Chapter 16:ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING, AUDITING AND REHABILITATION

Author:Bryan Tladi(1)  Dries Visser(1) (late) Stuart Mangold(2) 
Lucia Chauke(2) and Deon Swart(3)

1.Bohlweki Enviromental(pty)Ltd,Midrand,Johannesburg
2.North West Dept.Agriculture,Conservation and Environment Mafikeng
3.North West Dept.Agriculture,Conservation and Environment Potchefstroom


CONTENTS
  1. Ambient Environmental Monitoring
  2. Compliance Monitoring, Auditing and Enforcement
  3. Environmental Rehabilitation Measures
    4.
References

Appendices:

Appendix 1:

Proposed environmental and sustainable development indicators from DEAT indicator project.

16.1 Ambient Environmental Monitoring

16.1.1 Introduction

Ambient environmental monitoring is important to keep a "finger on the pulse" of environmental trends, as well as to track both long and short-term changes. It includes the collection of pertinent environmental data and information in a regular and standardised manner, and compiling successive audit or analysis results. Data collection and audits should be undertaken in such a way to ensure that results are reliable and comparable in both the long- and short- term. Environmental standards, norms and criteria against which results can be compared are usually reflected in regulations published in terms of environmental legislation. In South Africa, however, legislated environmental standards are uncommon. Therefore, many environmental monitoring agencies apply standards that are not legally binding, but are generally accepted.
Key aspects of the environment which require monitoring include: The National Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) has initiated a participatory process for the development of sustainable development indicators for the purposes of reporting on the state of the environment, as well as measuring implementation of the environmental implementation and management plans. The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) will join in the process by reviewing use and application of currently employed measurements and, if required, developing more appropriate, resource-specific indicators and other measurements to evaluate sustainability and environmental performance. For a list of proposed environmental and sustainable development indicators emanating from the DEAT Indicator project, please refer to Appendix 1 and the section on environmental indicators.

16.1.2 Air quality monitoring

Standards for emissions from industrial processes are set by the Chief Air Pollution Control Officer at DEAT. A list of scheduled processes is provided within the Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act (Act No. 45 of 1965). These processes are listed activities, which may have a detrimental impact on the environment in terms of the EIA Regulations promulgated under the Environment Conservation Act (Act No. 73 of 1989), and also require an EIA to be undertaken (see Chapter 14). The authorisation for the undertaking of a listed activity has been delegated to provincial level (in terms of GN R1184 of 5 September 1997).

Some information on ambient air quality is currently being generated from monitoring stations on the North West Province (most of which are located in urban areas in the eastern region). However, little is known about the current state of air quality and trends in atmospheric concentrations of major pollutants on a provincial scale (see Chapter 8).

Air quality monitoring in the North West Province is undertaken by government and industry. Monitoring of smoke emissions into the air from scheduled and unscheduled processes is the main monitoring undertaken, in order to ensure that emissions comply with standards of carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and other dangerous gases or particles. One such initiative is undertaken by the Rustenburg Air Quality Forum.

16.1.3 Water quantity and quality monitoring

Legislative provisions

In terms of the National Water Act (Act No. 36 of 1998), water is a national resource over which the State has total control. A licensing mechanism enables the State to regulate the use, flow and control of all water in South Africa. The implementation of this principle makes it possible for mechanisms to be put in place to manage water resources taking into account the entire water cycle. Application for water use is required to be made through the relevant regional DWAF offices, which make recommendations to the national DWAF regarding the license.

Chapter 3 of the National Water Act (Act No. 36 of 1998) requires that a water classification system be drawn up by the Minister, through guidelines and standards applying to the nation as a whole. Using this classification system, the Minister must assign a class to "all or part of every significant water resource" and determine resource quality objectives for it. The objectives, in particular, will play an important role in ensuring the maintenance of environmental quality.

In addition, the National Water Act stipulates the determination of the reserve of a water resource before it can be utilised. This reserve consists of two parts: the basic human needs reserve and the ecological reserve. Once the reserve is proclaimed following a process of public participation, it is binding on all authorities and institutions.

Water quantity and quality monitoring is undertaken throughout the North West Province by various agencies, including national government, provincial government, local government, water forums and the private sector.

River Health Programme

The River Health Programme (RHP), a national biomonitoring initiative, was launched in the North West Province in 1999. It relies upon the monitoring of living organisms to determine the biotic integrity of the aquatic environment (biomonitoring), and also provides a useful measure of the ecological state of a river and a reflection of prevailing surface water quality. It is a useful technique that provides an early warning with regards to deterioration in water quality. Chronic effects of non-point source pollution, such as pesticides or excessive fertiliser run-off from farmlands, can also be detected using biomonitoring.

