Scoping and EIA Process: Application for Environmental Authorisation with regards an Exploration Right Application for Petroleum on various farms in the KwaZulu-Natal Province (12/3/291 ER)Rhino Oil and Gas Exploration South Africa (Pty) Ltd (Rhino Oil and Gas) has lodged an application for an exploration right with the Petroleum Agency South Africa (PASA) in terms of Section 79 of the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (MPRDA) and an application for environmental authorisation of exploration activities in terms of Section 24(5) of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (NEMA). The application is subject to a Scoping and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process that is being undertaken in terms of the EIA Regulations 2014 (GNR 982, 8 December 2014). PASA accepted the Scoping Report on 10 June 2016, indicating that the EIA may proceed.
Scope Changes: Subsequent to the Scoping Report, Rhino Oil and Gas reduced the extent of the ER application area through exclusion of all protected areas. Rhino Oil and Gas has also reviewed additional geological data, determined that certain areas are unlikely to be prospective and has excluded these areas. A map of the revised application area is available from SLR Consulting (Pty) Ltd (SLR). Rhino Oil and Gas has also excluded ground-based exploration activities (core hole drilling and seismic surveys) from the application for environmental authorisation. The current focus of the application and the related environmental assessment work is now only on remote exploration techniques (including analysis of existing data & aerial full tensor gradiometry gravity survey). If approved, Rhino Oil and Gas would be in a position to conduct the remote exploration techniques. Should Rhino Oil and Gas propose in future to conduct ground based exploration activities they would need to make further application to PASA and undertake a separate environmental assessment and authorisation process. A benefit of this revised approach is that future applications and assessments of ground based exploration activities would be focused on specified sites.
This notice serves to inform Interested & Affected Parties (I&APs) that SLR has prepared an environmental impact report (EIR), including an environmental management programme. The purpose of the EIR is to summarise the EIA process followed to date; provide an overview of the proposed project and the affected environment; present the assessment of the potential impacts; and set out the recommended mitigation measures. The EIR is being made available to I&APs for a 30-day comment period from the 13th of September 2016 until the 14th of October 2016. Copies of the EIR have been placed at the following locations for public review:
The EIR is also available to download from the SLR website. To do so, please visit: http://www.ccaenvironmental.co.za/sub-oil-gas-minerals/. Alternatively, contact SLR and an electronic copy of the EIR can be emailed or provided on CD. An executive summary of the EIR is also available on request in English or isiZulu.
All comments on the EIR should be submitted to SLR at the details shown below. Comments received will be used to update the EIR, as relevant, and copies of all the comments will be included with the EIR when submitted to PASA. Please ensure that your comments reach SLR on or before the 14th of October 2016.
Matthew Hemming (Project Manager) and/or Stella Moeketse (Public Participation) by
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and/or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Tel: 011 467 0945 Fax: 011 467 0975 Post: PO Box 1596, Cramerview, 2060
I&APS are invited to attend one of a series of open days and public meetings. The purpose of the open day and public meeting is to inform I&APs of the findings of the EIA process and provide opportunity for questions and comment. The details are provided below:
