Environmental acts

1. ENVIRONMENTAL
LEGISLATIONS/ACTS

2. Legislative Background
 Specific provisions on Environmental
Protection in Indian Constitution
 Directive Principles of State Policy,
Fundamental Duties explicitly enunciate the
National Commitment to protect and
improve the Environment
 Ruling of Court - Environment is
Fundamental right of life

3. Major Environmental Acts/Rules/Notification
 The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974/1988
 The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977/
1992/2003
 The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981/1987
 The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986/1991
 The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991/1992
 Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 1989
 The Bio - Medical Waste (Management, Handling and
Transboundry Movement) Rules 2009
 The Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules
2000
 The Batteries (Management and Handling) Rules 2001
 The Noise Pollution (Regulation & Control) Rules, 2000
 Environmental Statement Notification, 1993
 Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 2006

4. The Water Act
 An Act to provide for the prevention and control of
water pollution and the maintaining or restoring of
wholesomeness of water, for the establishment, with
a view of carrying out the purpose aforesaid, of
Boards for the prevention and control of water
pollution, for conferring on and assigning to such
Boards powers and functions related thereto and for
matters connected therewith.
 Prevention and Control of Water Pollution
 Maintaining or restoring of wholesomeness of water
 Formulation of Pollution Control Boards

5. Salient Features of Water Act
 Vests regulatory authority to Pollution Control Boards
(PCB) to establish and enforce effluent standards
 PCB control sewage/effluent discharge by consent to
discharge
 PCB advise and assist for selection of appropriate
sites for industrial activities
 Acts give guidelines for formulation, operation and
other duties/powers of the PCB
 The 1988 Amendment strengthened the Act’s
implementation provisions and added the Provisions on
Citizen’s Suit

6. The Water Cess Act
 An Act to provide for the levy and collection of a
cess on water consumed by persons carrying on
certain industries and by local authorities, with a
view to augment the resources of the Central
Board and the State Boards for the prevention and
control of water pollution constituted under the
Water Act, 1974.
 To collect Cess on Water Consumption
 To meet the expense of Central and State Boards
 These revenues are used to implement the Water Act

7. The Air Act
 An Act to provide for the prevention, control and abatement of
air pollution, for the establishment, with a view to carry out
the aforesaid purposes, of Boards, for conferring on and
assigning to such Boards powers and functions relating
thereto and for matters connected therewith.
 Similar Framework as of Water Act
 Act expand the authority of Boards to include Air Pollution
 All industries causing Air Pollution must take consent
 Formulate Standards for Emission from Industries,
Automobiles and Ambient Air Quality
 Air Amendment Act, 1987 introduced stiffer penalties and
introduced citizen’s Suit provision and added Noise Pollution

8. Environment Act
 An Act to provide for the protection and improvement of
environment and for matters connected therewith.
 In wake of Bhopal tragedy, the Government of India
enacted the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986
under Article 253 of the Constitution.
 To implement various International conventions on
Environment
 Act to cover Protection and improvement of the human
environment
 Prevention of hazards to human beings, other living
creatures, plant and property.

9. Environment Act
 Umbrella legislation designated to provide a
framework for Central Government co-ordination
of the activities of various Central and State
authorities established under Water, Air Act.
 Covering broad scope to include water, air and land
and the inter-relationships with other living
creatures, plants, micro-organisms and property.
 Defines broadly the scope of Environmental
Pollution and Hazardous substances.

10. Environment Act
 Act empowers the Centre to take all such measures
deem necessary or expedient for the purpose of
protecting and improving the quality of the environment.
 Authorises Central Government to set new National
standards for Ambient Air Quality, Emissions, Effluent
Discharge
 Regulate industrial locations
 Prescribe procedures for managing hazardous
substances
 Establishing safeguards for preventing accidents
 To collect and disseminate information on
environmental pollution

11. The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991
 An Act to provide for public liability insurance for the purpose of
providing immediate relief to the persons affected by accidental
occurring while handling any hazardous substances and for matters
connected therewith or incidental thereto.
 Liability to give relief in certain cases on principle of no fault.
 Liability of owner to takeout insurance policies.
 Verification and publication of accident by District Administration.
 Establishment of Environment relief fund.
 Provisions as to other right to claim compensation for death etc.
 Power of entry, search and inspection.
 Power to make application to courts for restraining owners from
handling hazardous substances.

