Environmental studies

For environmental analyses related to the Master Plan, we decided to move in several directions, involving fauna, flora and ecosystem experts. This will enable the monitoring of biological matrices present, especially those species and habitats explicitly referred to in the Annexes of the "Birds" and "Habitat" EU Directives and in relevant regional environmental regulations.
A Working Team operated under the supervision of Prof. Baldaccini of the University of Pisa was composed as follows:

• University of Pisa - In addition to scientific coordination, the University of Pisa addressed issues of ornithology, migration and animal ecology;
• University of Pavia - Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (Mammalogy, Herpetology, Ichthyology), modelling aspects;
• University of Florence - La Specola museum (Chiropterology);
• Bird Control Italy srl - Ornithology, in particular ground areas and the most logistically contiguous areas, flora and vegetation; this is in line with the many years of activity at airport aimed at managing bird/wildlife strikes and nature dynamics directly or indirectly linked to these.

The noise and air pollution studies were focused on the vast area of about six kilometres around Malpensa airport comprising the following municipalities:

• Golasecca, Vergiate, Arsago Seprio, Besnate, Gallarate, Casorate Sempione, Somma Lombardo, Cardano al Campo, Ferno, Lonate Pozzolo, Samarate and Vizzola Ticino (in province of Varese);
• Castano Primo, Nosate, Vanzaghello, Turbigo and Robecchetto with Induno, (in province of Milan);
• Marano Ticino, Oleggio, Pombia and Varallo Pombia (in province of Novara).

Bicocca University of Milan was the reference for the analyses of the current state and the forecast impacts as a result of the works included in the Master Plan.
A professional collaboration was also started with Polytechnic of Milan to analyse the aspects related to water resources and soil, examining them in terms of energy and water footprint.
This study obviously entails a high level of integration with Bicocca University (for noise and air pollution), with Universities of Pisa, Pavia and Florence for the nature aspects, and with the CNR for the HIA (Health Impact Assessment).
The HIA is a collaborative procedure to assess the risk attributable to measures or strategies before their implementation.
Although this tool is not a regulatory obligation, we considered it appropriate to introduce it voluntarily in the framework of the preliminary studies to accompany the Master Plan project. We did so because of the increasing national and international importance of HIA as a tool for supporting decisions and for the broad possibility of harmonising HIA in preparation of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).