The Infotox Toxicology report was due to be delivered to the DEA by close of business 10 April 2017. Despite repeated assertions by EnvrioServ that this report would vindicate them in due course, they have refused to provide a copy to the DEA. This not only constitutes a breach of the compliance notice issued to them but a criminal offence in terms of the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998.
EnviroServ have also released a statement that they have appealed the decision of the DEA in terms of s56 to suspend part of the EnviroServ license which would halt the receipt, treatment and disposal of all waste at the Shongweni Landfill because, amongst other matters, the DEA did not await the very report which EnviroServ now refuses to hand over.
The UHA NPC has not been served with any appeal even though service on them would be necessary to properly note the appeal.
EnviroServ have also publicly stated that the continued receipt of waste is necessary to address the pH and that it has evidence that this is the “core of the odour problem.”
This is entirely misleading.
The Technical Assessment report and accompanying report of Phoenix Engineering received by the UHA NPC after it was disclosed by EnviroServ in response to the UHA NPC submissions filed in the objection process, specifically states that the pH is not the core of the odour problem contrary to what EnviroServ have been misrepresenting.
We quote the below from the Technical report of Phoenix Engineering:
“Exclusion of very high-sulphate wastes would have benefits in the longer term, but attempts to achieve direct pH-value alteration would have to be massive in scale to have any effect, and it would be hard to affect all but a small proportion of the wastes in a short to medium term timescale. We believe that the relatively slight recent reductions in pH values within basal leachates in Valley 2 are a symptom of the problems, rather than their cause”.
The UHA NPC will take every available step to ensure the DEA’s decision is enforced and that the details of the toxicology report which has as its purpose to investigate and report on the health impacts is disclosed.
