sahris.sahra.org.za€¦ · Web viewThe prevention and combating of veld, forest and mountain fires throughout South Africa. Provides institutions, methods and practices for achieving

SCHOONBEE 3.5 MW PV SOLAR POWER PLANT

DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME –

OCTOBER 2015

SCHOONBEE SOLAR POWER PLANT DRAFT EMPr OCTOBER 2015

T ABLE OF CONTENT

ACRONYMS FIGURES AND TABLESDEFINITIONSDRAFTER INFORMATION

1. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................ 11.1. Contractual Obligation................................................................................................................11.2. Background................................................................................................................................... 12. RECEIVING ENVIRONMENT............................................................................................................42.1. Existing Land use........................................................................................................................42.2. Topography, Drainage and Soils...............................................................................................42.3. Fauna and Flora........................................................................................................................... 42.4. Water Bodies & Wetlands..........................................................................................................42.5. Surrounding Land use.................................................................................................................52.6. Heritage & Cultural Aspects......................................................................................................63. APPLICABLE LEGISLATION..............................................................................................................74. ASPECT SUMMARY......................................................................................................................... 114.1. Negative...................................................................................................................................... 114.2. Positive........................................................................................................................................ 115. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES...................................................................................................136. OBJECTIVES AND TARGETS..........................................................................................................167. EMPr SCOPE.................................................................................................................................... 167.1. Planning and Design Phase.....................................................................................................167.2. Construction Phase................................................................................................................... 167.3. Operational Phase..................................................................................................................... 167.4. Closure and Decommissioning Phase....................................................................................177.5. Planning and Design Phase.....................................................................................................187.6. Construction Phase................................................................................................................... 227.7. Operational Phase..................................................................................................................... 447.8. Closure & Decommissioning Phase........................................................................................528. NON-COMPLIANCE......................................................................................................................... 549. PENALTIES...................................................................................................................................... 5510. COST ESTIMATES........................................................................................................................... 5710.1. Construction Phase Costs........................................................................................................5710.2. Operational Phase Costs..........................................................................................................59

ACRONYMSBAR Basic Assessment ReportCARA Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (43 of 1983)DAFF Department of Forestry and FisheriesDEA Department of Environmental AffairsDWS Department of Water and Sanitation

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ECO Environmental Control OfficerEIA Environmental Impact AssessmentEMPR Environmental Management ProgrammeEO Environmental OfficerHa HectareHCS Hazardous Chemical SubstancesHIA Heritage Impact AssessmentMPRDA Minerals and Petroleum Development Act (28 of 2002)NEMA National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 NWA National Water Act (36 of 1998)SAHRA South African Heritage Resources AssociationSDC Safe Disposal Certificate

FIGURES FIGURE 1: LOCALITY MAP OF THE PROPOSED SCHOONBEE 3.5 MW PV SOLAR POWER PLANT 2FIGURE 2: LAYOUT MAP OF THE PROPOSED SCHOONBEE 3.5 MW PV SOLAR POWER PLANT 3FIGURE 3: EXISTING LAND USE, PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTION 4FIGURE 4: DEGRADED GRASSLAND ALONG THE EXISTING ESKOM POWER LINE SERVITUDE 4FIGURE 5: ROAD, IRRIGATION CANAL AND DAM TO THE EAST OF THE SITE 5FIGURE 6: TEMPORARY ARTIFICIAL WETLAND 5FIGURE 7: SENSITIVITY MAP OF THE PROPOSED SCHOONBEE 3.5 MW PV SOLAR POWER PLANT 5

TABLES TABLE 1: DEFINITIONS 3TABLE 2: LEGAL REQUIREMENTS 7TABLE 3: ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITES 13TABLE 4: MITIGATION AND MANAGEMENT MEASURES FOR THE PLANNING AND DESIGN PHASE 18TABLE 5: MITIGATION AND MANAGEMENT MEASURES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE 22TABLE 6: MITIGATION AND MANAGEMENT MEASURES FOR THE OPERATIONAL PHASE 44TABLE 7: MITIGATION AND MANAGEMENT MEASURES FOR THE DECOMMISSIONING PHASE 52TABLE 8: PENALTIES 55TABLE 9: CONSTRUCTION PHASE COST PROVISION 57TABLE 10: OPERATIONAL PHASE COST PROVISION 59

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DEFINITIONS

TABLE 1: DEFINITIONSWORD DEFINITION

Environment

The surroundings within which humans exist and thatare made up of:(i) the land, water and atmosphere of the earth:(ii) micro-organisms, plant and animal life:(iii) any part or combination of (i) and (ii) and the interrelationships amongand between them: and(iv) the physical, chemical, aesthetic and cultural properties and conditionsof the foregoing that influence human health and well-being: (xix)

Water course

Watercourse means - (i) a river or spring; (ii) a natural channel in which water flows regularly or intermittently; (iii) a wetland, lake or dam into which, or from which, water flows; and (iv) any collection of water which the Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, declare to be a watercourse, and a reference to a watercourse includes, where relevant, its bed and banks,

Pollution

The introduction into the environment of any substance caused by the action of man which has, or results in, significant harmful effects to mankind or the environment. Pollutants include any substances which make the environment less fit in any way for its intended use.

Fauna Refers to all animals, including insects and micro-organisms.Flora Refers to all plant species.Air quality The term “air quality” means the state of the air around us

Bunded area

A bund is an embankment or wall of brick, stone, concrete or other impervious material, which forms the perimeter and floor of a compound and provides a barrier to retain liquid. Bunds should be designed to contain spillages and leaks in order to prevent pollution of the receiving environment, bunds are also used for fire protection, product recovery and process isolation.

Waste

Means any substance, whether or not that substance can bereduced, reused, recycled and recovered, that(i) is surplus, unwanted, rejected, discarded, abandoned or disposed of(ii) the generator has no further use of for the purposes of production,‐ reprocessing or consumption;(iii) that must be treated or disposed of; or(iv) is identified as a waste by the Minister;

Hazardous Waste

Hazardous waste is waste that poses substantial or potential threats to public health or the environment

Hazardous Chemical Substances

Dangerous goods are solids, liquids, or gases that can harm people, other living organisms, property, or the environment. They are often subject to chemical regulations.

SoilThe upper layer of earth in which plants grow, a black or dark brown material typically consisting of a mixture of organic remains, clay, and rock particles.

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Heritage Resources

Heritage resources include the following:a) Places, buildings, structures and equipment of cultural significance;b) places to which oral traditions are attached or which are associated with living

heritage;c) historical settlements and townscapes;d) landscapes and natural features of cultural significance;e) geological sites of scientific or cultural importance;f) archaeological and paleontological sites;g) graves and burial grounds, including—i. ancestral graves;ii. royal graves and graves of traditional leaders;iii. graves of victims of conflict;iv. graves of individuals designated by the Minister by notice in the Gazette;v. historical graves and cemeteries; andvi. other human remains which are not covered in terms of the Human Tissue Act,

1983 (Act No. 65 of 1983);h) sites of significance relating to the history of slavery in South Africa;i) movable objects, including—i. objects recovered from the soil or waters of South Africa, including

archaeological and paleontological objects and material, meteorites and rare geological specimens;

ii. objects to which oral traditions are attached or which are associated with living heritage;

iii. ethnographic art and objects;iv. military objects;v. objects of decorative or fine art;vi. objects of scientific or technological interest; andvii. books, records, documents, photographic positives and negatives, graphic, film

or video material or sound recordings, excluding those that are public records as defined in section (xiv) of the National Archives of South Africa Act, 1996 (Act No. 43 of 1996).

DRAFTER INFORMATION The drafter of this Environmental Management Programme (EMPr), Eben van Schalkwyk holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Management and is an internationally registered Environmental Auditor with the Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment (IEMA) based in the UK.

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1. INTRODUCTIONEP3 Environmental has been appointed by Sonfin (Pty) Ltd (hereafter referred to as the client), as the independent Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) responsible for compilation of the Environmental Management Programme (EMPr) for the construction of the 3.5 megawatt (MW) Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Power Plant.

The EMPr has been compiled to ensure that the development is undertaken in compliance with the requirements set out in Section 28 of the National Environmental Management Act (Act 107 of 1998) and other relevant legislation (refer to Table 1) under which the Duty of Care Principal is described.

The EMPr will be authorised as part of the Environmental Authorisation process, once authorisation is obtained for the development, the EMPR becomes a legally binding document.

The EMPr identifies the aspects that will and may have an impact on the receiving environment and provides guidelines on how to mitigate significant impacts as far as is reasonably practical and possible. This EMPR sets forth environmental management practices to ensure compliance with relevant Environmental Legislation and Environmental Best Practices.

1.1.Contractual ObligationThis EMPr must be included in ALL tender and contract documentation associated with this project.

1.2.BackgroundThe proposed 3.5 MW PV Solar Power Plant will be developed on the Farm Blaauwildebeestfontein 16-JS, Groblersdal, Limpopo province (refer to the locality map in Figure1). The site falls within the jurisdiction of the Ephraim Mogale Local Municipality and the Greater Sekhukhune District Municipality. The site will cover approximately 6 hectares and is situated on agricultural land, previously used for the cultivation of crops, on the Schoonbee farm, which is a commercial farm.

The need for the Solar Power Plant arose due to the national load shedding schedule. The farm requires a constant and reliable source of energy. Production losses are incurred during power outages which makes the farm less profitable. For these reasons the decision was made to construct a 3.5. MW PV Solar Power Plant, this will ensure that the farm has a continuous, reliable source of electricity and continues to operate at the required production rate.

The construction of the Solar Power Plant requires environmental authorisation, as it triggers specific activities under Section 24(5) and 44 of the National Environmental Management Act (Act 107 of 1998), which must be obtained from the national Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA). The EMPr forms part of the Basic Assessment Report (BAR) which is submitted to the DEA for authorisation and approval. The Environmental Authorisation requires that the EMPr be implemented at all stages of the projects’ lifecycle, from the planning and design phase, the construction phase, the rehabilitation phase, the operational phase and to the decommissioning phase.

The proposed layout design is shown in Figure 2 below.

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FIGURE 1: LOCALITY MAP OF THE PROPOSED SCHOONBEE 3.5 MW PV SOLAR POWER PLANT

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FIGURE 2: LAYOUT MAP OF THE PROPOSED SCHOONBEE 3.5 MW PV SOLAR POWER PLANT

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2. RECEIVING ENVIRONMENT

2.1.Existing Land useThe site was used for agricultural crops (Figure 3). To the east of the site is a farm dirt road (Figure 4), along which, on the opposite side from the site runs a concrete irrigation canal and a man-made dam adjacent to that.

