ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

ASSESSMENT(EIA)
UNIT - I
EIA:

It is an activity designed to identify and predict the impact of a

project on biogeophysico-chemical environment and on human
health so as to recommend appropriate legislative measures,
programs and operational procedures to minimize the impact

The aim of EIA is to assess the over all impact of development

project on the environment
An impact can be defined as any change in the physical,
chemical, biological, cultural or socio economic environmental
system as a result of activities relating to a project
Why do we need EIA?

EIA is essentially a planning tool for preventing environmental

problems due to an action

It seeks to avoid costly mistakes in project implementation,

either because of the environmental damages that are likely to
arise during project implementation, or because of
modifications that may be required subsequently in order to
make the action environmentally acceptable
When a project is undertaken it disturb environmental
equilibrium

To maintain quality of environment it is essential to study

impacts of project on environment

This also suggest remedial measures for development of

projects
INTRODUCTION:

EIA can be defined as the study to predict the effect of a

proposed activity/ project on the environment
EIA compares various alternatives for a project and seeks to
identify the one which represents the best combination of
economic and environmental costs and benefits
EIA integrates the environmental concerns in the
developmental activities right at the time of initiating for
preparing the feasibility report
It enables the integration of environmental concerns and
mitigation measures in project development

EIA can often prevent future liabilities or expensive alterations

in project design
3 core values of EIA :

1. Integrity: The EIA process should be fair, objective ,

unbiased and balanced

2. Utility: The EIA process should provide balanced, credible

information for decision making

3. Sustainability: The EIA process should result in

Environmental Safeguard
Environmental Assessment has many benefits:

Protection of Environment

Optimum utilization of resources

Saves overall time and cost of the project

Promotes community participation

Informs decision makers

Lays base for environmentally sound projects

 Indian Policies Requiring EIA

The Environmental Impact Assessment in India was started in

1976-77 when the Planning Commission asked the
Department of Science and Technology to examine the river-
valley projects from environmental angle

This was subsequently extended to cover those projects, which

required approval of the Public Investment Board.These were
administrative decisions, and lacked the legislative support.
The Government of India enacted the Environment
(Protection) Act on 23rd May 1986. under the article 253 of
the constitution
To achieve the objectives of the Act, one of the decisions that
were taken is to make environmental impact assessment
statutory.
After following the legal procedure, a notification was issued
on 27th January 1994 and subsequently amended on 4th May
1994, 10th April 1997 and 27th January 2000 (Annex 1)
making Environmental Impact Assessment statutory for 30
activities.
This is the principal piece of legislation governing
environmental Impact Assessment
Besides this the Government of India under Environment
(Protection) Act 1986 issued a number of other notifications,
which are related to Environmental Impact Assessment.

These are limited to specific geographical areas.

The list is given below:

Prohibiting location of industries except those related to

Tourism in a belt of 1 km from high tide mark from the
Revdanda Creek up to Devgarh Point (near Shrivardhan) as
well as in 1 km belt along the banks of Rajpuri Creek in
Murud Janjira area in the Raigarh district of Maharashtra (6th
January 1989)
Restricting location of industries, mining operations and
regulating other activities in Doon Valley (1st February
19)
 Regulating activities in the coastal stretches of the country by
classifying them as coastal regulation zone and prohibiting
certain activities (19th February 1991)
Restricting location of industries and regulating other activities
in Dahanu Taluka in Maharashtra (6th June 91)
Restricting certain activities in specified areas of Aravalli
Range in the Gurgaon district of Haryana and Alwar district of
Rajasthan (7th May 1992)
Regulating industrial and other activities, which could lead to
pollution and congestion in an area north west of Numaligarh
in Assam (5th July 1996)
Evolution & History of EIA

EIA started as a mandatory regulatory procedure originated in

the year 1970’s with the implementation of the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 1969 in US
EIA process took off after the mid 1980’s, after World Bank
adopted EIA for major development projects, in which
borrower country had to undertake the EIA under the Bank’s
supervision
Now EIA is a formal process in more than 100 countries
Environmental clearance from central government is required for
32 categories of development projects-under industrial sectors:

Mining

Thermal power plants

River valley

Infrastructure( roads, highways, ports, harbors and airports)

Industries including very small electroplating in foundry units

 Cycle & procedure

The EIA process in India is made of the following phases:

1) Screening
2) Scoping & consideration of alternatives
3) Baseline data collection
4) Impact Analysis
5) Mitigation and Environmental impact statement
6) Public hearing
7) Environmental management plan
8) Decision making
9) Monitoring the clearance condition
Screening:

First stage of EIA, which determines whether the proposed

project requires an EIA and if it requires EIA, then the level of
assessment required.
Screening criteria for determining the level of review required
are relatively well defined.
Screening criteria are based upon:
1) Scales of investment
2) Type of development
3) Location of development and if the project needs statutory
clearance
Scoping:

The project’s potential impacts, zone of impacts, mitigation

possibilities and need for monitoring.

