MITIGATION
With
Mitigation
Mitigation
Confidenc
e
Impact Significance
Without
Mitigation
Probability
Consequence
Extent
IMPACT SOURCE/DESCRIPTION
Severity
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Duration
No.
Intensity
IMPACTS OF THE AQUIFER RECHARGE PROJECT PROJECT
Mitigation Measure
1.1. CONSTRUCTION PHASE
1.1.1 DIRECT CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS
PHYSICAL NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
1.1.1.1
1.1.1.2
Climate change and Greenhouse Gas
Emissions
Air Quality
Construction activities will entail the movement of heavy motor vehicles
and the use of generators which consume fuel, produce greenhouse gas
emissions and ultimately contribute to climate change.
Dust will be generated due to topsoil stripping and vegetation clearing,
earthworks, and the movement of construction vehicles and machinery
during the construction of the new infrastructure.
2
3
2
3
2.0
3.0
4 3.0
2 2.5
0.6
0.8
1.8
2.0
Medium
Medium
Low
Low
• Minimise movement of traffic as far as reasonably possible.
• Speed limits on unsealed roads will be limited to a maximum speed consistent with the
minimisation of dust generation. Nominal speed limit of 40 km/h applies unless otherwise
marked.
• Complaints regarding dust to be registered in the complaints register and to be investigated
and managed in accordance with the incident reporting procedure at Kolomela.
Low
• All available topsoil will be stripped from areas compacted and disturbed by construction along
the pipelines and boreholes within the Groenwaterspruit.
• Topsoil will be stockpiled for later reuse during rehabilitation.
• Erosion must be managed though adequate control and mitigation. Early identification of
erosion-prone areas is essential.
• Potential impact from hydrocarbon soil contamination such as vehicle oil/fuel leaks, concrete
mixing and oil spillage should be prevented by providing vehicles with drip trays overnight,
ensuring that concrete mixing does not take place on bare soils, etc.
• Trenches will be backfilled in sequence of removal to replace the soil profile as it was. Topsoil
must then be placed on top and rehabilitated.
• Ensure that soil is rehabilitated around the installed infrastructure, as well re-vegetated with
indigenous seed mix where applicable.
• Provide impervious surfaces to contain drilling mud.
• Provide bunding around all diesel containers, oil drums and generators.
The removal of natural vegetation and topsoil might lead to the erosion
of the cleared area. Storm water runoff is likely during heavy rainfall
episodes.
1.1.1.3
Soils and land capability
Soil compaction resulting from movement of heavy machinery along
access roads and at drill sites. Soil contamination from drilling mud, oil
and diesel spills.
3
2
2.5
1 1.8
0.8
1.4
High
The proposed aquifer recharging will occur within the property boundary
and mining rights area of the Kolomela Mine. The impacts of the
proposed project on the land capability, land use, soils and agricultural
potential concluded that there should be no discernible impacts on the
aforementioned sites as a result of the aquifer recharging.
The inappropriate storage, management and handling of fuel, oil and
other potentially hazardous chemicals and substances during the
construction period could result in potentially negative impacts on
surface and ground water quality. In particular, spillages could enter the
groundwater environment through the ready infiltration of contaminated
surface run-off. Poorly managed vehicles will also impact negatively on
ground water quality (where no surface water is located in close
proximity to the site). Contamination of this nature, associated with the
construction phase of this project would typically be hydrocarbon-based
(i.e. petrol, diesel and oil leaks and spillages to bare soil surfaces).
Temporary concrete batching plants can also impact negatively on
groundwater.
1.1.1.4
Surface and groundwater quality and
quantity
Poor placement and maintenance of temporary sanitary arrangements
(i.e. portable toilets) can also result in detrimental impacts on water
resources in any of the following ways (Fuggle and Rabie, 2009),
depending on the nature and extent of potentially affected water
resources:
• Eutrophication – referring to “the enrichment of water with nutrients,
such as nitrates and phosphates, which give rise to excessive growth of
aquatic algae and cyanobacteria in surface water resources in
particular”;
• Nitrification – referring to “the contamination of drinking water supplies
with elevated levels of nitrates"; and
• Microbial contamination – referring to the contamination of drinking
water supplies with harmful pathogenic agents, such as E. coli bacteria
and other faecal coliforms.
• Maintain machinery, vehicles and equipment in good condition to prevent unnecessary
emissions.
• Plan vehicle logistics to minimise the operational hours and distances travelled.
4
5
4.5
2 3.3
0.8
2.6
High
Low
2
3
2.5
1 1.8
0.6
1.1
Moderate
Low
A comprehensive range of effective, proven mitigation measures will be implemented to ensure
groundwater contamination is mitigated, which are in principle as follows:
• All petroleum products to be stored in lined and bunded areas.
