IMBEWU Team

Michael Vermaak: Senior Environmental Legal Consultant

Michael Vermaak BSc (Honours) LLB

Specialities: Mining & Industrial Legal Compliance Evaluation/Audit, Risk Assessments, Water Law, Authorisation Processes, Safety, Health and Environmental Legal Registers, Legal Awareness Training

Michael Vermaak holds a BSc (Honours) degree in plant sciences and geography and an LLB degree and has practised as an attorney specialising in environmental law for over twelve years (he is currently a Consultant at Warburton Attorneys). He has also had exposure to environmental consulting, a background reinforces his interest in the practical application and implications of environmental law and the challenges of achieving and sustaining compliance in the highly fragmented South African environmental legal regime.

Michael's areas of practice specifically focus on all aspects mining and industrial environmental legal compliance, including environmental permitting licensing and authorisation processes. He has conducted numerous environmental legal compliance audits, evaluations, reviews, risk assessments and other similar exercises for both mining and industrial companies (having undertaken comprehensive environmental legal compliance evaluations at over 40 sizeable industrial and mining operations in South Africa, together with numerous follow-up evaluations). Recent matters he has assisted in include applications for rectification in terms of section 24G of the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998, appeals against decisions on environmental authorisation (EIA) applications and to the Water Tribunal against a directive in terms of section 19 of the National Water Act 36 of 1998, advising on acid mine drainage issues, advising on contaminated land issues for purposes of a due diligence investigation and advising on various mining, EIA, waste licensing, and air emission licensing issues. Michael has also presented training workshops and presentations on a range of environmental legal issues and has assisted clients in successfully opposing inappropriate developments and mining operations.

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