Environmental impact assessment eia report for the. There are severe criticisms and perceptions of inadequacy about the success of the current eia system as a tool for environmental impact management. Introduction and background the constitution of the republic of south africa, act no. Draft environmental impact assessment report purpose of this report. Environmental impact assessment and management strategy. Too often, environmental impact assessments eias are. This final environmental impact report describes the environmental impact assessment process that was undertaken for the proposed rehabilitation and upgrading of the n17 road from springs to ermelo, and the proposed construction of new sections between leandra and leven station, at trichardt and bethal. The significance and status of social impact assessment. The scope of environmental assessment has broadened to include its application to levels of decisionmaking that are more strategic than the project level.
Site specific assessment cannot address cumulative impacts need to use other tools. Dec, 2019 the south african protected areas database is a gis inventory of all protected and conservation areas in south africa. Regulations regulating environmental impact assessments were passed in 1997 in terms of the environment conservation act, 1989. This study evaluates the environmental impact assessment eia legislation of south africa and zambia against the modified criteria developed by wood 1995 to determine the extent to which they. Evaluating south african environmental impact assessment eia.
South africa a relatively small eia of a proposed road development in maputaland, south africa was conducted in 1999 for the south african roads agency, department of transport. Handbook of environmental impact assessment 2 volumes, blackwell, oxford. Environmental impact assessment in sustainable water. The figure shows the two routes for applications 1 basic assessment left. Enviroafrica cc is a dynamic, professional environmental consultancy passionate about promoting the sustainable protection, management and development of south africas natural environment while providing a costeffective service to clients. The regulations replace the environmental impact assessment eia regulations which were promulgated in terms of the environment conservation act, 19893 in 1997. Environmental impact, assessment, sustainability, integration, water resources, development, environmental flows, dam breach abstract the sustainable development of water resources is a multidimensional way of thinking about the connections or interdependencies among natural, social, and economic systems in the use of water. Department of environment affairs and tourism south africa.
Enviroafrica environmental management and impact assessment. An environmental impact assessment eia is defined by canter 1999 as the classification and estimation of the impacts that a planned project could potentially have on various workings of the environment. The year 2018 marked 20 years since the adoption of the environmental impact assessment as a tool to advance sustainable development. Environmental impact assessment eia for the proposed construction, operation and decommissioning of a seawater reverse osmosis plant and associated infrastructure at lovu, kwazulunatal south coast appendix a appendix b appendix c appendix d appendix e appendix f summary chapter 1 chapter 2 chapter 3 chapter 4 chapter 5 chapter 6 chapter 7. Policies which regulate ehia and environmental impact assessment in south africa 10 box 2.
Clarification on the provisions of section 11 of the procedural manual for dao 200330 fines, penalties and. The regulations sought to streamline the process while addressing concerns raised by stakeholders over timeframes, duplication and intergovernmental cooperation. Pdf environmental impact assessment and sustainable. Offshore and near shore environmental impact assessment and mitigation. The recommendations do not necessarily carry the full support of all the sectors represented. Environmental and social impact assessment sgs south africa. On 03 july 2006, the new eia regulations, in terms of nema came into effect. The constitution of the republic of south africa, act no.
Social impact assessment environmental assessement. Ajeamragee volume 10 march 2005 p5065 aspects of environmental impact assessment eia practice in the limpopo province south africa luke a sandham1, m victor siphugu2 and thivhulawi r. National environmental impact assessment and management. Environmental impact assessment reports in nigeria, we complete environmental, social and health impact assessments eias for all our development projects, in accordance with nigerian law. Environmental impact assessment eia is an important part of the approval process for the mining projects and detailed integral part of project development and design. Environmental impact assessment environmental impact assessment eia, assessment, development, environmental, environmental assessment, environmental impact enviroworks is committed to a sustained, holistic approach to environmental management through the provision of cuttingedge services by means of multidisciplinary. Based in the western cape since inception 20 years ago, enviroafrica provides efficient and friendly. Environmental impact assessment on abstraction of water from the tsumeb and karst iii. How is climate change incorporated into environmental impact assessments eias in south africa. Department of environmental affairs, 2014, environmental impact assessment and management strategy for south africa draft.
