The document provides an overview of environmental impact assessment (EIA) regulations in India. It discusses the history and evolution of EIA, highlighting key milestones such as its formal adoption in India in the 1990s. It outlines the EIA notification process in India, listing various projects that require environmental clearance. The notification establishes two categories (A and B) for projects based on their potential environmental impacts. Category A projects require clearance from the central government, while Category B requires clearance from state-level authorities. The document discusses amendments made to the EIA notification in 2006 and 2009.

1. Environmental Impact Assessment
By - Ms. Jini Rajendran

2. Contents of the Presentation
History of Environmental Impact Assessment
Regulations related to EIA in India
Procedure for Conducting EIA and Obtaining EC
Contents of EIA Report

3. History of
Environmental
Impact Assessment

4. What is EIA?
EIA is a procedure for assessing the impacts on the
environment likely to result from development
process.
Scientific technique existing within a legal framework.
A process for decision making.
Why do EIA?
Assessment outputs facilitate informed decision
making.
Anticipated environmental impacts can be weighed
against economic benefits and other social gains.
Early identification of environmental impacts;
predicted impacts can be mitigated before they occur.
Help to adopt sustainable environmental management
practices.

5. Evolution and History of EIA
Started in 1960s as part of increasing environmental
awareness.
Obtained formal status in USA with the implementation of
National Environment Policy Act (NEPA)1969.
In 1970s it was adopted in high income countries like
Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Some developing
countries like Columbia and Philippines.
In mid 1980s World Bank adopted EIA for major
development projects.
In 1990s India Adopted EIA formally and many other
developing nations also formulated the EIA legislation.
There are two types of EIA models:
Administrative model – Administration exercises its
discretion to find its necessity- Till 1992 India was
following administrative model
Statutory Model – Enacted law - Compulsory

6. Regulations Related
to EIA in India

7. EIA Notifications in India
EIA notifications are published by Central Government in
exercise of the powers conferred by clause(a), of sub-rule (3) of
Rule 5 of the Environment(Protection ) Act 1986. Some of the
key notification related to EIA are as follow:
EIA notification dated 27.1.1994 – First EIA regulation Making
Environmental Clearance (EC) mandatory.
Major amendment - April 1997 making Public Hearing as
a part of assessment procedure to ensure participation of
local people and stakeholders in development activity.
EIA notification 14th Sep 2006 is the latest notification
mandating EIA studies. Several notification constituting the
formation of State Environmental Impact Assessment
Authority.
Major amendment to this notification is amendment dated
1st Dec 2009.

8. S.
No
Projects S.
No
Projects
1 Nuclear Power and related projects 15 Integrated Paint Complex including manufacture of resins
and basic raw materials required in the manufacture of
paints
2 River Valley Projects (hydel power, major irrigation
and their combination including flood control)
16 Viscous staple fiber and filament yarn
3 Ports Harbours Airports 17 Storage batteries integrated with manufacture of oxides of
lead and lead antimony alloy
4 Petroleum Refinery including crude and product
pipelines
18 All tourism projects between 200m – 500m of high tide
line or at elevation more than 1000m with investment of
more than Rs. 5 Crores.
5 Chemical Fertilizers (excluding single superphosphate) 19 Thermal Power Plant
6 Pesticides 20 Mining Project with leases more than 5 Ha
7 Petrochemical complex 21 Highway Project
8 Bulk Drug and Pharmaceuticals 22 Distilleries
9 Oil and Gas exploration, storage transport and
processing
23 Raw Skins and hides
10 Synthetic rubber 24 Pulp Paper and newsprint
11 Asbestos and Asbestos Products 25 Dyes
12 Hydrocyanic acids and its derivatives 26 Cement
13 Primary metallurgical industries and Electric Arc
Furnace (Mini Steel Plant)
27 Foundries
14 Chlor-alkali Industry 28 Electroplating
About EIA Notification 1994 and its amendments
Any person who desires to undertake any new project or expansion or
modernization of any existing project listed in schedule 1 to the notification
shall submit an application to Secretary, MoEF, New Delhi for seeking EC.
Schedule 1 is indicated below.

9. EC will not be required for items falling under entry no.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21, 25 and
27 of the schedule if the investment is less than Rs 50
Cr.
Any item reserved for small scale industrial sector with
investment less than Rs 1 Cr will not require EC..
About EIA Notification 1994 and its amendments

10. EIA Notification 2006 and its amendment in 2009
All new projects or expansion or modernization of existing
project beyond the limit specified for the concerned sector listed
in Schedule 1 to the notification shall require prior EC from the
Concerned Authority.
Concerned Authority - MoEF
- State Environmental Impact Assessment
Authority (SEIAA) in case of States.
Projects are broadly categorised
- Category A and Category B
- based on the spatial extend of potential impacts and
potential impacts on human health and natural and man made
resources.
Project included under category A – EC from MOEF under the
recommendation of Expert Advisory Committee (EAC).
Project Included under category B - EC from SEIAA under the
recommendation of State Level Expert Advisory Committee
(SEAC).