FIGURE 3: EXISTING LAND USE, PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTION

FIGURE 4: DEGRADED GRASSLAND ALONG THE EXISTING ESKOM POWER LINE SERVITUDE

2.2.Topography, Drainage and SoilsThe site topography is relatively flat (see Figure 3) with little topographical features. On site the topography dips towards the east. The slope of the study area is classified as flatter terrain (less than 12 degree slopes).

2.3.Fauna and FloraAccording to the Ecological Assessment undertaken for the site, the vegetation of the solar plant site and the existing Eskom power line servitude varies between degraded to completely modified (see Figures 3 and 4). The cultivated land has a zero sensitivity and only a few pioneer grasses and exotic weeds was noted on these areas. The degraded grassland areas adjacent to the cultivated land have a low sensitivity and is characterised by grass species such as Cynodon dactylon, Urochloa mosambicensis and Dactylotenium aegyptium.

The only species of conservation importance occurring in the area according to the National Forest Act is the protected species Sclerocarya birrea (Marula). A single individual occurs to the south of the proposed underground power cable route, although no impact will occur on this specimen as the underground cable will not be installed in close proximity of the specimen.

2.4.Water Bodies & WetlandsFigure 5 below shows a road, concrete canal and irrigation dam to the East of the site.

Figure 6 shows the temporary artificial wetland which is caused by stormwater being diverted away from the roads and cultivated land, towards the irrigation dam to the east of the site. The artificial stormwater canal to the north and east of the site represents degraded areas with a medium – low sensitivity. These canals do show some wetland characteristics (hydrophilic grasses and Cyperaceae species), although as entities have limited ecosystem and hydrological functionalities. A five meter

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buffer zone has been incorporated into the layout design plan (as per the recommendations of the wetland specialist) between the outer fence and the edge of the drainage line/ artificial wetland (refer to Figures 2 and 7).

FIGURE 5: ROAD, IRRIGATION CANAL AND DAM TO THE EAST OF THE SITE

FIGURE 6: TEMPORARY ARTIFICIAL WETLAND

FIGURE 7: SENSITIVITY MAP OF THE PROPOSED SCHOONBEE 3.5 MW PV SOLAR POWER PLANT

2.5.Surrounding Land useFigure 7 is an aerial map of the site, showing various sensitivities as well as the surrounding land uses. Directly south, west and north of the site and within 500 meters of the site is agricultural land used for citrus orchards (on the right side of the photo in Figure 6). To the east of the site lies the man-made irrigation dam (Figure 5), to the south-east of the site are the farms buildings, warehouses and storerooms.

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2.6.Heritage & Cultural AspectsNo heritage resources were identified on the project site by the specialist. The site, however, falls within a larger heritage area, which encompasses rich and diverse archaeological landscapes and therefore, during construction operations, heritage resources may be uncovered in surface and sub-surface deposits. The mitigation measures provided in the construction phase section below must be implemented should any heritage resource be revealed during construction.

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3. APPLICABLE LEGISLATIONThe following environmental legislation is applicable to the project and should be monitored and managed to ensure compliance.

TABLE 2: LEGAL REQUIREMENTSLEGISLATION SECTIONS RELATES TO

The Constitution Republic of South Africa (Act No 108 of 1996)

Chapter 2 Bill of Rights.

Section 24Environmental Right & Save environment.

National Environmental Management Act (No 107 of 1998) as amended in 2014

Chapter 2

Defines the strategic environmental management goals and objectives of the government. Applies throughout the Republic and to the actions of all organs of state that may significantly affect the environment.

Chapter 5 Integrated Environmental Management.Section 24(a) &(d) &24(5)

Listed activities and Regulations.

Section 28The developer has a general duty to care for the environment and to institute such measures as may be needed to demonstrate such care.

National Environmental Management: Waste Act 59 of 2008

Section 2 General policy.

Chapter 2Defines the national waste management strategy, norms and standards. It emphasises the role of the provincial organ of the state in the implementation of the waste management.

Chapter 4The developer or manufacture has a general duty to avoid generation of waste and if not avoided minimise and manage it accordingly.

Section 16It is the responsibility of the person/organisation generating the waste to ensure that the waste is treated and disposed of in an environmentally sound manner.

Section 27 Provision of containers for waste management.

The Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (No 43 of 1983)

Provides for the regulation of control over the utilization of the natural agricultural resources in order to promote the maintenance of ecological health of land, combating and preventing erosion and weakening or destruction of water resources, protecting vegetation and

Section 6Implementation of control measures to combat weeds, alien and invasive plant species.

Section 19Prevention of littering by employees and sub-contractors during construction and the maintenance phases of the project.

National Heritage Resources Act(No 25 of 1999)

Section 34No person may alter or demolish any structure or part of a structure which is older than 60 years without a permit issued by the relevant provincial heritage resources authority.

Section 35 No person may, without a permit issued by the responsible heritage resources authority destroy, damage, excavate, alter, deface or otherwise disturb any archaeological or paleontological site.

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LEGISLATION SECTIONS RELATES TO

Section 36

No person may, without a permit issued by the South African Heritage Resource Agency (SAHRA) or a provincial heritage resources authority destroy, damage, alter, exhume, remove from its original position or otherwise disturb any grave or burial ground older than 60 years which is situated outside a formal cemetery administered by a local authority. "Grave" is widely defined in the Act to include the contents, headstone or other marker of such a place, and any other structure on or associated with such place.

Section 38

This section provides for Heritage Impact Assessments (HIAs), which are not already covered under the ECA. Where they are covered under the ECA the provincial heritage resources authorities must be notified of a proposed project and must be consulted during the HIA process. The Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) will be approved by the authorising body of the provincial directorate of environmental affairs, which is required to take the provincial heritage resources authorities' comments into account prior to making a decision on the HIA.

National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act (No 39 of 2004)

Sections 26 -27

Control of fuels.

Section 32 Control of dust.Section 34 Control of noise.Section 35 Control of odours.

National Water Act (36 of 1998)

Section 22Permissible Water Use - The Act controls/ regulates the utilization of natural water resources and provides provisions to safe-guard the integrity of these water resources.

Hazardous Substances Act (No 15 of 1973) and regulations

Provides for the definition, classification, use, operation, modification, disposal or dumping of hazardous substances

National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act ( 10 of 2004)

Section 65 and 67

Provides management and conservation of South Africa’s biodiversity within the framework of the National Environmental Management Act107 of 1998; the protection of species and ecosystems that warrant national protection and the sustainable use of indigenous biological resources.65. (1) A person may not carry out a restricted activity involving a specimen of an alien species without a permit issued in terms of Chapter 7.(2) A permit referred to in subsection (1) may be issued only after a prescribed assessment of risks and potential impacts on biodiversity is carried out.

67. (1) The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, publish a list of those alien species in respect of which a permit mentioned in section 65(1) may not be issued.(2) A person may not carry out any restricted activity involving a specimen of an alien species published in terms of subsection (1).

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LEGISLATION SECTIONS RELATES TO(3) The Minister must regularly review a list published in terms of subsection (1).

National Road Traffic Act (No 93 of 1996)

Road safety

Government Notice R. 598 National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (10/2004): Alien and Invasive Species Regulations, 2014

Section 3

Category 1b Listed Invasive Species(1) Category 1b Listed Invasive Species are those species listed as such by notice in terms of section 70(1)(a) of the Act as species which must be controlled.

Minerals and Petroleum Development Act (28 of 2002)

Section 39 Environmental Management Plan for entering borrow pits.

National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (10 of 2004)

Section 41 Finalise provision for rehabilitation.

Occupational Health and Safety Act (No 85 of 1993)

Section 8 General duties of employers to their employees.

Section 9General duties of employers and self-employed persons to persons other than their employees.

Fertilisers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act (No 36 of 1947)

Sections 3-10

Control of the use of registered pesticides, herbicides (weed killers) and fertilisers. Special precautions shall be taken to prevent workers from being exposed to chemical substances in this regard.

National Veld & Forest Fire Act (NVFFA, ACT 101 OF 1998)

The prevention and combating of veld, forest and mountain fires throughout South Africa. Provides institutions, methods and practices for achieving this purpose. Every owner on whose land a veld fire may start or burn or from whose land it may spread must prepare and maintain a firebreak on his/her side of the boundary between his/her land and any adjoining land. The procedure in this regard and the role of the adjoining owners and the fire protection association are dealt with within this act. An owner on whose land is subject to a risk of veld fire or whose land or part of it coincides with the border of the Republic, must prepare and maintain a firebreak on his or her land as close as possible to the border.

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LEGISLATION SECTIONS RELATES TOMobile fire fighters will be placed at strategic places to ensure that a fire be kept in the boundaries. Sufficient fire breaks already exist around the proposed site.

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4. ASPECT SUMMARY

4.1.NegativeSeveral aspects associated with the development will have the ability to cause or potentially cause an impact on the environment. These aspects need to be managed in order to ensure that the associated impacts are prevented or minimised as far as possible. All developments will have negative impacts on the environment. Negative impacts can, in certain instances be prevented, however, mostly negative impacts can only be managed to minimize the impact. The following aspects are anticipated:

The development will result in the loss of agricultural land, this impact cannot be prevented, only minimized, by ensuring that the site and routes too, through, and around the site are clearly demarcated and ensure that the footprint affected by the development is limited as far as possible.

During the construction of the Solar Power Plant, dust resulting from exposed soil surfaces and moving vehicles will need to be managed.

The use of vehicles, plant and machinery will result in air pollution and will need to be managed. The use and storage of chemicals such as fuels, oils and paints etc. on the site will likely result in

chemical spillages which will contaminate soil and possibly water resources. Waste will be generated during construction, resulting in the occupation of landfill space and, if not

managed correctly, waste can result in soil or water contamination, or may become a health hazard to living organisms, if not disposed of correctly (e.g.: illegal dumping).

4.2. Positive The overall development of the Solar Power Plant, once operational will have positive aspects resulting in positive impacts. By constructing a solar power plant, the farm will become self-sufficient and will have a constant, un-interrupted supply of electricity and will not be faced with the risk of power outages which affects crop production and results in operational losses.

The following environmental benefits of renewable energy as opposed to non-renewable energy sources are:

will aid in slowing global warming; less air pollution; less waste produced; less water used; and saving eco-systems because solar doesn’t rely on constantly mining raw materials and doesn’t

result in the destruction of forests and eco-systems that occur within many fossil fuel operations.

Should the farm not be able to operate at a sustainable level, losses will be incurred and retrenchments of local farm workers and contractors may become necessary. Loss of crops will result in less food making its way to the markets. Therefore the development has positive socio-economic impacts by providing both job-security and food security.

Socio-economic benefits of the Solar Power Plant are:

increased food security; it is economically viable (saves money); provides energy reliability; provides energy security;

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job creation; and less strain on the national electricity grid.

