Environmental Assessment
Volume B-4.2
Mine
Fauna
Ambatovy Project
238
January 2006
potential for these chemicals to bio-accumulate within wetlands plant tissue
(Volume B, Section 4.1) and be ingested by herbivore species, which in turn may
be prey to other species. Although water quality parameters may exceed South
African guidelines, particularly for chromium, levels are within human drinking
water guidelines (Volume B, Section 3.9). Thus, concentrations will likely be
too low to cause any adverse effects. These effects will be local in extent and
occur continuously over the life of the project. Therefore, the water quality
changes are predicted to result in a low environmental consequence to
amphibians and negligible for other species.
Prediction Confidence
Prediction confidence for potential impacts to faunal health as a result of changes
in air and water quality is medium. Modelled water quality parameters can be
well predicted to be below drinking water guidelines. The main reason for the
uncertainty is the lack of information in the literature regarding effects of these
chemicals on fauna.
Monitoring
The proponent is committed to monitoring the abiotic and biotic environment,
particularly within the on-site conservation areas. Water quality monitoring will
be conducted throughout the life of the project to ensure that operational controls
are achieved and that impacts on downstream concentrations are minimized.
Summaries of project-specific air and water controls are presented in the Air
Quality (Volume B, Section 3.4) and Water Quality (Volume B, Section 3.9)
sections. Periodic faunal monitoring in the conservation areas, including
amphibian surveys will be conducted to observe the health of the population to
ensure that operational controls are protecting the surrounding areas.
Conclusions
Impacts to faunal health are predicted to be negligible to low as a result of
changes in air and water quality. Increases in some heavy metal concentrations
are predicted for the mine area, but they are within human drinking water
guidelines and are not predicted to adversely affect faunal populations. Source
contaminants in water will be monitored along with mobile equipment
maintenance to ensure ambient levels do not create adverse effects. In addition,
amphibian populations will be monitored along with vegetation and abiotic
environmental parameters to observe the health of the natural systems, as another
indicator of performance.
