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The Malta Environment and Planning Authority categorically denies the allegations made earlier today by Flimkien ghall-Ambjent Ahjar, Birdlife, Friends of the Earth, Malta Organic Agriculture Movement and Ramblers Association that one of its officials had mishandled or unethically accessed the Xaghra development application file of Ms Astrid Vella.
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The Malta Environment and Planning Authority can confirm that the details of planning application PA04434/09 for the proposed development of an acquaculture zone in the national territorial waters in South East of Malta had been published in a local newspaper on the 19th December 2009, according to the law.
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The Malta Environment and Planning Authority Board approved the full development permission for the construction of a new multi-purpose complex at the Malta International Airport in Luqa.
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Works on the extension of Terminal 1 at the Malta Freeport in Birzebbuga were today given the go ahead by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority Board. The Board, which in February 2009 had refused the application, reviewed its decision given that significant progress had been made by the operators of the Freeport to address environment operational concerns and adopt mitigation measures in the public interest.
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The Malta Environment and Planning Authority Board today agreed in principle, through the granting of an outline development permit, that the proposed development of a 144MW extension to the Delimara Power station will be permitted on the designated site.
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During the month of December, the Malta Environment & Planning Authority decided 326 applications and received 684 new applications. The net pending caseload at the end of the month was 4,901
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A large habitable ‘bunker’ which was illegally excavated and constructed adjacent to a large bird trapping site, in the limits of Rabat, was demolished by the direct action team of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.
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During the month of January, the Malta Environment & Planning Authority (MEPA) decided 316 applications and received 382 new applications. The net pending caseload at the end of the month was 5,034.
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With the aim of promoting a better continuation of government public and community servicing and envisaged cost benefits through the re-organisation of existing public facilities, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority has published a number of proposed changes for the partial review of the Gozo and Comino Local Plan, that had been approved in 2006.
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The Development Control Commission within MEPA today refused to grant a development permit for the construction of an apartment block with underlying garages in the Qala Valley better known as Wied tal-Marga.
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The Malta Environment and Planning Authority in reply to a statement issued earlier today by three environmental NGOs strongly denies that any new land rationalisation exercise is being carried out. The Authority is only processing Planning Control applications pertaining to the land that had got included in the 2006 rationalisation exercise that had been approved by Parliament.
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MEPA refers to the industrial action ordered by the Authority’s Professional Workers' Union, over redeployment of staff.
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The process of bringing all existing installations in Malta in line with the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive of the EU has today been concluded following the approval of the MEPA board to grant an IPPC permit to Waste Oils Company Ltd. In the EU context these installations pose the greatest environmental risk -locally these consist of thirteen installations, which include the power stations and landfills.
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During the month of February, the Malta Environment & Planning Authority (MEPA) decided 525 applications and received 400 new applications. The net pending caseload at the end of the month was 5,030.
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Following an agreement between the Management of MEPA, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and the two unions representing the Authority’s employees, namely the Professional Workers' Union (UPAP) and the Union Haddiema Maghqudin (UHM), the industrial action at MEPA has been called off.
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The Malta Environment and Planning Authority Board approved the full development permission for the rehabilitation of the former Maghtab landfill.
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The Malta Environment and Planning Authority Board approved the re-design of the interpretation centre and ancillary facilities in Dwejra, Gozo with the prime purpose of significantly reducing the visual impact of this development. The re-design includes the part removal of existing frame structure and the relocation of the kitchen facilities to the underground level freeing the upper level from any imposing structures to accommodate an open-air catering facility.
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The entrance to Malta’s Capital City and its surrounding environment will be transformed and extensively enriched following the MEPA Board decision to grant a development permit for the construction of a new city gate for Valletta, a Parliament building, a new piazza and performing space at the site of the former Royal Opera House and landscaping works along the ditch.
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The Environment Directorate within the Malta Environment and Planning Authority has just launched its latest report on the state of Malta’s environment. The Environment Report highlights the situation in a number of environmental areas including air, waters, climate change, biodiversity and policy responses to environmental issues.
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The Malta Environment & Planning Authority has secured over €4.9 million to finance a project that will radically improve the national environmental monitoring infrastructure and capacity.
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During the month of March, the Malta Environment & Planning Authority decided 654 applications and received 656 new applications. The net pending caseload at the end of the month was 4,962.
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We need to draw the line on sanctioning in ODZ. These were the opening words with which MEPA Chairman Mr. Austin Walker introduced the session in which 17 planning applications seeking to sanction boathouses in Dwejra were to be decided. In that session MEPA Board turned down 11 planning applications that sought permission to sanction illegal works pertaining to the construction or extension of works for boathouses in Dwejra.
