GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 4658

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, Othaya Mukurweini Water Services Company proposes to develop a decentralized treatment facility with capacity of 50 m3/day and associated components operator’s house, incinerator and a fence around the facility. The proposed project is located on parcel of land plot number (Muhiti/Gatura 692) is fully owned by County Government of Nyeri measuring a total of 0.5 acre in Gaturia Sub-location, Muhito Location, Mukurweini Sub-cCounty, in Nyeri County at GPS Co-ordinates of 282916.72 m E, 9936700.54 m S, UTM Zone 37M, WGS 84 Spheroid. The proposed intervention overall goal is to improve the health and access to waste treatment management for the residents of Mukurweini Sub-County especially in Mukurweini Town. It is anticipated that 10,720 residents in this area will benefit in this project. The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Impact Proposed Mitigation Measures Loss of vegetation cover and increased soil erosion • Areas with exposed soil should be replanted with grass as soon as possible after construction; to help mitigate against flash flood caused soil erosion. • No unnecessary removal of any vegetation shall be done. • The riparian area should be conserved and the area enhanced with suitable riparian vegetation. • Maintain the riparian reserve of twice the width of the river undeveloped. • Suitable trees should be planted at the periphery of project site and near the river bank. Waste handling and disposal • Develop a solid waste management plan prior to project commencing, identifying optimal waste re-use options and disposal in licensed sites. • Comply with EMCA (Waste Management) Regulations, 2006. • Labelled waste bins should be strategically placed at the construction site. • Provision of adequately designed bins to prevent access by vermin. • The bins at the construction site should be emptied regularly to prevent overfilling. • Disposal of the bins contents should be done at an approved disposal site. • Controlled use of materials on site. • Erect warning signs against poor waste disposal for example burning at site. • Sensitization of workers on waste handling and disposal methods. • Encourage and practice reuse and recycling. • Provide sludge drying beds in the project. Occupational health and safety • Develop a site safety action plan detailing safety emergency procedures in line with OSH Act, 2007. • Reporting and recording of health, safety and environmental incidences. • Erect warning signs on site warning residents and visitors of inherent danger posed in the construction site and restricting access at all times. • Provide personal protective equipment to workers and anyone accessing the site. • Develop a monitoring programme to assess noise performance in accordance with the revised Noise Prevention and Control Rules (April 2005); and NEMA Noise Control Regulations, 2009. Excavation and earthworks resulting into stock piles, soil erosion • Excavation should be carried out such that drainage is controlled and water is not allowed to accumulate at the project site. • Establish controls for surface runoff during excavation e.g. digging trenches. 10th July, 2020 THE KENYA GAZETTE Impact Proposed Mitigation Measures • Control excavation activities to be confined to the construction site only. • Screening off the site using iron sheets to limit access to the site. • Use the excavated soil as back fill in areas that need to be backfilled. • Excavated and piled soils should be covered when there is rainfall to prevent it from causing sedimentation in River Ruarai. Noise and dust during construction • Construction work shall be done during day time hours from 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. • Control working hours to limit noise, dust and traffic nuisance. Noisy construction activities should be scheduled to hours with minimal interruption for residents. • Sprinkle water on areas where dust is likely to be generated. • When excessive noise is anticipated, acquire a license from the county government and follow NEMA regulations and orders. Wastewater discharge • The contractor shall erect a functioning DTF waste disposal system to cater for anticipated increase in waste generation. • Waste water shall be treated to the permissible level before discharge to the environment. • Portable toilet facilities shall be provided for workers and visitors to the site. Sedimentation or River Rwarai • Surface runoff will be controlled by temporarily sedimentation pond for the significant storm water features to provide sedimentation. • Water quality tests at the river to be conducted quarterly. • Maintain the riparian reserve of 10 meters. • Replant the riparian zone with suitable indigenous trees. Excessive generation of dust and other particulate matter • Site access roads should be dampened every 4-6 hours or within reasonable time to prevent a dust nuisance. • Minimize cleared areas on site to those that are needed to be used. • Cover or wet construction materials such as soil for backfill to prevent a dust. • Provide appropriate PPEs or respirators to workers. Interference with traffic flow including pedestrians • Adequate and appropriate road signs should be erected to warn road users of the construction activities in conjunction with the NTSA. • Raw materials such as sand, murram and cement shall be covered within the trucks to prevent any escaping into the air along the route to the site. • The movement of equipment (trucks) during the construction of the DTF system shall be limited to the working hours, 8.