National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008)RegulationsRegulations regarding the Planning and Management of Residue Stockpiles and Residue Deposits, 2015Chapter 2 : Planning, Management and Reporting of Residue Stockpiles and Residue Deposits6. Investigation and the selection of site for residue stockpiling |
| (1) | The process of investigation and selection of a site for residue stockpiling and residue deposit must entail— |
| (a) | the identification of a sufficient number of possible candidate sites; |
| (b) | qualitative evaluation and ranking of all alternative sites; |
| (c) | qualitative investigation of the top ranking sites to review the ranking done in terms of paragraph (b); |
| (d) | a feasibility study on the highest ranking site or sites, involving— |
| (i) | a preliminary health and safety classification; |
| (ii) | an environmental classification; |
| (iii) | geotechnical investigations; and |
| (iv) | hydrological investigations. |
| (2) | A geotechnical investigation must include the— |
| (a) | characterisation of the soil and rock profiles over the entire area to be covered by the residue stockpile facility and associated infrastructure to define the spatial extent and depth of the different soil horizons; and |
| (b) | characterisation of the relevant engineering properties of foundations soils and the assessment of strength and drainage characteristics. |
| (3) | A hydrological investigation must include the— |
| (a) | geohydrological properties of the strata within the zone that could potentially be affected by the quality of seepage; |
| (b) | vulnerability and existing potential use of the groundwater resource within the zone that could potentially be affected by the residue facility; and |
| (c) | potential rate of seepage from the facility and the quality of the seepage. |
| (4) | A preferred site must be identified on the investigations contemplated in subregulations (1), (2) and (3). |
| (5) | Further investigation on the preferred site, must include— |
| (a) | land use; |
| (b) | topography and surface drainage; |
| (c) | infrastructure and man-made features; |
| (d) | climate; |
| (e) | flora and fauna; |
| (f) | soils; |
| (g) | ground water morphology, flow, quality and usage; and |
| (h) | surface water. |
| (6) | The investigations, laboratory test work, interpretation of data and recommendations for the identification and selection of the most appropriate and suitable site for the disposal of all residue that has the potential to generate leachate that could have a significant impact on the environment and groundwater must be conducted by a competent person. |