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THE UPGRADING OF NATIONAL ROUTE R63 SECTION 13 BETWEEN FORT BEAUFORT (KM 35.77) AND ALICE (KM 58.86) WITHIN THE RAYMOND MHLABA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY OF THE EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL SCOPING REPORT Prepared for: Prepared by: EOH Coastal & Environmental Services EAST LONDON 25 Tecoma Street East London 5214 Tel: 043 726 7809 Also in Grahamstown, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and Maputo (Mozambique) www.cesnet.co.za; www.eoh.co.za December 2016

THE UPGRADING OF NATIONAL ROUTE R63 SECTION 13 … R63 Fort Beaufort... · the upgrading of national route r63 section 13 between fort beaufort (km 35.77) and alice (km 58.86) within

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Page 1: THE UPGRADING OF NATIONAL ROUTE R63 SECTION 13 … R63 Fort Beaufort... · the upgrading of national route r63 section 13 between fort beaufort (km 35.77) and alice (km 58.86) within

THE UPGRADING OF NATIONAL ROUTE R63 SECTION 13 BETWEEN FORT BEAUFORT (KM 35.77) AND ALICE (KM 58.86) WITHIN THE RAYMOND MHLABA LOCAL

MUNICIPALITY OF THE EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA

DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL SCOPING REPORT

Prepared for:

Prepared by:

EOH Coastal & Environmental Services

EAST LONDON 25 Tecoma Street

East London 5214

Tel: 043 726 7809 Also in Grahamstown, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and

Maputo (Mozambique) www.cesnet.co.za;

www.eoh.co.za

December 2016

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Draft Scoping Report – December 2016

EOH Coastal & Environmental Services SANRAL R63 Borrow Pits Draft Scoping Report i

This Report should be cited as follows: EOH Coastal & Environmental Services, Draft (December 2016): Upgrading of the National Route R63 Section between Fort Beaufort and Alice: Borrow Pits: Draft Scoping Report, EOH CES, East London.

REVISIONS TRACKING TABLE

EOH Coastal and Environmental Services

Report Title: Mining application for 7 borrow pits sites for the upgrading of the National Route R63 Section between Fort Beaufort and Alice: Borrow Pits: Draft Scoping Assessment Report

Report Version: Draft Scoping Project Number: 270

Name Responsibility Signature Date

Thina Mgweba Report Writer

December 2016

Roy de Kock

Project Manager

December 2016

Dr Alan Carter

Reviewer

December 2016

Copyright

This document contains intellectual property and propriety information that are protected by copyright in favour of EOH Coastal & Environmental Services (EOH CES) and the specialist consultants. The document

may therefore not be reproduced, used or distributed to any third party without the prior written consent of CES. The document is prepared exclusively for submission to the Department of Mineral Resources, and is subject to all confidentiality, copyright and trade secrets, rules intellectual property law and practices of

South Africa.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 1

1.1. Background to the Study ................................................................................................. 1 1.2. Environmental and Mining Authorisation in South Africa .................................................. 1 1.3. Scoping Phase ................................................................................................................ 4 1.4. Nature and Structure of this Report ................................................................................. 4 1.5. Assumptions and Limitations ........................................................................................... 4 1.6. Mining Right Application .................................................................................................. 4 1.7. Details and Expertise of the Environmental Assessment Practitioner .............................. 5

Details of the EAP........................................................................................................ 5 1.7.1 Expertise of the study team ......................................................................................... 5 1.7.2

2. PROPERTY DESCRIPTION AND ACTIVITY LOCATION ...................................................... 8 2.1. Property Locality .............................................................................................................. 8

3. PROJECT DESCRIPTION .................................................................................................... 18 3.1. Description of Proposed Activity .................................................................................... 18

4. RELEVANT LEGISLATION .................................................................................................. 19 4.1. Relevant Legislation and Guidelines used in the Compilation of this Scoping Report .... 19 4.2. Relevant policy .............................................................................................................. 20

