Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy has initiated the process to appoint an expert panel in terms of Section 3 of the National Environment Management Act, to advise her on appeals related to air quality matters currently under consideration. The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) said on May 13 that Creecy was currently dealing with ten appeals against the various decisions by the DFFE’s National Air Quality Officer in relation to the requests for the suspension and postponement of compliance with the minimum emission standards and the issuing of a provisional atmospheric emission licences.