Leather Industry

Final Draft
TECHNICAL EIA GUIDANCE MANUAL

FOR
LEATHER/SKIN/HIDE
PROCESSING INDUSTRY
Prepared for
Ministry of Environment and Forests
Government of India
by
IL&FS Ecosmart Limited
Hyderabad
September 2009
PROJECT TEAM
Project Coordination Dr. (Mrs.) Nalini Bhat

Ministry of Environment & Forests Advisor, Ministry of Environment and Forests
Dr. (Mrs.) T. Chandni
Director, Ministry of Environment and Forests
Core Project Coordination Team Mr. Mahesh Babu

IL&FS Environment CEO
Mr. N. Sateesh Babu
Vice President & Project Director
Mr. B.S.V. Pavan Gopal
Manager –Technical
Ms. Tamil Ezhil .G
Environmental Planner
Ms. Suman Benedicta Thomas
Technical Writer
Resource Person Dr. S. Rajamani

Former Director, Central Leather Research Institute
Expert Core & Peer Committee
Chairman Dr. V. Rajagopalan, IAS
Principal Secretary
Government of Uttar Pradesh
Core Members Dr. R. K. Garg
Former Chairman, EIA Committee, Ministry of Environment and
Forests
Mr. Paritosh C. Tyagi
Former Chairman, Central Pollution Control Board
Prof. S.P. Gautam
Chairman, Central Pollution Control Board
Dr. Tapan Chakraborti
Director, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute
Mr. K. P. Nyati
Head, Environmental Policy, Confederation of Indian Industry
Dr. G.K. Pandey
Advisor, Ministry of Environment and Forests
Dr. (Mrs.) Nalini Bhat
Dr. G.V. Subramaniam
Dr. B. Sengupta
Former Member Secretary, Central Pollution Control Board
Dr. R. C. Trivedi
Former Scientist, Central Pollution Control Board
Peer Members Prof. N.J.Rao
Director, JAYPEE Institute of Engineering and Technology
Member Convener Mr. N. Sateesh Babu
Project Director
Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION TO THE TECHNICAL EIA GUIDANCE MANUALS PROJECT 1-1

1.1 Purpose ................................................................................................................................ 1-2
1.2 Project Implementation ....................................................................................................... 1-3
1.3 Additional Information........................................................................................................ 1-3
2. CONCEPTUAL FACETS OF EIA 2-1
2.1 Environment in EIA Context............................................................................................... 2-1
2.2 Pollution Control Strategies ................................................................................................ 2-1
2.3 Tools for Preventive Environmental Management.............................................................. 2-2
2.3.1 Tools for assessment and analysis ......................................................................... 2-2
2.3.2 Tools for action...................................................................................................... 2-5
2.3.3 Tools for communication..................................................................................... 2-10
2.4 Objectives of EIA.............................................................................................................. 2-10
2.5 Types of EIA ..................................................................................................................... 2-11
2.6 Basic EIA Principles ......................................................................................................... 2-12
2.7 Project Cycle ..................................................................................................................... 2-13
2.8 Environmental Impacts ..................................................................................................... 2-13
2.8.1 Direct impacts...................................................................................................... 2-14
2.8.2 Indirect impacts ................................................................................................... 2-14
2.8.3 Cumulative impacts ............................................................................................. 2-15
2.8.4 Induced impact .................................................................................................... 2-15
2.9 Significance of Impacts ..................................................................................................... 2-16
2.9.1 Criteria/methodology to determine the significance of the identified impacts.... 2-17
3. LEATHER / SKIN / HIDE PROCESSING INDUSTRY 3-1
3.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 3-1
3.2 Leather Manufacturing Process........................................................................................... 3-2
3.2.1 Process of tanning.................................................................................................. 3-3
3.2.2 Input Vs output in the tannery process .................................................................. 3-6
3.3 Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Rejects................................................................ 3-7
3.3.1 Wastewater ............................................................................................................ 3-8
3.3.2 Air emissions ....................................................................................................... 3-12
3.3.3 Solid waste........................................................................................................... 3-13
3.3.4 Hazardous materials ............................................................................................ 3-13
3.4 Cleaner Technologies, Minimization, and Recycling / Reuse Options............................. 3-13
3.4.1 Cleaner technologies in leather processing.......................................................... 3-13
3.4.2 Waste minimisation options ................................................................................ 3-21
3.4.3 Reduction/Recycling/Recovery/Reuse ................................................................ 3-22
3.5 Summary of Applicable National Regulations.................................................................. 3-27
3.5.1 Tannery effluent standards as provided by CPCB............................................... 3-27
3.5.2 Pending and proposed regulatory requirements .................................................. 3-28
Technical EIA Guidance Manual for Tanneries September 2009

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Table of Contents
4. OPERATIONAL ASPECTS OF EIA 4-1

4.1 Coverage of Tanneries under the Purview of Notification.................................................. 4-1
4.2 Screening............................................................................................................................. 4-5
4.2.1 Applicable conditions for Category B projects ..................................................... 4-5
4.2.2 Criteria for classification of Category B1 and B2 projects.................................... 4-6
4.2.3 Application for prior environmental clearance...................................................... 4-6
4.2.4 Siting guidelines .................................................................................................... 4-6
4.3 Scoping for EIA Studies...................................................................................................... 4-8
4.3.1 Pre-feasibility report .............................................................................................. 4-9
4.3.2 Guidance for Filling Information in Form 1........................................................ 4-10
4.3.3 Identification of appropriate valued environmental components ........................ 4-10
4.3.4 Methods for identification of impacts.................................................................. 4-10
4.3.5 Testing the Significance of impacts..................................................................... 4-16
4.3.6 Terms of reference for EIA studies ..................................................................... 4-16
4.4 Environmental Impact Assessment ................................................................................... 4-19
4.4.1 EIA team.............................................................................................................. 4-20
4.4.2 Baseline quality of the environment .................................................................... 4-21
4.4.3 Impact prediction................................................................................................. 4-23
4.4.4 Significance of the impacts.................................................................................. 4-23
4.5 Social Impact Assessment ................................................................................................. 4-24
4.6 Mitigation Measures.......................................................................................................... 4-27
4.6.1 Important considerations for mitigation methods................................................ 4-27
4.6.2 Hierarchy of elements of mitigation plan ............................................................ 4-28
4.6.3 Typical mitigation measures................................................................................ 4-29
4.7 Environmental Management Plan ..................................................................................... 4-31
4.8 Reporting........................................................................................................................... 4-32
4.9 Public Consultation ........................................................................................................... 4-33
4.10 Appraisal ........................................................................................................................... 4-36
4.11 Decision-making ............................................................................................................... 4-38
4.12 Post-clearance Monitoring Protocol.................................................................................. 4-39
5. STAKEHOLDERS’ ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 5-1
5.1 SEIAA ................................................................................................................................. 5-4
5.2 EAC and SEAC................................................................................................................... 5-6

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Table of Contents
LIST OF TABLES
Table 3-1: Characteristics of Wastewater ............................................................................................3-8
Table 3-2: Pollution Load per tonne of Hides/Skins Processed...........................................................3-8
Table 3-3: Characteristics of Tannery Effluent....................................................................................3-9
Table 3-4: Sources of Air Emissions and Preventive Methods..........................................................3-12
Table 3-5: Odour Emissions to Air ....................................................................................................3-12
Table 3-6: Tannery Effluent Standard (After Primary Treatment): Disposal Channel/Conduit Carrying
Wastewater to Secondary Treatment Plant......................................................................3-27
Table 3-7: Tanneries – Effluent Standards ........................................................................................3-28
Table 4-1: Advantages and Disadvantages of Impact Identification Methods ..................................4-11
Table 4-2: Matrix of Impacts .............................................................................................................4-13
Table 4-3: List of Important Physical Environment Components and Indicators of EBM...............4-22
Table 4-4: Mitigation Measures for Construction Phase ...................................................................4-29
Table 4-5: Mitigation Measures for Operation Phase ........................................................................4-30
Table 4-6: Structure of EIA Report....................................................................................................4-32
Table 5-1: Roles and Responsibilities of Stakeholders Involved in Prior Environmental Clearance .5-1
Table 5-2: Organization-Specific Functions ........................................................................................5-2
Table 5-3: SEIAA: Eligibility Criteria for Chairperson / Members / Secretary ..................................5-5
Table 5-4: EAC/SEAC: Eligibility Criteria for Chairperson / Members / Secretary...........................5-9

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Table of Contents
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 2-1: Inclusive Components of Sustainable Development.........................................................2-1
Figure 2-2: Types of Impacts .............................................................................................................2-14
Figure 2-3: Cumulative Impact ..........................................................................................................2-15
Figure 3-1: Location of Tanneries in India ..........................................................................................3-2
Figure 3-2: Tanning Process ................................................................................................................3-3
Figure 3-3: Input vs. Output in the Tanneries ......................................................................................3-7
Figure 3-4: Tannery Effluent Treatment System ...............................................................................3-11
Figure 4-1: Prior Environmental Clearance Process for Activities Falling Under Category A ...........4-3
Figure 4-2: Prior Environmental Clearance Process for Activities Falling Under Category B ...........4-4
Figure 4-3: Approach for EIA Study .................................................................................................4-20
Figure 4-4: Elements of Mitigation Plan............................................................................................4-28

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Table of Contents
LIST OF ANNEXURES
Annexure I
Form 1 (Application Form for Obtaining EIA Clearance)
Annexure II
Types of Monitoring and Network Design Considerations
Annexure III
Guidance for Assessment of Baseline Components and Attributes
Annexure IV
Sources of Secondary Data
Annexure V
Form through which the State Governments/Administration of the Union Territories

Submit Nominations for SEIAA and SEAC for the Consideration and Notification by the
Central Government

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Table of Contents
ACRONYMS
AAQ Ambient Air Quality
BAT Best Available Technology
BOD Biological oxygen demand
BOO Build-Operate-Own
BOT Build-Operate-Transfer
°C degree Celsius
CCA Conventional Cost Accounting
CETP Common Effluent Treatment Plant
CFE Consent for Establishment
CO2 Carbon dioxide
COD Chemical Oxygen Demand
Cr Chromium
Cr2O3 Chromium Oxide
Cr2(SO4)3 Chromium Sulphate
CRZ Coastal Regulatory Zone
DS Dissolved Solids
EAC Expert Appraisal Committee
EBM Environmental Baseline Monitoring
EcE Economic-cum-Environmental
EcE Economic-cum-Environmental
ECI Environmental Condition Indicators
EIA Environmental Impact Assessment
EIS Environmental Information system
EPI Environmental performance Indicators
EMS Environmental Management System
EMP Environmental Management Plan
FCA Full Cost Assessment
FSS Fixed Suspended Solids
GC General Conditions
g/l grams per litre
H2S Hydrogen Sulfide
HAPs Hazardous Air Pollutants
HTL High Tide Line
HVLP High Volume Low Pressure
IL&FS Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services
IMD India Meteorological Department

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Acronyms
IUE International Union of Environment

kg kilograms
l litre
LDAR Leak Detection and Repair
LCA Life Cycle Assessment
LTL Low Tide Level
2
m square meter
mg/m³ milligrams per cubic meters
mg/l milligrams per litre
MoEF Ministry of Environment & Forests
MSDS Material Safety Data Sheets
O&M Operation and Maintenance
PAP Project Affected people
QA/QC Quality Assurance/Quality Control
QRA Quantitative Risk Assessment
RSPM Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter
SEAC State Level Expert Appraisal Committee
SEIAA State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority
SPCB State Pollution Control Board
SPM Suspended Particulate Matter
SS Suspended Solids
TA Technology assessment
TCA Total Cost Assessment
TDS Total Dissolved Solids
TEQM Total Environmental Quality Movement
TGM Technical EIA guidance manuals
TSDF Treatment Storage Disposal Facility
TS Total Solids
TSS Total Suspended Solids
USEPA United States Environment Protection Agency
UT Union Territory
UTEIAA Union Territory Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority
UTPCC Union Territory Pollution Control Committee
VEC Valued Environmental Components
VOC Volatile Organic Compound
VSS Volatile Suspended Solids
WBCSD World Business Council on Sustainable Development

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1.
INTRODUCTION TO THE TECHNICAL EIA
GUIDANCE MANUALS PROJECT
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a process of identifying, predicting,

evaluating and mitigating the biophysical, social, and other relevant effects of
development proposals prior to major decisions being taken and commitments made.
These studies integrate the environmental concerns of developmental activities in to the
process of decision-making.
EIA has emerged as one of the successful policy innovations of the 20th Century to
ensure sustained development. Today, EIA is formalized as a regulatory tool in more
than 100 countries for effectively integrating environmental concerns in economic
development process. The EIA process in India was made mandatory and was also given
a legislative status through a Notification issued in January 1994. The Notification,
however, covered only a few selected industrial developmental activities. While there are
subsequent amendments, this Notification issued on September 14, 2006 supersedes all
the earlier Notifications, and has brought out structural changes in the clearance
mechanism.
The basic tenets of this EIA Notification could be summarized into following:
Pollution potential as the basis for prior environmental clearance based on pollution
potential instead of investment criteria; and
Decentralization of clearing powers to the State level/Union Territory (UT) level

Authorities for certain developmental activities to make the prior environmental
clearance process quicker, transparent and effective mechanism of clearance.
The devolution of the power to grant clearances at the state level for certain category of
the developmental activities / projects is a step forward to fulfill the basic tenets of the re-
engineering i.e., quicker, transparent and effective process but many issues come on its
way of functional efficiency. These issues could be in technical and operational domains
as listed below:
Technical issues
Ensuring level playing ground to avoid arbitrariness in the decision-making process
Classification of projects which do not require public hearing and detailed EIA
(Category B2).
Variations in drawing the Terms of Reference (ToR) for EIA studies for a given
developmental activity across the States/UTs.
Varying developmental-activity-specific expertise requirement for EIA studies and
their appraisal.
Availability of adequate sectoral experts and variations in competency levels.
Inadequate data verification, cross checking tools and supporting institutional
framework.
Meeting time targets without compromising with the quality of assessments/ reviews
Varying knowledge and skill levels of regulators, consultants and experts.

1-1
Introduction
Newly added developmental activities for prior environmental clearance, etc.

Operational issues
State level /UT level EIA Authorities (SEIAA/UTEIAA) are formulated for the first
time and many are functioning.
Varying roles and responsibilities of involved organizations.
Varying supporting institutional strengths across the States/UTs.
Varying manpower availability, etc.
1.1 Purpose
The purpose of developing these sector-specific technical EIA guidance manuals (TGM)
is to provide clear and concise information on EIA to all the stakeholders i.e., the project
proponent, the consultant, the reviewer, and the public. The TGMs are organized to cover
following:
Conceptual facets of an EIA

Details on the developmental activity including environmental concerns and control
technologies, etc.
Operational aspects; and
Roles and responsibilities of various organizations involved in the process of prior
environmental clearance
For any given industry, each topic listed above could alone be the subject of a lengthy
volume. However, in order to produce a manageable document, this project focuses on
providing summary information for each topic. This format provides the reader with a
synopsis of each issue. Text within each section was researched from many sources, and
was usually condensed from more detailed sources pertaining to specific topics.
The contents of the document are designed with a view to facilitate in addressing the
relevant technical and operational issues as mentioned in the earlier section. Besides,
facilitates various stakeholders involved in the EIA clearance process i.e.,
Project proponents will be fully aware of the procedures, common ToR for sector-
specific EIA studies, timelines, required expertise, monitoring needs, etc., in order to
plan the projects/studies appropriately.
Consultants across India will have similar understanding about a given sector, and
also the procedure for EIA studies, so that the quality of the EIA reports gets
improved and streamlined
Reviewers across the states/UTs will have the same understanding about an industry
sector and would able to draw a benchmark to establish the significant impacts for the
purpose of prescribing the ToR for EIA studies and also in the process of review and
appraisal.
Public who are concerned about a new or expansion projects, can have access to this
manual to know the manufacturing/production details, rejects/wastes from the
operations, choice of cleaner/ control technologies, regulatory requirements, likely
environmental and social concerns, mitigation measures, etc., in order to seek
clarifications appropriately in the process of public consultation. The procedural
clarity in the document will further strengthen them to understand the stages involved
in clearance and roles and responsibilities of various organizations.
In addition, these manuals would substantially ease the pressure on reviewers at the
scoping stage and would bring in functional efficiency at the central and state levels.

1-2
Introduction
1.2 Project Implementation
The Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF), Government of India took up the task of
developing sector-specific TGMs for all the developmental activities listed in the re-
engineered EIA Notification. The Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS),
Ecosmart Limited (Ecosmart), has been entrusted with the task of developing these
manuals for 27 industrial and related sectors. Leather/skin/hide processing industry is one
of these sectors, for which this manual is prepared.
The ability to design comprehensive EIA studies for specific industries depends on
knowledge of several interrelated topics. Therefore, it requires expert inputs from
multiple dimensions i.e., administrative, project management, technical, scientific, social,
economic, risk, etc., in order to comprehensively analyze the issues of concern and to
draw logical interpretations. Thus, Ecosmart has designed a well-composed
implementation framework to factor inputs of the experts and stakeholders in the process
of finalization of these manuals.
The process of manual preparation involved collection & collation of the secondary
available information, technical review by sectoral resource persons and critical review
and finalization by a competent Expert Committee composed of core and sectoral peer
members.
The MoEF appreciates the efforts of Ecosmart, Expert Core and Peer Committee,
resource persons and all those who have directly and indirectly contributed to this
manual.
1.3 Additional Information
This TGM is brought out by the MoEF to provide clarity to all the stakeholders involved
in the ‘prior environmental clearance’ process. As such, the contents and clarifications
given in this document do not withstand in case of a conflict with the statutory provisions
of the Notifications and Executive Orders issued by the MoEF from time-to-time.
TGMs are not regulatory documents. Instead, these are the tools designed to assist in
successful completion of an EIA.
For the purposes of this project, the key elements considered under TGMs are: conceptual
aspects of EIA; developmental activity-specific information; operational aspects; and
roles and responsibilities of involved stakeholders.
This manual is prepared considering the Notification issued on September 14, 2006 and
the updates. For recent updates, if any, may please refer the website of the MoEF,
Government of India i.e., www.envfor.nic.in

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2.
CONCEPTUAL FACETS OF EIA
2.1 Environment in EIA Context
“Environment” in EIA context mainly focuses, but is not limited to physical, chemical
biological, geological, social, economical, and aesthetic dimensions along with their
complex interactions, which affect individuals, communities and ultimately determines
their forms, character, relationship, and survival. In the EIA context, ‘effect’ and
‘impact’ can often be used interchangeably. However, ‘impact’ is considered as a value
judgment of the significance of an effect.
Sustainable development is built on three basic premises i.e., economic growth,

ecological balance and social progress. Economic growth achieved in a way that does not
consider the environmental concerns, will not be sustainable in the long run. Therefore,
sustainable development needs careful integration of environmental, economic, and social
needs in order to achieve both an increased standard of living in short term, and a net gain
or equilibrium among human, natural, and economic resources to support future
generations in the long term.
“It is necessary to understand the links between environment and development in order to
make choices for development that will be economically efficient, socially equitable and
responsible, as well as environmentally sound.” Agenda 21
Figure 2-1: Inclusive Components of Sustainable Development
2.2 Pollution Control Strategies
Pollution control strategies can be broadly categorized in to preventive and reactive. The
reactive strategy refers to the steps that may be applied once the wastes are generated or
contamination of receiving environment takes place. The control technology or a
combination of technologies to minimize the impact due to the process rejects/wastes
varies with the quantity and characteristics, desired control efficiency and economics.

