Strategic action plan addresses land-based pollution

FOI environment committee chairman Godwin C. Micallef represented the Malta Federation of Industry at a brainstorming workshop conducted by the Maltese experts on the Strategic Action Plan of the United Nations Environment Programme-Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP-MAP), namely Professor Victor Axiak from the University of Malta and Louis Vella from Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA).

This workshop, which was held on July 21 at the MEPA Pollution Prevention & Control Unit, Corradino, focused on the implementation of the Strategic Action Plan to address possible ways of reducing and eliminating pollution from land-based activities and on the identification of the priority issues. In view of this, all participants were asked to review an issue/impact matrix whereby impacts would be scored by each member using the information provided. During the lengthy discussions, the FOI official stressed that any solution must be based on Best Available Technology Not Entailing Excessive Costs (BATNEC). The discussions were concluded by a consensus being reached on the priorities of the Plan.

Also attending the workshop were officials from the Pollution Prevention & Control Unit at MEPA, Malta Drydocks, Water Services Corporation, Nature Trust, Wasteserv, as well as the Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment.