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ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT



SIERRA MINERALS HOLDINGS 1 LIMITED

BAUXITE MINING PROJECT

PREPARED BY:



TEDA: Environmental Consultants



(TEDA)

63 Wellington Street

Freetown

Sierra Leone

Tel: 232 22 228426om

Fax: 232 22 226327

e-mail: teda@limezone.c

November 2012



ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

TEDA would like to sincerely thank the entire team that

were responsible for the compilation of this report and the

specialist reports that contributed to it. Special thanks also

go to the management and staff of Vimetco SMHL for their

support.



Executive Summary

Project Background

Sierra Minerals Holdings Ltd. (SMHL) is a joint venture known as VIMETCO Group that owns license to

mine bauxite in the south eastern Province of Sierra Leone. The lease area is located in five chiefdoms

within Bo, Moyamba and Bonthe Districts.

For SMHL to continue with its operations in the Concession area, the Environment Protection Agency

(EPA/SL) is requesting for an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) before a License can be

renewed. The ESIA should outline the existing environmental and social conditions within the mine site

and the surrounding communities identify potential impacts of the project and propose mitigation

measures that SMHL should undertake during its project operations.

Tropical Environmental Design Associates (TEDA) was retained by SMHL to prepare this ESIA with the

following Terms of Reference (TOR).

1. Describe and assess the prevailing baseline environmental and socio-economic conditions of the

study area.

2. Produce project overview including: management, Infrastructure and methods of production.

3. Describe the national and international regulatory framework applicable to bauxite mining in

Sierra Leone.

4.



Determine project alternative scenarios.



5. Identify, predict and determine the intensity of the impacts on the receptors using the

information obtained from objective 1.

6. Propose mitigation measures that would be used to minimize these impacts.

7. Produce a summary of an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) based on the information

obtained and that contained in the EMP and,

8. Conduct a Public Consultation and Disclosure meetings with all stakeholders including the

affected communities at chiefdom, district and regional levels. These will be held to solicit

feedback from all stakeholders’ concerns, and if possible propose further mitigation measures.



Brief Description of the Project

SMHL produces about 1.4 million metric tonnes of bauxite annually from five main deposits at Gbonge,

Gondama, Jenega, Konta, and Wunde. It has a complex washing facility at Gondama with a capacity of

300t/hr. and a recovery of more than 65 percent. The bauxite mined is shipped to Constanta in Romania

for ALUM Tulcea the primary alumina manufacturing company that produces 600,000 tpa.

The proven washed bauxite reserves in the SML lease area are 12.5 million metric tonnes with an overall

grade of 51% Al203, 48% available alumina (av. Al2O3) and 3.0 % Si02 but total reserves should be at least

30 million metric tonnes. This reserve estimate will support production for approximately 20 years at an

annual production rate of 1.7 million metric tonnes. The bauxite reserves are dispersed 20% around the

washing plant and 80%, 14-18 km haulage distance from the washing plant.

The exploration program involves line cutting, pitting, drilling, sampling and assaying. The entire lease

area was prospected and classified by an earlier company, Sieromco into measured, indicated or

inferred resources. Based on this available information, SMHL has primarily been engaged in validating

these reported resources in four deposits (Konta, Wunde, Jenega and Gbonge) by generating its current

reserve base and the extension of SMHL mine life.

Infrastructure and Machinery

Summarily, the existing facilities and owner assets include:





Senior staff Camp – 14 double houses and lodging facilities with 7 rooms.







Two administrative buildings, 2 canteens, mechanical workshop area, laboratory, store,

warehouse and a fuel station at the main plant site at Gondama.







Harbour facility with dryer, 9 barges, 4 tug boats, fuel storage tanks and conveyors at Nitti.







Five power Generating plants.







Tailing storage facilities,







Stockpile facilities (ROM & Washed).







A fleet of vehicles including 30 MAN trucks and 32 Volvo trucks.







A fleet of mining machinery including



excavators, dozers, frontal loader, graders,



compactors and a wide range of support equipments.etc.





Project Access (Land and Sea).



Water resources within/proximity to SMHL lease are abundant. Due to the large quantities of water

required by bauxite wash process, water is sourced at the Taia River and pumped to a 5000 m 3 capacity

reservoir which in turn runs to the plant site by gravity flow.



SMHL has a highly skilled and experienced workforce with an organizational management capable of

running the project at management and supervisory level. More than 95% of the workforce is Sierra

Leonean and majority of the employees are skilled with technical expertise in handling mining related

jobs.

Regulatory Framework

In accordance with the national and international regulatory framework for mining and due diligence

requirements of the lending institutions, the submission and acceptance of this ESIA is a mandatory

precursor for the renewal of license for this project. These regulatory framework and policies were used

in the preparation of this report.

Baseline Conditions

The baseline data used in the preparation of this report was based on field visits carried out between

September and November 2012. They complemented those previously collected from other sources.

Stakeholder consultations were undertaken to determine the additional data required for the evaluation

of the baseline conditions and potential impacts of the project. Following the stakeholder consultations,

a field survey was undertaken with the purpose of obtaining an overview of the entire study area that

would further complement the information gathered during the consultative meetings.

Environmental baseline conditions studied include: topography, climate, drainage, geology, water

resources, flora, fauna, and socio-economic data including demography, health and sanitation,

education, water supply, agricultural practices and land tenure.

Project Impacts and Mitigation

Project Benefits



The exploitation of mineral resources such as bauxite is benefitting SMHL and its allied companies

financially. Apart from this direct benefit to the company, an array of other direct and indirect benefits

that the project could have on the mining community and the country at large are as follows:

Economic Benefits: In 2010 SMHL Vimetco acquired the bauxite mines from Titanium Resources Group

(TRG) with a market capital of $189 million. The injection of capital expenditure in foreign exchange has

boosted the economy of Sierra Leone in terms of foreign exchange earnings. The project is also

generating economic benefits to the GOSL in terms of taxes, duties and royalties as specified in the

mining code.



Job Creation: The project directly and indirectly is injecting money into the local economy through

salaries to workers and supplies outsourced locally which thereby increases the purchasing power of the

local population. This is indirectly benefitting the small business groups in the community and the local

tax collection system.

Roads Infrastructure: Since operations started, SMHL has reconstructed and resurfaced all roads in the

lease area and it has continued to invest in maintenance of local roads with other neighboring

companies in the project area. This is facilitating a speedy movement of goods, agricultural produce and

people within and outside the concession area.

Community Development Initiatives: Since November 2012, the company has been financing community

development initiatives within the purview of SMHL Foundation in the five chiefdoms and in the

following priority areas of interventions:





Continued rehabilitation of major roads and haul roads in the concession area and Joint venture

rehabilitation of other major roads in the Moyamba District;







Construction of Maternity and Child Health Post, hand dug wells fitted with pumps and classroom buildings.







Provision of building materials to households affected by fire accidents in the community;







Provision of services and supplies to the Serabu Hospital and Mokanji Police Station; and







Offer of scholarships and tuition to students resident in the mining community.



Notwithstanding the above positive impacts, SMHL operations continue to have various negative

biophysical and socio-economic impacts in its operations. These were predicted using established

procedures, standards and by means of professional and subjective judgments. Most of these impacts

were rated from insignificant to moderate. With no mitigation measures applied, most of these are

either minor or moderate. The table below presents a summary of the projects’ impacts and mitigation.



When all the impacts are considered the two most prominent are those that are prevalent on surface

water, including the hydrology and natural drainage systems in the natural environment and the

disconnect existing between the communities expectations and apprehensions and the realistic gains

which may accrue through a more equitable transfer mechanism. Although there will be a number of

social impacts of high significance, the majority of the impacts on social conditions are of moderate



significance. These social impacts must be compared with the predicted benefits of the mining activities,

as indicated in Section 1. The positive economic impact of the mines is highly significant, and the

revenue from taxation that will accrue to government provides resources that can be used to

significantly improve the condition of infrastructure in the South east region of the country. The

economic benefit to the local economy is also significant, since the project will not only support several

hundred employees directly, but it will also support significantly more of their dependents. It is

estimated that, on average, each employee will support eight dependents or family members. This

should result in a general improvement in standards of living in the study area and provides an

alternative livelihood to the current subsistence farming.



Summary of Project Impacts: SMHL Bauxite Mining Project.

No Environmental

Issue



Source of Impact

(Activity)



Impact



Affected

Significance

Community(ies) Timescale Area Magnitude Likelihood

/Receptors



Bio-Physical



1



2



3



Topography



Geology



Air



Vegetation

Removal ,

Excavation of

Overburden,

Opening of Mine

Panels,

Back Filling,

Leveling,

Grading.

Removal of

overburden,

Excavation from mine

panels.



Land Clearing,

Excavation,

Earthmoving,

Storage of materials,

Handling and

Transportation.



Land Disturbance,

Soil Compaction,

Slope Displacement.



Gondama

Konta

Jenega

Wunde

Gbonge



Permanent Local



Moderate

(Low

severity)



Likely



Soil erosion,

Sedimentation in

streams and valleys



Gondama

Konta

Jenega

Wunde

Gbonge



Permanent Local



Moderate

(Low

severity)



Very Likely



Air Pollution



Machine

operators,

Nearby

Communities,

Villages along

haul roads,

Personnel at

plant site



Short-term



Moderate



Likely



Local



Noise Pollution



4 Noise



5



6



Surface

Water



Visual

Resources



Machine operation,

Hauling of ore,

Ore beneficiation,

Stockpiling,

Power generation,

Bauxite drying,

Loading.

Vegetation remova,l

Excavation,

Construction and

rehabilitation of road

infrastructure,

Construction and

rehabilitation of mine

facilities,

Ore beneficiation,

Stockpiling,

Mine Reclamation and

Closure.

Mining operations,

Construction,

Demolition.



Soil erosion,

Run-off,

Sedimentation in streams and

valleys,

Water pollution,

Changes in local hydrology.



Negative effect on the View

Shed in the rural environment



Gondama plant site,

Nitti Port,

Mine panels,

Haul roads,

Matta camp.



Shortterm



Local



Low Moderate



Likely



Shortterm



Local



Locally

high



Very

Likely



Medium



Local



Moderate

(Low

severity )



Likely



All communities

located within the

mine lease



All communities

located within the

mine lease,

Communities located

along haul roads and

out of the lease area



Ore beneficiation



7



Accidental

Release of

Sludge

from TSF



8



Wildlife

Protected

Areas and

Cultural

Properties



9



Borrow

Pits and

Quarry

Sites



10



Flora and

Fauna



Release and discharge of

sludge into dams and local

drainage systems,

Increase in turbidity,

conductivity and in-organic

particulates in the drainage

system.



Communities in the

downstream

sections of the lease

area,

Gondama plant site.



No Significant Impact - NSI



(NSI)



Quarrying and Road

rehabilitation work.



Soil erosion,

Open pits become breeding

ground for insect disease

vectors,

Intrusion of sediments into

farm lands.

Loss of flora and fauna



Villages along main

haul and access

roads.



Accidents,

Incidents,

Spread of communicable

diseases.

Accidents



SMHL personnel

Communities within

operational area.



Vegetation removal



(NSI)



Entire lease area.



Short-term



Local



(NSI)



(NSI)



Shortmedium

term



Local



Permanent Local



Low



(NSI)



High



Likely



(NSI)



Likely



LowVery

Moderate Likely



Socio-economics

Community

11 Health and

Safety

Traffic and

12

road Safety



Mine related activities



Vehicular transportation

Motor bike riders

Pedestrians.



SMHL personnel

Communities along

haul roads.



Short-term



Local



Low



Likely



Short-term



Local



Low



Likely



Migration



13



Population

Movements



Socio-economics

14



Gender

Impacts



Spread of communicable

diseases,

Prostitution,

Disruption of Social and

Cultural values,

Drug and alcohol abuse

Theft,

Domestic Violence.

Noise.

Land Ownership,

Teenage pregnancy and

early Marriage,

Increase in early school dropout.



Entire mining

community



Long



Local



Moderate



Very

Likely



Long



Local



Low Moderate



Very

Likely



Entire mining

communities



No



Environmental Issue



Mitigation Measures



Bio-Physical

Topography



Reclaim Mined-out Areas, Reclaim Stockpile Areas, Use designated routes

in the wet season.



Geology



Separation of super soil from sub soil during removal.

Proper grading and reshaping of the disturbed

Adequate crop suitability procedures for reclamation work.areas.

Prompt timing of re-vegetation on reclaimed lands to avoid top soil removal

in the early rain events.

Establishment of sediment raps, bunds and where necessary construction

of diversion ditches.

Regular inspection of reclamation and repair works where needed; and

Use of rock mulch on unprotected surfaces.



Air



Dust Suppression in the Dry season, Provision of mask to employees in

dusty areas,

use of gaseous control equipment at plant site,

apply traffic safety rules and regulations,

reduce speed limits,

construct speed bumps in villages along haul roads,



Noise



Future facilities with high noise impacts should be located well away from

noise sensitive areas.

Mine faces should be used as noise barriers in the immediate vicinity of

villages such as Gbonge, Jenega and Konta.

Protective hearing devices should be used when employees are at work

especially at or near earth-moving equipment, wash plants and power

houses.



Surface Water



Stockpiles and overburden should not be placed at nearby drainage ways.

Waste oil, fuel and other lubricants should be stored in strong

containments.

Tailings Management Plan should be properly implemented.

As much as possible, leakages into earth fill dams should be avoided.

Efforts should be made in the wet season to ensure that rain water is

diverted from the TSF



6



Visual Resources



Where construction of power lines would be required, features should be

designed so as to achieve landscape designs

Impoundment dams should be rehabilitated to meet international

standards.

Burrow pits and mine faces should be graded



7



Accidental Release of Sludge

from TSF



Rehabilitation, development and implementation of the Tailings

Management Plan coupled with regular inspection programme



1



2



3



4



5



No



Environmental Issue



Mitigation Measures



8



Wildlife Protected Areas and

Cultural Properties



(NSF)



9



Borrow Pits and Quarry Sites



The pits should be closed up immediately after use

Quarry sites must be included in mines closure and reclamation plans



Flora and Fauna



Prompt mine reclamation activities in the mined out areas should be

enhanced.

If vulnerable or endangered species exist within the mine sites, measures

should be taken to create alternative sites.



10



Socio-economics



11



12



13



14



Community Health and Safety



Traffic and Road Safety



Population Movements



Gender Impacts



Provision of additional health facilities to the five affected chiefdoms;

Provision of health services to all workers and their families, which will

avoid new demands on health services by Project out-of-area workers.

Avoid and minimize environmental effects that have potential to affect

health, including dust, noise,

Preventions should be taken against fire accidents

Provide driver safety training to all workers.

Impose speed limits;

Schedule truck traffic along the public highways to avoid peak hours; and

Introduce safety campaigns for the communities.

Give job preference to the local population

Job opportunities such as poultry and piggery farming, vegetable gardening,

bakery, brick making, entertainment centres

Training;

establishing micro credit schemes and through serving as a market for the

agricultural produce



Analyses of Alternatives

Analyses of alternatives constitute part of this ESIA. The purpose is to improve on project design,

construction and operation decision making based on feasible project alternatives as prescribed by the

International Finance Corporation (IFC, 2006). It provides the basis for identifying optimal project

alternatives that are consistent with the goals of the mining company, funding organization, the

government, the mining community and the policy and regulatory framework established for the mining

industry.

Project alternatives that were considered for SMHL project include:





No Action alternative;







Alternative for location of staff accommodation;







Bauxite processing location;







Mine closure.



The adoption of the no-action alternative would mean that the project would remain in its current

condition with no mine-related development activity by SMHL. This scenario would mean that the

Environmental Management Plan and the community Development Action Plan (CDAP) that are

prepared would not be implemented. As such, the anticipated project benefits such as employment,

foreign exchange earnings, infrastructure development and community development initiatives would

not improve in the concession area and the country as a whole. This will result in the continuation of in

migration into the area and the resultant poor state of local economy, infrastructure and other public

services.

Following the depletion of the Mokanji deposits in 1982, Sieromco relocated its operations to Gondama.

The accommodation provided for SMHL staff are located 20 – 40 miles away from the plant site. The

mining activities at the Gondama site do not require total off-site accommodation especially for

supervision work during the second and third shifts. The option therefore is the relocation or expansion

of staff accommodation closer to the mine site. Proximity to the mine site would lead to the following

benefits:





Reduction in travel time to work;







Increased work supervision at all times;







Proximity to the only Medical Hospital in the mining area;







Decrease in the running cost of vehicles;







Extension of overtime work for certain staff categories;







Increase in the opportunity for the expansion of the Gbonge deposits and future expansion of

shipping facility closer to the four bauxite deposits at Mattru.



The existing processing plant is in a closer proximity to the five major deposits. For operational

considerations, the Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) is located as close as possible to the plant site to

reduce cost of transportation of the slurry. The potential for the existing facility to near its storage

capacity is high considering mine life of SMHL operations. Consideration should be given for an

alternative storage facility in the near future.



Tailings Disposal and Storage will involve a construction of mine pits in the Gbonge area into tailings

storage containment. The slurries would be deposited in the pits as mining continues. Filling would

continue for less than a year and after a decanting period, revegetation would start followed by a full

reclamation work based on the mine reclamation plan.

The major disadvantages of this alternative would be related to short term mine plan as this operation

will concurrently go on with other mining operations.



Construction of a new storage facility would require concurrent construction work and mining

operations with little obstruction. Construction work would however be more expensive as materials

such as sand and gravel would have to be transported from a distance outside the mining area.

Preferred alternative for the two options would be controlled by key factors including costs, time of

construction, and availability of equipments, weather conditions and the expected life of the mine

operations.

Mine reclamation and closure activities at SMHL operations are implemented to establish a beneficial

post-mining land use, in the case of this project it will consist primarily of agricultural lands. This option

requires millions of dollars in earth moving activities, and it cannot be considered as the best option for

the open pits. The preferred options would be to identify those pits (especially those around Gbonge) to

fill with water in the wet season for use by the community at the end the mine life. Backfilling of these

pits with tailings slurries would be another feasible option considering the life of the existing tailings

facilities at the plant site.



Public Consultation and Disclosure



This section defines the Sierra Leone requirements for conducting stakeholder consultation and

disclosure activities during the ESIA process.

Public Consultation and disclosure meetings for this ESIA were held in respect of the renewal of license

at chiefdom, district and regional levels between January 25th and 28th 2013.

1. Serabu on the 25th January 2013 – Chiefdom level



2. Moyamba District on the 26th January 2013 – District level



3. Bo Town on the 28th January 2013 – Regional level



The meetings were meant to allow all stakeholders stay informed on the current updates on SMHL

operations, allow all stakeholders voice their opinions, grievances and provide meaningful suggestions

for sustained operations of the project.



The key objectives of the public consultation and disclosure as set-out by the Sierra Leone

Environmental Protection Agency (SLEPA) as part of the international requirement for public hearings to

be undertaken for the approval/renewal and issuance of an Environmental Licence are;







Inform stakeholders (individuals, communities, local interest groups, Government officers, local

NGOs, Community Based Organizations, affected and interested parties) of the important

aspects of the SMHL-Vimetco Bauxite Project;







Provide an opportunity to consult with local communities, stakeholders, civil activists etc to

voice out their concerns and perceptions regarding the project;







Consult comprehensively as far as possible by disseminating information about the nature of the

project, identify, and discuss the public concerns( potential project’s impacts) about the project;







Obtain feedback on perceptions and concerns by means of a public exposure of the ESIA draft

document;







Solicit public comments and encourage input on preferred alternatives, mitigation measures and

similar aspects on project implementation.







Respond to all stakeholders as far as possible and address the concerns and issues that are

raised.



To ensure full participation and contribution of community and stakeholders, notification via the local

media, print media, letters, telephone calls and display of banners, indicating time, date and locations of

the public hearing were undertaken prior to the disclosure process.

The following are the summary of the findings, comments and input from key government officials,

participants and affected communities at the three levels where the consultations and disclosure

meetings were held. These inputs have played a definitive role in shaping the focus of the ESIA

document and the development of mitigation/amelioration measures.





Community Development undertaken by the company.







Environmental impacts of the project on communities (e.g.: Noise, Pollution of air and water

bodies)







Socio-Economic benefits to the community (e.g. Youth employment, skills training etc.)







Environmental degradation of community agricultural land.







Disposal of used / scrap items (e.g. tyres, chemicals etc.).







Tailings outflow and threat to nearby water sources.







Construction / tarring of nearby road networks.







Effective Monitoring and Evaluation of the implementation of the ESIA report and the EMP

especially on the part of the EPA and the Ministry of Mines etc.







Collaboration and Consultation with the local people by the company.







Company to expand on the road rehabilitation work to other surrounding areas (e.g. RutileBumpeh road).







Company to embark on capacitating its workers in relevant areas, providing skills training

opportunities and the promotion of other economic activities for the community.







EPA-SL and the Mines Ministry to liaise up with local councils to enforce the implementation

and Monitoring of all these plans by the company.



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment

TABLE OF CONTENTS



Page



Section One – Introduction......................................................................................................2

1.2 Background........................................................................................................................2

1.2 Terms of Reference...........................................................................................................2

1.3 Structure of the Report.....................................................................................................3

1.4 Project Setting...................................................................................................................4

1.5 History and Ownership of Bauxite Deposits........................................................................5

1.6 Purpose and Objectives of Sudy..........................................................................................7

1.7 Scope of Study..................................................................................................................8

1.8 Study Constraints and Limitations.......................................................................................9

1.9 Study Approach...............................................................................................................10

1.10 Methodology...............................................................................................................11

1.11 Project Benefits...........................................................................................................16

Section Two – Project Description.........................................................................................19

2.1 Project Management and Workforce................................................................................19

2.2 Infrastructure and Machinery...........................................................................................20

2.3 Ore Resources and Exploration Methods.............................................................................23

2.4 Mining and Ore Beneficiation.............................................................................................24



2.5 Bauxite Product Shipping........................................................................................................28

2.6 Power Generation...................................................................................................................28

2.7 Water Management............................................................................................................... 28

2.8 Mine Security.................................................................................................................29

Section Three – Policy, Legal and Institutional Framework.....................................................31

3.1 National Legislations.......................................................................................................31

3.2 International Regulatory Framework................................................................................36

3.3 Institutional Framework..................................................................................................47

Section Four - Analyses of Alternatives......................................................................................................50



Section Five – Environmental Baseline Conditions...............................................................53

5.1 Biophysical Environment................................................................................................53

5.1.1 Topography and Landforms............................................................................................53

5.1.2 Climate and Weather...................................................................................................54

5.1.3 Drainage and Hydrology................................................................................................55

5.1.4 Geology.......................................................................................................................57

5.1.5 Surface and Ground Water............................................................................................59

5.1.6 Soils and Land Use Capability.........................................................................................60

5.1.7 Terrestial Biological Environment..................................................................................69

5.1.8 Threats to Vegetation...................................................................................................71

5.2 Socio-economic Environment............................................................................................75

5.2.1 Demography...................................................................................................................75



5.2.2 Public Health and Sanitation.........................................................................................76

5.2.3 Water Supply.................................................................................................................77

5.2.4 Education......................................................................................................................78

5.2.5 Land and Water Resources...........................................................................................79

5.2.6 Transport and Communications...................................................................................79

5.2.7 Social and Political Organizations.................................................................................79

5.2.8 Land Tenure..................................................................................................................80

5.2.9 Economic Activities........................................................................................................81

5.2.10 Surface Land Ownership...............................................................................................83

Section Six – Potential Impacts and Proposed Mitigation Measures.......................................84

6.1 Biophysical Impacts...........................................................................................................84

6.1.1 Topography.....................................................................................................................84

6.1.2 Air Quality.......................................................................................................................85

6.1.3 Noise................................................................................................................................86

6.1.4 Geology and Soils..............................................................................................................88

6.1.5 Surface Water....................................................................................................................89

6.1.6 Visual Resources.................................................................................................................90

6.1.7 Accidental Release of Sludge from Tailings Storage Facility................................................90

6.1.8 Wildlife, Protected Areas and Cultural Practices.................................................................90

6.1.9 Burrow Pits and Quarry Sites...............................................................................................90



6.1.10 Flora and Fauna............................................................................................................91

6.2 Socio-economic Impacts....................................................................................................92

6.2.1 Community Health and Safety.........................................................................................92

6.2.2 Traffic and Road Safety....................................................................................................93

6.2.3 Population Movements....................................................................................................94

6.2.4 Gender Impacts................................................................................................................94

6.2.5 Community Expectations and Apprehensions...................................................................95

6.3 Cumulative Impacts..............................................................................................................96

Section 7 – Environmental Management Plan........................................................................98

7.1 Environmental Monitoring Plan...........................................................................................98

7.2 Emergency Response and Contingency Plan.......................................................................99

7.3 Tailings Dam Management Plan..........................................................................................101

7.4 Waste Management Plan....................................................................................................104

7.5 Occupational Health and Safety Plan..................................................................................107

7.6 Mine Reclamation and Closure Plan....................................................................................118

7.7 Public Consultation and Disclosure Plan...............................................................................121

Section Eight – Conclusions and Recommendations............................................................127

8.1 Conclusions...........................................................................................................................127

8.2 Recommendations.......................................................................................................127

References........................................................................................................................128

Annexes.............................................................................................................................129



Annex A – Tables

Table 1 Summary of Surface and Ground Water Quality........................................................130

Table 2 Flora and Fauna Species.........................................................................................131

Table 3 Species of Agricultural value...................................................................................134

Table 4 Common Animal Species........................................................................................136

Table 5 Summary of Project Impacts......................................................................................137

Table 6 Summary of Mitigation Measures...........................................................................141

Annex B Socio-Economic Analysis.......................................................................................143

Annex C Summary of issues discussed in FGDs across the surveyed communities....................167

Annex D Soci-Economic Baseline Survey Questionnaire...........................................................172



List of Tables

Table 1 Environmental Significance Rating Scale………………………………………………………………………13

Table 2 Summary of Personnel Distribution……………………………………………………………………………..20

Table 3 Volumetric Analyses of flow rates of the Taiai River........................................................29

Table 4 Summary of Rainfall Data.................................................................................................54

Table 5 Weather Cycle..................................................................................................................55

Table 6 Land Suitability for rain fed agriculture in the Lease area...............................................68

Table 7 Species Conservation Status............................................................................................72

Table 8 Demographic Profile of Communities..............................................................................76

Table 9 Main Sources of Income in Selected Villages……………………………………………………………..82



Table 10 Summary of Noise Monitoring Results..........................................................................87

Table 11 Identification of Potential Hazards ..............................................................................109

Table 12 Risk Analyses of Potential Hazards...............................................................................111

Table 13 Summary of Issues and Concerns Raised at the PDCP Meeting.................................123



List of Maps

Map 1 SMHL Lease Area (ML1/05)..........................................................................................5

Map 2 SMHL Areas of Influence................................................................................................7

Map 3 Sampling Locations SMHL Project Area........................................................................63

List of Figures

Figure 1 SMHL Organizational Structure…………………………………………………………………………………..22

Figure 2 Wide-Angle view of Administrative Building; Processing Plant; and Environs……………..25

Figure 3 SMHL Washing Plant Flow Diagram…………………………………………………………………………….27



Abbreviations/Acronyms

CAM



Community Affairs Manager



CDAP



Community Development Action Plan



CHC



Community Health Centre



CITES



Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species



db



Decibel



EHSG



Environmental and Health Safety Guidelines



EMP



Environmental Management Plan



ERCP



Emergency Response and Contingency Plan



EPA/SL



Environmental Protection Agency/ Sierra Leone



EPCC



Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning



ESHIA



Environmental; Social; and Health Impact Assessment



ESAP



Environmental and Social Action Plan



ESMP



Environnemental and Social Management Plan



EU



European Union



GOSL



Government of Sierra Leone



Km



Kilometre



IUCN



International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources



MCHP



Maternal and Child Health Posts



MRCP



Mines Reclamation and Closure Plan



ML



Mining Lease



NGO



Non-Governmental Organization



PFC



Perflouronated Carbon



PHU



Peripheral Health Unit



SMHL



Sierra Minerals Holdings Ltd



STD



Sexually Transmitted Disease



T/hr



Tonnes per hour



TEDA



Tropical Environmental and Design Consultants



TOR



Terms of Reference



TOC



Total Organic Compounds



UNFCC



United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change



WHO



World Health Organization



Currency Exchange Rate {Mid-November; 2011}

1 US$ = € 1.29 =Le 4350



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Section 1.0 - Introduction

1.1 Background

Sierra Minerals Holdings Ltd. is a joint venture known as VIMETCO Group that owns license to mine

bauxite in the south eastern Province of Sierra Leone. The lease area is located in five chiefdoms within

BO, Moyamba and Bonthe Districts. A brief description of the company’s business overview is presented

below:





About 1.4 million tonnes of bauxite is produced annually from five main deposits at Gbonge,

Gondama, Jenega, Konta, and Wunde.











It has a complex washing facility at Gondama with :

-



A capacity of 300t/hr.



-



A recovery of > 65%



-



A total content of Al203>53% and;



-



A low content of SiO2 <4%.



Its harbor facilities located at Nitti (40km. from Gondama) include: a bauxite dryer, push boats,

barges and a loading facility.







The bauxite mined is shipped to Constanta in Romania for ALUM Tulcea the primary alumina

manufacturing company that produces 600,000 tpa.



For SMHL to continue with its operations in the Concession area, the Environment Protection Agency

(EPA/SL) is requesting for an Environmental Impact Assessment (ESIA) before a License can be renewed.

The ESIA should outline the existing environmental and social conditions within the mine site and the

surrounding communities to identify potential impacts of the project and the proposed mitigation

measures that SMHL should undertake during its project operations.

1.2 Terms of Reference

This Environmental and Social Impact Assessment report has been prepared in accordance with the

stipulations of the EPA/SL and the following Terms of Reference (TOR) received from SMHL.



1. To describe and assess the prevailing baseline environmental and socio-economic conditions

of the study area and secondary data collection.



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2. Produce project overview including: management, Infrastructure and methods of

production.

3. Describe the national and international regulatory framework applicable to bauxite mining

in Sierra Leone.

4.



Determine project alternative scenarios.



5. Identify, predict and determine the intensity of the impacts on the receptors using the

information obtained from objective 1.

6. Propose mitigation measures that would be used to minimize these impacts.

7. Produce a summary of an Environmental Management Plan based on the information

obtained and that contained in the EMP.

8. Conduct a Public Consultation and Disclosure meetings with all stakeholders including the

affected communities at chiefdom, district and regional levels. These will be held to solicit

feedback from all stakeholder’s concerns, and if possible further mitigation measures.



Tropical Environmental Design Associates, Architects, Engineers, Environmental Designers and

Development Consultants (TEDA) were retained by SMHL to prepare this ESIA.

1.3 Structure of the Report

As much as possible, this ESIA followed the Guidelines provided by the EPA/SL.

Section One: This section presents the introduction that explains project background, Terms of

Reference, purpose, scope, objectives, study limitations and methodology.

Section Two presents the project description including management, infrastructure, machinery, ore

reserves, mining and security.

Section Three is a summary of the legal and institutional framework for environmental issues related to

mining in Sierra Leone.

Section Four presents details if the environmental baseline conditions.

Section Five presents the direct impacts associated with the project and mitigation measures needed to

address the impacts.



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Section Six presents a summary of the Environmental Management Plan proposing residual impacts with

the pertinent measures to be addressed during project operations.

Section Seven presents conclusions and recommendations for sustained bauxite operations in the lease

area.

1.4 Project Setting

The project setting is divided into two impact areas: a. Areas of direct social and environmental impacts

immediately and directly affected by the mining operation namely, mine panels, plant site, haul roads,

Nitti Port, Matta Camp and the affected communities within the lease area. b. Areas of project influence

where most of the environmental impacts are influenced by project activities either within or outside

the lease area. Examples of these are villages outside the lease area but linked to the haul roads and

portions of those chiefdoms that are out of the lease area.

The lease area is about 163 kilometers south east of Freetown with the plant site and shipping facilities

located at Gondama and Nitti respectively. The bauxite concession covers an area of 321.2 square

kilometers as delineated in Exploration License EXPL 2/2001. Its principal deposits are concentrated in

Gbonge, Gondama, Jenega, Konta and Wunde. The road leading to Mattru from Freetown which

constitutes part of the haul road passes through the lease area for about 59.5 km. There are many

villages that are affected by the mine activities, but those mostly affected currently include: Gbonge,

Gondama, Jenega, Konta and Wunde. SMHL owns a residential camp at Matta (out of the concession

area) where accommodation and recreation facilities are located 20 km from Gondama and Nitti

respectively. The entire camp is fenced and guarded. It consists of 14 duplex houses for senior staff, 1

building for kitchen and a recreational area, 1 gym building; other building/utility/services that house

the generator and, laundry.

The entire project area is traversed by unpaved roads with the major ones leading to the five chiefdom

head quarter towns of Gbonge, Bumpeh, Gbangbatoke Banta Mokele and Mano Dase. A number of

haulage and access roads constructed during the early mining period that were not reclaimed are used

as foot paths to farms and villages

The proven washed bauxite reserves in the SML lease area are 12.5 million metric 4eigh with an overall

grade of 51% Al203, 48% available alumina (av. Al2O3) and 3.0 % Si02 but total reserves should be at least

30 million metric 4eigh. This reserve estimate will support production for approximately 20 years at an

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annual production rate of 1.7 million metric 5eigh. The bauxite reserves are dispersed 20% around the

washing plant and 80%, 14-18 km haulage distance from the washing plant.



Map 1. SMHL Lease Area (ML1/05).



1.5 History and ownership of Bauxite Deposits

The exploration of Bauxite in Sierra Leone started in the 1920’s with the recording of low-grade bauxites

in and around the Freetown Peninsular and Kabala in the Northern Province. In 1958, the bauxite

potential in the Kasila Group Geology was initiated with the mapping of the Mokanji and Gbonge Hills.

On the basis of this study, the Sierra Leone Ore and Metal Company Limited (Sieromco) was formed as a

wholly owned subsidiary of a Swiss Company, Alusuisse.

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In 1961, Sieromco signed an agreement with the GOSL entitling Sieromco to prospect for and mine

bauxite in certain parts of the country. Sieromco commenced mining bauxite in Sierra Leone in

September 1963 in the Banta/Gbangbatoke and Dasse Chiefdoms in the Moyamba District. Sieromco

mined in the Mokanji area continuously for more than 19 years.

In 1982, following the depletion of the Mokanji deposits, Sieromco relocated its operations to Gondama

(approximately 26 km south-east of Mokanji) and resumed mining in the Banta Mokelleh Chiefdom.

Sieromco mined the Gondama deposits continuously until January 18, 1995, when the company

suspended operations and abandoned the mine site as a result of the civil war.

Alusuisse requested a consulting Firm BH&P to prepare a feasibility study in April 1995 for a possible

reopening of the Sieromco mines. The objectives of the evaluation were to:





Confirm the practicality of the mining and transportation methods;







Evaluate possible alternatives; and







Confirm and update the cost of projections.



Other considerations were also given to the possibility of combining the operations with Sierra Rutile

with arrangements made for contract mining.

Observations made took cognizance of many aspects of mining based on a ten year operating

experience and detailed operational data that were proven accurate.

On October 19, 2000, the GOSL reached an agreement with Alusuisse to acquire the assets and minerals

and mining rights of the company under the Sieromco Share Purchase Agreement. In December 2000,

Sieromco finally shutdown all its business dealings in Sierra Leone and handed over its assets to the

GOSL and relinquished Mining Lease 2131.

Sierra Rutile Limited (SRL) purchased these assets from the GOSL under the Sale and Purchase

Agreement of 20th. November 2001; and on December 1st of the same year, SRL was granted exploration

license EXPL 2/2001 for the area formerly covered by the Sieromco Mining Lease 2131. On 7th

December, 2001, SRL, with consent of the GOSL, assigned its rights under the above exploration license,

to Sierra Minerals Holdings Ltd.1. (SMHL) to fulfill all its obligations, title and interest.

SMHL was incorporated in British Virgin Islands and registered on October, 2001. On 3rd. June 2004,

SMHL entered into engineering, Procurement, construction and commissioning (EPPCC) Agreement with

PW Mining.

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Another feasibility study was prepared and presented to the Government of Sierra Leone (GOSL) in May,

2003. The study which formed the basis of a re-start Plan was based on sound financial and technical

fundamentals considering the infrastructural and administrative synergies between SRL and SMHL1.

An Environmental and Social Impact Assessment was undertaken by Aqua Terra Consulting during the

period February and March 2003 that served as the basis for the environmental impacts of the project

discussed in the Feasibility Study. In January 2005, SMHL was granted Mining Lease ML1/05 covering an

area of 321.7 km.

