GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 15459

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, Athi Water Works Development Agency proposes to construct a 3.1km DN 1400mm water transmission pipeline from Gigiri Water Reservoir to Karura Water Reservoir through Karura Forest. The objective of the transmission pipeline is to strengthen water supply within Zone 9 of the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company Limited (NCWSC) Supply Zones. The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Impacts Mitigation measures Impacts on trees (exotic and indigenous) along the water pipeline alignment within the forest. • Athi Water Works Development Agency (AWWDA) will secure a wayleave permit from Kenya Forest Service (KFS). Prior to issuance of the permit, KFS will value any trees that are likely to be affected and bill AWWDA alongside requisite permit fees. The pipeline is designed to be laid along Wangari Maathai Track alongside another existing pipeline and therefore no tree cutting is anticipated. • The pipeline alignment to be confined to the existing Wangari Mathai Track. However, in circumstances where a tree is to be cut, compensatory tree planting will be undertaken within a degraded area in the forest in Liaison with KFS and Friends of Karura Forest (FKF). • Areas to be cleared shall be agreed by Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and Friends of Karura Forest (FKF) before demarcation and clearance. • Whenever possible, all damaged areas shall be reinstated and rehabilitated upon completion of the contract to as near pre-construction conditions as possible. Impacts on water resources • Water containing such pollutants as cement, concrete, lime, chemicals and fuels shall be discharged into a conservancy tank. • Contractor shall prevent runoff loaded with sediment and other suspended materials from the site/working areas from discharging to drainage channels. • Debris and other material will be prevented from entering watercourses. • Discharges to watercourses and water bodies will only be carried out under consent of the relevant governing bodies such as Water Resources Authority (WRA). • At construction stage, the Contractor will prepare Specific Construction Environment and Social Management Plan (C-ESMP) 5006 5006 which shall include among others; Soil and Sedimentation Control Plan, Spoil Management Control Plan and Waste Management Plan. Impacts on soil resources • Sheet and rill erosion of soil shall be prevented where necessary through the use of sand bags, diversion berms, culverts or other physical means. • Topsoil shall be stockpiled separate from subsoil. Stockpiles shall not exceed 2 m height, shall be located away from drainage lines, shall be protected from rain and wind erosion, and shall not be contaminated. • Topsoil shall be evenly spread across the cleared areas when reinstated. • Accelerated erosion from storm events during construction shall be minimized through managing storm water runoff (e.g., velocity control measures). • Soil backfilled into excavations shall be replaced in the order of removal in order to preserve the soil profile. • Spread mulch generated from indigenous cleared vegetation across exposed soils after construction • At construction stage, the contractor will prepare Specific Construction Environment and Social Management Plan (C-ESMP) which shall include among others; Soil and Sedimentation Control Plan, Spoil Management Control Plan and Waste Management Plan. Community health safety and security impacts to hikers, joggers, tourists in the forest, etc. • Develop and monitor the implementation of a Community Health and Safety Management Plan (CHSMP). • Develop Emergency Response Plans (ERPs) in co-operation with local emergency authorities and hospitals. • Extend the Worker Code of Conduct to include guidelines on worker–community interactions and will provide training on the worker code of conduct to all employees including drivers as part of the induction process. • Provide primary health care and first aid at construction office sites to avoid pressure on local healthcare infrastructures. • Implement a Community Grievance Mechanism. • Develop and implement a Traffic Management Plan covering aspects such as vehicle safety, driver and passenger behavior, use of drugs and alcohol, operating hours, rest periods, community education on traffic safety and accident reporting and investigations. Occupational health and safety • Ensure that training on Health and Safety measures is provided to all construction workers prior to starting to work on the Project and that supervisors have adequate experience to deliver on their responsibilities. • Implement regular health and safety checks and audits of workers, and subcontractors and implementing sanctions in case of breaches of national standards and the Project’s specific standards. • Develop and implement a Workers Grievance Mechanism for the Project workforce including workers and sub-contractors. • Establish a procedure for the recording and analysis of incidents and lessons learned such that additional actions can be implemented to avoid or minimize occupational health and safety risks. • Ensure that facilities and work sites are designed and maintained such that robust barriers are in place to prevent accidents. • Ensure that its Code of Conduct is followed to regulate the performance and behavior of all workers, including provision for disciplinary action for anti-social behavior and non- compliance with health and safety regulations such as lack of use of PPE. The full report of the proposed project is available for inspection during working hours at: (a) Principal Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change 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, Nairobi City County. A copy of EIA 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 e-mailed to dgnema@nema.go.ke MAMO B. MAMO, Director-General, MR/6190443 National Environment Management Authority.