GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 6333

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, Telkom Kenya Limited proposes to install and operate approximately 27km of the Pakistan and East Africa connecting Europe (PEACE) submarine fiber optic cable in Kenya Territorial Waters to connect Asia, Africa and Europe to provide an open, flexible and carrier-neutral services for its customers. The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Possible Impacts Mitigation Measures Loss of biodiversity • Marine vessels to adhere to International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations on bilge and ballast water discharge to avoid tensional introduction of non-native species to the marine environment. • Monitoring for the presence of marine mammals and turtles during marine installation activities. • Vessel operators to maintain a distance of 100m or greater and will travel at 10 knots or less when safety permits until animals are more than 500m away. Abrupt changes in direction to be avoided. • Restore areas of habitat that are temporarily disturbed during cable installation. • Use suitable burial techniques to minimise disturbance effects of benthic species and habitats and the release of contaminants. • Schedule cable laying to reduce disturbances in sensitive areas (e.g. feeding, resting, moulting, spawning or nursery areas) at sensitive phases of the year. Dust and other air emissions • Project’s cable laying vessels to operate in line with MARPOL 73/78 requirements. Annex VI on Prevention of air pollution from ships. • Contractors to operate only well maintained engines. • During excavation/installation, where necessary, sprinkle loose surface earth areas with water to abate dust. • Implementation of a grievance procedure to handle any noise and vibration impact complaints. Wastes and effluents • Hazardous waste to be stored on board the vessel until it can be disposed at a suitably equipped port/through a NEMA licensed waste handler, respecting the requirements of the Basel Convention on Transboundary Shipment of Hazardous Wastes. Possible Impacts Mitigation Measures Noise pollution • Use of equipment and vehicles that are in good working order, well maintained, and have noise suppression. • Implementation of best driving practices when approaching and leaving the site to minimize noise emissions. Occupational and Community Health and Safety (OCHS) • All open trenches and excavated areas to be backfilled as soon as construction is completed. • Wear suitable personnel protective equipment (hard hats, high-visibility vests, safety boots and gloves and life vests). • Increase watch when navigating areas known to be used by fishermen and other vessels. • Notify the ports authority, so that vessels in the construction area would be warned in advance of the ongoing operations. Disease transmission • Implementation of a COVID-19 response and management plan based on prior risk assessment and World Health Organization (WHO) and Ministry of Health (MoH) guidelines. • Ensuring workers wear masks, sanitize and observe social distance. • Conducting awareness campaigns on HIV/AIDS among the workers and the locals. Increased traffic • Implementation of an appropriate community Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) to handle any complaints. • Avoid transportation of Project equipment and materials through busy trading centers and towns by using by-passes as appropriate. • Regularly maintain Project vehicles and equipment as per the manufacturers’ recommendations. Soil degradation • Limiting vegetation clearance to construction areas. • Disturbed soil during trench digging to be restored to approximate original depths. 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, Community, 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, Mombasa 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 plan. Comments can also be emailed to dgnema@nema.go.ke MAMO B. MAMO, Director-General, MR/1813944 National Environment Management Authority. 25th June, 2021 THE KENYA GAZETTE