The submission of sites to the European Commission entails the preparation of a datasheet and a map for each site, that is, for each proposed Site of Community Importance (SCI) and for each Special Protected Area (SPA), unless a proposed SCI has the exact boundary as an SPA; in the latter case only one datasheet is prepared comprising all relevant information.

Reference can be made to the Natura 2000 viewer (including datasheets) and to the Natura 2000 database to obtain information on each Natura 2000 site for European Union Member States. Information for the sites nominated by Malta is also available through these links (depending on update dates). Since a few years ago, submission of information to the European Commission is made through the uploading of the relevant material online; hence the most recent submissions made by Malta are publicly available online. The table below provides quick access to the Standard Data Forms (SDFs) and Maps for Malta’s sites.

It is important to highlight the fact that certain information might be lacking or requires updating in the near future, since through further studies and surveys, additional information, especially with respect to habitat types and species present within selected sites, will be collated. The exercise is considered to be an ongoing process, and as such, relevant information is updated accordingly when necessary. Additionally, selected information is not publicly available in view of its sensitive nature when considering the conservation of the sites/habitats/species in question.

A Reference Portal related to the Natura 2000 dataflow provides the relevant material for the dataflow in question.

Terrestrial Natura 2000 Sites
Standard data forms (SDFs) & maps for terrestrial Natura 2000 sites, designated in Malta:

ERA is currently in the process of updating the Management Plans as well as Standard Data Forms (SDFs) for all Terrestrial Natura 2000 sites. The updated versions will be uploaded on ERA’s website in due course.

Site codeNatura 2000 site nameSDFMap
MT0000001L-Inħawi ta’ Għajn BarraniLinkSAC
MT0000002L-Inħawi ta’ PembrokeLinkSAC
MT0000003Il-Ballut tal-WardijaLinkSAC
MT0000004Il-Maqluba (limiti tal-Qrendi)LinkSAC
MT0000005L-Inħawi tar-RamlaLinkSAC
MT0000006Is-Simar (limiti ta’ San Pawl il-Baħar)LinkSAC / SPA
MT0000007Is-SaliniLinkSAC
MT0000008L-Għadira s-Safra u l-Iskoll tal-GħallisLinkSCI / SAC
MT0000009L-Inħawi tar-Ramla tat-Torri u tal-Irdum tal-MadonnaLinkSAC / SPA
MT0000010Ix-Xagħra tal-KortinLinkSAC
MT0000011Għar DalamLinkSAC
MT0000012Wied il-MiżiebLinkSAC
MT0000013Iċ-ĊittadellaLinkSAC
MT0000014Il-Ballut ta’ MarsaxlokkLinkSAC
MT0000015L-Inħawi tal-GħadiraLinkSAC / SPA
MT0000016Filfla u l-Gżejjer ta’ MadwarhaLinkSAC / SPA
MT0000017Kemmuna u l-Gżejjer ta’ MadwarhaLinkSAC / SPA
MT0000018L-Inħawi tal-Buskett u tal-GirgentiLinkSAC / SPA
MT0000019L-Inħawi tad-Dwejra u tal-Qawra, inkluż Ħaġret il-ĠeneralLinkSAC
MT0000020L-Inħawi tax-Xlendi u tal-Wied tal-KantraLinkSAC
MT0000021L-Inħawi tal-Imġiebaħ u tal-MiġnunaLinkSAC
MT0000022Il-Gżejjer ta' San Pawl (Selmunett)LinkSAC
MT0000023Il-Magħluq tal-Baħar ta’ MarsaskalaLinkSAC
MT0000024Rdumijiet ta' Malta: Ir-Ramla taċ-Ċirkewwa sal-Ponta ta' BengħisaLinkSAC
MT0000025L-Għar tal-Iburdan u l-Inħawi tal-MadwarLinkSAC
MT0000026Il-Qortin tal-Magun u l-Qortin il-KbirLinkSAC
MT0000027Rdumijiet ta' Għawdex: Ta' ĊenċLinkSPA
MT0000028Rdumijiet ta' Għawdex: Id-dawra tas-Sanap sa tal-ĦajtLinkSPA
MT0000029Rdumijiet ta' Għawdex: Il-ponta ta' Ħarrux sal-bajja tax-XlendiLinkSPA
MT0000030Rdumijiet ta' Għawdex: Il-ponta ta' San Dimitri sal-Ponta ta' ĦarruxLinkSPA
MT0000031Rdumijiet ta' Malta: Ix-Xaqqa sa Wied MoqbolLinkSPA
MT0000032Rdumijiet ta' Malta: Ras il-Pellegrin sax-XaqqaLinkSPA
MT0000033Rdumijiet ta' Malta: Wied Moqbol sal-Ponta ta' BengħisaLinkSPA
MT0000034L-Inħawi ta' Ta' ĊenċLinkSAC
MT0000035L-Inħawi ta’ Ħas-SaptanLinkSCI
MT0000036L-Inħawi tal-WejLinkSCI
MT0000037Wied il-Mielaħ u l-inħawi tal-madwarLinkSCI / SPA