The most common biomonitoring technique currently utilised by the RHP is the South African Scoring System (SASS), which is used to sample the resident freshwater invertebrate fauna (i.e. all aquatic animals without a backbone). What has been unequivocally shown is that certain "sensitive" invertebrate species vanish with a change in either water quality or quantity, while other "tolerant" species remain or may even become highly prolific. Based on this premise, numeric scores have been assigned to the various invertebrate families, based on their perceived "sensitivity" or "tolerance" to water pollution. Therefore, the presence or absence of species on this "tolerance - sensitivity" continuum at a particular site provides an insight into the prevailing water quality. SASS also records the diversity of invertebrate families encountered, another important indicator of ecosystem health.

Also included in the suite of bio-monitoring indices is the Integrated Habitat Assessment System (IHAS), which is used to ascertain the state of the aquatic habitat on which all life depends for a place to live. A Fish Community Integrity Index (FCII), a Riparian Vegetation Index, Geomorphological Index (for the monitoring of the physical aspects of the river channel) and a Hydrological Index (for monitoring water flow) are others that have been developed.
The North West Provincial River Health Programme champion who is charged implementing the RHP provincially, is a North West DACE staff member. The results of routine biomonitoring of key rivers in the North West Province will be recorded in an electronic database and will form an important component of the environmental reporting system, both provincially and nationally.

Monitoring undertaken by DWAF

Monitoring of impoundments - DWAF routinely monitors the status of 17 important dams within the North West Province in the Limpopo, Orange and Vaal River catchments. This monitoring is geared towards the assessment of fullness of the dams in relation to the net full supply capacity of each dam. The dams are monitored on a weekly basis. These reports can be accessed from the DWAF website (http://www-dwaf.pwv.gov.za/directorate/waters/damlevels).

Monitoring of groundwater - Groundwater is an important source of water in the North West Province. Many rural and urban communities are totally dependent on underground water for domestic and agricultural purposes. Groundwater quality in the Province is generally in an acceptable state, with most important quality parameters, which are usually analysed, falling within the recommended limits of the SABS 241-specification for drinking water. The National Groundwater Quality Monitoring (NGWQM) is currently being undertaken by the North West Province regional DWAF office. The sampling network of this programme is, however, restricted to only two boreholes per district, which are selected outside villages and towns in areas where no physical activities by humans that can contaminate groundwater occur. This is done in order to obtain a background quality of the water, which can be compared to water sampled from areas which are impacted on by man's activities.

At present, DWAF uses a wide range of indicators to measure and monitor the progress of its work. Many of the indicators are social, economic and ecological in nature, but have not been specifically designed with environmental sustainability in mind. The following are examples of measurements currently used in the monitoring of water quantity and quality: Monitoring by river forums

The following river forums are monitoring rivers in the Province or currently developing monitoring programmes: Local and regional monitoring programmes

The following water quantity and quality monitoring projects are currently underway in the central region of the North West Province: Routine monitoring of river water quality is undertaken by district councils of the following towns: All mines within the North West Province are required to implement a water monitoring programme in accordance with the water permits issued to them. A condition of these permits is that monitoring must be conducted at specific points both upstream and downstream of the mine, and that both surface and groundwater must be monitored for any pollutants. Records of monitoring results are required to be kept by all mines and municipalities, and submitted to the regional DWAF office periodically.

Other water monitoring and bio-monitoring activities undertaken in the North West Province include long-term bio-monitoring and chemical monitoring of the Crocodile River below Hartebeespoort Dam by NECSA, Pelindaba.

16.1.4 Waste monitoring

Legislative provisions

The relevant permitting of waste disposal sites is a requirement in terms of Section 20 of the Environment Conservation Act (No 73 of 1989). In terms of the EIA Regulations, this is a listed activity which may have a detrimental impact on the environment, and therefore an EIA is required to be undertaken. In terms of the ECA, responsibility for waste management and permitting has been delegated to the provincial level.

As DEAT does not have the capacity or relevant skills to deal with the permitting of waste disposal sites, DEAT and DWAF came to a co-operative agreement that DWAF will continue to act as an agent for DEAT in the permitting of landfills, as well as the monitoring of conditions of permitting.

Solid waste

The effective and environmentally responsible disposal of solid waste is a process comprising storage, collection, transportation and landfilling. A breakdown or deficiency in any one or more of these operations can result in either a total or partial disruption of the service. Waste management must be carefully planned to curtail the risk associated with the handling and disposal of waste to the point where it is acceptable to man and the environment.

In terms of Section 20 of the Environment Conservation Act waste must be disposed of at a waste disposal facility. The issuing of a permit for a waste disposal facility is the responsibility of DWAF. In order to ensure compliance in terms of the specifications of the permit of registered landfills, monitoring of these landfills is required. Monitoring of landfill operation serves as a performance indicator, and hence a control or management tool for the landfill operator. The extent and frequency of monitoring is dependent on the site classification and is indicated in the permit issued by DWAF.

