1. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ONE ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEM PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS MEETING OF 30 JANUARY 2018

2. Problem Statement
Prior to 8 December environmental aspects of mining activities were regulated in terms of the MPRDA
Notwithstanding, some construction activities related to mining trigger listed activities under the EIA regulations
Undesirable situation - both laws had their own process and information requirements leading to:
Unnecessary duplication environmental impacts covered under both pieces of legislation
Challenge for cooperative governance
Confusion in the mining sector
No alignment and no integration
Not efficient – time, resources and costs

3. IMPLEMENTATION OF ONE ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEM
In 2010, the “Strategy for Sustainable Growth and Meaningful Transformation of South Africa’s Mining Industry” was adopted
The Strategy identified amongst others fragmented licensing mechanisms as one of the key binding constraints to the global competitiveness of the industry
In 2008 the Minister responsible for Water and the Environment and the Minister responsible for Mineral Resources came to an agreement to align the environmental function of mining
The agreement entailed
Environmental function of mining to be regulated under NEMA
Processing and approval timeframes to comply to MRPD
Appeal authority would be Minister of Environment

4. IMPLEMENTATION OF ONE ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEM
The legal process has been completed, environmental aspects of mining is legislated under NEMA
Environmental impact assessment undertaken under the NEMA provisions – uniformity
Implementation of the environmental function – Environmental Authorisation and compliance
The regional offices of DMR are responsible for the review and making recommendation on EIA – decisions are taken at Head Office
The Minister of Environmental Affairs is the Appeal authority
Regulations under the National Water Act have been promulgated - ensures alignment of timeframes for review of EIA and Water Use Licences and the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Act

5. STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION
Applications are being submitted to the regional offices of DMR and are being assessed by the DMR Environmental Officers
The three Departments meet to discuss implementation issues
“WG 5 Implementation Meetings” once a quarter
WG 5 Meetings
Training on EIA is undertaken once per quarter
Induction training
Advanced training
Outsourced training – training provided at the level of NQF 8

6. STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION
DEA is responsible for providing national figures of EIAs process to Outcome 10 The three Departments meet to discuss implementation issues
“WG 5 Implementation Meetings” once a quarter
WG 5 Meetings
Training on EIA is undertaken once per quarter
Induction training
Advanced training
Outsourced training – training provided at the level of NQF 8

7. LINK TO NEMALA BILL
Change proposed to NEMA to compel the simultaneous submission of applications; Water use Licence, MPRD mining right and Environmental authorisation
Simultaneous submissions ensure the full utilisation of one process for information gathering to inform all decision-making relating to the proposed development and to allow for the issuing of integrated licences and authorisations