Materials Activity Aspect Potential Impact Mitigation Measure (Objective and Target) Indicator Time Schedule Monitoring 6.1 of material Material transport Traffic congestion. Dust during transportation. Excessive noise. Objective(s) To ensure that whilst material is transported, it cannot be of negative influence to the surrounding environment. Target: The contractor should note that existing roads are sufficient to facilitate access to the alignment of the distribution line but the following should be adhered to: Access to privately owned land will be arranged with the various landowners along the alignment by the contractor; Adequate and appropriate traffic warning signage must be erected where applicable, along transport routes and access roads; The Contractor shall take preventative measures e;g. screening, muffling, timing, pre-notification of affected parties to minimise complaints regarding noise and vibration nuisance from sources; Fine materials (such as sand) must be covered during transportation; Appropriate response plans must be prepared by Contractors to ensure the fastest possible reaction to spills or accidents; Deliveries must be scheduled for off-peak hour traffic times; All trucks and vehicles removing spoil from the site must have load areas and must be covered by a tarpaulin (plastic/synthetic sheets (covers) to prevent rocks and spoil falling onto the road surfaces; Vehicle speeds on site should not exceed 30 km/hr; All drivers and operators are to have licences for driving and moving of plant on site; and All road vehicles to be road worthy. Mufflers and silencers fitted to construction vehicles and equipment. Covering of material during transportation. Emergency reaction plan (for must always be readily available on site. Contractor and CECO Contract and in P&G’s Prior to construction start. ECO Throughout construction period or as required by the ECO. 6.2 Storage of Material Hazardous Material storage areas Contamination of soil by hazardous material. Inadequate remediation measures for Objective(s): To ensure adequate protection of soil and soil remediation measures in case of spills. Target: Hazardous materials – such as paint, cement, fuels, bitunmen, fuel, oil, herbicides, battery acid or detergents – must be stored in Storage of hazardous materials in sealed and lockable containers. No evidence of spills on Contractor and CECO. Contract and in P&G’s period ECO For the duration of the construction period dependent on the presence of hazardous
Surrounding Land Activity Aspect Potential Impact Mitigation Measure (Objective and Target) Performance Indicator Time Schedule Monitoring 8.1 Entering different Access roads Damage to access roads. Damage to environment. Loss of topsoil. Erosion. Objective(s): To minimise damage to existing access roads. To minimise damage to the environment due to construction of new access roads. To minimise loss of topsoil and erosion. Targets: Planning of access routes must be done in conjunction between the Contractor, ECO, Engineer and applicable Landowners; All agreements reached should be documented and no verbal agreements should be made; The Contractor shall properly mark all access roads. Markers shall show the direction of travel. Roads not to be used shall be marked with a " NO ENTRY " sign; Water diversion berms shall be installed from the start of the contract. These berms shall be maintained at all times and be repaired at the end of the contract; Where berms are introduced on steep slopes the outflow shall be suitably stone pitched to prevent erosion from starting at the berms; Roads may not be constructed on steep slopes prone to result in excessive erosion unless such roads follow contours; The introduction of concrete pipes and drifts, to facilitate access, shall be at the discretion of ECO on site. Any dangerous crossings shall be marked as such and where necessary, speed limits shall be enforced; Where necessary, a suitable mixture of grass seed shall be used to re-seed damaged areas; and Deteriorated areas shall be fenced-in to enhance rehabilitation. No claims from Landowners due to further damage on existing access roads. No erosion visible on access roads three months after completion of construction. No loss of topsoil due to run-off water on access roads. Contractor and CECO. Contract and in P&G’s During the of the construction site. ECO Once off
by the ECO in conjunction with the specialist reports compiled as part of the EIA process. River crossings Damage & erosion to river and stream Siltation of water Objective(s): Minimise damage to river and stream embankments. Avoid contamination of water Target: No roads shall be cut through river- and stream banks as this may lead to erosion causing siltation of streams and downstream dams; Existing drifts and bridges may be used if the Landowner gives his consent. Such structures shall then be thoroughly examined for strength and durability before they are used; New drifts and bridges shall only be constructed with the approval of Eskom and the Landowner and at the discretion of the Environmental Control Officer. Refer to Eskom standards regarding access across running water; and Permit must be acquired from DWS for all the river crossings before construction starts. No access roads through river and stream banks. No visible erosion scars on embankments once construction is completed. Contractor, CECO. ECO Contract and in P&G’s ECO During construction 9.2 clearing Vegetation Damage to vegetation. Interference by vegetation to flow of electricity. Erosion due to removal of vegetation. Objective(s): Minimise damage to vegetation. Keep servitude as natural looking as possible. Minimise interference by vegetation to flow of electricity. Minimise possibility of erosion due to removal of vegetation. Minimise removal of plant material on river and stream embankments. Eradication of alien invader species. Target: The objective of vegetation clearing is to trim, cut or clear the minimum number of trees and vegetation necessary for the safe mechanical construction and electrical operation of the distribution line; Vegetation clearing shall be done in accordance with Eskom standards for bush clearance and maintenance within overhead distribution line servitudes); Only a 8 m strip may be cleared flush with the ground to allow vehicular passage; No scalping shall be allowed on any part of the servitude road unless absolutely necessary; Permits from the DWS will be attained and the removal of all No trees and vegetation removed unnecessarily. No vegetation interfering with structures and statutory distances upon completion of the contract. No of vegetation on river and stream embankments. No visible Contractor and CECO. Contract and in P&G’s During the of the construction sites along the alignment. ECO Vegetation will be cleared as construction proceeds along the alignment.
