GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 2420

PURSUANT to Regulation 21 of Environmental (Impact Assessment and Audit) Regulations, the National Environment Management Authority, (NEMA) has received. an Environmental Impact Assessment Study Report for the implementation of proposed osram off — grid project (Mbita and Nyandiwa energy hubs) in Gwassi and Mbita divisions The proposed project main objective is to improve the lives of the off grid communities by providing them with clean affordable energy and water. • The project will be implemented in Mbita and Gwassi divisions in Suba district, Nyanza Province. The project anticipates the following impacts and mitigation measures: Possible Impacts Mitigation Measures 1. Vegetation and animal • Ensure proper demarcation and disturbance. delineation of'she project area •Specify locations for vehicles and equipment. •Designate access routes and parking spots within the site. •Preserve some individual trees within the site. •Introduction of vegetaticM on open spaces and their maintenance. •Design and implement an appropriate landscaping programme to help in revegetation of the project area after construction •Harvesting of surface and roof water 2. Increased storm water, run off and soil erosion. and storing it in underground reservoir for reuse. •Apply soil erosion control measures. •1Restricting transportation vehicles to existing graded roads. •Ripping compacted areas to avoid run off. •A site excavation area to be planned such that a section is completed and rehabilitated before another section is worked on.. 3. Increased solid waste • Use of an integrate• solid, waste generation management system. •Accurate estimation of materials required. •Donate recyclable/reusable or residual materials to local community groups, institutions and individual local residents or home owners. •Use durable, long-lasting materials that will _not need to be replaced as often. Possible Impacts Mitigation Measures •Provide facilities for proper handling and storage of construction materials to reduce the amount of waste caused by damage or exposure to the elements. •Reuse packaging materials. •Dispose off waste more responsibly by dumping at designated sites. •Providing waste collection bins at ' designated areas. •Contract private waste collection company to transport and dispose waste from site. 4. Exhaust and dust • Sprinkle water on graded access emissions routes to reduce dust generation. - •Sensitize vehicle drivers to avoid unnecessary running of vehicle engines. 5. Increased energy • Ensure electrical equipment consumption appliances and lights are switched off when not in use. •'Mulll energy saving fluorescent tubes., •Ensure planning of transportation of materials to ensure that fossil fudIs are not consumed on excessive amounts. 6. Generation of waste • Provide means of handling sewage water generated by construction. •Monitor effluent quality regularly to ensure that the stipulated discharge rules and standards are observed. 7. Occupational health and • Ensure all building plans are safety hazards approved. •Registration of the premises under the factories and other places of Work Act, (Cap. 514), laws of Kenya. •Keeping a general register within the factory as stipulated in section 61 (I) in the factories and other places of Work Act. •Enforce adherence to procedures and preparing contingency plan for accident response in addition to safety education. The full report of the proposed project is available for inspection during working hours at: (a) Director General, National Environmental Management Authority, Kapiti Road, off Mombasa Road, P.O. Box 67839- 00200, Nairobi. (6) Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, NHIF Community, P.O. Box 10521, Nairobi. (a)Provincial Director of Environment, Nyanza Province. (b)District Environment Officer, Suba District. 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 approval process of the project. B. M. LANGWEN, for Director General National Environment Management Authority 636 THE KENYA GAZE I It 28th March, 2008