14 Environment Clearance Process in India

Sunil Mittal

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  1.   Introduction
  2. Stake holders/ authorities are involved in the Environment Clearance process
  3. Process of Environmental Clearance/Appraisal
  4. Stages in the Prior Environmental Clearance (EC) Process for Category ‘A’ Projects
  5. Form 1
  6. Appendix III
  7. Appendix IIIA
  8. Appendix IV
  9. Appendix V
  10. Appendix VI

 

1.   Introduction

 

As discussed in the previous modules, the process of EIA formally started in India with EIA Notification 1994 which continued in force till 2006. In year 2006, new notification 2006 was notified and immediately came into force for the new projects. For the already existing projects, the previous notification continued for next 24 months. The process of environment clearance in India has come a long way since 1994. The current process is more streamlined, objective oriented and time bound. Efforts have been made by the Govt. to make it more hassle free still sticking to its primary objective of protecting environment from industrial activities by making many amendments during all these years. Initially all the process was manual and used to take years in the grant of environmental clearance. But now the process has been made online and time bound. A separate website (www.environmentclearance.nic.in) has been launched by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India for online submission & monitoring of environmental & costal reserve zone (CRZ) clearances mandating online submission of applications for Terms of Reference (TOR) and Environmental Clearance from 4th July 2014 in the Ministry and 2nd July 2015 in the SEIAA, with a view to bring more transparency in the system and expediting the decision making.

 

2. Stake holders/ authorities are involved in the Environment Clearance process

 

The following stake holders/ authorities are involved in the Environment Clearance process:

 

Project Proponent: Project Proponent or Project initiator is an individual, group or organization that submits or proposes some project for new establishment or extension of existing project. The owner of the organization or person designated for the purpose or project team leader etc. as the case may be plays key roles that determine the concept and content of a project. The role of the project proponent is to prepare detailed project description and present it to stakeholders.

 

Environmental consultant: An environmental consultant is an individual or organization who provides intellect on a range of environmental issues, offering expert advisory and assessment services to project proponents to ensure that possible damaging effects of the proposed project are managed or eliminated. The environmental consultant is supposed to be aware of all govt. rules and regulations regarding environmental issues. As per new rules under EIA notification, the environmental consultants should be accredited by Quality Council of India. Environmental consultants cover a range of disciplines such as:

  • water and soil Pollution
  • Air and Noise Pollution
  • Renewable energy
  • Waste management and recycling

 

Environmental consultant is the most important part of EIA process and is responsible for following:

 

Ø   To Look the prefeasibility and suitability of the project

 

Ø  To Find the category of the project as per schedule and determine whether the project requires environmental clearance or not. If the project requires the environmental clearance, then apply for same.

 

Ø  To screen and scope the project as per guidelines of the govt.

 

Ø  To develop conceptual plans to identify and consideration of potential environmental contaminants.

 

Ø  Presentation of the scoping of project to the relevant statutory committees.

 

Ø  To conduct field surveys and collecting primary/baseline data about soil, water, air or noise at and around proposed project site.

 

Ø  To undertake field work to identify socio economic and other environmental impacts of the proposed project including impacts on native biodiversity, change of land use pattern etc.

 

Ø  To interpret the collected data in terms of existing pollution levels at site, socioeconomic, demographic impacts etc.

 

Ø  To determine the increase in pollution load due to proposed project/activity at or around the environment of proposed project/activity.

 

Ø  To prepare and advise the proponent about the environment management plan during different stages of the project.

 

Ø  To complete all documentation in respect of various clearances required from other related departments.

 

Ø  To prepare mitigation plans of various environmental pollutants which may arise due to the proposed activity.

 

Ø  To advise the proponent about the legislative issues or legislation impacts on the proposed projects.

 

Statutory bodies and Regulatory/Processing authority: Environment clearance committees are established by the legislature of Government of India in order to assist the government on Environmental clearance issues. As per EIA notification 2006 and subsequent amendments there are 3 level statutory bodies i.e. centre level, state level and district level, responsible for the EIA clearance. The member secretaries of the committees which are registered at the online portal generally act as processing authority. They are generally senior members of pollution control board or Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

 

3. Process of Environmental Clearance/Appraisal

 

The EIA process in India proceeds through following steps.

 

Determination of project Category: The first step of the EIA is to screen the project to determine in which category of the schedule the project lays because the further steps and rules will depend on the category of the project. The project proponent with the help of environmental consultant work to determine the category in which the project falls. For this, Schedule available in the EIA notification 2006 and its amendments is referred. The schedule has 2 main categories:

 

Category A: It is dealt at Centre level. All the projects require EIA report for appraisal and also have to undergo public consultation process.

