Malta Environment and Planning
Authority
August 2014
Manual for the Permit Granting
Process for Projects of Common
Interest
in line with Article 9 of Regulation 347/2013 on Guidelines for Trans-European Energy
Infrastructure
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August 2014
Disclaimer
In accordance with Article 9.1 of the Regulation, this Manual is not intended to be a
legally binding document but it quotes relevant legal provisions. The Manual is intended
to assist project promoters and to provide relevant information related to the relevant
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processes. Project promoters are reminded that the onus is on them to ensure that all
necessary permits are obtained and that projects are legally compliant.
Contents
1.0
Introduction
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
Regulation (EU) No. 347/2013
Projects of Common Interest
Malta’s Competent Authority
The Manual of Procedures
2.0
Background to the Permit Granting Process
2.1
2.2
2.3
Malta’s scheme to issue a Comprehensive Decision for PCIs
The Role of MEPA as Competent Authority
Obligations and Requirements
3. 0
The Permit Granting Process: Article 10
3. 1
3. 2
The Pre-Application Procedure
The Statutory Permit Granting Procedure
4.0
Applicable Law
5.0
Required Documentation
5.1
5.2
Application forms and related detail requirements
Site location map
6.0
Public Participation
6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4
6.5
Article 9 of Regulation 347/2013
The Pre-Application Procedure and Public Participation
The Statutory Permit Granting Procedure and Public Participation
Public Participation and the EIA Process
The Project Website and Public Participation
7.0
Contact Details
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7.1
7.2
Competent Authority: MEPA
Other Authorities and major stakeholders
1.0
Introduction
1.1
Regulation (EU) No.347/2013
This Manual is prepared pursuant to Regulation (EU) No. 347/2013 of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2013 on guidelines for trans-European energy
infrastructure (the Regulation) and will be reviewed and updated as may be required,
particularly in light of an ongoing reform within the Competent Authority (the Malta
Environment and Planning Authority).
The Regulation seeks to: identify projects of common interest (PCIs) necessary to
implement priority corridors and areas falling under the energy infrastructure categories
in electricity, gas, oil, and carbon dioxide for the period up to 2020 and beyond; facilitate
the timely implementation of PCIs by streamlining, coordinating more closely, and
accelerating permit granting processes and by enhancing public participation; provide
rules and guidance for the cross-border allocation of costs and risk-related incentives for
PCIs; and determine the conditions for eligibility of PCIs for Union financial assistance.
A link to the Regulation is available here.
1.2
Projects of Common Interest
The Regulation provides for a Union list of Projects of Common Interest. A link to the
Union list is available here.
The first Union list includes the following project which is relevant to Malta:
Union List
Reference
5.19
Project of Common
Interest
PCI Connection of
Malta
to
the
European
Gas
network (gas pipeline
with Italy at Gela and
Floating
LNG
Storage and Regasification
Unit
(FSRU))
Project Description
New pipeline of 150 km from an
offshore Floating Storage and
Regasification Unit/FSRU (MT) to
Sicily (IT) 4.4 MCM/day and 12 km
from FSRU to Delimara (MT) with a
daily capacity of 1.1 MCM/day. The
characteristics of the FSRU are:
Daily send-out capacity 5.5
MCM/day
Annual send-out capacity 2
BCM/year
LNG storage capacity 200000 CM
LNG
Reloading facility 135000 CM LNG
Maximum ship size 135000 CM
LNG
Priority
Corridor
Gas WEST
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1.3
August 2014
Malta’s Competent Authority
The Regulation seeks to facilitate the permit granting process for PCI by requiring
Member States to appoint a Competent Authority responsible for making the
comprehensive decision and to ensure that the comprehensive decision is made within
the time limits specified in the Regulation. The Malta Environment and Planning
Authority (MEPA) was designated as the Competent Authority in Malta.
MEPA is the national agency responsible for land use planning and environmental
regulation in Malta. Established under the mandate of the Environment Protection Act
(2001) and the Development Planning Act (1992) of the Laws of Malta, as amended by
the Malta Environment Development Planning Act (Chapter 540 of the Laws of Malta),
MEPA is also responsible for the implementation of around 200 Directives, Decisions
and Regulations under the EU Environmental Acquis. In addition, MEPA acts as the
national focal point under a number of international environmental conventions and
multilateral agreements. As a national environmental regulator and land use planning
agency, MEPA works to encourage the incorporation of environmental objectives within
government socio-economic development programmes, as well as to ensure that any
development or activity which does take place conforms to the laws and policies that
regulate development and the environment. MEPA is governed by a Board which
provides strategic guidance for the Planning Directorate and the Environment Protection
Directorate ensuring the organisation fulfils its functions and responsibilities efficiently
and effectively, in line with its legal obligations.
1.4
The Manual of Procedures
Article 9 on Transparency and Public Participation of Regulation (EU) No. 347/2013
provides that each Member State or Competent Authority shall, where applicable in
collaboration with other authorities concerned, publishes a manual of procedures for the
permit granting process applicable to Projects of Common Interest. The manual is to be
updated as necessary and made available to the public. The manual is not legally
binding but may refer to or quote relevant legal provisions. The manual is to at least
include the information specified in Annex VI.I of the Regulation as follows:
Annex VI (I)
The manual of procedures referred to in Article 9(1) shall at least specify:
a) the relevant law upon which decisions and opinions are based for the different types
of relevant Projects of Common Interest, including environmental law;
b) the relevant decisions and opinions to be obtained;
c) the names and contact details of the Competent Authority, other authorities and
major stakeholders concerned;
d) the work flow, outlining each stage in the process, including an indicative timeframe
and a concise overview of the decision-making process;
e) information about the scope, structure and level of detail of documents to be
submitted with the application for decisions, including a checklist;
f) the stages and means for the general public to participate in the process.
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This manual has been published by the Malta Environment and Planning Auhority and a
copy is available on the following link:
http://www.mepa.org.mt/developmentapplications/Projects of Common Interests.
2.0
Background to the Permit Granting Process
2.1
Malta’s scheme to issue a Comprehensive Decision for PCIs
To implement the permit granting process Malta is implementing the coordinated
scheme in line with Article 8(3)(b). This provides that the comprehensive decision
comprises multiple individual legally binding decisions issued by several authorities
concerned, which shall be coordinated by MEPA. For PCIs, MEPA has established a
working group where all concerned authorities are represented in order to draw up a
permit granting schedule in accordance with Article 10(4)(b), and to monitor and
coordinate its implementation. MEPA, in consultation with the other authorities
concerned, establishes on a case-by-case basis a reasonable time limit within which the
individual decisions shall be issued. If the relevant national authority concerned does not
deliver the required decision, MEPA would assume that it has no objections and MEPA
would proceed with the final decision.
It should be noted that MEPA is currently undergoing reform whereby the planning and
the environment protection functions will be separated. This demerger process is
following a route for better regulation and simplification of administrative procedures,
whereby one of the improvements would lead to having an integrated scheme for issuing
a comprehensive decision for PCIs. In this regard, active discussions and work are
currently underway at various levels across Government, including the drafting of the
relevant Acts. This Manual of Procedures would be updated once the reform is
concluded.
2.2
The Role of MEPA as the Competent Authority
MEPA’s role as Competent Authority in the permit granting process for Projects of
Common Interest is to collate and co-ordinate the issuing of all the consents and
decisions required from all relevant authorities and to monitor compliance with time limits
by the concerned authorities in accordance with the coordinated scheme.
MEPA has also established a National Projects Unit (NPU) which will administer the PCI
application process. This Unit will be responsible for the co-ordination with the various
Agencies, other Competent Authorities and issuing a comprehensive recommendation
2.3
Obligations and Requirements
The Regulation places obligations and requirements on MEPA as Competent Authority,
on permitting authorities in the process and on project promoters. Listed below are some
of the main obligations and requirements arising from the Regulation
2.3.1 Competent Authority
Take actions to facilitate the issuing of the comprehensive decision, monitor
compliance with time limits and resent individual time limits, when the original limits
are not met [Article 8.3(c)].
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Update Manual of Procedures as necessary. [Article 9.1].
Modify or approve the public participation concept submitted by the project promoter
[Article 9.3].
Establish on a case-by-case basis, a detailed scheme for the permit granting
process. This is to be done in consultation with the project promoter and with the
other authorities. [Article 10.4(b)].
Liaise closely with Competent Authorities in other Member States, and prepare joint
schedules endeavouring to align timetables. [Article 10.4(b)].
2.3.2
August 2014
Project Promoters
Draw up an implementation plan for the Project including a timetable for each of the
following: (a) feasibility and design studies; (b) approval by the national regulatory
authority or by any other authority concerned; (c) construction and commissioning;
(d) the permit granting schedule referred to in Article 10(4)(b). [Article 5.1].
Submit an annual report by 31 March of each year following the year of inclusion of a
project of common interest on the Union List to MEPA (Competent Authority). [Article
5.4].
Draw up and submit a concept for public participation to MEPA (Competent
Authority). [Article 9.3 in line with guidelines set out in Annex VI].
Prepare a report summarising the results of activities related to the participation of
the public prior to the submission of the application file, including those activities that
took place before the start of the permit granting process [Article 9 (4)]
Establish, maintain and update a project website. [Article 9.7]
Provide a reasonably detailed outline of the project when the PCI process is being
initiated. [Article 10.1(a)].
Prepare any environmental reports to be prepared by the project promoters during
the pre-application stage. [Article 10.1 (a)].
Ensure the completeness and adequate quality of the application file. [Article 10.5].
Ensure that all required information is made available promptly to the relevant
authorities to ensure that the time limits set can be met. [Article 10.5].
Co-operate fully with MEPA (Competent Authority) to meet deadlines and comply
with the detailed schedule for the permit granting process. [Article 10.5].
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3.0
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The Permit Granting Process: Article 10
The permit granting process consists of two procedures: (a) the pre-application
procedure and (b) the statutory permit granting procedure.
3.1
The Pre-Application Procedure
The pre-application procedure covers the period between the start of the permit granting
process and the acceptance of the submitted application file by MEPA (Competent
Authority). This period is to take place within an indicative period of 2 years. Article 10.2
of the Regulation does provide for an extension of the time period by a maximum of 9
months (for both procedures combined).
For the purpose of establishing the start of the permit granting process, the project
promoters shall notify the project to MEPA in written form, and shall include a reasonably
detailed outline of the project. No later than three months following the receipt of the
notification, MEPA shall, including on behalf of other authorities concerned,
acknowledge or, if it considers the project as not mature enough to enter the permit
granting process, reject the notification in written form.
No development application may be submitted unless the applicant has requested
MEPA to conduct screening of the development proposed in the development
application. MEPA shall inform the applicant and the architect of the date within which
the screening process is to be finalised. The screening process shall be finalised within
four weeks from the submission of a request in full by the applicant, provided that in the
case of a development falling under Schedule 1 of the MEPA Act, the screening process
may be further extended by a period of three months from the date of notification (within
the four week period) to the applicant that the proposed development falls under
Schedule 1 of the MEPA Act.
Following initial vetting, against a minimum submission checklist (enclosed in Annex 1) if
the submission is accepted a tracking number is provided as point of reference. The
application is then circulated within MEPA, namely to both Planning and Environment
Directorates. The scope of this exercise is to identify the Planning and Environment
parameters of relevant constraints and check the sufficiency of the details provided by
the project promoter.
MEPA then shall notify the applicant with a screening letter which will include all or any
of the following and which would also trigger the procedures for environmental
assessment, transport studies and environmental permitting:
a) the classification of the development;
b) a reference to those major issues, policies and regulations with which the proposed
development does not conform, namely considerations relating to demolition, landuse zoning, height limitation, constraints, environment, enforcement, and other
issues, policies and regulations directly relating to the principle of the development;
c) additional submissions, studies, assessments and documentation required including
transport studies and environmental studies including those related to environmental
permitting ;
d) consultations which will be carried out in the processing of the eventual application;
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e) list of agencies and regulatory stakeholders from whom the project promoter would
need to get relevant clearances prior to the validation of the Full Development
Application
f) the fees and contributions which shall be payable to the Authority before the
validation of the application, on the validation of the application, or during the
processing of the application, in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 5 of the
MEPA Act;
g) a date within which the development application has to be submitted in accordance
with the requirements set out in the screening letter, which date shall not be more
than six months.
