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National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998)

Notices

Protocol for the Specialist Assessment and Minimum Report content requirements for Environmental Impacts on Cape Vultures by Onshore Wind Energy Generation Facilities

3. Specialist Assessment and Minimum Report Content Requirements

Table 1: Assessment and Reporting of Impacts on Cape Vultures for Onshore Wind Energy Generation Facilities

 

TABLE 1: ASSESSMENT AND REPORTING OF IMPACTS ON CAPE VULTURES FOR ONSHORE WIND ENERGY GENERATION FACILITIES
1. General Information

 

1.1 An applicant intending to undertake an activity identified in the scope of this protocol on a site identified by the screening tool and verified by the site sensitivity verification report as being of “very high” or “high” sensitivity for the potential collision of Cape Vultures with wind turbines, must submit a Cape Vulture Specialist Assessment unless the information gathered from undertaking the site sensitivity verification confirms that the occurrence of Cape Vultures on the site is “medium” or “low5”, in which case a Compliance Statement must be prepared.

 

1.2 If any part of the proposed development footprint falls within an area of “very high” or “high” sensitivity, the assessment and reporting requirements prescribed for the “very high” or “high” sensitivity apply to the entire development footprint.

 

VERY HIGH AND HIGH SENSITIVITY RATING – areas where there is a very high probability of encountering Cape Vultures and where there is high risk of population-level impacts from the loss of Cape Vulture individuals.

 

These areas are potentially unsuitable for wind energy development.
2. Cape Vulture Specialist Assessment

 

2.1. The assessment must be undertaken by a specialist registered in the field of zoological science with SACNASP with demonstrated expertise in Cape Vulture observation and research.

 

2.2. The following information or data (in addition to that collected as part of the site sensitivity verification) must be collected to inform the assessment:
2.2.1. Wind energy developments for which environmental authorisation have been granted within a 30km radius6, including their location and GPS coordinates;
2.2.2. any power line that poses an electrocution risk due to its design, or a collision risk due to the absence of bird flight diverters or any wind measurement masts within a 30km radius of the preferred site;
2.2.3. data from an additional7 twelve months of Cape Vulture monitoring, focusing on the collection of additional flight activity through the preferred site, flight direction, behaviour, and specific data necessary to populate a collision risk model;
2.2.4. radar confirmed heights of Cape Vulture activity and flight activity records for early evening and morning when visibility is poor;
2.2.5. the size and status of known colonies and roosts within a 50km radius of the preferred site;
2.2.6. the location of possible roosts and colonies within a 5km radius8 of the preferred site; and
2.2.7. land use with specific reference to the possible location of vulture restaurants or land uses which could result in carcass availability within a 30km radius of the preferred site.

 

2.3. The spatial information is to be represented on a map which includes the following:
2.3.1. topographical features;
2.3.2. location of vantage point monitoring locations;
2.3.3. locations of existing wind energy developments or wind energy developments for which environmental authorisation have been granted but not constructed;
2.3.4. the location of existing power lines indicating any risk areas and proposed power lines as identified in paragraph 2.2.2;
2.3.5. location of roosts or colonies as well as potential roosts and colonies,
2.3.6. the flights recorded over the site; and
2.3.7. location of vulture restaurants and land uses which could result in the availability of carcasses.

 

2.4. The monitoring data is to be tabulated and included in a spreadsheet using a template consistent with that envisaged by the national bird monitoring database.

 

2.5. The monitoring data must be uploaded to the database once operational.

 

2.6. The monitoring data must include as a minimum the following information:
2.6.1. GPS coordinates of vantage point monitoring sites; and
2.6.2. flights, including direction, height, date, time, wind speed, weather conditions and behaviour.

 

2.7. The Cape Vulture Specialist Assessment must be undertaken on the preferred site and must identify and predict the following:
2.7.1. high risk areas on the site for potential collision risks;
2.7.2. the collision risk potential determined through the application of a collision risk model to predict an annual fatality rate;
2.7.3. the possible cumulative impact on the regional Cape Vulture population from the various wind energy developments within the 30km radius of the preferred site, based on the cumulative fatality rate and fatalities through power line electrocution or collision;
2.7.4. the possible impact of the predicted fatality rate on the regional Cape Vulture population and that impact on the national population; and
2.7.5. areas not suitable for development based on the risk of impacts on Cape Vultures.