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5. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIESThe key role-players during the construction phase of the development, for the purposes of environmental management on site, include but are not limited to: the Environmental Officer (EO), Environmental Control Officer (ECO), the Contractors, Consulting Engineers and the Client. Details of the responsibilities of each of the key role-players are provided below.

TABLE 3: ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITESROLE RESPONSIBILITY

Environmental Authority- National Department of Environmental Affairs.

The DEA is responsible for: Monitoring and enforcing compliance with the Environmental

Authorization & EMPR. Review document. Undertake site audits at their discretion. Review ECO Reports. Review any incident reports. Enforce legal mechanisms for contraventions of this EMPr.

Client (The Developer)/

Holder of the Environmental Authorisation issued by the Environmental Authority (DEA)

The client is overall responsible for ensuring that the requirements of this EMPR are implemented, and issuing of penalties should the contractor not be in compliance with any of the requirements stipulated in the EMPr.The Client is responsible for the following: To make the EMPr and EA binding to all contractors. To ensure that all contractors receive a copy of the EMPR.With respect to the pre-construction phase of the development, the Client is to: Implement the recommendations outlined in the pre-construction

EMPr. To ensure all other permits, permissions and licenses from all

departments are in placeWith respect to the construction phase of the Development, the Client is to: Appoint all the required specialists to make input into the pre-

construction/design phase; and Appoint a suitably qualified or experienced Environmental Control

Officer (ECO) prior to the start of construction activities on site, and for the duration of the construction phase.

With respect to the operational phase of the development, the Client is to: Ensure that operation is undertaken in line with the requirements of

the operational phase of the EMPR; and Continuously seek to improve any negative environmental impacts

which result from the operational phase.Consulting Engineers / Client Representative

The consulting engineers should undertake site inspections to ensure that the contractor is complying with the EMPr. The responsibilities of the Engineer are to: Ensure that all detailed design incorporates the requirements of the

EMPr and EA. Ensure that the EMPr is included in all tender documents issued to

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ROLE RESPONSIBILITYprospective contractors and sub-contractors.

Ensure the EMPr is included in final contract documents. Ensure that the contractors adequately provide for compliance with

the EMPr in their submissions. Ensure that the requirements as set out in this EMPr are adhered to

and implemented; Assist the ECO in ensuring that the conditions of the EMPr are being

adhered to and promptly issuing instructions requested by the ECO, to the Contractor. All site instructions relating to environmental matters issued by the Engineer are to be copied to the ECO;

Assist the ECO in making decisions and finding solutions to environmental problems that may arise during the construction phase;

Order the removal of person(s) and/or equipment not complying with the specifications (as required by the ECO or otherwise);

Issue of penalties for transgressions of Environmental Specifications.Contractors The contractor is responsible for ensuring compliance with this EMPr and

for providing training to the site staff on the requirements of this EMPr. The contractor should appoint a designated person to act as the EO on site.The Contractor is to:

Ensure compliance with this EMPr. Ensure implementation of all applicable Environmental Specifications,

during all works on site, failing which penalties, as outlined in the Environmental Specifications may be imposed by the Engineer;

Ensure that all of its sub-contractors’, employees, suppliers, agents or servants etc. are fully aware of the environmental requirements detailed in the Environmental Specifications;

Liaise closely with the Engineer and the ECO and ensure that the works on site are conducted in an environmentally sensitive manner;

Inform the Engineer as well as the ECO should environmental issues on site go wrong, e.g. dumping, pollution, littering and damage to vegetation.

Ensure that all sub-contractors comply with this EMPr and all other statutory requirements.

Environmental Control Officer

The responsibility of the ECO is to: Conduct once-off training with the Contractor on the EMPR and

general environmental awareness; Conduct monthly audits of the site according to the EMPR, and report

findings to the Principal Agent/Contractor; Recommend corrective action for any environmental non-compliance

at the site; Compile a monthly report highlighting any non-compliance issues as

well as progress and compliance with the EMPR; and Attend monthly project progress meetings and provide feedback on

compliance with the EMPR. Report any non-compliance with the EMPR or EA to the employer’s

representative and competent authority if necessary

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ROLE RESPONSIBILITY

Environmental Officer

The EO is responsible for: Day to day environmental control of contractors on site during the

construction phase; The daily implementation of the EMPR; Providing site staff with the necessary environmental awareness

training; Undertake daily site visits and complete weekly checklists based on

the content of the EMPr; Develop and maintain a detailed photographic site record throughout

the construction phase of the development and include photographic evidence in the relevant reports and documents;

Undertake a monthly internal audit and produce an audit report depicting the level of compliance achieved in terms of the requirements of the EMPr;

Maintain and update the Environmental File on an on-going basis. Prepare or obtain the relevant documentation as required in this

EMPR, and ensure that all documents and the information contained therein is kept up to date, on at least a weekly basis.

In the event that the ESA observes non-compliance that requires a stop-work order, the ECO must immediately be informed and will request such an order.

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6. OBJECTIVES AND TARGETSObjectives and targets enable projects to meet defined levels of performance against identified criteria. Objectives are statements of intent, while targets define the specific performance requirements that need to be met in order to achieve the objectives. Objectives and targets have been set to be specific, measurable, achievable and realistic. In setting objectives and targets, potentially significant risks resulting from the Project are identified, opportunities for improvement are identified, an achievement goal (objective) for each selected significant risk is set and at least one detailed performance requirement (target) for each objective that is measurable by some means must be specified.

The overall project environmental objective is to undertake all aspects of the project in an environmentally responsible manner and effectively manage risks which may lead to an impact on the environment and the surrounding communities.

The objectives and targets are detailed in the construction and operational phase sections 7.2 and 7.3 below.

7. EMPr SCOPEThe layout of the EMPr will consist of four phases; the planning and design phase, the construction phase, the operational phase and the Closure and Decommissioning phase. Objectives and targets are detailed in all sections pertaining to the various phases of the development as indicated below. Objectives and targets are established for each phase and provide a standard against which to measure environmental performance and to ensure that the overall environmental impact as managed as best as possible.

All various phases must be carried out in line with the requirements of this specification as well as any relevant environmental legislation in order to ensure that negative environmental impacts (both natural and socio-economic) are minimized and positive impacts are maximized.

7.1.Planning and Design PhaseThe EMPr requires that the impacts on the environment affected by the development be taken into consideration when planning and designing the development. The EMPr provides guidelines as to what aspects and impacts must be considered. This section also covers legislative requirements that need to be taken cognisance of and the adjudication of roles and responsibilities. This section should also be used as a guide to identify the service providers, materials and equipment likely to impose the least possible impact on the environment.

7.2.Construction PhaseThis section provides information and details for the methods to be used during the construction process in order to control the impact that construction activities will have on the receiving environment.

7.3.Operational PhaseThis section details methods to be implemented to ensure that the impacts on the environment during the operation of the development are minimized; the aim is to ensure that the infrastructure is operated and maintained according to best practices and to avoid unnecessary impacts. Objectives and

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targets are provided as a means by which to measure environmental performance and to ensure continually improved environmental performance.

7.4.Closure and Decommissioning PhaseClosure and decommissioning refers to the decommissioning of the PV Solar Power Plant at the end of its operational lifespan. For this report two methods are considered: The re-use & repair/upgrade of the facility; The total decommissioning of the solar plant.If it is decided to remove the fixed structures, an Environmental Rehabilitation Plan must be compiled. Solar panels that are still in good working order after the upgrade/decommissioning of the solar plant should be donated to local schools and clinics.

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SCHOONBEE SOLAR POWER PLANT EMPr OCTOBER 2015

7.5.Planning and Design PhaseThis section describes environmental aspects that need to be considered and decided on during the planning and design phase of the development and provides mitigation and management measures to be implemented.

TABLE 4: MITIGATION AND MANAGEMENT MEASURES FOR THE PLANNING AND DESIGN PHASEAREA/ ASPECT IMPACT / RISK CONTROL MEASURES DOCUMENTATION &

RECORDSOBJECTIVE TARGET TIME FRAME

Legal Compliance Illegal operations resulting in prosecution.

Legal Review of applicable legislation. Prior to the commencement of any construction activities, it must be ensured that that the necessary and applicable permits and authorizations are obtained from the relevant authorities to ensure compliance with applicable legislation.

Ensure that the development complies with all legislation.

100 percent legal compliance.

Prior to construction commencing.

Managing Environmental Impacts

Air, water and ground pollution;

Habitat destruction;

Loss of biodiversity; and

Loss heritage resources.

The Contractor’s Code of Conduct is a document to be drawn up by the developer, and provided to all contractors that undertake any service on site.

This code of conduct should include generic conduct rules for construction and operation activities on the development site and must be signed by all contractors. It does not exonerate contractors from complying with the EMPr and must ensure the least possible damage to indigenous flora and fauna, water quality entering and exiting the drainage

Contractual Agreements & Contractors code of conduct.

The objective of the Code of Conduct is to ensure compliance with all relevant conditions of the EA, EMPr, and recommendations by relevant authorities and specialists;

To ensure

All contractors sign the agreement;

100% compliance with the EMPR.


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SCHOONBEE SOLAR POWER PLANT EMPr OCTOBER 2015 AREA/ ASPECT IMPACT / RISK CONTROL MEASURES DOCUMENTATION &


lines within the site is protected and properly managed in accordance with the EMPR.

construction and development are undertaken with consideration to all environmental factors.

If such damage occurs, provision is made for re-instatement and rehabilitation.

Water usage/ consumption

Depleting water resources;

Receiving directives and possible criminal charges for extracting water illegally.

Identify the source of water to be utilized; Legal review to identify the relevant

authorizations and permits required for the development.

Water Use License or Water Use Certificate from the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) (if applicable); and/ or

Letter/ permit from any other responsible organ of state to extract water.

To ensure that water is extracted from legally permitted sources and does not exceed the specified threshold.

100% legal compliance.


Use of non-renewable resources in the design considerations


Associated impacts/ biodiversity loss/ pollution of air, water or ground.

Identify environmentally friendly technologies, processes and materials in the design of the development.

Keep a register of environmentally friendly technologies, processes or materials identified.

Reduce the overall impact on the environment, including direct, in-direct and cumulative impacts.

Prior to the finalization of the design plans.

Use of reflective components

Visual Impact Install all steel structures and columns at right angles to the sun.

Prevent the use of reflective steel columns

Register of components and materials

To reduce the visual impact of the development.

Zero glare. Prior to the commencement of construction.

19



and structures in the design of the substation.

The steel components within the substation should not be painted but be galvanised and allowed to oxidise naturally over time. The grey colour produced in this process will help to reduce the visual impact.

considered for use to prevent reflective surfaces.

Use and/or wasting of Paper through unnecessary printing of documents and drawings.

