Part 2 - Eskom

ENVIRONMENTAL SCOPING REPORT FOR THE PROPOSED 40MW OPEN CYCLE GAS TURBINE POWER
PLANT IN THE AMERSFOORT AREA, MPUMALANGA
Bohlweki-SSI Environmental
8.8.4. Direct Impact - Impacts on Surrounding Natural Habitat and Species
Surrounding areas and species present in the direct vicinity of the study area could
be affected by impacts resulting from construction and maintenance activities. These
impacts could include all of the above impacts, depending on the sensitivity and
status of surrounding habitat and species as well as the extent of impact activities.
8.8.5. Direct Impact - Impacts on Fauna Species
It should be noted that animals generally avoid contact with human structures, but do
grow accustomed to structures after a period. However, the interaction of animals
with the construction and operational areas cannot be avoided entirely and due care
must be taken to avoid accidental injuries and death.
Of greater concern is the contact between wild animals and personnel that will be
employed for the proposed development. Contact between animals, particularly
reptiles and scorpions might lead to injuries and death of personnel, while human
activities such as littering, poaching, vehicular accidents, illegal collection, etc. will
have an adverse impact on some of the smaller fauna species. Some impacts of this
nature are expected to occur, but can be avoided through mitigation.
8.8.6. Cumulative Impact - Potential increase in habitat transformation
The development of any industry in a natural environment that is largely
characterised by habitat of untransformed status can generally be described as ‘the
thin end of the wedge’, implying that subsequent developments will not be viewed as
similarly important since areas of existing transformation already exists in the region.
The loss of natural habitat, even small areas, implies that biological attributes have
permanently lost that ability of occupying that space, effectively meaning that a
higher premium is placed on available food, water and habitat resources. This, in
some instances might mean that the viable population of plants or animals in a region
will decrease proportionally with the loss of habitat, eventually decreasing beyond a
viable population size.
The danger in cumulative impacts is that effects are not known, or is not visible; with
immediate effect and normally, when these effects become visible they are beyond
repair.
8.8.7. Cumulative Impact - Potential increase in habitat fragmentation
Uninterrupted habitat is a precious commodity for biological attributes in modern
times, particularly in areas that are characterised by moderate and high levels of
transformation. Similar to the regional loss due to habitat transformation, a new
development of this nature in a largely untransformed area can be seen as the ‘thin
end of the wedge’.
E02.JNB.000308
ESKOM HOLDINGS LIMITED
01
70
08/10/2009