GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 13428

PURSUANT to regulation 21 of Environmen tal (Impact Assessment and Audit) Regulations, the National Environment Management Authority, (NEMA) has received an environmental impact assessment study report for the construction of the proposed proposed expansion works for Eldoret water treatment plant and transmission mains extension. The proposed project is part of the water and sanitation improvement program, which has the following objectives: • Expansion of the existing Chebara water treatment Plant to increase gross treatment capacity from the present 19,000m3/d to utilize the ultimate abstraction capacity of the existing Moiben Dam, i.e. 28,300m3/d @ 98% probability Safe Yield; • Extension of Water Supply to Chebara and Chebiemit Trading Centres which are located adjacent to the existing Moiben Dam and Chebara Treatment Works; • Extension of Transmission and Distribution Mains in Eldoret town. The proposed project is in Eldoret Municipality is situated in the Uasin Gishu District of the Rift Valley Province in Western Kenya. The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Environmental issue Mitigation Measures Vibration, Noise, air pollution and dust generation by traffic and machinery during construction Strict control under construction contract to limit these impacts to acceptable levels Watering to be enforced to keep dust levels low Exercise shall be carried during normal working hours Set and enforce speed limits for construction vehicles Loss of some flora and fauna in the Treatment Works and Storage Tank construction sites and along routes of pipelines Habitat loss will be minimized and monitored. Where possible, no trees will be removed. Replanting with indigenous plants and trees to be implemented where possible once construction is completed. Increased soil erosion in the steeper areas within the construction sites and pipeline routes Soil erosion induced by excavation activities to be reduced by sowing of grass. Steep slopes at the treatment works site to be protected by technical measures e.g. gabions. Shoring and support to be provided for deep pipeline trenches Pollution by stored construction materials, oil, paints and other Strict control by Supervising Engineer to ensure acceptable storage practices Wastes to be properly contained in 21st October, 2011 THE KENYA GAZETTE solid wastes designated areas on the sites prior to disposal Wastes to be regularly cleared from site and disposed of in approved manner Staff to be regularly trained and sensitized on appropriate waste management Disposal of excavated material for structures and pipes Excavations to be reinstated to original condition as provided for under the contract to achieve balanced cut and fill Surplus material to be disposed of as directed e.g. in abandoned quarries Workforce accidents by unsafe working practices Periodic awareness workshops for workforce on safe working practices, Workers to be provided with proper protective safety kits. Supervising Engineer to ensure the EMP is strictly followed Strict control by Supervising Engineer to limit safety hazards Pollution by Water Treatment Chemicals Storage and safety of workers Dedicated storage area at Water Treatment Works Site to be provided, with appropriate Personal and (Environment) Protective Equipment (PPE). Public health risk and risk of pathogens for potential downstream users by effluent discharge Downstream fencing of 100 m downstream from discharge point, provision of disinfecting facility, if found necessary. Pollution by Disposal of Chemical Sludge Sludge to be dried on sludge drying beds. Sludge from Chlorination and pH Correction Tanks to be removed in Soak away Pits All chemical sludge will be buried on site, and the pH of the soil monitored continuously. There will be no disposal of sludge into the Moiben River. The full report of the proposed project is available for inspection during working hours at: (a) Director-General, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Popo Road, off Mombasa Road, P.O. Box 67839–00200, Nairobi. (b) Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources, N.H.I.F. Building, Community, P.O. Box 30521, Nairobi. (c) Provincial Director of Environment, Ritf Valley Province Province. (d) District Environment Officer, Uasin Gishu District. 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 approval process of the project. WILKISTER MAGANGI , for Director-General, MR8247465 National Environment Management Authority.