Protection of Groundwater against Pollution and Deterioration Regulations, 2009 (L.N. 108 of 2009)

B 1375VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA A.L. 108 tal-2009 ATT TAL-AWTORITÀ TA’ MALTA DWAR IR-RIŻORSI (KAP. 423) Regolamenti tal-2009 dwar il-Protezzjoni tal-Ilma ta’ taħt l-Art kontra t-Tniġġiż u d-Deterjorament BIS-SAĦĦA tas-setgħat mogħtija bl-artikolu 28 tal-Att dwar l-Awtorità ta’ Malta dwar ir-Riżorsi, il-Ministru għar-Riżorsi u Affarijiet Rurali, wara konsultazzjoni ma’ l-Awtorità ta’ Malta dwar ir-Riżorsi, għamel dawn ir-regolamenti li ġejjin: 1. (1) It-titolu ta’ dawn ir-regolamenti hu r-Regolamenti tal-2009 dwar il-Protezzjoni tal-Ilma ta’ taħt l-Art kontra t-Tniġġiż u d-Deterjorament. (2) Dawn ir-regolamenti għandhom jitqiesu li daħħlu fis-seħħ fis-16 ta’ Jannar, 2009. (3) L-iskop ta’ dawn ir-regolamenti hu li jittrasponu d-Direttiva 2006/118/KE u li jistabbilixxu miżuri speċifiċi biex jiġi prevenut u protett l-ilma ta’ taħt l-art kontra t-tniġġiż u d-deterjorazzjoni. Dawn il-miżuri jinkludu b’mod partikolari: (a) kriterji għall-valutazzjoni tal-istat kimiku tajjeb tal ilma ta’ taħt l-art; u (b) kriterji għall-identifikazzjoni u t-treġġigħ lura ta’ tendenzi ’l fuq sinifikanti u sostnuti għad-definizzjoni ta’ punti tal-bidu għal treġġigħ lura tat-tendenzi. 2. (1) Kemm il-darba dawn ir-regolamenti ma jkunux jeħtieġu xort’oħra, it-tifsiriet fl-Att dwar l-Awtorità ta’ Malta dwar ir-Riżorsi għandhom japplikaw. (2) F’dawn ir-regolamenti kemm il-darba r-rabta tal kliem ma tkunx teħtieġ xort’oħra: “l-Att” tfisser l-Att tal-Awtorità ta’ Malta dwar ir Riżorsi; Titolu, skop u dħul fis-seħħ. Tifsir. Suppliment tal-Gazzetta tal-Gvern ta’ Malta Nru. 18,403, 14 ta’ April, 2009 Taqsima B B 1376 VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA “l-Awtorità” tfisser l-Awtorità ta’ Malta dwar ir-Riżorsi; “dħul ta’ kontaminant fl-ilma ta’ taħt l-art” tfisser l-introduzzjoni diretta jew indiretta ta’ kontaminanti fl-ilma ta’ taħt l-art bħala riżultat ta’ attività umana; “ilma ta’ taħt l-art” tfisser l-ilma kollu li jinsab taħt il wiċċ tal-art fiż-żona ta’ saturazzjoni u f’kuntatt dirett ma’ l-art jew taħt il-wiċċ tal-ħamrija; “livell ta’ sfond” tfisser il-konċentrazzjoni ta’ sustanza jew il-valur ta’ indikatur f’ġabra ta’ ilma ta’ taħt l-art li tikkorrespondi ma’ l-ebda alterazzjoni antropoġenika, jew ma’ alterazzjoni minuri ħafna biss, għal kundizzjonijiet mhux disturbati; “livell ta’ bażi” tfisser il-medja tal-valur imkejjel mill inqas matul is-snin ta’ referenza 2007 u 2008 fuq bażi tal programmi ta’ monitoraġġ implimentati taħt ir-Regolamenti tal 2004 dwar Pjan ta’ Azzjoni fil-Qasam tal-Politika tal-Ilma, jew, fil-każ ta’ sustanzi identifikati wara dawn is-snin ta’ referenza, matul l-ewwel perjodu li għalih perjodu rappreżentattiv ta’ data ta’ monitoraġġ ikun disponibbli. “standard tal-kwalità tal-ilma ta’ taħt l-art” tfisser standard tal-kwalità ambjentali espress bħala l-konċentrazzjoni ta’ kontaminant partikolari, grupp ta’ kontaminanti jew indikatur ta’ tniġġiż fl-ilma ta’ taħt l-art, li ma jistax jinqabeż sabiex ikunu protetti s-saħħa tal-bniedem u l-ambjent; “tendenza li tiżdied u li hija sinifikanti u sostnuta” tfisser kull żjieda ta’ konċentrazzjoni ta’ sustanza inkwinanti li hija statistikament u ambjentalment sinifikanti, grupp ta’ sustanzi inkwinanti, jew indikatur ta’ tniġġis fl-ilma ta’ taħt l-art li għaliha t-treġġigħ lura tat-tendenza ikun identifikat bħala meħtieġ skond dawn ir-regolamenti; “uffiċjal” tfisser u tinkludi kull persuna impjegata ma’, allokata fuq dmirijiet ma’, jew b’xi mod, ikun li jkun, taqdi dmirijiet għal jew f’isem l-Awtorità; “valur ta’ limitu” tfisser standard tal-kwalità tal-ilma ta’ taħt l-art stabbilit mill-Awtorità skond dawn ir-regolamenti. A.L. 194 ta’ l-2004. B 1377VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA 3. Dawn ir-regolamenti għandhom japplikaw ukoll għal miżuri sabiex tiġi evitata d-deterjorazzjoni tal-istat tal-korpi kollha tal-ilma ta’ taħt l-art. Ir-Regolamenti tal-2004 dwar Pjan ta’ Azzjoni fil-Qasam tal-Politika tal-Ilma għandhom ukoll japplikaw sakemm ma jkunux inkonsistenti ma’ dawn ir-regolamenti. 4. (1) Il-kriterji li ġejjin għandhom jintużaw għall-fini tal valutazzjoni tal-istat kimiku ta’ korp jew grupp ta’ korpi ta’ ilma ta’ taħt l-art: (a) standards tal-kwalità tal-ilma ta’ taħt l-art kif imsemmija fl-Ewwel Skeda li tinsab ma’ dawn ir-regolamenti; (b) valuri ta’ limitu li għandhom jiġu stabbiliti mill Awtorità skond il-proċedura stabbilita fil-Parti A tat-Tieni Skeda li tinsab ma’ dawn ir-regolamenti għall-kontaminanti, gruppi ta’ kontaminanti u indikaturi tat-tniġġiż li, fit-territorju ta’ Malta, ġew identifikati bħala li jikkontribwixxu għall karatterizzazzjoni ta’ korpi, jew gruppi ta’ korpi tal-ilma ta’ taħt l-art, bħala li jkunu f’riskju, u li tingħata importanza lil lista li tinsab fil-Parti B tat-Tieni Skeda li tinsab ma’ dawn ir regolamenti. (2) Il-valuri ta’ limitu għall-ilma ta’ taħt l-art li japplikaw għal stat kimiku tajjeb għandhom ikunu bażati fuq il-protezzjoni tal-korp ta’ ilma ta’ taħt l-art skond punti 1, 2 u 3 tal-Parti A tat Tieni Skeda li tinsab ma’ dawn ir-regolamenti, b’konsiderazzjoni partikolari għall-impatt tiegħu fuq, u l-interrelazzjoni ma’, l-ilmijiet tal-wiċċ assoċjati u l-ekosistemi terrestri u l-artijiet mistagħdra li huma direttament dipendenti fuqhom u għandhom fost l-oħrajn jikkunsidraw l-għarfien dwar it-tossikoloġija umana u l-ekotossikoloġija. (3) L-Awtorità għandha tistabbilixxi u tippubblika valuri ta’ limitu fil-pjanijiet ta’ ġestjoni tal-baċiri tax-xmajjar li għandhom jiġu preżentati skond ir-regolamenti tal-2004 dwar Pjan ta’ Azzjoni fil-Qasam tal-Politika tal-Ilma, li għandhom jinkludu sinteżi tal-informazzjoni stabbilita fil-Parti Ċ tat-Tieni Skeda li tinsab ma’ dawn ir-regolamenti. (4) L-Awtorità għandha, fejn tqis meħtieġ, temenda l-lista ta’ valuri ta’ limitu kull meta informazzjoni ġdida dwar kontaminanti, gruppi ta’ kontaminanti jew indikaturi tat-tniġġiż tindika li l-valur ta’ limitu għandu jiġi stabbilit għal sustanza addizzjonali, li l-valur ta’ limitu eżistenti għandu jiġi emendat, Applikabilità. Kriterji għall valutazzjoni ta’ l-istat kimiku ta’ l-ilma ta’ taħt l-art. B 1378 VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA jew li l-valur ta’ limitu li qabel ġie mneħħi mil-lista għandu jerġa jiddaħħal, sabiex jiġu protetti s-saħħa tal-bniedem u tal-ambjent. Kull bidla bħal dik fil-lista ta’ valuri ta’ limitu għandha tiġi rappurtata fil-kuntest tar-reviżjoni perjodika tal-pjanijiet ta’ ġestjoni tal-baċiri tax-xmajjar. 5. (1) L-Awtorità għandha tuża l-proċedura stabbilita fis subregolament (2) ta’ dan ir-regolament biex tivvaluta l-istat kimiku ta’ korp tal-ilma ta’ taħt l-art. L-Awtorità għandha tistabbilixxi li korp jew grupp ta’ korpi tal-ilma ta’ taħt l-art ikun kunsidrat li hu fi stat kimiku tajjeb meta: (a) il-monitoraġġ rilevanti juri li l-kundizzjonijiet stipulati fit-Tabella 2.3.2 tal-Ħames Skeda li tinsab mar Regolamenti tal-2004 dwar Pjan ta’ Azzjoni fil-Qasam tal Politika tal-Ilma qegħdin jintlaħqu; jew (b) il-valuri tal-istandards tal-kwalità tal-ilma ta’ taħt l-art elenkati fl-Ewwel Skeda li tinsab ma’ dawn ir-regolamenti u l-valuri ta’ limitu rilevanti stabbiliti skond regolament 4 u t-Tieni Skeda li tinsab ma’ dawn ir-regolamenti ma jeċċedux f’xi punt ta’ monitoraġġ f’dak il-korp, jew grupp ta’ korpi tal ilma ta’ taħt l-art; jew (ċ) il-valur għal standard tal-kwalità tal-ilma ta’ taħt l-art jew valur ta’ limitu jkun jeċċedi f’punt ta’ monitoraġġ wieħed jew aktar iżda investigazzjoni xierqa skond it-Tielet Skeda li tinsab ma’ dawn ir-regolamenti tikkonferma li: (i) fuq bażi tal-valutazzjoni msemmija fil paragrafu 3 tat-Tielet Skeda li tinsab ma’ dawn ir regolamenti, il-konċentrazzjonijiet ta’ kontaminanti li jeċċedu l-istandards tal-kwalità tal-ilma ta’ taħt l-art jew il-valuri ta’ limitu mhumiex ikkunsidrati li qed