Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA) yesterday said it was encouraged by the setting up of a Registration and Review Board for Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Consultants.

The new board aims to ensure that professionals carrying out environmental assessments have the appropriate qualifications, skills, training and experience.

The board will also monitor the results of assessments submitted by the consultants, and only renew their registration once it is satisfied that they adhere to the required standard.

FAA highlighted the fact that while the system being outlined includes a number of checks and balances, these can only be truly effective if the Malta Environment and Planning Authority EIA department is given the necessary resources, including the opportunity to engage consultants to review EIAs in specialist areas outside Mepa's remit.

It maintained that social impact assessments also need to be given importance in order to effectively protect residents' health and wellbeing, particularly in overdeveloped areas.

The NGO said: "Traffic impact assessments of new residential developments need to be given greater emphasis. This is of particular significance to the health of those communities in areas which have a high degree of pollution at street level due to traffic congestion."

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