GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 4926

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, Mashujaa Q &M PLC, proposes to develop a limestone mine site at Chisamba Sub-location, Kilifi South Sub-county in Kilifi County. The mine site area will comprise of: mineral ore- limestone mining area, ore haulage, mineral ore storage, area, ore loading site, site garage, waste area and parking, administrative site offices, canteen and other related infrastructure. There is no existing houses on the proposed mine site. The topography and geology of the mine area inhabitable for human settlement. The proponent will employ an open pit surface mining method. It will involve removing the overburden, top soil and rock waste to expose the mineral-rich ore. The proponent has a team of competent and experienced directors with vast knowledge in the extractive industry. The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Environmental Impact Proposed Mitigation Measures Impacts on land topography • Backfill open pits using mine waste and overburden. • Revegetate the land with indigenous plant species. • Provide measures for long-term run-off and erosion control. • Reuse topsoil in landscaping. • Provide for a buffer zone between the site, road and human settlements. Impacts on drainage • The dump slope will have a retaining wall and garland drain to arrest the wash off from the dumps. • Garland will be connected to the settling tank, and settled water will be transferred to the water reservoir and used for green belt development and dust suppression. • No river passing the site area hence no eminent diversion of drainage patterns. • Minimize surface runoff by minimizing the area of impervious surfaces. • Install oil water separators and grease traps at refueling facilities. Solid waste generation (mining waste/spoil and other solid waste ) • It is proposed to store the top-soil in the earmarked site for plantation purpose after separating from the mixed rock boulders and pebbles. • The portion of soil and any overburden unsuitable for plantation will be sold out to intending users for construction purposes with permission from county government authorities. • Use mining waste for the making of mine roads and allied infrastructures. • Dump slope will be provided with retaining wall and garland drain to prevent the wash off. • Maintain a stable dump slope angle with horizontal. • During the mine development phase, the waste generated will be utilized completely for road construction and levelling of ground area for site structures. • Establishing a waste management hierarchy that considers prevention, reduction, reuse, recovery, recycling, removal and finally treating, destroying, and disposing of it in an environmentally sound manner. • Contract a licensed waste collection and disposal company. • Provide proper sanitary facilities for the workers. 2364 2364 Environmental Impact Proposed Mitigation Measures • Raise awareness on waste management. • Mining design improvement to minimize waste generations. • Technological improvement to minimize waste generation. • Sorting of waste at source. • Waste disposal as provided for in the Environmental Management and Co- ordination (Waste Management) Regulations, 2006. • Establishing waste management priorities at the outset of activities based on an understanding of potential environmental, health, and safety (EHS) risks and impacts and considering waste generation and its consequences. • Avoiding or minimizing the generated waste materials, as far as practicable. • Establishment of priorities based on a risk analysis that takes into account the potential EHS risks during the waste cycle and the availability of infrastructure to manage the waste in an environmentally sound manner; Particulate matter (PM) • Water sprinkling on mining site, dumping area and haul road during dry wind periods, using a water tanker. • Comply with Air Quality Regulations (2014) and Public Health Act provisions. • Dust emissions due to vehicles can be minimized by avoiding spillage from the loaded trucks. • Workers to be provided with PPE. • Enforcement of onsite speed limits. • Water sprinkling on the topsoil and overburden dump to minimize wind erosion. • Plant dust catching trees, species to act as efficient biological filters. Greenbelt development reduces the fugitive dust and also checks runoff and enhances the aesthetic beauty of an area. • There is the proposal of a proper green belt along the boundary for the reduction of dust and noise emission from the lease area. • Carry out wet drilling and blasting. • Ensure all trucks and machinery are in good serviceable condition. • Design and maintain safe systems of work and pollution prevention measures. • Minimize dust through strict enforcement of onsite speed controls. • Ventilation at the workplace to be sufficient. Vehicular emission of particulates SOx, NOx, CO, CO2 • Proper maintenance of vehicles and other oil-operated equipment. Un- roadworthy vehicles not be allowed into the mine area. • Suitable green belt development and mining of limestone. Environmental Impact Proposed Mitigation Measures • Mining equipment and machinery should be in good serviceable condition. Increased noise pollution • Development of green belt in the mine site buffer zone, which acts as a barrier for noise reduction. • The Proponent will properly maintain the noise generating pieces of machinery. • Choosing quieter machinery provided with efficient silencers/ noise reduction devices. • Confining noise by isolating the source • The proponent will provide the workers with proper PPEs to minimize the occupational exposures of noise. • Developing and implementing an effective