SMHL operated with two major contractors: PW Mining International, a full service contract mining

company which operates throughout Africa, and, CZAK Group which was involved in the shipping of the

ore product and other port operations. In 2008, SMHL was acquired to Vimetco Group and two years

later, SMHL, being a subsidiary of Vimetco Group continued with its mining operations selling all

products to ALUM Tulcea Refinery in Romania.



Map 2. SMHL Areas of Influence



1.6 Purpose and Objectives of the Study

This ESIA has been prepared to address potential impacts associated with SMHL bauxite operations

including the issues and concerns raised by the affected communities. It:

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 Describes the prevailing baseline environmental and socio-economic conditions of

the study area and secondary data collection.

 Produces project overview including: management, Infrastructure and methods of

production.

 Describes the national and international regulatory framework applicable to bauxite

mining in Sierra Leone.





Determines project alternative scenarios.



 Identifies, predicts and determines the intensity of the impacts on the receptors

using the information obtained from objective 1.

 Proposes mitigation measures that would be used to minimize these impacts and,

 Produces a summary of an Environmental Management Plan based on the

information obtained and that contained in the EMP.

During the preparation of the ESIA, the consultant was expected to conduct a Public Consultation and

Disclosure meetings with all stakeholders including the affected communities at chiefdom, district and

regional levels. These were held to solicit feedback from all stakeholder’s concerns, and if possible

further mitigation measures.



1.7 Scope of Study

In pursuance of achieving the above objectives, the Consultant has encompassed the following

tasks/scope of works:

1. Worked closely together with the Company’s Environmental Health and Safety Department.

2. Referred to all



relevant existing environmental documents including local, national, and



international legal and regulatory framework for bauxite mining, especially with particular

reference to literature, documentations and data source of Vimetco SMHL Ltd in Sierra Leone.

3. Ensured that the final ESIA conformed to ‘best practice’ norms; and met conventional

International Standards for Environmental, Social Policy and Procedures, and National

requirements.



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4. Described and assessed salient environmental and social concerns within the mining and

processing activities of the Company, with particular emphases on the area of Influence 1.

5. Determined the current environmental and social baseline conditions of the project site and its

surroundings on the basis of the existing data on geology, hydrology, ambient air and water

quality, biological diversity, demography and socio-economic parameters.

6. Identified and assessed the environmental and social issues associated with the mining,

production and exporting activities of the Company; and determined mitigation measures to

minimize any potential adverse environmental and social impacts during the operational and

post-mining phases of the activities.

7. Prepared an ESIA document based on the requirements of EPA-SL.

The environmental and socio-economic baseline for the ESIA has been based on data already gathered;

as well as baseline conditions observed in the course of our field visits to the site (3 visits from 5 th to 10th

October 2012); and other available relevant documents obtained through local governmental and nongovernmental organizations.

1.8 Study Constraints and Limitations.

This ESIA was expected to commence in August 2012 with the aim of submitting the report to the client

in October 2012. Thereafter, an onward submission and feedback from EPA would take place before a

public consultation and disclosure process. Although the consultant worked closely with the client, some

delay was caused in finalising the report and to receive the license.

Othe factors that acted as limitations to the study include:

 Absence of government officials, NGOs and and other local leaders in the consultative meetings

during the field work;

 Inadequacy of updated documentation including maps and other unclassified documents;

 Absence of some community members to participate fully in the consultative meetings due to

the limited time available between farm work, meeting gatherings and other domestic

responsibilities;



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 Secondary data that were collected on the villages were not reliable as these have not been

frequently updated. This is particularly so in the case of demography and agricultural production

trends.

 It was not possible to undertake a detailed taxonomic assessment of fauna and flora species due

to the limited time available;

Instead, the assessment presented here supplements other studies already undertaken in previous

years.

1.9 Study Approach

The approach to this ESIA consists of the following phases as outlined in the EPA Act of 2008 as

amended in 2010: Screening, Scoping, Impact Assessment and Public Disclosure.

Screening: This is the initial phase which decides if an ESIA is required for the project and to determine

the extent to which the assessment will be. According to the EPA Guidelines and safeguard policies of

the lending institutions, this is a Class A project because it has the potential to have significant

environmental impacts, which in turn may have an effect on the facilities and those communities that

are affected by mining operations. As required by EPA Act, a Screening form was completed and

submitted to EPA detailing the need and level of the assessment, the acceptability of the consultant and

the public participation process.

Scoping: The scoping phase involved identification of key issues in the screening phase that were further

investigated based on desktop study of relevant environmental and social data collected from published

reports and previous studies of the project area. Stakeholder consultations were undertaken to

determine additional data required for the evaluation of the baseline conditions and the potential

impacts of the project. Public meetings were held in which a diverse group of community members

including local authorities, traditional leaders, opinion leaders, local council representatives, youths and

women’s groups were invited to participate in the surveys.

A door to door sample socioeconomic survey (using a semi-structured questionnaire) was conducted in

43 communities spanning the five chiefdoms (Upper Banta, Lower Banta, Kpanda Kemoh, Bumpe Ngao

and Dasse Chiefdoms respectively).



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Other key environmental issues associated with the project that were identified and discussed during

scoping consultation include impacts on:





Biophysical Environment: Air quality, Noise quality, Surface water quality, Ground water quality,

Soils, Land use capability and Biodiversity.







Socio-economic and cultural Environment: Demography, education, health and sanitation, water

supply, agriculture and farming practices, Social and Political organizations.



Impact Assessment Phase: This involved an assessment of the significance of the potential impacts

including the cumulative impacts and recommended mitigation measures that could minimise impacts.

The methodology applied for this assessment is presented in the methodology section that is outlined

below. An Environmental Management Plan (EMP) has been prepared that clearly defines all the

residual and other specific actions that SMHL undertakes to implement the measures that will minimise

and mitigate any negative impacts on the human, social and environmental aspects within the project

area. A summary of the EMP is produced under a separate chapter of this report. The plan includes an

Environmental Monitoring Plan, Emergency Response and Contingency Plan (ERCP), Tailings

Management Plan (TMP) and Mine Reclamation and Closure Plan (MRCP).



1.10 Methodology

The methodology for collecting data for the preparation of this ESIA was based on desk study,

stakeholder consultation and field survey.

Desk Study: Relevant reports, literature and other documents were collected and a detailed review of

the secondary data was undertaken during the course of the study. The major reports included the

following:

 Feasibility study report of 2003

 SMHL ESIA and Environmental Social Action Plan (ESAP) reports of 2003

 Exploration and survey reports prepared for SMHL and previous owners the bauxite deposits.

 Community Development Action Plan (CDAP) report of 2010.

 Environmental Management Plan report of 2010.

 SMHL 3rd.quarterEnvironmental Monitoring report of 2012.

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 SMHL Environmental Report of 2012 for License renewal.

 National and International Policy Documents and,

 Public Data that is available from the Internet.

All of these provided more information about the project and contributed to the improvement of the

data collection.

Impact Prediction: An assessment of the significance of the impacts was made using established

standards and professional judgment. The conventions that were adopted include: a. Significant Rating

Scales; b. Timescales; c. Spatial Scale; d. Likelihood and, e. Severity.

The significant rating scale developed by Weaver and Caldwell (1999) was adapted for this study. This is

explained in Table 1. Timescales are related to the estimated duration of the impacts. The timescales

for rating the impacts in this report are short-term (0-5yrs) medium term (6- 20 years) and long-term

(more than 20 years). Short-term impacts are those that occur during construction and initial operation

activities that may or not be mitigated during the construction period or after.

Spatial scales which describe the spatial extent of an impact in terms of the amount of area affected, i.e.

localized or widespread were expressed as follows:





Localised i.e. an impact limited to a small part of the project’s operational area e.g. a few

hundred hectares in extent.







Study Area i.e. impact limited to the immediate vicinity of the project area.







Regional i.e. impact limited to the general vicinity of the project area.







National i.e. impact limited to the country as a whole.







Global i.e. impact limited to the global environment.



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Likelihood is the probability that the impact would occur or not. It is explained as: very unlikely, unlikely

and likely. This criterion was applied to all the potential negative impacts in order to determine whether

or not the impacts can be minimised.

The severity of an impact was determined by the magnitude of the significance based on the extent to

which the impact would change under existing conditions or how it would impact upon another

receptor. It is explained as very severe, severe, moderately severe, slightly severe and no effect.

The application of checklists and interaction matrices finally enabled the assessment to arrive at: a. Brief

description of the expected or predicted environmental changes that would result during the operation

of the project. b. Measures that would be implemented to avoid adverse impacts on the environment

and, c. An assessment of the possible alternatives including proposed actions.

Table 1 Environmental Significance Rating Scale

Very high



High impacts



Moderate



Low



Very low



No effect



Of the highest order possible within the bounds of impacts which would occur.

In the case of negative impacts, there would be no mitigation and/or remedial

activity to offset the impact at the spatial or timescale for which it was predicted.

In the case of positive impacts there is no real alternative to achieving the

benefit.

In the case of negative impacts, mitigation and/or remedial activity would be

feasible but difficult, expensive, time-consuming or some combination of these.

In the case of positive impacts, other means of achieving this benefit would be

feasible, but these would be more difficult, expensive, and time-consuming or

some combination of these.

Impact would be real but not substantial within the bounds of those, which could

occur. In the case of negative impacts, mitigation and/or remedial activity would

be both feasible and fairly easily possible. In the case of positive impacts, other

means of achieving this benefit would be about equal in time

Impact would be of a low order and with little real effect. In the case of negative

impacts, mitigation and/or remedial activity would be either easily achieved or

little would be required, or both. In the case of positive impacts, alternative

means for achieving this benefit would likely be easier, cheaper, more effective,

less time-consuming, or a combination of these

Impact would be negligible. In the case of negative impacts, almost no

mitigation and/or remedial activity would be needed, and any minor steps that

might be needed would be easy, cheap and simple. In the case of positive

impacts, alternative means would almost all likely to be better, in one or a

number of ways, than this means of achieving the benefit.

No impacts, not even a very low impact on the system or any of its parts.



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Stakeholder Consultation: Stakeholder engagement provided the team an opportunity for the

stakeholders to ask questions discuss the project and express any concerns they have, so that SMHL will

be able to respond to comments received. The main objectives of the stakeholder consultation process

were to:

 Facilitate open communication with all interested stakeholders;

 Build an open relationship with the local community of the lease area;

 Provide timely and easily understood information to stakeholders in an appropriate nontechnical format;

 Open consultation with all stakeholders to ascertain and discuss their opinions and concerns;

 Propose and establish formal and informal public consultation and participation procedures;

 Establish accessible and effective systems for reporting, investigating and resolving grievances

separately for both SMHL and the affected community; and

 To establish stakeholder engagement as an integral part of on-going environmental and social

impact assessment activity, making sure that mitigation measures are addressed.

The surveys gathered consensus information about key existing conditions, such as infrastructure and

microeconomic trends. The questions in the community survey covered the following areas:





Community infrastructure, including education, health care facilities etc.







Social and cultural institutions.







Gender issues.







Social and economic trends.







General opinion on the operation of SMHL.







Crop Compensation and,







Drinking water facility.



Field Survey: Following the stakeholder consultation, a field survey was undertaken with the purpose of

obtaining an overview of the entire operational area that would complement information gathered

during the consultative meetings. Specifically, site walks were conducted particularly around the mine

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sites and dams and the routing of the biophysical and social issues that arise as a result of project

operations. Topographic maps at a scale of 1:50,000 were used as a base for mapping of the biophysical

features. GIS technology and software were used for capturing and analysing field data.



Socio-economic Survey: A door to door sample socioeconomic survey (using a semi-structured

questionnaire) was conducted in 43 communities spanning the five chiefdoms (Upper Banta, Lower

Banta, Kpanda Kemoh, Bumpe Ngao and Dasse Chiefdoms respectively). The questionnaire were

administered by trained enumerators (9) drawn among resident community members of mostly

teachers. They were closely supervised to ensure effective administration of survey questionnaire and in

turn report to the consultant in charge. The data collected were coded and entered into the SPSS

version 16.0 spread sheet by a trained data entry clerk. Detailed analysis undertaken using frequency

counts, descriptive statistics, cross tabulations, to identify statistically significant differences between

the results of the various segments.



The household survey was based on a random sample of 180 households and focuses on gathering data

on the socioeconomic baselines of the community influenced by the mining operations. The questions

were designed to seek information on the population and dwelling units, income, livelihood, health,

community participation, resource use and general attitude towards Vimetco SMHL and

concerns/opinions and expectations of the community in the project area. The questionnaire were

administered by trained enumerators (9) drawn among residence community members mostly teachers.

They were closely supervised to ensure effective administration of survey questionnaire and in turn

report to the consultant in charge. The data collected were coded and entered into the SPSS version

16.0 spread sheet by a trained data entry clerk. Detailed analysis undertaken using frequency counts,

descriptive statistics, cross tabulations, to identify statistically significant differences between the results

of the various segments.

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Focus Group Discussions: Focus Group Discussions were conducted in which a diverse group of

community members including local authorities, traditional leaders, opinion leaders, local council

representatives, youths and women’s groups were invited to participate. These generally consisted of

focus group discussion/meeting. A total of 5 focus group discussions were held in each of these

chiefdoms as shown below. The issues discussed covered the following areas: a. Community

infrastructure. B. Social and cultural institutions. C. Access to public Services such as education, health

and sanitation. D. Gender issues. E. Social and economic trends and, f. Agricultural production.

All the views expressed by the affected communities helped to identify and evaluate the social and

environmental impacts and the formulation of the mitigation measures. Details of the socio-economic

survey are presented in the Annex of this report.

The household survey was based on a random sample of 180 households and focused on gathering data

on the socioeconomic baselines of the community influenced by the mining operations. The questions

were designed to seek information on the population and dwelling units, income, livelihood, health,

community participation, resource use and general attitude towards Vimetco SMHL and

concerns/opinions and expectations of the community in the project area.

1.11. Project Benefits

Apart from the direct financial benefit to the company, an array of other direct and indirect benefits

that the project could have on the mining community and the country at large are outlined below.

Economic Benefits: The capital expenditure over the life of mine was estimated in 2003 at $28.6 million

in nominal terms excluding capital investment by contractors. This was mainly associated with

refurbishment and purchase of new equipment. In 2010 SMHL Vimetco acquired the bauxite mines from

Titanium Resources Group (TRG) with a market capital of $189 million. The injection of this amount of

money in foreign exchange has boosted the economy of Sierra Leone in terms of foreign exchange

earnings. The project is also generating economic benefits to the GOSL in terms of taxes, duties and

royalties as specified in the mining code.



Secondly, the project directly and indirectly is injecting money into the local economy through salaries

to workers and supplies outsourced locally which thereby is increasing the purchasing power of the local

population.

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Job Creation: SMHL is continuing to create permanent employment in its operation for over 700

permanent staff and about 200 for casual workers. Job creation is benefiting people at the local and

national levels going well beyond welfare improvements for employees themselves. This is having a

positive effect throughout the local economy resulting in increased demand for goods and services, and

for business and income improvement.



Roads Infrastructure: Most of these roads built before SMHL operations were totally damaged during

the war. The haulage roads to the Gbonge deposits required major road construction work. The existing

road from Gondama to Nitti harbour was also in a serious state of disrepair as a result of lack of

maintenance during inter-war years. Since operations started, SMHL has reconstructed and resurfaced

all roads in its operational area and is investing in maintenance of local roads with other 17eighbouring

companies in the project area. This is facilitating a speedy movement of goods, agricultural produce and

people within and outside the concession area.

Community Development Initiatives: Since November 2012, the company has been financing

community development initiatives within the purview of SMHL Foundation in the five chiefdoms and in

the following priority areas of interventions:





Continued rehabilitation of major roads and haul roads in the concession area;







Joint venture rehabilitation of other major roads in the Moyamba District;







Construction of Maternity and Child Health Post with facilities at Kanga in the Lower Banta

Chiefdom;







Construction of hand dug wells fitted with pumps in six towns and villages;







Construction of class-room building for a junior secondary school at Badjia Junction in Dasse

Chiefdom;







Provision of building materials to households affected by fire accidents in the community;







Provision of services and supplies to the Serabu Hospital and Mokanji Police Station; and







Offer of scholarships and tuition to students resident in the mining community.



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All the above interventions by SMHL are measures that are expected within the framework of the

Company’s corporate responsibility. Implementation plans are being developed, with initial efforts

scheduled for next five years in terms of quality of life improvements, and long-term social and

economic improvements.



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Section 2 – Project Description

This section gives an overview of the project including mining methods and infrastructure. Details of

SMHL project overview presented here are those obtained during the field survey.

2.1 Project Management and Workforce

The SMHL has a highly skilled and experienced workforce with an organizational management capable

of running the project at management and supervisory levels. It comprises the General Manager,

Department Managers, Supervisory positions, Foreman positions and the General Staff in the form of

administration, maintenance, and support services.

SMHL’s General Manager is based at the mine site, and reports to the CEO and manage the SMHL

operations through a structure of Five (5) Departmental Managers and Five (5) Unit Managers. SMHL

Organizational Structure is presented in Figure 9. The General Manager has the overall responsibility for

SMHL operations and collaborates with the other Departmental Managers, including the Production and

Geology Manager, Technical and Repairs Manager, Procurement and Logistics Manager, Finance and IT

Manager, Human Resource and Administration Manager. The responsibilities of these Departmental

Managers will encompass the whole SMHL operations, thus providing valuable human resources for the

SMHL Manager to utilize.

An effective recruitment methodology and an ongoing training and development programs improve the

quality of the personnel to maintain efficiency and sustainability.

A further reduction of the SMHL workforce by contracting operations with clearly defined boundaries

and measurable production units reflect reduction in operating cost models. The operations that are

wholly or partly contracted are as follows:





10% Transportation of ore mined to the Washing Plant;







10% Transportation of washed bauxite to Nitti; and







Security Service provision.



SMHL Department/Unit personnel numbers classified into expatriates, and SL employees and contract

are summarized in the following table. Beginning February 2012, the mine has operated on three (3)

shifts each on eight (8) hours schedule for a twenty-four (24) hours period. Haulage fleets will be run on

two (2) shifts beginning at 700 am to 2300 pm at night. The remaining third (3rd) shift is schedule for ore

processing, repairs and maintenance only at the plant site.

Vimetco, like any other mining projects in a production stage and with a good human personnel

management record world-wide, operates it’s mine with normal hours of work not less than or more

than 44 hours per week.

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Table 2. Summary of Personnel Distribution



Personnel



Expatriates



SL

Managers



SL

Supervisors



General

Staff



134



5



2



2



125



Technical and Repairs



304



7



2



295



3



Procurement

Logistics



12



2



2



8



4



Financial and IT



1



3



1



5



Human Resources and

25

Administration



2



1



2



20



6



Mechanical Energy



1



1



7



Community Affairs



2



8



No



Departments



1



Production

Geology



2



and



and



5



0

1



1



0



Environmental Health

15

and Safety



1



1



3



9



Quality

Laboratory



1



10



Goods Receipt



1



Total



532



11



Security G4S



166



12



Sub-Total



688



and



33



32

1



17



7



13



485



2.2 Infrastructure and Machinery

The existing facilities and owner assets for SMHL operations include:





Senior staff Camp – 14 double houses and lodging facilities with 7 rooms.







Two administrative buildings, 2 canteens, mechanical workshop area, laboratory, store,

warehouse and a fuel station at the main plant site at Gondama.







Harbour facility with dryer, 9 barges, 4 tug boats, fuel storage tanks and conveyors at Nitti.



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Five power Generating plants.







Tailing storage facilities,







Stockpile facilities (ROM & Washed).







A fleet of vehicles including 30 MAN trucks and 32 Volvo trucks.







A fleet of mining machinery including



excavators, dozers, frontal loader, graders,



compactors and a wide range of support equipments.etc.





Project Access (Land and Sea).



Water resources within/proximity to SMHL lease are abundant. Due to the large quantities of water

required by bauxite wash process, water is sourced at the Taia River and pumped to a 5000 m 3 capacity

reservoir which in turn runs to the plant site by gravity method.



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Fig 1.



SMHL ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

Board of Directors



General Manager



Production &

Geology Direction



Geology &

Survey



Drilling

Department

Wash Plant

Section

Mining

Production



Technical &

Repairs Direction



Procurement &

Logistics

Department



Financial

& IT

Departm

ent



H.R. &

Admin.

Departme

nt



Mechanical Energy



Community

Affairs



Technical

Department



Purchasin

g



Transport

Section



Fuel Station



E.H.S.

Department



Store



Quality &

Laboratory



MAN &

Volvo

Repair

Section

CAT Repair

Section



Planning

Production



River

Transport

Department



Roads

Repairs



Drying

Section



Mata Camp



Goods Receipt



Security - G4S

(contractor)



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Page



2.3 Ore Reserves and Exploration Methods

In 2003 the proven and probable bauxite reserves in the lease area were estimated at 12.5 million

metric tonnes with an overall grade of 53.1 percent Al2O3, 50.1 percent available alumina (av. Al2O3)

and SiO2. This reserve estimate has supported the production for the last ten years at an annual

production of 1.2 million metric tonnes. These reserves were established from the systematic drilling

and sampling carried out by Sieromco.

SMHL accepted the estimated resource figures during the course of their due diligence study in late

2009 undertaking by SC BELEVION IMPEX SRL. Based on historical data and those recently generated by

SMHL-Vimetco, a proven and probable reserve of 31 million tonnes of washed bauxite ore, grading 50.1

to 49.1% Al2O3 and 3.0 – 4.0% SiO2 have been reported. This reserve estimate will support production

for approximately 18 years at an annual production rate of 1.7 million metric tonnes. The current

reserves have been estimated from the Gondama Konta, Wunde and Gbonge groups of deposits.

Exploration work programme is in progress (i.e. mapping, drilling and sampling) to verify the tens of

millions of bauxite within or around the beneficiation plant and the Gbonge deposits in order to

establish newer deposits and to increase the current reserve status of SMHL lease. Development drilling

and sampling are also being carried out to support mine planning and eventual mining.

The exploration program involves line cutting, pitting, drilling, sampling and assaying. The entire lease

area was prospected and classified by Sieromco into measured, indicated or inferred resources. Based

on this available information, SMHL has primarily been engaged in validating these reported resources

(Konta, Wunde, Jenega and Gbonge) in generating its current reserve base and the extension of SMHL

mine life. Exploration pitting and drilling are initially done on a wide grid of 160 X 40 meters and then

closed in to 80x40 meter grid spacing for a resource purpose. Drill/pit grids are further reduced to a

40x40 or 40X20 meter grid for the purpose of estimating reserves.

Drilling is done using EVH Explorer 2012 Reverse circulation rig. The rig generates chips of laterite or

bauxite that are cut by drill bits down hole. The drill chips are sent to a sample collecting bin by an air

pressure. The drill chips are sampled and logged in approximately 1m intervals. Each sample is bagged

and labelled for assaying at Gondama Laboratory.



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At mine site laboratory samples are weighed to determine the bulk weight of each sample. Particle size

of samples which are +16mm, are reduced to ensure sample is 100% passing 16mm screen. Samples are

mixed to obtain a homogeneously representative sample and then split into two. One half is stored as

reserve sample and the remaining portion is oven dried at 105oC. Dried sample are crushed and

pulverized to 95% passing 500microns for PIMA and XRF analyses. Using the Portable Infra-red Mineral

Analyzer (PIMA), all the samples were analyzed for Total Alumina, Total Silica and Iron Oxides.

Ore Modeling

Preliminary ore modeling has been undertaken on the few of the deposits using Mine Map, a

resource/reserve modeling and mine planning software program which uses both inverse distance

weighting (IDW) and geostatistics to estimate reserves.

The drill hole data on the deposits are processed to meet the database upload requirements of the

software. Initial investigations on grade are made in terms of Available Alumina (AA), which is defined

as “percent alumina minus percent silica”. Definition of the database and upload of data are done,

followed by extraction of drill hole sections.

The drill holes are colored on the basis of grade. Using cut-offs of 48% AA, mineralized zones on each

section were demarcated, which would subsequently serve as constraints for block grade assignment.

Grade interpolation is done in a regularized block model using inverse distance weighting (IDW)

techniques. Block sizes are 10m by 10m in the y and x directions, and 5m in the z direction. Powers of 2

and 3 respectively were used, to enforce preferential weighting along strike over the cross-strike

direction.



This is done in compliance with the notion that controls on mineralization (primarily



lithological) have a greater influence along the strike of the ore body than across.

2.4 Mining and Ore Beneficiation

SMHL bauxite project at Gondama, southern Sierra Leone is based on auto-generated ‘self-mining’;

however, the project still requires significant level of capital expenditure inflows to procure the required

mining fleet and necessary support equipment. Prior to this time, the project was on contract mining

which became more costly on a unit cost basis and in November 2010, SMHL-Vimetco took over the

mining operation.

The production planning periods include the short-term plan (One Year) and a long-term plan (or more

years). The short-term plan is target oriented and driven more by Alum-Tulcea demand and

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specifications of the washed bauxite product while the long range plan are covered by mining options,

mining sequence, mine development, operating cost estimates and strategic issues related to the overall

improvement of the mining operations.

Fig 2. Wide-Angle View of Administrative Building; Processing Plant; and Environs



The SMHL bauxite mining is an open cast mining which requires no blasting of the ore prior to its

excavation. The overburden is removed by dozers and the ore is freely dug or ripped with dozers (D8,

D9). Prior to mining a deposit, the area is demarcated of its ore limit (Staking-out done by mine

surveyors); the demarcated area is then striped/cleared of vegetation and Topsoil, Overburden

removed, using a D8/D9 CAT bulldozer. The vegetation and Topsoil are stored and the overburden

stockpiled. The rotted vegetation and or Topsoil are stored for subsequent use in land re-forestation and

the overburden for reclamation purposes after depletion.

The exposed ore is then mined and excavated, loaded into 20 -25 tonne class off-highway rear dump

trucks, and transported to the washing plant. Multiple mining faces are developed and mined

simultaneously to achieve required blending. The material processing consist of feeding, crushing,

washing, vibratory-screening, classifying and storing of the bauxite ore to produce an exportable

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material with a grade and reactive silica content that will satisfy costumer/market demands. Process

water for the plant is pumped from the Taia River over a distance of about 1.8 km to an existing water

reservoir of about 5,000 m3 from where the water gravitates to the washing plant.

The washing operation involves the removal of clays, silicate and ferruginous minerals/materials which

enters into the slimes as tails and the hand picking of gangue materials from the conveyor belts. The

aim is to upgrade the alumina content and reduce the silica content from the run of mine feed to a

marketable product.

To yield the 1.7 million tonnes of washed bauxite per year the plant operates at a minimum of 18.3

hours per day and 310 days per year. The maximum production rate depends upon the efficiency of the

mining methods and grade controls, since grades and ore recovery are the principal issues in achieving a

marketable product.

A supplementary new water pump has been installed in the plant to recycle used water in order to

reduce/decrease the quantity of water extracted from the Taia River. In an effort to reduce the amount

of slimes discharged into the tailings pond, the granulometric cut of the finest recovered bauxite in the

plant have been reduced from 2mm to 1mm to increase plant recovery/production and hence reduce

the volume of tails disposed into the ponds and hence the streams/rivers down valley. Figure3

represents a simplified processes flow diagram involved/employed in the recovery of washed bauxite

ore through the beneficiation plant.



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Fig: 3 SMHL Washing Plant Flow Diagram



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2.5 Bauxite Product Shipping

Final bauxite product is transported by road to the marine port at Nitti in haulage units of 30 tonne

capacity. The distance between the Gondama Washing Plant and Nitti is 38 kilometers. At Nitti, the

bauxite is stockpiled in preparation for shipment.

The existing dryer located at Nitti harbour is reported to have a rated drying capacity of 110 mtph. The

moisture content of washing plant bauxite product is expected to be 14-15% without the use of any

dewatering agents or dewatering screens. However, high moisture content bauxite is difficult to handle

due to its ‘stickiness’ and tendency to freeze in extremely cold weather conditions in parts of Europe.

Moisture reduction from 14-15% down to around 10%, will therefore be necessary to improve its

handling characteristics.

During shipment, the bauxite is loaded from the stockpile by front end loaders onto the conveyor and

into the barges of 2,000 tonne capacity. The loaded barges are moved by pushboat down the Sherbro

River to the Atlantic to meet the ore carriers that are specially adapted with mobile lifting cranes fitted

with grabs to load the bauxite into the ship. These ore carriers are generally compartmentalized into

hatches so that they can load more than one type of product in one shipment. The capacities of the ore

carriers that have been loaded from this port vary from 25,000 to 40,000 metric tons.



2.6 Power Generation

SMHL runs three Power Generation each located at Nitti, Gondama and Mata camp where

accommodation and recreation facilities are located 20 km from Gondama and Nitti respectively.

Back-up generators will be stationed at the village and construction camp in case of a power outage in

the distribution grid that will normally supply these sites.



2.7 Water Management

The main sources of water in the mines are from the Taia River and the dams that have been

constructed not far from the mining locations. Process water for the plant is pumped from the Taia River

over a distance of about 1.8 km to an existing water reservoir of about 5,000 m3 from where the water

gravitates to the washing plant naturally. The table below (Table 5) is a survey carried out to measure



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the volumetric flow rate of the Taia River along and across a cross-section of the river, where SMHL

pump station is erected.

The major water uses at SMHL include:





Ore beneficiation;







Dust suppression;







Water use in toilet facilities;







Vehicle wash-down; and







Irrigation at the nursery site.



All these sources meet the demands at SMHL with no recycling methods applied as yet.

Ground water abstraction is negligible even though one hand dug well has been constructed for drinking

purposes.

Consistent wet weather conditions during the first half of the reporting period there was an increase in

the need for dust suppression along haul roads and other surface activities.



Table



3



Volumetric



Analyses



No.



At a given cross - Width

section

(m)



Depth

(m)



Speed of Discharge/Recharge

Rate (m3/h)

River

(m/h)



1



Taia River

Volumetric Flow

rate (Discharge) =



1.2



1000



1,723,200



2



Reservoir Recharge

0.086

Rate

(Pipe)=



4000



342



1436



of



Flow



Rates



of



the



Taia



River



2.8 MINES SECURITY

During the period from January 2003 to December 31, 2007, the mine site was under the protection of

SRL security force on a fulltime basis. In 2008, the G4S security service providers took over that

responsibility on January 1, 2008. All SRL personnel with good records were absorbed into the new G4S

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security force. Suitable applicants were recruited and trained to fill the remaining vacant positions and

provide protection for all SMHL mine facilities.

The current G4S security force consists of 168 guards comprising 2 expatriate managers, 3 senior

supervisors, 15 junior supervisors, 12 master guards and 136 general security guards. The G4S and the

Sierra Leone Police Force (SLPF) establish a dual-purpose force comprising a Security Protection Force

(i.e. SLPF) who are armed to provide defensive capability in and around the mine facilities and a Security

Guard Force (G4S) to protect company assets against theft.

Over the past years, the SMHL mining areas have been incident free and the main focus of the security

force has been loss prevention. The SMHL Security Force has an excellent relationship with local

community leaders and local government authorities.



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Section Three - Policy, Legal and Instituitional Framework

3.1 National Legislations

Constitution of Sierra Leone, 1991



For the purpose of mining activities, the Constitution makes provision for the protection of the rights of

individuals to private property, and also sets principles under which citizens may be deprived of their

property in the public interest as described in Section 21. It also makes provision for the prompt

payment of adequate compensation and access to the court or other impartial and independent

authority for the determination of the land owner’s interest or right, and the amount of any

compensation to which he/she is entitled and for the purpose of obtaining prompt payment of that

compensation.

Relevance to the Project: SMHL project is a central development activity that makes use of the human

and biophysical environment. As such, an EMP and crop compensation procedures are implemented to

address these issues.



The National Environmental Policy: 1990



The National Environmental Policy (NEP) was approved by cabinet since 1990 and was subsequently

revised in 1994 (GOSL, 1994). The policy objectives are to:





Secure for all Sierra Leoneans a quality of environment adequate for their health and well-being;







Conserve and use the environment and natural resources for the benefit of present and future

generation; restore, maintain and enhance the ecosystems and ecological processes essential

for the functioning of the biosphere; to preserve biological diversity, and uphold the principle of

optimum sustainable yield in the use of living natural resources and ecosystems;







Raise public awareness and promote understanding of the essential linkages between the

environment and development and to encourage individual participation in environmental

improvement efforts.



Relevance to the Project: This ESIA was carried out to fulfil the obligatory requirements of the NEP since

mining is likely to have significant impacts on the environment.



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The Mines and Minerals Act, 2009



This has been established to





consolidate and amend the law on mines and minerals;







to promote local and foreign investment in the mining sector by introducing new and improved

provisions for exploration, mine development and marketing of minerals and mineral secondary

processing for the benefit of the people of Sierra Leone;







to ensure that management of the minerals sector is transparent and accountable in

accordance with international best practice;







to promote improved employment practices in the mining sector;







to improve the welfare of communities adversely affected by mining;







To address mining leases and license’s requirements;







to introduce measures to reduce the harmful effects of mining activities on the environment

and;







to provide for other related matters.



The Wildlife Conservation Act, 1972



The Wildlife Conservation Act of 1972 was enacted to help regulate the utilization and protection of

wildlife resources. However, the bill is characterized by inadequate capacity for implementation and

enforcement and insufficient and unsustainable sources of funding. The bill is also outdated and merits

review and update to reflect current trends in wildlife protection.



Factories Act 1974



The Factories Act of 1974 addresses workers health and safety issues associated with factories. Portions

of the construction activities fall within the definition of a factory based on the following conditions:





Part II section 3(v)-“any premises in which mechanical power is used in connection with the

making or repair of articles of metal or wood incidental to any business carried on by way of

trade or for purposes of gain”.



The Factories Act also includes machines safety, safe working conditions, sanitary amenities, periodic

inspections, factory registration, and guidelines for reporting injuries, accidents and industrial diseases.



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Relevance to the Project: SMHL Environmental Health and Safety Plans have been designed to conform

to the provisions of this Act. All persons employed by SMHL are required to undergo medical

examinations to ascertain their fitness and also to maintain their health and safety at the workplace.



Forestry Act: 1988



The mining of bauxite involves the clearing of the natural vegetation or forest within its operational

area.

Section 18 of this Act stipulates that: The Chiefdom Council of any chiefdom may conclude an

agreement with the Chief Conservator of forests providing for the constitution as a community forest of

any land within the chiefdom, subject to the approval of the District Officer for the District in which the

land is situated.

Every Agreement under this section shall:





Describe the area included in the forest by reference to geographical features, markers, coordinates and measurements and indicate the same on a map of suitable scale, which shall be

annexed to the agreement.







Describe the forest resources and potential of the area.







Indicate the purpose of the forest, such as supply of fuel, building poles, production of

commercial timber, protection of soil and water supplies.







Contain a detailed inventory of any rights that will be suppressed upon the constitution of the

forest and provide for adequate compensation for such rights; either in money or through the

allocation or equivalent rights in other land within the chiefdom.







Contain a list of existing rights that will be confirmed by the agreement.







Be valid for such period not exceeding 99 years as is reasonable in view of the purpose for which

the forest is to be constituted.



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Relevance to the project:

SMHL’s commitment to the Factories’ Act is detailed below in the Convention Concerning the Protection of

Workers against Occupational Hazards in the Working Environment due to Air Pollution, Noise, and Vibration (ILO

No. 148).



The National Minerals Agency Act 2012



The National Minerals Agency Act is established to:





Promote the development of the minerals sector by effectively and efficiently managing the

administration and regulation of mineral rights and minerals trading in Sierra Leone.







To undertake geological surveys;







To establish a National Minerals Agency Board that will provide technical and other support to

the agency.



Environmental Protection Agency Act, 2008 and Environmental Protection Agency



(Amendment)



Act, 2010



This Act established the Sierra Leone Environmental Protection Agency (SLEPA), to provide for the

effective protection of the environment and for other related matters. It mandates the EPA among

others to:





Advise the minister on the formulation of policies on all aspects of the environment.







Issue environmental permits and pollution abatement notices for controlling the volume, types,

constituents and effects of waste discharges, emissions, deposits or other sources of pollutants

of substances which are hazardous and dangerous to the quality of the environment.







Prescribe standards and guidelines relating to ambient air, water and soil quality, air pollution,

water, land and other forms of environmental pollution including the discharge of waste and

the control of toxic substances.







Ensure compliance with any environmental impact assessment procedures laid down in the

planning and execution of development projects.







Impose and collect environmental protection levies in accordance with this Act or regulations

made under this Act.



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Section 24 of the Act lists project activities requiring an Environmental Impact Assessment license which

include mining.



