The Minister of Environmental Affairs has, in terms of sections 19(2)(a) and 19(3)(a) of the NEM:WA amended the list of Waste Management Activities that have or likely to have a detrimental effect on the Environment, published under GNR 921 on 29 November 2013. The list of waste management activities has been amended by the addition of the following waste management activities –
- Category A, activity 15: "The establishment or reclamation of a residue stockpile or residue deposit resulting from activities which require a prospecting right or mining permit, in terms of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (Act No. 28 of 2002)"; and
- Category B, activity: "The establishment or reclamation of a residue stockpile or residue deposit resulting from activities which require a mining right, exploration right or production right in terms of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (Act No. 28 of 2002)".
In terms of the transitional arrangements to the amendments made to the list of waste management activities, an environmental management programme or plan approved in terms of MPRDA is deemed to be approved and issued in terms of the NEM:WA.
Furthermore, the amendments to the list of waste management activities provide that Category C activities, as listed in GNR 921, do not apply to the waste management activities relating to the establishment or reclamation of a residue stockpile or a residue deposit. In other words, the norms and standards applicable to the storage of waste will not find application to the aforesaid activities.