joħolqu riskju ambjentali sinifikanti, bl-importanza tingħata, fejn xieraq, sa fejn il-korp tal-ilma ta’ taħt l-art jkun qed jiġi affettwat; (ii) il-kundizzjonijiet l-oħra għal stat kimiku tajjeb ta’ ilma ta’ taħt l-art stabbiliti fit-Tabella 2.3.2 fil-Ħames Skeda li tinsab mar-Regolamenti tal-2004 dwar Pjan ta’ Azzjoni fil-Qasam tal-Politika tal-Ilma qed jiġu milħuqa, skond paragrafu 4 tat-Tielet Skeda li tinsab ma’ dawn ir regolamenti; Proċedura għall valutazzjoni ta’ l-istat kimiku ta’ l-ilma ta’ taħt l-art. B 1379VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA (iii) għal korpi ta’ ilma ta’ taħt l-art identifikati skond r-Regolamenti tal-2004 dwar Pjan ta’ Azzjoni fil-Qasam tal-Politika tal-Ilma, l-ħtiġiet ta’ dawk ir regolamenti qegħdin jiġu milħuqa skond paragrafu 4 tat Tielet Skeda li tinsab ma’ dawn ir-regolamenti; (iv) il-kapaċità tal-korp tal-ilma ta’ taħt l-art, jew ta’ kull korp fil-grupp ta’ korpi ta’ ilma ta’ taħt l-art, li jsostni użi mill-bniedem ma tkunx ġiet imdgħajfa b’mod sinifikanti mit-tniġġiż. (2) L-għażla ta’ siti ta’ monitoraġġ tal-ilma ta’ taħt l-art għandha tissodisfa l-ħtiġiet tas-Sezzjoni 2.4 tal-Ħames Skeda li tinsab mar-Regolamenti tal-2004 dwar Pjan ta’ Azzjoni fil-Qasam tal-Politika tal-Ilma biex ikunu mfassla sabiex jipprovdu ħarsa komprensiva u koerenti tal-istat kimiku tal-ilma ta’ taħt l-art u biex tiġi provduta data ta’ monitoraġġ rappreżentattiva. (3) L-Awtorità għandha tippubblika sintesi tal valutazzjoni tal-istat kimiku tal-ilma ta’ taħt l-art fil-pjanijiet ta’ ġestjoni tal-baċiri tax-xmajjar skond ir-Regolamenti tal-2004 dwar Pjan ta’ Azzjoni fil-Qasam tal-Politika tal-Ilma. Dik is-sintesi, stabbilita fil-livell tad-distrett tal-baċir tax-xmara jew il-parti tad distrett tal-baċir internazzjonali tax-xmara li jaqa’ fit-territorju ta’ Malta, għandha tinkludi wkoll spjegazzjoni ta’ kif ġew kunsidrati eċċedenzi ta’ standards tal-kwalità tal-ilma ta’ taħt l-art jew valuri ta’ limitu f’punti ta’ monitoraġġ individwali fil-valutazzjoni finali. (4) L-Awtorità għandha tieħu dawk il-miżuri kif jista’ jkun meħtieġ, skond ir-Regolamenti tal-2004 dwar Pjan ta’ Azzjoni fil-Qasam tal-Politika tal-Ilma, biex jiġu protetti ekosistemi akwatiċi, ekosistemi terrestri u użi mill-bniedem tal-ilma ta’ taħt l-art dipendenti fuq il-parti tal-korp ta’ ilma ta’ taħt l-art rappreżentata mill-punt jew punti ta’ monitoraġġ li fih il-valur tal-istandard tal kwalità ta’ ilma ta’ taħt l-art jew valur ta’ limitu jkun eċċeda meta korp ta’ ilma ta’ taħt l-art huwa klassifikat li qiegħed fi stat kimiku tajjeb skond is-subregolament 1(ċ) ta’ dan ir-regolament. 6. (1) L-Awtorità għandha tidentifika kull tendenza sinifikanti u sostnuta li qed tiżdied f’konċentrazzjonijiet ta’ kontaminanti, gruppi ta’ kontaminanti u indikaturi ta’ tniġġiż misjuba f’korpi, jew fi gruppi ta’ korpi ta’ ilma ta’ taħt l-art, identifikati bħala li qegħdin riskju u tiddefinixxi l-punt ta’ tluq għat-treġġigħ lura ta’ dik it-tendenza, skond ir-Rabà Skeda li tinsab ma’ dawn ir regolamenti. L-identifikazzjoni ta’ tendenzi ’l fuq sinifikanti u sostnuti u d-definizzjoni ta’ punti ta’ tluq għat-treġġigħ lura ta’ tendenzi. B 1380 VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA (2) L-Awtorità għandha, skond Parti B tar-Rabà Skeda li tinsab ma’ dawn ir-regolamenti, treġġa’ lura tendenzi li jippreżentaw riskju ta’ ħsara sinifikanti għall-kwalità tal-ekosistemi akwatiċi jew terrestri, għas-saħħa tal-bniedem, jew għal użi leġittimi attwali jew potenzjali tal-ambjent tal-ilma, permezz ta’ programm ta’ miżuri imsemmija fir-Regolamenti tal-2004 dwar Pjan ta’ Azzjoni fil-Qasam tal-Politika tal-Ilma, sabiex jitnaqqas b’mod progressiv it-tniġġiż u sabiex tiġi evitata d-deterjorazzjoni tal-ilma ta’ taħt l-art. (3) L-Awtorità għandha tiddefinixxi l-punt ta’ tluq għat-treġġigħ lura ta’ tendenzi bħala persentaġġ tal-livell tal istandards tal-kwalità tal-ilma ta’ taħt l-art stabbiliti fl-Ewwel Skeda li tinsab ma’ dawn ir-regolamenti u tal-valuri ta’ limitu stabbiliti skond regolament 4 ta’ dawn ir-regolamenti, fuq bażi tat-tendenza identifikata u r-riskju ambjentali assoċjat magħha, skond Parti B, Punt 1 tar-Rabà Skeda li tinsab ma’ dawn ir-regolamenti. (4) L-Awtorità għandha, fil-pjanijiet ta’ ġestjoni tal baċiri ta’ xmara li għandhom jiġu preżentati skond ir-Regolamenti tal-2004 dwar Pjan ta’ Azzjoni fil-Qasam tal-Politika tal-Ilma, tagħmel sintesi: (a) tal-mod kif il-valutazzjoni tat-tendenza minn punti ta’ monitoraġġ individwali f’korp jew grupp ta’ korpi ta’ ilma ta’ taħt l-art ikkontribwixxiet biex tidentifika skond Sezzjoni 2.5 tal-Ħames Skeda tar-Regolamenti tal-2004 dwar Pjan ta’ Azzjoni fil-Qasam tal-Politika tal-Ilma, li dawk il-korpi huma soġġetti għal tendenza sinifikanti u sostnuta li qed tiżdied f’konċentrazzjoni ta’ kull kontaminant jew treġġigħ lura ta’ dik it-tendenza; u (b) ir-raġunijiet għall-punti ta’ tluq mfissra skond ir regolament 4 ta’ dawn ir-regolamenti. (5) L-Awtorità għandha, meta jkun meħtieġ biex jiġi valutat l-impatt ta’ traċċi eżistenti ta’ tniġġiż f’korpi ta’ ilma ta’ taħt l-art li jistgħu jheddu l-kisba tal-oġġettivi fir-Regolamenti tal-2004 dwar Pjan ta’ Azzjoni fil-Qasam tal-Politika tal-Ilma, u b’mod partikolari dawk it-traċċi li jirriżultaw minn punti ta’ sorsi u art kontaminata, twettaq verifiki ta’ tendenzi addizzjonali għall-kontaminanti identifikati sabiex tivverifika li traċċi minn siti kontaminati ma jinfirxux, ma jiddeterjorawx l-istat kimiku tal korp jew grupp ta’ korpi ta’ ilma ta’ taħt l-art, u ma jattribwixxux riskju għas-saħħa tal-bniedem u għall-ambjent. Ir-riżultati ta’ dawn B 1381VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA il-valutazzjonijiet għandhom jitniżżlu f’sommarju fil-pjanijiet ta’ ġestjoni tal-baċiri ta’ xmara li għandhom jiġu preżentati skond ir Regolamenti tal-2004 dwar Pjan ta’ Azzjoni fil-Qasam tal-Politika tal-Ilma. 7. (1) L-Awtorità għandha tiżgura, għall-fini biex jiġi evitat u, jew limitat dħul ta’ kontaminanti fl-ilma ta’ taħt l-art diġa` stabbilit skond ir-Regolamenti tal-2004 dwar Pjan ta’ Azzjoni fil Qasam tal-Politika tal-Ilma, li l-programm ta’ miżuri stabbiliti skond dawk ir-regolamenti, jinkludi: (a) il-miżuri kollha meħtieġa li jevitaw dħul fl-ilma ta’ taħt l-art ta’ kull sustanza perikoluża, bla ħsara għal subregolament (2) ta’ dan ir-regolament. Fl-identifikazzjoni ta’ dawk il-materjali, l-Awtorità għandha b’mod partikolari tikkunsidra s-sustanzi perikolużi li jagħmlu parti mill-familji jew gruppi ta’ kontaminanti imsemmija fil-punti 1 sa 6 tat Tmin Skeda tar- Regolamenti tal-2004 dwar Pjan ta’ Azzjoni fil-Qasam tal-Politika tal-Ilma, kif ukoll ta’ sustanzi li huma parti mill-familji jew gruppi ta’ kontaminanti msemmija fil punti 7 sa 9 tal-imsemmija Skeda, fejn dawn huma kkunsidrati bħala perikolużi; (b) għal kontaminanti elenkati fl-imsemmija Skeda li mhumiex kunsidrati bħala perikolużi, u kontaminanti oħrajn li mhumiex perikolużi u li mhumiex elenkati f’dik l-Iskeda u li huma kunsidrati mill-Awtorità li jippreżentaw riskju ta’ tniġġiż eżistenti jew potenzjali, il-miżuri kollha meħtieġa biex jillimitaw id-dħul fl-ilma ta’ taħt l-art sabiex jiġi żgurat li dak id-dħul ma jikkawżax deterjorament jew tendenza sinifikanti u sostnuta li qed tiżdied fil-konċentrazzjonijiet ta’ kontaminanti fl-ilma ta’ taħt l-art. Dawk il-miżuri għandhom jikkunsidraw minn tal-anqas l-aħjar prattika stabbilita, inklużi l-Aħjar Prattika Ambjentali u l-Aħjar Tekniki Disponibbli. (2) L-Awtorità għandha, fejn ikun teknikament possibbli tikkunsidra d-dħul ta’ kontaminanti minn sorsi mxerrda ta’ tniġġiż li jkollhom impatt fuq l-istat kimiku tal-ilma ta’ taħt l-art. Miżuri biex jipprevjenu jew jillimitaw id-dħul ta’ kontaminanti fl-ilma ta’ taħt l-art. B 1382 VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA L-Ewwel Skeda Regolamenti 4 u 5 STANDARDS TA' KWALITÀ G%ALL-ILMA TA' TA%T L-ART 1. G"al fini ta’valutazzjoni ta’l-istat kimiku tal-ilma ta' ta"t l-art skond regolament 5, l istandards ta' kwalità g"all-ilma ta' ta"t l-art li $ejjin huma l-istandards ta' kwalità msemmija fit-Tabella 2.3.2 fil-!ames Skeda li tinsab mar-Regolamenti tal-2004 dwar Pjan ta’ Azzjoni fil-Qasam tal-Politika tal-Ilma u li jkunu stabbiliti skond dawk ir regolamenti. Kontaminant Standards ta’ kwalita` Nitrati 50 mg/l Sustanzi attivi f’pesti%idi, inklu#i l-metaboliti, prodotti ta’ degradazzjoni u reazzjoni rilevanti tag"hom1 0.1 µg/l 0.5 µg/l (total)2 2. Ir-ri#ultati tal-applikazzjoni tal-istandards ta' kwalità g"all-pesti%idi bil-mod spe%ifikat g"all-fini ta' dawn ir-regolamenti huma ming"ajr pre$udizzju g"ar-ri#ultati tal-pro%eduri ta' valutazzjoni tar-riskju me"tie$a mid-Direttiva 91/414/KEE jew id-Direttiva 98/8/KE. 3. Fir-rigward ta’ korp determinat ta' ilma ta' ta"t l-art, meta jkun kunsidrat li l-istandards ta' kwalità tal-ilma ta' ta"t l-art ikunu jistg"u jwasslu g"an-nuqqas ta' kisba tal-objettivi 1 ‘Pesti%idi’ tfisser prodotti g"all-protezzjoni tal-pjanti u prodotti bijo%idali kif definiti fl-Artikolu 2 tad Direttiva 91/414/KEE u fl-Artikolu 2 tad-Direttiva 98/8/KE, rispettivament. 