GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 4857

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, Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency, proposes to extend and rehabilitate existing sewer system to include a 45.8km new sewer line in Upper hill, Kenmosa, Hillside, Kipkorgot, Annex, Sugunanga, Racecourse and Elgon View Estate and rehabilitation of existing sewer line in Langas, Huruma and Elgon View estate and rehabilitation of quarry and boundary waste water treatment plants in Eldoret Town, Uasin Gishu County. The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Possible Impacts Mitigation Measures Impact on the existing urban land use pattern • Relate the project land use plan with the existing urban future plan and over to exclude affected area. Climate change incident • Search research findings on devising ways and means to reduce GHG emissions. • Plan sewer systems to address ways and means of reducing GHG emissions without jeopardizing the beneficial effects of the project. Air pollution • Drivers should be instructed on the benefits of driving practices that reduce both the risk of accidents and fuel consumption, including measured acceleration and driving within safe speed limits. • Contractors should consider additional ways to reduce potential impacts including implementing a regular vehicle maintenance and repair program. • Ensure that all vehicles involved in the transport of construction material and staff, and machinery involved in the construction is properly maintained and serviced. • Machines must not be left idling for unnecessary periods of time; this will save fuel and reduce emissions. 21st May, 2021 THE KENYA GAZETTE Possible Impacts Mitigation Measures • Use of dust control methods, such as covers water suppression. • Ensure that all trucks carrying aggregate and sand are covered during delivery to the site. • Ensure that all material (sand and aggregate) stockpiled on the site to be used in construction activities are regularly sprayed to reduce the effects of wind whipping. • Care must be taken in the unloading construction materials (aggregate, sand and cement) to prevent spillage. If a spill occurs, this should be cleaned up as soon as possible thereafter. • Extra care must be taken to reduce dust in periods when wind speed is greatest and the rainfall amounts are lowest. This will involve extra wetting of the construction area to suppress dust particles. • Retain a buffer area of trees and other vegetation generally around the perimeter of the development site which will serve as a natural windbreaks which may reduce the level of dispersion of dust particles generated during this phases of the development. • All raw materials must be sourced as close as possible to the construction site thus reducing the emissions from vehicular traffic. • All waste must be transported off-site for processing, not burnt or stored for any longer than is absolutely necessary. Water pollution • If diesel and motor oil are to be stored on site, ensure that they are properly contained in a bunded area (With capacity to contain 1½ times the amount of substances stored). This area must have signs indicating the storage of these substances erected. • Provide workers at the development site with chemical toilets during this phase of the development. A reasonable ratio would be fifteen (15) workers per toilet. • Store all raw materials away from the vicinity of water bodies located on the property to avoid contamination in these areas. • General refuse generated during these phases of the development must be stockpiled in one central area of the development site, away from existing water bodies and collected, transported and disposed of appropriately at the designated disposal site. • Clearance of vegetation must be avoided in periods of heavy rainfall. Solid wastes • Use an integrated wastes management system observing the following hierarchy of options: (a) Reduction at source (b) Recycling (c) Reuse (d) Combustion (e) Land filling. • Incorporation of waste management commitments contained in the Waste Management Guidelines. • Agreement with suppliers to accept the return of unused materials. • Agreement with and license details of Possible Impacts Mitigation Measures companies to be used for the off-site transport of wastes. • Workforce training programs in waste minimization practices. • Where practical any excess materials will be returned to the supplier. • Waste oil will be collected for transport and off-site disposal littering, specifically of the natural areas, should be prevented. Adequate containers for litter removal should be supplied on site. These containers should be emptied on a regular basis and the contents removed to an appropriate and licensed waste disposal site. • The Contractor shall set up a solid waste control and removal system. • Bins shall be emptied on a daily basis. • Waste and litter shall be disposed of into scavenger and weather proof bins. The contractor shall then remove the refuse collected from the working areas, from site at least once a week. Noise and vibration • Best available work practices will be employed on-site to minimize occupational