• Dispensing of petroleum products to take place over a drip tray or within a lined and bunded
area.
• Use drip trays under machinery, vehicles and equipment with minor fuel or hydraulic fluid
leaks.
• Repairs and maintenance to machinery, vehicles and equipment to be undertaken at
Kolomela workshop. Any on-site emergency repairs to be undertaken over impervious surfaces.
• All hazardous substances to be stored within appropriately sized, impermeable, and/or roofed
surfaces;
• No cement mixing must be allowed to occur on bare surfaces.
• Erosion sensitive areas must be identified and regular monitoring undertaken to ensure once
the impact occurs it is stabilised and rehabilitated immediately.
• The pipeline within the Groenwaterpruit should be placed underground within the 1:100 year
delineated floodlines. This will ensure that the infrastructure required for aquifer recharge does
not obstruct water flow during heavy rainfall episodes.
• A water use licence in terms of section 21 of the National Water Act (NWA) from the
Department of Water affairs (DWA) is required.
In addition, during construction, temporary stockpiles of building
material, excavated sand and rock, as well as waste, will be produced. It
is important that these stockpiles are located in a centralised area where
temporary measures such as berms will prevent sediment run-off,
specifically during heavy rainfall episodes. However, these particular
waste streams are not expected to be hazardous, or pose a
contamination risk to groundwater.
1.1.1.5
Alteration of local relief
Levelling of borehole drilling sites
• Rehabilitation to restore the natural relief of the area.
Operation of the construction vehicles and noisy equipment/machinery
for material handling and transport will generate noise. This is likely to
result in a minor increase in the ambient noise levels in the area. There
are no sensitive receptors located within close proximity to the proposed
sites. The nearest residences are ±1 km to the North and South of the
LF and KK areas and the town of Postmasburg is located more than 7
km to the north-northeast.
Noise
2
3
2.5
2
2.3
Probability
0.8
Miti
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Impact Significance
Wit
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Miti
Consequence
Extent
Severity
Duration
IMPACT SOURCE/DESCRIPTION
1.8
High
MITIGATION
Wit
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Miti
gati
1.1.1.6
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Intensity
No.
Mitigation Measure
Low
• Maintain machinery, vehicles and equipment in good condition to prevent unnecessary noise
outputs.
• Minimise movement of traffic along public roads as far as reasonably possible.
• The contractor shall ensure that his workers do not create unnecessary noise such as hooting
or shouting.
• Complaints regarding noise to be registered in the complaints register and to be investigated
and managed in accordance with the incident reporting procedure.
• Noise levels and other disturbances in close proximity to residences or built-up areas to be
limited to daylight hours (07:00 – 17:00).
Biological Natural Environment
The construction of the pipelines to the LF and KK areas will cause
localised loss of vegetation during construction; mainly within the
Groenwaterspruit areas. The pipelines to the recharges sites will be
located within an existing firebreak and no additional vegetation will be
removed. The pipelines within the firebreaks will also be placed above
ground.
1.1.1.7
1.1.1.8
1.1.1.9
Loss of natural vegetation
Impacts on species of special concern
Increased invasion by exotic plant
species following vegetation
disturbance
1.1.1.10 Loss of animal life
The movement of materials and equipment during construction will
disturb local vegetation within the floodlines of the Groenwaterspruit.
Pipelines within the Groenwaterspruit will require the excavation of
trenches within the spruit and ultimately associated vegetation
clearance. The drilling of the various boreholes for aquifer recharge
within the Groenwaterspruit will also result in localised vegetation
clearance/disturbance during construction.
Damage to and removal of protected plant and animal species is
prohibited unless permits for removal from the Department of
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) and the DENC are in place
(licenses and permits are required where protected tree, and plant and
animal species cannot be avoided and have to be removed,
respectively).
Various exotic/invasive plants were observed on site. Soil and
indigenous vegetation disturbances, leading to proliferation of alien
vegetation; where such aliens would compete for space and available
resources;
5
5
5
5
5
5
5.0
5.0
5.0
1
3.0
1 3.0
1 3.0
1
3.0
1
1
3.0
3.0
High
High
High
• Vegetation clearing during construction must be restricted to the footprint of the development.
If possible the construction area should be restricted to the suggested areas of least impact as
indicated by Appendix A.
• Existing firebreaks and management roads should be used as far as possible for installation of
the pipeline.
• Sensitive areas close to the development footprint should be clearly demarcated as no-go
areas to avoid accidental impacts.
• Unnecessary impacts (such as driving off road) on surrounding natural vegetation must be
avoided.
