MEPA extends the Hondoq EIA consultation period

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) has extended the public consultation period for the public and any organisation to submit comments and suggestions on the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) for the proposed Hondoq ir-Rummien project by a further week until Friday, the 11th of June 2010. This extension has been made inorder to provide the public, local councils and NGOs with ample time to evaluate and study the assessments drawn up by the EIA consultant.

The Authority said that it would also like to clarify a number of statements which might have got misinterpreted or wrongly reported in relation to the public consultation meeting which was held at the Qala Government School on Thursday 27th May 2010 as part of the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) process for the proposed Hondoq ir-Rummien project.

"Firstly, a number of reports made reference to the MEPA Chairman as the person presiding over the public meeting. It must be noted, for clarity’s sake, that the MEPA Chairman Mr Austin Walker does not presides over any EIA public consultation meeting and in fact was not present at the Qala meeting. The public meeting was chaired by a senior officer from the Environment Protection Directorate."

"Some organisations also questioned why the MEPA representative presiding over the public meeting did not accede to a request from some present to make their comments in English. The Authority was not in a position to accede to such a request because other members of the audience present objected to it and insisted that all interventions be made in maltese. In this circumstance the Authority was therefore constrained to abide by the legislation regulating EIA procedures, which states that the language of the public hearing shall be in Maltese."

"One should note that besides the public meeting, the public consultation has been carried out since the 20th April, which is now being extended by a further week, giving anyone the opportunity to submit in writing any comments they wished to make pertaining to the EIA. Each of these numerous submissions are being accepted and are being acknowledged by MEPA. Written comments can be submitted in both Maltese or English."

"Copies of the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) may be inspected at the Malta Environment & Planning Authority, St. Francis Ravelin, Floriana and the Qala Local Council during office hours. Digital copies of the EIS are available on CD from MEPA offices."

MEPA concluded by saying that written submissions on the impact of the proposed development should be sent to the Director, Environment Protection Directorate, Malta Environment & Planning Authority, St. Francis Ravelin, Floriana or on eiamalta@mepa.org.mt ^[1], by not later than 11th June 2010.