 

Category B: The category ‘B’ is further divided into category ‘B1’ and ‘B2’except township and area development projects category 8a of schedule.

 

Category B1: It is dealt at State level. The projects categorized as B1 require EIA report for appraisal and also have to undergo public consultation process. All Category ‘B’ projects/activities listed under the Schedule of EIA Notification, 2006 and its amendments shall be considered as Category ‘B1’ projects and appraised as per the procedure prescribed in the EIA Notification except specifically mentioned in category ‘B2”.

 

Category B2: it is dealt at state level or District level depending on sub-category. The projects categorized as ‘B2’ are to be appraised based on the application accompanied with pre-feasibility report and other relevant documents at state level except the projects of mining of minor minerals at district level.

 

Hence in nut shell the Environmental clearance/appraisal has different rules and routes for category A, B1 and B2 projects. Hence the process of Environmental clearance/appraisal has been discussed accordingly. The present module will discuss the step by step process for Category ‘A’ projects.

 

4.  Stages in the Prior Environmental Clearance (EC) Process for Category ‘A’ Projects:-

 

The category A projects of schedule as per EIA Notification 2006 and amendments there off has to pass mainly through the following 3 steps:

 

Scoping

Public Consultation

Appraisal

 

The stage I Screening of EIA Notification 2006 is not applicable for the category A projects.

 

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in consultation with Central Pollution Control Board has reclassified the industries into “red”, “orange”, “green” and “white” based on the score of pollution load (index). For the new category of “white” industry, which is practically non-polluting will not require Environmental Clearance and Consent.

 

4.1 Scoping: Scoping” refers to the process to determine detailed and comprehensive Terms of Reference (TOR) addressing all relevant environmental concerns for the preparation of an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Report in respect of the project or activity for which prior environmental clearance is sought.

 

Step-1: Online Application for Prior Environmental Clearance: if project lays in the category ‘A’ of the schedule, online application is filled for the prior environmental clearance and getting Term of Reference (TOR) by project proponent with help of Environmental consultant. The online application can be applied at www.environmentclearance.nic.in. The following documents are uploaded along with the online application generally by environmental consultant on behalf of project proponent/developer.

 

Ø   Cover letter dully stamped and signed by the project proponent/developer

Ø   Form –I (Appendix A)

Ø   Prefeasibility report

Ø   Environmental Management plan

Ø   Proof of ownership of land

Ø   Approved layout plan along with relevant annexure

Ø   Topographic sheet

If the processing authority finds the application in order as per the checklist, the application is further processed for consideration of the respective Expert Appraisal Committee. The composition of committee and the eligibility conditions for the members of EAC are attached as Appendix VI. Otherwise, the proponent is asked for the remaining/missing documents and additional information. For the projects of category ‘A’, there are many sector specific committees. Currently (March 2018), there are following committees for category ‘A’ Projects.

  • Coal Mining
  • Industrial Projects – 1
  • Industrial Projects – 2
  • Infrastructure and Miscellaneous Projects + CRZ
  • Non-Coal Mining
  • River valley and Hydroelectric Projects
  • Thermal Projects

Step-3: Consideration of application by EAC:

 

The application is placed before the EAC by the processing authority to the relevant committee. The committee scrutinizes the application and the documents thereof. The Environmental consultant and the project proponent appear before the committee for presentation of the proposed project/activity. The committee if satisfied issues the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the further EIA study. The TORs address sector specific issues relating to environmental impact assessment studies. While maintaining a common format for EIA Report preparation for all sectors, provision has been made to address issues unique or specific to each sector wherever applicable. The common format or generic structure essentially comprises of 11 sections which ultimately become 11 chapters in the Manual. i Objectives, ii General Information, I Introduction, II Project Description, III Analysis of Alternatives, IV Description of Environment [Land Air, Water, Noise], V Anticipated Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures, VI Environmental Monitoring Program, VII Additional Studies, VIII Project Benefits, IX Environmental Management Plan, X Summary and Conclusions, and XI Disclosure of consultants. Terms of Reference (TOR) for all the sectors prepared by the experts were presented to the members of the Core and Peer committees. The peer and core committee members and invitees from MOEF have reviewed these documents. Standard TOR for the following secors are available on the website www.environmentclearence.nic.in.

