Module 6

Environmental Decision Support System

Integrated

Environmental

Management

Series

2

Sub-Series 1.5 Environmental Decision Support System

Assist DWA in environmental decision-making w.r.t. (inter alia):

• Consistency in application and evaluation of environmental assessment

and management tools;

• Provide IEM tools to assist activities i.t.o. +

• Assessing and reviewing environmental reports through decision-

making criteria, std conditions & applicable legislation.

• DWA‟s role in environmental decision-making.

Purpose

• Environmental checklists

Written in April 2004; revised – May 2005Status

Request for Information

Environmental Reconnaissance Checklist

Environmental Impact and Aspect Register

Environmental Aspect and Impact Close Out Audit Register

EIA Checklist

EMP Checklist

EMPR Checklist

WRM WS

Regulator Implementor Commentory Authority

• E-DSS database software

• Environmental checklists

Description

Development: E&R

Implementation: Organisation-wide; E&R lead function

Review: Facilitated by E&R; feedback from line functions

Training: E&R

R&R

E-DSS

What role does DWA play in environmental

decision-making??

Regulator

What role does DWA play in

environmental decision-making?MODULE 6

EDSS

National Water Act

(No. 36 of 1998)

Water Services Act

(No. 108 of 1997)

Implementor

Commentory Authority

WRM

WS

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WRMWRM

WS

What role does DWA play in

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EDSS

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Regulator

Implementor

Commentory Authority

Other legislated tools to assist in

environmental decision-making

What role does DWA play in

environmental decision-making?MODULE 6

EDSS

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Other legislated tools to assist in

environmental decision-makingRegulator

Implementor

Commentory Authority

EIAs NEMA EIA Regulations, GN No.

EMPs Regulation 33 of GN No. R543

EMPRs MPRDA

GN R543

GN R544

GN R545

GN R546

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What assistance is available to aid DWA in

environmental decision-making??

E-DSS

What role does DWA play in environmental

decision-making??

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International

obligations

MODULE 6

EDSS

What assistance is available to aid DWA in

environmental decision-making?

Overview of EDSS Checklists MODULE 6

EDSS

Environmental Management Tools

Environmental Planning and Assessment Tools

• Request for Information

• Environmental Screening (DWAF Projects)

• Environmental Aspect and Impact Register

• Environmental Aspect and Impact Close Out Register: Audit

• Environmental Impact Assessment Checklist

Environmental Monitoring & Auditing Tools

• Sub-Series 1.6 - Environmental Best Practice Guidelines & Specifications

• Sub-Series 1.7 - Environmental Monitoring & Auditing Guidelines

Environmental Reporting Tools

• Environmental Management Plan Template (& Wetland EMP)

• Environmental Management Plan Checklist

• Environmental Management Programme Reports Checklist

• Sub-Series 1.8 - Environmental Reporting Framework

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MODULE

EDSS

6Checklist 1: Request for Information

(DWA Projects)

Purpose

Scenario

Overview

DWA Role Implementor

Locality Plan

Site layout Plan

Detail description of design and design drawings

Options/Alternatives of Design / Layout / routes

Construction Master Plan

Stormwater and Surface Water Management Plan

Valued features on site

Stockpile areas

Access Roads

Quarry areas & Borrow areas

Disposal areas

Construction Team and Structure

Construction Programme

Construction of gauging weir structure

• Pre-Feasibility Phase and Feasibility Phase.

• Assist identification and understanding of potential impacts.

• Determine scope of activities.

• Identify authorisation requirements.

Environmental

Planning and

Assessment Tools

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MODULE

EDSS

6Checklist 2: Environmental Screening

(DWA Projects)

• Incorporate environmental issues during planning/feasibility phase.

• In-house environmental screening of development options.

• Identify environmental fatal flaws.

Project Details

• Land Use

• Ecologicaly sensitive

areas

• Agricultural potential

• Geology

• Cultural resources

• Air quality

• Aquatic environment

• Infrastructure services

• Social environment

Sustainable Development Criteria

Legal Framework

Overall assessment

Appraisal of potential site for a new dam.

Purpose

Scenario

Overview

DWA Role Implementor

Environmental

Planning and

Assessment Tools

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EDSS

6Checklist 3: Environmental Aspect & Impact

Register (DWA Projects)

Implementor

Activity

Aspect

Potential Impact

Significance of Impacts

Mitigation measures

Responsible parties

Project Life Cycle Phase

Legislation

Building of Transfer Scheme

Purpose

Scenario

Overview

DWA Role

•Identify best environmental option & fatal flaws.

•Identify & mitigate potential impacts.

•For non-listed activities to consider the environment.

Environmental

Planning and

Assessment Tools

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6Checklist 4: Environmental Aspect and Impact

Close Out Register: Audit (DWA Projects)

Implementor

Activity

Aspect

Potential Impact

Mitigation measures, Proposed Date:

Mitigation measures, Actual Date:

Responsible parties

Non-conformance information

Comments

PLC Phase

Legislation

Description of requirements

Building of abstraction works.

Purpose

Scenario

Overview

DWA Role

Ensure all negative impacts have been addressed during the project

and that there are no long terms impacts that remain unattended to.

Environmental

Planning and

Assessment Tools

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EDSS

6Checklist 5: Basic Assessment

Checklist

Implementor / Regulator / Commentory Authority

Step 1:

Briefly overview the reports to understand how it is organised and to determine the completeness of the

information provided.

Step 2:

Consider whether each Review Question, is relevant to the specific project. If so enter "Yes" in Column 3.

Step 3:

If the review question is relevant (“YES”), review the EIA report. Consider:

• Legislation

• Consent process

• Scale and complexity of the project

• Any „high profile‟ issues raised

• Views of the public

Step 4:

If the answer to a Review Question is "No" consider what outstanding information is required and note

this in Column 4. The reviewer may also wish to make any suggestions on where or how the information

could be obtained

Reviewing of Basic Assessment report for the development of

a new road.

Purpose

Scenario

Overview

DWA Role

Reviewing Basic Assessment reports submitted to DWA.

Environmental

Planning and

Assessment Tools

MODULE

EDSS

6Checklist 6: Environmental Impact

Assessment Checklist

Implementor / Regulator / Commentory Authority

Step 1:

Briefly overview the reports to understand how it is organised and to determine the completeness of the

information provided.

Step 2:

Consider whether each Review Question, is relevant to the specific project. If so enter "Yes" in Column 3.

Step 3:

If the review question is relevant (“YES”), review the EIA report. Consider:

• Legislation

• Consent process

• Scale and complexity of the project

• Any „high profile‟ issues raised

• Views of the public

Step 4:

If the answer to a Review Question is "No" consider what outstanding information is required and note

this in Column 4. The reviewer may also wish to make any suggestions on where or how the information

could be obtained

Reviewing of EIA report for the development of a new road.

Purpose

Scenario

Overview

DWA Role

Reviewing EIA reports submitted to DWA.

Environmental

Planning and

Assessment Tools

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• Clear and legible detailed/locality plans or maps indicating affected –

Water resources

Watercourses (including wetlands)

Characteristics of a watercourse

Floodlines (1:100)

Delineated riparian habitat

• Details regarding the proposed development‟s effect and/or impact

on water resources and mitigation measures.

• Alternatives.

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Basic Assessment

23

Environmental Impact Assessment

Environmental Management Programme

Note: The new EIA Regulations of 2010 has replaced the term

“Environmental Management ” with

“Environmental Management ”

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Environmental Management Programme

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Environmental Management Programme Report

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EDSS

6Checklist 7: Environmental Management

Plan Checklist

Implementor / Regulator / Commentory Authority

Step 1: Browse the report

Step 2: Read each review question to determine if relevant to the project ,

answer “YES or NO”.

Step 3: If the review question is relevant (“YES”), review the EMP report.

Consider:

• Legislation

• Consent process

• Scale and complexity of the project

• Any „high profile‟ issues raised

• Views of the public

Step 4: If any review question has the answer “NO”, look at what info. is

outstanding, use Checklist 1 to request for more info.

