GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 2844

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, Shan Zhang Company Limited, is proposing to carry out small scale copper mining in approximately 6 acres piece of land in Ndwila Village, Kwa Vonza/Yatta Location, Kitui County. Impacts Respiratory disease to workers and nearby animals, interference with photosynthesis Proposed Mitigation Measures • Constant sprinkling of water to the bare areas. • Identify wind direction during operation to avoid exposure to emission. • Minimize the generation of bad emission from trucks used by assessing and evaluating whether they contain toxic by products. • All the workers should be provided with masks to avoid inhaling such gases • Develop a respiratory monitoring programme for the mine workers. Proposed Mitigation Measures • To limit exposure level, practice duty controls. • Avoid soil transport from the mine to avoid soil contamination with heavy metals. • Use grasses to rehabilitate the site since they withstand soil contamination better. • Silt fence should be established where erosion is predetermined. • Introduce vegetation in already mined areas. • Introduce physical barriers such as rocks to intercept soil material from being carried away by the run-off. • Minimize area of clearance. • Reintroduce the vegetation that coexist with the site. • Minimize earthworks. • Reduce noise at the source. • Allow wild game to migrate. • Avoid rock blasting. • Reduce noise at the source point. • Mining should only be done during the day time. • Planning the trips of the vehicles can reduce such impacts. • Screening using baffle moulds material e.g. soil and wastes that has already been remove to access the rock. • Locate screening baffle moulds on site boundary to reduce noise. • The workers to be provided with earmuffs during operation hours. • Supervision of the site by a person with knowledge of dangerous mining activity and accepted mining practices. • Correct stemming will aid the control of ground vibration. • Monitoring of blasting if it is used. • Avoid blasting in adverse weather conditions. • Backfilling the mined pits using earth excavated wastes. Soil and earth excavated wastes to be used for backfilling excavated pits. Surface run-off from waste pits should be captured and treated to remove suspended solids prior to discharge. • Safe disposal of oil spills and filters from machineries. • Prompt clean up in case of spills. • Backfill the mined pits. • Fence the area and allow natural regeneration. • Aid in revegetation using suitable species. • Stabilize the soil PH for quick recovery. Water pollution • Treat water in the pits of heavy metals before discharge to the environment. • Harmonize and design drainage ditches with the natural drainage to avoid affecting nearby land. Impacts Soil pollution and soil deposition Loss of vegetation and loss of animal dwellings Noise and resulting vibrations Visual intrusion Solid and effluent • wastes (Oil and other spills) Change on land /loss of land 3rd April, 2020 THE KENYA GAZETTE 1507 Impacts Proposed Mitigation Measures • Divert run-off around working area. • Install sedimentation traps or screen next to the silt fence by arranging a layer of stone chips and gravel to trap any loose soil to the river. • Strictly avoid sub-surface/underground mining technique. Occupation • Fence off the mine site. health and safety • Post cautionary signages at the mine site. • Isolate the working site from the rest of the community for their safety. • All depressions should be filled and replanted. • All moving parts of machine should be covered with suitable guards. • Keep accidents and incidents records. • Provide, and enforce use of personal protective equipment and trained on occupational health. • Fire-fighting equipment and First aid kits should also be provided at the site. Land restoration • Filling in the depressions and mined pits and landscaping before moving to another section to prevent ponding. • Landscaping and replanting of trees and other similar vegetation. • All pits where water may collect to form ponds should be filled. • A layer of top soil should be introduced so as to achieve vegetation growth. The full report of the proposed project is available for inspection during working hours at: (d) Principal Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, NHIF Building, Community, P.O. Box 30126-00100, Nairobi. (e) Director-General, NEMA, Popo Road, off Mombasa Road, P.O. Box 67839-00200, Nairobi. (f) County Director of Environment, Kitui 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 regarding this project. MAMO B. MAMO, Ag. Director-General, MR/0734599 National Environment Management Authority.