Issued by the Department
of Environmental Affairs and Tourism on
04 October 2007
Multi-day environmental compliance inspection
by the Green Scorpions at Highveld Steel’s
vanadium plant finds serious environmental
problems
The Operation Ferro compliance inspection
conducted by Environmental Management Inspectors
(Green Scorpions) at the Highveld Steel
and Vanadium Corporation’s vanadium plant
Vanchem on 29-31 August 2007 revealed a
series of non-compliances with environmental
legislation and permits.
These include:
Excessive emissions of sulphur dioxide
from the plant’s processes - between 40
and 60 tonnes of SO2 are emitted by the
plant every day.
Serious exceedances of permit emissions
limits for ammonia (up to 15 times the limit)
and particulates (dust) (up to 27 times
the limit).
Significant contamination of groundwater,
linked to both the unlined and unpermitted
hazardous waste dump on site (hazardous
primarily because it contains the heavy
metal vanadium) as well as the lack of separation
of storm and process water on site.
Vanchem has been given until 22 October
2007 to respond to the inspection findings.
In the interim, inspectors from the Department
of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, the
Department of Water Affairs and Forestry,
the Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture
and Land Affairs and various affected municipalities
are considering appropriate enforcement
action, inter alia to ensure that the ongoing
environmental impacts are mitigated and
existing damage remediated.
The inspection findings in relation to
the Vanchem site follow similar serious
findings at Arcelor Mittal’s Vereeniging
plant and Assmang’s Cato Ridge plant in
July 2007.
At Arcelor Mittal’s Vereeniging plant,
Inspectors found non-compliances which included:
A series of activities without the required
environmental authorisations.
Continued dumping of hazardous waste on
an unpermitted site, despite repeated instructions
from authorities to cease such activity.
Particulate emissions to air that cause,
have caused or may cause significant and
serious pollution of the environment.
Significant and serious pollution of surface
and groundwater with phenols, iron, oil,
fluoride and other hazardous substances.
Failure to lodge audit reports.
Since then, both the Department of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism and the Gauteng Department
of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment
have issued notices to Arcelor Mittal to
give the company an opportunity to make
representations regarding various proposed
improvements to be implemented on the site.
Final instructions will follow within the
next few weeks. A criminal investigation
continues into the dumping of hazardous
electric arc furnace dust on an unlined
waste site after authorities had instructed
Arcelor Mittal to stop.
Management of Arcelor Mittal‘s Vereeniging
plant has indicated to authorities that
it intends making dramatic changes to its
plant to ensure compliance.
At Assmang ferromanganese operation in
Cato Ridge, Environmental Management Inspectors
found non-compliances that include:
significant uncontrolled dust emissions,
which contains the heavy metal manganese;
serious non-compliance with a hazardous
waste site permit;
at least one unpermitted hazardous waste
site.
Appropriate enforcement action will be
taken against Assmang to address these non-compliances.
Environmental Management Inspectors from
the Department of Environmental Affairs
and Tourism and the KwaZulu-Natal Department
of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs
inspected Arcelor Mittal’s Newcastle site
last week, and are heading to Samancor’s
Metalloys site in Vereeniging on 23 October
2007. Highveld Steel’s steelworks in Witbank
will follow in November 2007.
The inspection at Vanchem is part of the
national environmental compliance campaign
in the iron and steel and ferroalloy industry,
known as Operation Ferro. Approximately
40 sites in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Northwest,
KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape will be inspected
during the course of this multi-year project.
Iron and steel and ferroalloy industries
have been prioritised in this environmental
compliance campaign as their industrial
processes may contribute significantly to
pollution if not mitigated and managed properly.
Other key industries will soon be subject
to similar assessments. The Department is
already leading a national environmental
compliance and enforcement project in relation
to the six big oil refineries in the country.
“Although we expected to find some non-compliance
at the sites we have inspected thus far,
we are taken aback at the levels of non-compliance
we are identifying in the iron and steel
and ferroalloy industry sector. Many of
the operating companies are extremely profitable
multinationals who have access to all the
information and resources they require to
come into compliance with environmental
legislation. However, it appears that they
have chosen to disregard their obligations
to the law and the environment and people
affected by their operations,”said Mava
Scott, the department’s spokesperson.
Scott also noted that, although many of
these companies have “environmental improvement
plans”, these plans often do not address
issues of non-compliance. Plans also have
long timeframes that tend to be postponed
due to lack of approval of the required
capital expenditure.
Arcelor Mittal’s Vereeniging site falls
within the Vaal Triangle Air-shed Priority
Area identified as an air pollution hotspot
by the Minister on 21 April 2006. The Highveld
area is currently under consideration for
declaration as a priority air pollution
area in terms of the new Air Quality Act.
This was recently gazetted for public comment.
“The Department is also concerned about
the fact that so many of these companies
found to be in non-compliance continue to
be certified in terms of the International
Standards Organisation’s ISO 14001 environmental
standard. This Department has already approached
the South African National Accreditation
System (SANAS) to discuss feedback to and
cooperation with the accreditation and certification
bodies,” added Scott.
Members of the public and stakeholders
are urged to report environmental transgressions
to the 24 hour Environmental Crimes and
Incident Hotline on 0800 205 005.
