GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 11793

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 mining of Magnesite Ore (Magnesium Carbonate) mining project at Mangungu Hill in Kisenga Village, Kimani sub-location, Mathima location, Mutomo District, Eastern Province. The Proponent (Pan Africa Chemicals Limited) of the proposed mining of Magnesite Ore (Magnesium Carbonate) mining project at Mangungu Hill in Kisenga Village, Kimani sub location, Mathima location, Mutomo District, Eastern Province has proposed to undertake mining activities for Magnesium Carbonate (Magnesite Ore) at Mangungu Hill in Kisenga Village, Mutomo District. The proponent is proposing to obtain the mineral from the surface to a depth of about 20m. The mining activities will be carried systematically by excavating a small area to the maximum depth before moving to the next area. The mined magnesite ore is to be transported to the Pan Africa Chemicals Limited chemical manufacturing plant in Webuye town where it will be used in the manufacture of Magnesium Sulphate. The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Possible Impact Mitigation measures Conflict resolution  Consult all stakeholders during all project phases to minimize conflicts.  Ensure all operations are planned well in advance and communicated to all stakeholders.  Provide adequate infrastructure including water supply, waste management facilities.  Site activities appropriately by avoiding environmental sensitive areas, historical and cultural sites.  Site activities by considering public health and safety, ensure dust and gaseous emissions will be within the World Health Organization (WHO) allowable levels.  Establish mutual working relationships with local communities and maintain them throughout the project via the established committee. Air quality management  Use dust abatement techniques on unpaved, unvegetated surfaces to minimize airborne dust and during earthmoving activities.  Load the mined magnesite ore on to lorries using pans to help in dust management.  Regular Maintenance of heavy vehicles and excavation machinery.  Institute/encourage plant buffer zones along transport route and around mine area to capture dust, dirt and absorb greenhouse gases.  Location of overburden and spoils away from windward sides of hills and slopes.  Conduct annual air quality analysis for area around site.  Cover construction materials, stockpiled soils, and stockpiled refuse if they are a source of fugitive dust.  Minimize drop heights when loaders dump soil /overburden onto dumpsites. Water and waste water quality management  Arrest dust to prevent it from being deposited into water bodies.  Provide sanitary conveniences to manage sanitary wastes for the mining crew.  Ensure pit latrine exhausters are licensed and obtain tracking documents.  Position soil heaps away from potential erosion zones or close to water bodies or storm runoff paths.  Build drainage channels on site to direct any storm runoff to used pits.  Do not alter existing drainage patterns, especially in sensitive areas such as erodible soils or steep slopes.  Construct sedimentation structures near disturbed.  areas to impound surface water runoff and sediment.  Re-vegetate areas no longer in use as part of ongoing land rehabilitation.  Closely monitor activities near any potential aquifer recharge areas to reduce potential contamination of the aquifer. Impacts on soil, land terrain  Continually rehabilitate used pits through backfilling and re-vegetation.  Do not dispose top soil and store in area with minimal human/animal interference.  Identify unstable slopes and local factors that can cause slope instability (groundwater conditions, precipitation, seismic activity, slope angles, and geologic structure) and avoid excavating in these areas.  Obtain borrow material from authorized and permitted sites.  Place access roads to follow natural topography, and avoid or minimize side hill cuts.  Apply erosion controls relative to possible soil erosion from vehicular traffic and during mining activities (e.g., 24th August, 2012 THE KENYA GAZETTE jute netting, silt fences, and check dams).  Stabilize all areas of disturbed soil using weed-free native shrubs, grasses, and forbs. Impacts on biodiversity  Where possible conduct an ecological mapping exercise to ascertain the species diversity.  Use existing facilities (e.g. access roads, parking lots, graded areas) to the extent possible to minimize the amount of new disturbance.  Ensure protection of important resources by establishing protective buffers to exclude unintentional disturbance.  Minimize the amount of land disturbance and develop and implement stringent erosion and dust control practices.  Develop a plan for control of noxious weeds and invasive plants, which could occur as a result of new surface disturbance activities at the site.  Apply spill prevention practices and response actions in refueling and vehicle-use areas to minimize accidental contamination of habitats.  Reclaim all areas of disturbed soil using weed-free native shrubs, grasses, and forbs. Wildlife management  Minimise the amount of vegetation disturbance during excavation to reduce impacts on habitats.  Schedule activities to avoid disturbance of resources during critical periods of the day (e.g., night) or year (e.g., breeding season.  Create awareness among workers to be considerate of breeding and mating seasons; relocation of animals with lost habitats etc.  Ensure proper waste management to prevent animals venturing onto site for source of food.  Liaise with KWS for planning for animals escapees from national game reserves.  Ensure fences around the site are well secured. Health and safety concerns  Provide periodic training and continual safety reminders to all operating staff.  Provide physical support to prevent disaster in mining operations.  Restrict mining during the day only.  Provide appropriate PPEs for related work.  Set up health and safety committee and conduct annual audits.  Conduct a risk assessment for the site.  Provide first Aid kit and supplies.  Develop emergency management procedure.  Conduct regular medical checks for the staff.  Conduct first aid training and fire safety trainings. Solid waste generation  Store and manage excavated material appropriately.  Contract a licensed waste handler to dispose any wastes.  Provide covered waste receptacles for miscellaneous waste on site.  Create awareness and enforce among workers proper waste disposal.  Ensure excavated soils and rocks are reused for pit backfilling. Increased noise and traffic  Use existing roads to the extent possible.  Limit traffic to roads indicated specifically for the project.  Limit use of unimproved roads to emergency use only.  Limit mine-related vehicle traffic on public roadways to off-peak commuting times to minimize impacts on local commuters.  Consult with local planning authorities regarding traffic, in general and specific issues such as creating awareness of increased traffic in the area.  Limit noisy activities to the least noise- sensitive times of day (weekdays only).  All equipment should have sound- control devices no less effective than those provided on the original equipment.  Muffle and maintain all construction equipment used.  Notify nearby residents in advance when extra noisy activities are to be undertaken.  To the extent feasible, route heavy truck and supporting mining activities away from residences.  Establish vegetation zones around site to act as sound buffers.  Conduct regular noise mapping at sensitive receptor sites for monitoring compliance. Training and capacity building needs  Develop & display Environment Management Policy.  Develop self audits plan for environmental management.  Undertake environmental management training.  Promote HIV/AIDS awareness among employees.  Develop employees skill through training in materials management. 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) 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 of the plan. SALOME MACHUA , for Director-General, MR/0157482 National Environment Management Authority.