2-1
Conceptual Facets of EIA
Many a number or combination of techniques could be adopted for treatment of a specific

waste or the contaminated receiving environment, but are often judged based on techno-
economic feasibility. Therefore, the best alternative is to take all possible steps to avoid
pollution itself. This preventive approach refers to a hierarchy that involves i) prevention
& reduction; ii) recycling and re-use; iii) treatment; and iv) disposal, respectively.
Therefore, there is a need to shift the emphasis from the reactive to preventive strategy
i.e., to promote preventive environmental management. Preventive environmental
management tools may be classified into following three groups:
Management Based Tools Process Based Tools Product Based Tools
Environmental Management Environmental Technology Assessment Industrial Ecology

System (EMS)
Toxic Use Reduction Extended Producers
Environmental Performance Responsibility
Best Operating Practices
Evaluation
Eco-labeling
Environmentally Best Practice
Environmental Audits
Design for
Best Available Technology (BAT)
Environmental Reporting Environment
And Communication Waste Minimization
Life Cycle Assessment
Total Cost Accounting Pollution Prevention (LCA)
Law And Policy Cleaner Production
Trade And Environment Cleaner Technology
Environmental Economics Eco-efficiency
These tools are precisely discussed in next sections.
2.3 Tools for Preventive Environmental Management
The tools for preventive environmental management can be broadly classified in to

following three groups.
Tools for assessment and analysis

Tools for action and
tools for communication
Specific tools under each group are discussed precisely in next sections.
2.3.1 Tools for assessment and analysis
2.3.1.1 Risk assessment
Risk is associated with the frequency of failure and consequence effect. Predicting such
situations and evaluation of risk is essential to take appropriate preventive measures. The
major concern of the assessment is to identify the activities falling in a matrix of high &
low frequencies at which the failures occur and the degree of its impact. The high
frequency, low impact activities can be managed by regular maintenance i.e., LDAR
(Leak detection and repair) programmes. Whereas, the low frequency, high impact
activities are of major concern (accidents) in terms of risk assessment. As the frequency
is low, often the required precautions are not realized or maintained. However, the risk

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assessment identify the areas of major concerns which require additional preventive
measures; likely consequence distances considering domino effects, which will give the
possible casualties and ecological loss in case of accidents. These magnitudes demand
the attention for preventive and disaster management plans (DMP). Thus is an essential
tool to ensure safety of operations.
2.3.1.2 Life cycle assessment
A broader approach followed to deal with environmental impacts during manufacturing is

called LCA. This approach recognizes that environmental concerns are associated with
every step of the processing w.r.t the manufacturing of the products and also examines
environmental impacts of the product at all stages of the project life cycle. LCA includes
the product design, development, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, usage and
disposal. LCA is concerned with reducing environmental impacts at all the stages and
considering the total picture rather than just one stage of the production process.
By availing this concept, firms can minimize the costs incurred on the environmental
conservation throughout the project life cycle. LCA also provides sufficient scope to
think about cost-effective alternatives.
2.3.1.3 Total cost assessment
Total Cost Assessment (TCA) is an enhanced financial analysis tool that is used to assess
the profitability of alternative courses of action ex. raw material substitution to reduce the
costs of managing the wastes generated by process; an energy retrofit to reduce the costs
of energy consumption. This is particularly relevant for pollution prevention options,
because of their nature, often produce financial savings that are overlooked in
conventional financial analysis, either because they are misallocated, uncertain, hard to
quantify, or occur more than three to five years after the initial investment. TCA involves
all of the relevant costs and savings associated with an option so that it can compete for
scarce capital resources fairly, on a level playing field. The assessments are often
beneficial in respect of the following:
Identification of costly resource inefficiencies

Financial analysis of environmental activities/projects such as investment in cleaner
technologies
Prioritization of environmental activities/projects
Evaluation of product mix and product pricing
Bench marking against the performance of other processes or against the competitors
A comparison of cost assessments is given below:
Conventional cost accounting (CCA): Direct and indirect financial costs and
Recognized contingent costs
Total Cost Assessment (TCA): A broader range of direct, indirect, contingent and
less quantifiable costs
Full Cost assessment (FCA): TCA and External social costs borne by society
2.3.1.4 Environmental audit/statement
The key objectives of an environmental audit includes compliance verification, problem

identification, environmental impact measurement, environmental performance
measurement, conforming effectiveness of EMS, providing a database for corrective

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actions and future actions, developing companies environmental strategy, communication

and formulating environmental policy.
The MoEF, Government of India issued Notification on ‘Environmental Statements’ (ES)

in April, 1992 and further amended in April 1993 – As per the Notification, the industries
are required to submit environmental statements to the respective State Pollution Control
Boards (SPCBs). ES is a pro-active tool for self-examination of the industry itself to
reduce/minimize pollution by adopting process modifications, recycling and reusing of
the resources. The regular submission of ES will indicate the systematic improvement in
environmental pollution control being achieved by the industry. In other way, the specific
points in ES may be used as environmental performance indicators for relative
comparison, implementation and to promote better practices.
2.3.1.5 Environmental benchmarking
Environmental performance and operational indicators could be used to navigate, manage

and communicate the significant aspects and give enough evidence of good
environmental house keeping. Besides prescribing standards, an insight to identify the
performance indicators and prescribing schedule for systematic improvement in
performance of these indicators will yield better results.
Relative indicators may be identified for different industrial sectors and be integrated in
the companies and organizations to monitor and manage the different environmental
aspects of the company, to benchmark and compare two or more companies from the
same sector. These could cover the water consumption, wastewater generation, energy
consumption, solid/hazardous waste generation, chemical consumption etc., per tonne of
final product. Once these bench marks are developed, the industries which are below
them may be guided and enforced to reach the level and those which are better than the
benchmark may be encouraged further by giving incentives, etc.
2.3.1.6 Environmental indicators
Indicators can be classified in to environmental performance indicators (EPI) and

environmental condition indicators (ECI). The EPIs can be further divided into two
categories i.e., operational performance indicators and management performance
indicators.
The operational performance indicators are related to the process and other operational
activities of the organization, these would typically address the issue of raw material
consumption, energy consumption, water consumption in the organization, the quantities
of waste water generated, other solid wastes generated, emission from the organization,
etc.
Management performance indicators are related to the management efforts to influence

the environmental performance of the organizations operations.
The environmental condition indicators provide information about the environment.

These indicators provide information about the local, regional, national or global
condition of the environment. This information helps the organization to understand the
environmental impacts of its activities and thus help in making decision to improve the
environmental performance.

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Indicators basically used to evaluate environmental performance against the set standards
and thus indicate the direction in which to proceed. Selection of type of indicators for a
firm or project depends upon its relevance, clarity and realistic cost of collection and its
development.
2.3.2 Tools for action
2.3.2.1 Environmental policy
An environmental policy is a statement of the organization’s overall aim and principles of

action w.r.t the environmental, including compliance with all relevant regulatory
requirements. It is a key tool in communicating the environmental priorities of the
organization to all its employees. To ensure an organization's commitment towards a
formulated environmental policy, it is essential that top management be involved in the
process of formulating the policy and setting priorities. Therefore, the first step is to get
the commitment from the high level of management. The organization should then
conduct an initial environmental review and draft an environmental policy. This draft
should be discussed and approved by the board of directors and finally the approved
environmental policy statement must be communicated internally among all its
employees and must also be made available to the public.
2.3.2.2 Market-based economic instruments
Market based instruments are regulations that encourage behavior through market signals
rather than through explicit directives regarding pollution control levels. These policy
instruments such as tradable permits pollution charge are often described as harnessing
market forces. Market based instruments can be categorized into the following four
major categories which are discussed below:
Pollution Charge: Charge system will assess a fee or tax on the amount of pollution
a firm or source generates. It is worthwhile for the firm to reduce emissions to the
point, where its marginal abatement costs are equal to the tax rate. Thus firms control
pollution to different degrees i.e., High cost controllers – less; low-cost controllers –
more. The charge system encourages the industries to further reduce the pollutants.
The charges thus collected can form a fund for restoration of the environment.
Another form of pollution charge is a deposit refund system, where, consumers pay a
surcharge when purchasing a potentially polluting product, and receive a refund on
return of the product after useful life span at appropriate centers. The concept of
extended producers’ responsibility brought in to avoid accumulation of dangerous
products in the environment.
Tradable Permits: Under this system, firms that achieve the emission levels below
their allotted level may sell the surplus permits. Similarly the firms, which are
required to spend more to attain the required degree of treatment/allotted levels, can
purchase permits from others at lower costs and may be benefited.
Market Barrier Reductions: Three known market barrier reduction types are as
follows:
− Market Creation: Measures that facilitate the voluntary exchange of water rights
and thus promote more efficient allocation of scarce water supplies.

2-5
− Liability Concerns: Encourage firms to consider potential environmental damages

of their decisions
− Information Programmes: Ecolabeling and energy efficiency product labeling
requirements
Government Subsidy Reduction: Subsidies are the mirror images of taxes and, in
theory, can provide incentive to address environmental problems. However, it has
been reported that the subsidies encourage economically inefficient and
environmentally unsound practices, and often leads to market distortions due to
differences in area. However, these are important to sustain the expansion of
production, in the national interests. In such cases, the subsidy may be comparable to
the net social benefit.
2.3.2.3 Innovative funding mechanism
There are many forums under which the fund is made available for the issues which are of
global/regional concern (GEF, OECD, Deutch green fund etc.) i.e., climate change, Basal
convention and further fund sources are being explored for the Persistent Organic
Pollutants Convention. Besides these global funding mechanisms, there needs to be
localized alternative mechanisms for boosting the investment in environmental pollution
control. For example, in India the Government has established mechanism to fund the
common effluent treatment plants, which are specifically serving the small and medium
scale enterprises i.e., 25% share by the state Government, matching grants from the
Central Government and surety for 25% soft loan. It means that the industries need to
invest only 25% in first run, thus encouraging voluntary compliance.
There are some more options i.e., if the pollution tax/charge is imposed on the residual
pollution being caused by the industries, municipalities, etc., fund will automatically be
generated, which in turn, can be utilized back for funding the environmental improvement
programmes. The emerging concept of build-operate-transfer (BOT) and build-operate-
own (BOO) are an encouraging development, where there is a possibility to generate
revenue by application of advanced technologies. There are many opportunities which
can be explored, however, what is required is the paradigm shift and focused efforts.
2.3.2.4 EMS and ISO certification
EMS is that part of the overall management system which includes the organizational
structure, responsibilities, practices, procedures, process and resources for determining
and implementing the forms of overall aims, principles of action w.r.t. the environment.
It encompasses the totality of organizational, administrative and policy provisions to be
taken by a firm to control its environmental influences. Common elements of an EMS are
the identification of the environmental impacts and legal obligations, the development of
a plan for management & improvement the assignment of the responsibilities and
monitoring of the performance.
2.3.2.5 Total environmental quality movement (TEQM)
Quality is regarded as
A product attribute that had to be set at an acceptable level and balanced against the
cost

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Something delivered by technical systems engineered by experts rather than the

organization as a whole
Assured primarily through the findings and correction of mistakes at the end of the
production process
One expression of the total environment quality movement (TEQM) is a system of control
called Kaizen. The principles of Kaizen are
Goal must be continuous improvement of quality instead of acceptable quality

Responsibility of the quality shall be shared by all members of an organization
Efforts should be focused on improving the whole process and design of the products
With some modifications, the TQM approach can be applied in the improvement of
corporate environmental performance in both process and product areas.
2.3.2.6 Eco-labeling
It is known as the practice of supplying information on the environmental characteristics

of a product or service to the general public. These labeling schemes can be grouped in to
three types:
Type I: Multiple criteria base; third party (Govt. or non-commercial private

organizations) programme claims overall environmental preferability.
Type II: Specific attribute of a product; often issued by a company/industrial
association
Type III: Agreed set of indices; provides quantified information; self declaration
Among the above, Type I are more reliable because they are established by a third party
and considers the environmental impacts of a product from cradle to grave. However, the
labeling program will only be effective if linked with complementary program of
consumer education and up on restriction of umbrella claims by the producers.
2.3.2.7 Cleaner production
Cleaner production is one of the tools, which has lot of bearing on environmental
pollution control. It is also seen that the approach is changing with time i.e., dumping-to-
control-to-recycle-to-prevention. Promotion of cleaner production principles involve an
insight into the production process not only to get desired yield but also to optimize on
raw material consumption i.e., resource conservation and implications of the waste
treatment and disposal.
2.3.2.8 4-R concept
The concept endorses utilization of the wastes as a by-product to the extent possible i.e.,
Re-cycle, Recover, Re-use, Recharge. Recycling refers to using the wastes/by-products
in the process again as a raw material to maximize the production. Recovery refers to
engineering means such as solvent extraction, distillation, precipitation, etc., to separate
the useful constituents of the wastes, so that these recovered materials can be used. Reuse
refers to the utilization of waste from one process as a raw material to other. Recharging
is an option in which the natural systems are used for renovation of waste for further use.

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2.3.2.9 Eco-efficiency
The World Business Council on sustainable development (WBCSD) defines eco-

efficiency as “the delivery of competitively priced goods and services that satisfy human
needs and bring quality of life, while progressively reducing ecological impacts and
resource intensity throughout the life cycle, to a level at least in line with earth’s carrying
capacity”. The business implements the eco-efficiency on four levels i.e., optimized
processes, recycling of wastes, eco-innovation and new services. Fussler (1995) defined
six dimensions of eco efficiency, which are given below to understand/examine the
system.
Mass: There is an opportunity to significantly reduce mass burdens (raw materials,

fuels, utilities consumed during the life cycle)
Reduce Energy Use: The opportunity is to redesign the product or its use to provide
significant energy savings
Reduce Environmental Toxins: This is concern to the environmental quality and
human health. The opportunity here is to significantly control the dispersion of toxic
elements.
Recycle when Practical: Designing for recyclability is important
Working with Mother Nature: Materials are borrowed and returned to the nature
without negatively affecting the balance of the ecosystem.
Make it Last Longer: It relates to useful life and functions of products. Increasing
the functionality of products also increase their eco efficiency.
The competitiveness among the companies and long-term survival will continue and the
successful implementation of eco efficiency will contribute to their success. There is a
need to shift towards responsible consumerism equal to the efficiency gains made by
corporations – doing more with less.
2.3.2.10 Industrial ecosystem or metabolism
Eco-industrial development is a new paradigm for achieving excellence in business and

environmental performance. It opens up innovative new avenues for managing business
and conducting economic development by creating linkages among local ‘resources’,
including businesses, non-profit groups, governments, unions, educational institutions,
and communities for creative fostering of dynamic and responsible growth. Antiquated
business strategies based on isolated enterprises are no longer responsive enough to
market, environmental and community requirements.
Sustainable eco-industrial development looks systematically at development, business and

environment, attempting to stretch the boundaries of current practice - on one level, it is
as directly practical as making the right connections between the wastes and resources
needed for production and at the other level it is a whole new way of thinking about doing
business and interacting with communities. At a most basic level, each organization
seeks higher performance within it self. However, most eco-industrial activity is moving
to a new level by increasing the inter connections between the companies.
Strategic partnership networked manufacturing and performed supplier arrangements are

all the examples of ways used by the businesses to ensure growth, contain costs and to
reach out for new opportunities.

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For most businesses, the two essentials for success are the responsive markets and access
to cost-effective, quality resources for producing products or delivering services. In
absence of these two factors, virtually, every other incentive becomes a minor
consideration.
Transportation issues are important at two levels, the ability to get goods to market in an
expeditious way is essential to success in this day of just in time inventories. The use of
least impact transportation with due consideration of speed and cost supports business
success and addresses concerned in the community.
Eco-industrial development works because it consciously mixes a range of targeted

strategies shaped to the contours of the local community, most importantly, it works
because the communities wants nothing less than the best possible in or near their
neighborhoods. For companies it provides a path towards significantly higher operating
results and positive market presence. For our environment, it provides great hope that the
waste will be transformed in to valued product and that the stewardship will be a joint
pledge of both businesses and communities.
2.3.2.11 Eco-industrial park
An eco-industrial park is a community of manufacturing and service businesses seeking

enhanced environmental and economic performance through collaboration in managing
environmental and resource issues including energy, water and materials. By working
together, the community of businesses seeks a collective benefit that is greater than the
some of the individual benefits, each company could realize it is an optimized its
individual performance only. The goal of an eco industrial park is to improve economic
performance of the participating companies by minimizing their environmental impacts.
2.3.2.12 Voluntary agreements
Voluntary environmental agreements among the industries, government, public

representatives, NGOs and other concerned towards attaining certain future demands of
the environment are reported to be successful. Such agreements may be used as a tool
where Government would like to make the standards stringent in future (phase-wise-
stringent). These may be used when conditions are temporary and requires replacing
timely. Also these may be used as supplementary/ complimentary in implementation of
the regulation. The agreements may include:
Target objectives (emission limit values/standards)

Performance objectives (operating procedures)
R&D activities – Government and industry may have agreement to establish better
control technologies.
Monitoring & reporting of the agreement conditions by other agents (NGOs, public
participants, civil authority etc.)
In India, the MoEF, has organized such programme, popularly known as the corporate
responsibility for environment protection (CREP) considering identified 17 categories of
high pollution potential industrial sectors.. Publication in this regard, is available with
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

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2.3.3 Tools for communication
2.3.3.1 State of environment
The Government of India brought out the state of environment report for entire country
and similar reports available for many of the states. These reports are published at regular
intervals to record trends and to identify the required interventions at various levels.
These reports consider the internationally accepted DPSIR framework for the presentation
of the information. DPSIR refers to
¾ D – Driving forces – causes of concern i.e. industries, transportation etc.

¾ P – Pressure – pollutants emanating from driving forces i.e. emission
¾ S – State – quality of environment i.e. air, water & soil quality
¾ I – Impact – Impact on health, eco-system, materials, biodiversity, economic damage
etc.
¾ R – Responses – action for cleaner production, policies (including standards/
guidelines), targets etc.
Environment reports including the above elements gives a comprehensive picture of
specific target area in order to take appropriate measures for improvement. Such reports
capture the concerns which could be considered in EIAs.
2.3.3.2 Corporate environmental reporting
Corporate environmental reports (CER) are only one form of environmental reporting
defined as publicly available, stand alone reports, issued voluntarily by the industries on
their environmental activities (Borphy and Starkey-1996). CER is a means to
environmental improvement and greater accountability, not an end in itself.
Three categories of environmental disclosure are:
Involuntary Disclosure: Without its permission and against its will (env. Campaign,
press, etc.)
Mandatory Disclosure: As required by law
Voluntary Disclosure: The disclosure of information on a voluntary basis
2.4 Objectives of EIA
Objectives of EIA include the following:
¾ To ensure environmental considerations are explicitly addressed and incorporated

into the development decision-making process;
¾ To anticipate and avoid, minimize or offset the adverse significant biophysical, social
and other relevant effects of development proposals;
¾ To protect the productivity and capacity of natural systems and the ecological
processes which maintain their functions; and
¾ To promote development that is sustainable and optimizes resource use and
management opportunities.

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2.5 Types of EIA
Environmental assessments could be classified into four types i.e. strategic environmental
assessment, regional EIA, sectoral EIA and project level EIA. These are precisely
discussed below:
Strategic environmental assessment
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) refers to systematic analysis of the

environmental effects of development policies, plans, programmes and other proposed
strategic actions. SEA represents a proactive approach to integrating environmental
considerations into the higher levels of decision-making – beyond the project level, when
major alternatives are still open.
Regional EIA
EIA in the context of regional planning integrates environmental concerns into

development planning for a geographic region, normally at the sub-country level. Such
an approach is referred to as the economic-cum-environmental (EcE) development
planning (Asian Development Bank, 1993a). This approach facilitates adequate
integration of economic development with management of renewable natural resources
within the carrying capacity limitation to achieve sustainable development. It fulfils the
need for macro-level environmental integration, which the project-oriented EIA is unable
to address effectively. Regional EIA addresses the environmental impacts of regional
development plans and thus, the context for project-level EIA of the subsequent projects,
within the region. In addition, if environmental effects are considered at regional level,
then cumulative environmental effects of all the projects within the region can be
accounted.
Sectoral EIA
Instead of project-level-EIA, an EIA should take place in the context of regional and
sectoral level planning. Once sectoral level development plans have the integrated
sectoral environmental concerns addressed, the scope of project-level EIA will be quite
minimal. Sectoral EIA helps in addressing specific environmental problems that may be
encountered in planning and implementing sectoral development projects.
Project level EIA
Project level EIA refers to the developmental activity in isolation and the impacts that it
exerts on the receiving environment. Thus, it may not effectively integrate the cumulative
effects of the development in a region.
From the above discussion, it is clear that EIA shall be integrated at all the levels i.e.,
strategic, regional, sectoral and the project level. Whereas, the strategic EIA is a
structural change in the way the things are evaluated for decision-making, the regional
EIA refers to substantial information processing and drawing complex inferences. The
project-level EIA is relatively simple and reaches to meaningful conclusions. Therefore
in India, largely, the project-level EIA studies are taking place and are being considered.
However, in the re-engineered Notification, provisions have been incorporated for giving
a single clearance for the entire industrial estate for e.g., Leather parks, pharma cities etc.,
which is a step towards the regional approach.