noise control and hearing conservation program. • Posting notices and signs in noisy areas. • Educating all workers on the importance of making correct use of PPE provided to protect them against high noise levels. • Carrying out an audiometric test by a designated medical practitioner to all workers exposed to noise levels above 85dB(A). Impact on water quality-surface and underground water quality • The mining method to use is Opencast/open pit. There will be no wastewater generated due to the mining activity. The domestic effluents being generated will be discharged to soak pits through bio septic tank. • Mashujaa Q & M will restrict mining activities to the layer above the groundwater table. • Construct garland drains, settling tank and check dam in the mining area • The garland drains will be connected to the settling tank, and after settling, the water will be discharged to the natural drainage. • Convert some of the open pits to rainwater storage tank. • The rainwater stored in the pit will be utilized for plantation and dust suppression. • Run-off water/storm water during rains to be desilted and discharged. • Reclaimed pits will be stabilized with plantation where ever possible, and other areas will be converted to the water reservoir. • Oil water separators and grease traps should be installed and maintained as appropriate at refueling facilities, workshops, parking areas, fuel storage and containment areas. • Treatment to meet national standards for sanitary wastewater discharge. • Ensure regular monitoring of the sewage sanitation system. Waste water related pollution and • Segregation and pre-treatment of oil and grease containing effluents (e.g. use of a 28th April, 2022 THE KENYA GAZETTE Environmental Impact Proposed Mitigation Measures sanitation management grease trap) before discharge into the environment. • Treatment to meet national standards for sanitary wastewater discharges. • Sewage from the office blocks to be discharged to either a bio septic system or where the land is used as part of the treatment system, treatment to meet Environmental Management and Coordination (Water Quality) Regulations, 2006, standards for sanitary wastewater discharges. Storm water-surface water management • The Proponent will separate stormwater from sanitary wastewater and wastewater streams to reduce the volume of wastewater to be treated before discharge. • The proponent will prevent surface runoff from mine machine areas or potential sources of contamination. • Where this approach is not practical, runoff from storage areas should be segregated from potentially less contaminated runoff. • Sludge from stormwater catchments or collection and treatment systems may contain elevated levels of pollutants and should be disposed of in compliance with the Environmental Management and Co-ordination (Water Quality) Regulations, 2006. • Runoff from areas without potential sources of contamination should be minimized (e.g. by minimizing the area of impervious surfaces), and the peak discharge rate should be reduced (e.g. by using vegetated swales and retention ponds). • Where stormwater treatment is deemed necessary to protect the quality of receiving water bodies, priority should be given to managing and treating the first flush of stormwater runoff where the majority of potential contaminants tend to be present. Occupational injuries and accidents • Provide personal protective equipment like nose mask, earmuff, helmet, goggles to miners. • Display safety signs on mine site • Regular inspection and maintance of mining equipment and vehicles. • Strict compliance to OSHA 2007 Public Health Act and Wiba. • Comply with fire risk reduction rules. • Ensure periodic medical examination of employees. • The Proponent will arrange regular medical checkups to detect occupational diseases and minor diseases in nearby settlements. • Education and training arrangement for the mines workers about the safety and various occupational health risks related to mining operation. Use of explosives • Ensure proper handling and storage of explosives. Environmental Impact Proposed Mitigation Measures • Ensure only licensed and qualified blasters can handle and detonate explosives. • Notify neighboring cummunity during blasting. • Comply with noise and excessive vibration pollution control Regulations and explosives Act. Water scarcity • Raise awareness on water recycling and conservation. • Provide water storage facilities. Energy resource utilization • Raise awareness on energy conservation. • Switch off electrical equipment, appliances and lights when not being used. • Install energy-saving fluorescent tubes at all lighting points. Increased vehicular traffic along Kilfi- Kaloleni and site access road • Liaise with Kenya National Highway Authority to ensure that appropriate road signs before the exit/entry junction area are erected. • Drivers to strictly observe the Highway Code. • Speed limits to be strictly observed. • Provide sufficient space for internal parking of lorries awaiting to deliver mine material or to load mine material. • Restrict unnecessary parking along access road. The full report of the proposed project is available for inspection during working hours at: (a) The Principal Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, NHIF Building, 12th Floor, Ragati Road, Upper Hill, P.O. Box 30126–00100, Nairobi. (b) Director-General, NEMA, Popo Road, off Mombasa Road, P.O. Box 67839-00200, Nairobi. (c) County Director of Environment, Mombasa County. A copy of the EIA report can be downloaded at www.nema.go.ke National Environmental 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 for this project. MAMO B. MAMO, MR/3643118 Director-General.