National Policy ........................................................................................................... 20 4.2.1 Provincial Policy ........................................................................................................ 21 4.2.2 Municipal by-laws and planning ................................................................................. 21 4.2.3

5. PROJECT NEED & DESIRABILITY ..................................................................................... 22 6. PROJECT ALTERNATIVES ................................................................................................. 23

6.1. Reasonable and Feasible Alternatives ........................................................................... 23 6.2. Fundamental Alternatives .............................................................................................. 23 6.3. Incremental Alternatives ................................................................................................ 23 6.4. No-Go development ...................................................................................................... 23 6.5. Analysis of alternatives .................................................................................................. 24

7. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION .................................................................................................... 29 7.1. Notification of Interested and Affected Parties ............................................................... 29

Public Participation .................................................................................................... 29 7.1.1 Newspaper advertisement ......................................................................................... 29 7.1.2 On-site Notice ............................................................................................................ 29 7.1.3 Stakeholders and I&APs ............................................................................................ 29 7.1.4 Background information document ............................................................................ 30 7.1.5 Proof of notification .................................................................................................... 30 7.1.6 Issues raised by stakeholders/ I&APs ........................................................................ 30 7.1.7

8. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................. 33 8.1. The Bio-Physical Environment ....................................................................................... 33

Current land use ........................................................................................................ 33 8.1.1 Climate ...................................................................................................................... 36 8.1.2 Topography ............................................................................................................... 36 8.1.3 Geology and soils ...................................................................................................... 38 8.1.4

8.2. Rivers and wetlands ...................................................................................................... 39 8.3. Vegetation ..................................................................................................................... 41

SANBI Classification .................................................................................................. 41 8.3.1 Forest classification ................................................................................................... 42 8.3.2

8.4. Conservation and spatial planning tools ........................................................................ 43 Eastern Cape Biodiversity Conservation Plan ............................................................ 43 8.4.1 Protected Areas (NEMPAA & NPAES) ...................................................................... 44 8.4.2

8.5. Socio-Economic Profile.................................................................................................. 44 Population ................................................................................................................. 44 8.5.1 Employment ............................................................................................................... 44 8.5.2 Education .................................................................................................................. 45 8.5.3

9. MANNER IN WHICH THE ENVIRONMENT MAY BE AFFECTED ....................................... 46 9.1. Possible Environmental Issues and Impacts .................................................................. 46

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10. PLAN OF STUDY FOR EIA PHASE ..................................................................................... 49 10.1. Scope and Intent of the EIA Phase ................................................................................ 49

Specialist Studies .................................................................................................. 49 10.1.1 Environmental Impact Report ................................................................................. 49 10.1.2 Issues and Response Trail..................................................................................... 49 10.1.3 Environmental Management Programme ............................................................... 50 10.1.4 Record of Decision of Environmental Authorisation and Appeals Process. ............ 50 10.1.5

10.2. The Public Participation Process ................................................................................... 50 Public Review Of The Draft Scoping Report .......................................................... 50 10.2.1 Public Review Of The Draft Environmental Impact Report ..................................... 50 10.2.2 Notification Of Environmental Authorisation ........................................................... 50 10.2.3

10.3. Environmental Impact Report ........................................................................................ 51 Structure of the EIR ............................................................................................... 51 10.3.1

10.4. Specialist Studies .......................................................................................................... 51 Ecological Assessment (Mr Peter De Lacy) ........................................................... 51 10.4.1 Aquatic and Wetland Assessment (Ms Caitlin Smith) ............................................ 52 10.4.2 Heritage Assessment (Karen Van Reyneveld) ....................................................... 52 10.4.3 Paleontological Assessment (Dr. John Almond) ..................................................... 53 10.4.4

10.5. Methodology for assessing the significance of impacts .................................................. 53 11. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ..................................................................... 57

11.1. Activity and Possible Impacts ........................................................................................ 57 11.2. Fatal Flaws .................................................................................................................... 57 11.3. The EIR Phase .............................................................................................................. 57

