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Operators of tuna fish farms who persist in breaching regulations and ignoring enforcement orders issued by the Planning Authority, may face emergency enforcements orders (EEOs): this order will allow the authorities to take action against the operators without the right to appeal.
An emergency enforcement order can only be issued by the Planning Authority once a 'certificate of approval' is issued by the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA). This is done after the ERA asserts that the breach of regulations is the cause of "imminent damage" to the environment.
No date has been set as to when such EEOs will be issued. Environment Minister Jose Herrera insisted that such a decision depended on the ERA, an autonomous authority.
"But I can assure you that the ERA will be taking its decision swiftly," the minister said, when pressed.
Planning Authority executive chairman Johann Buttigieg said the EEO would come into force if the operators fail to take action in the stipulated timeframes as listed in the enforcement notifications issued by the PA.
Operators who persist...