Following the submission of all required documentation, studies and clearances, MEPA
reviews the submission, and validates the application by giving a Planning Application
Number. MEPA carries out the plotting of the application and issues the application for
Public Consultation. In parallel, a comprehensive environment assessment process,
including Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and other assessments, in
accordance with EU legislation and giving regard to EU Guidance, is completed.
A flowchart for the pre-application procedure is outlined below.
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Start
Application is received
Initial vetting against a
minimum submission
checklist (incl. pre-payment)
Accept / reject initial
submission (13 digit
application) in eApps.
MEPA gives Tracking
number, if accepted
Print all documents /
drawings
MEPA prepares planning
application file & plot
application
MEPA checks for possible
enforcement on site
MEPA prepares Building
Levy Bill
MEPA checks conformity
with major policies. Decide if
application is
MEPA checks all
documentation and studies
required
MEPA indicates External /
Internal Consultation
required
MEPA collates prescreening letter. Indicate non
conformity to major policies
Public Consultation carried out and Project Promoter compiles
documentation and studies required
MEPA prints new
documentation
MEPA reviews new
submission including
payment of Bill. If not OK,
MEPA checks Plotting
7
days
5
days
20
days
6 months
MEPA gives PA number and
validates application
14
days
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3.2
August 2014
The Statutory Permit Granting Procedure
The statutory permit granting procedure, covering the period from the date of validation
until the comprehensive decision is taken, shall not exceed one year and six months.
MEPA may set an earlier date for the time-limit, if considered appropriate.
As soon as MEPA validates the Full Development Application, it carries out public
consultation with the general public. MEPA will also carry out consultations with other
Agencies and Government Authorities that were indicated in the screening letter. During
this period, any decisions that would need to be taken by other agencies are sought by
MEPA. Each agency shall consider the PCI project that relates to its function. Some
agencies are only required to provide their opinion, whilst others would need to provide
their clearance that they approve the plans as validated by MEPA. MEPA would only be
in a position to issue a comprehensive decision, if the relevant agencies, that would
require to provide clearance in relation to their function, do so. If MEPA or the other
agencies require modifications, the project promoter would need to conclude the
relevant modifications. MEPA would then assess the proposal, taking into account the
outcome of the relevant environmental assessments and issue a Comprehensive
Decision for the PCI.
A flow chart of the statutory granting permit procedure is provided below.
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2
Shaded part corresponds to
application lifetime.
Print Site Notice and send
for publication
Perform Full Assessment
Send Int. & Ext. Consultation
with a rep. at MEPA.
incl. Sanita
Send requests to architect
and await reply
(7 days)
60
days
(21 days)
Send External Consultation
Material changes can be accepted up to 56 days
from validation. In this case all targets move on
by 56 days.
All by E-Apps
Incl.
Obj.
