The Koeberg Site Safety Report (1997) Annexure 9 and Safety Analysis Report (confidential) contain comprehensive information on the status and capability of infrastructure as well as civil facilities and industrial installations in the Koeberg sub-region. This information covers the following; namely:
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Transport networks with regard to air, rail, road and sea.
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The distribution of civil facilities including schools, day care centres, old age homes, hospitals, prisons and police stations.
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The extent and nature of industrial installations and other urban infrastructure which includes power stations, coal burning installations, telephone exchanges, water supplies, sewage works, shopping and recreation centres.
Discussion
The above data is relevant to nuclear installation is so far as the following is concerned:
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Provision of services to the installation, its employees and residential areas.
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The location of facilities, installations and infrastructure that may be impacted upon in the event of an emergency.
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The nature of installations and/or cargo that may pose a risk to the nuclear station(s).
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Co-ordinated liaison between the nuclear installation, the authorities (local/ provincial/national) and civil protection structures to ensure the following:
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Regular updating of the emergency plans, services and the resourcing thereof.
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Integrated consideration of sub-regional spatial development frameworks and development proposals.
A review of the information in the KSSR and SAR clearly points to a very comprehensive database, which demonstrates the following:
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Sufficient infrastructure, liaison structures and civil facilities exist to accommodate and furnish Koeberg and the proposed Plant and personnel with services, from both a operational point of view as well as for the construction of the proposed PBMR demonstration plant.
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Industrial installations and transient cargo that may pose a risk to Koeberg and/or the proposed Plant are well recorded.
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Civil facilities which may be impacted by emergency scenarios at the Koeberg Nuclear installation (and the proposed Plant) are identified and recorded.
Of vital importance is the NNRs consideration and decision on the content of an Emergency Plan for the proposed Plant given its radiological safe design, ifs fuel characteristics and postulated releases under a credible accident scenario142
Conclusion -
Sufficient infrastructure exists in the sub-region to service the proposed Plant.
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Liaison structures exist to facilitate the development, implementation and maintenance of a spatial development framework for the Blaauwbergstrand sub region. Such planning liaison structure also efficiently addresses development proposal that may impact on the proposed Plant or vice versa to mutual advantage.
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The recommendations of the SIA on emergency planning/plans and its impact on affected parties (communities and authorities) must be implemented by Eskom.
REFERENCES
KSSR (1997) Chapters 4, 5 & 6.
S ECTION 5: CUMULATIVE IMPACTS Cumulative Impacts Introduction
The proposed PBMR demonstration module will result in a number of indirect, cumulative and linked impacts that are dealt with separately for the construction and operational phases.
The decommissioning/dismantling phase has not assessed separately since this phase largely replicates those impacts associated with the construction phase.
The cumulative impacts that are discussed/assessed represent the more significant ones, rather than an exhaustive list of all such impacts.
Cumulative Impacts associated with the Construction Decommissioning/ Dismantling
During the peak of construction about 550 persons will be employed on site. While the majority of the construction work force will be from surrounding residential areas, this will create additional traffic on the main roads to and from the Koeberg NPS site. The main roads that will be affected are the Otto du Plessis Drive to M5 and N7. To alleviate this impact, Eskom will contractually require contractors to supply mass transport (e.g. busses, mini-busses etc) for commuters. Traffic associated with material/equipment supply (heavy and abnormal loads) represent the more significant impacts. These impacts can however be addressed (mitigated) through non-peak hour delivery agreements, to alleviated traffic congestion.
Most of the work force will be sourced locally, that will result in a minimal (if any) need for additional residential development. Migrant labour with the aspiration of finding employment on the project, will present itself and may cause some friction with the resident population.
Services such as water provision, health, schooling, municipal and emergency services will largely be insignificantly affected, again because of the localised nature of the work force and the existing capacity of the services.
Although of a temporary nature (2 years) the project will provide some relief on unemployment. During the construction phase, employees/labour will however acquire marketable skills, which can be gainfully employed after the project. Given the multiplier effect of about 2.0 for projects of this nature, the project will hold positive benefit for the sub region by augmenting income levels and buying capacity.
A number of economic sectors will be positively impacted by the project, namely the civil and building industry (sand, aggregate, cement, etc) the services industry (professional, technical services, accommodation, entertainment, etc) and the commercial industry.
About 15% of the Capital expenditure will accrue to the sub regional economy, which is regarded as significant given the resultant multiplier effect.
Capital intensive projects, by nature, cause significant volumes of waste. However, by implementing a diligent waste management strategy, that shall be contractually binding on contractions, such waste can be minimised, re-used, recycled to limit disposal quantities.
The various types of radiological waste that will result from decommissioning/decontamination and dismantling activities will range from LLW, ILW and HLW. These will be dealt with as part of the decommissioning phase management plan/strategy which must be licensed by the NNR.
Decontamination activities will however significantly reduce the volume of radioactive materials.
Cumulative Impacts associated with the Operation/Maintenance Phase
The following more important cumulative impacts are foreseen during the operational/maintenance phase.
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Radiological and non-radiological emissions, effluent and solid waste(s) and resultant impacts.
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Thermal effluent impacts
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Potable water impact
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Economic impacts
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Emergency services impacts
These are dealt with in the relevant Chapters as contained in the body of the EIR.
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 significant.
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