Environmental Management

In today's ever-changing environment it is difficult for projects and operations from all sectors to keep track of the most important and relevant environmental strategies, processes, and legislation. Our qualified team of environmental managers, scientists and consultants can provide well-researched, sustainable, and practical advice for all phases of a project and ensure legal compliancy.

Our research-based approach to environmental management has given us the ability to resolve issues which are found nationally and internationally, between operational processes and environmental management strategies.

E-TEK specialises in rehabilitation and closure planning for mining and industrial operations.  We integrate environmental management and engineering aspects, including:

Environmental Planning and Management:

• Project Management and assistance with onsite environmental coordination. 

• Development of closure plans and providing guidance to ensure integrated mine closure and rehabilitation planning.

• Rehabilitation and closure planning related training and workshops. 

• ​Post-mining land use plans to assist clients to plan beyond closure. Land use plans assist in optimising land use and capability - taking site constraints, regional context, and stakeholder expectations into consideration. 

• ​Compilation of Environmental Management Plans (EMPs) and Biodiversity Management Plans (BMPs) to assist with the prevention and management of reasonably avoidable adverse impacts to the environment and biodiversity.

Environmental Studies and Rehabilitation:

• General rehabilitation planning and restoration of ecosystem services.

• Development and design of rehabilitation trials to ensure long-term successful planning for closure and rehabilitation.

• Research and management of woody plant densities (bush encroachment) to assist with the restoration of degraded areas. 

• Terrestrial plant species identification and quantification.

• Veld management planning to assist with the successful management of resources.

• Invasive Plant Control to assist with the establishment of native species and the protection of habitat resources necessary for these species to thrive.

Environmental Analysis, Monitoring and Reporting:

• Risk assessments done as part of a risk-based approach towards mine closure planning.

• Identification of gaps for the compilation of action plans which assists with the improvement of accuracy of documentation and closure liability estimates.

• State of the Environment Reports (SOER) as part of research and understanding the surrounding environment to successfully plan for mine closure.

• Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) to identify the environmental implications of a specific project and assist with decision-making related to the project.

• Landscape Function Analysis (LFA) to monitor the success of rehabilitation trials and adapt accordingly.

• Biomonitoring to observe and assess changes occurring in ecosystems and ensure preventative measures are set in place for negative impacts.

• Environmental auditing (performance assessment) as part of being compliant with applicable legislation.

• Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) as part of evaluating environmental and socio-economic impacts of a proposed project.

• Basic Assessments (BA) as part of the EIA process to ensure successful project planning and implementation.

E-TEK apply scientific and engineering principles to evaluate possible environmental impacts and develop mitigation measures and successful solutions.

E-TEK services that form part of Environmental Monitoring includes Alien and Invasive Species Monitoring, Biodiversity Monitoring, Biomonitoring and Ecological Function Monitoring and Vegetation Monitoring.

Alien and invasive species monitoring

Utilizing the latest GIS technology E-TEK’s specialist team can provide a comprehensive overview of site geology and hydrogeological aspects.

This includes the classification of aquifers that may be present, determining regional groundwater levels and flow paths, possible geological features present i.e., Faults and Dikes, water sources and topography.

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From these studies E-TEK’s specialist team can assist with:

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• Aquifer Classification

• Vulnerability assessments

• Data interpretation

• Establishing Groundwater flow directions

Biodiversity monitoring

In a general sense the quality of groundwater should be safe to dink, however it could be affected by the underground environment and other anthropogenic factors.

The monitoring of groundwater quality and quantity is thus important to ensure the water is suitable for its specific purpose and is utilized sustainably. E-TEK’s specialist team can assist with:

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• Monitoring of seasonal water level and quality fluctuations for any borehole.

• Water quality testing through a SANS accredited laboratory

• Groundwater quality assessment

• Groundwater flow predictions

• Establishing of Wellhead protection zones

Bio-monitoring and ecological functioning monitoring

​​E-TEK facilitates Land Function Analysis (LFA) studies. LFA is defined as a monitoring procedure that uses rapidly acquired field-assessed indicators to assess the biogeochemical functioning of landscapes at the hillslope scale.

The LFA method is used assess and track the degradation or recovery of landscapes. Monitoring of the functional status of landscapes was achieved by creating indices based on simple field indicators that reflect the measurable variables of surface stability, water infiltration capacity and nutrient cycling. This method seeks to link vegetation structure and organization with soil function and the development of habitat for mammals.​​