F. No. J-l 1011/294/2017-1 A-II(I)

Government of India

Ministry of Environment. Forest and Climate Change

(IA Division)

Indira Paryavaran Bhavvan

Jor Bagh Road. Aliganj,

New Delhi   ■ 110003

Dated:   6th September, 2018

Office Memorandum

Sub:    Oil & gas transportation pipeline - Applicability of the EIA Notification, 2006 –reg.

The Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) "Notification, 2006 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 mandates the requirement of prior environmental clearance (EC) to the projects, activities listed in the schedule to the Notification. These projects/activities require appraisal and approval by the concerned regulatory authority (MoEF & CC/SEIAAs in different States/UTs) depending upon the categorization (A/B).

2. As per the provisions of the EIA Notification, 2006, read with subsequent amendments, oil & gas transportation pipeline, passing through national parks/sanctuaries/coral reefs/ecologically sensitive areas including LNG Terminal, is covered under Category A of the Schedule to the EIA Notification, 2006 and thus requiring prior environmental clearance from the concerned regulatory authority. The relevant extract of the schedule is as under: -

Project/ Activity

Category   with   threshold limit

Conditions, if any

 

 

A

B

 

 

6

Service sectors

 

6(a)

Oil & gas transportation pipeline (crude

and   refinery/petrochemical   products),

passing             through             national

parks/sanctuaries/coral

reefs ecologically       sensitive       areas

including LNG Terminal

All projects

 

 

 
               

 

3. Earlier, this Ministry has issued environmental clearances to the pipeline projects, stipulating the condition that in case of change of scope of work, fresh reference shall be made to the Ministry. Now the Ministry is in receipt of proposals for ToR/EC to pipeline projects, involving their extension, capacity augmentation, modernization/upgradation of pumping arrangements and associated facilities including transmix separator plant, etc. Many times, such proposals involve change in scope of work also for which the earlier environmental clearance was granted.

 

4. In order to streamline the process for environmental clearances to the pipeline projects in the context of the statutory provisions, following are clarified: -

• Only those projects, where the pipeline is passing through national parks sanctuaries coral reefs/ecologically sensitive areas, shall he required to obtain the prior environmental clearance.

• In case of the existing ECs covered under the condition as mentioned in para 3 above there shall be no requirement of environmental clearance or the amendment therein for the projects not covered under the ambit of the ELA Notification, 2006.

• In case of change of scope of the project (for which the EC was granted earlier) involving extension of pipeline if not passing through national parks, sanctuaries, coral reefs/ecologically sensitive areas, capacity augmentation, modernization/upgradation of pumping arrangements and associated facilities including transmix separator plant, etc., there shall be no requirement of the prior environmental clearance.

5.   This issues with approval of the competent authority.                            

 (Sharath Kumar Pallerla)

Director

To

 

1.   All the officers of IA Division

2.    Chairperson/Member Secretaries of all the SEIAAs./SEACs

3.    Chairman of all the Expert Appraisal Committees

4.    Chairman, CPCB

5.   Chairpersons/Member Secretaries of all SPCBs/UTPCCs

Copy for information:

1.    PS to Minister for Environment. Forest and Climate Change

2.    PS to MoS (EF&CC)

3.    PPS to Secretary! EF&CC)

4.    PPS to AS(AKJ)  / AS(AKM)

5.    PPS to JS(GB)/JS(JT)

6.    Website, MoEF&CC

7.   Guard file.