Monitoring is required to be carried out by the landfill operator to the satisfaction of DWAF.
Permitting, operation and closure of all solid waste disposal sites, as well as the monitoring of these sites is required in accordance with the Minimum Requirements for Waste Disposal by Landfill (DWAF 1998a).

Hazardous waste

Hazardous waste, nuclear waste, waste from mines and medical waste from hospitals and clinics is required to be disposed of at an appropriately licensed waste disposal facility. The issuing of a permit for a hazardous waste disposal facility (including hazardous waste, nuclear waste and medical waste from hospitals and clinics) is the responsibility of DWAF.

In order to ensure compliance in terms of the specifications of the permit of registered landfills, monitoring of these landfills is required to be undertaken. Permitting, operation and closure of all hazardous waste disposal sites, as well as the monitoring of these sites is required in accordance with the Minimum Requirements for Waste Disposal by Landfill (DWAF 1998a) and the Minimum Requirements for the Handling, Classification and Disposal of Hazardous Waste (DWAF 1998b).
The disposal of mining waste is regulated and monitored by the Department of Minerals and Energy in terms of the Minerals Act (No 50 of 1991).

Wastewater

In order to obtain maximum utilisation of available water resources, used water or wastewater from mines and industries must be returned to its original condition or standard. The quality of wastewater must be of such a standard so as not to negatively affect the quality of the body of water into which it is returned. The three primary components that must be removed from wastewater are carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous. In terms of the National Water Act (Act No. 36 of 1998), a permit is required from DWAF for the discharge of any wastewater. The quality of the wastewater is stipulated within this permit and is required to be monitored by the regional DWAF office.

16.1.5 Soil quality monitoring

Soil quality monitoring is a very important aspect in the province. This stems from the fact that one of the major economic activities in the province is agriculture, to which soil quality is a critical aspect. Soil quality monitoring in the North West Province is undertaken by the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) and the North West Provincial Department of Agriculture Conservation and Environment Technical Support Services in Potchefstroom. No information on this monitoring programme was available at the time of finalising this report.

16.1.6 Faunal and floral biodiversity and heritage sites monitoring

Hunting on tribal land

Animal census and game counts are undertaken on tribal land in order to inform the Regulatory services regarding the allocation of quotas for hunting of various animals, e.g. kudu, impala and bushbuck. Monitoring of hunting is undertaken throughout the year, and illegal hunting is required to be reported to the regulatory services.

Utilisation of wild indigenous plants

Concern is mounting over the current rate of harvesting of indigenous plants such as Harpagophytum procumbens (Devil's Claw) in the North West Province. Devil's Claw is indigenous medicinal plant which is widely used in traditional and western medicine and as result demand is increasing with export. Monitoring of harvesting and populations is required in order to ensure the sustainable harvesting of wild populations of this valuable plant, which grows naturally in the western region of the North West Province.

Utilisation of endangered and protected species of plants and animals (CITES)

Monitoring is required in order to ensure that the use of such fauna and flora is consistent with the regulations and policies in place to protect these species. This is further explained in the Biodiversity chapter.

Heritage sites

Monitoring is required in order to ensure that both natural and cultural heritage sites of the North West Province are well looked after and cared for. This is a function that is predominantly undertaken under the auspices of the South African Heritage Resource Agency (SAHRA), with strong involvement form the provincial authorities. More detail on these is available in the Natural Heritage section of this report (Chapter 12).

Protected and sensitive areas

Monitoring of the activities and developments within such areas is required in order to ensure compliance with the EIA Regulations, as well as the provisions of the Environment Conservation Act. Insufficient data exists regarding the ambient environmental monitoring currently underway in the North West Province.

16.1.7 Conclusion and recommendations

Data collection and audits should be undertaken in such a way to ensure that results are reliable and comparable in both the long and short term.
National legislation governs the standards and monitoring required for certain environmental aspects. These include: National policy and legal framework is considered to be adequate and in place, although it is fragmented and difficult to apply or enforce at a local level. The provincial and lower level capacity required to implement the legislation is considered to be inadequate. In addition, particular roles and responsibilities are not always adequately clear, often causing long delays in decision-making.
Although several monitoring initiatives do exist in the North West Province, insufficient data are available regarding the ambient environmental monitoring currently underway in the Province. In order to ensure that the required monitoring is being undertaken, the following actions are recommended: Adequate environmental standards, respective licensing and permit systems, compliance monitoring and control are crucial requirements to improve the status of affairs in the North West Province. National policy and legal framework is considered to be adequate and in place, although it is fragmented and difficult to apply/enforce at a local level. The provincial and lower level capacity required to implement the legislation is considered to be inadequate. In addition, particular roles and responsibilities are not always adequately clear, often causing long delays in decision-making.

16.2 Compliance Monitoring, Auditing and Enforcement

16.2.1 Introduction

In order to ensure that best environmental practice is maintained in the province, it is important for the environmental authorities to ensure that legislative requirements are enforced and monitored. Adequate and effective environmental standards, respective licensing and permit systems, compliance monitoring and control are crucial requirements to improve the status of affairs in the North West Province. Environmental standards, as well as licensing and permit requirements for various activities are outlined within environmental legislation (see Chapter 5). It is imperative that the North West Province is able to assess and monitor the implementation of these.

16.2.2 Levels of compliance

This section details the levels of compliance by various sectors to the legislation as reported by the North West Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment, Regulatory Services Inspectorate of the Directorate of Environment and Conservation Management in 2000.

EIA regulations

The following non-compliance to the EIA regulations has been reported from the North West Province: There are several problem areas that require attention including: Non-compliance is often due to a lack of awareness or financial resources. Enforcement of compliance is limited due to resource limitations within the North West Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment (DACE). In order to ensure compliance with EIA regulations, resource capacity is required to be enhanced.

Waste management

The following issues have been identified regarding waste management in the North West Province: In order to improve the situation within the Province with regards to waste management, North West DACE and the Department of Health have developed a medical waste management policy and strategy for the province, which should be consistent with the Integrated Pollution and Waste Management (IP&WM) White paper. IP&WM should be implemented within the Province with a clear allocation of roles and responsibilities. In addition, first-generation waste management plans should be included within the IDPs at local authority level.

Property planning, development and maintenance

No policies and guidelines are in place to ensure that water and energy efficiency and integrated waste management are addressed in property planning, development and maintenance. Guidelines are required to be developed in order to ensure the integration of environmental issues (e.g. energy and water efficiency, waste and recycling) into property management and maintenance. In addition, an "environmental clause" should be included in all contracts related to property management, development and maintenance.

Agriculture

The following issues have been identified regarding agriculture in the North West Province: In order to ensure compliance with NEMA, a broader co-operation between the Directorate of Agriculture and the Directorate of Environmental Management within the North West DACE is required in the initial planning phase of projects.

In order to monitor the types and quantities of pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers used by the agriculture sector in the province, North West DACE should develop a register for these.

Mining

The following issues have been identified regarding mining in the North West Province: Greater co-operation between NWDACE and DME regarding new mining developments and compliance with regulations and permit requirements could optimise the use of human resources available and effictiveness of environmental monitoring programmes. The National Small Scale Mining Committee of DME should provide guidance to provinces regarding EMPR compliance of small-scale mining and funding for this. The DME is to be represented on the Provincial Committee for Environmental Co-ordination to address issues relating to the environment, health and safety of the mining sector and compliance to EMPR regulations.

Nature conservation

Legal overlaps, loopholes and uncertainties exist as far as nature conservation in the Province is concerned, since the old South African provincial ordinances are still in place. The issue of inadequate national policy and framework legislation was placed on the agenda for Minmec, as the impact of fragmented policy and legislation concerning the nature conservation industry was identified as an area of concern. The National Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism is in the process of developing several policies, for example the utilisation of reptiles, implementation of CITES etc.

Air quality

No work was done in this field by NWDACE due to the lack of capacity within the Province in 2000. This function has been a competence of the National Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, and has recently been devolved to provincial level through the appointment of a Chief Air Pollution Control Officer (CAPCO) in the North West Province in 2001. Information on compliance with air quality standards by industry in the North West Province for 2001 was not available at the time of going to press.

Biological resources

Particular problems relating to biological resources include:

16.2.3 Conclusion and recommendations

National policy and legal framework is considered to be adequate and in place, although it is fragmented and difficult to apply or enforce at a local level. The provincial and lower level capacity required to implement the legislation is considered to be inadequate. In addition, particular roles and responsibilities are not always clear, often causing long delays in decision-making.

The mining activities, heavy industry, some agricultural activities, township development, non-existing service infrastructure in the informal housing areas and poor environmental standards among medium- and small-scale industries in the North West Province are not being adequately regulated at present. Suitable environmental standards, respective licensing and permit systems, compliance monitoring and control are crucial in ensuring that development takes place sustainably in the North West Province.

The following recommendations are made in order to improve environmental management in the North West Province regarding compliance monitoring, auditing and enforcement:

16.3. Environmental Rehabilitation Measures

16.3.1 Introduction

Rehabilitation is the restoration of a disturbed area that has been degraded as a result of activities such as mining, road construction or waste disposal, to a land use in conformity with the original land use before the activity started. This also includes aesthetical considerations, so that a disturbed area will not be visibly different to the natural environment. Rehabilitation includes the development of management strategies to restore and maintain physical, chemical and biological ecosystem processes in degraded environments.

16.3.2 Rehabilitation of mining activities

Mining is one of the activities that has a severe impact on all states of the environment, i.e. surface and groundwater, air and soil. The Minerals Act (No. 50 of 1991), requires that an Environmental Management Programme Report (EMPR) containing rehabilitation plans be submitted and approved by the authorities before any mining activity can start, and that finances be set aside for this purpose. EMPRs are reports containing elements of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) plus Environmental Management Programmes (EMPs) for the various stages in the life cycle of a mine. The EIA addresses all the impacts (positive and negative) on the fauna and flora, water (both surface and ground), air, soil and also on the society as a whole. A public participation process is undertaken, in which interested and affected parties (I&APs) are consulted and are provided with an opportunity to express their concerns.

Rehabilitation methods include the vegetation of mine dumps to blend in with existing vegetation, the reduction of stormwater run-off and prevention of water pollution, and the backfilling of excavations, for example by making use of waste material during the mining process. The main aim of rehabilitation is to restore the land to a potential similar to what it had before the activity started. The landscape must also be visibly acceptable - excavations must be backfilled and visible structures, such as mine dumps, must be effectively camouflaged. Trees can be used to conceal visible structures, and shrubs and grass can be used to blend the structures in with the environment and to prevent dust problems. Mine dumps typically consist of clay or hard rocks, which are unsuited for the establishment of vegetation. Therefore, topsoil is normally placed on the dumps to establish new vegetation on mine dumps. The slopes of the mine dumps must be altered so that they are not too steep, as steep slopes enhance erosion and have poor water retention, which is not conducive to revegetation.

Another important reason to use vegetation that is similar to the existing vegetation in the area is so that the new vegetation will be able to exist in the natural environment, after irrigation of the site has halted. For example, plants requiring high rainfall will not exist in an area where there is low annual rainfall. The timing that planting of vegetation takes place for rehabilitation purposes is also important. For example, planting should not take place during the dry season. Although temporary irrigation will help the plants survive, this could be lengthy and costly.

The Environmental Management Programme Reports (EMPRs) outline how all the negative impacts will be prevented or minimised (see Chapter 15). Rehabilitation plans should be clearly outlined, and should include the method of payment for rehabilitation, as no EMPR will be approved without any financial provision for rehabilitation. The various stages in the life cycle of a mine and the environmental reports/assessments that are required are illustrated in Figure 16.3.1. The national Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) grants approval of an EMPR if the suggested rehabilitation plans for the site would ensure that the site would be: In general the principle of BPEO (Best Practicable Environmental Option) should be followed for environmental rehabilitation. According to NEMA, BPEO is defined as "…the option that provides the most benefit or causes the least damage to the environment as a whole at a cost acceptable to society, in the long term as well as in the short term." This concept should therefore be taken into consideration in all rehabilitation plans. During 1998, 493 Environmental Management Programmes (EMPs) were approved in the North West Province (DME, 1998). At the moment the North West DACE does not have information on the number of mines that have already been rehabilitated or those that are in the process of rehabilitation. Most mines seem to be reluctant when it comes to rehabilitation and the new applications for mining and prospecting that are received indicate that financial provisions are unrealistically low, with the mines often contracting the rehabilitation to specialised environmental restoration companies.


EMPR: Environmental Management Programme Report
EIA: Environmental Impact Assessment
EMP: Environmental Management Programme

Figure 16.3.1: The Stages in the Life Cycle of a Mine.

16.3.3 Rehabilitation of landfills

Not much information is available on landfill rehabilitation in the North West Province. According to the information that is available, not much rehabilitation has been done on landfills. Rehabilitation of landfills is usually in the form of revegetation or the development of a park and should be undertaken by the permit holder (e.g. the municipality or a private company).

There are two landfills that require closure in the Schweizer-Reneke area, and there are plans to rehabilitate these. The Mafikeng landfill is in the process of being rehabilitated and most of the site has already been levelled with topsoil in preparation for revegetation.

Landfill permitting in the North West Province is usually handled by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) with input from North West DACE. It is important that North West DACE is involved in the permitting process, as landfills impact the whole environment (i.e. air, water, soil and social), whereas DWAF concentrates mostly on the impact on water. North West DACE has done a preliminary survey on the status of landfills and waste management in the North West Province.

16.3.4 Other environmental rehabilitation programmes

National LandCare Programme

To address the issue of the rehabilitation of degraded agricultural land, the South African LandCare Initiative was launched in 1998. Based on the ideal of sustainable agricultural resource utilisation as the basis for establishing a conservation ethic, it includes natural resource, sociological, political and economic dimensions (DEAT 1999). LandCare projects are funded and co-ordinated on national level and are carried out on Provincial and local level. Local communities are, however, the stakeholders of LandCare projects.

The LandCare Programme aims to develop and implement integrated approaches to natural resource management in South Africa, which are efficient, sustainable, equitable, and consistent with the principles of ecologically sustainable development. This implies that cultivation, livestock grazing and harvesting of natural resources should be managed in such a manner that degradation (such as soil erosion, nutrient loss, loss of components of the vegetation, increased runoff of water etc) is curtailed.

The following five elements serve as the basis for the implementation of LandCare projects: The LandCare Programme has been implemented in the North West Province since 1998. For more on the LandCare Project, please refer to chapter 9.

Wetland Rehabilitation

The North West Province has several important wetlands, some of which have been degraded or invaded by alien vegetation. Under the auspices of the DWAF, the Working for Water programme has been active in the Province since 1996. Rehabilitation includes the removal of alien invasive plants surrounding the wetland and the planting of indigenous trees. Physical rehabilitation includes removal of debris and litter, reflooding where wetlands have been drained and building of dykes and gabions to retain water in the wetland area.

Wetlands currently being rehabilitated in the North West include the Molopo Eye, Malmane Eye, Boitekong wetland and Boekenhout wetland.

16.3.5 Conclusion and Recommendations

According to DME, 493 Environmental Management Programmes (EMPs) were approved during 1998. EMPRs require evaluation to assess compliance with EMP conditions.

NW DACE, does not have information on the number of mines that have already been rehabilitated or those that are in the process of being rehabilitated.

Most mines seem to be reluctant when it comes to rehabilitation and the new applications for mining and prospecting that are received indicate that financial provisions are unrealistically low.

Unrehabilitated abandoned mines remain a problem in the North West (e.g. alluvial diamond mines and asbestos mines). Government is obligated to rehabilitate these. This is the co-responsibility of NWDACE, DME and the relevant local authority.

Not much information is available in terms of landfill rehabilitation in the Province. According to the information that is available, very little rehabilitation has been done on landfills. Rehabilitation of landfills is usually in the form of revegetation or the development of the site for an alternative land-use. Rehabilitation should be undertaken by the permit holder (e.g. the municipality or a private company).

There are two landfills that require closure in the Schweizer-Reneke area, and there are plans to rehabilitate these. The Mafikeng landfill is in the process of being rehabilitated and most of the site has already been levelled with topsoil in preparation for revegetation.

Landfill permitting in the North West Province is usually handled by DWAF without any input from NW DACE.

The LandCare and Working for Water Programmes are involved with the rehabilitation of degraded lands and wetlands respectively. Rehabilitation of disturbed areas needs to needs to be carefully monitored by North West DACE.

A database of mine dumps and tailings (slimes) dams needs to be developed for monitoring purposes.

Enforcement of regulations with regard to rehabilitation of waste sites needs to be intensified.

References

Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT). 1999. White Paper on Environmental Management Policy. DEAT, Pretoria.
Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT). 2000. Consolidated Environmental Implementation and Environmental Management Plan (EIMP). Draft First Edition, 3 November 2000. DEAT, Pretoria.
Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT). 2001. National Core Set of Environmental Indicators for the State of Environment Reporting in South Africa: Scoping Report. DEAT, Pretoria.
Department of Minerals and Energy (DME). 1998a. Annual Report. DME, Pretoria.
Department of Minerals and Energy (DME). 1998b. Environmental Management Plan as required in terms of Section 11(2) of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No 107 of 1998). Draft First Edition, August 2000. DME, Pretoria.
Department of Minerals and Energy (DME). 2000. Environmental Management Plan as required in terms of Section 11(2) of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No 107 of 1998). Draft First Edition, August 2000. DME, Pretoria.
Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF). 1998a. Minimum Requirements for Waste Disposal by Landfill. Second Edition. DWAF, Pretoria.
Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF). 1998b. Minimum Requirements for the Handling, Classification and Disposal of Hazardous Waste. Second Edition. DWAF, Pretoria.
Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF). 2001. Environmental Implementation and Management Plan. First Edition, July 2001. DWAF, Pretoria.
Fuggle, R.F. and M.A. Rabie. 1992. Environmental Management in South Africa. Juta & Co Ltd, Cape Town. 823 pp.
Hamann, R. & T. O'Rioidan. 2000 Resource Management in South Africa. South African Geographical Journal 82(2): 23 - 34.
Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, Government of the North West Province, South Africa, & Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT). 2001. Support to Environment and Sustainable Development on North West Province. Project Document, 12 March 2001.
North West Province. 2001. Environmental Implementation Plan (EIP) as required in terms of Section 11 of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No 107 of 1998). First Edition (1st Draft), March 2001. North West Province, Mmabatho.

Appendix 1: A list of proposed Environmental and Sustainable Development Indicators for South Africa (excluding marine and coastal indicators) (Source: DEAT 2001).

