National Action Plan for Malta for the Reduction and Elimination of Land Based Pollution

National Action Plan for Malta for the Reduction and Elimination of Land Based Pollution (In the framework of the implementation of the Strategic Action Programme to address pollution from land-based activities) National Diagnostic Analysis for Malta Victor Axiak As submitted to The United Nations Environment Programme, Coordinating Unit for the Mediterranean Action Plan Through The Environment Protection Directorate of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority. CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................3 1.1 Background ........................................................................................................... 3 1.2 National Programmes Addressing Marine Pollution ............................................ 4 1.2.1 Coastal Zone Management in Malta..............................................................................................................4 1.2.2 Institutional Framework ..................................................................................................................................5 1.2.3 Information and monitoring of the marine environment .................................................................................7 1.3 Legal Framework for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Pollution in Malta................................................................................................ 10 1.3.1 Introduction...................................................................................................................................................10 1.3.2 CD 76/464/EEC on pollution caused by certain dangerous substances discharged into the aquatic environment ..................................................................................................................................................11 1.3.3 CD 91/271/EC – The Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive .....................................................................11 1.3.4 CD2000/60/EC – The Water Framework Directive ......................................................................................12 1.3.5 CD 96/61/EC - Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) ............................................................13 1.3.6 CD 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources .......................................................................................................................................13 1.4 Main Features of Malta’s Marine and Coastal Environments ............................ 14 1.4.1 Physical Constraints and Demography..........................................................................................................14 1.4.2 The Coastal Area...........................................................................................................................................15 1.4.3 Marine Living Resources ..............................................................................................................................18 2. NATURE AND SEVERITY OF PROBLEMS ON THE COASTAL AREAS RESULTING FROM LAND-BASED ACTIVITIES....................................................................................19 2.1 Contaminants and Sources .................................................................................. 19 2.1.1 Sewage ..........................................................................................................................................................19 2.1.2 Urban Solid Wastes.......................................................................................................................................40 2.1.3 Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) ............................................................................................................50 2.1.4 Heavy Metals and Organometallic Compounds ............................................................................................62 2.1.5 Organohalogen Compounds ..........................................................................................................................74 2.1.6 Radioactive Substances.................................................................................................................................80 2.1.7 Nutrients and Suspended Solids ....................................................................................................................83 2.1.8 Hazardous Wastes .......................................................................................................................................111 2.1.8.1 Generation of Hazardous Wastes ................................................................................................................111 2.1.8.2.1 Waste Oil.....................................................................................................................................................113 2.2 Physical Alteration and Habitat Destruction..................................................... 117 2.2.1 Shoreline Construction and/or Alteration....................................................................................................117 2.2.2 Mineral and Sediment Extraction/Alteration...............................................................................................122 2.2.3 Alteration of Coastal Habitats .....................................................................................................................124 2.2.4 Marine Waters and Coastal Watershed Alteration.......................................................................................130 2.2.5 Biological Alteration (invasion of non-indigenous species)........................................................................131 3. MARINE AREAS ENDANGERED FROM LAND-BASED ACTIVITIES..................................................................................134 3.1 Introduction....................................................................................................... 134 3.2 Key to Presented Information ........................................................................... 134 National Diagnostic Analysis for Malta (Version 22 Jan 04) 1 3.2.1 Sites and Areas Considered.........................................................................................................................134 3.2.2 Marine Pollution..........................................................................................................................................136 3.2.3 Direct Marine Discharges............................................................................................................................136 3.2.4 Sources of Impacts ......................................................................................................................................137 3.2.5 Coastal and Marine Sites of Ecological Importance....................................................................................138 3.3 Gozo And Comino (Figure 3.2) ........................................................................ 138 3.4 Malta North (Figure 3.3)................................................................................... 141 3.5 Bahar ic-Caghaq to Tigne Point (Figure 3.4).................................................... 144 3.6 Marsamxett and Grand Harbour up to Xghajra (Figure 3.5) ............................ 147 3.6 Marsascala to Delimara Point (Figure 3.6) ....................................................... 150 3.7 Marsaxlokk (Figure 3.7)................................................................................... 152 3.8 Ghar Hasan to Wied iz-Zurrieq (Figure 3.8).................................................... 154 3.9 Wied iz-Zurrieq to Rdum tas-Sarg Coastline (Figure 3.9)................................ 156 4. ENVIRONMENTAL PRIORITY ISSUES.................................158 4.1 Introduction....................................................................................................... 158 4.2 Framework for Prioritisation............................................................................. 159 4.3 Computation of Risk Indices for each Region .................................................. 160 4.3.1 Gozo and Comino .......................................................................................................................................170 4.3.2 Malta North.................................................................................................................................................170 4.3.3 Bahar ic-Caghaq to Tigne Coastline............................................................................................................170 4.3.4 Marsamxett, Grand Harbour to Xghajra......................................................................................................170 4.3.5 Marsascala to Delimara...............................................................................................................................170 4.3.6 Marsaxlokk..................................................................................................................................................171 4.3.7 Ghar Hasan to Wied iz-Zurriq.....................................................................................................................171 4.3.8 Ghar Lapsi to Rdum tas-Sarg ......................................................................................................................171 4.4 Prioritization of Environmental

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