Noise Action Plan for Malta

CONSULTATION BRIEF

 Start date: 8 November 2022

Closing date: 19 December 2022

Title of the public consultation: Public Consultation: Noise Action Plan for Malta

Ministry: Ministry for Environment, Energy and Enterprise (MEEE)

Entity: Environment & Resources Authority (ERA)

1. Background

In terms of Article 51 of the Environment Protection Act (Cap. 549), it is duly notified that the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA), in collaboration with the Ministry for Environment, Energy and Enterprise (MEEE), has prepared a Noise Action Plan (NAP) in accordance with the requirements of Environmental Noise Directive 2002/49/EC (END) relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise.

The NAP is designed to address the management of environmental noise affecting the Malta agglomeration from transport noise including road and air, together with industrial noise as well as Major Roads across the Maltese Islands. Noise as a nuisance and environmental noise pollution are different and are not interchangeable. It is continuous long-term exposure to noise that exceeds a limit that harms the environment that is considered as pollution.

The NAP is planned to:

  • Provide an overview of the requirements and obligations of the national regulations transposing the END, the Assessment and Management of Environment Noise Regulations (S.L. 549.37).
  • Present a summary of the results of the round 3 strategic noise maps within Malta.
  • Present actions, which ERA intends to take in the next five years.

The NAP has the following objectives:

  1. To outline a long-term plan aiming to avoid, prevent and reduce environmental noise, where necessary, and particularly where exposure levels can induce harmful effects on human health and preserving environmental noise quality where it is good.
  2. To set out objectives for the monitoring and management of environmental noise in Malta.
  3. To take a staged approach on a prioritised basis due to long-term exposure to environmental noise, in assessing the existing levels of environmental noise from the different noise sources to identify potential locations for actions.
  4. To preserve relatively quiet areas in the agglomeration and in open countryside through the identification and delineation of such areas.

2. Consultation

The public is invited to submit any feedback or comments on this plan.

3. Documents

 Draft Noise Action Plan – Malta Agglomeration 2019 – 2024

 Report on comments submitted during Intent and Objectives stage

 4. Submission of feedback

Comments will be received by email on [email protected] by 19 December 2022.

5. Further notes

Please be informed that comments submitted, together with the identity of the contributor, may be published online at the end of the public consultation, unless the contributor objects to the publication of his/her personal data. In this case, the contribution may be published in anonymous form.

All comments submitted shall be duly considered.