Understanding the Environmental Clearance Process

Environmental clearance from Ministry of Environment & Forests is required for following 30 categories of
project as per EIA notification-
Sector: Industry
1. Petroleum refineries including crude and products pipelines
2. Chemical fertilizers (nitrogenous and phosphatic other than single superphosphate)
3. Pesticides (Technical)
4. Petrochemical complexes (both olefinic and aromatic) and petro chemical intermediates such as DMT,
Caprolactam, LAB etc. and production of basic plastics such as LDPE, HDPE, PP, PVC
5. Bulk drugs and pharmaceuticals
6. Exploration of oil and gas and their production, transportation and their storage
7. Synthetic rubber
8. Asbestos and asbestos products
9. Hydrocyanic acid and its derivatives
10. a) Primary metallurgical industries (such as production of iron and steel, aluminum, copper, zinc, lead
and ferro alloys) b) Electric Arc Furnace (Mini Steel Plants)
11. Chloro alkali industry
12. Integrated paint complex including manufacture of resins and basic raw materials required in the
manufacture of paints
13. Viscose staple fiber and filament yarn
14. Storage batteries integrated with manufacture of oxides of lead and lead antimony alloys
15. Distilleries
16. Raw skins and hides
17. Pulp paper and news print
18. Dyes
19. Cement
20. Foundries (individual)
21. Electroplating
22. Meta Amino phenol
Sector: Mining
23. Mining projects (with lease more than 5 hectares)
Sector: Thermal Power
24. Nuclear power and related projects such as heavy water plants, nuclear fuel complex, rare earths
25. Thermal power plants
Sector: River Valley and Hydroelectric
26. River valley projects including hydel power, major irrigation and their combination including flood
control
Sector: Infrastructure and Miscellaneous Infrastructure
27. Ports, Harbors, Airports (except minor ports and harbors)
28. Highway projects except projects relating to improvement work including widening and strengthening of
roads with marginal land acquisition along the existing alignments provided it does not pass through
ecologically sensitive areas such as National Parks, sanctuaries, tiger reserves reserve forests
29. Tarred road in the Himalayas and forest areas
30. Miscellaneous All tourism projects between 200m – 500m of High Water line and at location with an
elevation of more than 1000m with investment of more than Rs. 5 crores

The rational behind listing these projects is environmental damage intensity. However, depending upon
size/investment the applicability of our requirement may vary in certain cases.Similarly, certain areas are
more degraded and require specific regulation for permitting setting up of any kind of developmental
project. MoEF has brought out various notifications regulating setting up projects in these areas.
The expansion or modernization of the projects also increases the damage potential on environment. MoEF
has therefore regulated undertaking expansion and modernization projects also for above identified 30
categories of projects.
The certain category of projects reserved for Small Scale Industry where investment is less than 1 crore been
exempted from the preview of Environmental Clearance (EC).
Setting up projects in Coastal zone area has also been regulated for the protection of Coastal area
environment. Since public may be effected by a developmental project, provision of public consultation
(with few exceptions) has been made in the EC process.Ministry of Environment & Forests has grouped 30
categories of projects in five-sub group depending on the similarity of EC process work flow.These groups
are as under:
1. Industry
2. Mining
3. Thermal Power
4. River Valley and Hydro Electric
5. Infrastructure and Miscellaneous projects
The projects falling in coastal Zone regulated area out of the above requires clearance under CRZ
notification also.

Life Cycle of a Project

Screening: This phase facilitates decision-making about applicability of EC process. It provides clear
guidance to decide whether the proposed project requires environmental clearance from MoEF or not. If not,
does it require clearance from State Department (like in thermal Power plant) or to approach State Pollution
Control Board for Consent to establish.
Siting and EIA Report Preparation: This phase facilitates identifying the siting guidelines applicable to
the project so as to select the right location for the proposed project. This phase also guides about the stage
when it can start detail rapid EIA study.
Public hearing: This phase facilitates screening the applicability of public hearing for the proposed project
and what steps to follow for completion of public hearing completion. It also provides the direction of
legislated time limit applicable to pubic hearing process and NOC from Pollution Control Board.
Other Approvals, recommendations, and certifications: This phase provides direction for approvals /
recommendation essential in case utilities like power, water, raw material, handling of hazardous chemicals,
hazardous waste, explosives etc has the repercussion on environment before the EC process. These
requirements would necessitate approvals from the concerned government departments. This phase also
provide direction about the CRZ approvals requirement and its applicability.
Clearance from IAA-MoEF: This phase facilitates the steps of EC process and time limits for completion
of EC process.
Post Environmental Clearance Monitoring: This phase defines the monitoring requirement once a project
has been accorded environmental clearance.
For mining investment clause is not applicable.
 Information required at different stages of mining sector project

