Category: Press Releases

The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) shows its full support to Nature Trust Malta in the organisation of guided snorkelling tours in Malta’s coastal waters. The Authority believes that snorkelling has the potential to enhance public participation in the conservation of marine biodiversity when developed within an environmental education framework.  Nature Trust Malta’ guided snorkelling tours will provide the opportunity for the public to gain a better understanding of the diversity of habitats and species associated with the marine environment and thus raise awareness on the need for marine conservation.

Snorkel trails are an effective tool for developing ecological awareness across the public and enhance public participation in management processes. The importance of engaging the public in conservation efforts in the marine environment is duly acknowledged by the recently published ‘Conservation Objectives & Measures for Malta’s Marine Natura 2000 sites’, which document is currently undergoing a public consultation process. Within this context, one of the conservation measures in coastal Marine Protected Areas seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of current snorkel trails through survey questionnaires, and if necessary, consider creation of new ones.

The guided snorkelling that will be organised by Nature Trust Malta this year will be paving the way for long-term maintenance of snorkel trails in our coastal waters. This will aim to raise awareness on the importance of the marine environment and contribute to conservation efforts within Marine Protected Areas in Maltese waters. This initiative will be taken forward through collaboration between Nature Trust Malta, Ambjent Malta, ERA.

To mark the launch of these guided snorkel trails a male loggerhead turtle named Paul has been released.  The turtle was rescued in May 2021 near Filfla and was found to have ingested a hook. Following an operation and rehabilitation it has made a full recovery was strong enough to be released.

More information on MPAs:

Eighteen (18) Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) covering over 4100km2 or 35% of Malta’s Fisheries Management Zone were designated throughout a period of ten years 2008-2018. The MPAs were designated in accordance with legal obligations of the EU Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC and the Birds Directive 2009/147/EC. These areas seek the conservation of various seabed habitats, including Posidonia meadows, sandbanks, reefs and caves, as well as marine species including dolphins, turtles and seabirds.

The public consultation:

The public consultation is open until the 5^th of September 2021, ERA encourages the public to have a say in this management process through the public consultation processes.

Further information can be obtained through here.

5 August 2021

The Environment and Resources Authority held a meeting in public on a proposal which consists of the construction of a new access road, land reclamation for a terminal station at the Delimara Power Station, onshore microtunneling across the Delimara Peninsula and the laying of an offshore pipeline to Gela in Sicily.

In 2017, ERA had requested an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in accordance with the then Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2007 (LN 114 of 2007, as amended) and an Appropriate Assessment (AA) in accordance with the Flora, Fauna and Natural Habitats Regulations (S.L. 549.44) in view of its location within the three Natura 2000 sites.

Given the project’s transboundary nature, consultation for the purposes of the Convention on the Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, and its First and Second Amendments were also carried out with Italy.

The EIA Report was submitted to ERA on 28th February 2020 and assessed. ERA’s assessment takes into account the conclusions of the EIA Report, as well as the comments received from the public concerned following a 30-day public consultation.

The main points of concern relate to the impacts on the natural cliffs due to rock cutting from the proposed construction of the new access road, coastal land uptake mainly due to the land reclamation component, visual amenity in relation to the construction of the terminal facility and on geology due to trenching and dredging works. In terms of ecology, the assessment identified impacts on benthic species due to excavation and trenching and installation of pipeline support structures and cable crossing structures; and impacts on terrestrial protected shrub species from interventions on the cliff face. In relation to avifauna, the assessment identifies illumination impacts from working vessels and the terminal facility. The impact significance of each environmental parameter depends largely on the thorough implementation of pre-emptive safeguards, construction and operational mitigation measures, namely the use of silt curtain and suction dredger, air bubble screens, monitoring during construction (weathering rates in tunnel; rock stability; injured bird species and artefacts) oil spill prevention and response plans; and transplanting and monitoring of benthic assemblages.

In light of the findings of the assessment and overall considerations, ERA does not object to the proposal as long as the various mitigation measures proposed in the EIA and AA Reports, are duly incorporated into the mainstream development consent mechanism and mitigated by means of conditions and specifications (e.g. approved documents) in the development permit.

The Final Assessment was referred to the ERA Board for a decision in public in line with the EIA Regulations (S.L. 549.46). The decision taken by the ERA Board on 23rd July 2021 was that the Final Assessment put forward was being agreed to and a vote in favour was taken.

23 July 2021

All permits are available from this link or by logging into ERIS (for 2021 cases)

Decisions taken by ERA Board in sitting of the 9th July 2021

Decisions taken by Environment Resources Directorate

In 2017, ERA had requested an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in accordance with the then Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2007 (LN 114 of 2007 as amended). Following the submission and review of the EIA Report, ERA issued its Assessment and Recommendations along with the development conditions in August 2018.

