However, a Scrutiny panel heard that it was a ‘genuine error’ that led the Environment Department not to ask the National Trust for Jersey and the Société Jersiaise for their views when the brief was being drawn up.
Assistant director at Environment Dr Louise Magris told the Environment Scrutiny Panel on Wednesday that she had not asked the bodies for their views as she thought that element of the environmental impact assessment had been covered by her colleague Sarah Le Claire, who was away on maternity leave.
Meanwhile, it also emerged that there was no compulsion for a full scoping exercise to be carried out on the energy from waste plant, the biggest capital investment the States has ever funded.
Officers from Environment told the panel that it was up to the developer – in this case the Transport and Technical Services Department – and their consultants to decide if they wanted to have the exercise undertaken.
Environment Minister Freddie Cohen and a number of his officers gave evidence to the panel. The panel, chaired by Deputy Phil Rondel, is considering the scope of the environmental impact assessment carried out for the new energy from waste plant. It is also looking at whether the environmental impact statement was appropriate and compliant with relevant standards.
