Seismic Surveys reaches the Parliament agenda

June 2018

The Minister of Environmental Affairs recently responded to a Parliamentary Question related to reconnaissance permits/seismic surveys without environmental authorisation. It seems that DEA has committed to ensuring that seismic surveys are a included as a listed activity, requiring environmental authorisation. The final sentence of the Minister’s response is ‘Currently reconnaissance, which includes seismic activities is not covered under the EIA regulations and a process between PASA, DEA and DMR to list this activity is underway’. A tiny bit of hopeful news.