. Methods and Results
12.2.1. Resettlement
Footprint F has a single homestead and possibly a few labourers which would
need to be relocated. As such, use of Footprint F for the regional general and
hazardous landfill will involve resettlement although of only a few individuals.
Based on the above, it can be concluded that the impacts associated with the
resettlement would be permanent but limited to a few individuals and should
therefore not constitute a fatal flaw.
While no resettlement can be viewed as ideal, the possible negative impacts on
the resettled individuals could be mitigated by applying the following measures:
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Ch 12 – Land Use and Resettlement June 2010 181
• The process must follow international best practice guidelines i.e. World Bank
Standards.
• The r esettlement m ust b e undertaken b y an independent a gency a nd
extensively monitored prior to operation, during the operation and for at least
3 years after the move.
A social impact assessment is being conducted during the EIA phase for the
further consideration of Footprint F.
12.2.2. Land availability and rezoning
During th e p roduction o f th e F ootprint Ra nking Re port, th e current l and
availability was established by:
• Discussions with the farm owners.
• Discussions with the Land Commission.
• Discussions with the Chief F inancial officer / l and procurement o fficer a t the
Coega Development Corporation (Pty) Ltd.
Subsequently, further discussions were held between Bohlweki-SSI Environmental
and the owners of the three properties and confirmation of the current zoning and
possibility of rezoning each for waste disposal was requested from the Nelson
Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM).
Footprint F is on Portland Pretoria Cement (PPC) owned land. The property is
currently zoned for agriculture. The NMBM ( refer to F igure 12.1) have i ndicated
that an application for the rezoning of the p referred s ite for a Regional General
Hazardous Waste Management Facility must still be submitted, in terms of
Ordinance 15 of 1985, for consideration by the NMBM. However, no guarantee
can be provided that such an application will be successful as the NMBM must
consider su ch a n a pplication w ith r egard t o a ll fa cts, su ch a s t echnical,
transportation, environmental and social aspects. The formal rezoning application
will be initiated once an authority decision has been taken on the EIA application.
At this time there are no known that no land claims that have been lodged on any
of th e f arms i nvestigated d uring th e F ootprint Ra nking Re port a nd D raft E IR
process. Refer to a copy of the letter from the Commission on Restitution of Land
Rights that is provided in Figure 12.2.
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Ch 12 – Land Use and Resettlement June 2010 182
Figure 12.1: Letter from the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality regarding the
potential rezoning of Footprint F for a waste disposal facility
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Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 12 – Land Use and Resettlement June 2010 183
Figure 12.2: Letter from the Commission of Restitution of Land Rights
confirming that no land claims have been lodged on any of the
farms
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Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 12 – Land Use and Resettlement June 2010 184
12.2.3. Surrounding Land Use
The area to the north east of the proposed footprints is regarded as important for
the farming of export citrus fruit. The cultivation and handling of fruit destined for
export m arkets i s c ontrolled b y s trict r egulations a nd c onformance w ith the
requirements of t he EUREPGAP® standard i s re quired f or e xport of f ruit a nd
vegetables to the European market. T he purpose of this review is to determine
whether the establishment of a hazardous waste disposal facility within the same
geographical area as farms growing citrus fruit for export is likely to result in non-
conformance with the EUREPGAP®
regulations. Two key EUREPGAP documents
were considered, specifically the General Regulations: Fruit and Vegetables
version 2.1. and Control Points and Compliance Criteria: Fruit and Vegetables
version 2.1.
• General Regulations: Fruit and Vegetables version 2.1.-Oct 04
Introduction:
The purpose of the EUREPGAP® regulations is to respond to consumer
concerns on food safety, animal welfare, environmental protection and
worker health, safety and welfare. It was considered important to review the
suite of documents related to EUREPGAP®
, specifically with respect to the
possible implications of the location of a hazardous waste disposal facility
within the same geographical area as farms growing citrus fruit for export.
The process of certification involves an individual farmer, farmer group or
farmer and/or farmer group w orking under a s cheme. All certificates are
issued by approved certification bodies. The registration of the farmer / farm
and the proposed crops for the relevant scopes must be re-confirmed with
the C ertification B ody a nnually. I n t he c ase of n on-compliance o f ce rtain
requirements, t he c ertificate m ay b e s uspended f or a s pecified p eriod o r
cancelled.
Scope of the document:
The scope of Fruit and Vegetables covers all those fresh, unprocessed
agricultural p roducts o f p lant o rigin g rown f or hu man c onsumption. T he
document covers the whole agricultural production process of the certified
product, from before the plant is in the ground (seed and nursery control
points) to non-processed end product (produce handling control points). It is
important to recognise that all areas of production and produce handling sites
of the registered crops on the EUREPGAP® registered farms must comply with
EUREPGAP®. The scope of certification can be reduced by making the Produce
Handling Section non-applicable, only for those products where the farmer or
farmer g roup has declared that none of the following post-harvest activities
(excluding th ose f or p rocessed p roducts) a re ever carried o ut: s torage,
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Ch 12 – Land Use and Resettlement June 2010 185
chemical treatments, trimming, washing, or any other handling where the
product may have physical contact with other materials or substances.
Compliance levels for EUREPGAP®
Major musts: 100% compliance of all applicable major must control points is
compulsory.
certification:
Minor musts: 95% compliance of a ll applicable minor must control points is
compulsory.
Recommendations: No minimum percentage of compliance is set.
The list of crop plants covered by EUREPGAP® (Annexure 7.12 of the
EUREPGAP®
document) includes citrus such as oranges, grapefruit and
mandarins.
The compliance criteria are provided in the document entitled Control Points
and Compliance Criteria: Fruit and Vegetables version 2.1. (Oct 2004). It was
thus necessary to review the requirements of this document.
• Control Points & Compliance Criteria: Fruit and vegetables version
2.1-Oct 04 (EUREPGAP CPCC FP V2-1 Oct 04)
Scope:
This document sets out a framework for Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) on
farms and provides a list of all major, minor and recommended control points
related to EUREPGAP®
certification. It was thus necessary to identify whether
any of the control points, specifically those regarded as major or minor, were
likely to be affected by the presence of the proposed regional waste facility.
Requirement 4.1 of the document deals with Site History and requires a risk
assessment for new agricultural sites which shows that the site is suitable for
food production. This includes an assessment of prior land use and type of
soil. Annex 1 guidelines for new c rops requires that ri sk assessment covers
smoke, dust & fumes from nearby industrial or t ransport activities. In terms
of the General Regulations this is a major must (see above).
With respect to possible implications of the proposed waste disposal facility,
the deposition of airborne contaminants from the landfill site may impact
negatively on the quality of the soil. The probability of this impact is
considered low due to the distance from the site but could impact on the
establishment of additional orchards closer to the site. This has been
confirmed by the detailed air quality modelling undertaken for the EIA phase
of the study.
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Ch 12 – Land Use and Resettlement June 2010 186
12.2.4. Aviation
The 2005 – 2007 Airfields directory was consulted to locate the closest registered
airfields to the proposed waste disposal site. The location of the four closest
airfields was as follows:
• Uitenhage Airfield
* 33º 47’ 0.00” S
* 25º 23’ 0.00” E
• Progress Airfield
* 33º 55’ 30.0” S
* 25º 22’ 20.0” E
• PE International Airport
* 33º 59’ 24.0” S
* 25º 36’ 37.0” E
• Seaview Airfield
* 34º 00’ 09.0” S
* 25º 21’ 10.0” E
• Addo Airfield
* 33º 33’ 05.0” S
* 25º 51’ 30.0” E
Figure 12.3: Location of airfields within the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
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Ch 12 – Land Use and Resettlement June 2010 187
Uitenhage Airfield (Figure 12.3), the closest of the four airfields, lies to the south-
west of the three alternative footprints and is approximately 20km from all three
footprints. The remaining three airfields (Progress, PE International and Seaview)
are also all located to the south / s outh-west of the proposed footprints and are
all more than 30km away. Based on the above, the location of registered airfields
does not constitute a fatal flaw for any of the proposed footprints.
12.3. Conclusions
• Footprint F will require resettlement but the number of people involved is
small and if the recommendations are implemented it could be undertaken in
a satisfactory manner;
• It has been confirmed that the site can be rezoned for waste disposal, and no
reasons have been given as to why this should not be possible;
• The availability of footprint F, which is located on property owned by PPC, will
only be confirmed after submission of the Draft EIR;
• The proximity of registered airfields would not constitute a fatal flaw;
• Any future land use planning or development in the area will have to be
cognizant o f th e c onstraints t he GHWMF and a ssociated b uffer z one m ay
impose on certain land uses. Similarly, should the facility be authorised these
constraints must be incorporated into any future spatial planning frameworks
that are developed or revised at local and regional level; and
• Based on a review of the EUREPGAP®
regulations, it is considered unlikely that
the establishment of a regional waste disposal facility would impact negatively
on the certification of citrus farms to the north-east of Footprint F.
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Ch 13 –Transport Study June 2010 188
13. TRANSPORT STUDY
13.1. Introduction
The Final Feasibility Report (December 2007) investigated the preferred facility
footprints C, E and F, in sufficient detail to allow the authorities to establish
whether the facility designs and positions are viable for detailed engineering and
environmental studies. A component of the Feasibility Report was a Transport
study, which was undertaken by the Port Elizabeth office of Stewart Scott
International (SSI) Engineers and Environmental Consultants.
The t erms of reference f or t he T ransport S tudy were to u ndertake a n
investigation of the transport alternatives for conveying general and hazardous
waste to the preferred disposal facilities and include an analysis of both road and
rail options. These findings remain valid for the EIA phase of the study and have
been subject to some revision for the Revised Draft EIR. For comparative
purposes the transport scenarios and associated impacts of Footprints C, E and F
are assessed in this chapter.
13.2. Site Location and Existing Roads
This study focuses on the primary access route between the Coega IDZ and the
proposed new waste facility, namely the R335, known as Addo Road. The section
of Addo Road being investigated is about 15 km in length from the R334 / R335
intersection n orth o f Motherwell t o t he P 1958/R335 i ntersection n orth o f th e
proposed three sites. Three s ites were short-listed as the preferred s ites for the
proposed waste processing facility, namely Footprint C (Grassridge 190 portion
3), Footprint E (Grassridge 227) and Footprint F (Grassridge 190 Remainder).
These sites have undergone full evaluation in the feasibility report phase and
these findings remain valid for EIA phase assessment.
Footprint E ( Grassridge 2 27) i s l ocated on the western s ide of A ddo Ro ad,
approximately 11 km north of the R334 / R335 intersection and approximately 15
km n orth w est o f th e C oega IDZ. F ootprint F (G rassridge 1 90) i s s ituated
adjacent to th e w estern s ite b oundary of F ootprint E . These t wo s ites a re
currently on PPC owned land and are accessed from Addo Road and road P1954,
which passes through both of the sites and connects to road P1958, which passes
between Footprints C and F. Footprint C (Grassridge 190, Portion 3) is located to
the north of Footprint F, alongside the P1958, from which it currently has access
via a gravel track. The conceptual design plans for the three preferred sites show
that access to Footprints C, E and F are proposed to remain at the existing site
accesses as described above. Although the P1954 connects Footprint F to the
P1958, the conceptual designs obtained from Jones and Wagener detail access to
this site as being from the section of P1954 connected to Addo Road.
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Ch 13 –Transport Study June 2010 189
It should be n oted th at access via the P 1958 to F ootprint E a nd F for tr ips
originating in the Uitenhage – Despatch area, could shorten the overall length of
the route by about 9 km. The route length of trips originating in the Port Elizabeth
area travelling via Addo Road to Footprint C could be shortened by about 5 km if
accessed via the P1954 across sites E and F.
Similarly, the route length to Footprint F could be shortened by about 7,6 km if
accessed via the P1954 across site E. The possible alternative routes to Footprint
F sites from Uitenhage (R75) and Port Elizabeth (Addo Road) are reflected in
Figures 13.1 – 13.4 overleaf, and are shown in Table 13.1 below:
Table 13.1: Alternative routes to the three sites
Footprint Route
Origin Route Description
Km Length
(approx)
C
R75 / R 334
Interchange R75 – MR00470 - P1958 17,7
R334 / R 335
intersection
R335 – P1954 - P1958 21,0
R335 – P1958 26,2
E
R75 / R 334
Interchange
R75 – MR00470 - P1958 – P1954 21,1
R75 – MR00470 - P1958 – R335 - R335 /
P1954 intersection 30,29
R334 / R 335
intersection R335 – R335 / P1954 intersection 13,6
F
R75 / R 334
Interchange
R75 – MR00470 – P1958 – P1954 21,0
R75 – MR00470 - P1958 – R335 – P1954 34,4
R334 / R 335
intersection
R335 – P1954 17,7
R335 – P1958 – P1954 25,3
Trips generated in the Uitenhage – Despatch area can travel to the proposed
waste disposal facility via the R75 for 11 km and then MR00470 (Sunlands road)
for 6 km. Alternatively the site can also be accessed via the R334 and Addo
Road.
Addo Road (R335) and the R75 are both tarred rural roads about 6,5m wide.
Addo Road is an important link between the Sunday’s River Valley area, Addo
Elephant Park and Port Elizabeth. The P1954, P1958 and MR00470 are provincial
gravel roads about 8m wide.
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Ch 13 –Transport Study June 2010 190
Figure 13.1: R75 – MR00470 - P1958 – P1954 access route
Figure 13.2: R75 – MR00470 - P1958 – R335 - P1954 access route
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Ch 13 –Transport Study June 2010 191
Figure 13.3: R335 – P1954 access route
Figure 13.4: R335 – P1958 –P1954 access route
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13.3. Rail Transport
There is an opportunity for waste disposal to the proposed new regional facility by
rail, but this would require the construction of a new branch line. There are two
possible alternative locations for a branch line:
• from the Uitenhage – Klipplaat railway line, situated to the west of the three
footprints, at a point about 2 km north of the Centlivres station;
• from the Grassridge station which is about a kilometre north of the Coega IDZ
site boundary, along the Port Elizabeth – Addo railway line.
Discussions w ere h eld w ith Transnet regarding th e po ssibility o f t ransporting
waste by the construction of either of these two branch lines. It was learned that
Transnet had previously investigated the construction of a branch line from the
Centlivres s tation a long th e U itenhage – Klipplaat line t o t he P PC q uarry on
Footprint E. Transnet found that this was not feasible as the land in that is area
is too steep and would require grades in excess of that which is suitable for a
railway line. Therefore this option has not been costed or investigated in any
further detail.
The opportunity for rail transportation to the proposed waste site is limited to the
possibility of a branch l ine off the existing railway l ine at the Grassridge station.
The branch line will require a bridge crossing over Addo Road and continue to
Footprints E a nd F . This r oute l ocation w ould include a l evel c rossing o n a
provincial gravel road.
The branch line could be utilised in two ways, namely, for the transport of waste
generated by Coega only or for the transport of all the waste to be disposed of at
the p referred footprint. T he f irst option would require that waste generated by
the NMBM area be transported to the d isposal s ite by road. The second option
would require additional facilities and operations, as the trucks would have to
offload waste at a suitably equipped train loading facility in NMBM and then be
railed to the disposal site where there would have to be equipment to offload the
train wagons and deposit the waste as required.
The estimated costs to construct a branch railway line to each of the proposed
sites from the Grassridge station are summarised in the table below. T he costs
exclude VAT and are based on the following unit rates which were provided by
Transnet for a single track branch l ine that is not electrified: a pproximately R7
million per km of railway line, R5 million for a bridge crossing and R 370 000 for
a level crossing protected with flashing signals. A level crossing without lights
would normally be in the region of R 70 000, whilst the addition of protective
lights which is recommended for safety, can increase the cost by about R 300
000. It should also be noted that Transnet indicated a cost saving of R 300 000 /
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Ch 13 –Transport Study June 2010 193
km i f second hand ra ils were used instead of new ra ils. A dditional costs will be
incurred for the construction of off loading facilities at the end of the branch line
at the preferred footprint. The costs in Table 13.2 below have been calculated
assuming new rails are to be used and that level crossings will be protected with
signals. Table 13.2: Rail infrastructure establishment costs
Footprint
Km length
of Railway
(approx)
Road Crossings Total Cost
(Million Rand)
C 18,5 2 x Level; 1 x Bridge R 135,2
E 13,5 1 x Level, 1 x Bridge R 100,0
F 15,5 1 x Level, 1 x Bridge R 113,9
This s hows t hat t he construction o f a b ranch l ine to F ootprint F w ould c ost
approximately R113 million. Discussions were held with Transnet and Transnet
regarding the capacity of the railway line and currently there is spare capacity to
accommodate additional rail traffic. H owever, Transnet has predicted that there
will be rail capacity problems when the new container terminal at the Port of
Ngqura is fully operational, which is scheduled to be by 2012. Currently the
export of manganese is done through the Port Elizabeth harbour but once the
Port of Ngqura is completed manganese will also be exported via the port which
will add to the rail capacity problem. T he section of rail between Coega station
and Grassridge station will be fully utilised transporting containers and
manganese, a nd if the waste i s to be transported by rail, it w ill have to go
through this same section which would already be running at capacity.
13.4. Traffic Analysis
13.4.1. Approach and Methodology
The aim of this part of the transport study is to predict the future traffic volumes
for a 2 0 y ear d esign period, i n o rder t o a ssess th e structural s trength a nd
capacity of the road infrastructure to accommodate the future traffic volumes. An
intersection analysis is also required for the R334 / R335 intersection, as the
majority of the generated w aste site trips will pass through this intersection,
affecting its c apacity a nd l evel o f s ervice. The a nalysis o f th e R 334 / R3 35
intersection has been done for a weekday morning and afternoon peak hour.
The approach for the traffic analysis is to first determine the existing traffic flows
along Addo Road as a base from which to predict future volumes, which includes
normal traffic growth as well as tr ips generated by the proposed waste disposal
facility. The heavy vehicle volumes are critical to the assessment of structural
strength of the road pavement since private motor vehicles and light delivery
vehicles have a negligible effect on road pavement life. The total vehicle volumes
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(including all vehicle types) are required in assessing the road and intersection
capacity. The road a nd i ntersection c apacity i s a ssessed u sing th e H ighway
Capacity M anual (Transportation Re search B oard, 2 000), w hilst t he s tructural
capacity re quired h as b een d etermined u sing the TRH4 S tructural D esign o f
Flexible Pavement for Interurban and Rural Roads (NDOT) guidelines.
In order to determine the future traffic scenario a conventional four-step process
was used, namely tr ip generation (calculating the number of t rips generated by
the proposed waste site), trip distribution (connecting each trip with an origin and
destination (waste s ite)), modal split (allocating each tr ip to a particular vehicle
type) and trip assignment (assigning each vehicle trip to a particular route).
13.4.2. Data Obtained
• Traffic Data
Historical t raffic d ata has been obtained f rom various s ources i n order to
determine an average annual t raffic growth rate as well as to determine the
percentage volume of heavy vehicles using Addo Road.
Annual traffic count data was obtained from the Nelson Mandela Bay
Municipality (N MBM) and th e E astern C ape D epartment o f Ro ads a nd
Transport (ECDRT). Average Daily Traffic (ADT) figures from 1996 – 2007
indicates that traffic has been growing by an average of 6% per annum over
the last ten years. Heavy vehicles account for approximately 19% of the ADT,
and there is a 50:50 north-bound:south-bound directional split in the daily
traffic volume.
The results of a 24 hour interrupted traffic count survey conducted for the
period of two and a half days between 20 - 25 January 2005 along Addo Road,
were obtained f rom PD Naidoo Associates (PDNA). T he period during which
the survey was conducted excluded seasonal tourism and fruit industry trip
generators, therefore PDNA used additional data obtained through a
consultation p rocess w ith v arious s takeholders t o s upplement t heir c ount
data. The survey was classified by vehicle type, and heavy vehicles were
further classified by number of axles.
• Characteristics of existing waste disposal sites
Information supplied by the local authorities, Enviroserv (private Aloes site
operator) a nd J ones a nd W agener, a nd o bservations a t a ll t hree existing
waste sites in the NMBM area was used to determine the number and types of
vehicles that transport hazardous and general waste.
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It is estimated that the Koedoeskloof and Arlington waste sites generate an
average of 133 and 400 vehicle trips per day respectively and the vehicle
types used consist of light utility vehicles (LUV’s), as well as 7 and 10 ton
trucks.
It is estimated that the Aloes waste site generates an average of 24
hazardous waste vehicle trips per day and about 50 municipal solid waste
(MSW) vehicle trips per day. J ones and Wagener supplied information about
the volumes of waste to be transported to the proposed new site to
Enviroserv, in order to obtain information regarding the logistics involved with
this type of operation. The information received indicated that each trip to
the site would dispose of an average 4 ton load. Enviroserv also indicated
that o nly 2 % o f th e hazardous w aste d isposed o f a t A loes i s f rom t he
Uitenhage – Despatch area.
The following assumptions are made from general observations at all three
sites by Jones & Wagener about the vehicles used to carry waste materials:
* 20% of the MSW loads (by number) are in 10 ton 3 axle trucks
* 40% of the MSW loads (by number) are in 7 ton 2 axle trucks
* 40% of the MSW loads (by number) are in 1 ton LUV’s and trailers (light
vehicles)
* 100% of hazardous waste loads are in 10 ton 3 axle trucks
13.4.3. Predicted waste disposal volumes
Information was obtained from Jones and Wagener, regarding the volumes of
hazardous and general municipal waste that will be handled by the proposed
GHWMF. These volumes are reflective of the maximum expected volumes of
waste from Coega (assuming a high tenancy rate within the IDZ of industries
likely to produce the sorts of wastes anticipated to be handled and interned at the
facility) from inception to peak rate of deposition. This data showed that an initial
total volume of 122 696 tons will be generated in the first year of operation,
which will increase annually until the full ramp up of 301 823 tons/annum is
reached in year 11. Thereafter a constant volume of 301 823 tons/annum is
expected annually for the remaining period of the 20 year forecast. It must be
noted however that these volumes were revised during the course of 2008 to be
indicative of the current occupancy of the IDZ by a limited number of hazardous
waste producing tenants and industries (refer to Section 5 of the Waste
Management Philosophy Report contained in the PAR by Jones and Wagener).
According to this revised estimates an in itial volume of 97 116 tons/annum can
be expected to reach a volume of 255 106 tons/annum at full ramp up. However,
the initial and larger waste volume predictions are utilised for the transport study.
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 13 –Transport Study June 2010 196
13.4.4 . Trip generation and distribution
The number of vehicle trips required to transport the predicted waste volumes
has been determined on the following assumptions:
• 7 and 10 ton trucks are used to transport the waste and each load carries an
average of 4 tons*
• operating days and hours for transport of the waste will be 25 days/month
and 10 hours per day
• all of the generated trips have been assigned to Addo Road, travelling through
the R334 / R 335 intersection
LUV’s, 7 and 10 ton trucks make up the vehicles delivering waste to the Arlington
and Koedoeskloof sites, which are owned and operated by the NMBM. Aloes,
which is a privately operated and controlled facility, receives about 50 MSW 4 ton
average l oads p er d ay, w hich w ould b e s plit b etween 7 a nd 1 0 t on t rucks.
Therefore, it is assumed that because the proposed facility will be a hazardous
waste facility, it will have controlled access and operate similar to the Aloes site.
Bakkie loads of waste will continue to be delivered to the Arlington and
Koedoeskloof sites.
Initially, it is required that 122 696 tons/annum of waste will be transported,
which is converted into an average of 10 loaded trips per hour (100 loaded trips
per day). It has been determined that a total of 25 loaded tr ips per hour (251
loaded trips per day) will be required by full ramp up in year 11 to transport 301
823 t ons/annum. T his is t he maximum number of trips required ( maximum
volume of waste) a nd w ill continue f or the remainder of t he 2 0 year d esign
period. The volume of trucks on the road will be double the loaded trips, because
it is assumed that the trucks will return empty after offloading at the site.
During the construction phase o f th e proposed waste f acility, w hich w ill ta ke
about 12 months, truck loads of sand, stone and concrete will be delivered to the
site daily for a period of 8 months. Based on the number of truck loads required
(2200 of sand, 2800 of stone and 275 of ready mixed concrete) during this period
of 8 months, an average of 30 loaded truck trips per day to the site and 30 empty
truck return trips will take place each weekday (Monday to Friday).
13.4.5. Structural Pavement Analysis
A traffic analysis has been carried out in order to estimate the future loading on
the road pavement using the following assumptions and parameters:
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 13 –Transport Study June 2010 197
• The base year two way Average Daily Traffic (ADT) and Average Daily Truck
Traffic (ADTT) is 1689 and 405 vehicles per day, respectively, as obtained
from the latest traffic count data on the R335 Addo Road (May 2007).
• A 50:50 directional split is applied as per the existing observed situation.
• Heavy vehicles account for 19% of the total volume of ADT.
• A growth rate of 6% per annum is assumed based on comparison of historical
data.
• A design period of 20 years is used.
• The PDNA traffic survey was used to determine the percentage of each vehicle
type travelling along Addo Road.
• The E80’s * were calculated assuming 3 axle trucks are used to transport the
waste
• The E80’s per heavy vehicle appropriate to each class of vehicle ranges from
0,7 – 2,5.
Mixed traffic has a range of various axle loads which need to be expressed in
terms of a common denominator, which is the 80 kN axle load. The damage
caused by any axle load relative to this 80 kN axle, is defined as the equivalent
standard axle or E80. An E80 value is assigned to each vehicle based on the type
of vehicle and number of axles. T he number of Equivalent Standard Axle Loads
(ESAL’s) i s t hen d etermined b y m ultiplying the n umber of v ehicles i n e ach
category by the E80 assigned to that type of vehicle. T he number of ESAL’s i s
used in order to determine the design traffic class required for the pavement
design. The results of the analyses are summarised in the table 13.3 below:
Table 13.3: Predicted Traffic Loading
Predicted Traffic Loading
First Year
(normal growth
and trips
generated)
20 Year forecast
(normal traffic
growth only)
Generated trips
only
20 Y ear f orecast
(normal traffic
growth a nd
generated trips)
ESAL’s* Traffic
Class ESAL’s*
Traffic
Class ESAL’s*
Traffic
Class ESAL’s*
Traffic
Class
102,000 ES 0.3 3,766,000 ES 10 2,115,631 ES 3 5,881,631 ES 10
* Cumulative ESAL’s
An ES 0.3 traffic design class is able to accommodate between 100 000 and 300
000 cumulative ESAL’s. An ES 3 traffic design class is able to accommodate
between 1 000 000 and 3 00 0 000 cumulative ESAL’s. An ES 10 t raffic c lass is
able to accommodate between 3 000 000 and 10 000 000 cumulative ESAL’s.
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 13 –Transport Study June 2010 198
The analysis shows that the estimate for the initial scenario is 102 000 cumulative
ESAL’s a nd therefore a design t raffic class ES 0 .3 i s re quired. T he 2 0 year
forecast for a normal traffic growth rate scenario without the development of the
waste site estimates that there will be 3 766 000 cumulative ESAL’s which will
require a design traffic class ES 10. The 20 year forecast for a normal traffic
growth rate scenario including the development of the waste site estimates that
there will be 5 881 631 cumulative ESAL’s which will also require a design traffic
class ES 10. This shows that a 20 year forecast with or without the development
would require a traffic design class ES 10.
A c omparison of t hese s cenarios shows t hat t he d evelopment i tself w ill on ly
account for 2 115 631 cumulative ESAL’s, and even though this increases the
total amount of cumulative ESAL’s estimated, the design traffic class required is
still an ES10. It can be concluded that Addo Road w ill require upgrading to the
same level regardless of the development of the proposed waste disposal facility,
due to normal traffic growth on Addo Road each year.
13.4.6. Road and Intersection capacity analysis
• Road Capacity Analysis
The volume to capacity ratio has been calculated for both the existing
situation a nd f uture s cenario for A ddo Ro ad u sing th e H ighway C apacity
Manual. The effective capacity of Addo Road (section north of the R334 /
R335 intersection) is calculated using the following formula:
Effective capacity C = 2800 x V/CE x fd x fw x fHV
where:
• V/CE
• f
is the ratio of flow rate to ideal capacity for a Level of Service
(LOS) E
d
• f
is the adjustment factor for the directional distribution of traffic
w
• f
is the adjustment factor for narrow lanes and restricted shoulder
widths
HV
is the adjustment factor for the presence of heavy vehicles
The c urrent effective c apacity f or t he e xisting t wo-way r oad w ith a 6, 5m
tarred width and 1,5m gravel shoulders is calculated as follows:
C = 2800 x 0,92 x 1,0 x 0,85 x 0,56
= 1226 vehicles per hour (two way volume)
The future effective capacity after ECDRT has upgraded the road with a 6,8m
tarred width and 2m gravel shoulders is calculated as follows:
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 13 –Transport Study June 2010 199
C = 2800 x 0,92 x 1,0 x 0,94 x 0,56
= 1356 vehicles per hour (two way volume)
The current volumes are 62 vehicles northbound and 41 vehicles southbound
in the morning peak hour and 66 vehicles northbound and 86 vehicles
southbound in the afternoon peak hour. In the future (2027), the forecasted
volumes are 224 vehicles northbound and 156 vehicles southbound in the
morning peak hour and 236 vehicles northbound and 301 vehicles southbound
in the afternoon peak hour. The current and future volume to capacity ratios
are reflected in Table 13.4 below:
Table 13.4: Current and future traffic volumes
SCENARIO AM PM
V/C LOS V/C LOS
2007 103 / 1226 = 0,08 A 152 / 1226 = 0,12 A
2027 380 / 1356 = 0,28 B 537 / 1356 = 0,40 C
This demonstrates that the R335 has enough spare capacity to easily
accommodate t he t raffic v olumes p redicted for 2 027, w ith t he w orst L OS
being “C” for the afternoon peak hour traffic, which is acceptable.
• Intersection Capacity Analysis
The R334 / R335 intersection has been analysed for the purposes of this study
as most of the waste site generated trips will pass through this intersection. A
typical weekday morning and afternoon peak hour has been analysed for the
existing scenario (2007) and f or the future scenario (2027). The v olumes
derived in the future scenario are based on a normal traffic growth rate of 6%
per annum, and the addition of 25 heavy vehicle trips in the northbound
direction and 25 trips in the southbound direction onto Addo Road, through
the intersection. The R334 / R335 intersection currently operates via stop
control, w ith pr iority o n th e R3 35. B oth th e R 334 a nd R 335 a re s ingle
carriageways with one traffic lane in each d irection. T he existing and future
scenarios have been analysed based on this.
The analysis shows that both the existing morning and afternoon peak hours
currently operate at a Level of Service (LOS) A with no movement operating
at a LOS worse than B. In the future, the morning peak hour will operate at a
LOS B with no movement operating at a LOS worse than C and the afternoon
peak hour will operate at a LOS A with no movement operating at a LOS
worse than D. The ability of an intersection to accommodate t he vehicles
making use of it is assessed by determining the LOS at which that intersection
operates. The LOS is determined according to the average delay (i.e. how
long it takes) experienced by each vehicle moving through the intersection.
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Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 13 –Transport Study June 2010 200
The LOS and average vehicle delay for the R334 / R335 intersection has been
calculated u sing t he c omputer S IDRA p rogramme, w hich c alculates th ese
values based on the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) method.
Table 13.5 below shows the LOS / Average vehicle delay categories used by
the SIDRA computer software.
Table 13.5: Average vehicle delay
Level of Service Average Vehicle Delay in seconds
A d ≤ 10
B 10 < d ≤ 15
C 15 < d ≤ 25
D 25 < d ≤ 35
E 35 < d ≤ 50
F d > 50
From this table it can be seen that the worse the LOS is (A – best and F
worst), the higher the average vehicle delay will be. A LOS A – LOS D is
acceptable in terms of intersection efficiency. A LOS E is also acceptable but
indicates that an intersection is approaching its capacity. A LOS E is not
acceptable and indicates that the intersection requires upgrading in terms of
its geometry and / or type of control used (stop / signals) in order to improve
the situation. The worst LOS experienced at the R334 / R335 intersection is a
LOS D (f uture scenario: a fternoon p eak h our), w hich i s c onsidered to b e
acceptable a nd d oes n ot require th e i ntersection to b e u pgraded to
accommodate t he f orecasted p eak h our t raffic v olumes ov er t he 2 0 y ear
design period.
• Traffic Safety Implications
The increase in traffic on Addo Road and the surrounding road network due to
normal traffic growth and the future waste disposal activities means that there
is a potential for more accidents. The only accident data available for Addo
Road i s f rom th e A ddo P olice S tation a nd i s c onsidered to b e d eficient,
therefore it cannot be analysed properly.
The estimation of the number of casualties and fatalities associated with the
increase in traffic on the road network is therefore based on accident statistics
maintained by the Central Statistics Service of the Department of Transport
which indicates 10 0 c asualties a nd 7 f atalities p er 1 00 mi llion k ilometres
travelled per annum in the RSA.
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 13 –Transport Study June 2010 201
In the f irst year of operation of the waste facility, the number of k ilometres
travelled by trucks conveying waste to the site (including empty return trips)
is estimated to be as follows:
• Municipal solid waste 1 655 500 Km p.a.
• Existing industries 403 200 Km p.a.
• Coega IDZ 5 800 Km p.a.
• Total truck travel 2 064 500 Km p.a.
Using t he D epartment o f T ransport a ccident st atistics, these additional 2
million k ilometres of t ravel per annum from t ruck t rips to and f rom the new
waste facility will result in 2 casualties per annum and one fatality every 7
years. Less than a half percent of the kilometres travelled due to waste truck
trips are estimated to be as a result of the disposal of industrial and
hazardous waste from Coega operations, i.e. the majority is due to disposal of
waste from existing industry and municipal solid waste (MSW) transportation.
