5.6.

3 Limestone quarrying
5.6.3.1 Air quality
A. Total Suspended Particulates (TSP) and dust fall
Limestone quarrying activities which will influence air quality include
drilling and blasting, limestone transportation, stockpiling, and crushing.
The scale of these activities is smaller than for ore mining and the limestone
rock is much stronger and less conducive to dust generation. On the other
hand, quarrying operations will include drilling and blasting, both of which
generate noise and dust. The emitted TSP and dust fall has been predicted
using an area source model, and the overall dispersion which has already
been combined with other TSP sources during the operation phase, is
illustrated in Figure V-1.
The figure shows that the village of Gemaf is projected to experience a range
of concentrations between 150-175 _g/Nm3 at various times (most likely
following blasting), which is within the 24 hour TSP ambient air quality
standard (230 _g/Nm3) according to Government Regulation 41, 1999
regarding Air Pollution.
The prediction of impact significance, using impact criteria A to G, is
summarized below:
Prediction
Criteria Rationale Impact
Category
A People in Gemaf village will be affected. -S
B The area affected will be relatively small. -IS
C The intensity of TSP will be within Government standards
however it may still be at a nuisance level for the community.
-S
D TSP will be generated intermittently during various activities
and during periods of strong winds.
-IS
E TSP may affect other parameters such as community unrest. -S
F Dust from these activities may be cumulative with dust from
other activities.
-S
G Reversible at end of operations. -IS
* Based on criteria A, C, E and F, TSP and dust fall from
limestone mining, handling and processing operations is
considered a significant negative impact.
-S
5.6.3.2 Noise
A. Noise
Noise will be generated by drilling, blasting, road haulage and crushing of
limestone. As these activities will only take place during daylight hours,
there will be no night time noise from limestone quarrying or processing
activities. Of the noise sources, the highest sound levels will be generated by
blasting although blasting will be relatively infrequent (on average, twice
each week) and transient, whereas other noise will be more continuous.
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Of all noise sources, only blasting will be audible at the nearest village -
Gemaf, where it will resemble a distant thunder sound. Noise from
limestone quarrying and processing activities will be well below the relevant
threshold level of 55 dBa (KepMenLH 48 1996) at all villages including
Gemaf, which is located about 2.5 km from the quarry site.
The baseline noise survey, 2008, (detailed in Chapter 3, section 3.1.4)
recorded a maximum lsm (Equivalent Continuous Noise Level in day and night
times) of 53 dBa at Gemaf village, only marginally below the Government
standard for residential areas.
The prediction of impact significance, using impact criteria A to G, is
summarized below:
Prediction
Criteria Rationale Impact
Category
A Blasting will be heard at Gemaf and occasionally at Sagea. -S
B Not applicable -IS
C Noise will be intense close to the source. -S
D Blasting will be infrequent, transient. Crushing and grinding
will be continuous during the day shift.
-IS
E Noise from blasting may contribute community unrest. -S
F Noise from limestone operations will not be cumulative with
noise from other project operations.
-IS
G Reversible. -IS
* Based on criteria A, C and E, noise from limestone quarrying
and processing is considered a significant negative impact.
-S
5.6.3.3 Vibration
Crushing and grinding will cause ground vibration that will be confined to
the immediate vicinity of these facilities. Blasting will cause more
pronounced ground vibration that will extend further, but is not expected to
extend as far as the nearest village – Gemaf. However, blasting will also
cause an ‘air wave’ which may rattle windows as far away as Gemaf under
favorable propagating conditions, and which local residents may interpret as
ground vibrations. These air wave vibrations are harmless but may cause
concern among local residents.
The prediction of impact significance, using impact criteria A to G, is
summarized below:
Prediction
Criteria Rationale Impact
Category
A Blasting will be felt at Gemaf and occasionally at Sagea. -S
B Vibration will affect only a very small area. -IS
C Vibration may be considered intense by the some people in
Gemaf.
-S
D Blast vibration will be transient. -IS
E Vibration from blasting may contribute community unrest. -S
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Prediction
Criteria Rationale Impact
Category
F Vibration will not be cumulative. -IS
G Reversible. -IS
* Based on criteria A, C and E, vibration caused by limestone
quarrying and processing is considered to be a significant
negative impact.
-S
5.6.3.4 Topography
A. Landform
Quarrying will significantly change the topography of the limestone ridge
that occurs between the Gemaf River and Sagea Lagoon. The quarry, when
complete will occupy a total area of 70 ha, with an irregular elliptical shape,
its axis oriented from northwest to southeast. The walls of the quarry will be
up to 100m high. The quarry floor will be flat, at an elevation of 20 m above
sea level, and an opening at this level will connect to the base of the ridge on
its southern margin. There will be little visual impact at the view from Sagea
Lagoon.
The prediction of impact significance, using impact criteria A to G, is
summarized below:
Prediction
Criteria Rationale Impact
Category
A No people will be affected -IS
B The total area affected be 70ha which is considered significant
based on its visual impact.
-S
C Change to landform will be intense – from ridge to hole. -S
D Change will be permanent. -S
E Will affect flora and fauna, surface drainage. -S
F No other nearby landform changes. -IS
G Not reversible. -S
* Based on criteria B, C, D, E, and G, the change to landform due
to limestone quarrying is considered to be a significant negative
impact.