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The Malta Environment & Planning Authority has signed an agreement with 15 local councils and the Ministry responsible for the department of works to fully or partially fund twenty- one projects that will help improve the quality of life for residents living in these localities. The sum of over €860,000 is being made available to these Local Councils and central government through the Urban Improvement Fund (UIF) scheme which is managed by the Authority.
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Over the past weeks the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) stepped up its efforts to curb illegal development across the Maltese Islands by carrying out a number of direct action operations in over 7 localities.
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The Environment Protection Directorate within the Malta Environment and Planning Authority never received any application from the Xaghra Local Council or anyone else for the removal of large quantities of stones from Ramla Bay in Gozo.
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The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) Board approved an extensive embellishment project which will create public open spaces around the Dock 1 creek. The site, which today is an enclosed area around the dock and quay will, through this approved project, now be opened up and integrated with the two central squares of Bormla, Pjazza Gavino Gulia and Misrah Paolino Vassallo.
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During the month of April, the Malta Environment & Planning Authority (MEPA) decided 577 applications and received 570 new applications. The net pending caseload at the end of the month was 4,883.
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In a landmark decision earlier today, the MEPA Board unanimously refused to give a full development permit for an application which in August 2007 was granted an outline permit. The proposed development, which includes the demolition of a disused rabbit farm and the construction of industrial premises, was deemed by the MEPA Board to go against the public interest, as the development was not respecting the planning policies for this site.
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The Malta Environment and Planning Authority Board refused to sanction the development of two stables, a fodder store and an enclosed horse paddock area in an area located outside the development zone of Zurrieq, an area known as ‘Il-Wardija’. The application, which was turned down, also requested the permission for the construction of an underground reservoir, a manure clamp with an underlying cesspit, boundary walls and the installation of a timber gate.
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The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) is launching an awareness campaign as part of a number of initiatives it is carrying out during 2010, which has been declared by both the United Nations and the European Union as the International Year of Biodiversity. The scope of this campaign will be to increase the public’s awareness of biodiversity actually means and the way the public can take action when it comes to safeguarding Malta’s biodiversity.
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The Malta Environment and Planning Authority Board today approved the full development application for the development of a 144MW extension to the Delimara Power Station which will be permitted on the designated site.
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Over the past two weeks, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) continued with its efforts to curb illegal development in 8 localities across Malta by removing large quantities of illegally dumped building material, derelict vehicles, a wooden room in a field and a hunting tower.
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The Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) depot, which for years has been situated in the immediate vicinity of a residential area known as il-Qajjenza in the northern periphery of Birzebbuga, is to be relocated to a disused quarry following the MEPA Board’s decision to grant a planning permit to this development application.
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On the occasion of the MTV Mobile Earth Garden Festival and World Environment Day which will be celebrated on the 05th June, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) will be organising forty-minute educational Bus Tours from Ta’ Qali to Miġra Ferħa, limits of Rabat.
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The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) has extended the public consultation period for the public and any organization to submit comments and suggestions on the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) for the proposed Hondoq ir-Rummien project by a further week until Friday 11th June 2010.
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The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) board today approved a Transport Malta project for the reconstruction and upgrading of Triq Dicembru Tlettax in Marsa. This project, extending over 1km of the arterial road network, will include the construction of an underpass which will facilitate the access to the port area prior to entering Floraina and Valletta and therefore will reduce the amount of traffic further inward to the Capital City Valletta.
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Two calls for tenders, which form part of the EU funded project ‘Developing National Environmental Monitoring Infrastructure and Capacity’, have just been published on the Official Journal of the EU, requesting the provision of services related to environmental monitoring to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.
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During the month of May, the Malta Environment & Planning Authority decided 677 applications and received 525 new applications. The net pending caseload at the end of the month was 4,699.
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The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) launched a new environmental permitting programme for all the quarries in Malta and Gozo so as to mitigate the inconvenience these operations has on their neighbourhoods and increase the standards of environment compliance within the industry.
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The Malta Environment & Planning Authority (MEPA) would like to remind all operators responsible for the transport of waste about the requirement to implement the provisions of Waste Management (Activity Registration) Regulations as published by Legal Notice 106 of 2007.
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The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) Board today approved the final phase of works pertaining to the extension project of the Malta Freeport in Birzebbuga.
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The Malta Environment & Planning Authority (MEPA) is currently working on a project which will enable Malta to have national Noise Maps available by the second quarter of 2011.
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The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) announced a revision in the rates for development planning applications.