12. REFERENCES...................................................................................................................... 58 13. APPENDICES ....................................................................................................................... 60

13.1. Appendix A: Public Participation Documents ................................................................. 60 Newspaper advert .................................................................................................. 60 13.1.1 Background Information document ........................................................................ 61 13.1.2 Notice Boards ........................................................................................................ 63 13.1.3 Letter of Notification ............................................................................................... 67 13.1.4 Notification of EIA process ..................................................................................... 69 13.1.5 Notification of availability of draft scoping report .................................................... 70 13.1.6 Interest and affected parties database ................................................................... 71 13.1.7

13.2 Appendix B: Locality Map .............................................................................................. 73

LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1.1: The EIA process. ............................................................................................................................................... 3 Figure 2.1: A view of a portion of the borrow pit 1 area. ................................................................................................... 9 Figure 2.2: A view of a portion of the borrow pit 3 area. ................................................................................................. 10 Figure 2.3: A view of a portion of the borrow pit 4 area. ................................................................................................. 11 Figure 2.4: A view of a portion of the borrow pit 5 area. ................................................................................................. 13 Figure 2.5: A view of a portion of the borrow pit 6 area. ................................................................................................. 14 Figure 2.6: A view of a portion of the borrow pit 7 area. ................................................................................................. 15 Figure 2.7: A view of a portion of the borrow pit 8 area. ................................................................................................. 16 Figure 2.8: Locality map of the proposed borrow pit site ................................................................................................ 17 Figure 3.1: Proposed layout of the borrow pit sites. ............................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. Figure 8.1: Land use map for the borrow pit sites. ........................................................................................................... 34 Figure 8.1.1: Land use map for BP 1, BP 3, BP 4 and BP 8. ............................................................................................... 35 Figure 8.1.2: land use map for BP 5, BP 6 and BP 7. ......................................................................................................... 35 Figure 8.2: Topography of the study area......................................................................................................................... 36 Figure 8.2.1: Topography Map of BP 1, BP 3, BP 4 and BP 8. ........................................................................................... 37 Figure 8.2.2: Topography Map of BP 5, BP 6 and BP 7. .................................................................................................... 38 Figure 8.3: Geology of the study area. .............................................................................................................................. 39 Figure 8.4: Rivers and wetlands in the vicinity of BP 1, BP 3, BP 4 and BP 8. ................................................................... 40 Figure 8.5: Rivers and wetlands in the vicinity of BP 5, BP 6, and BP 7. ........................................................................... 41 Figure 8.6: SANBI vegetation map of the study area. ....................................................................................................... 42

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Figure 8.7: ECBCP map of the study area. ........................................................................................................................ 43 Figure 8.9: Employment in the NLM (StatsSA, 2011). ....................................................................................................... 45 Figure 8.10: Education in the NLM (StatsSA, 2011) .......................................................................................................... 45 Figure 13.1: Location of borrow pit 1 notice board .......................................................................................................... 63 Figure 13.2: Location of borrow pit 3 notice board .......................................................................................................... 63 Figure 13.3: Location of borrow pit 4 notice board .......................................................................................................... 64 Figure 13.4: Location of borrow pit 5 notice board .......................................................................................................... 64 Figure 13.5: Location of borrow pit 6 notice board .......................................................................................................... 65 Figure 13.6: Location of borrow pit 7 notice board .......................................................................................................... 65 Figure 13.7: Location of borrow pit 8 notice board .......................................................................................................... 66 Figure 13.1 Locality Map of the borrow pit sites .............................................................................................................. 73

LIST OF TABLES Table 1.1: Listed activities triggered by the proposed borrow pits ........................................................................ 1 Table 2.1: Property details ....................................................................................................................................... 8 Table 2.2: Coordinates of the corner points of borrow pit 1 .................................................................................. 9 Table 2.3: Coordinates of the corner points of borrow pit 3 ................................................................................ 10 Table 2.4: Coordinates of the corner points of borrow pit 4 ................................................................................ 11 Table 2.5: Coordinates of the corner points of borrow pit 5 ................................................................................ 12 Table 2.6: Coordinates of the corner points of borrow pit 6 ................................................................................ 13 Table 2.7: Coordinates of the corner points of borrow pit 7 ................................................................................ 14 Table 2.8: Coordinates of the corner points of borrow pit 8 ................................................................................ 16 Table 3.1: Size of borrow pits. ............................................................................................................................... 18 Table 3.2: Volumes of material to be removed. ................................................................................................... 18 Table 4.1: Environmental legislation considered in the preparation this Environmental Impact Report. ......... 19 Table 6.1: A summary of the alternatives that were assessed. .......................................................................... 24 Table 6.2: The alternatives for the proposed borrow pits. ................................................................................... 25 Table 8.1: The main land uses in the vicinity of each borrow pit site. ................................................................ 33 Table 9.1: Environmental Issues and impacts identified in the planning and design phase of the proposed

Borrow pit sites. .............................................................................................................................................. 46 Table 9.2: Environmental Issues and impacts identified in the construction phase of the proposed Borrow Pit

sites. ................................................................................................................................................................ 47 Table 9.3: Environmental Issues and impacts identified in the operation phase of the proposed three Borrow

pit sites. ........................................................................................................................................................... 47 Table 9.4: Issues and impacts identified in the decommissioning phase of the proposed Borrow pit sites. ... 48 Table 10.1. Significance Rating Table .................................................................................................................. 53 Table 10.2. Impact Severity Rating ....................................................................................................................... 54 Table 10.3. Impact Severity Rating ....................................................................................................................... 55

LIST OF ACRONYMS BID: Background Information Document

CBA: Critical Biodiversity Areas

CITES: Committee for International Trade in Endangered Species

DEA: DMR:

Department of Environmental Affairs Department of Mineral Resources

DWS: EA

Department of Water and Sanitation Environmental Authorisation

EAP: ECO

Environmental Assessment Practitioner Environmental Control Officer

EIA: Environmental Impact Assessment

EIR: Environmental Impact Report

EMPr: Environmental Management Programme

GNR: Government Notice Regulation

ha: Hectare

I&APs: Interested and Affected Parties

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IDP: Integrated Development Plan

NEMA: NEMBA: NEMPAA:

National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 as amended National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act National Environmental Management Protected Areas Act

NFEPA: NPAES MEC: MPRDA:

National Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Area National Protected Areas Expansion Strategy Member of the Executive Council Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act

PoS: Plan of Study

PAES: Protected Areas Expansion Strategy

PPP: Public Participation Process

RDB: Red Data Book

SAHRA: South African Heritage Resources Agency

SANBI: SANRAL:

South African National Biodiversity Institute South African National Roads Agency Limited

SSC: Species of Special Concern

ToR:

Terms of Reference

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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background to the Study

South African National Roads Agency SOC Ltd. (SANRAL) is proposing the Upgrading of the National Route R63 Section 13 between Fort Beaufort (Km 35.77) and Alice (Km 58.86) within the Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality (RMLM), previously called Nkonkobe Local Municipality (NLM) in the Eastern Cape Province. The proposed upgrade starts at the intersection of the R67 and the R63 that leads into the town of Fort Beaufort from the east. The route follows the R63 in an easterly direction and continues through the town of Fort Beaufort towards Alice for approximately 23km. The proposed upgrade ends at the Galloway Bridge just before the four-way stop entering the town of Alice from the west. There are (7) borrow pit sites proposed for the provision of the necessary material for the upgrading of the R63. In terms of Section 106 of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (Act No. 28 of 2002; MPRDA) SANRAL is exempted from the application for a Mining Right for the borrow pits but is not exempted from the application for environmental authorisation for the 7 borrow pits. EOH Coastal & Environmental Services (EOH) has been appointed by SANRAL as the Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) to undertake the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the proposed borrow pits in terms of the MPRDA.