-S
5.6.3.5 Hydrogeology
A. Change of groundwater flow pattern
Initial clearing of vegetation for the limestone quarry is likely to increase
surface run-off, thereby reducing ground water recharge. However, as the
quarry develops, run-off will be more and more confined within the quarry
boundaries. Broken rock on the quarry floor is likely to be sufficiently
permeable to enable this rainfall run-off to infiltrate, so that ground water
recharge may actually increase. In either case, there will be effects on water
table elevations, gradients or flow directions as the karstic limestone rock
mass is highly permeable.
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Further studies are required to determine if there is a hydrogeological
connection between the proposed quarry site and the Sagea Lagoon,
however the presences of springs along the Karst formation suggest this is
the case. The lagoon receives water from surface run-off from the
surrounding karst mountain, groundwater inflows and is tidal inflows. The
mixing of the various water inflows creates a unique environment within the
Weda Bay Nickel Contract of Work.
The prediction of impact significance, using impact criteria A to G, is
summarized below:
Prediction
Criteria
Rationale Impact
Category
A No people will be affected. -IS
B Area of effect will be small. -IS
C Affects on groundwater are not likely to be intense. -IS
D Changes will be permanent. -S
E Other lagoon-related parameters may be affected by changes in
groundwater recharge.
-S
F Cumulative. -S
G Not reversible. -S
* Based on criterion D, E, F and G, the change of groundwater
pattern due to limestone quarrying is considered as a significant
negative impact.
-S
5.6.3.6 Surface water quality
A. Total Suspended Solids (TSS), pH, and hardness
During and following initial land clearing, an increase in surface run-off is
expected, which is likely to increase erosion of the thin surface soils that
occur between rock outcrops. As the quarry develops, run-off will be
confined within the quarry and any eroded material is likely to deposit
within the quarry walls. Some erosion will continue outside the quarry
limits, from the waste limestone dump, limestone stockpile and from other
disturbed areas including access roads and conveyor corridor. This run-off
will carry TSS concentrations and may also have pH above neutral and
relatively high alkalinity.
The prediction of impact significance, using impact criteria A to G, is
summarized below:
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Prediction
Criteria Rationale Impact
Category
A No people will be affected. -IS
B Area will be confined to the to Gemaf River. -IS
C Effects will be minor. -IS
D Intermittent during rain fall. -IS
E Changes in water quality could affect other parameters. -S
F Cumulative. -S
G Reversible. -IS
* Based on criteria E and F, the changes to TSS, pH, and hardness
in surface run-off as a result of limestone quarrying and
processing is considered to be a significant negative impact.
-S
5.6.3.7 Terrestrial fauna
A. Quality of wildlife habitat
All cave fauna recorded in the 2008 survey are categorized as trogloxene.
Trogloxene fauna is cave fauna that either enter caves for refuge but
normally return to the outside environment to feed (e.g. bats) or accidentally
wander into caves. No protected cave fauna species were recorded during
the 2008 survey.
In the karst, there were no dominant non-flying mammals recorded. Two
species of bats, who use caves for roosting, were found at Gunung Zohra are
Raffrays Sheath tail-Bat (Emballonura raffrayana) and Fawn Horseshoe-Bat
(Hipposideros cervinus). These two species are neither identified as endemic
nor protected. Mining of limestone will reduce this cave habitat. Quarrying
will impact 1% of the karst formation.
The prediction of impact significance, using impact criteria A to G, is
summarized below:
Prediction
Criteria
Rationale Impact
Category
A No people will be affected. -IS
B The area affected will be small but directly related to the bat
habitat.
-IS
C Cave habitats will be totally removed, as quarrying is
conducted in a progressive manner.
-S
D The duration of the impact will not be extensive despite the
progressive nature of quarrying.
-IS
E Unlikely to affect other components. -IS
F Cumulative. -S
G Not reversible. -S
* Based on criteria C, F and G, reduced quality of wildlife habitat
due to limestone quarrying is considered to be a significant
negative impact.
-S
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5.6.4 Limestone transportation, stockpiling and crushing
5.6.4.1 Air quality
A. Total Suspended Particulates (TSP)
Limestone transportation, stockpiling, and crushing will influence air
quality through the generation of TSP. The emitted TSP has been predicted
using an area source model, and the overall dispersion which has already
been combined with other TSP sources during the operation phase, is
illustrated in Figure V-1.
As discussed in Limestone Quarrying section, the figure shows that the
village of Gemaf is projected to experience a maximum 175 _g/m3 at various
times. This will most likely be the peak TSP following blasting and
consequently air emissions from limestone transportation, stockpiling and
crushing are expected to be much less.
The prediction of impact significance, using impact criteria A to G, is
summarized below:
Prediction
Criteria Rationale Impact
Category
A Some people in Gemaf village will be affected. -S
B The area affected will be relatively small. -IS
C Air emissions for the Limestone transportation, stockpiling and
crushing will not be as great as those created by blasting
however the effects will be intense when it occurs.
-S
D TSP will be generated intermittently during various activities
and during periods of strong winds.
-IS
E TSP may affect other parameters such as community unrest. -S
F Dust from these activities may be cumulative with dust from
other activities such as Limestone Quarrying.
-S
G Reversible at end of operations. -IS
* Based on criteria A, E and F, TSP and dust fall from limestone
mining, handling and processing operations is considered a
significant negative impact.
-S