GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 1243

PURSUANT to Regulation 21 of the Environmental Management and Co-ordination (Impact Assessment and Audit) Regulations, 2003, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has received an Environmental Impact Assessment Study Report for the above proposed project. The proponent, Central Rift Valley and Lake Victoria North Works Development Agencies intends to construct a dam which will involve gravity flow distribution of treated water. The design capacity of the proposed dam is 74167m³/day. The proposed dam will submerge the existing two rivers dam and therefore the current production (12000m³/day) of the existing two rivers dam will be lost. The selected dam type is Roller Compacted Concrete Dam (RCC) of structural height 39.3m high with an Overflow Ogee Spillway(126m) stepped spillway chute and a stilling basin. Other key features of the proposed dam include: Riverbed Elevation (2150masl), Storage Level (2173.55masl), Full Supply Level (NWL); 2180.3Masl), maximum water level at floods (2182.80masl), Dam Crest Level (2184.3masl), Dead Storage 6.62Mm³, Live Storage 9.06mm³, total Dam Volume 15.686mm3, Area Inundated at Full Supply Level 1.74km². The raw water from the two rivers dam will be transmitted to the Sosiani Water Treatment Works for treatment before distribution to consumers. The project will be located in Eldoret Town, Uasin Gishu County. The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Impact Mitigation Measure Loss of biodiversity (Flora) • Where possible, clearing of vegetation more so the indigenous trees need to be avoided during construction as much as possible. • Where clearing of trees is inevitable, the land should be landscaped and planted with as much indigenous vegetation as possible so as to restore the lost biodiversity. • The extent of clearing within the work stations should be clearly marked. • Instruct all construction workers to restrict clearing to the marked areas and not to work outside defined areas. • Avoid introduction of invasive alien species in the landscaping activities. Increased soil erosion • Pile the top soil where it can be reused. • Soil erosion control measures should be undertaken to avoid erosion in sensitive areas and those prone to erosion. 364 364 Impact Mitigation Measure • Rehabilitation of degraded environment should be undertaken to stabilize the soil and therefore reduce rate of soil erosion and siltation. • Soil conservation measures should be observed especially at stockpiled areas. • Bare areas should be landscaped after completion. • Operations will be timed to take place during the dry season when soils are dry to reduce soil compaction. • Re-vegetation should be enhanced to reduce run off. Disruption of movement during construction • Where such excavations are wide, foot bridges should be erected at the livestock corridors to facilitate their movement. • Since this is a short-lived occurrence, the contractor should engage local people to make them understand the importance of the exercise and encourage them to use other alternative routes. Removal and disposal of asbestos pipes • Asbestos containing pipes be replaced with other pipe types. • Before disposal commences, an environmental audit should be conducted. • The disposal of asbestos should be guided by the “Asbestos management plan (AMP)”. • The asbestos material should be conveyed, handled and distributed in a safe manner so as not to cause any ill effects to any person or the immediate environment. • The onsite and offsite disposal sites shall be marked clearly as asbestos hazard area in accordance with the National Guidelines on Safe Management and Disposal of Asbestos. • Removal including onsite/offsite disposal of asbestos shall be subjected to environmental impact assessment in accordance with the Environmental (Impact Assessment and Audit) Regulations, 2003. Air pollution • Use of water sprays when dusts are being generated or at times of strong wind. • All materials stored or stockpiled on site should be adequately covered. • Maintain machineries at manufacturer’s specifications of minimizing emissions. • Where unavoidable, construction workers working in dusty areas should be provided and fitted with respirators or personal protective equipment. • Conduct air quality analysis regularly. • Cover all trucks hauling soil, sand and other loose materials to avoid spillage and dust emissions that may interfere with smooth motoring. • Site roads should be dampened every 4-6 hours or within reasonable interval to prevent dust nuisance and on hotter days, this frequency should be increased. • Cover or wet construction materials such as sand and unpaved areas with gunny bags to prevent dust nuisance. Excess noise and vibrations • Use of equipment that is fitted with noise reduction devices such as mufflers. • Construction workers operating equipment that generates noise should be equipped with noise protection equipment. Impact Mitigation Measure • Machines should be maintained at manufacturers’ specifications. Solid and liquid waste generation and management • A waste management plan should be adopted as part of the construction works. • Hazardous substances should be handled safely and at designated and safe area. • Identify areas where re-fueling and vehicle maintenance activities and storage of hazardous materials will be permitted. • Skips and bins should be strategically placed within the campsite and construction site. • Skips and bins should be adequately designed and covered to prevent access by vermin and minimize odour. They should also be emptied regularly. • Careful pumping of sewage from upstream manholes to downstream manholes. • Block off the main trunk line to minimize chances of exposing staff to raw sewage during work. • Measures to ensure that waste materials from the Project are disposed at suitable sites should be taken. These will include engaging only reputable truckers and conducting appropriate spot checks to verify that disposal