GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 2011

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, Olsuswa Energy Limited, is proposing the spot improvement (first part) of Lopii—Lokori—Eleleam (50kni) road and construction of a new gravel road (second part) from Elelea—Barrier (70 km). The first part of the project read is approximately 50 km long. It starts at Lopii village along C46/C1 13 road, then proceeds 1st March, 2019 THE KENYA GAZETFE 899 eastwards through Lokwamosing, Lokori, Morulem, Lokwii, Lotubae and Elelea towns. The second part of the project road is approximately 70 km long. It starts at Elelea, crosses Kerio river and proceeds North- Eastwards to the Barrier Volcanic Complex (BVC). The existing road from Lopii—Elelea is characterized by long and short straights, tight curves, and'has not been engineered to the required standards for class C and D classified roads. The proposed alignment from Elelea—Kokoit traverses a fair topography and crosses three major water courses. The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Impacts Proposed Mitigation Measures - Construction • Obtain appropriate authorization and material sourcing licenses for the use of the borrow pits and quarries before commencing activities. • Carry out inspection of each of the sites' soil stability before excavation. • All borrow pit sites shall be clearly indicated on a plan and approved by the Engineer. • Borrow pits and quarries to be lobated more than 100 metres from watercourses to minimize storm water runoff into watercourse and mitigate potential conflicts. • Give 14 days' notice to nearby communities of the intention to begin excavation in the borrow pits or quarries. • Prepare a material extraction. plan prior any work on the quarries and borrow pits is commenced. • Where material sites are •close to settlements, cordon off the quarry and borrow areas to keep livestock,, wildlife and children Out. • All borrow pits and quarries must be decommissioned when work on the road is over, hence a rehabilitati9n plan MUST be prepared by the contractor as part contract agreement with the land owners and NEMA licensing. • Stockpile topsoil on site and use during rehabilitation of the borrow pits and quarries. • In case of blasting: • Obtain a current and valid authorization • from the Department of Mines andGeology prior to any blasting activity. • A qualified and registered blaster shall supervise all blasting and rock-splitting operations. • Develop a safety policy on site. • Upon completion of works, the borrow areas and quarries should be graded and backfilled with topsoil that formed the overburden. Since the project area is largely semi-arid and may not support planted seedlings, the area should be cordoned off and natural regeneration allowed to occur. Damage to , • Ensure that intake area is landscaped and landscape that a 50m buffer zone along the river is maintained by planting of water friendly trees and grass along the river embankment. and on both sides of the intake structure construction of river embankment structures, as well as re use of soil from trenching activities as a backfill. Sedimentation and Develop and implement a site construction contamination of waste and avastewater management plan to Kerio river from minimize environmental damage from construction construction activities. activities Install secondary containment measures in Impacts Proposed Mitigation Measures areas where fuels, oils, lubricants etc. are stored and loaded or unloaded, including filling points: Implement soil erosion control measures at construction sites. Changes in • Replant or take measure to encourage biological recolonization by nattve vegetation in communities disturbed areas immediately following along the road in Construction. favour of invasive species . Implement 'nuisance' plant monitoring programme along the road. Ecosystem The road cross-section can be modified to modification and reduce impacts dn the environment, e.g. by land degradation using narrower widths, lower vertical from an increase alignments, smaller cuts'and fills, flatter side in human slopes, and less clearing of existing activities in Loriu vegetation. Range To minimize collision , of wildlife with vehicles, provision of longer sight lines that allow adequate reaction time for drivers could also be provided. • Culverted crossings to be designed With the needs of migratory aquatic species in mind. • Implement education programmes for construction workers on, inter alia: respect for wildlife and vegetation, avoidance of fires and accidental damage, and generally minimizing the footprint of the construction camp and work area. • Replant or take measure to encourage recolonization by native vegetation in disturbed areas immediately following construction. • Implement 'nuisance' plant monitoring programme along the road. • Create' alternative valuable habitat areas elsewhere to compensate for unavoidable loss of similar resources in the project area. Soil loss resulting • Minimize the area of ground clearance. from erosion and carting to spoil Avoid sensitive alignments, such as those which include steep hillsides. • Balance filling and cutting requirements through route choice, to avoid the production of excess spoil material and reduce the need for borrow pits. • Avoid the creation of cut slopes and embankments which are of an angle greater than the natural angle of repose for the local soil type. • Use slope retention/protection techniques such as gabions, intercepting ditches etc. ,Soil contamination • Implementation of a project specific from pollution Reinstatement Plan which includes incidences mitigation for impacts to soils. • Implementation of spillage prevention and control measures for hazardous materials in use and storage at sites. Environmental • Land-fill spoils as much as possible within pollution and the sites or identified fill areas. creation of health • Felled trees, shrubs and stumps can be and safety hazards isolated for collection by locals as firewood. from poor management of • Organic wastes can be composted on site. wastes during • . Provide pit latrines at the camp(s) and construction construction sites for use by workers. Impacts Proposed Mitigation Measures • Vehicle maintenance to be done off-site (at the construction camp's garage/workshop or commercial garage) and wastes (used oil, oily rugs, cans and used parts) disposed in a designated area. • Ensure that construction materials left over at the end of cénstruction are used elsewhere rather than their disposal. • Washing of concrete coated vehicles or equipment to be done off-site or in a designated wash area, a minimum of 50 feet away from drainage channels. • Runoff from the on-site concrete wash area to be contained in a temporary pit where the concrete can set. Exposure of I • Provision of all workers on site with the - workers and the necessary Personal Protectivç Equipment. general public to health and safety • Ensuring a safe and healthy environment for hazards during the construction workers. construction work • Workers accidents to be mitigated by enforcing adherence to safety procedures and preparing contingency plans for accident response. The Contractor to have qualified first aid personnel among the workers and maintain fully stocked first aid kits at the sites. Hazards and accidents involving the public to be minimized by controlling access to the construction sites. • Contractor to ensure that workers have access to sanitary facilities at the sites and provide potable water. • Inform local communities of major activities in advance. Enforce and monitor road safety standards • Follow best practice to prevent the creation of breeding areas for vermin. • Spray construction areas and roads regularly with water to suppress dust emissions. • Ensure that potentially disturbing construction noise is not produced outside of working hours. • Provide safety training, traffic management and place a high priority on public safety. • Ensure that the workers camp(s) and • construction areas are open only to formal employees. • Develop and enforce a strict code of conduct for workers to regulate behavior in the local communities. • Provide awareness training to the workforce regarding the transmission of STDs, and traffic safety awareness. Increased water • Seek an abstraction license from WRA and demand adhere to the conditions of the license. Vibrations and • Portable hoods to be installed to shield noise nuisance to compressors and other small stationary the community equipment where necessary. during construction work Pumps, generators and other mobile equipment to be sited as far as practicable from housing and other noise sensitive locations. • The contractor to endeavor to use equipment installed with noise abatement devices as Impacts Proposed Mitigation Measures much as practicable. Idling time on trucks and other noisy equipment to be limited to a minimum. Personal protective equipment such as ear muffs will be provided to workers at the sites as necessary. 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 30521. Nairobi. County Director of Environment, Turkana 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, MRJ58 15955 National Environment Management Authority.