 

Ø  Terms of reference for environmental impact assessment of PORTS AND HARBORS

Ø  Terms of reference for environmental impact assessment of AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT / EXPANSION / MODERNISATION

Ø  Terms of reference for environmental impact assessment of HIGHWAY PROJECTS

Ø  Terms of reference for environmental impact assessment of BUILDING CONSTRUCTION, TOWNSHIP AND AREA DEVELOPMENT

Ø  Terms of reference for environmental impact assessment of MINING OF MINERALS

Ø  Terms of reference for environmental impact assessment of MINERAL BENEFICATION

Ø  Terms of reference for environmental impact assessment of COAL WASHERIES

Ø  Terms  of  reference  for  environmental  impact  assessment  of  ASBESTOS BASED INDUSTRIES

 

The different sectors are divided as following groups of project activities.

Project activities: Group I Project Activities: Group II
• Highways •  Nuclear  Fuel  Processing  and  Power Generation.
• Ports & Harbours • Mining & Minerals
• Airports • Asbestos Based Products
• Arial Passenger Ropeways • Coal Washaries
• Building & Construction Projects and Townships   and   Area   Development Projects • Mineral Beneficiation

The EAC may add new terms in addition to standard TOR, if so required for the EIA study.

 

4.2 Public Consultation: Public Consultation” refers to the process by which the concerns of local affected persons and others who have plausible stake in the environmental impacts of the project or activity are ascertained with a view to taking into account all the material concerns in the project or activity design as appropriate. All Category ‘A’ and Category B1 projects or activities shall undertake Public Consultation, except as specified in the para 7(i)-III(i) of EIA notification 2006 and its amendments.

 

Step – 4 Preparation of EIA report and Public consultations: After issue of the TOR, project proponent gets the permission to conduct EIA. EIA is carried in detail as per the TOR and additional terms if any. The generic structure of Environmental Impact Assessment document is as described in APPENDIX III of EIA notification 2006. Further the contents of summary of the EIA report is described in APPENDIX

 

III     A. The  EIA  report  so  prepared  is  placed  on  the  website  of  proponent.  The regulatory authority may make the report available on a written request from any concerned person for inspection at a notified place during normal office hours till the date of the public hearing. Public hearing is conducted as per procedure prescribed in APPENDIX IV of the EIA notification 2006.

 

All the responses received as part of this public consultation process are forwarded to the applicant. After completion of the public consultation, the applicant shall address all the material environmental concerns expressed during this process, and make appropriate changes in the draft EIA and EMP. The final EIA report, so prepared, shall be submitted by the applicant to the concerned regulatory authority for appraisal. The applicant may alternatively submit a supplementary report to draft EIA and EMP addressing all the concerns expressed during the public consultation.

 

4.3  Appraisal – Step – 5:

 

Appraisal means the detailed scrutiny of the application and other documents icluding the Final EIA report, public consultations report etc. by the Expert Appraisal Committee. The proponent or authorized representative is generally called for the detailed presentation. The EAC may ask the prponnt for furnishing necessary clarifications in person or through an authorized representative. This Expert Appraisal Committee gives its recommendations to the regulatory authority concerned either for grant of prior environmental clearance on stipulated terms and conditions, or rejection of the application for prior environmental clearance, together with reasons for the same.

 

The appraisal of an application is completed by the Expert Appraisal Committee concerned within sixty days of the receipt of the final Environment Impact Assessment report and other documents.

(II) Activity

  1. Construction, operation or decommissioning of the Project involving actions, which will cause physical changes in the locality (topography, land use, changes in water bodies, etc.)
  1. Use of Natural resources for construction or operation of the Project (such as land, water, materials or energy, especially any resources which are non-renewable or in short supply):
  1. Factors which should be considered (such as consequential development) which could lead to environmental effects or the potential for cumulative impacts with other existing or planned activities in the locality.

(IV) Proposed Terms of Reference for EIA studies

 

I hereby given undertaking that the data and information given in the application and enclosures are true to the best of my knowledge and belief and I am aware that if any part of the data and information submitted is found to be false or misleading at any stage, the project will be rejected and clearance given, if any to the project will be revoked at our risk and cost.

 

Place:                                                   Date:

Signature of the applicant

With name and full address

(Project Proponent / Authorized Signatory)

 

NOTE:

 

1.   The project involving clearances under Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 1991 shall submit with the application a CRZ map duly demarcated by one of the authorized agencies, showing the project activities, w.r.t. C.R.Z (at the stage of ToR) and the recommendations of the State Coastal Zone Management Authority (at the stage of EC). Simultaneous action shall also be taken to obtain the requisite clearance under the provisions of the C.R.Z. Notification, 1991 for the activities to be located in the CRZ.