noise levels. All construction equipment will be regularly inspected and maintained in good working condition. • Combine noisy operations so that they occur at the same time. The total noise level will not be significantly louder than the level produced if the operations were to be undertaken separately. • Noisy operations will be carried out strictly during the day time. • Switch off engines when not in use. • Access roads should be cut that are exclusively used for the transportation of workers, goods and materials. These roads should be sited in such a way that the noise from this movement affects as few of the existing residents as possible. • Where possible silenced machinery and instruments should be employed to reduce the impact of noise on the existing residents and workers. • Machinery, vehicles and instruments that emit high levels of noise should be used on a phased basis to reduce the overall impact. These pieces of equipment such as drills, graders and cement mixers should also be used when the least number of residents can be expected to be affected, for example during periods where most residents are at work or school. • Temporary barriers such as earth berms, zinc fencing and sound dampening fencing such as acoustic screens should be employed to reduce the impact of noise to the existing residents. • Ensure that construction activities for the development of the project are staggered to decrease the levels of noise and vibration in the area. • Construction hours should be limited to the hours of 8.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. daily. • The delivery of raw materials must be limited to 8.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. daily. 2238 2238 Possible Impacts Mitigation Measures Biodiversity loss • Only clear vegetation that is absolutely necessary for the construction activities. • Avoid the use of invasive alien species in the landscaping activities. • Determine access roads which are to be used by machinery used in the construction and site clearance phase development to avoid the unnecessary trampling of vegetation that will be maintained within the development area. • Ensure that green belts‘ which have been proposed for the STW are large as possible as small patches may not be able to support viable populations of some species and these small patches tend to more susceptible to edge effect. It possible position these green belts in adjacent to existing vegetated areas. In addition species richness tends to increase with area, which would be the desired outcome of the incorporation of green belts. Disturbance of traffic and difficulty of access • Provide diversion routes where possible. • Give a construction itinerary in advance. • Erect warning signs of ongoing works. • Expedite construction works so as to reduce the times where roads are blocked. • Traffic department should approve crossing plan prior to construction, and should approve obstruction times during construction Access of residents should be facilitated by installing appropriate temporary bridges over the pipeline trenches. • Suitable warning signs should be placed at near locations and should be visible at night. • A guard should be available 24 hours to help people access across pipeline trenches. • Alternatives access ways should be communicated to the community. Damage of underground infrastructure • Get maps of the underground infrastructure from the relevant institutions. • Sensitize workers carrying out Excavations so that they exercise caution to minimize chances of underground infrastructure damage. • Work closely with the responsible institutions so that incase of damage, the services are restored within the shortest time. Reroute sensitive infrastructure where possible. • Notify affected parties if service needs to be temporarily relocated or was affected by the project works. Soil erosion • Re vegetation of disturbed surfaces should be done as soon as possible. Occupational accidents • Ensuring that the drivers and machine operators hired to work on the site are qualified. • Workers on site must be provided with appropriate PPE. • Appropriate signs must be erected on the site to warn workers and visitors. • There should be safety policy clearly displayed on the site. • Machines should be properly maintained. • A first aid kit should be provided and a trained first aider should always be on site. Possible Impacts Mitigation Measures • Fire extinguishers should be provided. • Proper scheduling of activities to avoid workers being overworked. • Machines/equipment for the intended purpose. • No worker should be allowed on site while under the influence of alcohol or other inebriating substances. • Only the Blaster licensed by the Mines and Geology should carry out blasting on the site. • Blasting should only be carried out as per the provisions of the blasting license away from house and power lines. • All charged holes must be covered with appropriate medium to arrest fly rocks. • Inspection of workers to ensure they are using the PPE at all times when necessary. • Provide a fully stocked first aid box on the site. • Display at prominent places occupational health and safety rules. • Test