Case Decision - 190330

Interim Comment
It must be reiterated that SAHRA cannot comment on sections of the Komsberg West WEF facility located within the Western Cape Province. Comments must be sought from Heritage Western Cape (HWC) for those sections.
The SAHRA Archaeology, Palaeontology and Meteorites (APM) Unit accepts the submitted HIA and PIA, promotes the respective recommendations included in the reports pertaining to the Northern Cape sections of the proposed development. The following additional conditions must be included in the Environmental Management Programme (EMPr) and completed should the EA be granted:

The final layout of the Komsberg West WEF (including final positions of all associated infrastructure such as access roads) must be subjected to a palaeontological Walk-Down prior to construction to ensure that no fossil resources are impacted. If fossil resources are identified, the impacts to the palaeontological material must be assessed and mitigation measures provided. The results of the walk-down and impact assessment must be submitted to SAHRA prior to construction. No construction may occur without comments from SAHRA;
The final layout of the Komsberg West WEF (including final positions of all associated infrastructure such as access roads) must be subjected to a archaeological Walk-Down prior to construction to ensure that no heritage resources are impacted. If heritage resources are identified, the impacts to the heritage must be assessed and mitigation measures provided. The results of the walk-down and impact assessment must be submitted to SAHRA prior to construction. No construction may occur without comments from SAHRA;
If any evidence of archaeological sites or remains (e.g. remnants of stone-made structures, indigenous ceramics, bones, stone artefacts, ostrich eggshell fragments, charcoal and ash concentrations), fossils or other categories of heritage resources are found during the proposed development, SAHRA APM Unit (Natasha Higgitt/Phillip Hine 021 462 5402) must be alerted. If unmarked human burials are uncovered, the SAHRA Burial Grounds and Graves (BGG) Unit (Itumeleng Masiteng/Mimi Seetelo 012 320 8490), must be alerted immediately. A professional archaeologist or palaeontologist, depending on the nature of the finds, must be contracted as soon as possible to inspect the findings. If the newly discovered heritage resources prove to be of archaeological or palaeontological significance, a Phase 2 rescue operation may be required.

It must be noted that the proposed layout of the development has been mapped incorrectly on the SAHRIS Mapping system. Final comments will only be issued when the mapping has been rectified. The mapping should only indicate the Komsberg West Wind Energy Facility project boundaries, and not include the proposed infrastructure for the associated grid connections, as these are part of a separate application.