S.L. 549.50 Art. 10Public participation. S.L. 549.39

(1) The public shall be informed, by public notices or other appropriate means, such as electronic media where available, of the following matters early in the procedure for granting a permit or, at the latest, as soon as the information can reasonably be provided on:

(a) the application for a permit;

(b) where applicable, the fact that a decision concerning an application for a permit is subject to consultation with an other State in accordance with regulation 15;

(c) details of the relevant competent authorities responsible for taking the decision, those from which relevant information can be obtained, those to which comments or questions can be submitted, and details of the time schedule for transmitting comments or questions;

(d) the nature of possible decisions;

(e) where applicable, the details relating to a proposal for the updating of a permit or of permit conditions;

(f) an indication of the times and places where, or the means by which, the relevant information will be made available;

(g) details of the arrangements for public participation made pursuant to sub-regulation (7).

(2) Within appropriate time frames, the following shall be made available to the public concerned:

(a) in accordance with Maltese legislation, the main reports and advice transmitted to the Competent Authority at the time when the public was informed in accordance with sub-regulation (1);

(b) in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Access to Information on the Environment Regulations, any information in addition to that referred to in sub-regulation (1) which is relevant for the decision in accordance with regulation 9 and which only becomes available after the time the public have been informed in accordance with sub-regulation (1).

(3) The public shall be informed, in accordance with sub-regulation (1) of an update of permit conditions in accordance with regulation 9(6).

(4) The public concerned shall be entitled to express comments and opinions to the competent authority before a decision is taken.

(5) The results of the consultations held pursuant to this regulation shall be duly taken into account in the taking of a decision.

(6) When a decision has been taken the competent authority shall, in accordance with the appropriate procedures, inform the public concerned and shall make the following information available to the public concerned:

(a) the content of the decision, including a copy of the permit;

(b) the reasons and considerations on which the decision is based.

(7) The detailed arrangements for public participation under this regulation shall be determined by the competent authority so as to enable the public concerned to prepare and participate effectively.