T H E P R O P O S E D D E V E L O P M E N T O F A B I O G A S F A C I L I T Y A T C S I R , P R E T O R I A

SCOPING AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

ASSESSMENT PROCESS AND WASTE

MANAGEMENT LICENCE APPLICATION FOR

THE PROPOSED BIOGAS FACILITY AT CSIR,

PRETORIA

PRESENTATION TO WARD COUNCILLOR

AND LOCAL RATEPAYERS

ASSOCIATIONS-28 MAY 2018

DEA Reference No. Pending

Chand Reference No. 03046

KEY AIMS OF THIS PRESENTATION

• Introduce the Proposal

• Introduce the Public Participation Process (PPP)

• Provide a Brief Description of the Sites under Investigation

• Provide an Overview of the Scoping and Environmental Impact Assessment

(S&EIA) Process, including Time Lines

• Provide you, as key Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs), an opportunity to

share your thoughts, concerns and opportunities prior to the publication of the

Scoping Report for the legislated 30-day public comment period.

• Facilitate a constructive discussion regarding the manner in which the local

I&APs may be engaged for the purposes of this S&EIA Process.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

YOUR ROLE AS A KEY STAKEHOLDER

• Listen to the information presented.

• Ask for clarification where necessary.

• Give meaningful, relevant comment (concerns or opportunity) in a focused

and succinct manner (i.e. no speeches, just clear questions).

• Disseminate the correct information to members of your community.

ROLE AS FACILITATOR

• To keep discussion focused on the key aims.

• To ensure that everyone is given a fair opportunity to speak.

• To assist in clarifying issues/comments.

THE PROJECT TEAM

• Applicant: Council for Scientific and Industrial

Research (CSIR)- Energy Centre Department

• Engineers: EPCM Consultants (Pty) Ltd

• Environmental Consultants: Chand Environmental

Consultants cc

THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS

• The Public Participation Process (PPP)

• Is in accordance with the proposed S&EIA process, required for any

proposal on the site and is intended to go beyond legislated requirements.

The requirements with respect to any additional permit applications (e.g.

WML, WUL, AEL) would be met through the activities of the S&EIA process.

• Is undertaken in recognition of issues identified by the project team,

specialists and optimising the concept proposal in conjunction with local

knowledge, and the surrounding community.

BRIEF CONTEXT OF THE PROJECT

• CSIR would like to become self-sufficient with regard to energy

provision and has a keen interest in renewable energy.

• It is, therefore, the intention of the CSIR to establish a biogas

facility with a maximum power output of 3MW on the property.

• A technical feasibility study was conducted in April 2015 and a

feasibility study pertaining to available feedstock within 50km of the CSIR was conducted in May 2017. These studies found

that the proposal would be viable.

• Note that the proposed facility would be located on the CSIR

property.

• Note that a town planning process will be run in parallel and

subsequent to the S&EIA process. The town planners are The Practice

Group.

KEY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE IDEAL SITE

• It has been determined that the following minimum

requirements need to be met for the chosen site:

1. Be relatively flat and stable in terms of topography.

2. Be accessible in terms of existing infrastructure.

3. Be close to the main CSIR transformer that should be the

most feasible point of connection.

4. Be able to allow easy access for waste trucks.

5. Be relatively close to CSIR’s heating requirements.

6. Be approximately 15,000 m2 (1.5ha).

7. Be located a fair distance from CSIR neighbours.

8. Avoid any environmentally sensitive areas.

DESCRIPTION OF THE THREE SITES UNDER

CONSIDERATION • Three sites will be considered during the scoping phase.

SITE 1

• Site 1 is vacant and covered with a mixture of natural and alien vegetation.

• It is located within a Critical Biodiversity Area (CBA) as designated in the Gauteng

Conservation Plan (C-Plan).

SITE 2

• Site 2 is also vacant and comprises largely of manicured gardens.

SITE 3

• Site 3 has been cleared and a photovoltaic energy system has been established

on the site.

WHAT IS PROPOSED?

