Introduction
The aim of this chapter is two-fold:
-
It provides a description of the public participation process conducted for both EIA phases (i.e. PBMR (Koeberg) as well as the other regarding the Fuel Manufacture and Transportation).
-
It provides a list of issues recorded during the process (EIA Phase) and aims to clarify these issues by either providing a cross-reference to sections of the reports or supporting documentation where the issue was addressed. Alternatively, an answer is provided in the "Comment" section column. Where relevant, statements were recorded to give the reader a feel for the sentiments of I&APs.
Methodology, Scope and Process
For the EIA phase, a process comprising a number of tools were employed to achieve the aim of identifying and incorporating site-specific issues.
4.1.1Overview of the Process Followed
The approach towards any public participation process is dependent upon the details of the project, the reason being that each project has a particular geographic and technical nature and hence the public participation process should be structured accordingly. Where possible and within the required statutory frameworks, it is also desirable to structure such a process to address the process needs of the I&APs.
Figure 31: Public participation timeframes for the EIA phase
Tools and Inputs
This section provides information on the various mechanisms employed during the public participation process. Details will also be provided on the advertising and notification procedures. The following tools and mechanisms were utilised:
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Continued registration of I&APs;
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Providing I&APs with information in the form of an Information Document (Volume I and II);
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Structured interviews in a focus group/individual format;
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Written submissions received from I&APs;
-
Public Meetings; and
-
Public Review of the Draft EIRs.
4.1.2Identification of Interested and Affected Parties
Through networking and advertisements, 2 817 I&APs are currently registered on a database. Afrosearch endeavoured to ensure that individuals/organisations from a 'vertical' (institutional) as well as a 'horizontal' (geographical) point of view are identified.
Geographically, Afrosearch focused on nearby landowners and the organisations that represent them. A 'vertical' approach was used to identify those institutions or individuals that might be affected by, or could make a contribution to the project, but who are not necessarily in its direct sphere of impact.
Periodically, registered I&APs' details are verified.
4.1.3Information document (Volume 2)
Note: Refer to Annexure 14 for the Information Document (Volume II).
In April 2002, an Information Document (Volume 2) was compiled. This document is in a questions and answers format (as was the Information Document Volume 1). The objective was to supply information on frequently asked questions, under a number of main headings.
4.1.4Structured Focus Group and Individual Interviews and Meetings
Focus group meetings are used as a valuable tool to obtain detailed information ranging from statistics and facts to emotive feedback from a sectoral perspective. For this process, a focus group meeting was defined as a meeting where I&APs, who share a common sectoral focus, were brought together to discuss the project and identify questions, concerns and issues. An individual meeting was a meeting where only one representative of a specific organisation was met with or if the individual had a particular function such as a mayor.
The focus group meetings were conducted as a formal meeting, which was chaired by a member of the EIA Consortium. Issues identified by I&APs were formally recorded. Records of issues raised were provided to participants for comment and correction. Issues identified were entered into the issues register.
Table 52: List of Focus Group Meetings held for the EIA phase
(Gauteng and North West Province)143
DATE
|
TIME
|
ORGANISATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS INVITED
|
13-03-02
|
08:00
|
CSIR
|
13-03-02
|
11:00
|
Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut
|
13-03-02
|
14:00
|
National Government Departments
|
14-03-02
|
11:00
|
National Nuclear Regulator
|
14-03-02
|
14:00
|
Solar Centre (SOLCEN)
Solar Energy Society of Southern Africa (SESSA)
Duard Barnard and Associates
|
14-03-02
|
18:00
|
Pelindaba Surrounding Land Owners
|
15-03-02
|
11:00
|
SACOB
|
25-03-02
|
