GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 473

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, Sosian Energy Limited (SEL) is a renewable energy development company with interest in geothermal, wind, and solar energy production has been granted a Geothermal Resources License No. 8/2017 for exploration and development of the geothermal resources in the area measuring about 9.8 km 2 in Makongeni/Menengai area, Nakuru County. The present project activities consist of preliminary survey; Drilling of Thermal Gradient Holes (TGH) (No. 3) to a depth of 200m using light truck-mounted rotary or diamond core rigs drilled without BOPE for ground temperature gradient to help site deep exploration wells; water wells (No. 4) to provide water for drilling exploration wells and exploration drilling (No. 3) to depth of about 2.7 km; expected to start in 2020. Impacts Proposed Mitigation Measures Vegetation cover • Minimal destruction of vegetation (especially and biodiversity indigenous) and habitats for fauna i.e. termite loss/habitat loss mounds. • Cut trees for tree nursery construction. • Establishment of a tree nursery. • Community training on biodiversity Conservation. • Re-vegetate/Vegetative buffer zone around the dam. • Community awareness of the project. • Establishment of a materials storage to avoid accidental spills and littering. • Solid waste management i.e. stones and debris. • Erosion control. Impacts Dust emission Accidents during construction Ownership conflict Proposed Mitigation Measures • Site restoration. • Environmental emergency procedures. • Provision of dust masks to workers. • Sprinkling of water and compaction dusty spots. • Dust screen around the dam. • Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) i.e. erection of signs, first aid kit. • Workers to wear protective gear i.e. safety boots, safety helmets, reflector jacket. • Acquiring and signing all the necessary legal documents with the community and the relevant authorities. Impacts Rural morality decay and Social diseases i.e. HIV/AIDs increase Outsiders/ strangers accessing the dam Proposed Mitigation Measures • Chief, local administration and dam committee enforce rules. • Community sensitization and awareness creation on comprehensive healthcare. • Formal education enrolment campaigns. • Gender mainstreaming campaigns. • Equip local dispensaries with drugs. • Measurers against social diseases i.e. free condoms and ARVs. • Community sensitization and awareness creation towards. • • embracing new members of the community. • Community awareness of the project. • Establish project management committee to oversee construction on behalf of the community. Vibration and • Community awareness of the project. noise pollution Occupational Health and Safety Administration. (OSHA). • Control of noise and air pollution i.e. avoid unnecessary hooting. • Workers operating machines or plants for than 8hrs that produce over 80dBA of sound to wear ear muffs. • Regular inspection of machines and plant. • Restrict noisy construction activities within 8 a.m.-5 p.m. • Inform community request of their tolerance. Soil and water • Maintenance of machinery and plant. contamination by waste/chemicals • Identification of appropriate location for disposing chemicals, their containers and contaminated soil and water. /oils • Prompt site clearance, avoiding on-site stock piling. • Monitor exposed soil especially during wet season. • Community sensitization and awareness creation. • Fencing off the dam. • Establish a dam management committee. • Employ a guard. • Construction of domestic water drawing point and a cattle trough. Livestock/ crop • Community sensitization and awareness conflict creation. • Animal water trough construction. • Installation of environmental friendly technologies i.e. zero grazing. • Establish a dam management committee. • Committee to ensure equitable water distribution. • Operational rules. • Proper animal routes and holding grounds. • Avoid grazing animals around the dam. • Establish a dam management committee. Increase on • Community sensitization and awareness human and creation. traffic and animal road • Establish a dam management committee. Pressure on • Expand new roads and infrastructure capacity. local • Routine maintenance of infrastructure. infrastructure Structural failure • Review of dam design by independent panel of experts. • Emergency preparedness plan. • Community sensitization and awareness creation. • Establish a dam management committee. • Proper engineering design. • Contractor to abide to engineering design provide quality works. • Proper supervision of the works. • Implementation of monitoring and maintenance plan. • Planting of trees. • Erosion control. Deviated natural • Spill way/overflow designed to return water to water flow its natural flow. • Construction of retention ditches by farms on the lower side of the dam. • Training on soil and water conservation (S&WC). Water use • Committee to ensure equitable water conflicts distribution. • Operational rules. Excess soil • To be used in landscaping at an appropriate material site. Erosion • Plant grass and trees around the dam area. • Erosion control. The full report of the proposed project is available for inspection during working hours at: (a) Director-General, NEMA, Popo Road, off Mombasa Road, P.O. Box 67839-00200, Nairobi. (b) Principal Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, NHIF Building, Community, P.O. Box 30126-00100, Nairobi. (c) County Director of Environment, Nakuru County. Danger of drowning Impacts Increased solid waste generation Proposed Mitigation Measures • Comply with conditions provided by the Environment Management and Co- ordination, Noise and Excessive Vibrations Pollution Control Regulations, 2009. • Employ Integrated Solid Waste Management system through a hierarchy of options: source reduction, re-using, recycling, composting refuse and land filling as the final option. • Ensure proper waste segregation and separation to encourage recycling of useful waste materials. • Provide waste separation receptacles strategically placed within the construction site and adequately designed to prevent odour, and access by vermin. • Sub-contract a NEMA licensed waste handling firm to collect solid wastes on regular basis and dispose of in approved dumping sites. • Comply with the requirements of the Environment Management and Coordination, (Waste Management) Regulations (Legal Notice No. 121) of 2006 in the collection, conveyance and disposal of wastes from the plant. Increased water • Install water efficient technologies such as abstraction and automatic taps, dual cistern toilets during consumption construction and operation phases. • Consider rainwater harvesting and underground storage. • Have a repairs and maintenance schedule for prompt repair of any water leakages. • Adhere to Environment Management and Coordination, (Water quality) Regulations (Legal Notice No. 120) of 2006 and Water Act, 2016. Social ills including • Develop a code of conduct for residents to immorality and control social mischiefs and ills within the drugs and proposed housing project and community. substance abuse / HIV and AIDs • Develop a comprehensive alcohol and substance abuse, STDS, HIV and AIDs awareness and control programmes such as provision of condoms and trainings to workers both male and female. • Adhere to and implement the Sexual Offences Act, 2006 and its amendment 2012. • Thoroughly screen workers, suppliers and distributors to keep off social mischiefs. The full report of the proposed project is available for inspection during working hours at: (a) Director-General, NEMA, Popo Road, off Mombasa Road, P.O. Box 67839-00200, Nairobi. (b) Principal Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources, NHIF Building, Community, P.O. Box 30126- 00100, Nairobi. (c) County Director of Environment, Nairobi 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 this project. MAMO B. MAMO, Ag. Director-General, MR/0426188 National Environment Management Authority. 24th January, 2020 THE KENYA GAZETTE 585 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. MAMBO B. MAMBO, Ag. Director-General, MR/0455413 National Environment Management Authority.