• The proposed biogas (waste-to-energy) facility has the following key aspects

to note:

o Maximum power output would be 3MW;

o Feedstock used would be locally sourced and comprise only of 100%

organic materials;

o Up to 45 000 tons of organic feedstock would be accepted at the proposed

facility per year;

o No sorting of feedstock would occur on site (i.e. as the feedstock is

received, it would be processed in the facility rather than standing for long

periods of time);

o There would be a gas store of approximately 3 x 9,000m3 tanks;

o An access road or upgrades to the local network may be required;

o The proposed facility would operate 24 hours a day, seven days per week

and 350 days per year (with downtime accounted for).

o Feedstock would be received during normal work hours between 8:00 and

17:00, six days a week. • Please note that the engineers have recently been appointed and the figures with regard to feedstock,

gas storage, water use, and effluent are currently being calculated by them and the most up-to-date

figures will be provided in the Scoping Report.

TYPICAL ANAEROBIC DIGESTION (AD)

PROCESS

• Source of image: Recycle for Wales (Welsh Government)

http://www.recycleforwales.org.uk/sites/files/recyclenow/9.3.5%20How%20Anaerobic%20Digestion%20works%20English.pdf

TYPICAL ANAEROBIC DIGESTION (AD)

PROCESS- INSIDE THE DIGESTER

• Source of image: Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) http://adbioresources.org/about-

ad/what-is-ad/

LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS S&EIA PROCESS:

• The proposal triggers listed activities contained in the 2014 EIA regulations, as amended

(in April 2017), in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act 107

of 1998) (NEMA), as amended. The proposal also triggers activities in terms of the

National Environmental Management: Waste Act No.59 of 2008, as amended

(NEM:WA). A S&EIA process is required to obtain Environmental Authorisation.

• Notice of Intent to Submit an application has been lodged with the DEA and a pre-

application meeting was held on 14 June 2016.

• An Atmospheric Emissions Licence (AEL) in terms of the National Environmental

Management: Air Quality Act No. 39 of 2004, as amended (NEM:AQA) would also be

required.

• In terms of Section 38(1) of the National Heritage Resources Act (Act 25 of 1999), a

Notice of Intent to Develop will be submitted to the South African Heritage Resources

Agency (SAHRA)- they will confirm whether further assessment is necessary.

• Activities identified in terms of Section 21 (c) and (i) of the National Water Act (Act 36

of 1998) (NWA) may also be triggered by the proposal. This will be further investigated

during the scoping phase.

LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS CONTINUED…

S&EIA PROCESS:

NEMA Listed Activities:

Government Notice No.327 – Listing Notice 1

(19) The infilling or depositing of any material of more than 10 cubic metres into, or the dredging, excavation,

removal or moving of soil, sand, shells, shell grit, pebbles or rock of more than 10 cubic metres from a

watercourse…

(11(ii)) The development of facilities or infrastructure for the transmission and distribution of electricity inside urban

areas or industrial complexes with a capacity of 275 kilovolts or more…

(25) The development and related operation of facilities or infrastructure for the treatment of effluent, wastewater

or sewage with a daily throughput capacity of more than 2000 cubic metres, but less than 15000 cubic metres.

Government Notice No.325 – Listing Notice 2

(4) The development of facilities or infrastructure, for the storage, or storage and handling of a dangerous good,

where such storage occurs in containers with a combined capacity of more than 500 cubic metres.

(6) The development of facilities or infrastructure for any process or activity which requires a permit or licence or

an amended permit or licence in terms of national or provincial legislation governing the generation or release of

emissions, pollution or effluent…

Government Notice No.324 – Listing Notice 3

(4(c)(iv)) The development of a road wider than 4 metres with a reserve less than 13, 5 metres, in Gauteng, at

sites identified as Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBAs) and Ecological Support Areas (ESAs) in the Gauteng

Conservation Plan or in bioregional plans…

(12(c)(ii)) The clearance of an area of 300 square metres or more of indigenous vegetation except where such

clearance of indigenous vegetation is required for maintenance purposes undertaken in accordance with a

maintenance management plan.

Within critical biodiversity areas or Ecological Support Areas identified in the Gauteng Conservation Plan or

bioregional plans;

LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS CONTINUED(2)…

S&EIA PROCESS:

NEM:WA Listed Activities: Category B Waste Management Activity(ies) as set out in List of Waste

Management Activities (GN No. R. 921) (3) The recovery of waste including the refining, utilization, or co-processing of the waste at a facility that processes in excess of 100 tons of general waste per day or in excess of 1

ton of hazardous waste per day, excluding recovery that takes place as an integral part

of an internal manufacturing process within the same premises.