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m. daily. • Equipment should be transported early morning (6 a.m. – 7 a.m.). • The use of flagmen should be employed to regulate when trucks have access to the main roads. • Limit septage delivery to the site between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Project • Timely maintenance of sewer waste conveyance, Impact Proposed Mitigation Measures maintenance/ impacts on the local river and the neighborhood distribution system at DTF. • Maintenance of access routes and the drainage system. • Manage solid wastes and dispose it appropriately at NEMA licensed facilities. • Monitor water quality, upstream and downstream and at the point of discharge. Drainage management • Proper project site drainage management to Control erosion. • Avoid ponding water. • Proper waste and material handling, and storage to avoid flushing of wastes in to the neighboring river. • Follow designs made for the system. Deterioration of water quality and interference with riparian reserve • Runoff channels to be constructed to drain storm waters. • Monitor water quality, both in the river and in the conveyance system to be conducted quarterly basis. • Maintain the riparian reserve as per WRMA requirements. • Replant the riparian zone with suitable trees. • Maintain the required buffer zone to the Ruarai river. • Waste water from the site be treated to the acceptable level in line with EMCA (Water Quality) Regulations, 2006. Noise /vibration nuisance in the project area • Use equipment that is properly fitted with noise reduction devices such as mufflers. • Operate noise-generating equipment during regular working hours. 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. • Construction workers operating equipment that generates noise should be equipped with noise protection gears. • Screen off the site from the general public to limit access and lower anxiety. Working conditions, fire related incidents and accidents, pollution • Compliance to Labour Laws – OSHA Act, 2007, WIBA, 2007 and Employment Act, 2007. • Provision of PPE (personal protective equipment) • Secure / screen hazardous areas. • Provision of fire suppression equipment. • “No smoking” signage prominently displayed. • Provision of First Aid box facilities. • Training in fire response/ First Aid. • No burning of waste or material on site. • Fencing the site with strong wire mesh material. Poor depositing of septage by cesspool emptier • Institute and maintain a ticketing system for cesspool empties, where upon successful disposal; the WWTP operator would issue a receipt to the cesspool emptier. • County Government and particularly NEMA, should put in place a system to monitor cesspool service providers and in addition. • Ensure that septage is only accepted at the site by authorization. Foul odours • Monitor and ensure that influent sulphate levels are below 240 mg/l. 2816 2816 Impact Proposed Mitigation Measures • Ensure that the pond series have adequate water flow to reduce the potential of odour formation. Risk of accidents and sickness • Secure all unsafe and potentially dangerous areas out of reach to community members as well as animals. • Install safety valves on gas conveyance system for methane. • Reduce distances for conveying gas to neighboring facilities on site. • Make prior arrangements with health care facilities such as a health centre in proximity. • Design and implement an emergency response plan including First Aid at site. • Display telephone numbers of emergency response departments for all people accessing the site to clearly see. Decommissioning phase: Inform NEMA of intentions to decommission the facility Generation of scrap material and other waste debris on site • All buildings, machinery, equipment, structures, tools that cannot be reused or recycled shall be removed from site • Where reuse is not possible, materials should be taken into approved dumping sites. Clearing of vegetation, soil erosion • Fencing and warnings posted at the site restricting access • Do re-vegetation of the site to restore the site to its original status. • During demolition, appropriate surface run-off controls will be undertaken to minimize erosion rates • Constant monitoring and inspection of the demolition works to prevent accidents. Socio- economic and health impact • Provide alternatives decentralized treatment facility to handle wastes • Offer advice on alternative income generating ventures to workers • Consider redeveloping the project • Prepare proposals to donors and government for a new sewer project 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, Community, 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, Nyeri 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 plan. Comments can also be emailed to dgnema@nema.go.ke MAMO B. MAMO, Ag. Director-General, MR/0744569 National Environment Management Authority.