BRACe received the following communication from Andrew Nicholson of Umhlaba Environmental Consulting CC

AfriSam (South Africa) Properties (Pty) Ltd (AfriSam) Jukskei Quarry, has applied to the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) to amend their existing approved Environmental Management Programme Report (EMPR).

Quarrying operations at the Jukskei Quarry commenced in the 1960’s and continue today. Jukskei Quarry has a converted mining right GP 164 MR which currently covers an area of 104.6248 hectares over a certain portion of the remaining extent of portion 1 of the Farm Waterval 5 IR. AfriSam has agreed with Witwatersrand Estates Limited’s (WEL), the owner of the property, that AfriSam will abandon and close certain sections of its mining right, these sections are known as;

• “Area 1 Closure”, the northern section of the mining area including the brick manufacturing area which is not operated by AfriSam; and
• “Area 2 Closure”, a portion in the south east of the mining area.

A separate application has been submitted to the DMR to facilitate the required closure of Area 1 and Area 2. As a result of the changes, the existing approved EMPR requires an amendment to reflect;

• the changes in the current Mining Area;
• up to date baseline environmental information; and
• current environmental management practices.

The application for the amendment to the EMPR is being undertaken in accordance with Section 31 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation, 2014. These regulations require the applicant to undergo a public participation process as part of the amendment application.

You have been identified as a potential interested and affected party (I&AP). Please click here to this correspondence a Background Information Document (BID) which provides more details concerning the application. You are invited to register as an Interested & Affected Party (I&AP) with your name, contact information and interest in the matter, on or before 31 March 2017 to:

Andrew Nicholson of Umhlaba Environmental Consulting CC at any of the following details:

• Post: P.O. Box 731504, Fairland, 2030 
• Tel: (011) 791 3389 
• Fax: (011) 791 3384 
•  E-mail: andrew@umhlaba.co.za.

The draft Amended EMPR will be available at www.umhlaba.co.za from 1 March 2017 for a 30 day commenting period.  All comments will be captured and responded to within the final Amended EMPR which will be lodged to the DMR for a decision.

A public meeting will be held on;

• A Public meeting will be held on 16th March 2017 @ 14:00 at Jukskei Quarry. You are invited to attend. Confirmation of your attendance would be appreciated.

Should you require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact the writer.