HUMAN SETTLEMENTS INDICATORS

Issue Indicator Type Level Frequency Scale Linkages
Urban Decay Percentage Public Urban Green Space per Settlement Area S 2 5 yearly Local
Percentage derelict areas in urban settlements S 2 5 yearly Local
Urban Sprawl Percent of non-urban land converted to urban uses S 2 Annual Local
Densification of Human Settlements Urban vs rural population density P 1 5 yearly Local CSD Social
Percent dwelling types per settlement category S 1 Annual Local DPLG
Percentage and rate of growth of rural and urban population P 1 5 yearly National CSD Social


LAND USE INDICATORS

Issue Indicator Type Level Frequency Scale Linkages
Land degradation Soil loss S 2 5 yearly National
Extent of Land Degradation P 2 5 yearly National UNCCD
Wasted and degraded land in mining zones S 2 5 yearly National
Quality of mining operations R 1 Annual National
Land use management Change in land use over time S 2 5 yearly National UNCCD
Enforcement of the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act R 1 Annual Provincial
Land Productivity vs Potential S 3 5 yearly National
Permanent loss of agriculturally productive land S 3 5 yearly National UNCCD
Integrated Issues Land degradation per GDP in the mining sector P 1 Annual Sectoral
Wasted and degraded land in mining zones per GDP in the mining sector S 2 Annual Sectoral


ATMOSPHERE AND CLIMATE INDICATORS

Issue Indicator Type Level Frequency Scale Linkages
Climate Change and Variability Emissions of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane) P 1 5 yearly National UNFCCC, CSD Environment
Renewable and non-renewable energy use P 1 Annual National
Change in the size of the national net carbon sink P 1 5 yearly National UNFCCC
Malaria: morbidity and mortality I 1 Annual Provincial
Annual rainfall deviations S 1 Annual Provincial
Annual temperature deviations S 1 Annual Provincial
Stratospheric Ozone Depletion Emissions of ozone depleting substances D/P 1 Annual National Montreal Protocol, CSD Environment
UV-B measurement I 1 Monthly Local
Index of changes in total atmospheric ozone S 1 Monthly Local
Air Quality Ambient Pollutant Concentrations in Urban Areas S 2 Monthly National (per major urban area) DPLG, CSD Environment
Permitted Vs. Actual Emissions Per Pollutant Per Major Industrial Complex R 2 Annual Regional (region = major industrial complex)
Annual Ratio of Fuel Type Sales D/P 1 Annual National
Integrated Issues Emissions of greenhouse gases per output in the energy sector S 1 Annual Sectoral
Ozone depleting substances per manufacturing output P 1 Annual Sectoral
Economic cost of carbon abatement in South Africa R 3 Annual National
Energy use per urban user S 1 Annual National DPLG
Energy use per rural user S 1 Annual National DPLG


INLAND WATER INDICATORS

Issue Indicator Type Level Frequency Scale Linkages
Freshwater Resources Surface Water Resources per Capita S 1 5 yearly National CSD Environ-ment
Surface Water Demand versus Available Resources P 2 Annual Primary catch-ment CSD Environ-ment
Environmental Flow Requirements S 2 5 yearly Primary / second-dary catch-ments
Water Use (sectoral requirements) P 1 5 yearly National
Groundwater utilised per sector P 2 5 yearly National
People supported by Groundwater S 2 5 yearly Provincial
Groundwater withdrawals as % of annual recharge P 2 5 yearly Geo-hydro-logical unit
Freshwater Quality Surface Water Salinity S 1 Annual Water manage-ment areas
Surface Water Nutrients S 1 Annual Water management areas
Surface Water Microbiology S 2 Annual Water manage-ment areas
Surface Water Toxicity I 1 Annual Water manage-ment areas
Groundwater Salinity S 1 Annual Geo-hydro-logical unit
Groundwater Nitrate S 1 Annual Geo-hydrological unit
Groundwater Microbiology S 2 Annual Geo-hydro-logical unit
Freshwater Ecosystem Integrity Aquatic Habitat Integrity S 2 Annual Water manage-ment areas
Wetland alteration I 2/3 5 yearly Quarter-nary catch-ment Ramsar
Aquatic biodiversity S 1 Monthly & Annual Water manage-ment areas CBD
Alien invasive organisms P / S 3 5 yearly Water manage-ment areas
Riparian vegetation S 2 5 yearly Water manage-ment areas
Integrated Issues * Groundwater contribution to GDP D 2 Annual Sectoral
Surface water affordability R 1 Annual National
Number of people affected by waterborne diseases R 2 Annual National
Volume of water imported from neighbouring countries R 1 Annual National
Number of people with access to sanitation S 1 Monthly National CSD Social, DPLG
Number of people with access to water S 1 Monthly National CSD Social, DPLG


