Environment Protection still headless at MEPA

No replacement has been found for Petra Bianchi as head of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority's Environment Protection Directorate (EPD). Instead of appointing a new director responsible for MEPA's environmental duties, the government has appointed MEPA chairman Vince Cassar as Acting Director of the directorate.

The lack of a point of reference at the EPD at this juncture is particularly significant because MEPA is currently drafting new policies on controversial issues like fireworks and agro tourism, while initiating a public consultation on a revision of the local plans which regulate development in Malta's town and villages. It also coincides with the commencement of environment impact studies on the new power station, which will be eventually scrutinised by the EPD.

Effectively, the EPD has been headless since the end of April, when its former head Petra Bianchi resigned. No call for application has been issued to fill her vacancy.

Cassar, who was appointed on a part time basis with a of €18,000 a year, is not being paid for his added responsibilities as Acting Director of the EPD, a ministry spokesperson confirmed. 

According to a spokesperson for junior planning minister Michael Farrugia, the government is engaged in ongoing discussions leading to the split between the environmental arms.

"Eventually new administrative structures will be in place," a spokesperson for Farrugia said.

Before the election, the Labour Party had promised to split the environmental arm of MEPA from its planning arm and to amalgamate it to the Malta Resources Authority.  According to the PL's electoral manifesto the new authority will have a representative on the MEPA board.

MaltaToday is informed that the directorate entrusted with environment protection is presently suffering from a lack of direction.

The absence of a point of reference has accentuated the feeling that the environment is being sidelined by the new administration in favour of planning considerations. 

The EPD's weakened role contrasts with the strengthening of the planning arm of MEPA through the appointment of Johann Buttigieg - a former case officer and senior planning officer - as the Authority's new chief executive officer, who is reputed to run the show at MEPA. 

Chairman Vince Cassar, a retired civil servant widely respected for his integrity, is a practising architect and a former president of the chamber of architects. Cassar was appointed in a part time role and is free to exercise his private profession, even if he is excluded from presenting planning applications. 

Cassar's contract states clearly that his role as the non-executive chairman of MEPA is to lead the board "in order to implement government policy on planning and environment and to advise the government accordingly". 

He is also expected to assist and advise on the reform of MEPA and report directly to the parliamentary secretary.

MaltaToday is informed that Cassar's current involvement in EPD is limited to giving his approval to important decisions. As an architect he is not particularly versed in technical issues.

The previous director, Petra Bianchi - a former Din l-Art Helwa president - was controversially appointed in the absence of a call for applications by the previous government. Like Cassar today, Bianchi, a graduate in management and English literature, was not particularly knowledgeable on technical issues, which she used to delegate to experts working in the EPD. Bianchi's predecessor, Martin Seychell, was a chemist with previous experience in the implementation of EU directives.

The EPD has various responsibilities connected to environmental protection which include the Industrial Permitting and Industry Unit which, is responsible for the environmental permitting and compliance auditing of industrial installations including those involved in waste management.

It also includes the Environmental Assessment Unit, which coordinates the EPD's assessment of development projects and the EPD's role on related matters and the Ecosystems Management Unit, which coordinates activities, policy and strategies related to MEPA's response in the areas of ecosystems management, nature protection, GMOs and biosafety. The Waste, Air, Radiation and Noise Unit coordinates MEPA input on waste management, air quality, radiation and noise.