The significance and status of social impact assessment sia in a south african context. It also contains a list of useful references and contact numbers. Evaluating south african environmental impact assessment eia. Environmental impact assessment eia western cape government.
The integration of social, economic and environmental factors into planning, implementation and decisionmaking so as to ensure that development serves present and future generations. It takes the form of two separate but interrelated components. National environmental impact assessment and management. South africa eskom renewable energy investment project. Kakonge undp resident representative, maseru, lesotho in recent years the term environmental impact assessment eia in relation to projects calling for substantial financial investment has become common currency among those working in the field. The analysis and recommendations of this report do not necessarily reflect the views of the department of environmental affairs. Component a sets out the rationale for the research, the approach and objectives, a conceptual framework and. It all starts when the applicant appoints an environmental assessment practitioner to manage the application. General guide to the eia regulations, 2006 ii table of contents. Background to the environmental impact assessment eia evaluation in south africa the national environment management act, 1998 act no.
Pdf aspects of environmental impact assessment practice. Introduction and background the constitution of the republic of south africa, act no. This guideline deals with the involvement of social assessment specialists in the environmental impact assessment eia processes. Aspects of environmental impact assessment practice in the limpopo province south africa. South africa s environmental impact assessment eia law and sustainable development t murombo 1 introduction. Environmental assessment practitioners in south africa. The recommendations do not necessarily carry the full support of all the sectors represented. Training course in environmental impact assessment. Traditionally, controls and abatement technologies which would be used in europe or america are often not. Note that in south africa there are two main eia processes that are followed, namely, the basic assessment and scoping and environmental impact reporting processes. Environmental impact assessment management strategy eiams. Assessment tools such as strategic environmental assessment sea, environmental impact assessment eia, social impact assessment or health impact assessment, as these are covered in many other publications, which are listed in appendix a of this document. The impact assessments are based on the professional opinions of the specialists, fieldwork and desk top analysis available information.
Consequently, considerable research and deliberation. In the national policy on the environment npe, fepa adopted a strategy that guarantees an integrated holistic and systemic view of environmental issues that leads to prior environmental assessment of proposed activities. Note that in south africa there are two main eia processes that are followed, namely, the basic assessment and scoping and environmental. Pdf environmental impact assessment and sustainable. Abdulhakim aljareo a research report submitted to the faculty of science, university of the witwatersrand, johannesburg, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of masters of science by coursework and research report. South africa, a lack of policy around the management of waste, and of hazardous waste, creates a vacuum in which it becomes possible for the cement industry to subvert the intention of the law as it currently stands. Background to social impact assessment sia and its development. Apparently, almost one ton of concrete is used for each person in the world each year w02. A further factor that constrained the implementation of environmental evaluation procedures in south africa was the recognition by proponents of eia that the direct transfer of united states and european models to south africa would not be appropriate.
Example of simple manner in which impacts could be priorities. Examples of specialist studies commonly included in environmental impact assessment in south africa. Aug 18, 2018 environmental impact assessment management strategy eiams. Ecia has the primary aim of preventing or minimising the negative impacts of a proposed development on biodiversity, and possibly enhancing.
Social impact assessors hennie alberts street alberton, gauteng south africa tel. The environmental impact assessment eia process, which originated in the united states in the late 1960s and early 1970s, has been adopted extensively in the rest of the world. Environmental impact assessment eia, integrated environmental. Nema environmental impact assessment regulations september 2007 3. Environmental impact assessment jobs now available. Pdf aspects of environmental impact assessment practice in. Locality map showing the 37 km2 study area for the establishment of a wind energy facility on the west coast north of the olifants river. Establishing a solid framework called the environmental impact assessment management strategy eiams has been some time in the making. Environmental scientist, occupational health nurse, research consultant and more on.
The stakeholders involved in the environmental impact assessment are. Environmental impact assessment sets a baseline for eia in south africa. Government is committed to making even further improvements to the eia system, which will. This study analyses key elements of south african environmental impact assessment eia statutory requirements through the lens of the gautrain project. Environmental assessment in eastern and southern africa. The significance and status of social impact assessment.
South africa has adopted the process of eia as early as 1989 in the environmental conservation act. Since the enactment of south africas environmental impact assessment eia law in september 1997, there is a growing debate around the role and function of eias. However, these studies have been done in the absence of an. This study evaluates the environmental impact assessment eia legislation of south africa and zambia against the modified criteria developed by wood 1995 to determine the extent to which they. Section 24 of the constitution of the republic of south africa, 1996, calls on the state to secure everyone the right to an environment that is not harmful to health or wellbeing. In south africa the absence of a general environmental policy, poor public interaction. Environmental impact assessment final report namibian marine phosphate pty ltd. Gridconnected solar thermal power can provide large volumes of firm generation.
