Environmental Management & Compliance Services

Most development projects require some form of assessment to identify environmental and social risks and impacts at an early stage in the project lifecycle and present opportunities through the mitigation hierarchy to avoid or prevent impacts, or where avoidance is not possible, minimise and rehabilitate, offset or compensate. We achieve this through Screening Assessments, Scoping and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) or Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs), Specialist Assessments, Due Diligence Assessments, Management Plans and Programmes.

 Central to these, is robust and transparent stakeholder engagement and public participation for successful identification and management of a project’s environmental and social impacts. Stakeholder engagement and public participation ensure a consistent, comprehensive and coordinated approach, for open and transparent dialogue with stakeholder groups. This involves stakeholder identification, disclosure and dissemination of information, consultation and participation and on-going reporting to affected stakeholders. The largest risk for any environmental process to be discredited is inadequate stakeholder engagement and public participation. We conduct robust, transparent and inclusive stakeholder engagement and public participation on all our projects. Our key impact assessment portfolio of services includes:

• Screening and Basic Assessments

• Scoping and EIA studies

• Environmental and Social Impact Assessments

• Environmental Management Plans and Programmes

• Environmental and Social Management Plans

• Part 1 and 2 Environmental Authorisation Amendments

• Waste Management Licence and 24G Rectification applications

• Interpretation queries and Regulatory compliance statements, and independent peer reviews

 Our project experience includes the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link, power generation (Open- and Closed-cycle gas turbines), renewable energy (Concentrated Solar Power, Photovoltaics, Hydropower), mixed-use developments (Cornubia), industrial and infrastructure developments (wastewater treatment works, pipelines, roads, powerlines, substations, storage of hazardous and dangerous goods, combustion engines and battery storage).

We have been involved in the compilation fo the Ekurhuleni Environmental Policy and Implementation Plan, and successfully conducted and obtained around 40 Water Use Authorisations i.e. Water Use Licence Applications (WULAs) and General Authorisations for some of our key projects. This includes authorisations for numerous linear projects (roads and powerlines), mixed-use developments, solar renewable energy projects as well as more complex integrated WULAs for the Eskom Underground Coal Gasification Project and Matimba Continuous Ash Disposal Facility. We are also well versed with the requirements of the Electronic Water Use Licence Application and Authorisation System (e-WULAAS).

Royal HaskoningDHV has established a proven track record in assisting Lenders, Developers and Contractors to deal effectively with the various challenges associated with the implementation of environmental requirements on construction projects. Our offering includes Independent Environmental & Social (E&S) Monitoring for Clients according to International Finance Cooperation (IFC) Performance Standards and Guidelines. In South Africa, the offering includes Independent Environmental Control Officer (ECO) services.

Our due diligence services deliver pragmatic, technical advice focused on project content. We emphasise dialogue and communication both within the team as well as with external project stakeholders. Our reporting identifies and quantifies the risks, and includes the likelihood of occurrence as well as possible mitigation measures. In many instances our Clients have requested further assistance (e.g. with permitting, or specialist assessments such as ESA’s etc.) to effectively close-out issues that were identified.

Royal HaskoningDHV offers a full suite of environmental compliance auditing services related to Client’s operations. Our satisfied Clients attest to the fact that we do not just aim to report on environmental compliance, we strive to assist them to improve environmental performance. We offer experienced, qualified, professionally registered Environmental Auditors. Our services include Environmental Compliance Auditing as per legal requirements (Legal Compliance Audits), Funder or Lender Audits, including compliance & performance audits, and OEMPr implementation audits.