2 ‘Total’ tfisser is-somma tal-pesti%idi kollha individwali skoperti u kwantifikati fil-pro%edura ta' monitora$$, inklu#i l-metaboliti rilevanti tag"hom, u l-prodotti ta' degradazzjoni u ta' reazzjoni tag"hom. B 1383VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA ambjentali spe%ifikati fir- Regolamenti tal-2004 dwar Pjan ta’ Azzjoni fil-Qasam tal Politika tal-Ilma g"all-korpi ta' ilma tal-wi%% asso%jati, jew iwasslu g"al xi tnaqqis sinifikanti tal-kwalità ekolo$ika jew kimika ta' dawn il-korpi, jew xi "sara sinifikanti g"all-ekosistemi terrestri li jiddependu direttament mill-korp ta' ilma ta' ta"t l-art, valuri i#jed stretti ta' limitu jkunu stabbiliti skond regolament 4 u t-Tieni Skeda li tinsab ma’ dawn ir-regolamenti. Il-programmi u l-mi#uri me"tie$a fir-rigward ta' dak il-valur ta' limitu japplikaw ukoll g"al attivitajiet li jaqg"u fil-kamp ta' applikazzjoni tad-Direttiva 91/676/KEE. B 1384 VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA It-Tieni Skeda Regolamenti 4 u 5 VALURI TA' LIMITU G%AL KONTAMINANTI TAL-ILMA TA' TA%T L-ART U INDIKATURI TAT-TNI&&I! Parti A Linji gwida g"all-istabbiliment ta' valuri ta' limitu mill-Awtorità skond regolament 4 L-Awtorità tistabbilixxi valuri ta' limitu g"al kontaminanti kollha u indikaturi tat-tni$$i# li, skond il-karatterizzazzjoni mwettqa skond ir-Regolamenti tal-2004 dwar Pjan ta’ Azzjoni fil-Qasam tal-Politika tal-Ilma, jikkaratterizzaw il-korpi jew gruppi ta' korpi tal ilma ta"t l-art li huma f'riskju li jonqsu milli jiksbu stat kimiku tajjeb tal-ilma ta' ta"t l-art. Il-valuri ta' limitu jkunu stabbiliti b'dak il-mod li, jekk ir-ri#ultati tal-monitora$$ f'punt ta' monitora$$ rappre#entattiv jaqb#u l-limiti, dan ikun jindika riskju li kundizzjoni wa"da jew i#jed g"all-istat kimiku tajjeb tal-ilma ta' ta"t l-art imsemmija fir-regolament 5 (1)(%)(ii), (iii) u (iv) mhux qed ti$i sodisfatta. Meta ti$i biex tistabbilixxi l-valuri ta' limitu, l-Awtorità tikkunsidra l-linji gwida li $ejjin: 1. id-de%i#joni biex ji$u stabbiliti valuri ta' limitu g"andha tkun ibba#ata fuq: B 1385VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA a) il-livell ta' interazzjonijiet bejn l-ilma ta' ta"t l-art u l-ekosistemi akwati%i asso%jati u ekosistemi terrestri dipendenti; b) l-interferenza ma' u#i jew funzjonijiet le$ittimi attwali jew potenzjali tal-ilma ta' ta"t l art; %) il-kontaminanti kollha li jikkaratterizzaw il-korpi ta' ilma ta' ta"t l-art b"ala li huma f'riskju, u billi ting"ata importanza lill-listi minimi mni##la fil-parti B; d) karatteristi%i idro-$eolo$i%i inklu# informazzjoni dwar livelli fl-isfond u l-bilan% tal ilma. 2) id-determinazzjoni tal-valuri ta' limitu g"andha tikkunsidra wkoll l-ori$ini tal kontaminanti, il-possibbiltà tal-okkorrenza naturali tag"hom, it-tossikolo$ija u t-tendenza g"at-tifrix tag"hom, il-persistenza tag"hom u l-potenzjal tag"hom ta' bijo akkumulazzjoni. 3) kull meta l-livelli tal-isfond g"oljin ta' sustanzi jew joni jew l-indikaturi tag"hom jokkorru min"abba ra$unijiet idro$eolo$i%i naturali, g"andhom ji$u kunsidrati, dawn il livelli tal-isfond fil-$abra rilevanti tal-ilma ta' ta"t l-art meta jkunu qed ji$u stabbiliti valuri ta' limitu. B 1386 VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA 4) id-determinazzjoni tal-valuri ta' limitu g"andha ti$i sostnuta minn mekkani#mu ta' kontroll g"ad-data mi$bura, bba#at fuq valutazzjoni tal-kwalità tad-data, fuq konsiderazzjonijiet analiti%i, u fuq livelli tal-isfond g"as-sustanzi li jistg"u jokkorru kemm b'mod naturali kemm b"ala ri#ultat ta' attivitajiet tal-bniedem. Parti B Listi minimi ta' kontaminanti u l-indikaturi tag"hom li g"alihom l-Awtorità g"andha tikkunsidra l-istabbiliment ta' valuri ta' limitu skond regolament 4 1. Sustanzi jew joni jew indikaturi, li jistg"u jokkorru kemm b'mod naturali kemm b"ala ri#ultat ta' attivitajiet tal-bniedem Arseniku Kadmju &omb Merkurju Ammonju Kloru Sulfat 2. Sustanzi sinteti%i mag"mula mill-bniedem Trikloroetilene Tetrakloroetilene B 1387VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA 3. Parametri indikattivi ta' d"ul ta' mlu" jew d"ul ie"or3 Konduttività Parti ! Informazzjoni li g"andha ting"ata mill-Awtorità fir-rigward tal-kontaminanti u l indikaturi tag"hom li g"alihom #ew stabbiliti valuri ta' limitu L-Awtorità tag"mel sintesi fil-Pjanijiet ta' 'estjoni tal-Ba%ir tax-Xmara li g"andhom ji$u pre#entati skond ir-Regolamenti tal-2004 dwar Pjan ta’ Azzjoni fil-Qasam tal-Politika tal Ilma, dwar il-mod kif il-pro%edura stabbilita fil-Parti A ta' din l-Iskeda $iet segwita. B'mod partikolari, l-Awtorità tipprovdi, fejn ikun vijabbli: a) informazzjoni dwar in-numru ta' korpi jew gruppi ta' korpi tal-ilma ta' ta"t l-art karatterizzati b"ala li huma f'riskju u dwar il-kontaminanti u l-indikaturi tat-tni$$i# li jikkontribwixxu g"al din il-klassifikazzjoni, inklu#i l-kon%entrazzjonijiet/valuri osservati; b) informazzjoni dwar kull wie"ed mill-korpi ta' ilma ta' ta"t l-art karatterizzati b"ala li huma f'riskju, b'mod partikolari d-daqs tal-korpi, ir-relazzjoni bejn il-korpi ta' ilma ta' ta"t l-art u l-ilmijiet asso%jati tal-wi%% u l-ekosistemi terrestri dipendenti direttament u, f'ka# ta' sustanzi li jokkorru b'mod naturali, il-livelli naturali tal-isfond fil-korpi ta' ilma ta' ta"t l-art; 3 Fir-rigward ta’ kon%entrazzjonijiet ta' mlu" li jirri#ultaw minn attivitajiet tal-bniedem, l-Awtorità tista` tidde%iedi li tistabbilixxi valuri ta' limitu jew g"as-sulfat u l-kloridu jew g"all-konduttività. B 1388 VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA %) il-valuri ta' limitu, kemm jekk japplikaw fil-livell nazzjonali, fil-livell tad-distrett tal ba%ir tax-xmara kemm jekk fil-parti tad-distrett tal-ba%ir internazzjonali tax-xmara li taqa' fit-territorju ta' Malta, kemm jekk fil-livell ta' korp jew grupp ta' korpi ta' ilma ta' ta"t l art; d) ir-relazzjoni bejn il-valuri ta' limitu u: (i) fil-ka# ta' sustanzi li jokkorru b'mod naturali, il-livelli tal-isfond osservati; (ii) l-objettivi ta' kwalità ambjentali u standards o"ra g"all-protezzjoni tal-ilma li je#istu fuq livell nazzjonali, Komunitarju jew internazzjonali; u (iii) kull informazzjoni rilevanti dwar it-tossikolo$ija, l-eko-tossikolo$ija, il-persistenza, il-potenzjal ta' bijoakkumulazzjoni, u t-tendenza ta' tifrix tal-kontaminanti. B 1389VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA It-Tielet Skeda Regolamenti 4 u 5 STIMA TAL-ISTAT KIMIKU TAL-ILMA TA' TA%T L-ART 1. Il-pro%edura ta' valutazzjoni biex ji$i determinat l-istat kimiku ta' korp jew grupp ta' korpi ta' ilma ta' ta"t l-art g"andha titwettaq f'relazzjoni mal-korpi jew gruppi ta' korpi kollha tal-ilma ta' ta"t l-art karatterizzati b"ala li huma f'riskju u fir-rigward ta' kull wie"ed mill-kontaminanti li jikkontribwixxu g"all-korp jew grupp ta' korpi tal-ilma ta' ta"t l-art li huma karatterizzati hekk. 2. Fit-twettiq ta' kull investigazzjoni msemmija fir-regolament 5 (1)(%), l-Awtorità g"andha tikkunsidra: a) l-informazzjoni mi$bura b"ala parti mill-karatterizzazzjoni li trid titwettaq skond ir Regolamenti tal-2004 dwar Pjan ta’ Azzjoni fil-Qasam tal-Politika tal-Ilma u ta"t is Sezzjonijiet 2.1, 2.2 u 2.3 tat-Tieni Skeda ma’ dawk ir-regolamenti; b) ir-ri#ultati tan-network ta' monitora$$ tal-ilma ta' ta"t l-art miksuba skond is-Sezzjoni 2.4 tal-!ames Skeda tar-Regolamenti tal-2004 dwar Pjan ta’ Azzjoni fil-Qasam tal Politika tal-Ilma; u %) kull informazzjoni rilevanti o"ra inklu# tqabbil bejn il-kon%entrazzjoni aritmetika medja annwali tal-kontaminanti rilevanti f'punt ta' monitora$$ u l-istandards ta' kwalità B 1390 VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA tal-ilma ta' ta"t l-art stabbiliti fl-Ewwel Skeda u l-valuri ta' limitu stabbiliti mill-Awtorità skond regolament 4 u t-Tieni Skeda li tinsab ma’ dawn ir-regolamenti. 