This stage identifies key issues and impact that should be

further investigated .

This stage also defines the boundary and the time limit of
the study

It is done by consultant in consultation with the project

proponent and guidance by the agency
Quantifiable impacts are to be assessed on the basis of
magnitude, prevalence frequency and duration and non
quantifiable impact (aesthetic or recreational value) is usually
determined through the socio-economic criteria.

After the areas, where the project could have significant

impact are identified, the Baseline Status of these should be
monitored and then the likely changes in these on account of
the construction and operation of the proposed project should
be predicted
Baseline data:

Baseline data is the environmental status of study area.

Impact prediction is a way of ‘mapping’ the environmental
consequences of the significant aspects of the projects and its
alternatives
Environmental impact can never be predicted with absolute
certainty and this is all the more reason to consider all possible
factors and take all possible precautions for reducing the
degree of uncertainity
The following impacts of the projects should be assessed:

AIR:

Changes in the ambient level and the ground level

concentration due to emissions from point, line and area
source

Effects on soils, materials, vegetations and human health

NOISE:

Changes in the ambient level due to noise generated from

equipment and movement of vehicles

Effects on fauna and human health

WATER:
Availability to competing users
Changes in the quality
Sediment transport
Ingress of saline water
LAND:
Changes in the land-use and drainage habitat
Changes in land quality including effects of water disposal
Changes in shoreline/ river tank and their stability
BIOLOGICAL:

Deforestation and shrinkage of animal habitat

Impact on flora and fauna due to contaminants and pollutants

Impact on rare and endangered species, endemic species and

migratory path of animals including birds

Impact on breeding of nesting grounds

SOCIO ECONOMIC:

Impact on the local community including demographic

changes

Impact on economic status

Impact on human health

Impact of increased traffic

Impact prediction: Positive and negative, reversible and
irreversible and temporary and permanent impacts need to be
predicted which presupposes a good understanding of the
project by the assessment agency.

Mitigation measures and EIA report: The EIA report should

include the actions and steps for preventing, minimizing or by
passing the impacts or else the level of compensation for
probable environmental damage or loss.
Environmental Impact Assessment Report

For every project possible alternative should be identified and

environmental attributes are compared

Alternatives for project location & process technologies

Alternative of ‘no project’ should also be considered

Based on the best environmental option for optimum economic
benefits to the community at large, alternatives should be
ranked.

Mitigation plan for the selected option have to be drawn and is

supplemented with the Environmental Management Plan
(EMP) to guide towards Environment Improvement

EMP is critical for monitoring the clearance conditions and

hence forth details of monitoring should be included
Thus the EIA Report prepared should provide the decision maker
with the information on different environmental scenarios like:

With the project

Without the project

With project alternatives

Uncertainties should also be reflected in the EIA project

Public Hearing

After EIA report is made public must be informed and

consulted on the proposed development

On completion of the EIA report, public and environmental

groups living close to project site may be informed and
consulted.
Summary of the EIA report have to be provided to the people
affected due to the proposed project:

Bonafied local resident

Local associations

Environmental groups active in the area

Any other person located at the project site/ sites of

displacement
 Decision making
Impact Assessment Authority along with the experts consult
the project-in-charge along with consultant to take the final
decision, keeping in mind EIA and EMP (Environment
Management Plan).
Consultation between the project proponent ( assisted by a
consultant ) and the impact assessment authority (assisted by
an expert group if necessary)
The decision on environmental clearance is arrived at through
a number of steps including evaluation of EIA & EMP
Monitoring the clearance conditions:

The various phases of implementation of the project are

monitored.
Monitoring should be done during both construction and
operation phase of a project
This ensures that the commitments made are compiled and if
the prediction made in the EIA report are correct
Corrective actions should be taken if the impact exceeds the
predicted levels
Assessment of Alternatives, Delineation of Mitigation
Measures and Environmental Impact Assessment Report:
For every project, possible alternatives should be identified,
and environmental attributes compared.
Alternatives should cover both project location and process
technologies.
Once alternatives have been reviewed, a mitigation plan
should be drawn up for the selected option and is
supplemented with an Environmental Management Plan
(EMP) to guide the proponent towards environmental
improvements.
 EIA PROCESS

Proposal Identification

Screening

Initial Environmental
Examination

EIA Required No EIA

 EIA Required

Scoping
Resubmit
Public Impact Analysis
Involvement Mitigation & Impact
Management Redesign
Decision
Public Making
Involvement EIA Report
typically occurs at
this stage it could Review
occur at any other
stage of the EIA Approved Not Approved
process

Information from this

process contribute to
Implementation &
effective future EIA follow up
Components of EIA:

Comprehensive EIA(CEIA) and Rapid EIA vary only in the

time scale of the data supplied

CEIA study is a pre-requisite for getting Environmental

clearance from Ministry of Environment & Forests,
Government of India and No Objection Certificate(NOC) from
the state pollution control Board
Rapid EIA is for rapidly assessing and analyzing the
environmental context of a particular crisis or disaster

Rapid EIA is for speedier appraisal process

Rapid EIA achieves this through the collection of ‘ one season’

data, which ever is stressful for the project, only to reduce the
time required

But this is acceptable only if it does not compromise on the

quality of decision making
 Steps in Preparation of EIA report

Collection of baseline data from primary and secondary

sources
Prediction of impacts based on past experience and
mathematical modelling
Evolution of impacts versus evaluation of net cost benefit
Preparation of environmental management plans to reduce the
impacts to the minimum
Quantitative estimation of financial cost of monitoring plan
and the mitigation measures.
Depending on the nature, location and the scale of the project
EIA report should contain all or some of the following
components:
AIR ENVIRONMENT
NOISE ENVIRONMENT
WATER ENVIRONMENT
BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT
LAND ENVIRONMENT
SOCIO-ECONOMIC & HEALTH ENVIRONMENT
RISK ASSESSMENT
ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN
AIR ENVIRONMENT:

Determination of the impact zone and developing a monitoring

network

Monitoring the existing status of ambient air quality within the

impacted region (7-10km from the periphery)

Monitoring site specific metrological data- wind speed, wind

direction, humidity, ambient temperature and environmental
lapse rate

Estimation of qualities of air emission from the proposed site

Identification and quantification and evaluation of other
potential emissions within the impact zone
Prediction of the changes in the ambient air quality through
air quality model
Evaluation of the adequacy of the proposed pollution control
devices to meet gaseous emission and ambient air quality
standards
Delineation of mitigation measures at source, pathways and
receptors
NOISE ENVIRONMENT:

Monitoring the present status of noise levels within the impact

zone

Predicting the future noise levels resulted from the proposed

project, including the vehicular movement

Identification of impacts due to any anticipated rise in noise

levels on the surrounding environment

Recommendations on mitigation measures for noise pollution

WATER ENVIRONMENT:

Study of existing ground and surface water resources with

respect to quality and the quantity within the impact zone of
the proposed project

Prediction if the impact on the water resources due to may be

pumping/ use of water in the project

Quantification and characteristics of the waste water including

toxic, organic from the proposed activity
Evaluation of the proposed pollution prevention and waste
water treatment system if required

Prediction of impacts of effluents discharge on the quality of

the receiving water body using appropriate models

Assessment of the feasibility of water recycling and reuse and

delineation of detailed plan in this regard
BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT:

Survey of flora and fauna clearly delineating season and

duration

Assessment of the flora and fauna within the impact zone of

the project

Assessment of the potential damage to terrestrial and aquatic

flora and fauna due to discharge of effluent and gaseous
emissions from the projects
Assessment of damage to terrestrial flora and fauna due to air
pollution and land use and landscape changes

