MEPA appoints head of Environment Protection Directorate

Ray Piscopo has been appointed director of the Environment Protection Directorate within the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA).

The appointment follows the merger of the former Planning Authority and the Environment Protection Department earlier this year, which made MEPA the competent authority in terms of the Environment Protection Act.

MEPA is currently in the process of setting up the technical framework and support for the extensive legal obligations outlined in the Environ-ment Protection Act. Mr Piscopo will play a key role in MEPA's efforts to meet its obligations arising from this Act.

Ing. Piscopo graduated in 1976 with an engineering degree and has had wide experience on large infrastructural projects. His most recent post was plant facilities and technical services manager with ST Microelectronics (Malta) Ltd, where he was also responsible for the site's environmental programme.

Ing. Piscopo played a key role in ST Microelectronics' registration to the EU-Eco Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) as well as certification to the ISO 14001 standard, and other awards including the Malta Industry Environmental Award.

He was also involved in several environmental reports. He is a council member of the Malta Council of Science and Technology, and a member of the Malta Federation of Industry environmental working group.