Water resource depletion (water is used to grow trees from which paper is made);

increased volume of waste going to landfill, thereby increasing the area of land needed for landfill space.

Only print documents or drawings if absolutely necessary;

Print double sided pages; Recycle waste paper.

Recycling register with dates and quantities of recycled waste.

Reduce wastage; Recycle all waste

paper

Zero waste paper; OR

100% waste paper recycled.

On-going

Energy consumption

Global Warming Travel for meetings should be limited as far as possible.

Communication via telephone and email should be encouraged over physical meetings.

None Reduce Carbon Emissions.

On-going.

Appointments and Role Adjudication

Poor management resulting in unnecessary expenses and unnecessary damage to the environment.

Appoint a suitably qualified or experienced Environmental Control Officer prior to the start of construction for the duration of the construction phase;

The principle contractor must appoint a trained staff member directly involved in the site construction activities as the EO; a

Suitable budgetary provision should be made to ensure sound implementation of the

Appointment letters and Contractual documentation.

Ensure that the individuals are appointed and made responsible for implementing and managing environmental aspects and impacts.

Each individual understands their responsibility and is held accountable.


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EMPR.Socio- economic Economic

growth; Employment

opportunities; Support of local

businesses.

Identify local contractors for the construction phase.

Database of Local contractors.

Promote business, job creation and develop skills amongst the local community.

Employ only locally based contractors, labour and skills.

Prior to commencement of construction.

Site Selection Loss of important flora and faunal species;


Potential impact on wetlands and other sensitive environments;

Potential Loss of heritage resources.

Ecological, avifauna, wetland, heritage, and agricultural potential studies were undertaken by specialists to determine the sensitivity of the proposed site and to recommend mitigation measures to manage the identified impacts.

Ecological Screening Assessment;

Avifauna Report; Wetland Screening

Assessment; Archaeological

Impact Assessment; Soil Potential

Report.

To identify sensitive environments, important flora and fauna, heritage sites, and agricultural potential of the soil in order to determine whether the benefit of the development outweighs the impact under the principals of sustainable development.

A site with no sensitive aspects which should be identified.

Prior to design drawings specific for the site location being drafted.

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7.6.Construction PhaseThis section provides detailed objectives and targets for the construction phase of the project.

TABLE 5: MITIGATION AND MANAGEMENT MEASURES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION PHASEAREA/ ASPECT IMPACT / RISK CONTROL MEASURES DOCUMENTATION

& RECORDSOBJECTIVE TARGET TIME FRAME

Review of the EMPR

The EMPR is redundant/ not relevant to the scope of work.

Annual review of the EMPR. Updated EMPR. To ensure that the EMPR remains relevant to the scope of work.

The EMPR is reviewed annually;

The EMPR is reviewed when there is a change in design.

Annually

Record Keeping Non-compliance with legislation.

Administrative Notices.

Penalties.

The ECO will provide a list of documentation required to be kept in the Environmental File.

Records will be prepared, maintained and stored by the Contractor on site.

Records will be updated regularly but no less than once per month.

Letters and correspondence with the relevant National or Provincial Authorities;

EMPR; EMPR checklist; Incident register; Waste register; Safe Disposal

Certificates for each entry in the waste register;

SDC’s for Sanitary Services;

Complaints register;

Toolbox talk

To provide proof of compliance to legislative requirements;

To ensure that environmental requirements are met.

All records in the file must be kept up to date monthly.

Monthly

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AREA/ ASPECT IMPACT / RISK CONTROL MEASURES DOCUMENTATION & RECORDS

OBJECTIVE TARGET TIME FRAME

Topics; Toolbox talk

register; Environmental

Awareness and Induction training register.

Monitoring and Auditing

Failure to evaluate the level of compliance with the established environmental criteria.

Implement a monitoring and auditing schedule. Daily site inspections shall be undertaken by the EO and

checklists completed based on the content of the EMPR. Monthly audits shall be conducted by the appointed

ECO to independently monitor compliance with the requirements of the EMPR.

Any non-compliance must be formally recorded in an environmental audit report, together with the response and action undertaken and the timeframes.

Each non-compliance incident report must be issued to the relevant person so that appropriate corrective and preventative action is taken within agreed timeframe.

Weekly Checklists.

Audit Reports.

To ensure that all requirements of the EMPR are implemented.

To assess the degree to which the project complies with the EMPR.

Zero non-conformances (findings).

Weekly Checklists.

Monthly audit reports.

Daily

Weekly

Monthly

Environmental Training and Awareness

Lack of training will result in an increased number of environmental incidents and preventable impacts.

The components of the EMPR must be included in the Induction Programme on site.

Induction must be given to all staff working on or visiting the site, prior to them entering the construction area, individuals must be re-inducted every 6 months.

All staff on site must undergo induction training, these include but are not limited to: The designated site environmental officer

(responsible for the implementation of the EMPR and the monitoring of compliance with the EMPR and any other environmental requirements.

The main contractor;

Induction program.

Induction material.

Induction training attendance registers.

Toolbox talks. Toolbox talk

attendance records.

To ensure that all staff understand the requirements of the EMPR.

To ensure that each individual understands their role in the implementation of the control measures provided in the

Project inductions to given to all site staff and visitors.

Toolboxes to be delivered regularly.

Daily pre-start meetings to be conducted before commencemen

Within the first month.

Weekly

Daily

23




Sub-contractors; Consulting engineers and/ or the client

representative; Site management; The workforce (skilled and unskilled workers).

Induction training should include: Explanation of the importance of complying with the

EMPr; Explanation of the importance of complying with the

Environmental Authorization; Discussion of the potential impacts of construction

activities; The benefits of improved personal performance; Employees roles and responsibilities and emergency

preparedness; Explanation of the mitigation measures that must be

implemented when carrying out their activities; No-go areas and other specifications.

Toolbox talks will include environmental topics, of which at least one environmental talk will be done per week.

Records of induction and toolbox talk attendance must be compiled, and kept on file on site.

A list of Do’s and Don’ts will be in the format of “General Rules” and will be displayed on notice boards so as to enhance employee knowledge of the EMPR.

EMPR. The Consulting

Engineers, Contractor and supervisory staff must be fully aware of the contents of this EMPR and sign a letter to that effect.

t of work each day.

All staff to be fully informed of the EMPR and trained in their environmental obligations.

All staff are to be competent in relation to their environmental responsibilities.

Within the first week of appointment.

Within the first week of appointment.

Site Establishment & Demarcation

Water pollution.

Visual Impact; Loss of

biodiversity. Habitat Loss.

No construction materials, stockpiles, spoil areas or laydown areas may be established within the 1:50 flood line of the dam.

Shade netting should be used to minimize the visual impact of the camp and construction activities.

Naturally occurring fauna & flora should be preserved as far as possible.

Areas used for construction operations must be clearly

Site Layout Plan. Meeting Minutes

(as proof of communication).

Method Statements.

Minimize the construction footprint and impacts.

Minimize the area of disturbance by optimizing the

Demarcate all working areas to be utilised during construction.

Once Off

24




demarcated and kept to a minimum size. The following areas must be demarcated with barrier

tape or safety netting: Laydown areas; Soil stockpile areas; Spoil material stockpile areas; Parking areas for plant and vehicles; and Hazardous Chemical Substance storage areas.

Establish the site in an area more than 50 meters away from the irrigation dam and channels and as well as any drainage lines.

Photographic record of the area must be taken prior to site establishment.

layout of the construction.

Ensure a safe working environment for the construction workforce.

Wetlands Wetland degradation and loss of wetland functionality.

A storm water management plan which must curb against pooling and stagnation or erosion must be prepared.

A buffer of 5 meters must be implemented to ensure the canal (artificial temporary wetland zone) integrity is kept intact, this must be demarcated.

Storm water management plan.

Prevent disturbances to the wetland which could result in loss of wetland functionality.

Zero disturbance to the wetland.

Prior to construction.

During construction.

Flora Loss of Biodiversity.

Unnecessary damage can be prevented by implementing the following measures: The construction footprint must be demarcated and all

activities shall be restricted to the demarcated 9ha area. As little disturbance to natural vegetation should be done as practically possible.

Naturally occurring fauna and flora should be preserved as far as possible.

Areas used for construction operations must be clearly demarcated and kept to a minimum size.

Construction vehicles and machinery should not be allowed to operate outside of the site boundary.

Construction vehicles should only utilise existing roads

Daily/ weekly checklist.

Method Statements.

Protect and encourage growth of indigenous and protected plant species.

Eradicate all alien/ invasive plant species.

Minimizing damage to the natural habitat;

No Category 1, 2 or 3 invasive species may be allowed to grow in the area.

Within 6 months

Bi-annually

25




for construction activities as far as practically possible in order to reduce the impact on natural vegetation.

The 100 meter buffer from the irrigation dam and concrete canal to the east of the site must be maintained, no construction activities may take place in this buffer zone.

The 5 meter buffer zone between the outer fence of the site and the drainage line (artificial temporary wetland) to the north of the site must also be maintained, no construction activities may take place in this buffer zone.

Storage of equipment, fuel and other materials and chemicals should be limited to demarcated areas.

The Marula tree identified in the specialist’s report must be clearly marked and cordoned off with barrier tape or safety netting, prior to trenching for the installation of the underground power cable, to ensure that construction vehicles do not damage the plants.

Restrict construction activities to within the designated areas (as indicated on the construction layout plan, if available).

Weeds and alien and invasive plants species must be removed on an on-going basis.

No firewood shall be collected from the areas surrounding the construction site, unless the plants have specifically been earmarked for removal for construction purposes.

Fauna Loss of Biodiversity.

Animals which may be found on the construction site include various bird species, rodents, snakes and amphibians. Ensure protection of important resources by

establishing protective buffers to exclude unintentional disturbance.

Incident Register. Protect all animal species.

No animals killed or harmed.

Cat populations and other species that

On-going

26




During construction, drainage lines and the wetland zone must be avoided by construction vehicles and equipment, wherever possible, in order to reduce potential impacts. Only necessary damage must be caused and, for example, unnecessary driving around in the veld or bulldozing natural habitat must not take place.

Use existing facilities (e.g., access roads) to the extent possible to minimize the amount of new disturbance.

Animals found on the construction site may not be harmed or killed.

No snaring of animals will be allowed. No additional lighting may be erected on site for

construction activities, as this will have an impact on nocturnal species. Should additional lightning be needed for the operational phase, this must be done in conjunction with the ECO.

Should any sensitive faunal species be observed which might be impacted on, the ECO must be informed immediately and in order to deal with it timeously.

Limit pesticide use to non-persistent, immobile pesticides and apply in accordance with label and application permit directions and stipulations for terrestrial and aquatic applications.

represent a nuisance must be managed in the recommended manner.

Visual Impact The visual impact of the site should be reduced as far as possible.