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As we progress and the resource planning concepts emerge in our decision-making

process, the integration of overall regional issues will become part of the impact
assessment studies.
2.6 Basic EIA Principles
By integrating the environmental impacts of the development activities and their

mitigation early in the project planning cycle, the benefits of EIA could be realized in all
stages of a project, from exploration and planning, through construction, operations,
decommissioning, and beyond site closure.
A properly-conducted-EIA also lessens conflicts by promoting community participation,

informing decision makers, and also helps in laying the base for environmentally sound
projects. An EIA should meet at least three core values (EIA Training Resource Manual,
UNEP 2002,):
Integrity: The EIA process should be fair, objective, unbiased and balanced
Utility: The EIA process should provide balanced, credible information for decision-
making
Sustainability: The EIA process should result in environmental safeguards
Ideally an EIA process should be:
Purposive- should inform decision makers and result in appropriate levels of

environmental protection and community well-being.
Rigorous- should apply ‘best practicable’ science, employing methodologies and
techniques appropriate to address the problems being investigated.
Practical- should result in providing information and acceptable and implementable
solutions for problems faced by proponents.
Relevant- should provide sufficient, reliable and usable information for development
planning and decision making.
Cost-effective-. should impose the minimum cost burdens in terms of time and
finance on proponents and participants consistent with meeting accepted requirements
and objectives of EIA
Efficient- should achieve the objectives of EIA within the limits of available
information, time, resources and methodology.
Focused- should concentrate on significant environmental effects and key issues; i.e.,
the matters that need to be considered while making decisions.
Adaptive- should be adjusted to the realities, issues and circumstances of the
proposals under review without compromising the integrity of the process, and be
iterative, incorporating lessons learnt throughout the project life cycle.
Participative- should provide appropriate opportunities to inform and involve the
interested and affected publics, and their inputs and concerns should be addressed
explicitly in the documentation and decision making.
Inter-disciplinary- should ensure that the appropriate techniques and experts in the
relevant bio-physical and socio-economic disciplines are employed, including use of
traditional knowledge as relevant.

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Credible- should be carried out with professionalism, rigor, fairness, objectivity,

impartiality and balance, and be subject to independent checks and verification.
Integrated- should address the interrelationships of social, economic and biophysical
aspects.
Transparent- should have clear, easily understood requirements for EIA content;
ensure public access to information; identify the factors that are to be taken into
account in decision making; and acknowledge limitations and difficulties.
Systematic- should result in full consideration of all relevant information on the
affected environment, of proposed alternatives and their impacts, and of the measures
necessary to monitor and investigate residual effects.
2.7 Project Cycle
The generic project cycle including that of leather/skin/hide processing industry has six
main stages:
1. Project concept
2. Pre-feasibility
3. Feasibility
4. Design and engineering
5. Implementation
6. Monitoring and evaluation
It is important to consider the environmental factors on an equal basis with technical and
economic factors throughout the project planning, assessment and implementation phases.
EIA should be introduced at the earliest in the project cycle and must be an integral part
of the project pre-feasibility and feasibility stage. If the EIA considerations are given due
respect in the site selection process by the project proponent, the subsequent stages of the
clearance process would get simplified and would also facilitate easy compliance to the
mitigation measures throughout the project life cycle.
A project’s feasibility study should include a detailed assessment of significant impacts,

the prediction and quantification of impacts and delineation of Environmental
Management Plan (EMP). Findings of the EIA study should preferably be incorporated
in the project design stage so that the project as well as the site alternatives is studied and
necessary changes, if required, are incorporated in the project design stage. This practice
will also help the management in assessing the negative impacts and in designing cost-
effective remedial measures. In general, EIA enhances the project quality and improves
the project planning process.
2.8 Environmental Impacts
Environmental impacts resulting from proposed actions can be grouped into following
categories:
Beneficial or detrimental
Naturally reversible or irreversible
Repairable via management practices or irreparable
Short term or long term
Temporary or continuous
Occurring during construction phase or operational phase

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Local, regional, national or global

Accidental or planned (recognized before hand)
Direct (primary) or Indirect (secondary)
Cumulative or single
The category of impact as stated above, and the significance will facilitate the Expert
Appraisal Committee (EAC)/State Level EAC (SEAC) to take a look at the ToR for EIA
studies, as well as, in decision making process about the developmental activity.
The nature of impacts could fall within three broad classifications i.e., direct, indirect and
cumulative, based on the characteristics of impacts. The assessment of direct, indirect
and cumulative impacts should not be considered in isolation nor can be considered as
separate stages in the EIA. Ideally, the assessment of such impacts should form an
integral part of all stages of the EIA. The TGM does not recommend a single method to
assess the types of impacts, but suggests a practical framework/approach that can be
adapted and combined to suit a particular project and the nature of impacts.
Figure 2-2: Types of Impacts
2.8.1 Direct impacts
Direct impacts occur through direct interaction of an activity with an environmental,

social, or economic component. The activities in the Tannery may contaminate the basic
environmental media. For example, a discharge of effluents from the tannery into a river
may lead to a decline in water quality in terms of high biological oxygen demand (BOD)
or dissolved oxygen (DO) or rise of water toxins or rise of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS),
etc.
2.8.2 Indirect impacts
Indirect impacts on the environment are those which are not a direct result of the project,
often produced away from or as a result of a complex impact pathway. The indirect
impacts are also known as secondary or even tertiary level impacts. For example,
ambient air SO2 rise due to stack emissions may deposit on land as SO4 and cause acidic
soils. Another example of indirect impact, is the decline in water quality due to rise in

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temperature of water bodies receiving cooling water discharge from the nearby industry.
This, in turn, may lead to a secondary indirect impact on aquatic flora in that water body
and may further cause reduction in fish population. Reduction in fishing harvests,
affecting the incomes of fishermen is a third level impact. Such impacts are characterized
as socio-economic (third level) impacts. The indirect impacts may also include growth-
inducing impacts and other effects related to induced changes to the pattern of land use or
additional road network, population density or growth rate. In the process, air, water and
other natural systems including the ecosystem may also be affected.
2.8.3 Cumulative impacts
Cumulative impact consists of an impact that is created as a result of the combination of

the projects evaluated in the EIA together with other projects in the same vicinity, causing
related impacts. These impacts occur when the incremental impact of the project is
combined with the cumulative effects of other past, present and reasonably foreseeable
future projects. Figure 2-3 depicts the same. Respective EAC may exercise their
discretion on a case-by-case basis for considering the cumulative impacts.
Figure 2-3: Cumulative Impact
2.8.4 Induced impact
The cumulative impacts can be due to induced actions of projects and activities that may
occur if the action under assessment is implemented such as growth-inducing impacts and
other effects related to induced changes to the pattern of future land use or additional road
network, population density or growth rate (e.g. excess growth may be induced in the
zone of influence around a power project, and in the process causing additional effects on
air, water and other natural ecosystems). Induced actions may not be officially
announced or be part of any official plan. Increase in workforce and nearby communities
contributes to this effect.
They usually have no direct relationship with the action under assessment, and represent
the growth-inducing potential of an action. New roads leading from those constructed for
a project, increased recreational activities (e.g., hunting, fishing), and construction of new
service facilities are examples of induced actions.
However, the cumulative impacts due to induced development or third level or even
secondary indirect impacts are difficult to be quantified. Because of higher levels of
uncertainties, these impacts cannot normally be assessed over a long time horizon. An
EIA practitioner usually can only guess as to what such induced impacts may be and the

2-15
possible extent of their implications on the environmental factors. Respective EAC may
exercise their discretion on a case-by-case basis for considering the induced impacts.
2.9 Significance of Impacts
This TGM establishes the significance of impacts first and proceeds to delineate the
associated mitigation measures. So the significance here reflects the ‘worst-case
scenario’ before mitigation is applied, and therefore provides an understanding of what
may happen if mitigation fails or is not as effective as predicted. For establishing
significance of different impacts, understanding the responses and interaction of the
environmental system is essential. Hence, the impact interactions and pathways are to be
understood and established first. Such an understanding will help in the assessment
process to quantify the impact as accurately as possible. Complex interactions,
particularly in the case of certain indirect or cumulative impacts, may give rise to non-
linear responses which are often difficult to understand and therefore their significance
difficult to assess. It is hence understood that indirect or cumulative impacts are more
complex than the direct impacts. Currently the impact assessments are limited to direct
impacts. In case mitigation measures are delineated before determining significance of
the effect, the significance represents the residual effects.
However, the ultimate objective of an EIA is to achieve sustainable development. The

development process shall invariably cause some residual impacts even after
implementing an EMP effectively. Environmentalists today are faced with a vital, not-
easy-to-answer question—“What is the tolerable level of environmental impact within the
sustainable development framework?” As such, it has been recognized that every
ecosystem has a threshold for absorbing deterioration and a certain capacity for self-
regeneration. These thresholds based on concept of carrying capacity are as follows:
Waste emissions from a project should be within the assimilative capacity of the local
environment to absorb without unacceptable degradation of its future waste
absorptive capacity or other important services.
Harvest rates of renewable resource inputs should be within the regenerative capacity
of the natural system that generates them; depletion rates of non-renewable inputs
should be equal to the rate at which renewable substitutes are developed by human
invention and investment.
The aim of this model is to curb over-consumption and unacceptable environmental
degradation. But because of limitation in available scientific basis, this definition
provides only general guidelines for determining the sustainable use of inputs and
outputs. To establish the level of significance for each identified impact, a three-stage
analysis may be referred:
First, an impact is qualified as being either negative or positive.

Second, the nature of impacts such as direct, indirect, or cumulative is determined
using the impact network
Third, a scale is used to determine the severity of the effect; for example, an impact is
of low, medium, or high significance.
It is not sufficient to simply state the significance of the effect. This determination must
be justified, coherent and documented, notably by a determination methodology, which
must be described in the methodology section of the report. There are many recognized
methodologies to determine the significance of effects.

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2.9.1 Criteria/methodology to determine the significance of the identified

impacts
The criteria can be determined by answering some questions regarding the factors
affecting the significance. This will help the EIA stake-holders, the practitioner in
particular, to determine the significance of the identified impacts eventually. Typical
examples of such factors (one approach reported by Duval and Vonk 1994) include the
following:
Exceedance of a Threshold: Significance may increase if a threshold is exceeded. e.g.,

Emissions of PM10 exceed the permissible threshold.
Effectiveness of Mitigation: Significance may increase as the effectiveness of
mitigation measures decreases. e.g., control technologies, which may not assure
consistent compliance to the requirements.
Size of Study Area: Significance may increase as the zone of effects increases.
Incremental Contribution of Effects from Action under Review: Significance may
increase as the relative contribution of an action increases.
Relative Contribution of Effects of Other Actions: Significance may decrease as the
significance of nearby larger actions increase.
Relative Rarity of Species: Significance may increase as a species becomes
increasingly rare or threatened.
Significance of Local Effects: Significance may increase as the significance of local
effects is high.
Magnitude of Change Relative to Natural Background Variability: Significance may
decrease if effects are within natural assimilative capacity or variability.
Creation of Induced Actions: Significance may increase as a induced activities also
highly significant and
Degree of Existing Disturbance: Significance may increase if the surrounding
environment is pristine:
For determining significance of impacts, it is important to remember that secondary and
higher order effects can also occur as a result of a primary interaction between a project
activity and the local environment. Wherever a primary effect is identified, the
practitioner should always think if secondary or tertiary effects on other aspects of the
environment could also arise.
The EIA should also consider the effects that could arise from the project due to induced
developments, which take place as a consequence of the project. Ex. Population density
and associated infrastructure and jobs for people attracted to the area by the project. It
also requires consideration of cumulative effects that could arise from a combination of
the effects due to other projects with those of other existing or planned developments in
the surrounding area. So the necessity to formulate a qualitative checklist is suggested to
test significance, in general.

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3.
LEATHER / SKIN / HIDE PROCESSING
INDUSTRY
3.1 Introduction
The use of leather goes back to the pre-historic times. The principal raw material is the
hide or skin of animals including—to a small extent— that of reptiles, fish and birds. The
tannery operation involves converting the raw skin, a highly putrescible material, into
leather, a stable material, which can be used in the manufacture of a wide range of
products. The whole process involves a sequence of complex chemical reactions and
mechanical processes. Performing various steps of pre- and post-treatment, generates a
final product with specific properties: stability, appearance, water resistance, temperature
resistance, elasticity and permeability for perspiration and air, etc.
Leather is an intermediate industrial product, with numerous applications in down-stream

sectors of the consumer products industry. For the latter, leather is often the major
material input, and is cut and assembled into shoes, clothing, leather goods, furniture and
many other items of daily use. Different applications require different types of leather.
The tanning of hides and skins also generates other by-products, which find outlets in
several industrial sectors such as—dog biscuits and other animal food production, fine
chemicals including photography and cosmetics, soil conditioning and fertilizers. The
process of making leather has always been associated with odour and water pollution. As
it seemed to be an inevitable consequence of the activity at the time, in some cultures
people engaged in this industry rarely enjoyed a high social status. Most of the basic
stages of leather making are still the same, but the tanning industry has undergone
important changes. Several major improvements were made for environmental
protection.
A considerable potential impact of tanning and associated activities on air, surface and
ground water, soil and other natural resources arises from the chemicals applied, the raw
materials used, the effluents, wastes and off-gases release generated in the process.
Therefore, provisions for pollution control, waste generation and disposal, chemical
safety, accidents, raw material/ water/ energy consumption are essential.
Tanning industry is one of the oldest industries in India and ranks amongst the five top-
most export oriented industries of the country. The total value of leather and leather
products export and Indian market was estimated around US $ 8 billion for the year 2008.
The main centers of tanning industry are located in the States of Tamil Nadu, Andhra
Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Punjab, Rajasthan and
West Bengal. There are about 2000 tanneries spread all over India. The total processing
capacity is about seven thousand tonnes per year. About 75% of the tanneries are in
cottage and small-scale sector, about 20% in the medium and only about 5% in the
medium/large sector.

3-1
Leather / Skin / Hide Processing Industry (Tannery)
Figure 3-1: Location of Tanneries in India
3.2 Leather Manufacturing Process
Animal skin consists of epidermis, a layer of fatty tissue called areolar and inner corium.
The semi-soluble protein, called ‘collagen’ present in corium is converted into highly
durable leather through tanning operations. Skin of cows and buffaloes is called hide.
Skin of goats and sheep is called skin. In India, 80% of hide available is from animals
that died naturally due to ban on cow slaughter in many parts of the country. Goat and
sheep skins, however, are by products of meat industry. Hides are 1-3 square meter (m2)
in size and weigh about 10-20 kilograms (kg). Skins are smaller in size, 0.4 – 0.5 m2 and
lighter in weight around 1-2 kg. Slaughter hides and skins contain 60-70% of moisture,
which make them liable to bacterial attack, which in turn decomposes the hides and skins.
The preservation of hides and skins in a tannery can be split into following four main
categories:
Preservation of hides and skins storage

Beam house operations

3-2
Tanning operations
Post-tanning and finishing operations
Furthermore, tanneries employ abatement techniques for the treatment of wastewater,
solid waste and air emissions generated during these processes. Operations carried out in
the beam house, tanyard, and post-tanning areas are often referred to as wet processes, as
they are performed in processing vessels such as drums. After post-tanning, the leather is
subjected to dry finishing operations.
Processes employed in each of the above categories change depending on the raw
materials used and the final desired products. Hence the environmental impacts vary
from tannery to tannery and a more detailed assessment is necessary at each unit/site.
3.2.1 Process of tanning
The process of converting raw hides and skins into leather is called tanning. The
operations falling in pre-tanning, tanning and post-tanning operations are depicted in the
figure below:
Figure 3-2: Tanning Process
Brief process description of each step is discussed in the sections below:

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3.2.1.1 Pre-tanning operations
a) Raw hides/skins
Usually, the hides/skins consist 65% of the water and 30-35% proteins and fat. Because
of the high amount of moisture in the hides/skin, there will be bacterial degradation. In
order to prevent this bacterial activity, the moisture content should be brought down to
less than 30%. This dehydration is usually done by applying common salt (i.e., Sodium
Chloride) to the hides/ skins to the tune of 30-45% by weight.
b) Sorting
Hides and skins are sorted into several grades by size, weight, or quality.
c) Trimming
Trimming is generally carried out during the sorting process. Some of the edges (legs,
tails and heads, etc.) of the raw hides and skins can be cut off. Usually this is done in the
abattoir, but it can also be carried out in tanneries.
d) Curing and storing
Curing is a process that prevents the decomposition of hides and skins from the time they
are flayed in the abattoir until the processes in the beam house begin. Whenever a raw
material cannot be processed immediately ("green"), it must be cured. Popular methods
of long-term preservation are salting and drying. Methods for short-term preservation (2-
5 days) are cooling, using crushed ice or refrigerated storage, and biocides. Curing is
done in the abattoir, at the hide market, or at the tannery. In certain cases it might be
necessary to repeat the step in the tannery, e.g., chilled hides can be salted for longer
storage or if salting was not efficient enough.
Hides and skins are generally stored on pallets in ventilated or air- conditioned and/or
cooled areas, depending on the method of curing chosen. From storage the hides and
skins are taken to the beam house.
e) Soaking
The main purpose of this process is to remove the salt used during curing, re-hydrating
the material and to get rid of unwanted materials such as dung, blood, soil, etc. The
duration of soaking may range from several hours to a few days. Depending on the type
of raw materials used, soaking additives such as surfactants, enzyme preparations and
bactericides can be used.
The process of soaking can be classified into three stages
Dirt Soaking – In dirt soaking, 300-400 % of water is used to remove the unwanted
materials
Main Soaking – The purpose of main soaking is to re-hydrate the material. In this
operation, water, non-anionic wetting agent (0.2 % concentrated Soda ash (0.2%
concentrated) and preservatives (0.0 5% concentration) are used.
Final soaking – Only water is used for the washing purpose in this operation

3-4
Major part of salt associated with preservation of skin/ hides is removed during the
soaking operation.
f) Liming
The purpose of this operation is to facilitate the removal of hair, flesh, fat (partially),
inter-fibrillary protein and to open-up the fibrous structure for osmotic swelling. The
process of liming can be broadly classified into two parts i.e., dehairing and re-liming
Dehairing – Lime (8-10 %) along with Sodium Sulphide (3 %) is applied to the skin
to remove hair
Re-liming – To open up fibrous structure, lime, soda ash, caustic soda, etc., are
applied. The pH of the skin being processed will rise to 12- 12.5.
g) Fleshing
The excess fleshing is removed manually or by using fleshing machines. The quantity of
wet fleshings is in the range of 10-15% of the weight of raw hides/skins
h) De–liming
This is a process to adjust the pH in between 8-8.5 in order to enhance the enzymatic
activity, which converts some of the proteins into soluble forms. pH correction i.e., from
12-12.5 to 8-8.5 are done by using ammonium chloride in case of soft leather and
ammonium sulphate in case of hard leather.
i) Pickling
Pickling is a process of correcting the pH suitable to the tanning operation and to prevent
swelling of the leather i.e. dehydration of the leather. In this process, water (80%), salts
(8-10%), formic acid (0.28- 0.3%), sulphuric acid (0.75 – 2% based on thickness) are
applied.
PH CORRECTION: for vegetable tanning, a pH in between 4 and 4.5 is maintained

whereas, pH in between 2.5 and 7.3 is maintained in case of chrome tanning.
PREVENTION OF SWELLING: the salts to the tune of 8-10% are used in this process,
to prevent the swelling. Thus the dehydration takes place.
3.2.1.2 Tanning operations
The tanning process is of two types i.e., chrome tanning and vegetable tanning. Of the
total leather production in India, more than 80% is based on chrome tanning and the rest
is based on vegetable tanning.
a) Chrome tanning
Basic chromium sulphate [Cr2(SO4)3] (7-10 %) containing 25% Cr2O3 and sodium
sulphate (25- 30%) is used in chrome tanning. Part of the pickle bath is used for chrome
tanning operation. The pH is increased to 3.8-4.0 at the end of chrome tanning process
which is called basification. The semi-finished leather after chrome tanning is called wet
blue.