Period
of 20
Communicate with architect
and consultees as
necessary
Set agenda date and send
DPAR to architect / applicant
Review replies from
consultees
Endorsement of DPAR
Send file to Agenda
Send relevant letters to
architect / applicant and
objectors
Wait for submissions on
DPAR (No fresh plans
accepted)
(21 days)
Draft DPA report
(addressing consultee
concerns)
90
days
7
days
Compile agenda
25
days
Decision on application
End
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Applicable Law
The relevant law upon which decisions and opinions are based for PCIs, including
environmental law are the following:
Act No. X of 2010 Environment and Development Planning Act, 2010
L.N. 114 of 2007 DEVELOPMENT PLANNING ACT (CAP. 356) ENVIRONMENT
PROTECTION ACT (CAP. 435) Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2007
(as amended)
L.N. 9 of 2013 ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT PLANNING ACT (CAP. 504)
Industrial Emissions (Framework) Regulations, 2013
L.N. 10 of 2013 ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT PLANNING ACT (CAP. 504)
Industrial Emissions (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control) Regulations 2013
L.N. 11 of 2013 ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT PLANNING ACT (CAP. 504)
Industrial Emissions (Large Combustion Plants) Regulations, 2013
L.N. 37 of 2003 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY AUTHORITY ACT (CAP.424)
Control of Major Accident Hazard Regulations, 2003, as amended
L.N. 281 of 2004, OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY AUTHORITY ACT (CAP.424),
Work Place (Minimum Health and Safety Requirements for Work at Construction Sites)
Regulations
L.N. 282 of 2004 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY AUTHORITY ACT (CAP.424),
Work Equipment (Minimum Health and Safety Requirements) Regulations
L.N. 311 of 2006 ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION ACT, 2001 (CAP. 435)
DEVELOPMENT PLANNING ACT, 1992 (CAP. 356) Flora, Fauna and Natural Habitats
Protection Regulations, 2006, as amended
L.N. 79 of 2006 Environment Protection Act (Act No XX of 2001) Conservation of Wild
Birds Regulations, 2006
L.N. 189 of 2012 Malta Resources Authority Act (CAP. 423) Natural Gas Market
Regulations, 2012, (SL 423.21) as amended
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5.0
August 2014
Required Documentation
The project promoter needs to submit the following documentation:
Application Form
Site Plan
Project Description Report
Relevant Documents and Drawings
Report summarizing the results of all activities related to the participation of the
public prior to the submission of the application
The main requirements in relation to the application form and the site plan are outlined
below. Further information is listed in MEPA Circular 3/11.
5.1
Application forms and related detail requirements
a)
Unless otherwise set out in another document, the application form shall consist
of the following documents:
the completed application form wherein:
(i) in the case of applications that are submitted on behalf of a corporate
body, the company name shall be input as the Applicant’s name, and
the company number is to be provided where the applicant’s ID is
normally input. An identifiable person, duly authorised by the company
represented, shall take responsibility for the application on behalf of
the company. Accordingly, the individual’s name and ID number are
still required. These are to be stated in section 15 of the form;
(ii) the description of development should be clear and in detail, avoiding the
use of complex and technical terminology or unexplained acronyms.
(iii) the architect’s and applicant’s declarations should be completed. Apart
from the uploading of the electronic application form, a physical hard
copy signed by both the architect and the applicant, in the relevant
sections, is to be submitted to the Authority.
a full set of drawings which should be clear and bold enough to enable
printing without loss of detail. All text entries contained therein should be
clearly legible without the need for magnification.
a site location plan should be submitted and compiled
at least three good quality colour photographs faithfully showing the current
and latest state of the site
drawings, which shall all be suitably dimensioned, listed with their title, date of
issue and the architect’s unique reference number. Legends and dimensions
on drawings should be clear and legible;
a completed NSO Development Form;
mandatory site-related information
additional supplementary information required
any fees and contributions due in relation to the proposed development.
b)
Additional supplementary information may be required as applicable including
clearances from the Malta Resources Authority
c)
Mandatory site-related information:
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The location of the proposed development should be specified in detail.
The proposal description of renewal and amended applications should refer to
the PA number being renewed/amended, (whilst reproducing the original
proposal description in case of renewal applications).
Wherever applicable, all previous application numbers (including permissions,
notifications, clearances, refused applications, environmental permitting cases
and applications for correction of sites) should be included. Applications
quoted should be relevant to the site and/or the development.
If new or altered access is required, this should be clearly indicated in the
description of the proposal and indicated on the site plans and on a block
plan.
d)
Description of the proposal and indicated on the site plans and on a block plan.
5.2
Site location map
a)
Site location plans should be at scale 1:2500, and must be A4 extracts of the latest
maps (and in any case not generated earlier than the preceeding calendar year)
produced by MEPA that accurately show:
the respective scheme boundary and Urban Conservation Area (UCA)/village
core
boundary (where relevant and clearly distinguished from each other);
the street names and site toponyms that are located within the map extract;
the correct orientation (towards the North); and
precise map co-ordinates.
