Alternative site proposed NST 17th Jan 2006

Alternative site proposed


PUTRAJAYA, Jan 17:

The environmental impact assessment (EIA) document on the proposed Broga incinerator, now on public display till Feb 28, reveals that an alternative site for the project is being considered for its benefits in terms of reducing soil loss and slope erosion.

The alternative site lies between Sungai Saringgit and Sungai Rinching on gentler terrain, whereas the original site was on hilly slopes north of Sungai Saringgit.

The project will use up 39.7ha of land compared to the 166ha in the original site. Because of gentler terrain, only 2.4ha of slopes face erosion risk in the new site, compared to 13.3ha at the old one.

The document notes that sloping areas to be developed will be reduced by 82 per cent and require only 531,000 cubic metres of soil to be excavated. The original site required 4,270,000 cubic metres to be dug up.

Less cutting and filling of slopes would be necessary, and there would be a lower risk of slope failure.

"There are significant positive implications for soil erosion and sediment control ... (the new site) will generate 76.8 per cent less soil loss over earthworks, and shorten the earthworks period from 14 months to five months."

The document is called "Addendum to the Detailed EIA on Thermal Treatment Plant for Solid Waste Management in Broga, Semenyih, Hulu Langat".

It is an addition to the original detailed EIA, which was approved on May 28, 2004. The Department of Environment requested the addendum after receiving feedback that more attempts to minimise environmental impacts be looked into.

The addendum was to have been removed from public scrutiny on Jan 5 but is now on further display at all DOE libraries until Feb 28 following appeals by Broga residents yesterday.

The bad news is that the document appears to predict that average soil loss after project completion would be roughly 5.6 tonnes per hectare per year.

Most of this soil run-off would flow into Sungai Rinching, which the report did not deem to be of "beneficial use" compared to Sungai Saringgit, which flows into aquaculture farms downstream.

Sungai Rinching was also noted to be a faster-flowing river and hence, having a higher dilution rate for pollutants to aid in the recovery of the river system.

However, the report notes that soil loss will still be significant due to the removal of vegetation cover and loosening of soil, especially during the first few months of earthworks.

Mitigating measures during construction, such as building sediment ponds, silt traps, run-off drains, culverts and re-vegetation of slopes must be undertaken, the report said.