GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 2840

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 proponent, Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA) is proposingto provide new treatment facility of 20,000 m3/day capacity near the existing Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP)at Kinanie, Athi River Sub-County, in Machakos County. The proposed project is meant to treat wastewater from EPZA, additional industrial units and adjoining are and the proposed Leather Industrial Park. The project will comprise of the construction of 2.5 MLD WWTP to treat effluent from the tanneries; IOMLD WWTP to treate all influent sewage from Athi River including the effluent from the Leather Industrial Park; sludge dewatering units; reticulation system for Leather Industrial Park and electrical system. The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Impacts Mitigation Measures Air emissions • Decreasing the number of trips carried out by the vehicles will minimize air pollution. Vehicles to be used during the construction phase are to be kept in good working condition and should not be the source of excessive fumes. Noise pollution • Road traffic movements shall be scheduled to normal working hours (08H00 -.l7HOO). • All equipment and vehicles on the site should be equipped with noise suppressing measures and kept in proper working order. • Silencers on equipment such as generators will be properly designed. • Temporary noise pollution due to construction works will be controlled by proper maintenance of equipment and vehicles, and tuning of engines and mufflers. Dust pollution • Settled areas within project access routes will be identified and maximum speeds of project vehicles will be established within these areas. • Speed limit of 15km per hour will be posted and enforced to reduce airborne fugitive dust caused by vehicular traffic. • Construction materials will be delivered in bulk to avoid repetitive movements of delivery vehicles. • Construction materials and stockpiled soils will be covered if they are a source of fugitive dust. Surface and ground water • Effluent /wastewater quality will be contamination from tested on a regular basis to ensure that wastewater and sludge its characteristics are within the set standards. Set out in the third schedule of Water Quality Regulations 2006. Proper measures will be taken to avoid accidental surface runoff intrusion from the manholes of the sewerage network, which can overburden the plant, and cause discharge of partially treated wastewater from the WWTP into the river. • Proper handling and drying of sludge will be done in drying beds, during dry season. • With continuous sampling and laboratory tests, the performance of the WWTP will be optimized. Odors as a result of • The staff of the plant will be properly mismanagement of trained, to enable them to handle grease solid wastes ' and sand removal and taking samples for lab testing. Produced residuals will be stored in closed containers and transported in enclosed container trucks to landfill site. • Aeration tanks will always be kept at an optimum aeration rate. • Proper landscape around the facility will be done to serve as a natural windbreaker and minimize potential odor dispersions, if present. • Odors will be reduced or, prevented through normal housekeeping and improved operation and maintenance design procedures. • Regular cleaning of aeration tank walls and floors, washing weirs, and removing scum regularly, will be done to help in odor reduction. • Where odor emissions could lead to complaints, the provision of covers to the odor sources will be considered, especially for sludge holding tanks and sludge dewatering systems. Flow regulating chambers, drainage valves, standby pumps, as well as electric standby generators shall be provided to reduce the possibility of wastewater flooding within ili wastewater treatment plant site, which results in possible generation of obnoxious smell. Impacts on water • In general, the C-Tech systems produce a highly treated and well-nitrified effluent that typically meets the required effluent quality standards. Disinfection with chlorine s'ill further suppress bacterial population in the discharged effluent. Thus, the proposed facilities' discharge effluent quality is expected to meet the Minimum Standards contained in Water Quality Regulations 2006. • The implementation of training recommendations, maintenance plans, and process and effluent - monitoring programs will be mandatory. • Sufficient instrumentation and standby equipment (blowers, pumps, and electric generators) shall be provided to ensure an uninterrupted and controlled operation, thus avoid inefficient process performance. • To attain the expected safe effluent discharge, skilled and trained operator will be available for proper process loading, optimization, control,- and thus performance. • Continuous sampling and laboratory tests will ensure that the performance of the WWTP will be optimized. • The greasy material from the grease trap will be regularly removed and stored in proper barrels and then collected and disposed with the municipal solid waste. Impacts on soil • Periodic tests will be done to assure the quality of effluent wastewater, to avoid partially treated wastewater to reach the soils. - • Effluent will be appropriately disposed of by ensuring that they meet the required standard prior to discharge taking place. - • Effluent quality will be monitored on a continuous basis to avoid partially treated wastewater reaching the soils. • Excavated soil will be utilized for landscaping and then tree planting purposes. Impact on flora • To avoid loss of biodiversity, proper management of WWTP outputs will be done. - Limits of Construction ZOflCS will be identified and marked, and all activity will be kept within marked boundaries. When detected, sensitive species or habitats shall be conserved. Impacts on fauna- • Tree planting will be done to maintain - habitats for avifauna. - No snaring or hunting will be allowed on or around the site. - • Contact details for someone who can be called if catching and relocation of snakes, Spiders or other unwanted species is needed will be kept at the site. -. Laborers will be educated as to the importance if not simply killing all snakes and other fauna that is perceived as dangerous. Health and safety impacts The Conu-acar shall conform to all the stipulations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 2007. The Act requires the designation of a Health and Safety representative when more than 20 employees are deployed. • The contractor shall provide ample warning signs, guard rails, warning tape, etc., around open excavations, stacks of material, debris, etc. and shall be held liable for all claims as a result of neglect of such precautions and provisions. • Proper access control shall be enforced to ensure that no unauthorized persons enter the site. • Material delivery vehicles shall be under - the control of competent personnel. It will be ensured that persons handling equipment and materials are suitably trained, supervised and adequately instructed. • Railing will be installed around all process tanks and pits. The use of a life line will be required and personal flotation device (PFD) when workers are inside the railing, and it will be ensured that rescue buoys and throw bags are readily available. • A confined spaces entry program that is consistent with applicable national requirements and internationally accepted standards will be implemented. The full report of the proposed project is available for inspection during working hours at: - - - Director-General.- NEMA, Popo Road, off Mombasa Road, P.O. Box 67839-00200, Nairobi. Principal Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources, NHIF Building, Community, P.O. Box 30126- 00100, Nairobi. - County Director of Environment, Machakos 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. GEOFFREY WAHUNGU, Director-General, MR12483724 - National Environment Management Authority.