12. Hazardous Wastes Rules
 Applicable to industries generating, handling, storing
hazardous waste as per schedule
 Practical steps needed for hazardous wastes treatment,
storage and disposal
 Hazardous wastes to be collected, treated, stored and
disposed off only on authorised places
 Authorisation for above to be issued by SPCB
 Hazardous waste to be packed and transported in
sufficiently safe conditions
 State government or a person authorised shall undertake a
continuing programme to identify the sites and publish
periodically an inventory of disposal sites within the state for
disposal of Hazardous wastes.

13. Environmental Statement Notification
 As per Environmental Statement Notification, Every
industry is required to submit Environmental Statement
for the Financial Year ending 31st March before 30th
September.
 Environmental Statement enables industry to take
comprehensive look on :
 Industrial Process and facilities
 Material Balance
 Areas for Waste reduction
 Savings
 Environmental Status

14. Contents of Environmental Statement
 Site plan & process flow diagram
 Material balance, Process inputs and outputs
 Wastes considered to be hazardous or for which regulations
exist
 Wastes for which disposal costs are high
 Listing of unit operations
 Recording of water usage
 Current levels of waste re-use/recycling
 Accounting for waste water (effluent discharge point, waste
water generated from each unit operation)
 Characteristics of waste water
 Accounting for gaseous emissions

15. Contents of Environmental Statement
 Accounting for off-site wastes
 Waste reduction measures, including areas of priority-activities
which looked promising from the view point of prevention i.e. good
house keeping, technological change, use of alternative raw
materials
 Targeting and Characterising problem wastes
 Development of long term waste reduction options including
energy impact, water conservation and substitution of chemicals
 Environmental and economic evaluation of waste reduction
options, including cost benefit analysis of preventive options
 Recommendations for developing and implementing and action
plan for reduction of waste and increase of production efficiency
and sequence of steps toward waste prevention options

16. EIA Notification, 2006
To formulate a transparent, decentralised and
efficient regulatory mechanism to :
 Incorporate necessary environmental
safeguards at planning stage
 Involve stakeholders in the public
consultation process
 Identify developmental projects based on
impact potential instead of the investment
criteria

17. Stages in Environmental Clearance Process
Stage I : Screening
Screening refers scrutiny of category ‘B’ projects seeking prior environmental
clearance made in Form-1 by the concerned State Level Expert Appraisal
Committee for determining whether or not the project requires further
environmental studies for preparation of EIA for its appraisal depending upon
the nature and location specificity of the project.
Stage II : Scoping
Scoping refers to the process by which the EAC in the case of Category ‘A’
projects or activities, and SEAC in the case of Category ‘B1’ projects or
activities determine detailed and comprehensive TORs addressing all the
relevant environmental concerns for the preparation of EIA report.

18. Stages in Environmental Clearance Process
Stage III : 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.
Stage IV : Appraisal
Appraisal means the detailed scrutiny by the Expert Appraisal Committee or
State Level Expert Appraisal Committee of the application and other
documents submitted by the applicant for grant of environmental clearance.

19. Flowchart for Revised EC Process for all Cat-A projects (GoI Level)
START
Time-line
45 days
by SPCB
60 days
45 days
Recommended by EC?
Decision by MEF
END
No
END
No
Yes
Has decision been made by
MoEF within 30 days?
END
60 days
Checklist information as part of pre-feasibility report by PP
Technical Review by MoEF
Specifications of TORs for EIA by Expert Committee
Draft EIA/EMP preparation by PP
Review by MoEF as per ToR Communicate
inadequacies (if any)
Appraisal by Independent Expert Committee
PH by SPCB
Reject EIA/ EMP
Technical Review by MoEF
Issue / Reject EC in terms of
Expert Committee recommendation
Yes
Total = 210 days
(with certainty)
Project proponent
MoEF
EAC
SPCB
(EC meets at least once
every month on a fixed date)
(EC meets at least once every
month on a fixed date)