are done in accordance with the requirements of NEMA Changes in hydrology/ impended drainage/deep excavations • Release of adequate water for the downstream communities and aquatic organisms. • The amplitude of this impact will be sized during the continuation of the hydro sedimentology studies that will detect the need or not to take direct control actions, as the dredging of the sandy sediment. The bottom discharger may collaborate in reducing the sediment build-up in the reservoir area. • Application of rainfall and meteorological stations in the monitoring water supply for continuous follow-up of the climatic conditions. • Earthworks should be restricted to construction sites. • Install warning signs and lightings at both deep and shallow trenches. • Backfilling trenches as soon as works are completed. • Provide temporary bridges and protection rails at deep trenches to facilitate people movement. Traffic obstruction • Ensure all construction vehicles to and from the construction site use the designated Entry/Exit to the project site. • Construct traffic diversions. • Sensitize truck drivers to avoid unnecessary road obstruction. • Contractor should stick to the provided timeline for completion of works of the Project. Occupational safety and health • There should be adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to all workers and they should be worn all the time. • There should be adequate provision of the requisite sanitation facilities for human waste disposal. • Workers should receive requisite training especially on the operation of the • There should be adequate warning and directional signs. 2nd February, 2024 THE KENYA GAZETTE Impact Mitigation Measure • Provide clean drinking water for the employees. • Develop a site safety action plan detailing safety equipment to be used, emergency procedures, restriction on site, frequency and personnel responsible for safety inspections and controls. • A sign board warning on HIV/AIDS, drugs and alcohol abuse be displayed at the construction camp sites. • The campsites and their facilities need to be constructed at sites carefully selected away from the sensitive areas. • Rehabilitate excavated sites soon as construction is complete. • Train workers on the use of firefighting equipment. • Provide First Aid kit within the construction site. • Recording of all injuries that occur on site in the incident register, corrective actions for their prevention are instigated as appropriate. • Provide prevention tools such as condoms at the health centre and construction site to all. • Contractor to ensure compliance with the Workmen’s Compensation Act, ordinance regulations and union agreements. • Guide all workers in Safety Health and Environment (SHE). Fire risks and emergency preparedness • Put “No Smoking Signs” in areas where inflammables are stored. • Guide all workers in Safety Health and Environment (SHE). • Provide adequate firefighting equipment capable of fighting all classes of fire. • Provide first Aid kit within the construction site. • Label all inflammable materials and store them appropriately. • There should be adequate PPE to all workers and should be worn all the time. • Conduct regular fire-fighting drills. • Develop a fire fighting emergency plan. • Train one member of staff on fire preparedness Displacement of the affected people • Sensitization of stakeholders and land owners in decision making at all levels. • Compensate all the PAPs affected by the land take. • Provide alternative land of similar value to the PAPs. • Avoid areas with heavy residential buildings as much as possible. • Issue advance notices to all affected individuals before commencement of property demolition exercise. • A Resettlement Action Plan Report (RAP) and valuation of assets has been undertaken. It is advisable that compensation be done before project commencement. Increased insecurity • Provide day and night security guards. • Provide adequate lighting within and around the construction site. Impact Mitigation Measure Gender based violence / child protection • Sensitization on Gender based violence through posters, tool talks for workers. • Develop a GBV mechanism to deal with grievances. • Develop a policy against GBV. • All workers and employees to sign a Code of Conduct that clearly explains the related policy. • All employed will be expected to submit their ID to establish their age. Influx of immigrants in search of employment opportunities • Priority (70%) should be given to employing staff from the local community. • Review the construction activities to integrate with the HIV/AIDS campaigns. • Develop appropriate training and awareness materials for Information, Education and communication (IEC) on HIV/AIDS. • Identify other players (local CBOs, NGOs, and government organizations) to assist in the dissemination of the awareness of HIV/AIDS for enhanced collaboration. • Develop an intervention strategy compatible with the construction programme to address success of the HIV/AIDS prevention and provide peer educators for sustainability in collaboration with other stakeholders; and • Integrate monitoring of HIV/AIDS preventive activities as part of the construction supervision. Basic knowledge, attitude and practices are among the parameters to be monitored, and particularly on provision of condoms, status testing and use of ARVs. The full report of the proposed project is available for inspection during working hours at: (a) Principal Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, NHIF Building, 12th Floor, Ragati Road, Upper Hill, P.O. Box 30126–00100, Nairobi. (b) Director-General, NEMA, Popo Road, off Mombasa Road, P.O. Box 67839–00200, Nairobi. (c) County Director of Environment, Uasin Gishu County. A copy of the EIA report can be downloaded at www.nema.go.ke, 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 regarding this project. Comments can also be e-mailed to dgnema@nema.go.ke MAMO B. MAMO, Director-General, MR/6173277 National Environment Management Authority.