and approve equipment such as ladders before use. • Training workers on how to use various PPE and proper use of machinery. • Have a trained First Aider on the site. • Registration of the premises as required by law. • Appropriate insurance should be acquired as required by law. • Medical examination of all workers before engagement and after the project is over. • Display an emergency evacuation procedure. • Moving parts of machines should be guarded to protect workers from injuries. Should an accident occur. • The injured worker should be given first aid and immediately taken to the hospital. • An investigation should be initiated immediately to ascertain the cause of the accident and preliminary findings released within 12 hours. Social conflicts • Immediate action undertaken as soon as possible and within 24 hours of receipt of a complaint. • Investigations completed within seven days of receipt of complaint. • All corrective actions implemented by due date. • All incidents or complaints about either environmental or social issues will be managed in accordance to the existing procedure in line with the legal framework. • All incidents and complaints will be recorded in the contractors incident reporting system Additional environmental awareness training of the workforce with respect to procedures to be followed for environmental incidents or complaints. • Sensitize workforce on cultural sensitivities. 21st May, 2021 THE KENYA GAZETTE Possible Impacts Mitigation Measures Spread of HIV/ AIDS • Sensitize the migrant workers on dangers of risky sexual behaviour. • Have VCT services on site and encourage workers to undergo the same. • Uptake of VCT by project workers and the host community. • Provision of condoms to the workers. • Preference for hiring workers from local community to minimize influx of migrant workers. Employment • As a priority offer employment opportunities to the local residents. • Employed persons with credible skills. • Ensure workers have an insurance cover. • Working hours should be as per the Kenyan labour laws. Access to public and private Properties • Monitoring impact of project on dwelling and business in the project area. • Monitor construction activities to ensure public and private property is not damage. Displacement of people • Avoid displacement as much as possible Prompt and fair compensation of all the PAPs in full prior to beginning of construction works at the site. • Pre and post resettlement counseling support. • Financial education for the recipients of compensation funds. • Identification and full resettlement assistance for vulnerable PAPs. Water and soil pollution from leaks and sewage overflow and leaks • Consider the installation of separate sewer systems for domestic wastewater and storm water runoff in the overall planning and design of new sewerage systems. • When on-site sanitation systems where excreta are mixed with water predominate, consider use of small-diameter sewerage system to collect water effluent from septic systems or interceptor tanks. • Limit the sewer depth where possible (e.g., by avoiding routes under streets with heavy traffic). for shallower sewers, small inspection chambers can be used in lieu of manholes. • Use appropriate locally available materials for sewer construction. Spun concrete pipes can be appropriate in some circumstances but can suffer corrosion from hydrogen sulphide if there are blockages and/or insufficient slope. • Ensure sufficient hydraulic capacity to accommodate peak flows and adequate slope in gravity mains to prevent build up of solids and hydrogen sulphide generation. • Design manhole covers to withstand anticipated loads and ensure that the covers can be readily replaced if broken to minimize entry of garbage and silt into the system. • Equip pumping stations with a backup power supply, such as a diesel generator, to ensure uninterrupted operation during power outages, and conduct regular maintenance to minimize service interruptions consider redundant pump capacity in critical areas. Possible Impacts Mitigation Measures • Development of an inventory of system components, with information including age, construction materials, drainage areas served, elevations, etc • Regular cleaning of grit chambers and sewer lines to remove grease, grit, and other debris that may lead to sewer backups. Cleaning should be conducted more frequently for problem areas. • Inspection of the condition of sanitary sewer structures and identifying areas that need repair or maintenance. • Monitoring of sewer flow to identify potential inflows and outflows. • Immediate clearing of blockage or repairs warranted where an overflow is currently occurring or for urgent problems that may cause an imminent overflow. Accidents and inhiries • Install railing around all process tanks and pits. Require use of a life line and personal flotation device (PFD) when workers are inside the railing, and ensure rescue buoys and throw bags are readily available. • Use PFDs when working near waterways. • Implement a confined spaces entry program that is consistent with applicable national requirements and internationally accepted standards. • Valves to process tanks should