​

Standard data forms (SDFs) & maps for marine Natura 2000 sites, designated in Malta:

Site codeNatura 2000 site nameSDFMap
MT0000101Żona fil-Baħar bejn Rdum Majjiesa u Għar LapsiLinkSAC
MT0000102Żona fl-inħawi ta' Għar Lapsi u ta' FilflaLinkSAC
MT0000103Żona fil-Baħar fl-Inħawi tad-Dwejra (Għawdex)LinkSAC
MT0000104Żona fil-Baħar bejn il-Ponta tal-Ħotba u Tal-Fessej (Għawdex)LinkSAC
MT0000105Żona fil-Baħar bejn il-Ponta ta’ San Dimitri (Għawdex) u il-QalietLinkSAC
MT0000106Żona fil-Baħar fit-TramuntanaLinkSPA
MT0000107Żona fil-Baħar tal-GrigalLinkSPA
MT0000108Żona fil-Baħar fil-lvantLinkSPA
MT0000109Żona fil-Baħar fix-XlokkLinkSPA
MT0000110Żona fil-Baħar fin-NofsinharLinkSPA
MT0000111Żona fil-Baħar fil-lbiċLinkSPA
MT0000112Żona fil-Baħar Madwar GħawdexLinkSPA
MT0000113Żona fil-Baħar fil-PunentLinkSAC
MT0000114Żona fil-Baħar fil-MajjistralLinkSPA
MT0000115Żona fil-Baħar fl-Inħawi tal-Graben tat-Tramuntana ta’ GħawdexLinkSAC
MT0000116Żona fil-Baħar fl-Inħawi tal-Graben ta’ MedinaLinkSAC
MT0000117Żona fil-Baħar fl-Inħawi tal-Punet tal-Graben ta’ MaltaLinkSAC
MT0000118Żona fil-Baħar fl-Inħawi tal-Majjistral tal-Graben ta’ MaltaLinkSAC

​​​​Links to shapefiles of the Maltese Natura 2000 sites:

Other links

​

Each Member State of the European Union has the obligation, under the EC Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), of contributing to the creation of the Natura 2000 network. This must be in proportion to the Member State’s representation within its territory of the natural habitat types and the habitats of species specified in the Annexes of this Directive; the selected sites are referred to as Sites of Community Importance (SCIs). In addition to this, the EC Birds Directive (2009/147/EC) requires Member States to protect naturally occurring wild birds and their habitats; the measures to be considered in order to affect this include, amongst others, the designation of Special Protection Areas (SPAs).

Consequent to such obligations, Malta has submitted to the European Commission a number of sites to form part of this important network. The first submission was made back in 2004, following an extensive data collation and evaluation exercise, with the assistance of national experts, commissioned through a grant of the Council of Europe as part of the Emerald network project. Further submissions and updates were made along the years, following the collation and review of additional scientific data, as well as discussions with Directorate-General for Environment.

The submission of sites to the European Commission entails the preparation of a datasheet, related to each site, in a format established by the Commission, as presented in the Commission Implementing Decision 2011/484/EU, accompanied by the boundaries for each site. Datasheets and maps for sites designated in Malta are available here.

To date, Malta has the following declared under the:

a) EC Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC):

  • 3 Sites of Community Importance (SCIs), and;
  • 37 Special Areas of Conservation (SACs)

b) EC Birds Directive (2009/147/EC):

  • 22 Special Protection Areas (SPAs).

The above include both terrestrial and marine sites. Some SACs completely overlap with SPAs, whilst some other SACs and SCIs partially overlap with SPAs.​ When considering land area, over 43.6km2 (13.8%) is covered by Natura 2000 sites; while when considering the marine environment, such sites cover 4,138km2 (35.5% of Maltese waters).

