GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 1278

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 Climate Smart Agriculture Project, is proposing to construct of a dam capacity 40,000 cubic meters which will involve excavation of 642 cubic meter, 2,198 cubic meter, 2.4 cubic meter of soil for the foundation construction of the dam wall (Coltrane), wing walls, and cattle trough respectively, masonry works of a 50m long, 5m high, 5.5m wide base and 1m wide crest dam wall across the end point of Mkuru water way, concrete wing walls on both ends of the dam. wall, cattle trough constructed on the lower side adjacent to the dam that livestock will access it through a cleared path into it and a 400m long fence erected round the dam Impacts Proposed Mitigation Measures Vegetation cover • Minimal destruction of vegetation (especially and biodiversity indigenous) and habitats for fauna i.e. termite loss/habitat loss mounds. • Cut trees for tree nursery construction. • Establishment of a tree nursery. • Community training on biodiversity conservation. • Re-vegetate /Vegetative buffer zone around the dam. • Community awareness of the project. • Establishment of a materials storage to avoid accidental spills and littering. • Solid waste management i.e. stones and debris. • Erosion control. • Site restoration. • Environmental emergency procedures. Dust emission • Provision of dust masks to workers. • Sprinkling of water and compaction dusty spots. • Dust screen around the dam. Accidents during • Occupational Health and Safety Administration construction (OSHA) i.e. erection of signs, first aid kit. • Workers to wear protective gear i.e. safety boots, safety helmets, reflector jacket. Ownership • Acquiring and signing all the necessary legal conflict documents with the community and the relevant authorities. • Community awareness of the project. • Establish project management committee to oversee construction on behalf of the Impacts Proposed Mitigation Measures community. Vibration and • Community awareness of the project. noise pollution Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). • Control of noise and air pollution i.e. avoid unnecessary hooting. • Workers operating machines or plants for than 8hrs that produce over 80dBA of sound to wear ear muffs. • Regular inspection of machines and plant. • Restrict noisy construction activities within 8 a.m.-5 p.m. • Inform community request of their tolerance. • Maintenance of machinery and plant. • Identification of appropriate location for disposing chemicals, their containers and contaminated soil and water. • Prompt site clearance, avoiding on-site stock piling. • Monitor exposed soil especially during wet season. • Community sensitization and awareness creation. • Fencing off the dam. • Establish a dam management committee. • Employ a guard. • Construction of domestic water drawing point and a cattle trough. Livestock/ crop • Community sensitization and awareness conflict creation. • Animal water trough construction. • Installation of environmental friendly technologies i.e. zero grazing. • Establish a dam management committee. • Committee to ensure equitable water distribution. • Operational rules. • Proper animal routes and holding grounds. • Avoid grazing animals around the dam. • Chief, local administration and dam committee enforce rules. Rural morality • Community sensitization and awareness decay and creation on comprehensive health care. i.e. HIV/AIDS Social diseases • Formal education enrolment campaigns. • Gender mainstreaming campaigns. increase • Equip local dispensaries with drugs. • Measurers against social diseases i.e. free condoms and ARVs. Outsiders/strange • Community sensitization and awareness rs accessing the creation towards. dam • embracing new members of the community; • Establish a dam management committee. • Community sensitization and awareness creation. • Establish a dam management committee. • Expand new roads and infrastructure capacity. • Routine maintenance of infrastructure. • Review of dam design by independent panel of experts. • Emergency preparedness plan. • Community sensitization and awareness creation. • Establish a dam management committee. Soil and water contamination by waste/chemicals /oils Danger of drowning Increase on human and animal road traffic and Pressure on local infrastructure Structural failure Impacts Proposed Mitigation Measures • Proper engineering design. • Contractor to abide to engineering design provide quality works. • Proper supervision of the works. • Implementation of monitoring and maintenance plan. • Planting of trees. • Erosion control. Deviated natural • Spill way/overflow designed to return water to water flow its natural flow. • Construction of retention ditches by farms on the lower side of the dam. • Training on Soil and Water Conservation (S & WC). Water use • Committee to ensure equitable water conflicts distribution. • Operational rules. Excess soil • To be used in landscaping at an appropriate material site. Erosion • Plant grass and trees around the dam area. • Erosion control. 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 Forestry, NHIF Building, Community, P.O. Box 30126-00100, Nairobi. (c) County Director of Environment, Taita Taveta 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. MAMO B. MAMO, Ag. Director-General, MR/0751835 National Environment Management Authority.