Good Housekeeping should be practiced, laydown areas, waste areas, stockpile areas should be kept neat and organized.

No uncontained waste should be allowed, all waste must be placed in closed waste receptacles immediately upon production.

The planting of indigenous shrubs and plants around the perimeter of the site in order to make the solar panels less visible from the immediate surrounds should

Daily/ weekly checklists.

Keep the site in a clean and tidy state.

Make the power plant less visually intrusive.

Organised laydown areas.

No litter. Make the

power plant less visually intrusive.

Daily

Daily 6 months

upon completion of the construction work.

27




be considered. In terms of lighting the following should be

implemented: Outdoor lighting must be strictly controlled so as to

prevent light pollution. All lighting must be installed at downward angles. Sources of light must as far as possible be shielded by

physical barriers. Consider the application of motion detectors to allow

the application of lighting only where and when it is required.

Only minimum wattage light fixtures must be used. Construction to occur only during daytime. Should the

ECO authorize night work, low flux and frequency lighting shall be used.

Security & Access Control

Theft of property.

Injury to authorised and un-authorised persons.

Security guards must be stationed at the entrance to the site and records of all persons and vehicles entering and leaving the site must be kept.

Security staff must be provided with heating and cooking facilities (in order that they do not need to light fires), access to toilet facilities and communication equipment.

Access Register. Security Plan and

Procedure.

Prevent theft and injury to un-authorised personal and damage to property as a result of actions of un-authorised persons.

Zero incidents of un-authorised persons or vehicles on site.

Zero incidents of theft or damage to property.

Daily

Storm water and Erosion

Loss of Soil resources and contamination / siltation of water bodies.

The Contractor shall protect all areas susceptible to erosion and shall not allow erosion to develop on a large scale before effecting repairs.

During construction, areas susceptible to erosion must be protected by installing temporary or permanent drainage works and energy dispersion mechanisms and could include:

Daily/ weekly inspection registers.

Method Statements.

Manage storm water to prevent flooding/ ponding of water and to prevent soil loss through

No ponding of water.

No evident erosion.

On-going

On-going

28




Vegetation cover; Benches consisting of sand bags; Silt traps; Rapid re-vegetation and landscaping as soon as

possible.

erosion.

Concrete and cement work

Cement powder has a high pH, spillage of dry cement powder and slurry will affect both soil and water pH adversely. Careless handling of cement products resulting in spillages can have detrimental effects on the surrounding environment.

No mixing of cement is allowed on bare ground, mortar boards or similar structures must be used.

Cement mixing operations and wash out areas may not be located within 32m of the dams or wetland, containment measures such as berms should be used if necessary to prevent the sludge water from spreading.

Cement bags must be handled carefully to ensure that the bags do not break prior to use.

Daily/ Weekly Checklists.

Training records. Incident Register. Method

Statements.

Prevent soil contamination and disturbances to vegetation.

All concrete is mixed on mortar boards.

Daily

On-going

Soil Management

Soil erosion. Soil

degradation (altering soil quality).

Soil pollution.

Minimize the number of disturbed areas at any one time.

Minimize trampling and removal of vegetation to what is strictly necessary.

Prior to construction, strip topsoil to a depth of 150mm or to the bedrock or subsoil, whichever is less with grass and herbaceous vegetation cover left intact (no burning of vegetation) from the following areas: Locations for all building structures and paved

Daily/ Weekly Checklist.

Incident Register. Method

Statements.

Protect top soil from erosion and degradation.

Preserve topsoil and subsoil.

All measures to protect topsoil are implemented.

Once off

29




surfaces; Access roads; Storage areas; and Pipeline trenches and other excavated areas.

Ensure that topsoil stockpiles do not exceed 2m in height in order to maintain aeration and biological activity.

Avoid stripping of topsoil and subsoil during periods of high winds to prevent dust and loss of topsoil.

Ensure that topsoil and subsoil are not mixed. Stockpile separately at suitable locations.

Ensure gravity flow storm water drainage is maintained to avoid soil erosion due to the concentration of storm water and scouring of disturbed areas and stockpiles.

Anti-erosion measures must be implemented in areas where erosion is likely to occur, on completion of construction work, all areas that are prone to erosion must be re-vegetated with indigenous grasses. Erosion measures include:

1. Vegetation cover;2. Benches consisting of sand bags;3. Placing rocks in small gullies and disturbed areas; and4. Cut-off trenches can be installed to divert substantial

run-off and prevent erosion. Wherever possible, any damaging activities (e.g. tracks,

unloading/storage/ construction sites) should be located on the areas of lowest sensitivity (in this instance areas with the least grass and sand, and most resistant gravels) and only within the footprint of the development.

Minimize tracks, use of heavy equipment and dumping of soil as far as possible to contain the area of substrate affected.

30




Allow only a single access route to each relevant section of the development and, within each section, always maintain only the minimum tracks necessary for operation and maintenance, with designated passing points so that effectively only a single track is created for 2-way traffic.

Protect stockpiles from wind erosion by covering the stockpile with suitable fabric (geotextile/hessian)/ cover or dampening during periods of medium and high winds.

Topsoil which will be stockpiled for a period of 6 months or more must be covered with fabric (geotextile/hessian) or grassed.

Backfill material must be supplied from approved quarries and borrow pits. As per section 39 of the Minerals and Petroleum Development Act (Act 28 of 2002).

Soils contaminated with fuels, oils, paints, solvents etc. due to spillage shall be removed as soon as reasonably possible but within 24 hours and disposed of at an appropriate (licensed) waste disposal facility (refer to hazardous waste section for more details).

Sanitation (Ablution facilities)

Ground and/ or water pollution.

Negative effect on the health of living organisms including humans.

One toilet shall be provided for every 15 employees working on site.

Chemical toilets must be serviced at least once a week or as often as required.

Sewerage must be taken to an approved waste water treatment plant (a letter from which must be obtained stating that they have capacity to treat the waste, and a copy of this letter must be kept on file on site).

Safe Disposal Certificates (SDC) must be obtained from the sewerage disposal company and be readily available on the environmental file.

Safe Disposal Certificates.

Letter from service provider stating that the municipality has given the company authorisation to dispose of sewerage at the

To ensure that all waste is disposed of in a manner that does not cause harm to the environment and the health of any living organisms.

All waste is accounted for and disposed of in the correct manner.

Monthly

31




Provide adequate sanitation facilities and prevent soil and groundwater pollution.

Potable water will be provided at various points on site and facilities for hand washing near all toilets and eating areas must be provided.

waste water treatment plant.

A SDC register.

Water Management

Natural resource depletion through water wastage.

Degradation of water quality.

Water pollution.

The construction workforce shall have access to sufficient water and measures to achieve this shall include but are not limited to the provision of potable water on site and facilities (taps) for hand washing near all toilets and eating areas.

No natural water sources shall be used for construction activities or for domestic activities unless a Water Use License has been obtained from the relevant authority.

Do not discharge liquid pollutants into the dam or water channels.

Daily/ Weekly inspection checklists.

Water usage register.

Method Statements.

Minimize water usage.

Ensure compliance with the NWA.

No leaking pipes, connections or taps.

No non-conformances from the DWA.

Daily

Daily

Traffic Management

Obstructing traffic flow.

Accidents (damage to property and injury to persons).

Damage to flora and fauna.

All construction and delivery vehicles traveling on public roads must adhere to the applicable road speed limits and traffic regulations.

All vehicles shall be roadworthy. Repair damage to construction access roads within 24

hours of its identification. Access and haul roads shall be clearly demarcated and

vehicle movement confined to the demarcated areas only.

Daily/ weekly inspection checklist.

Method Statements.

Ensure that disturbances to the public along public roads used by construction vehicles are minimized.

Zero road accidents.

Zero complaints from the public.

Daily Daily

Stakeholder Engagement

Poor public image.

Public protesting.

Arrange pre-construction meeting with surrounding land owners and community leaders.

The Contractor is to inform neighbours of disruptive activities at least 24 hours beforehand.

Meeting minutes. Complaints

register. Proof of

complaint settlements.

Provide communities in the vicinity of the development and other interested stakeholders,

Provide a response to all complaints within 7 days.

Address and close out environmental complaints

Seven days.

Seven days.

32




with regular information on the progress of work and its implications.

To monitor implementation of mitigation measures and the impact of construction on communities via direct monitoring and feedback from those affected in order to ensure that mitigation measures are implemented and the mitigation objectives achieved.

To manage any disputes between the client, the contractors and the local community.

within 7 days.

Hazardous Ground and/or The contractor shall identify all activities that involve A register of Prevent All HCS are Once off

33




Chemical Substances Management

water pollution. the handling of potentially hazardous substances and will implement and monitor procedures for the transport, storage, handling accidental release and eventual disposal of these substances.

All chemical storage areas must be located at least 32 meters or more from any body of water, water course, drainage line or wetland.

Chemical storage areas must be bunded. Bunds must be constructed and must be capable of containing 110% of the total volume of chemicals to be stored in it in order to contain any spillages or leakages at stationary chemical utilization/ storage areas. A sump must be constructed inside the bunded area and the floor of the bunded area must slope towards the sump so that should any spillages occur, the chemicals or contaminated water (rain water) can be easily pumped out. Outlet valves can be placed on the bunded area in order to discharge any uncontaminated rain water that has collected in the bund. Preferably, the bunded area should be roofed in order to prevent the ingress of rain water.

The bund capacity and the quantity of chemicals stored in the bunded areas must be displayed at the storage area.

Access to chemical storage areas must be restricted to authorized personnel only and must be clearly demarcated with the necessary warning signs.

A register of HCS must be displayed at the storage area and all MSDS must be available for each HCS and must be easily accessible in case of an emergency.

Storage of fuel and refueling of vehicles and equipment shall only occur at a designated fuel depot.

Storage of cement and concrete mixing shall only occur

hazardous chemicals stored on site must be drawn up and displayed at the storage area.

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) must be made available for all chemicals used on the site.

Method Statements.

pollution of ground or water.

Minimize the risk of pollution through leakages, spillages or inappropriate disposal of hazardous substances; and to minimize the risk of hazardous substances affecting the health of the workforce, public or the environment.

stored in drip trays and bunded areas.

Spillages are treated immediately.

Daily

34




at designated concrete mixing areas. Paints, solvents, acids, resins, etc. shall only be stored

within designated storage sheds. Drip trays must be placed under all operating

generators, both stationary and mobile. Drip trays should be provided if there are small

quantities of hazardous chemical substances (HCS) to be stored on site. For larger amounts of HCS impermeable bunded areas with sumps should be built.

Only small plant and equipment such as generators and pumps should be refueled on site and this must be done with a drip tray in place to contain any spillages and prevent ground and possible contamination of water resources.

