Astronomy Geographic Advantage Act, 2007 (Act No. 21 of 2007)RegulationsProtection of the Karoo Central Astronomy Advantage Areas in terms of the Astronomy Geographic Advantage Act, 2007Schedule D-Regulations restricting interference due to electrical activities within the Karoo central astronomy advantage area 17. Procedures to resolve radio frequency interference |
In the event that radio frequency interference is caused by electrical infrastructure or electrical equipment exempted from the possession of a permit in terms of sub-regulations 3(3), 3(4) or 3(5) of these Schedule D Regulations or by electrical infrastructure or electrical equipment for which a permit has been issued, due to errors or accuracy limitations in the calculations to determine the separation distances, the following criteria and procedures shall apply—
| (1) | The management authority must request a detailed measurement report on the actual electromagnetic interference levels based on the applicable SANS measurement standards, or a different applicable standard as determined by the management authority, with supporting documentation, to be provided to the management authority by the person in possession of the infrastructure or electrical equipment. |
| (2) | If the person who possesses the electrical infrastructure or electrical equipment is not able to provide the report, then the management authority must, at the cost of the permit holder for the infrastructure or electrical equipment, arrange for the measurements to be done in order to determine to what extent the applicable protection level prescribed in the Protection Levels Regulations, 2012, is exceeded. |
| (3) | The electromagnetic interference must be reduced to below the applicable protection level prescribed in the Protection Levels Regulations, 2012, by establishing the required separation distance determined according to regulation 6 of these Schedule D Regulations or by implementing appropriate mitigation measures around the source of the radio frequency interference. |
| (4) | When the radio frequency interference situation has been resolved and the required conditions determined, a permit must be issued by the management authority in which the conditions for the ongoing operation of the electrical infrastructure or electrical equipment are specified. |
| (5) | The person who incurred the cost to generate the radio frequency interference report may recover that cost, to the extent that it can be verified as applicable and reasonable, from the management authority in the event that the particular electrical infrastructure or equipment under consideration was wrongfully identified as the source of the radio frequency interference. |
| (6) | If it is found that existing electrical equipment and infrastructure is causing radio frequency interference, then any cost for generating interference reports shall be borne by the management authority which shall carry out or arrange the required measurements. |