Note that in south africa there are two main eia processes that are followed, namely, the basic assessment and scoping and environmental impact reporting processes. Environmental impact assessment and defined the technical scope of the project. Environmental impact assessment reports shell nigeria. It can be described as the change in an environmental parameter, over a specific period and within a defined area, resulting from a particular activity compared with the situation which would have occurred had the activity not been initiated. It is important to note that the project area is benign from a geological perspective ith no known history of flooding, tornadoes, earthquakes or other. South african affiliate of the international association for impact assessment. A call for responses to governments legislative and policy framework to strengthen environmental governance and the sustainability of our developmental growth path have your say in highlighting the strengths and weaknesses in the current eia system in south africa. Environmental health impact assessment guideline may 2010 iv list of boxes box 1. Environmental impact assessment and management plan. Twenty years of environmental impact assessments in south. In this context, the term environmental impact assessment eia is usually used when applied to actual projects by individuals or companies and the term strategic. Guideline for involving social assessment specialists in eia processes february 2007 guideline on public participation.
These impacts can occur directly, as well as indirectly and include both environmental and social. Environmental assessment ea is the assessment of the environmental consequences positive negative of a plan, policy, program, or actual projects prior to the decision to move forward with the proposed action. The technicalrational nature of environmental impact assessment eia. Environmental impact assessment environmental protection. Training course in environmental impact assessment. This approach focuses on the effect of the environment on development, rather than the impact of development on the environment. Performance of environmental impact assessment eia screening in south africa. A guide to the environmental impact assessment eia process.
Nema environmental impact assessment regulations september 2007 3. Environmental impact assessment and management strategy for south africa. The current costs to farmers for manual clearing of encroacher bush are 15 to 40 per. Its contents deal with policy practice and institutional issues. Worldwide the concept of eia has been around for decades, but its use. Environmental assessment in eastern and southern africa. South africas experience with eia dates back to the 1970s, but the. For a detailed assessment of your environmental performance, you can benefit from our stateoftheart laboratory and monitoring facilities. This study analyses key elements of south african environmental impact assessment eia statutory requirements through the lens of the gautrain project. Sociallytolerated practices in environmental and social impact. The national environmental management act, no 107 of 1998 nemaincludes an overarching framework policy developed through a comprehensive participatory process known as the. The aim is to reduce the environmental and social impact of our activities as much as possible and look for benefits for affected communities.
Download the latest protected and conservations areas paca data, generate reports and statistics from the protected areas register, comment and upload data on protected areas read more. Review of effectiveness and efficiency of eia in south africa. Efficacy of sas environmental impact assessment eia. The southern african development community sadc recognises the importance of sustainable use and management of the environment in the fight against poverty and food insecurity. Environmental impact assessments have been compulsory in south africa since 1997. An environment impact assessment is an event or effect, which results from a prior event. Training course in environmental impact assessment administration. Environmental impact assessment and environmental management.
Section 24 of the constitution of the republic of south africa, 1996, calls on the state to secure everyone the right to an environment that is not harmful to health or wellbeing. Environmental impact assessment training manual about this initiative the eia learning platform and the accompanying manual seek to help build capacity for key aspects of environmental impact assessment eia at the project and initiative levels in the context of national legislation and policies. Examples of specialist studies commonly included in environmental impact assessment in south africa. Home environmental environmental impact assessment eia regulations countries from all corners of the world were represented at various environment and development summits which were convened to formulate a policy framework for integrating environmental concerns and sustainability issues in development planning. A guide to the environmental impact assessment eia process the endangered wildlife trust ewt is a south africanbased, nongovernmental, nonprofit conservation organisation founded in 1973. Southern african development community environment. The environmental impact assessment is required in terms of the environment conservation act, 1989 act no. Gis data downloads egis welcome to environmental gis.