Sections 25 and 26 describe factors for determining whether a project requires an environmental

impact assessment and the contents of the environmental impact assessment respectively.

The Act describes the procedures to be followed to obtain permits for both existing and proposed

undertakings through the conduct of environmental impact assessments.

The Environmental Protection Agency (Amendment) Act, 2010 gave executive powers to the Board.



Relevance to the Project: Land, water, forest and air resources are major components of the natural

environment. Bauxite mining operations at all stages are impacting on these resources.Extractive uses of

these resources are guided by the various programmes, plans, regulations under the EPA/SL. Adherence

to the relevant legal provision is a requirement in the entire course of SMHL operations.



Local Government Act, 2004



The Act establishes the Local Council (LC) as the highest political authority in the locality and confers

legislative and executive powers to be exercised in accordance with this Act. This Act in its First Schedule

under Section 2 establishes the localities, namely: districts, towns and cities. Part II of this schedule also

establishes the number of Paramount Chiefs in each LC. The Third Schedule establishes the functions

devolved to the LCs. The Fourth and Fifth Schedules establish departments under each LC, and a

Valuation List and Rate Books respectively.



Relevance to the Project: Public consultation and community involvement constitute a core element of

SMHL operations. The implementation of the Community Development Action Plan is done in

collaboration with the local council.

National Lands Policy, 2005



As provided in the Constitution, the 2005 National Land Policy makes provision for the compulsory

acquisition of land in the public interest. The principles of the land policy include among others:





The principle of land as a common national or communal property resource held in trust for the

people and which must be used in the long term interest of the people of Sierra Leone.



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Compensation to be paid for lands acquired through compulsory government acquisition will be

fair and adequate and will be determined, among other things, through negotiations that take

into consideration government investment in the area.







Local Authorities (City and District Councils) may negotiate for land for project development

purposes, but all such grants should be properly documented and processed.







No interest in or right over any land belonging to an individual or family can be disposed of

without consultation with the owner or occupier of the land.



No interest in or right over any land belonging to an individual or family can be compulsorily acquired

without payment, in reasonable time, of fair and adequate compensation.



Relevance to the project: During mining, large land areas are acquired for exploration, excavation and

removal of bauxite deposits. SMHL management will therefore be required to ensure proper

reclamation work.

3.2 International Regulatory Framework

Sierra Leone is signatory to many regulatory framework relevant to mining. Below is a summary of the

key conventions, treaties and protocols.

United Nations Convention on Biodiversity



Sierra Leone became signatory to this Convention in 1994. This is one of the tools that translate the

Principles of Agenda 21 also known as the Rio Summit. Parties to this convention affirm their right over

their biological resources making sure that these resources are used in a sustainable manner.

The relevance of the CBD stems from the fact that mining activities result to:





Loss of habitat and fragmentation and the resultant development of waste rock dumps;







Pollution of habitats and water supplies and the creation solid waste such as tailings;







Green House gas emission resulting from the use of heavy duty machinery.



If adequate mitigation measure measures are not undertaken biodiversity in the project area could be

threatened or lost.



Relevance to the Project: As much as possible SMHL operations will involve implementation of

mitigation measures for biodiversity conservation. Sierra Minerals Holdings Ltd. will develop a strategic

response to biodiversity conservation and management to enable it to meet the wide range of

expectations of all stakeholders with interests in the company and its activities.

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In the area of biodiversity conservation, SMHL will develop partnership with leading international

organizations and institutions through local institutions and NGOs who will provide a conservation

perspective on the challenges and opportunities raised by mining operations. An outline of strategic

biodiversity issues will be carried out with a concept note setting out a case for biodiversity conservation

and management. Key elements of the strategic thrust will be developed to help SMHL improve on its

biodiversity performance through:

 Identification of major threats, challenges and opportunities to the conservation and

management of biodiversity in the mining area;

 Identification and development of partnership for biodiversity conservation;

 Identification of cross cutting issues addressed by other community organizations; and

 Development of small projects on biodiversity conservation.



United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC)



As a signatory to this convention in 1995, Sierra Leone gathers and share information on greenhouse gas

emissions. The mining of bauxite requires enormous use of fossil fuel in the heavy equipment with

negative implications for the production of harmful emissions. Further, Aluminum is produced by the

electrolysis of alumina. Carbon dioxide is produced by the chemical reaction of oxygen in the carbon

lined steel pots in which alumina is produced. In this process, the perflouronated carbon compound

(PFC), tetraflouramethane (CF4) and hexaflouroethane C2F6) are the powerful greenhouse gases

generated.



Relevance to the Project: An Environmental Monitoring Plan for air pollution has been prepared to

address air emission in the mining operations. In the area of climate change, SMHL will work with the

(IMMC) and other companies to increase energy efficiency across its production processes in the

following ways:

 Identification of climate related risks and opportunities and development of responses that will

be implemented and monitored using the existing Environmental Management Systems;

 Long-term modeling of likely changes in temperature and rainfall that could pose a hazard to

SMHL’s operations;

 Assessment of climate change impacts for both the operations and affected communities;

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 Ensuring that SMHL’s operations will withstand increased frequency and magnitude of extreme

weather events;

 Joint venturing with nearby SRL to invest in biodiesel production and other agricultural

production as alternative energy resources; and

 Assess other risks that do not have an immediate risk but will harm mining operations in other

ways.

Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat:



(Ramsar



Convention).



The objectives of the Ramsar Convention are to ensure the wise use of wetlands through stemming the

progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, while recognizing their

fundamental ecological functions, and economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value.

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar) signed by Sierra Leone on 13 December 1999, became

effective on 13 April 2000. Signatory countries to the Ramsar Convention agree to:





Include conservation of wetlands in land use planning throughout the country, including

the promotion of ‘wise use’ of wetlands;







Establish nature reserves within wetland areas;







Promote training in the fields of research, management; and







Consult with other signatory countries about implementation of the convention

especially in areas of shared wetlands, shared water systems, and shared species.



As a party of the Ramsar Convention, Sierra Leone has designated two coastal wetlands as Ramsar Sites,

which are managed under Ramsar regulations.

Based on current information, no Ramsar-specific issues are associated with SMHL mining activities.



Convention Concerning the Protection of Workers against Occupational Hazards in the

Working Environment due to Air Pollution, Noise, and Vibration (ILO No. 148).



Sierra Leone became signatory to this convention in 1961. Participating parties may accept the

obligations of this convention separately in respect of air pollution, noise, and vibration. Measures

instituted to occupational hazards associated with these impacts, shall be prescribed by national laws

and regulations as outlined in the Factories Act of 1974.

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Relevance to the Project

The Management of SMHL recognises that the safety and security of its employees and the communities

in which it operates are an integral part of its operations. It sets up an environment in which people

believe it is possible to work injury free, regardless of what role they perform. This is based on the

following guiding principles and policy:

 It makes sure that all injuries are preventable. As such, any work that cannot be done safely

should not be done;

 It ensures that training is provided for all employees so that people will work in a safe and

responsible manner;

 It ensures that its health and safety performances comply with relevant legislation and exceed

community expectations; and

 Avoid the unnecessary use of any hazardous chemicals. Promote awareness with regard to the

storage of all hazardous chemicals and substances throughout the business. Ensure adequate

steps to protect both human health and the environment where the use of such chemicals or

substances is unavoidable.

As part of its Environmental Management Plan, an Occupational Health & Safety Plan is prepared with

the following objectives:

 Define and communicate the principles, practices and expectations of Health & Safety

objectives, SMHL project;

 Set out how the project is designed to manage and reduce risks associated with both routine

activities and unplanned events;

 Define the criteria against which Health & Safety performance will be judged;





Describe areas of Health & Safety responsibilities for the SMHL Project team, including

Contractors;



 Describe the Occupational Health & Safety Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that will

ensure that Health & Safety activities are organised, managed and reported in a systematic and

consistent manner;





Describe the development of the safety cases and safety plans;







Ensure that the Project provides inherently safe and secure facilities;



 Address the process of ongoing assessment and continuous improvement of health and safety

performance;

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 To provide education and training for staff at SMHL’s operations in health and safety issues;



The plan is applicable to all SMHL project related activities including camp and port facilities and

contractors. In all cases, Contractors will be required to submit their safety management plans to SMHL

for review and approval for use if is of a higher standard or exceed those provided by the Contractors.



Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES)



The Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) requirements went into effect

in Sierra Leone on 16 January 1995. CITES is a convention that provides for the elimination and/or

reduction in the trade of certain species, including endangered species. CITES provides a list of species

that are required for protection against trade. Species listed in CITES are also those for which trade is

strictly prohibited except in exceptional circumstances. The majority of the species listed in CITES are

also listed as endangered or threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and

Natural Resources (IUCN). CITES also includes species that are not necessarily threatened but for which

trade must be controlled to avoid the species becoming threatened or endangered. While a number of

species exist in the project area, there are no specific issues related to them.



African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources



This convention was signed by Sierra Leone in 1968.The African Union (AU) took into force the

protection of the natural environment. The main goals of the convention were to draw up a document

that enhanced environmental protection fostered the conservation and sustainable use of natural

resources, and brought together and coordinated policies in these fields. The states are to recognize the

importance of the natural environment, and create laws and regulations that protect it.



World Health Organization (WHO 1999)



World Health Organization (WHO 1999) has established Noise Level Guidelines for various Land Uses.

For residential dwellings or areas used for human habitation, WHO recommends that sound levels be no

higher than 50-55 dB for 16-hours of exposure during daytime hours and 45 dB for 8-hours of exposure

at night. WHO also recommends that persons should never be exposed to a maximum sound level

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(Lmax) greater than 110 dB or a peak sound pressure level (instantaneous, not fast Lmax) greater than

140 dB for adults and 120 dB for children.



Relevance to the Project



An Environmental Monitoring Plan has been prepared specifically designed and implemented

for collecting data on ambient air, water quality, noise level including release of pollutants of

major concern and weather.

The Equator Principles (2003)



This is a set of guidelines signed by ten Banks from seven countries for assessing and managing

environmental and social risk in project financing. The EPs, is based on the International Finance

Corporation (IFC) Performance Standards on social and environmental sustainability and the World Bank

Group Environmental, Health, and Safety Guidelines (EHS Guidelines). They are intended to serve as a

baseline and framework for implementation by each adopting institution on its own social and

environmental policies, principles and practices to its project financing activities.

The banks are pledging to apply this framework to all projects with a capital cost above US$ 50 million,

in all industries globally, and commit ‘not to provide loans directly to projects where the borrower will

not or is unable to comply with [the banks’] environmental and social policies and processes’.



In a first step, banks will categorize a project in one of three groups, A, B, or C, (group A comprises the

more risky projects) following the environmental and social screening criteria of the International

Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group.

For all group A and B projects, sponsors are requested to carry out an Environmental Assessment (EA) in

line with the IFC Safeguard Policies, and World Bank and IFC Pollution Prevention and Abatement

Guidelines. For all group A projects and certain group B projects the sponsor will also prepare and

implement an Environmental Management Plan (EMP), consult with various stakeholders, and report on

the implementation of the EMP.

A number of quality controls are envisaged: compulsory independent expert reviews of EAs and EMPs

for group A projects; and independent expert review of compliance when judged necessary.



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SMHL Response to these Policy Issues of the EQUATOR PRINCIPLES

Policy Issue 1.

The Banks categorize this project as a class A project and thus requires an Environmental and Social

Impact Assessment.

Response

This document presents the ESHIA for Vimetco smhl to obtain a EPA-SL license of compliance to operate

and manage its business.



It contains an assessment of all aspects to ensure that they are



environmentally sound taking into consideration the following:





Evaluates a project’s potential impacts in both the area of impacts and its surroundings.







Evaluates project alternatives, mitigation measures and environmental management plans.







Examines project alternatives, identifies ways of improving project selection







Proposes implementation by preventing, minimizing, mitigating, or compensating for adverse

environmental impacts and enhancing positive impacts; includes mitigating and managing

adverse environmental impacts throughout the implementation of the project.



Policy Issue 2

The borrower consults project-affected groups, a comprehensive program of stakeholder and local nongovernmental organizations about the project's environmental aspects and takes their views into

account.

Response

Public Consultation will be undertaken involving all stake holders to outline the mitigating, monitoring

and other measures require to prevent or minimize adverse effects and to enhance the project’s

beneficial effects. The report is summarily presented as part of this document.

Policy Issue 3

That an EMP be undertaken to bring the project into compliance with applicable national and

international environmental requirements and the Banks with a view to outlining the mitigating,

monitoring and institutional measures required to prevent, minimize, mitigate for negative impacts.

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Response

An Environmental Management Plan has been undertaken and the report is presented under separate

cover. The report is summarily presented as part of this document.

Policy Issue 4

Land acquisitions for mining are also likely to cause social disruption and economic loss for communities.

As such, it is important that disturbance and loss to the affected communities due to the project are

minimized through proper planning from a very early stage of the project.

Response

A base line socio economic survey is part of the scoping study to identify the degree of impact of the

project on the affected communities and explore the possibility of minimizing these adverse impacts. No

resettlement is envisaged in the existing project. Should there be any possible resettlement, a

Resettlement Plan for the affected people will be prepared and implemented. In addition, extensive

measures are currently taken to avoid displacement of people or other resettlement impacts.

The Equator Principles are aligned with the requirements of the International Finance Corporation (IFC),

which has established a set of Performance Standards that govern environmental considerations of

project financing. The IFC‟s Performance Standards have therefore been used as the yardstick against

which to measure compliance with the Equator Principles. A summary of the IFC Safeguard Policies is

presented below.



WORLD BANK/INTERNATIONAL FINANCE CORPORATION: SAFEGUARD POLICIES and GUIDELINES.



The following IFC/World Bank Operational Policies (OP) and guidelines are relevant to the SMHL Project.





The World Bank, International Finance Corporation (IFC), and World Health Organization (WHO)

Standards World Bank projects must address effects of the project on biodiversity. Biodiversity

is defined at three levels (ecosystem, species, and genetic) and is often interpreted as a measure

of biological complexity and variation within Project areas. Although there is little specific

regulatory guidance on methods of assessing and monitoring biodiversity, the concept is widely

interpreted, especially internationally, as a measure of ecosystem integrity and stability.



Key principles defined within both set of guidelines are as follows:

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Physical and economic dislocation should be avoided or minimized as much as possible.







Unavoidable displacement should involve the preparation and implementation of a

Resettlement Action Plan, which demonstrates how international best practices have been/will

be met and defines a detailed approach and work plan to guide implementation, handover, and

monitoring and evaluation.







Resettlement should be viewed as a sustainable development program designed to improve the

quality of life of those affected.







Legal standing is not synonymous with eligibility: even those people with no recognizable legal

right or claim to the land they are occupying should be considered eligible for resettlement

assistance.







Resettlement should be a consultative and participatory process: affected people should be

consulted thoroughly, participate in the definition of resettlement policies and procedures, and

in the end choose for themselves from among acceptable and clearly defined alternatives.







OP 4.30 – Involuntary Resettlement: International best practice for private sector-related

resettlement is commonly defined by the June 1990 World Bank Operational Directive 4.30. This

Operational Directive is applied around the world by private investors to govern involuntary

resettlement associated with natural resource and infrastructure development. The Directive

sets the benchmark against which such projects are gauged by international financial

institutions, both private and multi-lateral. Operational Directive 4.30 is internationally

acknowledged as one of the most comprehensive and efficient set of international standards

with respect to the protection of the rights of affected people.



The key principles of this policy are:





Physical and economic dislocation should be avoided or minimized where feasible;







Unavoidable displacement should involve the preparation and implementation of a

resettlement plan. All involuntary resettlement should be conceived and executed as

development programs, with resettlers provided with sufficient investment resources and

opportunities to share in project benefits;







Displaced persons should be (i) compensated for their losses at full replacement cost prior to

the actual move; (ii) assisted with the move and supported during the transition period in the

resettlement site; and (iii) assisted in their efforts to improve their former living standards,



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income earning capacity, and production levels, or at least to restore them. Particular attention

should be paid to the needs of the poorest groups to be resettled;





Community participation in planning and implementing resettlement should be encouraged.

Appropriate patterns of social organization should be established, and existing social and

cultural institutions of resettlers and their hosts should be supported and used to the greatest

extent possible;







Resettlers should be integrated socially and economically into host communities so that adverse

impacts on host communities are minimized; and Introduction 1 - 28







Land, housing, infrastructure, and other compensation should be provided to the adversely

affected population. The absence of legal title to land should not be a bar to compensation.







OP 4.01 – Environmental Assessment: All projects proposed for IFC financing require an

Environmental Assessment (EA) to ensure that they are environmentally and socially

sustainable. Instruments used to perform the EA may include an environmental impact

assessment, an environmental audit, a hazard or risk assessment, and an environmental action

plan. All IFC projects must be categorized. This policy also sets forth the minimum requirements

for public consultation and public disclosure for projects.







OP 4.04 – Natural Habitats: This policy affirms IFC’s commitment to promote and support

natural habitat conservation and improved land use, and the protection, maintenance, and

rehabilitation of natural habitats and their functions in its project financing. IFC does not

support projects that involve significant conversion or degradation of critical natural habitats.







OP 4.09 – Pest Management: This policy outlines IFC’s support of the use of biological or

environmental control methods instead of pesticides where there is a need for pest

management. Criteria for the use of pesticides, when required, are described.







OP 4.11 - Safeguarding Cultural Property: International best practices with respect to

safeguarding cultural property in IFC-financed projects includes sites having archaeological

(prehistoric), paleontological, historical, religious, and unique natural values. Operational Policy

(OP) 4.11 specifies that the general policy of the World Bank is to assist in preserving cultural

properties and to seek to avoid their elimination.







OP 4.37 – Safety of Dams (September 1999 draft): IFC requires that dams be designed and

constructed by experienced and competent professionals. For dams that are over 15 meters

high; and dams between 10 and 15 meters that present special design complexities, IFC requires



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reviews by a panel of independent experts, preparation of detailed plans, and periodic safety

inspections.

The policy covers mine tailing dams as well as water storage dams.





OPH 11.03 – Management of Cultural Property: IFC projects must comply with World Bank’s

OPH 11.03, Cultural Property, as appropriate in a private sector context.







1995 – Open Pit Mining/Milling: The open pit mining and milling guidelines describe

requirements for tailing disposal, liquid effluent discharge, and air pollution control (including

workplace air quality compliance). In addition, other general requirements are included for

erosion and sediment control, development of a mine reclamation plan, sewage sludge and solid



waste disposal management, workplace noise, confined space, hazardous material handling and

storage, sanitation, worker safety, employee training, and record-keeping and reporting.





1995 – World Bank Environment, Health and Safety Guidelines: These guidelines for mining

and milling at open pit mines include information for tailings disposal, liquid effluents, ambient

and workplace air quality, erosion and sediment control, mine reclamation, sewage sludge

disposal, solid waste disposal, workplace noise, work in confined spaces, hazardous material

handling and storage, general health and safety, training, and record keeping and reporting.







1998 – Disclosure Policy: IFC is open about its activities and welcomes input from affected

communities, interested members of the public, and business partners and will seek out

opportunities to explain its work to the widest possible audience. This policy was developed in

recognition of the importance of accountability and transparency in the development process.







1998 – General Environmental Guidelines: For financed projects in which no other specific

environmental guidelines have been developed, general environmental guidelines may be used.



These guidelines emphasize pollution prevention, and are intended to minimize resource consumption,

including energy use, and to eliminate or reduce pollutants at the source. General Environmental

Guidelines include requirements for air emissions, liquid effluents, hazardous chemicals and wastes,

solid wastes, and ambient noise.





1999 – Child Forced Labor Statement: IFC will not support projects that use forced or harmful

child labor. Forced labor, as defined in the policy statement, consists of all work or service, not

voluntarily performed, that is exacted from an individual under threat of force or penalty.

Harmful child labor consists of employment of children that is economically exploitive, or is



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likely to be hazardous to, or interfere with, the child’s education, or to be harmful to the child’s

health, or physical, mental, spiritual, moral, or social development.





2001 – Hazardous Materials Management Guidelines: Requirements of this guideline include

screening to determine characteristics and threshold quantities for hazardous materials,

development of a Hazardous Materials Management Program, and community involvement

and awareness.







2003 – IFC Environmental Guidelines for Occupational Health and Safety: This guideline covers

general aspects of occupational health and safety and would be supplemented, as needed, with

the appropriate national or international standards. Under this guideline, an Occupational

Health and Safety Management Systems are required. Such a system would require provisions

for ensuring an organizational framework to support the occupational health and safety

program, a hazard prevention program, performance monitoring, and evaluation.



3.3 Institutional Framework

Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources: The management of all mineral resources in Sierra Leone

is within the purview of the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources (MMR) headed by a Minister. The

Ministry has two divisions, Mines and Geological Surveys, both headed by Directors. The administrative

wing of the ministry is headed by a Permanent Secretary. The main responsibility of this Ministry is to

develop policies and programmes for the systematic and economic exploitation of the nation’s mineral

resources and to formulate regulations for the mining industry and related activities to ensure that the

nation derives maximum benefit from the mineral resources. The specific responsibilities include:





Formulation of policies for mines and minerals;







Mining negotiations;







Granting of concessions







Mining and minerals exploration







Geological surveys;







Control of explosives for mining;







Inspection of mining machinery and mine sites;







Establishing relations with international mining and geological organizations and

agencies; and



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Collaboration with relevant national and international organizations.



The National Minerals Agency: This is a new semi-autonomous government agency that is

established by an Act of Parliament (National Minerals Agency Act 2012). It is responsible for the

administration and regulation of the minerals sector. While the MMMR takes full responsibility of policy

implementation, the NMA handles the responsibility of policy implementation. It works closely with

other government agencies with the responsibilities in the mineral sector to support them in

implementing those policy areas from which they are responsible and impact upon the mineral sector. It

is also empowered to hire professionals and reward them according to their performance. The agency is

overseen by a Board of Directors, which helps to remove it from day-day politics.

Environment Protection Agency: This is the agency responsible for the monitoring and enforcing all

environmental regulations in Sierra Leone. Details of the roles and responsibilities are outlined in the

EPA Act presented above.

Other Institutions and line Ministries responsible for environmental management issues in Sierra Leone

include:

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security: To increase agricultural productivity, output,

rural income and employment while ensuring adequate protection of the environment.

Ministry of Lands, Housing, Country Planning and the Environment: Conserves and manages the

natural environment of the country; b. to address the issues of land acquisition, ownership and use.

Ministry of Transport and Communications: Addresses the issues related to transport and

communications. This ministry is involved in land degradation and the introduction of pollutants in the

natural environment, and as such mitigation measures are set for the ministry to implement in the

amelioration of pollution.

Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development: Provides support to the MMMR to manage

certain development funds, monitor the reclamation of mined out areas and coordinate the Diamond

Area Community Development Fund (DACDF).

Ministry of Tourism and Culture: To protect the country’s heritage including monuments, cultural and

historical sites. The development of tourism often leads to infrastructural activities that deter sound

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environmental management. This ministry is therefore charged with the responsibility of environmental

management in the Tourist industry.



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Section 4 – Analyses of Alternatives

Analyses of alternatives constitute part of this ESIA. The purpose is to improve on project design,

construction and operation decision making based on feasible project alternatives (IFC, 2006). It will

provide the basis for identifying optimal project alternatives that are consistent with the goals of the

mining company, funding organization, the government, the mining community and the policy and

regulatory framework established for the mining industry.

Project alternatives that were considered for SMHL project include:





No Action alternative;







Alternative for location of staff accommodation;







Bauxite processing location;







Mine closure.



No Action Alternative

The adoption of the no-action alternative would mean that the project would remain in its current

condition with no mine-related development activity by SMHL. This scenario would mean that the

Environmental Management Plan and the community Development Action Plan that are prepared would

not be implemented. As such, the anticipated project benefits such as employment, foreign exchange

earnings, infrastructure development and community development initiatives would not improve in the

concession area and the country as a whole. This will result in the continuation of in migration into the

area and the resultant poor state of local economy, infrastructure and other public services.

The negative effect would also be seen in the physical environment where in the Taia River and its

tributaries will be continuously impacted by discharge of effluents thereby reducing the surface water

quality of the basin.

Location of staff Accommodation

The first plant site for bauxite mining including all mining activities was first around the Mokanji area.

Following the depletion of the Mokanji deposits in 1982, Sieromco relocated its operations to Gondama

(approximately 26 km south-east of Mokanji) and resumed mining in the Banta Mokelleh Chiefdom.

Sieromco mined the Gondama deposits and has since continued operations there.

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The two styles of accommodation provided for SMHL staff are located 20 – 40 miles away from the plant

site where most of the mining activities take place. The mining activities at the site do not require total

off-site accommodation especially for supervision work during the second and third shifts. The option

therefore is the relocation or expansion of both junior and senior staff accommodation closer to the

mine site. Proximity to the mine site would lead to the following benefits:





Reduction in travel time to work;







Increased work supervision at all times;







Proximity to the only Medical Hospital in the mining area;







Decrease in the running cost of vehicles;







Extension of overtime work for certain staff categories;







Increase in the opportunity for the expansion of the Gbonge deposits and future expansion of

shipping facility closer to the four bauxite deposits.



Ore Processing Plant

The original ore processing plant for the bauxite mine was located at Mokanji. The plant was abandoned

when mining relocated to the Gondama area in 1982. The existing processing plant is in a closer

proximity to the five major deposits and is located within a valley thereby reducing noise level that

impact on the surrounding village communities. For operational considerations, the tailings storage

facility was located as close as possible to the plant site to reduce cost of transportation of the slurry.

The potential for the existing facility to near its storage capacity is high considering mine life of SMHL

operations around the five deposits. Consideration should be given for an alternative storage facility in

the near future.



Two alternative methods for the disposal of the tailings generated at the site are proposed: a. Disposal

and storage of existing slurries in a min pit and reuse of the existing infrastructure; b. Construction of a

new facility within the same area close to the washing plant.



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Tailings Disposal and Storage

This option will involve a construction of a mine pit into a tailings storage contained by perimeter

embankments. The slurries would be deposited in the pit as mining continues. Filling would continue for

less than a year and after a decanting period, revegetation would start followed by a full reclamation

work based on the mine reclamation plan.

With perimeter fencing, the area would be secured with no additional impacts.

The major disadvantages of this alternative would be related to short term mine plan as this operation

will concurrently go on with other mining operations.



Construction of a new storage facility

This option would require concurrent construction work and mining operations with little obstruction.

Construction work would however be more expensive as materials such as sand and gravel would have

to be transported from a distance outside the mining area. Also, the extent of land disturbance would

expect to be greater.



Preferred alternative for the two options would be controlled by key factors including costs, time of

construction, and availability of equipments, weather conditions and the expected life of the mine

operations.



Mine Reclamation and closure alternatives

Mine reclamation and closure activities at SMHL operations are implemented to establish a beneficial

post-mining land use, in the case of this project it will consist primarily of agricultural lands. The key

activities will include re-grading disturbed areas to provide topographic relief that blends with the

surrounding areas. Some of the structural measures that will be put in place will include diversions,

backfilling and the construction of grass waterways. On the Gbonge Hills for example, cut and fills are

part of the extraction and reclamation activities.



This option is requires millions of dollars in earth moving activities, and it cannot be considered as the

best option for the open pits. Backfilling of these pits with tailings slurries would be another feasible

option considering the life of the existing tailings facilities at the plant site.



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Section Five – Environmental Baseline Conditions

This section presents the existing baseline conditions within the vicinity of the SMHL mine footprint

against which the predicted impacts of the projects are analysed. It is divided into two main sections:

Biophysical environment and socio-economic environment.

5.1 Biophysical Environment

5.1.1 Topography and Landforms

The topography of the project area is in the interior plains of the African continental mass approximately

80 to 100 km. wide. The elevation rises from the coast to the interior ranges between 50 and 300m

above sea level. Conspicuous topographic features include: a. residual hills, b. High and low river

Terraces, c .Lateritic Uplands, d. Undulating hills, e. Bottomlands and f. Inland Valley Swamps.

Residual Hills: The two residuals hills which are formed in a ridge like manner are the Mokanji and

Gbonge Hills. The Mokanji Hills which trends in a south-west direction has nearly flat summits with

elevations ranging from 45 to 100 meters. The colluvial foot-slopes occurring on the right hand of the

ridge were excessively mined out by former Sieromco. The Gbonge hills trends in a north-northwest

direction with outcrops on top of the ridge. The hills rise The hills rise above 152 meters above sea level

running from Senjehun on the Sewa river through Gbonge to Kangahun covering a distance of 64 km.

Terraces: These cover a significant portion of the mined out area especially between Mosenesie and

Gondama. They are generally related to the Taia River and its tributaries. They are relatively younger

than the uplands and become more pronounced as the river flows south.

Laterites: Laterites occur in various forms and are mostly hard, brown, porous with hydrated ferric

oxides and alumina and little silica. At higher elevations, they occur as crust of weathered rock masses

and at lower elevations they occur as duricrust.

Undulating Hills: Theses are toposequences that are nearly level with concave slopes near the

bottomlands. The bottomlands have shallow residual soils that develop from the weathering of bedrock

of the colluvial foot slopes.

Inland Valley Swamps: Inland valley swamps are found in the bottomlands and are characterized by

alluvial soils that are silty and poorly drained. They often tend to be narrow, long and flanked by

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concave slopes on each side. Very often, there are small streams that are not deeply incised and dry up

in the dry season. The width of these swamps varies between 20 and 80 metres and the length of the

individual segments are usually between 3 and 5 km. Because of their low gradient and dense

vegetation, the swamp has a very low rate of discharge.

5.1.2 Climate and Weather

The climatic conditions like many areas in Sierra Leone are warm and hot, with marked rainy season and

dry season. The weather cycle is as follows: Harmattan, Dry but humid, Disturbance line squalls, Steady

rains, Disturbance line squalls, Dry but humid and Harmattan.

The harmattan period occurs from late December to late January. Usually after the middle of January,

the rainless and dry harmattan is replaced by a dry but humid period, which extends to the end of

March. This is caused by a retreat of the harmattan air masses to the north and penetration of humid

air from the Atlantic Ocean. The winds come mainly from the west. Often, heavy dew and fog occurs

during the night and early mornings.

From March to the end of June, showers become more frequent, usually accompanied by

thunderstorms. The storms travel east to west against the general wind direction. These disturbance

line storms are usually preceded by a squall of easterly wind; they increase in intensity and frequency to

the end of June. During this period, the weather is very changeable with high humidity. July, August,

and into September are periods of heavy and usually persistent rains. A pause of dry weather conditions

occurs in the rainy season during August with clear and humid weather.

Ninety percent of this rain falls during the rainy season from May to November, leaving the other five

months with no more than 250mm of rainfall. Rainfall data obtained from a nearby station

representative of the project area is presented in Table 8. The relative humidity ranges between 95 to

100 and the mean monthly temperature is almost constant varying from 25oC in August to 28oC in

March. The mean daily maximum temperature is at its lowest in August and highest in March. The

mean daily minimum is at its lowest in January and at its highest in May. A summary of the weather

conditions that are experienced in the project area is presented in Table 3.



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Table 4.

Year



Summary of Rainfall Data: SMHL Concession Area.

Total

Annual



Rainfall



Max Rainfall/Year



Min Rainfall/Year



Mean



Standard

deviation



2001



104.71



20.9



0



8.73



6.33



2002



103.16



24.51



0.28



8.6



6.17



2003



128.22



32.02



0



10.69



9.71



2004



96.65



22.99



0.18



8.05



5.4



2005



107.93



25.45



0



8.99



6.74



2006



104.49



26.53



0



8.73



6.36



2007



125.7



33.23



0



10.48



9.16



2008



108.31



24.05



0



8.33



5.79



2009



87.2



28.53



0



7.27



4.41



2010



120.72



26.26



0.08



10.06



8.44



2011



98.6



22.7



0



8.22



5.63



2012



18.3



11.59



0.02



1.53



2.34



Source: Sierra Rutile Environmental Monitoring Report.



51.3 Drainage and Hydrology

The Jong/Taia River constitutes the major drainage system in the project area. The Jong River drains

from the Sula Mountains and Kangari Hills in the north central of Sierra Leone. The main tributaries

include: Tikote, Kapui, Kwiva, Kati, Kpeyei, and Kwasi. They all flow in a southerly direction in a series of

zig-zag and meanders that reflect the lines of structural weaknesses. In nearly all cases, the drainage

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basins do not follow the Crestline of the two ridges but are imprinted on lower ground on the inland

side of the ridges. Some of these basins have developed into inland valley swamps in their head and

middle waters.

TABLE 5 Weather Cycle

Weather



Period/Duration



1. Harmattan



Late



December



Characteristics

to



late



January



2. Dry Humid



Mid January to mid March



-



Low relative humidity



-



Increased wind strength



-



Dustry haze



-



High aftermoon temperature



-



High evaporation



-



Heavy dew and fog at night and early

mornings



3.Disturbance Line squalls



4. Steady rains



5. Line squalls



March – end of June



July – September



-



Humid air from the ocean



-



Thunder storms & showers



-



Line squalls of easterly winds



-



High humidity



-



High Intensity rains



-



High humidity



-



Low Temperatures



-



Long duration rains



-



Monsoonal

-



From Mano Dasse to Mattru, the river flows southerly in a series of meanders crossing the MokanjiGbonge ridge in a steep sided valley. At Wubange, it meanders south and it is joined by the Tikote river

draining east from Gbangbama Hills; then by the Kwiva, which drains southwest from a flatland area

around Serabu and crosses the Gbonge ridge in a deep valley at Badui.

The Kapui rises in a dissected plain northeast of the Mokanji Hills. It crosses the hills in a deep straight

valley from Taninahun to Monghere, to receive the Kati, Kpeye and Kwesi tributaries in a wide flatland

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and finally crosses at Yebeima in a series of incised meanders which continue westward to the Gbonge

confluence. The Yebei and Gbendeye rise from a flat ground close to the head of the Kwesi from where

they flow southwesterly across the strike ridge line at Gbangbatoke and Gbanbama respectively.

Some of these drainage patterns have developed into numerous inland valley swamps in their head and

middle waters. The swamps tend to be long and narrow and are generally flanked by convex slopes.

Actual widths of these swamps vary considerably, but the average is about 60m wide while the lengths

of individual segments are usually between 3 and 5km. Many of the swamps dry up entirely in the dry

season and those with low gradients become flooded in the wet season with a low rate of discharge.

The Taia river discharge has a mean flow rate of 668 m3sec in the rainy season with maximum rates

between 1000-1500 m3sec in August and September. During the dry season, the mean discharge falls to

89 m3sec but because of occasional storms there is generally an appreciable amount of water flow.

Runoff is moderate with a mean of 89mm and 15mm in the wet and dry season respectively (Jayakaran,

1987). Like many other areas in the country, there is an annual excess of precipitation over

Evapotranspiration demand. This lends itself to an analysis of a simple water budget accounting that will

provide an opportunity to monitor the water status in the project area throughout the year. Further, it

will provide numerical estimates of the amount of water surplus or water deficit and the periods of their

duration that will be used to monitor changes in the groundwater status area.

The hydrology follows the seasonal rainfall pattern as the flow of the rivers is influenced by the inflow

from their catchments. Annual peak flow, which is about 700m3/sec usually, occurs in August and

September. The flow starts to decrease in October when the rainfall is less and decreases to as low as

about 5m3/sec in April (ESCG, 1988).

During the rainy season there is an excess of precipitation over the reference Evapotranspiration that

cannot be stored as soil water and therefore roughly represents that amount of rainfall input that

becomes available for groundwater storage and runoff. The difference between annual precipitation

and water lost in deep percolation and or surface runoff (EP) is also of interest, since it represents the

actual use of water under local conditions imposed by the environment.

5.1.4 Geology

The geological formations (Precambrian age) found in the SMHL lease have a general NNW –SSE strike

and dipping in a West-South-West direction. Bauxite mineralization in the SMHL exploration license area

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is a result of tropical weathering of alumina-rich facies rocks of the Kasila belt, which formed the

Mokanji, Gondama and Gbonge deposits. The bauxite in the project area is derived mainly from

anorthosites (Mokanji type with 53-56% Al203), leuco-gabbro (Gondama standard type with 52-54%

Al203), norite (Gondama 47-49% Al203) and hornblende/hypersthene gneisses (Mokanji West type with

45-48% Al203). These deposits do not form a continous ore body but rather, a chain of deposits with

topographically controlled breaks in echelon to one another (Mackenzie, 1961).

