GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 4231

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, Northern Water Services Board, is proposing to establish darn works and water supply in Garissa County. The project will involve setting up Bute Dam Asphalt core rock fill dam of capacity 6,690,000M3/day, height 25m, safe yield 6,700M3/day, surface area 693,045M2 (69.3045 Hectares) as the source. The treatment works will be located about 1 Km from the proposed dam. There will be two distribution lines from Bute. A total of 21 tanks consisting of ground and steel elevated tanks with a total storage of 5,600M3. The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Proposed Mitigation Measures • Unnecessary vegetation clearing will be prohibited. • Reforest disturbed areas. • Prohibit unnecessary cutting of trees and vegetation clearing. • Minimum access roads will be constructed and borrow pits will be rehabilitated using excess earth and applying reforestation and grassing. Dam breaking • Choose competent contractor. • Enhance construction supervision through hiring a competent resident engineer. • Use Dam Safety Panel -of Experts as required by World Bank OP 4.37 on Dam Safety. • Obey all laws concerning dam construction in Kenya. • Avoid area that will be prone to flooding in case dam breaks. • Build storm water drains in Bute Town. • Prepare Dam Preparation Plan. Sedimentation • Avoid settling upstream of the dam as is the of Bute Dam case currently. Increase in • Prepare PDP for town to control land use. liquid wastes • Prepare storm drains along roads. Increased waste • Recycle and reuse waste including water. generation • Exercising appropriate waste handling and good housekeeping practices and procedures. • Strict adherence to Waste Management Regulations, 2006. Project land • Seek clearance in line with the Community Act, 2016 for areas not consented by the community. • Undertake limited purchase at current market prices. Loss of culture • Beneficiaries to strive to preserve their cultures. Loss of grazing • Use alternative grazing land available. land Air quality • Use pumping equipments with noise reduction facility. • Avoid areas where there are learning institutions. ' • Locate the booster stations where it has least disturbances. • Limit the working hours to gazette working hours from 8.00 am. to 5.00 p.m. • Dust will be minimized by regularly watering of construction area. Impacts Loss of vegetation and wildlife habitat Damage to landscape Impacts Proposed Mitigation Measures Public health • Produce treated water that conforms to WHO Standards for drinking water. • Increase allocation for Malaria treatment tablets and other necessities to existing health institutions. Cut grass near ponding areas. • Sensitize on AIDS and other sex transmitted diseases. • Put oil on stagnant water not being used. • Import where it is deemed necessary. • Excavate only where it is necessary. • Undertake soil erosion control measures. • Regenerate the borrow area to its original status. • Replant trees and grass after construction. • Limit heavy machinery to designated routes. • Local people will be given priority in employment. • Operate the water supply to benefit all the beneficiaries equitably. • Obey the local population custom. • Compensate all people with planted grass and other vegetables in the dam at prevailing market rate on the same. • Fence the dam area. • Put notice to warn of the impending danger when approaching the dam. • Use relevant protective gear during construction, operation and maintenance. • Undertake frequent training on the same. • Employ and deploy occupational, health and safety officer. 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 Forestry, NHIF Building, Community, P.O. Box 30126-00100, Nairobi. (c) County Director of Environment, Wajir 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/6024944 National Environment Management Authority.