11:00
|
Brits Industrial Assoc
North West Chamber of Industries
North West Chamber of Industries and Mines
Brits Industrial Society
|
26-03-02
|
18:00
|
Community and Environment Based Organisation
|
27-03-02
|
11:00
|
Chamber of Mines
Chemical and Allied Industries Association
Business Council for Sustainable Development: South Africa (Formerly the Industrial Environmental Forum)
|
27-03-02
|
14:00
|
Onsite Businesses, Pelindaba
|
09-04-02
|
08:00
|
COSATU
|
10-04-02
|
18:00
|
Pelindaba Communication Forum
|
Table 53: List of Focus Group Meetings held for the EIA Phase
(Western Cape)144
DATE
|
TIME
|
ORGANISATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS INVITED
|
04-04-02
|
12:00
|
Blaauwberg Administration City of Cape Town
|
04-04-02
|
14:00
|
Energy Transformations CC
|
05-04-02
|
09:00
|
Industrial and Petrochemical Consultants
Mr J Walmsley
Institution of Nuclear Engineers: South African Branch
|
18-04-02
|
12:00
|
Local and Regional Trade and Industry
|
18-03-02
|
14:30
|
National Botanical Society
|
18-03-02
|
18:30
|
Land owners adjacent to Koeberg
|
19-03-02
|
17:30
|
National Energy Organisations
|
04-04-02
|
12:00
|
City of Cape Town: Blaauwberg Administration (SIA Interview)
|
05-04-02
|
09:00
|
Industrial and Petrochemical Consultants (SIA interview)
|
24-04-02
|
11:00
|
Provincial Administration – DECAS (Western Cape)
|
24-04-02
|
14:00
|
CMC: Planning and Environment – Environmental Management
|
25-04-02
|
08:30
|
University of Stellenbosch: Department of Medicine
| 4.1.5Public Meetings
The main objective of a public meeting during the EIA Phase is to give the public the opportunity to receive feedback on the findings of the specialist studies. Furthermore, public meetings are an important platform by which information assimilated during the consultation process can be verified. Presentations are made regarding the technical studies, the conclusions and the recommendations of the Consultants.
For the two projects, a series of public meetings were held in the Western Cape, Durban and the Pelindaba area. As indicated in Figure 31 the initial notification (newspaper and communication with registered I&APs) for the Public Meetings took place between 23 April and 03 May 2002. The dates of the Meetings were as follows:
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Thursday 16 May 2002 at 18:30 (Hartbeeshof Service Centre, 125 Kuyper Street, Schoemansville);
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Saturday 18 May 2002 at 10:00 (Mobolekwa Hall, C/o Sehloho & Sethole Street, Atteridgeville);
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Tuesday 21 May 2002 at 18:30 (Ferndale Community Centre, C/o Harley Street & Surrey Avenue, Randburg);
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Thursday 23 May 2002 at 18:30 (Durban Exhibition Centre (Hall 6) 11 Walnut Road, Durban);
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Tuesday 28 May 2002 at 18:30 (Jan van Riebeeck High School, 129 Kloof Street, Cape Town);
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Wednesday 29 May 2002 at 18:30 (Atlantis Secondary School, Palmer Avenue, Atlantis); and
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Thursday 30 May 2002 at 18:30 (Jansen Hall, Jansen Street, Milnerton).
The following steps were taken to inform and remind I&APs and the public of the meetings Table 54
Table 54: Notification of Public Meetings for the EIA Phase
NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS
|
Rapport
28-04-2002
|
The Sunday Times
28-04-2002
|
The Sowetan
28-04-2002
|
REGIONAL NEWSPAPERS
|
Argus
28-04-2002
|
Daily News
29-04-2002
|
Die Beeld
29-04-2002
|
Die Burger
29-04-2002
|
Illanga
29-04-2002
|
The Pretoria News
29-04-2002
|
The Star
29-04-2002
|
|
LOCAL NEWSPAPERS
|
Britspos
03-05-2002
|
City Vision
|
Kormorant
02-05-2002
|
Table Talk
02-05-2002
|
Tygerberger (Coastal)
02-05-2002
|
Weskusnuus
02-05-2002
|
|
PERSONAL INVITATIONS: 23 April to 03 May 2002
|
Letters: 725
|
Fax: 1 700
|
E-mails: 849
|
Telephonic: None
|
Letters to headmasters of schools in Atlantis, Mamre and Milnerton: 23
|
POSTERS
|
Alantis: 50
|
Cape Town: 50
|
Durban: 50
|
Hartbeespoort/Meerhof / Ifafi: 50
|
Milnerton: 50
|
Randburg: 50
|
Atteridgeville: 200
|
FLYERS
|
6 700 Flyers were distributed in Atteridgeville, Diepsloot, Hartbeespoort / Schoemansville, Pelindaba, Ifafi, Lanseria and Broederstroom.
| -
The following steps were taken to inform members from disadvantaged communities of the Public Meetings:
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Public Meetings were specifically arranged for Atteridgeville and Atlantis.
