GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 8056

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, Bayer East Africa Limited, has proposed BT Cotton commercialization in Western/Nyanza, Central/Eastern, Coastal, North Eastern and Rift Valley regions of Kenya. The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Environmental Recommended Mitigation Measures Impacts Human - wildlife conflict (in areas bordering/ with wild animals) Biodiversity loss - clearance of vegetated areas, • avoid migratory routes of the wild animals. • Avoid areas with rare plant species. • Clearance to be done only in areas earmarked for growing cotton. • allow provisions for wildlife corridors and buffer zones. • Creation of awareness among the farmers on the importance of conserving biodiversity. soil erosion and • Practice Contour ploughing, construction of storm water gabions to control soil erosion. runoff • Practice conservation agriculture. • Avoid clearing areas susceptible to soil erosion. • A storm water management plan that minimizes impervious areas. • Workers to avoid compacting activities in areas outside the area demarcated for the developments. Occupational • Use appropriate PPEs. Safety and Health- due to • Sensitize workers on the negative health impacts of overworking. over working due to increased acreage farmed • fence off the farms to keep off the wild animals away from the farms. • avoid areas not earmarked for cotton growing. • allow provisions for wildlife corridors and buffer zones. Increased water • Prompt reuse and recycling of water as much as demand and possible where necessary. consumption • Install a discharge meter at water outlet to monitor and determine total water usage. • Conduct regular checks, inspections and maintenance of pipes, taps and storage containers and tanks to fix leakages. Potential Mitigation Enhancement Measures Impacts • Avoid concentrating of more than 15 workers at one location. 411 workers and visitors accessing worksites every day or attending meetings shall be subjected to rapid Covid-19 screening which may include temperature check and other vital signs. • The project shall put in place means to support rapid testing of suspected workers for covid-l9. • Install handwashing facilities with adequate running water and soap, or sanitizing facilities at entrance to work sites including consultation venues and meetings and ensure they are used. • Ensure routine sanitization of shared social facilities and other communal places routinely including wiping of workstations, door knobs, hand rails etc. Gender-based • The contractor will implement provisions that violence at ensure that gender-based violence at the the community level is not triggered by the Project, community including. level • Effective and on-going community engagement and consultation, particularly with women and girls. • Review of specific project components that are known to heighten GBV risk at the community level, e.g. compensation schemes for women, employments schemes for women, etc. • Specific plan for mitigating these known risks, e.g. sensitization around gender-equitable approaches to compensation and employment. • The contractor will ensure adequate referrals mechanisms are in place if a case of GBV at the community level is reported related to project implementation. Sexual • Develop and implement a SEA action plan with an exploitation Accountability and Response Framework as part and abuse by of the C-ESMP. The SEA action plan will follow project guidance on the World Bank's Good Practice Note workers for Addressing Gender-based Violence in against Investment Project Financing involving Major community Civil Works (Sept 2018). members The full report of the proposed project is available for inspection during working hours at: (a) Principal Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, NHIF Building, Community, 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, Machakos County. A copy of the 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 plan. Comments can also be emailed to dgnema@nema.go.ke MAMO B. MAMO, Director-General, MR/1324869 National Environment Management Authority. Occupational Safety and Health; community health impacts • • • 9th October, 2020 THE KENYA GAZETTE 4049 Air pllution dust generated during ploughing, fumes from machineries used, tracks delivering seeds/cotton Due to over working due to increased acreage farmed, inhalation of chemicals during spraying, • allergic reactions from • inhaled suspended cotton particles • Obtain water abstraction permit where necessary. • Avoid ploughing on extremely dry and windy weathers. • Sprinkle water on graded access routes when necessary to reduce dust generation by machineries. • • • Train and encourage farmers to do farm planning- apportioning certain portions of farms to other crops. • Educate farmers on better fanning methods to increase food production. • Provision of high yielding food crop seeds. • in case of irrigation, locals will be sensitized and urged to sleep under treated mosquito nets. • periodic vector control to be done by the Ministry of Health. • use human security to keep off the wild animals • fence off the farms to keep off the wild animals away from the farms. • avoid areas not earmarked for cotton growing. • avoid migratory routes of the wild animals. • engage KWS to manage the wild animals. • A buffer zone shall be provided between the BT- Cotton farms and other cotton farms as will be directed by concerned authorities. • Use certified pesticides that do not harm non- target organisms. • Proper monitoring for early detection of invasion by BT-Cotton. • Immediate action to be taken to contain invasion. Use appropriate PPEs. Sensitize workers on the negative health impacts of overworking. Farmers to be sensitized to go for medical check-ups regularly and seek medical attention immediately in case of health issue. • The chemicals used to be stored away from human habitation, flood prone areas, in non- corrodible containers. • Strict adherence to the instructions for handling the seeds, fertilizers and