The Planning Authority’s decision on the development consent was appealed by third parties before the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal (EPRT) (Appeal No 149/19). The EPRT decision upheld limitedly the third party appeal and referred the acts back to the ERA for resubmission of the EIA Report, following which ERA requested the applicant to rectify the situation in accordance with the said Decision, and to resubmit the EIA Report. In this regard, the EIA Report was resubmitted to ERA on 15 February 2021 and assessed. This assessment takes into account the conclusions of the EIA Report, as well as the comments received from the public concerned following a 30-day public consultation and a public hearing.

The main points of concern relate to impacts on land use, landscape character and visual amenity, mainly due to the proposed construction of the residential clusters in the western part of the island, with their associated increase in urban mass and density. In addition, impacts on cultural heritage features, both terrestrial and underwater, have been identified, mainly due to the potential risk of removal of or disturbance to unknown heritage features, and due to vibrations generated during excavation works. In terms of emissions, increased emissions of particulate matter from vehicular traffic during operations are envisaged for the area of the Gżira promenade, which would require the implementation of a green travel plan. With respect to ecological features, this assessment sets forward the need for proper safeguards with respect to the protected marine species, including the proper phasing of marine works, the use of silt curtains and the complete avoidance of vessels and barges passing in the vicinity of the area in which the protected Maltese top shell (Steromphala nivosa) was recorded, together with monitoring of water and sediment quality and the biological attributes during all phases of the development.

In the light of the findings of the assessment and overall considerations, and taking into account the context of the area and the Development Brief (Government of Malta, 1992) for the site in subject, ERA does not object to the proposal from an environmental point of view. The Authority however, put forward that waste management (including the processing of dredged material), landscaping and the architectural design of the proposed building clusters are considered as reserved matters.

The Final Assessment was referred to the ERA Board for a decision in public in line with the EIA Regulations (S.L. 549.46). The ERA Board voted in favour on the 04^th June 2021 whilst also taking note of a request to provide facilities for education on biodiversity in the area which will necessitate further evaluation at a later stage.

5 June 2021

The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) received an application for a variation to the existing permit for the Central Link Project which included the removal of two Ficus trees in Triq Nutar Zarb, Attard.

During the processing of this application, ERA asked for justifications from Infrastructure Malta for this request for variation. Whilst IM stated that the removal of the trees in question was needed due to the necessity of an exit lane, IM also provided expert advice that the trees could not be transplanted and had to be removed as the extent of services within the roots structure is extensive and that any attempt to transplant the trees would be fruitless as the root structure will be impacted irreparably.

The Directorate evaluated the proposed application for variation of permit taking into account the information which was provided and the case was put forward for consideration by ERA Board on the 7th May 2021. The ERA Board referred back the application to the Directorate so the applicant submits to the ERA alternative layouts which would avoid the removal of the trees in question. On 18th May, IM replied to this request by stating that it cannot be considered since the proposed design are the result of a Road Safety Audit and hence alternative options were not possible, hence both trees had to be removed for road user safety.

The ERA Board considered the submission by the expert engaged by the applicant and documentation stating that no alternative layouts are possible in view of road safety standards and granted the permit on 21st May.

28 May 2021

In 2015, the Fort Cambridge project was assessed to qualify for the submission an Environmental Planning Statement (EPS) in accordance with the former Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2007 (S.L. 549.46). Following the submission and review of the EIA Report, ERA issued its Assessment and Recommendations along with the development conditions in July 2018.

In 2020, a revised version of the development was submitted by the project proponents. Subsequently, ERA requested a statement from the EIA Coordinator who carried out the EIA Report for the original development proposal to confirm or otherwise whether the proposed material changes vis-à-vis the downscaling of the project are likely to change any of the findings and conclusions of the EIA carried out for the proposal.

The said documentation was followed up by further assessment by ERA. This assessment takes into account the conclusions of the EIA consultants’ updated evaluation of the proposal as part of the Environment Impact Assessment process, including any relevant ancillary documentation as well as the comments received from the public concerned following a 30-day public consultation.

Following the assessment of the updated documentation on the EIA and its own assessment, ERA agreed with the EIA Coordinator’s conclusion that the overall level of significance of the environmental impacts from the 2020 proposal remain unchanged.

In this regard, ERA reiterated its position and conditions outlined on the original proposal. In conclusion ERA set forward the requirement for the implementation of green transport initiatives, aimed at reducing noise impacts from traffic generated during operations, and the inclusion of measures (e.g. vertical screens), to address localised changes in the wind microclimate around the proposed building, in the project design; as well as conditions recommended for inclusion in the development permit.

The decision taken by the ERA Board on 21st May 2021 was that the Final Assessment on the EIA process was being agreed to and a vote in favour was taken such that this is referred to the Planning Authority to be taken into consideration in the final decision on the application development permit.

During the same sitting, the ERA Board also approved an application for an environment permit for an innovative environmentally friendly Hull cleaning and Painting facility at Pieta. Following inspections and communications as part of the application under EP 01075/20, the water used to clean the vessels’ hulls will be filtered and the water reused hence significantly reducing the risk and impact on the surrounding environment.

21 May 2021