GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 13721

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 (Kenya National Highways Authority) is proposing to rehabilitate Ol Joro Orok – Dundori (C83) Road, in Nyandurua County. The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Environmental Impacts Mitigation Measures Land acquisition, encroachment and road corridor • The land acquisition would be in accordance with the RAP and entitlement framework. All road corridor activities are to be completed before starting the construction. Relocation of utilities and common property resources (CPR) • All the utilities and common property resources being impacted due to the project will have to be relocated with prior approval of the concerned Departments/Agencies before construction starts. Debris disposal site identification • Selection of the disposal sites will be carried out in consultation with the relevant authorities and local community. No natural drainage, productive lands or natural habitat shall be adversely impacted due to disposal. Establishment of plants • Specifications of stone crushers, hot mix plants and batching plants to be established for the project should comply with the requirements of the relevant statutory bodies. Selection of construction vehicles, machinery and equipments • All the vehicles, machinery and equipments to be engaged for the construction work should be attached with the latest, advanced pollution control measures available in the country and those should conform to the relevant Kenyan standards. Materials (sand, earth and aggregates) sourcing • Contractor should procure materials from licensed sources. • Every detail (location, ownership, agreement, redevelopment plan) of the material sourced should be implemented and periodically inspected so that appropriate measures are implemented at site towards safe operation and minimizing impacts. Haul roads maintenance • During the inception of the project, Contractor should identify the network of roads to be used for haulage of construction materials. • Strategy for the maintenance of identified haul road stretches is to be prepared so that regular maintenance is carried out to those stretches by the Contractor. Selection of Borrow areas • Contractor shall ensure compliance to all the Statutory requirements towards operation and environmental protection of borrow areas. • RE will inspect locations intended for operation and mitigation measures will be instructed towards satisfactory redevelopment. • Inspection to the borrow areas will be carried out. • Obtain subsequent approval from NEMA for decommissioning. Stone quarries and borrow area • A comprehensive Quarry Management Plan shall be prepared for approval by RE and decommissioning certification by NEMA. Removal of vegetation cover, Excavations of borrow pits • Turfing of road embankment slopes, compensatory afforestation and borrow area rehabilitation has to be done as preventive measures for soil erosion. • Further top soil from borrow areas has to be stripped to a specified depth. Movement of Heavy Vehicles • Construction vehicles, machinery and equipment shall move, or be stationed in pre-identified designated areas only. • If operating from temporarily hired land, it will be ensured that the topsoil for agriculture remains preserved & not get compacted. Spillage of fuel, lubricants and hazardous chemicals • Vehicles and machinery are maintained and refilled in such a fashion that fuel spillage does not contaminate the soil. • Fuel storage and refilling sites should be kept away from cross drainage structures and important water bodies. • All spills shall be disposed off as desired and the site shall be fully cleaned before handing over. • Soil quality monitoring should be conducted throughout project life. Disposal of construction wastes • The construction wastes should be dumped in selected pits, developed on infertile land and approved. Acquire all applicable waste disposal licenses. Approved waste land to be preferred for construction debris disposal. Surface runoff from the construction site, dumping of construction debris in or nearby water bodies • No labour camps, stone crushers, hot mix plants and other heavy machinery should be located near water bodies. • No discharge from such establishments should be directed to water bodies. • Dumping of debris in or nearby water bodies to be strictly avoided. Waste products must be collected, stored and taken to approve disposal sites as per prevailing regulations. • Runoff from the construction site should be passed through silt traps. • Pitching, stabilization of soil and slope protection measures should be taken up to reduce erosion of soils. • Water quality monitoring should be conducted so that appropriate measures are taken up towards abatement of pollution. Spillage of fuels and lubricants, spillage of hazardous chemicals • Appropriate drainage arrangements with catch drains and catch pits designed to safely drain out the hazardous chemicals should be provided. • Vehicles and equipment shall be properly maintained and repaired. • Maintenance to be carried out on impervious platforms with spill THE KENYA GAZETTE 11th October, 2013 4968 4968 collection provisions. Surface run off from vehicle parking, washing and fueling areas and hot mix plant areas shall be passed through oil interception chambers and the oil will be disposed of by approved agents. • Water quality monitoring should be conducted to detect any contamination or spillage. Cultural Changes • Strengthen the cultural organizations and encouraging competitions through organization of cultural tournaments. • Ensure that the project contributes to the creation of an atmosphere that is conducive to the functioning of all social centres which are in the project zone of influence. HIV/AIDS • Sensitization and awareness campaigns should be the responsibility of the National Aids Control Councils in Kenya together with their district coordinators. • Provision of condoms at strategic places in camps and trading centres. Construction of bridges across major water bodies • The construction of bridges across major water bodies has to be done