3. G"all-fini ta' investigazzjonijiet dwar jekk intla"qux il-kundizzjonijiet g"al stat kimiku tajjeb tal-ilma ta' ta"t lart imsemmija f’regolament 5 (1)(%) (i) u (iv), l-Awtorità, g"andha fejn ikun rilevanti u me"tie$, u fuq ba#i ta' aggregazzjonijiet xierqa tar-ri#ultati tal monitora$$, sostnuti fejn me"tie$ bi stimi ta' kon%entrazzjoni bba#ati fuq mudell kon%ettwali tal-korp jew grupp ta' korpi tal-ilma ta' ta"t l-art, tistma kemm il-korp ta' ilma ta' ta"t l-art g"andu kon%entrazzjoni aritmetika medja annwali ta' kontaminant og"la minn standard ta' kwalità tal-ilma ta' ta"t l-art jew minn valur ta' limitu. 4. G"all-fini ta' investigazzjoni dwar jekk il-kundizzjonijiet g"al stat kimiku tajjeb tal ilma ta' ta"t l-art imsemmija f’regolament 5(1)(%) (ii) u (iii) intla"qux, l-Awtorità g"andha, fejn ikun rilevanti u me"tie$, u fuq ba#i tar-ri#ultati rilevanti ta' monitora$$ u ta' mudell kon%ettwali adatt tal-korp ta' ilma ta' ta"t l-art, tivverifika: a) l-impatt tal-kontaminanti fil-$abra tal-ilma ta' ta"t l-art; b) l-ammonti u l-kon%entrazzjonijiet tal-kontaminanti li ji$u, jew li x'aktarx ji$u, trasferiti mill-korp ta' ilma ta' ta"t l-art g"all-ilmijiet asso%jati tal-wi%% jew ekosistemi terrestri direttament dipendenti; B 1391VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA %) l-impatt probabbli tal-ammonti u l-kon%entrazzjonijiet tal-kontaminanti trasferiti g"all ilmijiet asso%jati tal-wi%% u g"al ekosistemi terrestri dipendenti direttament; d) il-livell ta' kull d"ul ta' mlu" jew d"ul ie"or fil-korp ta' ilma ta' ta"t l-art; u e) r-riskju mill-kontaminanti fil-korp tal-ilma ta' ta"t l-art g"all-kwalità ta' ilma li jin$abar, jew ma"sub li jin$abar, mill-korp tal-ilma ta' ta"t l-art g"all-konsum mill bniedem. 5. L-Awtorità g"andha tippre#enta l-istat kimiku tal-ilma ta' ta"t l-art ta' korp jew grupp ta' korpi tal-ilma ta' ta"t l-art fuq mapep skond is-Sezzjonijiet 2.4.5 u 2.5 tal-!ames Skeda li tinsab mar-Regolamenti tal-2004 dwar Pjan ta’ Azzjoni fil-Qasam tal-Politika tal-Ilma. Barra minn hekk, l-Awtorità g"andha tindika fuq dawn il-mapep il-punti kollha ta' monitora$$ fejn l-istandards tal-kwalità tal-ilma ta' ta"t l-art u, jew il-valuri ta' limitu jkunu nqab#u, fejn ikun rilevanti u vijabbli. B 1392 VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA Ir-Raba` Skeda Regolamenti 4 u 6 IDENTIFIKAZZJONI U TRE&&IG% LURA TA' TENDENZI 'L FUQ SINIFIKANTI U SOSTNUTI Parti A Identifikazzjoni u tre##ig" lura ta' tendenzi 'l fuq sinifikanti u sostnuti L-Awtorità tidentifika tendenzi 'l fuq sinifikanti u sostnuti fil-korpi jew gruppi ta' korpi kollha ta' ilma ta' ta"t l-art li huma karatterizzati b"ala li huma f'riskju skond it-Tieni Skeda g"ar- Regolamenti tal-2004 dwar Pjan ta’ Azzjoni fil-Qasam tal-Politika tal-Ilma, tenut kont il-"ti$iet li $ejjin: 1) skond is-Sezzjoni 2.4 tal-!ames Skeda g"ar-Regolamenti tal-2004 dwar Pjan ta’ Azzjoni fil-Qasam tal-Politika tal-Ilma, il-programm ta' monitora$$ se jkun imfassal b'mod li josserva tendenzi 'l fuq sinifikanti u sostnuti f'kon%entrazzjonijiet tal kontaminanti identifikati skond l-Artikolu 3 ta' din id-Direttiva; 2) il-pro%edura g"all-identifikazzjoni ta' tendenzi sinifikanti u sostnuti li qed ji#diedu tkun ibba#ata fuq l-elementi li $ejjin: a) il-frekwenzi ta' monitora$$ u s-siti ta' monitora$$ se ji$u mag"#ula b'mod li jkunu suffi%jenti biex: B 1393VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA i) jipprovdu l-informazzjoni me"tie$a biex ji#guraw li dawk it-tendenzi li qed ji#diedu jkunu jistg"u jintg"arfu minn varjazzjoni naturali b'livell adegwat ta' kunfidenza u pre%i#joni; ii) jippermettu l-identifikazzjoni ta' tali tendenzi li qed ji#diedu fi #mien bi##ejjed li jippermetti li mi#uri ji$u implimentati biex jipprevjenu, jew g"all-inqas jimmitigaw safejn hu prattikabbli, bidliet ambjentalment sinifikanti li jikkaw#aw "sara fil-kwalità tal ilma ta' ta"t l-art. Din l-identifikazzjoni se titwettaq g"all-ewwel darba fl-2009, jekk ikun possibbli, u se tikkunsidra d-data e#istenti, fil-kuntest tar-rapport dwar l-identifikazzjoni ta' tendenzi fl-ewwel pjan ta' $estjoni tal-ba%ir tax-xmara imsemmi fir-Regolamenti tal 2004 dwar Pjan ta’ Azzjoni fil-Qasam tal-Politika tal-Ilma, u mill-anqas kull sitt snin minn hemm 'il quddiem; iii) jikkunsidraw l-karatteristi%i fi#i%i u kimi%i temporali tal-korp tal-ilma ta' ta"t l-art, inklu# il-kundizzjonijiet tal-fluss tal-ilma ta' ta"t l-art u r-rati ta' "las mill-$did u l-"in me"ud g"at-tnixxija fil-"amrija u fil- "amrija ta' ta"t. b) il-metodi ta' monitora$$ u anali#i li jintu#aw se jikkonformaw mal-prin%ipji internazzjonali ta' kontroll fuq il-kwalità, inklu#i, jekk rilevanti, il-metodi CEN jew metodi ta’ standards nazzjonali, biex ji#guraw kwalità xjentifika ekwivalenti u tqabbil tad-data provduta; B 1394 VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA %) il-valutazzjoni se tkun ibba#ata fuq metodu ta' statistika, b"al anali#i tar-rigressjoni, g"al anali#i ta' tendenzi f'serje temporali ta' punti ta' monitora$$ individwali; d) sabiex ji$i evitat distorsjoni fl-identifikazzjoni tat-tendenzi, il-mi#uri kollha ta"t il limitu ta' kwantifikazzjoni se ji$u ffissati g"al nofs il-valur tal-og"la limitu ta' kwantifikazzjoni li jsir f'serje temporali, "lief g"al pesti%idi totali. 3. l-identifikazzjoni ta' tendenzi 'l fuq u li huma sinifikanti u sostnuti fil kon%entrazzjonijiet ta' sustanzi li jokkorru kemm b'mod naturali kif ukoll b"ala ri#ultat ta' attivitajiet umani ser tikkunsidra l-livelli ta' ba#i u, fejn tali data hija disponibbli, id-data mi$bura qabel il-bidu tal-programm ta' monitora$$ sabiex isir rapport dwar l identifikazzjoni ta' tendenzi fl-ewwel pjan ta' $estjoni tal-ba%ir tax-xmara imsemmi fir Regolamenti tal-2004 dwar Pjan ta’ Azzjoni fil-Qasam tal-Politika tal-Ilma, fejn dik id data tkun disponibbli. Parti B Punt tat-tluq ghat-tre##ig" L-Awtorità ser tre$$a` lura tendenzi identifikati li qed ji#diedu u li huma sinifikanti u sostnuti, skond regolament 6, filwaqt li tikkunsidra l-"ti$iet li $ejjin: 1) il-punt tat-tluq g"all-implimentazzjoni tal-mi#uri biex tre$$a` lura tendenzi sinifikanti u sostnuti li qed ji#diedu se jkun meta l-kon%entrazzjoni tal-kontaminant til"aq il-75% B 1395VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA tal-valuri parametri%i tal-istandards tal-kwalità tal-ilma ta' ta"t l-art stabbiliti fl-Ewwel Skeda u tal-valuri ta' limitu stabbiliti skond ir-regolament 4, "lief jekk: a) ikun me"tie$ punt ta' tluq i#jed qabel biex jippermetti li mi#uri ta' tre$$ig" lura tat tendenza jipprevjenu bl-i#jed mod effettiv fl-infiq, jew g"all-anqas biex jimmitigaw kemm jista' jkun, kwalunkwe bidliet ambjentalment sinifikanti li jikkaw#aw "sara lill kwalità tal-ilma ta' ta"t l-art; b) punt ta' tluq differenti jkun $ustifikat fejn il-limitu ta' skoperta ma jippermettix l istabbiliment tal-pre#enza ta' tendenza f'75 % tal-valuri parametri%i; jew %) ir-rata ta' #jieda u l-pro%ess ta' tre$$ig" lura