Assessment of damage to aquatic and marine flora and fauna

due to physical disturbance and alternations

Prediction of biological stresses within the impact zone of the

proposed project

Delineation of mitigation measures to prevent and/ or reduce

the damage
LAND ENVIRONMENT:
Studies on soil characteristics , existing land use and
topography, landscape and drainage pattern within the impact
zone
Estimation of impacts of projects on land use, landscape,
topography, drainage and hydrology
Identification of potential utility of treated effluent in land
application and subsequent impacts
Estimation and characterization of solid wastes and delineation
of management options for minimization of waste and
environmentally compatible disposal
SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND HEALTH ENVIRONMENT:

Collection of demographic and related socio-economic data

Collection of epidemiological data, including studies on

prominent endemic diseases and morbidity rates among
population within the impact zone

Projection of anticipated changes in the socio-economic and

health due to the project and related activities
Delineation of measures to minimize adverse impacts

Assessment of impact on significant historical, cultural and

archaeological sites places in the area

Assessment of economic benefits arising out of the projects

Assessment of rehabilitation requirements with special

emphasis on scheduled areas
RISK ASSESSMENT:

Hazard identification taking recourse to hazard indices,

inventory analysis , dam breaking probability, natural hazard
probability

Maximum credible accidents analysis to identify potential

hazardous scenarios

Consequences analysis of failures and accidents resulting in

fire, explosion, hazardous releases and dam breaks etc.,
Hazard & operability studies

Assessment of risks on the basis of the above evaluations

Preparations of an onsite and off site Disaster Management

Plan
Environmental Management Plan(EMP):

It is a guidance document to measure and achieve

compliance with the environmental protection and
mitigation requirements of a project, which are typically
requirements for project permits/ approvals

Delineation of mitigation measures including prevention

and control for each environmental component and
rehabilitation and resettlement plan

Delineation of monitoring scheme for compliance of

conditions
 Delineation of implementation plan including scheduling and
resource allocations

Objectives:

1. Mitigate adverse impacts on various environmental

components, which have been identified during the rapid
environmental impact assessment study

2. Protect environmental resources where possible

 EIA benefits and flaws
BENEFITS FLAWS

Provide systematic method of impact Time consuming

assessment
Estimates the cost/ benefit trade-off of costly
alternative actions
Facilitates the public participation Little public participation in actual
implementation
Provides an effective mechanism for Unavailability for reliable data ( mostly
1. Coordination in developing countries)
2. Environmental integration
3. Negotiations
4. Feed back
Top level decision making Too focused to scientific analysis

Achieves a balance between the impact Compliance monitoring after EIA is

of development and environmental seldom carried out
concern
 The Main Participants Of EIA

EIA applies to public and private sections. The six main players
are:

Those who propose the project

The environmental consultant who prepare EIA on behalf of

project proponent.

Pollution Control Board (State or National).

Public has the right to express their opinion.

The Impact Assessment Agency.

Regional centre of the Ministry of Environment and Forest.

 Composition of the expert committees for EIA

The Committees will consist of experts in the following

disciplines:
Eco-system management

Air/water pollution control

Water resource management

Flora/fauna conservation and management

Land use planning

Social Sciences/Rehabilitation

Project appraisal

Ecology

Environmental Health

Subject Area Specialists

Representatives of NGOs/persons concerned with

environmental issues
The Chairman will be an outstanding and experienced
ecologist or environmentalist or technical professional with
wide managerial experience in the relevant development.

The representative of Impact Assessment Agency will act as a

Member-Secretary.

Chairman and members will serve in their individual

capacities except those specifically nominated as
representatives.

The membership of a committee shall not exceed 15

members.
 Ecological Sensitive places

Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) or Ecologically Fragile Areas

(EFAs) are areas notified by the Ministry of Environment,
Forests and Climate Change(MoEFCC) around Protected
Areas, National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.

The purpose of declaring ESZs is to create some kind of

“shock absorbers” to the protected areas by regulating and
managing the activities around such areas
They also act as a transition zone from areas of high protection
to areas involving lesser protection.
The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 does not mention the
word “Eco-Sensitive Zones”.
An ESZ could go up to 10 kilometres around a protected area
as provided in the Wildlife Conservation Strategy, 2002.
Moreover, in the case where sensitive corridors, connectivity
and ecologically important patches, crucial for landscape
linkage, are beyond 10 km width, these should be included in
the ESZs.
 Case study

