Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/764316
YANNICK PACE AN engineer has filed a judicial protest against the Environment and Resources Authority, holding it responsible for any damages that may occur in case of an accident in- volving the LNG tanker. Engineer Arthur Ciantar, assisted by maritime lawyer and PN execu- tive president Ann Fenech, filed the judicial protest ahead of a pub- lic consultation meeting to be held on Monday on the IPPC permit. Ciantar, a Marsaxlokk resident, said that it was unacceptable that the ERA had only published re- plies to a number of concerns on Thursday evening, leaving very lit- tle time to analyse the reply before Monday's meeting. "Despite the fact that there was not enough time to go through the replies, Ciantar has tried to do so. However, many questions have re- mained unanswered," his lawyer said. Fenech argued that this has left Ciantar with no choice but to file a judicial protest asking the ERA board members not to approve the permit. Moreover, she said that Ciantar was holding the ERA responsible for any damages caused to him and his family in the event of an acci- dent. Ciantar said that while he was in favour of the shift to gas, he was very concerned with the way things were being handled by Electrogas – the private consortium responsible of the new gas-fired power station. "I am in favour of gas and I am even in favour of having a floating storage unit. However I cannot ac- cept it being placed in Marsaxlokk bay," Ciantar said. He argued that it would have made a lot more sense for everyone involved, including Electrogas, if the tanker had been placed outside the harbour. Ciantar said that he could not accept that residents of Marsax- lokk were not given the necessary information regarding what was to happen in case of an accident, add- ing that the people of Marsaxlokk should be allowed to live in peace without fear. Moreover, he said that it was un- acceptable that the only way he could have legitimate concerns heard was by having to go to court on a Saturday afternoon to file a ju- dicial protest. On Thursday, together with PN MPs Marthese Portelli and Ryan Callus, Fenech addressed a press conference at the party's headquar- ters during which the ERA was urged to oppose the tanker permit. maltatoday, SUNDAY, 18 DECEMBER 2016 News GIFT VOUCHERS ALSO AVAILABLE VIEW MENUS ONLINE @ WWW.HOTELFORTINA.COM Christmas Eve: €45.00 per person Christmas Day: €40.00 per person New Years Eve: €50.00 per person New Years Day: €45.00 per person FESTIVE THEMED BANQUETS FESTIVE DINING FORTINA HOTELS SERVING A' LA CARTE MENUS WITH ADDITIONAL SEASONAL SPECIALITIES Fortina Hotels, Tigné Seafront, Sliema SLM 3012, Malta CHRISTMAS SPA OFFER FOR EVERY €100 SPENT YOU RECEIVE AN EXTRA €20 TO SPEND IN THE SPA NOT TO BE INCLUDED IN OTHER SPECIAL OFFERS Reservations: 2346 6666 Email: restaurants@fortinasparesort.com Spa Reception: 2346 2149 / 2347 Email: spa@fortinasparesort.com Engineer files protest over LNG permit Malta vigilant as bird flu hits Europe SEVERAL cases of avian flu have been detected in Northern and Central Europe in the past month, both in wild birds and on poultry farms, with the epidemic being at- tributed mainly to seasonal migra- tory movements of wild birds, the parliamentary secretary for agri- culture said. The virus identified is the HPAI H5N8 virus that had caused several outbreaks in poultry during the 2014/15 bird migration period. The EU Reference Laboratory for avian influenza concluded that the virus is still predominantly a bird virus without any specific in- creased affinity for humans. The veterinary authorities of af- fected Member States – Hungary, Austria, Germany, Denmark, Swe- den, France, Poland and the Neth- erlands – have adopted control measures to limit the potential spread of the disease. The level of awareness has been also increased in countries where the disease was detected only in wild birds, which were mainly found dead on sea shores and in lakes across Croatia, Finland, Ro- mania and Switzerland. "At present Malta is not consid- ered as high risk due to the sea- sonal migratory routes of wild bird species which are considered as the most likely reservoirs of the virus, but its geographical position is along one of the main European- African migration flyways and specific attention should be main- tained to prevent contacts between wild birds and poultry in farms," the parliamentary secretariat said. The Veterinary Regulation Di- rectorate has upgraded its level of vigilance and improved the prepa- ration for immediate action in case of introduction of the disease. "In order to implement effective ac- tions, any suspected high mor- tality in wild birds and poultry should be notified to the veterinary authority." Anne Fenech appeared for engineer Arthur Ciantar