The Herald of 25 January 2011 ‘featured’ an advert titled ‘Notice of atmospheric emission licence application’ – ‘Renewal of the atmospheric emission licence for the manganese ore berth, Port Elizabeth’.
Just in case you are feeling yourself this morning and missed that, here it is again; ‘Renewal of the atmospheric emission licence for the manganese ore berth, Port Elizabeth’.
I can hear violins playing and I can see dolphins leaping as the door opens to the start once again of a concerted effort to; “Just say NO to Manganese” – come on Transnet you know you can, the citizens of Port Elizabeth are here to help you over your addiction to this stinky crazy frigging mess that we don’t want on our doorstep anymore.
No, it is not about the harm to our environment or health, the countless lost job opportunities, the jibes and innuendo from our mates, family and tourists who constantly refer to our Friendly City as dirty. It is just about us wanting to be rid of this abomination once and for all.
The advert placed by consulting engineers SRK Consulting reads:
NOTICE OF ATMOSPHERIC EMISSION LICENCE APPLICATION
Renewal of the Atmospheric Emission Licence for the Manganese Ore Berth, Port of Port Elizabeth.
Notice is given in terms of Section 38 (3) of the National Environment Management: Air Quality Act (Act No. 39 of 2004) that an application will be submitted to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality to renew the existing atmospheric emissions registration certificate for the manganes ore berth at the Port of Port Elizabeth.
Proponent:
Transnet Port TerminalsProposed Listed Activity:
The following activity listed in terms of the Act is relevant to the Manganese Ore Berth;
14 Category 5:
Mineral Processing, Storage and Handling
Subcategory 5.1:
Storage and handling of ore and coal
Description: Storage and handling of ore and coal not situated on the premises of a mine or works as defined in the Mines and Safety Act 26/1996.
Location and Description:
The manganes ore berth is situated to the east of the Dom Pedro Jetty in the Port of Port Elizabeth (Erf 587, Port Elizabeth). Activities conducted on the site include the bulk handling, storage and loading of manganese ore.Opportunity to comment:
Interested persons and the public are invited to submit written representations on, or objections to, the application by 7 March 2011 to:
Karissa Nel
SRK Consulting
PO Box 21842, Port Elizabeth, 6000
Fax: 041 509 4850
Email: knel@srk.co.zaRepresentations should include the name, contact details and indication of any direct business, financial, personal or other interest in the application. All comments will be recorded and submitted to the authority with the licence application.
Date of Advertisement: 25 January 2011.
Do yourselves a favour (only if you share the majority sentiment that is!) – send this notification and link to this article as far and as wide as you can, this may be the first chance we get to send ANOTHER strong message backed up by our municipality that the time has come for Transnet to join hands with the citizens of Port Elizabeth and to “Just say NO to manganese”.
Alan Straton
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If everyone puts pressure on Transnet MAYBE they will listen and be forced to relocate those disgusting cancer heaps. People are not aware of the toxins they breathe in every time they drive past or walk on the beach. How is it possible in this day and age that public enterprises like Transnet can dictate how the masses will live? In any other country there would be public uprisings and protests. Pity the ore berths were not bombed during apartheid as was threatened – would have been the only positive thing apartheid would have bred.!
Here is a copy of an objection already sent by Ocean Messengers:
Dear Karissa,
We as Ocean Messengers NGO strongly object to the the renewal of the license for the manganese ore berth, Port Elizabeth for Transnet or any other company. (We take this matter as far as to even object within the Port of Coega, for the same reasons!)
The proven harmful dust clouds and emissions reaching Port Elizabeth – inhabitants – and the marine environment need to stop.
As a future World Heritage Site: Algoa Bay is at risk.
22 shark species, 7 Whale and 7 Dolphin species endless hard and soft coral reefs and Sea Bird Colonies and fish stock are being harmed already for decades.
It is now your duty and obligation to see with scientific eyes that our terrestrial and marine environment cannot take more strain. It is time to stop this emission nightmare for once and all.
PE is suffering most in tourism presently, a positive message – like no extension of this permit – will inevitable show goodwill and future plans to bring tourism, employment and environmental issues (like Blue Flag Beaches) back into a positive light.
Best regards
Rainer Schimpf
A copy of one more objection:
Dear Sirs
The Ore Berth must go.
This has been on the cards for many years. Promises have been made but not delivered.
It is a known fact that apart from the mess and grime our city has to endure this dust is a health hazard.
A health study of the residents in the area should be conducted. All affected properties which are continually covered in dust should claim costs from NPA.
Does it take mass action to resolve this issue? or will common sense prevail?
This renewal of the Atmospheric Emissions License for the Manganese Ore Berth must not be approved.
Ronnie Baer
Resident
This objection sent by Alan Fogarty:
Dear Karissa, As a tour operator and ardent conservationist, I must protest the re-issuing of a license in terms of the advert placed in the Herald Newspaper on the 25th January 2011.
NOTICE OF ATMOSPHERIC EMISSION LICENCE APPLICATION
Renewal of the Atmospheric Emission Licence for the Manganese Ore Berth, Port of Port Elizabeth.
Notice is given in terms of Section 38 (3) of the National Environment Management: Air Quality Act (Act No. 39 of 2004) that an application will be submitted to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality to renew the existing atmospheric emissions registration certificate for the manganese ore berth at the Port of Port Elizabeth.
The disgusting dirt and pollution that the existing ore berth continually pours onto the beaches, houses and apartments of the Port Elizabeth beach front and neighboring suburbs ( Humerail) is causing immeasurable harm to the buildings but more importantly the people of the Nelson Mandela Bay area, greatly limiting the tourism potential of this struggling sector in the City.
We have gone through lengthy processes and meetings in an effort to rid ourselves of this incredibly selfish activity. An activity that has absolutely no place in a built up area never mind the environmental damage that the facility is creating to our beaches and intertidal zone.
The ore berth is an ugly indictment on the personality of our City, a City that has in the past been awarded the cleanest city in South Africa. I have no doubt that if the judging authorities were able to access the ore berth the accolade would never have been awarded.
No, we cannot allow the re-issuing of this license, either here in the Port of Port Elizabeth nor for that matter at the new and environmentally sound Coega harbour / Port of Nqura.
We beseech you to please listen to reason and refuse the renewal of this licence no matter what the financial implication are in the short term. The long term damage that these emmissions will do to our environment and tourism potential are in-calculable.
Yours sincerely,
Alan Fogarty