11. EIA Notification 2006 and its amendment in 2009
Only land can be secured before obtaining EC, no construction
activity and site preparation work shall start before that.
Validity period of the clearance will be Maximum of 30 years for
mining project, 10 years for river valley project and 5 years in
case of any other project or activity.

12. Amendments as per Notification dated 1.12.2009
S. No Project /
Activity
Category A Category B Conditions (if
any)
1(a) Mining of
Minerals
Slurry pipelines
passing through
national parks
/sanctuaries/
coral reefs,
ecologically
sensitive area
• >= 50 Ha of mining
lease area in respect of
non-coal mine lease.
• 150 Ha of mining area
in respect of coal mine
lease.
• Asbestos mining
irrespective of mine
lease area.
All projects
• <50 Ha >= 5 Ha of
mining lease area in
respect of non-coal
mine lease.
• <150 Ha >= 5 Ha of
mining lease area in
respect of coal mine
lease.
General condition
shall apply.
Mineral
prospecting is
exempted.
1(d) Thermal Power
plants
• >= 500 MW (coal /
lignite / naphtha and
gas based).
• >= 50 MW (petcoke,
diesel and all other fuel
including refinery
residual oil waste
except biomass).
• >= 20 MW (based on
biomass or non
hazardous municipal
solid waste as fuel)
• < 500 MW (coal /
lignite / naphtha and
gas based).
• <50MW >= 5 MW
(petcoke, diesel and all
other fuel including
refinery residual oil
waste except biomass).
• < 20 MW > 15 MW
(based on biomass or
non hazardous
municipal solid waste
as fuel)
up to 15 MW
exempted if
auxiliary fuel
consumption is not
more than 15%.
Power plant using
waste heat boiler
without any
auxiliary fuel are
exempted.

13. Amendments as per Notification dated 1.12.2009
S. No Project /
Activity
Category A Category B Conditions (if
any)
3 (a) Metallurgical
industries
(ferrous and non-
ferrous)
• All primary
metallurgical industries
• Sponge iron
manufacturing >= 200
TPD
• Secondary
metallurgical
processing industry,
• All toxic and heavy
metal processing
units >= 20,000 TPA
• Sponge iron
manufacturing < 200
TPD
• Secondary
metallurgical
processing industry,
• All toxic and heavy
metal processing
units < 20,000 TPA.
• All non-toxic
secondary
metallurgical
processing industries
> 5000 TPA
General condition
shall apply
In case of
secondary
metallurgical
processing
industrial units,
those projects
involving
operation of
furnace such as
induction furnace,
electric arc
furnace, SAF and
cupola with
capacity more that
30,000 TPA would
require EC.
3(b) Cement Plant • >= 1 Million TPA
production capacity
• < 1 million TPA
production capacity
• All standalone grinding
units
General condition
shall apply
4(b) Coke Oven Plants • >= 2,50,000 TPA • <2,50,000 TPA >=
25,000 TPA
General conditions
shall apply

14. Amendments as per Notification dated 1.12.2009
S. No Project /
Activity
Category A Category B Conditions (if
any)
3 (a) Metallurgical
industries
(ferrous and non-
ferrous)
• All primary
metallurgical industries
• Sponge iron
manufacturing >= 200
TPD
• Secondary
metallurgical
processing industry,
• All toxic and heavy
metal processing
units >= 20,000 TPA
• Sponge iron
manufacturing < 200
TPD
• Secondary
metallurgical
processing industry,
• All toxic and heavy
metal processing
units < 20,000 TPA.
• All non-toxic
secondary
metallurgical
processing industries
> 5000 TPA
General condition
shall apply
In case of
secondary
metallurgical
processing
industrial units,
those projects
involving
operation of
furnace such as
induction furnace,
electric arc
furnace, SAF and
cupola with
capacity more that
30,000 TPA would
require EC.
3(b) Cement Plant • >= 1 Million TPA
production capacity
• < 1 million TPA
production capacity
• All standalone grinding
units
General condition
shall apply
4(b) Coke Oven Plants • >= 2,50,000 TPA • <2,50,000 TPA >=
25,000 TPA
General conditions
shall apply