investigation into the necessity, the type to be used, the effects and the effectiveness of the agent; and Eskom's approval for the use of herbicides is mandatory. Application shall be under the direct supervision of a qualified technician. All surplus herbicide shall be disposed of in accordance with the supplier’s specifications. 9.3 Gate installation and control Damage to existing fences, security Objective(s): Properly install gates to allow access to the servitude. To minimise damage to fences, limit access to Eskom and Contractor personnel with gate keys. To minimise the extent of removal of vegetation. Target: Gate installation shall be according to Eskom standards on game gates; All gates installed in electrified fencing shall be electrified as well; All gates shall be fitted with locks and be kept locked at all times during the construction phase. Gates shall only be left open on request of the Landowner if he accepts partial responsibility for such gates in writing, once the Contractor have left site and the gates are fitted with Eskom locks. Such gates shall be clearly marked by painting the posts green; All claims arising from gates left open shall be investigated and settled in full by the Contractor; and If any fencing interferes with the construction process, such fencing shall be deviated until construction is completed. No transgressions of the Fencing Act. No damage to fences and subsequent complaints from Landowners. All gates equipped with locks and kept locked at all times to limit access to key Holders. All fences properly tied off to the gate posts. All gates properly and neatly installed according to specifications. No complaints about open gates. Contractor and CECO. Contract and in P&G’s During the of the construction sites along the alignment. ECO During construction 9.4 and protection of flora Unnecessary removal of flora. Removal of vegetative matter for firewood. Objective(s): To minimise the extent of removal of vegetation. Target: Plants outside of the construction area are not to be disturbed, destroyed or removed; No unnecessary loss of vegetation. Contractor and CECO. Contract and in P&G’s During the of the construction sites along the alignment. ECO During construction
Target: Refer to Eskom standards for specifications concerning tower sites on slopes; Disturbance of topsoil on tower sites with severe slopes shall be minimised at all costs; At any tower sites where conventional foundations are installed, the Contractor shall remove the topsoil separately and store it for later use during rehabilitation of such tower sites; During backfilling operations, the Contractor shall take care not to dump the topsoil in the bottom of the foundation and then put spoil on top of that; Re-seeding shall be done on disturbed areas as directed by the ECO; In accordance with the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act, No 43 of 1983, slopes in excess of 2% must be contoured and slopes in excess of 12% must be terraced; Other methods of rehabilitation of tower sites may also be used at the discretion of the ECO, e.g. stone pitching, logging, etc. Contour banks shall be spaced according to the slope on tower sites. The type of soil shall also be taken into consideration; A mixture of grass seed can be used provided the mixture is carefully selected to ensure the following: Annual and perennial grasses are chosen; Pioneer species are included; All the grasses shall not be edible; Species chosen will grow in the area without many problems; Root systems must have a binding effect on the soil; and The final product should not cause an ecological imbalance in the area; To get the best results in a specific area, consult with a specialist or the local extension officer of the Dept of Agriculture; and Re-seeding, as well as fencing in of badly damaged areas, will always be at the discretion of the ECO, unless specifically requested by a Landowner. Construction and Maintenance cannot be done between harvesting and sowing, All disturbed areas successfully rehabilitated within three months of completion of the Contract. No visible erosion scars three months after completion of the contract. 11.3 Winch and Damage to Objective(s): No damage to Contractor, Contract During