MPs demand responsibility be borne for 'black dust' pollution
Mepa chairman Austin Walker said this afternoon that no mitigation efforts have been taken in the six months since a report it had commissioned found that the Marsa power station was the primary likely cause of the 'black dust' problem over Fgura and other localities.
Speaking at a meeting of a Parliamentary house committee, Mr Walker said the report, by Prof Alfred Vella, did not actually make recommendations on mitigation measures.
Actions with regard to the power station were dependant on a number of factors, not least its IPCC operations permit and periodic audits on emissions, fuel use and fly ash, which were submitted regularly as required by the EU.
Opposition environment spokesman Leo Brincat asked if Mepa had endorsed the conclusions of the report, more so since Enemalta seemed to put those conclusions in doubt.
Mr Walker said Mepa had endorsed the report and published it. The report, as well as previous ones, were based on samples collected over many months between 2009 and 2010. However, this did not mean that Prof Vella's findings contradicted the findings made in previous research made on the basis of other samples.
No one could deny that the power station, as well as traffic, produced black dust, but Prof Vella found that according to the samples he had studied, the primary source of the 'dust' was the Marsa power station.
RESPONSIBILITY
Franco Debono (PN) said traffic was found everywhere, but Fgura had a particular black dust problem which was now being blamed on the Marsa power station. Who would shoulder responsibility for this pollution. Were there consequences on people's health? How would Enemalta remedy the situation?
Speaker Michael Frendo said those questions would best be answered by Enemalta officials, when they were summoned.
Interjecting, Jesmond Mugliett said that Mepa, as the regulator which had endorsed the report, could issue directives to Enemalta to regulate the situation. Had it done so?
Dr Debono said Mepa, as the regulator, had a responsibility to shoulder too.
Mr Brincat asked if Mepa could confirm that the IPCC conditions were being strictly monitored, and whether they were being observed by Enemalta. Was there any link between the black dust issue and the fact that the precipitators were not functioning for many months?
Mr Walker said he was not a technical person, but the IPCC permit laid down reporting and audit requirements. Marsa station was allowed to operate at higher emissions in terms of a derogation for a maximum of 20,000. However, there were times when maximum emission levels including Delimara power station had been exceeded at times, and these were being investigated by Mepa and experts abroad.
Following an Enemalta report of excess emissions of sulphur, it was found that the emissions were actually lower.
However, a detailed audit of the Marsa power station is due to start in the near future.
The IPPC permit conditions were being monitored closely by Mepa but he could not say that these conditions were directly linked to the black dust issue.
Mr Mugliett observed that in the days when Prof Vella's report was issued, it was also claimed that the 'dust' was not harmful to health.
Mr Walker said it was not Mepa's role to go into the health issue, but Mepa was responsible to ensure that the IPCC was observed.
Mr Mugliett said he was insisting, once more, that Mepa should say if any actions were taken in the wake of Prof Vella's report.
Dr Frendo said that apart from the IPCC permit, were there other mechanisms which Mepa could use to clamp down on the black dust problem?
Mr Mugliett that apart from the health issue, there was also the fact that a public nuisance was being caused. Even if the IPCC permit conditions were not being exceeded, there were other issues.
Mr Walker said he needed to verify with technical experts.
The permanent secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister said mitigation measures had to be seen in the context that the Marsa power station would be decommissioned soon.
Labour MP Joe Mizzi said he was surprised that Mepa had not reacted to the Enemalta statement disputing the findings of Prof Vella's report.
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Mr Lawrence Mifsud
Sep 28th 2011, 07:08
Parole. parole, parole.... 'it is you'....'NO, it is you!!!'. And the drama goes on, as if we did not have anything else to do.