15. Amendments as per Notification dated 1.12.2009
S. No Project / Activity Category A Category B Conditions (if
any)
5(e) Petrochemical based
processing (processes
other than cracking and
not covered under the
complexes)
Located outside the
notified industrial area /
estate
Located in a notified
industrial area/estate
Specific
condition shall
apply
5 (f) Synthetic Organic
Chemical Industry (dyes
and dye intermediates;
bulk drug and
intermediates excluding
drug formulation;
synthetic rubbers; basic
organic chemical, other
synthetic organic chemical
and chemical
intermediates)
Located outside the
notified industrial area /
estate
Located in a notified
industrial area/estate
7(c) Industrial estate/
parks/complexes/ areas,
export processing zone,
SEZ, biotech park leather
complex
• If at least one industry
in the industrial area
falls under Category
A, the entire industrial
area shall be
considered as
Category A.
• Industrial estate with
area greater than 500
Ha and housing at
least one Category B
industry
• Industrial area
housing at least
one Category B
industry and area<
500 Ha.
• Industrial estate of
area> 500 Ha and
not housing any
industry belonging
to Category A or B
If the area is
less than 500
Ha, but
contains
buildings and
construction >
50,000 Sq m
and or
development
area more
than 100 Ha,
than it shall be
treated as 8(a)
and 8(b)

16. Procedure for
conducting EIA and
obtaining EC

17. Procedure as per EIA Notification 2006
STAGE – 1 Screening
Required only for Category B projects.
In case the project falls under B1 category, then EIA study is
required. For B 2 Category EIA study is not required.
STAGE – 2 Scoping
Detailed and Comprehensive terms of reference(TOR) shall be
suggested by EAC of MoEF or SEAC of SEIAA based on form I
submitted by the applicant for preparation of EIA report
Sub group of EAC or SEAC will visit the site if necessary
All projects of construction, township, commercial complexes
shall not require scoping and would be apprised on the basis of
Form I and the conceptual plan.

18. TOR shall be conveyed to applicant within 60 days of
receipt of Form I.
If the TOR Is not Finalized within 60 Days from Concerned
authorities, the TOR Suggested in the Form I by Applicant
is Deemed as Approved for EIA Study.
The approve TOR shall be Displayed on the website of the
MoEF or SEIAA
Any rejection of Prior Environmental Clearance shall be
conveyed to the applicant within 60 days.
Procedure as per EIA Notification 2006

19. STAGE – 3 Public Hearing
All Category A and B1 Projects shall Undertake Public
Consultation, except the following:
Modernization of river valley project.
All projects or activities located within industrial estate or
park.
Expansion of road or highway which do not involve any
further acquisition of land.
All building/construction/Area Development/Township
projects
All category B2 Project.
All projects or activates concerning national defense and
security or involving other strategic consideration as
determined by the central government.
Procedure as per EIA Notification 2006

20. STAGE – 3 Public Hearing
Public hearing shall be conducted by SPCB and the proceedings
shall be forwarded to the regularity authority within 45 days of
the request from the applicant.
If the public hearing can not be conducted by SPCB with in 45 days
the regulatory authority shall engage another Public agency to
complete the same with in further 45 days.
Procedure as per EIA Notification 2006

21. STAGE – 3 Public Hearing
Wide publicity - appropriate media
Draft EIA report shall be placed at the notified place during normal
office hours.
All the responses received from public shall be forwarded to the
applicant through the quickest possible means.
After compilation of public consultation the applicant shall make
appropriate changes in the draft EIA/EMP or supplementary
EIA/EMP report may be Submitted
The final EIA report shall be submitted to the regulatory
authority. .
Procedure as per EIA Notification 2006

22. STAGE – 4 Appraisal
The project would be scrutinized by – EAC/SEAC based on final
EIA report, outcome of the Public Consultation including public
hearing proceedings and application of project proponent.
The applicant shall be invited to furnish necessary clarification in
person by appraisal committee.
On Completion of the proceedings the expert appraisal committee
shall make categorical recommendations for grant of prior
environmental clearance/rejection with reasons.
EC is transferable.
Procedure as per EIA Notification 2006

23. Process Flow Diagram
Submission of application to
MoEF (Form – 1, Form 1 A, re-
feasibility report)
Verification of documents and
meeting for draft TOR
Draft TOR is complete
and OK
TOR specified by
MoEF
Draft EIA report
Preparation
Public Hearing
Exemption ?
Conduct Public
Hearing
Proceeding and
recommendation
inclusion in EIA report
Submission of EIA and
other information to
MoEF
Project Appraisal
in EAC Meeting
Project is OK
with min.
impact
Information
furnished is
complete
Project
Rejected
EC Granted
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No