Therefore, i t can be said that i nitially the volume of waste generated i n the
Coega IDZ a nd d isposed o f a t th e p roposed w aste facility w ill have a n
insignificant effect on the number of accidents expected to occur on the road
network. By w ay of comparison, the e xisting d aily t raffic o n t he 1 8 k m
section o f th e A ddo Ro ad b etween th e R3 34 intersection a nd the P 1958
junction amounts to 15 milli on k ilometres o f t ravel per annum. Statistically
this indicates that there are 15 casualties and 1 fatality per year on this road.
After 11 years, when the waste facility reaches i ts full operating level, there
will be a total of 31 million vehicle kilometres of travel on the Addo Road.
About 26 million vehicle kilometres travelled per annum at full ramp up is
attributed to the existing traffic plus 6% normal growth per annum on this
road and 5 million vehicle k ilometres per annum are estimated to be due to
waste generated trips, the majority of which is due to the disposal of MSW.
Only 2% of the kilometres travelled due to waste trips are estimated to be as
a result of the disposal of industrial and hazardous waste from Coega
operations, i.e. the majority is due to disposal of waste from existing industry
and MSW transportation. I t i s estimated that only 5 out of the 31 expected
casualties per annum at full ramp up i s due to waste generated tr ips, while
the remaining 26 casualties and 2 f atalities per annum is due to the existing
traffic plus normal growth. Therefore, it can be said that at full ramp up (year
11) the volume of waste generated by the Coega IDZ and disposed of at the
proposed w aste facility w ill be s mall in c omparison w ith the n umber o f
accidents expected to occur on the road network due to other traffic.
However, a greater proportion of accidents are due to the kilometres travelled
by vehicles carrying MSW.
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Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 13 –Transport Study June 2010 202
It has been estimated that the ADT will increase at about 6% per annum,
therefore it can b e expected that the accident r ate w ill i ncrease
proportionately. T he number o f accidents per annum caused by waste tr ips
will remain constant every year after year 11 (full ramp up) as the volumes of
waste to be transported will remain constant, i.e. the same number of vehicle
kilometres will be travelled per annum after year 11 by waste trucks.
13.5. Existing and Future Road Infrastructure
13.5.1. Condition of Road Infrastructure
The s ection o f th e R3 35 b etween th e N 2 a nd th e R3 34 has recently b een
upgraded by the construction of an additional traffic lane in each direction. This
upgraded section of road will be able to accommodate the additional loading from
the waste vehicles, provided that routine maintenance is carried out periodically.
The section of Addo Road from the R334 / R335 intersection to the P1958 is
showing serious signs of distress, has a poor riding quality and the overall road
condition can be described as bad. Currently the road cannot accommodate any
additional heavy vehicle loading due to its poor condition and upgrading is needed
before the waste facility becomes operational.
The Eastern Cape Provincial Department of Roads and Transport claims it has
allocated R30 million for repairing potholes and fixing the damaged edges of the
road du ring 2 009/2010. T hese temporary improvements w ill c ope w ith t he
additional 60 tr uck trips per day during th e construction p hase of the w aste
facility at Grassridge, but the road will deteriorate significantly under the 200
truck trips per day once the facility becomes operational. The P1958 is currently
in a fair condition and acceptable for use by light vehicles. The P1954 is of a low
standard and only about 5 ,5m wide making it too narrow for two-way t raffic to
pass each other. The current status of both of these gravel roads is not adequate
to accommodate increased volumes of heavy vehicle traffic. In the event of
either gravel road P1954 or P 1958 being used to provide access to the proposed
waste site; they would require regravelling and a regular blading and
maintenance program thereafter, in order t o accommodate t he heavy vehicle
volumes expected.
13.5.2. Cost of upgrading Road Infrastructure
The c ost of u pgrading a nd m aintaining A ddo Ro ad i s n ot a ttributed to th e
proposed waste facility as it already requires upgrading to accommodate existing
traffic due to i t’s poor condition and will therefore have to be carried out by the
Province in the next five years regardless of the proposed development of the
waste site. Addo Road will be upgraded to a standard that can accommodate the
waste site generated trips, as was shown in the structural pavement analysis.
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 13 –Transport Study June 2010 203
This section of the report focuses on the costs for the upgrading of gravel roads
P1954 and P1958. The cost to regravel is estimated to be R 0,5 million / km
which ne eds t o b e d one every 5 years. T he c osts t o t ar t hese r oads a re
estimated to be R 4 million / km. The maintenance costs for either option (gravel
or tar) are R 0,1 million per km / year.
The costs have been summarised in Table 13.6 below (R – regravelling cost,
T = tarring cost and M – maintenance cost).
Table 13.6: Road upgrade costs
Footprint
/ Option
P1954 P1958 TOTAL*
(Million Rand)
R M T R M T R + M T + M
E R 4,0 R 3,8 R 8,0 - - - R 7,8 R 11,8
F 1 R 8,2 R 7,8 R 16,4 - - - R 16,0 R 24,2
2 R 2,4 R 2,3 R 4,8 R 12,8 R 12,2 R 25,6 R 29,7 R 44,9
C 1 R 10,6 R 10,1 R 21,2 R 4,2 R 4,0 R 8,4 R 28,9 R 43,7
2 - - - R 17,0 R 16,2 R 34,0 R 33,2 R 50,2
*Total cost includes regravelling and maintenance for 20 years
The table above shows that i t is more economical to regravel P1954 and P1958
than it is to upgrade to tar. The maintenance costs are the same for either
option.
There are two options for providing access to Footprint F, the first option is to
upgrade 4,1 km of gravel road P1954 with direct access to the Addo Road, and
the second option involves upgrading 6,4 km of P1958 and 1,2 km of P1954 with
access from P1958. The first option is cheaper as it will produce a cost saving of
R 13,7 million and R 20,7 million for gravel and tar respectively, compared to the
second option and will also reduce the overall route length by 3,5 km. However,
the f irst o ption r equires u pgrading P 1954 a cross l and th at is c urrently b eing
mined by PPC and will present traffic safety problems if mining operations are still
in progress on this land when the waste facility is required to become operational,
as waste trucks will cross the mining trucks haul road at two locations.
13.6. Site Access Options and PPC Mining Activity
The choice of road access options to the selected site (Footprint F) is affected by
whether an environmental authorisation will be granted for additional air space to
be used at the existing Aloes Hazardous Waste Site, which will provide additional
capacity to extend the life of the Aloes facility from 2012 to about 2019. This will
provide time for PPC to complete mining in the areas affected by the proposed
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Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 13 –Transport Study June 2010 204
facility o n F ootprint F . If environmental authorisation is n ot g ranted f or t he
extension of the Aloes Hazardous Waste Site, it is expected to reach capacity by
mid 2012, which means that the proposed waste facility on PPC land will need to
be ready for use by that time. Access to the proposed site can either be provided
from the R335 (Addo Road), using the existing disused gravel road P1954 which
crosses PPC land that is currently being mined, or access can be provided f rom
road P1958 which is a secondary gravel road passing near to the proposed site at
the opposite end of P1954. These options were i llustrated previously in Figures
13.3 and 13.4.
The u se of r oad P 1954 f rom th e R3 35 a s an a ccess r oad to th e p roposed
hazardous waste facility has t raffic sa fety implications, for two reasons. F irstly,
the position of the junction of P1954 at R335 is on a blind rise which renders i t
unsafe for vehicles turning to and from P1954 onto R335 and secondly, with PPC
mining taking p lace north o f P1954 and the limestone processing p lant s ituated
on the s outh s ide of P1954, t rucks carrying limestone will c ross t he p ath of
vehicles carrying general and hazardous waste throughout the day. The first risk
of traffic accidents a t the P1954/R335 junction can be mitigated by moving the
junction about 300 m south of its existing position, away from the blind rise. I t
will then be about 600 m away from the intersection where the PPC haul road
crosses the R335. This spacing between the intersections is sufficient for them to
operate safely. T he second risk of accidents between mining vehicles and waste
vehicles crossing each other’s paths can be mitigated by installing a two-way stop
control a t the c ross roads, which g ives p riority to vehicles on one of the roads.
The cost of upgrading the currently disused P1954 and reconstructing the junction
at the R335 to an 8 m gravel road standard capable of carrying 500 vehicles per
day, is about R6 million. A new tarred road would cost about R20 million.
The alternative to upgrading and reconstructing P1954 from R335 to the site, is
to regravel P1958 from R335 to the western end of P1954 and construct a new
0,5 km gravel access road f rom P1958 to the s ite, to replace the d isused skew
junction between P1954 and P1958. The new 0,5 km gravel access road will cost
about R1 million and the regravelling of P1958 will cost about R3 million which
will need to be repeated every 5 years. Tarring this 6 km section of P1958 will
cost about R30 million. The distance for vehicles travelling to the site from R335
via P1958 and the new access is 5 km longer than via P1954.
13.7. Anticipated Transport Corridor and Traffic Impacts
The anticipated traffic and road condition impacts are reflected in Table 13.7. The
required mitigation measures would be to upgrade the R335 to the appropriate
design standard that will accommodate the operational phase waste transport
vehicle volumes as per the recommendations made at the end of this chapter.
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 13 –Transport Study June 2010 205
Table 13.7: Assessment of Potential Traffic Impacts
Potential Impact Status Extent Duration Probability
Severity /
Intensity
scale
Significance Post mitigation
significance
Increase in heavy
vehicle traffic
Negative Localised Long-term Definite Moderate Moderate Low -
Increased risk of
vehicle accidents
Negative Localised Long-term Probable Moderate Moderate Low -
Deterioration of
existing road condition
Negative Localised Long-term Definite Moderate Moderate Low -
Impacts on tourist
traffic
Negative Localised Long-term Probable Moderate Moderate Low -
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Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 13 –Transport Study June 2010 206
13.8. Conclusions and Recommendations
If an environmental authorisation is not given to extend the life of the Aloes
hazardous waste facility beyond 2012, the new site at Grassridge will need to
become operational during 2012. As PPC will still be mining their land north of
P1954 until after 2012, we recommend that P1958 be regravelled for use by
waste vehicles t ravelling to the s ite f rom the R335. A new 0,5 km access road
should be constructed from P1958 to the site to replace the currently disused
skew junction where P1954 joins P1958. It is essential that the Addo Road (R335)
be upgraded from the R334 to P1958 junction before the waste facility becomes
operational. Similarly, it is recommended that P1958, as well as all other haul
routes to the facility that are currently gravel roads, are upgraded to bitumen
standard and fulfil the same design criteria as that proposed for the R335 (Addo
Road).
If an e nvironmental a uthorisation is g ranted t o e xtend t he l ife of t he A loes
hazardous waste facility, the decision on whether to upgrade P1954 or r egravel
P1958 can be delayed until it is known when PPC will complete their mining
operations north of P1954. If these operations are completed by the time the
new waste facility is required, the upgrading of P1954 and the relocation of its
junction on R335 i s p referred, because i t w ill r esult i n a shorter t ravel d istance
than via P1958 for the majority of waste vehicles that will use the R335 coming
from Port Elizabeth and the Coega IDZ.
The Provincial Department of Roads and Transport has stated that it is committed
to upgrading Addo Road regardless of the proposed waste site development and
once upgraded; the recommended design standard of Addo Road will be able to
accommodate t he h eavy v ehicle t raffic t hat w ill be g enerated b y t he w aste
facility. It can therefore be concluded that transportation of waste by road is the
better option, provided that the Addo Road between the R334 and P1958
junctions i s u pgraded before t he op eration o f t he waste f acility c ommences.
Accordingly the following recommended mitigation measures must be
implemented:
• Climbing lanes on hills for heavy vehicles must be incorporated in the
refurbishment design of the R335 to allow other traffic to pass safely;
• All ot her h aul rou tes to t he f acility t hat a re c urrently g ravel roa ds, a re
upgraded to asphalt surface and fulfil the same design criteria as that
proposed for the R335;
• Road safety improvements such as surfaced shoulders, guard rails, signs and
markings must be standard;
• Reconstruction of existing road pavement prior to the facility becoming
operational combined with regular maintenance thereof; and
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Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 13 –Transport Study June 2010 207
• Promote use of alternative route via N2 and N10 to Addo Elephant Park for
tourist related traffic, as well as the transport of citrus in the instance of a spill
event by waste vehicles during the operational phase of the facility. This will
result in longer travelling times and an associated increase in tourism and
citrus industry transport costs, but will negate the concerns raised in terms of
potential impacts on these respective industries
The implications of the concerns raised by the SRVCF with regard to the potential
scenario of an accidental spill of waste on the road accompanied by rain, which
could r esult in c ontaminated r ain w ater l anding u p o n f ruit f or i nternational
export, are n oted. It i s t he o pinion o f Bohlweki-SSI E nvironmental t hat
quantifying the risks and likelihood of this scenario occurring will be difficult to
accurately and credibly assess. It should therefore be assumed that a spill event
followed by, or during, a rainfall event is likely to eventuate during the lifespan of
the facility. Accordingly, the decision making authority (DWEA) is urged to apply
the precautionary principle in this regard.
It is therefore imperative that and appropriate emergency response measures are
developed for, and implemented during, the operational phase of the facility for
this scenario and is reflected in the required transport corridor monitoring and
management protocols. In the instance of an accident/spill event it would have to
be communicated quickly and effectively to affected road users, traffic halted and
an alternative transport route utilised until such time as the spill is cleared up.
Trucks transporting fruit should therefore ideally be covered to a degree that will
prevent ingress o f w ater that could potentially be c ontaminated by w et road
surfaces from a spill event when transporting fruit to the Port Elizabeth harbour
once the facility is operational.
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Ch 14 – Social Impact Assessment 208 June 2010
14. SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
This report was compiled by Ms Nonka Byker and reviewed by Ms Anita Bron,
both of MasterQ Research. The full specialist report is contained in Appendix H.
14.1. Introduction
In order to determine the most feasible site for such the general and hazardous
waste d isposal fa cility ( GHWMF), a n E nvironmental I mpact A ssessment (E IA)
process had to be undertaken. As part of the EIA process, an Environmental
Scoping Study (ESS) of the study area was completed during 2003. A Social
Impact Assessment Scoping Report (SIASR) was developed and released as part
of the ESS.
The Impact Assessment Phase followed the ESS, and entailed a more detailed
assessment by specialists on the preferred site, Footprint F. This report presents
the results of the Social Impact Assessment (SIA) as part of the EIA for the
construction, o peration a nd d ecommissioning o f t he p roposed GHWMF in t he
Eastern Cape. The S IA documented i n this report builds on the preliminary SIA
conducted as part of the Scoping Phase of the EIA, which was carried out by
Afrosearch (Pty) Ltd.
The f irst subsection below g ives a definition of a SIA, followed by details of the
objectives of the study and details on the approach and methodology that were
followed to meet these objectives.
The section is concluded with the findings of the Scoping Phase and how these
findings have been incorporated into the current study.
14.1.1. Definition of a SIA
The definition of an SIA as defined by Vanclay (2002) gives an understanding of
the backdrop against which the SIA was conducted. According to this definition, a
social impact is defined as follows:
“The consequences to human populations of any public or private actions (these
include policies, programmes, plans and/or projects) that alter the ways in which
people live, work, play, relate to one another, organise to meet their needs and
generally live and cope as members of society. These impacts are felt at various
levels, including individual level, family or household level, community,
organisation or society level. Some social impacts are felt by the body as physical
reality, while other social impacts are perceptual or emotional.”
Whereas a social impact assessment is defined by Vanclay (2002) as follows:
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“SIA is the process of analyzing (predicting, evaluating and reflecting) and
managing the intended and unintended consequences on the human environment
of planned interventions (policies, programmes, plans and projects) and any
social change processes invoked by those interventions so as to bring about a
more sustainable and equitable biophysical and human environment.”
According to Vanclay (2002:3-10) one of the pitfalls of many SIAs are that social
change processes are referred to as social impacts within these studies. Vanclay
states: “social change processes are set in motion by project activities or
policies”, w hile s ocial impacts “ refer t o t he impacts a ctually e xperienced b y
humans in e ither a c orporeal ( physical) or c ognitive ( perceptual) s ense.” A
change process can be defined as change that takes place within the receiving
environment as a result of a direct or indirect intervention.
A potential impact follows as a result of the change process. However, a change
process c an only r esult i n a n impact o nce i t i s e xperienced a s s uch b y a n
individual/community o n a p hysical a nd/or c ognitive le vel. T he s pecialists
therefore made a definite distinction between change processes and impacts for
the purposes of this study.
14.1.2. Objectives of the SIA
The primary objective of the SIA was to assess the proposed development from a
social perspective and to reflect the results of the assessment in such a way that
it would assist the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DWEA) to
make an informed decision on the project. The overall purpose of the SIA is
therefore to contribute to the EIA in such a way as to inform the Record of
Decision (ROD).
This SIA specifically focused on the development of the proposed new regional
hazardous waste processing facility on Footprint F. A number of alternative sites
were considered during the scoping phase, but have subsequently been ruled out.
To meet the primary objective, the following activities were conducted:
• Conduct the detailed studies that were identified during the Scoping Phase,
thereby refining the assessment of the probable impacts of the project on the
social environment;
• Rate these impacts along various dimensions (temporal, spatial, etc.) so as to
obtain an overall view of their relative severity and significance; and
• Identify measures that could be implemented to prevent or ameliorate any
negative impacts.
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14.1.3. Approach and Methodology
To ensure that the objectives of the study are answered, data had to be collected.
Primary a nd secondary d ata c ollection m ethods w ere u sed. P rimary d ata
collection included a s ite v isit to the area on 4 December 2007. The secondary
data collection mostly centred on a desktop study, in which the following
documents were scrutinised:
• Locality maps;
• Census data (2001);
• Relevant sections of the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) of the NMBM;
• Spatial Development Framework (SDF) of the NMBM;
• Existing project documentation, e.g. the Feasibility Report; and
• The SIA Scoping Report.
Information that was relevant to the project was identified and assessed from
these sources, within the context of the construction, operational and
decommissioning phases of the proposed project. This particular SIA also took
into account the temporal, spatial, severity/benefit, significance, risk or likelihood
and d egree o f confidence th at a p otential impact m ight h ave o n th e s ocial
environment. Impacts can either be negative, neutral or positive. The impacts are
also categorised according to the various project stages, i.e. pre-construction,
construction, post construction (operation), and decommissioning. Mitigation
measures have also been identified with the aim to reduce the potential negative
impacts and to enhance the potential positive impacts.
14.1.4. Preliminary Findings of the SIASR
A comprehensive list of possible social impact variables was developed during the
Scoping P hase, on th e b asis o f g uidelines d erived f rom B urdge (1 995). T he
purpose of this list was to serve as a guide to identify potentially relevant issues
when conducting the investigation. The impact variables which were assessed in
the E SS a re l isted i n Table 14 .. F or th e p urposes o f th is s tudy, t he i mpact
variables that were identified during the ESS are categorised in terms of change
processes as opposed to impact variable themes. A change process can be
defined as change that takes place within the receiving environment as a result of
a direct or indirect intervention. A potential impact follows as a result of the
change process. However, a change process can only result in an impact once it is
experienced as such by an individual/community on a physical and/or cognitive
level.
The change processes that were assessed as per the identified variable themes
during the ESS, and the resultant potential social impacts as a result of these
change processes, are indicated in Table 14. overleaf.
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Table 14.1: Scoping phase impact variables in relation to social change
processes in the impact assessment phase
SIASR
Impact
Variable
Anticipated
Impacts
Processes
assessed in
SIA
Expected Change
Processes
Population
Impacts
• Population Change
• Inflow or Outflow
of temporary
workers
• Introduction of
people dissimilar
in age, gender,
racial and ethnic
composition
• Displacement of
people
Demographic
Change Process
• Relocation of
households
and/or
population
segments
• Influx of
construction
workers
• Influx of job
seekers
• Outflow of
labourers
• Disruption in daily
living and
movement
patterns
• Disruption in social
networks
• Change in
leisure/recreationa
l opportunities
Socio-Cultural
Change Process
• Sense of place
• Integration with
local community
• Physical
splintering
• Safety and
security
• Noise pollution
Community
and
Institutional
Arrangements
• Authority
responsibility
• Planning
requirements and
infrastructure
needs
• Attitude towards
the project
Institutional and
Empowerment
Change Process
• Attitude
formation
against the
project (risk for
social
mobilisation)
• Additional
demand on
municipal
services
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SIASR
Impact
Variable
Anticipated
Impacts
Processes
assessed in
SIA
Expected Change
Processes
• Interest group
activity
• Disaster
Management
Plan on site
Conflicts
between local
residents and
newcomers
• Presence of an
outside agency
• Introduction of
new social classes
Socio Cultural
Change Process
• As outlined
above
Community
infrastructure
needs
• Change in
community
infrastructure
• Land acquisition
and disposal
Geographical
Change Process
• An increase in
traffic could lead
to a disruption
of local
movement
patterns. An
increase in
(construction)
traffic might
damage the
road network
adding to the
impact of
frustration and
a disruption in
the normal
traffic
movement
patterns.
• The presence of
the site might
limit the
development
potential of
certain areas.
• Effects on known
cultural, historical
and archaeological
Socio-Cultural
Change Process
• As outlined above
in terms of the
socio-cultural
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SIASR
Impact
Variable
Anticipated
Impacts
Processes
assessed in
SIA
Expected Change
Processes
resources change process
General
concerns
• Health
• Residential
proximity to
landfill site
• Visual impact
• Air pollution
Biophysical
Change Process
• The impact of
pollution and
fire risk on
construction
workers and the
surrounding
community’s
health and
safety
• Lack of
sanitation
impacts on the
environment,
which could
affect the health
of people
• Noise pollution
• Accessibility of the
site
Socio-Cultural
Change Process
• As outlined
above
Employment
and Economic
Impacts
• Industrial
diversification
• Change in
employment
equity of minority
groups
• Economic
inequities
• Changing
occupational
opportunities
Economic
Change Process
• Compensation
for site
• Direct formal
employment
opportunities to
local
individuals;
• Indirect formal
and/or informal
employment
opportunities to
local individuals.
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14.1.5. Findings of the Footprint Ranking Report
A footprint ranking report was completed during December 2006, which involved
the screening of s ix potential footprints w ithin the i dentified s ites. The f ootprint
ranking pr ocess i nvolved s ensitivity m apping, f ield investigations, r anking
exercises, criteria weighting exercises and workshops with stakeholders in order
to select the p referred facility footprints for further i nvestigations. The footprint
ranking report nominated footprints C, E and F as the preferred footprints for
further investigation and concept design.
14.1.6. Findings of the Feasibility Report
A Feasibility Report was completed during December 2007, which investigated the
preferred facility footprints, i.e. footprints C, E and F. These investigations
centred on a concept facility design, preliminary geohydrological evaluations and
a preliminary EIA. The main purpose of the Feasibility Report was to enable the
authorities to establish whether the facility designs and positions were viable for
detailed engineering and environmental studies. The findings of the Feasibility
Report p rovided a n assessment of both th e potential b enefits as well as t he
potential n egative i mpacts a nticipated w ith t he d evelopment of th e p roposed
general a nd h azardous w aste f acility. Although F ootprint E w as f ound to b e
technically flawed, the findings concluded that there were no environmental fatal
flaws, under the condition that the mitigation and management measures were
implemented d uring t he c onstruction a nd o perational p hases o f th e p roposed
project. It was further recommended that detailed assessments were undertaken
on the preferred site (Footprint F) during the EIA phase of the project.
The selection of Footprint F as the p referred s ite was as a result of the various
specialists studies undertaken during the feasibility phase and can be summarised
as follows in Table 14.2 below:
Table 14.2: Justification for the Selection of Footprint F as the Preferred Site
Criteria Preferred
Footprint
Primary Decision Factor
Traffic F The c ost of e stablishment o f th e road t o
Footprint C is approximately double that for the
road to Footprint F.
Visual F Barely visible due to in-fill design.
Land Use F Compatibility w ith l and us e on a djacent
property (mining).
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Air Quality C A variety of air quality parameters favour this
footprint.
Technical F Favoured due to proximity to electricity,
availability of borrow material and road access.
Fauna F Both s ites a re s imilar bu t th e c ritically
endangered Albany Adder may be present on
Footprint C.
Flora F Only F ootprint C has v egetation in r elatively
good condition.
The r emaining s pecialist s tudies, n otably g eohydrology, to urism a nd h eritage
regarded all three footprints as relatively equal in terms of potential impacts and
were therefore not included in the table above.
14.1.7. Preferred Footprint
As previously mentioned, Footprint F was identified as the preferred footprint for
the proposed hazardous waste facility. Footprint F is located on a site that is
owned by PPC and has been zoned for agricultural use. However, PPC also have
mining rights on the site. The site is located on a plateau within a broad, low
slope valley draining in a southerly direction. According to the SIASR completed
by Afrosearch during 2003, the closest human settlement from the site is the
residential area of Motherwell (approximately 15km) and an industrial area known
as Markman Industrial (also approximately 15km). Addo is located approximately
31km a way f rom M otherwell a long t he R3 35 (A ddo Ro ad), w hich p asses th e
proposed site. There are also a number of scattered farmhouses around the site.
The site is currently mainly accessed via the R335; a road which travels through
the residential area of Motherwell, and which also serves as the main access
route to the Addo National Park. Access can also be gained f rom U itenhage v ia
the R75.
14.1.8. Assumptions and Limitations of Study
• MasterQ Research was appointed during November 2007 to conduct a SIA on
the preferred footprint and was therefore not involved as social specialists
during the earlier phases o f the p roposed p roject. As a social study was not
conducted d uring th e F easibility p hase, th e a nticipated s ocial impacts
identified by Afrosearch during the Scoping Phase (and as outlined as per
table 14.1), were expanded during the EIA Phase, taking cognisance of the
issues and concerns raised by Interested and Affected parties (I&APs), as well
as additional information that was sourced by the specialist.
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• No information was available on potential job losses should the hazardous
waste facility be decommissioned. The expected economic impact as a result
of decommissioning has therefore not been assessed in detail.
• An i nitial e stimate o f a pproximately 1 00 loaded tr ips p er d ay w ould b e
required on commencement of the GHWMF operations, reaching a maximum
of 251 loaded trips per day in year 11, to be transported on a daily basis
through t he M otherwell a rea along the R 335 that is d eemed to be the
preferred access route to the proposed facility. It is further assumed that the
transportation o f hazardous waste by road i s regulated by s trict regulations,
e.g. the trucks will be covered and clearly marked.
• At the time of the study, no information was available on the exact
development limitation that the presence of the facility would place on the
surrounding area, i.e. how far away developments would be allowed in relation
to th e f acility. However, it s hould be n oted that a t p resent th e p roposed
facility is located away from existing urban areas.
• Information received from other specialists indicated that the proposed site for
the facility belongs to PPC. It is believed that negotiations to acquire this
property would be between the landowner and the project proponent and that
such discussions fall outside the current scope of work as it would have no
direct social impacts on the surrounding area.
14.2. General Overview of the Affected Area
The preferred site falls within the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM), which
in turn is located within the Eastern Cape Province. Despite the significant role
that the Eastern Cape Province (ECP) has played in the history of South Africa, it
is regarded as one of the poorest provinces in South Africa. A total of 6 district
municipalities can be found within the ECP, which is further subdivided into 38
local municipalities. The ECP covers an a rea of approximately 169 952km2. The
NMBM area is approximately 1 959km2
in size and consists of 60 wards in total.
As the preferred site is 13 km away from the nearest community (Motherwell), it
is believed that the site i tself will not directly impact on this area. However, the
main access route (the R335) passes th rough th is area, which might impact on
this settlement. Motherwell consists of 6 wards in total. Data from these wards
have been combined in order to provide an overall view of the area as opposed to
a fragmented profile.
The other potential access route, the R334, passes north of Motherwell. The R334
becomes Daniel Pienaar Road as i t enters Uitenhage where i t intersects with the
R75. The R75 passes through two residential areas, namely Strelitzia Park and
Winterhoek Park – both these areas fall within ward 51 of the NMBM. Motherwell,
Strelitzia Park and Winterhoek Park (Ward 51) in relation to the NMBM and the
ECP as a whole are discussed in more detail further on in this chapter.
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Figure 14.1: Approximate location of the preferred site depicting the land use of
the surrounding area
During t he i nitial c onstruction p hase a ll t he s ite i nfrastructure ( i.e. entrance
facility, w eighbridge, o ffices, a blutions, a ccess roads a nd st ores) will be
constructed. In addition, the first phase of landfill cells, storm water dam and
leachate dam will be constructed. This will involve earthworks and specialised
lining of the dams and cells. The initial construction period will last for
approximately 12 months.
The construction staff will range from unskilled labour, to semi-skilled
construction w orkers s uch a s construction p lant o perators, b ricklayers, l ining
installers and skilled construction workers such as foremen and engineers.
Unskilled labour would be sourced locally, with p robably 30 to 50 individuals
being employed during the peak construction period. As unskilled labour w ill be
local, no accommodation will be required on site.
However, i t i s f oreseen th at d aily t ransport to a nd f rom th e l abour sending
area(s) might be provided. Semi-skilled and skilled workers are normally
permanent e mployees of t he c onstruction f irms. D epending o n w hether t he
construction firm is local or not, the construction firm would provide temporary
accommodation for i ts personnel. Nobody, other than security personnel w ill be
housed on site. At the time of the study it was not clear whether these labourers
will be housed within the community or within a construction village.
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In time, approximately every 5 years, additional landfill cells will be constructed.
The construction team will generally be much smaller than the initial construction
team.
14.3. Social Change Processes and Impact Assessment
The fo llowing se ction proceeds t o d iscuss t he v arious ch ange p rocesses a nd
related expected impacts that could be expected as a result of the project. The
change processes which were assessed included the following:
• Demographic processes: changes in the number and composition of people;
• Economic processes: changes in the way in which people make a living and
the economic activities in society;
• Institutional and empowerment processes: changes in the role, efficiency
and operation of governments and other organisations, and people’s ability to
get involved and influence decision making processes;
• Socio-cultural processes: changes in the way in which humans behave,
interact and relate to each other and their environment and the belief and
value systems which guide these interactions.
• Geographical processes: changes in land use patterns; and
• Bio-physical processes: the biological and physical components of the
natural environment.
As previously mentioned, a change process can be defined as change that takes
place within the receiving environment as a result of a direct or indirect
intervention. A potential impact follows as a result of the change process.
However, a change process can only result in an impact once it is experienced as
such by an individual/community on a physical and/or cognitive level.
A SIA takes into account the extent, duration, intensity and probability of
occurrence that a potential impact might have on this social environment.
Impacts can either be negative, neutral or positive. The impacts are also
categorised a ccording t o t he various p roject stages, i .e. p re-construction,
construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning. Mitigation
measures have also been identified with the aim to reduce the potential impact of
a negative issue and to enhance the impact of a positive issue. Also included in
the assessment table is a rating of the significance of the impact.
To m eet th e o verall o bjective o f th e p roject, i t was n ecessary t o co mpile a
detailed description of the study area. This detailed baseline social profile had
been compiled as part of the ESS and formed part of the SIASR. As the proposed
site i s l ocated s ome distance a way from a ny f ormal r esidential areas, i t i s
believed that communities along the proposed access routes (the R75, R334 and
R335) would be mostly affected. These communities include Motherwell, Strelitzia
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Park, Winterhoek Park and some scattered farming households around the
proposed site.
Figure 14.2: Access roads to the various farmlands in vicinity of the proposed
site
The f irst segment of each subsection below provides an analysis of the baseline
profile of the social processes in terms of geographical, demographic, economic,
institutional, s ocio-cultural a nd b iophysical c onditions in t he a reas m entioned
above. The baseline profile summarises the status quo of these areas followed by
an assessment of the potential impacts with the implementation of the proposed
project.
14.4. Demographic Processes
Demographic processes relate to the number of people and composition of an
area and include an overview of the population size and the educational profile of
the affected areas. Unless otherwise stated, the baseline social profile of the
study area was compiled based on data obtained from the Municipal Demarcation
Board. Note that this data should only be viewed as indicative of the broad trends
within the area and not as a rigid representation of the area.
Population
An overview of the affected areas is reflected in Table 14.4 overleaf. The Eastern
Cape Province covers an area of approximately 169 952km2, with a total
population o f a pproximately 7 2 84 0 66 p eople l iving w ithin its b orders. T his
brings the population density to an average of 44.4 people per km2. The
predominant p opulation g roup i s B lack A frican (8 3.3%) f ollowed b y C oloured
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(9.8%). T here a re s lightly mo re f emales ( 53.4%) t han ma les ( 46.6%). T he
majority of the total population is below the age of 19 (47.4%), closely followed
by the segment of the population that can be regarded as economically active
(between the ages of 20 and 64) at 46.4%. The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
(NMBM), which is situated within the EC, extends over 1 959km2 and has a total
population of approximately 1 005 769 with a population density of 513.4 people
per km2
. The racial distribution within the NMBM, much like the ECP as a whole,
consisted of a majority of Black African (58.9%) followed by a distribution of
23.5% Coloured. More than half (58.0%) of the total population in the NMBM falls
within the economically active age group of between 20 and 64. Again there are
slightly more females (52.2%) than males (47.8%).
There are three areas within the NMBM that would, in terms of social processes,
potentially be affected by the proposed hazardous waste facility, but mostly in
respect of the fact that the proposed access routes pass through these areas.
These areas are Motherwell (wards 23, 54, 55, 57, 58 and 59 of the NMBM),
Strelitzia P ark a nd Winterhoek Park ( ward 51 of t he N MBM). A s M otherwell
consists of 6 separate wards, data from these wards have been combined in order
to provide an overall view of the area as opposed to a fragmented profile.
The total population of Motherwell is estimated at 102 291 people living in 27 700
separate households, at an average of 3.7 persons per household. Motherwell
accounts for approximately 10.2% of the total population within the NMBM. The
area is approximately 21.6km2 in size with a high population density of
approximately 4 735.7 persons per square kilometre. The predominant population
group is Black African (99.7%), followed by Coloured (0.3%). As is the case with
the NMBM as a whole, more than half (56.5%) of the total population falls within
the age segment that can be regarded as economically active (the ages between
20 and 64). Also, slightly more than half (53.1%) of the total population are
female. In comparison, ward 51 (Strelitzia Park and Winterhoek Park) has a total
population o f a pproximately 1 7 58 6 w ithin a ge ographical a rea o f 6 5.3km2,
resulting in a population density of approximately 269.3 persons per km2
. The
ward has a total number of 5 164 households, with an average of 3.4 persons per
household. The predominant population group is White (73.0%). The age and
gender profile of this ward is similar to that of Motherwell and the NMBM as a
whole.
