Project

The Project Proponent embarked on developing a state-of-the-art, knowledge-based and employment-led mixed use development. The proposed project consisted of a high quality working and living environment, providing bespoke and specialist facilities

In compliance with the Malta’s guidelines, laws and regulations issued under the authority of Environment Protection Act (Act V) of 1991, the proposed development is subject to an environmental impact assessment to support an application for environmental permit from the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA).

Accordingly, an EIA was to be prepared to cover all relevant areas outlined in MEPA guidelines including: policy and legal framework; air quality; water resources; traffic; noise; soils and geology; waste management; ecology; socio-economic effects; cultural heritage and archaeology; landscape and visual amenity; and sustainability.

Assignment

As a first step towards conducting an environmental impact assessment, a scoping report was prepared and included:

• Description of the need for the project
• Description of the proposed project and its alternatives;
• Identification of the valued ecosystem components;
• Identification of the key organizations and statutory bodies to be consulted in the EIA process;
• An Outline of the legal and administrative framework within which the EIA will be conducted;
• Validating the alternatives proposed in the Master Plan from an environmental perspective
• Suggesting the format of the EIA report and significance criteria to be used in assessing impacts;
• Identification and summary of the key environmental issues to be addressed in the EIA;
• the scope of work and methodology to be followed in preparing the EIA;
• Additional informational needs.