No vehicles or heavy machinery/ plant may be refueled on site unless a concrete floor with a sump is in place to contain any spillages.

All vehicle maintenance shall occur at a designated vehicle maintenance area.

Washing of containers, equipment and vehicles shall only occur at designated washing areas.

Vehicles and equipment must be kept in a road-worthy condition to avoid leakages.

Hydraulic pipes on plant must be checked for wear and tear on a weekly basis.

The contractor will ensure that all hazardous substances are handled in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications, legal requirements and the procedures mentioned above.

The contractor will ensure that all employees who work with hazardous substances receive training about the proper methods for storage, handling and disposing of these substances.

35




Oil Spill Kits must be available on site to deal with spillages.

Daily inspections must be undertaken, any chemical spillages must be recorded as an incident

Chemical spillages must be cleaned up immediately by utilizing the spill kit.

Refer to the waste management section below with regard to the proper disposal of contaminated soils and materials.

Fire Loss of fauna and flora;

Damage to property;

Health and safety hazard to humans.

Fire breaks must be established around the perimeter of the construction area.

Fires should only be allowed within fire-safe demarcated areas as approved by the ECO.

No fire-wood collection should be allowed on-site unless approved by site management and the ECO.

Cigarette butts may not be thrown in the veld, but must be disposed of correctly. The contractor, with input from the ECO, must provide designated smoking areas with suitable receptacles for disposal;

No vegetation shall be burned; In case of an emergency the contact details of the local

fire and emergency services must be readily available; Contractors must ensure that basic fire-fighting

equipment and suitably qualified/experienced personal are available on site at all times, as per the specifications defined by the health and safety representative/consultant;

Fire extinguishers shall be placed at working areas and all areas where hazardous substances are kept.

The fire risk on site must be included in the environmental induction training prior to commencement of construction and must be a toolbox


Fire prevention and management plan.

Prevent uncontrolled fires.

Provide designated braai areas.

Fire hydrants and hoses to be visible at each building.

Emergency contact numbers must always be visible.

Training of all staff for evacuation in the case of emergency.

Within the 1st month




36




talk topic. The contractor must comply with the requirements of

the Occupational Health and Safety Act with regards to fire protection

Heritage Resources(Heritage Resources may be exposed during excavating operations)

Damage to or destruction of heritage resources.

During construction heritage resources might be exposed, although this is unlikely according to the Heritage Study which was done. Should any Heritage sites be exposed during construction, all work on the site must be stopped immediately and ECO must be informed immediately.

The ECO will then contact South African Heritage Resources Authority (SAHRA) and the heritage specialist. Construction may only recommence once the authority issues an instruction to do so.

Heritage resources which may be uncovered during construction on the site includes but is not limited to graves, stone age and iron age artifacts.

Incident report. Monthly

management report.

Identify and preserve any heritage resources that may be on the site.

No damage to heritage resources.

On-going

Air Quality(Emissions and dust)

Nuisance to surrounding land users.

Health hazard to living organisms (flora and fauna including humans)

Avoidance of excessive vehicular movement. Limit vehicle speed on un-surfaced roads and working

areas to 40km/hour or less. Apply water or dust suppressing agents to un-surfaced

active work areas and roads as soon as dust appears. Dust generating activities (grading/excavating) should

be avoided during periods of medium to high winds. Rehabilitate disturbed areas as soon as feasible. Ensure that all vehicles are in a road-worthy condition

to avoid excessive exhaust emissions. Soil stockpiles must be located in protected areas where

they are not exposed to wind and erosion. Introduce efficient fire prevention measures e.g. no

open fires, designated smoking areas, disposal of cigarettes/tobacco products and sufficient fire-fighting equipment.

Dust suppression records and schedule.

Incident register. Incident Report.

Keep the air clean and minimize dust.

Prevent dust and polluting gases from becoming dispersed into the atmosphere as to cause nuisance or damage to the construction workforce, the public and fauna & flora of

Prevent dust from affecting areas outside of the construction footprint.

Zero uncontrolled fires.

No offensive smells from waste.

Daily

Daily

Daily

37




Control of waste to minimize odour’s and gasses. No vegetation shall be burned. Control of hazardous substances to minimize gasses and

odours. Ensure that all vehicles are in a road-worthy condition

to avoid excessive exhaust emissions;

the area.

Waste Management

Pollution of air, soil and water resources.

Health hazard to fauna and flora.

Aesthetic visual impact.

Use of limited landfill space.

No waste shall be burned on site; No waste shall be buried on site. Provide separate, waste bins and skips for construction

rubble, general waste, metal, wood and hazardous waste so that waste can be separated at source.

Designate areas for the temporary stockpiling of inert construction rubble.

Place waste in the designated waste receptacles immediately upon production.

Ensure that waste receptacles are clearly marked according to the intended waste stream.

Where possible, separate and arrange for recycling of general waste (plastics, timber, steel).

Ensure that no hazardous waste is disposed of in waste receptacles intended for general waste or construction rubble.

Arrange for the contents of rubbish bins to be emptied into the designated waste receptacles on a daily basis and that waste receptacles do not overflow.

Provide lids / netting on waste receptacles that contain waste that could become air borne.

Arrange for the removal of full waste receptacles on a weekly basis or as often as required for general waste and at least once per month for other waste, depending on the volume.

Ensure proper disposal at a registered waste disposal

Waste disposal register for each waste stream.

Safe Disposal Certificates.

Letter from the landfill site or municipality to indicate that the landfill site at which waste from the construction area is disposed of is a legally certified landfill waste facility.

Dispose of waste in a safe manner that will not cause pollution to the environment.

Reduce waste.

All waste managed according to regulatory guidelines.

All waste disposed of in a manner that does not cause harm to the environment.

Monthly

Monthly

38




facility. Waste must be removed by a registered waste removal

company (waste handler). Obtain collection receipts and SDC’s for each load of

waste that is removed from site and keep these on file on site.

Keep a record of all waste removed from site on a register.

Ensure that the site and its surroundings are kept in a clean and neat condition at all times and that windblown litter is collected on a daily basis.

Hazardous waste includes: Empty chemical containers; Contaminated rags, gloves or other PPE; Waste oil; Paint washings; Other substances. Painting equipment must be washed in drums and the

contaminated water must be disposed of as hazardous waste;

All waste oil, empty chemical containers, contaminated soil, and contaminated rags, gloves and PPE must all be disposed of as hazardous waste at a licensed hazardous waste treatment facility.

SDC’s must be obtained for both general and hazardous waste to prove that the waste has been properly disposed of and a register for hazardous waste must be kept on file, on site.

Noise Management

Loss of hearing of employees.

Nuisance to the public and the surrounding

Use suitable and effective silencing devices for plant and equipment that would otherwise cause a noise level exceeding 85 dB(A).

Machinery must be maintained in good working order

Machinery maintenance records.

Noise calibration

To protect the hearing of workers.

Minimize disruption of

All equipment must not exceed noise guidelines.

Equipment may

Daily

Daily

39




environment. to avoid excessive noise. Hearing protection must be provided when employees

use equipment or are in the vicinity of machinery or equipment which exceeds the 85dBA threshold of noise.

Appropriate directional and intensity settings are to be maintained on all hooters and sirens.

No amplified music or shouting shall be allowed.

certificates. the serenity of the area.

Avoid unnecessary disturbances to the public.

not exceed 85 dBA at the point receptor in order to protect the hearing of employees.

Noise at the perimeter of the grounds may not exceed 70 dBA during daylight hours (7am – 7pm).

Noise at the perimeter of the grounds may not exceed 60dBA on weekends or public holiday or during night hours.

Daily

Daily

Economic Economic growth;

Employment opportunities;

Source of income for the parties involved.

Employ local contractors for the construction phase. The developer and contractor shall encourage and

implement wherever possible the procurement of locally based labour, skills and materials.


Promote business, job creation and develop skills within the local community.

All contractors and labour are sourced locally.


Safety Death, injury or health effects

The Contractor shall at all times observe proper and adequate safety precautions on the site.

Refer to safety departmental

Protect all persons on site

Zero incidents. All workers to

Daily. Upon

40




of individuals working on or entering the construction area.

The Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act 85 of 1993) and in particular the requirements of the Construction Regulations must be complied with.

No unauthorized firearms are permitted on site. Safety Signs should be displayed at the entrance to the

site and other necessary locations around the site. The correct PPE should be issued to workers on the site

(hard hats, safety shoes, reflective vests, overalls, gloves and goggles).

Areas for storage of fuels and other flammable materials shall comply with standard fire safety regulations and may require the approval of the Municipal Fire Prevention Officer.

files. from harm or injury or ill health.

have PPE.

All signage to be in place.

appointment.


Security Theft of/ loss of and/ or damage to property and lives.

A security plan must be developed. Site access control should be implemented. Fencing should be erected where necessary. Tools and equipment should be kept in a secure access

controlled areas, under lock and key when not in use.

Security Plan. Prevent all security risks.

Zero theft of or damage to property or persons.

Lifespan of the project.

Emergency Preparedness

Environmental Degradation.

Damage or harm to biodiversity.

Injury or harm to individuals.

Loss of crops or orchards.

In conjunction with the Client, local Authorities, neighbouring principle contractors and subcontracted specialists, emergency plans will be prepared, approved, activated, displayed and communicated by the contractor to its work force. These plans must include as a minimum the following: How to report emergencies; Notification of appropriate organization personnel; Notification of outside parties, both organizational

as well as civil; Individual roles and responsibilities; Exit procedures and assembly points; All clear and re-entry procedures; Isolation and shut-down of vital processes and work

Training material. Training records. Incident Register. Emergency

preparedness plan.

Contain Spillages and prevent environmental degradation.

Protect all persons and property on site.

All emergency plans prepared and communicated.

Zero incidents.


Monthly.

41




areas; Hazardous Chemical and hydrocarbon spills clean-up

and mitigation procedures; Search and rescue procedures; Control of visitors and contractors; Emergency telephone numbers; Off-site emergencies; and Communications with the general public and media.

Telephone numbers of emergency services, including the local fire-fighting service, shall be posted conspicuously in the Contractor's office near the telephone.

The environmental incident register should be updated by the site EO as and when needed when environmental incidents occur.

Rehabilitation Erosion. Weeds and

alien vegetation become established.

Pollution of the environment (incorrectly disposed of waste).

Site management shall ensure that the following rehabilitation takes place prior to final hand-over of the construction site: Remove all construction equipment, surplus materials,

waste and temporary structures; Clear all windblown litter and waste; Remove all containers / bins / skips; Repair damage to roads caused by construction

vehicles; Eradicate all alien invaders that established itself during

the construction phase; Rip compacted soil to a depth of > 250mm and break up

clods to ensure proper drainage and water infiltration; Replace the stockpiled topsoil to a depth of 150 mm

and contour the site to establish effective drainage patterns;

If re-vegetation is required, fill the topsoil to establish a

Method Statement

Daily/ Weekly Checklist.