The petrology of the hypersthenes gneisses indicates a typical texture of the fresh rock and bauxite

laterites. Pale hard gibbsite material represents the plagioclase matrix, while red brown spongy spots

rich in limonite represents the hypersthenes (ibid). The bauxite is fine-grained, generally friable and

shows very little resistance to shock. The Gbonge anorthosite splits into two bands, probably becoming

discontinuous, irregular with highly deformed lenses. The anorthosite comprises alternances of layers

with almost pure plagioclase and layers rich in hypersthene. Quartzite with or without garnet and/or

magnetite occurrences are visible on both sides of the anorthosite belts.

Gabbros and leuco-gabbro occur mainly in the Gondama and Gbonge areas as massive and largely

undeveloped bodies with several elongated bands. The bands are highly deformed and have foliations.

Norites are more abundant than originally reported and bauxite derived from this type of rock is

massive, with low alumina and low silica. A long band of gabbros, leuco-gabbro and norite is also visible

in the western part of the project area, (Wunde IVA, IVB).

Texturally, the Mokanji depositse is fine-grained, generally friable and shows very little resistance to

shock. The Gondama deposits made up of anorthosite splits into two bands, probably discontinuous,

forming irregular and highly deformed lenses. The anorthosite comprises alternating layers of pure

plagioclase and hypersthene. Quartzite with or without garnet and/or magnetite occurrences are visible

on both sides of the anorthosite belts.

Gabbros and leuco-gabbro occur mainly in the Gondama and Gbonge areas as massive and largely

undeveloped bodies with several elongated bands. The bands are highly deformed and have foliations.

Norites are more abundant than originally reported and bauxite derived from this type of rock is

massive, with low alumina and low silica.

A long band of gabbros, leuco-gabbro and norite is visible in the Western part of the project area

(Wunde IVA, IVB).

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Gneiss bodies with hypersthene and hornblende generally surround the gabbros and anorthosite.

Structurally, the project area has a relatively simple tectonics generally comprising two fault systems

that are visible in southern portion around Konta and Gbonge. The first fault system has a NNW – SSE

orientation, delineating in the South the leuco-gabbro and norite formations (rich in bauxite) from

Gbonge Hills. The second fault system has WNW – ESE, developed between the Gbonge bauxite deposits

and Konta bauxite deposits. Generally, the bauxite deposits tend to have an iron-rich cap and pass down

to silicious bauxite.

5.1.5 Surface and Groundwater

Detailed surface and groundwater studies previously prepared and those in past ESHIA reports provide

the baseline information that facilitated the preparation of this impact assessment report. Tables 10 and

Table 11 present a summary of the analytical results obtained for the two periods.

Results for the 2003 study indicate that pH for the selected sampling sites ranged from 4.6 to 6.4. These

values are well below the WHO permissible limits. Electrical Conductivity results are within the threshold

limit recommended by WHO for potable water. Faecal Coliform bacteria were found in 60percent of the

samples while non-faecal coliforms were present in all the water samples. As such, drinking water from

the contaminated sample points was a health risk. Nine out of the 15 samples had dissolved iron far in

excess of WHO limits while manganese ions were below the 0.1mg/1 concentration. Concentrations of

nitrate/nitrogen in all samples were also below the threshold limit and all other chemical ions were

either zero or very minimal and within the permissible limits recommended by WHO.

The 2012 study indicate that Temperature of all the water samples measured was found to range from

26.1oC to 25.2oC with a mean value of 25.570C. These values are within the permissible limits for good

drinking water.

Water turbidity found to be above the WHO limits were at the following sources:





Tailings out flow – 25-9 NTU







Meseki (enfluent) – 10.2 NTU







Makepi Village Taia river – 12.6 NTU







Tailings pond No. 5 – 5.2 NTU



The Conductivity values for all sample points were far below the tasted threshold. These values ranged

from 16.10 -224µ/cm. with the largest variability for Mokepi well. Generally, the TDS for all locations



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was low with a higher content in the Mokepi well. Aluminum ranged from 0.0 to 0.2mg/l all the sources

are above the WHO limits, with the exception of Wunde (0.14mg/l).

According to WHO Limits. All the sources are above the WHO limits, except for Motuowo (0.05mg/l).

Iron concentration above WHO limits were found in the following points: Maseki (Elfluent, 0.44mg/l)

Mokepi (0.49mg/l Taia River). All the water points proved positive for E Coli with Moseki effluent and

Mokepi Hand dug well too numerous to count (TNTC).



All but three of the water sampling points proved positive for Faecal Coliform with the highest

compliance recorded for Mokepi well. Moseki effluent and Mokepi Taia River recorded the lowest

compliance. The measured physico-chemical parameters happen to be within WHO maximum

permissible levels, which implies that both the ground and surface water quality are not all that

polluted. The high content of TDS mostly as the discharge suggests that wastes are being added to the

Tailings dam from the washing plant. The Mokepi River shows high bacteria count indicating that the

river is receiving organic pollutant from the nearby villages.



The heavy metal contents Fe, indicates some potential threat to aquatic life, as they are above WHO

permissible limits. However, to sustain the ecological status of the Taia River, waste management

practice of waste re-use through the use of the dams should be encouraged.

5.1.6 Soils and Land Use Capability

The soils that occur in the project area are mainly derived from the metamorphic rocks of the Kasila

Group and on a minor scale from the igneous rock of the interior plains. The controlling soil forming

processes include:

 Weathering of primary minerals to form toxic horizons.

 Leaching of soluble substances and the subsequent formation of secondary minerals.

 Plinthization and segregation of iron and subsequent formation of hardened plinthite, duricrust

and laterite.

 Accumulation of surface soils to form epipedons (Odell et al, 1974).

As a result of the high rainfall and temperature, the silicate structures are broken with the resultant

release of silica, aluminum, iron and bases. Hardened laterites, plinthites and duricrust form mostly on

the uplands, though plinthite is often present in the poorly drained hydromorphic soils of the

bottomlands.

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On the colluvial foot-slopes are soils that are generally shallow to moderately deep, very gravelly loams

to clays. On the hill-crests are residual soils that are well drained. Further down slope, the soils become

moderately shallow to moderately deep, gravelly and well drained.

Land capability evaluation was undertaken for this assessment to enhance the matching of crop

requirements in the reclamation processes using both the physical characteristics of the land and

climatic factors. Representative of typical soils of the land facets were evaluated for their agricultural

capability to produce various crops, using the following land attributes or qualities: Rooting space(r),

Soil fertility (f), Availability of moisture (n), Availability of oxygen (o), and resistance to erosion (e). The

FAO survey and land evaluation used in this report define 4 major landforms or facets within the lease

area which were grouped under land system 21 here in known as the Makondu land system

(UNDP/FAO, 1979).

Land quality was interpreted from the measurement of land factors taken in the field as follows:

 Measurement of effective soil depth (d) as a land factor defined rooting space (r) as a land

quality.

 Measurement of nutrient status (n) , salinity ( c), and soil reaction ( a) defined Soil Fertility (f), as

a land quality.

 Measurement of available water capacity ( x) and Climate type (z) both defined Availability of

moisture as a land quality as a land quality

 Measurement of drainage (w), flooding (fl) and permeability ( p) as land factors defined

availability of oxygen( o) as a land quality

 Measurement of slope steepness (s) and surface stones and rocks (y) both defined resistance to

erosion (e) as a land quality.

Eight crops were selected for the pre-mining evaluation scenario based on the potential for Agricultural

Land use. Table 6 shows the number of crops for which land suitability was systematically evaluated for

all the 4 land facets in the study area:

The suitability classes defined within the FAO land system are as follows:

S1: High to Moderate: land with no or moderate to slight limitations for the sustained cultivation of a

given crop. Relatively high yield and a good return on investment can be expected.



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S2:



low: Land with moderately to severe limitations for the sustained cultivation of a given crop.



Adequate yields and a moderate return on investment can be expected.

S3: Very low: land with very severe limitations for the sustained cultivation of a given crop. Very low

yields and only a marginal return on investment can be expected.

N: Nil, i.e. land having limitations which appears as severe as to preclude any possibility of successful

sustained use of a given crop.

(Subscripts such as e, r, f, and m indicate the soil limitations that should be addressed by proper

management for the sustained economic production of a crop at suitability classes of S2 and S3).



Location of Sampling Points and Rationale for Selection.

In order to evaluate land capability in the mining lease area, 3 auger borings were made in swamps, and

2 pits were dug at locations indicated on map 3. The rationale for choosing this sampling point was to

assess the effectiveness of the reclamation process on land quality.

Site 2: The top –soil or overburden pile at the pile site of the on-going excavation at Gbonge hills. The

rationale for choosing this sampling point was to evaluate the process of top soil management and its

effects on soil fertility while piled up and waiting re-use for reclamation.

Site 3: An undisturbed coffee plantation with steep slope (24% slopes) in Jojohun. The rationale for

choosing this sampling point was to provide a reference soil for the steep upland soils of facet 3 by

which reclaimed land that were once on similar slopes before mining could be compared in terms of

their agricultural capability.

Site 4: Swamps in close proximity to the mine sites at Gbonge. The rationale for choosing this

sampling point was to assess whether the process of sedimentation ( predicted in the 2003 ESHIA

report for the resumption of mining by Vimetco by the Aqua Terra Consulting Firm) by runoff water

flowing downhill from ore excavation sites is active ( during the rainy season) and affecting soil fertility

and crop production in any way.



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Map 3 Sampling Locations SMHL Project Area.



Site 1: A reclaimed upland site at Gondama.

Site 5: A swamp site unaffected by mining activity was selected to provide a reference soil morphology

by which swamps affected (if found) by mining activity may be compared and significant variations (if

any) assessed for their implication on soil fertility.



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At each location the following soil factors were estimated as follows:

 Nutrient status: darkness/blackness of colour, thickness of A or black horizon, root

density and crop performance.

 Erosion hazard: presence and size of gullies, exposed crop/plant roots, slope percent,

and stoniness and Percent land cover.

 Thickness of the true soil: (A, E and B horizons) in auger borings, gully or soil.



Analysis of the results: Results for the 5 sampling points indicated the following:

Land unaffected by mining activities in land facets 3 and 4 (see soil profile descriptions below), continue

to exhibit similar land capability rating for agricultural use as determined prior to mining. This was

evident in the morphology of the soils on the upland and low lands: The soils unaffected by mining were

dark in colour (10YR 2/1, black, moist), thick in their A or surface horizons and had high density of roots

from both crops and forest species. There was also 100% vegetative cover and absence of gullies on the

uplands and sedimentation in lowland at the foot of its slope. Crop performance (e.g. Coffee on the

upland and paddy rice in the swamps) was also very high. The current land uses on these soils appear to

support productive, sustainable and environmentally sound.

Typical soil profile in land

facet 3



Soil profile description of a typical soil in

land facet 3, land system 21



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District: Bonthe Chiefdom: Kpanda- Kemoh Village: Jojohun : GPS location: 29207896E, 0846012N

Parent Material: Landscape position: backslope: Slope: 25% Vegetation: Coffee Plantation under

secondary bush

Land use: Cash crop production. Land system : 21 Facet: 3

Date : 21st October,2012

Pit Location: Coffee under Secondary forest

Horizon



Description



A(0-10cm)



Very dark Brown (10YR 2/2. Moist); silty loam; strong sub-angular blocky; slightly sticky;

slightly plastic;

Common course to very fine roots; diffuse boundary to horizon below.



E(10-30cm)



Very dark greyish brown ( 10 YR 3/2, moist); gravelly silty loam; slightly sticky, slightly

plastic, common coarse

To fine roots; diffuse boundary to horizon below.



Bx (30-



Yellowish brown (10 YR 5/4, moist); Very gravelly silty loam; weak, fine sub angular



40cm)



blocky; slightly plastic,

slightly sticky



Typical soil profile in land

facet 4



Soil profile description of typical soil in land

facet 4, land system 21



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District: Bonthe Chiefdom: Kpanda - Kemoh Village: Jojohun:

GPS location: 28N 0822397



0852458 Parent Material: colluvium



Landscape position: Footslope Slope: 0-3 degrees

Vegetation: Grasses.

Land use: Rice and vegetable production

Date : 21st November, 2012

Location of Monolith: Virgin IVS representing original state of soil before mining

Horizon



Description



A(0-



Black( 10YR 2/1, moist); Silty clay; weak, fine sub-angular blocky; very friable,



10cm)



slightly sticky; common, Coarse to very fine roots; abrupt boundary to horizon below



Bx (10-



Dark Yellowish Brown( 10YR 4/6, moist), very gravelly coarse silty loam; massive structure;



20cm)



friable,

slightly sticky; few fine to very fine roots; abrupt boundary to water table



1. The top–soil overburden was lighter in colour (see soil colour below: value and chroma of 4/5) ,

with little to zero land cover and absence of structural aggregates compared to the reference

soils in 1 above. The process of overburden management as reported by the mining and

environmental staff of Vimetco seemed to promote soil nutrient loss through volatilization,

leaching , sheet or rill erosion, little or no addition of organic matter through composting ,

mulching or the planting and incorporation of leguminous cover crops. Since the reclamation

process is delayed until after ore excavation has been completed for a mining site, the

overburden is exposed to destructive climatic agents for as long as the excavation period lasted

which, in some cases went on for over 3-4 years. The team of consultants in Aqua Terra

consulting (2003), indicated in their ESIA report that there was need to “stabilize the soil

material” in order to prevent “severe erosion and landslide”. Evidence of low quality top soil

may be seen in the low tree crop cover and deep gullies that characterize almost all reclaimed

sites. Soil fertility (f) as a land capability quality for tree crops and annual crops is further

degraded by these processes reducing the agricultural capability of the reclaimed lands to as low

as S3 or N.



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Non -use of cleared vegetation in composting- tree trunks,

twigs, branches and leaves are buried or abandoned



A sharp deterioration in top soil colour of the original soil from a

dark organic Value and chroma of 2/1 to a light value and

chroma of 4/5 of exposed heaps of overburden on the Gbonge

hills piled some 40 meters from the ore excavation zone.



2. Soils in swamps at the foot slopes (Land facet 4) of active mining hills are at a high risk of being

buried by sediments from runoff during the rainy season. In their ESIA report on the impact of

mining operations on Topography and Soils in the Vimetco concession area, the team of

consultants in Aqua Terra consulting (2003) explained how “erosion and sedimentation “can

release “large quantities of sediments” with “surface sludge moving down slope”. Nine years

following this prediction, heavy sedimentation was evident on swamp soils proximal to the

Gbonge mining site. This was regarded an environmental flashpoint that should not be allowed

to expand into community swamps as it has the potential to reduce the agricultural capability of

the soils form S1 for paddy rice to as low as S3 or even N due to low fertility (f). Fertility decline

can be caused by the burial or mixing of the organically rich and dark A or surface horizons with

low nutrient inert materials from exposed soil parent materials or “not-soil” from the mining

hills.

The following summarizes the evaluation of soils on the land facets assessed within the mining area:

 Land that was unaffected by the mining operations of Vimetco maintained their agricultural

capability class in which they were originally classified.

 Poor topsoil management appears to have reduced the agricultural capability of the reclaimed

lands to as low as S3 or N, making tree crop establishment largely unsuccessful.

 Sedimentation in some parts of the lowland appears to reduce the agricultural capability of the

soils form S1 for paddy rice to as low as S3 or even N. This negative impact should be addressed

through appropriated cost effective mitigates.

Based on pre mining crop suitability, the following conclusions are made:

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 That the colluvial soils of the plains were rated as having the highest crop suitability of S1 for

the cashew cash crop.





That the soils of the Foot slope and Swamps were rated as having the highest crop suitability of

S1 for paddy rice.



 The Cashew crop was the most suitable /adaptable for growing on all upland facets compared to

other tree crops evaluated.

 Soils at the top of isolated hills were rated as unsuitable (N) for all the arable crops evaluated

and rated as very low (S3) for growing tree crops. Erosion was cited as the most limiting factor

to producing crops on the soils of this land facet.

 Soils on the steep side slopes show suitability ranging from S1 to S3 for all tree and arable crops,

except rice.

 Four soil/land limitations to agricultural productivity, e, r, f, and m denoting, erosional hazard,

low soil volume for adequate root space, soil fertility and moisture availability, were identified

for soils in the lease area. These are the soil characteristics that need to be maintained or

improved for the land capability rating of the soils to increase. They can therefore serve as

indicators for monitoring mining impact on soil/land agricultural productivity.

 The limitation of erosion attributed to the upland poses a potential risk to sedimentation in the

low lands.

The above baselines on land capability of soils within the Vimetco concession area may now be used

to compare evaluate and predict mining impacts on soil productivity.



Table 6 Land Suitability of soils on 4 landform types under rain fed agriculture in the mining area.



Landforms ( facets)



Land suitability class ( S1, S2, S3, N)



within Land system

21



Tree crops and cassava

Cashew



Cassa



Annual crops



Citrus



Coconut



Coffee



maize



g/nut



Paddy rice



S3e



N



N



N



N



N



va

Thin soils on hill tops ( S3e



S3e



land facet1)



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Moderately deep



S1



S2r



S3f



S3r



S3m



S2



S3r



N



S1



S2r



S3f



S2r



S3r



S2



S3



N



N



N



N



N



N



N



N



S1



Colluvial soils on

Plains( land facet 2)

Thin soils on steep

backslope ( land

facet3)

Swamps/drainage (

land facet 4)

Source: Adapted from UNDP/FAO (1979)

Legend

S1= highly to moderate suitability



e= erosion hazard



m= moisture availability



S2= low suitability



r= rooting space



S3= Very low suitability



f= Soil fertility N= Nil



5.1.7 Terrestrial Biological Environment

Flora

Four main terrestrial biological units are found in the concession area: High moist Fragmented Forest,

Forest Re-growth, Upland Grasslands and swamps. The high moist fragmented forest is further divided

in to three units: the Moist Evergreen forest, Moist Semi- deciduous forests and Secondary or Forest

Regrowth.

Moist High Fragmented Forest: The moist evergreen is fragmented mostly found in clusters in the

lowlands, along streams and river courses. Around settlements are also found moist evergreen (rain)

forest interspersed with tree crops. But in the last few years, these have been drastically reduced as a

result of timber exploitation for war rehabilitation works. The original dominant tree species mainly

used as timber include: the mahogany Khaya anthotheca*,Entandrophragma utile*, E. angolensi*, E.

cylindricum’ Tetracarpidium conophorum, African cedar – Afzelia africana, African oak - Oldfieldia

africana*, Terminalia ivorensis, T. superba, Piptadeniastrum africanum, Daniellia thurifera,

Klainedoxa gabonensis, Brachystegia leonensis, Albizia ferruginea, Parkia biolor, Xylia evansii,

Ricinodendron heudelotii, Hannoa klaineana, Erythrophleum ivorense, Irvingia gabonensis*,

Mimusops heckelii, Cathormion altissimum, Amphimas pterocarpoides, Cynometra leonensis,

Tieghemella heckelii*, Heritiera utilis, Lophira procera, Sacoglottis gabonensis*, Triplochiton

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scleroxylon* and Parinari excelsa. Non-timber tree species include: Musanga cecrotodes, carapa

procera and myranthus arboresus.



Moist Semi-deciduous Forest: The moist semi-deciduous forest has similar characteristics to the

moist evergreen (rain) forest, but with a higher proportion of deciduous forest trees existing. They

are concentrated in the Gbonge Hills area south west of the concession area and relatively closer to

the coast. Before mining activities started, these forests found on hill tops were used mainly for

logging and farming activities. The original dominant tree species that existed here include:

Terminalia ivorensis, T. superb, Parkia bicolour, chlorophora regioa, Parinari excels,

Erythrophleum ivorense and many other evergreen species listed above.

Secondary forests are the dense forests found in clusters representing the last stages of succession into

mature forest after a long period of fallow. Their existence is due to their far away occurrences from

settlements and former sites of villages that are now of extinction. Common tree species found here

include: Musanga cecrotodes, carapa procera and myranthus arboresus. Typical timber species of

younger ages could be found including the Terminalia ivorensis, T. superb and Erythrophleum ivorense.



Forest Regrowth (Farm Bush): Forest Re-growth is commonly known as farm bush that is derived from

either of the above vegetation as a result of bush fallow cultivation. These farm bushes are found

scattered throughout the area and are of varying ages ranging between five to twelve years. One to two

years of fallow represents the early stages of regrowth consisting of very low shrubs, grasses and

remnants of the previous root crops. Typical species include: Lantana Camara, Cissus afzelli,

Manniophytum fulvum, Abrus precatorius, Smilax krausina and bovini. As the fallows tend to develop

further, pioneer forest species succeed the farm bushes and thickets if that area is no longer used for

farming for a period of time. Typical species include: Dicrostachys glomerata, Harungana

madagascariesis, Nauclea latifola, Alchorinear cordifolia and Trema guieenses and Elaesis guineensis.

Older fallows often have common tree species such as Anisophyllea laurina and Alchornaa cordofolia.



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Upland Grasslands: Upland grasslands are found mainly in mined out areas that have not been

revegetated and farm bushes that have been excessively been farmed and colonized by grassy

vegetation due to poor and shallow soils and frequent burning in the dry season. Common grass

species include: Andropogon gabonensis, Chasmodium Caudatum and Hyparrhenia rufa.

Chasmodium caudatum is a valuable grazing grass that does not widely occur but gradually been

replaced by Imperata Cylindrica and Pennisetum species.

In the mined out areas are exotic and indigenous flora in the process of regeneration. Common among

these are the fast growing Acacia leptocarpa and Paspalum plicatulum that were once used for

rehabilitation by SIEROMCO Mines. The advantage of using these exotic trees is their ability to fix

nitrogen in their nodules and their fire tolerant properties.

Inland Valley Swamps and Other Aquatic Vegetation: These are aquatic types of vegetation that

occur in seasonally or perennially flooded valley bottoms. They are drained by sluggish fresh water

streams that drain into the main rivers. Typical aquatic species include the raphia palm characterized by

stilt roots and buttresses, mitragyna stipulosa and aquatic grasses and other water tolerant species

which creep as undergrowth.



In addition to inland valley swamps are other wetlands encountered in the mining area. These are either

artificially constructed or partially destroyed as a result of mining activities. They are either ponds that

are in use or abandoned containing biodiversity with minor threats from damming and contamination.

Gallery forest: Gallery forest is found along the margins of the Taia River and other major streams,

consisting of a dense canopy of trees.

Gallery forest tends to be scanty along the main streams and minor rivers partly due to removal of

vegetation along the river margins to make way for farming activities.

5.1.8 Threats to Vegetation

Because of the current threat of deforestation on Sierra Leone’s biological resources, studies have been

carried out on over a thousand under-exploited economic plants (Cole & Macfoy, 1992; Turay; 1997;).

Five main categories of uses have been mentioned with over 40% of these as medicinal, 21% as food

and cash crops, 20% as timber trees and cottage industries and 15% as ornamentals used in horticulture.

This list has been compiled and reproduced in Annex Table A-2.

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Fauna

The mine site is located in an area that has been previously surveyed and reported in other studies

(I.M.C. Mackay & Schnellman 1995; Knight Piesold Consulting 2003; Aqua Terra Consulting 2003). Many

of the large birds and mammals are not present in large numbers due to human induced impacts. No

detailed field studies were undertaken but reference was made to these previous studies with list of

fauna species used during field survey for confirmation by local residents on the past and current

presence of all species. This list was further used to determine the conservation status in terms of the

following IUCN status:

EX (Extinct): No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died.

EW (Extinct in the wild): Known only to survive in captivity or as naturalized populations well outside its

previous range.

CR (Critically Endangered): The species is eminent risk of extinction in the wild.

EN (Endangered): The species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

VU (Vulnerable): The species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

NT (Near Threatened): The species does not meet any of the criteria that would categorize it as risking

extinction but it is likely to do so in the future.

LC (Least Concern): There are no current identifiable risks to the species.

DD (Data Deficient): There is inadequate information to make assessment of the risks to this species.

Some species were assessed using an earlier set of criteria. The Species assessed using this system have

the following instead of Near Threatened and Least Concern categories:

Table 7 Species Conservation Status

LR/cd



Lower Risk/conservation



Species which were the focus of



dependent



conservation programmes and

may have moved into a higher

risk category if that programme

was discontinued



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LR/nt



Lower Risk/



Species which are close to being

classified as Vulnerable but are



near threatened



not the subject of conservation

programmes.



LR/lc



Lower Risk/



Species for which there are no

identifiable risks.



least concern



Notes:





The taxonomy and naming of the individual species is based on those used in existing Wikipedia

articles as of 21 May 2007 and supplemented by the common names.







The Convention of International Trade in endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).



The following is a summary of the description of the fauna that exist in the concession area as

categorized above.



Primates: A total of 9 primates are said to have existed and recorded in and around the mining area.

Four of these are listed as Endangered and Lower risk concern. They include:, Olive and Green monkey,

the western Baboon, Olive Baboon, the Gorrila, Chimpazee, Colobus monkey, Black and white monkey

and the Patas. The widespread of vegetation removal due to mining and farming makes it difficult for

most of these species to be visible. The widespread trade in bush meat and the hunting of animals to be

used as pets are also responsible for the gradual dwindling of these primates.



Rodents: Rodents make up by far the largest order of mammals. Depending on the type of habitats, they

can live in large numbers, and are smaller in sizes though often weighing up to 25kg. The most popular

of these include: the ground squirrel, the flying squirrel, cane rats and mouse of different order and

genus. They are more widely distributed in young farm bushes and grassy vegetation. The scaly tailed

squirrel is found around old and abandoned settlements and very thick and moist shrubs.



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Ungulates: Ungulates are even-toed animals such as antelopes whose weight is borne about equally by

the third and fourth toes. They are of great economic value to humans all over the world. They are

preferred game species with very high prices in the mining towns and villages. Eight of these are

commonly found existing in the area. These include duikers of the common duiker, maxwell’s duiker,

yellow-backed duiker, bongo, royal duiker, black duiker and the bushbuck and Jetinks duiker. Their

status has been affected by the extensive alteration of the natural habitat combined with hunting and

trapping. Most of the mining area has been severely overhunted and the antelope population is critically

low.

Lagamorphs (Hares & Rabbits): The two families that exist include: hare/rabbits and Pikas that

resemble rodents but classed as super-families and thus classed under separate order. They have four in

scissors and an upper jaw instead of two. Common are the Lepus microtis and hares.

Hedge Hogs/Shrews and Moles: These are recognized by their spines though they look like rats. The

most common is the four-toed hedgehog. The African Pygmy hedge hog for example, is a nocturnal

animal that begins foraging from dusk to dawn. It has a lifespan of about two to three years in the wild.

Shrews are insectivorous mammals that seldom resemble mice and moles and are stout bodied

burrowers. Common among these are the tiny musk shrew and the mouse-tailed shrew.



Amphibians/Bats/Reptiles: No threatened amphibians are recorded in the area. They are mostly found

to exist in the mine area in the narrow corridors of the Taia river and other main streams, open

woodlands and swamps. Common among these include: the Buffalo toad, banana frog, lime red frog,

mottled squeaker, long-tailed running frog and the river frog.

Bats are animals whose forelimbs are developed as wings making them the only mammals capable of

flying. Common among them are fruit bats, Light-winged Lesser House Bat, Gland-tailed Free-tailed Bat,

Little Free-tailed Bat, Sierra Leone Free-tailed Bat, and the Dwarf Free-tailed Bat. Some of these bats are

identified as a source of protein for the local residents.

Throughout the area are numerous reptiles ranging from lizards to snakes. The common agama (Gecko)

that is red headed is the most common lizard. It can be found climbing rocks and walls preying on

insects. The dwarf African crocodile is said to be common in the Taia river banks. It is very slow,

nocturnal and digs out burrows to hide and rest in the day. Very numerous snakes are found to exist in

the area. They range in size from small snakes like the red spitting cobra to the King cobra. Other

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common snakes include the green and yellow mamba, the adder, viper, yellow bellied house snake and

the python. A list of these venomous snakes is produced in the Annex Table A.

Birds: Of the 626 birds recorded in Sierra Leone, 23 are said to be of global concern, 12 are globally

threatened. Moreover, 437 of this total are recorded to be residents in Sierra Leone and 137 are regular

visitors. Ten sites are established as important Bird Area (IBA) of which 3 are unprotected. There is a

high degree of endemism, but relatively few are threatened. Subsistence hunting of large birds and

game birds has led to a general decline in bird populations. The mining area does not fall within any of

the above categories. However there exist many bird species that are characteristic of the coastal and

interior plain area of south west of the country.



5.2 Socio-economic Environment

5.2.1 Demography

The population of Moyamba District using the last 2004 census figure is 260,910. The total density is

estimated to be 60 persons per square km. This is almost the average figure for the mining population

that concentrates along the main roads in towns like Mokanji, Moriba Town, Mogwemo and

Gbangbatoke. The population is unevenly dispersed among the chiefdoms within the mining

community. As expected, there is a greater concentration of population in villages around mining sites

and chiefdom headquarters. The civil conflict ten years ago and its adverse impacts on all types of

economic activities have certainly caused the population to migrate from some chiefdom.

Another common feature of the population is its youthfulness with over 40% aged less than 15 years.

There is a relative shift in the age pattern of fertility with an earlier onset of reproduction, and an earlier

peak of fertility, and a high ratio of performance in the younger ages for the entire project area. The

reasons that seem to account for these include:





the relatively low status of women in the communities;







the relatively younger population;







earlier onset of child bearing, especially through teenage pregnancies;







high dropout rates from schools which give younger women little alternatives than to start their

families; and







relative absence of family planning methods.



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Table 8 Demographic Profile of Communities in the Zone of Influence.



District



Chiefdoms



Total population



Male



Female



Moyamba



Bumpeh



32,363



15,172



17,191



Moyamba



Dasse



10,879



5,082



5,797



Moyamba



Lower Banta



25,954



12,369



13,585



Moyamba



Upper Banta



8,219



4,087



4,132



Bonthe



Kpanga Kemoh



7,661



3,688



3,973



Source : 2004 National Population Census

Public Health is within the purview of the Peripheral Health Unit (PHU) of the Ministry of Health and

Sanitation. It is the delivery point for primary health care with three main categories. The Community

Health Centre (CHC) found in almost all chiefdom headquarters carries out health prevention measures,

cures, promotes health activities. It is also in charge of overseeing the other PHUs in the area. All of the

five chiefdoms have at least one community Health Centre. Community Health Posts perform similar

functions to CHCs but have fewer facilities and often refer patients to health centres. Maternal and Child

Health Posts (MCHP) are the first level of contact on the ground and are found in most villages in all

chiefdoms. All these health units refer difficult cases and emergencies to Serabu Hospital, which is the

general hospital with medical, surgical, laboratory, radiological and other diagnostic and treatment

services.



Maternal health has remained poor. Although accurate statistics for the chiefdoms as a whole are not

available, it is estimated that the maternal mortality ratio high. Contributory factors are cultural

practices such as gender power imbalances, the low level of education among girls, and poor access to

skilled birth attendance.



One recent innovation in the public health sector is the introduction of “Free Health Care Medical

Insurance” that was launched in 2010. It is a system of free health care for pregnant and breast feeding



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women and children under five funded by the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA),

The World Bank and the Department for International Development (DFID).



Malaria is the main reason why outpatients consult in local health centers. It is responsible for about 30

percent of all hospital attendances and is listed first in the top ten causes of mortality in all age groups

under the age of 16 years. People are however willing to use bed nets which can be treated with

permethrin to control mosquitoes.



Children under five are predisposed to outbreaks of immunizable diseases such as measles, tetanus and

whooping cough since there is both low immunization coverage and poor mother-child health

monitoring in the area. The overall immunization coverage has however increased over the years. Poor

nutrition and inadequate growth monitoring may lead to malnutrition and delayed mental and physical

development among children under five.



The reproductive health of adolescents and youth also continues to be a major health challenge.

Contributory factors include forced marriages, and poor access to information and youth-friendly

reproductive health services. High levels of sexual debut, teenage pregnancy, school drop-outs and

resultant low level of education are manifestations of this health challenge for the girl child. The

communities also have their own stock of indigenous knowledge about the treatment of a variety of

illnesses such as malaria, fever, general pains or sicknesses, post-natal sickness, poisoning, etc.

5.2.3 Water Supply

The main sources of drinking and domestic water are from shallow wells, streams, swamps and the

ponds that are constructed by the mining company. Even though some of these wells were constructed

by NGOs over the years, they are not regularly treated or monitored to ascertain the quality of water.

Without the provision of various water sources by SMHL, access to water for many in the community is

lacking. There are more much evidence of water pollution as a result of the bauxite mining and

processing operations. Sanitation facilities are limited especially in the smaller settlements where often

no pit latrines exist.



Water sources in the mining community are from rivers, streams and wells with some fitted with hand

pumps. The Taia River and its tributaries serve as a permanent and valuable source of water which is

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used mainly for mining, fishing, and for human consumption. Apart from those noted above, other

perennial surface-water sources available in the area are the reservoirs and ponds that have been

constructed for mining which were abandoned a long time ago by the then SIEROMCO Minerals. The

main water body that constitutes ground water occurrences is the Kasila series, the Taia river terraces

and the Inland Valley swamps. The Kasila is usually shallow in the wet season rising to about 0.5m below

the ground surface in some areas. Generally, ground water level decreases with seasonal fluctuation in

precipitation. In the dry season, ground water drops linearly with no recharge from rainfall.



Ground water analyses have been previously undertaken in villages around project sites from existing

hand dug wells. The results indicate that ground water quality characteristics are controlled by

fluctuations in water levels in the systems (ESCG), 1990; IMC Mackay and Schnellman, 1997; Aqua Terra

Consulting, 2004). In the wet season, water from most of the wells is often clean with pleasant taste. In

the dry season on the other hand, some of the water in the wells become dry or coloured with

unpleasant taste. The laterites become highly soluble in the wet season making the water acidic. The

study by Aqua Terra Consulting indicates that pH for the selected water points ranged from 4.6 – 6.4

with a mean value of 5.6. These values are outside permissible limits of 6.5 – 8.5 as recommended by

World Health Organization (WHO). All the points had turbidity value of 5NTU, which is the maximum

threshold for clear water as recommended by WHO. Faecal coli form bacteria were discovered in 60 of

the samples. As such, drinking water from these points is a health risk.



5.2.4 Education

The level of education in the mining community is relatively low. There are less than 20 Secondary

schools in the entire concession area, even though few primary schools exist. Of these, Lower Banta has

the largest number of all the schools, followed by Bumpe and Dasse respectively. Overall, the number of

students enrolled at both primary and secondary schools has drastically increased in the last three to

four years. This has led to the increase in the density of classes that is far beyond average. The increase

is affecting the efficiency and capacity of the educational system especially at the primary stage.



The GOSL and a number of NGOs are providing educational services in terms of construction of

buildings, provision of teaching and learning materials. However, certain factors are standing the way of

improving the educational processes within the chiefdoms including: overcrowding classrooms; poor

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quality of school buildings; poor spatial distribution of schools; inadequacy of school buildings; low

wages for teachers; high failure rates of school children in public exams; and a large number of overaged children.

5.2.5. Land and Water Resources

The right to land in the area is vested in the community. Ownership is inherited for specific lineages or

household with the eldest male administering the land. At community level, authority over land is

vested in the chiefs and the overall power over land in the entire chiefdom is vested in the paramount

Chief. Land acquisition for mining has a direct adverse impact on the livelihood especially when

agriculture is the main livelihood source for the community. Though land shortage is not a major

concern raised by the community, the issue of proper and adequate rehabilitation of mined out areas is

raised as a matter of concern. The communities argued that there would be adequate land for farming if

the mined out areas could be adequately rehabilitated with fertile top soil.



Other constraints to land resource utilization in the farming communities include:





Low capital base and high costs of inputs;







Lack of mechanization as a result of terrain configuration;







Low level of management skills;







Low level of incentives for farmers such as lack of cooperatives that can assist farmers in bulk

purchasing and access to attractive markets.



.

5.2.6. Transport and Communications

Apart from the principal Mokanji – Gbangbatoke – Nitti Port road, which is regularly maintained by

SMHL, the road network other than the feeder haulage roads in the mining area is poorly maintained.

Feeder roads to most of the villages are hardly ever graded, although SMHL has also done considerable

work in maintaining the road to Gbonge from Gondama. Modes of transport are limited especially

during the wet season.



5.2.7. Social and Political Organizations

There is a strong social and political influence within the communities ranging from strong community

spirit, special bonds, civic bonds, networks, extended friendships and trust to enable communities to

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act together effectively to pursue common objectives. There is a low level of social ties that influences

community development especially in areas of decision making. The ability to mobilize resources is

generally low in all four chiefdoms, so also is their capacity for financial management and revenue

generation. Based on membership, the predominant social institutions are highly skewed towards men.

The members of a group interviewed were usually heads of households and therefore almost always

males; the number of women members remains negligible. The extent to which women and, to a lesser

degree, youth, can draw on this form of social capital is, therefore, limited. The wide variety of

community or village level institutions and organizations that may have impact on community

development programmes in the area can be divided into: Governmental, Indigenous and NonGovernmental Organizations.



