Environmental gazette update for October and November 2022
4 November 2022
The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment gazetted the following notices under the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 during October and November 2022:
- 28 October 2022 – For comment: Revised Draft White Paper on Conservation and Sustainable Use of South Africa’s Biodiversity
- Comment on the revised white paper is due within 14 days from 28 October (i.e by 11 November 2022)
- 28 October 2022 – Amendment of enabling provision for the Regulations for the Procedure for the adoption of Spatial Tools or Environmental Management Instruments
- The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment published GN 2688 in GG 47377 amending the enabling provision for the Regulations laying down the procedure for the adoption of spatial tools and environmental management instruments published in GN 542 in GG 42380 of 5 April 2019.
- This amendment will come into operation on the same date that National Environmental Management Amendment Act 2 of 2022 comes into operation.
- 4 Nov 2022 – Amendment to the procedure to be followed in applying for environmental authorisation for large scale electricity transmission and distribution development activities identified in terms of section 24 (2) (a) of the NEMA when occurring in geographical areas of strategic importance.
- The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment published GN 2716 in GG 47448 amending paragraphs 4 and 5 and the transitional arrangements provided for in GN 113 in Government Gazette No. 41445 of 16 February 2018. The latter provides for the identification in terms of section 24 (5) (a) and (b) of NEMA of the procedure to be followed in applying for environmental authorisation for large scale electricity transmission and distribution development activities identified in terms of section 24 (2) (a) of NEMA when occurring in geographical areas of strategic importance.
- This amendment is now in force.
- 4 November 2022 – Consultation on intention to amend the Procedures for the Assessment and Minimum Criteria for Reporting on Identified Environmental Themes (Proposed change to Plant Protocol)
- The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment published GN 2717 in GG 47448 in order request comment on her intention to amend a protocol for specialist assessment requirements relating to terrestrial plant species to allow the protocol to apply to aquatic and terrestrial plant species.
- Comment due 30 days from 4 November ( i.e before 4 December 2022)
- 11 Nov 2022 – Draft Cape Vulture Protocol for the Specialist Assessment and Minimum Report Content Requirements for Environmental Impacts on the Cape Vultures by Onshore Wind Energy Generation Facilities
- The Minister published her intention to prescribe a protocol for the assessment and minimum report content requirements for determining impacts on Cape Vultures associated with the development of onshore wind energy generation facilities which require environmental authorisation.
- The public is invited to submit comment on the draft protocol within 30 days from 11 November (i.e before 11 December 2022).