1.2. Environmental and Mining Authorisation in South Africa

The regulation and protection of the environment within South Africa occurs mainly through the application of various items of legislation, within the regulatory framework of the Constitution (Act 108 of 1996). The primary legislation regulating Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) within South Africa is the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA, Act 107 of 1998). NEMA makes provision for the Minister of Environmental Affairs to identify activities which may not commence prior to authorisation from either the Minister or the provincial Member of the Executive Council (MEC). In addition to this, NEMA also provided for the formulation of regulations in respect of such authorisations. The EIA regulations (2014) allow for a Basic Assessment process for activities with limited environmental impact (listed in GNR. 983 and 984, 2014) and a more rigorous two-tiered approach for activities with potentially greater environmental impact (listed in GNR. 984, 2014) (Figure 1.1). The listed activities that have been applied for are provided in Table 1.1 below. The proposed borrow pits trigger the need for a Full Scoping and EIA process under the NEMA Regulations (2014) in terms of Listing Notices 1 and 2 published in Government Notices No. R. 983 and R. 984, respectively. The proposed 7 borrow pits require a Full Scoping and EIA due to the following triggers: Table 1.1: Listed activities triggered by the proposed borrow pits Government

Notice Activity Number

Activity Description Relevance to this project

GNR 983 22

The decommissioning of any activity requiring

(i) a closure certificate in terms of Section 43

of the MPRDA (2002).

Decommissioning of the borrow pits

once mining is complete will require a

closure certificate.

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Government Notice

Activity Number

Activity Description Relevance to this project

GNR 984 15

The clearance of an area of 20 hectares or

more of indigenous vegetation.

Mining activities will require the

cumulative removal of more than 20

hectares of indigenous vegetation for all

7 borrow pits.

GNR 984 17

Any activity including the operation of that activity which requires a mining right as contemplated in Section 22 of the MPRDA (2002), including associated infrastructure, structures and earthworks, directly related to the extraction of a mineral resource, including activities for which an exemption has been issued in terms of Section 106 of the MPRDA.

The project involves the development of (7) seven borrow pit sites that will require a mining application.

GN R. 984

21

Any activity including the operation of that activity associated with the primary processing of a mineral resource including winning, reduction, extraction, classifying, concentrating, crushing, screening and washing.

The activity includes the processing of mineral resources, specifically extraction, crushing and screening.

The Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) is the competent authority that will consider this EIA. After obtaining an Environmental Authorisation (EA) from the DMR, SANRAL may commence with mining after submission of an EMPr and financial provision for rehabilitation to DMR as regulated by the Minerals & Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA, Act 28 of 2002).

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Figure 1.1: The EIA process.

WE ARE HERE

Contextualise Proposed Development

Pre-Application Planning

Adopt the Scoping & Environmental Impact Assessment Process

Submit Application to Relevant Authority

Conduct Public Participation Process

Scoping Report and Plan of Study for the EIA

Public Review of Scoping Report and Plan of Study of the EIA

Authority Review of Scoping

Report and Plan of Study of the EIA

Accept

Request Amendments

Conduct Environmental Impact Assessment.

Compile EIR and EMPr

Public Review of EIR and EMPr

Authority Review of EIR and EMPr

Accept

Request

Amendments

Issue Environmental Authorisation and notify applicant of

conditions and appeal provisions

Notify I&APs of Environmental Authorisation and appeal provisions

Consider Appeals if any

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1.3. Scoping Phase

The Scoping Phase is designed to determine the “scope” of the subsequent EIA, conducted in fulfilment of the application for authorisation. The overall aim of the Scoping Phase is to determine the environmental issues and impacts associated with the proposed mining sites that require further investigation in an EIA. The purpose of scoping is therefore to identify: • Environmental Issues; • Impacts; and • Alternatives. An integral part of the Scoping Phase is the initial public participation process (PPP). This process ensures that all possible interested and affected parties (I&APs) are informed of the proposed activity and are provided with an opportunity to comment and identify issues.