Government Institutions include: Associations established to promote specific development activities

under the supervision of extension officers, e.g. Project Management Committees (PMC); Village

Development Committees; Ward Development Committees (WDC); Local level Party Organizations set

up to organize elections or act as channels of government based on political patronage.



Indigenous Organizations include: Traditional Authorities- chiefs and elders; Groups set up to organize

mutual support activities; Producers’ Unions; Women’s Associations; Work Groups; Social Clubs of

young men and women set up to achieve social activities; Church/Mosque Organizations with strong

political and social structures.



Non-Governmental Organizations are the key actors in the community development process. They

operate in all the communities by providing them with schools, wells and pumps, clinics, micro-credits,

etc.



Local Council is a recent innovation in public administration after its demise in the early 1970’s. As an

entity, they are bedeviled by the lack of adequate logistical support and capacity to effect the desired

change in the communities. Community’s awareness for development in the area id therefore limited.

5.2.8. Land Tenure

Land acquisition for mining has a direct adverse impact on the livelihood especially when agriculture is

the main livelihood source for the community. Though land shortage is not a major concern raised by

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the community, the issue of proper and adequate rehabilitation of mined out areas is raised as a matter

of concern. The communities often argue that there would be adequate land for farming if the already

mined out areas could be adequately rehabilitated with fertile top soil. Community engagement with all

stakeholders will therefore constitute the cornerstone to establishing and maintaining long term

support for the implementation of the MRCP.



5.2.9. Economic Activities

Cash cropping and subsistence farming are the two major systems of agriculture. The main cash crops

grown today are oil palm, coffee and whilst there has recently been extensive planting of cassava for

garri production. The main subsistence food crops grown are rice, cassava, sweet potatoes, maize,

beans, groundnuts, cocoyam, millet, sorghum, peas, sesame, and yams. A range of vegetables are grown

throughout the year including tomatoes, spring onions, pepper, eggplants and cucumber.



Trees planted on reclaimed mined out lands are used for a wide range of reasons including: a source of

fuel and building materials and, to improve soil moisture and fertility. The main fruit trees are jackfruit,

avocado, mango, oranges and pawpaw.



While socio-economic and cultural changes are impacting upon the community development with

evidence of a growing appreciation of gender concerns, the differences in gender roles and rights

remain intact and distinct in all the chiefdoms. The farming production economy, which is prevalent in

most parts of the chiefdoms, typifies this - a family enterprise with clearly defined gender roles with

men as the key decision-makers, except for women-headed households who often get engaged in petty

trading. Men control about 70% of the family expenditure with women controlling about a 25% and

other members of the family, mainly sons, control the rest. Women still control only a limited range of

activities and have restricted access to decision-making in the community. They lack decision-making

power on land tenure issues and rarely own productive resources such as land or tree crops. They have

limited sources of income compounded by the inability to access markets for their products. Other

challenges faced by women include constrained access to information and a paucity of resources to

address issues such as sanitation in the homestead.



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Besides people working in the mines, about 90% of the households in the community are farmers, while

many other people undertake other occupations such as petty trading, fishing and bike taxi driving.

Based on the 2010 survey, the average sustainable land holding in the chiefdoms is 0.90 ha per

household with an annual agricultural income of about $350. Those engaged in fishing have a higher

income of about $1250 per year. The important categories of expenditure are education,

food/household essentials, health care, farming, taxes, transport, credit and home building. The costs

that are considered to impose hardships on a family are,- education, acquiring a piece of land for

housing, and health services. People are able to save during the productive seasons of November to

February. However, savings are inadequate to address needs during the wet season months of June, to

September when incomes are low and expenditures high.



Table 9 Main Sources of Income in Selected Villages

Income Source/Combination



Frequency



%



Farming



1017



90.56



Petty Trading



12



1.07



Cottage Industry



9



0.81



Government Workers



27



2.41



SML Employees



32



2.85



SRL Employees



11



0.98



Others



15



1.34



Total



1123



100



Source: Baseline CDAP Survey, July, 2010



There are some variations in the ways the population derives its income. The larger settlements of

Gbangbatoke, Mokanji, Gbonge and Mosenesie and Walihun, carry higher populations derive their

incomes from either government or NGOs due to the level of education attained by these people.

Employment with the two mining companies operating in the area offers another source of income for

some of the local community although this is limited by the low education and skills level available.

Company employment policy has a preference for locals in the recruitment of unskilled jobs.



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The community is further constrained in exploiting more fully its financial capital as it lacks access to

credit facilities. Financial services, such as banking and savings services, are under-developed or

unavailable. For instance, there are no micro-credit lending institutions to facilitate the expansion of

micro-enterprise development.

5.2.10. SURFACE LAND OWNERSHIP

Surface land ownership in the mining lease area and other parts of the provinces is vested in indigenous

families. Landowners generally use surface lands for permanent occupation in the form of physical

structures, tree plantations and temporary occupation in the form of shifting cultivation and cattle

grazing.

The agreement with the GOSL through the Mining Agreement, establishes SMHL’s right to occupy and

utilize permanently and temporarily within its mining lease such parts of the surface land, whether

government owned or otherwise, as may be reasonably required for accessory works and installations

that are necessary or useful for its operations, and such part of the surface as may be required for its

prospecting and mining operations.

SMHL pays annually, in advance, a surface rent under the mining lease for all land occupied or used.

This amount will be distributed among the Paramount Chiefs, Landowners and Chiefdom

Administration.

Through the Ministry of Agriculture, with its listing of fees for economic and subsistence crops, SMHL

makes satisfactory arrangements for payment of a fair and reasonable compensation for damage to any

crops, trees, farms, Permanent and temporary structures or works that occur as a result of prospecting

and or mining operations.



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Section SIX – Potential Impacts and Mitigation Measures

This section discusses the existing and potential environmental and social impacts that are associated

with SMHL operations and the mitigation measures required to minimize these impacts to acceptable

levels. The section only deals with the existing project operations and not past activities and impacts

that were conducted by previous studies or future mining operations other than the current deposits

that are being mined.

6.1. Biophysical Environment

6.1.1 Topography

Mining activities at SMHL operational areas involve the removal of vegetation and the opening up of

mine panels. Vegetation is also removed in areas that are used for the stockpiling of overburden and

ore. Topsoil removal and subsequent stripping of the overburden is done with the use of bulldozers and

excavators with the resultant alteration of the topography and landforms. Mining progresses further

with backfilling of mine panels that are levelled to match the pre-existing landscape as much as possible.

Other concurrent activities involve haulage and other road rehabilitation works undertaken especially

during the wet season.



A total of about 1300 acres of land area has been disturbed as a result of this activity and the impact is

expected to last forever though with less severity. Under the current mining methods, the significant

rating scale for this activity is moderate. The use of heavy equipment such as bulldozers, excavators and

trucks utilized during the mine’s operation is also resulting in soil compaction in the wet season often

beyond permeability which can lead to the creation of pools after periods of heavy rainfall.



The major mitigation measure for the above impacts is the reclamation of mined out areas to a near

original habitat. The Mine Reclamation and Closure Plan (MRCP) that has been prepared for SMHL that

details the major activities involved in grading and levelling of the local topography that is currently

been disturbed. A summary of this plan is presented under a separate chapter of this report.



The overburden materials and the ore stockpiles are often susceptible to erosion and can lead to

sedimentation of waterways. To mitigate this impact, detention storages should be constructed to

collect open pit water and runoff drainage to ensure that the receiving environment water quality is

achieved prior to discharge.

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The use of heavy equipment such as bulldozers, excavators and trucks utilized during the mine’s

operation is also resulting in soil compaction in the wet season often beyond permeability which can

lead to the creation of pools after periods of heavy rainfall.



To mitigate the impact of compaction in the wet season, designated routes should be utilized for the

movement of heavy vehicles and machinery and the transportation of ore and other materials from the

deposit sites. The implementation of these measures will eventually be not much of a concern for the

project.

6.1.2 Air Quality

The common operations that impact on air quality include land clearing, excavation, earth moving, and

storage of materials, handling and transportation. The mechanization includes the use of ripper

bulldozers, excavators, tippers/dumpers and graders. Other operations include the use of stockpile

materials, drying and loading of the bauxite at Nitti Port, operations at the mechanical workshop and

the burning of farm bushes during the dry season by local residents.



Air emissions that result from these activities include carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOx),

sulfur SOx), Total Organic Compounds (TOC), and Carbon dioxide (CO2). The major source of air

emissions is the combustion of diesel fuel used by the mine equipment fleet, mobile mining equipment,

other transportation, process plant operations, and the production of electricity. The receptors include

machine operators and nearby personnel within the plant site. The impact of such emission on air

quality is however minimal and the impacts are insignificant in the long term.



No assessment has been undertaken on the estimated rate of emission but it is expected that the

predicted concentration of these Green House Gases would be well below the criterion for all the

receptors and dust generation would only be severe in the dry season. Air quality assessment thus

constitutes a key environmental monitoring plan for SMHL operations. SMHL should ensure that a

periodic checking on regular emissions based on monitoring instrumentation is made and subsequent

reporting that describes conditions and corrective measures to avoid future impact on air quality.



Airborne particulates become very high during the dry season but very low in the wet season when

emissions are only limited to vehicular operations from mining and ore beneficiation. The receptors

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include project site boundary, nearby villages especially those settlements along major haul roads. The

impact is only high in the dry season and insignificant in the wet season.



There is an increase in dust with increasing traffic especially on the haul roads between Gbonge,

Gondama and Nitti. This affects the local communities within the access road and this is expected to

continue throughout the life of the mining operations. The scale of the impact is however local and may

increase only in the dry season.



Mitigation measures need to be implemented to reduce the level of dust. This will include: reduction in

speed limits. Construction of speed bumps through villages and stabilization of road materials in

sensitive spots along the haul roads. Dust suppression through watering should form a major activity all

throughout the dry season to mitigate the impact of dust on the affected receptors. Vehicular operators

are also advised to adhere to the safety rules especially those introduced during training programmes.

With these mitigation measures applied, there will be no short-term and long-term impacts.

6.1.3 Noise

Most of the noise at the mine site is generated from activities of mining equipment such as excavators,

bulldozers, frontend loaders, mine trucks and stationary equipment including the wash plant, power

plant, dryer building at Nitti Port and the mechanical workshop. Heavy truck movement along the haul

road is another source of noise.



The plant site is located within a valley about 3 kilometres from the nearest village and separated from it

by farm bush. As such, it is unlikely that noise will impact on local residents. However, noise is having

effects on the workers in and around the plant site where most of the fixed noises are located. Noise is

having effects on wild life in the areas of mining activities; and since mining and ore processing go on for

two to three shifts a day. Highly significant noise levels will occur in the open pits and plant area all year

round.



It was not possible to calculate daytime sound pressure levels for the various components. But SMHL

environmental report for the third quarter of this year estimates noise levels for the various locations

and the results are reproduced in Table 16.



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Table 10 Summary of Noise Monitoring Results.

Location



SOUND



UNIT



Washing Plant



79.2



db



Volvo Garage



80.6



db



Cat Garage



83.8



db



Vulcanizer Garage



80.43



db



Laboratory



70.69



db



Gondama Stockpile



85.22



db



Gbonge Mine Pit



82.19



db



Average



80.3



Mean



80.3



SD



4.7



The noise levels for all the stations range between 70.69 and 85.22 decibels. The high noise level at the

Gondama stockpile was attributed to the high vehicular traffic (including dump trucks and light vehicles)

plying the haul road at the time of monitoring. All the equipment or noise sources however meet the

required noise limit for most mine operations of less than 85dBA. The maximum noise level at station Nl

1 (Washing Plant) would be expected to be above the measured limit of 79.2 decibels, especially when

other noise generating machinery (Loader) and the nearby generator that supplies electricity to the

entire plant site are nearer.



During the field work, it was estimated that on the average, there were not more than 100 truck trips

two ways from mine panels to wash plant and to Nitti Port. This noise traffic will have a relatively minor

effect on the noise receptors along the main haul roads. These short-term noise impacts to residents will

be minimal but can be locally significant to employees in certain work areas at the plant site and mine

panels.



Noise mitigation measures to be considered for SMHL operations are as follows:



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Future facilities with high noise impacts should be located well away from noise sensitive areas

possibly adjacent to the stock pile areas around the plant site.







All the heavy equipment and vehicles should be kept in good repair.







Some of the existing stationary noisy equipments should be insulated by screens or sheds.







Currently, no noise standard requirements have been established for Sierra Leone, but it is

recommended that in general, operations should meet the international noise standard

requirements.







Mine faces should be used as noise barriers in the immediate vicinity of villages such as Gbonge,

Jenega and Konta.







Protective hearing devices should be used when employees are at work especially at or near

earth-moving equipment, wash plants and power houses.



6.1.4 Geology and Soils

The topsoil in the area is thin and residual on both the foot slopes and hill slopes where most mining

activities take place. The major impact of mining on the local geology is visible in the removal of

overburden that is used in construction works and the excavation of ore deposit from the mine panels.

Soil erosion results due to this activity and the impact is high during heavy rainfall events when most

soils are washed and deposited in streams and valleys. This impact is unavoidable even though the

physical disturbance is low in the short and long term. Whilst these impacts could be significant,

mitigation measures follow the same procedures outlined for the reclamation of the mined out areas.



The topsoil is however recovered, stockpiled and eventually used in the reclamation works. The

suitability of these soils for crop productivity constitutes part of this ESIA as a mitigation measure. SMHL

will implement the rehabilitation programme for the soils by comparing the quality of the pre-disturbed

soil to that of the exposed soils in the mined out areas. This will set up the criteria for soil enhancement

for different crops.



Major mitigation measures include:





Separation of super soil from sub soil during removal.







Proper grading and reshaping of the disturbed areas.







Adequate crop suitability procedures for reclamation work.



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Prompt timing of re-vegetation on reclaimed lands to avoid top soil removal in the early rain

events.







Establishment of sediment raps, bunds and where necessary construction of diversion ditches.







Regular inspection of reclamation and repair works where needed; and







Use of rock mulch on unprotected surfaces.



6.1.5 Surface Water

Mining activities at SMHL project sites adversely impact on surface water quality. These processes

include:

 Vegetation removal for mining leaving behind very large tracts of land exposed to direct rainfall

and soil erosion. The eroded materials are transported into waterways thereby increasing

surface water turbidity.

 Runoff from solid wastes in water bodies resulting in contamination and blockage.

 Spillage of fuel or oil which will contaminate nearby drainage ways.

 Runoff from waste disposal sites from the plant site and Camp.



Impacts to surface water quality from these activities can have a locally high significance if no mitigation

measures are applied as a result of changes in water quality.



Currently, streams and other water bodies are being monitored at sensitive locations to ensure that

mining activities do not affect the downstream supply systems. The washing Plant does not require any

chemical reagent in ore processing. The decant water is thus expected to meet the IFC effluent

discharge guidelines.

To mitigate the adverse impacts on surface water quality, the following measures are proposed:

 Stockpiles and overburden should not be placed at nearby drainage ways.

 Waste oil, fuel and other lubricants should be stored in strong containments.

 Tailings Management Plan should be properly implemented. As much as possible, leakages into

earth fill dams should be avoided.

Efforts should be made in the wet season to ensure that rain water is diverted from the TSF. This is

achieved by constructing ditches around the perimeter of the TSF and channelled to the nearby drainage

system.

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6.1.6 Visual Resources

The former Sieromco mine pits and the current mined out areas around Gbonge deposits are the main

intermittent views around haul roads characterized by lower shrub vegetation and secondary forests.

Activities that are associated with visual impacts include former mine pits and scars, abandoned power

lines, former Sieromco plant sites around Mokanji, perimeter fences, traffic flow, dusts and

accumulation of these on leaves, speed bumps, burrow pits, tailings storage facilities and mine faces.

The major receptors include villages along main haul and access roads. These impacts are localized and

occur in the short term especially in the dry season. The following measures are proposed to minimize

visual intrusions that are outlined above.

 Where construction of power lines would be required, features should be designed so as to

achieve landscape designs.

 Burrow pits and mine faces should be graded so as to achieve professional landscape designs.

Impoundment dams should be rehabilitated to meet international standards.

6.1.7 Accidental Release of Sludge from Tailings Storage Facility

The facility was constructed with mechanisms that protect direct discharge of sediments into the earth

filled dams. Any failure is likely to have a discharge into these dams and local drainage systems

downstream of the facility. This could increase turbidity, conductivity and inorganic particulates in the

systems. Because of the relative immobility of the mud and the seasonality of weather conditions, the

severity of such an impact would be expected to be local and low with an overall impact rating of

moderate (high severity; low likelihood).



Recommended mitigation measures to minimize the impact potential include rehabilitation,

development and implementation of the Tailings Management Plan coupled with regular inspection

programme.

6.1.8 Wildlife, Protected Areas and Cultural Properties

There are no significant wildlife habitats reported to exist in the concession area, no wildlife sanctuaries

or protected site habitats have been identified in the study corridor. Therefore, no mitigation measures

are recommended. No known protected cultural or historical sites were identified except those found

surrounding villages including local religious facilities, local monuments, holy trees/springs or old burial

grounds. These sites will not directly be affected by land expropriation or lie in the vicinity of the works.



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6.1.9 Borrow Pits and Quarry Sites

Borrow pits and quarries are opened within road corridors in order to supply sub-base material and

crushed stone. The principal environmental concerns relate to the visual effects of quarrying and the

effects of access road rehabilitation works. There is less concern regarding impacts on development in

agricultural lands or close to settlements, since there does not seem to be a high probability of such

sites are being developed. Nevertheless, these aspects need to be considered during future quarry site

development.

The principal concerns in relation to borrow pits include:





Access roads and borrow pits themselves may be developed in materials which are highly

erodible, and may contribute to enhanced erosion of a sensitive landscape;







Deep pits may be developed which are a safety hazard to people especially if they fill with water

during the wet season and become breeding grounds for insect disease vectors;







Since borrow pits will almost certainly be developed close to the road corridors, even if they are

not located in agricultural lands, access roads will probably have to traverse cultivated land, with

adverse effects on landholders if they are not properly reinstated when pit use ceases.







Even though the landscape has only average visual quality borrow pits will probably be

developed in elevated parts of the landscape, and scarring by working faces can permanently

spoil an otherwise pleasant view.



6.1.10 Flora and Fauna

The mining activities of SMHL operations include clearing of vegetation for mining and stockpiling and

the deposition of mine spoils in unspecified areas. All these activities are impacting on the flora and

fauna species even though some of the land areas were previously disturbed before SMHL operations.

The impact is low to moderate of ecological value such as the loss of habitat, disturbance of rare species

and wild life. With increase in population in the concession area, the demand for bush meat increases

with the purchasing power of the people working for SMHL. The modification of the habitat is expected

to last long, but with implementation of mitigation measures, short, medium and long term impacts will

be expected to be favourable.



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There is also an ensuing expansion of farming activities to meet the food demands for the mining

community. This type of farming that is practiced has negative impacts only in the short term and is

localized. The following mitigations are proposed:

 Prompt mine reclamation activities in the mined out areas should be enhanced.

 If vulnerable or endangered species exist within the mine sites, measures should be taken to

create alternative sites.

6.2. Socio-economic Impacts

This section analyses the negative socio-economic impacts of the project activities on the social,

economic and biophysical environment and describes the recommended mitigation measures to

minimize, or mitigate these negative impacts.

6.2.1 Community Health and Safety

The GoSL provides Free Primary Health Care to children under the age of five and their mothers. SMHL

employees and their families have access to the health clinic at the mine site and referrals are often

made to the Serabu Hospital located 11 km. from the Gondama site. The likelihood of accidents and

work-related illnesses on the job as well as accidents occurring between mining related equipment and

local vehicles are inherent at SMHL operations. Though located in a rural setting, the mining area is

about 10 km. away from the closest medical facility and the likelihood for accidents to occur is assumed

to be low.



Only a few foreign workers are hired by SMHL most of these are highly educated mine engineers.

Therefore, the risk of spreading communicable diseases as a result of the project is considered minor

(medium severity; low likelihood). However, SMHL and its senior staff personnel should initiate

discussions of communicable diseases and sexually transmitted diseases into its health and safety plans.

The mitigation measures recommended to address this impact include the following:

• Provision of additional health facilities to the five affected chiefdoms;

• Provision of health services to all workers and their families, which will avoid new demands on health

services by Project out-of-area workers.



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• Avoid and minimize environmental effects that have potential to affect health, including dust, noise,

and any effects that may negatively affect livelihood resources, such as contamination of the rivers or

farmlands.





Preventions should be taken against fire accidents and security should be imposed at all times.



6.2.2 Traffic and Road Safety

The expansion of SMHL operations to Gbonge has increased vehicular traffic over the last few years.

Heavy vehicular transportation between Gondama and Nitti Port is estimated at about 6 trips per trucks

per shift and between Gbonge and Gondama 10 trips per shift per truck. This increase is of major

significance especially when the haul roads are concurrently been used by both SMHL and other public

vehicles. In some cases these haul roads are used by commercial bike riders. Similarly, pedestrians along

the road alignment will be exposed to the greatest risk. The greatest at risk are the linear settlements

such as Gbonge, Konta, Gondama, Mosenesie, Foala and Wunde.

Drivers, bike riders and pedestrians are gradually becoming accustomed to the increased traffic and

vehicle speeds, and it is likely that the number of accidents will show any level of concern.

Most of the traffic is currently associated with the Project is between Gondama and Gbonge.This traffic

represents relatively minimal safety risk to other vehicles. But the traffic between Gondama to Nitti Port

poses a greater risk to local residents as it is being used by other public vehicles. As such, the increase in

traffic is rated a moderate impact (moderate severity; moderate likelihood).



Mitigation measures include:







Provide driver safety training to all workers, including contractors, who are expected to

drive as part of their duties, especially to be alert for pedestrians along the private haul

road;







Impose speed limits;







Schedule truck traffic along the public highways to avoid peak hours; and



 Introduce safety campaigns amongst the communities.

Implementation of these measures would reduce the impact to minor scale. The unpaved road requires

excessive repairs and maintenance to support traffic flow in the wet season.

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6.2.3 Population Movements

With the existing high level of unemployment in the country, any development of projects such mining

is expected to attract a huge number of people seeking for jobs. Since the restart of bauxite mining, the

project area has attracted a large number of people seeking for job and providing support services such

as petty trading and commercial sex work. The influx in the area is cumulative as there are other mining

operations going on in nearby communities. The increase in population is expected to increase with the

demand for goods and services. The negative impacts that are occurring include; prostitution, spread of

diseases such as HIV and AIDS, STDs, disruption of social and cultural values of host communities, drug

and alcohol abuse, theft, domestic violence and noise. These impacts are expected to last for a long time

on a wider local level, but the significance is moderate.

To minimize such impacts, SMHL is expected to give job preference to the local population and only

when the local population is exhausted that hiring should be made from outside the mining community.

There is also a need for an increase in the provision of goods and services by introducing job

opportunities such as poultry and piggery farming, vegetable gardening, bakery, brick making,

entertainment centres, etc.

6.2.4 Gender Impacts

SMHL mining operations like most industries are having a severe impact on gender. These include: a.

Impacts on land ownership, b. impacts on economic activities, c. teenage pregnancy and early marriage.

Land is mainly owned by the section chiefs who are mainly male. At family level, land is mainly owned by

the eldest male (in the case of inheritance) or by the father who is the head of the household. Surveys

that have been done in the area indicate that men have more access to land for farming activities than

women. This situation may likely have a negative impact on the productive potential of women in many

of the villages in the area. The major economic activities include small scale farming, fishing and petty

trading. Due to the increase in the transportation cost, many women sell their crops at farm gate prices

to traders, thus getting less from the crops they cultivate.

There are variations in the roles and responsibilities in relation to economic activities. Women are

mainly involved in market gardening and men largely involved in working in the mines, swamp and

upland rice cultivation.



There is a high level of teenage pregnancy in the project area. They survey reported that girls generally

drop out of school at an early stage. Many of the young girls who drop out school as a result teenage

pregnancy eventually end up in the bigger settlements like Moriba Town, Mokanji and Gbangbatoke.

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Social activities such as video shows and dances are responsible for the increasing rate of teenage

pregnancy.



There are few secondary schools existing in the five chiefdoms. Failure to complete secondary school

education would mean an early marriage as there are no other socio-economic pursuits than trading.

Women in the community generally marry at an average age of 17 years and are liable to bear an

average of 8 children during the child bearing period.



These impacts outlined above are expected to last a long time occurring at a local scale. The severe

impact would be low to moderate and irreversible in some cases. Mitigation measures to address these

impacts include:

 Through SMHL’s corporate social responsibility program, it can promote other sectors of the

economy through training, establishing micro credit schemes and through serving as a

market for the agricultural produce by women.



 To prevent idleness among teenagers which lead to pregnancy, they should be provided with

family planning strategies and activities that promote social interaction and positive

community behaviour. Some of these social activities may include sports competitions with

the nearby schools and theatre.



 Women, whose roles are mainly production and reproduction should participate actively in

decision-making processes concerning community life.

6.2.5 Community Expectations and Apprehensions

Bauxite mining has been going on the area for over fifty years by both SMHL and former SIEROMCO

Company. These have continued to provide employment opportunities and community development

initiatives in all the affected chiefdoms. These communities especially the two chiefdoms of Banta feel

that SMHL should provide more. Their job and other economic expectations continue to be high

including their proximity to the nearby SRL Ltd. Company.



Interactions between SMHL and the community continue to go on to address concerns and complaints

such as destruction of farmlands with inadequate crop compensations to farmers, dissatisfaction over

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reclamation methods, pollution in streams and rivers, inequitable implementation of development

projects etc.



Failure on the part of SMHL to address the concerns and needs of these local issues can have a direct

impact on the acceptability of the project within the host communities. The study however reveals that

the mining operations are expected to have a positive rating of project benefits to these communities.

Recommended mitigation measures to address these issues include the following:

 Implement and promote a more systemic grievance resolving mechanism associated with

SMHL project; and

 Implement the Community Development Action Plan (CDAP) and the ESIA (this document) that

outlines the stakeholder consultation process which is the means to optimize local economic

benefits and the promotion of SMHL’s corporate social responsibility. Successful application of

the process has the potential to increase the significant rating of the impact of the operations..

6.3 Cumulative Impacts

However, irrespective of their nature, the impacts of mining are likely to be experienced across the

region where mine concessions have been granted. Although it is not the role of this ESHIA to

recommend management for other mining operations, and the other operations must be subject to

their own EIA processes, the impacts of mining in the region must be seen holistically and appropriate

management measures must be implemented to limit the cumulative negative impacts of this and

adjacent mining concessions. It will therefore be important for the mining operations to communicate

and develop co-operative strategies to mitigate their cumulative impacts.



Both social and biophysical impacts can be expected to be cumulative in nature. The most important

cumulative impacts are:





Positive social impacts will result to improved economic conditions in the region. The creation

of a number of mining operations will result in the creation of a large, albeit dispersed market

for goods and services, which will significantly stimulate the local economy and act as a catalyst

for the government to improve service delivery in the region.







Negative social impacts, for instance:

o a population influx (due to other mining operations)

o Price inflation



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o Change in livelihood from agriculture to mining

o Increased social delinquency





Ecosystem function in terms of terrestrial faunal species is already heavily degraded. Thus the

miming activities will compound the existing faunal impoverishment due to existing land use

and settlement. Most threatened large mammals and birds have been impacted nationally by

unsustainable exploitation and previous land use patterns. Further loss of such species due to

the potential impacts would exacerbate this loss. The significant loss will need to be addressed

as post mining activities such as farming may likely not reverse this situation. These impacts

cannot be mitigated in the near future. It is however proposed that a Strategic Environmental be

made for the entire two mining communities that will address this issue.







Impacts on water quality and quantity in the Taia river system and ultimately the entire region.







Diversification of mining operations in Bonthe and Moyamba Districts: There is an ongoing

exploration programme for dry mining by SRL that likely overlap with current mining activities at

SRL and SMHL. The most important cumulative impacts that is associated withese activities are

those related to the diversification of mining operations in the two communities. These impact

may be difficult to assess as all the activities are different from each other and the ESIA that is

prepared can be considered as site specific assessing set of activities only associated with a

single operation.







The road transport infrastructure connecting the two projects to one another needs to be

recognised in terms of its cumulative effect, rather than simply relative to each of the individual

projects. Even though the infrastructure is already in place, an important public concern is dust

generated by haulage trucks and other publc transport. A mitigation action that will be pursued

by the two mines is to resurface the haul roads with bitumen especially for post mining use.



Cumulative impacts have been addressed in the mitigation measures identified in this Study; and these

mitigation measures have been incorporated in the ESMP. Some of the mitigation measures will require

the setting up of cooperative structures with other mining concessionaires within the region.



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Section Seven – Environmental Management Plan

This Environmental Management Plan for SMHL is complimentary to the Environmental and Social

Impact Assessment (ESIA) presented in this report that clearly defines all the residual and other specific

actions that SMHL undertakes to implement the measures that will minimize and mitigate any negative

impacts on the human, social and environmental aspects within and around the operational area.

Four main environmental plans are outlined for implementation including: a. Environmental Monitoring

Plan, b. Emergency Response and Contingency Plan for health and safety workers and properties, c.

Tailings Management Plan and d. Mine Reclamation and Closure Plan. Attention is also paid to specific

environmental elements including air, noise, and waste and water quality. Proper implementation of

the plans will be supported by Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s), Training, Documentation,

Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting. Corrective actions will be suggested for review by management.

7.1 Environmental Monitoring Plan

The Environmental Monitoring Plan is specifically designed and implemented for collecting data on

ambient air, water quality, noise level including release of pollutants of major concern and weather.

The objective of air quality management on the mine site is to minimise the generation of suspended

concentrations of deposition of mine derived dust both at the nearest residential villages around the

mine and those linear settlements along the haul roads. To monitor air quality, SMHL will operate and

maintain a network of 4 depositional dust gauges on the mine site to be monitored monthly in

accordance with National and International standards. A book keeping system will be developed for

presenting the raw data. This will be in a form of tables and graphs of the original data. The tables will

further be used to produce statistical summaries which will form the basis of further analysis and

interpretation.

The major sources of noise in mining and related operations in SMHL’s operational area include loading,

excavation, crushing, screening, beneficiation, movement of heavy earth moving vehicles and truck

loading. The locations are the mine sites at Gbonge, Konta, and Wunde, The Washing Plant at

Gondama, Nitti Port and along the main haul roads. Noise levels shall be monitored both during day and

evening on the same day while in operation.



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The water quality monitoring plan is developed to satisfy the water quality requirements of the EPA/SL.

It is designed to provide information regarding the overall water quality within SMHL project sites,

identify potential water quality problems related to the project operations and how such factors can be

controlled, and to develop measures for the protection and mitigation of water quality. In situ and

analytical water quality monitoring will be performed over a nine month period during the first week of

each month from April to December. The date, time, location, weather conditions and the in situ water

quality data will be recorded on a standard form which will later be transcribed into an electronic format

in a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet. GPS coordinates and photographs will be taken at each site to

document conditions at the time of sampling.

7.2 Emergency Response and Contingency Plan (ERCP)

This Plan is Sierra Minerals Holdings Ltd. operation’s guide to all procedures and courses of action that

should be followed in the case of any on-site emergency. It identifies those responsible for taking action

immediately after the discovery of and during the response to an emergency, as well as their respective

duties.

Specifically, it will:





address any disaster, mishaps or accidents that will disrupt the normal operations of the

industry;







guide the administration to be better prepared to respond to emergencies in its operational

area in an effective manner; and







Ultimately, help to save the lives, reduce property loss or damage as well as the company’s

liability.



The plans that have been developed for a number of emergencies include:

Fire/Explosion Emergency: In preparing for fire incidences, the Environmental Health and Safety Officer

(EHSO) will be responsible for training a team that will respond to all accidents in how to suppress fire,

rescue personnel and all other drills relating to fire incidences.

The response plan for fire or explosion will require an immediate action and to undertake a recovery

operation to restore essential services to the mine site, cleaning and replacement of materials and

equipments that were damaged.



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Accidental spills or release of hazardous materials: The purpose of the Spill Prevention and Control

Plan is to establish procedures and guidelines to prevent oil discharges on SMHL Project sites at

Gondama, Nitti Port and Mata Camp. This Plan specifically establishes proper procedures and

equipments needed to address any potential discharges of oils.

SMHL owns six barges that transport bauxite materials from Nitti Port. For spills or release of hazardous

materials in these barges, both preventive and preparatory measures have to be undertaken. A special

emergency response procedure will be developed for both measures.

Road Accidents: The major operational areas of SMHL are interspersed with villages mostly situated

along the main road from Mokanji to Nitti Port, from Mosenesie to Gondama, to Serabu and Mattru.

These roads are used both by public transport, Sierra Rutile Mines and SMHL.

Currently, SMHL outsources contractors that transport mine products to the plant and to Nitti Port. The

contractors will be required to sign agreement with SMHL for compliance with all codes and regulations

that bind transportation of mine products. All vehicles will be equipped with first aid kit and fire

extinguishers.

Floods: The overall objective of this plan is to support the timely and coordinated response to

anticipated floods in the rainy season. This will effectively minimize the impact of such floods on

personnel, infrastructure and the environment. The major receptors will include: mining sites, haulage

roads, main road between Gondama and Mosenesie, main tributaries of the Taia River and the inland

valley swamps within the project area. Other specific sectors to be affected will include: water and

sanitation, bridges and culverts, road sections, communication infrastructure, meteorological and other

monitoring equipments and disruption of electricity.

Crisis Situations/Social Strife: These situations are brought about by unpredictable circumstances that

degenerate into uncontrollable proportions causing chaos. To address these incidences, SMHL will

develop a plan for the dissemination of information to the public. This will include setting up a

mechanism for dealing with grievances in such that issues can be addressed formerly and amicably.

Roles and Responsibilities: A team of qualified personnel from within SMHL’s management will have

direct responsibilities for addressing all emergencies presented above. These include:





The General Manager is the overall head who will be responsible for coordinating all activities

and actions at the project site.



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The Environmental Health and Safety Manager who directly reports to the site manager will be

responsible for the overall implementation of the EHS Plan.







The Environmental Officer (EO) will assist the EHSM in responding to all emergencies by

coordinating efforts with other site personnel to mitigate the potential hazards, assist EHSM to

prepare reports, disseminate information on emergencies to staff, work site supervisor during

emergencies, to remediate events and report accordingly.







The Community Affairs Manager (CAM) will be responsible for all matters that have to do with

public relations. In consultation with the General Manager, he will be responsible for

communications with the public including information on incidents in particular to the affected

community and the Government.







He will lead the site Supervisors in responding to emergencies and work with the HSO to

remediate potential hazards and emergencies.







Site Supervisors who will be responsible for identifying potential events and coordinating any

response to events that occur in their work area.







A response team which will be recruited and trained by the EHSM for all emergencies on site.



Communication and Monitoring: The methods and procedures that will be applied in the event of

emergencies will include: a. Internal Communication that will be used to alert workers to hazards by

means of alarms, cell phones and radios. b. Training will be required during the workshop for all

employees on this system of communication.

SMHL will establish and maintain a monitoring system of its activities that could have an environmental

health and safety impact. This will include a recording of information on performance, and an evaluation

of compliances with legal and other requirements.

7.3 Tailings Dam Management Plan

Currently, Gondama plant site has two dumps for storing the sludge which is a slurry mixture of mineral

suspended matters and industrial water. The two sludge settling and storage dumps are built to be

operated and to function independently so that the repairs or emergency interventions do not disturb

the main activity. The sludge settling pond no.1 is built East from the washing plant and consists of

three washing sludge retention ponds separated by embankments (separating dams) and provided with

clear and storm water discharge spillways. The sludge settling pond no. 2, built west from the washing

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plant takes into consideration the settling operations and water clearing operation under normal

parameters before the water is discharged in the water streams.

SMHL’s production target is set up at 1.7 million tons of washed bauxite per year, the washing plant

operating with a production capacity of 330 tons/h. The washing operation consists of removing the

tailings with clay, ferruginous mineral silica content, pieces of rocks from the conveyor belts as well as

other materials which are in the ore composition. Therefore, as calculated in the time frame and for the

purpose reaching a good washing efficiency, the washing plant requires 10,000 cubic meters of water/

day.