A buffer zone around the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

(WWS)
What’s the issue?
The present draft issued by the MOEFCC notifies 118.59
sq km around the WWS as ESZ.
But, Kerala wants ESZ measuring 88.2 sq km around the
WWS.
The government is of the view that densely populated
areas should be excluded while notifying ESZs.
What are the concerns?
Such a move would badly affect the lives of thousands of
farmers on the fringes of the sanctuary spread over six
villages under Mananthavady and Sulthan Bathery taluks.
All development in eco-sensitive zones, including
construction of roads and houses, would be affected and
farmers would not be able to cut trees they had planted on
their land without the permission of forest officials.
Rationale behind declaring it as an ESZ:
The lives of farmers on the forest fringes has become miserable
owing to the increasing incidents of wild animal attacks.
About the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary:

The sanctuary is a component of the Nilgiri Biosphere

Reserve (5,520 sq km) and is a vital component of the
Elephant Reserve No. 7 of South India.

It is the only sanctuary of Kerala where sighting of four-

horned antelope has been reported.
Four-horned antelope
Presence of Egyptian vulture, Himalayan griffon, and
Cinereous vultures are also reported in the sanctuary and the
two species of vultures, red-headed and white-backed
vultures, once common in Kerala, are now restricted to the
Wayanad plateau.
The Nagarhole –Bandipur –Mudumalai -Wayanad forest
complex is also one of the most important tiger habitats in the
country. Recent estimation of tigers, using camera traps, has
indicated the presence of 79 tigers in the sanctuary.
The forests of the wildlife division form the major
catchments for the tributaries of the Kabani river system.
 International Agreements

What are international agreements?

International agreements are formal understandings or

commitments between two or more countries. An agreement
between two countries is called “bilateral,” while an agreement
between several countries is “multilateral.” The countries
bound by an international agreement are generally referred to
as “States Parties.
What is the purpose of international environmental
agreements?

International Environmental Agreements (IEAs) are signed

treaties that regulate or manage human impact on the
environment in an effort to protect it.
International Environmental Policy covers a number of
issues:

climate protection, sustainable energy policy, preservation of

biological diversity and the conservation of forests, seas and
soils.

Further related topics are desertification, sustainable waste

management and protection against hazardous substances.
When was the first international environmental agreement?
The year 1972 was historic, because for the first time countries
across the world came together to identify and address
environmental problems.
The United Nations Conference on the Human Environment,
held in Stockholm in 1972, was the first international
intergovernmental conference to focus on environmental
problems.
How many International Environmental Agreements are
there?

Current content includes over 1,300 MEAs, over 2,200 BEAs,

250 other environmental agreements, and over 90,000
individual country "membership actions" (dates of signature,
ratification, or entry into force; release notes here).
 [SCHEDULE]1

LIST OF PROJECTS OR ACTIVITIES REQUIRING PRIOR ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE

Category with threshold limit Conditions if any

Project or Activity A B

1 Mining, extraction of natural resources and power generation (for

a specified production capacity)
(a) ( (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
1(a) (i) Mining of ³ 50 ha. of mining lease < 50 ha of mining lease General Conditions shall
minerals apply except for project or
area in respect of non- area in respect of non – activity of less than 5 ha of
coal mine lease. coal mine lease. mining lease area .
Provided that the above
exception shall not apply for
project or activity if the sum
total of the mining lease area
> 150 ha of mining lease < 150 ha. >5 ha of mining of the said project or activity
and that of existing operating
area in respect of coal lease area in respect of mines and mining projects
mine lease. coal mine lease. which were accorded
environment clearance and
are located within 500 metres
from the periphery of such
project or activity equals or
exceeds 5 ha.
Asbestos mining irrespective
Note
of mining area. (i) Prior environment
clearance is required at the
stage of renewal of mine lease
for which an application shall
be made up to two years prior
to the date due for renewal.
Provided that no fresh
environment clearance shall
be required for a mining
project or activity at the time
of renewal of mining lease,
which has already obtained
environmental clearance
under this notification.

(ii) Mineral prospecting is

exempted.

(ii) Slurry pipelines All Projects

(coal lignite and
other ores) passing
through national
parks or sanctuaries
or coral reefs,
ecologically
sensitive areas.

