GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 6578

PURSUANT to regulation 21 of Environmental (Impact Assessment and Audit) Regulations, the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) has received an Environmental Impact Assessment Study Report for the implementation of the proposed DETAILED Designs for Makutano–Kyangondu–Muiu– Kaumoni–Wote Road (C101/D514/D513). The project entails the Preliminary and Detailed Engineering Design for the upgrading to bitumen standards of Makutano – Miu – Kyangondu – Muiu – Kaumoni - Wote Road (C101/D514/D513). The road starts at Makutano township at the Junction of Wamunyu- Makutano-Itangini (C101) road and Makutano- Tulila (E713) road, and then takes a south-westerly direction through Miu to Liani. At Liani the road takes a southerly course through Kavemba, Kyangondu, Muaani, Muiu, Kaumoni and ends at junction of C101/C99/D514 Roads at Itangini. A further two link roads, totalling approximately 12km, from Kavemba to Kakuswi and Ngoloni to Mbumbuni are also included in this project. The road steadily falls from Makutano at 1255m asl, through Miu at 1200m asl and ends at 1140m asl in Itangini town. The Project road length is approximately 47.7km long and traverses Makueni District, the newly enacted Mbooni East District that was formally in Makueni Districts and the newly enacted Mwala District that was formally in Machakos Districts of Eastern Province. The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Environmental issue  Mitigation Measures Direct land take  A list of all the affected persons by type of losses and extent of damages has been prepared.  Land acquisition plans are at an advanced stage. Valuation of the actual figures for compensation for affected parcels of land is being done by the ministry of lands  Compensation of the affected persons will follow due process  Restoration of land after road works Slope failure  In sections with high filling along the roadside, all slopes to be cut at the natural angle of repose and bush grass planted.  Extremely steep hillsides to be protected by terracing, gabions, Stone pitching and planting ground cover vegetation  Side drains to be lined Altered topography and landscape  Re-vegetate with original vegetation as much as practical when the construction is over  The engineering design to as much as practical blend with the natural landscape.  Material sites to be rehabilitated.  Plant trees 2-3m from road to provide shade and stabilize roadsides and river banks. Trees should not be planted on the inside of a curve where they might block the view of oncoming vehicles. Contamination of land and water from Hazardous materials and petroleum products  Regular servicing and maintenance of construction equipments at a localized point.  All applicable laws, regulations and standards for the safe use, handling, storage and disposal of hazardous waste will be followed.  Hazardous materials will be stored within dedicated areas at work camps and marshalling yards in full compliance with regulatory requirements. Temporary storage of hazardous materials at remote sites must be located a minimum of 100 meters from a waterway.  Areas dedicated for hazardous material storage shall provide spill containment and facilitate clean up through measures such as: maximum separation from sensitive features e.g. rivers; clear identification of the materials present; access restricted to authorized personnel THE KENYA GAZETTE 18th May, 2012 1766 1766 and vehicles only and dedicated spill response equipment.  Storage sites for petroleum products shall be secured and signs will be posted which include hazard warnings, who to contact in case of a release (spill), access restrictions and under whose authority the access is restricted will be posted. Quarries and Borrow pits  The contractor should prepare for approval by the Engineer a borrow pit rehabilitation plan.  Upon acquisition of all borrow sites, these should be fenced with wooden posts and an access gate erected.  Rehabilitate quarry sites and other material sites to discourage pounding which are mosquito breeding grounds. Exposed sites are also sites of water- borne disease transmission for both human and animals.  Upon decommissioning, site to be rehabilitated to the satisfaction of the Engineer  Top soil (30cm) should be piled up for use in rehabilitation of the diversion routes.  Waste excavated materials should be disposed off in a manner that ensures protection of waterways.  Re-vegetation of these sites with the previously existing vegetation Generation of solid waste  The contractor to submit to the road engineer a camp and site office plan defining all facilities to be created. These include human waste disposal facilities and solid waste management facilities.  Ensure that all waste materials at the point of construction are transported to place of safe disposal  Sisal tex or hessian cloth to be used for curing instead of polythene paper Health impacts  Intensify awareness campaigns on HIV/AIDS and Malaria prevention by use of bill boards in market centres and along the project road.  Ensure that all construction machines and equipment are in good working conditions to prevent occupational hazards- lighting devices and safety signal device will be installed for night- time operations  Contractor to provide all workers with appropriate protective clothing such as helmets and dust masks while working in dusty environment.  Work to minimize or altogether eliminate mosquito breeding sites.  Locate condom dispensers in strategic locations within the camp and the camp environs such as market centres. Water Pollution in natural water courses  Avoid construction especially heavy earthworks during heavy rains.  Install grease traps for surface run-off in market centres.  All necessary measures will be taken to prevent earthworks from impeding the water course.  Installation of soil erosion control devices e.g., gabions and planting ground cover vegetation. Noise  Operators should use protective personal equipment (PPE) such as helmets and ear mufflers.  Monthly maintenance of construction machinery.  Cleared vegetation, earth and stone will be properly disposed of so as not to block the water ways, 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) Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources, NHIF Building, Community, P.O. Box 30521, Nairobi (c) Provincial Director of Environment, Eastern Province. (d) District Environmental Officer, Machakos District. (e) District Environmental Officer, Makueni 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 decision making process of the plan. SALOME MACHUA , for Director-General, MR/9577971 National Environment Management Authority.