tat-tendenza jkunu hekk li punt ta' tluq i#jed tard g"all-mi#uri ta' tre$$ig" lura tat-tendenza xorta jippermetti li tali mi#uri jipprevjenu bl-i#jed mod effettiv fl-infiq, jew g"all-anqas jimmitigaw kemm jista' jkun, kwalunkwe bidliet ambjentalment sinifikanti li jikkaw#aw "sara lill-kwalità tal-ilma ta' ta"t l-art. Dak il-punt tat-tluq iktar tard m' g"andux iwassal g"al dewmien fil-kisba tat terminu perentorju g"all-objettivi ambjentali. G"al attivitajiet li jaqg"u fil-kamp ta' applikazzjoni tad-Direttiva 91/676/KEE, il-punt tat tluq g"all-implimentazzjoni ta' mi#uri biex ire$$g"u lura tendenzi sinifikanti u sostnuti li qed ji#diedu se ji$i stabbilit skond dik id-Direttiva u r-Regolamenti tal-2004 dwar Pjan ta’ Azzjoni fil-Qasam tal-Politika tal-Ilma u, b' mod partikolari, jkunu konformi mal B 1396 VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA objettivi ambjentali g"all-protezzjoni tal-ilma kif stabbilit fir-Regolamenti tal-2004 dwar Pjan ta’ Azzjoni fil-Qasam tal-Politika tal-Ilma; 2) 'aladarba jkun $ie stabbilit punt ta' tluq g"al korp tal-ilma ta' ta"t l-art karatterizzat b"ala li huwa f'riskju skond is-Sezzjoni 2.4.4 tal-!ames Skeda li tinsab mar-Regolamenti tal-2004 dwar Pjan ta’ Azzjoni fil-Qasam tal-Politika tal-Ilma u skond il-punt 1 hawn fuq, dan ma jinbidilx matul i%-%iklu ta' sitt snin tal-pjan ta' $estjoni tal-ba%ir tax-xmara me"tie$ skond ir-Regolamenti tal-2004 dwar Pjan ta’ Azzjoni fil-Qasam tal-Politika tal Ilma; 3) it-tre$$ig" lura ta' tendenzi se jintwera, tenut kont id-dispo#izzjonijiet rilevanti ta' monitora$$ li jinsabu fil-punt 2 tal-Parti A. B 1397VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA L.N. 108 of 2009 MALTA RESOURCES AUTHORITY ACT (CAP. 423) Protection of Groundwater against Pollution and Deterioration Regulations, 2009 IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by Article 28 of the Malta Resources Authority Act, the Minister for Resources and Rural Affairs after consultation with the Malta Resources Authority, has made the following regulations: 1. (1) The title of these regulations is the Protection of Groundwater against Pollution and Deterioration Regulations, 2009. (2) These regulations shall be deemed to have come into force on the 16th January, 2009. (3) The scope of these regulations is to transpose Directive 2006/118/EC and to establish specific measures in order to prevent and protect groundwater against pollution and deterioration. These measures include in particular: (a) criteria for the assessment of good groundwater chemical status; and (b) criteria for the identification and reversal of significant and sustained upward trends and for the definition of starting points for trend reversals. 2. (1) Unless otherwise stated in these regulations, the definitions of the Malta Resources Authority Act shall apply. (2) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires: “the Act” means the Malta Resources Authority Act; “the Authority” means the Malta Resources Authority; “background level” means the concentration of a substance or the value of an indicator in a body of groundwater corresponding to no, or only very minor, anthropogenic alterations to undisturbed conditions; Title, scope and commencement. Interpretation. Cap. 423. B 1398 VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA “baseline level” means the average value measured at least during the reference years 2007 and 2008 on the basis of monitoring programmes implemented under the Water Policy Framework Regulations, 2004 or, in the case of substances identified after these reference years, during the first period for which a representative period of monitoring data is available; “groundwater” means all water which is below the surface of the ground in the saturation zone and in direct contact with the ground or subsoil; “groundwater quality standard” means an environmental quality standard expressed as the concentration of a particular pollutant, group of pollutants or indicator of pollution in groundwater, which should not be exceeded in order to protect human health and the environment; “input of pollutants into groundwater” means the direct or indirect introduction of pollutants into groundwater as a result of human activity; “officer” means and includes any person engaged by, detailed for duty with, or in any manner whatsoever performing duties for or on behalf of the Authority; “significant and sustained upward trend” means any statistically and environmentally significant increase of concentration of a pollutant, group of pollutants, or indicator of pollution in groundwater for which trend reversal is identified as being necessary in accordance with these regulations; “threshold value” means a groundwater quality standard set by the Authority in terms of these regulations. 3. These regulations shall also apply to measures in order to prevent the deterioration of the status of all bodies of groundwater. The Water Policy Framework Regulations, 2004 shall also apply unless they are inconsistent with these regulations. 4. (1) The following criteria shall be used for the purposes of the assessment of the chemical status of a body or a group of bodies of groundwater: (a) groundwater quality standards as referred to in the First Schedule to these regulations; L.N. 194 of 2004. Applicability. Criteria for assessing groundwater chemical status. B 1399VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA (b) threshold values to be established by the Authority in accordance with the procedure set out in Part A of the Second Schedule to these regulations for the pollutants, groups of pollutants and indicators of pollution which, within the Maltese territory, have been identified as contributing to the characterisation of bodies or groups of bodies of groundwater as being at risk, taking into account the list contained in Part B of the Second Schedule to these regulations. (2) The threshold values applicable to good chemical status shall be based on the protection of the body of groundwater in accordance with points 1, 2 and 3 of Part A of the Second Schedule to these regulations, having particular regard to its impact on, and interrelationship with, associated surface waters and directly dependent terrestrial ecosystems and wetlands and shall inter alia take into account human toxicology and ecotoxicology knowledge. (3) The Authority shall establish and publish threshold values in the river basin management plans to be submitted in accordance with the Water Policy Framework Regulations, 2004 which shall include a summary of the information set out in Part C of the Second Schedule to these regulations. (4) The Authority, shall where it deems necessary, amend the list of threshold values whenever new information on pollutants, groups of pollutants, or indicators of pollution indicates that a threshold value should be set for an additional substance, that an existing threshold value should be amended, or that a threshold value previously removed from the list should be re-inserted, in order to protect human health and the environment. Any such amendments to the list of threshold values shall be reported in the context of the periodic review of the river basin management plans. 