Heritage Cases

Proposed Centralised Waste Water Treatment Plant and Planned Expansions Requiring Clearance of Land, Assmang Black Rock Mine Operations The proposed activities will include the construction of a centralised Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP), various expansions of administrative and service facilities and associated infrastructure. The expansion of wastewater treatment capacity will occur by rerouting the existing wastewater, that is currently treated at three separate facilities on each of the mines, to a centralised facility. The larger singular facility will also provide BRMO with an opportunity to upgrade the facility and prevent spills from occurring at the other existing facilities. Furthermore, the existing waste treatment works at Black Rock, Nchwaning II and Gloria will require decommissioning. A further aspect of the proposed development is the inclusion of a reverse osmosis plant to augment potable water supply at the mine. The RO Plant will produce a brine and it is proposed that this brine is sent to evaporation ponds for treatment such that water can be evaporated to leave salts that can then be disposed of to an appropriately licenced landfill. The proposed activities will be undertaken at all three of BRMO mining operations (Gloria mine, Nchwaning II and Black Rock). The proposed development includes activities listed in terms of the National Environmental Management Act (Act 107 of 1998), as well as the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act 59 of 2008), and thus BRMO has applied for an Integrated Environmental Authorisation in terms of the National Environmental Management Act. A scoping and environmental impact assessment (EIA) process must be undertaken, in accordance with the environmental impact assessment regulations GN. R 982 of 2014 as amended, to authorise the proposed activities. Ptn. 1 Gloria 266; Ptn. 2 Nchwaning 267; Ptn 1 of Santoy 230; Remaining Extent of Belgravia 264; Ptn 1 of Belgravia 264; Ptn. 1 Nchwaning 267 Santoy, Northern Cape