GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 1246

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, Mombasa Cement Company is proposing to construct and operate 36 Megawatts Wind Farm at Takaungu/ Mavueni Location, Vipingo on Land Parcels MN/III/291/2 and MN/III/4391, Kilifi County. The proposed wind farm will be onshore and will be built by installing twelve wind turbines to generate electricity to the national grid. The design components of the wind farm will include wind turbines complete with all necessary auxiliary facilities, overhead power lines and access road. Electricity generated will be fed to an existing nearby sub-station and power transmission grid within the premises of Mombasa Cement Limited. The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Impacts Proposed mitigation measures Noise and vibration • Limit the construction and turbine installation to day time. • Ensure equipment like heavy duty cranes being used to install the turbines are appropriately serviced and maintained. • Put in place a comprehensive noise and vibration conservation programme which will include noise and vibration level monitoring, use of noise attenuators, training and use of appropriate personal protective equipment. • Ensure the provisions of Environmental Management and Co-ordination (Noise and excessive vibration control) Regulation, 2009 are adhered to. Flora and Fauna • Careful site selection for the wind farm and associated transmission lines to avoid or minimize the clearing vegetation and destruction of associated fauna habitats. • Configuring wind turbines and access roads to minimize the clearing of vegetation and destruction of associated fauna habitats. • Limit vegetation clearance and removal to actual location/installation of the turbine and allied infrastructure. • Avoid off-road driving by wind farm personnel that can result in destruction of flora and fauna on site Particulate matter (dust) emission • Regular sprinkle water on opened up dusty access roads. • Secure construction site with dust screens. • Provide construction workers with appropriate personal protective devices • Monitor dust levels. • Ensure the provisions of the Environmental Management and Co- ordination (Air Quality) Regulations, 2014 are adhered to. Occupational injuries • Ensure only skilled and experienced workers are involved in the construction of the wind farm and allied infrastructure. • Ensure suitable, appropriate, well serviced and maintained equipment are availed to the workers. • Workers working at height and in confined areas must be provided with appropriate safety equipment. • An all equipped first aid station to be on site with trained and experienced first aiders, stand by ambulance and referral hospital. • Ensure that the provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2007 are adhered to. Traffic inconvenience along Mombasa–Kilifi Road • Permission to be sought from Kenya National Highway Authority for transportation of abnormal loads (wind turbines) prior to transportation. • An escort vehicle one in front and one behind the truck transporting the turbines to be provided. • Turbines to be transported during daylight only. • Notice to be issued on local press of transportation of abnormal loads on the said road to inform other potential road users on order for them to exercise extra caution. Visual impacts • Appropriate site selection to avoid areas used for tourism and recreation. • Adjusting the location of turbine rows or individual turbines to reduce perceived visual impacts. • Choose wind power equipment with aesthetics in mind (where consistent with other objectives), such as a smaller number of (larger) turbines and reduced or different night lighting. • Careful site selection to locate turbines where they would not produce shadow flicker around human dwellings. Impacts on avifauna and bats • Careful site selection to avoid building wind farm within important bird habitats and bird migration routes. • Bird flight activities in a zone of 200- 500 m surrounding the planned wind farm should be recorded and analysed. • Fight heights, directions, species, and behaviours of birds should be studied systematically. • The direction of tower layout should be properly designed to reduce the effects on bird migration. 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 30126– 00100, Nairobi. (c) County Director of Environment, Kilifi County. The National Environment Management Authority invites members of the public to submit oral or written comments within 10th February, 2017 THE KENYA GAZETTE 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/2483333 National Environment Management Authority.