Comments & Response Report Vast Mineral Sands Pty Ltd

Transcription

1 Comments & Response Report Vast Mineral Sands Pty Ltd PROSPECTING RIGHT APPLICATION: Potion 8, 9, Remainder of Farm 1 and Farm 155; Namaqualand; Northern Cape Opened 13 April 2017 at PHS Consulting Offices REPORT DMR: NC 30/5/1/1/2/11923 PR NAME PRESENTING UNIT & CONTACT Issue/ Concern Response 1 ST ROUND COMMENTS; 13 APRIL to 17 MAY 2017 Jacob Fredericks Brian Koopman Graig Matthews RMC colandowner and mine operator with Alexkor briankoopman26@ gmail.com Questioned telephonically who the Directors are of Vast Mineral Sands Pty Ltd Requested an notice to be send Requested a telephone discussion via sms. A telephone call related to the following: - RMC s only legal Director - RMC do have a strategic document that stipulate the investigation of other minerals in the area - Technically there is no issue to prospect because of the benefits in the long term for all in the We stated that Mr Pienaar is the only Director as per CIPRO document We did send an and he confirmed receipt PHS did call him directly: - We confirmed the need to prospect for other minerals in order to ensure the sustainability of the mining industry in the area - The applicant provided the attached letter to Mr Matthews, stating that they are willing to meet with him at the public meeting.

2 area - Requested meeting Letter received 20 April 2017, requesting registration as I&AP and to have a meeting with the applicant Letter received 2 May 2017: Unfortunately, the writer will not be able to attend the meeting set for 3 May 2017 in Alexander Bay, due to a previously arranged meeting, which could not be moved. The distance between Johannesburg and Alexander Bay also presents its own challenges, hence the request for an urgent meeting. Registered as I&AP and invited to the meeting on 3 May 2017 in Alexander Bay RMC was invited to the next round of meetings in Lekkersing; Eksteensfontein; Sanddrif en Kuboes. We note the various statements made in the Applicant s letter and advise that the High Court in Kimberley on 28 April 2017 dismissed an Application brought by Messrs. Willem Vries and Dennis Farmer to be appointed as Directors of the RMC along with Messrs. Brian Koopman and Ryno Thomas. These individuals were all invited by the Applicant to attend the meeting on 3 May Should they attend the meeting, they do so in their personal capacities as members of the Richtersveld Community. Accordingly, the High Court has once more confirmed that the writer is the sole Director of the RMC and therefore the only representative of the company. In as much as the Applicant states that it does not want to be seen to be taking sides, we advise that the RMC will not be engaging in any debates as to whom represents the RMC.

3 We once more encourage the Applicant to meet with the RMC to discuss the intended Prospecting Right Application. DMR: Deidre Karsten mr.gov.za Acknowledge Receipt of BAR DMR granted extension Noted PHS Requested extension of timeframe as per Sec 19(1) B of NEMA Carina Kriel carina2kriel@gmail.com Requested I&AP registration SAHRA: Natasha Higgitt Keith Newnham nhiggitt@sahra.org.za kpnewnham@gmai l.com The Environmental Reports and appendices conducted for the proposed prospecting application must be submitted before comments can be provided. Comment 15 May 2017: Due to the sensitivity of the proposed development area and as the area has not been comprehensively surveyed since 2008, the SAHRA Archaeology, Palaeontology and Meteorites (APM) Unit requests that a comprehensive desktop Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) over the entire prospecting area be completed. This must include ground-level photographs of the proposed prospecting area and a Field-Based Palaeontological Impact Assessment (PIA) to be conducted within areas of moderate and very high palaeontological sensitivity. As a resident of Port Nolloth I am remiss in not seeing the notice posted in our municipality offices in connection with the above. I see that there was a public meeting held in Alexander Bay on 3rd May and a deadline of yesterday for comments or enquires. The request for PIA/HIA is irrational a meeting was requested to clarify the comment. The Prospecting Right is for non-bulk sampling a very low level of intrusion; therefore the heritage specialist report concluded that it is unlikely to have impacts. All prospecting takes place in the mine area already disturbed since If prospecting is feasible then as part of a future Mining Licence (ML) EIA an HIA and PIA is rational, due to the expected impact levels. Considering timeframe the requested PIA can take months to complete, due to restricted and remote nature of site, and time to schedule a specialist, therefore suitable when ML process apply and mining is feasible. The Basic Assessment process is ongoing, this was the first round of consultation. The Draft BAR is at the Port Nolloth library available or on our website under public participation. The next 30 day period will be during June, notes re the meeting will then be available as part of the Final BAR.

4 Perhaps you would be so kind as to let me know if an EIA has been completed in connection with the application or if this is the first step in the process. If an EIA has been completed can you advise where I might obtain a copy. Register as I&AP and list of I&AP s was send via . Additionally are minutes of the public meeting available and if so do you know where I might see a copy of these. Requested I&AP list. Leilani Swartbooi Environmental Manager Alexcor & RMC JV Anton Meyer Senior Environmental Officer De Beers Group of Companies Namaqualand Mines leilanis@alexkor.co.za BMMR Checkpoint Drive Private Bag X01 Kleinsee, 8282 Tel: + 027(0) Fax:+ 027(0) Ek is vrede met die BAR. Requested registration as I&AP Noted. Alexkor RMC JV has appointed an Environmental Practitioner to conduct an EMP amendment application. We suggest that this EMP amendment consider future prospecting and possible heavy mineral mining as a solution for rehabilitation of the area. Brent Whittington Park Manager PO Box 406, Alexander Baai, 8290 Tel : The Richtersveld National Park is managed jointly by the RGBK (Richtersveld Gesamentlikke Bestuurs Komitee). The Panel consists of 5 Community Representatives and 4 SANParks representatives. Noted

5 /Ai/Ais- Richtersveld Transfrontier Park (RSA side) Cell : The 5 community representatives are as follows: Kuboes representative: Gerrith Cloete (Kiewiet): Vee boer reprasentative: Willem De Klerk (W.A): Sandrif representative: Wilmien Vries: Lekkersing representative: Abraham Cloete (Farrie): / kuboes@richtersveld.gov.za Eksteenfontein representative: Hansie Strauss: We are currently in the process of re-electing 4 of the 5 as 3 of their terms are up and one can no longer part take due to medical reasons. Having said that, the current positions are still valid. I have been told that any issues need to be directed to the Richtersveld Municipality and it will be handled from there. The initial I&AP List and List of 1 st Public meeting attendants is relevant for future notification purposes 2 ND ROUND COMMENTS; 31 MAY 30 JUNE 2017