by serving prior notice to the users. Care should be taken to avoid mixing of construction materials with water channel such that it may affect the downstream users or water supply schemes. Construction of embankments • Earth, stone or any other construction material should be properly disposed off so that the flow of water in cross drainage channels is not blocked. Dust generation due to material handling, operation of crushers and hot mix plants, movement of construction vehicles and construction activities • Take precautions to reduce dust emissions from the hot mix plants. • The hot-mix plants should be sited at least 500 m from the nearest habitation and from major water bodies. They should be fitted with dust extraction units. • Water should be sprayed on the earth and asphalt mixing sites, and service roads. • During sub grade construction, sprinkling of water should be carried out at least twice a day. Special attention should be given in the sections where the alignment passes through sensitive areas such as schools, hospitals and urban areas. • Use surplus earth to fill up low-lying areas. In no case, loose earth should be allowed to pile up along the alignment. Vehicles delivering material should be covered. • Air quality monitoring should be conducted as per Environmental Monitoring Plan. Noise generated from construction vehicles, asphalt plants and equipments • Construction contract should clearly specify the use of equipment emitting noise of not greater than 90 dB (A) for the eight hour operation shift. • The sitting of construction yards should be done leaving at least 100 m distance from any residential areas which will allow noise to attenuate. • The main noise producing sources such as the concrete mixers, generators, grader etc. should be provided with noise shields around them. • Earplugs shall be provided to those working close to the noise generating machinery. • At construction sites within 150 m of human settlements, noisy construction should be stopped between 6pm pm and 8:00 am. Removal of trees for widening of existing road and construction of realignments • Small trees shall be transplanted wherever possible to minimize the impacts of loss of trees. Trees should be removed in phases. • Adequate care of the afforested plants should be taken up so as to achieve optimum survival rate. Landscaping should be done with a lag of 3 to 4 months from the start of the work on any section. The section should be deemed to be complete when the landscaping is over. Poor maintenance of machines and vehicles, poor light conditions at the work place, carelessness and poor management of work • Lighting devices and safety signal devices shall be installed. • Provide workers with helmets, masks, safety goggles etc. • Regular tool talks, mock drills, training programs to be organized. • The electrical equipment should be checked regularly to avoid risks to workers. • A readily available first aid unit, a mode of transport (ambulance), and medical personnel to be provided. Improvement of roadside amenities • Restoration and improvement of bus shelters, bus bays and truck stoppage sites to be carried out as per detailed design. Road furniture like footpaths, railings, traffic signs etc. shall be erected as per design. Unhygienic conditions at work place and camp sites, Non-availability of good drinking water • Adequate drainage, sanitation and waste disposal to be provided at workplaces. • First Aid facility to be made available at each work locations Periodical medical checkup facility to be provided to all the workers. • At every workplace, good and sufficient water supply shall be maintained to meet the daily chore of the residing population. • Measures to be implemented so that waste water is collected in septic tanks/soak pits. No surface stagnation of water will be allowed to avoid disease outbreak. Use of water for construction from community water sources • Arrangement for supply and storage of water will be made by the contractor in such a way that the water availability and supply to nearby communities remain unaffected. • Obtain relevant approvals for any other requisite borehole. • Avoid water wastage. • Obtain consent from local community and local administration for community water. Absence of proper sanitation and waste disposal in camps • Site base camps away from water resources. • Provide adequate sanitary facilities. • Water quality monitoring should be conducted as per Environmental Monitoring Plan. Improvement of road geometry and pavement • Proper implementation of traffic rules by the traffic Police. 11th October, 2013 THE KENYA GAZETTE • Proper maintenance of traffic signs. Improvement of road surface and its maintenance • Proper implementation of vehicular emission control rules by the traffic Department. • Roadside tree plantation to be restored and maintained as per the compensatory plantation plan. Increase in traffic • Development of greenbelt comprising selected species of trees with high canopy along the project road for attenuation of noise. • Use of horns should be restricted at sensitive locations like schools and hospitals through the use of appropriate signboards along the road. Increase in embankment height • The cross drainage system and the flood water drains should be periodically cleared. Movement of vehicles with higher speed • Drivers should be warned with proper sign boards for speed restriction within area with high human concentrations. • Usage of air horns should be completely avoided within noise sensitive areas both during day and night time. Traffic management • Traffic management plan to be developed, especially in high population areas. • Traffic control measures including speed limits to be enforced strictly. • Road corridor should be properly marked. • Road side vendors should be restricted to designated areas only. 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) Principal Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources, NHIF Building, Community, P.O. Box 30521, Nairobi. (c) County Director of Environment, Nyandarua 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/3175356 National Environment Management Authority.