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b) Vegetable tanning
Plant extracts are used for the purpose of tanning in this process. The pH falls down from
4- 4.5 to 3-3.5. Though this process is free of any heavy metal use, the leather developed
from this process has comparatively weaker capacity of heat resistance and dye-holding.
3.2.1.3 Post-tanning operations
Post-tanning operations comprise of re-chroming of semi-finished wet blue leather,

neutralization, dyeing, fat liquoring and finishing. In case if post-tanning of vegetable
tanned semi-finished leather, the operations involved are semi-chrome tanning,
neutralization, dyeing, fat liquoring and finishing. However the operations vary
depending upon the final product.
Sammying: It is a mechanized process followed to remove excess moisture in the wet

blue.
Splitting: After sammying, the material is split into required thickness using splitting
machine
Shaving and Trimming: The semi-finished leather is leveled using the shaving
machine.
Re-chroming: Depending on the quality of wet blue, re-chroming is carried out to
improve the chromium content in the leather.
Semi-chroming: Incase of vegetable tanned semi-finished leather, chrome tanning is
given depending on the final leather quality.
Neutralization: pH is adjusted to 4.5-6.5
Dyeing: The leather is coloured using dyes such as anionic dyes, acid dyes, direct,
metal complex compounds and basic dyes.
Fat-liquoring: Natural/synthetic oils are applied for fat liquoring, thereby imparting
softness to the leather
Finishing: Phenolics, melamine, acrylics, polymers, naphthalene, etc., are used for
finishing to impart fullness to the leather.
3.2.2 Input Vs output in the tannery process
The major inputs such as water, chemicals in each sectional operation starting from
soaking, liming, fleshing, deliming, pickling, vegetable/chromium tanning, etc., till
finishing are shown as a part in the process flow diagram in Figure 3-3.
The mode of operation and equipment used such as pits, paddle, drums, type of
machine operations are also indicated as a part in the process flow diagram in figure
3-3.
The waste discharges from each sectional operation such as wastewater fleshings,
waste trimmings and the major constituents in the wastewater in terms of TDS, COD,
BOD are also given in Figure 3-3.

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Figure 3-3: Input vs. Output in the Tanneries

Source: CPCB
3.3 Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Rejects
Environmental issues associated with tanning and leather finishing include the following:
Wastewater
Air emissions
Solid waste
Hazardous materials

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3.3.1 Wastewater
A. Water usage
Water plays a vital role in tannery operations. Approximately 30-40 litre (L) of water is
used for processing one kilogram (kg) of raw hide/skin into finished leather. Most of the
Indian tanneries which are located near the riverbanks or natural water bodies draw
surface water. Ground water from their own open wells/tubewells existing within their
premises is also used by some tanneries. Most of the traditional tanneries store water in
open cement lined pits and ground level tanks. Water from these storage tanks would be
pumped directly to the process zones.
B. Wastewater generation and characteristics

Volume of wastewater (effluent) and its characteristics vary from tannery to tannery.
They may also vary within the same tannery from time to time. The wastewater from
beam house process viz. soaking, liming, deliming, etc., are highly alkaline, containing
decomposing organic matter, hair, lime, sulphide and organic nitrogen with high BOD
and COD. The wastewater from tanyard process viz. pickling, chrome tanning are acidic
and coloured. Effluent from vegetable tanning contains high organic matter. The chrome
tanning wastes contain high amounts of chromium mostly in the trivalent form. The
characteristics of combined wastewater before treatment and after treatment are given in
Table 3.1.
Table 3-1: Characteristics of Wastewater
SL Parameters Average concentration in Average concentration

No. mg/litre (Before in mg/litre(After Pre-
Treatment) treatment)
1. BOD 1850 700

2. COD 4500 3000
3. Chloride 5500 1200
4. SS 3750 1500
5. Total Cr 165 38
Source: Minimal National Standard for Tanneries: COINDS/35/1991-92,
CPCB, Delhi
The pollution load per tonne of hides and skins process is given in Table 3-2
Table 3-2: Pollution Load per tonne of Hides/Skins Processed
S.No. Pollution Parameter Pollution Load (kg)
1 Volume (m3 ) 40
2 BOD 70
3 COD 180
4 Chlorides (Cl) 270

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5 Dissolved Solids 600

6 Suspended Solids (SS) 100
7 Sulphides (S) 4
8 Chromium (Cr) 30
Note: Composite Wastewater (no Segregation)
Source: Central Leather Research Institute
Process-wise generation of wastewater and their characteristics are explained in Table 3-
3:
Table 3-3: Characteristics of Tannery Effluent
Parameter Soaking Beam House Pickling & Wet finish - Composite

Operation Chrome Rechromin (Including
(Liming, Tanning g Dyeing & Washings)
Reliming, Fat Liquor
Fleshing ,
Deliming)
Volume of the 6000 - 6000 – 10000 1500 – 3000 3000 – 5000 30000 –
effluent in 9000 40000
litres /ton of
hides/skins
pH 7.5 - 8.0 8 - 12 2.2 – 4.0 3.5 - 4.5 7.0 - 9.0
BOD 5 day at 1100 - 2000 - 8000 400 - 800 1000 – 2000 1200 – 3000
20°C (Total) 2500
COD (Total) 3000 - 3000 – 15000 1000 - 3000 2500 – 7000 2500 – 8000
6000
Sulphide (as S) - 50 – 200 - - 30 – 150
Total Solids 35000 - 6000 - 20000 30000 - 4000 – 15000 –
(TS) 55000 60000 10000 25000
Dissolved 32000 - 5000 – 15000 29000 - 3400 – 9000 13000 –
Solids (DS) 48000 58000 20000
Suspended 3000 - 3000 – 15000 1000 - 2000 600 – 1000 2000 – 5000
Solids (SS) 7000
Chlorides (as 15000 - 3000 – 6000 15000 - 500 – 1000 6000 – 9500
Cl) 30000 25000
Total Cr - - 1500 - 3000 30 – 60 80 – 200
All values except pH are expressed in mg/L

Volume of wastewater applicable for hides (cow & buffalo) and goatskins and not for
wool sheepskins
Source: Central Leather Research Institute
3.3.1.1 Effluent treatment
Techniques for treating effluent from tanneries include source segregation and pre-
treatment for removal/ recovery of chromium; grease traps, skimmers or oil water

3-9
separators for separation of floatable solids; filtration for separation of filterable solids;
flow and load equalization; sedimentation for suspended solids reduction using clarifiers;
biological treatment, typically aerobic treatment, for reduction of BOD; biological
nutrient removal for reduction in nitrogen and phosphorus; chlorination of effluent where
disinfection is required; dewatering and disposal of residuals in designated hazardous
waste landfills. The typical wastewater treatment process flow diagram is shown in
Figure 3-4. The following additional engineering controls may be required in addressing
the specific pollution control parameters:
Advanced metal removal using membrane filtration or other physical/ chemical

treatment technologies
Reduction in effluent toxicity using appropriate technology (such as reverse osmosis
(RO), ion exchange, activated carbon, etc.),
Reduction of TDS in the effluent using RO or evaporation, and
Containment and neutralization of odour nuisance.
Management of industrial wastewater and examples of treatment approaches are

discussed in the General EHS Guidelines. Through use of these technologies and good
practice techniques for wastewater management, facilities should meet the Guideline
Values for wastewater discharge.

3-10
Figure 3-4: Tannery Effluent Treatment System

Source: Central Leather Research Institute, Chennai.

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3.3.2 Air emissions
Air emissions from tanning facilities include the following:
Table 3-4: Sources of Air Emissions and Preventive Methods
Emission Source Operations in Suggestive Methods of Prevention

to Air Tannery
Organic Degreasing Usage of water-based formulations for spray

Solvents Finishing dyeing
Usage of roller coating techniques or curtain
VOCs Spray-finish Machines coating machines wherever applicable
Dryers Usage of spraying units with economizers and
high volume / low-pressure spray guns
Avoid usage of internationally banned solvents
Usage of wet scrubbers, activated carbon
adsorption, bio-filters (to remove odors),
cryogenic treatment, and catalytic or thermal
oxidation.
Sulfides Beam house and Maintain a basic pH over 10 in the equalization
Effluent treatment and sulphide oxidation tanks.
Avoid breeding anaerobic conditions in sulphate
containing materials.
Add manganeese sulphate to treated effluent.
Use adequate ventilation
Ammonia Beam House Adequate ventilation followed by wet scrubbing
Deliming
Dehairing
Drying after dye-
penetration
Dust Storage handling of centralized system
powdery chemicals employing cyclones
Dry shaving Usage of scrubbers/bag filters, as needed.
Buffing
Dust removal machines
Milling drums, Stalking
Emissions of sulfur dioxide may occur during bleaching, post-tanning operations, or

carbon dioxide (CO2) deliming, but they are not typically a significant source of
emissions.
Table 3-5: Odour Emissions to Air
Odorous Source Operations in Tannery Suggestive Methods of Prevention

Emissions
to Air
NH3 Beam house operations Prompt curing of raw hides
Reduce the time that sludge remains in
H2S Beam house operations the thickener, dewater thickened sludge
by centrifugation or filter press, and dry
ETP collection tanks
the resulting filter cake. Sludge

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ETP Primary Treatment Units containing less than 30 % solids may

generate especially strong odors
ETP Sludge Dewatering System
Ventilate tannery areas and control
ETP Anaerobic Lagoons
exhaust from odorous areas (e.g., where
wastewater sludge is thickened and
VOCs Finishing Operations dewatered), through use of a biofilter
and / or a wet scrubber with acid, alkali,
CH4 ETP Anaerobic Lagoons or oxidant
Source: Draft report of the Expert Committee on Odor Pollution and its Control, July
2007, CPCB
3.3.3 Solid waste
Solid waste includes salt from raw skin / hide dusting; raw skin / hide trimmings; hair
from the liming / dehairing process, which may contain lime and sulfides; and fleshing
from raw skins / hides. Other solid waste from tannery industry includes wet-blue
shavings, containing Cr2O3; wet-blue trimming, which is generated from the finishing
processes and contains Chromium oxide (CrO), syntans, and dye; and buffing dust, which
also contains CrO, syntans, and dye. The reducing characteristics of tannery sludge
stabilize Cr(III) with respect to Cr(VI), due to the presence of organic matter and sulfides.
Prevention and control measures for solid waste include the following:
Reduce inputs of process agents (particularly precipitation agents in wastewater

treatment) to the extent practically applicable
Segregate different waste / residue fractions to facilitate recovery and re-use (e.g., to
manufacture pet toys, pet food, leather fiberboard)
Recycle sludge as compost / soil conditioner or in anaerobic digestions for energy
generation. Process sludge may be used for composting / agriculture after appropriate
assessment for contaminants and potential impacts to soil and groundwater
Fleshings could be degraded through bio-methanation process – CLRI research findings
are encouraging.
3.3.4 Hazardous materials
Tanning and leather finishing processes involve the use of a variety of hazardous
chemicals. Guidance on the management of hazardous materials, including handling,
storage, and transportation, shall be adopted as provided in the General EHS Guidelines.
3.4 Cleaner Technologies, Minimization, and Recycling / Reuse Options
3.4.1 Cleaner technologies in leather processing
The International Union of Environment (IUE) Commission understands that cleaner

technology can be defined as the environmentally and economically best practicable
technology (BATNEEC, best available technology not entailing excessive cost). Clean
technology may be defined in terms of minimum environmental impact, towards which
the industry is striving.

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Cleaner technologies and waste minimization in leather processing based on the IUE
Commission report for world leather sector are listed as follows:
a) Background
The following factors have to be taken into account when considering the application of
cleaner technologies:
The condition of the raw stock received by the tanning industry has a direct effect on
the resulting cleaner technologies that can be applied.
Good farming practices are encouraged so that hides and skins do not suffer from
ectoparasite infestation or damage inflicted by barbed wire, horns or other outside
influences. Such damage has to be masked by the tanners involving extra processes
using additional material resources and often creating added waste disposal problems
(e.g. buffing dust, shavings, etc.)
The amount of dung attached to an animal hide or skin as a direct result of poor
farming practices also uses more natural resources and creates additional loadings on
the effluent and the solid wastes treating which becomes the responsibility of the
tanner.
Damage to the hide or skins, such as poor flaying practice at the abattoir, may also
create increased waste disposal problems for the tanner.
The IUE Commission is concerned to take into account the technologies currently applied
by the most advanced tanneries and not just to consider the latest developments from
research units.
The general recommendations have to be adapted to local conditions and under the
supervision of a leather specialist and taking into account the requirements of the
production.
b) Preservation of fresh or cooled hides and skins
Fresh or uncured raw stock is available to tanneries in many countries. Whenever

possible, treatment of fresh hides and skins is the best solution to reduce salt pollution.
Time elapsing between slaughtering and further treatment (whether curing itself or the
initiating of wet processing in the tannery) must not exceed a few hours. When an
abattoir and a tannery are operationally linked, fresh raw stock may be used. In such
cases, proper measures may be taken to handle excess raw stock available with the
abattoir.
Beyond this period, it is necessary to cool the raw stock, either in ice or cold air. Cold air
is necessary if hides are transported over long distance. Storage below 4°C yields good
preservation up to three weeks, under ideal conditions, although some dehydration may
be expected. This system of retaining raw stock quality is used in Europe, by transporting
raw stock in refrigerated lorries, but it is recognized that this may not be feasible or
economical in developing economies. Raw stock may be preserved in ice, but storage is
more problematical than chilling, due to melting of the ice, run-off of water and the
potential for bacterial growth on wetted pelt.

3-14
c) Drying
Shade drying of small skins is a low cost environmentally acceptable process in some
climates. Controlled air-drying using heat pump or other system is suitable for any
climate.
d) Dry salting
Dry salting combining salt curing and shade drying can minimize the amount of salt used
for preservation of skins and hides.
e) Use of antiseptics
The use of antiseptics with low effect on the environment impact and toxicity can help to
increase storage time of fresh or chilled hides and skins. Suitable preservatives that are
used around the world include: TCMTB, Isothiazolone products, potassium dimethyl
dithiocarbamate, sodium chlorite, benzalkonium chloride, sodium fluoride and boric acid.
Their use must be regularly reviewed, to reflect changing legislation, because they will be
discharged in the effluent.
Some of these agents that may have both bacteriacidal and fungicidal properties, are also
appropriate for soaking, pickling and wet-blue preservation.
f) Partial salt elimination
It is possible to eliminate up to 10 % of the salt added to hides and skins for preservation,
by using hand shaking, mechanical brushes or a suitable drum. The salt can be reused in
pickle processes after dissolution and removal of solids. However, it must not be used for
curing purposes because it is too contaminated with bacteria, particularly halophilic or
halotolerant bacteria, which can cause so called red heat.
This method of salt recovery gives a partial answer to the salt pollution problem. Neither
brine curing nor salt curing can be considered as cleaner technologies, even if pre-
fleshing hides reduces this waste. It is recognized that salt curing is one of the greater
contributors to the environmental impact of tannery operations, Even recovering some of
it has limited benefits, because its reuse is extremely limited, its ecological disposal is
difficult.
Beamhouse processing
The new generation of drums and processors facilitate efficient draining and washing, and
allow the routine use of low floats for processing, thereby resulting in significant savings
in water consumption.
g) Soaking
The consumption of fresh water can be minimized by using a counter current system of
washing to concentrate the salt (if present) and other soluble materials, such as dirt and
blood.
Additional cleaner technology that can be applied at this stage is the fleshing of green
hides after soaking. It yields a lower quantity of fleshings, with a neutral pH. Green
fleshings are more valuable than limed fleshings with regard to tallow recovery, because

3-15
the green fleshings are not subjected to the hydrolyzing liming process. In this way, the
amount of recovered tallow is greater and the content of undesirable free fatty acids is
much lower, so the quality is better.
An associated problem with this approach is the presence of dung on hides, which causes
the fleshing blade to cut into hide, thereby damaging the pelt in an economically
unacceptable way. Removal of dried-on dung by methods other than soaking is difficult.
However, dung removal is a pre-requisite to processing. The problems associated with
dung contamination may be pre-empted by utilization of hides and skins from animals
that have been reared through a quality assurance or clean hide scheme. These schemes
generally require animal husbandry practices that minimize dung contamination.
h) Classical unhairing-liming process
The enzymatic treatment of hides and skins can be considered as a cleaner technology
only if the amount of sodium sulphide is reduced substantially. However it is not yet
possible to totally replace sodium sulphide in processing skins and hides. There are other
agents available that reduce the amount of sulphide in liming, e.g., organic sulphur
compounds (mercaptoethanol, salts of thioglycolic acid, formamidine sulphuric acid) and
amines based proprietary products.
However, it should be borne in mind that all hair dissolving processes will contribute to
the COD/BOD of tannery effluents.
i) Hair saving unhairing-liming methods
For traditional skin production, painting and sweating may be considered the cleaner
technologies. Recovery of hair before dissolution, either when it is separated during the
liming, or at the end of a hair saving process, can lead to a COD reduction of 15 to 20 %
for the mixed tannery effluent, and a total nitrogen decrease of 25 to 30 %.
It is an advantage to filter off the loosened hair as soon as possible and higher COD and
nitrogen reduction can be obtained. This process can be considered as a cleaner
technology if the hair is utilized, even as a nitrogen source.
There are several established methods of hair saving, routinely used in the industry.
However it is recognized that they do not provide a complete effect, since each
incorporates a hair dissolving step, to deal with residual short hairs.
j) Direct recycling of liming float
Direct recycling can be applied when there is a good control level in the tannery.
Resulting advantages are savings in usage of sodium sulphide (up to 40 %) and lime (up
to 50 %). It can give a decrease of 30 to 40 % of the COD and 35 % of the nitrogen for
the mixed effluent.
The quality of the leather produced can be affected negatively through this recycling
process, unless the unhairing and opening up processes are used in two steps. This is
because the suspended melanin and undissoloved cuticle fragments from the dissolved
hair (referred to as scud) are driven into the grain by mechanical action, making it dirty.

3-16
This cleaner technology is industrialized in several large bovine tanneries for shoe upper
leather. The success depends on how the hair is removed and how well the recycled
liquors are cleaned up before they are recycled.
k) Splitting limed hides
Faced with the difficulties of upgrading the chromium-tanned split waste, splitting in the
limed hides can be considered as a cleaner technology as it saves chromium and yields a
by-product that can be easily recovered for food casings or for the production of gelatin.
l) CO2 deliming
Up to 40 % of a tannery’s production of ammonia and nitrogen comes from the use of

ammonium salts during the deliming process. CO2 deliming can be considered as a
cleaner technology giving good results on light bovine pelts (thickness less than 3 mm).
For thicker hides, it is necessary to increase float temperature (up to 35°C) and/or process
duration and/or to add small amounts of deliming auxiliaries. In order to effectively
eliminate the creation of hydrogen sulphide as pH of the deliming solution falls, 0.1%
hydrogen peroxide can be used to scavenge residual sulphide. The grain enamel should be
allowed to delime for perhaps five minutes, to guard against oxidation damage, then the
peroxide can be added safely.
If the pH falls below 7, in case of black or red hides they may appear dirty due to the
retention of melanin in the depleted grain layer.
If the pH of CO2 deliming float is lower compared to common procedure, special bates
can be used. Also, bates with a lower content of ammonium are available.
m) Other ammonium-free deliming
Ammonium-free deliming agents, such as weak acids or esters, can totally or partially
replace ammonium salts used for conventional deliming. However, in comparison with
CO2 deliming the resulting COD is often higher, due to the contribution from the reagent.
Cost and slowness of reaction make them less viable
Tanning operations
Chromium tanning salts are used today in 85 % of tanning processes around the world
Only the trivalent form is used for tanning operations and this chemical cannot be
replaced by another, to give the same quality of leather.
An argument for continuing to use basic Chromium(III) sulphate is the ease of managing
its discharge into the environment and its low environmental impact. Chromium(IV), a
recognized carcinogen is not used in the leather manufacturing process.
n) Reduced salt use in pickling floats
When pickling and tanning steps are separated, the recycling of pickling floats can save
up to 80 % normal salt and 20 to 25 % of the pickling aid. When they are conducted as
one step, the neutral electrolyte can still be recycled in the spent and liquor and reused for
pickling. However, in the absence of analytical data, it must be assumed that much of the
formate in the system will be bound to chromium, either on the leather or in the solution.