Table 14.3 below provides a summary of the social demographics of the affected
areas on the access routes and in close proximity to the preferred site. From this
demographic data it can be deducted that the majority o f the population within
the affected area are within the economically active group. In view of the fact
that there are more females than males in this area, cognisance should be taken
of the fact that a large number of job seekers might be female.
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Table 14.3: Summary of Population Characteristics
South
Africa
Eastern
Cape
NMBM Motherwell
(Wards 23,
54, 57-59)
Strelitzia
Park &
Winterhoek
Park
(Ward 51)
Area size
(km2
1219912
)
169952 1959 26.1 65.3
Total
population
47390900 7284066 1005769 102291 17 586
Population
density
(people per
km2
38.9
)
44.4 513.4 4735.7 269.3
Total
households
11205705 1771783 265 371 27700 5164
Avg. persons
per household
4.0 4.1 3.8 3.7 3.4
Population
group
Black
African
(79.5%)
Black
African
(83.3%)
Black
African
(58.9%)
Black
African
(99.7%)
White
(73.0%)
Gender Female
(50.8%)
Female
(53.4%)
Female
(52.2%)
Female
(53.1%)
Female
(51.5%)
Age Group ≤19
(42.6%)
≤19
(47.4%)
20-64
(58.0%)
20-64
(56.5%)
20-64
(59.0%)
Education
Close on a third (31.3%) of the adult population in the ECP has completed some
secondary schooling, while 20.2% of the adult population have had no schooling.
A total of 6.7% completed a post school qualification.
The educational profile within the NMBM differs slightly from that of the province
in that more than a third (39.6%) of the adult population has completed some
secondary schooling. Close on a quarter (24.4%) of the adult population have
completed a Grade 12 qualification, whereas close on half (43.7%) of the adult
population within Ward 51 have completed a Grade 12 qualification. A total of
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Ch 14 – Social Impact Assessment 222 June 2010
8.7% has completed a post school qualification, whereas only 6.7% have had no
schooling. Within ward 51 a total of 16% of the adult population have obtained a
tertiary education. The educational profile for Motherwell is similar to that of the
NMBM an d t he ECP as a w hole, a s i llustrated b y F igure 14.3 below, wh ich
provides an overview of the educational profile of the affected areas.
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
EC
NMBM
Motherwell
Ward 51
Education (Grouped)
No schoolingSome primaryComplete primarySome secondaryStd 10/Grade 12Higher
Figure 14.3: Educational Profile (Grouped) for Affected Areas
14.4.1. Demographic Change Processes and Resultant Impacts
The construction and operation of the p roposed regional general and hazardous
waste facility c ould lead to a c hange i n th e n umber a nd c omposition o f a
population within the affected area, which in turn could lead to economic, land
use, and socio-cultural impacts. According to the Eastern Cape Department of
Social Development the high population density in the Nelson Mandela Bay area
can be ascribed to migrant labour as Port Elizabeth i s the only large c ity in the
area. M igrant l abour mostly c omprises m embers of rural c ommunities o r
traditional societies who move from these areas to urban areas in order to sell
their labour. It is expected that the bulk of the job seekers who are not from the
area would move i nto Motherwell as opposed to the a reas i n U itenhage, mostly
due to the fact that Motherwell is also in close proximity to the Coega
Development where more and longer term employment opportunities would be
created. Therefore, demographic change processes are mostly expected to occur
within the Motherwell area whereas the areas in Uitenhage might be affected as a
result of access routes passing through these areas.
Pre-Construction & Construction Phases
This su b-section d eals w ith t he e xpected d emographic c hange p rocesses a nd
resultant impacts that can be expected with the introduction of the proposed
project t o t he a ffected a reas. T he d emographic c hange p rocess t hat c an b e
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expected a s a re sult of p roposed n ew regional g eneral a nd h azardous w aste
processing facility is as follows:
• Relocation of households and/or population segments;
• Influx of construction workers;
• Influx of job seekers; and
• Outflow of labourers.
• Relocation of households and/or population segments
A resettlement study was undertaken by Coastal and Environmental Services as
part of the Footprint Ranking Report during 2006. This study stated that PPC i s
active in the area and that there is one farmhouse in the area that is permanently
occupied (refer to Figure 14.4). Residents in this single homestead and possibly
some farm workers would have to be relocated. It is therefore believed that less
than 20 people would have to be relocated, which is logistically manageable and
financially feasible.
Figure 14.4: House located in close proximity to the proposed site
The impact of relocation depends on the level of attachment to a place, which in
turn is informed by variables such as age and number of years spent in that
particular area. Where people have been l iving in a specific area for years, they
are used to their surroundings, e.g. the route they travel to work, the amenities
(shops, businesses, leisure) they visit, etc. Apart from their surroundings, one
could also expect that they are attached to their houses and living conditions.
Relocating such households would have an impact on their way of life and the
standard of life they have grown accustomed to. On a broader scale the potential
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impact of relocation is regarded as moderately severe due to the fact that there is
only one household that would potentially have to be relocated. The house itself
belongs to PPC, who are also the current landowners of Footprint F. Although this
household might not be directly affected by the proposed facility footprint, it is
still recommended that they be relocated based on the fact that they would live
within very close proximity to the proposed facility. Should they remain on the
property, they may be affected by a range of other impacts, such as visual, noise,
air and health. The impact is rated as low negative after the implementation of
mitigation measures.
• Arrival of construction workers
The arrival of construction workers that might lead to a slight change in the
number and composition of the local community, and impact on the economy,
health, safety and social well-being of the adjacent communities. The impact o f
the arrival of c onstruction w orkers i s m ostly a pplicable t o t he a reas w here
workers spend evenings and weekends. Contact between the local community
and the workers can be expected, which may result in conflict. It should be noted
that o nly a limited n umber of construction w orkers a re required d uring t he
construction phase.
Unskilled labour would comprise of approximately 30-50 individuals during the
peak of construction, which would be sourced from the local area. If construction
workers a re f rom a d ifferent cultural b ackground t han locals, c onflict c an b e
expected where different cultural backgrounds are not respected. This could lead
to locals developing a negative attitude to wards construction workers, w ith a
resultant negative impact on social well-being. A negative attitude can further be
intensified i f c onstruction w orkers a re v iewed a s a g roup th at to ok j ob
opportunities a way f rom l ocals, t hereby c reating a n underlying c onflict ov er
limited resources. This might be further intensified with the arrival of a large
number of construction workers (approximately 50 000) at the Coega IDZ
development, which is in close proximity to the proposed site.
However, depending on the flexibility of the receiving environment, the impact
should not be viewed as purely negative. If the community has the capacity to
accommodate additional people, and are accepting of new people, the presence of
construction workers could lead to a temporary boost in the local economy if
construction workers make use of local services. However, a community that is
unable to meet its own needs would be unable to sustain additional demands on
the local services, which would lead to conflict i f services are depleted (e.g. the
local grocery store running out of supplies due to the extra demand). The impact
is ra ted a s low negative to neutral after the im plementation o f m itigation
measures.
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• Influx of job seekers
At the start of the construction period, surrounding communities become aware of
job opportunities that might arise from the construction of the hazardous waste
facility. In response to the possibility of getting a job on site, job seekers might
approach th e s ite o ffice. A lthough a s mall number o f j ob s eekers c ould b e
employed in this way, job seekers mostly loiter around the construction village for
a few days in the hope of securing a job on site. Local individuals could jeopardise
their current employment in leaving their workplace in the hope of earning a
better income in the construction sector.
Job seekers from surrounding communities might normally focus their efforts on
securing a job either at the site office or at the construction village. Normally
employment p rocedures a re d iscussed w ith t he l ocal leaders a nd f ollowed to
ensure t hat t he local re sidents c an re ap t he b enefits from e mployment
opportunities. However, relative to the Coega IDZ development, which is in close
proximity to the proposed site, it is not expected that a large number of job
seekers w ould f ocus t heir a ttention a t t he p roposed f acility during t he
construction p hase. A ccording t o th e C oega w ebsite, m ore th an 2 0 0 00
permanent jobs a nd in excess of 50 000 construction jobs would be created
during the initial phase of the Coega project.
Other than these d irect job opportunities, a further 8 000 temporary and 2 500
permanent jobs would be created in downstream industries such as the local
building industry. As the construction of the proposed facility would only require
between 30-50 unskilled labourers during the peak of construction, it is believed
that job seekers would rather focus their attention on securing a construction
position at the Coega IDZ where more job opportunities are available and would
last o ver a l onger p eriod ( it w as s tated o n the C oega IDZ w ebsite th at th e
development of the Coega IDZ would take place over a 50 year period). The
influx of job seekers into the environment will lead to an increased demand on
local services and will not necessarily lead to a boost in the local economy, seeing
as these job seekers are mostly unemployed. The influx of job seekers might
further lead to conflict with local residents in respect of competition over l imited
job opportunities.
Job seekers who engage in temporary relationships with locals can impact on the
health of the community through the possibility of spreading sexually transmitted
infections such as HIV. Furthermore, if such a temporary relationship results in a
pregnancy, i t might have a further economic impact on the woman in question.
This is as a result of the fact that she would have to care for the infant without
financial a ssistance f rom t he f ather w ho i s unemployed. I t c an t herefore b e
assumed that he has no financial means to care for a baby. The impact is rated as
low negative to neutral after the implementation of mitigation measures.
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• Outflow of labourers
An o utflow o f la bourers c ould n egatively impact o n s ocial w ell-being, so cial
relationships, and health. Locals who secure employment with the contractors
might also receive training, thereby enabling them to secure more permanent
employment, which i n t urn m ight c ause t hem t o m ove out o f t he a rea a nd
become part of the migrant labour force. It is believed that construction workers
(notably the unskilled labour force) would focus their attention on securing a
position at the Coega IDZ, which is still located within the area. This means that a
labourer would not l eave the a rea. Securing a position a t the Coega IDZ would
have a po sitive e conomic impact o n b oth t he in dividual a nd h is/her f amily.
Families who have an income are able to unlock more possibilities in terms of
social upliftment (e.g. their living conditions, education opportunities, etc.). The
impact is rated as moderately positive after the implementation of mitigation
measures.
Operational Phase
This su b-section d eals with t he expected d emographic c hange p rocesses a nd
resultant impacts th at c an b e e xpected d uring th e o perational p hase o f th e
proposed new regional general and hazardous waste processing facility.
• Arrival of operational workers
The arrival of operational workers that might lead to slight changes in the number
and composition of the local community, and impact on economy, health, safety
and social well-being thereof. The size of the operational team will depend on the
actual waste tonnages received on site and will include unskilled labourers, semi-
skilled w orkers su ch a s w eigh-bridge o perators, p lant o perators, s ecurity
personnel and skilled workers such as l aboratory technician and s ite supervisor.
Due to the small size of the operational team, no significant impacts are foreseen
on t he d emographic c hange pr ocess d uring th is p hase of t he p roject. It i s
furthermore possible that very few of the operational team would reside in the
local area and that they would rather commute from their area of residence to the
facility and back out again at the end of the day. The impact is rated as having
no effect after the implementation of mitigation measures.
Decommissioning Phase
No significant impacts are foreseen on the demographic change process during
this phase of the project, as only a limited number of people would have been
employed at the facility. The potential impact that a loss of job opportunities
might have on the economic status of such an individual and his/her family has
been assessed in more detail further on in this chapter.
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14.5. Economic Processes
Economic processes relate to the way in which people make a living and the
economic activities within that society. The employment status within an area
gives an indication of the economic stability of such an area and also serves as an
indicator of the area’s general well-being. Employment rates and the economic
sectors of the affected area are discussed in relation to the Province and the
broader municipal area, as is followed by a discussion on the household income
profile of the area.
Employment and Economic Sectors
The employment rates reflected in this section are based on the economically
active population in the area. It therefore excludes the “not economically active”
population. The EC has a fairly large unemployment rate with just little over half
(52.7%) of the economically active population that is unemployed. Of the 47.3%
of the adult population that is employed, 87.7% listed the industry in which they
are employed as “undetermined”, which may be indicative of a large and fairly
active i nformal tr ade s egment. O ther d ominant e conomic s ectors within th e
province a re c ommunity s ervices ( 4.8%) a nd t he w holesale a nd retail s ector
(2.0%). The employment situation within NMBM is marginally better than the
overall s ituation of the EC. Slightly more than half (53.6%) of the economically
active population w ithin th e NMBM a re employed. The predominant e conomic
sector has been listed as “undetermined” for 78.8% of those employed, followed
by the community services sector (7.2%) and the manufacturing sector (5.0%).
Motherwell has an employment status similar to that of the Province, where close
on two thirds (60.9%) of the economically active population are unemployed. Of
those employed, the majority are employed within the community services sector
(22.5%), followed by the manufacturing sector (19.1%). The predominant
employment sectors are therefore similar to that of the NMBM as a whole. In
contrast the employment rate in ward 51 is very high and is estimated at 92.9%,
again m ostly in t he c ommunity s ervices s ector (2 6.6%). It c an t herefore b e
expected that l ittle to no residents from this area would be seeking employment
at the proposed facility and that most job seekers would stem from Motherwell
where the employment rate is much lower than that of ward 51. Table 14.5 below
provides a summary of the employment and predominant economic sectors within
the affected area in relation to South Africa, the Province and the municipal area.
As a result of the low employment rate within Motherwell, job seekers can be
expected f rom th is a rea. Coupled w ith th e f act th at th ere a re slightly m ore
females than males in the area, more of these job seekers might be female. Also,
in v iew of the fact that the employment rate within the NMBM in general is not
that high, job seekers from other areas within the NMBM might also be expected
at the site.
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Table 14.4: Overview of Employment and Economic Sectors
South
Africa
Eastern
Cape
NMBM Motherwell Ward 51
Employed* 33.7% 22.6% 32.6% 25.8% 54.9%
Unemployed* 24.0% 25.2% 28.2% 40.2% 4.2%
Not
economically
active
42.3% 52.2% 39.1% 34.0% 40.9%
Employment
rate**
58.4% 47.3% 53.6% 39.1% 92.9%
Industry Community
services
(29.1%)
Undeter-
mined
(87.7%)
Undeter-
mined
(78.8%)
Community
Services
(22.5%)
Community
Services
(26.6%)
* This is the percentage employed/unemployed of the entire working age population and should not
be read as the unemployment rate, i.e. the not economically active population is included in this
segment.
** In order to reflect a more accurate employment rate, the not economically active population has
been excluded from this segment.
Household Income
The m ajority o f ho useholds ( 70.5%) i n t he ECP have s ome f orm of i ncome.
However, the levels of income range from below the acceptable minimum
standard (of ±R18 000 p.a.) to affluent. The remainder of households (29.5%)
have no monthly income. The NMBM has a similar profile to that of the province,
but f ewer h ouseholds (2 1.6%) r eported h aving no h ousehold i ncome. In
Motherwell more than a third (35.1%) of the households had no annual income.
From figure 14.5 below it is evident that the majority of households within the
Motherwell lives below the accepted minimum standard, whereas the majority of
households within ward 51 is well above the accepted minimum standard
stipulated as a minimum annual income of R20 000 per household. Low levels of
income in Motherwell correspond with the high unemployment rate in that area.
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Ch 14 – Social Impact Assessment 229 June 2010
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
100%
EC NMBM Motherwell Ward 51
Household Income
> R19 201 p.a. ≤ R19 200 p.a. No income
Figure 14.5: Overview of Annual Household Income
14.5.1. Economic Change Processes and Resultant Impacts
This sub-section deals with the expected economic change processes and
resultant impacts that can be expected with the introduction of the proposed new
regional general and hazardous waste processing facility to the affected area.
Pre-Construction & Construction Phases
The economic change process that can be expected during t his phase of the
project is as follows:
• Compensation for the site;
• Direct formal employment opportunities to local individuals; and
• Indirect formal and/or informal employment opportunities to local individuals.
• Compensation for the site
Compensation for the site might lead to an economic impact over the short to
medium term to the benefit of the l andowner concerned. The owner of the site
(PPC) w ill m ost p robably receive f inancial c ompensation f or th e l oss of l and.
Normally compensation is calculated based on current market related values. The
compensation for loss of land is mainly regarded as a positive impact, but could
also be viewed as negative in the event that PPC is not compensated at all. The
land acquisition process will be negotiated with PPC by the proponents of the
project (in this case the CDC and the NMBM).
The status of the impact is dependant on the negotiation process. A transparent
negotiation process that leads to a positive outcome (i.e. both parties are
satisfied with the agreement) will have a low positive impact.
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• Direct formal employment opportunities to local individuals
The construction staff will range from unskilled labour, to semi-skilled
construction w orkers s uch a s construction p lant o perators, b ricklayers, l ining
installers and skilled construction workers such as foremen and engineers.
Unskilled labour would be sourced locally, probably 30 to 50 during the peak
construction p eriod. S emi-skilled a nd s killed workers a re n ormally permanent
employees of the construction firms. Employing local individuals and/or
contractors on the project would also have a positive impact on their families as
money is now available to increase their livelihood, e.g. being able to pay for
school fees enabling children to go to school and thereby increasing their
educational levels and chances of a better future. However, the fact that the job
opportunities are in most instances only temporary is fairly negative in view of
the f act th at t he economic r elief a nd th e a ssociated i mpacts w ould o nly b e
temporary in nature. This impact also depends on the timeframe of the project.
It is therefore believed that only a very limited number of local individuals within
the local area could potentially be employed during construction. This is due to
the fact that mostly skilled or semi-skilled labour is required during construction
and t he l egal re quirements a ttached to employment. D ue to th e skills levels
required for the actual construction of the development, it is not foreseen that a
large number of l ocal l abourers w ill be engaged i n the construction phase. It i s
highly recommended that local individuals be employed on work components that
do not require a substantial amount of skill, e.g. vegetation clearance, erection of
gates, cleaning services, and security guards.
In construction projects commissioned by government, employment requirements
usually include gender quotas, youth quotas and quotas for local labour to be
employed during the project. In addition, a certain proportion o f time for which
construction workers are paid should be spent on skills development initiatives.
According to the Human Resource Manager of SAFCEC (South African Federation
of C ivil Engineering Contractors), the current norm in this industry is to use
between 50–70% local labour during construction. The impact is rated as
moderately positive after the implementation of mitigation measures.
• Indirect formal and/or informal employment opportunities to local individuals
Indirect informal job opportunities mainly relate to services that are not d irectly
linked with the construction activities, e.g. domestic services, food stalls, etc. at
the construction site. Subcontractors and individuals might economically benefit
from the project i f they are a fforded the opportunity. However, the s ize, nature
and location of the construction site will determine the extent of the services
required. In general, informal job opportunities would therefore be limited.
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Another potential opportunity is the rental of land for the accommodation of the
construction workers and storage of equipment in return for financial
compensation, a lbeit c onfined to th e l andowner (i n t his c ase P PC). H ousing
construction workers within local communities and the use of local contractors to
supply material should be considered as this increase the economic investment
into the a ffected communities. A lso, construction material such as bricks, p ipes,
concrete, etc. might be sourced from local businesses. New sales would therefore
be g enerated i n t he l ocal e conomy, which i s a d irect r esult of t he c apital
investment from the development. The impact is rated as moderately positive
after the implementation of mitigation measures.
Operational Phase
The economic change process that can be expected during t his phase of the
project is as follows:
• Direct formal employment opportunities to local individuals
The size of t he operational t eam w ill d epend o n th e a ctual w aste t onnages
received on site. A first estimate is between 10 and 20 personnel. This will include
up t o 1 0 unskilled labourers, s emi-skilled w orkers su ch a s w eigh-bridge
operators, plant operators, security personnel and skilled workers such as
laboratory technician and site supervisor. Unskilled labour will be used for general
tasks such as cleaning and maintenance of plant. The rest of the team will be
responsible for site operation, e.g. recording and testing of waste, managing the
working f ace of the l andfill, p lacing of c over m aterial and c ompaction of the
waste. Due to the fact that very few local community members are likely to be
employed as operational team members, only l imited tangible economic impacts
are foreseen. However, even i f only a limited number of people are employed in
this manner, it would still have a positive economic bearing on such an individual
and his/her household. The impact is rated as moderately positive after the
implementation of mitigation measures.
Decommissioning Phase
The economic change process that can be expected during t his phase of the
project is as follows:
• Loss of employment opportunities
Besides disciplinary action, the primary reasons for loss of employment are due to
technological changes, redundancies, retrenchments, operational closure, adverse
economic and trading conditions, and business process streamlining. A loss of
employment implies a loss of income, which in turn implies that people are unable
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to sustain their standard of living. A t the time of the study it was assumed that
approximately 1 0-20 job opportunities would be l ost, a s a r esult o f t he
decommissioning of the proposed hazardous site. The impact is rated as low
negative after the implementation of mitigation measures.
14.6. Institutional and Empowerment Processes
Institutional and empowerment processes relate to the role, efficiency and
operation of government sectors and other organisations within the area. It also
investigates the ability of people to engage in decision-making processes to such
an extent that they have an impact on the way in which decisions are made that
would concern them.
Municipal Services
Despite the fact that more than half (54.0%) of all households within the EC have
access to electricity, a significant number of households make use of
paraffin/wood f or c ooking (5 9.6%) a nd h eating (6 4.0%). I n te rms o f o ther
municipal services, the majority (45.3%) of households’ refuse is removed at
least once a week. Less than ha lf o f a ll households (38.6%) have a f lush toilet
that is connected to a waterborne sewerage system. Households predominantly
(29.7%) make use of t he regional local scheme as their source o f water. Again
the municipal services profile in the NMBM differs from that of the ECP as a
whole.
Within t he N MBM t hree q uarters ( 75.2%) of a ll households h ave access t o
electricity and use it for cooking (65.3%), heating (59.8%) and lighting. The
majority of households’ (86.1%) refuse is removed at least once a week. Unlike
the Province as a whole, more than three quarters (77.6%) of all households
have a flush toilet that is connected to a waterborne sewerage system. As is the
case w ith the ECP, just under half (48.6%) of a ll households access their water
through the regional local scheme.
The municipal profile of Motherwell tends toward that of the ECP, where, despite
the fact that close on two thirds of all households have access to electricity, the
majority make use of paraffin for heating (47.8%). Just little over a half (52.9%)
make use of electricity for cooking and lighting (64.2%). Refuse is removed at
least on ce a w eek f rom t he m ajority of h ouseholds ( 84.6%). T he m ajority
(72.6%) also has access to a flush toilet. Again close on a half of all households
(49.3%) access their water through the regional local scheme.
As far as service delivery is concerned, it is not clear to what extent the local
municipality w ill b e re sponsible f or t he s ervice d elivery t o t his p roject. T his
includes municipal services such as the use of municipal waste disposal sites,
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Ch 14 – Social Impact Assessment 233 June 2010
sewerage systems ( either d irectly or i ndirectly), w ater d elivery, a nd p ossible
connection to the electricity services network during the construction period (in
the event of a construction village being used). Because of the extent of poverty
in t he a rea, i t f ollows t hat s ervice d elivery i s a p roblem. T able 14.5 below
provides an overview of the municipal services of the affected area in relation to
the province and the metropolitan area as a whole. No data could be obtained for
the overall municipal service delivery in South Africa.
Table 14.5: Overview of Municipal Services
Eastern
Cape
NMBM Motherwell Ward 51
Energy
cooking
Electricity
(34.2%)
Electricity
(65.3%)
Electricity
(52.9%)
Electricity
(96.5%)
Energy
heating
Wood
(35.2%)
Electricity
(59.8%)
Paraffin
(47.8%)
Electricity
(96.3%)
Energy
lighting
Electricity
(54.0%)
Electricity
(75.2%)
Electricity
(64.2%)
Electricity
(96.9%)
Refuse Removed
once a week
(45.3%)
Removed
once a week
(86.1%)
Removed
once a week
(84.6%)
Removed
once a week
(95.4%)
Toilet Flush toilet
(38.6%)
Flush toilet
(77.6%)
Flush toilet
(72.6%)
Flush toilet
(96.4%)
Water Regional local
scheme
(29.7%)
Regional local
scheme
(48.6%)
Regional local
scheme
(49.3%)
Regional local
scheme
(48.7%)
From this table it is evident that the majority of households within Motherwell
lack efficient municipal services infrastructure and delivery, which further impacts
on the already poor living conditions and quality of life for most households in this
area. In contrast, ward 51 seems to be well supplied with municipal services.
However, again it can be expected that construction workers and job seekers
would not flood to this area, but rather to the nearby Motherwell. O verall these
areas appear to be poorly developed and characterised by poverty. This is evident
in the high population density, low education levels, the very high unemployment
rate, the low levels of household income, and the overall lack of proper municipal
services in the area.
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14.6.1. Institutional and Empowerment Change Processes and
Resultant Impacts
This sub-section deals with the expected institutional and empowerment change
processes and resultant impacts that can be expected with the introduction of the
proposed project.
Pre-Construction and Construction Phases
The institutional and empowerment change process that can be expected during
this phase of the project is as follows:
• Attitude formation against the project (risk for social mobilisation)
Attitudes a re f ormed by m eans o f p eople’s p erception. I n th is c ase attitude
formation refers to the perception that people in the local community might form
on the proposed project, which in turn would influence their attitude towards the
project. Attitude formation against the project could have economic impacts and
could impact on social well-being, as a result of delays on the project and people
focusing their efforts on mobilising. Where social mobilisation against the project
does occur, it would severely delay the construction process, in terms of the
completion of the project as a whole. If the local community is unsupportive of
the project, it could lead to social mobilisation.
Historically there has been a l ot of resistance towards the project. An extensive
attempt to address stakeholders’ concerns through the public consultation
process has been made and therefore the probability of social mobilisation against
the project is viewed as unlikely after the implementation of mitigation measures,
i.e. the likelihood of the impact materialising is very low, more so upon
implementation o f the suggested m itigation measures. Stakeholders’ response
during the last round of public meetings that was held during November 2007
indicated that they have now accepted the proposed project and was now more
concerned about the facility being developed and operated in the best possible
way.
The ri sk f or s ocial m obilisation g reatly increases i f t he p roject p roponent i s
perceived as distrustful, i.e. if they do not deliver on their undertakings with the
community in t erms o f e mployment c reation, e tc. T o e nsure s upport of t he
project and reduce the risk of social mobilisation, the project proponent should at
all times be seen to care about the local community. The community need to feel
that they receive some tangible benefits from the project, e.g. direct and indirect
employment. The undertakings in the EMP should also be implemented effectively
and with due diligence. The impact is rated as low negative after the
implementation of mitigation measures.
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• Additional demand on municipal services
Additional municipal services will be required at the construction site(s) and the
construction camp during the construction phase. Additional demand on municipal
services could impact on health. If a construction village is not managed properly,
it may lead to a lack o f adequate water as well as unhygienic conditions in the
case of w aste a nd s anitation s ervices. T his i n t urn c ould lead t o waterborne
diseases that will not only affect the construction worker, but could also spread to
the local community. The impact is rated as low negative to neutral after the
implementation of mitigation measures.
Operational Phase
The institutional and empowerment change process that can be expected during
this phase of the project is as follows:
• Disaster Management Plan
The implementation of a Disaster Management Plan would reduce the burden on
the a ffected m unicipality’s emergency services a nd t he risk of d isasters a nd
resultant potential impacts, such as impacts on health, well-being and an
economic impact on the NMBM. Disaster management should not only be reactive
but should ideally involve actions aimed at preventing disasters, or mitigating
their impact if they do occur. D isaster management p lans must address actions
before, during and after disasters. They should be compiled on the basis of a
generic plan which includes standard operating procedures and best practice if a
disaster should occur at the development, after which it can be expanded and
adapted to fit particular circumstances. The development and implementation of a
disaster management plan for the proposed hazardous waste facility will not only
increase the overall safety at the site, but would also be in support of the NMBM’s
disaster m anagement framework a s ou tlined i n t heir I ntegrated D evelopment
Plan (IDP), where the following key performance areas were identified:
• Creating sustainable municipal capacity for disaster management;
• Introducing effective and sustainable risk reduction strategies;
• Planning for disaster management and the implementation of such strategies;
• An effective response to a disaster, followed by relief and recovery actions;
• Enhancing the public’s awareness and readiness to react appropriately in the
event of a disaster; and
• Aid in improving th e m unicipality’s a bility f or d isaster m anagement p lan
implementation.
The impact is rated as high positive after the implementation of mitigation
measures.
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Decommissioning Phase
No significant impacts are foreseen on the institutional and empowerment change
process during this phase of the project.
14.7. Socio-Cultural Processes
Socio-cultural processes relate to the way in which humans behave, interact and
relate t o e ach ot her a nd t heir e nvironment, a s w ell a s t he b elief a nd v alue
systems which guide these interactions.
14.7.1. Socio-Cultural Change Processes and Resultant Impacts
An influx of construction workers and/or job seekers to the area of Motherwell can
be expected, not only as a result of the current project ( where the influx is
expected to be minimal), but also as a result of the larger developments taking
place at the Coega Industrial Development Zone. As these migrant labourers are
not originally from the area, it creates the situation where the dynamics not only
within Motherwell is altered, but also in the area from which the migrant worker
originated from. Traditional cultures normally exist within areas and a newcomer
might not always be accustomed to such a culture, or he/she might stem from a
different cultural background.
Socio-cultural change processes that are associated with the construction and
operation of the proposed development include changes such as health and safety
aspects and sense of place. The concept of ‘health’ is not only limited to physical
health (i.e. the absence of ailments or illness), but also includes mental and social
health. The expected changes that can occur in relation to health and safety
aspects can be as a result of the presence of the development during operation as
well a s t he p resence of construction w orkers a nd/or j ob seekers d uring
construction.
Pre-Construction and Construction Phases
The socio-cultural change process that can be expected during this phase of the
project is as follows:
• Sense of place
Sense of p lace goes hand in hand with place attachment, which i s the sense of
connectedness a p erson/community fe els t owards c ertain p laces. P lace
attachment may be evident at different geographic levels, i.e. site specific (e.g. a
house, burial site, or tree where religious gatherings take place), area specific
(e.g. a residential area), and/or physiographic specific (e.g. an attachment to the
look and feel of an area). The concept of sense of place attempts to integrate the
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character of a setting with the personal emotions, memories and cultural
activities associated with such a setting.
In some instances the potential presence of the general and hazardous waste
disposal facility might affect residents’ sense of place. In the past they might
have felt safe and secure in the area and therefore stayed in the area for those
specific reasons. As the proposed hazardous waste site might impact on people’s
perception of safety in terms of possible emissions such as smell and dust, these
people might now feel unsafe in the area knowing that the site is located within
the area. Much of what is valuable in a culture is embedded in place, which
cannot be measured in monetary terms. It is because of a sense of place and
belonging that some people loath to be moved from their dwelling place, despite
the fact that they will be compensated for the inconvenience and impact on their
lives.
The potential impact on socio-cultural behaviour and the related perception of
environmental changes could either have a positive or a negative impact on sense
of place (i.e. peace of mind or frustration/anger). It could be viewed as a positive
impact if p eople p erceive t he p roject a s a m eans of j ob c reation, a nd
infrastructural and/or economic development, which is not intrusive on their lives
and does not cause them immediate danger. Potential negative impacts i nclude
the visual impact and the resultant intrusion on sense of place. The impact is
rated as low negative to neutral after the implementation of mitigation
measures.
• Integration with local community
Construction w orkers f orm p art o f a s ignificant s ection o f th e S outh A frican
population known as migratory workers. Due to their unique situation,
construction workers engage in behaviour that makes them vulnerable, such as
risky sexual behaviour (e.g. unprotected sex) and destructive behaviour (e.g.
alcohol abuse, damaging the environment), which could be explained by their
migratory s tatus. W hen t hey a re s eparated from t heir h omes, t hey a re a lso
distanced from traditional norms, prevailing cultural traditions and support
systems that normally regulate behaviour within a stable community.
In a ddition, i t m ight also b e th at c onstruction w orkers w ho a re faced w ith
dangerous w orking c onditions a nd t he r isk of p hysical injury m ight b e m ore
preoccupied by immediate (direct) risks and therefore tend to disregard salient
(more indirect) risks, such as HIV infection. This, together with the fact that the
local population might be uneducated about the risk and transmission of HIV and
would therefore more easily engage in risky behaviour as a result of ignorance,
could facilitate the transmission of HIV. Construction workers’ situations seem to
make them vulnerable to high-risk sexual behaviour.
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There are ample research results to indicate that there is a direct link between
temporary m igration a nd H IV i nfection. Re search a lso s eems to i ndicate th at
construction workers might be more at risk of contracting HIV from members of
local communities, as opposed to transmitting the infection to community
members. The duration of this impact is permanent due to the nature of
HIV/AIDS and other STIs that are incurable. The extent is l isted as national due
to the fact that infected persons from the community as well as the construction
team are mobile and could infect more people in other parts of the country. The
impact is rated as high negative after the implementation of mitigation
measures.
• Physical splintering
Any new development has the potential to impact on the movement patterns of
local communities. During construction physical splintering will mostly occur as a
result of the physical space taken up by construction activities at the site, which
in this instance is not deemed to be of significance as the construction site is
located w ell a way f rom t he c losest settlement. H owever, i t i s b elieved th at
construction vehicles us ing the R335 will move through the area and impact on
the local movement patterns of the residents of Motherwell. Construction
activities at the site as well as the construction village take up physical space that
could temporarily splinter communities and affect free flow movement patterns
from one side of the community to the other side. Although movement patterns
will not cease to exist, it would be altered on the short term to move around the
construction activities. The impact is rated as having no effect after the
implementation of mitigation measures.