The site plan should be clear and bold enough to enable printing without loss of detail. In
exceptional circumstances, a site plan with a different size other than specified above
may be permissible.
b)
The application site should be at the centre of the site plan - maps with the site at
the edge of the sheet are not acceptable. Moreover, the whole site should be
indicated for applications for two or more structures forming part of the same
development.
c)
The full extent of the application site (including all land necessary to carry out the
proposed development) must be outlined in red. All other land in the area owned
by the applicant must be clearly and correctly shown on the site plan, outlined in
blue.
d)
The site plan should also show:
the positions from which photographs were taken; and
the shortest distance (in metres) of the building from the nearest road
junction/corner (or where this is not possible, from the nearest existing
building). It is important to ensure that the measurements are consistent with
the location as mapped on the site plan, and that the points from which
measurements are taken are indicated precisely on the map. [Note: If
measurements and mapped locations do not tally, the submission will be
referred back for correction of details].
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Details relating to the Environmental Assessment requirements are available here.
Details relating to the Environmental Permitting process are available here.
A detailed checklist that needs to be followed by the project promoter is available in
MEPA Circular 3/11. Other guidance as to what is required may be provided by MEPA.
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6.0
Public Participation
6.1
Article 9 of Regulation 347/2013
August 2014
Article 9 of the Regulation provides that without any prejudice to any requirements under
the Aarhus and Espoo Conventions and relevant EU law, all parties involved in the
permit granting process shall follow the principles for public participation set out in Annex
VI 3 of the Regulation. This stipulates that the stakeholders affected by a project of
common interest, including relevant national, regional and local authorities, landowners
and citizens living in the vicinity of the project, the general public and their associations,
organisations or groups, shall be extensively informed and consulted at an early stage,
when potential concerns by the public can still be taken into account and in an open and
transparent manner. Where relevant, MEPA shall actively support the activities
undertaken by the project promoter.
The project promoter would need to carry out public consultation initiatives in line with
the minimum requirements of the Regulation, namely the publication of information
leaflet giving an overview of the purpose and preliminary timetable, the national grid
development plan, alternative routes considered, expected impacts, possible mitigation
measures; inform all stakeholders affected through website and other appropriate
information means; invite relevant affected stakeholders to dedicated meetings, during
which concerns shall be discussed). The project promoter prepares a report
summarizing the results of ALL activities related to the participation of the public prior to
the submission of the application file. The report summarizing the results of all activities
related to the participation of the public prior to the submission of the application, shall
be submitted as part of the screening application requirement and MEPA shall make this
report available to the public as part of the application process.
MEPA is also required to ensure that public consultation procedures for projects of
common interest are grouped together where possible. Each public consultation shall
cover all subject matters relevant to the particular stage of the procedure, and one
subject matter relevant to the particular stage of the procedure shall not be addressed in
more than one public consultation however, one public consultation may take place in
more than one geographical location. The subject matters addressed by a public
consultation shall be clearly indicated in the notification of the public consultation.
Comments and objections shall be admissible from the beginning of the public
consultation until the expiry of the deadline only.
The project promoter is required to draw up and submit a concept for public participation
to MEPA, where MEPA is entitled to request modifications or approve the concept. The
timeframe will be discussed and agreed with the project promoter as stipulated in the EU
Regulation. Significant changes to the concept must be notified to MEPA at any stage.
6.2
The Pre-Application Procedure and Public Participation
The project promoter has an indicative period of 3 months from the start of the permit
granting process to submit a public participation concept to MEPA. The public
participation concept shall include at least the following details:
a) The contact details of the stakeholders concerned
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b) The public consultations measures that will be taken including dates of general
meetings
c) The timeline and allocated resources to carry out the indicated public consultation
measures
Following consultations with other agencies, MEPA needs to modify or approve the
public participation concept within 3 months.
As outlined in the Pre Application Stage, at least one public consultation is to be carried
out by the project promoter, or where required by the competent authority BEFORE
submission of the final and complete application file (without prejudice to any additional
public consultation to be carried out according to the EIA Directive).
6.3
The Statutory Permit Granting Procedure and Public Participation
During the statutory permit granting procedure, as soon as MEPA validates the Full
Development Application, it carries out public consultation with the general public. MEPA
would also carry out consultations with other Agencies and Government Authorities that
were indicated in the screening letter.
