GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 10589

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 Ethiopia-Kenya Power Systems Interconnection Project. A completely new transmission line with self-supporting steel lattice towers with concrete foundations will be built from Sodo in Ethiopia to Suswa in Kenya. Substations will be built at Sodo (Ethiopia), and Suswa in Kenya. Approximate average construction span length of the line is 400 m and with 65m RoW corridor. The 2009 technical feasibility study recommends adopting a conceptual design featuring:  ±500 kV HVDC bipolar overhead line, from Wolayta/Sodo S/S on the Ethiopian side to Suswa Kenyan side.  Ground electrode lines at Wolayta/Sodo and Suswa  Five 400 kV 1½ breaker diameters at Wolayta/Sodo on the Ethiopian side,  Seven 400 kV 1½ breaker diameters at Longonot on the Kenyan side, including switched shunt compensation, dynamic compensation and step-down transformers  One synchronous condenser rated 200 MVAr at Longonot S/S. The bipolar 500 kV HVDC line will originate from Wolayta Sodo in Ethiopia and terminate at Suswa in Kenya. The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Anticipated Environmental Impacts Mitigation Measures Settlements and community facilities  Where it is not possible to realign the line route further than already achieved so as to avoid the affected facilities and structures, compensation and assistance shall be provided to the community or individuals affected  More details about resettlement and compensation is provided under the RAP brief. Potential aesthetic impacts  The OHTL routes have been established so as to meet the co-inhabitancy requirements imposed by the natural landscape, objects, buildings and facilities in the neighborhoods by ensuring that they merge into the existing landscapes. In particular, most of the transmission line route has been selected to follow hilltops where there is minimum human settlements and where the view of the conductors will be against the sky and thereby having less impact than when viewed sideways or from above against the background of the horizon or the ground. Natural vegetation  Clearance during construction be done manually without burning the cleared vegetation.  Vegetation clearance within the Protected Areas be done under supervision of KWS and KFS personnel.  Compensate value trees according to RAP recommendations  Compensatory planting of trees that are cleared or whose height is limited to 4.5m. THE KENYA GAZETTE 3rd August, 2012 2882 2882 Fauna  To be mitigated at specifically identified locations by use installation of coloured warning spheres on the ground conductors atop the towers.  The design to include building raptor platforms on top of pylons for roosting and nesting;  Collect monitoring data on avifauna electrocuted along the proposed transmission line.  Install danger sign and anti-climbing barbed wire for safety purposes on every steel tower.  Ensure a safety officer is present at all the times during the construction phase. Conduct safety campaigns periodically among the population along the entire RoW.  The span between towers is on average 400 m and minimum height of conductors is 11 m, thus, the infrastructure configuration does not limit animal movements including elephants.  Schedule construction so as not to coincide with animal migrations across migration corridors and this will be included as a clause in construction contract. Impacts on agricultural land  KETRACO to provide monetary compensation for cessation of land use and any loss associated with compromised land productivity. Compensation details are provided under the RAP.  Some of the access roads required during project implementation should not become permanent if not required by community. Impacts on drainage, surface waters and water resources  Positioning of towers away from natural drainages and floodways.  Position towers so as to leave a protection zone of 15 m at river and streams and 5 m when crossing any drainage channels. Channel effluents to septic tank and run-off from work surfaces to a retaining pond. Land excavation, access roads and campsite  Designing transmission line route close to existing roads or line corridors. Rehabilitate temporary access roads after completion of works.  Minimize the number of new roads required,  Locate the campsite in such a way that they can have residual values like turning them into schools and other public facilities. Soil erosion  Restrict use of heavy machinery and vehicles to designated work areas.  Install soil protection works in areas sensitive to erosion prior to undertaking construction. Noise, ozone and corona  Work schedules to avoid working hours at night especially around health centres  Work schedules in the vicinity of schools to be restricted to off school hours.  Ozone concentrations around power lines have no health consequences as they have purely localized impacts. Solid waste  Re-use some of the excavated soil for backfilling while the rest to be disposed off at designated areas.  Dispose of waste in accordance with the NEMA guidelines.  Take particular care in forest reserves, national parks and other protected areas where materials and plants brought in during construction must be taken out at completion of the works. Impacts on aviation and communication  The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority to be requested to conduct a survey along the RoW and advise on the safety distances of the RoW from the aerodromes and safe tower heights and/or need for installation of warning lights and/or warning spheres in the vicinity of the aerodromes and at any other point along the entire RoW . 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 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, MR/0157608 National Environment Management Authority.