| Press Release 22-10-2003 "MRA confirms Front's fears of groundwater pollution by proposed Verdala Golf Course" "The Malta Resources Authority's submission to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority regarding AX Holdings' Environment Impact Assessment on the proposed Golf Course at Tal-Virtu includes six points where the Authority does not agree or has reservations on this EIA," the Front Kontra l-Golf Kors announced today. The Front pointed out that the MRA comments on Technical Appendix 3: Geology, Geomorphology, Hydrology and Hydrogeology Study (EIA for Verdala Golf Course) included the following: "Malta Resources Authority feels that the justification that groundwater would not be polluted through fertilising or the use of pesticides on the basis of the Cohen et al. study is not correct." and "The MRA has reservations on the theory stated in the EIA that the site is impermeable to surface infiltration. Therefore the conclusion reached that this would mitigate against any ground water pollution is not considered to have been adequately substantiated." The Front Kontra l-Golf Course stated that MRA's comments confirm what the Front has been saying for a long time about the problems associated with ground water pollution which would arise from the proposed development. The Front Kontra l-Golf Course added that it expects that the official comments by the Agriculture Department on the proposed development should also be made public. "Malta has now ratified the Aarhus Convention, giving the Maltese public the right to be informed on matters concernign development and the environment." James Debono |
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