GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 8633

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 (Portofino Properties Limited) is proposing to construct on a three acre plot; a total of 43 high-rise residential units in six (6) blocks, parking area on the ground floor, and a sewage treatment plant on Plot L.R. No. 1870/11/251 and 1870/11/162 off General Mathenge Road in Westlands, in Nairobi County. The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Environmental Impacts Mitigation Impacts High demand for raw materials  Source building materials from local suppliers who use environmentally friendly processes in their operations.  Ensure accurate budgeting and estimation of actual construction material requirements to ensure that the least amount of material necessary is ordered.  Ensure that damage or loss of materials at the construction site is kept minimal through proper storage.  Use of some recycled/refurbished or salvaged materials to reduce the use of raw materials and divert material from landfills. Increased storm water runoff and soil erosion  Roof water to be harvested and stored in underground reservoirs.  A storm water management plan that minimizes impervious area infiltration by use of recharge areas and use of detention and/or retention with graduated outlet control structure should be designed.  Apply soil erosion control measures such as leveling of the project site to reduce run-off velocity and increase infiltration of storm water into the soil.  Ensure that construction vehicles are restricted to existing roads to avoid soil compaction within and around the project site.  Site excavation works to be planned such that a section is completed and rehabilitated before another section begins.  Construction of soil-galleys on sloppy sections. Increased solid waste generation  Use of an integrated solid waste management system  Estimate and procure just the required amount of materials  Ensure that construction materials left- overs are reused elsewhere.  Donate recyclable/reusable or residual materials to needy groups  Use of durable  Provide facilities for proper handling and storage of construction materials to reduce the amount of waste caused by damage or exposure.  Purchase of perishable construction materials such as paints should be done incrementally to ensure reduced spoilage of unused materials  Use building materials that have minimal or no packaging to avoid the generation of excessive packaging waste  Use construction materials containing recycled content when possible and in accordance with accepted standards.  Reuse packaging materials such as cartons, cement bags, empty metal and THE KENYA GAZETTE 28th June, 2013 3392 3392 plastic containers to reduce waste at the site  Dispose waste more responsibly by dumping at designated dumping sites or landfills only.  Waste collection bins to be provided at designated points on site  Private waste disposal company to be contracted to transport and dispose the solid waste from site  Running educational campaigns amongst residents/workers, e.g. through use of posters, to encourage reuse or recycling of the solid waste Dust emission  Ensure strict enforcement of on-site speed limit regulations  Avoid excavation works in extremely dry weathers if/and when possible  Sprinkle water on graded access routes when necessary to reduce dust generation by construction vehicles  Personal Protective equipment to be worn Exhaust emission  Vehicle idling time shall be minimized  Alternatively fuelled construction equipment shall be used where feasible  Sensitize truck drivers to avoid unnecessary racing of vehicle engines Noise and vibration  Sensitize construction vehicle drivers and machinery operators to switch off engines of vehicles or machinery not being used.  Sensitize construction drivers to avoid gunning of vehicle engines or hooting especially when passing through sensitive areas such as churches, residential areas and hospitals  Ensure that construction machinery are kept in good condition to reduce noise generation  Ensure that all generators and heavy duty equipment are insulated or placed in enclosures to minimize ambient noise levels.  Trees around the site will provide some buffer against noise propagation  The noisy construction works will entirely be planned to be during day time when most of the neighbors will be at work. Increased energy consumption  Ensure electrical installations are turned off when not being used  Install energy saving fluorescent tubes at all lighting points instead of bulbs which consume higher electric energy  Ensure planning of transportation of materials to ensure that fossil fuels (diesel, petrol) are not consumed in excessive amounts High water demand  Harness rainwater for some domestic and other uses  Install water conserving taps that turn- off automatically when not in use  Promote recycling and reuse of water as much as possible  Install a discharge meters to monitor water use  Promptly detect and repair water pipe and tank leaks  Sensitize tenants to conserve water by avoiding unnecessary toilet flushing etc.  Ensuring taps are not running when not in use Generation of wastewater  Provision of means for handling sewage generated by construction workers such as mobile toilets  Conduct regular checks for sewage pipe blockages or damages  Monitor effluent quality regularly to ensure compliance with set standards Incidents, accidents and dangerous occurrences.  Ensure that provisions for reporting incidents, accidents and dangerous occurrences are in place and the same are enforced.  Ensure that the premises are insured as per statutory requirements  Provisions must be put in place for the formation of a Health and Safety Committee, in which the employer and the workers are represented  Provide suitable, clean, and adequate sanitary conveniences for workers  Ensure that materials are stored or stacked in such manner as to ensure their stability and prevent any fall or collapse  Securely fence or cover all openings in floors  Ensure that construction workers are not locked up such that they would not escape in case of an emergency  All ladders used in construction works must be of good construction and sound material of adequate strength and be properly maintained Machinery/equipment safety  Arrangements must be in place for the medical examination of all construction employees before, during and after termination of employment  Ensure that machinery, equipment, appliances and hand tools used in construction do comply with the prescribed safety and health standards and be appropriately installed maintained and safeguarded  Ensure that equipment and work tasks are adapted to fit workers and their ability including protection against mental strain  All machines and other moving parts of equipment must be enclosed or guarded to protect all workers from injury  Arrangements must be in place to train and supervise inexperienced workers regarding construction machinery use and other procedures/operations  Firefighting equipment must be examined by licensed inspectors Occupational health and safety risks  Provide well stocked first aid box which is easily available and accessible  Provision must be made for persons to be trained in first aid.  Provide firefighting equipment such as fire extinguishers and hydrant systems  Regular inspection and servicing of the equipment must be undertaken  Signs such as “NO SMOKING” must be prominently displayed within the flat  Space must be provided within the premises for adequate natural ventilation  Adequate provision for artificial or natural lighting in all parts the premises  Circuits must not be overloaded an all electrical equipment must be earthed  There should be no live exposed 28th June, 2013 THE KENYA GAZETTE connections  Provide workers in areas with elevated noise and vibration levels, with suitable ear protection equipment such as ear muffs  Ensure that conveniently accessible, clean, orderly, adequate and suitable washing facilities are provided and maintained in within the site  Hand tools must be of appropriate size and shape for easy and safe use  Height of equipment, controls or work surfaces should be positioned to reduce bending posture for standing workers Hydrology and water quality degradation  Hazardous substance control and emergency response plan that will include preparations for quick and safe clean up of accidental spills.  Hazardous-materials handling procedures to reduce the potential for a spill during construction  Identify areas where refueling and vehicle maintenance activities and storage of hazardous materials, if any, will be permitted Insecurity  Appoint security personnel operating 24 hours  Body-search the workers on entry, to avoid getting weapons on site, and leaving site to ensure nothing is stolen.  Ensure only authorized personnel get to the site Air pollution  Suitable wet suppression techniques need to be utilized in all exposed areas  All unnecessary traffic must be strictly limited on site; speed controls are to be enforced 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, Nairob 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. ROBERT ORINA, for Director-General, MR/2727321 National Environment Management Authority.