Environmental clearance procedure for Mining: Phase I ( Screening)

Project Type

New Project Expansion/modernization project

Major Minerals No

Increase in Mining Lease/ Annual Increase in capital

Production or both
NO Clearance Required.
Yes Apply to SPCB for Consent to establish as applicable.

Proceed for EC Phase-II NO Clearance

Required
Prospecting/Exploration Mining Lease

Site Clearance Required Yes Site Clearance Required

(MoEF) – Submit Area>500 Area>5 Yes (MoEF) – Submit
Application Ha Ha Application to MoEF for Site
to MOEF for Site Clearance
Clearance
No
No

No Clearance Required.
Proceed for Apply to SPCB for Consent to
Site Site
EC , Phase II establish as applicable.
Clearance Clearance
Granted? Granted?

Yes
No
Yes No

Site Clearance is valid for Take alternative site and

5 years subject to certain
Conditions, Proceed for
EC, Phase II
Take alternative site and Proceed for
Take clearance from MoEF
Take clearance from MoEF EC , Phase II
And Proceed for EC,
and Proceed for EC,
Phase II
Phase II
 Environmental Clearance: Phase II (Siting, EIA Report Preparation, Public hearing)
Step I
Site specific base line
data collection
Step II
EIA , EMP report preparation and
Other Approvals including
CRZ clearance as required
Step III
(Ascertain applicability of
public hearing)
No
Area <25 Ha
Yes
Public hearing not required
Obtain NOC from SPCB,
Proceed for Phase III
(Clearance from IAA-MoEF
And Post EC monitoring)
- If Diversion of Forest Land is Involved then Apply to State government for forest
Clearence.
Submit Copy of Forest Clearence to MoEF along with the EC Application.
- If area is ecologically sensitive area with Wildlife Habitat of Migration path within 7 km
then Obtain Comments /observations / recommendations of Cheif Wildlife Warden.
Submit Findings to MoEF along with the EC Application.
- If the mineral is of Radioactive nature then Apply for clearance from Atomic Energy
Division.
Submit Copy of NOC to MoEF along with EC Application
- If water is to be used from irrigation sources or abstraction of ground water then
Obtain clearance from Concerned agency (CGWA – if groundwater)
- If the Mine is already in operation then Prepare report on Health status of workers
Submit Copy of Report to MoEF along with EC Application
Prepare Mining Plan and Get Approval from IBM for Major Minerals.
Submit Copy of Approval (Mining plan, PSU-(Coal/Lignite) Project Approval Letter) to
MoEF along with EC Application
Obtain Approvals for Electricity, Water Supply and Explosives Storage (if applicable)
-Is Project falling under CRZ, if yes obtain CRZ clearance.
1. Public Hearing required
2. Submit requisite number of copies of
Executive summary.
3. Submit one copy of EIA, air and water
consent application
4. Form-1 and Form-13
5. Advertise and conduct public hearing
by SPCB .
6. Obtain details of public hearing
7. Obtain NOC from SPCB.
8. Proceed for Phase III
(Clearance from IAA-MoEF
And Post EC monitoring)
Maximum 60 Days
 Environmental Clearance: Phase III (Clearance from IAA-MoEF and Post EC monitoring)

Step I
Submission of Documents * to MoEF through state department of mining or through concerned central department/
9 scheduled Ministry. (For Central Public Sector through concerned Administrative Ministry of GOI)
if State Gov. has forwarded application at the time of Site Clearance, then no need to route again through State Govt. at
0 the time of EC
D * Rapid EIA– 20 copies, EMP, filled in questionnaire, NOC, Public Hearing details, DPR, Application Form (Schedule - II)
and Questionnaire.
A
Y
S Yes Assessment by expert committee
Step II Adequate data? (Site visit, study report if required)
Review by IAA

No Submit additional information to MoEF --> Review by IAA

3 Step III (Step II)
Recommendation to IAA (if inadequacy persists, project may lead to rejection )
0
D
A
Yes Environmental Clearance
Y Step IV Project Accepted? (valid for 5 years for commencement of construction)
S

