QUESTION TO THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS (FOR WRITTEN RESPONSE)
24 MAY 2010-(1) Whether her department has investigated the allegation that a certain mine (name furnished) is in contravention of its water licence by not chemically treating the underground mine water before pumping it out into the adjacent wetlands; if not, why not; if so, what has the investigation revealed;
LANCE GREYLING, MP
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 1405
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 07 MAY 2010
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 12)
1405. Mr L W Greyling (ID) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
(1) Whether her department has investigated the allegation that a certain mine (name furnished) is in contravention of its water licence by not chemically treating the underground mine water before pumping it out into the adjacent wetlands; if not, why not; if so, what has the investigation revealed;
(2) whether the investigation examined the treatment records for January 2010, February 2010 and March 2010; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) whether any transgressions were found to have been committed; if so,
(4) whether her department will take any steps against the owners of the mine; if not, why not; if so, what steps? NW1644E
REPLY:
(1) Yes, my Department has conducted several site visits to the Grootvlei mine in order to investigate the lack of treatment of the underground mine water. The site visits revealed that chemical treatment was either not taking place or not effective to ensure compliance with the license conditions.
(2) Yes, the treatment records of January, February and March 2010 were examined. The investigation indicated that chemical treatment during the last 3 months occurred on an irregular basis due to the mine experiencing financial constraints.
(3) Yes, the quality of the final discharge water was found not to be compliant with the conditions of the license issued to the Grootvlei Mine.
(4) Yes, a pre-directive was issued on 14 April 2010 and a directive was issued on 28 April 2010, to the Grootvlei Mine to put measures in place that would enable them to comply with the license conditions within a specific time frame. The deadline for compliance with license conditions has lapsed and the mine has not complied, which has triggered a decision by my Department to institute legal proceedings against the Grootvlei Mine.
ENDS…
For media enquiries please call Lance Greyling on 083 298 8553
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 1405
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 07 MAY 2010
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 12)
1405. Mr L W Greyling (ID) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
(1) Whether her department has investigated the allegation that a certain mine (name furnished) is in contravention of its water licence by not chemically treating the underground mine water before pumping it out into the adjacent wetlands; if not, why not; if so, what has the investigation revealed;
(2) whether the investigation examined the treatment records for January 2010, February 2010 and March 2010; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) whether any transgressions were found to have been committed; if so,
(4) whether her department will take any steps against the owners of the mine; if not, why not; if so, what steps? NW1644E
REPLY:
(1) Yes, my Department has conducted several site visits to the Grootvlei mine in order to investigate the lack of treatment of the underground mine water. The site visits revealed that chemical treatment was either not taking place or not effective to ensure compliance with the license conditions.
(2) Yes, the treatment records of January, February and March 2010 were examined. The investigation indicated that chemical treatment during the last 3 months occurred on an irregular basis due to the mine experiencing financial constraints.
(3) Yes, the quality of the final discharge water was found not to be compliant with the conditions of the license issued to the Grootvlei Mine.
(4) Yes, a pre-directive was issued on 14 April 2010 and a directive was issued on 28 April 2010, to the Grootvlei Mine to put measures in place that would enable them to comply with the license conditions within a specific time frame. The deadline for compliance with license conditions has lapsed and the mine has not complied, which has triggered a decision by my Department to institute legal proceedings against the Grootvlei Mine.
ENDS…
For media enquiries please call Lance Greyling on 083 298 8553