1
 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
(ii) Slurry All projects
pipelines (coal
lignite and other
ores) passing
through national
parks/sanctuaries/
coral reefs,
ecologically
sensitive areas.
1(b) Offshore and All projects Note
onshore oil and gas Seismic surveys which
exploration, are part of Exploration
development & Surveys are exempted
provided the concession
production
areas have got previous
clearance for physical
survey
1(c) (i) River Valley (i) ³ 50 MW hydroelectric (i) ≤ 50 MW ³ 25 MW General Condition shall
projects apply.
power generation; hydroelectric power
Note: -
generation; Category ‘B’ river valley
(ii) Irrigation (ii) ³ 10,000 ha. of (ii) < 10,000 ha. > 2000 projects falling in more than
projects culturable command area. ha. of culturable one state shall be appraised
command area at the Central Government
Level.
1(d) Thermal Power ³ 500 MW (coal /lignite / ≥ 50 MW to < 500 MW General Condition shall
Plants naphtha and gas based); (coal/lignite/ naphtha and apply.
gas based); Note:-
³ 50 MW (all other fuels (i) Thermal Power plants
except biomass ). up to 15MW based on
biomass or non
<50 MW ³ 5MW (all other hazardous municipal
³ 20MW (using municipal fuels except biomass and solid waste using
municipal solid non auxiliary fuel such as
solid non hazardous waste, coal / lignite /petroleum
as fuel). hazardous waste). products up to 15% are
exempt.

<20MW >15MW (using (ii) Thermal Power plants

municipal solid non using waste heat boiler
without any auxiliary
hazardous waste, as fuel).
fuel are exempt.

≥ 15 MW plants based on
biomass fuel.

1(e) Nuclear power All projects -

projects and
processing of
nuclear fuel

2
 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

2 Primary Processing

2(a) Coal washeries ³ 1 million ton/annum <1million ton/annum General Condition

throughput of coal throughput of coal shall apply

(If located within mining

area the proposal shall be
appraised together with the
mining proposal)
2 (b) Mineral ³ 0.5 million TPA < 0.5 million TPA General Condition
beneficiation throughput throughput shall apply
(Mining proposal with
Mineral beneficiation shall
be appraised together for
grant of clearance.
Materials Production
3
3(a) Metallurgical a)Primary metallurgical General Condition
industries (ferrous industry shall apply.
& non ferrous)
All projects Note:
(i) The recycling
industrial units
b) Sponge iron Sponge iron registered under the
manufacturing manufacturing HSM Rules, are
≥ 200TPD <200TPD exempted.
(ii)In case of secondary
metallurgical
processing industrial
c)Secondary metallurgical Secondary metallurgical units, those projects
processing industry processing industry involving operation of
furnaces only such as
All toxic and heavy metal i.)All toxic induction and electric
producing units and heavy metal arc furnace, submerged
arc furnace, and cupola
³ 20,000 tonnes /annum producing with capacity more
units than 30,000 tonnes per
<20,000 tonnes annum (TPA) would
- /annum require environmental
clearance.
(iii) Plant /
ii.)All other
units other than power
non –toxic plants (given against
secondary metallurgical entry no. 1 (d) of the
processing industries schedule), based on
municipal solid waste
(non-hazardous) are
>5000 tonnes/annum
exempted.

3
 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
3( b) Cement plants ³ 1.0 million <1.0 million General Condition
tonnes/annum production tonnes/annum shall apply
capacity production capacity. All
Stand alone grinding
units

4 Materials Processing

4(a) Petroleum refining All projects - -

industry

4(b) i) Coke oven ³ 2,50,000 tonnes/annum < 2,50,000 and General Conditions
plants ³ 25,000 tonnes/annum. shall apply.

All projects.
ii) Coaltar
processing
units.

4(c ) Asbestos milling All projects - -

and asbestos based
products

4(d) Chlor-alkali ≥ 300 TPD production (i) All projects General as well as
industry capacity if a unit located irrespective of the size, specific Conditions
outside the notified if it is located in a shall apply.
industrial area/ estate. notified industrial
Area / Estate. No new Mercury Cell
based plants will be
(ii) < 300 tonnes per permitted and existing
day (TPD) and located units converting to
outside a Notified membrane cell
Industrial Area /Estate. technology are exempt
from the Notification.

4(e) Soda ash Industry All projects - -

4(f) Skin / hide New projects outside the All new or expansion of General as well as
processing industrial area or projects located within specific Conditions
including tanning expansion of existing units a notified industrial shall apply.
industry. out side the industrial area area/ estate

4
 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

5 Manufacturing/Fabrication

5(a) Chemical All projects including all All Single Super General condition
fertilizers Single Super Phosphate Phosphate without shall apply.
with H2SO4 production H2SO4 production and Granulation of single
except granulation of granulation of chemical super phosphate
chemical fertilizers. fertilizers. powder is exempt.