20. Revised Environmental Appraisal for Category “B”
projects (State level) – Building Projects
Start
Checklist and conceptual plan by PP
Technical review by SEIAA
Appraisal by SEAC
End Recommended?
Issue of in-principle EC / EMP by SEIAA
Preparation of Building Plans
with EMP by PP
Confirmation of the revised plan by SEAC
End
Yes
No
Part opfr nepoarmraatli oPnroject
Part opfr nepoarmraatli oPnroject
30 days
SEAC meets at least
once a month on a fixed
date
Total = 90 days
(with certainty)
60 days
SEAC meets at least
once a month on a
fixed date

21. Category ‘A’
 Offshore & onshore oil & gas exploration and production
 Nuclear power projects and processing of nuclear fuel
 Petroleum refining industry
 Asbestos milling and asbestos based products
 Soda ash industry
 Chemical fertilizers
 Pesticide and pesticide specific intermediates (excluding
formulations) – All units producing technical grade pesicides
 Petrochemical complexes (industries based on processing of
petroleum fractions & natural gas and/or reforming to aromatics

22. Category ‘A’
 Oil & gas transportation pipeline (crude and refinery/ petrochemical
products), passing through national parks/sanctuaries/coral
reefs/ecologically sensitive areas including LNG terminal
 Airports
 All ship breaking yards including ship breaking units
 Asbestos mining
 Primary metallurgical industry
 All molasses based distilleries
 Pulp manufacturing and pulp & paper
 New national highways

23. Category ‘A’
 Integrated paint industry
 Induction/arc furnaces/cupola furnaces 5TPH or more
 Isolated storage & handling hazardous chemicals (as per threshold
planning quantity indicated in column 3 of Schedule 2 & 3 of MSIHC
Rules 1989 amended 2000)
 Aerial ropeways
 Common effluent treatment plants (CETPs)
 Common municipal solid waste management facility (CMSWMF)
 Building and construction projects
 Township and area development projects
 Paper manufacturing (non-pulp manufacturing)
 New state highways

24. EP ACT 1986 – Emission Standards
 Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has developed
National Standards for Emission under the statutory
powers of the Air ( Prevention and Control of Pollution)
Act, 1981.
 These standards have been approved and notified by
the Government of India, Ministry of Environment &
Forests, under Section 25 of the Environmental
(Protection) Act, 1986.
 Emission Standards for different categories of
industries have been evolved.

25. Important Standards
 National Ambient Air Quality Standards
 The Environmental (Protection) Rules, 1986
 SCHEDULE III : Ambient Air Quality Standards
in respect of Noise
 SCEDULE VI : Part - A - Effluent General
Standards for discharge of environmental
pollutants
 SCHEDULE VI : Part - D - General Emission
Standards for Air Emissions

26. National Ambient Quality Standards, 2009

27. National Ambient Quality Standards, 2009

28. Schedule III - Ambient Air Quality Standards in Respect of Noise
Area
Category of Area Day Time (Leq) Night Time
(Leq)
A. Industrial Area 75 70
B. Commercial Area 65 55
C. Residential Area
55 45
D. Silence Zone
50 40
1.Day Time 6 AM - 9 PM
2.Night Time 9 PM - 6 AM
3.Silence Zone Hospital, Educational Institutions, Courts

29. Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986
Schedule VI
 Part - A : Effluents
 Inland Surface Water
 Public Sewers
 Land for Irrigation
 Marine Coastal Areas

30. The Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 - SCHEDULE VI
General Standards for discharge of environment pollutants
(Part - A : Effluents)
S.N. Parameter Inland
Surface
Water
Public
Sewers
Land for
Irrigation
Marine
Coastal Areas
1. Colour and Odour Nil Nil Nil Nil
2. Suspended Solids mg/L, Max. 100 600 200 100
3. Particle size of suspended solids < 850 micron - - -
4. pH value 5.5-9.0 5.5-9.0 5.5 - 9.0 5.5-9.0
5. Temperature < 5 oC
increase
- - < 5 oC
increase
6. Oil and Grease mg/L 10 20 10 20
7. Total residual Chloroine mg/L 1.0 - - 1.0
8. Ammonical N (as N), mg/L 50 50 - 50
9. Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (as
NH3) mg/L
100 - - 100