 

2.8. The findings of the Cape Vulture Specialist Assessment must be written up in a Cape Vulture Specialist Assessment Report that contains as a minimum the following information:
2.8.1. A copy of the SACNASP registration certificate of the zoological scientist who prepared the assessment and a curriculum vitae demonstrating experience in Cape Vultures;
2.8.2. details including contact details of the zoological scientist;
2.8.3. a signed statement of independence by the specialist;
2.8.4. the duration, date and seasons of the assessment and the relevance of the season to the outcome of the assessment;
2.8.5. a summary of the findings of the site sensitivity verification report;
2.8.6. a description of the methodology used to undertake the data generation and assessment inclusive of the equipment and models used, as relevant;
2.8.7. a summary of the findings of the Cape Vulture monitoring;
2.8.8. a map showing the information required in paragraph 2.3 superimposed over the high-risk collision areas and areas not suitable for development as identified in paragraph 2.7.5;
2.8.9. a summary of the findings of the Cape Vulture specialist assessment;
2.8.10. an indication of the potential annual fatality rate, as well as the cumulative annual fatality rate;
2.8.11. the assessed impact of the predicted fatality rate on the regional Cape Vulture population as well as the anticipated impact on the national population;
2.8.12. a substantiated statement from the specialist with regards to the acceptability or not of the proposed development on the Cape Vulture population and a recommendation on the approval or not of the proposed development;
2.8.13. a description of the assumptions made and any uncertainties or gaps in knowledge or data; and
2.8.14. any conditions to which this statement is subjected.

 

2.9. The zoological scientist must recommend conditions to be included in the environmental authorisation which must include as a minimum the following:
2.9.1. mitigation measures to be included in the environmental authorisation which could include curtailment and shut down on demand options and/or carcass and food availability management plans;
2.9.2. the initiation date for the start of the post-construction monitoring plan;
2.9.3. the approval of the development is subject to adaptive management which could include the inclusion or amendment of curtailment and shut down measures as well as the need to include radar shut down should monitoring identify unanticipated and unacceptable fatality rates; and
2.9.4. the intervals for the submission of the post-construction monitoring report.

 

2.10. A summary of the findings of the Cape Vulture Specialist Assessment as well as the proposed conditions to be included in the environmental authorisation must be incorporated into the avian specialist study to be included in the Basic Assessment Report or the Environmental Impact Assessment Report.

 

2.11. A signed copy of the Site Sensitivity Verification Report and the Cape Vulture Specialist Assessment must be appended to the Basic Assessment Report or Environmental Impact Assessment Report.

 

2.12. A Cape Vulture post-construction monitoring plan is to be provided as part of the Cape Vulture Specialist Assessment Report. This plan must include as a minimum the following information:
2.12.1. timeframes and intervals for monitoring both wind turbines and power lines on and off the preferred site where risks were identified;
2.12.2. the locations to be monitored including GPS points (this will relate to wind turbines once the final turbine placement plan is approved);
2.12.3. methodology for searcher efficiency and scavenger removal;
2.12.4. methods for monitoring (i.e., transects or radial) as well as the extent of the monitoring area;
2.12.5. the years and intervals for the duration of post-construction monitoring must be identified; and
2.12.6. monitoring must include power lines on the preferred site and any high-risk power lines identified in paragraph 2.2.2.

 

2.13. The findings of the post-construction monitoring must be submitted to the relevant competent authority and relevant conservation organisations at intervals identified in paragraph 2.9.4 and must include as a minimum the following information:
2.13.1. A copy of the SACNASP registration certificate of the zoological scientist who prepared the monitoring report and a curriculum vitae demonstrating experience in Cape Vultures;
2.13.2. a signed statement of independence by the specialist;
2.13.3. the duration, date and seasons of the monitoring;
2.13.4. a summary of the findings of the monitoring;
2.13.5. a description of the methodology used, indicating where the methodology was amended from that identified in paragraphs

2.12.3 and 2.12.4;

2.13.6. a map indicating where carcasses of Cape Vultures were found, where relevant;
2.13.7. an indication of the cause of death;
2.13.8. verification of expected fatality rates compared against post-development prediction; and
2.13.9. a statement on the correlation between the expected fatality rate and the findings of the monitoring, including any amendments that must be made to the layout or curtailment times.

 

2.14. The data related to the post-construction monitoring must be uploaded to the national bird monitoring database throughout the period of post construction monitoring, once the system is operational.