Natura2000 StoryMap


Malta has reached a high degree of sufficiency

Malta is very advanced in its progress to designate terrestrial sites under the EC Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC). Its preparations reached a high percentage under the sufficiency index – 92.64% as of June 2008, as indicated in the Note on Sufficiency. This figure is the highest percentage among the States that acceded the EU in 2004 (see graph below: light green – acceded in 2004; blue – acceded before 2004; dark green – acceded after 2004).

 

State of progress by Member States in reaching sufficiency for the designation of Sites of Community Importance (SCIs) under the EC Habitats Directive (Marine areas are excluded).
State of progress by Member States in reaching sufficiency for the designation of Sites of Community Importance (SCIs) under the EC Habitats Directive (Marine areas are excluded). (Source: Natura 2000 database – Updated June 2008).​

 

The graph below provides an update on the state of progress by Member States in reaching sufficiency for the designation of Sites of Community Importance under the EC Habitats Directive for 2013.

State of progress by Member States in reaching sufficiency for the designation of Sites of Community Importance (SCIs) under the EC Habitats Directive (Marine areas are excluded). (Source: European Environment Agency – Updated March 2013).

 

The evaluation of sufficiency is not only based on the range of each habitat and species in the full territory of each Member State, but also within each of the proposed sites. To reach 100% sufficiency, data has to be updated, the proposed sites must be extended, or new sites must be proposed; such work by Malta has already been considered to achieve such objectives, and this has been communicated accordingly with the European Commission.

Reference is made to the additional information provided on the Natura 2000 newsletter.​

Other links

Initial Assessment

The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) stipulates that the Initial Assessment of the environmental status of the marine waters should comprise the following three components:

  • An analysis of the current environmental status of marine waters based on physical, chemical and biological features;
  • An analysis of the predominant pressures and impacts on the marine environment;
  • An economic and social analysis of the use of marine waters and the costs of degradation of the marine environment.

Within this context, the Initial Assessment for Malta describes and assesses the status of Maltese marine waters based on existing data and information according to Table 1 of Annex III of the Directive. This includes information on predominant habitat types and ecologically important species groups occurring in Maltese marine waters, as well as chemical and physical characteristics of these waters and the seabed.

Good Environmental Status and Environmental Targets

The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC) defines Good Environmental Status (GES) as: ‘the environmental status of marine waters where these provide ecologically diverse and dynamic oceans and seas which are clean, healthy and productive … and the use of the marine environment is at a level that is sustainable thus safeguarding the potential for use and activities by current and future generations‘. Member States should determine GES of their marine waters on the basis of the status assessment and in accordance with the qualitative descriptors in Annex I of the Directive.

In May 2017, the EU adopted the Commission Decision 2017/848, laying down criteria and methodological standards on good envrionmental status of marine waters and specifications and standardised methods for monitoring and assessment, and repealing Decision 2010/477/EU. This Decision establishes a set of criteria and indicators for each Annex I descriptor to assess progress towards achievement of Good Environmental Status in marine waters. The Directive also calls for the establishment of environmental targets and associated indicators for their marine waters to guide progress towards achieving GES.

The Initial Assessment and related GES and environmental targets are updated and published every six years.

First Cycle – Malta’s Initial Assessment by theme, GES and targets

Second Cycle – Malta’s Update to the Initial Assessment, GES and environmental targets

The Programme of Measures​ (PoMs) pursuant to Article 13 of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive is geared towards the achievement of ‘Good Environmental Status’ (GES) in Malta’s marine waters in line with the overall objective of the Directive.

The Programme covers both existing and new measures that would contribute to the achievement of GES for each MSFD Descriptor. New measures have been proposed on the basis of the gap analysis which identified the need or otherwise for additional action beyond existing processes. The programme also includes exceptions, in line with Article 14 of the Directive, for cases where Malta deems that GES cannot be achieved.

The development of the Programme of measures is an iterative process and the programmes as reported will be updated on the basis of improved knowledge throughout the MSFD reporting cycles.

The Programme of measures is updated and published every six years.

First Cycle – Malta’s Marine Programme of Measures

Second Cycle – Malta’s Update to the Marine Programme of Measures

Air pollution causes degradation of air quality. It is a widely acknowledged fact that air pollution has adverse effects on human health and on both natural and built environment. Today, air pollution is recognised as being the single​ largest environmental health risk in the European Union and has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the WHO, as a leading environmental cause of cancer deaths​.