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For wool-on sheepskins, using long floats over 150 %, recycle of pickling and tanning
liquors is a current and routine practice. It is also feasible to recycle bating floats.
Salt concentrations in pickling floats can also be reduced by using non-swelling acids,
which however might affect the leather character.
o) Degreasing operations
Solvent degreasing is still in use. This practice can lead to a cleaner technology when the
solvent is recovered, the extraction brines are recycled, and the natural grease is recovered
for commercial use. Discharge of solvents is unavoidable with solvent degreasing, but
alternative technologies can be applied for the high quality skin production.
On wool-on lambskins, it is a common practice to undertake a dry solvent extraction

when crusted.
The use of non-solvent methods implies the use of higher amounts of surfactants.
Ethoxylated fatty alcohols should be recommended instead of the more widely used
ethoxylated alkylphenols, because they are more easily degraded and the use of the later
are to be restricted in the EU. The COD from aqueous treatment may amount as much as
200,000 milligrams per litre (mg/l), due to the content of natural grease and surfactants (1
grams per litre (g/l) of natural grease is about 2,900 mg/l COD, and 1 g/l ethoxylated
alkylphenol is about 2,300 mg/l COD).
To ensure complete mobilization, aqueous degreasing would, ideally, be carried out at a

temperature above the melting point of the grease. However, the melting point of the
grease is normally very close to the shrinkage temperature of the skin. For example, the
melting point of sheepskin grease is approximately 42°C, whereas the shrinkage
temperature of sheepskin pickled pelt is approximately 50°C. Therefore, the risk of heat
damage to the pelt precludes the use of temperatures above the melting point of the
grease. The grease may also be contained within lipocytes, further limiting its dispersal.
The aqueous degreasing of pigskins may be assisted by the use of proteolytic enzymes to
degrade the lipocyte and, thus, mobilize the grease. However, this may not be possible for
sheepskins where the fibre structure is more susceptible to the proteolytic activity of the
enzyme.
p) Wet-white pre-tanning
The rationale behind this notion is to pre-tan or pre-treat the hide, in order to be able to
split and shave prior to chrome tanning, so that less tanned waste is created. The rationale
is to confer resistance to the frictional heating of the pelt surface during shaving. Ideally,
the pre-treatment should be reversible, so that chrome tanning is conducted on unchanged
pelt.
This process, can be considered as a cleaner technology if the chemicals used are neither
toxic nor cause adverse environmental impact. Aluminum (III), titanium (IV) and
zirconium (IV) have been suggested for this role. They are not listed as hazardous,
although restricted in several countries, but their degree of reversibility depends on how
they have been applied. Aldehydic tanning agents can be considered as leading to a
cleaner process, according to local regulations, but their reactions are completely
irreversible, so contribute to a different character in the leather. Syntans are an option,
because their action is more reversible.

3-18
The alternative approach is to change the properties of the pelt, to make it less prone to
distort when the surface is struck by the shaving blade. This can be achieved by reducing
the ability of the fibre structure to slip over itself: this is best achieved with hydrated
silica, used in the fabric industry for the same purpose. Silica interacts weakly with
collagen, in a non-tanning manner, and the effect can be reversed: any discharged silica
has negligible environmental impact.
q) Direct recycling of chromium-tanning floats
When applied under strict control; this can markedly limit chromium from tanning in the
effluent. Savings can be obtained from the process, by a reduction of 20 % of the
chromium used in a conventional tannery process, and up to 50 % for wool-on
sheepskins, and substantial reduction in the amount of salt used, since it too is recycled.
Excess chromium-containing liquor that cannot be easily recycled may be precipitated

and then recycled. Usually such reuse produces wet blue that is a little different in colour.
Acidifying recycled liquor to pH 1 can revert the chrome species to those in fresh chrome
liquor
r) Recovery after precipitation
When large quantities of chromium-bearing floats are recovered, recycling after

precipitation is another solution for chromium recovery. Precipitants that might be used
include sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, and magnesium oxide. The greatest sludge
density is obtained using magnesium oxide. The addition of polyelectrolyte can improve
flocculation.
Sludge obtained after sedimentation and optional filtration is dissolved in sulphuric acid
again, to control the desired basicity in the product. In order to ensure complete
solubilisation of the chrome sludge, the reaction should be conducted at >70oC. For
conventional tanning, it is possible, with this process, to obtain a clarified effluent, with
less than 10 mg/l of chromium, which might be reused for the next pickling or tanning
float. The clarified effluent can also be reused for first soaking float.
Using recovered chrome for tanning results in wet blue that is slightly paler than
conventional production. Further the re-use of precipitated chromium will lead to an
increase in the neutral salts in the effluent.
s) High exhaustion tanning process
In order to reduce chromium concentration in the waste float, high exhaustion chromium
salts, adapted basification products and/or temperature increase can be used. In essence,
all proprietary options are based on higher astringency, by employing higher pH in
basification, but most importantly elevated temperature.
t) Chromium-free tanning
In most cases, chromium tanning should be considered as the best available technology.
Many alternative formulations have been proposed but none can exhibit the versatility of
Chromium(III) for making a wide variety of leathers. Also the hypothermal stability of
chrome leather is a prerequisite for many modern applications of leather.

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Vegetable tanning is the traditional alternative to chrome tanning, conducted by a dry

drum process, or in closed circuit vats, it can minimize waste and must be included in
these considerations. Due to the high pollution load and slow biodegradability
conventional vegetable tanning cannot be considered more environmentally friendly than
chrome tanning. Vegetable tanning has limited application, because of the low
hypothermal stability, the filling effect and the hydrophilicity of the resulting leathers.
Recovery of vegetable tanning floats by ultrafiltration is used in several European
tanneries and the recovered tannins may be used in the tanning process.
Tanning with organic tanning agents, using polymers or condensed plant polyphenols
with an aldehydic crosslinker, can produce mineral-free leather, matching the high
hydrothermal stability of chrome leather. However, they do not have the same
characteristics as chromium-tanned leather, because they are much more filled and
hydrophilic.
Metal-free leathers are being successfully used to produce high-quality, specialty leathers,
for example, automotive leathers with good thermal stability.
Semi-metal tanning can produce chrome-free leather, with equally high hydrothermal
stability. It is a combination of a metal salt, preferably but not exclusively Aluminum(III),
and a plant polyphenol containing pyrogallol groups, often in the form of hydrolysable
tannins.
A life-cycle analysis of each process needs to be taken into account.
Post-tanning operations
When the use of chromium is required for retanning operations, the same consideration
should be given as for chrome tanning. Absence of environmentally unsound dyestuffs
especially those containing benzidine and other banned aromatic amines and of
halogenated oils in fat liquors, form essential elements of cleaner processing. High level
of exhaustion for syntans, dyes and fat liquors are also to be considered in each case, the
chemical principles and conditions for reaction with the leather must be optimized.
Finishing operations
The use of water-based finishing is fundamental for a cleaner process, but the inherent
need to use crosslinkers should be kept in mind. Chemicals used in finishing must not
contain any environmentally undesirable heavy metals or other restricted products. Water-
based formulations (containing low quantities of solvent) are available for spray dyeing.
Finishing products have to meet the current limits imposed by environmental and workers
health regulations. The equipment used is extensive. Roller coating or curtain coating
machines are more desirable from the environmental point of view, but they cannot be
used for all type of leather. For other types, spraying units with economizers and High
Volume Low Pressure (HVLP) spray guns can reduce discharges to the environment.

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3.4.2 Waste minimisation options
3.4.2.1 Recycling
Recycling technologies have been used for long time in vegetable tanning processes,
indeed the conventional counter-current method incorporates recycling as fundamental
element of the technology.
Simple recycling technologies need some control to prevent any deviation in the tannery
process. A laboratory with basic analytical equipment is desirable.
3.4.2.2 Beam house process
To reduce the volume of saline effluents, particularly if the segregated float needs to be
evaporated or specifically processed, it is possible to reuse the soaking float in a counter
current method, analogous to vegetable tanning. Here, the pelts progress into cleaner float
and the contaminated floats move towards the dirt soak. Only the dirt soak liquor, in
which dirt and salt are accumulated are discharged to waste and treatment. This decreases
the amount of water to be evaporated, when salinity is restricted, and reduces the presence
of biocides in effluent. However it does not solve the problem of what to do with the dirt
soak solution. Lagooning where feasible reduces the volume, but salt remains.
The unhairing-liming float can also be reused for the next process. It must be taken into
account that the recovery rate of the liming float should not exceed 75 % in order to limit
the nitrogen concentration. Besides recycling materials (pumps, fine screening, storage
tanks), it is sometimes necessary to warm the float before reuse and also to screen or skim
it in order to eliminate undesirable floating solids and to remove hair and grease from the
surface. Without any sedimentation, an industrial recycling process can save 35 to 40 %
of sodium sulphide and 40 to 45 % of the lime (with classical process quantities of 2.5
%). Excessive quantities of lime should be avoided during the process. It is worth to recall
in this regard that the theoretical requirement for bovine hide is about 1.2%.
3.4.2.3 Tanning process
a) Degreasing float
When sheepskins are solvent degreased, recycling of the residual solvent after distillation
is currently operated. Furthermore, the extraction brine is also easy to reuse for saving of
sodium chloride.
b) Pickling float
Recycling of pickling float has been proven to be highly satisfactory in terms of salt
savings and partly for acid savings. There is no great difficulty if density and acidity of
the float can be regularly controlled.
c) Tanning float
The most common practice is to carefully collect the residual tanning float, to filter it, to
adjust its acidity, and to reuse it as a new tanning float before adding fresh chromium
salts. The recovered volume may be more than required for subsequent tanning
operations, but it is possible to reuse the liquor in post-tanning processes.

3-21
Another possibility is to use the tanning float for a pre-tanning process. In this case, 60 %
of the residual chromium can be recovered.
When pickling and tanning are carried out in the same float, it is also possible to collect
the residual tanning float, to filter and acidify it and reuse it as a pickling float.
3.4.2.4 Post-tanning process
It is much less feasible to recycle post-tanning floats since the chemical condition
required for the steps may be different and steps tend to be conducted sequentially in the
same float. Therefore, the problem of contamination is compounded, especially since
these steps vary greatly, even in a single tannery. Thus recycling technology cannot be
recommended.
3.4.3 Reduction/Recycling/Recovery/Reuse
Leather production is a water-intensive industry. Therefore measurement and control of

consumption are an important and essential point in water management.
In many countries water has become a scarce commodity and the costs for the
consumption and discharge of water increases regularly. Water has to be managed
properly and several options are available to minimize the overall consumption of water.
Reduction
The first step is the reduction of water consumption with strict measurement and control
of consumption. Low float processing, batch-type washing instead of rinsing and
combining processes (compact recipes) are practical examples of technologies to reduce
water consumption by 30% or more. However, lower volume of water results in higher
concentration of pollutants, but that will be partially offset by the greater efficiency of
shorter float process steps. Limitations to reducing float length must be borne in mind,
since not all processes benefit from reduced float length.
Recycling
Certain specific processes are suitable for recycling of floats, although in most cases
installations for treatment are necessary. Examples are; soaking, liming, unhairing,
pickling and chrome tanning liquors, which can reduce the overall water consumption by
20-40%.
Recovery/Reuse
Biologically treated effluent offers the opportunity of replacing a certain amount of the
process floats such as, the beam house process floats, with treated water. Depending on
the type and efficiency of the treatment process additional operations might be necessary,
such as filtration and disinfection, to meet the required water quality standards.
Membrane systems provide the possibility of reusing treated effluents provided that most
of the residual organic matter is removed and disposal of the concentrate is achievable.

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3.4.3.1 Reduction
Reduction in chemical use

Processes should be optimized with regard to chemical use to minimize waste. Reduced
floats allow reduction in chemical use (liming, deliming and pickling). However, due
regard should be given to the chemical and biochemical principles of processing in order
to avoid unnecessary excessive chemical use. For example, lime, sulphide, salt, chrome,
dyes, lubricants, etc.
Tannery solid by-product management

The general recommendations on tannery solid by-product management are based on the
IUE Commission recommendations, these recommendations have to be adapted to suit
the local conditions and under the supervision of an expert.
3.4.3.2 Recovery and reuse
A. Green fleshings
Green fleshings can be used in rendering plants for the recovery of grease and meat meal.
These products must be clean, and contain minimal quantities of minerals.
More importantly, green fleshings are a valuable source of high quality tallow (a type of
animal oil) – a basic commodity with added value. In contrast to limed fleshings, green
fleshings need little pH adjustment prior to enzyme processing. They produce much
higher yield and the quality is good, because the fleshings are not previously subjected to
prolonged alkaline treatment.
B. trimmings
The green and limed trimmings can be used with limed splits for tallow or gelatin
production.
Gelatin production
Gelatin production by a specialized, purpose built process facility represents a major
utilization opportunity for lime splits, not suitable for tanning. The process involves lime
hydrolysis. Soluble gelatin is extracted in a series of hot water batches of increasing
temperature at controlled pH. Different stages of purification, demineralization,
concentration and sterilization are then required prior to final drying. The gelatin product
is used by the food, photographic and pharmaceutical industries. Lower quality gelatin or
glue can be produced by acid hydrolysis and hot water extraction.
i. Sausage casings
Specialized manufacturers use limed splits to produce high quality sausage casings. The
casing manufacturer will impose restrictions on the process chemicals used in the beam
house.

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ii. Pet chews
Delimed hide splits can be dried in moulds of various shapes, to produce dog chews.
Composting: Limed splits, high in nitrogen, low in carbon, will compost readily.
iii. Grease from degreasing process
Fat liquors from the degreasing process can be used as a component of low grade fat
liquors through a sulphitation process.
iv. White splittings
As for lime splits, the wet white process produces splits that can be partially denatured to
produce gelatin or collagen additives. However their use in human food production is
restricted.
v. White shavings
Wet white chemistry options can create environmentally friendly tanned waste; aldehyde
tanned, syntan tanned, marginally vegetable tanned materials have little associated
hazard. These shavings are particularly suitable for use as fertilizer or as a source for
collagen hydrolysate. Aluminum containing shavings can be applied to non-acidic
agricultural land, according to local regulations.
C. Limed fleshings
i. Methane production
Untanned wastes mixed with farming, domestic and fish wastes can be used for methane
production; full-scale plants are in operation in Denmark and Sweden.
Waste fleshings mixed with tannery sludge are digested to produce methane by grinding
to 10 millimetres (mm) and warming to allow microbiological activity, with increased fat
or grease content resulting in increased methane production. The volume of gas evolved
(comprising 75% methane) is estimated to be 615 L/kg of organic material introduced
into the digester, after 25 to 30 days at 35°C. The residual solid phase is suitable for
composting according to chromium content and can be applied directly to agricultural
land as a soil improver. This technique is especially suited to warmer countries, where
the necessary heat input is minimal. The input mix material for this system must have at
least 70% of organic matter content to operate successfully. An industrial scale plant is in
operation in India.
In Denmark, ferrous metal salts are added directly to the reaction vessel of the bio-gas
reactor to avoid the generation of noxious and corrosive gases.
ii. Grease and protein recovery
Hydrolysis leading to the recovery of animal grease and proteins can be achieved in two
ways; either by a liquid hydrolysis (acid or alkali catalyzed), or by enzymatic digestion at
35°C. Following hydrolysis or digestion, the emulsion must be heated to at least 50°C to

3-24
separate the fat, protein and water components into separate phases. The protein phase
contains 5 to 10% protein.
Limed fleshings must be acidified before enzyme treatment. They produce a low yield of
tallow, because it is considerably hydrolyzed by the liming process. In addition, the
quality is low because of the high content of free fatty acid from that hydrolytic reaction.
Gaseous by-products of the process are H2S, mercaptans and odour, and it is therefore
essential to exhaust these via a water wash or a scrubber system containing sodium
hydroxide and sodium hypochlorite. However, in some places, the exhaust gases are
passed into the air intakes of the boilers used for energy production, thereby eliminating
the need for a scrubber. In some cases, a ferrous metal scrubber may be needed prior to
the boiler to capture sulphides.
In respect of the capital and running costs, it is estimated that for economic viability, 10
tonnes of material must be processed per day.
A second process technology involves treatment with hydrogen peroxide and sulphuric
acid at 35-40°C. For this, the fleshings must first be chopped to a particle size of 50-200
mm. The process produces two phases that can be separated by mechanical de-watering;
grease separates from the liquid phase, the yield being 10 to 12.5% of the original
fleshings mass. A protein phase (20-25% dry solids) is also obtained and this can be used
either as animal foodstuff after drying, or as fertilizer. Again, a minimum quantity of 10
tonnes per day needs to be processed for economic viability.
Composting: A mixture of waste fleshings and an appropriate bulking agent (also carbon
source), with aeration, leads to compost production
iii. Recovered hair
There are a number of reported promising uses for the recovered hair from hair-save
processes. These include: felt production, slow degrading plant containers, keratin
hydrolysate, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products (i.e., shampoo, amino acids, etc.)
Composting: Hair recovered through a hair-save process can be incorporated into

existing composting processes, as it is a valuable source of nitrogen and organic carbon.
Fertilizer: Hair can be directly used as slow release source of organic nitrogen and
carbon for fertilizing purposes.
Recovered hair from pigskins: Hair from pigskins is a valuable material that is used for
brushes and other consumer products.
D. Blue Splits and Shavings

Leather board manufacture
Companies are producing leather board from bovine chrome and vegetable shavings and
splittings in several countries, although only shavings satisfying strict quality
requirements are accepted for processing. The leather fibres are mixed with latex, and
after coagulation, the mixture is de-watered, pressed and dried. The final product is
obtained either as separated sheets or as a continuous material.

3-25
Chemical hydrolysis
One industrial gelatin manufacturing process blends the shavings with magnesium oxide
and subsequently extracts 50% of the gelatin content with boiling water. Chromium-
containing slurry (‘scutch’) is generated as a waste.
Protein extraction can be improved with magnesium oxide assisted by enzymes. Liquid
proteins can be used for industrial applications. The chrome cake can be recovered for
chrome liquor production. Other alkaline agents, such as lime and sodium hydroxide are
used industrially.
Acid hydrolysis utilizes concentrated sulphuric acid with steam injection. The hydrolysate
is neutralized with phosphates and supplemented with organic additives to produce a
fertilizer.
The hydrolysate can also be used for different industrial applications, such as in retanning
operations in tanneries, as a coagulating agent in the rubber industry, as complementary
products for surfactants and as plasticiser in concrete production.
Thermal treatment
Various laboratory and industrial trials have demonstrated that chromium-containing

leather waste may be thermally treated to produce an ash containing approximately 50%
chrome oxide, which is similar in nature to the mineral ore feedstock, sodium chromite,
used by the chromium chemicals manufacturing industry. Sodium chromite, converted
into chromate, is the precursor of most chromium chemicals, including chrome tanning
agents.
Enzymatic treatment
Enzymatic digestion of shavings results in a high quality and valuable hydrolysate or

gelatable protein and a protein contaminated chromium sludge. The hydrolysate can be
used in retanning agents, as foam stabilizers, in the chipwood industry and gypsum
industry. The chromium sludge can be reused in a dichromate reduction plant for the
production of Cr2(SO4)2. Full-scale factories processing shavings have been in operation
in the Czech Republic and USA.
Brick making
Mixing of limited amounts of chrome shaving into clay for brick making is carried out in
South America.
Vegetable tanned waste
Vegetable tanned shavings and trimmings may be used in leather board or fertilizer
production by roasting or a wet fermentation process.
Wastewater sludge
Wherever possible, the chromium from spent tanning liquors should be recovered and
reused or used in other industry (e.g. steel). Alternatively, high exhaustion chrome
tanning systems should be used. Either method will minimize the mass of chromium
discharged.