CURRENT SITUATION



Volume of



Pond Current



No of



Mean Sea



Water



Water



supply



Level



Required by



Capacity (m3)



Days/Pond



Plant/Day)

POND WATER CAPACITY

Pond 6 Capacity



10,000



Pond 7 Capacity



558,645



55.86



45.6



290,181



29.02



49.6



To reduce the quantity of water used in the bauxite washing operations, a study was prepared

concerning the installation of a new pumping station in order to recirculate and reuse the clear water so

as to reduce the caught water requirement and water discharged to surface outlets. This would also

lead to a reduction in the costs associated with the electric power currently consumed from using the

open system and which could be applied in the next stage. An additional water pump has been installed

in order to reduce the quantity of water caught from Taia River.

The downstream side of the embankment shall be provided with spillways, grassy berms to prevent the

mentioned incidents (which are likely to cause failures of the hydro-technical constructions, including

dump closing, if the depression curve is above the attention level) from happening.

Monitoring: The monitoring is achieved by the sludge dump operator and the daily and/ or weekly

observations, readings are recorded in the Registry Book for the control and monitoring of the settling

pond behaviour over time, where the day, hour, data taken in the measuring points, comments and

conclusions are recorded.

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The monitoring activity is mainly focused on verifying the following elements whose purpose is to

minimize the ecological, social and economical risk situations.

The monitoring of the sludge deposit area and the embankments freeboard shall include the recording

of the area width, the hydraulic surface area and the excessive accumulation of storm waters in the

pond.

The monitoring also consists of quarterly land surveys which provide updated information regarding the

coordinates and levelling of the area as compared to reference data, so that the horizontal and vertical

movements on the sinking landmarks comply with the limits set up in the regulation and not endanger

the embankments safety.

The sludge dump operation is monitored by the following measuring and control systems:





Hydrometric gauges;







Fix and mobile topographic landmarks network;







Control and sinking landmarks, mileposts, placed in the areas sensitive to wetting;







Observation areas for possible ex-filtration’s;







Sampling and monitoring points for the quality of waters discharged into the water streams.



The current assessment activity concerning the safety of the sludge dump components mainly consists

of the following:





Daily checking by the internal personnel of the constructions, operational facilities, slurry

transport ducts slipways operation. Responsible Chief Miners, Topometer SMHL







Daily reading of the piezometric level at the observation drillings. Responsible Environmental

Labs







Verification of potential movements at the landmarks monitoring the hydro-technical

constructions safety and stability.







Verification twice a year of the topographic landmarks height levels and coordinates, of the

horizontal and vertical movement value in the case of control landmarks positioned on the crest

and slopes of the pond.



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The monitoring of the embankment constructions behaviour in time is a job assignment of the operating

personnel and the results interpretation shall be made by the engineer responsible for the sludge dump

supervision.

Monitoring of the sludge dump also includes physical- chemical analyses performed in the laboratory by

means of fix and mobile instrumentation in order to check the compliance of the emissions and

emissions within the maximum accepted limits stipulated by the regulations in force for the following

environmental factors:





Air – analysis of the air emissions shall be performed once a year in the area bordering the

sludge dump and the analyses results shall be interpreted against the suspended dust and

particulate matter maximum accepted limits stipulated by the regulations in force.







Surface water – physical- chemical analyses shall be performed on the water discharged to the

outlet at intervals as specified for each of the characteristic indicators: suspended matters,

heavy metals. The results of these analyses shall also be compared to the maximum approved

limits stipulated by the applicable regulations.







Soil – soil samples shall be taken from the sludge dump vicinity at least once a year, especially

from those areas located in the main direction of the wind and laboratory analyses shall be

performed to determine the heavy metal content at 30cm average depth.



The alternative to build successive ponds and embankment downstream from the operational ponds of

the eastern dump is under analysis, however, such possibility can only be taken into consideration

during the last years of operation and useful deposit running-off in the mining perimeter, in order not to

endanger the safe operation of the dams and possibly of the embankments raised at maximum height of

the crest as stipulated in the regulation.



7.4 Waste Management Plan

This Waste Management Plan (WMP) was prepared for bauxite mining activities by Sierra Mineral

Holdings, I. Ltd (SMHL). The plan addresses methods of handling, storing and disposing of wastes that

will generated during SMHL’s operation.



Specifically, it describes the procedures, methods and



framework that will be applied to waste generation and disposal.



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The objectives of this Management Plan are to:





Establish Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for SMHL construction, operations and closure

activities;







Define the company’s requirements and procedures to guide the Project Management Team

and other Project contractors;







Define roles and responsibilities of the waste management team;







Present remedial measures to minimize waste generation; and







Define monitoring and reporting procedures for waste management.



The plan addresses the management of both industrial and domestic waste. The plan covers all activities

that could result in the generation of waste and the potential adverse effects of waste and domestic

waste throughout all phases of the Project. The main issues that are addressed include:





Types of wastes to be generated:







Methods used to identify those wastes;







Handling procedures and







Methods of disposal



The types of wastes that are expected to be generated during the construction and operational stages of

the project are identified. Depending on the types to be generated, certain wastes are expended to be

disposed of at site, reused or recycled. The waste disposal facilities and methods of disposal are fully

discussed in this plan.

Waste Management Procedures

SMHL will apply the following management procedures for waste.

Waste Recycling: SMHL consults with the community on the demand for any recyclable products such



as scrap metal, used tires, cardboard and wood which may have a value or a use locally. The company

also plans to look at commercial options for recycling; if recycling facilities are available and accessible

on a commercially-justifiable basis, waste will be recycled. If not, waste will be disposed of in accordance

with this Management Plan



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Solid Waste: This includes all office wastes, concrete, steel, rubble, timber, plasterboard and mixed



construction waste. These are all classified as non-hazardous. These will mainly be generated during the

operational phase with minor amounts generated in the construction and decommissioning phases.

5.4 Liquid Wastes



The procedure for managing these wastes includes the following:



 Any spills will be cleaned up using absorbent materials and placed in bins;





There will be no onsite disposal of liquid direct to the soil surface or storm water collection

system; and







Non-hazardous waste bins will be finally disposed of to the incinerator or the landfill which is

an engineered cell within the Tailings Storage Facility (TSF).



Litter: This includes any general litter on-site, and the objective is to minimise the visual impact of litter



on the site and surrounding area, and minimise the potential to attract vermin. This will be achieved

through the provision of appropriate disposal facilities around the project site.

Mine and Processing Waste: For the mine and processing wastes, it is the responsibility of the



Operation Manager to undertake waste characterization and manage the monitoring program to ensure

that the proposed waste management practices are appropriate to the wastes being generated. .

Responsibilities, Training and Record Keeping

During SML’s operation, the Environment Health and Safety Manager will be responsible for the

operation and record keeping of the Waste Management Plan.

Monitoring and Control

The following monitoring programs will be undertaken by SML and appropriate records will be kept.







Refuse quantity and material delivered to the domestic waste facility, hazardous waste

facility and composing facility;







Surface and groundwater monitoring;



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Surrounding vegetation and soils around waste facilities; and







Non-environmental features, such as, fences, roads, and signs.



Notice will be placed around the landfill and hazardous facility to promote worker and resident safety.

The Environmental, Health and Safety Manager will be responsible for distributing and maintaining

these notices and signs. The wastes facilities will be maintained with security in prevent unauthorised

access to the landfill site.



7.5 Occupational Health and Safety Plan

This Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Plan is Sierra Minerals Holdings Ltd. operation’s guide to all

procedures and courses of action that should be followed to ensure the effective management of

worker health and safety by SML Project. The plan contains the methods that shall be used to prevent

adverse effects occurring during construction and operations of the project, monitoring and determining

for effective mitigation measures.

In this regard, all employees and contractors of SMHL will adhere to the OH & S procedures contained

in this report to ensure a timely response to employees’ health and safety. It has also been prepared to

addresses the requirements that are set out in the guidelines of the International Finance Corporation

(IFC), the Environment Protection Act 2009 of Sierra Leone and the National Environmental Policy of

2000. It is also expected that the Plan will be reviewed and updated to meet the requirements of the

international safety standard, OHSAS 14001.

Purpose and Scope

The purpose of this Occupational Health & Safety Plan is to:



 Define and communicate the principles, practices and expectations of Health & Safety

objectives, SMHL project;

 Set out how the project is designed to manage and reduce risks associated with both routine

activities and unplanned events;

 Define the criteria against which Health & Safety performance will be judged;

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Describe areas of Health & Safety responsibilities for the SMHL Project team, including

Contractors;



 Describe the Occupational Health & Safety Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that will

ensure that Health & Safety activities are organised, managed and reported in a systematic and

consistent manner;





Describe the development of the safety cases and safety plans;







Ensure that the Project provides inherently safe and secure facilities;



 Address the process of ongoing assessment and continuous improvement of health and safety

performance;

 To provide education and training for staff at SMHL’s operations in health and safety issues;



The plan is applicable to all SMHL project related activities including camp and port facilities and

contractors. In all cases, Contractors will be required to submit their safety management plans to SMHL

for review and approval for use if is of a higher standard or exceed those provided by the Contractors.



Roles and Responsibilities

The General Manager is the overall head who will be responsible for coordinating all activities and actions at the

project site. He will work with other managers who will be responsible for specific activities that will have to do

with the health and safety of workers. Along with the Environmental Health and Safety Manager and the

Community Affairs Manager, he will also be responsible for all other relations outside the project site as and

when needed to make sure that the mining community is adequately informed about events.



Hazard Identification and Risk Analyses

All hazards identified at SMHL operations are assessed in accordance with the Risk Matrix prepared in

this plan which takes into account the probabilities of occurrence and severity of consequences in

relation to personnel and assets of the project and surrounding environment. In this regard, all

employees and contractors will be involved in the training of hazard identification and risk assessment

process so that day-to-day hazards are identified and control measures are determined and

implemented.



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The following steps that SMHL plans to identify and manage risks during the life cycle of its operation

will include:

 Identification of hazards that exist in the project area;

 Assessment of risks entailed in these hazards;

 Evaluation of the degree of the risk represented by each hazard;

 Evaluation of the consequences resulting from the hazards by selecting the category which best

describes the effects of the mishaps on personnel, the general public and the environment.



Identification of Hazards

This will entail gathering of information on biophysical, chemical and technical properties of the project

site and surrounding areas. Inclusive of these are artificial accidents and natural hazards such as fire,

explosion, equipment failures etc.



Table 11 Potential Hazards and associated Scenarios: SMHL Mines.



1.



Hazard



Scenario



Location



Fire



Vegetation



Haul road



Mine Facilities



Mechanical Workshop



Power Station



Administrative Building



Bauxite Drier



Wash Plant



Vehicles



Nitti Port



Barges



Residential Camp



Mining machinery (excavators, dozers Mine Panels

etc)

2.



Noise/Air/Heat/vibration Rotating and moving equipment



Wash plant, Workshop, Nitti

Port, Mine panels.



Welding.



3.



Accidents



Vehicle/Automotive Machinery



Haul



roads/workshop



stockpile area/wash plant

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Wash Plant



Wash plant



Falls of Ground



Workshop



Electrical

Wash plant, camp, Nitti Port.

Maintenance and Repairs Accidents



Wash plant, workshop, Nitti

port



4.



Oil Spills



Fuel Station



Mechanical Workshop



Barge



Parking Lot



Mechanical Workshop



Matta Camp, Nitti Port,

Plant site



Wash Plant

Power Plant



5.



Explosions



Gas Cylinders



Workshop, Kitchen



Volatile Substances



General store, workshop,

barge



Electricity



Plant site, Matta camp, Nitti

Port



Fuel Station



Workshop



Mine Panels



Gbonge, Wunde, Gondama,

Konta,



Kitchen

6.



Tailings Storage Facility Seepage within embankment



Matta camp

Plant site



Failure



7.



Flooding



Rupture of conduit



Plant site



Increase in water level



Plant site



Blockage of pipeline



Plant site



Surface inundation



Plant site, stock pile areas,

mine panels, ROM pad



Open cut drainage



Mine panels, haul roads,

plant site etc.



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Storage reservoir



8.



Release of chemicals



Analytical laboratory, welding, repairs



Plant Site



Workshop



Risk Analyses

Knowledge of potential risks from these natural hazards, in both the environment, mine facilities, mine

personnel and the public is necessary for establishing the health, safety, and environmental

management objectives and how to manage them with the most appropriate mitigation measures. The

determination of the risk of an incident/accident associated with each hazard at the project’s

operational sites will entail:

 Identification of the potential failures or accidents;

 Quantification of the material that may released when any failure takes place;

 An estimation of the probability of occurrences; and





An evaluation of the effects of such occurrences based on certain scenarios such as most

probable and worst case events.



Table 12 Risk Analyses for potential Hazards at SMHL Mine Site



Risk



Fire



Scenario



Frequency



Consequences



Result



Pers



Env



Pub



Fac



Camp



C



a



d



c



a



Ca



Wash plant



C



a



d



d



a



Ca



Power house



C



b



d



b



b



Cb



Workshop



C



b



d



d



a



Ca



Fuel station



C



a



c



c



a



Ca



Admin. building



C



a



c



c



a



Ca



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Explosion



Nitti port



C



b



a



c



a



Ca



Barge



C



c



a



d



a



Ca



Vehicles



B



b



c



c



a



Bb



Haul roads



B



c



b



b



a



Bb



Propane gas



C



b



d



c



c



Cb



Volatile



B



b



c



c



c



Bb



Electricity



B



b



c



c



b



Bb



Fuel station



A



b



c



c



b



Bb



Fuelling



B



c



b



d



c



Bb



General stores



C



c



c



d



c



Cc



Barge



C



c



c



c



c



Cc



Workshop/wash



C



c



c



d



c



Cc



Parking lot



C



c



b



d



Seepage/outflow



A



d



b



b



c



Ab



of B



d



b



c



b



Bb



Increase in water A



d



b



c



b



Ab



substances



Spills



plant



TSF/Dam

Failure



Rupture

conduit



level



Flooding



Pipe blockage



A



d



c



d



c



Ad



Surface



A



c



b



b



b



Ab



cut B



d



b



b



c



Bb



d



c



c



d



Cc



inundation

Open

drainage

Storage reservoir



C



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Stockpile



C



d



c



d



c



Cd



Laboratory



b



b



c



c



d



Bb



Volcanizer



B



b



c



d



d



Bb



Welding



B



b



c



d



d



Bc



Overflow



C



c



c



d



c



Cc



Blockage



C



c



c



d



c



Cc



Haul roads



A



b



b



d



d



Ab



Mine panels



B



b



d



d



c



Bb



Workshop



B



b



d



d



c



Bb



Barge loading



C



b



d



d



c



Cb



Power plant



C



b



d



d



c



Cb



Wash plant



C



b



d



d



c



Cb



Kitchen



C



b



d



d



b



Cb



Mine site



A



b



d



c



d



Ab



Community



B



c



d



b



d



Bc



Haul roads



Accidental

release



of



chemicals



Sewerage

Wastes



Seepage



Accidents



Civil strife



*Frequency: Highly likely – A; Likely – B; Possible – C; Unlikely – D.



*Consequences (On personnel, Public, Environment, Facility): Catastrophic – a; Critical – b;

Marginal –c;

Negligible



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Purchasing and Control of Materials and Services

To minimize the hazards and risk associated with the supply of materials and services form contractors

and other service providers, SMHL will:

 Incorporate its health and safety requirements in the tender specification all major contracts.

 Reserve the right to review of the tendering of contractors’ health and safety systems and

performance prior to the commence of any business;

 Require the contractor to examine SMHL’s procedures such as hazard identification and risk

assessment, permit to work, safety risk assessment, communications and emergency response;

 Train employees and contractors in the health, safety and environmental implications

associated with purchases and the control measures available to minimise risks associated with

identified hazards;





Incorporate health, safety and environmental requirements into purchase specifications and

/or purchase orders;



 Ensure that employees and contractors are consulted prior to purchase of materials and

equipment with potential health and safety issues;

 Reserve the right to inspect and verify materials against purchase specifications;





Ensure that provision be made for a competent person to check the health, safety and

environmental implications of any new chemical and for material safety data sheets (MSDS) to

be made available to employees prior to use of the chemicals concerned; and







Keep MSDS Registers up to date and in a form accessible to employees and sub-contractors in

an emergency situation.



Standard Operating Procedures

To meet the above objective, SMHL will prepare and implement operational procedures which will be

accessible to all personnel working on the Project. All employees and contractors will be trained in the

relevant SOPs listed below.



 PPE





Working at Height







LOTO







Hazardous Substances Storage & Handling







Fire & Explosion Safety



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Crusher Operations







Loading & Unloading Operations







Electrical Safety







Plant & Equipment – General Site Housekeeping







Machinery Use/ Machinery Guarding







Dust Control







Fork Lift Truck Operations







Flammable Gases - Storage & Use; and



 Vehicle Operations (Driver Competence and Vehicle Maintenance).



Detailed SOPs will be required for all of the above with special emphasis placed on PPE provision. For

the provision of PPEs, SMHL will be responsible for ensuring that all personnel are provided with

appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) which conforms to the relevant standards and project

requirements as listed below:



 Safety helmet;

 Eye protection;





Gloves;







Footwear



 Skin protection by way of sunscreen;

 Clothing to protect skin against burns by heat or fire;

 Clothing to protect skin against toxic or volatile chemicals;





Noise/hearing protection.



Only personnel with the prerequisite training and qualifications will be authorised to use any specialist

PPEs. Other visitors to the project site including sub-contractors and suppliers shall comply with the PPE

requirements stipulated by the General Manager. For all employees entering the project site, the

minimum PPE shall include:



 long sleeved protective clothing;





safety footwear;







safety helmet;



 safety spectacles/goggles; and

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gloves (if conducting any manual tasks).



First Aid Responses

The key objective of the First Aid response is to demonstrate that there is an effective emergency

response process put at the mine site put in place to reduce the impact of an emergency to levels that

meet the expectations and needs of personnel, and the mining community. All the personnel at the

project site will be first trained, from which a specialist team will be set up and trained in the first aid

response plan that will involve the identification of potential risks and the provision of feedback to

improve on the response plan. First aid boxes will be installed at all strategic locations including vehicles

that are in use during operations. To achieve the above objectives, SMHL shall undertake the following:

 Ensure that qualified first-aid is provided at the project site at all times;

 Equipped first-aid station and eye wash points should be provided close to all work places

where immediate flushing with water is the recommended first-aid response.

 Develop and maintain first-aid procedure;

 Develop an emergency response plan to include the procedure and structure for emergency

response;

 Develop specific potential emergencies as outlined in the risk matrix; and

 Prepare and implement an emergency response manual for the project to include procedures

for integrating SMHL procedures with other contractors’ procedures.



Incident/Accident Reporting

The objective is to demonstrate that appropriate procedures are put in place for the systematic

reporting of accidents, incidents and near misses; and for an effective follow up and review of safety

performance made to prevent measures of adverse situations. The process will include:

 An identification of the causes of incidents and accidents;

 Ensuring a systematic approach for reporting and investigating incidents and accidents; and

 Preventing future accidents and incidents.



The Safety Officer will compile and maintain records of each accident/incident occurring, including

details in each case of any corrective action taken. To achieve this, SMHL shall develop, implement and

maintain incident/accident reporting and investigating procedure to include:

 Incident reporting system;

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 Accident reporting system; Corrective action register with records of all occurrences and

progress on the follow up of corrective actions.



Employee Health and Safety Data System

SMHL will maintain a data system for the collection, storage, analysis, retrieval and dissemination of all

health and safety information on its employees.



In collaboration with SMHL medical personnel, the EHS Manager and the Human Resources Manager,

the Safety Officer shall develop, implement and maintain a procedure for the collection, maintenance

and confidential retention of employee health and safety information. The procedure will detail

performance indicators that will be compared to similar mining operations. Such data will be reported

on monthly basis.



To ensure the integrity of SMHL project and safety of its personnel, a health monitoring system will

established to ensure that employees are fit for work and be able to work safely at all times. To achieve

this, SMHL shall develop, implement and maintain a health monitoring procedure which will include:

 A medical report prior to employment;

 Injury management and return to work system; and

 Fitness for work procedures.



Monitoring and Training

Occupational health and safety monitoring programs will be established to verify the effectiveness of

prevention and control strategies. The occupational health and safety monitoring program should

include: Safety inspection and testing which will include regular inspection and testing of all safety

features focusing on engineering and personal protective features, work procedures, places of work,

installations, equipment, and tools used. All instruments installed or used for monitoring and recording

of working environment parameters should be regularly tested and calibrated, and the respective

records maintained. Monitoring and analyses should be conducted according to internationally

recognized methods and standards.



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Training activities for employees and visitors should be adequately monitored and documented.

Emergency exercises, including fire drills, should be documented adequately. Other service providers

and contractors will be required to submit to SMHL adequate training documentation before start of

their assignment.



7.6 Mine Reclamation and Closure Plan

Under the current EPA/SL requirements, SMHL is required to provide updates to the reclamation Plan as

mining proceeds. These updates will include revision of the reclamation and closure plan that will

address the actual site conditions. It will include new data such as the reclaimed sites to date, proposed

waste dump sites, etc. Periodic reviews of the plan will be undertaken in accordance with EPA/SL

requirements.

The reclamation plan that is developed is in consistent with the following guidelines and regulations:





Guidelines addressed by the EPA/SL,







Best standard practices of the International Finance Corporation (IFC),







SMHL guidelines for reclamation of tailings pond and other facilities.



The reclamation objectives for the plan include:





Converting areas disturbed by mining to a condition appropriate for pre-mining uses such as

cropland and small residential development.







Decommissioning and salvaging on mine sites, facilities, buildings, equipments and ancillary

facilities.







Ensuring the mitigation of adverse impacts in the post mining scenario, including residual

problems such as soil erosion, slope failures, waste piling on slopes, and ground water seepage

from mine works.







Establish a long-term biophysical stability in the disturbed areas so as to minimize the

requirements for long-term monitoring.



Mine Reclamation and Closure Methods: SMHL has been engaged in reclamation activities concurrently



with mining, thereby reducing reclamation costs at the end of the project as well as developing and

improving reclamation techniques to maximize vegetation success and productivity.

The activities to be undertaken by SMHL will include:

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Slope Stability and Surface Water Protection: Some of the structural measures that will be put

in place will include diversions, backfilling and the construction of grass waterways. On the

Gbonge Hills for example, cut and fills will be part of the extraction and reclamation activities.







Soil Salvage and Redistribution: Materials that are used for reclamation will be collected from

previously stockpiled wastes produced prior to excavation. The quantity of soil that will be

placed over the entire site will vary according to the availability or volume of stockpiles, the

plant species that is used, and the proposed land use of the site and the steepness of the slope.







Surface Grading and Seedbed Preparation: Surface grading will be consistent with the

surrounding topography. Sediment and erosion control measures may include installation of silt

fences, diversion channels and sediment traps. The final result will be a scenario of land use that

will be safe for farming by the local community. For the mine panels, reclamation will involve

stabilizing the panel surfaces and establishing vegetation cover. Backfilling will be carried out

until a Salvaging and Demolition of Facilities: Demolition procedures for all facilities will

include removal of: a. hazardous materials from sites; b. equipments and buildings; c. power

lines; d. burial of concrete foundations etc.



Specific Reclamation Methods: Specific reclamation activities will be undertaken including:





Access roads constructed during Sieromco period. The major roads to Gbonge, Walihun, Nitti

and Mokanji are used both by SMHL and the public with repairs done by the former. These may

not be required for closure, but the repair works will be taken over by the Sierra Leone Roads

Authority (SLRA). Only access and haulage roads of no economic significance will be closed by

ripping to remove compaction and regarding to blend with the local terrain.







Waste Facilities: The closure of this facility will include salvaging of the soil to cover the dump

site shaped to enhance good drainage conditions. This cover will be revegetated using the

necessary soil treatment.







Stockpiles: Progressive reclamation of these sites will include regarding, construction of soil

cover, and revegetation. It is expected that all stockpiles will be completely processed prior to

closure. The covered and reclaimed areas will be monitored and where necessary, maintained

for years.







Tailings Pond: Currently, physical upgrading of the tailings pond at Gondama is necessary and

this will be initiated very soon. Plans are also ahead for a new tailings facility to be constructed.

Reclamation and closure of any these facilities will commence at the end of the mining



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Final Report: Prepared by TEDAEnvironmental Consultant: November: 2012



Page 119



operations. Based on the available information on the physical structure of the pond, the

establishment of vegetative cover is the most suitable strategy. Revegetation trials will be

undertaken to select the most effective method. Because of its physical properties, additional

growth medium would be required to enhance stabilization and plant growth. Once properly

stabilized, revegetation will be done accordingly.





gentle rolling topography is established. Methods of revegetation will include seeding, plant

propagation and tree or shrub planting. Alley Farming will be introduced to minimize the

commonly bush fallowing practices. The method will provide green manure from hedgerows for

the tree crops, provide shade during fallow periods, create barriers that will control soil erosion

on sloping lands and provide wood-fuel for domestic purposes.



Community Involvement: In the implementation of this MRCP, SMHL will implement an effective and

transparent engagement, communication and verifiable reporting arrangements with the company’s

stakeholders making sure that the affected communities are given the opportunity to ask questions

discuss the plan and express any concerns they may have, so that SMHL will be able to respond to

comments received.

Closure Cost Estimates, Implementation schedule and Monitoring: The closure estimate presented



herein is based on the general assumption that mining will proceed as planned, and the concurrent

reclamation activities would be based on the mine plan of operations as amended. The estimated cost

(Table 13) is $26,675,000.00. This estimate is based on the assumption that SMHL continues to

undertake the rehabilitation and future decommissioning at the end of the project. The highest cost

estimate is that for returning the land to its prior use for agriculture and forestry. It must be however

noted that although SMHL is performing concurrent reclamation, adequate monitoring report is not

available to provide details of the quality of work performed so far. Also, due to the fact that SMHL has

not produced plans indicating final limits of mining and land disturbance, the estimates have been

prepared based on professional judgment. An estimate based on actual plans may result in an estimate

higher than these provided.

Post closure monitoring will be undertaken to ensure that the reclamation and closure objectives are

met. The aspects that will be monitored will include:





Vegetation: Site inspection to determine abundance and composition, and the overall success of

revegetation.



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Final Report: Prepared by TEDAEnvironmental Consultant: November: 2012



Page 120







Slope Stability: Site inspection of physical conditions for soil erosion and slope failures at the end

of the wet season.







Water Quality: monitoring of parameters for quality and recovery.







Security Deposit: A security deposit to be provided by SMHL is considered as part of the



reclamation and closure liability for the mines. The estimate that is provided here assumes that

SMHL is performing progressive reclamation activities. As such, SMHL should be entitled to a

reduction in the security requirements agreed upon between SMHL and the GOSL. At the time

of preparing this report, no security bond has been prepared and this is anticipated as soon as

possiblic.



7.7 Public Consultation and Disclosure Plan

The Public Consultation and Disclosure meeting was held for SMHL-Vimetco Bauxite Project’s ESIA draft

report on Monday 28th January 2013 at Serabu, Moyamba and Bo City Council Hall (Regional level

meeting). The consultation was meant to provide stakeholders including local residents, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), civil society groups, government and other interested parties with

project information and to allow them to fully participate once more in the preparation of the ESIA final

report and its implementation process. The meeting was chaired in Krio for common understanding, a

total of about 121 participants were recorded in the attendance list. The meeting started off with both

Christian and Muslim prayers.

Key Objectives of the Public Disclosure and Consultation Process

The key objectives of the public consultation and disclosure are to:





Inform stakeholders and the broader public of the important aspects of the SMHL Bauxite

Project’s ESIA draft report,







Provide an opportunity to consult with local communities, affected parties, stakeholders, civil

activists etc to voice out their concerns and perceptions regarding the project’s ESIA draft

report,







Consult comprehensively by disseminating information about the nature of the project, scoping,

identifying and discussing the public concerns about the project;



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Final Report: Prepared by TEDAEnvironmental Consultant: November: 2012



Page 121







Obtain feedback on perceptions and concerns by means of a public exposure of the ESIA draft

document;







Solicit public comments and encourage input on preferred alternatives, mitigation measures and

similar aspects on project implementation.







Respond to all stakeholders as far as possible and feasible address the concerns and issues that

have been raised so far.



Parties in Attendance

The following groups and organizations were considered as key stakeholder groups:





Affected villages/community members;







Paramount Chiefs (PCs);







Community/Traditional Leaders;







Government Authorities ( EPA-SL and Ministry of Mines’ officials)







Special Interest Groups including the Civil Society;







Members of the Media;







Human Right Activists;







Women Leaders;







Local Council representatives;







Youth Groups;







Ordinary Community Members



NB: Findings, comments and input from key government officials, media representatives, local Council

members, human right activists, affected communities and other participants played a definitive role in

shaping the focus of the ESIA draft document and the development of mitigation/amelioration

measures.

Issues of Concern

Several related issues were designed for discussions and these include: Identification of the major positive and adverse impacts of the project;





Identification of potential benefit enhancement and mitigation measures, and







Other relevant issues



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Final Report: Prepared by TEDAEnvironmental Consultant: November: 2012



Page 122



During this consultation process, a number of other project implementation related issues were

identified by the stakeholders and these are presented in this report.

Table 13 Summary of issues and concerns raised during the rounds of Public Consultation.



Issue



Raised by



Response



Full participation in project Community

implementation



elders,



Local A logical framework for project



council



implementation is prepared in

the CDAP to address this issue



Employment opportunities for Paramount chiefs, community SMHL commits itself to use

indigenes



elders, Local council



local labour as much as

possible. Most jobs that are

available are advertised.



Community

mine



participation



administration



in Paramount



chiefs,



District Bauxite Foundation has been



and chairman, Community elders



set to district Council Chairman.



management

References



to



mitigation Al stakeholders



Mitigation measures contained



measures for noise, dust, water



in the ESIA will be applied to



pollution and biodiversity



address these issues.



Clarification of the Right of Way Paramount chiefs, community Road safety measures are put

(ROW) for public vehicles using elders, Special interest groups.



in place by the Safety Officer to



haul roads.



address this. All roads within

the



concession



area



were



constructed by SMHL and past

mining companies

Clarification on local content



Special interest groups



The need is for a local content

regulation to be established to

LC issues such as supply chains,

technological



competences,



investments and employment

Use of hazardous and toxic Special interest groups



The mineral waste from mining



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Final Report: Prepared by TEDAEnvironmental Consultant: November: 2012



Page 123



substances in mining



and processing is chemically

inert and therefore poses no

risk.



Rehabilitation



of



Tailings Paramount Chiefs, Community A Tailings Management Plan



Storage Facility (TSF)



elders, local council.



has been prepared to address

this.



Tendering



processes



contractors

Project



benefits



for Community



elders,



interest groups

to



the All stakeholders



communities.



Special Implementation framework is

prepared to address this

Communities will stand to

benefit from the project

through the royalties and taxes

paid to government.

Communities also benefit

through jobs, economic

opportunities and local

development initiatives.



Responsibility for liability



SMHL has indicated its

intention to conduct a liability

assessment. This and other past

ESIA provides an indication of

the baseline conditions before

mining, so that future impacts

can be minimised.



Conflict between the employed Community

and the unemployed



elders,



interest groups.



special Conflict, and human rights

issues

are being investigated as part

of the study. SMHL is sensitive

to these issues and will look

into this issue



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Final Report: Prepared by TEDAEnvironmental Consultant: November: 2012



Page 124



Inadequate engagement prior Paramount chiefs, land owners, Continuous stakeholder

to exploration



community elders



consultation and information

Dissemination will be

undertaken to promote

dialogue between itself and

communities



Inadequate compensation for Paramount chiefs, land owners,



In the longer term,



exploration activities



compensation will be guided by



community elders



a detailed and consulted plan.



Poor reclamation works at Paramount

Gbonge site



council,



chiefs,



Local Past mining activities at Gbonge



community



elders, were undertaken by Other



special interest groups, Line contractors.

Ministries.



SMHL



has



undertaken this responsibility

and



proper



reclamation



activities are ongoing.

Erosion and sedimentation in Affected

swamps and bottomlands.



communities, Mitigation



Paramount Chiefs



measures



are



developed in the ESIA to

address this.



Grievance



Management Community elders



Mechanism.



Grievance



management



procedures are part of this

report.



Grievance Mechanisms

The following mechanisms will be applied to ensure that grievances can be properly filed, and that fair

and appropriate consideration be given to those issues.

 The Community Affairs Manager will be responsible for building relationships with the

surrounding communities and collecting and disseminating information;





Public meetings will be held on a regular basis to provide a forum for open communications;



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Final Report: Prepared by TEDAEnvironmental Consultant: November: 2012



Page 125







Relationships will be built with local, district and regional authorities, including Paramount

Chiefs, Community elders, the Chairmen of the District Councils, and other officials at the

Ministerial level;







Formal meetings with individual stakeholders and SMHL personnel will be held as needed to

assure follow up and confidentiality on identified issues and concerns;



 A formal process or plan for receiving and responding to grievances will be developed and

implemented by the General Manager, through the EH&S Manager and Community Affairs

Manager;





The grievances will be reviewed by the General Manager, through the EH&S Manager and

Community Affairs Manager and appropriate action taken.



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Final Report: Prepared by TEDAEnvironmental Consultant: November: 2012



Page 126



Section 8 – Conclusions and Recommendations

8.1 Conclusions

When all the impacts are considered the two most prominent are those that are prevalent on surface

water, including the hydrology and natural drainage systems in the natural environment and the

disconnect existing between the communities expectations and apprehensions and the realistic gains

which may accrue through a more equitable transfer mechanism. Although there will be a number of

social impacts of high significance, the majority of the impacts on social conditions are of moderate

significance.

The positive economic impact of the mines is highly significant, and the revenue from taxation that will

accrue to government provides resources that can be used to significantly improve the condition of

infrastructure in the South east region of the country . The economic benefit to the local economy is also

significant, since the project will not only support several hundred employees directly, but it will also

support significantly more of their dependents. It is estimated that, on average, each employee will

support eight dependents or family members. This should result in a general improvement in standards

of living in the study area and provides an alternative livelihood to the current subsistence farming.



There is however the need for the Company to institute a more systemic mechanism for the resolution

of social contentions and provide a more effective platform for dialogue with the host communities and

other stakeholders. It would also be imperative that the Community Development Action Plan (CDAP) be

validated and implemented.

8.2 Recommendations





Agricultural Development Fund should be made available through the District Council







Ensure prompt payment of surface rent and compensation to the appropriate beneficiary







Re-assessment/re-evaluation of total land area slated as concession zone







Involve the communities in land negotiation and benefit sharing mechanism in order to avoid

future disputes and disruption in the mining operation.







Develop sustainable livelihood framework in the community – skills training, scholarships,

income diversification schemes etc



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Final Report: Prepared by TEDAEnvironmental Consultant: November: 2012



Page 127







Implement the Community Development Action Plan. (CDAP).







Embark on effective land reclamation and rehabilitation scheme.



References:

1. Aqua Terra Consulting (2003): Environmental Impact Assessment (Volume 1) . Prepared for

Sierra Minerals Holdings, Ltd. Guma Valley Building Lamina Sancoh Street. PO Box 59, Freetown

Sierra Leone.

2. Caldwell, P & Weaver, (1999): Handbook of Environmental Impact Assessment Vol. 2.

(Blackwell).

3. IMC Mackay and Schnellman: Sirra Rutile Environmental Assessment Report; (1997).

4. FAO (1976a). A framework for Land Evaluation. FAO Soil Bulleting No. 32, 72p.

5. Mackenzie, D.H.:1961: Geological Survey of Sierra Leone: Bull. No3.Geology and Mineral

Resources of Gbangbam Area.

6. Odell R.T. (et. al): 1974: Properties, Classification and use of Tropical Soils with special reference

to those in Sierra Leone. (Njala University Press).

7. UNDP/FAO (1979). Land in Sierra Leone: a reconnaissance survey and evaluation for agriculture.

Technical Report No 1 AC: DP/SIL/73/002.

8. Knight Piesold Consulting (2003): Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Sierra Rutile Ltd.

Vol. 1.



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Final Report: Prepared by TEDAEnvironmental Consultant: November: 2012



Page 128



ANNEXES



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Final Report: Prepared by TEDAEnvironmental Consultant: November: 2012



Page 129



Annex A - Table 1. Summary of Surface and Ground Water Quality: SMHL Operational

area.