24. Time Schedule EC Process
Form 1 submission to MoEF along with
TOR and Pre-feasibility report
Screening for Categorization
Additional TOR after scoping if
necessary
Preparation of EIA/EMP
Public Hearing conducted by SPCB
Review by expert appraisal committee
Final Decision of Competent Authority
Environmental Clearance granted
Within 60 Days
Within 45 Days
105 days
Total 210 days as per
Notification
90 – 120 days
120 – 150 days
75 – 90 days
30 – 60 days
150 – 300 days
Total 465 – 720 days in actual
practice

25. Contents of an EIA
Report

26. Contents of an EIA Report
Introduction –brief description of nature, size and location of the project and its
importance to the country and region, scope of study as per TOR.
Project description – type and need of project, location details with maps, technology,
process description.
Description of the environment –establishment of baseline data, base map of all
environmental components.
Anticipated environmental impacts and mitigation measures and mitigation
measures.
Analysis of alternatives(Technology and site).
Environmental monitoring program .
Additional studies like Risk assessment, Social impact assessment, R&R plan.
Project benefits.
Environment Management Plan.
Summary and conclusion.
Disclosure of the consultants engaged.

27. Contents of an EIA Report
Air Environment
Determination of impact zone (through a screening model) and developing a
monitoring network.
Monitoring the existing status of ambient air quality within the impacted region (7-
10 km from the periphery) of the proposed project site.
Monitoring site specific meteorological data, wind speed direction, humidity,
ambient temperature and environment lapse rate.
Estimation of quantities of air emission including fugitive emission from the
proposed project.
Identification, quantification and evaluation of other potential emissions (including
those of vehicular traffic) within the impact zone and estimation of cumulative of
all the emissions/impacts.
Prediction of changes in the ambient air quality due to point, line and areas source
emissions through appropriate air quality models.
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, path ways and receptor.

28. Noise Environment
Monitoring the present status of noise levels within the impact zone, and
prediction of future noise levels resulting from the proposed project and related
activities including increase in vehicular movement.
Identification of impacts due to any anticipated rise in noise levels on the
surrounding environment.
Recommendations on mitigation measures for noise pollution.
Contents of an EIA Report

29. Contents of an EIA Report
Water Environment
Study of existing ground and surface water resources with respect to quantity and
quality within the impact zone of the proposed project .
Prediction of impacts on water resources due to the proposed water use/pumping
on account of the project.
Quantification and characterisation of waste water including toxic organic, from the
proposed activity.
Evaluation of the proposed pollution prevention and wastewater treatment system
and suggestions on modification, if required.
Prediction of impacts of effluent discharge on the quality of the receiving water
body using appropriate mathematical/simulation models

30. Biological Environment
Survey of flora and fauna clearly delineating season and duration.
Assessment of flora and fauna present within the impact zone of the project.
Assessment of potential damage to terrestrial and aquatic flora and fauna due to
discharge of effluents and gaseous emissions from the project.
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 (including
commercial fishing) due to physical disturbances and alterations.
Prediction of biological stresses within the impact zone of the proposed project.
Delineation of mitigation measures to prevent and / or reduce the damage.
Contents of an EIA Report

31. Land Environment
Studies on soil characteristics, existing land use and topography, landscape and
drainage patterns within the impact zone.
Estimation of impacts of project on land use, landscape, topography, drainage and
hydrology.
Identification of potential utility of treated effluent in land application and
subsequent impacts.
Estimation and Characterisation of solid wastes and delineation of management
options for minimisation of waste and environmentally compatible disposal.
Contents of an EIA Report

32. Socio-economic and Health Environment
Collection of demographic and related socio-economic data.
Projection of anticipated changes in the socio-economic and health due to the
project and related activities including traffic congestion and delineation of
measures to minimise adverse impacts.
Assessment of impact on significant historical, cultural and archaeological
sites/places in the area.
Assessment of economic benefits arising out of the project.
Assessment of rehabilitation requirements with special emphasis on scheduled
areas, if any.
Contents of an EIA Report

33. Risk Assessment
Hazard identification taking recourse to hazard indices, inventory analysis etc.
Maximum Credible Accident (MCA) analysis to identify potential hazardous
scenarios.
Consequence analysis of failures and accidents resulting in fire, explosion,
hazardous releases and dam breaks etc.
Hazard & Operability (HAZOP) studies.
Assessment of risk on the basis of the above evaluations.
Preparation of an onsite and off site (project affected area) Disaster Management
Plan.
Contents of an EIA Report