Instate vegetation cover and landscape the area.

100% successful instatement of vegetation.

Within six months after the cessation of construction works.

42




smooth surface suitable for re-vegetation.

43


7.7.Operational PhaseThis section describes the aspects that need to be managed at the operational phase. The implementation of the operational phase section of the EMPR shall be the responsibility of the Client.

TABLE 6: MITIGATION AND MANAGEMENT MEASURES FOR THE OPERATIONAL PHASEAREA/ ASPECT IMPACT/ RISK CONTROL MEASURES DOCUMENTATION OBJECTIVE TARGET TIMEFRAME

Review of the EMPR

The EMPR is redundant/ not relevant to the scope of work.

Annual review of the EMPR. Updated EMPR. To ensure that the EMPR remains relevant to the scope of work.

The EMPR is reviewed annually.

The EMPR is reviewed when there is a change in design.

Annually



Penalties


Records will be prepared, maintained and stored by the Client.


Letters and correspondence with the National or Provincial Authority.

EMP. EMP checklist. Incident register. Waste register. SDC’s for each

entry in the waste register.

SDC’s for Sanitary Services.

Complaints register.

Environmental Awareness and Induction training

To provide proof of compliance to legislative requirements.



Monthly

44


AREA/ ASPECT IMPACT/ RISK CONTROL MEASURES DOCUMENTATION OBJECTIVE TARGET TIMEFRAME

register.Monitoring and Auditing

Damage to the environment, pollution or loss of biodiversity.

Undertake regular inspections of the area and ensure that the management control measures in the EMPR are adequately implemented.

Include the monitoring of overhead transmission lines should for bird collisions.

Monthly Checklists.

Ensure that all environmental controls are in place.

Ensure that no environmental degradation is taking place.

Monthly monitoring.

Monthly

Environmental Training and Awareness

Lack of training will result in an increased number of environmental incidents and unnecessary impacts.

The components of the EMPR must be included in the Induction Programme on site;

Induction must be given to all staff working on or visiting the site, and must be re-inducted annually.

A list of Do’s and Don’ts will be in the format of “General Rules” and will be displayed on notice boards.

Induction programme.

Induction material.

Induction training attendance registers.

To ensure that all staff understand the requirements of the EMPR.

To ensure that each individual understands their role in the implementation of the control measures provided in the EMPR.

All staff to be fully informed of the EMPR and trained in their environmental obligations.

All staff are to be competent in relation to their environmental responsibilities.


Storm water and Erosion

Loss of Soil resources and contamination / siltation of water bodies.

Erosion should not be allowed to develop on a large scale before effecting repairs.

All drainage and storm water management and erosion control structures must be maintained for proper functioning.

Access roads must be maintained in a condition that allows for reasonable access and minimised erosion potential. All drainage and erosion control structures must be maintained to ensure their proper functioning.

Daily/ weekly inspection registers.

Manage storm water to prevent flooding/ ponding of water and to prevent soil loss through erosion.

No evident erosion.

Before and during the wet season.

45



Areas susceptible to erosion must be protected by installing drainage works and energy dispersion mechanisms and could include: Vegetation cover; Benches consisting of sand bags; Detention ponds; Silt traps.

Fauna Loss of Biodiversity

Should any animal become a nuisance, contact the local SPCA to have the animal removed from site.

Incident Register. Protect all animal species.

Species that represent a nuisance must be managed in the correct manner.

On-going

Flora Loss of Biodiversity

Weeds and alien and invasive plants species must be removed on an on-going basis.

No firewood shall be collected from the areas surrounding the site, unless the plants have specifically been earmarked for removal.

Daily/ weekly checklist.

Protect and encourage growth of indigenous and protected plant species.

Eradicate all alien/ invasive plant species.

No removing of protected species.

No Category 1, 2 or 3 invasive species may be allowed to grow in the area.

On-going

Water Management

Natural resource depletion through water wastage.

Degradation of water quality.

Water pollution.

No natural water sources shall be used for operational activities or for domestic activities unless a Water Use License has been obtained from the relevant authority.

Do not discharge liquid pollutants into the water courses or the dam.

Monthly inspection records.

Water usage register.

Water quality test results.

Water quality management plan.

Minimize water usage.

Ensure compliance with the NWA.

Ensure that water quality remains safe and within National water quality

No leaking pipes, connections or taps.

No non-conformances from the DWA.

On-going.

On-going.

46



guideline parameters.

Stakeholder Engagement

Poor public image.

Arrange meetings with Stakeholders in the community when changes occur that may affect them.

Meeting minutes. Complaints

register. Proof of

addressing complaints.

Provide communities in the vicinity of the development and other interested stakeholders, with regular information on any changes that may affect the community.

Address and close out environmental complaints within 7 days.

Seven days

Hazardous Chemical Substances

Ground and/or water pollution.

The client shall identify all activities that involve the handling of potentially hazardous substances and will implement and monitor procedures for the transport, storage, handling accidental release and eventual disposal of these substances.

Drip trays should be provided if there are small quantities of hazardous chemical substances (HCS) to be stored on site. For larger amounts of HCS impermeable bunded areas with sumps should be built.

Bunds capable of containing a 110% of the stored volume should be provided for sufficient spillage containment must be constructed in stationary chemical utilization areas.

Oil Spill Kits must be available on site to deal with spillages.

Storage of fuel and refuelling of vehicles and equipment shall only occur at a designated fuel depot.

Paints, solvents, acids, resins, etc. shall only be stored

A register of hazardous chemicals stored on site must be drawn up and displayed at the storage area.

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) must be made available for all chemicals used on site.

Prevent pollution of ground or water.

Minimize the risk of pollution through leakages, spillages or inappropriate disposal of hazardous substances; and to minimize the risk of hazardous substances affecting the

All HCS are stored in drip trays and bunded areas.

Spillages are to be treated immediately.


One day

47



within designated storage sheds. The client will ensure that all hazardous substances are

handled in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications, legal requirements and the procedures mentioned above.

The contractor will ensure that all employees who work with hazardous substances receive training about the proper methods for storage, handling and disposing of these substances.

Refer to the “waste” below with regard to the proper disposal of contaminated soils and materials.

health of the workforce, public or the environment.

Lighting Visual impact Outdoor lighting must be strictly controlled so as to prevent light pollution.

All lighting must be installed at downward angles. Sources of light must as far as possible be shielded by

physical barriers. Consider the application of motion detectors to allow

the application of lighting only where and when it is required.

Only minimum wattage light fixtures must be used. Low flux and frequency lighting shall be used.

Method Statement.

Reduce the visual impact of the development.

No lighting disturbances to the surrounding area.


Fire Loss of biodiversity.

Loss of life/ harm to humans.

Damage to property.

Damage to crops and orchards.

Fire breaks must be established around the perimeter of the site.

Fires should only be allowed in designated braai area. Fire-fighting equipment shall be readily available on site. Fire extinguishers shall be placed at working areas and

all areas where hazardous substances are stored.


Prevent uncontrolled fires.

Provide designated braai areas.

Emergency contact numbers must always be visible.

Training of all staff for fire management and evacuation




48



in the case of emergency.

Economic Economic growth.

Job opportunities.

Employ local contractors, labour and skills for the maintenance of the solar power plant.


Promote business, job creation and develop skills within the local community.

All contractors and labour are source locally.

Within the first six months.

Safety Death or Injury of persons.

Health issues.

The Occupational Health and Safety Act aims to provide for and ensure the health and safety of all persons at work. General duties of employers to their employees:

Every employer shall provide and maintain, as far as possible, reasonable practicable, a working environment that is safe and without risk to the health of his employees.

The provision and maintenance of machinery that is safe and without risks to health;

Making arrangements for ensuring the safety and absence of risks to health;

Ensuring that work is performed and that plant or machinery is used under the general supervision of a person trained to understand the hazards associated with it and who have the authority to ensure that precautionary measures taken by the employer are implemented;

Establishing, as far as reasonably practicable, what hazards to the health or safety of a person are attached to any work which is performed, any article or substance produced, processed, used stored or transported and any plant or machinery used in his business, and he shall as far as it is reasonably practicable, further establish what precautionary measures should be taken with respect of such work, article, substance, plant or

Safety documents as required by the OHSAS Act.

Protect all persons on from harm or injury.

No injury or harm to any persons.

On-going/ daily.

49



machinery in order to protect the health and safety of persons, and he shall provide the necessary means to apply such precautionary measures;

Providing any information, instructions, training and supervision as may be necessary to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety at work of his employees.

Taking all necessary measures to ensure that the requirements of this are complied with by every person in his employment or on premises under his control where plant or machinery is used;

If necessary, enforcing such measures in the interest of health and safety.

Signage with do’s and don’ts.Emergency Preparedness

Flooding; Environmental

Degradation. Damage or

harm to biodiversity.

Injury or harm to individuals.

In conjunction with the Client, local Authorities, neighbouring principle contractors and subcontracted specialists, emergency plans will be prepared, approved, activated, displayed and communicated by the client to the work force. These plans must include the following: How to report emergencies; Notification of outside parties; Individual roles and responsibilities; Exit procedures and assembly points; All clear and re-entry procedures; Isolation and shut-down of vital processes and work

areas; Hazardous Chemical and hydrocarbon spills clean-up

and mitigation procedures; Search and rescue procedures; Control of visitors and contractors; and Emergency telephone numbers.

Telephone numbers of emergency services, including the local fire-fighting service, shall be posted conspicuously

Emergency preparedness plan.

Emergency contact list.

Protect all persons entering the property.

All emergency plans prepared and communicated to staff.

Emergency numbers displayed at relevant points.

Bi-annually.

Within first week.

50



in the Contractor's office near the telephone.Waste Management

Ground or water pollution.

Broken solar panels must be disposed of as hazardous waste.

Good Housekeeping should be practiced. No uncontained waste should be allowed, all waste must

be placed in closed waste receptacles immediately upon production.

Waste Register. SDC’s.

Prevent ground Zero contamination of ground, water and air.

Daily.

Maintenance Erosion. The panels should be cleaned twice annually, it is estimated that 0.5 litres will be required for the cleaning of each panel.

The water for washing must not cause any form of erosion.

Should any detergents be used in cleaning the solar panels then these must be biodegradable.

It is recommended that vegetation not be completely removed, as it reduces erosion. Vegetation should however be maintained and cut back to prevent over-shading of the panels.

Maintenance Records.

Safe disposal certificates for waste (both general and hazardous).

Waste register.

To not cause pollution to the environment as a result of maintenance.

Contaminated water, used chemicals and broken solar panels must be disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner.