5. (1) The Authority shall use the procedure mentioned in sub-regulation (2) hereof in order to assess the chemical status of a body of groundwater. The Authority shall establish that a body or a group of bodies of groundwater is considered to be of good chemical status when: (a) the relevant monitoring demonstrates that the conditions set out in Table 2.3.2 of the Fifth Schedule of the Water Policy Framework Regulations, 2004 are being satisfied; or (b) the values for the groundwater quality standards Procedure for assessing groundwater chemical status. B 1400 VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA listed in the First Schedule to these regulations and the relevant threshold values established in accordance with regulation 4 and the Second Schedule to these regulations are not exceeded at any monitoring point in that body or group of bodies of groundwater; or (c) the value for a groundwater quality standard or threshold value is exceeded at one or more monitoring points but an appropriate investigation in accordance with the Third Schedule to these regulations confirms that: (i) on the basis of the assessment referred to in paragraph 3 of the Third Schedule to these regulations, the concentrations of pollutants exceeding the groundwater quality standards or threshold values are not considered to present a significant environmental risk, taking into account, where appropriate, the extent of the body of groundwater which is affected; (ii) the other conditions for good groundwater chemical status set out in Table 2.3.2 in the Fifth Schedule of the Water Policy Framework Regulations, 2004 are being satisfied in accordance with paragraph 4 of the Third Schedule to these regulations; (iii) for bodies of groundwater identified in accordance with the Water Policy Framework Regulations, 2004, the requirements of such regulations are being satisfied in accordance with paragraph 4 of the Third Schedule to these regulations to these regulations; (iv) the ability of the body of groundwater or of any of the bodies in the group of bodies of groundwater to support human uses has not been significantly impaired by pollution. (2) The choice of the groundwater monitoring sites shall satisfy the requirements of Section 2.4 of the Fifth Schedule of the Water Policy Framework Regulations, 2004, on being designed so as to provide a coherent and comprehensive overview of groundwater chemical status and to provide representative monitoring data. (3) The Authority shall publish a summary of the assessment of groundwater chemical status in the river basin management plans in accordance with the Water Policy Framework B 1401VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA Regulations, 2004. Such summary, established at the level of the river basin district or the part of the international river basin district falling within the Maltese territory, shall also include an explanation as to the manner in which exceedances of groundwater quality standards or threshold values at individual monitoring points have been taken into account in the final assessment. (4) The Authority shall take such measures as may be necessary in accordance with the Water Policy Framework Regulations, 2004 to protect aquatic ecosystems, terrestrial ecosystems and human uses of groundwater dependent on the part of the body of groundwater represented by the monitoring point or points at which the value for a groundwater quality standard or the threshold value has been exceeded, where a body of groundwater is classified as being of good chemical status in accordance with sub regulation 1(c) hereof. 6. (1) The Authority shall identify any significant and sustained upward trend in concentrations of pollutants, groups of pollutants or indicators of pollution found in bodies or groups of bodies of groundwater identified as being at risk and define the starting point for reversing that trend, in accordance with the Fourth Schedule to these regulations. (2) The Authority shall, in accordance with Part B of the Fourth Schedule to these regulations, reverse trends which present a significant risk of harm to the quality of aquatic ecosystems or terrestrial ecosystems, to human health, or to actual or potential legitimate uses of the water environment, through the programme of measures referred to in the Water Policy Framework Regulations, 2004 in order to progressively reduce pollution and prevent deterioration of groundwater. (3) The Authority shall define the starting point for trend reversal as a percentage of the level of the groundwater quality standards set out in the First Schedule to these regulations and of the threshold value established pursuant to regulation 4 hereof, on the basis of the identified trend and the environmental risk associated therewith, in accordance with Part B, point 1 of the Fourth Schedule to these regulations. (4) The Authority shall, in the river basin management plans to be submitted in accordance with the Water Policy Framework Regulation, 2004, summarise: Identification of significant and sustained upward trends and the definition of starting points for trends reversals. B 1402 VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA (a) the way in which the trend assessment from individual monitoring points within a body or a group of bodies of groundwater has contributed to identifying, in accordance with Section 2.5 of the Fifth Schedule to the Water Policy Framework Regulations, 2004 that those bodies are subject to a significant and sustained upward trend in concentration of any pollutant or a reversal of that trend; and (b) the reasons for the starting points defined pursuant to regulation 4 hereof. (5) The Authority shall, where it is deemed necessary to assess the impact of existing plumes of pollution in bodies of groundwater that may threaten the achievement of the objectives in the Water Policy Framework Regulations, 2004 and in particular, those plumes resulting from point sources and contaminated land, carry out additional trend assessments for identified pollutants, in order to verify that plumes from contaminated sites do not expand, do not deteriorate the chemical status of the body or group of bodies of groundwater, and do not present a risk for human health and the environment. The results of these assessments shall be summarised in the river basin management plans to be submitted in accordance with the Water Policy Framework Regulations, 2004. 7. (1) The Authority shall ensure, for the purpose of preventing and, or limiting inputs of pollutants into groundwater already established in the Water Policy Framework Regulations, 2004, that the programme of measures set out in such regulations includes: (a) all necessary measures in order to prevent inputs into groundwater of any hazardous substances, without prejudice to sub-regulations 2 hereof. In identifying such substances, the Authority shall also, in particular, take account of hazardous substances belonging to groups of pollutants referred to in points 1 to 6 of the Eighth Schedule to the Water Policy Framework Regulations, 2004, as well as of substances belonging to groups of pollutants referred to in points 7 to 9 of such Schedule, where these are considered to be hazardous; (b) for pollutants listed in such Schedule, which are not considered hazardous, and any other non-hazardous pollutants not listed in such Schedule and which are considered by the Authority to present an existing or potential risk of pollution, all necessary measures in order to limit inputs into groundwater Measures to prevent or limit inputs of pollutants into groundwater. B 1403VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA in order to ensure that such inputs do not cause deterioration or significant and sustained upward trends in the concentrations of pollutants in groundwater. Such measures shall, at least, take account of established best practice, including the Best Environmental Practice and Best Available Techniques. (2) The Authority shall, whenever such is technically possible, take into account the inputs of pollutants from disseminated sources of pollution which have an impact on the chemical status of groundwater. B 1404 VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA First Schedule Regulations 4 and 5 GROUNDWATER QUALITY STANDARDS 1. For the purposes of assessing groundwater chemical status in accordance with Regulation 5, the following groundwater quality standards will be the quality standards referred to in Table 2.3.2 in the Fifth Schedule to the Water Policy Framework Regulations, 