ENVIRONMENTAL RELATED UPDATES:
Notice of Intention to adopt the Integrated Environmental Management Plan of The Square Kilometre Array (Phase 1) As Environmental Management Instrument and to exclude, activities identified in terms of Section 24(2)(a) or (b) of the NEMA from the requirement to obtain Environmental Authorisation
Date: 16/03/2018
Government Gazette No.: 41498
Notice No.: 213
The Minister of Environmental Affairs, has given a notice of her intention to adopt the Integrated Environmental Management Plan (IEMP) for the Square Kilometre Array (Phase 1) as an environmental management instrument and based on compliance to Chapter 4 of the IEMP, I intend to exclude, in terms of section 24(2)(e) of the NEMA all activities, identified in terms of section 24(2)(a) and (b) of the Act, which are associated with the development of phase 1 of the SKA and which are described in Chapter 2 of the IEMP from the requirement to obtain environmental authorisation.
A Strategic Environmental Assessment has been undertaken for the South African mid-frequency array of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA1_MID) project (Phase 1) in order to identify site environmental sensitivities and to prepare an Integrated Environmental Management Plan (IEMP) for adoption by the Minister as an environmental management instrument. This schedule proposes to adopt the IEMP and exclude all activities associated with the development, as identified in the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2014, from the requirement to obtain environmental authorisation.
Members of the public are invited to submit to the Minister, within 30 days of publication (i.e. 16 April 2018) of the notice, written comments or inputs to the following addresses:
By post to:
The Director-General
Department of Environmental Affairs
Attention: Mr A Mocheko
Private Bag X447
PRETORIA
0001
By hand at: Reception, Environment House, 473 Steve Biko Road, Arcadia, Pretoria, 0083
By e-mail: amocheko@environment.gov.za
Any inquiries in connection with the Notice can be directed to 012 399 9315. Comments received after the closing date may not be considered.
Affected Parties
General notice.
Applicability to Organisations
General notice for public comment.
Reference
SA Environmental Suite > Legal Library > N > National Environmental Management Act > Related documents
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Reclamation of Land from Coastal Waters Regulations
Date: 09/03/2018
Government Gazette No.: 41489
Notice No.: 206
The Minister of Environmental Affairs, published a notice to make the Regulations for the Reclamation of Land from Coastal Waters Regulations as set out in the Schedule to the Notice.
Affected Parties
Any person intending to undertake reclamation in terms of sections 7B and 7C of the NEMICA, meaning an organ of state that intends to reclaim land for the development of state infrastructure or an application for reclamation for purposes other than the development of state infrastructure if such development is not contrary to the purpose of coastal public property.
Applicability to Organisations
The regulations provide for inter alia:
Application for Minister’s pre-approval
Reference in Digilex
SA Environmental Library > National Legislation > N > National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act > Related
Approval of Fees for Application for Registration, Lodging of Appeals and Annual Fees for Registered Candidate Environmental Assessment Practitioners and Registered Environmental Assessment Practitioners in terms of Section 24H of the NEMA and Regulation 9 of the Section 24H Registration Authority Regulations, 2016
Date: 07/03/2018
Government Gazette No.: 41485
Notice No.: 196
The Minister of Environmental Affairs, published a notice approving the levying of fees for application for registration, lodging of appeals and annual fees for registered candidate environmental assessment practitioners and registered environmental assessment practitioners, as set out in the Schedule to the Notice.
Affected Parties
Candidate Environmental Assessment Practitioners and Registered Environmental Assessment Practitioners.
Applicability to Organisations
Information regarding the Environmental Assessment Practitioners Association of South Africa can be accessed at https://eapasa.org.
Reference in Digilex
SA Environmental Library > National Legislation > N > National Environmental Management Act > Related
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Reserve determination of Water Resources for the Olifants-Doorn Catchments
Date: 02/03/2018
Government Gazette No.: 41473
Notice No.: 189
The Acting Director-General of the Department of Water and Sanitation, has publish the Reserve Determination of water resources for the Olifants-Doorn catchments.
The notice contains amongst other things:
A summary of the quantity component for the Rivers which include the EWR and the BHN in terms of section 16(1) of the NWA for the Olifants-Doorn catchments as per Table 4.1.
A summary of the quality component for the Rivers at EWR sites in terms of section 16(1) of the NWA for the Olifants-Doorn catchments as per Table 5.1 - 5.6.
A summary of the EWR based on the natural flow contribution of the catchments upstream Olifants River Estuary in terms of section 16(1) of the NWA for the Olifants-Doorn catchments as per Table 6.1 – 6.3.
A summary of the groundwater contribution to the Reserve for Water Quantity & Quality in terms of section 16(1) of the NWA for the Olifants-Doorn as per Table 7.1 - 8.3.
Affected Parties
All water users conducting relevant activities under section 21 of the NWA that may or could impact the Olifants-Doorn Catchments:
Water Management Area: Berg-Olifants
Catchment: Olifants-Doorn
Drainage Regions: E Primary Drainage Region
Rivers: Olifants-Doorn River System
Estuary: Olifants
Catchments excluded: Entire Berg catchment and parts of Olifants catchment
(i.e. G30 catchment and F60 catchment)
Applicability to Organisations
The objectives for determination of the reserve may relate to -
(a) the Reserve;
(b) the instream flow;
(c) the water level;
(d) the presence and concentration of particular substances in the water;
(e) the characteristics and quality of the water resource and the instream and riparian habitat;
(f) the characteristics and distribution of aquatic biota;
(g) the regulation or prohibition of instream or landbased activities which may affect the quantity of water in or quality of the water resource; and
(h) any other characteristic,
of the water resource in question and as such would be applicable to be considered by water users that fall within the relevant catchment area.
The Reserve will apply from the date signed off as determined in terms of section 16(1) of the NWA, unless otherwise specified by the Minister.
Reference in Digilex
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Consultation on the Generic Environmental Management Programme Applicable to an Application for Overhead Electricity Transmission and Distribution Infrastructure for which an Environmental Authorisation is required
Date: 02/03/2018
Government Gazette No.: 41473
Notice No.: 162
The Minister of Environmental Affairs, publish for public comments, the draft Generic Environmental Management Programme applicable to an application for environmental authorisation for overhead electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure for which an environmental authorisation is required for activity 11 or activity 47 of Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations Listing Notice 1 or for activity 9 of Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations Listing Notice 2, or for any other listed and specified activity necessary for the realisation of such infrastructure, as set out in the Schedule to the notice.
The objective of this generic EMPr is to prescribe and pre-approve generally accepted impact management outcomes and actions which can commonly and repeatedly be used for the avoidance, management and mitigation of impacts and risks associated with the development or expansion for o overhead electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure. The use of a generic EMPr is intended to reduce the need to prepare and review individual EMPrs for applications of a similar nature.
Any person who wishes to submit representations or comments are invited to do so within 45 days from the date of publication of this notice in the Government Gazette (i.e.30 April 2018).
All representations and comments must be submitted in writing to the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Environmental Affairs, Branch: Environmental Programmes:
By hand: The Deputy Director-General
Attention: Mr Alfred Mocheko
National Department of Environmental Affairs
Reception: Environment House, 473 Steve Biko Road, Arcadia, Pretoria, 0083.
By e-mail to amocheko@environment.gov.za
Any inquiries in connection with the Notice can be directed to Mr Alfred Mocheko at 012 399 9315.
Affected Parties
The scope of this generic EMPr applies to any organisation that wishes to development or expand overhead electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure requiring EA in terms of the NEMA, i.e. with a capacity of 33 kilovolts or more.
Applicability to Organisations
The document constitutes a generic EMPr relevant to applications for the development or expansion for overhead electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure, and all listed and specified activities necessary for the realisation of such infrastructure.
A person applying for an environmental authorisation for overhead electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure, when such facilities trigger-
must use the generic Environmental Management Programme, contemplated in regulations 19(4), 23(4) and Appendix 4 to the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2014.
Reference in Digilex
SA Environmental Suite > Legal Library > N > National Environmental Management Act > Draft
Adoption of the Gauteng Provincial Environmental Management Framework Standard and Exclusion of Associated Activities from the Requirement to obtain an Environmental Authorisation Sections 24 of the NEMA, for the Implementation of the Gauteng Provincial Environmental Management Framework
Date: 02/03/2018
Government Gazette No.: 41473
Notice No.: 164
The Minister of Environmental Affairs, published a notice for the adoption of Gauteng Provincial Environmental Management Framework Standard and exclude associated activities from the requirement to obtain environmental authorisation, in terms of sections 24 of the NEMA as set out In the Schedule to the Notice.
Affected Parties
Any person or organisation that wish to undertake an activity within Zone 1 or Zone 5 of the Gauteng Province, as contemplated in Appendix 1.
Applicability to Organisations
This Standard is called the GPEMF Standard, 2018 and takes effect 60 days from date of publication in the Gazette.
The provisions of the Standard are applicable to activities excluded from acquiring an environmental authorisation, when undertaken within Zone 1 or Zone 5 of the Gauteng Province, as contemplated in Appendix 1.
The provisions of the Standard are not applicable if-
(a) any part of the footprint of an excluded activity extends outside the boundary of Zone 1 or Zone 5, as contemplated in Appendix 1; or
(b) such excluded activity is directly related to prospecting, exploration, including primary processing, of a mineral or petroleum resource.
Where the Standard applies, the proponent must ensure compliance with the environmental management specifications as contemplated in Appendix 2 for an excluded activity.
The provisions of the Standard are not applicable if the development requires environmental authorisation for any activity not excluded in terms of the Standard, in which case environmental authorisation must be obtained for all applicable identified activities.
Compliance with the Standard does not negate the need for the proponent to comply with all other applicable legislation.
An application for environmental authorisation submitted in terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, for an activity falling within the scope of the Standard contemplated in this Notice, which application is pending at the time of the publication of this Standard in the Government Gazette or at the coming into effect of this Standard may be withdrawn at any time prior to a decision being made on such application.
If any part of a facility contemplated in the Schedule hereto, falls outside the scope of the Standard contemplated in this Notice, the requirements of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, promulgated in terms of the NEMA apply.
The provisions of the National Appeal Regulations, 2014 are applicable to an appeal against any decision taken in terms of the Standard contemplated in this Notice.
Transitional provisions are provided for under Chapter 5 of the notice.
The Gauteng Provincial Environmental Management Framework Standard is also available from the Department of Environmental Affairs at https://egis.environment.gov.za and from the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development at http://www. gauteng.gov.za/government/ departments/agriculture-and- rural-development/pages/Documents.ascx.
Reference in Digilex
SA Environmental Legal Register > 15. Provincial Specific Legislation > 15.5 Gauteng > 15.5.6 Environmental Management Framework Standard and Exclusion of Associated Activities from the Requirement to obtain an Environmental Authorisation
Consultation on the Generic Environmental Management Programme Relevant to an Application for an Environmental Authorisation for Substation Infrastructure for the Transmission and Distribution of Electricity
Date: 02/03/2018
Government Gazette No.: 41473
Notice No.: 163
The Minister of Environmental Affairs, publish for public comments, the draft Generic Environmental Management Programme relevant to an application for substation infrastructure for the transmission and distribution of electricity, which require an environmental authorisation for activity 11 or 47 of Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations Listing Notice 1 or for activity 9 of Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations Listing Notice 2, or any other listed and specified activity necessary for the realisation of such infrastructure, as set out in the Schedule to the notice.
The objective of this generic EMPr is to prescribe and pre-approve generally accepted impact management outcomes and actions which can commonly and repeatedly be used for the avoidance, management and mitigation of impacts and risks associated with the development and expansion of substation Infrastructure for the transmission and distribution of electricity. The use of a generic EMPr is intended to reduce the need to prepare and review individual EMPrs for applications of a similar nature.
Any person who wishes to submit representations or comments are invited to do so within 45 days from the date of publication of this notice in the Government Gazette (i.e.30 April 2018).
All representations and comments must be submitted in writing to the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Environmental Affairs, Branch: Environmental Programmes:
By hand: The Deputy Director-General
Attention: Mr Alfred Mocheko
National Department of Environmental Affairs
Reception: Environment House, 473 Steve Biko Road, Arcadia, Pretoria, 0083.
By e-mail to amocheko@environment.gov.za
Any inquiries in connection with the Notice can be directed to Mr Alfred Mocheko at 012 399 9315.
Affected Parties
The scope of this generic EMPr applies to any organisation that wish to development or expand of substation infrastructure for the transmission and distribution of electricity requiring EA in terms of the NEMA, i.e. with a capacity of 33 kilovolts or more.
