Sustainable Resource Management Ltd

Transcription

1 6.0 Predicted nvironmental Impacts 6. Stages and Impacts Considered An nvironmental Impact Analysis has been carried out whereby all the possible environmental, socio economic and health & safety aspects and their respective impacts associated with construction, transport, operation & decommissioning of the facility have been considered. The following impact categories were analyzed for the proposed project: nvironmental Impacts a. oise Generation b. Dust Generation c. Change in Land Use and Visual effects d. Freshwater consumption e. cology loss in biodiversity f. Solid Waste Generation (Construction wastes and scrap metals) g. Air pollution (Suspended Particulate matter containing lead, Carbon Monoxide and itrogen Monoxide which oxidizes to itrogen Dioxide; Photochemically reactive hydrocarbons which react with oxides of itrogen to form Ozone) these pollutants are produced during combustion of fuels h. nergy Consumption i. Used oil and lubricants j. Spillage of small amounts of hazardous/toxic materials Socio conomic Impacts a. mployment Opportunities b. Traffic Accident c. Congestion on roads d. Road Infrastructure ( Construction of roads and parking) e. Land Use Health and Safety Impacts a. Injuries to workers b. Road accidents The following set of activities associated with the project has been taken into account for the nvironmental Impact Analysis: Construction Construction phase relates to the building of the facility as per layout plan (see Annex 9); Page

2 Transport Transport phase includes: o Transport during construction phase (Vehicles transporting raw materials for construction); o Transport during operation phase (Vehicles coming in and out of the facility) o Transport during decommissioning of the facility (Vehicles transporting equipment and wastes to other facility and landfill respectively; vehicles transporting toxic materials (used oil) to recycling facility). Operation Operation phase is related to the use of the stone crushing and block making plants and; maintenance of the plants and associated equipment like conveyors and screens; maintenance of vehicles transporting boulders, aggregates, rock sand and blocks. Decommissioning The stone crushing and block making plants and associated equipment like conveyors and screens will be dismantled and wastes will be transported from the site to metal recycling facilities. Toxic materials like lubricating oil will be sent for recycling and/or reuse. 6. Outcome of the nvironment Impact Analysis The outcome of this exercise is presented in Table 6. below. nvironmental, Socio conomic and Safety aspects related to each activity (Construction, Transport, Operation and Decommissioning) and their respective impacts have been determined. ach impact has been categorized according to its associated activity. Mitigation measures associated to these impacts are discussed in section 7. Page

3 Impact /P Severity Likelihood Significance Construction Phase: Construction of the facility (including installation of stone crushing and block making plants and associated equipment like screens and conveyors) and associated amenities oise & Dust generation Change in land use and visual effects Freshwater consumption cologyloss in biodiversity,s Relatively harmless Solid waste generation (Construction wastes and scrap metals) nergy consumption Spillage of small amounts of toxic materials mployment opportunities Injuries to workers 9 S H&S P 6 Air pollution (Suspended PM containing lead, CO and Ox) Road Accidents and congestion 6 S, H&S 6 Stage Aspect/Activity Type (, S, H&S) Table 6. nvironmental, Socio conomic and Safety Aspects and Impacts (use of equipment like mobile stone crusher, excavator, crane lorry, hand held breaker, concrete lorry mixer and vibratory poker) Transport Phase: () Vehicles used to transport raw materials to the site during construction; () Vehicles going to and coming from the site during operation; () Vehicles carrying materials away from the site during decommissioning phase. Page 6 Level of Significance

4 Severity Likelihood Significance Operation Phase Dust missions (Air Pollution) 0 oise and Vibrations Accidental Diesel or oil spill Freshwater consumption Solid Waste Generation (Rejects) nergy Consumption Spillage of small amounts of toxic materials mployment opportunities 9 Wastewater generation 0 oise and dust generation Toxic materials like lubricants Solid waste generation Injuries to workers S H&S P 9 6 Decommissioning Phase: () Dismantling of plants and associated equipment; () Disposal of solid wastes to landfill; () Sending toxic materials (used oil and lubricants) to recyling or reuse facilities. Type (, S, H&S) Impact Stage Aspect/Activity /P Table 6. (Contd) nvironmental, Socio conomic and Safety Aspects and Impacts Level of Significance P (See Page 9) Page 7

