Amendments to the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) regulations have been issued as a Government Notice for public consultation, the Department of Information said yesterday.

The regulations, introduced in 2001, include thresholds or criteria, whereby project proposals satisfying these criteria are required to submit an EIA.

Following the experience gained by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority in the implementation of these regulations, the need is felt to propose minor amendments to these regulations to ensure that EIAs are requested by Mepa in instances only where they are truly required.

The amendments are intended to ensure that the preparation of an EIA will provide for added value in the assessment of project proposals.

For example, as a result of these changes, a number of minor extensions to farms will no longer be required to prepare an EIA. This will result in substantial savings to the farmers concerned.

Moreover, a mechanism has been introduced to enable the applicant to request a review of any Mepa decision relating to an EIA, particularly on the terms of reference. Currently, there is no effective and quick method by which an applicant can appeal a Mepa decision relating to an EIA.

Another change is the one related to the criteria for determining whether a development would have significant effects on the environment. This amendment brings Malta more in line with the EU directive on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment.

Even if a project does not qualify for the preparation of an EIA, it does not preclude Mepa from requesting any information it considers necessary. Mepa’s responsibility is to assess projects in line with planning policy including consideration of likely relevant environmental impact.

The new EIA regulations as amended are fully compliant with the EU directive while at the same time provide for a more level playing field in terms of competitiveness with other EU countries.

Comments or suggestions regarding the regulations are to be sent in writing to the Director-General, Malta Environment and Planning Authority, Floriana before 2 March.