3-26
The organic content of a soaking sludge can be reduced by 65 % in a UASB (up flow
anaerobic sludge blanket) process.
Usual incineration of sludge (with or without leather waste), although technically feasible,
will have limited application due to the economy of scale, and due to associated
environmental problems (air pollution and possibility of chromium oxidation).
There is no risk-based justification for banning the application of chromium-containing

wastes to agricultural land. However, the chromium content of sludge applied to land
must be limited in order to comply with existing regulations and requirements.
Mixing the sludge with clay and bricketting, solidification with fly ash and cement would
minimize leaching of chromium.
By-products yet to be utilized

Buffing dust
Crust and finished leather waste
Finishing resins
Chrome precipitated from post-tanning operations
Viable uses for all the above wastes need to be established.
3.5 Summary of Applicable National Regulations
There are well-defined regulatory requirements which imply that the government must
regulate various aspects of the operations and construction of leather / skin / hide
processing industries to reduce their environmental and social impacts.
3.5.1 Tannery effluent standards as provided by CPCB
Table 3-6: Tannery Effluent Standard (After Primary Treatment): Disposal

Channel/Conduit Carrying Wastewater to Secondary Treatment Plant
Type of Tanneries Parameter Concentration limit not exceed,

mg/l ( except pH)
Chrome tanneries / PH 6.5 – 9.0

Combined chrome and
vegetable tanneries
SS Not to exceed 600
Cr concentration after 45
treatment in the chrome
waste water stream
Vegetable tanneries pH 6.5 – 9.0
SS Not to exceed 600
NOTE: The above standards will apply to those tannery units, which have made full
contribution to a CETP comprising secondary treatment. Those who have not contributed will
be governed by earlier Notification No.. S.O. 64 (E) dated January 18, 1988.
Source: EPA Notification [G.S.R 742(E) dt. 30th Aug; 1990]

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Table 3-7: Tanneries – Effluent Standards
Pollutant Concentration in mg/l, except pH Quantum per raw

hide processed
PH 6.5 – 9.0 -
* BOD (at 27oC, 3 days) 100 -
Suspended Solids 100 -
Sulphides (as S) 1 -
Total Cr (as Cr) 2 -
Oil and Grease 10 -
Wastewater generation - 28 m3 / tonne
* for effluent discharged into inland surface waters BOD limit shall be made stricter to 30 mg/l
by the concerned SPCB
Source: EPA Notification [G.S.R.415 (E), 5th May 1992]
3.5.2 Pending and proposed regulatory requirements
Action points proposed by the CPCB in the CREP document for the tannery industries for
the following:
Chrome Recovery
− All chrome tanning units in the county should have the Chrome Recovery Plant
either on individual basis or on collective basis in the form of Common Chrome
Recovery Plant and use the recovered chrome in the tanning process.
− Common Chrome Recovery Plant is to be installed and commissioned at Kanpur,
for which the feasibility report has already been prepared.
− Recovered chromium is to be utilized in tanning process.
Waste Minimization Measures
− Waste minimization circles should be formed in all the clusters of tanneries in the
country to implement waste minimization measures and for adoption of clean
technologies.
− Efforts should be taken to implement the waste minimization measures in all the
tanneries in the country and gradually made obligatory with time to the tannery
units
Reduction of Water Consumption in Tanneries
− All tanneries should install water meters and flow meters to measure actual
consumption and wastewater discharge
− Water consumption rates should be brought down to 28 m3/tonnes of hides by
taking all waste minimization measures.
Compliance of Standards - All Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETP) and
Effluent Treatment Plants (ETP) should take the following measures

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− Employ qualified and well-trained staff for operation and maintenance (O&M) of
the ETP/CETPs
− Installation of automatic monitoring instruments
− Interlocking of manufacturing processes with the ETP operation
− Separate energy meters for ETPs/CETPs
− Open anaerobic lagoons should be converted into closed systems with gas recovery
− For health and safety of workers in the industry and the ETP/CETP, guidelines
developed by the CPCB should be implemented
− All major tannery units should take up environmental auditing on an yearly basis
− Major tannery units and CETPs should attempt to obtain ISO-14000 certification
− Tannery units and CETP management should take up modifications/ upgrade of the
CETPs/ETPs wherever necessary
TDS Management - All the tannery units to adopt the following:
− Manual/mechanical desalting
− Use of cleaner technology for less use of salt
− Refrigerated transportation of hides
− High rate transpiration system for effluent treatment
− Treated wastewater be mixed with the sewage and the treated effluent be used on
land for irrigation
Solid Waste Management - All the tannery units to adopt the following:
− Utilization of process sludge/solid waste for by-product recovery
− Resource recovery from process sludge and ETP sludge in the form of biogas
− Cr recovery from tanned leather shavings
− Safe disposal of hazardous sludge and non-hazardous solid waste
Salt from Evaporation Ponds - All the tannery units to adopt the following:
− Reuse of recovered salts
− Quality improvement of recovered salts for reuse
− Safe land disposal
− Sea disposal
Use of Boron-bearing compounds should be discouraged
Ground water quality monitoring to be strengthened
Sulphur recovery from sulphide-bearing effluents to be explored
Implementation of recommendation of the Task Force on Leather Tannery units
constituted by the MoEF, Government of India in a phased manner.

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4.
OPERATIONAL ASPECTS OF EIA
Prior environmental clearance process has been revised in the Notification issued on 14th
September, 2006 into following four major stages i.e., screening, scoping, public
consultation and appraisal. Each stage has certain procedures to be followed. This
section deals with all the procedural and technical guidance for conducting objective-
oriented EIA studies, its review and decision-making. Besides, the Notification classified
projects into Category A and Category B, which requires prior environmental clearance
from MoEF and SEIAA/UTEIAA respectively.
Consistency with other requirements

Clearance from other regulatory bodies is not a pre-requisite for obtaining the prior
environmental clearance and all such clearances will be treated as parallel statutory
requirements.
Consent for establishment (CFE) and prior environmental clearance are two different
legal requirements, a project proponent is required to obtain. Therefore, these two
activities can be initiated and proceeded with simultaneously.
If a project falls in the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ), then the project proponent is
required to take separate clearances from the concerned authorities meeting all the
provisions covered in the respective EIA Notification.
Rehabilitation and Resettlement issues need not be dealt under the EIA Notification
as other statutory bodies deal with these issues. However, socio-economic studies be
considered while taking environmental decisions.
4.1 Coverage of Tanneries under the Purview of Notification
All the new projects and expansion of existing projects located within and outside the
notified industrial area are covered in the Notification. Based on pollution potential, these
projects are basically classified into Category A and Category B:
Category A: New tanneries projects outside the industrial area or expansion of

existing units outside the industrial area.
Category B: All new or expansion of projects located within a notified industrial
area/estate.
Besides, if the general condition mentioned in the Notification is applicable, a Category B
project will be treated as Category A project. The contents of the general condition are
discussed in subsequent sections.
The sequence of steps in the process of prior environmental clearance for Category A and
Category B projects are shown in Figure 4-1 and 4-2 respectively. Each stage in the
process of prior environmental clearance for the tanneries is discussed in subsequent
sections.

4-1
Operational Aspects of EIA
In case of expansion or modernization of the developmental Activity:
Any developmental activity, which was issued EIA clearance (existing projects),
when undergoes expansion or modernization (change in process or technology) with
increase in production capacity or any change in product mix beyond the list of
products cleared in the issued clearance is required to submit new application for EIA
clearance.
Any developmental activity, which is listed in Schedule of the EIA Notification and
after expansion due to its total capacity, if falls under the purview of either Category
B or Category A, then such developmental activities requires clearance from
respective authorities.
New industries involved in raw-to-finish stages may preferably be shifted to coastal areas
on techno-economic considerations especially due to the disposal considerations of the
wastewater with dissolved solids.

4-2
Figure 4-1: Prior Environmental Clearance Process for Activities Falling Under
Category A

4-3
Figure 4-2: Prior Environmental Clearance Process for Activities Falling Under
Category B

4-4
4.2 Screening
Screening of the project shall be performed at the initial stage of the project development
so that proponents are aware of their obligations before deciding on the budget, project
design and execution plan.
This stage is applicable only for Category ‘B’ developmental activity. Besides, screening
also refers to the classification of Category B projects into either Category B1 or
Category B2. Category B1 projects require to follow all the stages, that are applicable for
a Category A project, but are processed at the SEIAAs/UTEIAAs. Whereas, Category B2
projects do not require either EIA or public consultation. However, if the General
Condition mentioned in the Notification is applicable to a Category B project, it will be
considered as a Category A project.
As per the Notification, classification of the Category B projects falls under the purview
of the SEAC. This manual provides certain guidelines to the stakeholders for
classification of Category B1 and Category B2.
4.2.1 Applicable conditions for Category B projects
Specific conditions
Any tannery project that is usually falling under Category B will be treated as
Category A, if:
− If any industrial Estate / Complex / Export Processing Zones / Special Economic

Zones / Biotech parks / Leather Complex with homogeneous type of industries
such leather / skin / hide / processing industry or those industrial estates with pre-
defined set of activities (not necessarily homogeneous obtains prior environmental
clearance, individual industries including proposed industrial housing within such
estates / complexes will not be required to take prior environmental clearance, so
long as the terms and conditions for the industrial estate / complex are complied
with (such estates/ complexes must have a clearly identified management with the
legal responsibility of ensuring adherence to the terms and conditions of prior
environmental clearance, who may be held responsible for violation of the same
throughout the life of the complex / estate.)
The SEIAA shall base its decision on the recommendations of a State/UT level SEAC
for the purpose of environmental clearance.
In the absence of a duly constituted SEIAA or SEAC, a Category B project shall be
treated as a Category ‘A’ project
The EAC at the State/UT level shall screen the projects or activities in Category B.
SEAC shall meet at least once every month
If any Category B tannery project/activity, after proposed expansion of
capacity/production, falls under the purview of Category A in terms of production
capacity, then clearance is required from the Central Government.

4-5
4.2.2 Criteria for classification of Category B1 and B2 projects
The classification of Category B projects or activities into B1 or B2 (except the project or

activities listed in item 8(b) in the schedule to the EIA Notification, 2006) will be
determined based on whether or not the project or activity requires further environmental
studies for preparation of an EIA for its appraisal prior to the grant of environmental
clearance. The necessity of which will be decided, depending upon the nature and
location specificity of the project, by SEAC after scrutiny of the applications seeking
environmental clearance for Category B projects or activities.
The projects requiring an EIA report shall be included in Category B1 and remaining
projects will fall under Category B2 and will not require an EIA report and public
consultation.
Situations which could be considered for Category B2 are:
Semi-finished to finished tannery units fall under Category B1 and in case if they are
located in industrial estates, proposing to utilize the approved existing effluent
treatment plant, they may fall under Category B2.
4.2.3 Application for prior environmental clearance
The project proponent, after identifying the site and pre-feasibility study, is required
to apply for the prior environmental clearance in Form 1 given in Annexure I, which
is required to be filled and submitted along with pre-feasibility report to the
concerned Central Government or State EIA Authority.
Prior environmental clearance is required before any construction work, or
preparation of land on the project is started by the project management, except for
securing the land.
If the application is made for a specific developmental activity, which has an inherent
area development component as a part of its project proposal and the same project
also attract the construction and area development provisions under 8a and 8b of the
Schedule, then the project will be seen as a developmental activity other than 8a and
8b of the Schedule.
4.2.4 Siting guidelines
These are the guidelines, stakeholders may consider while siting the developmental
projects, to minimize the associated possible environmental impacts. While in some
situations, completely sticking to these guidelines is difficult and unwarranted, therefore
these guidelines may be kept in the background, as far as possible, while taking the
decisions.
Areas preferably be avoided

In siting industries, care should be taken to minimize the adverse impact of the industries
on the immediate neighborhood as well as distant places. Some of the natural life
sustaining systems and some specific land uses are sensitive to industrial impacts because
of the nature and extent of fragility. In order to protect such sites, the industries may
maintain the following distances, as far as possible from the specific areas listed:

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Ecologically and/or otherwise sensitive areas: Preferably 5 km; depending on the geo-
climatic conditions the requisite distance may be decided appropriately by the agency.
Coastal Areas: Preferably ½ km away from high tide line.
Flood Plain of the Riverine System: Preferably ½ km away from flood plain or
modified flood plain affected by dam in the upstream or by flood control systems.
Transport/Communication System: Preferably ½ km away from highway and railway
line.
Major Settlements (3,00,000 population) : Distance from major settlements is difficult
to maintain because of urban sprawl. At the time of siting of the industry, if the
notified limit of any major settlement is found to be within 20 km., from the project
boundary, the spatial direction of growth of the settlement for at least a decade must
be assessed. Subsequently, the industry shall be sited at least 10 km from the
projected growth boundary of the settlement
NOTE:
Ecological and/or otherwise sensitive areas include (i) Religious and Historic Places; (ii)
Archaeological Monuments (e.g. identified zone around Taj Mahal); (iii) Scenic Areas; (iv) Hill
Resorts; (v) Beach Resorts; (vi) Health Resorts; (vii) Coastal Areas rich in Corals, Mangroves,
Breeding Grounds of Specific Species; (viii) Estuaries rich in Mangroves, Breeding grounds of
Specific Species; (ix) Gulf Areas; (x) Biosphere Reserves; (xi) National Parks and Sanctuaries;
(xii) Natural lakes, Swamps; (xiii) Seismic Zones; (xiv) Tribal Settlements; (xv) Areas of Scientific
and Geological Interest; (xvi) Defence Installations, specially those of security importance and
sensitive to pollution; (xvii) Border Areas (International) and (xviii) Air Ports.
Pre-requisite: State and Central Governments are required to identify such areas on a priority
basis
General siting factors for tanneries
In any particular selected site, the following factors must also be recognized.
No forest land shall be converted into non-forest activity for the sustenance of the
industry (Ref: Forest Conversation Act, 1980).
No prime agricultural land shall be converted into industrial site.
Land acquired shall be sufficiently large to provide space for appropriate green cover
including green belt around the battery limit of the industry.
Enough space should be provided for storage of recyclable solid wastes so that these
could be available for possible reuse.
Layout of the industry that may come up in the area must conform to the landscape of
the area without affecting the scenic features of that place.
Associated township of the industry may be created at a space having physiographic
barrier between the industry and the township.
Decentralized secure landfill may be developed for the cluster of new or existing
tanneries. The secure landfill shall be connected to the CETP in the industrial estate
or to the tannery’s ETP.
Sites not suitable for leather/skin/hide processing industries

Sites located near water resources such as lakes, ponds, rivers etc., used for drinking
water bodies or agriculture use and or major ground water resources used for public
drinking water sources or bird sanctuaries or sensitive eco parks within 2 km shall not be

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permitted to start the tanneries processing raw hides/ skins (Category A and Category B).
However if zero liquid discharge concept including secured saline stream/ salt disposal is
ensured this condition may be relaxed.
4.3 Scoping for EIA Studies
Scoping is taken up soon after the project contours are defined. The primary purpose of
scoping is to identify the concerns and issues which may affect the project decisions.
Besides, scoping defines the requirements and boundaries of the EIA study. The results
of the scoping exercise form the basis for rest of the EIA process.
Scoping refers to the process by which the EAC, in case of Category ‘A’, and SEAC in
the case of Category ‘B1’, including applications for expansion and/or modernization of
existing projects, determines the ToR for EIA studies addressing all relevant
environmental concerns for the preparation of an EIA Report for a particular project.
Project proponent shall submit the application to the concerned authority. The
application (Form 1 as given in Annexure I) shall be attached with the pre-feasibility
report and proposed ToR for EIA studies. The proposed sequence to arrive at the
draft ToR is discussed below:
− Precisely, the pre-feasibility report summarizes the project details and also the
likely environmental concerns based on the secondary information, which will
be availed for filling the Form 1.
− From the pre-feasibility report and the Form 1, valued environmental

components (VECs) may be identified for a given project (the receiving
environment/social components, which are likely to get effected due to the
project operations/activities).
− Once the project details from the pre-feasibility report & Form 1; and VECs
are identified, a matrix establishing the interactions which can lead to the
effects/impacts could be developed (Qualitative analysis).
− For each identified possible effect in the matrix, significance analysis could be
conducted to identify the impacts, which needs to be further studied
(quantitative analysis) in the subsequent EIA studies. All such points will
become the part of the draft ToR to be proposed by the project proponent along
with the application form.
− The information to be provided in pre-feasibility report, guidelines for filling

Form 1 and guidelines for developing draft ToR is summarized in the
subsequent sections.
− Authority consults the respective EAC/SEAC to reply to the proponent. The

EAC/SEAC concerned reviews the application form, pre-feasibility report and
proposed draft ToR by the proponent and make necessary additions/deletions
to make it a comprehensive ToR that suits the statutory requirements for
conducting the EIA studies.
A site visit by sub-committees of EAC/SEAC concerned will be planned, only if

considered necessary by the EAC/SEAC with the written approval of the Chairperson

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of the EAC/SEAC concerned. Project proponent will facilitate such site visits of the
sub-committees.
EAC/SEAC shall provide an opportunity to the project proponent for presentation and
discussions on the proposed project and related issues as well as the proposed ToR for
EIA studies. If the State Government desires to present their views on any specific
project in the scoping stage, it can depute an officer for the same at the scoping stage
to EAC, as an invitee but not as a member of EAC. However, non-appearance of the
project proponent before EAC/SEAC at any stage will not be a ground for rejection of
the application for the prior environmental clearance.
In case of a new or expansion project in a problem area as identified by the CPCB,
the MoEF may invite the SEIAA representative to present its views, if any, at the
stage of scoping, to the EAC.
The final set of ToR for EIA Studies shall be conveyed to the proponent by the EAC/
SEAC within sixty days of the receipt of Form 1 and pre-feasibility report. If the
finalized ToR for EIA studies are not conveyed to the proponent within sixty days of
the receipt of Form 1, the ToR for EIA studies suggested by the proponent shall be
deemed as the final and will be approved for the EIA studies.
The final ToR for EIA studies shall be displayed on the website of the MoEF and the
concerned SEIAA.
Applications for prior environmental clearance may be rejected by the concerned
Authority based on the recommendations by the concerned EAC or SEAC at the
scoping stage itself. In case of such rejection, the decision along with the reasons for
rejection shall be communicated to the proponent in writing within sixty days of the
receipt of the application.
The final EIA report and the other relevant documents submitted by the applicant
shall be scrutinized by the concerned Authority strictly with reference to the approved
ToR for EIA studies.
4.3.1 Pre-feasibility report
The pre-feasibility report should include, but may not be limited to highlights of the
proposed project information, considering the environmental sensitivities of the selected
site, technology options, efficiency, availability, etc.
Background information
Location of the project
Type of tanning process
Water usage, it stores and capacity
Wastewater discharge and its characteristic
Mode of treated effluent disposal
Treatment options
Solid Waste / Sludge Management
Cost estimate, capital and O & M
Besides, depending on the scope defined in the pre-feasibility report some pre-feasibility
reports are based on various studies and data collection and addresses in detail the
concern as technical & economical analysis and detailed feasibility level design of
equipment, process optimization, transportation of products, economic, financial, social
and environmental investigations, cost estimates with detailed bill of quantities (BOQ).