Applicability to Organisations
This document constitutes a generic EMPr relevant to applications for EA for the development or expansion of substation infrastructure for the transmission and distribution of electricity and all listed and specified activities necessary for the realisation of such infrastructure.
An applicant for an environmental authorisation for substation infrastructure for the transmission and distribution of electricity, when such facilities trigger-
must use the generic Environmental Management Programme, contemplated in regulations 19(4), 23(4) and Appendix 4 to the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2014. The draft Generic Environmental Management Programme is set out in Appendix 1 of the Notice.
Reference in Digilex
SA Environmental Suite > Legal Library > N > National Environmental Management Act > Draft
KwaZulu Natal
Greater Kokstad Local Municipality
Spatial Planning and Land Use Management By-Law, 2015
Published in Provincial Gazette 1931 of 1 March 2018.
Affected Parties
Organisations located within the jurisdiction of the Greater Kokstad Local Municipality
Applicability to Organisations
All municipalities are subject to:
Municipalities may adopt policies (such as spatial development frameworks) and by-laws to guide land development and land use application. Since the promulgation of the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act 16 of 2013, municipalities have adopted spatial planning and land use management by-laws.
These spatial planning and land use management by-laws provide for the regulation and control of activities on and in respect of spatial planning and land use management, and to provide for matters in connection therewith.
The legal obligation for organisations is that applications for land use and development must be lodged with municipality.
Reference in Digilex
SA Environmental Suite > Legal Register > 17. Local Municipality > 17.29 Greater Kokstad Local Municipality > 17.29.2 Land Use and Development
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HEALTH AND SAFETY UPDATES
KwaZulu Natal
Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality
Electrical Supply By-Law
Published in Provincial Gazette 1935 of 15 March 2018.
Affected Parties
Organisations located within the jurisdiction of the Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality
Applicability to Organisations
The by-law governs matters relating to, inter alia:
Reference in Digilex
SA H&S Suite Updated > Legal Register > 42. Local Municipality > 42.74 Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality > 42.74.2 Electrical Installations and Supply
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Invitation for comments on the Draft Railways Safety Bill
Date: 09/03/2018
Government Gazette No.: 41488
Notice No.: 123
The Department of Transport published a notice to call upon all stakeholders and interested parties to submit their comments on the Draft Railway Safety Bill on or before the April 2018.
The Railway Safety Bill is aligned to the Draft White Paper on National Rail Policy and Government objective to move passengers and freight from road-to-rail. Once promulgated and implemented, the Act will ensure improvement in general safety within the railway environment thereby making rail an attractive mode of transport and that will contribute economy of the country.
The objective of the Bill is to provide for, amongst other things:
Written comments and inputs can be submitted to:
Acting Director General: Department of Transport
Private Bag X193
Pretoria
0001
Email: shivambr@dot.gov.za
For further enquiries: Mr Rhulani Shivambu (012) 309 3872
Affected Parties
Any organisation currently operating a rail that falls within the scope of and/or are regulated by the National Railway Safety Regulator Act, 2002
Applicability to Organisations
General notice for public comment.
Reference
SA Health and Safety > Legal Library > N > National Railway Safety Regulator Act > Related documents
SA Health and Safety - Updated > Legal Library > N > National Railway Safety Regulator Act > Related Documents
The Draft Railway Safety Bill can be downloaded from the Department of Transport website: www.transport.gov.za under rail documents.
Adjustment of Levies Paid by Controlled Mines and Works
Date: 09/03/2018
Government Gazette No.: 41491
Notice No.: 209
The Minister of Health, has published ad notice for the adjustment of the levies payable by controlled mines and works to the Compensation Fund as set out in the schedule to the notice.
Affected Parties
Mines liable to pay levies to the Compensation Fund in terms of section 62 of the Mines and Works Act (subsequently replaced in part by Mines Health and Safety Act and others).
Applicability to Organisations
Said adjustment of levies must be paid.
Reference in Digilex
SA Health and Safety Suite Updated > Legal Library > M > Mines Health and Safety Act > Resources
SA Health and Safety Suite > Legal Library > M > Mines Health and Safety Act > Resources
By Food Focus on 06 March 2018
Legal updates for February 2018...