Reviewing of EMP for the construction of a waste water treatment works

Purpose

Scenario

Overview

DWA Role

Reviewing EMP reports submitted to DWA.

Environmental

Management Tools

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EDSS

6Checklist 8: Environmental Management

Programme Reports Checklist

Implementor / Regulator / Commentory Authority

Consider:

• Adequacy of impact assessment

• Consultation process

• How issues raised by IAPs have been addressed

• Relationship between impacts and mitigation measures

• Alternatives

• Permits required

• Waste Management (waste characteristics, transport, handling and disposal)

• Water Resource Management (catchment, water use)

• Rehabilitation measures (resources required, costs and practicality )

• Closure measures (post-mining rehabilitation, monitoring and management)

Reviewing of EMPR for prospective open-cast mine.

Purpose

Scenario

Overview

DWA Role

To aid in the review of EMPRs for prospective mining activities from

a DWA perspective (river diversions, water uses).

Environmental

Management Tools

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EDSS

6Checklist 9: Sub-Series 1.6 - Environmental

Best Practice Guidelines &

Specifications

Implementor / Regulator / Commentory Authority

ENVIRONMENTAL BEST PRACTICE MONITORING REPORT:

1. Planning

2. Construction

3. Operation

4. Decommissioning

ENVIRONMENTAL BEST PRACTICE AUDIT REPORT:

1. Planning

2. Construction

3. Operation

4. Decommissioning

Purpose

Overview

DWA Role

Procedures and guidelines for Environmental Monitoring (for

compliance) and Auditing (for effectiveness)

Environmental

Monitoring &

Auditing Tools

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EDSS

6Checklist 10: Sub-Series 1.7 - Environmental

Monitoring & Auditing

Guidelines

Implementor / Regulator / Commentory Authority

Purpose

Overview

DWA Role

Provides generic monitoring and auditing process which can be

adapted to DWA‟s roles at a:

• Indicates monitoring and auditing nodes

for WRM and WS development projects

on project life cycle diagrams.

Environmental

Monitoring &

Auditing Tools

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1Strategic Level 2DWA as

Developer

and/or Operator 3DWA as

Regulator

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MODULE

EDSS

6What assistance is available to aid DWA in

environmental decision-making?

38

MODULE

EDSS

6What assistance is available to aid DWA in

environmental decision-making?

39

MODULE

EDSS

EDSS Database -

Purpose6

• To make evaluation of environmental requirements easier for DWA as a commentary or implementing authority.

• Provide a record of the review process.

• To amalgamate the current tools into one application;

• A user-friendly computer programme to assist in environmental decision-making within DWA.

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MODULE

EDSS

Problems that the Database

can solve 6

• Makes existing tools widely available;

• Imposes standards for environmental evaluation;

• Retention of in-house knowledge;

• Creating/enhancing skills of new personnel;

• Increasing efficiency - allows staff time for other tasks.

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MODULE

EDSS

Functions that can be

performed 6

• Add Project

• Edit project

• View Tools

• Send Tools for Review

• Reviewing Tools

• Viewing Management Reports

• Generating User Activity Reports

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MODULE

EDSS Getting Started 6

Step 1: Locate the EDSS on your desktop

Step 2: Double click on EDSS icon to start programme

Login

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MODULE

EDSS Adding a New Project 6

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MODULE

EDSS Editing a Project 6

45

MODULE

EDSS Send a Tool for Review 6

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MODULE

EDSS Reviewing a Tool 6

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MODULE

EDSS

Other functions that can be

performed 6

Other functions include:

• Viewing Tools;

• Adding Tools;

• Editing Tools;

• Finalising Tools;

• Deleting Tools;

• Viewing Management Reports;

• Generating User Activity Reports; and

• Adding Users.

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MODULE

EDSS

6Exercise

• For this exercise you will be split into groups.

• You will be provided with environmental reports (EIA,

EIR, EMP and EMPR) for a particular scenario.

• The EDSS Checklists will also be provided.

Task

• Review the EIA, EIR, EMP or EMPR with the relevant

checklist provided.

• Each group should present their findings.

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End – Module 6