2004 and established in accordance with such regulations. Pollutant Quality standards Nitrates 50 mg/l Active substances in pesticides, including their relevant metabolites, degradation and reaction products1 0,1 µg/l 0,5 µg/l (total)2 2. The results of the application of the quality standards for pesticides in the manner specified for the purposes of these regulations will be without prejudice to the results of the risk assessment procedures required by Directive 91/414/EEC or Directive 98/8/EC. 3. Where, for a given body of groundwater, it is considered that the groundwater quality standards could result in failure to achieve the environmental objectives specified in the Water Policy Framework Regulations, 2004 for associated bodies of surface water, or in any significant diminution of the ecological or chemical quality of such bodies, or in any significant damage to terrestrial ecosystems which depend directly on the B 1405VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA body of groundwater, more stringent threshold values will be established in accordance with regulation 4 and the Second Schedule to these regulations. Programmes and measures required in relation to such a threshold value will also apply to activities falling within the scope of Directive 91/676/EEC. 1 ‘Pesticides’ means plant protection products and biocidal products as defined in Article 2 of Directive 91/414/EEC and in Article 2 of Directive 98/8/EC, respectively. 2 ‘Total’ means the sum of all individual pesticides detected and quantified in the monitoring procedure, including their relevant metabolites, degradation and reaction products. B 1406 VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA Second Schedule Regulations 4 and 5 THRESHOLD VALUES FOR GROUNDWATER POLLUTANTS AND INDICATORS OF POLLUTION Part A Guidelines for the establishment of threshold values by Authority in accordance with Regulation 4 The Authority will establish threshold values for all pollutants and indicators of pollution which, pursuant to the characterisation performed in accordance with the Water Policy Framework Regulations, 2004 characterise bodies or groups of bodies of groundwater as being at risk of failing to achieve good groundwater chemical status. Threshold values will be established in such a way that, should the monitoring results at a representative monitoring point exceed the thresholds, this will indicate a risk that one or more of the conditions for good groundwater chemical status referred to in regulation 5 (1) (c)(ii), (iii) and (iv) are not being met. When establishing threshold values, the Authority will consider the following guidelines: 1) the determination of threshold values should be based on: B 1407VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA (a) the extent of interactions between groundwater and associated aquatic and dependent terrestrial ecosystems; (b) the interference with actual or potential legitimate uses or functions of groundwater; (c) all pollutants which characterise bodies of groundwater as being at risk, taking into account the minimum list set out in part B; (d) hydro-geological characteristics including information on background levels and water balance; 2) the determination of threshold values should also take account of the origins of the pollutants, their possible natural occurrence, their toxicology and dispersion tendency, their persistence and their bioaccumulation potential; 3) wherever elevated background levels of substances or ions or their indicators occur due to natural hydro-geological reasons, these background levels in the relevant body of groundwater shall be taken into account when establishing threshold values; 4) the determination of threshold values should be supported by a control mechanism for the data collected, based on an evaluation of data quality, analytical considerations, and background levels for substances which may occur both naturally and as a result of human activities. B 1408 VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA Part B Minimum list of pollutants and their indicators for which Authority have to consider establishing threshold values in accordance with regulation 4 1. Substances or ions or indicators which may occur both naturally and/or as a result of human activities Arsenic Cadmium Lead Mercury Ammonium Chloride Sulphate 2. Man-made synthetic substances Trichloroethylene Tetrachloroethylene 3. Parameters indicative of saline or other intrusions 1 Conductivity 1 With regard to saline concentrations resulting from human activities, the Authority may decide to establish threshold values either for sulphate and chloride or for conductivity. B 1409VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA Part C Information to be provided by Authority with regard to the pollutants and their indicators for which threshold values have been established The Authority will summarise, in the river basin management plans to be submitted in accordance with the Water Policy Framework Regulations, 2004 the way the procedure set out in Part A of this Schedule has been followed. In particular, the Authority will provide, where feasible: (a) information on the number of bodies or groups of bodies of groundwater characterised as being at risk and on the pollutants and indicators of pollution which contribute to this classification, including the observed concentrations/values; (b) information on each of the bodies of groundwater characterised as being at risk, in particular the size of the bodies, the relationship between the bodies of groundwater and the associated surface waters and directly dependent terrestrial ecosystems, and, in the case of naturally-occurring substances, the natural background levels in the bodies of groundwater; (c) the threshold values, whether they apply at the national level, at the level of the river basin district or the part of the international river basin district falling within the Maltese territory, or at the level of a body or a group of bodies of groundwater; B 1410 VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA (d) the relationship between the threshold values and: (i) in the case of naturally-occurring substances, the observed background levels, (ii) the environmental quality objectives and other standards for water protection that exist at national, Community or international level, and (iii) any relevant information concerning the toxicology, eco-toxicology, persistence, bioaccumulation potential, and dispersion tendency of the pollutants. B 1411VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA Third Schedule Regulations 4 and 5 ASSESSMENT OF GROUNDWATER CHEMICAL STATUS 1. The assessment procedure for determining the chemical status of a body or a group of bodies of groundwater will be carried out in relation to all bodies or groups of bodies of groundwater characterised as being at risk and in relation to each of the pollutants which contribute to the body or group of bodies of groundwater being so characterised. 2. In undertaking any investigations referred to in regulation 5 (1) (c) will take into account: (a) the information collected as part of the characterisation to be carried out in accordance with the Water Policy Framework Regulations, 2004 and with Sections 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 of the Second Schedule thereto; (b) the results of the groundwater monitoring network obtained in accordance with Section 2.4 of the Fifth Schedule of the Water Policy Framework Regulations, 2004; and (c) any other relevant information including a comparison of the annual arithmetic mean concentration of the relevant pollutants at a monitoring point with the groundwater quality standards set out in the First Schedule and the B 1412 VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA threshold values set by the Authority in accordance with regulation 4 and the Second Schedule to these regulations. 