Technical comments pertaining to the scope of work necessary to conduct a detailed environmental impact assessment (DEIA) for the proposed mega-incinerator in Broga is now with the Housing and Local Government Ministry, a senior officer said.

The department's evaluation director Aziz Rasol, when contacted, said the Department of Environment's (DOE) technical panel had met o­n April 18 to review the terms of reference which determines the parameters of the DEIA.

"It is up to the project proponent (ministry) to finalise the TOR together with the comments from non-governmental organisations such as the Consumers Association of Penang and Sahabat Alam Malaysia," he said.

Consider feedback

On the comments submitted by the Semenyih/Broga No Incinerator pro tem committee and the DAP o­n April 26 - the deadline for public feedback o­n the draft TOR - he said they will also be handed to the ministry to be incorporated.

"They will also consider the feedback and decide o­n whether or not to incorporate into the TOR."

The technical panel consists of more than 20 experts in various fields from among the department's officials, the private sector and academicians.

Residents in Broga and surrounding areas with an estimated population of 400,000 are firmly against having the proposed 1,500-tonne thermal incinerator plant in their midst or anywhere else in Malaysia.

The multi-billion ringgit Broga plant is the first among several proposed to handle Malaysia's increasing trash generation, which now stands at an average of 17,000 tonnes daily.

Not unusual

Asked o­n the omission of a cost-benefit analysis in the draft terms of reference, department sources contacted said it was not unusual for EIA consultants to leave it out.

"The public, in their written comments, can ask for it to be included in the DEIA report, and it will be included."

On Wednesday, the committee questioned the estimated cost and the breakdown of the proposed project to consumers after noting that the draft TOR had mentioned nothing o­n the financial aspects.

It was also perplexed over the source of financing for the project, which until today, remains a mystery.

On allegations that work had started prior to the EIA's approval, department sources said so long as physical work was not carried out, there was no problem.

Sources also said that soil-testing and data collection from water and air samples were preliminary work or standard information gathering process that all EIA consultants are familiar with.

Perunding Utama Sdn Bhd is the appointed consultant for the Broga plant slated for operation in 2007.

Six-month period

"The consultants had done the DEIA for Kampung Bohol when the incinerator was proposed there earlier, so this study should not take a long time, assuming the technology and the mitigating measures, or the (emission) control systems, remain the same.

"For Broga, the consultants would probably o­nly need to study the socio-economic aspect and ground conditions," sources said.

The work schedule in the draft TOR has outlined a six-month period for the DEIA encompassing baseline monitoring, surveys, revision of applicable laws and regulations and discussions, including two months for the DOE to review the report.

The client's charter of the DOE stipulates a maximum of five months for the entire process starting from the endorsement of the terms of reference - in this case, the end of April - until the EIA report is approved.