No
Project rejected/Case closed
(reconsideration possible in certain cases)
Step V

Post Environmental Clearance Monitoring,

Pre Commissioning, Post Commissioning
SCREENING

Major activity Information to be Source of Stake

collected(depending on the information holders
project location,size and type
there can be variation in the
information needed)
To check the Capital Investment Project proponent Project
requirement of Technical Information of project Project proponent proponent
Environmental Regulations Applicable and MoEF / SPCB /
Clearance requirement under them State Department
of Environment
websites / Gazette
Notification

SITING

Major Information to be Source of Stake Remarks

activity collected(depending information holders
on the project
location,size and type
there can be variation
in the information
needed)
Obtain site Basic Project Project State For Mining and
clearance Information – includes Proponent Pollution prospecting
/ consent information about Control Board, and
to location, proposed State exploration of
establish / investment, manpower, Department of major
air and raw materials, Environment, minerals in
water products, Project areas above
consent manufacturing process, Proponent 500 Ha the
from State siting details, climate, site clearance
Pollution settlement is to be taken
Control Regulations Applicable MoEF / SPCB / Concerned from the
Board and requirement under State Government Ministry of
them Department of Authorities Environment
Environment and forest.
websites /
Gazette
Notification
(refer
Appendix 1 for
summary and
linkages)
 Emission inventory of Project
air pollution – includes Proponent
information about
melting furnaces,
boilers, process
emissions, emission
control equipment for
air pollution
Assessment of waste
water discharge –
includes information
like source of water
supply, characteristics,
water treatment
details, disposal of
waste water
Solid Waste –
information about solid
waste generation,
quantity, method of
disposal
Other type of pollution
– like noise, odour
pollution, emergency
management
Other attachments –
industrial license,
explosive license,
permission from local
body, land schedule of
the site, layout map of
proposed project, list of
pollution control
equipment, process
flow chart
Hazardous Waste –
information about solid
waste generation,
quantity, method of
disposal
Additional Remarks: Some areas have been restricted for establishing of new
thermal projects. These areas include:

-Doon Valley

- Dahanu Taluka

-Antop Hill, Bombay

-Taj Trapezium
 -Panchmari

-Panchgani Murud-Janjira in Raigadh district

EIA REPORT PREPARATION

Information to be
collected(depending on
the project location,size Source of
Major activity Stakeholders Remarks
and type there can be information
variation in the information
needed)
Preparation of General Information Project Proponent Project Proponent The EIA report
Environmental about the proposed should be based on
Impact facility three monthly
Assessment Geographical Survey of India maps, monitoring data or
Report and Information National Bureau of else as specified by
submission to (includes Latitude Soil Survey and Land MoEF.
Ministry of longitude, Use Planning, Nagpur
Environment and geographical
Forest for their characteristics,
appraisal nature of soil, etc.)
Environmental Census books, Project
settings Proponent
Current land usage
Proposed projects
area details
Area features in a
radius of 10 kms –
includes ecological,
man made features
Information about Zoological Survey of
flora and fauna in 10 India, Botanical
km radius survey of India,
Project Proponent
Information about Indian Meteorology
seismic activity Department
If mining is to be done Chief Hydrographer
in CRZ confirmation of
mineral not available
outside CRZ, also a
layout plan showing
the mining area
Major Geological Geological survey of
formation in the area India
Mine Details Project Proponent
Information about life
of mines and details
like lease period
Type and method of
mining
Details of loading,
transportation and
unloading of minerals
Details of machinery
to be used at the
mines
Surface drainage
pattern at the mine
Micro- Indian Meteorology
Meteorological Department, micro-
 Information meteorological survey
Rain fall to be carried out by
Hourly relatively the Project Proponent
humidity
Hourly Temperature
Hourly average wind
direction and speed
Solar radiation
Cloud cover
Mixing height
Air Environment Ambient air quality
monitoring to be
conducted by project
proponent
24 hourly
concentrations for
SPM, RPM, SO2, NOX,
CO, Lead
Specific air pollution
issues in the project
area
Predicted impact of
the project on air
environment
Water Environment Central / state ground
water authorities,
water sampling to be
carried out by project
proponent
Water requirement for
the project and its
components
Source of raw water
supply
Ground water
Information
Physico chemical
analysis of water to be
used in project /
township
Waste water
generation details
from the project and
its component
Predicted impact on
water quality of the
receiving body
Waste Management Waste analysis to be
carried out by project
proponent
Details of the solid
waste to be generated
Possibility of recovery
/ recycle of the waste
Details of solid waste
disposal
Details of the land fill
in case the waste is to
be disposed in a land
fill
Details of incinerator
in case the waste is to
incinerated
Noise Environment Noise monitoring to
Noise levels (Leq) at be carried out by
generating source project proponent
Ambient day-night
 noise level (Leq)
Fuel / Energy Project Proponent
Requirements
Total power
requirements
Sources of Power
Details of the fuels to
be used
Atmospheric impact Project Proponent
Flue gas
characteristics
Stack emission details
Predicted impact on
air quality
Pollution Load Project Proponent
statement (
applicable to
expansion /
modernization
plants)
Comparison of land
area, water, power,
waste water, air
emissions, hazardous
chemical storage and
solid waste details
Occupational health Project Proponent
and safety
Details of occupational
hazards/risks and
consequences levels
and control measures.
Pollution control Project Proponent
Details of pollution
control equipments
Green belt Project Proponent
Details of plantation
Construction phase Project Proponent
Details of construction
phase in regards to
people employed,
their requirements
and facilities to be
provided
Human settlement Census, socio
economic survey to be
conducted by the
project proponent
Socio economic data
for the population in
10 km radius
Predicted socio
economic impact
Rehabilitation and
resettlement plan
(wherever applicable)
Environment
Management Plan
Emergency
Preparedness and
Response plan
PUBLIC HEARING

