1. (a) All objections received during the public participation process for the application for Environmental Authorisation (EA) were considered by the Chief Director: Integrated Environmental Authorisations of the Department prior to the issuing of the EA on 26 August 2015.
(b) Following the issuing of the aforementioned EA, 5 appeals were lodged, all of which were considered by me, the Minister of Environmental Affairs, as per the Appeal Decision of
15 April 2016.
2. (a-b) The record of information considered by me in the appeal process consisted of the following:
- Material information contained in the EIA project file (14/12/16/3/3/1/1/1280);
- the first appellant’s grounds of appeal, and annexures thereto, dated
30 September 2015;
- the second appellants grounds of appeal, dated 15 October 2015;
- the third appellants grounds of appeal, dated 16 October 2015;
- the fourth appellants grounds of appeal, dated 26 February 2016;
- the fifth appellants grounds of appeal, dated 16 October 2015;
- the applicants response to the appellants’ grounds of appeal, dated
14 November 2015;
- the site visit conducted by the Department of Environmental Affairs officials (DEA) with the applicant on 09 November 2015;
- the site visit and meeting conducted by DEA officials with the second appellant on
10 November 2015;
- the follow-up meeting by DEA officials held with the appellants on 13 January 2016;
- the additional documents provided by the appellants at the meeting with DEA officials on 13 January 2016;
- the meeting by DEA officials held with Leopard Creek, on 08 February 2016;
- the meeting by DEA officials held with the South African National Parks management, on 09 February 2016; and
- the comments received from the Chief Directorate: IEA of the Department.
Access to any of the aforementioned documents will be allowed upon request.
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