Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar expressed concern today that the Mepa board will be considering an Environmental Permit for the cement silo which was built without a permit adjacent to the Kordin Grain Terminal.

The Case Officer is recommending that this permit should be granted in spite of the fact that two Health Risk Assessment Reports concluded that there was a very serious danger of the of the cement poisoning the grain, FAA said.

The NGO said the cement silo development never went through a development application application and the developers only got a the go-ahead to build in a letter issued by a former Mepa CEO without the necessary authority. 

"FAA highlights the fact that a "temporary permit" was recently issued to allow this illegal cement silo that lacks all permits and on which an enforcement notice had been issued. We have researched this "Temporary Permit" and have not found any reference to this. Mepa is now asking the board to also become party to this illegality," the FAA said.

"On Thursday the Mepa Board faces the option of granting the permit and facing the serious risk of poisoning each person who eats bread using wheat from the silo a preoccupation in both health risk assessments," the FAA said.

The cement silo’s own risk assessor states: "It is unlikely that this silo operation will be completely free from all fugitive emissions and so the possibility that the grain being handled nearby will be subject to a level of contamination from cement dust remains present even following the application of best practices," the FAA said.

Alternatively, it added, the board can refuse the permit and order the silo dismantled and removed to another area, although this carries with it the risk of being sued. In refusing this permit the Mepa board will be allowing the developer to appeal to the independent Review Tribunal.

"Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar trusts that the board will have the moral integrity to refuse this permit, if not for its blatant illegality at least to safeguard the public, and especially our children's health," FAA said.