Wat

Paramet

ers



er

Tem



PH



pera



Turbi



Conduc



TDS



Alumi



dity



tivity



(mg



num



(NTU)



(µs/cm)



/l)



(mg/l)



ture



Cop

per

(mg

/l)



Dissol

ved

iron

(mg/l

)



Nitrit

e

(mg/l

)



Faecal

Phosp



E.Coil



Coliform



hate



(cfu/1



s



(mg/l)



00ml)



(cfu/100

ml)



Location

Tailing

Dam 3

Moseki

Enffluent



25.6



7.6



25.90



16.40



8.60



0.49



0.06



0.23



0.09



17.80



155.00



25.00



25.8



7.4



10.20



16.10



8.10



0.52



0.03



0.44



0.04



9.20



180.00



120.00



25.6



7.2



12.60



16.80



8.40



0.46



0.03



0.49



0.07



9.40



220.00



165.00



25.5



6.5



0.04



224.00



0.31



0.06



0.47



0.03



2.80



25.00



10.00



25.5



6.4



5.20



98.10



0.23



0.03



0.35



0.03



22.40



85.00



0.00



25.7



6.3



0.05



44.70



0.21



0.07



0.01



0.04



5.90



5.00



0.00



25.1



6.4



1.80



23.40



0.14



0.05



0.09



0.04



5.90



5.00



0.00



26.1



6.7



0.20



28.70



0.51



0.01



0.13



0.05



14.60



-



0.00



25.6



6.5



3.40



21.30



0.26



0.05



1.10



0.03



9.10



15.00



5.00



Mokepi

Taia

River

Mokepi

H.D Well

Tailing

Dam 5

Gondam

a H.D

Well

Wunde

H.D Well

Gbonge

H.D Well

Motuow

o H.D



112.

00

49.1

0

22.6

0

11.8

0

14.5

0

10.7

0



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Final Report: Prepared by TEDAEnvironmental Consultant: November: 2012



Page 130



Table – 2. Flora [Plant Species]

Species of High Economic Value

Timber

mahogany



Khaya



Cottage Industries



Fibres



Carvings



Lonchocarpus



Ceiba



(Diospyros



and pentandra,



Dalbergia



senagalensis,

precatorius



spp.,



Medicinal



Domestic/Cosmetic



Erythrina



Dichapetalum



anthotheca*,



cyanescens



Entandrophragma



Indigofera suffructiosa Bombax



melanoxylon),



utile*,



(Blue-indigo dye),



Albizia gummifera, lachryma-Jobi



E. angolensi*,



Bixa orellana, Baphia Gossypium



E.



cylindricum*, nitida,



buonopozense,



Harungana hirsutum,

Funtumia



Abrus toxicarium

Coix back),



(broke-



Erythrophleum



(the guineense,



Afrormosia



tears



of



Job). Strophanthus hispidus,



laxiflora,



Carthomion



Rauvolfia



vomitoria,



Pterocarpus



altissimum,



Voacanga



africana,



(African walnut)



madagascariensis



Plakenetia



(orange-red dyes); Cola Calotropis procera,



erinaceus,



Tetrapleura tetraptera, Allophyllus africana,



conophora*



nitida,



Dichostachys



Lagenaria



Tetracarpidium



occidentale



glomerata.



Strychnosspinosa



Adenia cissampeloides,



Crescentia,



Strychnos



Anacardium Clapertonia

(brown ficifolia,



conophorum, (African dye),



Urena



cedar)



Afzelia



Alchornia cordifolia,



Corchorus



africana,(



African



Mucuna



oak)-



Oldfieldia (Black



africana*,

(African



pruriens olitorius,



(Craterispermum

teak) laurinum)



Chlorophora excelsa,



(Apocynaceae,



Terminalia ivorensis,



Asclepiadaceae,



dye). Triumfetta

cordifolia

sisalana),



lobata, Mitragyna

stipulosa,



siceraria,



Baphia cujete(calabashes),



nitida,



pinnata,



usambarensis,



Cnestis



Luffa aegyptica and L. ferruginea,



Spondias purpurea acutangula

Agave (Gambia plum)



Paullina



S. gourd).



Alafia



(loofah multiflora,

Dichrostachys



mombin (fits plum),



glomerata,



Gmelina arborea



Carapa

Alchornea



procera,

cordifolia



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Final Report: Prepared by TEDA-Environmental Consultant: November: 2012

131



Page



T.



superba, Solanaceae,



Piptadeniastrum

africanum,



(Musa sapientum),



Euphorbiaceae’



Daniellia Moraceae



(Funtumia



Craterispernum

laurimum,

Blighia sapida,



thurifera,



elastica F. africana)



Mareya



Klainedoxa



(Hevea



Mucuna pruriens,



gabonensis,



Albizias



Adenia



lobata’



Brachystegia



A. zygia,



Tephrosia



vogelii,



leonensis,



A. gummifera,



Cassia



Albizia ferruginea,



A. andianthifolia



Phyllanthus discoideus,



Parkia biolor,

Xylia



brasiliensis



micrantha,



sieberiana,



Terminalia macroptera,

evansii,



Butyrospermum



Ricinodendron



paradoxum,



heudelotii,



paradoxa,



Hannoa



Vitellaria



klaineana,



Hymenocardia acida,



Erythrophleum



Anthocleista procera,



ivorense,



Grewia



Irvingia gabonensis*,



Dioscorea dumetorum,



Mimusops



Urginea indica.



heckelii,



carpinofolia,



Cathormion



Ageratum conyzoides,



altissimum,



Cassia absus , Solanum



Amphimas



nigrum,



pterocarpoides,



hirta,



Euphorbia

Phyllanthus



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Final Report: Prepared by TEDA-Environmental Consultant: November: 2012

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Page



Cynometra leonensis,



amarus,



Tieghemella



Centella



asiatica,



Borreria



verticilata



heckelii*,



Heritiera



utilis, Lophira



Biden pilosa, Spigelia



procera,



anthelmia,



Sacoglottis



gabonensis*,



Desmondium



Triplochiton



gangeticum, Boerhavia



scleroxylon*, Parinari



diffusa,



excelsa, Bussea



gynandra.



occidentalis,



Cassia alata,



Pentaclethra



C. tora,



microphylla



C. podocarpa,

C.



Gynandropsis



occidentalis



(stinking

Corchorus



weed)

olitorius



(pot-herb kren-kren).



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Final Report: Prepared by TEDA-Environmental Consultant: November: 2012

133



Page



Table -3. Species of Agricultural Value (Crop Plants)



Wild Fruits



Cereals



Tamarindus

(sour



indica Oryza sativa (white Lagenaria

tumbler), rice)



Tarrietia

(African



Vegetables



utilis



O.



macrocarpon

jakato)



(dita),



S.



O. barthii

trimera O.longistaminata.

Zea mais (Kus Kus)



needle),



(wild Crassocephalum

biafrae



Beverages

Coffea



Legumes/Nuts/spices

stenophylla Mentha spicata (mint),



Portulaca (Garcinia



oleracea (rat’s ear),



glaberrima Solanum



Detarium senegalense O.brachyantha



(damzon),



siceraria Bidens pilosa (bush



(white pumpkin,



almond), (brown rice)



Dacryoides



Leafy Vegetables



kola) Cinnamonum zeylanicum



(anticongestant,



(cinamon),



diuretic



and Xylopia



(bologi), antipyretic).



aethiopica



(symingi),



dasyphyllum, Basella alba (broad Cymbopogon citratus (Nicotiana



Trichosanthes

cucumerina



bologi),

(snake triangulare’



Talinum (lemon grass),



rustica).



Physiogstigma



venosum



Ocimum gratissimum (calabar beans),



Vitex doniana (black Magaritiferum



tomato)



bologi),



plum), Anisophyllea (Sorghum)



Beilshmielda



Emilia



laurinia



Pennisetum



mannia (tola) Luffa Ocimum



americanum



acutangula Citrullus (patmenji) Struchuim Thaumatococcus



(bambara groundnut).



lunatus



Diospyros heudelotii



(monkey



apple),

Spondias



mombin (Bulrush Millet)



(fits plum),



Digitaria



(tea



bush) Parkia biglobosa (kenda,



coccinea Hyptissuaveolens

basilicum (bush



tea



bitters).



beans)



bush). Voandzeia



Cucurbito sparganophora (water daniellii



exilis pepo



locust



(Ketenfe)’



(bush



and



subterranea



palm



kernels),



Flacourtia



vogelii (Fundi).



Ricinus communis



Dioscoreophyllum



Telfairea



occidentalis



(black



berry),



Arachis hypogea.



cumminsii



(oyster nuts),



Omphalocarpum



(serendipity berry).



Butyrospermum



pachysteloides



Elaeis giuneensis (oil paradoxum (shea butter)



(botlem),



palm)’



Pentaclethra macrophylla



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Final Report: Prepared by TEDA-Environmental Consultant: November: 2012

134



Page



Chrysophyllum



Raphia



cainita (bobby water),



(raffia palm).



vinifera (fawei).



Pentadesma



butyracea (sodei)



Erythrococca

anomala (bush lime),

Mammea americana

(mammy supporter),

Passiflora

(passion

Uvaria



foetida

fruit),

chamae



(finger fruit), Salacia

senegalensis

(malombo),



Uvaria



afzelii



(monkey



finger),



Citropsis



articulata,



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Final Report: Prepared by TEDA-Environmental Consultant: November: 2012

135



Page



Table – 4 Common Animal Species

Primates

Green Monkey,

Western Baboon,

Black and White

Colobus Monkey,

Patas Monkey,

Diana Monkey,



Antelopes/

Ungulates

Giant Eland,

Western

Hartbeet,



Rodents



Carnivores



Reptiles



Reptiles



Bats



Scaly-Tailed

Squirrel,



Cape Clawless

Otter,



Spitting Cobra



Gallinago

Media



Moloney's Flat-headed Bat

(LC)Dark-brown Serotine

(NT)

Cape Serotine (LC)

Banana Pipistrelle (LC)

Rendall's Serotine (LC)

Somali Serotine (LC)

White-winged Serotine (LC)

Allen's Pipistrelle (DD)

Tiny Pipistrelle (LC)

Light-winged Lesser House

Bat (DD)

Dark-winged Lesser House

Bat (DD)

African Yellow Bat (LC)

White-bellied Yellow Bat

(LC)

Nut-colored Yellow Bat (LC)

Schreiber's Long-fingered

Bat (LC)

Gland-tailed Free-tailed Bat

(LC)

Little Free-tailed Bat (LC)

Sierra Leone Free-tailed Bat

(LC)

Angolan Free-tailed Bat

(LC)

Dwarf Free-tailed Bat (LC)

Spurrell's Free-tailed Bat (L



Black Mamba

Ground Squirrel,



Honey Badger,

Green Mamba



Sterna

Balaenarum



Zebra Duiker,



Flying Squirrel,



African Civet,



Jetink,



Cane Rat,



Two spotted Civet,



Yellow

Mamba



Ceratogymna

Cylindricus



Red Colobus Monkey,



Red- Flank

Duiker,



Slender Mongoose,



Rhino Viper



C elata



Olive Colobus

Monkey,



Black Duiker,



Dermidoff’s

Galago,



Boa

Constrictor



Phylastrephus

Baumanni



Guinea Baboon,



Yellow-Back

Duiker,



Brush-tailed

Porcupine,



Python



Laniarus Furatti



Bush Buck,



Puff Adder

Crested Purcupine,



Malaconotus

Lagdeni



Maxwell’s

Duiker,



Gambian

Mongoose,



Blue Duiker,



Marsh Mongoose,



Royal

Antelope,



Wild Cat



Lesser-Spot Nosed

Monkey,

Campbel’s Monkey,

Olive Baboon,



Sitatunga.



Waglers Viper



Golden Cat,



Falco

naomanni: VU

Agelastes

Melleagrides:

(VU)



Illadopsis

Rufescens

Lampronis

Cupreo



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Final Report: Prepared by TEDA-Environmental Consultant: November: 2012

136



Page



Table – 5 Summary of Project Impacts: SMHL Bauxite Mining Project.

No Environmental

Issue



Source of Impact

(Activity)



Impact



Affected

Significance

Community(ies) Timescale Area Magnitude Likelihood

/Receptors



Bio-Physical



1



2



3



Topography



Geology



Air



Vegetation

Removal ,

Excavation of

Overburden,

Opening of Mine

Panels,

Back Filling,

Leveling,

Grading.

Removal of

overburden,

Excavation from mine

panels.



Land Clearing,

Excavation,

Earthmoving,

Storage of materials,

Handling and

Transportation.



Land Disturbance,

Soil Compaction,

Slope Displacement.



Gondama

Konta

Jenega

Wunde

Gbonge



Permanent Local



Moderate

(Low

severity)



Likely



Soil erosion,

Sedimentation in

streams and valleys



Gondama

Konta

Jenega

Wunde

Gbonge



Permanent Local



Moderate

(Low

severity)



Very Likely



Air Pollution



Machine

operators,

Nearby

Communities,

Villages along

haul roads,

Personnel at

plant site



Short-term



Moderate



Likely



Local



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137



Page



Noise Pollution



4 Noise



5



Surface

Water



Visual

6

Resources



Machine operation,

Hauling of ore,

Ore beneficiation,

Stockpiling,

Power generation,

Bauxite drying,

Loading.

Vegetation remova,l

Excavation,

Construction and

rehabilitation of road

infrastructure,

Construction and

rehabilitation of mine

facilities,

Ore beneficiation,

Stockpiling,

Mine Reclamation and

Closure.

Mining operations,

Construction,

Demolition.



Soil erosion,

Run-off,

Sedimentation in streams and

valleys,

Water pollution,

Changes in local hydrology.



Negative effect on the View

Shed in the rural environment



Gondama plant site,

Nitti Port,

Mine panels,

Haul roads,

Matta camp.



Shortterm



Local



Low Moderate



Likely



Shortterm



Local



Locally

high



Very

Likely



Local



Moderate

(Low

severity )



Likely



All communities

located within the

mine lease



All communities

located within the

mine lease,

Communities located

along haul roads and

out of the lease area



Medium



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Final Report: Prepared by TEDA-Environmental Consultant: November: 2012

138



Page



Ore beneficiation



7



Accidental

Release of

Sludge

from TSF



8



Wildlife

Protected

Areas and

Cultural

Properties



9



Borrow

Pits and

Quarry

Sites



10



Flora and

Fauna



Release and discharge of

sludge into dams and local

drainage systems,

Increase in turbidity,

conductivity and in-organic

particulates in the drainage

system.



Communities in the

downstream

sections of the lease

area,

Gondama plant site.



No Significant Impact - NSI



(NSI)



Quarrying and Road

rehabilitation work.



Soil erosion,

Open pits become breeding

ground for insect disease

vectors,

Intrusion of sediments into

farm lands.

Loss of flora and fauna



Villages along main

haul and access

roads.



Accidents,

Incidents,

Spread of communicable

diseases.

Accidents



SMHL personnel

Communities within

operational area.



Vegetation removal



(NSI)



Entire lease area.



Short-term



Local



(NSI)



(NSI)



Shortmedium

term



Local



Permanent Local



Low



(NSI)



High



Likely



(NSI)



Likely



LowVery

Moderate Likely



Socio-economics

Community

11 Health and

Safety

Traffic and

12

road Safety



Mine related activities



Vehicular transportation

Motor bike riders

Pedestrians.



SMHL personnel

Communities along

haul roads.



Short-term



Local



Low



Likely



Short-term



Local



Low



Likely



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139



Page



Migration



13



Population

Movements



Socio-economics

14



Gender

Impacts



Spread of communicable

diseases,

Prostitution,

Disruption of Social and

Cultural values,

Drug and alcohol abuse

Theft,

Domestic Violence.

Noise.

Land Ownership,

Teenage pregnancy and

early Marriage,

Increase in early school dropout.



Entire mining

community



Long



Local



Moderate



Very

Likely



Long



Local



Low Moderate



Very

Likely



Entire mining

communities



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Final Report: Prepared by TEDA-Environmental Consultant: November: 2012

140



Page



Table – 6 Summaries of Mitigation Measures

No



Environmental Issue



Mitigation Measures



Bio-Physical

Topography



Reclaim Mined-out Areas, Reclaim Stockpile Areas, Use designated routes

in the wet season.



Geology



Separation of super soil from sub soil during removal.

Proper grading and reshaping of the disturbed

Adequate crop suitability procedures for reclamation work.areas.

Prompt timing of re-vegetation on reclaimed lands to avoid top soil removal

in the early rain events.

Establishment of sediment raps, bunds and where necessary construction

of diversion ditches.

Regular inspection of reclamation and repair works where needed; and

Use of rock mulch on unprotected surfaces.



Air



Dust Suppression in the Dry season, Provision of mask to employees in

dusty areas,

use of gaseous control equipment at plant site,

apply traffic safety rules and regulations,

reduce speed limits,

construct speed bumps in villages along haul roads,



Noise



Future facilities with high noise impacts should be located well away from

noise sensitive areas.

Mine faces should be used as noise barriers in the immediate vicinity of

villages such as Gbonge, Jenega and Konta.

Protective hearing devices should be used when employees are at work

especially at or near earth-moving equipment, wash plants and power

houses.



Surface Water



Stockpiles and overburden should not be placed at nearby drainage ways.

Waste oil, fuel and other lubricants should be stored in strong

containments.

Tailings Management Plan should be properly implemented.

As much as possible, leakages into earth fill dams should be avoided.

Efforts should be made in the wet season to ensure that rain water is

diverted from the TSF



6



Visual Resources



Where construction of power lines would be required, features should be

designed so as to achieve landscape designs

Impoundment dams should be rehabilitated to meet international

standards.

Burrow pits and mine faces should be graded



7



Accidental Release of Sludge

from TSF



Rehabilitation, development and implementation of the Tailings

Management Plan coupled with regular inspection programme



1



2



3



4



5



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)



Page 141



No



Environmental Issue



Mitigation Measures



8



Wildlife Protected Areas and

Cultural Properties



(NSF)



9



Borrow Pits and Quarry Sites



The pits should be closed up immediately after use

Quarry sites must be included in mines closure and reclamation plans



Flora and Fauna



Prompt mine reclamation activities in the mined out areas should be

enhanced.

If vulnerable or endangered species exist within the mine sites, measures

should be taken to create alternative sites.



10



Socio-economics



11



12



13



14



Community Health and Safety



Traffic and Road Safety



Population Movements



Gender Impacts



Provision of additional health facilities to the five affected chiefdoms;

Provision of health services to all workers and their families, which will

avoid new demands on health services by Project out-of-area workers.

Avoid and minimize environmental effects that have potential to affect

health, including dust, noise,

Preventions should be taken against fire accidents

Provide driver safety training to all workers.

Impose speed limits;

Schedule truck traffic along the public highways to avoid peak hours; and

Introduce safety campaigns for the communities.

Give job preference to the local population

Job opportunities such as poultry and piggery farming, vegetable gardening,

bakery, brick making, entertainment centres

Training;

establishing micro credit schemes and through serving as a market for the

agricultural produce



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)



Page 142



ANNEX B - Socio-economic Analysis

.

1.0.



Demography



1.1.

Table A-1

Chiefdoms



Population

Basic Population figures of Sample Households

Total

Sample

No. of people in

Household

population

household

sampled

Men

women 3 4 5 6 7

>8

39

26

13

1 3 7 2 8

18



Upper

Banta

Lower Banta 39

Kpanda

41

Kemoh

Bumpe

41

Dasse

20

Source: field survey, 2012



Mean

household

size

7.67



Total number

of households

299



24

34



15

7



0

0



4

3



3

5



4

6



3

6



25

21



11.1

8.41



433

345



30

15



11

5



0

2



3

1



5

1



9

3



4

4



20

9



8.51

7.85



349

157



Table A-2



Age Distribution of Sample Households

Upper

Lower

Kpanda

Household composition

Banta

Banta

Kemoh

Bumpe

Number of household members aged 65

28

51

42

32

years and above

Number of males aged 41- 64 years

35

46

37

35

Number of females aged 41-64 years

37

57

38

41

Number of males aged 16-40 years

39

56

31

67



Dasse



Total



25



178



18

17

22



171

190

215



Number of females aged 16-40 years



32



66



50



52



16



216



Number of females aged 6-15 years

Number of males aged 6-15 years

Number of male children 0 – 5 years

Number of female children 0 – 5 years

TOTAL

Source: field survey



32

30

24

26

283



75

80

51

32

514



49

35

23

44

349



62

43

21

13

366



27

16

27

14

182



245

204

146

129

1694



1.2.

Household characteristics

Analysis of socioeconomic data at chiefdom level in the selected communities studied, show that

majority of interviewed respondents were males (71.7%). Although the nature of these are male

dominated as indicated in the number of respondents, the team solicited information from a substantial

number of women (28.3%). This implies that the reported socioeconomic issues in the chiefdoms have

included both men and women feelings and perceptions.



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)



Page 143



As presented in Table A-3 majority of the interviewed respondents in the chiefdoms where data were

collected are married (86.7%). Cases of widowed were very low if not non-existence in some chiefdom.

With an exception of the Upper and Lower Banta Chiefdoms, where the number of widows was

reported (10.3 and 7.7% respectively), the remaining of the chiefdoms had no widows.

An overwhelming majority of respondents were heads of household while 14.8 percent were de jure

household heads that were either never married, were divorced or widowed female headed

households. Among the male respondents, the large majority (85.2%) were de facto heads of

households.



An analysis of the educational status of respondents, which was defined in terms of different levels of

schooling are presented in Table A 3. There were considerable variations observed among respondents

regarding their educational attainment. In most cases some respondents cited more than one level of

education. In addition to formal schooling some also cited Koranic education. However, 60.1% of

respondents had no formal education (illiterate), 12.3% up to primary school and 10.4% up to secondary

level. Only a small proportion had attained tertiary education. This group comprised teachers and

employed members of staff residing in the chiefdoms. In general, this implies that many people in the

project area had limited opportunities to access income generating activities that demands educational

skills.

On average, a high proportion of respondents had a mean age of 55.6 years and a standard deviation of

15.7 years. Dasse, lower Banta had the highest number of aged respondents, while Kpanda Kemoh had

the lowest number.

Other household characteristics

Table A 4 provides information on other characteristics of household dwellings in the surveyed

communities, such as ownership, roofing, wall and flooring materials. An overwhelming majority of

respondents (94.4%) indicated that they owned house in their respective communities surveyed. The

type of roofing, wall and flooring materials can be viewed as an indicator of the quality of housing, a

dimension of wealth, as well as indicator of health risk.



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)



Page 144



Table A-3

Household

characteristics

Sex

Marital status



Education level



Age



Socioeconomic Characteristics of Respondents by Chiefdom



Male

Female

Single

Married

Widowed

Illiterate

Primary school

Secondary school

Graduate/tertiary education

Vocational/technical school

Religious school

No answer

Years (Mean)



Upper

Banta

66.7

33.3

15.4

74.4

10.3

55.3

21.1

0.0

5.3

5.3

7.9

5;3

55.8



Residential

status



Permanent resident

92.3

Resident absent

2.6

Member of non-resident 5.1

household

Source: field survey, 2012



Lower

Banta

61.5

38.5

2.6

89.7

7.7

69.2

2.6

15.4

7.7

0.0

5.1

0.0

57.9



Kpanda

Kemoh

82.9

17.1

7.3

92.7

0.0

64.9

10.8

16.2

5.4

0.0

2.7

0.0

52.7



Bumpe



Dasse



TOTAL



73.2

26.8

12.2

87.8

0.0

52.9

14.7

5.9

14.7

2.9

8.8

0.0

54.0



75.0

25.0

5.0

90.0

5.0

53.3

13.3

20.0

6.7

0.0

6.7

0.0

59.9



71.7

28.3

8.9

86.7

4.4

60.1

12.3

10.4

8.0

1.8

6.1

1.2

55.6



100

0.0

0.0



100

0.0

0.0



100

0.0

0.0



100

0.0

0.0



98.3

0.6

1.1



The Table shows that 41.4% of houses have iron sheets roofing. A significant proportion of this

galvanized iron sheets roofing were found in Dasse (61.1%) followed by communities in the Upper Banta

chiefdoms; compared to 43.9% of surveyed communities in the Bumpe Chiefdom that had their roofing

materials made up of dilapidated thatched grass. For wall materials, 40.6% of surveyed communities

Floor materials like earth and sand pose a health problem because they may be a source of dust. They

are also more difficult to keep clean



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)



Page 145



Table A-4



Types of Housing Facilities in the Communities



Household characteristics

Own house?

Roof materials



Wall materials



Floor

materials



Yes

No

Tiles

Iron sheets

Well-maintained thatched grass

Dilapidated thatched grass

Others

Burnt bricks with plaster

Burnt bricks without plaster

Mud bricks with plaster

Mud bricks without plasters

Well-constructed poles and mud

Poorly constructed/

maintained poles and mud

Others

Cement

Mud but smooth

Dust but smooth

Dust and rough

Others



Upper

Banta

89.7

10.3

21.8

59.5

13.5

0.0

5.4

5.4

5.4

27.0

10.8

51.4

0.0



Lower

Banta

92.3

7.7

12.8

30.8

25.6

15.4

15.4

2.6

12.8

7.7

10.3

46.2

17.9



Kpanda

Kemoh

97.6

2.4

0.0

43.6

30.8

25.6

0.0

0.0

2.5

17.5

47.5

20.0

12.5



Bumpe



Dasse



TOTAL



100.0

0.0

2.4

24.4

26.8

43.9

2.4

0.0

2.4

12.2

14.6

34.1

36.6



90.0

10.0

0.0

61.1

27.8

0.0

11.1

0.0

5.6

16.7

5.6

66.7

5.6



94.4

5.6

8.8

41.4

24.7

19.5

6.3

1.7

5.7

16.0

19.4

40.6

16.0



0.0

24.3

27.0

13.5

35.1

0.0



2.6

7.7

38.5

20.5

30.8

2.6



0.0

15.0

45.0

2.5

37.5

0.0



0.0

19.5

17.1

22.0

41.5

0.0



0.0

27.8

38.9

16.7

11.1

5.6



0.6

17.7

32.6

14.9

33.7

1.1



Source: Field survey, 2012



1.2.1. Household Assets

In general, household asset ownership is low (Table A 5). Respondents were asked whether they own

physical household assets. The responses are presented at Table xxx. The results show that:





70% (n=126) households have a radio with highest proportion in Kpanda Kemoh and Bumpe

chiefdoms. Interestingly, radios are owned only by the male headed households implying a low

asset base among female headed household members.







Slightly above half of the sampled households (53.9%) own a large pestle and mortar with high

proportion in communities in the Upper Banta chiefdoms. These are used for pounding food for

home consumption.







74 households (41.1%) have mobile phones with highest in Kpanda Kemoh Chiefdom.







Nine households, all male headed, have a TV and a generator. Six of these reside in the Lower

Banta Chiefdom. These are not found in Upper Banta and Kpanda Kemoh Chiefdom.



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)



Page 146







Twelve households have a sewing machine, 4 of which are found in Upper Banta and Dasse

chiefdoms







In all communities surveyed only 11 (male headed) households own a bike and five had

motorcycles.



TableA-5



Distribution of Assets by Number of Households



Assets



Radio

Television/generator

Sewing machines

Pestle and mortar

Mobile phones

Wrist watches

Bikes

Motorcycles

Cars

Others



Chiefdoms

Upper

Banta



Lower

Banta



Kpanda

Kemoh



Bumpe



Dasse



Number of

household

Survey



%



21

0

4

31

11

5

2

1

0

1



21

6

0

33

18

14

4

2

2

1



36

0

3

1

27

22

2

0

0

0



31

1

1

20

5

12

1

1

0

0



17

2

4

12

13

8

2

1

0

0



126

9

12

97

74

61

11

5

2

2

399



70 .0

5.0

6.7

53.9

41.1

33.9

6.1

2.8

1.1

1.1



Source: Field survey, 2012



1.2.2. Infrastructure: Roads

The road network was generally poor in most of the company’s operational areas. This is particularly

evident in many of the communities in Bumpe, Dasse and Upper Banta chiefdoms respectively. The

roads are inaccessible during the raining season and transport is difficult to obtain due to the bad nature

of the roads. Many people in the communities therefore either travel long distances on foot or by

bicycle or motorcycle (‘okada’). The roads in Kpanda Kemoh chiefdoms are preferably accessible all year

round.



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)



Page 147



1.3.



Household drinking water



To assess the socioeconomic conditions under which the population lives, respondents were asked to

give specific information about their household environment. The survey collected information about

drinking water, including the source, perceptions about the quality of drinking water, any treatment

prior to drinking and persons who usually collect the water. The source of drinking water is an indicator

of whether or not the water is suitable for drinking. Sources of water believed to be relatively free of

disease are improved sources such as piped water into dwelling units; public taps/standpipes, bore

holes, protected dug wells, protected spring and rainwater. Non improved sources, like unprotected dug

wells, unprotected springs, and surface water are more likely to have disease-causing agents that have a

negative impact on health.

Table xxx presents information on the drinking water of households at the chiefdom level of Vimetco

operational communities. With the exception of households in Kpanda Kemoh chiefdoms that obtain

drinking water from improved sources: 51.2% from tap and 41.5% from protected well/bore hole

respectively, more than sixty percent of the respondents obtains drinking water from non-improved

source: 26.1% from unprotected well/bore hole and 34.4% from river/streams.



Table A-6



Sources of Water for Domestic Use



Chiefdom

Tap



Sources of water for domestic use

Protected well/ Unprotected

River/

bore hole

well/bore hole stream



Spring



Rainwater



Upper Banta



2.6%



5.1%



38.5%



51.3%



2.6%



.0%



Lower Banta



2.6%



12.8%



48.7%



33.3%



.0%



2.6%



Kpanda Kemoh



51.2%



41.5%



0.0%



4.9%



2.4%



.0%



Bumpe



9.8%



22.0%



22.0%



46.3%



.0%



.0%



Dasse



5.0%



10.0%



20.0%



40.0%



20.0%



5.0%



Total



28

15.6%



35

19.4%



47

26.1%



62

34.4%



6

3.3%



2

1.1%



Source: Field survey data 2012

Most of the respondents (48.6%) were of the view that the quality of water unsafe, 32.4% said it is good

and 19% mentioned that the water is muddy.



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)



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Table A-7



Perceived Opinion of the Quality of Water

Perception on the quality of water



Chiefdoms



Good



Muddy water



Unsafe



Upper Banta



7.7%



2.6%



89.7%



Lower Banta



5.1%



38.5%



56.4%



Kpanda Kemoh



92.7%



.0%



7.3%



Bumpe



10.0%



40.0%



50.0%



Dasse



55.0%



10.0%



35.0%



Total



32.4%



19.0%



48.6%



A significant proportion of the respondents (77.3%) do not treat water for drinking purposes. It was only

in Kpanda Kemoh and Dasse were 92.7% of the respondents indicated that the quality of water in their

community was good. This finding corroborates with the sources and treatment of drinking water in

their community.



Table A.8



Treatment of Water for Domestic Use



Chiefdoms



Yes



No



Upper Banta



5.3%



94.7%



Lower Banta



7.9%



92.1%



Kpanda Kemoh



78.0%



22.0%



Bumpe



5.0%



95.0%



Dasse



5.3%



94.7%



Total



22.8%



77.3%



1.3.1. Who Fetches Water

The traditional image of a woman as a mother and housewife underline a clear-cut division of labor

between men and women. Women perform the bulk of household work. Their domestic responsibilities

include food production, processing, preparation and storage as well as the provision of fuel and water,

sanitation, cleaning the house and laundry. Hence the role of fetching water as it has been revealed by

the respondents (men and women) is clearly the responsibility of women (48.9), men (5%), boys

(37.2%), girls (60.0%), women and girls 1.1%, However, men who do not have wives do the fetching of

water for themselves.



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)



Page 149



1.3.2. Sanitation facilities

Poor sanitation coupled with unsafe water sources increases the risk of water-borne diseases and

illnesses due to poor hygiene in the company’s operational areas. Studies have shown that the absence

of proper toilet facilities and improper disposal of faecal material increases exposure to the risk of

diseases like dysentery, diarrhoea, and typhoid fever. Members of households with improved sanitation

facilities are less likely to contract these communicable diseases.

Figure xxx shows that overall, 54.1% of households had no toilet facility available. This is so particularly

in communities in the Bumpe, Dasse and Kpanda Kemoh Chiefdoms respectively. Others in the Upper

Banta and Lower Banta reported to have access to toilet facility. The most common toilet facility is the

open pit latrines (93.7%), which is more likely to be used by majority of the households.



Fig A-1.: Availability of toilet facilities in operation area

Yes



77.1



77.8



No



82.9



82.1



47.452.6

22.9



22.2



17.9



54.1

45.9



17.1



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)



Page 150



Fig.A-2 Type of toilet facility

120

100



100



96.3



100



93.7



90



89.3



80

60

40

20



3.7



10.7



10

0



0



6.3



0

Upper Banta Lower Banta



Kpanda

Kemoh



pit latrine



1.4.



Bumpe



Dasse



TOTAL



permanent materials



Economic activity



Data collected on the main economic activity of household members is presented in table A 9. The Table

shows the limited opportunities available in the chiefdoms. In the communities surveyed, most adults

are engaged in agriculture in their own account as their primary and secondary economic activities. Very

few have business as their main economic activity. In upper Banta there is a greater possibility of

accessing formal employment than the rest of the chiefdoms were Vimetco operations are taking place.

Hunting and collection of forest products are not primary economic activity of any person but is an

important subsidiary in Lower Banta and Upper Banta respectively.



Data on the use of health facilities are presented in Table xxx below. These show that, overall, 84.9% of

survey households have some form of health care available in the communities. The health care service

provision is provided through the community health centres and clinics with wider provision available to

the population.



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)



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Distribution of Economic Activities of Household Members by



Total



Upper

Banta

Lower

Banta



38

1

3

0

0

0

0

8

0

1

0

6

6

0

1

0

64



39

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

3

0

0

0

0

0

2

44



14

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

5

21



142

1

10

0

0

1

4

10

1

7

2

7

6

2

2

13

208



14

5

5

1

0

0

1

3

1

0

0

0

2

1

9

0

42



7

0

5

1

3

6

1

4

0

2

7

0

0

0

0

1

37



29

2

2

0

0

0

0

2

0

0

0

7

3

0

0

0

45



Total



Dasse



26

0

3

0

0

1

2

0

0

2

1

1

0

0

0

5

41



Dasse



Bumpe



25

0

2

0

0

0

2

2

1

1

1

0

0

2

1

1

38



Bumpe



Kpanda

Kemoh



Secondary



Lower

Banta



Farm work own land

Livestock raising

Business

Collecting forest products

Hunting (part time)

Retired

Disabled and unable to work

Agriculture labour

Sharecropping only

Religious leader, teacher

Artisan

Transport

Unemployed

Public service

Private service

Others specify

Total Number of People



Primary

Upper

Banta



Economic activity



Kpanda

Kemoh



Table A- 9

Chiefdoms



35

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

0

0

0

0

1

0

40



2

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

9

12



87

8

14

2

3

6

2

9

1

4

7

7

5

1

10

10

176



15. Health services

Table A-10

Chiefdoms



Health Facility Available in the Community

Health centres



Clinic



TOTAL



Upper Banta



29 (87.9%)



4 (12.1%)



33



Lower Banta



18 (100.0%)



0 (.0%)



18



Kpanda Kemoh



40 (97.6%)



1 (2.4%)



41



Bumpe



23 (57.5%)



17 (42.5%)



40



Dasse



19 (95.0%)



1 (5.0%)



20



Total



129 (84.9%)



23 (15.1%)



152



Source: Field survey data 2012



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)



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Use of the Health Services

Upper

Lower

Kpanda

Banta

Banta

Kemoh

Antenatal check-ups

27

15

19

Giving birth in hospital

19

15

33

Vaccination services

17

14

39

Sick family members

17

15

24

Taking medicines for sick people

9

3

22

%

56.1

51.7

63.3

Table A-11

Use of the health services



Bumpe



Dasse



Total



20

7

24

6

1

45.0



20

19

20

18

2

20.6



101

93

113

81

32



Source: Field survey data 2012

When asked whether they have used this health services in the community and for what purpose,

majority of the respondents answered in the affirmative. High levels of these households reported

members of their families had used the vaccination services but there is no information available as to

what vaccinations have been given or whether courses are completed. There have been strong

campaigns to increase vaccination in rural areas and this appears to have been successful.



A significant proportion of households also indicated using the antenatal check-ups for the number of

births in the survey villages. The high number of reported use of ante-natal check-ups indicates increase

awareness of the risk of home deliveries and high levels of hospital deliveries. Other households

reported that someone was sick.



Overall, 50.6% of households reported deaths. There is no historical data on sickness or deaths.

Registration of births and deaths is only possible in cities and is not universal even where possible.

Figure A 3 records the family stated cause of death – these reflects the lack of medical diagnosis, the

lack of autopsy facilities and prevalence of belief in witchcraft. There was no sufficient time to

investigate what people really understand by these records and this would make an interesting.



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)



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Fig.A-3 Households reported causes of deaths (%)

12

9.4



10

8



10



10.6



6.1



6



4.4



3.9



4



2.8



2.8



2



1.1



0.6



0.6



0



1.5.