• Safety and security
Not o nly d o h ealth issues impact on communities, but the p hysical s afety of
communities can also be endangered as a result of the influx of job seekers and
construction workers (e.g. potential increase i n c rime). There i s perception that
crime increases in an area the moment that construction workers arrive on site.
However, it should be noted that in most instances it is not the actual
construction workers who engage in criminal activities but more likely job seekers
who loiter at the site in search of employment.
Because of this perception, occurrences of crime during the time of the project
are likely to be ascribed to the construction workers. This has a mental health
impact, such as fear of criminal activity. The impact is rated as low positive
after the implementation of mitigation measures which should focus on raising
security a wareness, p romoting a ppropriate a ccess control t o the s ite a nd
construction camp and preventing the loitering of outsiders at both.
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• Noise Pollution
A constant high level of noise has a prolonged detrimental effect on a person’s
general w ell-being a nd f unctioning. P eople l iving in c lose p roximity t o a
construction s ite w ill be exposed to such a constant level of noise generated by
the construction activities taking place. The experience of an increase in noise
levels because of construction activities will differ from person to person. Not
enough information about the possible mental health impact i s available to rate
the impact, and this impact is therefore not assessed in detail.
However, due to the remote l ocation o f the proposed s ite coupled w ith the fact
that construction will mostly likely only take place during daytime hours, it is
believed th at n oise p ollution w ill not directly affect the closest community o f
Motherwell. Surrounding farmhouses are in closer proximity and might experience
some levels of noise pollution, especially given the fact that the area is fairly quiet
at the moment. The impact is rated as low negative after the implementation of
mitigation measures.
Operational Phase
The socio-cultural change process that can be expected during this phase of the
project is as follows:
• Safety risk
The presence of a hazardous waste site does create a sense of unease amongst
certain community members in terms of the safety of such a site, not only in
respect o f a irborne pollution, but a lso in terms of t rucks carrying the hazardous
waste that will pass through the area of Motherwell as well as Strelitzia Park and
Winterhoek Park (via the R75) on a daily basis. The proximity of houses next to
the R335, which will be used as the main access route to the facility, is also a
concern. Although not an everyday occurrence, hazardous waste trucks can be
involved in road accidents, causing spillage which in turn will impact on the safety
of people that can result in serious injury, i llness or death. Although radioactive
waste will not be disposed of at the proposed facility, other significantly
hazardous material will be transported to the site.
Despite this fact it is likely that people have a perception that any hazardous
material is radioactive. The potential impact of a safety risk is therefore based on
a p erception w herein p eople m ay h ave a l ong s tanding f ear of exposure t o
radiation. However, it is believed that such a fear would be based on personal
believes and/or perceptions and would not apply to a community as a whole. The
impact is rated as moderately negative after the implementation of mitigation
measures.
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Decommissioning Phase
No significant impacts are foreseen on the socio-cultural change process during
this phase of the project.
14.8. Geographical Processes
Geographical processes relate to land use patterns and infrastructure in the area.
This section therefore describes the land use in the study area from a social
perspective. Land use is defined as “the way land is developed and used in terms
of the types of activities allowed (agriculture, residences, industries, etc.) and the
size of buildings and structures permitted. Another definition of land use is as
follows: “Patterns of land use arise naturally in a culture through customs and
practices, but l and use may a lso be formally regulated by zoning, other laws or
private agreements such as restrictive covenants” (Wikipedia).
A general assessment of the land uses in the area indicated the following trends:
• Residential;
• Communal farming;
• Commercial farming;
• Mining;
• Education; and
• Sport and recreation.
The following proposals have been i ncluded in the NMBM’s Spatial Development
Framework (SDF) in order to guide future developments:
• Implementation of an Urban Edge or Urban Growth Boundary: The
urban edge i s not viewed as a rigid regulatory mechanism with the main
objective to curb development. It is, however, a policy aimed at directing
patterns of growth and outlines the following guidelines:
* Land uses within the Urban Edge: Only land uses that are in line with the
relevant local precinct plan, the SDF, land use management plan and town
planning scheme will be permitted. Such developments would further be
subject to n ormal procedures and legislation, e.g. e nvironmental
considerations, etc. Factors such as the availability of services would also
be considered.
* Land uses outside the Urban Edge: Peri-urban developments are viewed as
more favourable, although such developments would still be subject to
local and provincial policies such as the Rural Management Policy.
• Peripheral uses: The peripheral area i s defined as the area d irectly outside
the urban edge. The proposal is to d evelop low-intensity land uses within
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these areas, such as agricultural holdings, peri-urban residential uses, low-
intensity s ervice i ndustries a nd u rban a griculture. D evelopments i n t hese
areas should support and protect the urban edge and serve as a barrier for
future ex pansions. O pportunities t o ut ilise urban a griculture s hould b e
optimised, especially in areas close to disadvantages communities.
• Extensive Agriculture: The D epartment o f A griculture h as i dentified t he
areas outside the Urban Edge as prime agricultural land where agricultural
activities should be both protected and promoted.
• Activity nodes: Four activity nodes have been identified, which
accommodates a variety of activities. These activity nodes are Port Elizabeth,
Uitenhage, Despatch and the Coega IDZ.
• Infill Development Priority Areas and Social Housing: Social housing will
be provided in specific localities where it is believed that the poor have limited
access to accommodation (no mention is made of specific areas within the
context o f social housing. However, during the l aunch of the Urban Renewal
Programme for the Eastern Cape during July 2006, specific mention was made
of Motherwell as an area that forms part of this programme).
• Metropolitan Open Space System: The current Metropolitan Open Space
System is currently under review and will be adapted in terms of a Strategic
Environmental Assessment.
• Transportation: The land use framework as outlined above should be
supported by an effective public transport system.
• Strategic Development Areas: The following residential areas have been
identified for future residential development:
* Zanemvula (including the areas of Soweto-on-Sea, Chatty extensions 2-5
and 9-17, and Joe Slovo West);
* Walmer Gqebera, particularly the area surrounding the methane gas site;
* KwaNobuhle South;
* Uitenhage East;
* Motherwell;
* Wells Estate; and
* Hunters Retreat (towards the end of Walker Drive).
As the NMBM is one of the proponents of the proposed project, it is assumed that
future residential development that is planned for Motherwell will not be towards
the proposed site, as it is believed that the NMBM would have taken cognisance of
the location of the proposed site in relation to Motherwell. Major projects that
have been identified by the NMBM and included in their IDP that might have a
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bearing on the proposed project as the location of these projects are within the
area, are as follows:
• Coega IDZ and Port of Ngqura: The Coega IDZ is a high-tech industrial
zone to the north of Nelson Mandela Bay. Initially only the Core Development
Area will be developed and will comprise approximately 64 000ha. The Coega
IDZ will develop further from the Core Development Area in a north-westerly
direction.
• Motherwell Urban Renewal Project: This project includes a multi-faceted
approach t o u pgrade amenities a nd s ervices i n M otherwell in a n effort t o
create and promote employment creation and community participation.
• Urban Agriculture: The a im of t his p roject i s t o enable p oor a nd
disadvantaged communities to secure food sources and participate in the city’s
economic a ctivity. A lthough n o m ention h as b een m ade o f s pecific a reas
where this project will be implemented, cognisance should be taken of the
project as Motherwell can be viewed as a disadvantaged community.
14.8.1. Geographical Change Process and Resultant Impacts
In light of the above, potential geographical impacts from a social perspective are
considered within the context of change processes in the use of the land.
Pre-Construction and Construction Phases
The geographical change process that can be expected during this phase of the
project relates to the following:
• Access Roads
Construction activities w ill lead to an increase in t raffic, specifically construction
traffic ( e.g. trucks, m achinery, etc.) An i ncrease in s uch h eavy l oad v ehicles
cannot only affect and impact directly on the local traffic/movement of a
community, but a lso i ndirectly th rough the damaging of the road network. It i s
therefore important that construction traffic be regulated and that the
construction company has a plan in place to address road rehabilitation,
especially in view of the fact that the R335 is currently in need of extensive
maintenance and refurbishment.
Apart from the actual construction vehicles, it is assumed that it is the
contractors’ i ntention to t ransport l ocal construction workers f rom Motherwell to
the s ite by bus. Construction vehicles and busses therefore not only add to the
amount of traffic that already exists within an area, but also adds to hasten the
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need for road rehabilitation. Roads that have become impassable as a result o f
construction vehicle damage increases the time spent on the road as well as the
frustration levels of the local traffic. However, it should be noted that the Traffic
Impact Assessment has recommended that the road be upgraded before the site
becomes operational. Currently the R335 is undergoing road rehabilitation and
upgrades (e.g. an additional lane is being added). The impact is rated as
moderately positive after the implementation of mitigation measures that
would entail the upgrading of the R335.
Operational Phase
The geographical change process that can be expected during this phase of the
project relates to the following:
• Spatial development
As the NMBM is one of the proponents of the proposed project, it is assumed that
future developments planned by the NMBM will not be towards the proposed site,
as i t is be lieved that the NMBM would have taken cognisance o f the l ocation o f
the proposed site. The presence of a hazardous waste site alters the development
plans o f n ot o nly th e l ocal m unicipality, b ut a lso p rivate a gents, s eeing a s
developments are not allowed to encroach upon the site. The buffer zone around
the site will be calculated based on air quality considerations and has been set as
a 500m radius from the perimeter of the proposed site. The municipality and
private agents should therefore plan around the site and buffer zone, as this will
curtail the surrounding land available for c ertain land use developments. The
impact is rated as moderately negative before the implementation of mitigation
measures.
Decommissioning and post-closure Phases
No significant impacts are foreseen on the geographic change process during this
phase of the project. Due to the fact that the proposed facility will be a hazardous
waste site, the site will not be used for any other purposes post-closure.
14.9. Biophysical Processes
The biophysical environment can lead to indirect social impacts. For example,
relocation of people can have an impact on income levels, which can lead to
processes of rural to urban migration, which can result in further impacts on
income levels and changes in food production. Social change processes can also
lead to biophysical change processes. Economic developments to increase tourism
numbers can change land use and water quality, which can have indirect human
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impacts because of the reduction in agricultural production, and subsequent lower
income levels (Slootweg et al. 2001).
14.9.1. Biophysical Change Processes and Resultant Impacts
The following sub-sections discusses the biophysical change processes as a result
of the waste facility, and how these change process can lead to health and safety
impacts.
Pre-Construction and Construction Phases
The presence of construction activities and construction workers will lead to a
biophysical change process within the receiving community, which can lead to
indirect health and safety impacts. Poor water and sanitation conditions can affect
ground water that can lead to health impacts. The following change processes
have been assessed:
• Pollution and fire risk; and
• Sanitation.
These change processes will be discussed separately together with a detailed
assessment of the expected impact as a result of the change process taking
place.
• Pollution and fire risk
The presence of construction workers on site might impact on the environment in
terms of littering and possible pollution, which in turn will impact on the
surrounding communities. Littering could also have further impacts on health and
safety. Not only is littering a breeding ground for bacteria, but it could also pose a
fire hazard if it contains flammable elements such as paper and plastic. Air, noise
and dust pollution could be experienced during the construction phase of the
project.
It could be that surrounding communities are of the opinion that migrant labours
might not be concerned by the long term effects of pollution or resource
extraction as they are only in the area temporarily after which they move again.
Apart from the pollution that stems from the actual construction activities,
construction workers themselves can add to the pollution problem through
littering. The potential fire risk also increases if construction workers are allowed
to make f ire (for cooking, heating) in uncontained areas. The impact is rated as
low negative after the implementation of mitigation measures.
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• Sanitation
A lack of proper sanitation services could lead to health impacts, not only at the
construction site itself, but also spreading to the surrounding local community and
possibly livestock grazing in the area. Lack of adequate sanitation impacts on the
can lead to health impacts on people and animals alike, which in turn can result in
negative e conomic i mpacts. T he i mpact is r ated a s low negative after t he
implementation of mitigation measures.
Operational Phase
The biophysical change process that can be expected during this phase of the
project relates to the following:
• Waste Management
The l andfill is p rogressively capped and vegetated over i ts life. The capping will
minimize infiltration of water into the landfill which, if allowed to enter the facility,
would result in the production of additional leachate. A leachate collection will be
in place on top of the lining system at the base of the landfill to intercept all
leachate generated during the operational life. The leachate will be treated in an
on-site leachate treatment plant. If solid waste is not treated properly at the site
or not according to the prescribed standards, it could lead to potential health
impacts via airborne bacteria on the surrounding communities.
Not enough medical information is available on the potential impact and therefore
this impact has not been assessed in detail. While the management of pathogens
associated with the proposed facility is important, it is also important to consider
the potential health impacts associated with the chemical nature of the hazardous
material. Mismanaged w aste b ecomes a b reeding g round f or b acteria.
Communities c an b ecome i nfected t hrough a irborne b acteria a nd b ecome
seriously ill. The impacts could be extremely severe and long-term. Because of
the p ossibility of a irborne transport o f p ollutants, the i mpacts could be quite
widespread (see air quality report). The impact is rated as moderately negative
after the implementation of mitigation measures.
Decommissioning Phase
The biophysical change process that can be expected during this phase of the
project relates to the following:
• Leachate Management
On closure the entire site will have been capped and vegetation established so
that i t w ill b lend r easonably i nto th e n atural e nvironment. T he capping w ill
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minimize infiltration into the landfill, thus minimising leachate generation. As was
the case during operation, a leachate collection will be in place on top of the lining
system at the base of the landfill to intercept all leachate generated post closure.
The leachate will be also be treated in a treatment plant, post-closure until no
more leachate is generated.
Monitoring of the facility and the surrounding ground water will continue for at
least 30 years after closure to ensure that any potential impacts on the waste
body or on surface and ground water is addressed. The monitoring protocol will
be documented in the Operational Plan and will form part of the facility’s Permit
Conditions.
If leachate is not t reated properly at the site or not according to the prescribed
standards, a perception might develop amongst community members that the
leachate might infiltrate and contaminate water sources, thereby impacting on
the s urrounding c ommunities’ h ealth. It was assumed t hat t he leachate f rom
hazardous waste sites are likely to be representative of the chemical composition
of the contents of the site, and as such, is likely to be extremely hazardous in
nature and would cause significant impacts on health. Mismanaged leachate can
potentially infiltrate and contaminate water sources. Communities can become
infected through the ingestion of such water and become seriously ill. The impact
is rated as low negative after the implementation of mitigation measures.
14.10. Summary
The p re-construction a nd c onstruction p hase o f th e p roposed pr oject i s
characterised b y a number of negative impacts (refer t o Table 1 4.6). This is
mainly due to the nature of the activities that take place during these phases. The
same holds true for the operational phase of the proposed project. Most of the
negative impacts within these various phases can be mitigated successfully. There
are also a n umber o f p ositive i mpacts, w hich c ould b e f urther enhanced i f
managed e ffectively. These impacts mostly relate to a temporary change in the
employment and economic profile of the local area by means of employment
opportunities, which in turn leads to a positive economic impact on local
households. The g eographic, d emographic, b iophysical a nd s ocio-cultural
processes a ll have a number o f negative impacts. However a ll of these impacts
can b e m itigated su ccessfully if e ffectively m anaged. E conomic i mpacts a s a
result of the project are for the most part positive in nature, which is mainly due
to the economic investment and development that will take place in the
community as a result of the project.
Although the expected construction impacts across a ll the change processes are
mostly negative, these impacts are for the most part only temporary in nature
and only expected to last over the construction period, which is approximately 12
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months. In comparison, operational impacts are expected to last over the longer
term and therefore would have a prolonged effect on especially the biophysical
environment in terms of an effective waste management strategy. People are
more inclined to get “used” to the facility in their area if waste management
strategies are applied effectively and with due diligence. It is therefore important
that the waste management strategies at the facility are monitored and evaluated
on a regular basis to ensure the effective management of not only the waste, but
also the transportation of such waste through the area. The regular monitoring
and e valuation o f t he f acility a s a w hole would a lso e nsure t hat c orrective
measures can be taken immediately to prevent adverse effects either on the
facility itself, or on the local area.
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Table 14.6: Socio-economic impact assessment of Footprint F (Pre Construction/Construction)
Potential Impact Status Extent Duration Probability
Severity/
Intensity
scale
Significance
Post
mitigation
significance
Relocation of
households and / or
population segments
Negative Individual
Permanent
Definite
Low
Moderate - Low -
Arrival of construction
workers
Negative Local
Short-term
Probable
Low
Moderate - Low – to
neutral
Influx of job seekers Negative Local
Short-term
Probable
Low
Moderate - Low – to
neutral
Outflow of labourers Positive Local
Medium to
long-term
Probable
Low
Moderate + Moderate +
economic
impact
Compensation for the
site
Positive Local
Short to
medium-term
Definite
Moderate
Low + Low +
Direct formal
employment
opportunities to local
individuals
Positive Local
Short-term
Probable
Low
Low + Moderate +
Indirect employment
opportunities to local
individuals
Positive Local
Short-term
Probable
Low
Low + Moderate +
Sense of place
Negative Local
Medium-term
Probable
Moderate
Moderate - Low – to
neutral
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Ch 14 – Social Impact Assessment 249 June 2010
Integration with local
community
Negative National
Permanent
Probable
Very High
Very High - High -
Physical splintering Negative Local
Short-term
Probable
Low
Low - No effect
Safety and security Negative Local
Short-term
Probable
Moderate
Moderate - Low +
Noise pollution Negative Local
Short-term
Probable
Moderate
Moderate - Low -
Attitude formation
against the project
(risk for social
mobilization)
Negative Local
Short-term
Probable
Moderate
Moderate - Low -
Additional demand on
municipal services
Negative Local
Short-term
Probable
Moderate
Moderate - Low – to /
Access Roads Negative Local
Short-term
Probable
Moderate
Moderate - Moderate +
Pollution and fire risk Negative Local
Short-term
Probable
Moderate
Moderate - Low -
Sanitation Negative Local
Short-term
Probable
Low
Moderate - Low -
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Ch 14 – Social Impact Assessment 250 June 2010
Table 14.7: Socio-economic impact assessment of Footprint F (Operational)
Potential Impact Status Extent Duration Probability
Severity /
Intensity
scale
Significance
Post
mitigation
significance
Arrival of operational
workers
Negative Local
Long-term
Probable
Low
Low - No effect
Direct formal
employment
opportunities to local
individuals
Positive Local
Long-term
Probable
Moderate
beneficial
Moderate + Moderate +
The implementation of a
Disaster Management
Plan
Positive Local
Long-term
Probable
Moderate
beneficial
Moderate + High +
Safety risk Negative Local
Long-term
Probable
High
High - Moderate -
Spatial development Negative Local
Long-term
Probable
Moderate
Moderate - Low – to
neutral
Waste Management
Negative Local
Long-term
Probable
Very High
Very High - Low -
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Ch 14 – Social Impact Assessment 251 June 2010
Table 14.8: Socio-economic impact assessment of Footprint F (Decommissioning)
Potential
Impact Status Extent Duration Probability
Severity /
Intensity
scale
Significance
Post
mitigation
significance
Loss of
employment
opportunities
Negative Local
Short-term
Probable
Low
Low - Low -
Direct formal
employment
opportunities to
local individuals
Positive Local
Long-term
Probable
Moderate
Moderate Moderate +
Leachate
Management
Negative Local
Long-term
Probable
Very High
Very High - Low -
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Ch 14 – Social Impact Assessment June 2010 252
14.11. Conclusion and Recommendations
Based on the findings of this report, it can be concluded that the social
environment in general poses no fatal f laws to the development of the proposed
regional general and hazardous waste processing facility. However, this is under
the condition that the identified mitigation measures as recommended for
inclusion in the EMP are implemented and adhered to, particularly where
construction a ctivities either take place or pass t hrough in close proximity to
residential areas. It is believed that such activities could affect the quality of lives
of these households in terms of noise, dust, safety and security. From a social
perspective, it is recommended that the following mitigation measures be
included in the EMP.
14.11.1. Demographic Change Processes
• Relocation of Households
* Residents should be assisted with the relocation process.
* A formal grievance p rocedure should be implemented and communicated
to these residents to ensure a fair and transparent process.
• Arrival of Construction Workers
* Raise awareness amongst construction workers about local traditions and
practices.
* Depending on the size and origin of construction workers, inform local
businesses to the fact that construction workers will move into the area to
enable local businesses to plan for the extra demand.
* Again, depending on the origin of construction workers, ensure that the
local community communicate their expectations of construction workers’
behaviour with them.
• Influx of Job Seekers
* Ensure that employment procedures / policy are communicated to local
stakeholders, e specially w ard r epresentative org anisations a nd w ard
councillors.
* Have clear rules and regulations for access to the camp / site office to
control loitering. Consult with the local SAPS to establish standard
operating procedures for the control and/or removal of loiterers at the
construction site.
* Construction w orkers s hould b e c learly identifiable b y w earing p roper
construction uniforms displaying the logo of the c onstruction company.
Construction workers could also be issued with identification tags.
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Ch 14 – Social Impact Assessment June 2010 253
• Outflow of Labourers
* Develop s kills tr ansfer p lans (e .g. p ortable s kills tr aining) that w ould
enable a worker to move from one project to another project within the
same area.
* Payment should comply with applicable Labour Law legislation in terms of
minimum wages.
* Where l ocal labourers a re employed on a m ore p ermanent b asis,
cognisance should be taken of the Labour Law in terms of registering the
worker with the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), Pay as you earn
(PAYE), workman’s compensation and all other official bodies as required
by law. This would enable the worker to claim UIF as a means of
continuous f inancial support when t he worker’s p osition on t he
construction team has e ither become redundant or on ce the construction
phase comes to an end.
• Arrival of Operational Workers
* Depending on t he o rigin of op erational w orkers, ensure t hat t he l ocal
community communicate their expectations of operational workers’
behaviour with them.
14.11.2. Economic Change Processes
• Compensation for Site
* The land valuator should be experienced in valuating the land in question.
* Both parties should have the option to have contracts reviewed by an
independent body.
• Direct Formal Employment Opportunities to Local Individuals
* Unskilled j ob o pportunities s hould b e a fforded t o l ocal c ommunity
members. Local trade unions could assist with the recruitment process to
counteract the potential for social mobilisation.
* Equal opportunities for employment should be created to ensure that the
local female population a lso have access to these opportunities. Females
should be encouraged to apply for positions.
* Individuals with the potential to develop their skills should be afforded
training opportunities.
* Mechanisms should be developed to provide alternative solutions for
creating job security upon completion of the project. This could include
formal and/or informal training on how to look for alternative employment,
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Ch 14 – Social Impact Assessment June 2010 254
information on career progression, etc. to ensure that people are equipped
to seek other jobs with the skills that they have gained.
* Payment should comply with applicable Labour Law legislation in terms of
minimum wages.
* Where l ocal labourers a re employed on a m ore p ermanent b asis,
cognisance should be taken of the Labour Law in terms of registering the
worker with the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), Pay as You Earn
(PAYE), workman’s compensation and all other of ficial bodies as required
by law. This would enable the worker to claim UIF as a means of
continuous f inancial support when t he worker’s p osition o n t he
construction team has e ither become redundant or on ce the construction
phase comes to an end.
• Indirect Formal and/or Informal Employment Opportunities to Local
Individuals
* Develop a procurement policy that is easy to understand and ensure that
local s ubcontractors a lso c omply w ith th e p rocurement p olicy a nd any
other applicable policies.
* Ensure that local subcontractors receive the necessary support in terms of
resources.
* Agree on specific performance criteria prior to appointment.
* Identify t he s egment t hat m ight benefit f rom i nformal i ndirect
opportunities, and assist them with skills development and subsidise
initiatives that are sustainable.
* Encourage construction workers to use local services.
• Loss of Employment Opportunities
* Negotiate and take measures to avoid large-scale job losses.
* Anticipate the possibility of job losses and implement contingency plans.
* Give t imeous warning to a ffected i ndividuals to improve their chances o f
finding alternative employment.
* Discuss industry trends and challenges on an ongoing basis.
14.11.3. Institutional and Empowerment Change Processes
• Attitude Formation against the Project
* Transparent information should be supplied to the community from the
outset of the project.
* The local community should play an active participatory role in the
planning process, especially landowners of neighbouring properties. This
could be achieved by means of establishing a community forum that meet
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
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Ch 14 – Social Impact Assessment June 2010 255
quarterly or once a month to discuss issues and progress surrounding the
project.
* Employment opportunities should first be offered to the local community if
the skills are available within the community.
* CDC/NMBM should deliver on their undertakings with the community in
terms of employment creation, etc. (tangible benefits to the community).
* The undertakings i n the EMP should a lso be implemented e ffectively and
with due diligence.
• Additional Demand on Municipal Services
* Construction workers should be made aware of the limited capacity of the
municipal services network.
* Negotiations w ith t he N MBM m ust b e conducted a nd a “demand-side
management” should be implemented.
• Disaster Management Plan
* Integrate risk management programmes with the IDP.
* Establish d isaster p revention p rogrammes that f ocus on th e m ost
vulnerable c ommunities – and, a t th e s ame ti me, s upport s ustainable
livelihoods.
* Establish and maintain fire protection on the urban fringe.
* Establish a culture of scientific risk analysis by investigating possible r isk
scenarios and developing standard operating procedures for such
scenarios.
* Establish and maintain multi-disciplinary co-operation and cooperative
partnerships.
* Establish pro-active media liaison.
* Educate and inform surrounding communities and/or households on the
standard o perating p rocedures t o f ollow d uring a ccidents. E nsure t hat
these communities and/or households know who to contact in case of an
emergency a nd a re a ble t o i mplement a s tep-by-step d isaster
management procedure.
* The way in which the disaster management plan is communicated to the
surrounding c ommunities a nd/or h ouseholds s hould b e j argon-free a nd
outline an easy to follow step-by-step procedure. Cognisance should be
taken of the fact that some members of the s urrounding communities
and/or households are i lliterate – make use of alternative communication
methods (e.g. picture posters) to educate and inform these individuals.
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Ch 14 – Social Impact Assessment June 2010 256
14.11.4. Socio-Cultural Change Processes
• Sense of Place
* Sufficient and transparent information should be supplied to local residents
within the area to enhance their sense of safety and thereby reducing the
negative impact on sense of place.
* An information session with the construction workers and representatives
from t he l ocal a reas ( farmers, M otherwell/Uitenhage re sidents
associations) s hould b e h eld p rior to th e s tart o f c onstruction. L ocal
traditions, m itigation m easures, a nd expectations sh ould b e d iscussed.
The ECO will be responsible for organising this meeting. If need be, these
meetings should be held throughout the construction period.
* The undertakings i n the EMP should a lso be implemented e ffectively and
with due diligence. The ECO should ensure that social mitigation measures
are implemented, a nd g ive monthly feedback to the representative
residents associations.
* Establish a formal grievances procedure:
o Start addressing these grievances within 24 hours.
o Keep record of complaints and how they were dealt with.
o Keep record of feedback to the complainant.
o Minimise complaints received / litigation.
o No conflict between the project team and construction workers and the
local inhabitants.
• Physical Splintering
* Provide a s afe p assage w ay f or c ommunity m embers to m inimise t he
impact on movement patterns.
* Fence off the construction site to prohibited unauthorised access by
community members, thereby placing themselves in potential unnecessary
danger.
• Safety and Security
* Construction workers should be clearly identifiable. Overalls should have
the logo of the construction company on it and/or construction workers
should wear identification cards.
* The construction site should be fenced and access should be controlled by
means of a security access point.
* Loitering of outsiders at the either the construction site or at the
construction village should not be allowed. Loiterers at the site should be
removed in cooperation with the local South African Police Service (SAPS).
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Ch 14 – Social Impact Assessment June 2010 257
• Noise Pollution
* Construction a ctivities sh ould b e r estricted t o d aytime h ours b etween
06:00 and 18:00.
* Adjacent property owners should b e consulted and notified o f a ny
construction activities that could lead to excessive noise levels.
* Adjacent p roperty owners s hould a lso b e c onsulted if a ny n ight t ime
construction activities were to take place.
• Safety Risk
* Educate l ocal co mmunities o n t he safety r isks o f t he h azardous waste
spillage a nd h ow t o min imise t he risk. This should be in cluded in the
emergency a nd p revention p lans th at s hould be c ommunicated to the
community and can be done by distributing pamphlets, having open days
for the public, etc.
* An emergency evacuation plan should be drafted together with the NMBM.
* Trucks should be clearly marked as carrying hazardous waste. Part of this
marking should include where the waste originated f rom together w ith a
contact number that community members can contact in the case of an
emergency.
14.11.5. Geographical Change Processes
• Access Roads
* Road r ehabilitation s hould ta ke p lace d uring a nd o nce c onstruction i s
completed.
* Construction traffic should only make use of an approved route.
* The number of trucks that pass through communities should be kept to a
minimum and should be restricted to certain times of the day, i .e. avoid
peak hours when community members are on their way to or f rom school
and work.
* Traffic s igns s hould w arn c onstruction v ehicles o f t he p resence of
pedestrians a nd s chool c hildren a long th e r oad. L ikewise, tr affic s igns
should warn community road users of the presence of construction
vehicles.
* General road rules should be enforced.
• Spatial Development
* The location of the site should be well known to industries and/or
development a gencies i n th e a rea to a llow th em t o p lan a round th e
presence of the site.
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Ch 14 – Social Impact Assessment June 2010 258
14.11.6. Biophysical Change Processes
• Pollution and Fire Risk
* Refuse on site should be discarded in sealed bins and/or covered skips.
Refuse should be removed from the site on regular intervals (at least once
a week) and disposed of at an approved waste disposal site.
* Contractors are liable for the costs involved with connecting to the
electricity network and the water services network.
* Construction workers should only be allowed to make fire in designated
areas. C onstruction w orkers w ho d o n ot k eep w ithin d esignated a reas
should be fined.
• Sanitation
* Sufficient portable chemical toilets on site.
* If contractors choose to make use of a construction village, they should
ensure a dequate s anitation s ervices (e .g. s howers) a t th e c onstruction
village with effective drainage facilities to ensure that used water is carried
away from the site.
• Waste Management
* Monitoring and evaluation of the waste management at the site.
* Following the operational plan for the facility.
* Consider the u se information s essions to i nform communities of waste
management protocols.
• Leachate Management
* Monitoring and evaluation of the leachate management at the site.
* Consider the use i nformation sessions to i nform communities of l eachate
management protocols.
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Ch 15 – Preliminary Design June 2010 259
15. PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS AND PRELIMINARY DESIGN
This se ction is a s ynopsis of t he re quired Design, Permit Application, Waste
Management Philosophy and Operating Manual reports produced in fulfilment o f
the PAR Minimum Requirements for Waste Disposal by Landfill (DWEA, Second
Edition, 1998) for landfill permitting. These reports have been compiled by Riva
Nortje and Danie Brink of Jones and Wagener Consulting Civil Engineers as stand
alone documents. Where necessary please refer to the full suite of reports.
15.1. Introduction
In terms of the Minimum Requirements (Second Edition, 1998), an estimate of
present w aste g eneration v olumes i s necessary t o f orecast f uture w aste
generation volumes, and hence landfill airspace needs and utilization for a given
waste disposal facility. The second reason for qualifying and quantifying the waste
disposal need i s to correctly cl assify the waste d isposal s ite in terms of DWEA’s
Minimum Requirements. This is necessary to determine the technical and
operational s tandards w ith w hich th e landfill h as t o c omply. DWEA’s l andfill
classification system defines the disposal need according to the:
• waste type, i.e., either general or hazardous;
• size of the waste stream or landfill operation; and
• potential for significant leachate generation and the need for leachate
management.
The following have been developed for the submission of a permit application for
a g eneral a nd h azardous w aste m anagement f acility t o s erve t he i ndustries
currently or to be based in the Coega IDZ, as well as industries of the NMBMM:
• An Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIR), (Bohlweki-SSI)
• Geohydrological Investigation and Report, (Dr R Meyer)
• Geotechnical Investigation and Report, (Jones &Wagener)
• Landfill Design, (Jones & Wagener)
• Site Development Plan, (Jones & Wagener, included in landfill design)
• Operating Plan, including a landfill and water quality monitoring plan, (Jones
& Wagener)
• Closure, Rehabilitation and End-use Plans, (Jones & Wagener, included in
landfill design)
15.2. Terms of Reference and Deliverables
The purpose of the Design Report is to document the technical design for the
Coega regional h azardous w aste m anagement f acility, f or r eview b y t he
interested and affected parties, and subsequently for approval by the authorities.
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Ch 15 – Preliminary Design June 2010 260
This report a lso serves as a reference for the environmental impact assessment
and other technical documents in the permit application report. Jones & Wagener
was appointed by the CDC to formulate the design and technical documentation
required for the submission of a permit application for a hazardous waste disposal
facility to serve the Coega industries as well as industries of the Nelson Mandela
Bay area.
The scope of works requirements for the landfill design was to produce a technical
design f or t he G HWMF to a s tandard th at w ould b e s ufficient to obtain th e
required design approval from DWEA and DWEA for permitting purposes. The
proposal included the following deliverables:
• Layout drawings for all site infrastructure (Figure 15.1);
• Preliminary details of site infrastructure, such as buildings, roads, fencing and
storm water management measures (Figure 15.1 and 15.2);
• Details of all critical items such as lining systems of the landfill, leachate
dams, contaminated storm water dams and capping designs (Figure 15.3 and
15.4);
• Preliminary d etails of gas e xtraction a nd g as u tilization s ystems (Figure
15.5);
• Landfill geometry and closure design (Figure 15.6);
• Preliminary process description of possible leachate treatment facility; and
• A Design Report.
The Operating Manual for the facility, for which the preliminary design is
presented in the J ones & Wagener Design Report number JW80/08/B494. An
Operating Plan is site-specific and describes the way in which the landfill should
be operated. This plan is required in terms of Section 10.2.3 of the Minimum
Requirements for Waste Disposal by Landfill, and has been developed in
accordance with these requirements. The scope of the Operating Manual includes
information on the landfill, legal requirements, management system
requirements, health and safety, resource requirements, site development, site
security, a w aste a cceptance p rocedure, site op erational p rocedures, g eneral
environmental considerations, site buffer zone management, site maintenance,
monitoring, a uditing, p ublic i nvolvement re quirements, record-keeping a nd
reporting, as well as rehabilitation and closure requirements.
