Guidelines for granting Environmental Clearance (EC) for up to 20% expansion of Iron, Manganese, Bauxite and Limestone mining projects

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change vide memorandum dated 20th October, 2021 has provided Guidelines for granting Environmental Clearance (EC) for up to 20% expansion of Iron, Manganese, Bauxite and Limestone mining projects. The expansion of Iron, Manganese, Bauxite and Limestone mining projects (with 5-star ratings) upto 20% of the production capacity for which EC had been granted on the basis of public hearing, shall be allowed to undertake public consultation instead of Public Hearing at site while granting EC subject to the following conditions:

1. The said relaxation would be applicable to only those mining projects that have 5-star rating of Mines as per as per notification from Ministry of Mines. ii. The expansion up to a maximum of 20% of production capacity, authorized through prior EC (issued on the basis of public hearing), would be allowed.
2. Public Consultation shall be undertaken by obtaining response in writing, as per para 7 III (ii) (b) of EIA Notification 2006.
3. The project must have a prior EC (issued on the basis of public hearing) and capacity indicated in the EC shall be treated as base for expansion.
4. The expansion should not involve any increase in the mining lease area that has been authorized through the prior EC.
5. The project proponent shall prepare a detailed Environment Management Plan (EMP).
6. Air quality online monitoring systems, as stipulated by the EAC/SEAC, as per prior EC (already issued) should have been installed.
7. Predicted environmental quality parameters should be within the prescribed norms and the same shall be maintained as per prescribed norms.
8. Project Proponent shall apply in Form-2 on the PARIVESH Portal under para 7(ii) of EIA Notification 2006. The concerned EAC/SEAC shall appraise the project proposal and may prescribe additional environmental safeguards as
   per requirement after due diligence.
9. The dispensation shall be considered only for project that are compliant to the existing EC conditions and the same shall be ensured through a certified compliance report from the concerned Regional Office of the Ministry, not
   older than one year at the time of application. xi. Other statutory requirements like Consent to Establish/Operate, Clearance from CGWA, approval of Mining Plan, Mine Closure Plan, Mine Closure Status Report, approval of DGMS, Forest Clearance, Wildlife Clearance etc., if applicable, are to be satisfactorily fulfilled at the time of application.