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Over the past few weeks the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) managed to close 9 out of 13 enforcement notices which were recently issued on a number of illegalities along the remote protected cliffs of the pristine rural area known as Ta’ Maxwell in the limits of Gharb.
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The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) can confirm that the four air monitoring stations which determine the concentration levels of most air pollutants every 15 minutes for the Maltese Islands are located in accordance and as regulated by the EU Directive on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe.
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The Malta Environment and Planning Authority Board today approved and gave the green light for restoration work to be carried out at Fort Cambridge in Sliema. The works which will involve the restoration of the entire underground tunnels, bastions, ditch and glacis together with the main fort structure, underground levels and roof will make certain that the fort will rediscover its original layout.
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The valleys of Wied il-Miżieb and Wied tax-Xaqrani located along the Mellieħa ridge and within a Natura 2000 site have been scheduled by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) and added to the growing list of natural scheduled sites.
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During the month of June, the Malta Environment & Planning Authority decided 704 applications and received 438 new applications. The net pending caseload at the end of the month was 4,493.
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The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) Board today confirmed that the high level of protection given to the valley of Wied Ghollieqa, limits of San Gwann, through the planning mechanism of scheduling should remain as approved last year.
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In another landmark decision earlier today, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) Board refused a full development application for the construction of 164 residential units at the site of the former 7-Up Factory in Santa Venera.
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The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) has designated four new marine protected areas which cover over 18,000 hectares of the Maltese marine environment. The sites, which include a significant stretch of area along the North East of the Islands and three smaller areas at Mġarr ix-Xini, Dwejra and an area between Għar Lapsi and Fifla, are being protected so that the underwater habitats in the area are preserved in all their beauty, for the enjoyment of the present and future generations.
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During the month of July, the Malta Environment & Planning Authority decided 487 applications and received 1,049 new applications. The net pending caseload at the end of the month was 4,578.
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Earlier this morning the Malta Environment and Planning Authority MEPA was notified to cut short its direct action operations on a building which was illegally developed ....
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Gathered under a large tent, Scouts between the ages of 7 and 16 years old, from the Mosta Group, were given an educational talk about the importance and protection of our local biodiversity at their summer camp, which this year was held in the Pwales Valley of Simar, limits of San Pawl il-Bahar.
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MEPA enforcement personnel moved in on a large site in the touristic area of Marsalforn which was illegally converted into a recreational and open storage area.
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Earlier this morning, the Malta Environment and Planning Authorityhad to stop providing a service to the public due to a bomb scare at its offices in St Francis Ravelin, Floriana. The incident happened at around 10:50hrs when one of the receptionists received an anonymous call saying that a bomb was placed at MEPA facilities.
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Earlier this morning the Malta Environment and Planning Authority was impeded in its direct action operations on a building which was illegally developed at Ras il-Wied in the limits of Wardija, on the slopes of ecologically sensitive Wied Qannotta,, following a prohibitory injunction that was presented to the Court.
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The Hotel Phoenicia, one of Malta’s oldest tourism properties, has been given planning permission by the MEPA board to develop additional bedrooms to the hotel while carrying out restoration and rehabilitation works to the nearby stables. This planning permission also allows that works to be carried out to upgrade the existing hotel, its surrounding grounds and the area of St. John's Ditch
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A transportation project through the development of a new lift which will provide an essential link between the waterfront and the Valletta city center has received the green light by the MEPA Board.
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During the month of August, the Malta Environment & Planning Authority decided 392 applications and received 220 new applications. The net pending caseload at the end of the month was 4,621.
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The Tarxien Megalithic Temples are to be protected from any further atmospheric deterioration following the approval by the MEPA Board of an overlying protective, lightweight structure at this World Heritage site
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Although tourism is a primary force driving our national economic prosperity, it also plays an important role and carries significant responsibility in managing and conserving our Island’s biological natural resources. For this purpose, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority with the support of the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association is organising a series of talks on the importance and richness of our local biodiversity for employees working within the hospitality industry.
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Reference to the Legal Notice 356 of 2010, on Development Planning Regulations; the Malta Environment and Planning Authority would like to notify the public as follows.
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During the month of September, the Malta Environment & Planning Authority decided 492 applications and received 359 new applications. The net pending caseload at the end of the month was 4,667.
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The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) makes reference to a statement issued yesterday by the Labour Party spokesperson for the Environment and the Fgura Mayor whereby they claimed that the ‘black dust’ issue was not being tackled in the proper manner by the Authority and that statements that the ‘black dust’ issue was a thing of the past was incorrect.
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The over-populated bus terminus which has for years become an eye-sore at the entrance of Malta’s Capital City is to be significantly downsized and relocated to the area below St. James Counterguard, following MEPA Board’s green light to the project earlier today.
