Executive Summary:
This notification addresses the validity of environmental clearances for mining projects granted under the EIA Notification of 1994, in light of Supreme Court judgments. It mandates that certain mining projects obtain environmental clearance under the EIA Notification of 2006. Project proponents have six months from April 6, 2018, to apply for environmental clearance.
Key Points / Main Content:
Context and Background:
* The Supreme Court directed that environmental clearances for mining projects under the EIA Notification, 1994, have a validity of five years.
* The Supreme Court reiterated the five-year validity in a later judgment.
* The EIA Notification, 2006, generally provides for environmental clearance validity for the project's estimated life, up to a maximum of 30 years.
Categories of Mining Projects Addressed:
* Mining projects with environmental clearance under the EIA Notification, 1994, AND subsequent clearance for expansion/modernization/amendment under the EIA Notification, 2006.
* Mining projects with environmental clearance under the EIA Notification, 1994, but WITHOUT subsequent clearance for expansion/modernization/amendment under the EIA Notification, 2006.
Requirements for Mining Projects:
* Projects in the first category are not affected by the five-year validity or base production infirmities.
* Projects in the second category must obtain environmental clearance under the EIA Notification, 2006.
Action Mandated:
* Project proponents of mining projects in the second category must apply for environmental clearance under the EIA Notification, 2006, within six months of the notification date (April 6, 2018).
* Applications must be submitted in Form 1 as per Appendix II of the EIA Notification, 2006.
* Expert Appraisal Committees will review applications, determine necessary due diligence (including EIA reports and public consultation), and appraise applications for environmental clearance.
Impact Analysis:
Project Proponents (Mining Companies):
* Impact: Mining companies that obtained environmental clearance under the 1994 notification, but did not obtain environmental clearance for expansion/modernization/amendment under the 2006 notification, are impacted by the requirement to apply for clearance under the 2006 notification.
* Action Required: Submit an application in Form 1 as per Appendix II of the EIA Notification, 2006, within six months of April 6, 2018, for environmental clearance.
Expert Appraisal Committees/State Level Expert Appraisal Committees:
* Impact: These committees will need to assess applications and determine the scope of due diligence.
* Action Required: Review applications, determine necessary due diligence (including EIA reports and public consultation), and appraise applications for environmental clearance.
Key Entities Referenced
EIA Notification, 1994: Environmental Impact Assessment Notification issued in 1994 by the Government of India, Ministry of Environment and Forests, concerning environmental clearances for projects.
EIA Notification, 2006: Environmental Impact Assessment Notification issued in 2006 by the Government of India, Ministry of Environment and Forests, concerning environmental clearances for projects.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The government ministry responsible for environmental and forest policies.
Supreme Court: The highest judicial body in India.
Environment Protection Act, 1986: A law enacted by the Indian Parliament to protect and improve the environment.
Environment Protection Rules, 1986: Rules established under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, providing procedures and standards for environmental protection.
New Delhi: The capital city of India, where the notification was issued.
Goa Foundation: A party in the Supreme Court case Special Leave to Appeal Civil No. 32138 of 2015
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2064/GI/18 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
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जाएगा ।
[फा.सं. एल-11011/69/2014-आईए. II (एम]
bानेश भारती, संयुI त सिचव
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 6th April, 2018
S. O. 1530(E).—Whereas, the Hon’ble Supreme Court, vide judgment dated the 2nd August, 2017 in Writ
Petition (Civil) No. 114 of 2014 in the matter of Common Cause versus Union of India and Ors., inter-alia, has directed
that the validity of the environmental clearance granted for mining projects under the notification number S.O. 60(E),
dated the 27th January, 1994 (hereinafter referred to as the EIA Notification, 1994) of the Government of India in the
erstwhile Ministry of Environment and Forests shall be five years, and for considering expansion under the EIA
Notification, 1994, the annual production of 1993-94 or immediately preceding year shall be the base year;
And whereas, the Hon’ble Supreme Court vide judgment dated the 7th February, 2018 in Special Leave to
Appeal (Civil) No. 32138 of 2015 in the matter of Goa Foundation versus M/s Sesa Sterlite Ltd., & Ors. has reiterated
that the validity of the environmental clearance for mining projects granted under the EIA Notification, 1994 shall be five
years;¹Hkkx IIµ[k.M 3(ii)º Hkkjr dk jkti=k % vlk/kj.k 3
And whereas, the Hon’ble Supreme Court in its aforesaid judgment dated the 7th February, 2018 has held that
para 9 of the notification number S.O. 1533 (E), dated the 14th September, 2006 of the Government of India in the
erstwhile Ministry of Environment and Forests (hereinafter referred to as the EIA Notification, 2006), provides that the
environmental clearance would be valid for the estimated project life subject to a maximum of 30 years;
And whereas, in the view of the above, there would be two categories of cases related to mining projects under
EIA Notification, 1994, namely: -
(a) mining projects, which were granted environmental clearance under the EIA Notification, 1994, and also
granted environmental clearance for expansion / modernisation / amendment under the EIA Notification, 2006;
and
(b) mining projects, which were granted environmental clearance under the EIA Notification, 1994, and but not
obtained environmental clearance for expansion / modernisation / amendment under the EIA Notification, 2006.
And whereas, as per third paragraph above, the projects mentioned in clause (a) of fourth paragraph above do
not suffer from the infirmity of validity of environmental clearance being five years;
And whereas, the projects mentioned in clause (a) of fourth paragraph above, do not suffer from the infirmity of
expansion vis-à-vis the base production as these projects were already appraised and granted environmental clearance
under the EIA Notification, 2006;
And whereas, all mining projects mentioned in clause (b) of fourth paragraph above are required to obtain
environmental clearance under the EIA Notification, 2006, in pursuance of the aforesaid judgments of the Hon’ble
Supreme Court;
And whereas, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change deems it necessary for implementation
of the aforesaid judgments of the Hon’ble Supreme Court as well as for the protecting and improving the quality of
environment and abating the environmental pollution, that all projects mentioned in clause (b) of fourth paragraph above,
be brought under the regulatory framework of the EIA Notification, 2006;
Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) and clause (v) of sub-section (2) of
section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986) read with sub-rule (4) of rule 5 of the Environment
(Protection) Rules, 1986, the Central Government hereby directs, after having dispensed with the requirement of notice
under clause (a) of sub-rule (3) of the rule 5 of the said rules in public interest, for implementation of the aforesaid
judgments of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, that the project proponent in all such cases involving validity of the
environmental clearance and expansion of mining projects vis-à-vis the base production, shall make application within
six months from the date of issue of this notification in Form-1 as given in Appendix-II of the EIA Notification, 2006, for
grant of environmental clearance under the provisions of the EIA Notification, 2006, and all such applications shall be
considered by the concerned Expert Appraisal Committee or the State Level Expert Appraisal Committee, as the case
may be, who shall decide on the due diligence necessary including preparation of Environmental Impact Assessment
Report and public consultation and the application shall be appraised accordingly for grant of environmental clearance.
[F.No. L-11011/69/2014-IA.II(M)]
GYANESH BHARTI, Jt. Secy.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.