Case Decision - 199109

Interim Comment
The SAHRA Archaeology, Palaeontology and Meteorites (APM) Unit requests that an assessment of the impact to heritage resources be undertaken as part of the EA process that complies with section 38(3) of the National Heritage Resources Act, Act 25 of 1999 (NHRA) as required by section 38(8) of the NHRA. The HIA must include an archaeological and palaeontological component.
As the location of the boreholes have not yet been established, a desktop based archaeological component of the HIA must be conducted by a qualified archaeologist and must comply with the SAHRA 2007 Minimum Standards: Archaeological and Palaeontological Components of Impact Assessment Reports (see www.asapa.co.za or www.aphp.org.za for a list of qualified archaeologists).
The proposed development is located within an area of moderate Palaeontological Sensitivity as per the SAHRIS PalaeoSensitivity map. As such, desktop based Palaeontological Impact Assessment (PIA) is requested to 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.
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.
The applicant is advised to extend the EA process in terms of section 19(1)b of the NEMA EIA Regulations in order to address this comment. Further comments will be issued upon receipt of the above requested reports and revised BAR that incorporates the results of the heritage specialist reports.