GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 9743

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, Kenya National Highways Authority proposes to construct a 19.4km bypass road. The project starts at chainage km - 2+300 from Brooke Centre and transverses in a North Westerly direction up to Ainamoi Centre. It then takes a South-Westerly trajectory to join the Kisumu-Busia (A12) Highway at Kapsoit. The project will be located at the western part of Rift Valley Highland, Kericho County. The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Impacts Proposed Mitigation Measures Physiography and geology • Slope gradient maintenance and not to be vertical. • Erosion control measures. • Site reclamation or rehabilitation during decommissioning phase of the project. Soil pollution • Earthworks operations shall be carried out such that surfaces shall be designed with adequate falls, profiling and drainage to promote safe run-off and prevent ponding and flooding, with the associated soil erosion. • Run-off will be controlled to minimize the water effects in outfall areas. • Good housekeeping (site clean-ups, use of disposal bins, etc.) on the site project. • Waste oil to be collected by a NEMA licensed waste dealer. • Provide professionals in running machinery, workshop. • Provide waste container for collecting waste. • Excavations to avoid accelerating situations of soil erosion. Climate change • Designed and constructed of drainage structures to withstand periodic heavy floods and runoff water. Air quality • Use of enclosures, hoods, shrouds, and sprays (wet batching) for possible concrete batch plant. Impacts Proposed Mitigation Measures • Monitor PM10 if concerns occur. • Employment of high-volume samplers if concerns occur regarding dust. • Active earthworks areas along the project road to be watered, mainly trading areas. Water misting or sprays will be used through water bowsers as required if particularly dusty activities are necessary during dry periods. • Vehicles delivering material with dust potential (soil, aggregates) will be enclosed or covered with tarpaulin at all times to restrict the escape of dust and observe minimal speed especially within built up areas. • Diesel exhaust emissions from excavators, loaders, hauling trucks to be regularly checked. Surface and groundwater resources • Drainage structures that will be constructed –cross culverts, at the river courses be at appropriate positions. • Stone pitching and side drains to cover meaningful lengths along the prone protection areas. • Timing of the construction of proposed bridges at Makirer, Koiboyet, Bagoa, Kapcheptentenyet, Cheplnget, Senetwet and Kashagi coincide with dry periods to avoid possible water pollution. • Contractor to avoid dumping of waste materials within the riparian zones/ within the watercourses. • Bitumen trucks should be washed at designated areas only. Terrestrial/ aquatic environment: flora and fauna • Designs of the proposed bridges at major river crossings along the road to be extended so that they can avoid blocking watercourses. Land use • Maximum utilization of land acquired to set up camps and batching plant to avoid unnecessary land disturbance. • Ensure resettlement action plan is undertaken and PAPs compensated fairy. • Road signage should be installed in strategic location to avoid animal/human kills. Archaeological, historical and cultural sites interference • Cultural sites, sites of historical importance, graves etc. to be identified during design stage, and especially during the RAP process. • Existing grave sites, community commemoration sites (trees) to be identified during design stage and during the RAP process. Visual aesthetics • Road alignment to avoid visual intrusion on scenic sites. • Adjustments to slopes and borrow pits, to be away from picturesque sites. • Timely decommissioning of the borrow pits and quarries to be done to eliminate traces of visual intrusion on the landscape. Noise and vibrations • Engineering Controls: Maintain the construction equipment, avoid unnecessary running/idling of work machinery, use noise screens, and fix silencers on mobile and noisy equipment. 3182 3182 Impacts Proposed Mitigation Measures • Administrative Controls: restrict access to noisy working areas, run noisy equipment only when need be, Contractor rotate workers performing noisy tasks. • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Contractor to provide workers with appropriate earplugs/earmuffs to reduce their exposure to noise only. Solid and liquid wastes • Consider waste minimization practices, Reduce, reuse, and recycle (e.g. waste tires from trucks, scrap metal). • Segregate waste at the point of generation, especially at contractor's camp. • All waste to be handled and managed in accordance with Environmental Management and Co-ordination (Waste Management) Regulations, 2006. Disruption of economic activities • Planning for efficient access to markets (e.g., minimize or avoid works during market days. Occupational health and safety • Conduct basic Occupational Health Training programs to construction workers during construction phase. • Ensure workers are oriented to the specific hazards of individual work assignment. • Conduct toolbox talks focusing on relevant health and safety issues. • HIV/AIDS, STDs awareness, training and prevention services to be offered throughout the project period. • A Code of Conduct should be distributed to all workers, and health personnel should reinforce their efforts to combat diseases during the construction period. • Workers to be sensitized on the consequences of social ills and promiscuous behaviors (over consumption of alcohol, STDs, HIV /AIDS etc.). • Contractor to establish mobile clinic within the construction sites. • Provide security guards at camps and selected working areas on 24/7 basis. • Adhered to high standards of safety. • Construction vehicles should drive carefully, • Gravel should be watered at construction sites/built up areas to avoid dust. • Provide condoms to construction workers. • Use secure storage facilities for toxic materials. • Employees to be provided PPE. • Contractor to provide regular toolbox talks to the workers, to cover security and safety, among other issues. 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/5161410 National Environment Management Authority.