1.4. Nature and Structure of this Report

This report fulfils the requirement of the EIA Regulations (2014) for the documentation of the Scoping Phase. The structure of this report is based on APPENDIX 2 of GN No. 982, of the EIA Regulations (2014), which clearly specifies the required content of a Scoping Report.

1.5. Assumptions and Limitations

This report is based on information that is currently available and, as a result, the following limitations and assumptions are implicit–

The report is based on a project description taken from design specifications for the proposed mining sites that have not yet been finalised, and which are likely to undergo a number of iterations and refinements before they can be regarded as definitive. A project description based on the final design will be provided in the EIR Phase.

Descriptions of the natural and social environments are based on limited fieldwork and available literature. More information will be provided in the EIR phase based on the outcomes of the specialist studies.

1.6. Mining Right Application

SANRAL is exempted from the application for a Mining Right for the borrow pits, but is not exempted from the application for EA. The borrow pits require an application for EA in terms of NEMA (Act 107 of 1998) and a mining authorisation in terms of the MPRDA (No. 28 of 2002).

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1.7. Details and Expertise of the Environmental Assessment Practitioner In fulfilment of the above-mentioned legislative requirement the details of the Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) who prepared the report as well as the expertise of the individual members of the study team are provided below.

Details of the EAP 1.7.1

EOH was established in 1990 as a specialist environmental consulting company and has considerable experience in terrestrial, marine and freshwater ecology, the Social Impact Assessment (SIA) process, State of Environment Reporting (SOER), Integrated Waste Management Plans (IWMP), EMPs, Spatial Development Frameworks (SDF), public participation, as well as the management and co-ordination of all aspects of the EIA and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) processes.

Expertise of the study team 1.7.2

Dr Alan Carter (EAP) Alan is the executive of the EOH East London Office. He holds a PhD in Marine Biology and is a Certified Public Accountant, with extensive training and experience in both financial accounting and environmental science disciplines with international accounting firms in South Africa and the USA. He has 25 years’ experience in environmental management and has specialist skills in sanitation, coastal environments and industrial waste. Dr Carter is registered as a Professional Natural Scientist under the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP). He is also registered as an EAP by the Environmental Assessment Practitioners of South Africa (EAPSA).

In terms of APPENDIX 2(2) of the EIA Regulations (2014), an Scoping Report must include – (a) Details of– (i) The EAP who prepared the report; and (ii) The expertise of the EAP, including curriculum vitae.

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Mr Roy de Kock Roy is a Senior Consultant holding a BSc Honours in Geology and an MSc in Botany from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth. His MSc thesis focused on Rehabilitation Ecology using an open-cast mine as a case study. He has been working for EOH CES since 2010, and is based at the East London branch where he focuses on Ecological and Agricultural Assessments, Geological and Geotechnical analysis, Environmental Management Plans, mining applications and various environmental impact studies. Roy has worked on numerous projects in South Africa, Mozambique and Malawi. Roy is SACNASP registered. Ms. Caitlin Smith Caitlin is a Senior Environmental Consultant at EOH CES. Caitlin holds a BSc degree with majors in Geology and Geography as well as a BSc Honours degree in Geology both from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. Caitlin's honours thesis involved a petrographic study and scanning electron microscope analysis of kimberlite material. Caitlin has four years’ experience as a geologist in the heavy mineral sands mining industry. Caitlin is registered is SACNASP registered. Mr Peter De Lacy Peter is an Environmental Consultant. He holds a BSc with majors in Environmental Science and Zoology, as well as a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Science both from Rhodes University. Peter’s honours dissertation looked at the growth rate of indigenous street and garden trees and it has subsequently been published in the South African Journal of Botany. He holds an MSc (Environmental Science) through Rhodes University and looked at services provided by sacred areas in Grahamstown. He has an academic background in a range of fields including Urban Ecology and Forestry, Rehabilitation and Disturbance Ecology, Statistics, Environmental Impact Assessment, and Community-Based Natural Resource Management.

