The planning authority has drawn up a new draft environmental permits system aimed at improving the regulation of heavy industry.

The authority said the proposed system would improve the protection of the environment while offering several advantages to industry. These include legal certainty, clearer definition of environmental liability and the opportunity to prioritise environmental issues to ensure appropriate risk management.

“The system, which is risk-based, focuses the regulatory efforts on activities with potentially significant environmental impacts. Examples of such facilities would include fuel and container terminals, shipyards, airports, batching plants, quarries, fish farms, waste management activities, industrial activities with a discharge to sea and certain manufacturing plants,” it said.

Businesses carrying out such activities will be required to apply for an environmental permit within a set timeframe to continue operating. The permit will include conditions on air emissions, discharges of wastewater, noise and vibration, management of waste and appropriate storage of materials.

The proposed environmental permitting framework is accessible on the Mepa website www.mepa.org.mt/public-consultation. The authority is encouraging the business sector, NGOs and the public to submit their feedback and comments throughout this public participation period, at environmental.permitting@mepa.org.mt. Further information may be obtained by calling 2290 7230. The public participation exercise will close next January 31.