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Public Review Documents for proposed Contamination Containment Wall in the PE Harbour

Shell South Africa (Pty) Ltd (Shell) operates within a shared fuel storage facility adjacent to the Port Elizabeth (PE) Harbour, Eastern Cape Province. In June 2008, Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), the landowner of the PE Harbour, detected a light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) contamination at the Dom Pedro Quay in the Harbour. It was identified that this hydrocarbon plume has migrated through the underlying sediments, beneath the existing quay wall and into the sediments and water of the harbour, resulting in negative impacts on the receiving environment.

In order for the plume to be mitigated and managed, it has been recommended that a contamination containment or concrete retaining wall be constructed 2.5 m from the foot of the existing quay wall foundations within the Dom Pedro Quay. The proposed wall has been designed to be 150m long by 4.5m high and 200mm wide and will penetrate to a minimum depth of 1.2m below spring low tide. The primary function of the proposed wall will be to assist in containing the oil and preventing it from further migration into the harbour. Furthermore, it is envisaged that the contamination containment wall will assist recovery of the product during remediation of the contaminant plume.

We are pleased to make available by download for public review 4 key documents relating to this proposal:

•  Basic Assessment Report
•  Draft Environmental Management Plan
•  Waste Licence Application
  
•  Public Participation Process Report