 

2.    The project to be located within 10 km of the National Parks, Sanctuaries, Biosphere Reserves, Migratory Corridors of Wild Animals, the project proponent shall submit the map duly authenticated by Chief Wildlife Warden showing these features vis-à-vis the project location and the recommendation or comments of the Chief Wildlife Warden thereon (at the stage of EC).

 

3.   All correspondence with the Ministry of Environment & Forests including submission of application for TOR / Environmental Clearance, subsequent clarification, as may be required from time to time, participation in the EAC Meeting on behalf of the project proponent shall be made by the authorized signatory only. The authorized signatory should also submit a document in support of his claim of being anauthorized signatory for the specific project.

APPENDIX III A

CONTENTS OF SUMMARY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

 

The Summary EIA shall be a summary of the full EIA Report condensed to ten A-4 size pages at the maximum. It should necessarily cover in brief the following Chapters of the full EIA Report:

 

1.  Project Description

2.  Description of the Environment

3.   Anticipated Environmental impacts and mitigation measures

4.   Environmental Monitoring Programme

5.   Additional Studies

6.   Project Benefits

7.    Environment Management Plan

 

APPENDIX IV

 

PROCEDURE FOR CONDUCT OF PUBLIC HEARING

 

1.0 The Public Hearing shall be arranged in a systematic, time bound and transparent manner ensuring widest possible public participation at the project site(s) or in its close proximity District -wise, by the concerned State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) or the Union Territory Pollution Control Committee (UTPCC).

 

2.0 The Process:

 

2.1 The Applicant shall make a request through a simple letter to the Member Secretary of the SPCB or Union Territory Pollution Control Committee, in whose jurisdiction the project is located, to arrange the public hearing within the prescribed statutory period. In case the project site is covering more than one District, State or Union Territory in which the project is located and the applicant shall make separate requests to each concerned SPCB or UTPCC for holding the public hearing as per this procedure.

 

2.2 The Applicant shall enclose with the letter of request, at least 10 hard copies and an equivalent number of soft (electronic) copies of the draft EIA Report with the generic structure given in Appendix III including the Summary Environment Impact Assessment report in English and in the official language of the state / local language, prepared strictly in accordance with the Terms of Reference communicated after Scoping (Stage-2). Simultaneously the applicant shall arrange to forward copies, one hard and one soft, of the above draft EIA Report along with the Summary EIA to the following authorities or offices, within whose jurisdiction the project will be located:

 

(a)          District Magistrate / District Collector / Deputy Commissioner/s

(b)          Zila Parishad or Municipal Corporation or Panchayats Union

(c)          District Industries Office

(d)         Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) / PRIs concerned / Development Authorities

(e)          Concerned Regional Office of the Ministry of Environment and Forests

 

2.3 On receiving the draft Environmental Impact Assessment report, the above-mentioned authorities except the MoEF, shall arrange to widely publicize it within their respective jurisdictions requesting the interested persons to send their comments to the concerned regulatory authorities. They shall also make available the draft EIA Report for inspection electronically or otherwise to the public during normal office hours till the Public Hearing is over.

 

2.4 The SPCB or UTPCC concerned shall also make similar arrangements forgiving publicity about the project within the State/Union Territory and make available the Summary of the draft Environmental Impact Assessment report (Appendix III A) for inspection in select offices or public libraries or any other suitable locations etc. They shall also additionally make available a copy of the draft Environmental Impact Assessment report to the above five authorities/offices as given in para 2.2.

 

3.0 Notice of Public Hearing:

 

3.1 The Member-Secretary of the concerned SPCB or UTPCC shall finalize the date, time and exact venue for the conduct of public hearing within 7(seven) days of the date of receipt of the draft Environmental Impact Assessment report from the project proponent, and advertise the same in one major National Daily and one Regional vernacular Daily / Official State Language. A minimum notice period of 30 (thirty) days shall be provided to the public for furnishing their responses;

 

3.2 The advertisement shall also inform the public about the places or offices where the public could access the draft Environmental Impact Assessment report and the Summary Environmental Impact Assessment report before the public hearing. In places where the newspapers do not reach, the Competent Authority should arrange to inform the local public about the public hearing by other means such as by way of beating of drums as well as advertisement / announcement on radio / television.

