Case Decision - 198516

Interim CommentIt is incumbent on the developer to ensure that a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) is done as per section 38(3) and 38(8) of the National Heritage Resources Act, Act 25 of 1999 (NHRA). This must include an archaeological component, palaeontological component and any other applicable heritage components. The HIA must be conducted as part of the EA Application in terms of NEMA and the NEMA EIA Regulations.The archaeological component of the HIA should follow the SAHRA 2007 Minimum Standards: Archaeological Component of Impact Assessment Report. The quickest process to follow for the archaeological component would be to contract a qualified archaeologist (see www.asapa.co.za or www.aphp.org.za). The Minimum Standards provides allowance for a Letter of Recommendation for Exemption from undertaking archaeological studies that can be submitted by a qualified archaeologist should they deem it appropriate.The proposed development area is located within an area of very high sensitivity sensitivity in terms of palaeontological resources as per the SAHRIS PalaeoSensitivity map. As such, a field based Palaeontological Impact Assessment (PIA) must be undertaken by a qualified palaeontologist (See https://www.palaeosa.org/heritage-practitioners.html for a list of qualified palaeontologists). The report must comply with the 2012 Minimum Standards: Palaeontological Components of Heritage Impact Assessments. The Minimum Standards provides allowance for a Letter of Recommendation for Exemption that can be submitted by a qualified palaeontologist should they deem it appropriate.Any other heritage resources as defined in section 3 of the NHRA that may be impacted, such as built structures over 60 years old, sites of cultural significance associated with oral histories, burial grounds and graves, graves of victims of conflict, and cultural landscapes or viewscapes must also be assessed.SAHRA will issue further comment upon submission of the PIA and HIA reports