1.11induced (indirect) impacts
As a result of the proposed plant various indirect impacts will result. These impacts are dealt with in Chapter 4 and relate mainly to:
1.11.1Institutional capacities to manage/provide services to the Plant during its life cycle and thereafter.
The more important sectors are listed hereunder:
National Nuclear Regulator
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:
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Competent staff to ensure safety/licenceability of the Plant and radiological materials waste management
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Education Institutions
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:
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Provision of skilled workforce
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Other government authorities at national, regional and local level
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:
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Competent staff to provide services
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Emergency Response Services
Koeberg and Local Authorities
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:
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Competent staff
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PBMR (Pty) Ltd/Eskom
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:
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Training of competent staff
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A number of natural disasters which are discussed in Chapter 4 may affect the integrity of the Plant namely:
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Earthquake
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Tsunamis (abnormal wave heights that may flood the station)/Seiches (abnormal low tides and sea water levels).
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Abnormal rain events (may lead to flooding of the station).
1.11.3Man-made Disasters -
Sabotage
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Impact on the building that houses the reactor and spent fuel storage tanks. This may be caused by projectiles or a plane crash into the building.
1.12cumulative impacts
The proposed Plant will be established in close proximity to the existing Koeberg NPS.
The main cumulative impacts are mentioned below, namely:
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During construction/dismantling:
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Traffic
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Water for construction and human consumption
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Domestic waste
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Radiological waste
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Housing and Services (health, schooling, municipal and emergency services)
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Employment and income
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Local/regional economic stimulation
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During operation/maintenance:
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Radiological and non-radiological emissions, effluents and solid/wastes
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Thermal effluent
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Potable water
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Local/regional economic stimulation
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Emergency Services and disaster management
linked impacts
The only linked impact of the proposed demonstration module PBMR and the Fuel Plant proposed to be established at Pelindaba is the cumulative low and intermediate level radioactive waste to be transported to and disposed of at Vaalputs. As discussed in chapter 4.14 and relative to Koeberg, low quantities of material will be generated by the proposed Plant. This renders this linked impact insignificant.
2.SUMMARY OF ANTICIPATED ISSUES AND IMPACTS AND APPROACH TO THE ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS23 2.1introduction
This chapter deals with the impacts/issues/concerns that were identified in Chapter 2 and raised via the public consultation process that will be dealt with in the EIR.
In general the issues/impacts can be divided into two classes, namely:
2.2issues of a strategic/policy nature
Issues of a policy/strategic nature were considered and reported on in the EIR. These issues are listed below:
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Alternatives in terms of Energy (Fuel) and Technology(ies) for Electricity Generation and Supply.
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Final Deposition and Management of High Level Radioactive Waste
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Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
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Radiological Safety/Health/Environmental Issues
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Epidemiological Studies
2.3issues/impacts of a project nature
For the purpose of the EIA Study, the impact issues/concerns to be studied are divided into four main groups, namely:
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Social impacts [Safety, Health, Skills, Land-use, Institutional capacity etc.]; and
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Economic aspects [Economics of the Technology both locally and internationally].
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Biophysical or sensitivity aspects;
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Technical or suitability aspects;
2.3.1Social Aspects
The following social aspects were assessed:
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A project specific Social Impact Assessment (SIA). Work was done by Afrosearch based on international best practices.
The SIA serves to identify the future consequences of a current or proposed action”24. It is a process that assesses or estimates, in advance, the social consequences or changes that are likely to emanate from the proposed development. Social impact assessment variables point to measurable change in human population, communities and social relationships resulting from the project.
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Safety and Security impacts (including radiological aspects for which the NNR review and acceptance will inform overall decision making for this proposed development). Information was supplied by Eskom and PBMR (Pty) Ltd.
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Impact on health by means of a literature study on the epidemiology of radiologically induced health incidence. International literature was reviewed.
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Life cycle costing. Based on work by Eskom and International literature.
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Institutional capacity impacts.
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Legal impacts including financial provisions for decommissioning, high level radiological waste management and 3rd party liability. Work was conducted by Ledwaba Erasmus (Environment and Development Law Association).
2.3.2Economic Aspects -
Impacts on spatial planning from a local and sub-regional point of view. Work was based on work conducted by Eskom and the Western Cape Provincial Administration.
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Impact on tourism in the sub-region around Koeberg i.e. 50 kilometre radius. Based on investigations by Urban-Econ.
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Impact on supply-side management based on the assumption that the plant proves viable. Based on info supplied by Eskom.
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Economic potential, markets and employment. Based on work conducted by PBMR (Pty) Ltd.
2.3.3Biophysical Aspects
The biophysical aspects include the following:
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Marine fauna and flora and the effect of the additional thermal outflow on such marine life. Work was based on existing UCT research as reported in the KSSR.
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Terrestrial fauna and flora and the effect of the proposed plant on such life. Extracted from the Eskom KSSR information base.
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Archaeological/Palaeontological characteristics of the proposed plant location. Extracted from Eskom KSSR information base.
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Sensory impact assessment(s) e.g. noise and visuals:
Noise
The existing and anticipated noise was evaluated against the SABS Code of Practice 0103 as per the Environmental Noise Control Regulation of the Environment Conservation Act. Work was conducted by Poltech.
Visual
The visual impact assessment evaluated the visual/aesthetic sensitivity of the landscape and the surrounding environment to the proposed development. This was conducted by Interdesign Landscape Architects (Pty) Ltd.
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Radiological and non-radiological waste impacts, i.e. gaseous, liquid and solid (types, quantities and management). Based on the Detailed Feasibility Report Study (DFS) peer reviewed by the international panel appointed by the Department of Minerals and Energy (DM&E) and the Safety Analysis Report (SAR) prepared by Eskom.
2.3.4 Technical Aspects
The technical aspects encompass the following subjects, namely:
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Verification of the geotectonics of the Koeberg site to determine the maximum credible earthquake that can occur in order to assess the adequacy in terms of the intent of the design of the proposed plant for such events. The work was conducted according to CFR 100 EPA standard by Andersen Geological Consulting and reviewed by the Council for Geo-Science.
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Verification of the groundwater characteristics of the site both qualitatively and quantitatively to determine pathways and plant adequacy in terms of the intent of the design. The work was done by Dr M Levin (Africon) in conjunction with Wits University.
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Meso and micro meteorological characteristics of the Koeberg site and region to determine (model) operational emission dispersion. Work was done by Eskom based on KSSR information.
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Surrounding population density (demographics) up to 80 kilometres from the proposed plant. Work was done by Eskom and Terramare Environmental Data Systems based on NNR standards and census statistics for current/projected population statistics.
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Physico-chemical characteristics of the marine environment to determine the effect of thermal outflows, and adequacy in terms of the intent of the plant design. This work was done by Eskom based on the work of various specialists as contained in the Koeberg Site Safety Report (KSSR).
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Infrastructure e.g. roads, harbours, telecoms, medical and emergency services, water supply, sewage facilities, housing and associated facilities and transmission. Work was based on a review of data in the KSSR that was conducted by Poltech.
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