5(b) Pesticides industry All units producing - -

and pesticide technical grade pesticides
specific
intermediates
(excluding
formulations)

5(c) Petro-chemical All projects. - -

complexes
(industries based
on processing of
petroleum
fractions & natural
gas and/or
reforming to
aromatics)

5(d) Manmade fibres Rayon Others General Condition

manufacturing shall apply

5(e) Petroleum Located out side the Located in a notified General as well as specific
products and notified industrial area/ industrial area/ estate condition shall apply.
petrochemical estate
based processing
such as production
of carbon black Note:-
and electrode Manufacturing of
grade graphite products from polymer
(Processes other granules is exempt.
than cracking and
reformation and
not covered under
the complexes).

5
 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
5(f) Synthetic organic Located outside the (i) Located in a General as well as
chemicals industry notified industrial area/ notified industrial specific Condition
(dyes & dye estate except small units as area/ estate. shall apply.
intermediates; bulk defined in column (5).
drugs and Small units: with water
intermediates consumption <25
3
excluding drug (ii) Small units as m /day, fuel
formulations; defined in consumption < 25 TPD
synthetic rubbers; column (5). and not covered in the
basic organic category of MAH units
chemicals, other as per the
synthetic organic Management, Storage
chemicals and and Import of
chemical Hazardous Chemical
intermediates) Rules, 1989.

5(g) Distilleries (i) All Molasses based Non-molasses based General Condition
distilleries distilleries – shall apply.
< 60 KLD
(ii) Non-molasses based
distilleries ³ 60 KLD
5(h) Integrated paint - All projects General Condition
industry shall apply
5(i) Pulp and paper Pulp manufacturing and Pulp manufacturing General Condition
industry Pulp and Paper from waste paper and shall apply
manufacturing industry paper manufacturing Note:-
except from waste paper. from waste paper pulp Paper manufacturing
and other ready pulp. from waste paper pulp
and ready pulp without
deinking, bleaching
and colouring is
exempt.
5(j) Sugar Industry - ³ 5000 tcd cane General Condition
- crushing capacity shall apply

6 Service Sector
6(a) Oil & gas All projects -
transportation pipe -
line (crude and
refinery/
petrochemical
products), passing
through national
parks
/sanctuaries/coral
reefs /ecologically
sensitive areas
including LNG
Terminal

6
 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
6(b) Isolated storage & - All projects General Condition
handling of shall apply
hazardous
chemicals (As per
threshold planning
quantity indicated
in column 3 of
schedule 2 & 3 of
MSIHC Rules
1989 amended
2000

7 Physical Infrastructure including Environmental Services

7(a) Air ports All projects including - Note:

airstrips, which are for Air Strips, which do not
commercial use. involve bunkering
/Refueling facility and
or air Traffic Control,
are exempted.

7(b) All ship breaking All projects - -

yards including
ship breaking units

7(c) Industrial estates/ If at least one industry in Industrial estates housing General as well as
parks/ complexes/ the proposed industrial at least one Category B specific Conditions
areas, export estate falls under the industry and area <500 shall apply.
processing Zones Category A, entire ha. Note:
(EPZs), Special industrial area shall be 1. Industrial Estate of
Economic Zones treated as Category A, area below 500 ha.
and not housing
(SEZs), Biotech irrespective of the area. any industry of
Parks, Leather Category ‘A’ or
Complexes. ‘B’ does not
require clearance.
Industrial estates with area Industrial estates of area>
greater than 500 ha. and 500 ha. and not housing 2. If the area is less
than 500 ha., but
housing at least one any industry belonging to contains building
Category B industry. Category A or B. and construction
projects > 20,000
Sq.mtr. and or
development area
more than 50 ha it
will be treated as
activity listed at
serial no. 8(a) or 8
(b) in the Schedule,
as the case may be.