 

MEDIUM AND LOW SENSITIVITY RATING - are areas where there is a low probability of encountering vultures and a low risk of vulture fatalities.
3. Cape Vulture Compliance Statement

 

3.1. The Cape Vulture Compliance Statement must be prepared by a specialist registered in the field of zoological science with the SACNASP with demonstrated expertise in Cape Vulture observation and research.

 

3.2. The compliance statement must:
3.2.1. be applicable to the preferred site and proposed development footprint;
3.2.2. confirm that preferred the site is of “low” or “medium” sensitivity for impacts to Cape Vultures; and
3.2.3. indicate whether or not the proposed development will have an unacceptable impact on the Cape Vultures.

 

3.3. The Cape Vulture Compliance Statement must contain, as a minimum, the following information:
3.3.1. details including contact details and relevant expertise as well as the SACNASP registration certificate of the zoological scientist preparing the statement, including a curriculum vitae;
3.3.2. a signed statement of independence by the specialist;
3.3.3. a map showing the proposed development footprint, overlaid on the Cape Vulture risk map generated by the screening tool;
3.3.4. confirmation from the zoological scientist that all reasonable measures have been taken through micro-siting to avoid impacts on Cape Vultures;
3.3.5. a substantiated statement from the zoological scientist on the acceptability, or not, of the proposed development and a recommendation on the approval, or not, of the proposed development;
3.3.6. any conditions to which this statement is subjected;
3.3.7. where required, proposed impact management actions and outcomes or any monitoring requirements for inclusion in the EMPr; and
3.3.8. a description of the assumptions made and any uncertainties or gaps in knowledge or data.

 

3.4. A summary of the findings of the compliance statement must be included with the avian specialist study which is to be submitted as part of the Basic Assessment Report or Environmental Impact Assessment Report.

 

3.5. A signed copy of the compliance statement must be appended to the Basic Assessment Report or Environmental Impact Assessment Report.

 

3.6. A Cape Vulture post-construction monitoring plan is to be provided as part of the Cape Vulture Compliance Statement. This plan must include as a minimum the following information:
3.6.1. timeframes and intervals for monitoring both the wind turbines and power lines on site and off site where specific risks were identified;
3.6.2. the locations to be monitored, including GPS points (this will relate to wind turbines once the final turbine placement plan is approved);
3.6.3. methodology for searcher efficiency and scavenger removal;
3.6.4. methods for monitoring (i.e., transects or radial) as well as the extent of the monitoring area;
3.6.5. the years and intervals for the duration of post construction monitoring must be identified; and
3.6.6. monitoring must include power lines on the preferred site.

 

3.7. The findings of the post-construction monitoring must be submitted to the relevant competent authority and relevant conservation organisations at intervals identified in 3.6.1 and must include as a minimum the following information:
3.7.1. A copy of the SACNASP registration certificate of the zoological scientist who prepared the monitoring report and a curriculum vitae demonstrating experience in Cape Vultures;
3.7.2. a signed statement of independence by the specialist;
3.7.3. the duration, date and seasons of the monitoring;
3.7.4. a summary of the findings of the monitoring;
3.7.5. a description of the methodology used;
3.7.6. a map indicating where carcasses of Cape Vultures were found where relevant;
3.7.7. an indication of the cause of death; and
3.7.8. should a fatality of a Cape Vulture be identified through monitoring the specialist is to make recommendations for mitigation measures or additional monitoring for discussion with BirdLife Africa and the competent authority within 3 months of the monitoring event.

 

3.8. The data related to the post-construction monitoring must be uploaded to the national bird monitoring database throughout the period of post-construction monitoring once the system is operational.

 

 

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5 Low in the context of a potential collision risk of a Cape Vulture with a wind turbine means that the level of Cape Vulture flight activity over the site is low and where Cape Vultures are identified the height is consistently observed exceeding the tip of the turbine blade and no behaviour that would bring the Cape Vulture into contact with the wind turbine blades is observed throughout the yearlong observation.
6 This information can be obtained from the screening tool but will need to be verified by Eskom or discussions with landowners.
7 Additional monitoring from the monitoring that was undertaken as part of the site sensitivity verification.
8 This information can be collected through desk top analysis, consultation with local bird associations, BirdLife South Africa, Vulpro and the Endangered Wildlife Trust.