GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 3617

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, Durable Africa Investments Limited proposes to install equipment and machinery for a steel processing plant within an existing godown for manufacturing, processing as well as recycling of steel products to produce reinforcement bars, steel nails, wire rods and wire mesh to be sold locally and for export on Plot L.R. No. Thika Municipality Block 18/1969, located in Kianjau Sub-location, Makongeni Location, Thika West Sub-County, Kiambu County. The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Environmental Impact Mitigation Measures proposed Degradation of air quality • Relevant legislative and Kenya Standard design requirements will be adhered to where appropriate. • Vehicles and machinery will be regularly maintained. • Maintenance activities requiring purging of gas will be minimized and conducted under favorable Meteorological conditions (to facilitate rapid atmospheric dispersion). • Best practice measures are implemented to minimize the potential for dust to be generated and escape off-site. Pollution from solid waste generation • Develop strategies (waste management plan) for management of specific waste streams prior to construction phase. • Stockpile and salvage reusable and recyclable wastes, such as timber Skids, fiber /nylon rope spacers, pallets, drums and scrap metals. • Store hazardous wastes in bonded areas away from watercourses. • Collect and remove (via NEMA approved waste handler) waste from site for recycling, reuse or disposal at facility licensed to accept such wastes. • All personnel will be instructed in project waste management practices as a component of the environmental induction process. 17th March, 2023 THE KENYA GAZETTE Environmental Impact Mitigation Measures proposed • Where practical, wastes (e.g., scrap metal) will be segregated and reused/recycled. • All litter and general waste disposal will be at a local municipal landfill utilizing an approved waste contractor. • Records of all controlled wastes stored, and removed from site will be maintained. • Safety and response training will be provided for all personnel. • Materials and equipment for responding to hazardous spill incidents will be provided and maintained. Noise quality • Construction activities near sensitive places shall be restricted to normal working hour unless otherwise agreed with the potentially affected stakeholder(s). • Relevant legislative and Kenya Standard design requirements will be adhered to where appropriate. • Adequate community notice of any scheduled, atypical noise events will be provided. • Equipment will be fitted with noise control devices where possible and appropriate. Soil quality • Minimizing the areas to be excavated. • Re-vegetating disturbed areas once construction and demolition works are completed; during construction and decommissioning phases, respectively. • Ensuring that vehicles/equipment used during construction and decommissioning phases are serviced regularly. Water quality • Develop strategies for management of water resources. • Regular checking and maintenance of all plant and machinery to minimize the risk of fuel or lubricant leakages. • Storing hydrocarbons, fuels, lubricants and chemicals to be used in bunded and lockable oil storage tanks, with hoses and gauges kept within the bund. • Leaving vegetation in-situ wherever possible and re-vegetation of bare soil before the next rainy season. • Exposed ground and stockpiles will be minimized to reduce silty runoff, and if necessary measures such as geotextiles will be used to shield spoil mounds. • Preventing wet concrete and cement from entering watercourse; Stockpiles to be kept away from watercourses. Health and safety • Development and Implementation of occupational health and safety plan. The Plan will cover on the following: • Formulation of EHS Management system. • Development of health and safety programmer. • Risk assessment and health monitoring Environmental Impact Mitigation Measures proposed for workers Contractor selection criteria in relation to health and safety. • Job description to include health and safety requirements. Social economic impacts • During construction phase, the proponent will be encouraged to source labor from the community where possible. • During operation phase, the Proponent will utilize their existing human resource policy in hiring personnel required to operate the plant. • The Proponent will ensure that hiring of personnel follows the Kenya Labor Laws and that there will be no discrimination on the grounds of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, and political affiliation. 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, 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, Kiambu 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 project. Comments can also be emailed to dgnema@nema.go.ke MAMO B. MAMO, Director-General, MR/4255259 National Environment Management.