Zero incidents of ground or water pollution.

100% of waste is disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner.

Annually/ during maintenance periods.

Annually/ during maintenance periods.

7.8.Closure & Decommissioning PhaseThis section describes the aspects that need to be managed at the closure and decommissioning phase. The implementation of the operational phase section of the EMPr shall be the responsibility of the Client and the Appointed Contractor.

51


TABLE 7: MITIGATION AND MANAGEMENT MEASURES FOR THE DECOMMISSIONING PHASEAREA/ ASPECT IMPACT/ RISK CONTROL MEASURES DOCUMENTATION OBJECTIVE TARGET TIMEFRAME



Penalties


Records will be prepared, maintained and stored by the Client.


Incident register. Waste register. SDC’s for each

entry in the waste register.

To provide proof of compliance to legislative requirements.



Monthly

Waste Management

Ground or water pollution.

Broken solar panels must be disposed of as hazardous waste.

All infrastructure must be removed from the site. All materials such as the Photovoltaic panels and cable

network must be recycled or re-used if possible. All materials/ waste material must be re-used, or

recycled if possible. Any waste which cannot be re-used or recycled must be

disposed of at a licensed waste disposal site according to the type of waste (e.g. steel, general waste, hazardous waste etc.).

A waste register must be compiled and must include details such as the quantities and the type of waste and how and where the waste is/was disposed of.

Waste Register. SDC’s.

Prevent ground Zero contamination of ground, water and air.

Daily.

Rehabilitation Erosion. Weeds and

alien vegetation become established.

Pollution of the environment (incorrectly

Site management shall ensure that the following rehabilitation takes place prior to final hand-over of the construction site: Remove all materials and infrastructure and handle

waste according to the waste management guideline above.

Eradicate all alien invasive plant species. Rip compacted soil to a depth of > 250mm and break up

clods to ensure proper drainage and water infiltration.

Method Statement Daily/ Weekly Checklist.

Instate vegetation cover and landscape the area.

100% successful re-instatement of vegetation.

Within six months after the cessation of construction works.

52



disposed of waste).

Contour the area to fit in with the surrounding landscape.

If re-vegetation is required, fill the topsoil to establish a smooth surface suitable for re-vegetation.

All access roads that will not be used for the new land use must be ripped up, covered with topsoil and re-vegetated to minimise erosion.

Institute monitoring of all decommissioned and rehabilitated sections of the project site at regular intervals.

Only vegetation indigenous to the region may be used for rehabilitation and landscaping.

53


8. NON-COMPLIANCEThe following constitute as non- compliances in terms of the NEMA (Act 107 of 1998) and associated regulations:

Commencing without the EA or required permits; Non – compliance with the EMPr and EA conditions; Operating or performing activities not listed in the original scope of work from which the BAR and

EA was originated; Operating or performing activities in areas outside of the construction area which were not

included in the BAR; Unforeseen circumstances; Significant changes in design.

The National Authority, DEA may initiate the following consequences for non-compliance with the EA or NEMA (Act 107 of 1998) or any other Act:

Penalties (up to R10m); Termination of the Activity/ Withdrawal of Environmental Authorization; Criminal charges (10 year imprisonment);

Apart from the consequences above, ECO may advise the developer or Engineer to impose a penalty for non-compliance in terms of this Environmental Management Programme (EMPr). The procedure detailed below is for a spot fine in terms of this EMPr and does not detail the procedure for fining in terms of any other legal mechanisms.

The contractor shall comply with the environmental specifications and requirements of this EMPr, the Environmental Authorization (EA) and Section 28 of NEMA, on an on-going basis and any failure on his part to do so will entitle the client or clients representative to impose a penalty.

In the event of non-compliance the following recommended process shall be followed:

The ECO shall issue a notice of non-compliance stating the nature and magnitude of the contravention.

The Contractor shall act to correct the transgression within the period specified. The Contractor shall provide the ECO with a written statement describing the actions to be taken to

discontinue the non-compliance, the actions taken to mitigate its effects and the expected results of the actions.

In the case of the Contractor failing to remedy the situation within the predetermined time frame, a penalty based on the conditions of the contract will be issued.

In the case of non-compliance giving rise to physical environmental damage or destruction, the client or client’s representative shall be entitled to undertake or cause to be undertaken such remedial works as may be required to make good such damage and to recover from the Contractor the full costs incurred in doing so.

In event of a dispute between any parties in regard to or arising out of interpretation of the conditions of the EMPr, the party/s shall be entitled to request that the issue be referred to specialists for determination.

The ECO shall at all times have the right to stop work/ activities on site in the case of non-compliance or failure to implement remediation measures.

54


9. PENALTIESIn terms of the contract, if the contractor is found to be in contravention of any of the items in this EMPRr the following penalties can be applied. Penalties can only be issued by the Engineer and the ECO during the construction phase of the project.

TABLE 8: PENALTIES

INFRINGEMENT PENALTY

a.A plant operator ignoring a verbal warning to have an oil leak from his machinery repaired.

R500 - R2000

b. Inadequate litter control/ housekeeping on the site (per day). R100 – R2000

c. An individual not making use of the ablution facilities. R50

d. An individual making an illegal fire on site. R200 – R10,000

e.An individual causing unnecessary damage to flora or fauna on site.

R100 – R5,000

f.An individual/ team/ operator causing unnecessary damage to landscaping on site.

R500 – R5,000

g.Failure to report a suspected archaeological find the Environmental Officer and Client.

R200 – R2,000

h. Releasing a pollutant into the environment. R200 – R10,000

i.Cement product handling without proper controls e.g. lack of batch boards or contamination of future landscape areas or the storm water system.

R200 – R2,000

j. Failure to implement adequate dust control. R200 – R2,000

k. Failure to clean up or treat a fuel/ chemical spill. R200 – R5,000

l.Inadequate dewatering system resulting in siltation/ pollution of the receiving environment.

R200 – R5,000

m. Failure to adhere to working hours leading to nuisance. R500/hr

n.Undue damage to an area outside the designated working area.

R200 –R5,000

o.An individual entering a “no-go” area by foot (without the Engineers permission)

R100

p. An individual failing to adhere to speed limit. R100

q. An individual driving in the “no-go” area. R500 – R5,000

r.An individual driving any earthmoving plant in the “no-go” area.

R500 – R5,000

s. An individual littering on site. R20

t. An individual/ team wasting water. R100 – R2,000

u. Inadequate erosion control (wind/water). A penalty equivalent to the

55


INFRINGEMENT PENALTY

cost of rehabilitation plus 20%

v. Oil Spills.A penalty equivalent to the cost of rehabilitation plus 20%

w. Damage to sensitive environments.A penalty equivalent to the cost of rehabilitation plus 100%

x. Damage to archaeological site/finds.A penalty to a maximum of R100,000

56


10. COST ESTIMATES There are a number of items that need to be identified and budgeted for in order to ensure sound environmental management practices. This section provides detailed items which need to be considered during the construction and operational phase of the project to ensure on-going compliance with the environmental requirements of this EMPr and the Environmental Authorisation.

10.1. Construction Phase CostsDuring the construction phase, provision must be made for the following cost items and included in the Bill of Quantities:

TABLE 9: CONSTRUCTION PHASE COST PROVISION

ITEM DESCRIPTION FREQUENCY

CHEMICAL STORAGE

1Bunded storage areas for chemicals

Impermeable lining; Concrete floor and walls; bricks; sump; must be able to contain 110% of the volume of chemicals to be stored in the bund.

Once Off

2 Spill kits To clean up chemical spillages. Quarterly

3 Drip trays

Galvanised steel drip trays with handles for all generators, mobile diesel bowsers, chemical containers (when not in the store).

Once Off

WASTE

4Appointment of a Licensed waste service provider

Must have waste disposal permits and registrations.

Once Off

5 Wheelie bins for waste For general waste. Once Off

6 General waste skips (6m3) For general waste containment.Weekly

Removal

STORM WATER AND EROSION CONTROL

7Removal and stockpiling of topsoil

Once Off

8 Geotextile materialUsed to cover bare soil and prevent soil erosion.

Once Off

9 Sand bagsFor prevent soil erosion from topsoil stockpile areas.

Once Off

10 Hessian nettingFor use as a silt trap fence around topsoil stockpiles.

Once Off

10 WaterObtained from a legal source with a permit, for dust control on access routes.

Daily

57



CONTROL OF ALIEN VEGETATION

12Labourers to remove weeds and alien plant species

Mechanical operation (no chemicals). Monthly

SANITATION SERVICES

13Appointment of a Licensed sewerage removal company

For the removal of sewerage on a weekly basis.

Weekly

14 WaterProvide site staff with potable water.Use water for dust suppression.

Daily

REHABILITATION

15 LandscapingReturning landscape to original condition.

Start and end

16 Grassing Planting of grass. Once off

17 Plant establishment Planting of trees or shrubs. Once off

PERMITS AND LICENCES

18 Not Applicable

LEGAL AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

19 Public Liability insuranceInsurance for damages caused to 3rd parties.

Once off

20 AuditsAppoint an ECO to undertake monthly audits.

Monthly

EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

21 Oil Spill Kits Emergency scenarios / Incidents.Once off and again after every use.

22 Fire extinguishers & servicing Emergency scenarios. Annually23 First Aid Boxes Incidents. Once off24 Emergency Siren Emergency Evacuation. Once off

10.2. Operational Phase CostsDuring the operational phase of the project the following cost items must be taken into consideration:

58


TABLE 10: OPERATIONAL PHASE COST PROVISION


CHEMICAL STORAGE

1Bunded storage areas for chemicals

Impermeable lining; Concrete floor and walls; bricks; sump; must be able to contain 110% of the volume of chemicals to be stored in the bund.

Once off

2 Spill kits To clean up chemical spills. Once off

WASTE

3Appointment of a Licensed waste service provider

To collect and safely dispose of contaminated waste and broken solar panels from the site.

Once off

WATER MANAGEMENT

4 Storm water controlOnce off/

as required

CONTROL OF ALIEN VEGETATION

5Labour to remove weeds and alien plant species

Mechanical operation (no chemicals). Monthly

MAINTENANCE OF THE SOLAR PLANT

6 Cleaning of Solar Panels Annually

LEGAL AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

7 Public Liability insuranceInsurance for damages caused to 3rd

parties.Once Off

8 AuditsConduct regular audits to confirm compliance and continual improvement.

Annually

EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

9 Fire extinguishers & Servicing Emergency scenarios Annually10 First Aid Boxes Incidents Once Off11 Emergency Siren Emergency Evacuation Once off

59

Documents

sahris.sahra.org.za€¦ · Web viewThe prevention and combating of veld, forest and mountain fires throughout South Africa. Provides institutions, methods and practices for achieving