GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 3443

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 KENYA GAZETTE 22nd March, 2024 The proponent, Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency, is proposing to expand the existing Itare Water Supply System from the current 8,000m3/d to 15,500m3 /d to meet the water demands of Litein, Kapkatet towns and surrounding market/trading centers. The proposed project will also include a fecal sludge treatment facility to be set up in Litein town with a design capacity of 20m3/d, that will treat faecal sludge generated from Litein, Kapkatet towns, 5 No. of adjacent trading/market centres (Chemosit, Roret, Kabartegan, Kaplong and Mogogosiek). The proposed project will be implemented in Litein and Kapkatet towns, Kericho County. The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Impact Mitigation Measures Impacts on water resource • All waste water which may be contaminated with oily substances must be managed in accordance with an appropriate Waste Management Plan (WMP). • No hydrocarbon-contaminated water may be discharged to the environment or into Itare River. • At construction stage, the contractor will prepare Specific Construction Environment and Social Management Plan (C-ESMP) which included among other; Soil and Sedimentation Control Plan, Spoil Management Control Plan and Waste Management Plan. Impacts on soil resource • Vegetation clearing and topsoil disturbance will be minimized. • Soil backfilled into excavations shall be replaced in the order of removal in order to preserve the soil profile. • Spread mulch generated from indigenous cleared vegetation across exposed soils after construction. • At construction stage, the contractor will prepare Specific Construction Environment and Social Management Plan (C-ESMP) which included among other; Soil and Sedimentation Control Plan, Spoil Management Control Plan and Waste Management Plan. Impacts on air quality As general measures for all locations: • Develop a Dust Management Plan (DMP). • Minimize drop heights when loading stockpiles or transferring materials. • Avoid waste or vegetation burning. • Undertake watering to attenuate dust near sensitive receptors. • Use of lignin-based sealants recommended due to low environmental toxicity. • Revegetate exposed areas as soon as feasible. • Revegetate or cover stockpiles if feasible. Noise and vibrations impacts • Siting noisy plant and equipment as far away as possible from human settlement, and use of barriers to reduce the level of construction noise at receptors wherever practicable. • Where practicable, stationary equipment will be located in an acoustically treated enclosure. • For machines with fitted enclosures, doors and door seals will be checked to ensure they are in good working order; also, that the doors close properly against the seals. • Throttle settings will be reduced and equipment and plant turned off, when not being used. • Equipment will be regularly inspected and maintained to ensure it is in good working order. Impacts on vegetation cover • Avoidance of impacts should be prioritized. However, if not possible then compensatory planting of trees that will be cut by the contractor during works will be undertaken. • Vegetation shall only be within the well field’s only if the vegetation and will interfere with Project construction and/or present a hazard. • Areas to be cleared shall be agreed and demarcated before the start of the clearing operations to minimize exposure. • The use of existing cleared or disturbed areas for the contractor’s office, stockpiling of materials etc. shall be encouraged. • Whenever possible, all damaged areas shall be reinstated and rehabilitated upon completion of the contract to as near pre-construction conditions as possible. • Rehabilitation of temporary construction sites and pioneer camps (if needed) should be done as swiftly as possible and always with suitable native grasses and other plants. Occupational health and safety • Contractor will provide primary health care and first aid at construction office sites to avoid pressure on local healthcare infrastructures. • Contractor will ensure that training on health and safety measures is provided to all construction workers prior to starting to work on the Project and that supervisors have adequate experience to deliver on their responsibilities. • Contractor will implement regular health and safety checks and audits of workers, and subcontractors and implementing sanctions in case of breaches of national standards and the Project’s specific standards. Such audits to include workplace H&S; worker contracts, working hours, pay and conditions; housing and food standards. Gender-based violence and sexual harassment • The Contractor shall require his employees, sub-contractors, and any personnel thereof engaged in construction works to individually sign and comply with a Code of Conduct with specific provisions on protection from sexual exploitation and abuse. • The contractor will implement provisions that ensure that gender-based violence at the community level is not triggered by the Project. • The contractor will ensure adequate referral mechanisms are in place if a case of GBV at the community level. • Develop and implement a SEA action plan with an Accountability and Response Framework as part of the C-ESMP. Spread of communicable diseases and hiv/aids • Sensitize workers and the surrounding communities on awareness, prevention and management of HIV/AIDS and sexual health and rights through staff training, awareness campaigns, multimedia and workshops or during community barazas. • Use existing clinics to provide VCT services to construction crew and provision of ARVs for vulnerable community members. 22nd March, 2024 THE KENYA GAZETTE • The contractors will develop a SOPs for managing the spread of Covid-19 during project execution and submit them for the approval of the supervision engineer and the client before mobilization. Odour menace from wastewater treatment works • Maintain appropriate covering/ventilation of the pre-treatment unit, appropriate handling and removal of grit/grease. • Ensure scum is appropriately disposed-off or properly stabilized and adequate water flow and aeration to reduce the potential of odour formation. • The perimeter of the proposed site should be vegetated with trees and plants of varying heights thereby forming windbreaker and reduce dispersion of odour. • Repairing of dilapidated the roofs of the sludge drying beds to ensure quick drying of sludge and appropriate disposal to reduce odour emanating from wet sludge. Risks associated with handling of sludge at the facility • Dried sludge could be used to make briquettes as a charcoal substitute or be sold to farmers as fertilizers. • Excess sludge can be disposed in a designated landfill which shall only be for disposing dry odourless sludge. • Preparation and enforcement of operational guidelines for sludge management by Kericho County Government. Solid wastes impacts at wwtp screens • Develop and implement a comprehensive Waste Management Plan (WMP) for management of solid wastes from screen chambers. • Properly labelled and strategically placed waste disposal containers shall be provided at all places within the WWTP. • Solid wastes once removed from screens shall be collected and disposed-off appropriately as required by waste Management Regulations of (2006) and Kericho County Government by laws. Inversion of birds and reptiles to the sludge treatment site • The sludge treatment facility should be protected from livestock encroachments by providing secure barriers to keep off the animals from interfering with the plant operations and safety. • The quality of effluent discharged into the river will be an important parameter on the regional control of the river eutrophication that attracts insects that reptiles feed on. The full report of the proposed project is available for inspection during working hours at: (a) Principal Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, NHIF Building, 12th Floor, Ragati Road, Upper Hill, P.O. Box 30126–00100, Nairobi. (b) Director-General, NEMA, Popo Road, off Mombasa Road, P.O. Box 67839–00200, Nairobi. (c) County Director of Environment, Kericho County. A copy of the report can be downloaded at www.nema.go.ke 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. Comments can also be emailed to dgnema@nema.go.ke MAMO B. MAMO, Director-General, MR/6229960 National Environment Management.