 

3.3 No postponement of the date, time, venue of the public hearing shall be undertaken, unless some untoward emergency situation occurs and then only on the recommendation of the concerned District Magistrate / District Collector / Deputy Commissioner, the postponement shall be notified to the public through the same National and Regional vernacular dailies and also prominently displayed at all the identified offices by the concerned SPCB or Union Territory Pollution Control Committee;

 

3.4 In the above exceptional circumstances fresh date, time and venue for the public consultation shall be decided by the Member –Secretary of the concerned SPCB or UTPCC only in consultation with the District Magistrate / District Collector / Deputy Commissioner, and notified afresh as per procedure under 3.1 above.

 

4.0 Supervision and Presiding over the Hearing:

 

4.1 The District Magistrate / District Collector / Deputy Commissioner or his or her representative not below the rank of an Additional District Magistrate assisted by a representative of SPCB or UTPCC, shall supervise and preside over the entire public hearing process.

5.0 Videography

 

5.1 The SPCB or UTPCC shall arrange to video film the entire proceedings. A copy of the videotape or a CD shall be enclosed with the public hearing proceedings while forwarding it to the Regulatory Authority concerned.

 

6.0 Proceedings

 

6.1 The attendance of all those who are present at the venue shall be noted and annexed with the final proceedings.

 

6.2 There shall be no quorum required for attendance for starting the proceedings.

 

6.3 A representative of the applicant shall initiate the proceedings with a presentation on the project and the Summary EIA report.

 

6.4 Person present at the venue shall be granted the opportunity to seek information or clarifications on the project from the applicant. The summary of the public hearing proceedings accurately reflecting all the views and concerns expressed shall be recorded by the representative of the SPCB or UTPCC and read over to the audience at the end of the proceedings explaining the contents in the local / vernacular language and the agreed minutes shall be signed by the District Magistrate / District Collector / Deputy Commissioner or his or her representative on the same day and forwarded to the SPCB/UTPCC concerned.

 

6.5 A Statement of the issues raised by the public and the comments of the Applicant shall also be prepared in the local language or the Official State Language, as the case may be, and in English and annexed to the proceedings.

 

6.6 The proceedings of the public hearing shall be conspicuously displayed at the office of the Panchyats within whose jurisdiction the project is located, office of the concerned Zila Parishad, District Magistrate / District Collector / Deputy Commissioner, and the SPCB or UTPCC. The SPCB or UTPCC shall also display the proceedings on its website for general information. Comments, if any, on the proceedings which may be sent directly to the concerned regulatory authorities and the applicant concerned.

 

7.0 Time period for completion of public hearing

 

7.1 The public hearing shall be completed within a period of 45 (forty five) days from date of receipt of the request letter from the Applicant. Therefore the SPCB or UTPCC concerned shall sent the public hearing proceedings to the concerned regulatory authority within 8 (eight) days of the completion of the public hearing. Simultaneously, a copy will also be provided to the project proponent. The applicant may also directly forward a copy of the approved public hearing proceedings to the regulatory authority concerned along with the final Environmental Impact Assessment report or supplementary report to the draft EIA report prepared after the public hearing and public consultations incorporating the concerns expressed in the public hearing along with action plan and financial allocation, item wise, to address these concerns.

 

7.2 If the SPCB or UTPCC fails to hold the public hearing within the stipulated 45 (forty five) days, the Central Government in Ministry of Environment and Forests for Category ‘A’ project or activity and the State Government or Union Territory Administration for Category ‘B’ project or activity at the request of the SEIAA, shall engage any other agency or authority to complete the process, as per procedure laid down in this Notification.

 

APPENDIX –V

 

PROCEDURE PRESCRIBED FOR APPRAISAL

 

1.     The applicant shall apply to the concerned regulatory authority through a simple communication enclosing the following documents where public consultations are mandatory: –

 

•           Final Environment Impact Assessment Report [20 (twenty) hard copies and 1 (one) soft copy)]

•           A copy of the video tape or CD of the public hearing proceedings

•           A copy of final layout plan (20 copies)

•           A copy of the project feasibility report (1 copy)

 

2.   The Final EIA Report and the other relevant documents submitted by the applicant shall be scrutinized in office within 30 days from the date of its receipt by the concerned Regulatory Authority strictly with reference to the TOR and the inadequacies noted shall be communicated electronically or otherwise in a single set to the Members of the EAC /SEAC enclosing a copy each of the Final EIA Report including the public hearing proceedings and other public responses received along with a copy of Form-1or Form-1A and scheduled date of the EAC /SEAC meeting for considering the proposal.