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Ms Thina Mgweba Thina is an Environmental Consultant. She holds a B.Sc. in Economics and Environmental Science as well as a BSc honours in environmental science both from Rhodes University. Her honours dissertation investigated climate change resilience and adaptation in the coastal villages of Hamburg, Eastern Cape. Her professional interests include the development of climate change strategies, environmental economic analyses as well as social impact assessments.

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2. PROPERTY DESCRIPTION AND ACTIVITY LOCATION

2.1. Property Locality

The (7) proposed borrow pits are located on various locations between Fort Beaufort ad Alice in the Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality (Figure 2.1). Property details and the 21 Digit Surveyor General (SG) code of the affected farm are provided in Table 2.1 below. Coordinates of the proposed borrow pits are provided in Table 2.2. The study area for this report is the planned borrow pit areas and a distance of 500 m surrounding them. Table 2.1: Property details

Province Eastern Cape

District Municipality Amathole District Municipality

Local Municipality Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality

BORROW PIT 01

Farm Name: Allotment Area- ELY-GAHGA

Application area (Ha) 15.4 ha

Magisterial district: DC12

Distance and direction from nearest town

Borrow pit 01 is situated 3.0km directly west-northwest of Alice. The borrow pit is accessed by a gravel road which leads north off the R63 approximately 4.9km out of Alice on the way to Fort Beaufort.

21 digit Surveyor General Code for each farm portion

ELY-GAHGA Town Code: C0790003

Locality map See Appendix B

Description of the overall activity. (Indicate Mining Right, Mining Permit, Prospecting right, Bulk Sampling, Production Right, Exploration Right, Reconnaissance permit, Technical co-operation permit, Additional listed activity)

The South African National Roads Agency Soc. Ltd. (SANRAL) is applying for mining authorisation from DMR to obtain material to be used on the R61 Section 13 road upgrade.

In terms of Section APPENDIX 2(2) of the EIA Regulations (2014), a Scoping Report must contain all the information necessary for a proper understanding of the process, informing all preferred alternatives, including location alternatives, the scope of the assessment, and the consultation process to be undertaken through the environmental impact assessment process, and must include-

b) The location of the activity, including – (i) The 21 digit Surveyor General code of each cadastral land parcel;

(ii) Where available, the physical address and farm name; (iii) Where the required information in terms of (i) and (ii) is not available, the coordinates of the

boundary or properties; c) A plan which locates the proposed activity or activities applied for at an appropriate scale;

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EOH Coastal & Environmental Services SANRAL R63 Borrow Pits Draft Scoping Report

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Table 2.2: Coordinates of the corner points of borrow pit 1

Latitude (S) (DDMMSS) Longitude (E) (DDMMSS)

32°47'7.87"S 26°48'3.99"E

32°47'15.13"S 26°48'15.23"E

32°47'21.62"S 26°48'7.44"E

32°47'14.94"S 26°47'57.91"E

Figure 2.1: A view of a portion of the borrow pit 1 area.

Please not that there is no borrow pit 2. The 7 proposed borrow pits assessed are numbered chronologically without borrow pit 2.

BORROW PIT 03

Farm Name: Allotment Area- ELY-GAHGA

Application area (Ha) 6.99

Magisterial district: DC12

Distance and direction from nearest town

Borrow pit 03 is situated on the northern side of the R63, some 3.3km from Alice, on the way to Fort Beaufort.

21 digit Surveyor General Code for each farm portion

ELY-GAHGA Town Code: C0790003

Locality map See Appendix B

Description of the overall activity. (Indicate Mining Right, Mining Permit,

The South African National Roads Agency Soc. Ltd. (SANRAL) is applying for mining authorisation from DMR to obtain material to be used on the R61 Section 13 road upgrade.