-
Formal and informal leaders in Atteridgeville, Diepsloot, Atlantis, Mamre, Khayelitsha and Langa were contacted and informed;
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Street Posters were put up in Atteridgeville, Mamre and Atlantis and flyers were distributed.
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Permission was obtained from the respective Departments of Education to distribute information to the schools. All schools in Atteridgeville (33) were informed of the Public Meetings on 24 April 2002 and those in Mamre, Atlantis (and Milnerton) (23) were informed of the Public Meetings on 13 May 2002.
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The public libraries in Avon, Mamre, Khayelitsha (and Milnerton) were asked to display posters advertising the Public Meetings in an obvious place.
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A Xhosa advertisement advertising the Public Meetings were placed in the City Vision in the Western Cape.
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At the request of the attendants at the Public Meeting in Atlantis on 30 May 2002, an information meeting was arranged to inform residents and other interested parties of the proposed project and technology. This meeting took place on 01 August 2002 in the Hartebeeskraal Multi-purpose Centre. This meeting was arranged in close collaboration with Ms. Julia Mentor – CEO of the Centre.
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The table below indicates the electronic and print media where press releases regarding the Public Meetings were sent. The radio, in particular, is regarded as a prime method of communicating to persons who live in disadvantaged communities.
Table 55: Notification of Public Meetings for the EIA Phase
MEDIA PRESS RELEASES
|
Communication Xellence coordinated press releases inviting the public to the public meetings and informing them of the progress of the project
|
NATIONAL
|
Associated Press
|
Agence France Presse
|
Beeld
|
Bloomberg Press
|
Business News
|
Business Day
|
Classic FM
|
Classic FM
|
Citizen
|
City Vision
|
E-TV
|
5-FM Live
|
50/50
|
Freek Robinson
|
GSIS
|
Independent on Saturday
|
I-Net Bridge
|
Insig
|
Mail and Guardian
|
Monitor
|
Radio Lotus
|
RSG
|
Rapport
|
Reuters
|
SABC Radio
|
SABC TV
|
SA-FM
|
SAPA
|
Saturday Star
|
702
|
The Star
|
Sowetan
|
Summit TV
|
Sunday Independent
|
Sunday Sun
|
Sunday Times
|
GAUTENG MEDIA
|
Highveld
|
Jacaranda
|
Kaya FM
|
Beeld (Gauteng)
|
Sunday Times (Gauteng)
|
Rapport (Gauteng)
|
Mail and Guardian (Gauteng)
|
Citizen (Gauteng)
|
KWAZULU-NATAL
|
Business Day (KZN)
|
Business Report (KZN)
|
City Press (KZN)
|
East Coast Radio
|
Highway Radio
|
Illanga
|
Mail and Guardian (KZN)
|
Post
|
Radio Kwezi
|
Rapport (Dbn)
|
SAfm (KZN)
|
SAPA (KZN)
|
Sunday Times (KZN Metro)
|
Sunday Tribune
|
The Daily News
|
The Leader
|
The Mercury
|
The Natal Witness (DBN)
|
The Natal Witness (PMB)
|
WESTERN CAPE
|
Argus
|
Business Day (CT)
|
Cape Business News
|
Cape Community Radio
|
Cape Talk
|
Cape Times
|
Citizen (CT)
|
City Vision
|
Die Burger
|
Fine Music Radio
|
Kfm Stereo
|
Mail and Guardian (CT)
|
P4
|
Radio Atlantis
|
Radio Helderberg
|
Radio Tygerberg
|
Radio Zibonele
|
Rapport
|
SAPA (CT)
|
Tygerburger
|
Sunday Times (Cape Metro)
|
Voice of the Cape
|
Weekend Argus
|
LOCAL MEDIA
|
Brits Pos
|
Cape Community Newspapers (All)
|
Capital Vibe
|
City Vision
|
District Mail
|
Free 4 All
|
Kormorant
|
Kwana
|
Pretoria Record
|
Queensburg News
|
Radio Rippel
|
Radio Today
|
Radio West Rand
|
Rainbow FM
|
Randburg Sun
|
Tygerburger
|
Pretoria News
|
|
|
|
The Consortium contracted NewsClip to monitor the appearance of articles (radio, television and print media). Annexure 21 & 22 contains all the media coverage as a result of the above effort.