Some atmospheric emissions are capable of exerting their adverse effect on both human health and the environment directly, while other emissions to the atmosphere are transformed into pollutants through complex atmospheric reactions.

In addition to the affects​ of direct inhalation, air pollutants can make it into the human body through the food chain or water, once they deposit and accumulate in the environment.

The principal legal instrument through which the European Union implements its policies related to Air Quality is Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the council of the 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe together with Directive 2004/107/EC of the European Parliament and of  the council of 15 December 2004 relating to arsenic, cadmium, mercury, nickel and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air.  Both these Directives were transposed into Maltese Law through the Ambient Air Quality Regulations (S.L. 549.59), which:

  • Set a general policy framework for dealing with ambient air quality.
  • Oblige Malta to put in place systems for assessing ambient air quality based upon common methods and criteria.
  • Oblige Malta to maintain ambient air quality where it is good and improve it in other cases, by means of plans and programs of action.
  • Lay down provisions for a system of gathering, reporting and publicizing information.  This includes both data reported to the Commission and information to the public.
  • Set limit values for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, benzene, ozone, particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) and lead, which are not to be exceeded throughout the Maltese Islands.
  • Set target values for arsenic, cadmium, nickel and poly aromatics expressed as benzo[a]pyrene, which are to be, as far as is reasonably possible, complied with. The following are the standards which Malta (together with the other EU Member States) is obliged to comply with.

The following are the standards which Malta (together with the other EU Member States) is obliged to comply with;

PollutantConcentrationAveraging periodPermitted exceedances each year
Fine particles (PM2.5)25 µg/m31 yearn/a
Sulphur dioxide (SO2)350 µg/m31 hour24
125 µg/m3
24 hours
3
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)200 µg/m31 hour
18
40 µg/m31 year
n/a
PM1050 µg/m324 hours
35
40 µg/m31 year
n/a
Lead (Pb)0.5 µg/m31 year
n/a
Carbon monoxide (CO)10 mg/m3Maximum daily 8 hour mean
n/a
Benzene5 µg/m31 year
n/a
Ozone120 µg/m3Maximum daily 8 hour mean
25
Arsenic (As)6 ng/m31 year
n/a
Cadmium (Cd)5 ng/m31 year
n/a
Nickel (Ni)20 ng/m31 year
n/a
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons1 ng/m3 (expressed as concentration of Benzo(a)pyrene)1 year
n/a

Pursuant to regulation 32 of the Ambient Air Quality Regulations (S.L. 549.59), the Minister for the Environment has declared an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) through the issuing of an Air Quality Management Order as laid down in Schedule 13 of the said Regulations

National Emissions Ceilings

The Directive on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants (Directive (EU) 2016/2284), better known as the NEC Directive, together with the various source specific legislative instruments (such as the Industrial Emissions Directive (Directive 2010/75/EU) or the Directives setting Vehicle Emissions Standards) make possible the achievement of the standards above.   The NEC Directive sets the maximum amounts (in percentages, based on the emission levels of 2005) of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, ammonia, non-methane volatile organic compounds, and PM2.5 which, can be emitted by each Member State. The Directive on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants obliges Malta to achieve the following emission reductions based on 2005 emissions by 2020 and 2030, and to identify indicative emission limits in 2025. The Directive was transposed in Maltese Law through the Limitation of Emissions of Certain Atmospheric Pollutants Regulations (S.L. 549.124).

Compliance Year NOxSO2NH3NMVOCPM2.5
2020-42%-77%-4%-23%-25%
2025-61%-86%-14%-25%-38%
2030-79%-95%-24%-27%-50%

Emission Limits for 2020, 2025 and 2030

Regulation 4 of the Limitation of Emissions of Certain Atmospheric Pollutants Regulations, (S.L. 549.124), obliges ERA to publish on its website the emission limits in tonnes equivalent to the respective emission reductions in sub-regulations 2, 3 and 4 of regulation 4, see the tables below:

 Table 1: Emission Limits to be complied with by 2020

PollutantEmission Reductions in Article 4(2), SL 549.124Emission Levels in 20052020 Emission Limits
(%)(tonnes)(tonnes)
SO277121162787
NOx4298305701
NMVOC2332342490
NH341881
1805
PM2.525829

622

Table 2: Indicative Emission Limits to be achieved by 2025

PollutantEmission Reductions in Article 4(3), SL 549.124Emission Levels in 20052025 Emission Limits
(%)(tonnes)(tonnes)
SO286121161696
NOx6098303883
NMVOC2532342426
NH31418811617
PM2.538829518