3. For the purposes of investigating whether the conditions for good groundwater chemical status referred to in regulation 5 (1) (c) (i) and (iv) are met, the Authority will, where relevant and necessary, and on the basis of appropriate aggregations of the monitoring results, supported where necessary by concentration estimations based on a conceptual model of the body or group of bodies of groundwater, estimate the extent of the body of groundwater having an annual arithmetic mean concentration of a pollutant higher than a groundwater quality standard or a threshold value. 4. For the purposes of investigating whether the conditions for good groundwater chemical status referred to in regulation 5 (1) (c) (ii) and (iii) are met, the Authority will, where relevant and necessary, and on the basis of relevant monitoring results and of a suitable conceptual model of the body of groundwater, assess: (a) the impact of the pollutants in the body of groundwater; (b) the amounts and the concentrations of the pollutants being, or likely to be, transferred from the body of groundwater to the associated surface waters or directly dependent terrestrial ecosystems; (c) the likely impact of the amounts and concentrations of the pollutants transferred to the associated surface waters and directly dependent terrestrial B 1413VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA ecosystems; (d) the extent of any saline or other intrusions into the body of groundwater; and (e) the risk from pollutants in the body of groundwater to the quality of water abstracted, or intended to be abstracted, from the body of groundwater for human consumption. 5. Authority will present the groundwater chemical status of a body or a group of bodies of groundwater on maps in accordance with Sections 2.4.5 and 2.5 of the Fifth Schedule of the Water Policy Framework Regulations, 2004. In addition, the Authority will indicate on these maps all monitoring points where groundwater quality standards and/or threshold values are exceeded, where relevant and feasible. B 1414 VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA Fourth Schedule Regulations 4 and 6 IDENTIFICATION AND REVERSAL OF SIGNIFICANT AND SUSTAINED UPWARD TRENDS Part A Identification of significant and sustained upward trends The Authority will identify significant and sustained upward trends in all bodies or groups of bodies of groundwater that are characterised as being at risk in accordance with the Second Schedule of the Water Policy Framework Regulations, 2004, taking into account the following requirements: 1) in accordance with Section 2.4 of the Fifth Schedule of the Water Policy Framework Regulations, 2004, the monitoring programme will be so designed as to detect significant and sustained upward trends in concentrations of the pollutants identified pursuant to regulation 4 of these regulations. 2) the procedure for the identification of significant and sustained upward trends will be based on the following elements: (a) monitoring frequencies and monitoring locations will be selected such as are sufficient to: B 1415VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA (i) provide the information necessary to ensure that such upward trends can be distinguished from natural variation with an adequate level of confidence and precision; (ii) enable such upward trends to be identified in sufficient time to allow measures to be implemented in order to prevent, or at least mitigate as far as practicable, environmentally significant detrimental changes in groundwater quality. This identification will be carried out for the first time by 2009, if possible, and will take into account existing data, in the context of the report on trend identification within the first river basin management plan referred to in the Water Policy Framework Regulations, 2004, and at least every six years thereafter; (iii) take into account the physical and chemical temporal characteristics of the body of groundwater, including groundwater flow conditions and recharge rates and percolation time through soil or subsoil; (b) the methods of monitoring and analysis used will conform to international quality control principles, including, if relevant, CEN or national standardised methods, to ensure equivalent scientific quality and comparability of the data provided; (c) the assessment will be based on a statistical method, such as regression analysis, for trend analysis in time series of individual monitoring points; (d) in order to avoid bias in trend identification, all measurements below the B 1416 VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA quantification limit will be set to half of the value of the highest quantification limit occurring in time series, except for total pesticides; 3) the identification of significant and sustained upward trends in the concentrations of substances which occur both naturally and as a result of human activities will consider the baseline levels and, where such data are available, the data collected before the start of the monitoring programme in order to report on trend identification within the first river basin management plan referred to in the Water Policy Framework Regulations, 2004. Part B Starting points for trend reversals The Authority will reverse identified significant and sustained upward trends, in accordance with regulation 6, taking into account the following requirements: 1) The starting point for implementing measures to reverse significant and sustained upward trends will be when the concentration of the pollutant reaches 75 % of the parametric values of the groundwater quality standards set out in the First Schedule and of the threshold values established pursuant to regulation 4, unless: (a) an earlier starting point is required to enable trend reversal measures to prevent most cost-effectively, or at least mitigate as far as possible, any environmentally significant detrimental changes in groundwater quality; (b) a different starting point is justified where the detection limit does not B 1417VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA allow for establishing the presence of a trend at 75 % of the parametric values; or (c) the rate of increase and the reversibility of the trend are such that a later starting point for trend reversal measures would still enable such measures to prevent most cost-effectively, or at least mitigate as far as possible, any environmentally significant detrimental changes in groundwater quality. Such later starting point may not lead to any delay in achieving the deadline for the environmental objectives. For activities falling within the scope of Directive 91/676/EEC, the starting point for implementing measures to reverse significant and sustained upward trends will be established in accordance with such Directive and with the Water Policy Framework Regulations, 2004 and, in particular, adhering to environmental objectives for water protection as set out in the Water Policy Framework Regulations, 2004; 2) Once a starting point has been established for a body of groundwater characterised as being at risk in accordance with Section 2.4.4 of the Fifth Schedule of the Water Policy Framework Regulations, 2004 and pursuant to point 1 above, it will not be changed during the six-year cycle of the river basin management plan required in accordance with the Water Policy Framework Regulations, 2004; 3) Trend reversals will be demonstrated, taking into account relevant monitoring provisions contained in Part A, point 2. B 1418 VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA Ippubblikat mid-Dipartiment tal-Informazzjoni (doi.gov.mt) — Valletta — Published by the Department of Information (doi.gov.mt) — Valletta Mitbugħ fl-Istamperija tal-Gvern fuq karta riċiklata — Printed at the Government Printing Press on recycled paper Prezz/Price €2.05