Announcement of Revised DEIR - March 2013.pdf - Zitholele.co.za

Zitholele Consulting (Pty) Ltd
Reg. No. 2000/000392/07
PO Box 6002 Halfway House 1685
South Africa
Thandanani Park, Matuka Close
Halfway Gardens, Midrand
Tel 011-207-2060
Fax 086-676-9950
Email: mail@zitholele.co.za
15 March 2013
Dear Stakeholder
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES FOR THE PROPOSED SOLAR PARK INTEGRATION
PROJECT
(EIA#1: CSP-Aries/Nieuwehoop: DEA Ref No: 12/12/20/2606 and NEAS Ref No: DEA/EIA/0000785/2011)
(EIA#2: CSP-Ferrum: DEA Ref No: 12/12/20/2607 and NEAS Ref No: DEA/EIA/0000778/2011)
REVISED DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (REVISED DEIR) AND DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME (DRAFT EMPR): AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AND COMMENT
As you may recall, the Draft Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the proposed Solar Park Integration
Project (SPIP) has been made available for public review from Thursday 8 November 2012 to Thursday 7 December
2012. The SPIP consist of several 400kV transmission power lines for the integration of the Concentrating Solar
Park (CSP), near Upington, into the Eskom electricity network.
Through the consultation process undertaken in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, Zitholele
Consulting was made aware of the presence of the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) requirements regarding the close
proximity of infrastructures, such as power lines, that will have a negative impact on their operations. This is the key
reason why the specialists’ team had to identify and assess alternative corridors. The following properties fall within
the revised corridors:
EIA #1 EIA #2
CSP-Aries Substation
(southwest of Kenhardt)
CSP-Nieuwehoop Substation
(northeast of Kenhardt)
CSP-Ferrum Substation
(Kathu)
LOXTON VALE 464 (Ptn9)
Bethesda 38 (Ptns Remiander, BREDENKAMP 567 (Ptn Remainder)
FRIER`S DALE 466 (Ptn27)
279 & 335)
Brooks 568 (Ptn Remainder)
PLAAS 602 (Remainder) Beaumont 569 (Ptns Remainder & 3)
PLAAS 584 (Remainder) Murray II 570 (Ptn 3)
ZWART BOOIS BERG ANNEX 475 (Ptns
Cos 571 (Ptns Remainder, 1, 2, 3 & 4)
2, 6 &7)
FARM 595 (Remainder) Vrolikheid 637 (Ptns Remainder, 1 & 2)
FARM 616 (Remainder)
Mount Leonard 640 (Ptns Remainder &
1)
EENDUIN 465 (Ptns 39 & 40) Mount Temple 645 (Ptns 1)
ZWART BOOIS BERG SUID 652 (Ptns
Caston 650 (Ptns Remainder, 1 & 2)
Remainder & 3)
BAVIAANS KRANTZ 474 (Ptns 10, 11 &
Tomkins 657 (Ptn 1)
15)
Writght 538 (Ptns Remainder & 1)
Harley 573 (Ptn Remainder)
Ellies Rust 647 (Ptns Remainder & 1)
Commissie 649 (Ptns Remainder & 2)
Rossville 638 (Ptns Remainder & 1)
Kalkpan 639 (Ptn Remainder)

The findings of the environmental studies have been integrated and the Revised DEIR and the Revised EMPr. The
Revised DEIR also provides information regarding the methodology and comparative assessment done which
provided the environmental with the information they needed to recommend Corridor Alternative 1B for the Solar –
Aries corridor, Corridor Alternative 3B for the Solar - Hieuwehoop corridor, and Corridor Alternative 3A for the Solar
– Ferrum corridor as the preferred Alternative Corridors.
Public review of Revised DEIR and Revised EMPr
from Thursday 14 March 2013 to Wednesday 17 April 2013
The Revised DEIR and Revised EMPr have been prepared in terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment
Regulations as published in GNR 543 - 546 – Government Gazette No. 33306 of 2010. In accordance with the EIA
Regulations (2010), any significant changes after a draft Report was made available for public review, a revised or
updated Report must be made available for a 30-day comment period.
The Revised DEIR and Revised EMPr will be available for public review from Friday 15 March 2013 to Wednesday
17 April 2013. Thereafter, the reports will be updated and submitted to the Department of Environmental Affairs
(DEA). The DEA will, in consultation with the commenting authorities, consider the findings and recommendations
and either grant an Environmental Authorisation or reject it.
These Reports will be available at the public places listed in the table below. The report is also available for
download from the Eskom and Zitholele websites (www.eskom.co.za/eia and www.zitholele.co.za/eskom-solar).
PUBLIC PLACE CONTACT CONTACT TEL ADDRESS
Kathu Public Library Ms Theodora Tsalao (053) 723 2261 Civic Centre, Cnr Frikkie Meyer & Hendrik Van Eck, Kathu
Olifantshoek Public Library Ms Ellen Visser (053) 331 0002 Lanham Street, Olifantshoek
Upington Public Library Ms Inga Engelbrecht (053) 338 7157 Mutual Street, Upington
Kenhardt Public Library Ms Geene Einam (053) 651 6508 Park Street, Kenhardt
Kakamas Public Library Ms Manda Yough (054) 431 6303 Voortrekker Street, Kakamas
Keimoes Public Library Ms Yvonne Booysen (054) 461 6406 Main Street, Keimoes
You can comment on the reports in any of the following ways:
By completing the comment sheet that is available with these reports at the public places.
By writing a letter.
By e-mail or telephone to the public participation office.
By attending any one of the public meetings (see below).
Comments on these reports must be submitted on or before Wednesday 17 April 2013.
Kindly send your reply to Nicolene Venter at the Public Participation Office on fax number 086-676-9950 or e-mail to
nicolenev@zitholele.co.za. You are also welcome to contact Zitholele Consulting on (011) 207-2077.
Yours sincerely
Nicolene Venter
Public Participation Office