NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NUMBER 2256
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 13 NOVEMBER 2009
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 28)
Adv H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:
(1) Whether the Peak Quarry in Eersterivier have an Environmental
Management Programme Report (EPMR); if not, why not; if so, (a) when
was it approved, (b) when did the quarry first commence operations,
(c) in what year is expected to stop operations, (d) how many times
has inspectors from her department visited the mine since January 2008
and (e) what was the date of each visit;
(2) Whether any directives have been issued against the mine for non-
compliance on any matters relating to the EMPR since it commenced
operations; if so, what are relevant details?
(3) What are provisions in EMPR that relate to how the quarry operators
need to manage (a) noise and (b) dust?
REPLY
1 (a) Yes, the mine has an approved Environmental Management
Programme Report (EMPR), approved on 12 June 2000 in terms of the
repealed Minerals Act, 1991 (Act 50 of 1991).
(b) A mining authorization was issued on 22 July 1994 in terms of
the repealed Minerals Act, 1991, but the mine was in operation long
before that time, in terms of legislation prior to the Minerals Act,
1991.
(c) The operation in the Quarry will stop once the reserves have
been depleted.
(d) Inspections are conducted in accordance with an inspection
plan. As such a total of 6 mine health inspection have been
conducted.
(e) Inspections were conducted as per the inspection plans.
2) No.
3) The information relating to noise and dust levels is contained in
the approved Environmental Management Programme Report, as amended.
The noise provision addresses noise within and outside the perimeter
of the mine.
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