NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ACT 107 OF 1998: CONSULTATION ON THE INTENTION TO ADOPT A STANDARD FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION OF POWER LINES AND SUBSTATIONS WITHIN IDENTIFIED GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS AND THE EXCLUSION OF THIS INFRASTRUCTURE FROM THE REQUIREMENT TO OBTAIN AN ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORISATION
Notice Title: National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 (“NEMA”): Consultation on the Intention to Adopt a Standard for the Development and Expansion of Power Lines and Substations within Identified Geographical Areas and the Exclusion of this Infrastructure from the Requirement to obtain an Environmental Authorisation
Government Notice: GN 2002 in GG 46209 on 7 April 2022
Commencing date: Comments to be submitted by 6 May 2022
The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (“the Minister”), intents to adopt, in terms of section 24(10)(a) of the NEMA the Standard for the Development of Power Lines and Substations within Identified Geographical Areas Revision 1 August 2021 (“the Standard”), and based on the Standard, exclude, in terms of section 24(2)(d) of the NEMA, identified activities, including identified activities necessary for the realisation of the development or expansion of power line and substation infrastructure, from the requirement to obtain environmental authorisation.
The exclusion from the requirement to obtain environmental authorisation applies in areas identified by the national web based environmental screening tool as being of medium or low environmental sensitivity and confirmed to be such for identified environmental themes, within the strategic transmission corridors identified in GNR 113 of 16 February 2018 and GNR 1637 of 24 December 2021, for the development or expansion of electricity transmission and distribution powerline infrastructure and substations, where the development or expansion of such infrastructure triggers:
- Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations Listing Notice 1 of 2014, as amended:
– Activity 11;
– Activity 47; and
- Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations Listing Notice 2 of 2014, as amended:
– Activity 9;
and any activity identified in the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations Listing Notice 1, 2 or 3 of 2014, as amended, necessary for the realisation of such infrastructure.
Members of the public are invited to submit written comments and inputs on or before 6 May 2022. For a copy of the Government Gazette Notice click here.
For assistance or queries please contact Jan Nel at jan@shangoni.co.za.