The scope of this Operating Manual excludes gas extraction and gas utilization
systems or the possible leachate treatment plant, as these will be developed
specifically fo r those systems, once the systems have been designed. P rinciples
relating to gas and leachate management are, however, included. It is noted that
the Operating Manual should be a living document, and should be updated as
additional relevant information b ecomes available. S uch in formation w ould be
forthcoming from, amongst other sources, the public scoping process, the
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Ch 15 – Preliminary Design June 2010 261
environmental impact assessment process, the detailed design, updated waste
stream estimates, detailed monitoring plans, approvals from government, and
new or amended legislation or guidelines relevant to the site.
It is clear that the type of waste management facility that is required will be
influenced by the nature of the waste and the quantities that will need disposal.
Waste surveys were conducted by Bohlweki-SSI Environmental as part of the
Inception Report (Bohlweki-SSI Environmental, 2000) and in a report for the
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality (Bohlweki-SSI Environmental, 2002). A
review of these initial surveys was done by Environmental and Chemical
Consultants (ECC) in 2003, to take into account changed circumstances. In their
review, the types and quantities of wastes and the future projections were re-
evaluated taking the following into account:
• Future legislative developments;
• The impact of waste minimisation implemented at existing industries;
• The predicted expansion of industrial activities in the NMBMM;
• The developments associated with the introduction of primary industries in
the IDZ; and
• Secondary and smaller i ndustries which are l ikely to develop to support the
primary industries, as well as the increased population.
This information was incorporated into a Waste Management Philosophy for the
proposed regional general and hazardous waste management facility in the
Eastern Cape b y J ones & W agener i n 2 004, c ulminating in R eport N o:
JW70/04/8933 Revision 2, dated September 2004. The information was used for
sizing purposes for conceptual designs. Given changes in the expected
developments at the Coega IDZ between 2004 and 2008, however, the report
required updating for use in the design for the permitting of the preferred site
and this has been completed (refer to Report No: JW93/08/B4).
15.3. Site Description
The farm Grassridge 190 RE located approximately 35 km north of Port Elizabeth
and 15 km southwest of Addo, in the Eastern Cape. The farm is located within the
NMBMM area of jurisdiction. Footprint F is situated in a broad valley with rolling
topographic features and flanked on the sides by hills that reach an elevation of
approximately 300 mamsl. T he preferred footprint is within the elevation range
of 200 to 250 mamsl w ithin a wide gu lley h ead which dr ains in a s outherly
direction towards a tributary of the Coega River. No perennial rivers or streams
drain the area of investigation.
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Ch 15 – Preliminary Design June 2010 262
Figure 15.1: Preliminary general layout of the GHWMF
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
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Ch 15 – Preliminary Design June 2010 263
15.4. Geotechnical and Geohydrological Aspects
A well developed shallow pedogenic calcrete layer dominates the northern section
and western side of the site. The near surface material that occurs in the basin of
this footprint is considered to be competent as far as strength and compressibility
are concerned. The depth of the calcrete layer increases to the south and east.
However, as the depth increases, the development of the calcrete d ecreases,
allowing easier excavation. In the north-western section of the site, excavation
reached a depth of 200mm until calcrete was encountered. Excavation depth
gradually increased to 2.0m to the south and east and was characterised by
calcretised silty fine sand.
To the south-eastern corner o f the s ite refusal was encountered on the residual
siltstone at a depth of 3m. Permeability of the in situ soil profile in the area
covered by the alluvial sand is relatively high with low clay content. This may
pose a problem for the containment of leachate and contaminated stormwater on
the waste site if a spillage occurs or if a liner failure occurs. However, the depth
of the alluvial sand is generally less than 3m and it will be feasible to construct
drains to intercept seepage that may occur within the sand horizon.
The Minimum Requirements specify a liner design and layer requirements for the
range of si te cl assifications, i ncluding H :H landfills. The p ermeability of t he
siltstone material was tested a nd found t o suitable f or u se i n a liner b arrier
system on a hazardous landfill site. Given that the site is located at the head of
the valley, and the depth of the siltstone is likely to increase beyond the position
of the dams, there is sufficient material on site for lining, starter berms and final
capping of the landfill. The calcretised silty fine sand will be adequate material for
general earthworks. Sufficient calcrete suitable for the construction of access
roads is available on site. In order to conserve airspace for the disposal of waste,
it is proposed that inert wastes will be used for daily cover rather than soil.
Based on the geological and geohydrological conditions of the area investigated,
the Draft Geological and Geohydrological Report by R. Meyer dated June 2008
(refer to Chapter 6) the identified site is regarded as suitable for the development
of a H:H class waste disposal site for the following reasons:
• The g eological c onditions o f th e u nderlying f ormations, b oth i n te rms o f
lithology and depth extent are very favourable.
• The static groundwater level in the vicinity of the site is of the order of 70 m
below surface.
• Borehole yields are generally very l ow a s illustrated by the four r ecently
drilled boreholes that were all dry on completion of drilling.
• The groundwater quality in the region is generally poor to very poor and as a
result v ery l ittle u se i s b eing m ade of g roundwater f or d omestic, s tock
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Ch 15 – Preliminary Design June 2010 264
watering or i rrigation. The poor water quality is a direct result of the marine
depositional conditions that existed during the formation of the geological
formations hosting the groundwater.
• The u nderlying f ormations, t he S undays R iver and Ki rkwood f ormations,
comprise o f a v ery thick su ccession ( estimated t o b e > 300 m) o f
predominantly s iltstone a nd m udstone, w ith minor interlayered s andstone
layers. T hese f ormations h ave a very l ow h ydraulic c onductivity a nd w ill
prevent the migration of contaminants in the case of liner system failure.
• The d eep a rtesian a quifer a ssociated w ith t he T able M ountain Gr oup
sediments, is well protected from any contamination by the thick succession
of U itenhage Group sediments. T hat the l atter sediments form an e ffective
barrier to groundwater flow is illustrated by the artesian nature of the deeper
aquifer.
• The site is situated close to a local surface water divide and none of the
drainage lines at or upstream of the site represent perennial flow conditions.
• The WASP analysis, which takes into consideration a number of geological,
geohydrological, water use and design criteria, also indicated that the site can
be classified as “suitable”
• No geological or geohydrological conditions within the study can be regarded
as “fatal f laws” according to the definitions described in the DWEA guideline
documents.
Based on the above factors and provided that the site will be designed,
constructed a nd o perated a ccording to th e M inimum Re quirements, it is
concluded that the identified site is suitable from a geotechnical and
geohydrological perspective for the development of a new waste management
facility.
15.5. Site Classification
In terms of the Minimum Requirements, landfills are classified in terms of the
type of incoming waste, the size of the operation, and the climatic water balance
or site specific water balance, depending on the case. However, while the CDC is
actively marketing the IDZ for the development of certain industry sectors, i t i s
not currently possible to predict exactly which businesses will establish in the IDZ
and what their waste streams will be. Given this uncertainty, the GHWMF has
been classified as an H:H site. This classification is based on the classification of
the Aloes hazardous waste disposal facility, from which the waste stream could be
diverted in future, as well as on the predicted waste streams from industries that
could be established in the Coega IDZ.
Although not required for the classification of a hazardous waste disposal site, a
climatic w ater b alance h as b een d etermined, u sing information f rom t he
Department of W ater Affairs & F orestry’s w eather s tation n umber N 4E001 a t
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Addo. Rainfall and evaporation data was obtained for January 1960 to May 2008.
The wettest s ixth months of the year for Addo are November to May. Using the
methodology given in the Minimum Requirements, none of the ten wettest years
of the 47 year record result in a positive water balance for the study area. The
site is therefore situated in a climatic water balance deficit (B-
) area.
15.6. Design Philosophy
The d esign is a imed a t p roviding s ufficient a irspace f or the d isposal o f th e
predicted incoming waste streams for the Coega regional hazardous waste
disposal facility for a 20 year period. The estimated size of the waste body is
5,000,000m3
, divided into four phases, each with an operational life of five years.
The overall design philosophy i s t o meet t he Minimum R equirements
specifications. As su ch, t he d esign process ascribes to th e philosophy o f
responsible containment.
In order to separate the waste body from underlying ground waters, a composite
liner i s to b e i nstalled. T he l iner h as b een d esigned to c ontain a l eakage
detection l ayer, s o t hat leakage w hich m ay occur t hrough t he p rimary l ining
system can be intercepted. Drainage systems are to be installed to intercept and
drain contaminated water and leachate and channel them separately towards the
leachate and stormwater dams, which are to be constructed. Clean, upslope
runoff is to be diverted around the site by trapezoidal drains. D rainage systems
have b een d esigned to b e f ree-draining. It is impractical to c ontain the
contaminated stormwater and leachate that could be generated from the site over
a 20 year s ite l ife. T he design has therefore included a leachate dam based on
the first three years’ expected waste stream, taking average rainfall and
evaporation into account. Should the w aste stream differ, or above average
rainfall occur, the dams could fill up in a shorter time. The intention is t hat
monitoring of leachate quality and quantity will take place during the first year of
operation, treatability tests, design and pilot treatment studies will take place in
the s econd y ear, a nd th e l eachate tr eatment p lant w ill b e c onstructed a nd
commissioned by the middle of the third year of operation. It w ould be an
advantage to design a modular system that can easily be expanded as the need
arises, given current uncertainties in the expected waste stream composition.
The leachate dam would then continue to provide sufficient buffer capacity to
accommodate seasonal peaks in order to match the rate of treatment. Future
leachate dams could be constructed on site, but it would be preferable to refrain
from storing significant volumes of leachate on site.
The contaminated storm water dam has a lso been s ized on average rainfall and
evaporation, with an expected take out of 2 300m3 per month, for dust
suppression, to maintain the levels as low as possible in the dam. The
contaminated dam sizing also includes for the capping of each phase within five
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years o f c ompletion o f th at p hase. I f th is i s n ot c arried o ut, then a dditional
stormwater storage, and/or additional take outs, will be required. Should the
waste stream differ, or above average rainfall occur, the dam could fill up in a
shorter time.
Landfill gas (LFG) can be managed by passive or active venting from a l andfill,
depending on the quantities generated. The design has included for the
installation of horizontal LFG collection wells, to be installed during the operation
at a pproximately 1 0m v ertical a nd 30 m h orizontal s pacing. These w ells a re
relatively easy to install, and are to be i nstalled by the operator on an ongoing
basis. Gas collection in the wells is to be monitored, and if necessary and/or
financially viable, the installation of an active extraction system and gas flare or
utilisation system is to be considered. Depending on the timing of the installation
and the future of carbon credits trading, selling of carbon credits for the LFG
burnt or used could be a viable option.
15.6.1. Constraints and Factors Affecting Design
There are a number of constraints and factors that affect the design.
Powerlines
The eastern side of the site is restricted by the presence of power lines. The
footprint of the facility was positioned at least 50 m from the power lines, while
the storm water and leachate dams were positioned at least 25 m from the power
lines, t o a llow f or s ervitudes. F encing of t he s ite i nfrastructure, the l andfill
footprint and the dams has been allowed for separately, so as not to interfere
with the powerline servitudes.
Soil availability
The underlying geology of the site and the resulting excavatability negated the
use of deep-set basins in the design. The excavation and shaping of the first
phase’s basin was kept to a shallow depth, in order to minimise the quantity of
hard rock excavation. T he basins of the dams were also designed to be shallow
for the same reason. The site is located at the head of the valley, and the depth
of the siltstone is likely to increase beyond the position of the dams. There is
therefore sufficient material for lining, starter berms and final capping, that could
be excavated beyond the dams. Given the depth of underlying soils, however,
limited material is available for daily cover. In order to conserve airspace for the
disposal of waste, it is proposed that inert wastes will be used for daily cover
rather than soil. This is currently the case at several hazardous waste disposal
sites operating in South Africa.
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Site geometry
The site is located in a steep sloped valley. The sides of the valley impacted the
shape o f the waste body as the geometry takes a chieving e fficient storm water
management i nto account. As the c layey material is found in the south eastern
corner of the site, the storm water and leachate dams are placed approximately
350m downstream of the waste body. T he dams were designed to be mostly in
cut to provide clay lining for both of the dams and the first phase of the facility.
Possible waste stream variations
While t he C DC i s a ctively m arketing t he IDZ f or t he d evelopment of c ertain
industry sectors, it is not currently possible to predict exactly which businesses
will establish in the IDZ, what their waste streams will be and when businesses
will s tart up. W hile the i ncoming wastes have been estimated as accurately as
possible at this stage, there may be significant variations in the waste streams in
future. Some aspects of the design may therefore require revision at the detailed
engineering stage.
15.6.2. Access and Infrastructure
Existing access and infrastructure
The main access route from Port Elizabeth is from the R335/P1954 towards Addo;
while from Uitenhage, the main access is from the R75/MR00470/ P1958 towards
Kirkwood, taking the gravel road turnoff towards Addo (refer to Chapter 13).
Aside from the above mentioned powerlines there is little other infrastructure on
the site currently, except for a farm homestead, a small farm reservoir and some
fencing.
Proposed access and infrastructure
A tr ansport s tudy w as u ndertaken b y S tewart S cott International (SSI), a nd
included in the Draft Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the Proposed
Regional General and Hazardous Waste Management Facility in the Eastern Cape,
for the three top-ranking candidate sites for the Coega regional hazardous waste
disposal facility. The study estimated the costs for the transportation of waste to
the proposed regional general and hazardous waste disposal facility by road and
by rail. Footprint F is given as the second most economical option, with re-
surfacing and maintenance estimated at R 16,0 million and R 24,2 million for
gravel and tar respectively. The study states that the Province is committed to
upgrading Addo Road regardless of the proposed waste site development and
once upgraded the design standard of Addo Road will be able to accommodate
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Ch 15 – Preliminary Design June 2010 268
the heavy vehicle traffic that will be generated by the waste facility. It was
therefore concluded that transportation of waste by road is the better option.
As per the findings of air quality impact assessment report was prepared for the
site by Airshed Planning Professionals (refer to Chapter 10) it has been
determined that the impacts associated with waste haulage via the R335/P1954
(Scenario 1) will be the least significant and will result in the lowest dustfall levels
at th e m ajority o f the s ensitive r eceptors c onsidered. On si te a ccess roads
include a r ing road around t he landfill, a ring road a round the leachate a nd
stormwater dams, and a road linking the landfill to the storm water and leachate
dams. Access to the site monitoring boreholes must also be ensured, however,
this can be addressed in the detailed design once the extent of the water quality
monitoring network is established.
The site infrastructure, including weighbridges, a weighbridge office, s ite offices,
a laboratory, stores, a plant shed and workshop and a washday, will be located
on the relatively flat area above and to the north-east of the landfill area (refer to
Figure 15.2 overleaf). The access road from the site infrastructure to the landfill is
approximately 0.5 km long and is at a fairly gentle gradient. The landfill operation
will be visible from the site infrastructure.
A 1.8m high security fence will be erected around the site infrastructure, the
landfill footprint, and the dams. The fence lines do not cross the Eskom powerline
servitude, s o t hat s eparate f encing of t he i nfrastructure from t he l andfill is
required. This could be revisited in the detailed design phase, by making an
application to Eskom for placing certain infrastructure within the powerline
servitude. Lockable 1.8m h igh security gates w ill be p laced at the entrance and
exit of the site infrastructure, at the entrance to the landfill, at the access road to
the dams, and at the entrance to the dams.
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Ch 15 – Preliminary Design June 2010 269
Figure 15.2: Preliminary infrastructure layout of the GHWMF
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 15 – Preliminary Design June 2010 270
15.6.3. Landfill Design
Site development
The GHWMF will be developed in four phases to provide a 20 year site life, given
current w aste s tream p redictions. E ach p hase w ill p rovide a pproximately f ive
years of site life. Table 15.1 below indicates the airspace provided by each phase:
Table 15.1: Airspace provided by phases
Phase Airspace provided [m3
Phase 1
]
1’230’000 m
Phase 2
3
1’290’000 m
Phase 3
3
1’260’000 m
Phase 4
3
1’220’000 m
Total
3
5’000’000 m
3
Following the initial development of Phase 1 and its associated infrastructure, the
development o f th ree subsequent p hases w ith a dditional dr ainage s ystems i s
planned; the development of a leachate treatment plant is likely; while the need
for and financial viability of a landfill gas extraction and utilisation or destruction
facility could be assessed.
Given that there are currently unknowns regarding the industries that will
establish in the IDZ as well as start up times, actual waste streams may vary
considerably from current predictions. It is therefore necessary that regular data,
calculation and planning updates be undertaken for further site development.
Site geometry – Phase 1
The site is located in a valley with steep slopes. The base of the valley heads in a
south eastern d irection at an average gradient of 1:35. T he south facing s lope
has a n a verage g radient o f 1 :30 a nd th e e ast f acing s lope h as a n a verage
gradient of 1:20. Phase 1 has been shaped to allow upslope runoff to be diverted
around the phase, and to appear as natural as possible.
Basin design – Phase 1
The basin of Phase 1 is formed by two sloping planes that mimic the natural
topography. The depth of the phase is restrained by the shallow calcrete profile
and the slopes of the basin. The depth of the basin at excavation level varies from
2.0m below ground level at its lowest excavation level to 0.17m above ground at
its h ighest section o f fill required to keep the constant s lope. The s lope of the
sidewalls of the basin is 1:3.
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The south facing slope has a gradient of 1:40 and the east facing slope a gradient
of 1:35. The different slopes coincide at the middle of the basin, in which a
leachate collection trench is to be constructed that bisects the basin. The trench is
designed to be 1m below the western edge while the depth of the eastern edge
varies from 2.14m to 0.7m. The slope of the trench side walls is 1:2.
Liner design
The m aterial p roperties re quired f or a c lay l iner, i n t erms of t he M inimum
Requirements, are as follows:
• Plasticity Index (PI) greater than 10%.
• No particles larger than 25mm.
• Gravel size fraction must not exceed 10%.
• Saturated permeability must be less than 1 x 10-7
cm/sec for H:H landfills.
A constant head triaxial permeability test was carried out on a sample from depth
2.2m in a test pit on site, which is representative of the siltstone material on site.
The permeability stabilised at 1.2 x 10-9
cm/s following close to 26 days of testing,
which is almost two orders of magnitude lower than required, necessary to allow
for laboratory testing/ field performance discrepancies.
From the geotechnical testing carried out, the plasticity index of the sample was
27%, the maximum particle size was less than 4.75mm, and the gravel fraction
was less than 1%. The material is therefore suitable for lining material. For
detailed test results, the reader is referred to Jones & Wagener Report number
JW15/08/B494, dated February 2008.
The landfill liner h as been designed to meet the Minimum Requirements
specifications, incorporating a d ouble lined system of w hich t he p rimary liner
comprises a c omposite g eosynthetic a nd c lay l iner, a nd t he s econdary l iner
comprises a conventional clay liner. A detail of the landfill liner is included on
Drawing B494-00-007 of the Design Report. Starting from the waste body, the
liner system is formed from the following in descending order:
• Waste body;
• Separation geotextile;
• 300mm layer of 53mm stone;
• Protection geotextile (minimum weight 1,5kg/m2);
• 2mm high density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembrane liner;
• 4 x 150mm thick layers of selected clay compacted to minimum 98% MOD
AAHSTO at optimum moisture content (omc) to omc + 2%;
• Separation geotextile;
• 150 mm layer of coarse sand (with particles less than 3mm in diameter);
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• 2 x 150mm thick layers of selected clay compacted to minimum 98% MOD
AAHSTO at optimum moisture content (omc) to omc + 2%;and
• In situ ripped and re-compacted layer.
15.6.4. Drainage Systems
Site liquids balance
The liquid balance on a landfill site is dependent on incident precipitation,
evaporation, t ranspiration, t he m oisture c ontent of i ncoming w aste s treams,
liquid by-products f rom decomposition processes within the waste body, and on
any other liquids entering or leaving the site.
Typically, little vegetation is present on the waste body itself prior to capping,
liquid by-products from decomposition processes within the waste body are of low
volume, and additional sources o f water should not enter the waste body i f the
site is properly designed, constructed and operated, so that these factors are
ignored.
The liquid balance is usually used to estimate the size of the contaminated water
and leachate dams required, as well as required take out and treatment rates. A
conceptual site-specific liquids balance has been developed for the Coega regional
hazardous waste m anagement facility, u sing a verage r ainfall a nd e vaporation
data from the Aloes H:H landfill, on a monthly basis. This was used in the sizing
of the contaminated water dam, as well as in determining the average take out
rate required to keep volumes acceptable. The dam was also sized by estimating
the s torage r equired f or ru noff f rom t he 1 i n 1 00 y ear re currence 2 4 h our
duration storm event.
Upslope runoff drainage and management
Upslope runoff is diverted around the waste body by a system of storm water
diversion trenches. T he system consists of temporary measures and permanent
measures. The temporary trenches serve individual phases and are later covered
by subsequent phases. The permanent measures will service the entire waste
body. The progression of required stormwater drainage measures as the phases
are developed is shown on Drawing B494-00-008 of the Design Report. T
The drains were sized using the rational method. The mean annual precipitation
was estimated to be the same as at the Aloes Waste Facility at 560mm per
annum. T he uncontaminated s torm w ater d rains into the en vironment
downstream of the waste facility. A typical detail of the uncontaminated runoff
diversion drains is included on Drawing B494-00-007 of the Design Report.
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Ch 15 – Preliminary Design June 2010 273
15.6.5. Contaminated water drainage and management
Contaminated water drainage
The contaminated storm water drainage system also incorporates a similar trench
system t o t he u pslope m anagement s ystem. T he d rains a re s maller a s t he
catchment area consists of the waste body only. The progression of required
storm water drainage measures as the phases are developed is shown on
Drawing B494-00-008 of the Design Report. A typical detail of the contaminated
water drains i s i ncluded on D rawing B 494-00-007 of th e Design Re port. The
confluence of the system is in the south eastern corner of the site where the
diversion trenches meet in a drop inlet formed from manhole rings. The drop inlet
leads to a pipe that connects the drainage system to the contaminated storm
water dam south of the site (refer to Figure 15.3).
Storm water dam
The 1 in 100 year 24 hour duration storm event was used to size the storm water
dam, by calculating the storage required for rain falling on the area of various
phases. The most severe case was found to be rain falling on the site once the
fourth p hase was b eing c onstructed. H owever, i t w as assumed t hat p artial
capping w ould m itigate th e a mount o f storm water b eing c ontaminated.
Therefore, the dam was s ized for the next severe case of the storm falling over
the site during the construction of the third phase. The required storage volume
was 24 000 m3. The dam has been sized at approximately 32 000m3, to allow for
some c ontaminated w ater to b e h eld in s torage, a nd s till allow f or the
containment of the expected runoff from the 1 in 100 year 24 hour duration
storm event. The contaminated storm water dam has also been sized with an
expected take out of 2 300m3
per month, for dust suppression, to maintain the
levels as low as possible in the dam. The dam will therefore require active
management. A plan of the dam is shown on Drawing B494-00-010 and the
cross-sections shown on Drawing B494-00-011 of the Design Report. A detail of
the storm water dam liner is included on Drawing B494-00-007 of the Design
Report. The liner for the contaminated storm water dam incorporates a single
composite geosynthetic and clay l iner as described below starting at the surface
of the dam:
• 200 mm thick layer of <3 mm sand stabilised with 5% cement 1 32.5;
• Protection geotextile;
• 1.5 mm high density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembrane liner;
• 2 x 150 mm thick layers of selected clay compacted to minimum 98% MOD
AAHSTO at optimum moisture content (omc) to omc + 2%; and
• In situ ripped and re-compacted layer.
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Ch 15 – Preliminary Design June 2010 274
Figure 15.3: Preliminary leachate and storm water dam layout for the GHWMF
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 15 – Preliminary Design June 2010 275
It is noted that this liner does not strictly comply with the specifications given in
the Minimum Requirements for Waste Disposal by Landfill third edition draft, but
is based on the successful use of lesser l iners at several other hazardous waste
management facilities.
15.6.6. Leachate Drainage
The l eachate drainage system i s d ivided into the l eachate collection system and
the leakage detection system. The leachate collection system is located above
the primary liner and its functions are to drain leachate out of the landfill before it
penetrates the liner and prevent excessive volumes of leachate being stored in
the waste body. The leakage detection system is constructed between the
primary and secondary clay liners. The purpose of this system is to detect if
leachate has penetrated the primary lining system, to allow measurement of flow
in the leakage detection system, and to prevent a build up of hydrostatic head on
the secondary c lay liner. The leachate collection system will comprise a 300mm
thick 53mm stone layer, containing perforated pipes, on the landfill footprint.
Solid pipes will penetrate the side walls, and allow leachate to drain from the
landfill phases into leachate collection manholes and into a solid leachate collector
pipeline.
The leakage detection system will comprise a 150mm thick coarse sand layer,
including smaller perforated pipes. Again, solid pipes will penetrate the side walls,
and allow any leakage to drain from the landfill phases into leakage detection
manholes and into a solid leakage pipeline. Both systems will be extended as
future phases are developed (see proposed layout on Drawing B494-00-009 of
the Design Report). The confluence of the leachate collection and the leakage
detection systems is located in the south eastern corner of the site where the
pipes of each system meet in one large sump which will have one outlet pipe
leading to the leachate dam (refer to Figure 15.4).
Leachate Dam
Given uncertainties in the future waste streams from the Coega IDZ, the sizing of
the leachate dam was not based on the site liquids balance. Instead, this was
sized by assuming that a maximum co-disposal ratio o f 1 part l iquid to 6 parts
solid by mass was used, and that 20% of the liquids in the waste percolate out as
leachate, from experience on similar sites. This calculation was cross-checked by
assuming that 20% of expected liquid wastes and 10% of all expected sludges
from the Coega IDZ as well as 20% of the existing waste stream to Aloes would
percolate out as leachate. The latter figure was lower than the former, as the
currently predicted co-disposal ratio for the Coega regional and hazardous waste
disposal facility is less than 1 in 6.
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Ch 15 – Preliminary Design June 2010 276
The calculation resulted in a smaller s torage requirement than f or the storm
water dam, in the order of 24’000m3
. Further leachate storage dams are planned
for construction if needed after Phase 1; these are shown on the plans
downstream of the current dam.
A plan of the dam is shown on Drawing B494-00-010 and cross-sections shown
on Drawing B494-00-011 of the Design Report. The liner for the leachate storage
dam i s d esigned a ccording to M inimum Requirements, incorporating a double
composite geosynthetic and clay liner as specified for hazardous lagoons. A detail
of the leachate dam liner is included on Drawing B494-00-007 of the Design
Report. The liner system is described below starting at the surface of the dam:
• 200 mm thick layer of <3 mm sand stabilised with 5% cement 1 32.5;
• Protection geotextile (minimum weight 1,5 kg/m2);
• 2 mm high density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembrane liner;
• 4 x 150 mm thick layers of selected clay compacted to minimum 98% MOD
AAHSTO at optimum moisture content (omc) to omc + 2%;
• Separation geotextile;
• 150 mm layer of coarse sand (with particles less than 3 mm in diameter) for
leakage detection system;
• Protection geotextile (minimum weight 1,5 kg/m2);
• 1.5 mm high density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembrane liner;
• 2 x 150 mm thick layers of selected clay compacted to minimum 98% MOD
AAHSTO at optimum moisture content (omc) to omc + 2%; and
• In situ ripped and re-compacted layer.
Leachate Treatment
It is impractical to contain the leachate that could be generated from the Site
over a 20 year site life. The design has therefore included a leachate dam based
on t he f irst t hree y ears’ e xpected w aste s tream, t aking a verage r ainfall a nd
evaporation into account. The intention is that monitoring of leachate quality and
quantity will take place during the first year of operation, treatability tests, design
and pilot t reatment studies will take p lace in the second year, and the leachate
treatment plant will be constructed and commissioned by the middle of the third
year of operation. It would be an advantage to design a modular system that can
easily be expanded as the need arises, given current uncertainties in the
expected waste s tream composition. T he l eachate dam would then continue to
provide sufficient buffer capacity to accommodate seasonal peaks in order to
match the rate of treatment.
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 15 – Preliminary Design June 2010 277
Figure 15.4: Preliminary leachate collection and drainage plan for the GHWMF
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Chapter 15 – Preliminary Design June 2010 278
Future leachate dams could be constructed on site, but it would be preferable to
refrain from storing significant volumes of leachate on site, as this would increase
environmental risk, contribute to site odour and have significant associated costs.
It i s a nticipated t hat the l eachate q uality w ill b e r easonably s imilar to th at
generated at Aloes, with a high Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) count of 40 000 to
50 000 mg/l. The TDS will predominantly be made up of Chloride and Sodium.
The F ishwater F lats Sewage Works w ill not accept such h ighly saline waste and
therefore direct discharge to sewer will not be an option. In addition, as no sewer
connection is a vailable c lose to th e pr oposed Re gional W MF it w ould m ean
transporting the leachate to the closest sewer connection which could be 20km
away. The recommended options for the GHWMF would be to treat the leachate
to a standard that will allow discharge directly into the environment or for re-use
on site for dust control, for irrigation of vegetated areas and for fire-water. The
quality of water to be discharged should comply with the quality objectives set by
DWEA for the catchment and should ensure that the downstream water remain fit
for the purposes it is used for. This aspect should be agreed with DWEA.
Likely steps in a treatment process could include the following (Ardeer, personal
communication with T. Hopkins of J&W, April 2004):
• Pre-treatment (pH adjustment and removal of suspended solids);
• Ultra filtration;
• High pressure reverse osmosis step; and
• Low pressure reverse osmosis step.
Should the leachate at the Regional WMF contain a higher organic content, an
additional step to address this component, e.g. biological treatment, would be
needed. The anticipated treatment technologies listed above are well established
technologies that are currently used for the treatment of waste water and which
will ensure that the required discharge standard is achieved. An accurate
prediction of leachate generation rates is not possible at this stage, as it will
depend on many factors, including the stage of landfill development, cell
geometry, co-disposal ratio, operational controls and waste characteristics.
Ideally, the cell should be operated for a period before determining the size and
design of the treatment facility required.
15.6.7. Landfill Gas Management Systems
LFG can be managed by passive or active venting f rom a landfill, depending on
the quantities generated. The design has included for the installation of
horizontal LFG collection wells, to be installed during the operation at
approximately 10m vertical and 30m horizontal spacing, see proposed layout and
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Chapter 15 – Preliminary Design June 2010 279
typical horizontal well detail on Drawing B494-00-014 of the Design Report (refer
to Figure 15.5 overleaf). T hese wells are relatively uncomplicated to install, and
are to be installed by the operator on an ongoing basis. Gas collection in the wells
is to be monitored, and if necessary and/or f inancially viable, the installation of
an active extraction system and gas flare or utilisation system is to be
considered.
Given that a bed of waste of 10m thick is required prior to the installation of
these wells, it is likely to be in the region of 2 years before the wells can be
installed, and probably 4 years before suction can commence. If installed, the
gas management system will need to be carefully managed, as per the
instructions of the design engineers.
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Ch 15 – Preliminary Design June 2010 280
Figure 15.5: Conceptual gas extraction layout for the GHWMF
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Ch 15 – Preliminary Design June 2010 281
15.7. Closure and Rehabilitation
The Minimum Requirements defines that the objectives of landfill closure are:
• To ensure public acceptability of the implementation of the proposed End-use
Plan; and
• To rehabilitate the landfill so as to ensure that the site is environmentally and
publicly acceptable and suited to the implementation of the proposed end-
use.
Where i t i s i ntended to c lose a l andfill, th e P ermit H older m ust i nform th e
permitting authority of this intention at least one year prior to closure. This is
because certain procedures must be implemented and criteria met before closure.
It i s o bvious th at p rior to a s ite b eing c losed, a lternative a irspace m ust b e
provided for the waste streams. Extensions could be possible on the site, and
could be investigated at that time. The landfill must then be investigated before
rehabilitation a nd c losure can c ommence, s o a s t o i dentify any c losure
requirements that must be implemented. Based on the results of the
investigations, a closure or upgrade design must be drawn up and presented in a
Closure Report. Written acceptance of both the Closure Design and the Closure
Report must be obtained from the authority. In order to obtain this, an inspection
of the landfill by the Responsible Person and a representative of the authority will
be required.
Once t he Closure Design and the Closure Report have been accepted by the
authority and the I&APs, site rehabilitation may commence. Once the landfill has
been rehabilitated in accordance with the Closure Report, it is a Minimum
Requirement th at th e P ermit H older n otifies th e a uthority i n w riting o f th e
intended closure of the site, at least 60 days prior to the event. Should the
authority approve the condition of the landfill, the Permit Holder will be provided
with written permission to close the site. The s ite may then be c losed and the
end-use p lan i mplemented. Thereafter, t he s ite m ust b e m onitored on a n
ongoing b asis, f or w hich t he P ermit H older i s r esponsible. Provided th at th e
landfill has been well operated, rehabilitation and closure are relatively straight
forward, as no significant compaction and re-shaping exercises are required.
Monitoring of adherence with the final landform shape during the operation is
crucial in ensuring that major re-shaping is not required. Rehabilitation that may
be required includes:
• Repair of any erosion damage
• Compaction of low density areas
• Repairs to diversion drains
• Filling in of low areas that have resulted from differential settlement
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• Filling in areas where the final landform has not been achieved, and cutting in
areas of overfill
• Liner repairs in storage dams, and so forth
However, the above items should be addressed on an ongoing basis as part of
site maintenance. Once the final landform has been achieved, it will be possible to
cap the landfill site.
15.7.1. Proposed final landform
The proposed final landform is shown on Drawing B494-00-013 of the Design
Report (refer to Figure 15.6 overleaf). After 20 years of operation the waste body
will be rehabilitated by shaping the final landform and placing a capping system
above the surface of the body. The landform will be shaped to have side slopes
with a gradient of 1:3 and the landfill plateau above the crest will have a slope of
1:20. The corners of the landform will be rounded to suit the natural surroundings
of the area.
15.7.2. Phased capping
Final capping is frequently delayed for the following reasons:
• To allow LFG generation and extraction to continue, which a low permeability
cap hinders; and
• To allow significant settlement to take place before capping, and thus avoid
the large stresses induced by ongoing differential settlement.
An alternative to capping at the end of the l ife of the landfill is phased capping.
This involves capping portions of the waste body that are at final height. The
main motivation for phased capping is given below:
• Capping the site will ensure no additional l iquids enter the waste body from
surface, which reduces the quantities of leachate generated.
• Seepage from the side slopes will be minimised.
• Partial rehabilitation will result in the removal of large areas from the
contaminated catchment resulting in less contaminated water requiring
management.
• It will help prevent oxygen entering the site once the gas wells are placed
under suction, improving yield and reducing the risk of a landfill fire.
• Vegetation of the side slopes will mitigate sedimentation of the storm water
infrastructure.
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Figure 15.6: Conceptual final rehabilitation plan for the GHWMF
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Ch 15 – Preliminary Design June 2010 284
The advantages and disadvantages of applying final capping must therefore be
weighed to determine the optimal timing for final capping placement. Phased
rehabilitation and capping is recommended, so that capping of a phase should
take place within five years of a phase being complete. This will reduce
contaminated stormwater and leachate generation, spread rehabilitation and
closure costs during the life of the site, and allow for initial settlement to take
place before final capping is placed. It will also improve the site aesthetics if
suitably vegetated. It is noted that the design of the dams includes for final
capping placement on each phase within five years of completion.
15.7.3. Capping design
The material properties required for a clay cap, in terms of the Minimum
Requirements for Waste Disposal by Landfill, are as follows:
• Plasticity Index (PI) of between 5 and 15%.
• No particles larger than 25 mm.
• Saturated permeability must be less than 1.585 x 10-6
cm/sec.
The si ltstone m aterial t ested on s ite more t han m eets t he p ermeability
requirements, but the plasticity index is higher than allowable, at 27%. Other
material on site may be suitable, such as the calcrete material. While calcrete
has b een i ncluded i n the c apping d esign, i t i s r ecommended th at a dditional
material testing take place to source suitable capping material. The site is to be
capped in accordance to Minimum Requirements incorporating a shaping layer
followed by a gas drainage layer and composite geosynthetic and clay liner. A
detail of the proposed landfill capping is included on Drawing B494-00-014 in the
Design Report. Starting from the vegetation placed in the topsoil, the capping is
described below:
• Vegetation;
• Topsoil;
• 2 x 150 mm thick compacted calcrete layers;
• 1 mm linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) geomembrane liner;
• 1 x 150 mm thick compacted calcrete layer;
• Separation geotextile;
• 19 mm stone gas drainage and capillary break layer;
• Separation geotextile;
• 1 x 150 mm thick compacted calcrete layer for foundation and shaping; and
• Waste body.
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15.7.4. Storm water management post-closure
Once the site has been rehabilitated, closed and final capping constructed, storm
water runoff from the site will be uncontaminated and will be drained into the
environment off site. A s part of construction, drainage systems should allow for
the f low of c lean s tormwater runoff f rom c apped a reas off site. Accordingly,
stormwater drains, berms and downchutes would typically be constructed.
15.7.5. Maintenance and Monitoring
Once rehabilitated, closed and capped, ongoing monitoring and maintenance will
be required to ensure that the capping integrity is maintained required as
stipulated in the Operating Manual. D amage by erosion, d ifferential settlement,
and, on occasion, fauna such as moles, can occur.
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Ch 16 – I&AP Issues and Concerns June 2010 286
16. SALIENT ISSUES AND CONCERNS RAISED BY I&AP’S AND
STAKEHOLDERS
This section highlights what are deemed by Bohlweki-SSI Environmental to be the
salient issues and concerns raised by I&AP’s and stakeholders throughout the EIA
process to date, as well as the comments received on the Draft EIR released for
public review during January and February 2009. The full Issues and Responses
Register is contained in Appendix D. The numbering reflected in each instance
corresponds with the relevant issue in the full Issues and Responses Register. The
issues, concerns and comments are italicized, with Bohlweki-SSI Environmental’s
response in normal font.
16.1. Issues related to roads and transportation of hazardous waste
2.1. A traffic impact assessment must be done for the entire route. Nadia
Wessels, Swartkops Trust
A transport study for the entire route has been conducted for t he p receding
phases of the study. It has concluded that the Addo Road (R335) will have to be
upgraded to an appropriate standard if it is to accommodate the additional heavy
vehicle traffic volumes associated with the operational facility. A revised transport
study section (Chapter 13 of this report) indicating the extent and significance of
the anticipated traffic impacts resulting from increased heavy vehicle traffic, as
well as the implications of the current deteriorated state of the R335 for
construction and operation of the facility has been incorporated.
2.5. The R335 needs to be upgraded to meet the demand for this project. Thulani
Grootboom, Addo Alliance
It has been concluded that the road in its current condition cannot accommodate
the significantly increased heavy vehicle traffic volumes expected with the
operational facility until it is refurbished. However, the transport specialist has
concluded that i t will be able to accommodate construction phase vehicle traffic
as this is expected to be of minimal significance. The Eastern Cape Department of
Roads and Transport notified the public during the course of August 2009 of an
open meeting to discuss the proposed upgrade and special maintenance works to
be undertaken on the Main Road MR0450 (R335) between Motherwell and Addo.
It appears that this will not be an extensive upgrade to the standards likely to be
required t o a ccommodate t he i ncreased v ehicular t raffic a ssociated w ith t he
operational facility, but more of a temporary improvement measure. Accordingly,
it will be a recommendation for a condition of environmental authorisation that
the road is upgraded to a standard deemed suitable to accommodate operational
phase vehicle traffic prior to the facility becoming operational.
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2.11. The report indicates on a map the extent of the facility. Our experience has
shown that with the transportation of waste, there can be all kinds of spills and/or
accidents. Thus the extent of the facility and the impacts it will have are not just
confined to the facility but extend for the entire transportation corridor. Thus the
map for the facility should be amended to reflect that the facility includes its
transportation corridors. This should be carried through the report; monitoring
and management of the facility as well as the assessment of impacts should
include the access roads to the facility. Keith Finnemore, SRVCF
The assessment of t he road conditions and transport corridors has b een
addressed in the Transport Study (Chapter 13 of the Draft EIR). The maps of the
various transport route options to the facility are also depicted the in the Draft
EIR. It i s noted and accepted that the impacts of the t ransport corridors cannot
be separated form the impact of the facility itself, and this has been assessed as
such in the Draft EIR in the air quality, tourism, visual, heritage, fauna, flora and
SIA specialist studies. The impacts resulting from, the ut ilisation of the existing
transport c orridors a nd a ccess routes t o t he fa cility w ill b e si gnificant i f n ot
appropriately m anaged, m onitored and prevented a s f ar a s p ossible. A s
recommended by Mr. Finnemore the monitoring and management of these
transport c orridors to reduce th e s ignificance o f p otential s pill, r oad s afety,
increased traffic volumes, air quality and litter impacts that are l ikely to occur is
crucial. At this time it is not known who the eventual operator of the facility will
be or w hat the detailed design for the required road upgrade will require. In the
opinion of Bohlweki-SSI Environmental it would be far more beneficial for these
monitoring and management protocols for the transport corridors to be developed
in conjunction with the successful operator, the CDC, Eastern Cape Department of
Roads a nd T ransport and a ll ot her I&AP’s a nd stakeholders e ngaged i n t he
process. An Environmental Monitoring Committee (EMC) for the facility will have
to be established prior to the commencement of construction activities that is
appropriately constituted by the above mentioned individuals and organisations.
The development of the required transport corridor monitoring and management
protocols for these transport corridors must be developed in conjunction with, and
ultimately approved by, the EMC. It i s recommended that these monitoring and
management protocols be subject to a public participation process to ensure that
all issues, concerns and inputs as they relate to transport corridors are captured
and incorporated into the development thereof.
2.13. What happens on these roads affects tourism and the citrus industry. This
road is used by trucks transporting fruit to the PE harbour for exports, all you
need is one accidental spill of waste on the road accompanied by rain, which
could result in contaminated rain water landing up on fruit for international
export. If this contaminated fruit landed up in the international market/stores it
would be a disaster for the local citrus industry. The assessment process must
therefore assess and identify impacts on the transport routes as well as include
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management and monitoring mechanisms for these routes. Keith Finnemore,
SRVCF
The implications of this scenario are noted. It is the opinion of Bohlweki-SSI
Environmental that quantifying the risks and likelihood of this scenario occurring
will be difficult to accurately and credibly assess. It should therefore be assumed
that a spill event followed by, or during, a rainfall event is likely to eventuate
during th e lifespan o f th e f acility. Accordingly, th e d ecision m aking a uthority
(DWEA) is urged to apply the precautionary principle in this regard. It is therefore
imperative that and appropriate emergency response measures are developed
for, and implemented during, the operational phase of the facility for this scenario
that is reflected in the required transport corridor monitoring and management
protocols referred to above. In the instance of an accident/spill event it would
have to be communicated quickly and effectively to affected road users, traffic
halted and an alternative transport route utilised until such time as the spill is
cleared up. Trucks transporting fruit should therefore ideally be covered to a
degree that will prevent ingress of water that could potentially be contaminated
by w et r oad surfaces from a spill e vent w hen t ransporting f ruit t o the P ort
Elizabeth harbour once the facility is operational.
2.14. The R335 has collapsed, Province has committed to building it in 5 years,
the design and construction plan is for the road is finished and will entail closing
the road for 2 years. This directly impacts on your timeframe for construction of
the facility. The R335 is fundamental to the facility and must be built before
construction on the facility takes place, what can be done about this? Keith
Finnemore, SRVCF
In light of the poor state of the R335 it is imperative that all stakeholders and
authorities responsible for the required upgrade that will accommodate
operational phase traffic volumes begin engaging on this issue as soon as possible
to allow for appropriate budgetary allocations and the timely commencement of
the re quired t ender p rocess f or t his re furbishment. It i s n ot a nticipated th at
construction p hase t raffic fo r t he f acility w ill r esult in s ignificant increases in
heavy vehicle traffic as per the findings of the transport study. Accordingly, it will
be a recommendation for a condition of environmental authorisation that the road
is upgraded to a standard deemed suitable to accommodate operational phase
vehicle traffic prior to the facility accepting its first waste deliveries.
2.18. Traffic impacts – the issue of dust generation, spill and congestion are of
concern to us. We hold that the approach road/s to the site from the R335
and/or R75 impacts need to be tarred to minimise dust generation. The Aloes H:H
waste site has shown that without this ‘mitigation’, considerable management is
needed to suppress dust by trucks approaching the site; recognising that tipping,
spreading and covering activities also produce much dust. Considering the
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Ch 16 – I&AP Issues and Concerns June 2010 289
lifespan of the GHWMF and impacts (biological, social and visual-dust clouds), we
believe the expense of hard-surfacing the road up to the site is justified. The
incoming and outgoing lanes of the R335 from Port Elizabeth should be double-
carriage or at least have hard shoulders to facilitate overtaking on this important
tourist route. Morgan Griffiths, WESSA EP
These recommendations will be carried through to the EMP. This will also included
as a recommended condition of authorisation that all possible access roads to the
facility that are currently gravel standard, and will be used to transport waste, are
upgraded to asphalt standard prior to the facility becoming operational.
2.20. Traffic impacts – A major concern to us is the event of a vehicle accident
resulting in a hazardous spill on the R335, R75 or approach roads. What will the
emergency response plan be, what might be the worst-case scenario be and what
impact might such a spill have on the transport of people and the citrus industry.
This issue has not been adequately dealt with in these reports. Morgan Griffiths,
WESSA EP
A d etailed e mergency response p lan s till needs to b e d eveloped prior t o the
facility b ecoming o perational as referred t o previously. This w ould in part b e
contingent on who the preferred bidder/operator of the facility will be and will
have t o b e i nformed b y a ll s takeholder and I &AP i ssues, c oncerns a nd
requirements. T he c ontent and development of this emergency response plan
should ideally b e a pproved by the as yet to be established EMC that will be
constituted by, and representative of, a ll these parties and stakeholders. Mobile
spill response teams - provided by the operator of the facility and/or private
contractors - will have to be available and permanently on call, ideally at the
proposed facility as well as at a location closer to Port Elizabeth.
2.24. The P1954 is a small secondary gravel road that has not been used by the
public for the last 10 years. The P1954 runs directly through the PPC mining area
and there are currently 2 crossings that are continually used by off-road mining
vehicles travelling between the PPC crushing plant and the working faces of the
mine. The safety of these vehicles, when there are up to 502 waste vehicles
travelling through the mining area in a 10 hour period (50 trips per hour) on a
daily basis, is a definite concern to PPC. Colin Jones, PPC,
Subsequent engagement with PPC on this issue has h ighlighted the need to use
an alternate access route to the north of the proposed facility. Accordingly, it has
been put forward that the R335 – P1958 – P1954 access route be utilised in order
to reduce the disruption to PPC vehicle movements.
2.26. An alternative route using the P1958 as considered in the documentation
would be more acceptable as it would not impact on PPC’s mining operation as
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much as the recommended route and would use an existing secondary road that
is currently in use. This alternative would still have the problem of significantly
increased traffic on the R335 and this would impact on the PPC haulage contract
that moves limestone from the mine on the left side of the R335 to a Transnet
Freight Rail siding on the right of the R335. We have an authorized crossing on
the R335 which would be subject to significantly increased traffic volumes. An
alternative using the R75 and the P1958 would eliminate any impact of the traffic
to the waste site on the PPC operation. Colin Jones, PPC
The use of t he R75 for vehicles w ould significantly increase t he a verage trip
distance for waste vehicles servicing the Coega IDZ and the Port Elizabeth area in
general. A t th is t ime i t is a nticipated th at o nly v ehicles f rom th e
Uitenhage/Despatch area will utilise the R75 access route.
2.27. From the outset of the discussions about the waste site, it was always
understood that this would be a world class hazardous waste site, with minimal
impact on the local community. It is pleasing to note in the PAR, Waste
Management Philosophy Report, page 21, ‘The proposed Grassridge waste
disposal facility should be operated to the highest national and international
waste management standards. The objective for the operation for the Grassridge
waste disposal facility will be to ensure that the waste is managed in an
environmentally and socially acceptable manner.’ The reality of waste site
management, especially in the NMBMM area, leaves a lot to be desired. Access
roads are littered with waste, trucks carry loads without covers, fallen waste is
never picked up. Trucks simply dump their loads on the side of the road or in a
nearby side road if they cannot enter a waste site. Monitoring and punitive
measures against transgressing operators are obviously not carried out. The
entire waste management sector, including engineers, site operators and owners
are in a state of collective denial about the waste process. It is as if waste is
produced at a factory, and then magically appears at the waste disposal site,
without any impact or potential impact on the entire transport corridor. This
denial runs like a fault line throughout the study – the PAR, SIA, EMP and EIR all
ignore it, in spite of our highlighting the problem in our previous submission, and
in spite of the engineers and operators own experience of the state of access
roads around waste sites countrywide. SRVCF
These concerns are noted, however, it is beyond the ambit of this EIA process to
make a credible assessment, or draw conclusions, about the manner in which the
site will be operated in the future by the NMBM or the private operator who
successfully secures the r ights to manage the facility. While the i llegal dumping
issues highlighted here are valid and often the case in the Port Elizabeth area, as
well as countrywide, appropriate enforcement of the relevant statutes and by-
laws i s r equired to p revent th is. I t i s c onceded th at th is is v ery difficult to
prevent, however, as it is only registered waste removal service providers, or
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municipal waste vehicles, u tilizing the proposed facility it is not anticipated that
illegal dumping f rom these vehicles w ill be a concern. Similarly, monitoring and
enforcement of best practice waste management and disposal procedures will
have to b e t he standard f or t he p roposed f acility a nd b inding o n a ll p arties
involved i n the m anagement, operation a nd servicing thereof. A s previously
noted, the transport corridors to the facility are a fundamental a spect under
assessment. Where relevant it has been factored into specialist studies conducted
for the EIA process.
2.29. In addition, a Transport Risk Assessment (TRA) for all products that may be
transported along the transport corridors to this facility needs to be undertaken.
This TRA will need to consider a) the elevated risk to export fruit and other food
travelling through the same corridor to the harbour and local consumers and b)
the effects on tourists and tourism. These two aspects need to be evaluated in
terms of both upgrading the R335 as well as not upgrading the road. SRVCF
In the opinion of Bohlweki-SSI Environmental – as informed by transport
engineer specialist study findings - the upgrading the R335 has to take place prior
to t he c ommencement of operational activity f or th e f acility to th e s tandard
proposed by the relevant specialists study. As stated in 2.13 above, it is the
opinion o f t he EAP t hat q uantifying t he r isks a nd l ikelihood o f t his s cenario
occurring will be difficult to accurately and credibly assess. It should therefore be
assumed that a spill event followed by, or during, a rainfall event is likely to
eventuate during the lifespan of the facility. It is therefore imperative that and
appropriate emergency response measures are developed prior to, and
implemented during, the operational phase of the facility for this scenario. It has
also been noted that increased vehicular traffic resulting from waste truck
movements would have a significant impact on the integrity of the existing R335
road that is in poor condition. An increased traffic volume on the R335 that is
utilised by tourist vehicles to access the Addo area is highly likely to be significant
if the road is not upgraded prior to the commencement of construction activities,
possibly r esulting in longer t raveling t imes t o t heir d estinations, a nd a n
associated increased risk of accidents as the road becomes more heavily used.
Accordingly, as per the findings of the Tourism Study (Chapter 8 of the Draft EIR)
an increase i n t raffic on t he R 335 w ould n egatively a ffect t he e xperience of
tourists to the area if their journey is delayed by trucks and if the road
deteriorates d ue t o i ncreased u sage b y h eavy v ehicles s hould it n ot be
refurbished. Bohlweki-SSI is of the opinion that should the road be upgraded to
double l ane s tandard (f rom M otherwell to th e f acility a t l east) p rior to th e
commencement of operational activity at the facility, this would be more
beneficial for tourism and tourists traveling along the R335 in the long term
despite the increase in operational phase traffic volumes. As it stands it is unlikely
that future trips along an upgraded, double lane standard road would be
significantly longer, if at all, in comparison to an average trip length along the
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road in its existing condition. In the opinion o f Bohlweki-SSI Environmental the
actual road upgrading construction period and activities are more likely to detract
from the tourist e xperience during this period, than t hat of t ourists traveling
along a suitably upgraded double lane road once the facility is fully operational.
16.2. Potential Impacts on Addo Elephant National Park
3.1. The site is 20km’s from Addo’s main gate, but it is closer to the actual
boundary of the park, how has this been taken into account in the assessment
process? Chris Morley
The nearest boundary to Addo is approximately 14 km away from Footprint F. The
Colchester section of the park is the closest boundary that is apparent as per the
existing and proclaimed boundary of the park. As such it is not deemed likely that
the facility will result in direct impacts on the Park. The proximity to the Park has
been taken into account in the transport, tourism, visual, air quality and SIA
components of the study.
16.3. Potential Impacts on Air Quality
4.2. I have identified a fatal flaw in this process. The Draft EIA Report states that
air quality impacts will be of minimal significance and that it is probably unlikely it
will have a negative impact on the citrus industry in Addo. The data I have
indicates that hydrogen sulphide can be detected up to 142km away from the
facility. Sue Hoffman
Hydrogen sulphide gas is generated in the anaerobic phase of landfill
decomposition, and can be odorous and toxic above certain concentrations. It can
also be generated by chemical re actions b etween wastes, which are t ypically
avoided by controlling co-disposal of incompatible waste types. Monitoring of a
number of hazardous waste sites in South Africa indicates that hydrogen sulphide
gas is not detected at a considerable distance from hazardous waste landfills.
Hydrogen sulphide is g enerated by other s ources, such a s tanneries, sewage
works, petroleum refineries, coke ovens, pulp mills and diesel engines. Odour and
health impact zones were modelled for the proposed Grassridge site. No
exceedances of t he h ealth or od our criteria w ere p redicted t o o ccur of f-site.
Accordingly, Bohlweki-SSI Environmental cannot agree with the statement that
this assertion constitutes a fatal flaw.
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16.4. Potential Impacts on ground and surface water
5.4. Treatment of H:H wastes – We also hold that the treatment facility also
needs to be lined or bunded, to facilitate clean-up and prevent ground
contamination in the event of spills. Morgan Griffiths, WESSA EP
This has been addressed in the Operational Manual contained in the PAR.
16.5. Socio Economic Impacts of Concern
6.4. What are the economic benefits of this project to the Sundays River Valley
Municipality? Will the project impact negatively on the economy of the Sundays
River Valley Municipality in future? Mthetheleli Nkohla, Sundays River Valley
Municipality
It i s not anticipated that there w ill be a negative impact on the l ocal economy.
The facility w ill lead to the provision of limited employment opportunities for
residents of t he a rea. T hese i ssues a re a ddressed i n t he S ocial I mpact
Assessment (SIA) report – Chapter 14 of the Draft EIR.
6.9. How do you implement the buffer surrounding the site? I understand the
site has been identified as it is far away from people but how will you stop people
coming to the site and settling around the site? This quite often happens when
people are looking for employment and construction commences. Primrose
Madikizela, Portnet
The proposed 500m buffer around the site will have to be strictly enforced, as will
access to the site in general. The buffer in effect prohibits any other development
within this zone. The restrictions imposed on development by the buffer zone
around the facility must be noted and incorporated into local Spatial Development
Frameworks that will dictate future land uses for the area in question. By virtue of
the existing mining land uses occurring on site this 500m buffer zone is already in
de facto enforcement.
6.11. The metro has historically placed residential development on old dump
sites. This could constitute a health risk. Goodman Prince
Once the facility is decommissioned it will be subject to strict access control. Due
to the nature of the facility it will never be an option to develop residential units
on the s ite as an end use once the s ite i s rehabilitated. The s ite w ill be not be
developed a t a ll o n c losure and r ehabilitation. I t s hould a lso b e n oted t hat
Footprint F is far removed from any residential areas.
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6.12. What are the long term plans for community engagement to ensure
appropriate waste management and sustainable development? Goodman Prince
It is recommended in the EMP that as part of the Environmental Management
Committee (E MC) f unctions (w hich m ust be pa rtly c onstituted b y I &APs a nd
stakeholders) C ommunity L iaison F orums s hould a lso b e e stablished th at will
allow for ongoing engagement with the surrounding communities for the lifespan
of the facility. All issues pertaining to the facilities operation and performance will
be addressed through these structures.
6.13. Buffer zone – We caution the NMBMM to vigorously enforce the proposed
buffer zone, not allowing new activities to start in these zones, where inhabitants
or workers could become exposed to elevated health risks. Morgan Griffiths,
WESSA EP
The enforcement of this buffer zone and prohibiting free access to the site in
general will have to be enforced. As noted above the fact that it is currently
owned PPC mining land has a lready s terilized the buffer zone a rea for potential
development. Should the potential land transfer go ahead it is recommended that
this be inclusive of the proposed buffer zone area in the transfer agreement.
16.6. Impact on PPC Operations
7.2. Impact on PPC’s Mining operation - The site including buffer would impact on
up to 1 000 000 tons of PPC limestone reserves. Pre-mining this reserve is
possible but at significantly increased costs. Colin Jones, PPC
Noted. However, it is preferable that the area in question is not mined as the
existing soil/limestone cover will be utilised in the construction band eventual
capping of the landfill.
7.3. Impact on PPC’s Mining operation - Although most of the limestone reserves
are soft enough for free digging with an excavator, some areas may need to be
blasted. How would the proximity of the waste facility impact on possible blasting
activities? Colin Jones, PPC
According to Mr. Erasmus of PPC, blasting using 3 m deep drill holes is
occasionally used (approximately once every two years) to mine these layers.
These hard calcrete deposits sometimes have to be mined to ensure the
availability of a continuous supply of ore to the crushing plant at times when
mechanical f ailure of e xcavating e quipment is e ncountered. T he m ining
techniques applied in this mining operation, are totally different to deep level
underground and some open cast mining operations, and therefore mining
induced seismicity a nd e arth tr emors a s a risk to th e s tability o f the w aste
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disposal cells, can be ruled out. (As per Reinhard Meyer’s – geohydrology
specialist - findings in Chapter 7 of the Revised Draft EIR).
7.4. Consideration of Alternatives - Surely the EIA for the Aloes facility should be
completed and an ROD obtained before a new site is considered? If the Aloes
extension is successful the construction of a new facility could be delayed by a
number of years. This would allow PPC sufficient time to mine those areas that
could be impacted by the proposed site and move the operation out of the way.
Colin Jones, PPC
Due to the length of time involved in identifying suitable landfill sites and the
associated authorisation and reporting processes involved it was not feasible to
wait for the Aloes extension ROD prior to embarking on a new process for the
proposed facility. It must be reiterated that the Aloes extension will only extend
its lifespan for a few years and the region requires the additional capacity that the
proposed facility will provide regardless of the capacity and anticipated lifespan of
existing facilities in the region. It is hoped that the likely delays that will be
experienced by the recommendation that the R335 be upgraded in its entirety
prior to the commencement of construction activity will allow for a 2-3 year lead
time for PPC to priotitise its mining operations. It must be reiterated however
that it is preferable that the Footprint F area is not pre-mined in order to allow for
as much in situ cover material as possible to be made available for construction of
the facility, as well as the operational and decommissioning (capping and
rehabilitation) phase requirements.
16.7. Project Implementation and Monitoring
8.6 Who is responsible for monitoring the facility? Nadia Wessels, Swartkops
Trust
A range of entities and institutions will be responsible. The operator themselves,
NMBM, the yet to be established EMC, independent third party auditors as well as
mandated r egulatory a uthorities (D EA, DWA etc) w ill f ulfill t hese c ompliance
monitoring functions and oversight functions. It will be a condition of
authorisation th at a ppropriate m onitoring a nd c orrective a ction p rocesses b e
developed and implemented for the duration of the facilities lifespan; including
end use monitoring once the facility is decommissioned.
8.12. Who will operate the facility and when is the facility expected to commence
operation? Councilor Frans, Motherwell Councillors Forum
The operation of the facility will go out to tender. It is anticipated that one of the
established waste management companies would be the successful bidder. The
approvals process, detailed design, tender, construction and commissioning
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phases could take 5 to 6 years. Development would also depend on when the
required road refurbishment is completed.
8.21. Is there a mechanism to double check the type of waste transported to and
received at the site for disposal? This will help in identifying medical waste and
ensuring that it is not accepted at the facility? Mike Bonya, SANCO Regional
Yes. The Operating Manual for the site includes waste acceptance procedures,
which include sampling and testing a waste stream while still at the generator’s
premises, and then re-sampling the waste stream and testing indicators in the
site laboratory to confirm the waste type before disposal, for hazardous waste.
Medical waste would not be accepted on site, and where i t i s detected (such as
mixed in with general waste streams), appropriate procedures will be in place to
alert authorities and remove and dispose of the waste in the correct manner and
at the correct facility.
8.26. The use of a Waste Management Plan to reduce the amount of waste
produced must be encouraged as well as recycling of waste to create more jobs,
this will also result in less waste being transported and reduced transport costs.
Rudi Herholdt Sundays River Valley Municipality
Noted. This requirement i s evident in the Waste Management Philosophy Report
contained i n the PAR which advocates waste minimization, recycling and re-use
as essential to minimizing the waste volumes having to be interred at the landfill.
8.40. If the site is going to impact on Rooidam as we don’t want a disaster
situation because monitoring and auditing does not extend to this area. Keith
Finnemore
The air quality impacts on the immediately surrounding areas in general, are
predicted to be of minimal significance. It will be a recommendation for condition
of authorisation that communities and sensitive areas in close proximity to the
facility be actively monitored and audited for compliance to best practice, or the
required m inimum s tandards f or a g iven environmental aspect a s, and i f, these
are applicable.
8.43. Fire Risks – a recent spontaneous combustion episode at the Aloes (II)
waste site has highlighted the need to have adequate fire-fighting equipment,
staff training, emergency plans and municipal fire-fighting support. This site is
far removed from the nearest fire-station and hence will need to have adequate
resources of its own. This area is generally dry, and predicted to get drier due to
Global warming, so the provision and maintenance of fire-breaks around the site
will need careful attention. Morgan Griffiths, WESSA EP
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Noted. This recommendation will be carried over to the EMP.
8.47. Appointment of GHWMF operator – WESSA’s experiences from being a
member of the Roundhill H:h waste site (East London) EMC, have convinced us
that only a company or entity with a track-record of expertly managing a H:H
waste site should be appointed to operate the site. The tender for such
appointment needs to be restricted from any ‘wannabe’ operators! The
management of Roundhill had been fraught with serious problems because of the
appointment of inappropriate managers/operators. We hold that DEAT and DWAF
need to vet the tendering and selection process to ensure that an experienced
operator is appointed. Morgan Griffiths, WESSA EP
It is anticipated that the tender process will be judging potential operators on
their technical ability and past track record. The recommendation that the
authorities are involved in the scrutiny of potential operators will be
recommended as a condition of authorisation.
8.48. Monitoring mechanism – WESSA requires that an independent monitoring
body is appointment for this GHWMF, namely an EMC, with independent auditors
reporting to it (as per the Aloes H:H waste site situation). The proposed EMP and
EMS, with its appropriate ISO internal monitoring regime, are not adequate
without independent oversight and checking. We urge DEAT to require the
formation of an EMC with appropriate public representation on it, as part of any
authorisation Record of Decision. Morgan Griffiths, WESSA EP
The establishment of the EMC and CLF’s w ill be recommended as a condition of
authorisation. Third party review of the management and monitoring processes
will be a requirement by the regulating authority and w ill a lmost certainly be a
condition of authorisation.
8.49. Heat treatment facility – WESSA does not object to any proposed autoclave
facility at the GHWMF in the future, but would be opposed to any incinerator that
would burn any wastes that gave off toxic compounds such as dioxins and furans.
While the organic components of abattoir or veterinary wastes could safely be
burned, were theses wastes mixed with other wastes, particularly plastics, then
unacceptable amounts of dioxins and furans would be released. Morgan Griffiths,
WESSA EP
It will be a recommendation for condition of authorisation that no incineration of
any classification be allowed at the facility during its lifespan.
8.51. Illegal dumping and wind scatter - A significant problem will arise with wind
blown litter from the site contaminating the surrounding area. At Aloes certain
control measures are used but the surrounding area up to several kilometers from
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the site is significantly polluted with wind blown litter. How would this be
controlled/eliminated? Colin Jones, PPC
Regular clearing/cleaning operations along haul routes will have to be
implemented as standard procedure. This will be a recommendation for condition
of authorisation.
8.52. Adherence to conditions of the ROD - Should a positive ROD be obtained
with significant mitigation measures listed, what control measures would be in
place for neighbours (i.e. PPC) to monitor compliance and ensure rectification of
non-compliance? Colin Jones, PPC
PPC would have to be permanently represented o the EMC in order to ensure that
issues can be appropriately and timeously addressed.
8.53. Studies were done on the community surrounding the existing Aloes site
and they identified that the site had no effect on this community but medical
records of the nearby community reveal they die of terrible cancers. Regular
monitoring and checks should be done. An annual external audit should be done
and corrective measures put in place. A monitoring committee should be set up
to include I&APS from near and far. Sue Hoffman
Bohlweki-SSI Environmental has no knowledge of the studies referred to. The air
quality s tudies conducted for this assessment have indicated that d ue to the
relatively large distance from any communities around Footprint F these cancer
risks are considered minimal and within the maximum acceptable range proposed
by the authorities. An EMC will be established to ensure that the monitoring of the
facility is as transparent and inclusive as possible.
16.8. EIA Process and Public Participation
9.5. I have identified a fatal flaw in this process, in 2007 at the Public Meeting I
requested specialists to contact me with regards to historical data on air quality
and health impacts related to the Aloes Facility and no specialists have contacted
me to date. I am still available to provide this information and request that a
specialist on this project come and talk to me and view the documentation
available. I also said there were fatal flaws based on statements made at this
meeting namely:
• Pollution deemed to be of minimal significant problem
• It was unlikely that the facility would impact negatively on the surrounding
citrus farms
• Odor impacts, cancer risks and risks of carcinogenics exposure would affect
1:3 million
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• No buffer zones were necessary
• These assessments have been established through desk top studies.
Pollution will affect nearby communities if the bar is not raised. Odours from the
chemical composition do impact the surrounding areas. Buffer zones are required
by law. I have since met with the consultant Marc Hardy. Waste sites are
unfortunately a requisite with industries today. The very real problem of
complaints from communities must be clearly taken into consideration as all lives
are important and standards must be First World. Sue Hoffman
Bohlweki-SSI Environmental is of the opinion that the air quality studies
conducted f or th e E IA process i s of t he re quired s tandard a nd a ppropriately
reflects th e s ite specific c ontext o f th e pr oposed facility. With regard t o t he
perceived fatal flaws the following responses are put forward:
• All p otential p ollution so urces from d eposited w astes associated w ith th e
proposed facility are designed to be contained within Footprint F. Appropriate
stormwater, gr oundwater a nd a ir q uality management a nd m onitoring
systems have been incorporated in the Operating Manual included in the PAR.
• It is not anticipated that the operational facility will have a direct impact on
the adjacent c itrus farming industry due to the d istance o f the facility f rom
these citrus growing areas that will ensure that gaseous emissions from the
site have very little chance of contaminating these crops.