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4.3.2 Guidance for Filling Information in Form 1
The information given in specifically designed pre-feasibility report for this

developmental activity may also be availed for filling Form 1.
Form 1 is designed to help users identify the likely significant environmental effects of
proposed projects during scoping. There are two stages for providing information under
two columns:
First - identifying the relevant project activities from the list given in column 2 of
Form 1. Start with the checklist of questions set out below and complete Column 3
by answering:
− Yes - if the activity is likely to occur during implementation of the project;
− No - if it is not expected to occur;
− May be - if it is uncertain at this stage whether it will occur or not.
Second – For each activity for which the answer in Column 3 is “Yes” the next step is
to refer to the fourth column which quantifies the volume of activity which could be
judged as significant impact on the local environmental characteristics, and identify
the areas that could be affected by that activity during construction /operation /
decommissioning of the project. The Form 1 requires information within 15 km
around the project, whereas actual study area for EIA studies will be as prescribed by
respective EAC/SEAC. Information will be needed about the surrounding VECs in
order to complete this Form 1.
4.3.3 Identification of appropriate valued environmental components
VECs are the aspects (components/processes/ functions) of ecosystems, human health,

and environmental welfare considered to be important and potentially at risk from human
activity especially concerning this project. Value may be attributed for economic, social,
environmental, aesthetic or ethical reasons. VECs represent the investigative focal point
for further EIA process. The indirect and/or cumulative effects can be concerned with
indirect, additive or even synergistic effects due to other projects or activities or even
induced developments on the same environmental components as would be considered
direct effects. But such impacts tend to involve larger scale VECs such as within entire
region, river basins or watersheds; and, broad social and economic VECs such as quality
of life and the provincial economy. Once VECs are identified then appropriate indicators
may be selected to carry on impact assessments on the respective VECs.
4.3.4 Methods for identification of impacts
There are a number of factors which will influence the approach adopted for the
assessment of direct, indirect, cumulative impacts, etc. for a particular project. The
method should be practical and suitable for the project given the data, time and financial
resources available. However, the method adopted should be able to provide a
meaningful conclusion from which it would be possible to develop, wherever necessary,
mitigation measures and monitoring. Key points to consider when choosing the
method(s) include:
nature of the impact(s)

availability and quality of data
availability of resources (time, finance and staff)

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The method chosen should not be complex, but should aim at presenting the results in a
way that can be easily understood by the developer, decision maker and the public. A
comparative analysis of major impact identification methods is given in the following
table:
Table 4-1: Advantages and Disadvantages of Impact Identification Methods
Description Advantages Disadvantages

Checklists Annotate the environmental Simple to Do not distinguish
features that need to be addressed understand and use between direct and
when identifying the impacts of Good for site indirect impacts
activities in the project selection and Do not link action
priority setting and impact
Simple ranking and The process of
weighting incorporating values
can be controversial
Matrices Grid like table that identify the Link action to Difficult to
interaction between project impact distinguish direct
activities (along one axis) and Good method for and indirect impacts
environmental characteristics displaying EIA Significant potential
(along other axis) results for double-counting
Entries are made in the cells which of impacts
highlights impact severity in the
form of symbols or numbers or
descriptive comments
Networks Illustrate cause effect relationship Link action to Can become very
of project activities and impact complex if used
environmental characteristics Useful in simplified beyond simplified
Useful in identifying secondary form for checking version
impacts for second order
Useful for establishing impact impacts
hypothesis and other structured Handles direct and
science based approaches to EIA indirect impacts
Overlays Maps the impacts spatially and Easy to understand Address only direct
display them pictorially Good to display impacts
Useful for comparing site and method Do not address
planning alternatives for routing Good siting tool impact duration or
linear developments probability
Can address cumulative effects
Information incentive
GIS Maps the impacts spatially and Easy to understand Do not address
display them pictorially Good to display impact duration or
Useful for comparing site and method probability
planning alternatives for routing Good siting tool Heavy reliance on
linear developments Excellent for knowledge and data
Can address cumulative effects impact Often complex and
Information incentive identification and expensive
analysis

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Expert Assist diagnosis, problem solving Excellent for Heavy reliance on

System and decision making impact knowledge and data
Needs inputs from user by identification and Often complex and
answering systematically analysis expensive
developed questions to identify Good for
impacts and determine their experimenting
mitigability and significance
Information intensive, high
investment methods of analysis
The project team made an attempt to construct an impact matrix considering major project
activities (generic operations) and stage-specific likely impacts which is given in Table 4-
2.
While the impact matrix is each project-specific, Table 4-2 may facilitate the stakeholders
in identifying a set of components and phase-specific project activities for determination
of likely impacts. However, the location-specific concerns may vary from case to case,
therefore, the components even without likely impacts are also retained in the matrix for
the location-specific reference.

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Table 4-2: Matrix of Impacts

PHASE I PHASE II
PRE- CONSTRUCTION
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
PHASE
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Receiving of Skins and Hides -
Handling of Chrome incase of

Ammonia Emission from Wet
Burning of wastes, refuse and
Trimming/Shaving process in
Transportation and Storage
Site Preparation / Leveling
Treatment and Disposal of

Handling of Removed hair
Special handling of Soak

case of Chrome tanning
Handling of Fleshings
Project
Land Acquirement
cleared vegetation
ENVIRONMENT
Chrome tanning
Activities
Site Clearing
Wastewater
Handling of
Process
Liquor
Parameter/
COMPONENTS Factor
Soil Erosion Risks

Contamination * * *
Soil Quality * * * * *
Resources Fuels/ Electricity
Construction material- stone,

aggregates
Land especially undeveloped or
agricultural land
Water *
Interception or Alteration of River Beds
Alteration of Hydraulic Regime

Alteration of surface run-off and
* * *
interflow
Alteration of aquifers *
Water quality * * * * *
Physical
Temperature
Air Air quality * * *

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PHASE I PHASE II
PRE- CONSTRUCTION
PHASE
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Noise *
Odour * * * * *
Terrestrial * *
Flora Effect on grass & flowers
Effect on trees & shrubs * * * * * *
Effect on farmland * * *
Endangered species
Aquatic Biota Habitat removal * *
Contamination of habitats * * *
Reduction of aquatic biota * *
Terrestrial
Fauna Fragmentation of terrestrial habitats
Biological
Disturbance of habitats by noise or

vibration
Reduction of Biodiversity * *
Economy * * *
Creation of new economic activities
Commercial value of properties * * * * *
Conflict due to negotiation and/
compensation payments
Generation of temporary and permanent * *

jobs
Effect on crops * * * *
* * *
Reduction of farmland productivity
* *
Income for the state and private sector
Social
Electricity tariffs

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PHASE I PHASE II
PRE- CONSTRUCTION
PHASE
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Savings for consumers & private

consumers
Savings in foreign currency for the state

Education * *
Training in new technologies
Training in new skills to workers * *

Public Order Political Conflicts * * * *
Unrest, Demonstrations & Social * * * *

conflicts
Infrastructure
and Services Conflicts with projects of urban, * * * * * * * * * *
commercial or Industrial development
Security and Increase in Crime
Safety
Accidents caused by * *
Health Temporary * *
Chronic * * * * *
Acute * *
Cultural Land use * * * * * *
Recreation * * * *
Aesthetics and human interest * * * * * *
Cultural status * * * *
NOTE:
1. This table represents a model for likely impacts, which will have to be arrived case-to-case basis considering VECs and significance analysis (Ref Section 2.9).
2. Project activities are shown as indicative for a given sector. However, in Form 1 (application for EIA Clearance), for any question for which answer is ‘Yes’, then
the corresponding activity shall reflect in project activities. Similarly ‘parameters’/’factors’ will also be changed within a component in order to reflect the target
species of prime concern.

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4.3.5 Testing the Significance of impacts
The following set of conditions may be used as the checklist for testing the significance of
the impacts and also to provide information in Column IV of Form 1.
Will there be a large change in environmental conditions?

Will new features be out-of-scale with the existing environment?
Will the effect be unusual in the area or particularly complex?
Will the effect extend over a large area?
Will there be any potential for trans-frontier impact?
Will many people be affected?
Will many receptors of other types (fauna and flora, businesses, facilities) be
affected?
Will valuable or scarce features or resources be affected?
Is there a risk that environmental standards will be breached?
Is there a risk that protected sites, areas, features will be affected?
Is there a high probability of the effect occurring?
Will the effect continue for a long time?
Will the effect be permanent rather than temporary?
Will the impact be continuous rather than intermittent?
If it is intermittent will it be frequent rather than rare?
Will the impact be irreversible?
Will it be difficult to avoid, or reduce or repair or compensate for the effect?
For each “Yes” answer in column 3, the nature of effects and reasons for it should be
recorded in column 4. The questions are designed so that a “Yes” answer in column 3,
will generally point towards the need for analyzing for the significance and requirement
for conducting impact assessment for the effect.
4.3.6 Terms of reference for EIA studies
ToR for EIA studies w.r.t the tanneries (leather / hides/ skins processing industry) may
include but not limited to the following:
Executive summary of the project – giving a prima facie idea of the objectives of the
proposal, use of resources, justification, etc. In addition, it should provide a
compilation of EIA report, EMP and the post-project plan in brief.
Project description
Justification for engaging a particular type of process (raw hides/skins into semi
finishing or finished leather, semi finished leather to finished leather, dry finishing
operations, chrome/vegetable tanning etc.).
Justification for selecting the proposed unit size.
Details regarding complete leather/ skins/ hides processing including the usage of
sulfides, nitrogen compounds, chromium or other tanning agents, post-tanning
chemicals, biocides, etc., along with the material balance shall be provided.
Incase of chrome tanning, details of the chrome recovery plant, management of
shavings/solid waste including safe disposal.
Details on proposed waste minimization measures.

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Details on management of fleshings and solid waste.

Details on water balance and measures to optimize water consumption; wastewater
characteristics and proposed effluent treatment plant (Pre-treatment, in case
connected to CETP).
Details on reuse of soak liquor / saline stream from membrane system, if applicable,
to the extent possible in pickling activity after required treatment. Also, mention the
salt recovery measures.
Details on proposed measures to ensure compliance to the environmental regulatory
requirements, specifically the total dissolved solids (TDS) in treated wastewaters,
wherever applicable.
Details on the proposed disposal of recovered salts, if any.
Details on odorous compounds and their management.
Proposed measures to address the possible fugitive air emissions and odour from the
process operations.
Details regarding infrastructure facilities such as sanitation, fuel, restroom, etc., to be
provided to the labour force during construction as well as to the casual workers
including truck drivers during the operational phase.
Any litigation pending against the project and /or any direction /order passed by any
Court of Law against the project, if so, details thereof.
Description of the environment

The study area shall be up to a distance of 5 km from the boundary of the proposed
project site.
Land use of study area should include data about the residential/ institutional/nearest
village/ township/ locality/ housing society, etc., based on the satellite imagery.
Topography of the area clearly indicating the presence of pits deeper than one meter,
if any. If these pits require to be filled in, details of filling material to be used,
quantity required, its source, mode of transportation, etc., shall be provided.
Baseline data of the study area with respect to different components of environment
viz. air, noise, water, land, and biology and socio-economic.
Quality of the groundwater in and around the project area considering all the relevant
parameters.
Information regarding surface hydrology and water regime and impact due to the
project, if any, on the same.
Site-specific meteorological data of one season.
Details of flora and fauna. In case of any scheduled fauna, conservation plan should
be provided.
If any incompatible land use attributes fall within a 5 km radius of the project
boundary, proponent shall describe the sensitivity (distance, area and significance)
and propose the additional points based on significance for review and acceptance by
the EAC/SEAC. Incompatible land use attributes include:
− Public water supply areas from rivers/surface water bodies, from ground water
− Scenic areas/tourism areas/hill resorts
− Religious places, pilgrim centers that attract over 10 lakh pilgrims a year

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− Protected tribal settlements (notified tribal areas where industrial activity is not
permitted)
− CRZ
− Monuments of national significance, World Heritage Sites
− Cyclone, Tsunami prone areas (based on last 25 years)
− Airport areas
− Any other feature as specified by the State or local government and other features
as locally applicable, including prime agricultural lands, pastures, migratory
corridors, etc.
If ecologically sensitive attributes fall with in a 5 km radius of the project boundary,
proponent shall describe the sensitivity (distance, area and significance) and propose
the additional points based on significance for review and acceptance by the EAC /
SEAC. Ecological sensitive attributes include:
− National parks
− Wild life sanctuaries Game reserve
− Tiger reserve/elephant reserve/turtle nesting ground
− Breeding grounds
− Core zone of biosphere reserve
− Habitat for migratory birds
− Mangrove area
− Areas with threatened (rare, vulnerable, endangered) flora/fauna
− Protected corals
− Wetlands
− Zoological gardens
− Gene Banks
− Reserved forests
− Protected forests
− Any other closed/protected area under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, any
other area locally applicable
If the location falls in a valley, specific issues connected to the management of
natural resources shall be studied.
Anticipated environmental impacts and mitigation measures

Anticipated environmental impacts that require specific studies for significance are
given impact matrix. Tools as given in this manual shall be used for the assessment
of environmental impacts.
Impact of the disposal of treated water on the groundwater quality.
Impact on the receiving environment, due to the disposal of treated water.
Details of traffic density vis-à-vis impact on the ambient air, wherever applicable.
Typical measures that could be considered for the mitigation of impacts as given in
this manual may be referred.
Proposed protective measures for occupational safety and health of the workers.
Proposed measures for odor control.
Impact of the project on local infrastructure of the study area such as road network,
etc. If the study area requires any additional infrastructure, details of the agency
responsible for the same should be included along with the time frame.

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Analysis of alternative resources and technologies

Comparison of alternate sites considered and the reasons for selecting the proposed
site. Conformity of the site with the prescribed guidelines in terms of CRZ, river,
highways, railways, etc.
Details of improved technologies
Environmental monitoring program

Appropriate monitoring network has to be designed and proposed for regulatory
compliance and to assess the residual impacts, if any.
Additional studies
Detailed R&R plan/compensation package for the people affected by the project shall
be prepared, considering the socio-economic status of the area, homestead oustees,
land oustees, and landless labourers.
Points identified in public hearing (if applicable) and commitment of the project
proponent to the same. Detailed action plan addressing the issues raised, and the
details of necessary allocation of funds shall be provided.
Proposed plan to handle the socio-economic influence on the local community. The
plan should include quantitative dimension as far as possible.
The proponent should undertake Risk Assessment. Details of the proposed safeguard
measures should be provided. Measures to guard against fire hazards should also be
provided.
Environmental management plan

EMP devised to mitigate the adverse impacts of the project should be provided along
with item-wise cost of its implementation.
Proposed post project monitoring programme to ensure compliance to the approved
Management Plan including administrative and technical organizational structure.
Note:
Above points shall be adequately addressed in the EIA report at corresponding chapters, in
addition to the contents given in the reporting structure (Table: 4-7).
4.4 Environmental Impact Assessment
The generic approach for accomplishing EIA studies is shown in Figure 4.3. Each stage
is discussed, in detail in subsequent sections.

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Figure 4-3: Approach for EIA Study
4.4.1 EIA team
The success of a multi-functional activity like an EIA primarily depends on constitution

of a right team at the right time (preferable at the initial stages of an EIA) in order to
assess the significant impacts (direct, indirect as well as cumulative impacts).
The professional Team identified for a specific EIA study should consist of qualified and
experienced professionals from various disciplines, in order to address the critical aspects
identified for the specific project. Based on the nature and the environmental setting,
following professionals may be identified for EIA studies:
Environmental management specialist/environmental regulator

Air and Noise quality
Occupational health
Geology/geo-hydrology
Ecologist
Transportation specialist
Safety and health specialist
Social scientist, etc.

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4.4.2 Baseline quality of the environment
EIA Notification 2006 specifies that an EIA Report should contain a description of the
existing environment that would be or might be affected directly or indirectly by the
proposed project. Environmental Baseline Monitoring (EBM) is a very important stage of
EIA. On one hand EBM plays a very vital role in EIA while on the other it provides
feedback about the actual environmental impacts of the proposed project. EBM, during
the operational phase, helps in judging the success of mitigation measures in protecting
the environment. Mitigation measures, in turn, are used to ensure compliance with
environmental standards, and to facilitate the needed project design or operational
changes.
The existing environment is broadly defined to include the natural, cultural, socio-
economic systems and their interrelationships. The intention is not to describe all
baseline conditions, but to focus the collection and description of baseline data on those
VECs that are important and are likely to be affected by the proposed tannery unit project
activities and should be included for further impact assessments and lead to appropriate
decision-making.
4.4.2.1 Objective of EBM in the EIA context
The term ‘baseline’ refers to conditions existing before development against which
subsequent changes can be referenced. EBM studies are carried out to:
identify environmental conditions which might influence project design decisions

(e.g., site layout, structural or operational characteristics)
identify sensitive issues or areas requiring mitigation or compensation
provide input data to analytical models used for predicting effects
provide baseline data against which the results of future monitoring programs can be
compared
At this stage of EIA process, the EBM is primarily discussed in the context of first
purpose wherein the feedback from EBM programs may be used to:
determine the available assimilative capacity of different environmental components

within the designated impact zone and whether more or less stringent mitigation
measures are needed; and
improve the predictive capability of EIAs.
There are many institutional, scientific, quality control, and fiscal issues that must be
addressed in the implementation of an environmental monitoring program. Careful
consideration of these issues in the design and planning stages will help avoid many
pitfalls associated with environmental monitoring programs.
4.4.2.2 Environmental monitoring network design
Monitoring refers to the collection of data using a series of repetitive measurements of

environmental parameters (or, more generally, to a process of systematic observation).
The environmental quality monitoring programme design will be dependent upon the
monitoring objectives specified for the selected area of interest. Types of monitoring and
network design considerations are discussed in Annexure II.

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4.4.2.3 Baseline data generation
List of important physical environmental components and indicators of EBM are given in
Table 4-3.
Table 4-3: List of Important Physical Environment Components

and Indicators of EBM
Environmental Component Environmental Indicators
Climatic variables Rainfall patterns – mean, mode, seasonality

Temperature patterns
Extreme events
Climate change projections
Prevailing wind - direction, speed, anomalies
Stability conditions and mixing height
Geology Underlying rock type
Surgical material
Geologic structures (faults etc.)
Geologic resources (minerals, etc.)
Topography Slope form
Landform and terrain analysis
Specific landform types
Coastal dynamics and Wave patterns
morphology Currents
Shoreline morphology – near shore, foreshore
Sediment – characteristics and transport
Soil Type and characteristics
Porosity and permeability
Sub-soil permeability
Run-off rate
Effective depth (inches/centimeters)
Inherent fertility
Suitability for method of sewage disposal
Drainage Surface hydrology
Drainage network
Rainfall runoff relationships
Hydrogeology
Groundwater characteristics – springs, etc.
Water quality Terrestrial - rivers, lakes, ponds, gullies
Coastal
Air quality Ambient
Respirable
Airshed importance
Odour levels
Hazardous waste
Guidance for assessment of baseline components and attributes describing sampling

network, sampling frequency, method of measurement is given in Annexure III.

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Infrastructure requirements for EBM

In addition to devising a monitoring network design and monitoring plans/program, it is
also necessary to ensure adequate resources in terms of staffing and skills, equipment,
training, budget, etc., for its implementation. Besides assigning institutional
responsibility, reporting requirements, QA/QC plans and its enforcement capability are
essential. A monitoring program that does not have an infrastructural support and
QA/QC component will have little chance of success.
Defining data statistics/analysis requirements

The data analysis to be conducted is dictated by the objectives of the environmental
monitoring program. The statistical methods used to analyze the data should be described
in detail prior to data collection. This is important because repetitive observations are
recorded in time and space. Besides, the statistical methods could also be chosen so that
uncertainty or error estimates in the data can be quantified. For e.g., statistical methods
useful in an environmental monitoring program include: 1) frequency distribution
analysis; 2) analysis of variance; 3) analysis of covariance; 4) cluster analysis; 5) multiple
regression analysis; 6) time series analysis; 7) the application of statistical models (ADB-
Green, 1979).
Use of secondary data

The EBM program for EIA can at best address temporal and/or spatial variations limited
to a limited extent because of cost implications and time limitations. Therefore analysis
of all available information or data is essential to establish the regional profiles. So all the
relevant secondary data available for different environmental components should be
collated and analyzed.
To facilitate stakeholders, Ecosmart, has made an attempt to compile the list of

information required for EIA studies. Respective sources of secondary data are provided
in Annexure IVA, and Annexure IVB.
4.4.3 Impact prediction
The scientific and technical credibility of an EIA relies on the ability of the EIA
practitioners to estimate the nature, extent, and magnitude of change in environmental
components that may result from project activities. Information about predicted changes
is needed for assigning impact significance, prescribing mitigation measures, and
designing and developing EMPs and monitoring programs. The more accurate the
predictions, the more confident the EIA practitioner will be in prescribing specific
measures to eliminate or minimize the adverse impacts of development project.
4.4.4 Significance of the impacts
Evaluating the significance of environmental effects is perhaps the most critical

component of impact analysis. More than other components, however, the interpretation
of significance is also a contentious process. The interpretation of significance bears
directly on the subsequent EIA process and also during environmental clearance on
project approvals and condition setting. At an early stage, it also enters into screening
and scoping decisions on what level of assessment is required and which impacts and
issues will be addressed.

