The National Web based Environmental Screening Tool

Air Quality Lekgotla01 October 2018

Objectives the Screening Tool

• The National Development Plan calls for an efficient and effective environmental legislative process including the EIA process

• To date focus has been on the legislation – how to make the process more efficient

• Also looking now at instruments: Generic Environmental Management Plans, Strategic Environmental Assessments & Environmental Management Frameworks – exempting and easier process (SEIR to BA), exempting on basis of standards, developing assessment protocols

• The development of the National Web based Environmental Screening Tool forms part of ensuring ongoing improvement of the EIA process to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in the sector

• The Screening Tool aims to flag areas of potential environmental sensitivity related to a site as well as a development footprint

• Produces the screening report required in terms of regulation 16 (1)(v) of the EIA regulations

Applications 2018(Jan-July) 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012

BAR 69 155 212 120 267 355 327

S&EIR 35 93 170 89 156 244 193

104 248 352 219 423 599 520

Objectives the Screening Tool

• The report generates a list of specialist assessments that should form part of the assessment reports based on the development type and the environmental sensitivity of the site

• Assessment Protocols provide minimum information to be included in a specialist report to facilitate decision making

• Primarily directed at Environmental Assessment practitioners

• Tool has been prepared for use by a non-GIS professional • The tool identifies any specific exclusions, restriction,

prohibitions to the EIA process and specific information that must be consulted in relation to that site – air quality priority areas

Objectives the Screening Tool

• The Screening Tool, will reach its full potential when integrated into the National Coordinated and Integrated Permitting System (CIPS)– Spatial coordinates pass from screening to CIPs – less errors

– Project information pass from CIPs to screening – no duplication of effort no errors

– Assessment status passes from CIPs to be displayed on screening

• Implements the national sector classification which allows for spatial representation of developments

Northern Cape

Limpopo

Eastern Cape

Free State

Western Cape

North West

KwaZulu-Natal

Mpumalanga

Gauteng

EIA number 12/12/20/2185NEAS number DEA/EIA/0000200/2011EIA Process SEIR Application category Utility/Energy/renewable

energy/ Solar PVApplication status ApprovedProject Title Construction of a 2MW

photovoltaic power facility on portion 4 of the farm Marais Vlei 69, near Kakamas

Applicant name Subsolar Energy Pty Ltd

Province Northern Cape EAP Ms J PienaarDate of submission 24/09/2016Date of decision 24/05/2017Commencement of construction

16/07/2018

Inspection date 12/08/2018Inspectors name Mr D Smile Inspection status Compliant

Legend

Province

Screening Application Site

Application Status

Approved

In progress

Refused

Benefits

• Standardization and up-to-date data use in EIA assessment • Pro-active identification of environmental sensitivities• Ability to apply the avoidance hierarchy to impact assessment • Developers and environmental practitioners are aware of new tools

developed e.g. Environmental Management Frameworks, standards etc.

• Reports can be generated at any time – supports site visits • Saves money – developer • Saves time – developer • Saves review timeframe – competent authority • Standardizes the content on specialist reports – assists decision

making • Ensures the highest level of environmental protection• When linked to CIPs will provide spatial information for decision

making

URL(Uniform Resource Locator)

https://screening.environment.gov.za/screeningtool/index.html#/pages/welcome

Screening Tool assistance:

screening@environment.gov.za

EIA Process Queries:

EIAadmin@environment.gov.za

https://screening.environment.gov.za/screeningtool

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