Adds Mepa statement

The Labour Party said this afternoon that Mepa's decision to approve an extension of Malta Freeport Terminal 1 - eight months after it rejected it - proved that the government instructed the Authority over how to take decisions.

Birzebbugia Local council in a separate statement also asked how the members of the Mepa board had reversed a decision they took last year when no changes had been made to the project.

The PL said the Mepa board last year had turned down the application for the extension of Terminal 1 because it would bring activity too close to residences. No justification had been given for the reversal this morning. The only difference was that the first vote was taken before the European Parliament elections, and the second vote was taken today.

The PL said the extension of the freeport should be carried out in a sustainable manner which respected the environment. Unfortunately, the project as proposed would harm a large part of the bay.

MEPA STATEMENT

Mepa said its board had reviewed its decision since significant progress had been made by the operators of the Freeport to address environment operational concerns and adopt mitigation measures in the public interest.

"The application, which was part of the extension project unanimously approved by Parliament in 2008 for the Freeport to remain competitive at an international level, includes dredging works and the construction of a new quay for container storage. The board obliged the operators to pay a planning gain of €8364;73,000, which will be used by the Birzebbuga local council for projects in their locality.

"The Board also constrained the operator to implement an environmental management system (EMS) within the next two years. Through an environmental permit, shall continue to address operational mitigation measures and ensure that the operations of the Freeport will be carried out in an environmentally sustainable manner," Mepa said.

See also

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100121/local/mepa-approves-controversial-freeport-extension

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