GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 11672

Pursuant to Regulation 21 of the Environmental Management and Co-ordination (Impact Assessment and Audit) Regulations, 2003, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has received an Environmental Impact Assessment Study Report for the above proposed project. The proponent Catholic Diocese Of Nyahururu, is proposing to construct a mortuary at Benedict XVI Catholic Hospital located on plot L.R. No. Laikipia/Nyahururu/7265, which is 10.80 Ha (26.7 acres). The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Impacts Proposed Mitigation Measures Noise and excessive vibration • Use modern equipment, which produces the least noise. Any unavoidably noisy equipment should be identified and located in an area where it has least impact. • Use noise shielding screens. The operation of such machinery restricted to when it is actually required. • For mobile equipment fit efficient silencers and enclose engine compartments in vehicles. • Carefully select fixed plant site for remoteness from sensitive areas. • Raise barriers around noisy equipment. Air pollution • Active earth work areas, stockpiles and loads of soil being transported must be watered to reduce dust. • All areas disturbed during closure of the site that are not required for a specific activity must be re-vegetated. • Diesel exhaust emissions from heavy Impacts Proposed Mitigation Measures machinery on site (excavators, front end loaders and hauling trucks) must be controlled and minimised by regular checks and servicing of vehicles. • Any demolition machine found to be emitting excessive smoke should be withdrawn from operation and given mechanical attention. Solid waste generation • Consider waste minimization practices. • Segregate waste at the point of generation. • All waste to be handled and managed in accordance with the EMCA (Waste management) Regulations of 2006. • Packaging containers for sharps should be puncture-proof. • Waste should be labeled appropriately, noting the substance class, packaging symbol (e.g. infectious waste, radioactive waste), waste category, mass/volume, place of origin within hospital, and final destination. • Transport vehicles should be dedicated to waste and the vehicle compartments carrying waste sealed. Waste water generation • Process waste water must be treated with chemical disinfectants, neutralized and then flushed into the sewage system. • Chemical waste should first be neutralized with appropriate reagents and then flushed into the sewer system. • The treated effluent being discharged to the sewer line should conform to the limits as provided for under Environmental Management Co-ordination (Water Quality) Regulations, 2006; Standards for effluent discharge into public sewers-Schedule five. • Sewage from health care facilities should never be used for agricultural, aqua-cultural, drinking water, or recreational purposes. • Ensure that sewerage discharge pipes are not blocked or damaged. Increased water demand • Water abstractions should be acquired from Water Resources Management Authority (WRMA). • Monitor water use • Indigenous vegetation to be used for landscaping to minimise watering requirements. • Cleaning methods utilised for the cleaning of vehicles, floors, containers, yards etc. must aim to minimize water use. • Maintenance of proper pressure within fire water systems to limit water use. • Practice rain water harvesting. • Conducting of regular audits of water systems to identify and rectify any possible water leakages. • Implementing a system for the proper metering and measurement of water use to enable proper performance review and management. Increased surface/storm runoff generation • Ensure that no surface wastewater is directed into the sewer system to avoid overloading the sewerage system. • Monitor effluent quality regularly to ensure that the stipulated discharge rules and standards are not violated. THE KENYA GAZETTE 9th November, 2018 3968 3968 Impacts Proposed Mitigation Measures • Harvest rainwater from roof for non-portable uses e.g. cleaning and watering plants. Increased risk of occupational health and safety incidences • Conduct basic occupational training programs and specialty courses as needed. • Ensure that workers are oriented to the specific hazards of individual work assignments. • Training should generally be provided to management, supervisors, workers, and occasional visitors to areas of risks and hazards. • Provide adequate lighting in all workrooms. • Provision of fire-fighting equipment in strategic and well labelled sites. • Conduct drills at reasonable intervals to test the disaster preparedness level at the workplace, using the results to improve the response mechanisms. • Orient all staff on safe work practices and guidelines and ensure that they adhere to them. • Training staff on how to prevent and manage incidences. This should involve proper handling of electricity, water etc. and sensitization on various modes of escape, conduct and responsibility during such incidences. • Regular safety drills to constantly follow on various possible incidences. • Use signage to warn staff and/ or visitors of dangerous places. The signage must be visible and placed strategically. • Set up (fire) assembly points. • Develop evacuation procedures to handle emergency situations. Increased traffic volume • Designate vehicle registration and checkpoint inside the premise to avert unnecessary traffic snarl up along adjacent roads caused by vehicles waiting to access the hospital. • Dedicated exits and entries. Accidental leaks and spillages • Ensure employees are aware of the procedure for dealing with spills and leaks. • The source of the spill should be isolated and the spillage contained using sand berms, sandbags, sawdust and/or absorbent material. • Accident areas should be cordoned off and secured. • Notify the relevant authorities of any spills that occur. • Ensure that the necessary materials and equipment for dealing with the spills and leaks are available on site at all times. Livelihood and economic loss • Businesses associated with the development should be notified of intention of decommissioning in good time to relevant adjustment. • Redeployment of the affected workers where feasible should be undertaken. The full report of the proposed project is available for inspection during working hours at: (a) Director-General, NEMA, Popo Road, off Mombasa Road, P.O. Box 67839–00200, Nairobi. (b) Principal Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources, NHIF Building, Community, P.O. Box 30521, Nairobi. (c) County Director of Environment, Laikipia County. The National Environment Management Authority invites members of the public to submit oral or written comments within thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this notice to the Director-General, NEMA, to assist the Authority in the decision making process of the plan. GEOFFREY WAHUNGU, Director-General, MR/5555290 National Environment Management Authority.