Malta’s planning authority will set ground rules to deal with dust clouds that are rising from quarries.

In a set of draft terms of reference regulating dust emissions, Mepa proposes setting a limit of 200 milligrams per square metre of dust a day.

Stone cutting, refilling unused quarries and crushing and grading stone should now be better controlled.

Thomas Parnis, an Environment Protection Directorate official, said the regulator would carry out a baseline study on dust emissions to serve as operation guidelines and help it identify the main sources of dust.

Under the new terms of reference, quarry owners must submit a detailed method statement – part of the environment permit they require to operate – listing the equipment, cutting techniques and mitigation measures.

Once the method statement is approved by the planning authority, dust emissions will be monitored.

The data would help Mepa set up a dust emissions database as the records available so far are “fragmented”.

It is estimated there are 15 hard stone and 70 soft stone operational quarries and many more are being refilled.

The proposals are very similar to terms of reference issued earlier this year for consultation on vibration at quarries. The document is available at www.mepa.org.mt/public-consultation and feedback can be sent until June 22.