Case Decision - 378278

Interim Comment

The SAHRA notes the submission of the BID document as notification of the proposed extension of Carmel Substation and deviation of two Carmel-Pluto 275kV powerlines. An assessment of impacts to heritage resources and palaeontological resources must be undertaken as part of the EA application. The assessment must include an assessment of the impact to archaeological and palaeontological resources. The field-based assessment of archaeological resources must be conducted by a qualified archaeologist and the report comply with the SAHRA 2007 Minimum Standards: Archaeological and Palaeontological Components of Impact Assessment Reports (see www.asapa.co.za or www.aphp.org.za for a list of qualified archaeologists). The HIA must include a tracklog of the site survey.

The proposed development is located within an area of very high Palaeontological Sensitivity as per the SAHRIS PalaeoSensitivity map. As such, a field-based Palaeontological Impact Assessment (PIA) must be undertaken by a qualified palaeontologist. (See https://www.palaeosa.org/heritage-practitioners.html for a list of qualified palaeontologists). The report must comply with the 2012 Minimum Standards: Palaeontological Components of Heritage Impact Assessments. 

Any other heritage resources as defined in section 3 of the NHRA that may be impacted, such as built structures over 60 years old, sites of cultural significance associated with oral histories, burial grounds and graves, graves of victims of conflict, and cultural landscapes or viewscapes must also be assessed.
All these documents will be assessed by SAHRA and the comment issued must be included in the EIAr.
All environmental documents compiled in support of the EA application must also be submitted to the case.