31. The Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 - SCHEDULE VI
General Standards for discharge of environment pollutants
(Part - D : General Emission Standards for Air Emissions)
S.N.
Parameter Standard Conc. not to exceed (mg/Nm3)
1.
Particulate Matter 150
2.
Total Fluoride 25
3.
Asbestos 4 Fibres/cc and dust should not be more
than 2 mg/m3
4.
Mercury 0.2
5.
Chlorine 15
6.
Hydrochloric acid vapour and mist 35
7.
Sulphuric acid mist
50
8.
Carbon monoxide
1 % max. (v/v)
9.
Lead
10

32. Bagasse-fired Boilers - Emission Standards
________________________________________________________________________________
Type of Boiler Pollutants Concentration
in mg/Nm3
________________________________________________________________________________
Step grate Particulate Matter 250
Horse shoe/Pulsating grate Particulate Matter 500 (12% CO2)
Spreader stroker Particulate Matter 800 (12% CO2)
______________________________________________________________

33. Boiler (Small)
Steam Generation Capacity
(TPH) Pollutant Emission limit
(mg/Nm3)
Less than 2 Particulate Matter 1200*
2 to less than 10 -do- 800*
10 to less than 15 -do- 600*
15 and above -do- 150**
* To meet the respective standards, cyclone/multicyclone is
recommended as control equipment with the boiler.
** To meet the standard, bag filter/ESP is recommended as
control equipment with the boiler.

34. Stack Height for Small Boilers
For the small boilers using coal or liquid fuels, the required stack height
with the boiler shall be calculated by using the formula
H = 14 Q 0.3
Where H = Total stack height in meters from ground level
Q = Sulphur dioxide (SO2) emission rate in kg/hr
In no case, the stack height shall be less than 11 meters.
Where providing tall stacks are not feasible using above formula,
the limit of 400 mg/Nm3 for SO2 emission shall be met by
providing necessary control equipment with a minimum stack
height of 11 meters.

35. Cement Industry : Emission Standards
Plant Capacity Pollutants Emission Limit
(mg/Nm3)
200 tonnes per day and less
(All Sections)
Particulate Matter 400
More than 200 tonnes per day
(All Sections)
Note:
The Central and the State
pollution control boards may
fix stringent standards not
exceeding 250 mg/Nm3 for
smaller plants and 150
mg/Nm3 for larger plant.
Particulate Matter 250

36. Integrated Iron & Steel Plant : Emission Standards
Pollutant Source Emission limit
Particulate Matter A. Sintering plant
B. Steel making
i) during normal
operation
ii) during oxygen
lancing
150 mg/Nm3
150 mg/Nm3
400 mg/Nm3
C. Rolling mill 150 mg/Nm3
Carbon Monoxide D. Coke-oven 3 kg/tonne of
coke produced

37. Thermal Power Plant : Emission Standards
Generation Capacity Pollutant Emission
limit
Generation capacity 210 MW or
more
Generation capacity less than
210 MW
Particulate
matter
Particulate
matter
150 mg/Nm3
300 mg/Nm3
Depending upon the requirement of local situation, such as protected
area, the State Pollution Control Boards and other implementing
agencies under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, may
prescribe a limit of 150 mg/Nm3, irrespective of generation capacity of
the plant.

38. Thermal Power Plants : Stack Height/Limits
Generation Capacity Stack Height (Meters)
500 MW and above 275
200 MW/210 MW and above
to less than 500 MW 220
Less than 200 MW/210 MW
H = 14 Q0.3 where Q is
emission rate of SO2 in
kg/hr, and H is Stack height
in meters.

39. Sulphuric Acid Plant
Parameters Emission Limit
Sulphur
dioxide
4 kg/tonne of concentrated (100% acid
produced)
Acid mist 50 mg/Nm3

40. Thank You