The national environmental management act, no 107 of 1998 nemaincludes an overarching framework policy developed through a comprehensive participatory process known as the consultative national. Draft environmental impact assessment report purpose of this report. Environmental impact assessment in southern africa saiea. Since the enactment of south africa s environmental impact assessment eia law in september 1997, there is a growing debate around the role and function of eias. The way in which eias have been handled in south africa has come a long way over the past twenty years. This draft environmental impact assessment report forms part of a series of reports and information sources that are being provided during the environmental impact assessment eia process for the proposed atlantis gastopower project, western cape. The analysis focuses on selected key aspects of the eia process which require more thorough analysis and which provide the greatest opportunities for learning in the context of the gautrain eia. The cost of environmental impact assessment eia in south africa 53 international perspectives the dif. Background to the environmental impact assessment eia evaluation in. How is climate change incorporated into environmental. Setting up an ehia committee for decisionmaking and assessment of ehia. The environmental impact assessment is required in terms of the environment conservation act, 1989 act no. Guideline for involving social assessment specialists in eia processes february 2007 guideline on public participation. Evaluating south african environmental impact assessment.
Environmental impact assessments in developing countries. In the cases where informal or ad hoc eias were conducted, they were the result of public pressure or the government invoked a section. Strategic environmental assessment sea is becoming an accepted and widely used instrument for integrating environmental issues into the formulation of plans and programmes. Experiences with environmental impact assessment eia in a number of countries are discussed in the light of both explicit and implicit goals and objectives. Environmental impact assessments, or eias, are a key tool in effective environmental management. It is the first book on this topic written specifically for the south african context, although it is applicable to all developing countries. Environmental impact assessment for nuclear new build programme in south africa perspectives from the nuclear1 eia reuben heydenrych environmental practitioner. Below is a summary of potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed project. Csp is the renewable energy source with the largest potential in south africa. Eims has completed several hundred environmental impact assessment eia studies in several african countries. Dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree masters in geography and environmental management at the potchefstroom campus of the northwest university. In 2003 saiea in cooperation with dannida has compiled a comprehensive though by now slightly outdated overview of the state of environmental assessment in the sadc region. Environmental impact assessment eia is the tool that is most commonly utilised across africa and in most developing countries for the purpose of integrating environmental concerns in development projects. Since 1996, environmental authorisations have been a mandatory requirement for a wide variety of development activities, in south africa and increasingly in the rest of the african continent.
Scoping is included in both of these eia processes, but it is undertaken as the first part of an integrated scoping and assessment procedure during the basic assessment process. Eap environmental assessment practitioner eca environment conservation act, 1989 act no. Based in the western cape since inception 20 years ago, enviroafrica provides efficient and friendly. Its contents deal with policy practice and institutional issues. Environmental health impact assessment guideline may 2010 iv list of boxes box 1. Adequate environmental information is not always available to decision makers because of failure to apply eia to all relevant decisions, the continuing inadequacies of prediction and evaluation techniques, the failure to consider. Sustainable development the ability to make development sustainable to ensure that it meets the needs of. In 2006, the eia regulations under the national environmental management act were passed. Environmental risk assessment and risk management strategies. Aspects of environmental impact assessment practice in the limpopo provincesouth africa article pdf available in african journal of environmental assessment and management 10 march 2005. A call for responses to governments legislative and policy framework to strengthen environmental governance and the sustainability of our developmental growth path have your say in highlighting the strengths and weaknesses in the current eia system in south africa. Monitoring of environmental impact assessments in africa. Pdf aspects of environmental impact assessment practice in the. How is climate change incorporated into environmental impact.
Enviroafrica cc is a dynamic, professional environmental consultancy passionate about promoting the sustainable protection, management and development of south africas natural environment while providing a costeffective service to clients. South africas environmental impact assessment eia law and sustainable development t murombo 1 introduction. Department of environmental affairs, 2014, environmental impact assessment and management strategy for south africa draft. South african affiliate of the international association for impact assessment. Environmental impact assessment as a policy tool for. The year 2018 marked 20 years since the adoption of the environmental impact assessment as a tool to advance sustainable development. Draft report 19 november 2008 table of contents page executive summary i abbreviations 1 chapter a. The eia process is a tool which requires the integra.
Furthermore, the recommendations made in the guidelines should not take the place of. The south african national roads agency limited sanral is the proponent for the proposed. There are severe criticisms and perceptions of inadequacy about the success of the current eia system as a tool for environmental impact management. Page 2 the impact of cement kilns on the environment introduction concrete, a vital element of which is cement, is the second most consumed substance in the world. Regulations governing environmental impact assessments eias have been in force for about three years in south africa, with the administra tion being. Policies which regulate ehia and environmental impact assessment in south africa 10 box 2. Life cycle assessment a process where the potential environmental effects or impacts.
In conclusion the overall profile of eia cost in the south african context is described in relation to four broad project categories. Review of environmental impact assessment and monitoring in. Through south africas green economy strategy, the dea continues to promote equitable, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and social development. Comparative analysis of environmental impact assessment compliance by two developers in the northern cape province, south africa by mahlatse juddy shubane submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of master of science in the subject of environmental management at the university of south africa supervisor. The visual assessment was done through visits to the mine sites and the levels of heavy metals in the mine tailings soil and stream sediments was. Several seas have recently been undertaken in south africa, or are currently in progress. How is climate change incorporated into environmental impact assessments eias in south africa. The specialists in the evaluation of the impacts apply the revised definitions.
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