Household income and expenditure



Table A-12



1.5.1. Household Income

Source of Household Income by Gender

Upper Banta



Lower Banta



Kpanda

Kemoh



Bumpe



Dasse



Total



Average

annual

income

(Leones)



M



F



M



F



M



F



M



F



M



F



Subsistence crops



21



15



25



1



37



3



35



6



13



2



152



856,243



Tree cash crops



22



3



22



2



12



1



19



1



4



0



66



599,378



Livestock/poultry



8



8



1



17



0



11



0



3



0



2



51



235,274



Vegetable and fruits



11



14



8



4



8



15



14



23



5



2



90



172,333



Agriculture wage labour



12



4



4



0



21



3



5



1



6



1



51



366,411



Non-farm wage labour



3



9



3



1



16



3



3



0



4



0



35



241,142



Formal employment



9



2



2



0



2



1



2



0



0



0



12



1,206,666



Income from microenterprises



4



0



1



0



4



7



1



0



1



1



15



633,000



Business



2



5



5



0



1



2



3



0



1



1



13



1,765,615



Pension/remittance



2



0



0



0



0



0



0



0



1



0



3



5,033,333



Rent/interest



3



0



0



1



0



0



0



0



0



0



2



75,000



Asset sale



2



0



0



0



1



0



0



0



0



0



2



100,000



Mining income



9



8



13



1



17



0



0



0



3



0



55



1,833,890



Selling firewood and charcoal



2



2



1



0



1



0



1



0



0



0



5



75,000



Selling bush meat



5



0



0



0



1



0



0



0



0



0



3



Others



4



0



1



0



0



0



0



0



0



0



3



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)



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100,000

466,666



Table A-13



Imputed Mean Household Income



Household income



Annual Income (Le.)

Total equivalent

Std. Deviation

(US$)



N



Mean



Subsistence crops



152



856,243.4211



1,454,446.88286



Tree cash crops



66



599,378.7879



1,175,001.32589



Livestock/poultry



51



235,274.5098



229,132.19577



Vegetable and fruit



90



172,333.3333



162,313.60961



Agriculture wage labour



51



366,411.7647



568,832.63537



Non-farm wage labour



35



241,142.8571



497,715.49532



Formal employment



12



Income from micro-enterprises



15



Business



13



1,765,615.3846 5,481,381.05375



Pension/remittance



3



5,033,333.3333 8,631,531.34347



Rent/interest



2



75,000.0000



106,066.01718



Asset sale



2



100,000.0000



141,421.35624



Mining income (surface rent,

compensation)



55



Selling firewood and charcoal



5



75,000.0000



64,807.40698



Selling bush meat



3



100,000.0000



86,602.54038



Others



3



466,666.6667



416,333.19989



1,206,666.6667 2,792,852.34884

633,000.0000



704,003.34821



1,833,890.9091 3,225,519.87583



The study further revealed that most of the crops cultivated by farmers are local variety sourced from

market retailers, friends and relatives and proceeds from seed bank. There are instances in which NGOs

working in the communities of the operation area provides seeds to farmers for cultivation.



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)



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1.5.2. Average Land Size Owned and Used for Crop and ownership

by gender

Land is the basic resource depended upon by a majority of rural communities in Sierra Leone. The

amount of land owned and/or operated varies between communities’ dependence on the availability of

land resources and the nature of social structures governing access to land. In the selected villages of

the five chiefdoms, the average land size owned by individual households ranged from 1.1 to 3.5 ha with

the overall mean land size being 2.4 ha (Table A 21). The main use of the land is crop production. The

main crops that are being grown in these chiefdoms/villages are cassava and rice. In these chiefdoms,

the average land size set for cassava and rice range from 3.0 ha to 3.5 ha with an overall average being

3.25 ha.

In terms of ownership of crops grown by households, both the men and women in the households

participate in cultivation of these crops. The results show greater participation of the gender in crops

such as rice, cassava, groundnuts, vegetables and yam production. Agroforestry crop, such as oil palm,

cocoa and coffee, production activities is a mostly male dominated as reported by 58.1% of the

respondents. Also a significant proportion of the women are engaged in the production of beans and

benni seed.



Table A- 21

Gender

Crops grown



Distribution of Crops by Land area occupied (ha) and ownership by

Ownership by gender (%)



N



Average Mainly men

land area

(ha)



Mainly

women



Men and

women

equally



Rice



110



3.0



17.4



7.0



75.7



Cassava



128



3.5



16.3



11.1



72.6



Groundnuts



32



1.5



5.4



24.3



70.3



Potatoes



23



0.9



12.5



29.2



58.3



Agroforestry crops (oil palm, cocoa,

coffee)



27



3.0



58.1



9.7



32.2



Maize



66



2.0



10.0



35.7



54.3



Vegetables (leaf vegetables, pepper,

okra, egg plants)



26



1.1



3.8



34.6



61.5



Yam



48



3.5



10.0



26.7



63.4



Others (bennie, beans)



88



2.8



5.2



44.8



50.0



Source: field survey 2012

Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)



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Table A- 22

Crops grown



Rice



Cassava



Groundnuts



Potatoes



Agroforestry crops

(oil palm, cocoa,

coffee)

Maize



Vegetables (leaf

vegetables, pepper,

okra, egg plants)

Yam



Others (benni,

beans)



Purpose of Growing Crops in Survey Households (%)

Purpose



Income/cash earner

Household food

Both

Income/cash earner

Household food

Both

Income/cash earner

Household food

Both

Income/cash earner

Household food

Both

Income/cash earner

Household food

Both

Income/cash earner

Household food

Both

Income/cash earner

Household food

Both

Income/cash earner

Household food

Both

Income/cash earner

Household food

Both



Chiefdoms

Upper

Banta

4 .2

25.0

70.8

13.6

9.1

77.3

18.2

0.0

81.8

14.3

0.0

85.7

9.1

9.1

81.8

0.0

9.1

90.9

0.0

14.3

85.7

8.3

16.7

75.0

5.9

23.5

70.6



Lower

Banta

0.0

72.2

27.8

4.0

12.0

84.0

0.0

0.0

100.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

100.0

0.0

33.3

66.7

0.0

6.2

93.8

0.0

37.5

62.5



Kpanda

Kemoh

0.0

0.0

100.0

0.0

0.0

100.0

0.0

0.0

100.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

72.2

0.0

27.8

0.0

0.0

100.0

0.0

0.0

100.0

0.0

0.0

100.0

0.0

0.0

100.0



Bumpe



Dasse



TOTAL (%)



11.4

11.4

77.1

10.8

5.4

83.8

6.7

13.3

80.0

11.1

22.2

100.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

70.0

30.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

4.8

38.1

57.1

10.3

37.9

51.7



7.7

53.8

38.5

5.3

31.6

63.2

0.0

0.0

100.0

0.0

0.0

66.7

0.0

0.0

0.0

7.7

15.4

76.9

0.0

0.0

100.0

0.0

33.3

66.7

0.0

40.0

60.0



5.4

27.0

67.6

6.8

9.8

83.5

8.8

5.9

85.3

8.3

8.3

83.3

48.3

3.4

48.3

1.4

24.3

74.3

0.0

7.7

92.3

3.4

22.0

74.6

4.4

29.7

65.9



Source: Field survey data 2012

Across chiefdoms, the overriding purpose of growing crops was for both cash income and household

food supplies. From the table above, overwhelming majority of respondents (92.3%) grow vegetables for

both cash income and household food; 85.3% groundnuts, 83.3% potatoes and 83.5% cassava. For

agroforestry crops, the survey households were divided for both income/cash earner and both.

However, agroforestry crops production were not found in Lower Banta, Bumpe and Dasse Chiefdoms.



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)



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1.5.3. Loss of land for agriculture and other purposes

Overall, 54.3% of household’s survey revealed that they are likely to affected by the loss of land to the

project, when compared to 45.7% of respondents who said no. The most obvious impacts of this loss of

land to agricultural include:





Removal of vegetation cover, will severely alter the availability of food and loss of access to

common resources







Pose environmental and social challenge due to potential disruptions to ecosystems and local

communities







Mud erosion on swamps will lead to loss of swamps







Destroy livelihood activity







Crop yields are affected due to declining soil productivity/soil fertility







Loss of farmland will cause insecurity in farming



1.5.4. Farming system

Household respondents indicated the major farming systems commonly practiced in the

chiefdoms is mixed cropping (94.9%), mixed farming (80.8%) and sole cropping (57.1%).

Analysis is tabulated in table A 23.

Table A-23

Farming system

Mono cropping



Yes

No

Mixed cropping

Yes

No

Mixed farming

Yes

No

Livestock/pastoral Yes

No



Type of Farming System

Upper

Banta

0.0

0.0

93.5

6.5

0.0

0.0

100

0.0



Lower

Banta

100

0.0

100

0.0

100

0.0

100

0.0



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)



Kpanda

Kemoh

100

0.0

100

0.0

100

0.0

100

0.0



Bumpe



Dasse



15.4

84.6

84.2

15.8

83.8

16.2

7.1

92.9



60.0

40.0

93.8

6.2

41.7

58.3

50.0

50.0



TOTAL

(%)

57.1

42.9

94.9

5.1

80.8

19.4

35.5

64.5



Page 158



1.6.



Community Involvement

1.6.1. Participation in community activities



Members of the household interviewed were active in a range of different community activities with

84.1% households reporting membership of one or more group. However, a significant proportion of

respondents (41.9%) in Upper Banta said they do not belong to any community groups.

Table A-24

Chiefdoms



Household Participation in Community Groups

Does any member of the household belong to a community group?

Yes

No



Upper Banta



58.1%



41.9%



Lower Banta



90.0%



10.0%



Kpanda Kemoh



94.1%



5.9%



Bumpe



91.7%



8.3%



Dasse



85.0%



15.0%



Total



84.1%



15.9%



Source: field survey 2012



Table A-25



Proportion of Households involved in Community Group Activities

Community

Village

water

loans and

management savings

committee

scheme



Upper Banta Male

Female



Youth

clubs



Women/ Gang Farmers Workers Cooperative

mother groups association union

group



0.0



100



66.7



0.0



100



66.7



0.0



0.0



100



0.0



33.3



100



0.0



33.3



0.0



0.0



Both



0.0



0.0



0.0



0.0



0.0



0.0



0.0



0.0



Lower Banta Male



100



60.0



53.8



0.0



0.0



33.3



50.0



0.0



0.0



40.0



46.2



100



0.0



66.7



50.0



0.0



Female

Kpanda

Kemoh



Bumpe



Dasse



Both



0.0



0.0



0.0



0.0



0.0



0.0



0.0



0.0



Male



100



66.7



25.0



3.6



0.0



37.5



100.0



0.0



Female



0.0



0.0



20.0



96.4



100



25.0



0.0



0.0



Both



0.0



33.3



55.0



0.0



0.0



37.5



0.0



0.0



Male



60.0



66.7



85.7



16.7



0.0



50.0



100



0.0



Female



40.0



33.3



14.3



66.7



0.0



25.0



0.0



0.0



Both



0.0



0.0



0.0



16.7



0.0



25.0



0.0



0.0



Male



0.0



0.0



83.3



0.0



0.0



66.7



0.0



100.0



100.0



0.0



16.7



100



100



33.3



100.0



0.0



0.0



0.0



0.0



0.0



0.0



0.0



0.0



0.0



Female

Both



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)



Page 159



Community

Village

water

loans and

management savings

committee

scheme

Upper Banta Male

Female



Youth

clubs



Women/ Gang Farmers Workers Cooperative

mother groups association union

group



0.0



100



66.7



0.0



100



66.7



0.0



0.0



100



0.0



33.3



100



0.0



33.3



0.0



0.0



Both



0.0



0.0



0.0



0.0



0.0



0.0



0.0



0.0



Lower Banta Male



100



60.0



53.8



0.0



0.0



33.3



50.0



0.0



Female



0.0



40.0



46.2



100



0.0



66.7



50.0



0.0



Both



0.0



0.0



0.0



0.0



0.0



0.0



0.0



0.0



Male



100



66.7



25.0



3.6



0.0



37.5



100.0



0.0



Female



0.0



0.0



20.0



96.4



100



25.0



0.0



0.0



Both



0.0



33.3



55.0



0.0



0.0



37.5



0.0



0.0



Male



60.0



66.7



85.7



16.7



0.0



50.0



100



0.0



Female



40.0



33.3



14.3



66.7



0.0



25.0



0.0



0.0



Both



0.0



0.0



0.0



16.7



0.0



25.0



0.0



0.0



Male



0.0



0.0



83.3



0.0



0.0



66.7



0.0



100.0



100.0



0.0



16.7



100



100



33.3



100.0



0.0



0.0



0.0



0.0



0.0



0.0



0.0



0.0



0.0



11



30



79



66



3



55



8



1



Kpanda

Kemoh



Bumpe



Dasse



Female

Both

Total (N)



Source: field survey 2012



Table A -26



Household Participation in Community Meetings

Does anyone in your household participate in

community meetings?

Yes



No



Upper Banta



100.0%



.0%



Lower Banta



94.3%



5.7%



Kpanda Kemoh



97.5%



2.5%



Bumpe



100.0%



.0%



Dasse



100.0%



.0%



Total



98.2%



1.8%



Source: field survey 2012

Data were collected on participation rates in community meetings. Overall, 98.2% of respondents

reported that household members do participate in community meetings. For those households that do

Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)



Page 160



not participate in community meetings revealed that it is as a result of the high level of poverty and

most times meetings are not called. Table A 27 presents the percentage of households having members

attending community work meetings of different types: many households attend more than one type of

meeting. Community gathering/meeting and social/religious work and club are the most commonly

attended. About 43% host political gathering and fewer communities are involved in community

construction works. The high rate declared for women’s attendance at community meeting is interesting

as the team has found that fewer women than men have been observed as attending community

consultation meetings relating the Vimetco Bauxite mining project.

Table A-27

Chiefdoms



Household Members attending Community Meetings, Percentage of Households.

Community

Political

Club

Community

Social/religious

gathering/

gathering

construction

work

meetings

/meetings

works



Others



Upper Banta



16



27



10



11



7



1



Lower Banta



31



34



34



30



31



6



Kpanda Kemoh



34



28



20



36



21



0



Bumpe



7



17



1



12



4



0



Dasse



19



17



14



4



4



5



TOTAL



107



123



79



93



67



12



PERCENT (%)



59.4



68.3



43.9



51.7



37.2



6.7



1.6.2. Women’s participation in meetings

Household perceptions of women’s participation (by contributing to decision making) were that an

overwhelming majority of them (96.4%) believed were able to participate in community meetings.

Overall, 63.7% of households believed that it was difficult for women to participate in meetings,

primarily because they had less time available, gender discrimination, farming activities and through

other work to do with childcare and domestic chores that prevented participation of women in

community/public meetings.



1.6.3. Social mobilization activities

Awareness Raising Programmes



Table A- 28

Chiefdoms



Health and

sanitation



Women and

reproductive

health



Yes



Yes



Empowerment

Yes



No



No



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)



No



Women

literacy

Yes



No



adult

literacy

Yes



No



Others



Yes



No



Page 161



Upper Banta



42.9



57.1



93.8



6.2



34.6



65.4



5.0



95.0



0.0



100



0.0



100



Lower Banta



95.0



5.0



100



0.0



84.6



15.4



25.0



75.0



25.0



75.0



0.0



0.0



Kpanda

Kemoh



53.7



46.3



100



0.0



46.3



53.7



0.0



100



0.0



100.0



0.0



100



Bumpe



0.0



100.0



100



0.0



60.0



40.0



50.0



50.0



90.0



10.0



50.0 50.0



Dasse



10.5



89.5



15.8



84.2



10.5



89.5



10.5



89.5



10.5



89.5



0.0



100



Total



49.6



50.4



42.3



57.7



42.3



57.7



7.0



93.0



13.3



86.7



4.1



91.8



Source: field survey 2012

Table A-29

Chiefdoms



Income Generating Programmes



Formal

saving and

credit



Informal

savings/

osusu



Yes



No



Yes



Upper Banta 14.3



85.7



Lower Banta



75.0



25.0



No



Cooperative



Agriculture

extension



Livestock

raising

Yes



Yes



No



Yes



No



58.1 41.9



0.0



100



5.3



94.7



93.9 6.1



25.0



75.0 50.0



82.9 17.1



5.1



94.9 70.0



Bee keeping



No



Yes



Goat raising



Poultry



No



Yes



No



Yes



No



57.1 42.9 10.5



89.5



21.1



78.9



5.5



94.4



50.0



90.9 9.1



72.7



27.3



100



0.0



78.6



21.4



30.0



70.0 30.0



7.7



92.3



89.5



10.5



51.4



48.6



Kpanda

Kemoh



37.5



62.5



Bumpe



0.0



100



90.0 10.0 80.0



20.0 50.0



50.0



0.0



100



50.0



50.0



0.0



100



0.0



100



Dasse



0.0



100



5.0 95.0



5.0



95.0



10.5



89.5



0.0



100



0.0



100



0.0



100



0.0



100



Total



22.4



77.6 68.9 31.1



9.2



90.8 40.7



59.3



58.3 41.7 15.5



84.4



63.9



36.1



34.5



65.5



Source: field survey 2012





Informal savings (Upper Banta, Lower Banta, Kpanda Kemoh, and Bumpe)







Cooperative (Bumpe)







Agriculture extension (Lower Banta, Kpanda Kemoh, Bumpe)







Livestock raising (Lower Banta, Upper Banta, Kpanda Kemoh)







Bee keeping Lower Banta, Bumpe)







Goat raising (Lower Banta, Kpanda Kemoh)







Poultry (:Lower Banta, Kpanda Kemoh)

1.7.



General perceptions



1.7.1. Community needs and concerns

The following common concerns were raised by considerable number of FGDs participants across the

concessionary zone:





The benefits received from the mining company is not commensurate to their needs



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)



Page 162







Mining in the communities are done in an haphazard manner, especially in the Gbonge (Kpanda

Kemoh Chiefdom) and these was considered unacceptable as it is not economical and

environmentally friendly.







Land owners are not involved in the negotiation process for their land;







Road network in their chiefdoms are deplorable







Lack of knowledge about the acreage assigned as concession zone for the mining operation







Agricultural Development Fund is not beneficial for the farmers; rather it is benefiting only the



paramount chief and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security Officials.





Frequent delay in the payment of both surface rents and compensation for land and crop loss







No positive impact on the socio-economic status of the affected communities – no alternative



livelihood opportunities are not provided by the company





No proper rehabilitation of mined areas with economic trees



1.7.2. Perceptions of Environmental Quality

There is no marked difference in the perceptions of the natural environment among the different

communities (figure A 4). Slightly more than sixty percent of the respondents (62.1%) had a negative

opinion about the environmental conditions of the operational communities in the last two years. An

overwhelming majority of respondents (97.2%) in Lower Banta felt that the quality of the environment is

very bad. In all, the communities expressed the deplorable status of health and sanitation hygiene

conditions, deforestation and soil degradation, pollution (air and noise) and health risk resulting from

dust emissions.



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Fig A-4 Perceptions of environmental quality, all surveyed households

and by

community

Very bad



Not very good



Fair



Good



120.00%

100.00%



16.20%



2.80%

0.00%

36.60%



80.00%



27.00%



60.00%



97.20%



40.00%



56.80%



30.00%



28.60%



10.00%



51.40%



60.00%



20.10%

17.20%



17.10%

46.30%



20.00%



17.10%



62.10%



0.00%

Lower Banta



Kpanda

Kemoh



Bumpe



Dasse



Total



1.7.3. Problems with Vimetco operations

When survey respondents were asked whether there were any problems associated with Vimetco

operations in the area, the most commonly reported issue was pollution (mentioned by 87.8% of

respondents), dust (83.3% respondents) and noise (75.0% respondents).



Fig. A-5 perceived problems with Vimetcos operations in the

area

100

90



80



83.3



87.8



75



70

60

50



38.3



40



33.3



30

20

10

0



Noise



Dust



Pollution



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)



Safety (community) Safety (workers)



Page 164



1.7.4. Advantages of Vimetco operations

When asked whether there are any advantages of Vimetco presence in the area, the most commonly

named benefits were jobs, assistance to the community and benefits to the national economy.

However, small proportion of respondents felt that the company operations will not help provide an

improved infrastructure and facilities such as the road, utilities and recreational facilities; income

diversification opportunities and brighten and modernize the area (Figure A 6). The general perception

of the bauxite mining activities in the chiefdoms was viewed as a curse than a blessing. They said that

the mining activity has not contributed meaningfully to community development initiatives rather than

the destruction of the natural environment. To reverse this trend the community recommends a

thorough review of concession agreements reached to reflect mutual benefits for all relevant

stakeholders in the mining process.

Fig. A-6 Perceived advantages of Vimetco bauxite mining in the operation

area

Benefits national economy



16.7



Brighten and modernize the area



1.7



Income opportunities



4.4



Assistance to local communities



24.4



Improve infrastructure and facilities such as the

road, utilities and recreational facilities)



3.3



Jobs



42.2

0



5



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)



10



15



20



25



30



35



40



45



Page 165



ANNEX – C Summary of issues discussed in FGDs across the surveyed communities



1. Loss of land used for agricultural and other purposes to bauxite mining by SMHL Vimetco



The community members expressed willingness to loss their land used for agriculture and other purpose

to bauxite mining operations in their community. They indicated that this can only be possible provided

the following conditions are met by the company: increase surface rent and compensation; provide

training and employment opportunities for the community; provide improved and affordable medical

facilities and prompt and appropriate rehabilitation of the mined out areas for future use.



2. Surface rent payments for mining land

The surface rents paid to community for mining land was viewed by all affected communities as too

small. While stakeholders generally clamour for the rate of surface rent payments to be increased, some

stakeholders believe that surface rents are disproportionately distributed amongst the different

stakeholder groups. Some argue that the percentage for the Paramount Chiefs is too large; others

believe Local Councils are getting the lion’s share. Some stakeholders would like the involvement of all

stakeholders in deciding the level of surface rent payments. In a focus group discussions or discussion

meetings, the communities expressed that most times these amounts are paid annually and untimely

and often the indirect payments are too bureaucratic. The distribution of surface payment rents across

the communities interviewed is as shown in the table below. Note that while the payment rates are

Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)



Page 166



established by law, the distribution is determined in consultations among the GOSL (mainly the MLGCD),

Chiefs and Local Councils, although it is not clear how a final decision is made. There is concern that

decisions are made in a subjective and non-transparent manner for the distribution of surface rent

payment. The communities indicated that there is a need to re-negotiate the amount paid per annual

per acre of land and increase on the current amount paid and these monies are to be paid monthly, and

that direct payment should be made to the landowners themselves.



Table 3



Distribution of Surface Rents



Stakeholder group



% of Total payment



Land owners



50%



Paramount Chiefs



15%



Local Council



15%



Chiefdom Development



10%



Constituency Development Fund



10%



Total



100%



Source: FGDs meetings 2012



3. Relocation of villages

The entire affected villages/communities are unwilling to relocate to another community. They however

expressed dissatisfaction over the current status of relocated villages/communities. The participation of

affected people is limited not only because stakeholders are not actively involved in the discussions on

relocation but, more importantly, there is no assessment of the changes in lifestyles and capacities

needed to overcome successfully a major disruption of local families. Participants in a focus group

discussion indicate that in any future village relocation, the company should build modern structures

and provide all socio-cultural structures (such as place of worship, educational and health facilities etc.),

renegotiate compensation fees and provide relief services to the people in the relocated village(s) for

the first three consecutive years after relocation.

Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)



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4. Compensation payment and method

The factors that should determine the level of compensation payment for crops destroyed due to

mining activities are:





Adopt a procedure to determine the cost of crops/assets involved. This should be done in close

consultation with landowners.







Negotiate directly with the landowner and reach consensus on the amount.







Amount of payment should be commensurate to the crop/asset destroyed.







Develop a framework for compensation payment with the involvement of the local

communities



Although ministry officials are involved in the crop compensation exercise, crop owners would like the

economic life of the crops to be considered in the evaluation.



5. Economic and Community Development issues

So far the company has provided the following benefits as reported by the affected communities:

community Barry, good road network, secondary school in the chiefdom, and improved medical

facilities. The participants in the focus group meetings said that the community should address their

concerns; the most common response was to assist with improving community infrastructure and

facilities such as the road, utilities, and recreational facilities. Other recommendations that the company

should provide training for community members provide information on job opportunities and services

and adhere to the highest standards for environmental protection.



6. Contribution of mining to national economy

The general perception of the bauxite mining activities in the chiefdoms was viewed as a curse than a

blessing. They said that the mining activity has not contributed meaningfully to community development

initiatives rather than the destruction of the natural environment. To reverse this trend the community

recommends a thorough review of concession agreements reached to reflect mutual benefits for all

relevant stakeholders in the mining process.



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)



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7. Health and Environmental Sanitation Problems:

The communities expressed deplorable status of the health and sanitation hygiene condition of their

communities. The major environmental, health and sanitation concerns resulting from the mining in the

community includes:





Pollution







Erosion







Deforestation and soil degradation







Noise







Dust







Health problems – malaria, diarrhoea, high blood pressure and problems associated with ageing.







Problem of sanitation.



To resolve these problems, the following measures were proposed:





Reduce dust emissions using appropriate measures







Develop soil erosion prevention plan







Rehabilitate mined out areas







Provide improved and affordable medical facilities for communities







Provision and maintenance of improved road network in the community



8. Increase in crime rate

The most common crime in the communities identified by focus group participants are:





Thieving







Prostitution







Disregard for local authorities



9. Issues related to safety and accidents

The major safety and accidents problems reported by the FGDs participants include:





Boulders rolling from haulers/dumper trucks







The creation of dams/ponds that does not support aqua-culture due to high concentration of

harmful chemicals







Persistence dust emissions thereby increasing the possibilities of frequent accidents. For

example two accidents reported occurred in Gbonge and Badja respectively



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)



Page 169



With the establishment of Environment and Safety Management within the corporate environment,

health, occupational and safety issues are vigorously addressed. No serious incident of occupational

hazards and safety problems were reported resulting from the dredging operation at the moment.



10. Community concerns and needs

The following common concerns were raised by considerable number of FGDs participants across the

concessionary zone:





The benefits received from the mining company is not commensurate to their needs







Mining in the communities are done in a haphazard manner, especially in the Gbonge (Kpanda

Kemoh Chiefdom) and these was considered unacceptable as it is not economical and

environmentally friendly.







Land owners are not involved in the negotiation process for their land;







Road network in their chiefdoms are deplorable







Lack of knowledge about the acreage assigned as concession zone for the mining operation







Agricultural Development Fund is not beneficial for the farmers; rather it is benefiting only the

paramount chief and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security Officials.







Frequent delay in the payment of both surface rents and compensation for land and crop loss







No positive impact on the socio-economic status of the affected communities – no alternative

livelihood opportunities are not provided by the company







No proper rehabilitation of mined areas with economic trees



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)



Page 170



ANNEX - D - Socio-Economic Baseline Survey Questionnaire

A. IDENTIFICATION AND LOCATION INFORMATION



Date of interview:

Name of Village:

Time interview started:

Time ended:

Time

spent:

Questionnaire No. :

Distance to the project area ( Km):

Status of Road from Village to the ^project area:

(1= Accessible all year round, 2= Accessible half of the

year, 3= Inaccessible all year round)

Ethnic Groups: ( 1 =MENDE, 2 = TEMNE, 3 = LIMBA,

4 =LOKO, 4 = others specify)

GPS coordinates of residence (waypoint)



Date:



(i)Longitude: (ii)Latitude:



B. SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF RESPONDENTS

Variable

Response

1. Gender [SEX]



Codes



1=Female, 2=Male



2. Age of Respondent in years [AGE]

3. Household Status [HHSTAT]

Marital status [MSTATUS]

Residential status



Religion



1 = Head, 2 = Spouse

1=Single, 2= married, 3= consensual

union 4=Widowed, 5= Divorced,

1. PRP (Permanent Resident); 2. RA

(Resident Absent) 3. Member of nonresident HH; 4. Visitor: 9. Other

(specify); 0. No Answer

1. Muslim; 2. Christian (specify

denomination) 99. Other (specify); 0.

No Answer



Number of persons in household [HHSIZE]

Household composition

Number of household members aged 65 years

and above [HHMEM]

Number of males aged 41- 64 years [MALES]

Number of females aged 41-64 years =

[FEMALES]

Number of males aged 16-40 years [MALES]

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Page 171



Number of females aged 16-40 years

[FEMALES]

Number of females aged 6-15 years [FCHILD]

Number of males aged 6-15 years [MCHILD]

Number of male children 0 – 5 years[MINF]

Number of female children 0 – 5 years[FINF]

Level of education of respondent [EDUCAL]



Housing

Do you own house?

Roof materials



Wall materials (Observe and tick-off, but ask if

in doubt):



Floor materials (Observe and tick-off, but ask if

in doubt):



WATER

Source of water for domestic use



How is the quality of water



1. Illiterate; 2. Primary School; 3.

Secondary School; 4.

Graduate/Tertiary education,

5.Vocational/Technical School;

6.Religious School (literate in

Arabic); 0. No. Answer



1. Tiles

2. Iron sheets

3. Well-maintained thatched

grass

4. Dilapidated thatched grass

5. - Other, specify

1. Burnt bricks with plaster

2. Burnt bricks without plaster

3. Mud bricks with plaster

4. Mud bricks without plaster

5. Well-constructed poles and

mud

6. Poorly constructed/maintained

poles and mud

7. - Other, specify

1. Cement

2. Mud but smooth

3. Dust but smooth

4. Dust and rough

5. - Other, specify

1.

2. Tap

3. Protected well/bore hole

4. Unprotected well/bore hole

5. River/stream

6. Spring

7. Rain

1. Good, 2. Muddy water, 3.

Unsafe, 4. Other (specify)



How do you treat water before using for

domestic use?

Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)



Page 172



Who fetches water?



1.

2.

3.

4.

5.



Economic activity

Main economic activity



Women

Men

Boys

Girls

Other (specify) ------------------



1. Farm work own land; 2. Livestock

raising; 3. Household; 4.business; 5.

Hunting; 6. Collecting forest

products; 7. Hunting (part-time); 8.

Retired: 9. Disabled and unable to

work; 10. Agriculture labour; 11.

Sharecropping only; 12. Religious

Leader, Teacher; 13. Artisan; 14.

Transport; 15. Unemployed; 16.

Student; 17. Public service; 18.

Private Service; 99. Other (specify);

0. No Answer

1. Farm work own land; 2. Livestock

raising; 3. Household; 4.business; 5.

Hunting; 6. Collecting forest

products; 7. Hunting (part-time); 8.

Retired: 9. Disabled and unable to

work; 10. Agriculture labour; 11.

Sharecropping only; 12. Religious

Leader, Teacher; 13. Artisan; 14.

Transport; 15. Unemployed; 16.

Student; 17. Public service; 18.

Private Service; 99. Other (specify);

0. No Answer



Secondary economic activity



Sources of income and expenditure

Household income



a)

b)

c)

d)

e)

f)

g)

h)

i)

j)



Mainly

who (1 –

male; 2 –

female



Annual income (Le.)



Subsistence crops

Tree cash crops

Livestock/poultry

Vegetables and fruit

Agriculture wage labour

Non-farm wage labour

Formal employment

Income from micro-enterprises

Business

Pension/remittance



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)



Page 173



k) Rent/interest

l) Asset sale

m) Mining income (surface rent,

compensation)

n) Selling firewood and charcoal

o) Selling bush meat

p) Others specify

Household expenditure

Mainly who (1 –

male; 2 – female

a)

b)

c)

d)

e)

f)

g)

h)

i)

j)

k)

l)

m)



Annual income

(Le.)



Food

Bush meat

Clothing

Reading/Educational materials

Medicines

Livestock

Farm inputs

Transportation/cell phone costs

Marriage and funeral expenses

Alcohol/palm wine

Expenditure for income generation activities

Saving/loan and interest payments/osusu

Others specify



Is there any work or employment done by household members likely to be affected by the loss of

land to the project?

a) Yes

b) No

If yes, describe what the impact will be? -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Ownership of trees and livestock

What trees does the household own?

Types of trees



Household use code 1

Used for income code 2



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)



Page 174



Both code 3

Fruits

Cocoa

Coffee

Kola

Oil palm

Citrus/orange

Plantain

Mango

Others specify

7. Do you keep Livestock? [LSTOCK]__________( 1 = yes, 0 = no)

8. If yes, state the five major livestock kept in your household, their number, purpose and

ownership.

Livestock



Number



Ownership

1 = mainly men, 2 =

mainly women, 3 =

men and women

equally



Purpose

1 = for food, 2 = cash income, 3

= both cash and food, 4 = work,

5 = social prestige (sign of

wealth, 6 = transport, 7 = others

(specify) -------------



1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Other physical assets

radios owned

Televisions/generator

Sewing machines

Pestle and mortar

mobile phones

wrist watches

bikes

shops

motorcycles

cars

Others specify



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)



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Farming Activities

What are the five (5) most important crops which your household cultivate? Rank in order of

importance. 1 = most important, 5 = least important [IMPCROP]

Crops

Variety

Land

Sources of Seeds

Ownership

Purpose

1=Improved area

1 =Market retailer, 1 = mainly men, 2 1 = income/cash

2=Local

occupie 5=friends/relatives, = mainly women, earner, 2 =

d (ha)

6 = other farmers,

3 = men and

household food

99 = others

women equally

supplier, 3 = for

(specify)

both cash income

and household

food

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Which of the Farming system is commonly practiced by your household? [FARMSYST]

Farming system

1.

2.

3.

4.



Response



Mono-cropping/sole cropping

Mixed cropping

Mixed farming

Livestock/pastoral



Codes

1 = yes

2 = no



Community involvement

Does any member of the household belong to a community group?

a) Yes

b) No

If yes, who belongs to which ones?

Membership

Community water management committee

Village loans and savings scheme

Youth club

Women/mother group

Gang groups

Farmers association

Workers union

Cooperative

Other groups



Gender (1 – male, 2 – female



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Does anyone in your household participate in community meetings?

a) Yes

b) No

Is yes, which ones?

a) Social/religious work

b) Community gathering/meetings

c) Political gathering/meetings

d) Club

e) Community construction works

f) Any other work (specify)

If no, why not?

Do women participate in meetings?

a) Yes

b) No

Are there difficulties about the participation of women?

a) Yes

b) No

If yes, please describe------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Does your town have the following social mobilization activities?

Awareness raising programme

Yes No Income generating programmes Yes

a) Empowerment

g) Formal saving and credit

b) Health and sanitation

h) Informal savings/osusu

c) Women and reproductive health

i) Cooperative

d) Women literacy

j) Agriculture extension

e) Adult literacy

k) Livestock raising

f) Others specify

l) Bee-keeping

m) Goat raising

n) Poultry

o) Others specify

Health services

Health facility available in the

1. Heath centres

community

2. Clinic

3. Dispensaries

4. Hospital

5. Traditional healers

Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)



No



Page 177



What do the use of the health services

for?



Did any member of your household

died last year

If yes, what was the cause of the death?



Does your household have a toilet

facility?



6.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

1.

2.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.



Other specify

Antenatal check ups

Giving birth in hospital

Vaccination services

Sick family members

Taking medicines for sick people

Yes

No

Accident

Cholera

Illness/sickness

Malaria

Acute Respiratory Tract

Infection

6. Pneumonia

7. Diarrhea

8. HIV/AIDS

9. Anemia

10. Natural causes

11. Witchcraft

12. Tuberculosis

13. Others specify

1.Yes; 2 No

If yes, mention the type e.g.

1. Pit latrine

2. Permanent materials



Asset loss

Is the household affected by asset loss for the project?

1. Yes

2. no



GENERAL PERCEPTIONS OF THE COMMUNITIES

a) In your opinion, what is your general perception of the natural environment in your

community in last two years?

1. Very bad

2. Not very good

3. Fair

4. Good

5. Very good

Why do you think so.?

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---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------b) Perceptions, possible concerns and expectations of the local people vis a vis the potential

employment opportunities of the proposed project

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------c) Communities attitudes towards Vimetco SMHL

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------d) Problems in the Vimetco operation in the area

1. Noise;

2. Dust;

3. Pollution;

4. Safety (communities);

5. Safety (workers)

e) What advantages does the Vimetco bauxite mining operation provide for this

community?

1. Jobs,

2. improves infrastructure and facilities such as the road, utilities and

recreational facilities,

3. assistance to local communities,

4. income opportunities,

5. brighten and modernize the area,

6. benefits national economy



Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)



Page 179



ANNEX E

1.

2.

3.

4.



ESIA Licences

SMHL Business Registration Licence

SMHL Mining Agreement

Receipt of SMHL Surface Rent Payment 2011



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Page 180