7
 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
7(d) Common All integrated facilities All facilities having land General Condition
hazardous waste having incineration & fill only shall apply
treatment, storage landfill or incineration
and disposal alone
facilities (TSDFs)

7(e) Ports, Harbours, ³ 5 million TPA of cargo < 5 million TPA of cargo General Condition
break waters, handling capacity handling capacity and/or shall apply.
dredging. (excluding fishing ports/ harbours ³10,000
harbours) TPA of fish handling Note:
capacity 1. Capital dredging
inside and outside the
ports or harbours and
channels are included.
2. Maintenance
dredging is exempt
provided it formed part
of the original proposed
for which environment
Management Plan
(EMP) was prepared
and environmental
clearance obtained.”

7(f) Highways i) New National High (i) (Al General Condition

ways; and l shall apply.
Ne
w Note:
ii) Expansion of National Sta Highways include
Highways greater than 100 te expressways.
km involving additional Hi
right of way or land gh
acquisition greater than wa
40m on existing y
alignments and 60m on Pro
re-alignments or by-passes. jec
ts.)
3

(ii) State Highway

expansion projects in
hilly terrain (above 1,000
m AMSL) and or
ecologically sensitive
areas.”

7(g) Aerial ropeways (i) All projects located at All projects except those General Condition
altitude of 1,000 mtr. covered in column (3). shall apply
And above.

8
 (ii) All projects located in
notified ecologically
sensitive areas.”
7(h) Common Effluent All projects General Condition
Treatment Plants shall apply
(CETPs)

9
 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
7(i) Common All projects General Condition
Municipal Solid shall apply
Waste
Management
Facility
(CMSWMF)
8 Building or Construction projects or Area Development projects and
Townships
8 (a) Building and >20,000 sq.mtrs and The term “built up area”
Construction <1,50,000 sq.mtrs. of for the purpose of this
Notification the built up
projects built-up area or covered area on all the
floors put together,
including its basement
and other service areas,
which are proposed in the
building or construction
projects.

Note 1.– The projects or

activities shall not include
industrial shed, school,
college, hostel for
educational institution,
but such buildings shall
ensure sustainable
environmental
management, solid and
liquid waste management,
rain water harvesting and
may use recycled
materials such as fly ash
bricks.

Note 2.– “General

conditions” shall not
apply.

8 (b) Townships and Covering an area of A project of Township

Area Development > 50 ha and or built up and Area Development
projects covered under
projects. area > 1,50,000 sq.mtrs this item shall require an
Environment Impact
Assessment report and be
appraised as Category
‘B1’ Project.

Note – “General
conditions” shall not
apply.

10
Note:-
General Condition (GC):

Any project or activity specified in Category ‘B’ will be appraised at the Central level as
Category ‘A’, if located in whole or in part within 5 km from the boundary of : (i) Protected
areas notified under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (53 of 1972); (ii) Critically polluted areas
as identified by the Central Pollution Control Board constituted under the Water (Prevention and
Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 (6 of 1974) from time to time; (iii) Eco-sensitive areas as
notified under sub section (2) of section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and (iv)
inter-State boundaries and international boundaries: provided that for River Valley Projects
specified in item 1(c), Thermal Power Plants specified in item 1 (d), Industrial estates/ parks/
complexes/ areas, export processing Zones (EPZs), Special Economic Zones (SEZs), Biotech
Parks, Leather Complexes specified in item 7 (c) and Common hazardous waste treatment,
storage and disposal facilities (TSDFs) specified in item 7 (d), the appraisal shall be made at
Central level even if located within 10 km.

Provided further, that the requirement regarding distance of 5 km or 10 km, as the case may be,
of the inter-State boundaries can be reduced or completely done away with by an agreement
between the respective States or the Union Territories sharing the common boundary in case the
activity does not fall within 5 km or 10 km, as the case may be of the areas mentioned at item
(i), (ii) and (iii) above.”

Specific Condition (SC):

If any Industrial Estate/Complex / Export processing Zones /Special Economic Zones/Biotech

Parks / Leather Complex with homogeneous type of industries such as Items 4(d), 4(f), 5(e), 5(f),
or those Industrial estates with pre –defined set of activities (not necessarily homogeneous,
obtains prior environmental clearance, individual industries including proposed industrial
housing within such estates /complexes will not be required to take prior environmental
clearance, so long as the Terms and Conditions for the industrial estate/complex are complied
with (Such estates/complexes must have a clearly identified management with the legal
responsibility of ensuring adherence to the Terms and Conditions of prior environmental
clearance, who may be held responsible for violation of the same throughout the life of the
complex/estate).

11