ENVIRONMENT IN FOCUS
EP3 Environmental
All access roads are governed by regulations under the National Environmental Management Act , 1998 ( Act No . 107 of 1998 ).
unreported because death takes a long time and may not be directly attributable to the right cause . Air quality monitoring should be undertaken on a regular basis to ensure compliance with national dust regulations . The purpose of the regulations is to prescribe general measures for the control of dust in all areas .
According to Van Schalkwyk , “ Any person who conducts any activity in such a way as to give rise to dust in meaningful quantities and concentrations must measure the dust content by means of an air-quality monitor .” The regulations are in terms of the National Environmental Management : Air Quality Act . Fine dust particles have a significant impact , as PM 2.5 can go straight into your bloodstream , while in agricultural areas it will stop cattle from feeding . Also controlled are air pollutants such as open fires and bitumen production plants , which have to be certified .
Biodiversity and water
Van Schalkwyk relates the example of one contractor fined for destroying protected trees without the necessary permit being in place from the Department of Agriculture ,
Forestry and Fisheries ( DAFF ). Like other aspects of environmental protection , the protection of South Africa ’ s biodiversity is taken seriously .
Water is a nationalised commodity , and the taking of any water requires a permit , with different levels of authorisation . A farmer cannot authorise a contractor or quarry to use water on his or her farm without a Water Use License being issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation for the abstraction of such water to be used for construction . Disposing of water found underground requires a license — and then only if it is necessary for the efficient continuation of an activity or for the safety of people . This issue especially relates to mining and quarrying , but also buildings where basements are installed in areas with shallow groundwater tables , explains van Schalkwyk .
“ No access is allowed through a water course and no equipment can be washed , such as washing off paint and running it into stormwater . This in fact is common practice on construction and other projects . Wastewater on a site can only be used for dust suppression , but there are also standards which govern this use .
“ Contractors on a building site cannot simply pump out unwanted water . All water belongs to the Department of Water and Sanitation , and if you abstract it you need a s21 permit . This is not only limited to mining and quarrying . Contractors are often not aware of the restrictions relating to water , and when we audit a site it is often the first thing we ask for — and audits are compulsory for construction sites . This issue was highlighted by the water shortage in Cape Town , when people started selling water from a borehole or spring water . They were declared illegal by the City of Cape Town ,” says van Schalkwyk . ■
EP3 Environmental is an environmental consultancy , specialising in environmental compliance monitoring and auditing ; construction environmental management , and the compilation and review of environmental management programmes . Eben van Schalkwyk is the founder and a director of EP3 , holding a master ’ s degree in environmental management .
36 _ QUARRY SA | SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018