The Environment and Resources Authority Board has granted 7 applications for environmental permits, including 2 in Gozo.

Local applications included a request for permit for the operations of the sea terminals at Cirkewwa and Mgarr, covering the berthing facilities, waste management, refuelling, maintenance.

The ERA said that the facility’s location which is overlooking a Special Protection Area was also taken into consideration and addressed in the permit.

There was an application for the renewal of environment permit of a manufacturing plant located at Xewkija Industrial Estate, Gozo.

The permit covers various operations including control and monitoring of emissions from the manufacturing processes and associated activities and waste management, the ERA said.

In Malta, there was an application for the renewal of environment permit of a manufacturing plant located at the Hal Far Industrial Estate, to cover various operations as above.

Another was a request for a permit to operate a hotel at St. Paul’s Bay. The ERA said that this permit covers various operations including the control and monitoring of the discharges to sea from the reverse osmosis plant and pools and the emissions from generators on site.

An application to operate a chicken processing facility in Burmarrad was also considered.

The permit covers the management of resultant wastes and effluents from the slaughtering facility, control of emissions to air from combustion plants on site among others.

The ERA said another covered the request for a permit for the backfilling operations at a soft stone quarry in Mqabba.

The permit addresses the waste management aspect of backfilling operations as well as various other aspects associated with site management and control.

The ERA explained that in addition to the above permits, another application for renewal was also granted related to interventions within a Natura 2000 site.

The application for renewal relates to the removal of a considerable number of alien species and restoration of the natural habitat within the confines of the Mellieha Holiday Centre.

It said that the permit includes various conditions aimed at mitigating the effects of the removal of alien species on the surrounding environment including ones related to control of resprouting together with the planting of a large number of specimens of indigenous species.

An accompanying bank guarantee to ensure compliance with the conditions of the permit is also being requested, the ERA said.

Photo by Alain Salvary

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