THE Department of Environment (DoE), the approving authority for environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports, do not publicise such reports or the conditions that come with them.

That was also the decision of the project owner, which submitted the EIA for approval, the DoE said.

The department was asked if it could release online the EIA report for Penang’s Pan Island Link 1 (PIL1) highway, which was granted conditional approval on April 10.

The PIL1, a 19.5km-long highway with hill tunnels, is part of the state’s Penang Transport Master Plan.

Penang civil group Penang Forum, which is against the project, had asked that the 56 conditions be released online, but so far, the list has only been given to the media by the state government.

“The approval letter and conditions (for the EIA report) belong to the state government, which owns PIL1. The project owner has the right to do what it wants with them.

“It can publicise them, or put them online if it wishes. The public can seek out the project owner for the details directly, and not go through the DoE,” the department said in a statement to The Malaysian Insight.

Civil groups have criticised the approved EIA for the PIL1 since Monday.

Penang Forum’s Khoo Salma Nasution had highlighted concerns that the PIL1 project might violate slope design guidelines by the Public Works Department.

She had said the EIA report contained drawings showing that part of the highway would involve slope designs exceeding six berms. One showed berms up to 29.

The maximum number of berms allowed by PWD guidelines for slope design is six.

Salma had also questioned whether the PWD had approved the highway’s design or alignment as it was, or whether the project proponents had amended it to conform to PWD’s guidelines for slope design.

On this, the DoE said that the EIA report approval given was based on the project’s concept, and the project owner was compelled to follow all conditions and requirements set by various government agencies in implementing the project.

“The EIA approval letter also states that all the conditions must be met before construction work begins.

“This matter will be looked into by the PWD and local authorities and be put down in detail in the environmental management plan before works start.”

The DoE said that it only evaluated the project from the environmental impact aspect, such as the magnitude and significance, by collecting input from other agencies, stakeholders and the public to make sure the project will benefit the people.

Issues arising from the project will be referred to the authority that approves the project, it said. – April 18, 2019.