be locked to prevent accidental flooding during maintenance; Use fall protection equipment when working at heights. • Maintain work areas to minimize slipping and tripping hazards; Use proper techniques for trenching and shoring; Implement fire and explosion prevention measures in accordance with internationally accepted standards. • When installing or repairing mains adjacent to roadways, implement procedures and traffic controls, such as: • Establishment of work zones so as to separate workers from traffic and from equipment as much as possible • Reduction of allowed vehicle speeds in work zones. • Use of high-visibility safety apparel for workers in the vicinity of traffic. • For night work, provision of proper illumination for the work space while controlling glare so as not to blind workers and passing motorists. • Locate all underground utilities before digging. Offensive odours • Provide adequate buffer area, such as trees, or fences, between processing areas and potential receptors. • Avoid siting facilities near densely populated neighbourhoods and installations with potentially sensitive receptors, such as hospitals and schools. Site facilities down- wind from potential receptors, if possible. • Cover emission points (e.g. aeration basins, clarifiers, sludge thickeners, tanks, and channels), and vent emissions to control systems (e.g. compost beds, bio filters, chemical scrubbers, etc.) as needed to reduce 2240 2240 Possible Impacts Mitigation Measures odours and otherwise meet applicable national requirements and internationally accepted guidelines. Public health issues related to irrigation with treated sewage • Consider use of drip irrigation of treated wastewater, which minimizes worker exposure and the amount of water needed. • Avoid use of spray irrigation of treated wastewater, if possible. • Provide field workers with personal protective equipment, such as rubber gloves and waterproof shoes. • Provide access to safe drinking water and sanitation (including hand washing) facilities. • Provide worker health monitoring, including regular physical examinations. • Control vectors and intermediate hosts of disease causing micro- organisms. • Treat wastewater and sludge used for land application in a manner consistent with WHO Guidelines for the safe use of wastewater, excreta and greywater and applicable national requirements. • Stop irrigation with treated wastewater two weeks prior to harvesting. • Limit irrigation with treated wastewater to crops that are cooked before eating. • Restrict public access to hydraulic structures carrying wastewater and to fields irrigated with treated wastewater. Scavengers birds and other animals • Proper fencing of the plant to keep off wildlife is recommended. • Maintaining high standards of hygiene at the site throughout the operation phase of the facility. • Constant consultations with KWS in event that wildlife is spotted in the area. • The inlet works should be enclosed in a building to avoid exposure to birds. • Daily burying of the wastes in appropriate solid Waste disposal section covering with soil, this reduces the tonnage of wastes on site and exposing the wastes to scavenging birds. Climate change incident • Encourage forestry Actions: encourage tree planting on the hills, community and private land and develop better management of forestry operations as trees absorb and store atmospheric CO2 and avoid forest fires not to release CO2. • Minimize the off-take of woody biomass for construction and fuel and use other alternatives such as stoves, electricity, stones and cement concrete breaks instead of wood for house Scraps material and other debris • Use of an integrated solid waste management system i.e. through a hierarchy of options. • Wastes generated as a result of facility decommissioning activities will characterized in compliance with standard waste management procedures. • The contractor will select disposal locations and the local council based on the properties of the particular waste generated. • All buildings, machinery, equipment, Possible Impacts Mitigation Measures structures and partitions that will not be used for other purposes should be removed and reused or rather sold/given to scrap material dealers. • Where recycling/re-use of the machinery, equipment, structures and other waste materials is not possible the materials should be taken to approved dumpsites by a duly registered waste transporter. Vegetation disturbance Land deformation: soil erosion, drainage problems • Implement an appropriate re-vegetation programme to restore the site to its original status. During the re-vegetation period, appropriate surface water runoff controls will be taken to prevent surface erosion. • Monitoring and inspection of the area for indications of erosion will be conducted and appropriate measures taken to correct any occurrences. • Fencing and signs restricting access will be posted to minimize disturbance to newly- vegetated areas. 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, Uasin Gishu 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 regarding this plan. MAMO B. MAMO, Director-General, MR/1721365 National Environment Management Authority.