GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 15892

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 development of Export Processing Zones Authority on L.R. No. 18474/1–215 and L.R. No. 18474/217, Mavoko Municipal Council, Machakos County. The Proponent (Export Processing Zones Authority) of the proposed development has proposed to carry out construction of infrastructural services including road works, water reticulation, sewerage works, storm water drainage works and street lighting. The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Possible Impact Mitigation measures Material management • Emphasize use of environment friendly services and goods by ensuring all suppliers/contractors are evaluated through environmental performance questionnaires. • Monitor and enforce compliance with environmental legal requirements. • Monitor and protect the environment against negative impacts resulting from the goods and services. Increased storm water runoff from new impervious areas • Install drainage structures properly. • Efficiency of drainage structures. • Side drains and mitre drains design. • Direct all surface runoff into existing natural drains. • Culverts and drains to accommodate peak runoff from catchment. Soil erosion • Install drainage structures properly. • Install erosion control measures. • Landscape embankments and re-vegetate gravel sites. • Management of excavation activities. • Damaged drainage systems should be rebuilt or rehabilitated by suitable methods. • Efficiency of erosion control measures. Noise pollution & increased vibration • Workers in the vicinity of high level noises to wear safety & protective gear. • Impose speed limits for all vehicles, especially at the towns and settlements. • Sensitise motorists/road users. • Use quiet equipment (i.e. equipment designed with noise control elements). • Limit vehicles to a minimum idling time. • All equipment and machinery to be used must be tested to verify if they are compliant with Kenya and the internationally acceptable standards of noise. Air pollution • Control speed of construction vehicles. • During construction, any stockpiles of earth should be enclosed / covered / watered during dry or windy conditions to reduce dust emissions. • Construction trucks removing soil from the site, delivering sand and cement to the site should be covered to prevent material dust into the surrounding areas. • During construction, where water is available, sprinkle the construction area with water to keep dust levels down. • Masks should be provided to all personnel in areas prone to dust emissions throughout the period of construction. • Supervise drivers of construction vehicles. • Maintain all machinery and equipment in good working order to ensure minimum emissions. • No burning of any waste materials. • maintained vehicles to reduce emission of noxious fumes. Material sites • Inform people living at/near the sites that the pits have been selected for exploitation. • Maintain haulage routes for material sources. • borrow pits to be within 6km haul distances. • Landscape gravel pits. • Terracing and replacement of fencing. • Landowners must be informed of the environmental implications of the excavation works at the time of identification of the gravel sites. • Plan access to gravel sites. • Control and restrict access to gravel sites (e.g. by fencing). • Control earthworks • Proper management of excavation activities. • Rehabilitate (Landscape, water pans, terracing, and grass sites) old and new gravel pits. • Compensate owners as required. • Progress of rehabilitated gravel sites (use of site, established vegetation). Increased water demand • Management of water usage. • Plan for harvesting and storage of water during rains for use later. • Plan works schedule according to water availability. • Abstraction from rivers and streams are not to be done during low flow. • A 6000m3 reinforced concrete tank is proposed. • A 600mm GI Epoxy Coated pipe is proposed. • Water augmentation in form of dam, boreholes and roof harvesting is recommended. Increase in energy consumption • Street lights to be automatically controlled by use of time switch/photo THE KENYA GAZETTE 2nd November, 2012 4262 4262 cell and should have the ON and OFF switching operations, so that the lights come on/go off between 6.45 p.m. and 6.45 a.m. • Choice energy saving/long life lamps. Solid waste generation • Contractor should develop a solid waste disposal plan. • Solid wastes segregation and labeled to separate hazardous from non-hazardous waste. • Investment within EPZ should be provided with an inbuilt solid waste collection bin with compartments for recyclable materials, biodegradable materials and hazardous materials. • Warning signs against littering and dumping wastes in wrong places within the project site should be erected. • Carry out solid waste audit. • Install incinerator within the Zone. This will be used to incinerate solid waste. Workers accidents and hazards • Use of PPEs by workers. • Restricted ‘ENTRY’ signs should be installed to keep away unauthorized persons from access to restricted areas. • Machines and Equipment must be operated only by qualified staff. • The contractor to develop a workplace Safety and Health Policy Manual. • The contractor to develop a Response Plan for handling any emergencies arising thereof during the construction. • A well-equipped first aid kit and a person who has been trained in first aid should always be available at the site. Fire outbreaks • Have appropriate and adequate firefighting equipment of recommended standards and in key strategic points. • A fire alarm system should be installed in the project area. • A fire evacuation plan must be posted in various points of the project site including procedures to take when a fire is reported. • All workers must be trained on fire management and fire drills undertaken regularly. • A fire assembly point must be identified and labeled accordingly. • Develop emergency response plan 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) County Director of Environment, Machakos 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 the plan. Z. O. OUMA, for Director-General, MR//1065785 National Environment Management Authority.