GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 5742

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, Valencia Mining Company Limited proposes to carry out mining for Titanium Minerals in Nyari Sub- location, Sokoke Location, Ganze Sub- County in Kilifi County. The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Impact Mitigation Measures Impact on natural resources/Loss of terrestrial vegetation and land degradation and soil erosion • Control erosion by lowering slopes, minimizing un-vegetated areas and installing cut-off drains, exit drains to direct water from the site and reduce flow velocities, and by sediment traps to minimize sediment discharge from the site. • Re-vegetate all disturbed area around the site with fast growing grasses and native species and vegetation to prevent soil erosion. • Provide measures for long-term run-off and erosion control, harness runoff for process water. • Provide for a buffer zone between the site, road and homesteads. • Limit/avoid impact to terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity. • Compliance to Forest Conservation and Management Act and the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, Water Act, 2016 and related regulations. • Implement the progressive rehabilitation plans as guided by the Kilifi County Environment Committee and NEMA. • Landscaping to leave a final landform visually compatible with the surrounding Natural landscapes. Air pollution • Minimize dust through strict enforcement of onsite speed controls. • Ensure that access road to the site is sprinkled with water regularly. • All workers should be provided with adequate PPEs. • All trucks and machinery should be in good serviceable condition. • Design and maintain safe systems of work and pollution prevention measures. • Comply with provisions of Air quality Regulations (2014) and Public Health Act. Public health and occupational health and safety impacts; • Implement a Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) Management Plan and Policy. • Ensure strict compliance to OSHA 2007, Public Health Act and WIBA provisions. • Carry our pre-employment health check and monitoring for all workers. • Workers must wear PPE when handling hazardous substances and have fire safety compliance. • Implement procedure for reporting incidents, accidents and dangerous occurrences. • Install Site safety awareness and signage, employ safe systems of work. • Design and display on-site emergency preparedness and evacuation procedures. • Restrict un-necessary access of public to the mine site in order to avoid accidents. 11th June, 2021 THE KENYA GAZETTE Impact Mitigation Measures • All access to the hazardous areas should be secured with a fence and warning notices. • Practice good site management and avoid steep cliffs in the sections adjacent to the public road and residential premises. • Provide a buffer zone adjacent to the neighboring residential premise and the roads. • Carry our risk mapping for all trades and have permit to work for hazardous work. • Leave the decommissioned sites in a condition that ensures the safety of the public. • Comply to the recommendations on task force of mining and quarrying regarding all operations and guidelines issued from time to time by lead agencies. • Comply with the recommendations of the County Environment Committee. Water pollution and degradation and associated ground water contamination • Ensure no modifications of water courses occur in the mining area. • No hazardous materials should be stockpiled within area prone to surface/ground water contamination. • Hazardous materials should be stored above flood level and should be at least 40 meters from any water body or sensitive sites. • Water containing hazardous pollutants as fuel should be discharged into conservancy tank for removal from site by licensed hazardous waste handlers. • Comply to the provisions of Water Quality Regulations (2006) as regards waste water management and the Water Act, 2016 and the Public Health Act. Generation of waste water from process water used in mineral processing • Plant should be equipped with latest pollution control technologies. • Put in place efficient storm water and waste water management infrastructure. • Hazardous materials waste be managed by licensed handlers. • All fuels and oil should be stored appropriately. • Prevent spills and collect and dispose spillages appropriately as per spill containment procedures. • Install a reticulation system to recycle process water. • Sanitary waste water should be disposed as per Water Quality Regulations (2006). Noise and excessive vibrations • Provide workers with appropriate PPEs such as earplugs and earmuffs. • Minimize noise and vibration in the project site and surrounding areas. • Ensure machineries are kept in good working condition. • Conduct audiometric test for workers, risk assessment, health and safety audit. • Use of natural dampers to attenuate noise. • Use safe (quiet equipment i.e. equipment designed with noise control elements). • Noise should be checked by occasional maintenance of the plant. • Provide clear signage warning employees and Impact Mitigation Measures visitors of areas with high noise levels. • Machines which vibrate should be mounted on heavy, rigid bases to prevent vibrations. • Comply to Noise and Excessive Vibrations Pollution (Control) Regulations, 2009 and Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2007 provisions/rules. Increased traffic and associated impacts and nuisances • Restrict unauthorized entry of vehicles and undue parking inside the site and restrict un authorized parking of the vehicles along the access road and on the slopes. • Provide warning signals and speed limit indicators to vehicles moving inside the site. • Ensure all vehicles used for the project are in good working condition, road worthiness both legally and commensurate to their intended use. • Take all precaution to safe guard the safety of motorized traffic and none motorized traffic. Solid waste generation • Compliance to Waste Management Regulations, 2006 and provisions issued by the Country Government of Kilifi on solid waste management. Social impacts • Compliance to provisions of Public Health Act. • Create awareness on STIs among workers and area residents and ensure regular health and medical camps are carried out. • Provide equal opportunities for all without discrimination and respect local culture. • Create awareness on drugs and substance abuse. • Avoid physical and economic displacement or keep them at minimum wherever unavoidable formulate and ensure resettlement action plan implementation. • Have a gender mainstreaming policy at work place. • Have trained security personnel to man the site. • Formulate a community grievances/complaints redress and liaison committee. Compaction of roads, tracks and other areas • Regular Rehabilitation of access roads and tracks. • Highly compacted areas such as loading areas and stockpile pads should have special treatment, such as deep ripping or removal of compacted material, prior to re-spreading of topsoil during rehabilitation/decommissioning. 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, Kilifi County. A copy of EIA 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 e-mailed to dgnema@nema.go.ke MAMO B. MAMO, Director-General, MR/1813528 National Environment Management Authority. 2574 2574