Case Decision - 198838

Interim Comment The SAHRA APM Unit notes that there are known cultural and/or heritage resources in the project area and there is potential impact on these resources. Therefore, the following needs to be undertaken in terms of section 24(4)b(iii) of NEMA and section 38(3) of the National Heritage Resources Act (25 of 1999) as part of the EA application process. Prospecting activities have the potential to impact negatively on heritage and/or cultural resources, therefore a heritage impact assessment must be conducted. A field-based  assessment of the impact to archaeological resources must be conducted by a qualified archaeologist. The report must comply with section 38(3) of the NHRA and the SAHRA 2006 Minimum Standards: Archaeological and Palaeontological Component of Impact Assessments, and the 2012 Minimum Standards: Archaeological Component of Heritage Impact Assessments. The Minimum Standards provides allowance for a Letter of Recommendation for Exemption that can be submitted by a qualified archaeologist should they deem it appropriate. Prospecting activities will take place in an area of Very High palaeontological sensitivity, a field-based assessment of the impact to palaeontological resources must be undertaken. The assessment must be conducted by a qualified palaeontologist. The report must comply with section 38(3) of the NHRA and the SAHRA 2006 Minimum Standards: Archaeological and Palaeontological Component of Impact Assessments, and the 2012 Minimum Standards: Palaeontological Component 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.
The assessment should include any other heritage resources that may be impacted such as built structures over 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.
Further comments will be issued upon receipt of the above and draft EIA with appendices.