THE BACKGROUND TO THE CASE STUDIES SELECTED
CHAPTER 5 CHAPTER 5 PROJECT ANALYSIS
5.4 Scoping
5.4.6 Identification of Significant Issues
According to IBM principles a broad definition of the term environment must be adopted. This includes biophysical, socio-economic, cultural, historic and political factors. Significant issues have to be identified in consultation with I&APs, specialists, literature sources, etc. (DEA, 1992b).
Ariadne 400/ 132k V substation
The identification of significant issues for the Ariadne substation EIA was incomplete as only a feasibility study of 19 sites was conducted. Further to this and with particular reference to the Thornville site, which was selected as the final site, the feasibility study had made this comment: " ...
investigate slope of site in more detail. Social issues are extremely important" (De Kock, 1991, P 48).
However, the EIA did not adequately address all the issues related to the site.
Further, Eskom, as part of the hurried purchase of Ariadne and limited identification of issues, inheritted six families who remained resident on the property. The old farm houses were also not demolished when the property was purchased and the result today is the problems of attempting to evict approximately fifty squatters in addition to the original six families (Leibrandt, pers comm., 1999).
The purchase of the site for the substation resulted in a whole farm (and not just the area required) having to be purchased as well as the business 'Thornville Engineering' located thereon. The blue gum trees in which a large flock of heron were nesting were almost felled during construction and have been subsequently removed. The EIA shows a thorough lack of adequate identification of issues which in retrospect appear very obvious.
Ariadne- Venus 400kV line
For the first attempt at the Ariadne-Venus 400kV line EIA the procedure which Eskom had used to arrive at the selection of a preferred corridor, precluded the need to undertake a survey of issues for the whole study area. All that was required was the study of issues within the preferred corridor. During the repeat of the Ariadne-Venus 400kV line EIA the I&APs contributed significantly to the raising of issues due to a very thorough scoping process amplified by the controversy surrounding the routing of the line, which had raised public awareness and interest in the project. Numerous specialist reports were compiled for the study identifying issues in the study area. The majority of the Ariadne- Venus 400kV line was eventually routed on the eastern side of the N3 proving the ineptitude of the initial EIA to identify significant issues.
Hector-Klaarwater 275kV line
During the Hector-Klaarwater 275kV line EIA numerous issues were identified predominantly via the study of existing literature and consultation with I&APs. A shortcoming was that no specialists were utilised to identify and further elaborate on issues identified (Clara, pers comm., 2000).
Hector 4001275kV substation
Despite the fact that the consultant stated that "This study, together with the study done by Fritz Klopfer for the Ariadne substation, are regarded as being pioneering work" (Gouws et ai, 1995a, p 1) the majority of issues, in hindsight, were generally adequately identified. What was to overshadow this was the inappropriate assignment of significance to these issues and inadequacy of their investigation as a result.
Georgedale substation, an AIS substation in existence for over 30 years, a mere 6km away, situated in a similar environment and experiencing similar problems such as run-off induced soil erosion, was not referred to in determining which issues are significant and should be investigated. The assessment of the existing substation would have highlighted the significance of certain issues requiring more detailed investigation.
Ariadne-Hector 400kV line
For the Ariadne-Hector 400kV line EIA Eskom had identified the issues via the public consultation phase and in order to assist with the analysis of the different alternatives, contracted an independent environmental consultant to ascribe significance. The consultant was appointed so that Eskom would not appear to I&APs to unduly influence or bias the decision.
The terrain III which the powerline had been constructed proved to have significant design and construction implications. This was inadequately considered during the EIA process and not mentioned in the EIR. The design and construction of the line was more difficult and expensive as a result (Funston, pers comm., 1997). This was also partly due to there being poor representation on behalf of the bio-physical aspects of the study area by organisations such as the NPB and an overwhelming presence of landowners with a vested interest who stood to be adversely affected.