• Pre-construction staff should receive environmental education to ensure that no harvesting of
medicinal plants occurs.
• The pipeline within the Groenwaterspruit should be placed underground within the 1:100 year
delineated floodlines. This will ensure that the infrastructure required for aquifer recharge does
Moderate not obstruct water flow during heavy rainfall episodes. .
• Collection of any plant material from natural veld areas is prohibited.
• Open fires for heating and cooking purposes will not to be allowed on site or near areas where
there is a risk of starting a veld fire.
• Regular monitoring for erosion after construction to ensure that no erosion problems have
developed as a result of the disturbance.
• All erosion problems observed should be rectified as soon as possible, using the appropriate
erosion control structures and re-vegetation techniques.
• An environmental control officer (ECO) should oversee the rescue and relocation of all
protected flora to be moved;
• All areas outside and within the development footprint affected by construction should be
rehabilitated upon completion of the construction phase of the development. Areas should be reseeded with indigenous grasses/plant species as required;
• No uncontrolled fires whatsoever should be lit within the subject property
Moderate
• Sensitive areas should be demarcated and indicated as no-go areas (Appendix A).
• Permits must be obtained before removal of any protected species.
• The suggested access routes (Appendix A (blue arrows)) should be used as far as possible.
Low
• In terms of the amendments to the regulations under the Conservation of Agricultural
Resources Act, 1983 and Section 28 of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998,
landowners are legally responsible for the control of invasive alien plants on their properties and
it is therefore recommended that declared weed and invader species be removed from the
subject property;
• This action must be followed up regularly to prevent regrowth or seedling growth.
• It must be continuously monitored.
Poaching, disturbance of habitats, noise.
5
5
5.0
1 3.0
1
3.0
High
Low
• Any fauna directly threatened by the construction activities should be removed to a safe
location by the ECO or other suitably qualified person.
• Minimise footprint areas of disturbance
• The collection, hunting or harvesting of any plants or animals at the site should be strictly
forbidden. Personnel should not be allowed to wander off the demarcated construction site.
• Impose strict penalties for poaching.
• Environmental awareness training of staff.
Persons employed in construction activities.
1
2
1.5
2 1.8
0.6
1.1
-
Positive
Low
• Preference given to people in the local area.
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT
1.1.1.11 Increased job opportunities
1.1.1.12 Roads, Traffic and Infrastructure
1.1.1.13 Visual Impact
The proposed construction activities (traffic and delivery of equipment
and materials) will result in a slight increase in movement of heavy
motor vehicles and construction vehicles which will increase traffic and
place additional pressure on the road infrastructure. Construction staff
will be housed in existing facilities in Postmasburg; therefore no
temporary accommodation on the site will occur except in existing
facilities. The construction activities of the proposed development could
potentially impact on the daily movement and living patterns of the
surrounding community. This is expected to be very limited.
During the construction phase natural vegetation will be removed. This
will result in degradation of the visual character of the site or within the
site and its immediate surroundings, however it will not affect the visual
and scenic resources of the area.
Wit
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Miti
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Impact Significance
Wit
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Miti
Probability
Consequence
Extent
Severity
IMPACT SOURCE/DESCRIPTION
Duration
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Intensity
No.
MITIGATION
Mitigation Measure
2
2
2.0
2 2.0
0.8
1.6
Medium
Low
• Control measures will be applied at the mining area such as dust suppression using water and
chemicals (If required).
• Appropriate speed limits for all vehicles must be strictly enforced to reduce the dust nuisance
for the surrounding communities.
3
2
2.5
3 2.8
0.6
1.7
Medium
Low
• Control measures will be applied at the area to limit the visual impact. Dust suppression if
required. Infrastructure on site should as far as possible blend in with direct surroundings.
Low
• The subterranean presence of archaeological and/or historical sites, features or artefacts are
always a distinct possibility. Care should therefore be taken during any development activities
that if any of these are accidentally discovered, a qualified archaeologist be called in to
investigate. In this case unmarked stone age burials are a possibility. An archaeologist should
immediately be notified should any historical, archaeological, cultural or heritage artefacts be
unveiled.
• All construction activities should immediately be seized in such an event.
• ECO should be trained to identifying relevant archaeologist materials that could potentially be
found on site by a suitable qualified archaeologist and should also inform construction
supervisors on what to look out when digging on the site.
CULTURAL AND HERITAGE RESOURCES
1.1.1.14 Cultural and Heritage Resources
The proposed construction activities associated with the aquifer
recharge might unearth artefacts of cultural or historic value.
3
2
2.5
3 2.8
0.6
1.7
Medium