082 571 1425 nsmoodley@ksec.co.za

Our Services

Basic Assessments [BA]
Environmental Impact Assessment means a systematic process of identifying, assessing and reporting environmental impacts associated with an activity and includes Basic Assessment and S&EIR. BA’s specifically are undertaken for project activities that are included in Listing Notice 1 and 3 of the EIA Regulations. Impacts of these activities are generally more known and can often be mitigated or easily managed. The BA presents the proposed project and the need for the project, describes the affected environment at a sufficient level of detail to facilitate informed decision-making. It provides an overview of the BA process being followed, including public consultation and assesses the predicted positive and negative impacts of the project on the environment. It provides recommendations to avoid or mitigate negative impacts and to enhance the positive benefits of the project and provides an Environmental Management Programme [EMPr] for the proposed project.
Scoping and Environmental Impact Assessments [S&EIA]
Environmental Impact Assessment means a systematic process of identifying, assessing and reporting environmental impacts associated with an activity and includes basic assessment and S&EIR. S&EIA specifically is conducted to analyse and predict the nature and extent of the consequences of a particular activity or development [listed in Listing Notice 2] on the receiving environment, as well as the socio-economic conditions and cultural heritage. It facilitates informed and environmentally sound decision making and assesses alternatives and possible mitigation measures. Regulations have been promulgated in terms of NEMA that identify three lists of activities which may not commence without an environmental authorisation from the competent authority. These regulations stipulate who may conduct EIAs, what EIAs must consist of, the decision-making criteria and timelines, public participation requirements and the procedure for lodging appeals against decisions taken. EIAs must be conducted by Environmental Assessment Practitioners [EAP].
Water Use Licence Applications [WULA]
Section 21 of the National Water Act requires any activity occurring within a watercourse, within the 1:100 flood-line of any watercourse and/or within 500m of the boundary of any wetland is required to be registered and licensed. There are eleven different categories for which licensing is required.
Waste Management Licence Applications [WML]
is needed if one has to operate on a landfill, store other people’s waste, treat waste, carry out recycling or use a mobile plant or carry out final disposal of waste. The process to obtain a WML entails an application in the form of a BA or S&EIA.
Strategic Environmental Assessments [SEA]
is an environmental assessment that is carried out on one or more strategic actions, policies, plans or programmes. SEAs help planners understand what will happen to an area if there are different land uses. It will try to provide information and analysis on the consequences of different actions and their environmental impacts in the short, medium and long term.
Screening Assessments
EIA regulations only apply to certain types of developments and where a developer or Applicant needs to confirm the need for environmental assessment, a scan of the listed activities and all relevant legislation is conducted in order to advise the need for, and level of assessment.
Quick scan screenings, environmental legislative reviews and advisory services
EIA regulations only apply to certain types of developments and where a developer or Applicant needs to confirm the need for environmental assessment, a scan of the listed activities and all relevant legislation is conducted in order to advise the need for, and level of assessment.
Conduct and project manage tree and shrub removal / pruning permits

Tree and shrub removal / pruning permits are obtained from the Department of Forestry and Fisheries [DAFF]. These entail ecological site assessments and reporting, the completion of application forms and in some cases, a plan for off-sets.

Environmental Management Programmes [EMPr]

facilitates the appropriate controls during all phases of a project, to minimise environmental damage, arising from the implementation of the project during construction and operational phases. EMPrs make recommendations for the planning and design and specify the limitations the contractor must abide by during construction. It specifies the framework within which the contractor must carry out operations. The EMPr provides a clear indication of the responsibilities for environmental management requirements by each of the role players involved in the construction and operational phases of development. EMPrs provide assurance to regulators and stakeholders that their requirements with respect to environmental and socio-economic performance will be met and provide a framework for compliance auditing and inspection programmes.

Conduct environmental compliance audits [Environmental Control Officer – ECO]
evaluates an organisation, individual and/or site’s environmental performance and environmental management practices against legal and other requirements such as an Environmental Authorisation or Environmental Management Programme [EMPr]. The audit assesses the nature and extent of any impact/risk on the environment associated with an industrial or construction activity, waste, substance or noise. Once an impact has been identified the independent Environmental Control Officer conducting the audit recommends mitigative measures to reduce and/or prevent the identified impact/risk to the environment.  An environmental compliance audit constitutes a systematic, documented evaluation and verification process to determine how well an organisation manages its environmental performance and complies with legislation and license conditions.
Development of Terms of References for studies
This entails the write up of how a specialist should conduct and report on an assessment and complies with Appendix 6 of the EIA Regulations.
Client, stakeholder, public and authority consultation and liaison – providing a means of communication between all parties involved.
Facilitation of communication between all parties involved in a project via emails, meetings or telephonic discussions.
Develop other technical reports [e.g. Construction Method Statements/ Spill Contingency Plans]
Development of technical reports in compliance with relevant regulations and legislation, and in support of other reports.
Management and coordination of specialists [sub-consultants]
Managing and organising the various specialists involved in environmental management processes.
Development of Terms of References for specialist
Specific to project objectives providing the purpose and structure of a project with respect to each specialist
Conduct and manage public participation processes
This is the deliberate process of involving interested and affected citizens, civil society organisations and government actors are involved in decision making processes.
Presentations to colleagues and peers on environmental management topics

Conducting presentations and talks to colleagues on various topics related to environmental management and science.

Project Management
Involves the practice of initiating, planning, executing, controlling and closing the work of a team to achieve specific goals and meet specific success criteria at the specified time.
Review of technical reports [BAR, EIAR, EMPr etc.]
Reviewing and analysing the Basic Assessment Reports and Environmental Management Programmes etc.
KsEC’s Client base includes:

  • eThekwini Municipality
  • City of uMhlatuze
  • Arup
  • SMEC South Africa
  • Iyer Urban Design Studio
  • Private Developers
  • Msunduzi Municipality
  • Amathole District Municipality
  • Institute for Natural Resources
  • Amajuba Municipality

Projects KsEC are involved in:

  • The eThekwini Municipality Strategic Environmental Assessment (Phase 1)
  • The City of Johannesburg Environmental Sustainability Strategy  and Action Plan
  • The Ntakama Access Road BA and WULA (Ubuhlebezwe Local Municipality)
  • D1001 Upgrades BA and WULA
  • Gumede Bhodla Road BA and WULA (Umdoni Local Municipality)
  • The Stanger City Hall and Office Development BA and WULA (KwaDukuza Local Municipality)
  • The Babanango Travelers Camp BA (Zululand)
  • The Madwaleni Lodge BA (Madwaleni)
  • The Ubuhlebezwe Housing Development Environmental Screening
  • Eastern Cape Forestry EIA and WULA (several sites)
  • Mayors Walk improvements/ upgrades BA and WULA – Winston Road to Bridge Road Basic Assessment
  • The Umhlatuze Waterfront Bridge Design Environmental Screening – exploration, concept and implementation
  • The eThekwini Industrial Revitalisation Plan, New Germany, Jacobs and Prospecton
  • The Residential Rebuild at 22 Ocean Terrace BA
  • The Solandra WULA (eThekwini)
  • The Amajuba Environmental Management Framework
  • The Eastern Cape Ludidi and Njujini Forestry Environmental Impact Assessments and Water Use Licence Applications
  • The Electronic Cemetery Waste Management Interpretation Query
  • The eThekwini Municipality Inner City Transport Plan
  • The eThekwini Municipality Hillstreet Transport Plan