Certain issues such as aesthetics were overlooked. There was an attempt to remedy this at a later stage which proved almost impossible e.g. in an attempt to mitigate the imposition on the view of a certain landowner the towers were moved and hidden behind hills only leaving the conductor visible (Funston, pers comm., 1997).
Ariadne-Eros 4001l32kV line
For the Ariadne-Eros 4001132kV line EIA I&AP's helped identify significant issues within the minimal time period allowed, however, the NPB comment on the Ariadne-Eros 4001132kV line EIA report expressed the following concern that the draft report did not conform to the requirements of an environmental impact assessment report as given in the Department of Environmental Affairs documents, for the following reason:
i) Environmental concerns have not been identified within the proposed corridors. All that has been stated is a description of concerns within a broad study area.
(Osborn, letter, 1996).
Eros 4001132kV substation
For the eight technically feasible substation sites for the proposed Eros substation, autonomously
selected by Eskom, Eskom predetermined the issues against which the sites were evaluated. These were subject to perusal by landowners. The sites selected took into account the effect of the incoming and outgoing lines on the timber plantations prevalent in the area. Eskom also wished to remain close to the existing 132kV infrastructure. An increase in distance from it would increase project costs as well as costly compensation for servitudes through existing timber plantations. These issues had significance from an Eskom perspective. Timber and aesthetics, in the limited scoping process, were also considered to be the main issues by the Harding Town Council. Other issues such as the substantial flock of 40 Crowned Crane that frequented the selected site and the wetlands which were displaced and influenced by the substation, were mentioned. This substation also had the same potential as Hector substation to result in massive soil erosion due to run-off. The EIR gave no indication of the locality nor did it record the issues raised for the other seven sites. The prefered practice of conducting an EIA for a substation and powerline together was adopted but the adequate identification of issues suffered greater neglect.
Pongola- Vergenoeg 132kV line
The significant issues for the Pongola-Vergenoeg 132kV line were ascertained by a helicopter flight, limited site visits, studying orthophotography and maps. Greater familiarisation with the environmental aspects and interrogation of the predominantly Black I&APs of the area was necessary.
An example of the inadequacy of scoping for issues was that approximately Skm of the line was routed through Lowveld Woodland. This was later removed in its entirety and transformed into sugar cane fields, which coincided with the powerline construction nearing completion. Eskom, however, had, at great expense, attempted to avoid cutting the trees. This costly and time consuming exercise was totally wasted and the proposed clearing of the trees could have been easily identified during scoping.
The fires from the sugar cane, which is burnt regularly, now threaten the longevity and integrity of the woodpole structures upon which this line is built. This shows that Eskom had not adequately considered the future planning of the area.
The massive dongas, 8 to ISm deep, and dole rite dykes which all slowed construction due to problems of access were never identified in the EIA. Overcoming these obstacles had serious environmental implications e.g. crossing a donga by bulldozing it closed creates the potential for lateral erosion of the donga and massive soil erosion is inevitable as a result.
Ariadne-Bulwer 132kV line
Familiarisation with the area and its issues and the ground-truthing of alternative line routes required numerous site visits from the Eskom environmental officer together with technical personnel as well as three flights of the entire study area. Time was not a constraint.
Numerous issues materialised for investigation as a result of scoping with I&APs and the NPB. The presence of Blue Swallow and Blue Crane nesting sites, hiking trails, wetlands, indigenous forests, amongst others were identified as key issues during the Ariadne-Bulwer 132kV line EIA.
Kokstad-Mount Frere 132kV line
On the Kokstad-Mount Frere 132kV Line identification of issues such as soil piping in tribally held land, was reliant on the expertise of the Eskom environmental officer and agricultural advisory officers for the area. However, on white-owned farms the landowners and NPB proved very adept at identifying significant issues which were gleaned via a questionnaire and a public meeting. The familiarisation with the area and issues and ground-truthing of alternative line routes required numerous site visits together with technical personnel as well as a helicopter flight of the study area.
The EIA however neglected to identify the presence of a small yet significant historical site viz. the church built at Brookes Nek, which was to be negatively affected by a late reallignment of the powerline.