The proposed facility would process approximately 45,000 tons of waste per annum.

Although it is the intention of the CSIR to use general waste, certain components thereof

may be considered hazardous and the inclusion of this Listed Activity allows for a more

flexible EA.

(10) The construction of facilities for activities listed in Category B of this Schedule (not in isolation to associated activity).

OTHER There would also be a need for an Atmospheric Emissions Licence (AEL) in terms of the

National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act No. 39 of 2004, as amended

(NEM:AQA) and potentially a Water Use Licence (WUL) in terms of the National Water Act

No. 36 of 1998 (NWA).

OVERVIEW OF

S&EIA PROCESS

WITH KEY PUBLIC

ENGAGEMENT

OPPORTUNITIES

WE ARE HERE

This is an important

aspect of the

process which will require a team

effort to reach the

community.

Pre-application meeting with DEA: 14 June

2016

Meeting with Ward Councillor and

local Ratepayers Associations- 28

May 2018

Advertisement of proposal and

Circulation of BID for 30 days

30 May to 28 June 2018

Specialist Studies for

Scoping Phase

Submission of EIA Application (along

with WML and possibly WUL

Application)- DEA to provide reference

number

Circulation of Scoping Report

for 30-day Public Review

Additional Focus Group Meetings with Key I&APs,

if required

Submission of Scoping Report to the DEA for Acceptance

DEA Accept/Reject Scoping

Report

Specialist Studies for EIA Phase

Circulation of Environmental Impact Report

for 30-day Public Review

Additional Focus Group Meetings with Key I&APs, if

required

Submit Final EIR to the

DEA

DEA Decision-making

period (107 + 5 days)

Notify I&APs of decision and

opportunity to appeal

ALTERNATIVES TO BE ASSESSED

SCOPING PHASE

• Three site alternatives will be considered during the scoping phase and the preferred site alternative will be put forward during the EIA phase for further detailed assessment.

EIA PHASE

• The alternatives to be assessed during the EIA phase have yet to be determined and will be based on the designs provided by the engineers, specialist findings and comments received from I&APs. However, the following alternatives represent the typical types of alternatives which could be assessed:

1. Layout alternatives;

2. Access alternatives;

3. Technology alternatives;

4. Design alternatives; and/ or

5. Operational/ process alternatives.

SPECIALIST INPUT

• Input from the following specialists is informing the environmental study:

• Heritage: Ms. Melanie Attwell

Melanie Attwell & Associates

• Botanist: Mr. Willem de Frey

EkoInfo cc & Associates

• Freshwater: Ms. Vanessa Marais

Galago Environmental

• Air Quality: Ms. Terri Bird

Airshed Planning Professionals

• Traffic: Ms. Elma Human

ITS Engineers

• Risk (MHI): CSIR and peer reviewed by Mr. Terence Thackwray

MHR Consultants

• Stormwater: Mr. M Vema

CSIR Built Environment

• Baseline studies and Impact Assessments will be undertaken and mitigation measures

will be recommended and included in the final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and

Environmental Management Programme (EMPr).

S&EIA TIME LINE

• Advertisement of the proposal and distribution of a BID for comment- May/ June 2018

• Submission of application – August 2018

• Public Review Period for Scoping Report – 30 days from Sep to Oct 2018

• Additional Focus Group Meeting, if required – mid September 2018

• Submit Scoping Report – end Oct 2018

• DMR Decision on Scoping Report- mid Dec 2018 (or mid Jan 2018, depending on

annual shutdown)

• Public Review of Environmental Impact Report – 30 days from Feb to March 2019

• Additional Focus Group Meeting, if required – mid Feb 2019

• Submission of Final EIR- mid April 2019

• Authority Decision within 107 days- approximately mid July 2019

• Appeal Period follows the Environmental Authorisation

YOUR COMMENTS ARE IMPORTANT

Questions or Comments?

Means of effectively engaging the community?

Relevant

Stakeholders?

Using local

communication

networks?

Potential Issues/

Impacts?

Facilitated by Ms. Marielle Penwarden

Thank You for your Attendance and Input.

All registered I&APs will be kept informed and notified of the status of the project and future opportunities to participate.

DISCUSSION