Mava Scott
+ More
Opening Borders to Ease Cross Border Tourism
and Strengthen Regional Cooperation
12 October 2007 - Media Statement - Department
of Environmental Affairs and Tourism - FRIDAY,
12 OCTOBER 2007: Presidents Festus Mogae
of Botswana, Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia
and Thabo Mbeki of South Africa today officially
opened the Mata - Mata Tourist Access Facility
between South Africa and Namibia within
the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (TFP).
On this day seven years and five months
ago the Presidents of Botswana and South
Africa opened the Kgalagadi TFP, Africa’s
first Transfrontier Park.
Mata - Mata will enable tourists to travel
between the three countries via shorter
routes and through efficient and convenient
access/ border control facilities. It will
also see the region benefitting from the
2010 FIFA World Cup and foster regional
socio-economic development, because South
Africa made a commitment that the World
Cup will be an African event. Southern Africa’s
Transfrontier Conservation areas are well
positioned as the premiere international
destination to ensure their profitability
and sustainability during 2010 and beyond.
Kgalagadi TFP incorporates the Gemsbok
National Park in Botswana and the Kalahari
Gemsbok National Park in South Africa. It
is a popular tourist destination because
of its 4 x 4 wilderness trails.
Mata -Mata is the second tourist access
facility to be opened to ease access/tourist
movement in a transfrontier park in southern
Africa, after Giriyondo which links Mozambique
and South Africa, within the Great Limpopo
TFP. The next Tourist Access facility, Sendelingsdrift,
will be opened on 16 October between Namibia
and South Africa in the |Ai|Ais|Richtersveld
TFP.
The opening of Mata - Mata and Sendelingsdrift
Tourist Access Facilities are key to the
strategy for desert tourism which explores
the natural linkage between Kgalagadi and
|Ai|Ais|Richtersveld Transfrontier parks,
South Africa’s Augrabies Falls National
Park and the soon to be declared Sperregebiet
National Park in Namibia.
The development of Mata - Mata and Sendelingsdrift
Tourist Access Facilities has also been
exemplary of successful partnerships between
governments and the private sector.
Mava Scott (Acting Chief Director: Communications)
+ More
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
AFFAIRS AND TOURISM ON 3RD OCTOBER 2007
ROAD-SHOW TO FREE STATE PROVINCE TO ASSESS
PROGRESS OF CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENT’S
POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROJECTS: 04TH - 05TH
OCTOBER 2007.
The Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs
and Tourism, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi, will
visit poverty alleviation projects in the
Free State Province to assess progress achieved
to date. The trip is also aimed at identifying
challenges impeding implementation of the
projects in order to guide the necessary
interventions.
The visit is planned for the 04th October
for projects located in Qwaqwa. On the 05th
the Deputy Minister will proceed to Bloemfontein
to view projects in that area. Among others,
the projects prioritized for the visit includes
Development of Cave Route with hiking trails,
establishment of 5 Recycling Centres, Rehabilitation
of 5 Rivers and Greening of the Environment.
The Deputy Minister and the local government
leadership will lead the delegation to all
projects sites. Full briefing for each project
will be provided.
The media is invited to attend and interview
the Deputy Minister about the impact the
projects have on communities. For further
details, please contact:
Moses Rannditsheni
Media Liaison Office: Office of the Deputy
Minister
Dept. of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
+More
Second Air Quality Governance Lekgotla
to Commence on 08 October 2007
02 October 2007 - Media Statement - Department
of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
TUESDAY, 02 OCTOBER 2007: The Department
of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT)
will host its 2nd Annual Air Quality Governance
Lekgotla from the 8th to 9th October 2007
at the Champagne Sports Resort in Drakensberg,
KwaZulu-Natal. The conference will be held
under the theme “ Air Quality Interventions
Now”, focusing on specific air quality management
activities that can be implemented now in
order to defend everyone’s right to air
that is not harmful to health and well-being..
This annual gathering of air quality management
officials is an important event that provides
officials with a unique opportunity to get
together with their colleagues at national,
provincial and municipal levels to: assist
and support one another; inform one another
of, and consult one another on, matters
of common interest; and develop common procedures
in the Air Quality Management field. This
exchange of information strengthens cooperation
between the three spheres of government
to work together in order to improve the
quality of air in South Africa.
The 2007 Lekgotla will deal with, among
others: air quality monitoring; air quality
management planning; reducing priority pollutants;
dealing with vehicle emissions; drafting
by-laws; addressing residential coal and
wood burning; building political support
for air quality management; and “hands on”
licensing training opportunities.
The two day event will be followed by a
multi-stakeholder workshop on the 10th October
2007, where the following Department’s projects
will be discussed: The South African Air
Quality Information System (SAAQIS) which
shall provide all stakeholders with easy
access to all relevant information about
air quality in South Africa; and Listed
Activities and Associated Emission Standard
Settings project, which is required by Air
Quality Act (NEM: AQA) (Act No. 39 of 2004)
for the Minister to publish a list of activities
believed to have or may have significant
detrimental effect on the environment including
health, social conditions, economic conditions,
ecological conditions or cultural heritage.
The participation of the stakeholders will
play an important role in ensuring the successful
development and implementation of these
projects.
Media queries can be directed:
Roopa Singh Mobile: Roopa Singh