Table 3: Emission Limits to be complied with by 2030
PollutantEmission Reductions in Article 4(4), SL 549.124Emission Levels in 20052030 Emission Limits
(%)(tonnes)(tonnes)
SO29512116606
NOx7998302064
NMVOC2732342361
NH32418811429
PM2.550829415

Compliance with these ceilings is assessed through the Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (prepared by the Member States every year) and the projections (prepared by the Member States every two years), which are accompanied by the Informative Inventory Report on an annual basis. The time series for the emission of atmospheric pollutants by the EU Member States can be viewed on this webpage​. In addition, ERA reports the spatially disaggregated national emission inventories and large point source inventories, as required under the NEC Directive.

The National Air Pollution Control Programme for Malta outlines the measures selected for adoption in the coming years with a view to meet the above-mentioned emission reduction commitments.

The NEC Directive also requires monitoring of the impacts of air pollution upon ecosystems. To assess such impact, the network of the monitoring sites and the associated indicators used for monitoring air pollution is first designated, followed by the reporting of the monitoring of air pollution impacts.

Multilateral Environmental Agreements

The NEC Directive implements the European Union’s obligations under a multilateral environment agreement known as the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution. The main aim of this agreement is to combat acidification, eutrophication and ground-level ozone as well as, to limit and, as far as possible, gradually reduce and prevent air pollution including long-range trans-boundary air pollution.

Sources

According to the European Environment Agency the major contributors to air pollution in Europe are:

  • Power generation [SO2 and NOX];
  • Transport [NOX, CO, PM2.5, and PM10]; and
  • Agriculture [NH3].

However in Malta, road transport is the major contributor to air pollution in urban areas. High levels of particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) and of nitrogen oxides (NOX) are normally associated with areas exposed to heavy traffic flows. In rural areas, away from anthropogenic sources, levels of ozone (O3) are the chief air quality concern.

As far as the regulated air pollutants are concerned the following are considered to be the major sources:
 

PollutantSource(s)
Particulate MatterFuel Combustion in Power Generation.
Fuel Combustion in Road Transport
Incineration
Tyre and brake wear
Road wear
OzoneIs not emitted directly but results from reactions involving precursor gases such as volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides.
Nitrogen Oxides (NO and NO2)Combustion Sources (results in NO mostly, which is subsequently oxidized to NO2).
Sulphur Dioxide (SO2)Combustion of fuels containing high levels of sulphur (e.g. Heavy Fuel Oil in thermal power plants).
Benzo[a-]pyreneIncomplete combustion of fuels in road transport and rubber-tyre wear.
Carbon monoxideIncomplete combustion of fuels in road transport.
BenzeneIncomplete combustion of fuel in road transport.
Handling and distribution of petrol.
ArsenicMetal smelters.
Coal combustion.
CadmiumNon-ferrous metal production.
Iron and steel production
Cement production.
Waste Incineration.
Stationary combustion of fossil fuel.
NickelCombustion of fuel oil and coal in stationary plants.
Combustion of fuel in ships.
Waste Incineration.
Steel manufacture.
Electroplating.
LeadCombustion of fossil fuel.
Waste incineration.
Production of non-ferrous metals.
Production of iron and steel.
Production of cement.
MercuryCombustion of coal.

Effects 

According to the WHO, cardiovascular disease is the most common reason for premature death as a result of poor air quality; lung diseases (including lung cancer) follow.  Air pollution is not only the cause of premature mortality, but is also known to increase the incidence of various diseases.

The diagram below summarises the major health effects of air pollution. A more detailed description on the health effects of particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and ozone can be obtained from the following document.

The major effects of air pollution on human health
The major effects of air pollution on human health. Source: Nagl, Spangl & Buxbaum (2019); Sampling points for air quality

The real time air quality monitoring network is complemented by a passive diffusive tube network. The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) has deployed 100 NO2 tubes and 100 volatile organic compounds (VOC) tubes throughout Malta and Gozo. The tubes are exposed for a period of 4 weeks (for a total of 13 exposure periods in one year) after which they are sent to a laboratory for analysis.  The annual averages can then be interpolated to provide pollution maps as follows:

NO2 levels in Malta 2014

NO2 levels in Malta 2015 

NO2 levels in Malta 2016 

NO2 levels in Malta 2017  

NO2 levels in Malta 2018

NO2 levels in Malta 2019

NO2 levels in Malta 2020

NO2 levels in Malta 2021

NO2 levels in Malta 2022

NO2 levels in Malta 2023

NO2 levels in Malta 2024

Benzene levels in Malta 2014

Benzene levels in Malta 2015 

Benzene levels in Malta 2016 

Benzene levels in Malta 2017 

Benzene levels in Malta 2018 

Benzene levels in Malta 2019

Benzene levels in Malta 2020

Benzene levels in Malta 2021

Benzene levels in Malta 2022

Benzene levels in Malta 2023

Data from Air Monitoring Stations

The real time air monitoring stations can determine concentrations of most pollutants every 15 minutes. The pollutants monitored in near real time are ozone, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, gaseous mercury, particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) and meteorological variables. The pollutant monitored in each station depends on the nature of the station, its location and purpose. Dust speciation in the PM10 fraction is also taking place at specific locations through periodic measurements around the Maltese Islands.

Presently, ERA runs five automated near real time measuring stations in Malta which are situated at fixed sites: two traffic sites in Msida and St Paul’s Bay, an urban background site in Żejtun, an urban site in Attard and a rural background site in Għarb, Gozo.  Three of the above mentioned four stations have been part financed by two European Funding Programmes, namely Transitional Facility Fund 2004 and the European Regional Development Fund 2004-2006. These stations cover all pollutants requiring monitoring and reporting under the Ambient Air Quality Directive (2008/50/EC) and the four Daughter Directives (2004/107/EC). A mobile station was procured through tender CT3015/2011 Environmental Information Resource Systems and Air Monitoring Systems and commissioned in 2012 through the European Regional Development Fund 2007-2012.

Real time data from the air monitoring stations is available through the following links.

Attard Station:  Graph & Table

Għarb Station: Graph & Table

Msida Station: Graph & Table

Żejtun Station: Graph​ & Table

St Paul’s Bay Station: Graph & Table

 

 
It is to be noted that the data is provisional and subject to quality assurance procedures. For validated data kindly refer your request to [email protected]​

​This part of the website is meant to ensure that developers and their consultants are familiarised with the air quality requirements, before submitting an application for a development permit.

In air quality we are mostly concerned about the impacts of new developments on traffic flows, so the first item we will ask for is a quantification of the expected increase in traffic flows in annual averaged daily traffic flows or AADT.  It is important that the increases in traffic flows are expressed as AADT, because this will save unnecessary to-ing and fro-ing between ERA and your consultants.  In order to save time we strongly advise you to seek the advice of traffic consultants and ask them to prepare a traffic impact statement for you (TIS).

If the TIS shows that the project is likely to cause an increase of 1000 AADT for passenger cars or 200 AADT for heavy goods vehicles then ERA will ask you for an Air Quality Study (AQS). The terms of reference for the AQS can be downloaded from this link​.

The aim of the AQS is to determine the significance of the impact of the proposed project on air quality.  The contribution of the project to air pollution (due to the increased traffic flows) is expressed in terms of four significance criteria, below:

  • ​Negligible
  • Slight Adverse
  • Moderate Adverse; and
  • Substantial Adverse

​The following tool​​​ should help consultants determine the significance of the impact of the project on air quality.

ERA’s recommendations with respect to the approval of the project depend on the significance of the impact and are reproduced below:

a)     Whenever the impact of the project is determined to be “negligible” no further action will be required from the developer.

b)       If the impact of the project is classified as “substantially adverse” then ERA will not recommend approval unless the project is modified in such a way (including scaling down) that the significance of the impact is measurably lessened to at least “slightly adverse”.  In this case a green travel plan will not be considered as sufficient.

c)      If the impact of the project is “moderate adverse” than the developer will be asked to modify the project. The modifications can include a green travel plan which has to include specific, measurable* and achievable objectives together with their respective implementation time-frames. The developer will be asked to finance at least in part, the implementation of the green travel plan. The implementation of the plan will have to be audited and eventually updated by the developer on a periodic basis. If the green travel plan does not lower the significance of the impact then the developer will we asked to take additional measures.

d)      If the impact of the project is slightly adverse then the developer will be asked to consider alternatives, which will lessen the impact of the project.

*The term measurable in this context means that the green travel plan shall quantify the reduction in the pollutant levels (in µg/m3), over the scenario leading to the classification of the impact as “moderately adverse”.​