Mr Edward Mallia
Sep 27th 2011, 21:49
The question that needs to be answered -- and it was certainly not answered, not even asked in fact -- at this committee meeting was: where did this piece of work fit in the black dust saga that, after a number of years (6-7) of quiet started up again in early 2009? Mepa and Enemalta played out their operetta to provide cover when the Marsa precipitators were switched off. Mepa practically accused Fgura people of doctoring their samples, but proved incapable of any decent sampling itself. Samples of unknown quality were sent to MCST and then abroad for analysis. And like the Delimara samples at the time of Chernobyl there they remained. Enemalta has now, but only now, admitted that precipitators were switched off. Now what was going on? Did Marsa stop producing fly ash? Hardly likely. So where was the fly ash going? Somewhere out of Alfred Vella's reach going by his very limited samples, so limited that he did not think it worthwhile to compare them with a certified sample of Marsa fly ash -- something which even a student had thought of doing in 2000. Enemalta even went so far as to say that of the 11 particles analysed by Vella, only two seemed to have a Marsa PS origin. How could one conclude that Marsa was the chief culprit? Vella himself has said that he only had the slow steady dustfall to analyse. Fair enough, but that means just one thing: that by arrangement or chance, he was busy locking the stable after the horse had well and truly bolted. And that Mepa -- crippled by the Hexagon House stink as claimed by Chairman Walker -- took five months to evaluate a report which had very little to go on, once the precipitators had been switched on again. And they had been switched on again. The figures given by Enemalta for ash -- bottom and fly -- recently exported show that quite clearly. If anyone is seeking where to hang responsibility for this episode, one should look at who gave the order to switch off the precipitators but also who prompted Mepa to stop abruptly the local export of ash, which had been going on under it eyesfor four years.
Mr leo attard
Sep 27th 2011, 20:55
who needs an investigation --- a picture speaks a thousand words!
Peter Seebohm
Sep 27th 2011, 18:32
Here is the address to file a complaint
http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/potocnik/contact_en.htm
It´s Janez Potocnic, Cimmissioner for Environment
tony abela
Sep 27th 2011, 18:29
Can Mr Walker, the Mercedes Class Executive give us a reason why the SO2 Data Recordings at Zejtun MEPA Monitoring Station has not been given on line for months?
Can he state why during the month of September the Msida MEPA Monitoring Station gave less than 25% of the hourly recordings of the SO2?
Is it a coincidence are it is deliberately being done?
Personal I contacted MEPA DIRECTLY through their Website for Air Quality Monitoring about these and such shortcomings and all I had is simple Computer Generated Acknowledgments that my message was received.
Can the Honour Members raise these points during the Committee Meetings?
tony abela
Sep 27th 2011, 18:28
Can Mr Walker give us a reason why the SO2 Data Recordings at Zejtun MEPA Monitoring Station has not been given on line for months?
Can he state why during the month of September the Msida MEPA Monitoring Station gave less than 25% of the hourly recordings of the SO2?
Is it a coincidence are it is deliberately being done?
Personal I contacted MEPA DIRECTLY through their Website for Air Quality Monitoring about these and such shortcomings and all I had is simple Computer Generated Acknowledgments that my message was received.
Can the Honour Members raise these points during the Committee Meetings?
John Borg
Sep 27th 2011, 18:21
People complaining about the emissions from the power station should do some soul searching. What are they doing to reduce energy consumption? Moaners and groaners presumably use cars. Cars pollute too and diesel ones pollute much more and are more detrimental to health than the power station emissions.
Mr Toni Cardona
Sep 27th 2011, 17:51
Please show us the 'air pollution map' and the 'health problems map'.
Thanks.
Mr Robert Agius
Sep 27th 2011, 18:24
Interesting, you should ask your local doctor. They should know, and don't be shocked if they tell you they know about this relationship long time ago.
Mr joseph saliba
Sep 27th 2011, 17:21
Riddle-me-re
or let-me-be
Blow blow blow
who should go?
Plop plop plop
rasping non-stop
Red and Blue
I love you
Black and Black
Don't come back
Mr Robert Agius
Sep 27th 2011, 18:41
different rhythm, but here it goes -
Quid pro quo
it's all about the dough
where to go?
everyone should know
grumble grumble grumble
so the crowds did mumble
time went away
myriads left in dismay
Red and blue
the vote belongs to you
Brian Gatt
Sep 27th 2011, 17:15
BLA BLA BLA.....lot of talk and no action....the Govt MP's should be able to do something about this the other side has the excuse that thye are not in power so they can only point out the deficiences but Onor Mugliett and Onor Debono are on the Govt benches the ones governing Malta so please less talk and more action !!!
j brincat
Sep 27th 2011, 17:11
All Enemalta did about the findings of this report was playing on words.
Shame on them!
(jb)
Mr J Borg
Sep 27th 2011, 17:03
In any other country, a health related issue such as this would lead to not just dismissals and resignations, but criminal proceedings. Would also result in millions of Euros in compensation to the people who have been suffering health implications. Same applies to the Marsa fumes issue which had been ignored by MEPA and the authorities for years, until MEPA moved their offices to that location! Third world country politics!