GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 14652

PURSUANT to regulation 21 of Environmental (Impact Assessment and Audit) regulations, the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) has received an Environmental Impact Assessment Study Report for the implementation of the proposed upgrading of the Busia – Malaba road c43 to bitumen standard Road construction requires the deployment heavy duty machinery and considerable earthworks. Large quantities of construction materials will be used, mainly, gravel, hard-stone, sand and water. The following activities will likely take place. 1. Road condition survey 2. Location of murram supply quarries 3. Widening of the road to required width, where necessary 4. Storage of fuel and lubricants 5. Construction of a Labor Camp(s) 6. Excavation 7. Construction of haulage routes 8. Construction of diversions 9. Construction of bridges 10. Installation of rock crushing plant 11. Asphalt Plant operations 12. Establishment of Quarries and Borrow pits 13. Rock Blasting 14. Mining of murram 15. Screening and sizing of rock materials 16. Mixing of concrete 17. Employment of labor force 18. Construction of workshops 19. Steel fabrication operations 20. Woodworking operations 21. Water abstraction 22. Transportation of crews, building materials and equipment The proposed road project is located within Teso District, Western Province in the Republic of Kenya and covers a distance of 28km. The traverse of the road corridor originates at kilometer 117 on the B1 from Kisumu towards Busia and terminates at Malaba on the A104 from Eldoret The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: 25th November, 2011 THE KENYA GAZETTE Possible Impact Mitigation measures Habitat Destruction Restore cleared areas with indigenous trees and grasses. Cutting of trees for firewood by construction crews must not be allowed. Re-vegetation should be timed and take advantage of the rainy seasons. Regenerate lost ecosystems to attract displaced fauna or support other species. Loss of Land and Property Compensation at rates determined by representatives of the Community and the Government of Kenya. A sufficient notice period should be given to enable salvage of valuable property. Hydrology The road foundation must not impede the water recharge capacity of the wetlands. Abstraction of water from local sources should not be done during dry seasons, but rather harvest rainwater during the wet for use later. Water quality Reduce contamination by:- Emplacing gabions and embankments downstream of earth works. Waste water from gravel and sand cleaning must be contained to permit silting before release into water courses. Provision of oil and grease traps from vehicle repair sheds. Human wastes from construction camps be disposed of in accordance with the Public Health Act. Toilets in the construction camps should not be dug in areas with a high water table. Soil erosion Stabilise exposed top soils by re- vegetation. Excavated soil stockpiles should not be placed adjacent to slopes or streams. Gentle angles at all earth cuttings. Terracing may be incorporated in steep slopes. All excavations should be done in the dry weather. Scour checks shall be placed at correct intervals to reduce run-off erosion potential. Scour checks, gabion mattresses, stone pitching and rock fill gabion works. Drainage Run-off from mitre drains and offshoots shall not be directed into farmland or homesteads. Compacted surfaces that may act as collectors of run-off shall be ripped up to permit percolation. Excessively long side drains should be avoided as such water can flood small streams and exacerbate erosion. Stone crushing and rock blasting. Locate stone crushing plant away from areas of habitation. Blasting should take place at designated times and the community within 5 km radius duly informed. Explosives should not be kept on the sites, instead they should be delivered to the site as necessary. Noise pollution Use quiet equipment (i.e. equipment designed for low noise operation). Install portable sound barriers to shield compressors and other localised noise emitters where necessary. Limit construction activities to day-time hours only. Observe a common-sense approach to vehicle use, and encourage drivers to shut off idle engines. Dust emissions. Sprinkle water on haulage tracks, diversions and other compacted areas to suppress dust generation. All crew exposed to dust pollution shall be provided with dust breathing masks. Traffic Disruption Timely completion of construction targets to minimize inconvenience. Well constructed and maintained traffic diversions. Provide for two way traffic on diverted sections. Solid Wastes Economy and Optimal utilization of resources and raw materials. Procure construction materials, in tandem with amounts required to avoid idle stock. Ensure that damage or loss of materials during construction is kept minimal through proper storage. Re-use materials left over in other projects. Safety Cordon off restricted construction sites or areas. Designate access routes to and loading and parking at the site(s). Ensure that incidents, accidents and dangerous occurrences during construction are recorded and reported using prescribed forms obtainable from the District Occupational Health and Safety Office. Ensure that incidents, accidents and dangerous occurrences during construction are recorded and reported using prescribed forms obtainable from the District Occupational Health and Safety Office. Ensure that all the workers are insured as per The Workmen‘s Injury and Benefits Act. Before embarking on work in dangerous situations, like working at heights or in confined spaces, a work permit must be issued and the activity under surveillance in accordance with recommended practice. Well stocked 1st Aid Boxes which can be easily accessed should be provided at all work sites. 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) Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources, NHIF Building, Community, P.O. Box 30521, Nairobi. (c) Provincial Director of Environment, Western Province. (d) District Environment Officer, Teso District. 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. B. M. LANGWEN, For: Director General, MR8249912 National Environment Management Authority.