Major Information to be Source of Stakeholders

activity collected/submitted(depending information
on the project location,size and type
there can be variation in the
information needed)
Conduct Requisite number of copies of Project State Pollution
of public Executive summary of the project in Proponent Control Board,
hearing English and local language Project Proponent,
of the EIA report (on request by concerned any person likely to
project stake holder) be affected by the
and grant Advertisement in two newspaper grant of
of NOC notifying about the public hearing environmental
from (one should be of the local clearance, any
SPCB language) association of
Filled in Form I prescribed under person not likely to
Air(prevention and control of be affected, any
pollution) Act 1983. local authority in
Filled in Form 13 prescribed under whose jurisdiction
Water(prevention and control of the project is falling,
pollution) Act NGO’s

OTHER CERTIFICATIONS , RECOMMENDATIONS AND APPROVALS

Major activity Information to be Source of Stake Remarks

collected(depending information holders
on the project
location,size and type
there can be variation
in the information
needed)
Grant of other Approval of ground Project Project The
licenses, water board / Proponent proponent concerned
approvals and irrigation department and the licenses are
recommendations / municipality for respective to be
from concerned water supply departments accrued by
departments Approval of electricity the project
connection from proponent
electricity supply as per the
board specific
Approval of chief information
controller of need of the
explosives for storage concerned
of hazardous department
substances or ministry
Forest Clearance from
state department of
 Forest
Approval from atomic
Energy Division
Mining plan approval
from Indian Bureau of
Mines / Ministry of
Coal
Observations /
recommendations of
chief wildlife warden

CLEARANCES FROM IAA- MINISTRY IF ENVT. AND FOREST

Major Information to be Source of Stakeholde Remarks

activity collected/submitted(depen informatio rs
ding on the project n
location,size and type there
can be variation in the
information needed)
Environment 20 copies of filled up Project Ministry of In case of
al clearance application form as per Proponent Environment inadequac
from Schedule II of EIA and Forest, y found by
Ministry of notificagtion dated 27th Expert the Expert
Environment January 1997. Committee, committee
and Forest 20 copies of EIA /Risk Project clarificatio
assessment report Proponent, ns to the
Filled in Questionnaire along Public / NGO same are
with enclosure/other to be
approvals. provided
1 copy of project report(RAP by project
report if required,NOC proponent
& Public Hearing Report)

POST PROJECT MONITORING

Major Information to be Source of Stake

activity collected/submitted(depending information holders
on the project location,size and
type there can be variation in the
information needed)
Monitoring of Six monthly compliance report to Project Proponent Project
the terms and be submitted to the regional Proponent,
conditions for MOEF State
environmental Pollution
safeguards as Control
stipulated by Board,
IAA Regional
 offices of
MoEF

Monitoring report/suggestions Regional MOEF Regional

and recommendations to the MOEF, MOEF
MOEF.