• The air quality studies have indicated that total maximum incremental cancer
risk levels were predicted to be less than ~ 1 in 3.5 million for the proposed
landfill operations. The maximum cancer risk at the sensitive receptors as a
result of emissions from the proposed landfill s ite was predicted to occur at
Rooidam (~ 1 in 45 million). No odour threshold exceedances were predicted
to occur due to on-site concentrations of odoriferous gasses. Off-site odour
impacts were predicted to far below the acceptable odour unit level at all the
sensitive receptors.
• A 500m buffer zone around the facility has been recommended by the air
quality specialist.
These a ir quality assessments are by definition desk top exercises that use well
established computer modelling processes, and take the area’s climatological data
and topographical aspects into account in the assessment process. The yet to be
established EMC (if appropriately constituted) will serve as the appropriate forum,
along with the Community Liaison Forum initiatives, to ensure that public issues
and concerns regarding the facility are given due attention and action.
9.10. The report states that there is the potential for thermal treatment at the
facility in future, this is incineration. We have been previously reassured and it
has previously been stated that there will be no incineration. If incineration does
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take place we will oppose the project, we have stated this from the beginning of
the process. The project will not proceed if it includes thermal treatment at any
stage. Once the facility is there you may be forced to accept a thermal
treatment/incineration component at a later stage if it is applied for. It has been
the view of the Sundays River Valley Community Form from the beginning that
incineration will not be acceptable. Paul Hansen
No incineration capacity is planned for the facility to the knowledge of Bohlweki-
SSI Environmental. It will be a recommendation for condition of authorisation that
no incineration of waste be permitted at the facility during its lifespan. It must be
noted that thermal treatment can be in the way of an autoclaving technology as
well (medical wastes) that does not incinerate wastes as such but uses heat
treatment to render these wastes inert.
9.14. Future planning – WESSA reiterates the suggestion that the NMBM consider
acquiring or otherwise setting in place land use restrictions in this area, so that
Footprint C can be held in reserve as a future waste site. Considering the time
and resources that have already gone into studying this site, acquiring it for
future use could well be cost and time effective. Morgan Griffiths, WESSA EP
Noted. This will be carried through to the EMP as a recommendation
9.15. Consideration of Alternatives - The current waste site at Aloes near Port
Elizabeth has approximately 7 years of life left at current volumes according to
the manager on site. There is currently an EIA in progress for an extension to the
life of this waste site by infilling between the two current cells. This will extend
the life by a further 10 years according to the manager on site. Surely this EIA
should be completed and an ROD obtained before a new site is considered? If the
Aloes extension is successful the construction of a new facility could be delayed
by a number of years. Colin Jones, PPC
The fact remains that additional H:H landfill capacity will have to be acquired in
the short term future to cater for the Coega IDZ, as well as the region in general.
Owing to the original projections of Aloes running out of capacity sooner than
what is now anticipated the EIA process for the proposed new facility was initiated
prior to the decision being made to apply for an extension to the A loes facility.
Due to the l ength o f t ime to date (approximately 7 years) that the current s ite
selection, ranking and EIA reporting process has required it would not have been
sensible to what for authorisation of the Aloes extension.
9.16. Inaccuracies in the Reports - The investigation of the waste site are costing
the South African taxpayer a huge amount of money. It is expected that the
quality of the reports would reflect the considerable amounts of money being paid
to the Engineering Consultants. And yet, we find that basic errors are still being
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made, which effectively casts a shadow on the entire volume, rendering it suspect
from an accuracy point of view. For example:
• The weather data in the draft EIA, Table 4.1 page 38, is obviously wrong. It
implies that Port Elizabeth’s summer temperatures are higher than Addo, and
that winter temperatures are lower. (Jones & Wagener PAR page 14 table 2 is
correct)
• The draft EMP, glossary, page iii, states Contractor: Persons / organizations
contracted by the Developer to carry out parts of the work for the proposed
pipeline. This clearly indicates that the EMP has been largely lifted from
another study. Hardly encouraging for any I & AP’s, never mind the due
diligence required.
• On page 43 of the draft EIR, there is a map showing the distance from the
site F to the Addo Elephant National Park. This is stated as approximately
30km. Why the distance to the park main camp is important, and not the
distance to the nearest conservation area, (about 14km) is a mystery to us.
In our last submission, we raised precisely this issue, but no correction was
made. Was this in order to mislead anyone not familiar with the area who
might review this report? (30 kilometers Sounds a lot better than 14.)
• The Map (fig. 1.1) on Page 6 of the introduction has sites E and F reversed.
This too was pointed out in the previous feedback to I & AP’s and has also
gone uncorrected.
In the brief period allocated to I & AP’s to review these extensive documents, we
were able to identify a number of misleading inaccuracies. It is highly probable
that these extensive and technical documents contain many more such errors and
inaccuracies which need to be corrected by qualified people. Many of these
studies are very complex and require specialist knowledge to understand their
implications within a development of this nature before being able to determine
the veracity of such information. For example the benchmark values for
carcinogens in an air pollution study, or what is considered adequate substrate in
a geo-hydrological or engineering interpretation. It would be absolute Greek to
most lay people, yet it has been expected to date that we the public and the
I&AP’s must review and correct these documents. We talk about due diligence
often, but this is now bordering on undue negligence. Sundays River Valley
Community Forum
The errors referred to above have been corrected as follows:
• The w eather d ata h as b een c orrected t o a ccurately r eflect t he a mbient
temperature and precipitation data for the areas in question.
• The references to he proposed pipeline are as result of utilizing an existing
EMP format (pipeline EIA application) for this project that was not edited
correctly b y t he EAP. T he EMP i tself is co ntext a nd p roject specific as i t
relates to the proposed GHWMF phasing and operations. It must be reiterated
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that is a Draft EMP that will have to be further refined and submitted for
authority approval once detailed design information is made available, the
preferred operator and construction contractor appointed.
• The map referred to on page 43 of the Draft EIR has been amended to reflect
the c losest di stance to a currently proclaimed park boundary as opposed to
the distance to the Addo main gate. In this instance it is 14 km as the crow
flies from Footprint F to the boundary in the Colchester section of the park.
The i nitial d istance of 30 km depicted on the ori ginal map was re flective of
the distance from the facility to the main visitor’s gate at Addo.
• The m ap on p age 6 has b een revised t o r eflect t he c orrect l ocations of
Footprints E and F.
The technical reports produced by the relevant specialists are reflective of the
technical assessment methodologies and scientific terminology and jargon that
are associated with these f ields of expertise. Bohlweki-SSI is of the opinion that
these reports are of an appropriate standard, and adequately assess the given
specialist aspects under consideration. Accordingly, it is difficult to “dumb down”
– in the most respectful sense of the word - these technical reports in a manner
that d oes n ot d etract f rom the a ssessment m ethodology, gu idelines a nd
requirements o f these specialized assessments. It must be noted that a project
and application of this nature is highly likely to be subject to peer review by the
authorities once the application is submitted to them for decision making.
9.20. This community will strongly oppose any development on this site until such
time as the following issues have been dealt with satisfactorily:
• The possibility of a thermal processing treatment plant/incinerator is removed
permanently from the proposal.
• Road reconstruction has been completed to a point where it can
accommodate the additional traffic.
• The footprint is extended to include the access roads that feed the site, and
management/operational plans have been comprehensively revised to include
the monitoring and cleaning of these roads.
• The PAR, SIA, EMP and the EIR reports be rejected until they have been
amended to include the increased footprint.
• A Transport Risk Assessment is undertaken to study the risk to tourists,
export and local food by transporting waste under conditions of a) no road
improvement and b) rebuilt roads. Sundays River Valley Community Forum
Bohlweki-SSI Environmental’s response:
• As indicated previously in this document it will be a recommendation for a
condition o f a uthorisation t hat n o incineration o f a ny s ort w hatsoever b e
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permitted at the facility during its entire lifespan. This will also be a
recommendation for condition of authorisation.
• The management and maintenance of these roads will be integral to ensuring
that spill, litter, and traffic disruption events are kept to a minimum. The
footprint of the facility is defined as, and limited to, the actual physical s ite
boundaries of the total area to be developed. The access roads to the facility
are therefore not included in this footprint.
• The EAP does not agree with this statement as we are of the opinion that
transport a nd e xisting r oad qu ality c onsiderations h ave b een a dequately
addressed.
Final PPC comments on the proposed facility resulting from the Revised Draft EIR
review period were as follows:
11.1. Fauna: We disagree with the assertion the Albany Adder may be present on Site C only as PPC is currently mining at Site E and is finding the Albany Adders. This which implies that the likelihood of the occurrence of the Albany Adder at Site F is high due to the close proximity. PPC requires a scientific motivation for Site F having a lower likelihood for the occurrence of the Albany Adder than Site C. With regard to the Albany Adder issue the EAP remains in agreement with Doctor Bill B ranch th at n one w ere i dentified o n s ite (F ootprint F ) d uring n umerous inspections thereof during the process to date. He states in the relevant chapter that that it has been positively identified on neighboring land portions (as has been the PPC experience to date for Footprint E). This does raise the very strong possibility that it will be present on Footprint F as well, however, a complete search and rescue operation for fauna and flora, where relevant, will be conducted prior to the commencement of construction activity as per the environmental specification and recommendations stemming from the specialist studies and incorporated in the Draft EMP. Once again the EAP can only refer you to Bill Branch’s (who is probably SA’s leading herpetologist, most definitely one of them) findings who is based in PE and has extensive knowledge of the region. 11.2. Transport: PPC understands that R335 – P1958 – P1954 access route will be utilised and that this will be a condition of the environmental authorisation. The cost differential for Site C for road establishment must be explained as it cannot be “double” that of site F if the proposed route as shown in Figure 13.4 (Annexure 1) is utilised. The safety risks of additional vehicles on future haul roads (North West of the landfill site) are higher than that at Site C due to the increased volumes on the roads. Further additional haulage distances (and cost) would be incurred by PPC due to the need to circumvent the proposed hazardous waste site. These important factors are not discussed in the site selection section of the report. The required roads upgrade costs that were used i n the Justification table were premised on the assumption that the existing haul road on site would be utilized for waste facility vehicles in which case the upgrade of the R335 – P1958 – P1954 would be approximately twice the cost of upgrading the existing haul road. Safety issues around the use of the existing haul road raised by Colin Jones in PPC’s previous submission led to the recommendation that the R335 – P1958 – P1954 access route b e u tilized i nstead. A s su ch t he c osts w ould n ow b e si milar a s Footprint C w ould a lso h ave to u se th is a ccess r oute, h owever, F ootprint C
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remains more expensive (albeit marginally) due to the extra couple of kilometers of bitumen standard road required. I must reiterate that the R335 – P1958 – P1954 access route is a public (provincial) road and will not therefore impinge on additional vehicle movements in this area. The same applies to the short length of road immediately north of the existing haul road (just south of the R335 marker on the image below) that as the EAP understands is a provincial road as well. It further understood that this gate/access to this road portion has been secured and access thereto controlled by PPC with provincial road authority permission. 11.3. Seismic testing: No seismic testing has been undertaken to establish the potential risks to the proposed landfill site. The reserves to the east of site F at a distance of ± 900m and the reserve to the west of the proposed site of <50m will require blasting due to the hard nature of the calcrete. Seismic tests will have to be done to establish any risks to the integrity of the proposed landfill on site F site prior to the confirmation of site selection. Please note that Mr Erasmus is a land owner in the area and does not represent PPC. He is a contractor on site with no knowledge of our future activities. His assessment on the mining induced seismicity is therefore his personal view with no scientific basis and not that of PPC. PPC understands that the process for site establishment is in the region of 10 years. Please note that PPC has existing reserves in close proximity (< 50 m) to Site F and a date sooner than 12 years will impact negatively on the PPC operations. As re quested w e h ave c onsidered t he i ssue of s eismicity a nd t he affect t hat blasting in close proximity to the facility could have. Our comments are as follows as per Jones and Wagener’s response to these issues: 1. According to PPC they have minable calcrete reserves within 50m and to the
west of the proposed facility. 2. The calcrete occurs as a surface or near-surface deposit of limited depth,
overlying w eathered s edimentary r ocks. T he c alcrete i s h ard a nd w ould require blasting to be able to excavate economically.
3. A portion of the proposed site layout is located on a remnant of the calcrete deposit as it pinches out in the valley within which the site will be developed. The facility will be developed in a phased manner and the initial cells, which are estimated to have a 10 year life, are not underlain by calcrete.
4. The potential for b lasting to cause damage to existing infrastructure, such as d ams or p lastic lined fa cilities or cause i nstability of a waste p ile is dependent on a number of factors; including the following: • Geology
•
: in this instance i t can be expected that seismic shocks will be transmitted laterally through the hard calcrete layer Blasting m ethodology
•
: The m agnitude o f se ismic sh ock t hat ca n be transmitted through the calcrete will depend on the blast charge per delay; this is something that can be controlled to reduce the risk of damage to adjacent facilities. In addition the b lasting methodology can be d esigned i n s uch a w ay t hat a n i nitial v oid i s c reated th rough controlled b lasting a nd e xcavation; s ubsequent b lasts th en d isplaces material into the voided area with limited seismic shock being transmitted. Proximity
•
: obviously t he c loser th e b lasting to existing f acilities th e greater the potential for damage. The nature of the facility under threat: the more flexible the nature of the facility the less the risk of damage. Waste facilities which incorporate plastic liners and clay liners are designed to be relatively flexible and, in our opinion the risk of loss of integrity due to seismic activity is low. The
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stability of the waste pile however needs to be considered. Should the waste pile have a relatively steep outer slope and a high phreatic surface (ie. elevated liquid level in the waste), the stability of the waste pile could be of concern during a seismic event.
5. The overall r isk o f b lasting to th e f acility c an b e q uantified t hrough a technical study and appropriate measures designed to prevent damage or instability. However in our opinion this is not required at this point for the following reasons: • As part of the design, storm water cut-off t renches have been included
to divert storm water past the western and eastern part of the landfill. If required, these trenches can be excavated through the relatively thin calcrete, thereby creating an effective “void” that will prevent the transmission of seismic shocks into the landfill
• Due to their flexible nature, landfill linings are not sensitive to seismicity • The stability of the landfill can be improved in a potentially affected area
by simply flattening the outer slope from (say) 1 in 3 to 1 in 4. • The timing is such that the part of the landfill that could potentially be
affected by blasting will only be in use in 20 years or more. By that time mining activities in the area may have been concluded, in which case it is no longer an issue.
6. If blasting is carried out close to the site there is a danger of damage to infrastructure or people due to fly rock. Coordination and planning will be required to manage this aspect.
In conclusion, i t is our opinion that a lthough b lasting c lose to the waste facility could pose a risk, we believe that the r isk can be adequately addressed by the construction of cut-off trenches and localized flattening of slopes. The issue of fly rock c an b e m anaged th rough c oordination a nd pr oper m anagement o f th e blasting operation. As the site may only be developed once mining operations have been concluded, we believe that no additional study work should be carried out at this stage. It would be premature to design detail control measures (if required) at this stage. 16.9. Conclusions
It i s a pparent fr om t he a bove l isted I &AP i ssues a nd co ncerns, as w ell a s
comments on the D raft E IR, that the major areas of concern relating t o the
establishment of the facility are as follows:
• Waste incineration
• Potential impacts on the citrus industry
• Traffic and transport corridor impacts owing to the current state of the R335
• Illegal dumping and litter along transport routes
• Tourism impacts
• Impacts on PPC’s operations
• Overall management and monitoring of the operational facility
It is anticipated that these concerns have been suitably addressed in this report. These issues and concerns have been incorporated in the Draft EMP as well as the recommendations for conditions of environmental authorisation contained in Chapter 17.
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17. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The c onclusions o f t his Environmental I mpact R eport are t he re sult o f
comprehensive studies and specialist assessments. These studies were based on
issues i dentified t hrough t he S coping, Footprint Ra nking a nd Final Fe asibility
Reports and the parallel process of public participation
17.1. Final Conclusions of the Specialist Studies
17.1.1. Flora
Based on specialist analysis of the floral composition of the preferred footprint
throughout the course of the EIA process the following has been concluded:
• Presence of Rare and Endangered species: Although the diversity in habitat
is low and the Mesic Succulent Thicket is in a poor condition there is still
potential for Rare and Endangered species to occur within this vegetation
type. As mentioned in Chapter 5, several healthy specimens of the sensitive
species Syncarpha striata were recorded within Bontveld in a good condition
which is located along the northern boundary of the site. This portion of the
site should therefore b e regarded as sensitive. However, due to the low
species diversity of the Mesic thicket vegetation on-site compared to pristine
MST the i mpact o f the p roposed G HWMF o n e xisting MST vegetation i s
deemed to be of low negative significance. Due to the l imited availability of
good condition Bontveld i n the area surrounding the proposed GHWMF s ite
as compared to the more prevalent MST, the impacts on the Bontveld habitat
will be of increased negative significance at a Regional level.
• Ecological function: The vegetation within the area of the proposed GHWMF
footprint is providing the basic functions within the greater ecological
system. Vegetative cover is medium. Although some limited erosion does
occur within the game/livestock paths as well as on the old lands, the soil on
the rest of the footprint is adequately covered and protected.
• Uniqueness/conservation value: In general the footprint displays no specific
or important features different from the vegetation in the surrounding area.
The only area of real concern is the ecotone boundary between MST and
Bontveld as well as the small section of Bontveld along the northern
boundary of the site that needs to be protected.
Overall t he impacts on f loral h abitat a re deemed to be of low s ignificance if
appropriate mitigation measures are put in place for the construction and
operational phases of the project.
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17.1.2. Fauna
Based on specialist analysis of the faunal composition of the p referred footprint
throughout the course of the EIA process the following has been concluded:
• Loss a nd f ragmentation o f h abitats: P roject a ctions a ssociated w ith th e
construction of the proposed GHWMF and the development of transport links
will result in the loss and fragmentation of sensitive habitats. The proposed
waste facility on Footprint F will impact a variety of habitats, particularly
Bontveld a nd M ST. As th e l oss and f ragmentation o f h abitats w ill b e
localised, and careful siting of the proposed GHWMF has directly avoided
intact Bontveld habitat, the impact after mitigation will be low.
• Loss of faunal diversity: Although the region for the proposed GHWMF has a
rich faunal diversity, some vertebrate groups in the region are now
characterised by reduced faunal diversity due to direct and indirect effects of
previous and current land use. Highest faunal diversity is associated with the
habitat m osaics o ccurring a long a nd a djacent t o d rainage l ines. P roject
actions a ssociated with th e c onstruction a nd o peration o f th e pr oposed
GHWMF will result in the loss of faunal diversity. This will occur in numerous
ways - including increased mortality, loss of habitat and disturbance. The
extent of the impact w ill vary in the d ifferent groups due to their ability to
migrate to and from the area, to tolerate disturbance, and/or to re-colonize
the region. The greatest impact will occur with diurnal, visible species such
as l arge m ammals, b irds such a s raptors a nd b ustards, etc., a nd l arge
snakes, e.g. cobras. The loss of faunal diversity will be localised and the
fauna is also relatively impoverished. T he unmitigated impact will therefore
be moderate, but with the possible rehabilitation of MST on closure this may
be reduced to low significance.
• Barriers to animal movement: The proposed GHWMF will result in habitat
fragmentation and the construction of linear developments (road linkages
and power l ines). T hese w ill f orm barriers to animal movement w ithin the
region, both for terrestrial fauna and to the aerial flight routes of migrating
birds. Impacts on animal movements will be greatest in regions with high
habitat fragmentation, or where linear developments such as roads transect
migratory paths. Most large mammals that may have undertaken seasonal
movements are mainly extirpated throughout the region. Reptiles and
amphibians do not undertake long distance migrations, but both groups may
undertake short seasonal movements. As the barriers to animal movements
will be localised and many of the transport linkages already exist, the impact
of the additional development will be of low significance.
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• Loss of Species of Special Concern (SSC): Project actions associated with the
proposed G HWMF m ay re sult in the loss of Species of S pecial C oncern.
Project actions impacting SSC include the destruction and loss of sensitive
habitats, particularly Bontveld, and increased mortality and disturbance due
to increased road traffic and the possibility of bird species flying into
powerlines during operation of the facility. T he possible loss of SSC will be
localised and usually of low impact for most SSC. Ho wever, because of the
close proximity and possible p resence of a Globally Critically Endangered
species (the Albany adder) the impact will be of potentially moderate to high
significance.
• Increase in problem animals and alien species: Project actions associated
with th e c onstruction o f t he pr oposed G HWMF a nd th e d evelopment o f
transport links will result in an increase in problem animals and alien species.
Problem animals including jackal, feral dogs and cats, grey-headed gulls,
various crows, and introduced rats and mice that are attracted to refuse
disposal areas. I n addition to social impacts such as the spread of disease,
e.g. plague carried by rat fleas, they are also responsible for various faunal
impacts. Their numbers in the area surrounding the proposed GHWMF may
displace l ocal fa una fr om i ts h abitat; ca use increased p redation o n local
fauna and introduce or spread wildlife diseases. As the potential impact can
be effectively controlled the impact will be low.
• Increased disturbance and mortality due to road traffic: Although the new
roads associated with access to the proposed GHWMF are short, the
operational phase of the facility will involve a significant increase in transport
to a nd f rom t he f acility on e xisting roa ds. T his w ill re sult in increased
disturbance and faunal mortality due to increased road traffic over the long-
term. These factors can depress local populations of sensitive birds and large
mammals. Animals differ in the degree to which they tolerate such
disturbance. Most large b reeding birds do not tolerate continuous
disturbance, particularly raptors and large terrestrial birds (bustards, cranes,
etc). Increased n oise and m otor v ibrations i n w etlands m ay a lso i mpact
amphibian breeding choruses, which are also intolerant of increased light
levels. As an increase in faunal mortality due to increased road traffic will not
be entirely avoided, the impact will be low.
• Changes in natural fire regime: Changes in water flow dynamics following
road construction and other developments that reduce vegetation cover, may
reduce the water t able locally, drying vegetation to unnatural levels and
making it m ore s usceptible t o f ire. C onstruction a nd planning o f r oads
should anticipate an increased fire ri sk, a nd increased human p opulation
growth in the area will also lead to an increase in accidental fires.
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• Pollution: Pollution may result from periodic accidents, or from slow, ongoing
contamination. Operation of the proposed GHWMF, particularly in relation to
the use of liquid fuels, could result in periodic spillages. Heavy vehicle traffic
is also associated with increased local pollution resulting from exhaust
fumes, oil spillage and accumulation of rubber compounds from tyre wear.
These pollutants can cause localised impacts. However, the impact on fauna
will be low if correctly mitigated during the operational phase.
• Loss or reduction o f ecosystem functioning: P roject actions associated w ith
the construction of the proposed GHWMF and the development of transport
links w ill r esult i n t he l oss or reduction o f ecosystem f unctioning. T he
general region of the proposed GHWMF comprises a mosaic of vegetation
and abiotic habitats, on an elevated region with drainage into the nearby
Coega a nd B rak Ri ver c atchments. A lthough th ere i s a l ong h istory of
agricultural use and transformation in the region, it still retains relatively
high faunal and floral diversity and contributes to local ecosystem functioning
(e.g. nutrient cycles and transfer, maintenance of biodiversity, the biological
components of hydrological cycles, etc.). The impact can be proactively
avoided and partially mitigated by avoiding direct loss of Bontveld habitat,
wetlands, st eep valley s ides, a nd th e l imestone ‘rubble edge’ o ften
associated with the ecotone between Bontveld and adjacent MST in the final
siting of the GHWMF.
17.1.3. Geohydrology
Based on the available geological and geohydrological information for the
proposed site and the immediate surrounding farms, the preferred footprint is
considered s uitable f or t he d evelopment of the G HWMF waste p rovided th e
design, c onstruction a nd op erational re quirements a s s pecified i n t he DWEA
guideline document are adhered to. The main reasons for the site being regarded
a suitable area, are the following:
• The g eological c onditions o f th e u nderlying f ormations, b oth i n te rms o f
lithology and depth extent are very favourable.
• The static groundwater level in the vicinity of the site is of the order of 70 m
below surface.
• Borehole yields are generally very low as illustrated by the four recently
drilled boreholes that were all dry on completion of drilling.
• The groundwater quality in the region is generally poor to very poor and as a
result v ery l ittle u se i s be ing m ade of g roundwater for d omestic, s tock
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watering or irrigation. The poor water quality is a direct result of the marine
depositional conditions that existed during the formation of the geological
formations hosting the groundwater.
• The und erlying f ormations, t he S undays R iver a nd Ki rkwood f ormations,
comprise o f a v ery thick s uccession ( estimated t o b e > 300 m) of
predominantly siltstone and mudstone, with minor interlayered sandstone
layers. These f ormations have a v ery l ow hydraulic conductivity and will
prevent the migration of contaminants in the case of liner system failure.
• The deep artesian aquifer associated with the T able Mountain Group
sediments, is well protected from any contamination by the thick succession
of Uitenhage Group sediments. T hat the latter sediments form an effective
barrier to groundwater flow is illustrated by the artesian nature of the deeper
aquifer.
• The site is situated close to a local surface water divide and none of the
drainage lines at or upstream of the site represent perennial flow conditions.
• The WASP analysis, which takes into consideration a number o f geological,
geohydrological, water use and design criteria, also indicated that the site
can be classified as “suitable”.
• No geological or geohydrological conditions within the study can be regarded
as “fatal flaws” according to the definitions described in the DWEA guideline
documents.
17.1.4. Tourism
Based on specialist analysis of tourism in the area throughout the course of the
EIA process the following has been concluded:
• The Sundays River Valley is an important tourism destination that depends
heavily o n its image as a n e co/wildlife de stination. T he A ddo E lephant
National P ark is the key attraction in the area and is being marketed o n
environmental ground i .e. the animals are free to roam across a l arge area,
and the p ark h as a range of b iodiversity. The area thus a ppeals to t he
environmentally conscious tourist.
• Internationally tourists are becoming more environmentally conscious and are
basing their decision to visit a destination on environmental grounds. T hese
tourists m ay th us d ecide n ot to v isit th e S undays Ri ver V alley a rea i f a
GHWMF is l ocated i n th e a rea d ue to th e p erception th at th ese t ypes of
facilities are harmful to the environment.
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Based on the above it should be stated that none of the footprints assessed
during the course of the EIA process, including Footprint F , are i deal for such a
facility as they are located in a tourism area that markets itself as an eco/wildlife
destination that is environmentally sensitive. Although potential Visual, Odour and
Traffic impacts a re p redicted t o b e of l ow s ignificance a s i t re lates t o t heir
relationship with the overall predicted Tourism impacts, perceptions of the facility
prior to , and d uring, a visit to t he area a re deemed to be of h igh negative
significance. Similarly, the development potential of any tourism related facilities
in the GHWMF area will be limited as a result
17.1.5. Visual
Footprint F is a valley infill site and ranks as the preferred location for the GHWMF
from a visual impact perspective for the following reasons:
• It has the most contained area of visual impact and lends itself to the highest
level of successful impact mitigation measures. This is due to the enclosed
nature of t he v alley w ithin w hich it re sides. T he f act t hat t he f acility is
theoretically visible from the R335 is not a major cause for concern. The
likelihood of it ever being noticed or recognised as a landfill from a distance of
6 km is slim to negligible, as the site would never appear in its entirety.
• The selection of Footprint F as the preferred alternative, even with its own
associated visual impact concerns, highlights the need to shield the facility
from ob servers t ravelling a long t he R 335. Th e b enefit o f t his f ootprint
placement is that no one travelling from Port Elizabeth to Addo, or the Greater
Addo Elephant National Park, would even be aware of the existence of this
facility th rough a ccidental o bservation. T his i s d ue to th e f act t hat th e
footprint is far removed from the R335 and because of the hidden nature of
the infill site.
• The associated benefits o f placing the w aste p rocessing facility o n m ining
land, where borrow materials could be sourced without breaking new ground
and clearing large tracts of l and, counts in Footprint F ’s favour. Th e mining
and quarrying activities a nd a w aste processing f acility are c omplimenting
land-uses, as opposed to the potential conflict between waste processing and
agriculture/cattle and game farming/tourism and eco-tourism.
• Another clear benefit of this footprint's placement is its closer proximity to
Port Elizabeth from where most of the waste to be treated will be transported.
The distance of 4 km does not sound like much, but over a period of 20 years
it would translate to a considerable amount of kilometres. This, and the fact
that access will be afforded by a private road, minimises the visual impacts
associated with the increase in heavy vehicle t raffic to and f rom the facility.
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This increase in heavy vehicle traffic might raise awareness of the fact that
such a facility exists in the vicinity.
17.1.6. Air Quality
The odour, nuisance dust and health impacts of the candidate site for the GHWMF
were assessed. The main findings of the study are as follows:
• Particulates (P M10): N o e xceedances of th e c urrent o r p roposed a mbient
South A frican standards f or P M10 w ere p redicted t o oc cur a t a ny of t he
sensitive receptors included in the study for any of the scenarios. The impacts
from landfill activities associated with Scenario 1 were predicted to be the
least significant and will result in the lowest ground level PM10 concentrations
at the majority of the sensitive receptors. T he h ighest PM10 concentrations
predicted as a result of emissions associated with the four scenarios were
predicted to occur at Rooidam.
• Particulates (Dustfall): Slight dustfall levels (<250 mg/m²/day) were
predicted to occur at the all of the sensitive receptors located around the
proposed GHWMF s ite. Overall, the impacts from landfill activities associated
with Scenario 1 were predicted to be the least significant and will result in the
lowest dustfall levels at the majority of the sensitive receptors. Dust
emissions fr om o f a ctivities a ssociated w ith Scenario 2 w ere p redicted to
result in the highest dustfall levels at most of the sensitive receptors. The
highest dustfall levels as a result of emissions associated with Scenarios 1 and
2 were predicted to occur at Rooidam while the highest dustfall levels as a
result of emissions associated with Scenarios 3 and 4 were predicted to occur
at Centlivres
• Non-carcinogenic exposures: None of the pollutants considered in this study
flagged for the proposed GHWMF. The hazard quotient for chronic exposures
for the proposed landfill was predicted to be 0.012. T he hazard quotient for
the site was therefore predicted to be less than 1.0 for all exposure periods.
• Cancer risks: Total maximum incremental cancer risk levels were predicted to
be less than ~ 1 in 3.5 million for the proposed landfill operations and would
therefore b e r egarded a s a cceptable b y t he r egulatory a uthorities. Th e
maximum cancer risk at the sensitive receptors as a result of emissions from
the pr oposed l andfill s ite w as p redicted to o ccur at Ro oidam (~ 1 i n 45
million).
• Odour impacts: No odour threshold exceedances were predicted to occur due
to on-site concentrations of odoriferous gasses. Off-site odour impacts were
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predicted to far below the acceptable 3 OU/m³ odour unit level at all the
sensitive receptors.
17.1.7. Heritage
The study has shown that Footprint F was suitable for the development of a
GHWMF in terms of its potential impacts on heritage which are deemed to be of
low significance.
17.1.8. Land Use
The assessment of land use included the potential for resettlement of individuals,
fatal flaws associated with the proximity to airfields, rezoning issues and potential
impacts on the citrus industry. The key findings of this assessment were that:
• Footprint F will require resettlement but the number of people involved is
small and if the recommendations are implemented it could be undertaken in
a satisfactory manner.
• Although it has not yet been confirmed that the site can be rezoned for waste
disposal, no reasons have been given as to why this should not be possible.
• The proximity of registered airfields would not constitute a fatal flaw.
• Any future land use planning or development in the a rea w ill have to be
cognizant o f th e c onstraints th e GHWMF and a ssociated b uffer z one m ay
impose on certain land uses. Similarly, should the facility be authorised, these
constraints must be incorporated into any future spatial planning frameworks
that are developed or revised at local and regional level.
• Based on a review of the EUREPGAP®
regulations, it is considered unlikely that
the establishment of a regional waste disposal facility would impact negatively
on the certification of citrus farms to the north-east of the proposed
footprints.
17.1.9. Transport
This study has estimated the costs for the transportation of waste to the
proposed regional general and hazardous waste d isposal facility by road and by
rail, as well as the current and desired state of road conditions, with the following
findings:
• A cost comparison between these two modes of transport concluded that the
road o ptions a re f ar more e conomical t han t he r ail o ptions. T he c ost o f
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upgrading the roads to Footprint F were estimated at R 16,0 million and R
24,2 million for gravel and tar respectively. The Province is committed to
upgrading Addo Road regardless of the proposed waste site development and
once upgraded the design standard of Addo Road will be able to accommodate
the heavy vehicle traffic that will be generated by the waste facility. It can
therefore be concluded that t ransportation o f waste by road is t he better
option.
• If an environmental authorisation is not given to extend the l ife of the Aloes
hazardous waste facility beyond 2012, the new site at Grassridge will need to
become operational during 2012. As PPC will still be mining their land north
of P1954 until after 2012, we recommend that P1958 be regravelled for use
by waste vehicles travelling to the site from the R335.
• A new 0,5 km access road should be constructed from P1958 to the site to
replace the currently d isused skew junction where P1954 joins P1958. It i s
essential that the Addo Road (R335) be upgraded from the R334 to P1958
junction b efore t he w aste f acility b ecomes o perational. S imilarly, it is
recommended that theP1958, as well as all other haul routes to the facility
that a re currently gravel roads, are upgraded to b itumen standard and fulfil
the same design criteria as that proposed for the R335 (Addo Road).
• If an environmental authorisation is granted to extend the life of the Aloes
hazardous waste facility, the decision on whether to upgrade P1954 or
regravel P1958 can be delayed until it is known when PPC will complete their
mining operations north of P1954. I f these operations are completed by the
time th e n ew w aste f acility is r equired, th e u pgrading o f P 1954 and th e
relocation o f its junction o n R3 35 is p referred, b ecause it w ill r esult in a
shorter travel distance than via P1958 for the majority of waste vehicles that
will use the R335 coming from Port Elizabeth and the Coega IDZ.
