GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 12404

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 Scrap Metal Smelter and Steel Manufacturing Plant will be located on Plot No. LR 17483/1, Mavoko Municipality, Machakos County. The Proponent (Arvind Engineering Ltd) of the proposed construction of a scrap Metals Smeltering & Steel Manufacturing plant in Mavoko Municipality, Machakos County. The proponent is proposing to extract various metals from ore to create more refined metals products. Smelting involves heating the ore with a reducing agent such as coke, charcoal or other purifying agents. The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Possible Impact Mitigation measures Safety of workers  Restrict visitors and factory workers mostly into the structure under renovation.  Establish tapes.  Safety should be observed by all within the site.  Provide PPE e.g. coveralls, gas masks, gloves, helmets among others t workers involved.  Develop an emergency response plan and safety drills.  Restrict movement along the renovation area by establishing tapes indicating warnings.  Threats should be reported to the contractor and management for immediate action.  Display clear and visible warnings e.g. ―NO ACCESS TO THE SITE‖ or ―DANGER/ HATARI‖ At the area prone to these dangers and use language that is understood by all.  The OSHA 2007 should guide the project activities. Health of workers, visitors and neighbours  Restrict visitors at the site by establishing tapes with warning signs indicating risks involved.  Wet all the working areas to contain fine metal dust.  Provide workers with PPE.  Decontaminate all protective clothing after smelting.  Notify NEMA on all the planned activities involving smelting etc. Occupational hazards  Improve air movement.  Redesign air circulating facilities. Accumulation of metal dust waste  Observe safety while handling.  Place breakages on a polythene bags as soon as they are generated and sealed tightly.  Enhance safe procedure throughout.  Restrict movement along renovation area mostly for factory workers.  All parties affected shall be timely informed on the nature of work likely to be done.  Notification of the organization staff on the nature of work to be done.  Keep all records of activities and should be maintained by both management and contractor.  Identify temporal storage and secure it. Deterioration of air quality and noise generation  Provide workers with PPE.  Limit activities on daytime only.  Service machinery to regularly  Encourage manual labour.  Switch of vehicle and machinery if any when not in use. Impacts of storage sites  Isolate sharp objects not to damage transport vehicles.  Bags should be considered full when half full and seal tightly.  Label waste appropriately.  Decontaminate all holding containers before storage.  Secure the storage area and restricted access. Transport impacts and community exposure to fibres  Transport container should be enclosed / licensed by NEMA.  Written emergency procedures should be in place for all transport staff.  Movement should be designated along one route only.  Movement should be controlled mostly on both sites  Entry and exit should be designed and guided to avoid conflicts with other road users. Health and safety of workers and neighbouring community  The site should be fully compacted after disposal as per the recommended plan.  Visitors and animals should be restricted through fencing off the site and establishing lockable gate.  The trench should have a landing/ramp for easier access. Loss of biodiversity  Use only designated route.  The site should be re-vegetated after disposal.  The buffer zone should be maintained all round the disposal site. Air pollution and noise nuisance  Activities should be restricted to daytime only to reduce disturbances mostly to the neighbouring homestead.  Equipment should be well serviced to reduce emissions. PPE decontamination  The tools, transport truck and PPE should be thoroughly washed through vacuuming with a filter and high pressure washing shower away from unprotected people and unoccupied facilities.  If they cannot be decontaminated immediately, store them in the poly bags provided as site material.  Do not use again before decontamination. THE KENYA GAZETTE 7th September, 2012 3354 3354  Person decontaminating them must wear protective PPE  Never leave equipment that are not decontaminated open, always close them. Occupational hazards  Improve air movement .  Redesign air circulating facilities. 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. B. M. LANGWEN, for Director-General, MR/0462177 National Environment Management Authority.