GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 5200

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, Soit Sugar Company Limited proposes to establish a sugar factory with crushing capacity of 1250 TCD which is expandable to 2500TCD. The company operations will include production of sugarcane in its nucleus estate and out growers fields processing mill white/brown sugar and generating 3MW captive power for factory use in nucleus estates The project will be located on plot L.R. No. Transmara/Olomismis/1690 at Esaie Sub-location, Olomismis Location in Kilgoris Ward, Transmara West Sub-county, Narok County. The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Potential Impacts Mitigation Measures Occupational health and safety • Provision of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment. • (PPE) to construction workers. • Safety education and training for workers. • Barricading the construction area appropriately and posting public warnings. • Provision of appropriate onsite sanitary convenience for workers. • Establishing emergency procedures against hazards and ensuring the workers stay aware/educated on following them and commensurate to the magnitude and type of emergency, by conducting regular drills and involving the neighbouring people. • Display signage warning of potential hazards at various sections of the plant. Local increase of construction traffic • Construction vehicles to enter and leave the site through designated paths only. • Posting traffic warning signs on both approaches to the construction site to warn other road users of traffic risks. • Strict adherence to speed limits near the construction area of 10 km/hr. • Clearly marking parking spaces, installation and maintenance of traffic guide signage. Impact on air quality (exhaust and dust, discharge from duct/distillery) • Watering all active construction areas as and when necessary to lay dust. • Avoid excavation works in extremely dry weathers. • A speed limit of 10km/hr shall apply to all construction vehicles to limit dust. • Avoid overloading the bagasse for efficient burning. • Planting appropriate trees, shrubs and flowers to compensate for emissions. • Use acceptable emission control technologies. ESPs proposed for stack pollution control. • Conduct routine air quality sampling for analysis to comply with the set standards. Noise pollution and vibration • Restriction of the work hours during the construction phase from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday. 20th April, 2023 THE KENYA GAZETTE Potential Impacts Mitigation Measures • All machinery used during construction shall be maintained in a sound mechanical condition with regular servicing. • Limit pick-up trucks and other small equipment to a minimum idling time and observe a common-sense approach to machine use, and encourage workers to shut them off whenever possible. Disposal of solid waste • Designate a waste disposal site for spoil soil and other construction waste. • Segregate waste and recover reusable materials for reuse, recycle. • Use of durable, long-lasting materials that will not need to be replaced as often, thereby reducing the amount of construction waste generated over time. • Construction waste will be recycled or reused to ensure that materials that would otherwise be disposed of as waste are diverted for productive uses. • Provide facilities for proper handling and storage of construction materials to reduce the amount of waste caused by damage or exposure to the elements. • Consider the use of recycled or refurbished construction materials where feasible. • Use of bagasse as fuel in boilers for steam and power production; making mechanical paper, drying of sediments for use as fertilizer. Effluent management • Install effluent treatment plant and monitor the efficiency of the ETP to ensure that wastewater released from the factory do not pollute the environment and affect the general public. • Conduct quarterly sampling and analysis and apply for Effluent Discharge License from NEMA. • Ensure constant monitoring of the quality of the treated water to ensure it meets water quality standards of NEMA. Increased water demand • Immediately drill 2 boreholes and a dam to supplement current dam water from Olchoro lentim dam. • Sweep with a broom and pan where possible, rather than hose down external areas. • Quick fixing of licking pipes and toilet cistern. • Reduce water delivery in taps, through the installation of low flow devices or aerators on taps. Soil disturbance and erosion • Levelling the disturbed site areas to reduce run-off velocity and increase infiltration of rain water into the soil. • Construction vehicles will be restricted to designated paths to avoid soil compaction within the Project site. • Stockpiling materials along the road shall be avoided. Oil spills/discharge of waste oil • Minimization of oil spillage, burning of waste oil in boilers, installation of waste oil separator. Potential Impacts Mitigation Measures • A designated garage section of the site fitted with oil trapping equipment to be planned for changes. • Prompt cleaning of oil and fuel spills. Incidents, accidents and dangerous occurrences. • Ensure that provisions for reporting incidents, accidents and dangerous occurrences during construction using prescribed forms obtainable from the local Occupational Health and Safety Office (OHSO) are in place. • Reporting should also be as stated in section 21 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2007. Labour influx effects • Employment priority will be given to the local people within the factory area. • Security will be enhanced in and around the project site to reduce cases of material theft and any other uncalled-for occurrences. A GRM committee will be constituted. • Security agencies will be requested to beef up the current small police post in the area. Sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) • Integration of SEA in job descriptions, employments contracts, performance appraisal systems, etc.; development of contract policies related to SEA, including whistle blower protection and investigation and disciplinary procedures. Increased energy demand • Sensitization of staff to conserve non- renewable fossil energy by switching off machinery and equipment when they are not being used. • Proper planning of transportation of materials to ensure that fossil fuels (diesel, petrol) are not consumed in excessive amounts unnecessarily. • Monitoring energy use during construction/welding and operation and setting targets for reduction of energy use; and conducting routine energy audits. • Installation and use of energy efficient welding and lighting equipment during construction and operation, respectively. Food insecurity • The proponent will ensure that sugarcane farming does not replace maize farming which is the main food crop in the area. This will be done in collaboration with relevant County Government departments. Cane spillage • Sensitization of sugarcane loaders on proper sugarcane loading to avoid loss and inconveniencing other road users. The proponent will also institute measures of collecting all the spilled cane on the feeder roads. HIV/AIDS • The proponent in partnership with the Ministry of health and county government will undertake sensitization campaigns against the spread of HIV/AIDS among the factory works and with local community members. VMGs involvement • VMGs and less fortunate in the society should be considered in this project. The proponent during public consultation promised to integrate all workers to benefit including the VMGs. 1806 1806 The full report of the proposed project is available for inspection during working hours at: (a) 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, Narok County. A copy of the report can be downloaded at www.nema.go.ke 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 regarding this project. Comments can also be emailed to dgnema@nema.go.ke MAMO B. MAMO, Director-General, MR/5161967 National Environment Management.