Case Decision - 197914

Interim Comment
The SAHRA Archaeology, Palaeontology, and Meteorites (APM) Unit notes the submission of the BID document as notification of the proposed N4 upgrades of Schoemanskloof road R539between eMgwenya and Mbombela. Portions of the road upgrades will cross regions with low, high and very high palaeontological sensitivity, and according to the palaeomap policy a field based survey will be required. An assessment of impacts to heritage resources and palaeontological resources must be undertaken as part of the EA application. A Heritage Impact Assessment must be undertaken by a suitably qualified archaeologist and it must comply with section 38(3) of the National Heritage Resources Act, Act 25 of 1999 (NHRA), and it must follow the SAHRA 2007 Minimum Standards: Archaeological and Palaeontological Components of Impact Assessment Reports and section 38(3) of the NHRA. A Palaeontological Impact Assessment must also be undertaken by a suitably qualified palaeontologist and the report must comply with the 2012 palaeontology minimum standards guideline document.Once the report is submitted to the case for commenting, SAHRA will provide further comments on this proposed development.
All these documents will be assessed by SAHRA and the comment issued must be included in the EIAr.
All environmental documents compiled in support of the EA application must also be submitted to the case.