4.1.6Public Review of the Draft EIRs
Sixty days (06 June to 04 August 2002) has been allocated for comments on the reports to be sent to the PBMR EIA Consortium. During the review period for the draft EIRs, hard copies will be distributed for public review and comment in a number of publically accessible venues (33 countrywide) (see Table 56). A copy will also be available on the website (www.pebble-bed.co.za) and CD-Roms containing the draft EIRs and Supporting Documentation will be made available on request.
Table 56: Venues where Draft Environmental Impact Reports were available for comment.
ATLANTIS (AVONDALE) LIBRARY
Grosvenor Street
|
EMPANGENI LIBRARY
C/o Commercial & Union Streets
|
PAARL LIBRARY
C/o Meul & Main Streets
|
ATTERIDGEVILLE LIBRARY
Mohlaba Street
|
ERMELO LIBRARY
C/o Church & Taute Streets
|
PELINDABA (NECSA)
Visitor’s Centre – Gate 2
|
BEAUFORT-WEST LIBRARY
15 Church Street
|
HARRISMITH LIBRARY
C/o Murray & Warden Streets
|
PIET RETIEF LIBRARY
10 Retief Street
|
BLAAUWBERGSTRAND LIBRARY
Andrew Foster Street
|
HARTEBEESPOORT LIBRARY
Marais Street
|
POTCHEFSTROOM LIBRARY
C/o Gouws & Wolmerans Streets
|
BLOEMFONTEIN LIBRARY
4004 Duma Street, Botchabela
|
HEIDELBERG LIBRARY
C/o Louw & Jacobs Streets
|
PRETORIA (Afrosearch)
280 Brooks Street, Brooklyn
|
BRITS LIBRARY
City Hall (Van Velden Street)
|
JHB (NORTHCLIFF) LIBRARY
Fir Drive
|
RUSTENBURG
Offices of NW DACE
|
BRONKHORSTSPRUIT LIBRARY
C/o Mark & Botha Streets
|
KIMBERLEY LIBRARY
Chapel Street
|
STANGER LIBRARY
41-42 Halen Street
|
CAPE TOWN (Central Library)
City Hall (Darling Street)
|
KOEBERG POWER STATION
Visitor’s Centre (R27)
|
TABLE VIEW LIBRARY
Birkenhead Road
|
CENTURION (Poltech)
Centuria Park (Unit 16)
|
KROONSTAD LIBRARY
Steyn Street
|
PIETERMARITZBURG LIBRARY
260 Church Street
|
COLESBERG LIBRARY
C/O Church & Murray Streets
|
MELKBOSSTRAND LIBRARY
Merchant Walk (Duynefontein)
|
WITBANK LIBRARY
C/o Hofmeyer & Elizabeth Ave.
|
DURBAN LIBRARY
City Hall, Smith Street
|
MILNERTON LIBRARY
Pienaar Road
|
WORCESTER LIBRARY
C/o Van Hoog & Baring Streets
|
A copy of the report was also made available on the website (www.pebble-bed.co.za).
4.1.7Written Submissions Received from I&APs and Comments Register
Letters/e-mails/faxes were received from I&APs informing the PBMR EIA Consortium of their comments on the Draft EIR. A copy of each communication, along with the response sent to the person/organization is kept on file for record purposes.
A register containing all the comments that were received since 01 June 2002 are included as the Comments Register.
4.1.8Issues Registers
Two issues registers were compiled to deal with the different aspects of the two projects. One register was used to record issues for the PBMR (Koeberg) and another for the two parts of the NECSA project (i.e. Fuel Manufacture and Transportation). The PBMR EIA Consortium endeavoured to provide an indication of where answers to, or explanations regarding the issues could be obtained in the EIR. The PBMR Issues Register can be found under Annexure 10.
4.1.9Media Coverage
Annexure 21 provides copy of the advertisements that were placed in terms of the regulations while Annexure 22 provide news print and medial analysis reports.
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