A particularly important component of the NEMA Authorisation process is Public and Authority consultation.

It is the Environmental Assessment Practitioner’s (EAP) task to compile a comprehensive report containing details of the investigation, recommendations and conditions and present this to interested and affected parties in order to identify any additional issues as a result of the proposal.

Such issues must be addressed and presented again to those interested and affected parties that chose to participate. Once the EAP is satisfied that all the identified issues had been addressed, the report plus proof of public consultation can be submitted to the Authorities for decision making.

It must be noted that in terms of the Protection of Personal Information Act, participating interested and affected parties should be aware that by taking part, they are entering a public process and that their names, comments and objections will be made public.