GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 3168

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 Mrima Hill Niobium and Associated Rare Earths Mining Project. The proposed project entails establishment of a Niobium Concentrate Plant on a suitable site within 20km of Mrima Hill. The main components of the proposed project will include on-site mining, access roads, related infrastructures, off-site concentration plant, construction workers compound, and waste tailings dam. Mrima Hill is situated at around latitude 4°29’S, longitude 39°15’E in Msambweni Constituency of Kwale District on the coastal plain of Kenya, approximately 65km southwest of Mombasa. The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Environmental Impacts Mitigation Measures Destruction of natural forest areas  During preparation of the site and associated infrastructure the actions taken will ensure the future rehabilitation and possible enhancement of the vegetation of Mrima Hill Forest Reserve  Topsoil removed during site preparation activities should be retained for future use during restoration of the forest area. Noise Pollution  Control movement of construction vehicles.  Provide "parking" areas for vehicles not being used at any one time;  Installation of natural barriers at facility boundaries;  Optimisation of internal traffic routing – particularly to minimize vehicle reversing needs (reversing alarm) and to maximize distances to the closest sensitive receptors but also minimizing land-clearing for transport routes.  Plant to comply with WB/IFC noise limits;  All equipment to be equipped with silencers or with lagging or specially designed acoustic enclosures;  Baseline surveys will be undertaken at the proposed site boundaries to determine and nearest sensitive receptors to benchmark the existing acoustic levels prior to construction Groundwater contamination by oil, grease, and fuel in equipment areas  Efficient oil and grease traps installed at refueling stations, workshops, fuel storage depots and containment areas etc;  Control collection and recycling of lubricants;  Toolbox talks (in the colloquial language) to avoid accidental spills and emergency response measures in the case of an accidents Open borrow pits resulting in negative visual impact and potentially a safety hazard  Install safety barriers in high-risk locations;  Rehabilitate borrow pits to original landscape;  Signage in hazardous and risky areas;  Good communication with all staff working on the site;  Ensuring that communities in vicinity of Mrima Hill do not have access to the mine (apart from those members of the community employed by the mine Risk to health and safety of employees  Ensure all employees provided with PPE – hard hats, gloves, and steel-toed boots.  Use of contrasting coloring on equipment/machinery including all THE KENYA GAZETTE 9th March, 2012 792 792 reflective markings to enhance visibility;  Ensure all workers are aware of emergency procedures and attend an initial site induction followed by regular site toolbox talks.  Ensure all employees have safety gear – hard hats, gloves, and steel-toed boots.  Use of contrasting colouring on equipment/machinery including all reflective markings to enhance visibility;  Ensure all workers know emergency procedures in place in case of accidents.  Implement a comprehensive safety and environmental management system.  Truck routing away from schools and pedestrian routes. Depletion of natural water sources  Establish a water balance for the process plant and use this to inform infrastructure design;  Reuse, recycling and the treatment of process water, where feasible;  Develop a Sustainable Water Supply Management Plan by managing water use, avoiding depletion of sources and minimizing impacts to water users;  Build a dam to collect rainfall. Impact on terrestrial environment  Storage of topsoil to be used for restoration;  Efficient planning of access routes and infrastructure to reduce land clearance requirements;  Planning in response to environmental sensitivities and habitats/species. Light pollution  Minimize light pollution outside the boundaries of the facilities to prevent light spill.  Down-lighting preferable to minimize impact on birds and fauna in the nearby forest.  Security lighting to be installed for safety requirements to meet relevant regulations. Waste Management  Waste areas/dumps should be planned with height specifications based on the nature of the material and local geotechnical considerations to minimize erosion and reduce safety risks;  Consider potential change of geotechnical properties in dumps.  Tailings management strategies vary according to site constraints and the nature/type of the tailing.  Seepage management should be a key consideration in design of tailings storage facilities.  Natural or synthetic liners to minimize risk of groundwater contamination.  Design in accordance with flood events;  Non-hazardous wastes should be collected for recycling or disposal at an approved landfill;  Specialized providers should handle hazardous waste. 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, Coast Province. (d) District Environmental Officer, Kwale 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 approval process of the project. B. M. LANGWEN, for Director-General, MR/9098876 National Environment Management Authority. GAZETTE NOTICE. NO. 3169 THE CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT (Cap. 490) APPOINTMENT OF LIQUIDATOR (Variation Order) WHEREAS J. J. Kimani, of Wachira Irungu and Associates, P.O. Box 46671, Nairobi, was appointed liquidator of Chuka F.C.S. Limited (CS/245) (in liquidation), and whereas the said J. J. Kimani, of Wachira Irungu and Associates, P.O. Box 46671, Nairobi, is unable to act as liquidator. Now therefore, I appoint Obed Mbae, Nairobi, Auditor I, of Meru South District, to be liquidator in the matter of the said Co-operative society for a period not exceeding one year and authorize him to take into his custody all the property of the said society including such books and documents as are deemed necessary for completion of the liquidation. Dated the 22nd December, 2011. F. F. ODHIAMBO, MR/9098558 Commissioner for Co-operative Development. GAZETTE NOTICE. NO. 3170 THE CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT (Cap. 490) APPOINTMENT OF LIQUIDATOR AND LIQUIDATION/ CANCELLATION ORDER WHEREAS Asa Co-operative Savings and Credit Society Limited (CS/4428), Hewani Sacco Limited (CS/6045), Watamu Sacco Society Limited (CS/2334), Sambusa Co-operative Savings and Credit Society Limited CS/4062), Makuti Sacco Society Limited CS/2694) have failed to file returns with the Commissioner for Co-operatives Development. And pursuant to section 62 (1) (b) , I am of the opinion that the said societies should be dissolved. Now therefore, I cancel the registration of the societies and order that they be liquidated. Any person(s) wishing to contest this order can do so to the Minister within thirty (30) days from the date of this order. And further, pursuant to section 65 of the said Act, appoint Nelson Nyoro, Internal Auditor, P.O. Box 90333, Mombasa, to be liquidator for a period not exceeding one year and authorize him to take into his 9th March, 2012 THE KENYA GAZETTE custody all the properties of the said societies including such books and documents as are deemed necessary for completion of the liquidation. Dated the 27th October, 2011. F. F. ODHIAMBO, MR/8844986 Commissioner for Co-operative Development.