Final Comment
The following comments are made as a requirement in terms of section 3(4) of the NEMA Regulations and section 38(8) of the NHRA in the format provided in section 38(4) of the NHRA and must be included in the EMPr:
38(4)a – The SAHRA Archaeology, Palaeontology and Meteorites (APM) Unit has no objections to the proposed development;
38(4)b – Specific conditions for the development include:
i) – The recommendations of the heritage specialists and the recommendations contained within the EMPr with regards to heritage resources are supported;
ii) – A report detailing the results of the walk-down of the final layout of the route must be submitted to SAHRA for comment prior to the construction phase;
iii) – A Fossil Finds Procedure must be developed for the construction phase of the development as per the recommendations of the SAHRIS PalaeoSensitivity map;
38(4)c(i) – 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 as per section 35(3) of the NHRA. Non-compliance with section of the NHRA is an offense in terms of section 51(1)e of the NHRA and item 5 of the Schedule;
38(4)c(ii) – If unmarked human burials are uncovered, the SAHRA Burial Grounds and Graves (BGG) Unit (Thingahangwi Tshivhase/Mimi Seetelo 012 320 8490), must be alerted immediately as per section 36(6) of the NHRA. Non-compliance with section of the NHRA is an offense in terms of section 51(1)e of the NHRA and item 5 of the Schedule;
38(4)d – See section 51(1) of the NHRA;
38(4)e – The following conditions apply with regards to the appointment of specialists:
i) If heritage resources are uncovered during the course of the development, a professional archaeologist or palaeontologist, depending on the nature of the finds, must be contracted as soon as possible to inspect the heritage resource. If the newly discovered heritage resources prove to be of archaeological or palaeontological significance, a Phase 2 rescue operation may be required subject to permits issued by SAHRA;
As the BAR has been finalised prior to SAHRA providing this comment, this comment must be forwarded directly to the competent authority for consideration during the decision-making process. Proof of the delivery and receipt thereof of this comment must be supplied to SAHRA via the SAHRIS application;
The decision regarding the EA Application must be communicated to SAHRA and uploaded to the SAHRIS Case application.