Part 2 - Eskom

ENVIRONMENTAL SCOPING REPORT FOR THE PROPOSED 40MW OPEN CYCLE GAS TURBINE POWER
PLANT IN THE AMERSFOORT AREA, MPUMALANGA
Bohlweki-SSI Environmental
8. POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS – BIOPHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
8.1. Construction Phase Impacts
These are impacts on the bio-physical and socio-economic environment that would
occur during the construction phase of the proposed project. They are inherently
temporary in duration, but may have longer lasting effects e.g. pollution of a wetland
during construction could have effects that may last long after construction is over.
Construction phase impacts could potentially include:
• Disturbance of flora and fauna;
• Impacts on water resources;
• Increase in traffic volumes in the vicinity of the construction site;
• Windblown dust;
• Noise pollution; and
• Litter/waste pollution.
Based on the temporary duration of the construction phase and the fact that negative
impacts of construction can be readily predicted and mitigated, generally speaking,
more attention will be given to the operational phase impacts of the proposed power
station than to the construction phase impacts. However, wherever relevant,
specialist studies would consider construction phase impacts, and in certain cases,
would be focused on construction phase impacts e.g. impacts on terrestrial flora and
fauna are mainly construction phase impacts.
It should be noted that a comprehensive construction phase Environmental
Management Plan (EMP) would be developed and implemented to regulate and
minimise the impacts during the construction phase.
8.2. Operational Phase Impacts
Given their long term nature, operational phase impacts will come under close
scrutiny in the EIA Phase. The specialist studies will identify and assess the
implications of these impacts and include measures to minimise predicted impacts.
The assessment of potential impacts will help to inform Eskom’s selection of
preferred alternatives to be submitted to the Department of Water and Environmental
Affairs (DW&EA) for consideration and approval. In turn, DW&EA’s decision on the
environmental acceptability of the proposed project and the setting of any conditions
will be informed by the specialist studies, amongst other information to be contained
in the EIR.
It is normal practice that, should the proposed OCGT and associated infrastructure
be authorised, the development and implementation of an operational EMP is
required. The operational EMP is designed to mitigate negative impacts associated
with the operational phase of the project and will be informed by the mitigation
measures proposed by the specialists and their feasibility.
E02.JNB.000308
ESKOM HOLDINGS LIMITED
01
57
08/10/2009