 

3.   Where a public consultation is not mandatory, the appraisal shall be made on the basis of the prescribed application Form 1 and EIA report, in the case of all projects and activities other than Item 8 of the Schedule. In the case of Item 8 of the Schedule, considering its unique project cycle, the EAC or SEAC concerned shall appraise all Category B projects or activities on the basis of Form 1, Form 1A and the conceptual plan and make recommendations on the project regarding grant of Environmental Clearance or otherwise and also stipulate the conditions for environmental clearance.

 

4.    Every application shall be placed before the EAC /SEAC and its appraisal completed within 60 days of its receipt with requisite documents / details in the prescribed manner.

 

5.   The applicant shall be informed at least 15 (fifteen) days prior to the scheduled date of the EAC /SEAC meeting for considering the project proposal.

 

6. The minutes of the EAC /SEAC meeting shall be finalised within 5 working days of the meeting and displayed on the website of the concerned regulatory authority. In case the project or activity is recommended for grant of EC, then the minutes shall clearly list out the specific environmental safeguards and conditions. In case the recommendations are for rejection, the reasons for the same shall also be explicitly stated.

APPENDIX VI

 

COMPOSITION OF THE SECTOR/ PROJECT SPECIFIC EXPERT APPRAISAL COMMITTEE  (EAC)  FOR  CATEGORY  A  PROJECTS  AND  THE  STATE/UT LEVEL  EXPERT  APPRAISAL  COMMITTEES  (SEACs)   FOR   CATEGORY   B PROJECTS TO BE CONSTITUTED BY THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT `

 

1.    The Expert Appraisal Committees (EACs) and the State/UT Level Expert Appraisal Committees (SEACs) shall consist of only professionals and experts fulfilling the following eligibility criteria:

 

Professional: The person should have at least (i) 5 years of formal University training in the concerned discipline leading to a MA/MSc Degree, or (ii) in case of Engineering /Technology/Architecture disciplines, 4 years formal training in a professional training course together with prescribed practical training in the field leading to a B. Tech/B.E./B.Arch. Degree, or (iii) Other professional degree (e.g. Law) involving a total of 5 years of formal University training and prescribed practical training, or (iv) Prescribed apprenticeship/article ship and pass examinations conducted by the concerned professional association (e.g. Chartered Accountancy), or (v) a University degree , followed by 2 years of formal training in a University or Service Academy (e.g. MBA/IAS/IFS). In selecting the individual professionals, experience gained by them in their respective fields will be taken note of.

 

Expert: A professional fulfilling the above eligibility criteria with at least 15 years of relevant experience in the field, or with an advanced degree (e.g. Ph.D.) in a concerned field and at least 10 years of relevant experience.

 

Below 70 years. However, in the event of the non-availability of /paucity of experts in a Age: given field, the maximum age of a member of the Expert Appraisal Committee may be allowed up to 75 years

 

2. The Members of the EAC shall be Experts with the requisite expertise and experience in the following fields /disciplines. In the event that persons fulfilling the criteria of

 

“Experts” are not available, Professionals in the same field with sufficient experience may be considered:

  • Environment Quality: Experts in measurement, monitoring, analysis and interpretation of data in relation to environmental quality
  • Sectoral Project Management: Experts in Project Management or Management of Process or Operations or Facilities in the relevant sectors.
  • Environmental Impact Assessment Process: Experts in conducting and carrying out Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and preparation of Environmental Management Plans (EMPs) and other Management plans and who have wide expertise and knowledge of predictive techniques and tools used in the EIA process
  • Risk Assessment
  • Life Science (Floral and Faunal management)
  • Forestry and Wildlife Expert
  • Environmental Economics with experience in project appraisal
  • Public Administration or Management covering various developmental sectors and environmental issues.
  1. The Membership of the EAC shall not exceed 15 (fifteen) regular Members. However the Chairperson may co-opt an expert as a Member in a relevant field for a particular meeting of the Committee.
  2. The Chairperson shall be an eminent person having experience in environmental policy related issues, in management or in public administration dealing with various developmental sectors.
  3. The Chairperson shall nominate one of the Members as the Vice Chairperson who shall preside over the EAC in the absence of the Chairman /Chairperson.
  4. A representative of the Ministry of Environment and Forests shall assist the Committee as its Secretary.
  5. The maximum tenure of a Member, including Chairperson, shall be for 2 (two) terms of 3 (three) years each.
  6. The Chairman / Members may not be removed prior to expiry of the tenure without cause and proper enquiry.
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