Construction World June 2016

CRUSHING, SCREENING AND RECLAMATION

Understanding CHANGES in LEGISLATION Many crushing and screening operators may not be aware that there have been major changes to the regulations with respect to environmental authorisations and these companies can no longer simply operate a crushing and screening plant without environmental authorisation. >

Sonette Smit, managing director and senior environmental consultant, at Greenmined Environmental.

This is according to Sonette Smit, managing director and senior environmental consultant, at Greenmined Environmental, who explains that previously such a contractor would have identified a mining site (quarry or borrow pit), applied for a mining permit and then set up a crushing and screening operation. “This is no longer possible,” she cautions, pointing out that crushing and screening and washing of material was not previously a listed activity in terms of NEMA National Environment Management Act. “This changed, however, on 8 December 2014 when it became a listed activity and all such opera- tions now need to comply with the regulations,” Smit continues. She adds that it can be confusing for contractors as the requirements of those contractors that are operating a crushing, screening and washing operation in a borrow pit or quarry are different to those for a contractor that is crushing, screening and washing material from a road cutting, a dump or rubble on a construction site. First contractor The first contractor, extracting material from the borrow pit or quarry, will at least need a mining permit including a full environ- mental impact assessment (EIA) which takes a minimum of 297 days and this needs to be in place before any crushing activity can commence on the proposed site. Second contractor The second contractor, who is crushing mate- rial from a road cutting, dump or building rubble, only needs a full environmental impact assessment (EIA) and this application also takes a minimum of 297 days through the Department of Mineral Resources. Smit says more specialist studies are conducted for a full EIA as opposed to those done for a basic assessment. She says that the changes in the first scenario where a contractor will be crushing and screening from a borrow pit or quarry are

significant; especially in that the changes in legislation mean the application goes through one system only, covering authorisation for water, mining and environmental listed activities. The intention of the simultaneous processing of these applications at one depart- ment is to remove unnecessary red tape. In the past In the past the operator would only have had to apply for authorisation at each depart- ment – a mining permit/right which would have included an approved environmental management plan, Water Use Authorisation at the Department of Water and Sanitation and Environmental Authorisation at the Department of Environmental Affairs, where applicable. The new application is completely different. Changes in legislation have seen the regulations surrounding the Environmental Act, the Water Affairs Act and the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act combined into a single system. Smit says that while this is advantageous for crushing and screening operations as well as mines and quarries, the distinct lack of understanding around the requirements has made this quite daunting for individuals within these operations. The applications in themselves are not necessarily that complicated, however some of the terminology and information may seem foreign to non-scientists and the process could become onerous for personnel who have not handled this type of application previously. Greenmined environmental Greenmined Environmental is well positioned to handle applications for both the first and second scenarios as described above. The company, established in 2012, has a solid track record underpinned by the depth that resides within its team; these qualified and skilled individuals have over twenty years of professional service and experience in the environmental sector. It is through this level of expertise that the company is able to offer comprehensive environmental services and

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Requirements for operating a crushing, screening and washing operation in a borrow pit or quarry are different to those for crushing, screening and washing material from a road cutting, a dump or rubble on a construction site.

Many operators may not be aware there have been major changes to the regulations with respect to environmental authorisations.

CONSTRUCTION WORLD JUNE 2016