6.4
Public Participation and the EIA Process
Public consultation is carried out during the various stages of the EIA process, namely at the
scoping and review stages. These include:
consultation during the scoping stage where adverts are issued in the press and on the
MEPA website (the competent authority) informing the public that a proposal is subject to
an EIA, also inviting the public to submit issues to be included in the EIA terms of
reference within 21 days from the issue of such advert. Such adverts include the
address/link where relevant information are available;
a scoping meeting for Category I projects is undertaken between the developer,
agencies of government, non-governmental organisations and the local council/s
affected;
a 21-day consultation period with the public during the review process of the EIA
highlighting the addresses where such EIA is available, including an on-site notice and
digitally;
a public meeting for Category I projects giving the public between 15 and 30 day notice
for such meeting. Comments can be submitted by the public up to 7 days from the date
of the public meeting; and
the public is notified of the date, time and venue of the decision making meeting for
proposals that are accompanied by an EIA through adverts in the press.
All information relevant to the EIA and the decision-making is made available to the public.
Proposed developments that are undergoing an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
process are available on: http://www.mepa.org.mt/permitting-ea-cons.
Furthermore for projects crossing the border of two or more Member States, the public
consultations in each of the Member State concerned shall take place within a period of
no more than two months from the date on which the first public consultation started.
With respect to transboundary effects, the provisions of Article 7 of Directive 2011/92/EU
and the Espoo Convention are applicable.
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6.4
August 2014
The Project Website and Public Participation
The Regulation requires that project websites shall at least contain the following
information:
a) the information leaflet
b) a non-technical and regularly updated summary of no more than 50 pages reflecting
the current status of the project and clearly indicating, in case of updates, changes to
previous versions;
c) the project and public consultation planning, clearly indicating dates and locations for
public consultations and hearings and the envisaged subject matters relevant for
those hearings;
d) contact details for the purpose of obtaining the full set of application documents;
e) contact details in view of conveying comments and objections during public
consultations.
MEPA will follow up with the project promoter to ensure that the project website in line
with above listed requirements is maintained and updated as maybe required.
19
Malta Environment and Planning
Authority
7.0
Contact Details
7.1
MEPA’s Contact Details
August 2014
The contact point for PCIs within MEPA is Mr. Sylvio Farrugia, Deputy Director, Planning
Directorate, Malta Environment and Planning Authority. In addition, the contact details of
the contact point within the National Projects Unit which handles PCIs is Mr. Victor
Sladden, Assistant Director, Planning Directorate, Malta Environment and Planning
Authority:
Telephone Number: 22901084
Email address:
sylvio.farrugia@mepa.org.mt/ pci@mepa.org.mt
Email address:
victor.sladden@mepa.org.mt
7.2
Contact Details of other Agencies and major stakeholders
The contact details of the main entities and major stakeholders that are involved through
the process of issuing a comprehensive decision are as follows.
Entity
Contact
Name/Designation
Tel. No.
Email
Transport Malta
Mr. James Piscopo
(Chairman/CEO)
2291 4502
james.piscopo@transport.gov.mt
Continental Shelf
Department
Dr. Albert Caruana
(Director General)
Environment Health
Directorate
Mr. Clive Tonna
(Director)
Malta Tourism Authority
2292 2160
dgcs.mti@gov.mt
21337333
clive.j.tonna@gov.mt
Mr. Josef Formosa
Gauci (CEO)
22915103
Josef.formosagauci@visitmalta.com
Malta Resources
Authority
Ing. Anthony Rizzo
(CEO)
2295 5000
anthony.rizzo@mra.org.mt
Ministry for Sustainable
Development, the
Environment and
Climate Change
Ms. Sonya Sammut
(Director
Environment and
Climate Change)
Occupational Health
and Safety Authority
Dr. Mark Gauci
Chief Executive
Officer
22926206
21247677
sonya.sammut@gov.mt
ohsa@gov.mt
Mr. John Rizzo
20
Malta Environment and Planning
Authority
Civil Protection
Department
(Head)
August 2014
23931022
john.rizzo@gov.mt
21