• The Pr ovincial D epartment o f Ro ads a nd T ransport h as s tated t hat it is
committed to upgrading Addo Road regardless of the proposed waste site
development and once upgraded; the recommended design standard of Addo
Road w ill b e a ble to accommodate th e h eavy v ehicle tr affic th at w ill b e
generated by the w aste f acility. It c an therefore b e c oncluded th at
transportation of waste by road i s the better option, provided that the Addo
Road between the R334 and P1958 junctions is upgraded before the operation
of the waste facility commences.
17.1.10. Social
Based on the findings of the SIA, it can be concluded that the social environment
in g eneral p oses n o f atal flaws t o t he development of t he proposed regional
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GHWMF provided that the identified mitigation measures, as recommended for
inclusion in the EMP, are implemented and adhered to, particularly where
construction activities either take place or pass through in close proximity to
residential areas. It is believed that such activities could affect the quality of lives
of these households in terms of noise, dust, safety and security. In summation:
• The pre-construction and construction phase of the proposed project is
characterised by a number of negative impacts. This is mainly due to the
nature of the activities that take place during these phases. The same holds
true for the operational phase of the p roposed project. Most of the negative
impacts within these various phases can be mitigated successfully. There are
also a number of positive impacts, which could be further enhanced if
managed effectively. These impacts mostly relate to a temporary change in
the employment and economic profile of the local area by means of
employment opportunities, which in turn leads to a positive economic impact
on local households.
• The g eographic, d emographic, b iophysical a nd socio-cultural p rocesses a ll
have a number of negative impacts. However all of these impacts can be
mitigated successfully if effectively managed. Economic impacts as a result of
the project are for the most part positive in nature, which is mainly due to the
economic investment and development that will take place in the community
as a result of the project. Although the expected construction impacts across
all the change processes are mostly negative, these impacts are for the most
part only temporary in nature and only expected to last over the construction
period, which is approximately 12 months.
• Operational impacts are expected to last over the longer term and therefore
would have a prolonged effect on especially the biophysical environment in
terms of an effective waste management strategy. People are more inclined to
get “used” to the facility in their area if waste management strategies are
applied effectively and with due diligence. Based on the findings of this report,
it c an b e c oncluded th at the overall si gnificance o f i mpacts o n t he social
environment will be low.
17.2. Recommendations for Mitigation and Management Measures
17.2.1. Flora
Any development within this area should be approached with caution with regard
to the potential site specific sensitivity of patches of the composite vegetation
cover existing on site. The following recommendations are put forward:
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• Bontveld: Development on the Bontveld area along the northern boundary of
the s ite s hould n ot b e a llowed a t a ll. D ue t o th e a vailable s pace on the
proposed site, a change in layout in order to exclude this Bontveld from all
construction and operational activity is regarded as feasible and necessary.
• Loss of rare, endangered and/or protected species: The actual lay-out of the
site to be developed, a long with the access routes and associated st ructures
should b e m arked c learly w ith h azard t ape b efore commencement o f
construction. This would allow a proper search and rescue effort to be
executed. The indigenous plants within these areas should be removed to an
established nursery (or one set out on the site) for use in the rehabilitation of
disturbed areas after construction. The plant search and rescue operation can
be done with the help of the local botanical society, NMMU (University) and
Eastern Cape Nature Conservation.
• Loss of Mesic Succulent Thicket: The permanent loss of vegetation within the
footprint area cannot be prevented. It can, however, be minimised by
ensuring:
* Construction activities should be restricted to the minimum area needed.
* Complete removal of a ll excavated material and construction rubble after
construction is completed.
• Rehabilitation of disturbed areas: According to current environmental
legislation, it has to be rehabilitated to resemble the surrounding and
historical vegetation. The establishment of a waste site provide an opportunity
to recreate the previous landscape to a large extent. This is possible by using
landscaped cells to conform to the general landscape of the area instead of
the traditional square cells with flat tops used at waste facilities.
• Stormwater drainage: Stormwater from within the developed site should be
properly contained and should not be allowed drain off-site at all. Stormwater
flow p atterns a fter construction s hould b e c arefully c ontrolled to p revent
alteration of natural water flow patterns of the receiving vegetation downslope
from the site as far as possible.
• Disturbance of vegetation: Due to the difficulty to restore Mesic Succulent
Thicket and Bontveld vegetation, disturbance of natural vegetation along the
access routes a nd a round th e s ite e tc. th rough tr ampling, c ompaction b y
motor vehicles etc. must be minimised through proper management:
* Optimal use should be made of existing access roads.
* Construction of new access roads should be minimised.
* After completion of construction, all access roads that will not be used
during the operational phase, should be rehabilitated and re-vegetated i f
necessary to blend in with the surrounding vegetation.
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* Areas on the construction site that were notably compacted by
construction activities should be ripped to allow re-establishment of
natural vegetation.
• Alien Invasive Control: An alien plant control and monitoring programme must
be developed starting during the construction phase and to be carried over
into the operational phase. The following elements should be included in such
a programme:
* The a ctive c ontrol o f all a lien in vasive s pecies b y me ans of m anual
removal, ri ng-barking, c hemical c ontrol o r a c ombination o f t hese
methods.
* The b igger t runks a nd b ranches should b e removed w hile t he smaller
branches can be used as a soil stabiliser against wind erosion in exposed
areas, while providing micro-habitat for seedling establishment.
* Rehabilitation of the cleared areas, starting with the establishment of a
grass cover a nd p hasing in th e r e-establishment o f sh rub sp ecies b y
sowing in of appropriate seed mixes.
* All e mergent a lien p lant s eedlings m ust b e re moved b y h and a nd re -
sprouting from existing rootstock must be chemically treated in a continual
monitoring and follow-up programme.
• Soil pollution: Pollution of the surface and or ground water with petrol, diesel,
oil, c ement, p aint, litter etc., secondarily a ffecting th e v egetation o f th e
receiving environment must be prevented.
* Construction activities should be l imited to the Hazardous Waste site and
servitude areas.
* Movement b y c onstruction p ersonnel o utside o f th e d emarcated
development areas should be strictly prohibited.
* Adequate numbers and placement of portable chemical toilet facilities at
construction sites is crucial to prevent unnecessary pollution of the
surrounding vegetation. A ratio of one toilet per fifteen persons is
proposed.
* During construction, littering, specifically of the natural areas, should be
prevented. Adequate containers for litter removal should be supplied on
site. T hese c ontainers s hould b e e mptied on a re gular b asis a nd t he
contents removed to an appropriate and licensed waste disposal site.
* During operation specific care should be taken to prevent the spread of
air-blown and other litter from the site. Screening of the site with diamond
mesh fences of appropriate height may help to contain most of the air-
blown litter. Regular cover with soil and compaction of the waste layer
should also be implemented.
• Risk of fire: The risk of accidental fires to occur during the construction phase
is considered to be high, especially during the dry summer months and windy
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periods. Fires could spread to vegetation on properties adjacent to the site,
especially to the private Grassridge nature reserve which could lead loss of
biodiversity.
* Accidental fires should be prevented through proper sensitisation of the
contractors and their workers towards the associated risks, dangers and
damage of property.
* An emergency preparedness plan should be in place to fight accidental
veld fires, should they occur. The adjacent land owners/users/managers
should a lso b e i nformed a nd i nvolved i n th e e stablishment o f a Fire
Protection Agency according to the Veld and Forest Fire Act.
* Enclosed areas for food preparation must be provided. The use of open
fires for cooking of food etc. by construction personnel should be strictly
prohibited.
* Use of branches of trees and shrubs for fire making purposes must be
strictly prohibited.
17.2.2. Fauna
The following recommendations are put forward:
• Due t o k nown p resence o f t hreatened f auna i n B ontveld habitat in a reas
adjacent to Footprint F , and the presence of s imilar habitats in the northern
section of Footprint F and alongside transport linkages to the proposed
GHWMF, a d etailed and c ommitted c onservation p lan f or th e c ritically
endangered Albany Adder must be implemented. The plan must incorporate a
similar plan for the adjacent PPC lands, on which the only known population of
the Albany Adder is situated.
• The Environmental Officer (EO) for the proposed GHWMF should be familiar
with the other threatened and endemic fauna detailed in this report. The EO
should record the p resence i n the a rea of any b reeding populations or l arge
congregations o f su ch sp ecies, a nd b ring these to th e a ttention o f l ocal
conservation authorities.
• The quality of sensitive habitats, particularly Bontveld, should be monitored.
Any i ndications o f d egradation, p ollution o r c ontamination o f t his habitat
should b e re corded a nd t he causative a gents i dentified f or
correction/mitigation.
• There has been l ittle research done with regard to how successfully MST can
be f ully r ehabilitated. However, there i s a lso a d egree of confusion over
habitat from a faunal and floristic perspective. The continued presence of so
many f aunal g roups i n degraded M ST h abitat s hows th at ‘ functional
rehabilitation’ is possible, even if recovery of full floristic diversity may be very
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difficult or take a long time. Accordingly, the impact can be partially mitigated
by avoiding direct loss of intact MST and Bontveld habitat. All project actions
during construction and subsequent operation of the proposed GHWMF should
avoid MST and Bontveld habitat where possible. After closure of the facility all
habitats, where possible, should be rehabilitated to the existing vegetation
type. This i s p robably attainable f or MST, at least i n terms of f unctional
rehabilitation for faunal g roups, b ut Bontveld is a growth form dependent
upon the underlying limestone pavement, and once this has been removed it
cannot be re-habilitated.
• GHWMF staff should be informed of the need for environmental protection,
and the diverse impacts that the GHWMF activities may have on the
environment.
• The GHWMF operation will be l imited to the s ite. However, off-site impacts
will occur on the p roposed access roads. These secondary impacts must be
monitored to assess whether p otential cumulative effects may need to be
addressed.
• Rehabilitation o f f aunal d iversity o n c losure of th e p roposed GHWMF will
require habitat corridors along which fauna can migrate from refugia retaining
original fauna. The license holder or operator of the proposed GHWMF should
therefore integrate their EMP, particularly for threatened species (e.g. the
Albany Adder) with neighbouring properties to ensure successful faunal
rehabilitation on closure.
17.2.3. Geohydrology
The following mitigation measures have been recommended:
• Design and Construction Phase:
* Approval of water quality monitoring systems by the relevant government
authorities
* Design to b e d one a ccording to th e latest M inimum Re quirement
documents and s pecifications of th e D epartments of Water A ffairs and
Forestry (DWEA) and Environment and Tourism (DWEA). Ap proval of a ll
designs to be obtained from the relevant National and Regional/Provincial
regulatory authorities
* Sealing o f a ll b oreholes with c ement a nd final b entonite a t th e top.
Sanitary seal consisting of a bentonite and sand mixture around the upper
4 m of the borehole.
* Proper storm water control measures must to be implemented to minimize
storm water collection within the excavated areas and to reduce erosion.
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* Selection of good quality natural clay for liner construction, alternatively
addition of bentonite to liner material to attain the prescribed permeability
for l iners. R egular i nspection o f c onstruction a nd t esting of l iner
permeability a nd c ompaction c haracteristics d uring c onstruction. P roper
control a nd s upervision d uring the p lacement o f s ynthetic liners, a nd
testing after completion.
* Proper management of all construction material storage areas and bunding
of facilities where required
• Operation:
* Minimize l eachate g eneration t hrough p roper l andfill m anagement a nd
control of ratio between liquid and solid waste disposed in each cell. Proper
control of leachate seepage and collection thereof and diverting to properly
designed holding and/or treatment facility
* Approved designed and constructed leachate holding dams.
* Bunding of all storage facilities and disposal of all effluent collected in
bunded areas to leachate or storm water holding dams
* Properly designed and constructed according to building regulations of all
sewage disposal systems on site and regular removal of sewage from tank
to prevent overflow
* Proper s torm w ater c ontrol a nd d rainage c anals around d isposal a rea,
together with storm water control dams with sufficient capacity to support
a 1:50 year rainfall event. Monitoring programme for storm water quality
and disposal of storm water to be in place
* Approved design and constructed wash bays and effluent collection and
disposal systems
* All w orkshop waste t o be disposed of i n accordance with the re levant
regulations
• Decommissioning:
* Proper capping of each cell and regular maintenance of capping according
to permit conditions to avoid infiltration of rainwater and thus leachate
generation within the waste pile. Installation of leachate level monitoring
facility for each cell monitoring point
* Treatment and/or proper disposal of final leachate volumes and draining of
holding dams
* Development and implementation o f a s torm water management p lan as
well as the proper maintenance of storm water control systems on site
after closure according to permits and regulations issued from time to time
by relevant authorities. Regular inspections by authorities
* Regular water quality monitoring according to permit conditions and in
compliance to Minimum Requirement documents of DWEA. Reporting of
results to the authorities on a six monthly basis
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17.2.4. Tourism
It was concluded that none of the sites assessed in the penultimate phases of the
assessment process, including Footprint F, are ideal for such a facility as these
footprints are located in a tourism area that markets itself as an eco/wildlife
destination that is environmentally sensitive. As such, it is strongly
recommended that the following mitigation measures be implemented:
• Provide detailed information regarding the facility to all tourism
establishments in the area so that they can deal with queries from tourists.
• Obtain e ditorial c opy i n l ocal a nd r egional media to i nform residents a nd
tourists o f th e f acility and its p otential impact o n to urism a s w ell a s th e
mitigation measures that will be employed to address environmental impacts.
• Ensure the facility is not visible from the R335.
17.2.5. Visual
Possible mitigation measures for footprint F would include:
• The upgrade of the R335 main road to facilitate the overtaking of trucks.
Being stuck behind a heavy vehicle, transporting hazardous waste constitutes
a visual impact and unnecessarily sensitises the observer.
• The potential screening of th e facility, t hrough th e strategic placement o f
vegetation at the areas of highest impact, should be investigated and
implemented.
• The placement of site infrastructure and associated buildings must be carefully
planned to further reduce unnecessary v isual c lutter. L ighting of the facility
should be designed to contain, rather than spread the light, and avoid
potential visual impacts at night. This would apply to security lighting and
operational lighting, should the facility function at night.
• Implementation and monitoring of visual impact mitigation measures should
be d one t hroughout t he l ifespan o f t he f acility, f rom c onstruction p hase
through to decommissioning and rehabilitation phases.
• A forum should be created through which affected parties could report any
shortcomings or negligence in the mitigation and containment of the visual
impact of the facility.
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The broad recommendations mentioned above should be developed in greater
detail during the further iterative development and implementation of the EMP for
the proposed GHWMF.
17.2.6. Air Quality
The findings of the air quality assessment have lead to the following
recommendations:
• The proposed GHWMF operator should control on-site fugitive dust emissions
by effective management and mitigation. At least 75% dust control efficiency
is required on unpaved roads to ensure dustfall rates are reduced to the levels
predicted.
• Based on the air quality impact assessment it is recommended that the P1954
unpaved road be considered as the access route to the GHWMF since Scenario
1 is p redicted t o r esult in t he least s ignificant impacts a t t he s ensitive
receptors included i n th e study. It is recommended that this road be
upgraded to bitumen standard.
• Cognisance should be taken that the predicted impacts was based on design
criteria and emissions ra tes based on subsurface gas concentrations. T hese
subsurface concentrations were a combination of UK default gas
concentrations and Chloorkop Landfill measured concentrations. Therefore
sub surface gas concentrations should be analysed to determine trace gas
composition and generation.
• It is also recommended that PM10 and dustfall levels be regularly monitored
in order to:
* confirm the predicted air quality impacts associated with activities from
the landfill site;
* assess compliance of landfill emissions and associated impacts with
current air quality standards;
* determine source contributions to ambient air quality in order to prioritise
mitigation measures;
* assess the efficiency of mitigation measures
• It is recommended that gravimetric sampling for PM10 be done using portable
mini high-volume samplers. These are battery-driven and take a composite
sample over 24 hours. If sampling is carried out every third day (including
week-ends) a s ample series without systematic error, yet not to o labour-
intensive is built up.
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• It is recommended that a t l east four deposition gauges be placed on the
landfill site perimeter. The recorded wind field suggests that t he dustfall
gauges should be situated to the north-eastern, south-eastern, south-western
and north-western boundaries of the site.
Recommendations concerning the mitigation of emissions, specifically particulate
emissions, from the proposed GHWMF are as follows:
• The haul roads going to and from the site as well as on-site were identified as
a significant source of dust emissions. Three types of measures may be taken
to reduce emissions from unpaved roads:
* measures aimed at reducing the extent of unpaved roads, e.g. paving,
* traffic control measures aimed at reducing the entrainment of material by
restricting traffic volumes and reducing vehicle speeds, and
* measures aimed at binding the surface material or enhancing moisture
retention, such as wet suppression and chemical stabilization (EPA, 1987;
Cowhert et al., 1988; APCD, 1995).
• Control measures that can be applied to reduce fugitive dust emissions from
exposed surfaces include the use of vegetation cover. Vegetal cover retards
erosion by binding the residue with a root network, by sheltering the residue
surface and by trapping material already eroded. Vegetation is also considered
the most effective control measure in terms of its ability to also control water
erosion.
• In investigating the feasibility of vegetation types the following properties are
normally taken into account: indigenous plants; ability to establish and
regenerate quickly; proven effective for reclamation elsewhere; tolerant to the
climatic conditions of the area; high rate of root production; easily propagated
by seed or cuttings; and nitrogen-fixing ability.
17.2.7. Transport
The following recommended mitigation measures must be implemented:
• Climbing lanes on hills for heavy vehicles must be incorporated in the
refurbishment design of the R335 to allow other traffic to pass safely.
• All ot her h aul rou tes to t he f acility t hat a re c urrently g ravel roa ds, a re
upgraded to bitumen s tandard and f ulfil th e s ame d esign c riteria as th at
proposed for the R335.
• Road safety improvements such as surfaced shoulders, guard rails, signs and
markings must be standard.
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• Reconstruction of existing road pavement prior to the facility becoming
operational combined with regular maintenance thereof.
• Promote use of alternative route via N2 and N10 to Addo Elephant Park for
tourist related traffic, as well as the transport of citrus in the instance of a spill
event by waste vehicles during the operational phase of the facility. This will
result in longer travelling times and an associated increase in tourism and
citrus industry transport costs, but will negate the concerns raised in terms of
potential impacts on these respective industries
The implications of the concerns raised by the SRVCF with regard to the potential
scenario of an accidental spill of waste on the road accompanied by rain, which
could r esult in c ontaminated r ain w ater l anding u p o n f ruit f or i nternational
export, a re n oted. It i s t he op inion of Bohlweki-SSI E nvironmental t hat
quantifying the risks and likelihood of this scenario occurring will be difficult to
accurately and credibly assess. It should therefore be assumed that a spill event
followed by, or during, a rainfall event is likely to eventuate during the lifespan of
the facility. Accordingly, the decision making authority (DWEA) is urged to apply
the precautionary principle in this regard. It is therefore imperative that and
appropriate emergency response measures a re developed for, and implemented
during, the operational phase of the facility for this scenario and is reflected in the
required t ransport corridor m onitoring a nd m anagement p rotocols. In t he
instance of an accident/spill event it would have to be communicated quickly and
effectively to affected road users, traffic halted and an alternative transport route
utilised until such time as the spill is cleared up. Trucks transporting fruit should
therefore ideally be covered to a degree that will prevent ingress of water that
could potentially be contaminated by wet road surfaces f rom a spill event when
transporting fruit to the Port Elizabeth harbour once the facility is operational.
17.2.8. Social
From a social perspective, it is recommended that the following mitigation
measures be included in the EMP.
Demographic Change Processes
• Relocation of Households
* Residents should be assisted with the relocation process.
* A formal grievance p rocedure should be implemented and communicated
to these residents to ensure a fair and transparent process.
• Arrival of Construction Workers
* Raise awareness amongst construction workers about local traditions and
practices.
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* Depending on the size and origin of construction workers, inform local
businesses to the fact that construction workers will move into the area to
enable local businesses to plan for the extra demand.
* Again, depending on the origin of construction workers, ensure that the
local community communicate their expectations of construction workers’
behaviour with them.
• Influx of Job Seekers
* Ensure that employment procedures / policy are communicated to local
stakeholders, e specially w ard r epresentative org anisations a nd w ard
councillors.
* Have clear rules and regulations for access to the camp / site office to
control loitering. Consult with the local SAPS to establish standard
operating procedures for the control and/or removal of loiterers at the
construction site.
* Construction w orkers s hould b e c learly identifiable b y w earing p roper
construction uniforms displaying the logo of the construction company.
Construction workers could also be issued with identification tags.
• Outflow of Labourers
* Develop s kills t ransfer p lans (e .g. p ortable s kills tr aining) that w ould
enable a worker to move from one project to another project within the
same area.
* Payment should comply with applicable Labour Law legislation in terms of
minimum wages.
* Where l ocal labourers a re employed on a m ore p ermanent b asis,
cognisance should be taken of the Labour Law in terms of registering the
worker with the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), Pay as you earn
(PAYE), workman’s compensation and all other official bodies as required
by law. This would enable the worker to claim UIF as a means of
continuous f inancial support when t he worker’s p osition o n t he
construction team has e ither become redundant or on ce the construction
phase comes to an end.
• Arrival of Operational Workers
* Depending o n the o rigin of op erational w orkers, ensure t hat t he l ocal
community communicate their expectations of operational workers’
behaviour with them.
Economic Change Processes
• Compensation for Site
* The land valuator should be experienced in valuating the land in question.
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* Both parties should have the option to have contracts reviewed by an
independent body.
• Direct Formal Employment Opportunities to Local Individuals
* Unskilled j ob o pportunities s hould b e a fforded t o l ocal c ommunity
members. Local trade unions could assist with the recruitment process to
counteract the potential for social mobilisation.
* Equal opportunities for employment should be created to ensure that the
local female population a lso have access to these opportunities. Females
should be encouraged to apply for positions.
* Individuals with the potential to develop their skills should be afforded
training opportunities.
* Mechanisms should be developed to provide alternative solutions for
creating job security upon completion of the project. This could include
formal and/or informal training on how to look for alternative employment,
information on career progression, etc. to ensure that people are equipped
to seek other jobs with the skills that they have gained.
* Payment should comply with applicable Labour Law legislation in terms of
minimum wages.
* Where l ocal labourers a re employed on a m ore p ermanent b asis,
cognisance should be taken of the Labour Law in terms of registering the
worker with the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), Pay as You Earn
(PAYE), workman’s compensation and all other official bodies as required
by law. This would enable the worker to claim UIF as a means of
continuous f inancial support when t he worker’s p osition o n t he
construction team has e ither become redundant or on ce the construction
phase comes to an end.
• Indirect F ormal a nd/or Informal E mployment O pportunities to L ocal
Individuals
* Develop a procurement policy that is easy to understand and ensure that
local s ubcontractors a lso c omply w ith th e p rocurement p olicy a nd any
other applicable policies.
* Ensure that local subcontractors receive the necessary support in terms of
resources.
* Agree on specific performance criteria prior to appointment.
* Identify t he s egment t hat m ight benefit f rom i nformal i ndirect
opportunities, and assist them with skills development and subsidise
initiatives that are sustainable.
* Encourage construction workers to use local services.
• Loss of Employment Opportunities
* Negotiate and take measures to avoid large-scale job losses;
* Anticipate the possibility of job losses and implement contingency plans;
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* Give t imeous warning to a ffected i ndividuals to improve their chances o f
finding alternative employment; and
* Discuss industry trends and challenges on an ongoing basis.
Institutional and Empowerment Change Processes
• Attitude Formation against the Project
* Transparent information should be supplied to the community from the
outset of the project.
* The local community should play an active participatory role in the
planning process, especially landowners of neighbouring properties. This
could be achieved by means of establishing a community forum that meet
quarterly or once a month to discuss issues and progress surrounding the
project.
* Employment opportunities should first be offered to the local community if
the skills are available within the community.
* CDC/NMBM should deliver on their undertakings with the community in
terms of employment creation, etc. (tangible benefits to the community).
* The undertakings i n the EMP should a lso be implemented effectively and
with due diligence.
• Additional Demand on Municipal Services
* Construction workers should be made aware of the limited capacity of the
municipal services network.
* Negotiations w ith t he N MBM m ust b e conducted a nd a “demand-side
management” should be implemented.
• Disaster Management Plan
* Integrate risk management programmes with the IDP;
* Establish d isaster p revention p rogrammes that f ocus on th e m ost
vulnerable c ommunities – and, a t th e s ame ti me, s upport s ustainable
livelihoods;
* Establish and maintain fire protection on the facility fringe;
* Establish a culture of scientific risk analysis by investigating possible r isk
scenarios and developing standard operating procedures for such
scenarios;
* Establish and maintain multi-disciplinary co-operation and cooperative
partnerships;
* Establish pro-active media liaison;
* Educate and inform surrounding communities and/or households on the
standard o perating p rocedures t o f ollow d uring a ccidents. E nsure t hat
these communities and/or households know who to contact in case of an
emergency a nd a re a ble t o i mplement a s tep-by-step d isaster
management procedure;
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* The way in which the disaster management plan is communicated to the
surrounding c ommunities a nd/or h ouseholds s hould b e j argon-free a nd
outline an easy to follow step-by-step procedure. Cognisance should be
taken of th e fact that some members of the s urrounding communities
and/or households are i lliterate – make use of alternative communication
methods (e.g. picture posters) to educate and inform these individuals.
Socio-Cultural Change Processes
• Sense of Place
* Sufficient and transparent information should be supplied to local residents
within the area to enhance their sense of safety and thereby reducing the
negative impact on sense of place.
* An information session with the construction workers and representatives
from t he l ocal a reas ( farmers, M otherwell/Uitenhage re sidents
associations) s hould b e h eld p rior to th e s tart o f c onstruction. L ocal
traditions, m itigation m easures, a nd expectations s hould b e d iscussed.
The ECO will be responsible for organising this meeting. If need be, these
meetings should be held throughout the construction period.
* The undertakings i n the EMP should a lso be implemented e ffectively and
with due diligence. The ECO should ensure that social mitigation measures
are implemented, a nd g ive monthly feedback to the representative
residents associations.
* Establish a formal grievances procedure:
o Start addressing these grievances within 24 hours.
o Keep record of complaints and how they were dealt with.
o Keep record of feedback to the complainant.
o Minimise complaints received / litigation.
o No conflict between the project team and construction workers and the
local inhabitants.
• Physical Splintering
* Provide a s afe p assage w ay f or c ommunity m embers t o m inimise t he
impact on movement patterns.
* Fence off the construction site to prohibited unauthorised access by
community members, thereby placing themselves in potential unnecessary
danger.
• Safety and Security
* Construction workers should be clearly identifiable. Overalls should have
the logo of the construction company on it and/or construction workers
should wear identification cards.
* The construction site should be fenced and access should be controlled by
means of a security access point.
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* Loitering of outsiders at the either the construction site or at the
construction village should not be allowed. Loiterers at the site should be
removed in cooperation with the local South African Police Service (SAPS).
• Noise Pollution
* Construction a ctivities s hould b e re stricted t o d aytime h ours b etween
06:00 and 18:00.
* Adjacent property owners should b e consulted and notified o f a ny
construction activities that could lead to excessive noise levels.
* Adjacent p roperty owners s hould a lso b e c onsulted if any n ight t ime
construction activities were to take place.
• Safety Risk
* Educate l ocal co mmunities o n t he safety r isks o f t he h azardous waste
spillage a nd how t o min imise t he risk. This should be in cluded in the
emergency a nd p revention p lans th at s hould be communicated to th e
community and can be done by distributing pamphlets, having open days
for the public, etc.
* An emergency evacuation plan should be drafted together with the NMBM.
* Trucks should be clearly marked as carrying hazardous waste. Part of this
marking should include where the waste originated f rom together w ith a
contact number that community members can contact in the case of an
emergency.
Geographical Change Processes
• Access Roads
* Road r ehabilitation s hould ta ke p lace d uring a nd o nce c onstruction i s
completed.
* Construction traffic should only make use of an approved route.
* The number of trucks that pass through communities should be kept to a
minimum and should be restricted to certain times of the day, i .e. avoid
peak hours when community members are on their way to or f rom school
and work.
* Traffic s igns s hould w arn c onstruction v ehicles o f t he p resence of
pedestrians a nd s chool c hildren a long th e r oad. L ikewise, tr affic s igns
should warn community road users of the presence of construction
vehicles.
* General road rules should be enforced.
• Spatial Development
* The location of the site should be well known to industries and/or
development a gencies i n th e a rea to a llow th em t o p lan a round th e
presence of the site.
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Biophysical Change Processes
• Pollution and Fire Risk
* Refuse on site should be discarded in sealed bins and/or covered skips.
Refuse should be removed from the site on regular intervals (at least once
a week) and disposed of at an approved waste disposal site.
* Contractors are liable for the costs involved with connecting to the
electricity network and the water services network.
* Construction workers should only be allowed to make fire in designated
areas. C onstruction w orkers w ho d o n ot k eep w ithin d esignated a reas
should be fined.
• Sanitation
* Sufficient portable chemical toilets on site.
* If contractors choose to make use of a construction village, they should
ensure a dequate s anitation s ervices (e .g. s howers) a t th e c onstruction
village with effective drainage facilities to ensure that used water is carried
away from the site.
• Waste Management
* Monitoring and evaluation of the waste management at the site.
* Following the operational plan for the facility.
* Consider the u se information s essions to i nform communities of waste
management protocols.
• Leachate Management
* Monitoring and evaluation of the leachate management at the site.
* Consider the use i nformation sessions to i nform communities of l eachate
management protocols.
17.3. Overall Conclusion
This report has investigated the preferred footprint (F) on Grassridge 190
Remainder for the siting of the GHWMF. Footprint F was selected as the most
preferable s ite for the proposed GHWMF as the result of an extensive screening
and preliminary assessment process that culminated in a Final Feasibility Report
that d etermined t hat t his s ite w as t he l east e nvironmentally s ensitive of a ll
alternatives taken into consideration. The findings of the studies undertaken
within th is r eport p rovide a n a ssessment of b oth th e p otential b enefits a nd
potential negative impacts anticipated as a result of the proposed GHWMF.
I&APs will be afforded the opportunity to review this Draft EIR on the significance
of the potential impacts associated with the proposed facility. The purpose of this
report i s to provide a full environmental assessment of the proposed GHWMF in
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 17 – Conclusion and Recommendations June 2010 331
order t o f ulfil t he re quirements of i nformed d ecision m aking b y t he r elevant
authorities in terms of their respective authorisation and permitting mandates. It
should b e n oted th at th e m ore technical d etails r elated to th e d esign a nd
operation of the proposed facility are contained in the Draft Permit Application
Report and, as such, both documents should be read in conjunction with each
other.
The findings of these studies conclude that there are no environmental fatal flaws
that should prevent the proposed project from proceeding and that the majority
of i mpacts s hould b e regarded a s e ither l ow or m oderate provided th at th e
recommended mitigation and management measures are incorporated into the
Draft EMP (Appendix J) and implemented.
It is important to note that the Draft EMP will have to be revised and further
developed once detailed design for the facility is made available, the eventual
operator for the facility identified and appointed, and the required management,
monitoring and emergency response plans incorporated therein. While the bulk of
the environmental specifications and mitigation requirements have been identified
and listed in the Draft EMP and PAR they will have to be further developed in
collaboration with all stakeholders in the project once the above knowledge gaps
have been clarified. As such, the Draft EMP is the framework from which the Final
EMP for the construction, operation and decommissioning phases (that will be
subject to authority, I&AP and stakeholder approval) will be developed. Based on
the b alance o f a dvantages a nd d isadvantages a ssociated w ith th e p roposed
facility, there would not appear to be any s ignificant reasons why the proposed
development should not proceed.
17.4. Recommendations for Conditions of Environmental Authorisation
Aside from the specialist recommendations regarding required mitigation
measures f or i mplementation listed in the b ody of t his re port t he f ollowing
recommendations for conditions of environmental authorisation are proposed:
• No waste incineration of any type or will be permitted at the facility during its
lifespan.
• The R335 m ust be upgraded to the design standard recommended in the
Transport Study prior to the facility becoming operational and receiving its
first consignments of waste. Similarly, all potential road access routes to the
facility that will be utilised for waste transport must be upgraded to bitumen
standard prior to the facility becoming operational. Regular c learing/cleaning
operations along haul routes will have to be implemented as standard
procedure during the operational phase.
Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Regional General and Hazardous Waste
Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
Ch 17 – Conclusion and Recommendations June 2010 332
• Should the f acility b e g ranted a p ositive a uthorisation, a n E nvironmental
Monitoring Committee (EMC) for the facility must be established prior to the
commencement of construction activities. The EMC must be constituted by
appropriately qualified and knowledgeable persons, as well as representatives
of t he key s takeholders w ho h ave b een e ngaged t hroughout t he
environmental reporting process. These must include but not be limited to the
Sundays River Valley Community Forum, Pretoria Portland Cement, The
Swartkops Trust, Wildlife and Environmental Society of South Africa and other
locally representative community based and non governmental organisations.
Community L iaison F orums s hould a lso b e established th at w ill a llow f or
ongoing engagement with the surrounding communities for the lifespan of the
facility. All issues pertaining to the facilities operation and performance will be
addressed through these structures.
• The monitoring ,management and e mergency r esponse protocols f or t he
facility in general, and the transport corridors in particular, need to be further
developed in conjunction with the successful tendering operator, the CDC,
Eastern Cape Department of Roads and Transport and all other I&AP’s and
stakeholders engaged in the process. The development of these protocols for
these t ransport c orridors m ust b e d eveloped i n c onjunction with, a nd
ultimately approved by, the EMC. It is recommended that these protocols be
subject to a public participation process to ensure that all issues, concerns
and inputs as they relate to transport corridors and the facility in general, are
captured and incorporated into the development thereof.
• The enforcement of this buffer zone and prohibiting free access to the site in
general will have to be enforced. As noted above the fact that i t i s currently
owned PPC mining land has already sterilized the buffer zone area for
potential d evelopment. S hould t he p otential l and transfer g o a head i t is
recommended that this be i nclusive o f the proposed buffer zone area i n the
transfer agreement.
.
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Management Facility in the Eastern Cape
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