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A site, in an outside development zone of Marsascala, which in June 2002 had been given a valid planning permit for the development of a beer garden, was today refused a renewal of the same permit by the MEPA board.
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The demolition of an existing town house, located in Balzan’s village core for the development of six terraced houses with underground parking facilities and pools was today refused by the Mepa Board on grounds that the proposal goes against a number of planning policies including the failure to protect and enhance the amenity of the existing gardens that form the unique character of Balzan.
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The Malta Environment and Planning Authority makes reference to a statement issued yesterday by the Labour Party spokesperson for the Environment and the Fgura Mayor whereby they claimed that the ‘black dust’ issue was not being tackled in the proper manner by the Authority and that statements that the ‘black dust’ issue was a thing of the past was incorrect.
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The Malta Environment and Planning Authoritycan confirm that black dust particles that were recently uncovered by the heavy rains over the past days at Wied Blandun in the vicinity of Fgura is grit blasting material
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The Malta Environment and Planning Authority today ordered that the clean up operation at Dwejra must continue without any mechanical equipment, by the contractor appointed by the producers of the film ‘Game of Thrones’. Environment monitors from the Authority today were on site to ensure that the removal of the sand from the site was carried out without causing any damage to the rock surface.
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Earlier today the MEPA Board approved planning permission for the development of two visitors’ centers at Ggantija Temples in Xaghra Gozo and the Catacombs of St. Paul in Rabat. These two projects which were submitted by Heritage Malta and are supported by the ERDF funding are sure to add value and enhance the experience of all visitors that will visit these two world famous heritage sites.
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Early this morning the enforcement team within the Malta Environment and Planning Authority removed a large canopy structure which was illegally assembled last month on one of the seafront terraces at Villa Cassar Torreggiani in St Julian’s. The villa, which is a Grade 2 scheduled property, is today is being used as a restaurant.
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During the month of October, the Malta Environment & Planning Authority decided 429 applications and received 330 new applications. The net pending caseload at the end of the month was 4,598.
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The Malta Environment and Planning AuthorityBoard approved an outline development permit for the re-location of the curb-side petrol station situated in Birkirkara Road, St. Julians.
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The Malta Environment and Planning Authority in collaboration with the Malta Resources Authority has prepared the Environmental Report as part of the Strategic Environmental Assessment of the National Water Catchment Management Plan (WCMP) for the Maltese Islands. The WCMP is a requirement of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) (2000/60/EC) and was launched for public consultation in May 2010.
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The Malta Environment and Planning Authority Board approved an outline development permit for the redevelopment of the Buskett Forest Aparthotel in the area known as Ta’ Sabbat limits of Buskett. The proposed redevelopment of this dilapidated building which was constructed in the early 70’s will have a smaller footprint than the existing building there is today.
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Following the introduction of Legal Notice 249 of 2008 and the LPG Codes of Practice by the Malta Resources Authority, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority has amended the Development Notification Order regulations.
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An independent environmental specialist, commissioned by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, has started carrying out an independent assessment to evaluate whether the filming activities had an impact on the habitats and species for which this site has been designated as a Natura 2000 site.
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A total of 13 localities are set to benefit from over €1.5 million, made available to them through MEPA’s Urban Development Fund (UIF) after a contract was signed with the Authority today. The contract will cover the full financing of 19 projects which will improve the quality of life for residents living in these localities.
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The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) is in the process of setting up a complement of Compliance Inspectors as it steps up its enforcement efforts to ensure that every producer placing packaging material on the Maltese market is observing the regulations that manage packaging waste.
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During the month of November, the Malta Environment & Planning Authority decided 562 applications and received 33 new applications. The net pending caseload at the end of the month was 4,307.
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MEPA would like to inform all Periti that a briefing session will be held on Monday 20th December 2010 at 18:00. The venue for this event is at Gonzi Hall at Catholic Institute, Floriana.
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An outline development application which sought planning consent for the construction of residential units in Wied Ghajn Zejtuna, Santa Marija Estate was today turned down by MEPA Board.
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The Malta Environment and Planning Authority which is the competent Authority for the environmental permitting of industrial plants under IPPC Directive has recently been informed by EneMalta of a malfunction in two of the precipitators at the Marsa Power Station.
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The Chairman, Board Members, Management and Staff at the Malta Environment and Planning Authority wish everyone a Peaceful Christmas and A Prosperous New Year.
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During the month of December, the Malta Environment & Planning Authority (MEPA) decided 266 applications and received 107 new applications. The net pending caseload at the end of the month was 4,154.
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