Overview of the eia process environmental law alliance. Sustainable development means that economic development integrates concerns about the people of region and the environment that many depend upon for their livelihoods. Evaluating south african environmental impact assessment. Through south africas green economy strategy, the dea continues to promote equitable, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and social development. An orthophoto is a map that contains an aerial photograph. The national environmental management act, no 107 of 1998 nemaincludes an overarching framework policy developed through a comprehensive participatory process known as the consultative national. May 02, 2018 in south africa, mining of gold, coal and other natural resources has played a significant role in the countrys economy, with both positive and negative consequences. The thesis explores the nature ofpublic management ofenvironmental impact assessments in south africa. Background to the environmental impact assessment eia evaluation in south africa the national environment management act, 1998 act no. Environmental impact assessment regulations made under section 24 of the national environmental management act. With reference to the south african context or elsewhere in the world, critically evaluate the above statement by using the articles prescribed and posted on the website. Environmental impact assessment in south africa, eia practice became mandatory in 1997 with the promulgation of the eia regulations under the environment conservation act 73 of 1989 rsa 1989. Aug 18, 2018 environmental impact assessment management strategy eiams.
Volume ii impact assessment, management, implementation and conclusions. The significance and status of social impact assessment sia in a south african context. Too often, environmental impact assessments eias are tipped in favour of development in south africa, say experts. However, these studies have been done in the absence of an. Scoping is included in both of these eia processes, but it is undertaken as the first part of an integrated scoping and assessment procedure during the basic assessment process.
Environmental impact assessment as a policy tool for. Today environmental impact assessment eia is known as one of the most important tools for decision makers in the construction of civil and industrial. Environmental impact statement for kariba at kamimbi village in siavonga district to implement the provisions of the environmental management act number 12, of 2011 read along with statutory instrument environmental protection and pollution control environmental impact assessment regulations, 1997 yalelo limited impact. In the cases where informal or ad hoc eias were conducted, they were the result of public pressure or the government invoked a section. Review of environmental impact assessment and monitoring in. It also contains a list of useful references and contact numbers. It is, therefore, appropriate to map how such ideologies permeate sociopolitical. Simply defined, the eia process helps identify the possible environmental effects of a proposed activity and. A geographically based webenabled application to assist with prescreening of a proposed site for any environmental sensitivity, before submitting an application for environmental authorization in terms of the environmental impact assessment regulations 2014. Initial planning and environmental assessment done long before the eia. How is climate change incorporated into environmental impact. We conduct environmental impact assessments and environmental and social impact assessments to determine how your business activities are affecting your local community and on the wider environment.
Development of strategic environmental assessment in south. The eia process is a tool which requires the integra. Several seas have recently been undertaken in south africa, or are currently in progress. The range of meanings attached to it has varied according to the context, but the general thrust of the term is clear. Environmental impact assessment eia can be defined as the systematic examination of unintended consequences of a development project or program, with the view to reduce or mitigate negative impacts and maximize on positive ones eeaa 1996. Environmental impact assessments, or eias, are a key tool in effective environmental management. The limitations of projectlevel environmental impact assessment eia provided the main reason for the development, testing and implementation of strategic environmental assessment sea. Welcome to environmental gis environmental geographical. South africa s experience with eia dates back to the 1970s, but the.
It is the best way of predicting potential impacts and identifying early in the planning process for effective and efficient ways. Abdulhakim aljareo a research report submitted to the faculty of science, university of the witwatersrand, johannesburg, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of masters of science by coursework and research report. Draft report 19 november 2008 iii time it takes to produce eia applications and documents. The analysis focuses on selected key aspects of the eia process which require more thorough analysis and which provide the greatest opportunities for learning in the context of the gautrain eia. Environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment. In recent years the term environmental impact assessment eia in relation to projects calling for substantial financial investment has become common currency among those working in the field. Environmental social impact assessment during site preparation, construction activities may impact the land. Environmental impact assessment in southern africa saiea.
Its vision is of individual and collective environmental responsibility and bestows a duty of care on all as custodians of our natural wealth in the. A process by which the environmental consequences of a proposed activity or project are evaluated and alternatives are analysed. The environmental impacts of tourism have gained increasing attention in recent years. Environmental impact assessment an overview sciencedirect. Establishing a solid framework called the environmental impact assessment management strategy eiams has been some time in the making.
In south africa, the communities most affected by mining activities are smallholder farmers. Welman and luke sandham 4 july 2011 south african geographical journal, vol. This draft environmental impact assessment report forms part of a series of reports and information sources that are being provided during the environmental impact assessment eia process for the proposed atlantis gastopower project, western cape. Environmental impact assessment management strategy eiams. South africa kalagadi industrial beneficiation project. The environmental impact assessment law eia law requires that an environmental impact assessment be completed prior to project construction.
Environmental impact assessment for nuclear new build programme in south africa perspectives from the nuclear1 eia reuben heydenrych environmental practitioner. Proposed open cycle gas turbine power plant, fuel supply pipeline, substation and transmission lines at mossel bay ninham shand consulting services d i e n d 1 n 9 u 3 o 2 f d 1 lead consultant ninham shand consulting services p. With the rise in sustainable tourism and an increased number of initiatives for being environmentally friendly, tourists and stakeholders alike are now recognising the importance of environmental management in the tourism industry. Introduction to the process, principles and application of sea. As concern for the environment and for the attainment of sustainable development has grown globally, so too has the adoption ofenvironmental management systems in line with this goal. Simplified flow diagram of the environmental impact assessment process in south africa 1. Monitoring of environmental impact assessments in africa. You can also use the presentation slides to highlight some of the challenges associated with pp and sia practice.
Kalahari has brought together womens groups and entrepreneurs with broadbased participants and beneficiaries, creating a truly south african company, which is committed to transforming society and having a positive impact in the future. Pdf environmental impact assessment eia can be said to be one of the most. This paper describes the conceptual basis and approach to strategic environmental assessment sea as it has developed in south africa. Environmental impact assessment eia is the tool that is most commonly utilised across africa and in most developing countries for the purpose of integrating environmental concerns in development projects. The environmental impact assessment eia process is an interdisciplinary and multistep procedure to ensure that environmental considerations are included in decisions regarding projects that may impact the environment. Use of geographic information systems in an environmental impact. The south african national roads agency limited sanral is the proponent for the proposed. What is environmental impact assessment objectives of eia. Dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree masters in geography and environmental management at the potchefstroom campus of the northwest university. Environmental impact assessment eia is the process of examining the anticipated environmental effects of a proposed project from consideration of environmental aspects at design stage, through consultation and preparation of an environmental impact assessment report eiar, evaluation of the eiar by a competent authority, the subsequent decision as to.
Although eia is now required by law in south africa, many major players in the. However, if a developer completely ignores this requirement and builds a project without submitting an environmental impact statement, the only penalty is that the environmental protection bureau epb. Since the enactment of south africa s environmental impact assessment eia law in september 1997, there is a growing debate around the role and function of eias. In 2003 saiea in cooperation with dannida has compiled a comprehensive though by now slightly outdated overview of the state of environmental assessment in the sadc region. Onshore environmental impact assessment and mitigation. South africa eskom renewable energy investment project. How mine dumps in south africa affect the health of. The analysis and recommendations of this report do not necessarily reflect the views of the department of environmental affairs. Strategic environmental assessment sea is becoming an accepted and widely used instrument for integrating environmental issues into the formulation of plans and programmes. Geological sketch map and cross section of the study area back. Eia is an integral part of the planning and decisionmaking processes.
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