BIODIVERSITY AND NATURAL HERITAGE INDICATORS

Issue Indicator Type Level Frequency Scale Linkages
Species and genetic diversity Number of threatened or extinct species per taxonomic group S 1 5 yearly National (per biome for plants) CBD, CITES, Bonn Convention
Changes in disturbance regimes which drive ecosystems: fire frequency (Also relates to the Issue of Habitat change or loss) P 3 Annual Biomes CBD
Trends in populations of selected species (Also relates to the Issues of Habitat change and over-harvesting) S 2 Annual / 5 yearly Local (Habitat) CBD, CITES, Bonn Convention
Habitat change or loss Status, extent and effectiveness of protected areas S/R 2 5 yearly Regional (Biomes or eco-regions) CBD, World Heritage Convention
Extent of natural area remaining per ecological region, habitat type and key ecosystem S 2 5 yearly Regional (Biomes or eco-regions) CBD
Alien invasive organisms Distribution and abundance of alien (non-indigenous) species invading natural ecosystems P/S 2 5 yearly National (per eco-region) CBD
Investment in control programmes for and research into alien species invading natural ecosystems R 2 5 yearly Provincial CBD
Integrated Issues Contribution of control programmes for alien species to job creation R 2 Annual National CBD
Natural Heritage Resources Number and conservation status of natural heritage resources S 2 5 yearly National CBD, World Heritage Convention
Investment in maintenance and research of natural heritage resources R 2 5 yearly National CBD, World Heritage Convention
Trends in the number and conservation status of natural heritage resources R 2 5 yearly National CBD, World Heritage Convention
Integrated Issues Human use value of protected areas R 2 Annual Provincial World Heritage Convention


WASTE MANAGEMENT INDICATORS

Issue Indicator Type Level Frequency Scale Linkages
Waste volumes produced Total amount of solid waste produced per capita per year S 2 Annual Provincial CSD Environ-ment
General landfill airspace supply verses demand P/S 2 5 yearly Provincial
Amount of hazardous waste produced per sector per year S 2 Annual Provincial CSD Environ-ment
Hazardous waste landfill airspace supply verses demand P/S 2 5 yearly Provincial
Legislation and Enforcement Percentage of solid waste recycled per year and per material type R 2 Annual Provincial CSD Environ-ment
Percentage landfill permit applications and permits granted for operating and future landfills by class R 1 Annual Provincial


INTEGRATED INDICATORS

Issue Indicator Type Level Frequency Scale Linkages
Atmosphere and Climate Emissions of greenhouse gases per output in the energy sector S 1 Annual Sectoral
Ozone depleting substances per manufacturing output P 1 Annual Sectoral
Economic cost of carbon abatement in South Africa R 3 Annual National
Number of urban households with access to energy S 1 Annual National DPLG
Number of rural households with access to energy S 1 Annual National DPLG
Land Use Land degradation per GDP in the mining sector P 1 Annual Sectoral
Wasted and degraded land in mining zones per GDP in the mining sector S 2 Annual Sectoral
Inland water Groundwater contribution to GDP D 2 Annual Sectoral
Surface water affordability R 1 Annual National
Number of people affected by waterborne diseases R 2 Annual National
Volume of water imported from neighbouring countries R 1 Annual National
Number of people with access to sanitation S 1 Monthly National CSD Social, DPLG
Number of people with access to water S 1 Monthly National CSD Social, DPLG
Biodiversity and Natural Heritage Contribution of control programmes for alien species to job creation R 2 Annual National CBD
Human use value of protected areas R 2 Annual Provincial World Heritage Convention
Emerging Issues Distribution and abundance of GMOs invading natural ecosystems P 3 5 yearly National
Sustainable utilisation of indigenous species R 3 5 yearly National


Issue Indicator Type Level Frequency Scale Linkages
Development and protection, and benefits from 'commercially' utilised indigenous species R 3 5 yearly National CBD
Economic benefits from utilisation of indigenous species S 3 5 yearly National CBD
General Environmental Management Number of ratified multilateral agreements R 1 Annual National CSD Institutional
Budgetary allocation to resource management R 1 Annual National HRC
EIA for sensitive ecosystems R 2 Annual Provincial
Inclusion of SEA into strategic planning exercises (IDPs & SDIs) R 2 Annual Provincial
Research and development capacity in South Africa S 1 Annual National CSD Institutional
Implementation of ratified global agreements R 2 Annual National CSD Institutional
Environmental litigation R 3 Annual National
Percentage of government research expenditure on environmental research and development R 2 Annual National CSD Institutional
Corporate environmental responsibility R 2 5 yearly National
Government capacity for environmental management R 2 Annual National
Government expenditure on public environmental awareness programmes R 2 Annual Local HRC
National expenditure on natural disaster relief R 1 5 yearly Provincial CSD Institutional
Protection of environmental rights of vulnerable groups R 3 Annual National HRC
CBD: Convention on Biological Diversity
CSD: Commission for Sustainable Development
Ramsar: Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat
DPLG: Department of Provincial and Local Government Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
CITES: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
Bonn Convention: Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals
World Heritage Convention: Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage
UNCCD: United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
UNFCCC: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Montreal Protocol: Montreal Protocol for the Protection of the Ozone Layer
HRC: Human Rights Commission



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