5 Severity Severity Likelihood o Impact egligible Impact Considerable Impact Great Impact Very Great Impact to 0 to 0 to 9 to Likelihood Very Improbable ot Probable Rarely Occurring From Time to Time Fairly Regularly nvironmental Impact egative Impact S Safety Impact P Positive Impact S Socio conomic Impact Page Requires immediate action Mild ffect, easily correctable Relatively harmless

6 6.. Traffic Implications Phase: Transport of boulders to the stone crushing plant and transport of finished products Trucks carry boulders to the stone crushing plant via an internal road network as shown in Figure 6. (see Annex 6). Therefore, transportation of boulders to the plant is not expected to cause additional stress on existing traffic. The impact on traffic density will inevitably be generated when finished products such as aggregates and rock sand will be transported out of the site along the Fond du Sac Branch Road and public roads to clients sites. Fond du Sac Road Out In Site Figure 6.: Internal Road etwork and Circulation Page 9

7 6.. Dust missions Main sources of dust are: On temporary stockpiles of boulders prior to crushing process Unloading of aggregates from transport lorries Loading of aggregates in hopper bins During crushing process During transit from one crusher to another through conveyor belt Dust stirring under wheel action Batching of cement, aggregates and water Block manufacturing process Both the stone crushing and block making plants are expected to produce dust emission during operation. Block making requires the introduction of cement into the manufacturing process, from a cement silo. During the filling up of such a silo, escape of cement fines and dust causes pollution of the environment, including nuisances to human health and comfort. Such dust is deposited either within the plant premises or within the immediate surroundings of the plant boundary and can be repeatedly disturbed through wind movement and vehicular activity. Mitigation measures have been taken in the design of the cement silo to reduce the dust emissions and are highlighted in the next section. 6.. oise and Vibration Phase: Construction oise during the setting up of the stone crushing and block making plants will arise from: Hammering of metallic piles for support of the plant components where applicable Construction activities associated with the installation of the various plants equipment However, the noise impacts can be considered as negligible as the site is found in the middle of sugarcane fields, far away from population pockets. The promoter will ensure that construction works are not carried out during undue hours or at night time. The main sources of noise generation during operation of the stone crushing and block making plants are: Movement of loaders within the site Lorry traffic within the site Unloading of boulders at the primary stage Page 0

8 Compaction/ compression of the cement mortar within the block moulds in the block making machine Conveyor belt motors Based on the above operations, the proposed plants represent a source of persistent noise which is a hazard for workers as well as environmental nuisance to nearby receptors if adequate measures are not taken. 6.. Accidental Diesel or Oil Spills Phase: Construction and Operation The various equipment involved in the stone crushing process make use of diesel as fuel and lubricants and oils such as gearbox oil, hydraulic oil and motor oil. Spillages of oil during handling or storage, storage tank leakage, overflow or rupture may be expected. Oil spills can cause land contamination, infiltrate in the ground causing heavy aquifer pollution; oil dumped on the soil can contaminate water due to the process of infiltration, seepage and percolation. Mitigation measures associated to the above impacts are discussed in the next section. 6.. Potential Release of Greenhouse Gas Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and VOCs are likely to be released in exhaust fumes from regular and continuous operation of diesel operated machines. Mitigation measures associated to the above impacts are discussed in the next section nergy Consumption (Running of Plants) The plants proposed to be installed onsite are likely to consume around 60 kw of electricity (see table.). Some equipment including loaders and trucks operate on diesel which has been estimated at an average of 00 litres per day. This would have a significant impact on energy resources mployment Creation Phase: Construction and Operation It is expected that the installation of the stone crushing plant, block making plant and associated equipment would create 0 employment opportunities during construction phase and 0 direct and indirect employment opportunities during operation phase. The project Page

9 would require operators and supervisors for the smooth running of the various equipments. The project is expected to create employment in the industrial sector. As this is a positive impact, no mitigation measures are required. 6.. Handling and Storage of Fuel Oil Fuel oil which is not considered as being hazardous could nevertheless cause health and safety problems if not stored and handled properly. m of fuel will be stored onsite for use. Mitigation measures associated to the safe handling and storage of bitumen and fuel oil are discussed in the next section Wastewater Generation Around 0 m per day of wastewater resulting from washing of aggregates and rocksand is likely to be generated. Page