HomeNewsCalling for Comments: Environmental Management Screening Tool
ATTENTION GROUNDWATER SECTOR!
This National Web Based Environmental Screening Tool (https://screening.environment.gov.za/screeningtool/#/pages/welcome ) of the DFFE currently DOES NOT address groundwater aspects at all, and that means that sensitive aquifers, as identified on the DWS’s maps, or aquifers used for community water supply purposes, etc., are currently not considered as relevant when using this screening tool to determine the potential impacts of new developments.
Adopting the Screening Tool as it currently stand as a National Environmental Management Instrument will thus not highlight the potential impact of development on aquifers.
Could I ask that you please submit comments through your organisation to ensure that the screening tool is updated with appropriate groundwater protection information BEFORE it is adopted as a National Environmental Management Instrument, in order to ensure the consideration of groundwater resources in environmental governance?
Please also distribute to anyone who you think could assist to ensure that groundwater is appropriately addressed in EIA-Regulation