NMP Sandpiper Marine Phosphate Mining Issues and Commenting Periods

As many of you know marine phosphate mining is not allowed anywhere in the world and this would be the first in the whole world. Throughout the consultation process of the Sandpiper project, experts on the marine and terrestrial ecosystems have stated that there is sufficient evidence that there are threats of serious or irreversible damage to the environment if the Sandpiper Project were allowed to proceed. 

From the marine side, dredging of this nature will permanently destroy portions of the ocean floor which maintain the building blocks of the entire marine ecosystem. Small wildlife live there called meio and micro fauna, but studies on these species have not been conducted. In other words, species which have not even been identified yet will be killed off before we know them. There will be serious habitat destruction and sediment plumes which will threaten all life in the marine environment, including commercial fish stocks and the people that rely on these stocks being sustainable for their livelihood. Our Benguela Current ecosystem is well known as one of the richest marine ecosystems in the entire world due to the diversity of marine life that call it home. This ecosystem is a gift that has proven to support sustainable industry and jobs over the long term. Are we really prepared to destroy this for the short term gain of just an elite few?

On the land, the NMP project is looking to operate in two National Parks as well as inside of a municipal area to store and transport their heavy industrial waste full of radioactive and poisonous materials. This waste will remain on land, as dust in our air and in our underground water and marine environment long after the NMP closes it's doors. How will we handle this waste? How will the children and the environment suffer now and in the long term? Is it really our right to make a decision that will affect many generations negatively long into the future?

This project will certainly be at the detriment to the people and environment now and in the future. We should not be prepared to destroy it for a short lived unsustainable mining industry that will make a foreign company and a select few rich while destroying the natural riches of our country.

Please make it known that this project will be at a cost to the environment and society which you are not prepared to pay. Please go to http://www.envirod.com/ to view the two reports and PLEASE make comments on the two separate components as follows:

1. NMP Sandpiper project Final EIA Report for the Marine Component (17 April 2012). Comments due directly to the Environmental Commissioner, Mr. Teofilus Nghitila by email to tnghitila@yahoo.com or by fax to +264 61 240 339 by the end of Tuesday 24 April 2012. For further information please contact the Environmental Commissioner's office by phone at +264 61 284 2751.

2. Draft Scoping Report NMP Terrestrial Component (10 April 2012). Comments due to the consultants for the proponent, Enviro Dynamics Carla Saayman via fax: (061) 307-437 or e-mail: carla@envirod.com by the end of Wednesday 25 April 2012.