pesticides. Danger and warning signs to be mounted on the hazardous chemicals and their storages. Install particle arresters at the cotton handling areas e.g. ginneries, stores. • Comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2007. • Ensure all components extracted from cotton are subjected to thorough scrutiny before allowed for use as edible oil, animal feed etc. Environmental Recommended Mitigation Measures Impacts Increased • Monitor energy use during construction and set demand of target for reduction of energy use. Install energy saving fluorescent tubes at all lighting points instead of bulbs which consume higher electric energy. Ensure electrical equipment, appliances and lights are switched off when not being used. • Proper maintenance of the machineries used at the ginneries. • Monitor noise levels to ensure that levels do not exceed 75dB(A). • Comply with noise and excessive vibration pollution control regulations of 2009. • provide PPE (ear protection) to persons who must operate within or visit the identified high noise areas. • Inform neighbours of noise generating construction activities to minimize disruption to local residents. • No discretionary use of noisy machinery. • Maintenance of machinery. • Regular monitoring to detect the pests early. • Employ integrated pest control at early stage before pests get out of hand. Increased water • Prompt reuse and recycling of water as much as demand and possible where necessary. consumption • Install a discharge meter at water outlet to monitor and determine total water usage. • Conduct regular checks, inspections and maintenance of pipes, taps and storage containers and tanks to fix leakages. • Sensitize the workers on water conservation. • Obtain water abstraction permit where necessary. Soil • irrigation to be done only when necessary to degradation- reduce salinization. loss of soil fertility, salinization • Proper management will enhance soil quality and increase productivity. and water • use recommended fertilizer and pesticides that logging do not degrade the soil. • Sensitize farmers to practice conservation agriculture. Water Pollution • A vegetated buffer zone between the water — from surface bodies and the BT-Cotton farms shall be runoff provided with suitable plants to absorb nutrients. contaminated with • Proper soil erosion measures to be put in place pesticides and to prevent sedimentation. fertilizer • Farms to be located at least 30M from the surface water bodies. • Sensitize the farmers to report any incident of poisoning suspected to be from water contamination. • Recommended agronomic and soil fertility maintenance measures will be applied. • Treatment of the waste from ginneries before disposal. Personal Protective equipment to be worn by people ploughing. Proper maintenance of the machinery. EMP for the operation phase energy- during construction of ginneries and stores; and running • the machines Noise and vibration- during construction of ginneries and stores Emergence of new pests Environmental Recommended Mitigation Measures Impacts • Sensitize the workers on water conservation. Food insecurity - due to abandonment of food crop production Malaria and other waterborne diseases human-wildlife conflict (in areas bordering/ with wild animals) B iodiversity loss —through invasion thus outcompeting local plants, Environmental Recommended Mitigation Measures Impacts • Where surface run off from the farms could flow residual pesticides and fertilizer (nutrients) into the water bodies. • Treatment of contaminated water from the farms will be done before drained in to the environment. • Erection of buffer plants at the lower edges of the farms to take up plant nutrients that may cause eutrophication to water bodies. • Annual Environmental Audits and Impact evaluation be done to assess the impacts of BT- Cotton adoption. • Use of an integrated solid waste management system i.e. through a hierarchy of options: 1. Source reduction 2. Recycling 3.Composting and reuse 4. Combustion 5. Sanitary land filling. • Use packaging materials that have minimal packaging to avoid the generation of excessive packaging waste. • procure cotton seeds with packaging materials that are environment friendly. • special containers to be used for storing used chemical containers/ packaging. • wastes with hazardous chemical content to be collected by an approved handler. • have a waste/ agrochemical management plan. • Alert other road users of the unusually increased traffic in the area (using posters, sign posts). • Planning on collection times to avoid heavy traffic. • Provision of several collection points to avoid jamming at one point. • Drive at less than 20krn/h where there is high human and animal populations. • Insurance covers for workers and property. Enforcement of the law prohibiting child labour. Educating the farmers and the students on the benefits of education. Educate the farmers on financial management. Train the community on conflict resolution mechanisms. Encourage couples to have joint bank accounts. Providing day and night security guards and adequate lighting within and around the stores and ginneries. Fencing off the sites. Firefighting equipment such as fire extinguishers should be provided at strategic locations such as stores and construction are. Signs such as "NO SMOKING" must be prominently displayed within the premises. Training workers on fire emergencies. • Formulate and enforce fire action plan. The full report of the proposed project is available for inspection during working hours at: (a) Principal Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, NHIF Building, Community, 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, Baringo, Busia, Kisumu, Siaya, Bungoma, Kitui, Meru, Machakos, Embu, Homabay, Elgeyo Marakwet, Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu, Tanariver, Kirinyaga, Tharaka Nithi, Makueni Counties. A copy of the 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 plan. Comments can also be emailed to dgnema@nema.go.ke MAMO B. MAMO, Director-General, MR/1354277 National Environment Management Authority.