Case Decision - 351425

Interim Comment

SAHRA notes the submitted DBAR. When the HIA and PIA are ready for review, they must be uploaded to the case. The assessment of impacts to heritage resources and palaeontological resources must be undertaken as part of the EA application. The assessment must include an assessment of the impact to archaeological and palaeontological resources. The field-based assessment of archaeological resources must be conducted by a qualified archaeologist and the report 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 HIA must include a tracklog of the site survey.

The proposed development is located within an area of very high Palaeontological Sensitivity 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. 

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 SAHRA will comment further on the application when the above-mentioned documents are submitted. The applicant is advised to extend the EA process in terms of section 19(1) of the NEMA EIA regulations in order to address this comment.