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Impact significance is also a key to choosing among alternatives. In sum, the attribution
of significance continues throughout the EIA process, from scoping to EIS review, in a
gradually narrowing “cone of resolution” in which one stage sets up the next. But at this
stage it is the most important as better understanding and quantification of impact
significance is required.
One common approach is based on determination of the significance of predicted changes

in the baseline environmental characteristics and compares these with reference to
regulatory standards, objective criteria and similar ‘thresholds’ as eco-sensitivity, cultural
/religious values. Often, these are outlined in guidance. A better test proposed by the
CEAA (1995) is to determine if ‘residual’ environmental effects are adverse, significant,
and likely (given under). But at this stage, the practice of formally evaluating
significance of residual impacts, i.e., after predicting the nature and magnitude of impacts
based on before-versus-after-project comparisons, and identifying measures to mitigate
these effects is not being followed in a systematic way.
Step 1: Are the environmental effects adverse?
Criteria for determining if effects are “adverse” include:
effects on biota health

effects on rare or endangered species
reductions in species diversity
habitat loss
transformation of natural landscapes
effects on human health
effects on current use of lands and resources for traditional purposes by aboriginal
persons; and
foreclosure of future resource use or production
Step 2: Are the adverse environmental effects significant?
Criteria for determining ‘significance’ is to judge that the impacts:
are extensive over space or time

are intensive in concentration or proportion to assimilative capacity
exceed environmental standards or thresholds
do not comply with environmental policies, land use plans, sustainability strategy
adversely and seriously affect ecologically sensitive areas
adversely and seriously affect heritage resources, other land uses, community lifestyle
and/or indigenous peoples traditions and values
Step 3: Are the significant adverse environmental effects likely?
Criteria for determining ‘likelihood’ include:
probability of occurrence, and

scientific uncertainty
4.5 Social Impact Assessment
Social impact assessment (SIA) is an instrument used to analyze social issues and solicit
stakeholder views for the design of projects. SIA helps in making the project responsive

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to social development concerns, including the options that to enhance benefits for poor
and vulnerable people while mitigating risk and adverse impacts. It analyzes
distributional impacts of intended project benefits on different stakeholder groups, and
identifies differences in assets and capabilities to access the project benefits.
The scope and depth of the SIA should be determined by the complexity and importance
of the issues studied, taking into account the skills and resources available. However,
guiding ToR for the SIA may include following:
Description of the socio-economic, cultural and institutional profile:

Conduct a rapid review of available sources of information to describe the socio-
economic, cultural and institutional interface in which the project operates.
Socio-economic and cultural profile: Describe the most significant social, economic and
cultural features that differentiate social groups in the project area. Describe their
different interests in the project, and their levels of influence. In particular, explain any
particular effects the project may have on the poor and underprivileged. Identify any
known conflicts among groups that may affect project implementation.
Institutional profile: Describe the institutional environment; consider both the presence
and function of public, private and civil society institutions relevant to the operation. Are
there important constraints within existing institutions e.g., disconnect between
institutional responsibilities and the interests and behaviors of personnel within those
institutions? Or are there opportunities to utilize the potential of existing institutions, e.g.
private or civil society institutions, to strengthen implementation capacity.
Legislative and regulatory considerations:

To review laws and regulations governing the project’s implementation and the access of
poor and excluded groups to goods, services and opportunities provided by the project. In
addition, review the enabling environment for public participation and development
planning. SIA should build on strong aspects of the legal and regulatory systems to
facilitate program implementation and identify weak aspects while recommending
alternative arrangements.
Key social issues:

SIA provides the baseline information for designing the social development strategy.
The analysis should determine what the key social and Institutional issues are in relation
to project objectives; identify the key stakeholder groups in this context and determine
how relationships between stakeholder groups will affect or be affected by the project;
and identify expected social development outcomes and actions proposed to achieve those
outcomes.
Data collection and methodology:

Describe the design and methodology for the social analysis. In this regard:
Build on existing data;

Clarify the units of analysis for the SIA: intra-household, household level, as well as
communities/settlements and other relevant social aggregations on which data is
available or will be collected for analysis;

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Choose appropriate data collection and analytical tools and methods, employing
mixed methods wherever possible; mixed methods include a mix of quantitative and
qualitative methods.
Strategy to achieve social development outcomes:

Identify the likely social development outcomes of the project and propose a social
development strategy, including recommendations for institutional arrangements to
achieve them, based on the findings of the social assessment. The social development
strategy could include measures:
− (a) that strengthen social inclusion by ensuring that both poor and excluded groups
and intended beneficiaries are included in the benefit stream and in access to
opportunities created by the project
− (b) that empower stakeholders through their participation in the design and
implementation of the project, their access to information, and their increased voice
and accountability (i.e., a participation framework); and
− (c) that enhance security by minimizing and managing likely social risks and
increasing the resilience of intended beneficiaries and affected persons to
socioeconomic shocks
Implications for analysis of alternatives:

Review the proposed approaches for the project, and compare them in terms of their
relative impacts and social development outcomes. Consider what implications the
findings of the social assessment might have on those approaches. Should some new
components be added to the approach, or other components reconsidered or modified?
If the SIA and consultation process indicate that alternative approaches are likely to have
better development outcomes, such alternatives should be described and considered,
along with the likely budgetary and administrative effects these changes might have.
Recommendations for project design and implementation arrangements

Provide guidance to project management and other stakeholders on how to integrate
social development issues into project design and implementation arrangements. As
much as possible, suggest specific action plans or implementation mechanisms to address
relevant social issues and potential impacts. These can be developed as integrated or
separate action plans, for example, as Resettlement Action Plans, Indigenous Peoples
Development Plans, Community Development Plans, etc.
Developing a monitoring plan:

Through the SIA process, a framework for monitoring and evaluation should be
developed. To the extent possible, this should be done in consultation with key
stakeholders, especially beneficiaries and affected people.
The framework shall identify expected social development indicators, establish

benchmarks, and design systems and mechanisms for measuring progress and results
related to social development objectives. The framework shall identify organizational
responsibilities in terms of monitoring, supervision, and evaluation procedures. Wherever
possible, participatory monitoring mechanisms shall be incorporated. The framework
should establish:

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a set of monitoring indicators to track the progress achieved. The benchmarks and
indicators should be limited in number, and should combine both quantitative and
qualitative types of data. The indicators should include outputs to be achieved by the
social development strategy; indicators to monitor the process of stakeholder
participation, implementation and institutional reform;
indicators to monitor social risk and social development outcomes; and indicators to
monitor impacts of the project’s social development strategy. It is important to
suggest mechanisms through which lessons learned from monitoring and stakeholder
feedback can result in changes to improve the operation of the project. Indicators
should be of such a nature that results and impacts can be disaggregated by gender
and other relevant social groups;
Define transparent evaluation procedures. Depending on context, these may include a
combination of methods, such as participant observation, key informant interviews, focus
group discussions, census and socio-economic surveys, gender analysis, Participatory
Rural Appraisal (PRA), Participatory Poverty Assessment (PPA) methodologies, and
other tools. Such procedures should be tailored to the special conditions of the project
and to the different groups living in the project area; Estimate resource and budget
requirements for monitoring and evaluation activities, and a description of other inputs
(such as institutional strengthening and capacity building) needed to carry it out.
4.6 Mitigation Measures
The purpose of mitigation is to identify measures that safeguard the environment and the
community affected by the proposal. Mitigation is both a creative and practical phase of
the EIA process. It seeks to find the best ways and means of avoiding, minimizing and
remedying impacts. Mitigation measures must be translated into action in the correct way
and at the right time, if they are to be successful. This process is referred to as impact
management and takes place during project implementation. A written plan should be
prepared for this purpose, and includes a schedule of agreed actions. Opportunities for
impact mitigation will occur throughout the project cycle.
4.6.1 Important considerations for mitigation methods
The responsibility of project proponents to ‘internalize’ the full environmental costs of

development proposals is now widely accepted under “Polluter Pay” principle. In
addition, many proponents have found that good design and impact management can
result in significant savings applying the principles of cleaner production to improve their
environmental performance.
The predicted adverse environmental as well as social impacts for which mitigation
measures are required should be identified and briefly summarized along with cross
referencing them to the significance, prediction components of the EIA report or
other documentation.
Each mitigation measure should be briefly described with reference to the impact of
significances to which it relates and the conditions under which it is required (for
example, continuously or in the event of contingencies). These should also be cross-
referenced to the project design and operating procedures which elaborate on the
technical aspects of implementing the various measures.

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Cost and responsibilities for mitigation and monitoring should be clearly defined,
including arrangements for coordination between the various authorities responsible
for mitigation.
The proponent can use the EMP to develop environmental performance standards and
requirements for the project site as well as supply chain. An EMP can be
implemented through EMS for the operational phase of the project.
Prior to selecting mitigation plans it is appropriate to study the mitigation alternatives for
cost-effectiveness, technical and socio-political feasibility. Such mitigation measures
could include:
Avoiding sensitive areas such as eco-sensitive area e.g. fish spawning areas, dense
mangrove areas or areas known to contain rare or endangered species
Adjusting work schedules to minimize disturbance
Engineered structures such as berms and noise attenuation barriers
Pollution control devices, such as scrubbers and electrostatic precipitators
Changes in fuel feed, manufacturing, process, technology use, or waste management
practices, etc.
4.6.2 Hierarchy of elements of mitigation plan
Figure 4-4: Elements of Mitigation Plan

Good EIA practice requires a relevant technical understanding of the issues and the
measures that work in the circumstances: The priority of selection of mitigation measures
should be in the order:
Step one: impact avoidance

This step is most effective when applied at an early stage of project planning. It can be
achieved by:
not undertaking certain projects or elements that could result in adverse impacts
avoiding areas that are environmentally sensitive; and
putting in place the preventative measures to stop adverse impacts from occurring, for
example, release of water from a reservoir to maintain a fisheries regime.

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Step two: impact minimization

This step is usually taken during impact identification and prediction to limit or reduce
the degree, extent, magnitude, or duration of adverse impacts. It can be achieved by:
scaling down or relocating the proposal;

redesigning elements of the project; and
taking supplementary measures to manage the impacts.
Step three: impact compensation

This step is usually applied to remedy unavoidable residual adverse impacts. It can be
achieved by:
rehabilitation of the affected site or environment, for example, by habitat

enhancement and restocking fish;
restoration of the affected site or environment to its previous state or better, as
typically required for mine sites, forestry roads and seismic lines; and
replacement of the same resource values at another location, for example, by wetland
engineering to provide an equivalent area to that lost to drainage or infill.
Important compensation elements
Resettlement Plans: Special considerations apply to mitigation of proposals that displace

or disrupt people. Certain types of projects, such as reservoirs and irrigation schemes and
public works, are known to cause involuntary resettlement. This is a contentious issue
because it involves far more than re-housing people; in addition, income sources and
access to common property resources are likely to be lost. Almost certainly, a
resettlement plan will be required to ensure that no one is worse off than before, which
may not be possible for indigenous people whose culture and lifestyle is tied to a locality.
This plan must include the means for those displaced to reconstruct their economies and
communities and should include an EIA of the receiving areas. Particular attention
should be given to indigenous, minority and vulnerable groups who are at higher risk
from resettlement.
In kind compensation
When significant or net residual loss or damage to the environment is likely, in kind
compensation is appropriate. As noted earlier, environmental rehabilitation, restoration or
replacement have become standard practices for many proponents. Now, increasing
emphasis is given to a broader range of compensation measures to offset impacts and
assure the sustainability of development proposals. These include impact compensation
‘trading’, such as offsetting CO2 emissions by planting forests to sequester carbon.
4.6.3 Typical mitigation measures
Table 4-4: Mitigation Measures for Construction Phase
Impacts Mitigation Steps
Erosion Windscreens, maintenance, and installation of ground cover

Installation of drainage ditches

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Runoff and retention ponds

Minimize disturbances and scarification of the surface
Deforestation Plant or create similar areas
Initiate a tree planning program in other areas
Donate land to conservationalist groups
Table 4-5: Mitigation Measures for Operation Phase
Dust pollution Wetting of roadways to reduce traffic dust and

reentrained particles
Installation of windscreens to breakup the wind flow
Burning of refuse on days when meteorological
conditions provide for good mixing and dispersion
Noise pollution Heavy duty muffler systems on heavy equipment
Limit certain activities such as blasting and pile driving
to daylight hours
Water pollution and issues Channeling and retention of water to reduce erosion and
situation
Collection and treatment of sewage and organic waste
Increased recycling and reuse of water
Use of biodegradable or otherwise readily treatable
additives
Cooling ponds, towers and canals to reduce
temperatures of cooling water discharge
Neutralization and sedimentation of wastewater
Dewatering of sludges and appropriate disposal of
solids
Use deep well injection below potable levels
Construct liners of ponds and solids waste disposal
Dilute water at point of discharge
Providing a stormwater network within the plant to
prevent cross contamination with the effluents
Chemical discharges and spills Develop spill prevention plans
Develop traps and containment system and chemically
treat discharges on site
Biological Installation of systems to discourage nesting or perching
of birds in dangerous environments
Increased employee awareness to sensitive areas
Disruption of traffic Develop traffic plan that minimizes road use by workers
Upgrade roads and intersections
Worker exposure to dust from Provide dust collector equipment
ash and coal Maintain dust levels less than 10 mg/m3
Monitor for free silica content
Provide dust masks when levels are exceeded
Worker exposure to toxic gases Maintain boilers properly
leaking from the boilers Monitor concentrations with levels not to exceed
SO2 – 5 ppm
CO – 5 ppm
NO2 – 5 ppm
Worker exposure to excessive Maintain noise levels from below 90 dba
noise Provide ear protection if in excess
Induced secondary development Provide infrastructure plan and financial support for

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puts increased demand on increased demands
infrastructure Construct facilities to reduce demands
4.7 Environmental Management Plan
A typical EMP shall be composed of the following:
1. summary of the potential impacts of the proposal

2. description of the recommended mitigation measures
3. statement of their compliance with relevant standards
4. allocation of resources and responsibilities for plan implementation
5. schedule of the actions to be taken
6. programme for surveillance, monitoring and auditing
7. contingency plan when impacts are greater than expected
Each of the above components is precisely discussed below:
Summary of impacts: The predicted adverse environmental and social impacts for which
mitigation measures are identified in the earlier sections to be briefly summarized with
cross referencing to the corresponding sections in the EIA report.
Description of mitigation measures: Each mitigation measure should be briefly

described with reference to the impact to which it relates and the conditions under which
it is required. These should be accompanied by, or referenced to, project design and
operating procedures which elaborate on the technical aspects of implementing the
various measures.
Description of monitoring programme: Environmental monitoring refers to compliance

monitoring and residual impact monitoring. Compliance monitoring refers to meeting the
industry-specific statutory compliance requirements (Ref. Applicable National regulations
as detailed in Chapter 3).
Residual impact monitoring refers to monitoring of identified sensitive locations with

adequate number of samples and frequency. The monitoring programme should clearly
indicate the linkages between impacts identified in the EIA report, measurement
indicators, detection limits (where appropriate), and definition of thresholds that will
signal the need for corrective actions.
Institutional arrangements: Responsibilities for mitigation and monitoring should be

clearly defined, including arrangements for co-ordination between the various actors
responsible for mitigation. Details should be provided w.r.t the deployment of staff
(detailed organogram), monitoring network design, parameters to be monitored, analysis
methods, associated equipments etc.
Implementation schedule and reporting procedures: The timing, frequency and

duration of mitigation measure should be specified in an implementation schedule,
showing links with overall project implementation. Procedures to provide information on
the progress and results of mitigation and monitoring measures should also be clearly
specified.

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Cost estimates and sources of funds: These should be specified for both the initial
investment and recurring expenses for implementing all measures contained in the EMP,
integrated into the total project costs, and factored into loan negotiation.
The EMP should contain commitments that are binding on the proponent in different
phases of project implementation i.e., pre-construction or site clearance, construction,
operation, decommissioning.
4.8 Reporting
Structure of the EIA report for tanneries is given in the following table. Each task
prescribed in ToR shall be incorporated appropriately in the contents in addition to the
contents described in the table below.
Table 4-6: Structure of EIA Report
S. NO EIA STRUCTURE CONTENTS
1. Introduction Purpose of the report

Identification of project & project proponent
Brief description of nature, size, location of the project and
its importance to the country, region
Scope of the study – details of regulatory scoping carried
out (As per ToR for EIA studies )
2. Project Description Condensed description of those aspects of the project
(based on project feasibility study), likely to cause
environmental effects. Details should be provided to give
clear picture of the following:
Type of project
Need for the project
Location (maps showing general location, specific
location, project boundary & project site layout)
Size or magnitude of operation (incl. Associated activities
required by or for the project)
Proposed schedule for approval and implementation
Technology and process description
Project description including drawings showing project
layout, components of project etc. Schematic
representations of the feasibility drawings which give
information important for EIA purpose
Description of mitigation measures incorporated into the
project to meet environmental standards, environmental
operating conditions, or other EIA requirements (as
required by the scope)
Assessment of New & untested technology for the risk of
technological failure
3. Description of the Study area, period, components & methodology
Environment Establishment of baseline for VECs, as identified in the
scope
Base maps of all environmental components

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S. NO EIA STRUCTURE CONTENTS
4. Anticipated Details of Investigated Environmental impacts due to

Environmental project location, possible accidents, project design, project
Impacts & construction, regular operations, final decommissioning or
Mitigation Measures rehabilitation of a completed project
Measures for minimizing and / or offsetting adverse
impacts identified
Irreversible and Irretrievable commitments of
environmental components
Assessment of significance of impacts (Criteria for
determining significance, Assigning significance)
Mitigation measures
5. Analysis of Incase, the scoping exercise results in need for
Alternatives alternatives:
(Technology & Site) Description of each alternative
Summary of adverse impacts of each alternative
Mitigation measures proposed for each alternative and
selection of alternative
6. Environmental Technical aspects of monitoring the effectiveness of
Monitoring Program mitigation measures (incl. Measurement methodologies,
frequency, location, data analysis, reporting schedules,
emergency procedures, detailed budget & procurement
schedules)
7. Additional Studies Public Consultation
Risk assessment
Social Impact Assessment, R&R Action Plans
8. Project Benefits Improvements in the physical infrastructure
Improvements in the social infrastructure
Employment potential –skilled; semi-skilled and unskilled
Other tangible benefits
9. Environmental Cost If recommended at the Scoping stage
Benefit Analysis
10. EMP Description of the administrative aspects of ensuring that
mitigative measures are implemented and their
effectiveness monitored, after approval of the EIA
11. Summary & Overall justification for implementation of the project
Conclusion (This Explanation of how, adverse effects have been mitigated
will constitute the
summary of the EIA
Report)
12. Disclosure of The names of the Consultants engaged with their brief
Consultants engaged resume and nature of Consultancy rendered
4.9 Public Consultation
Public consultation refers to the process by which the concerns of local affected people
and others who have plausible stake in the environmental impacts of the project or
activity are ascertained.
Public consultation is not a decision taking process, but is a process to collect views
of the people having plausible stake. If the SPCB/Public agency conducting public

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hearing is not convinced with the plausible stake, then such expressed views need not
be considered.
All Category A and Category B1 projects require public hearing except the following:
− Modernization of irrigation projects
− Once environmental clearance is granted to an industrial estates/SEZs/EPZs etc.,
for a given composition (type and capacity) of industries, then individual units will
not require public hearing Expansion of roads and highways, which do not involve
any further acquisition of land.
− All building/ construction projects/ area development projects/townships
− All Category B2 projects
− All projects concerning national defense and security or involving other strategic
considerations as determined by the Central Government
Public consultation involves two components, one is public hearing, and other one is
inviting written responses/objections through Internet/by post, etc., by placing the
summary of EIA report on the web site.
Public hearing shall be carried out at the site or in its close proximity, district-wise,
for ascertaining concerns of local affected people.
Project proponent shall make a request through a simple letter to the Member-
Secretary of the SPCB or UTPCC to arrange public hearing.
Project proponent shall enclose with the letter of request, at least 10 hard copies and
10 soft copies of the draft EIA report including the summary EIA report in English
and local language prepared as per the approved scope of work, to the concerned
Authority.
Simultaneously, project proponent shall arrange to send, one hard copy and one soft
copy, of the above draft EIA report along with the summary EIA report to the
following Authorities within whose jurisdiction the project will be located:
− District magistrate(s)
− Zilla parishad and municipal corporation
− District industries office
− Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) or PRIs concerned.
− Concerned regional office of the MoEF/SPCB
Above mentioned Authorities except concerned prior environmental clearance
Authority (MoEF/SEIAA) shall arrange to widely publicize the draft EIA report
within their respective jurisdictions. They shall also make draft EIA report for
inspection electronically or otherwise to the public during normal hours till the public
hearing is over.
Concerned regulatory Authority (MoEF/SEIAA/UTEIA) shall display the summary
of EIA report on its website and also make full draft EIA report available for
reference at a notified place during normal office hours at their head office.
SPCB or UTPCC concerned shall make arrangements for giving publicity about the
project within the State/UT and make available the summary of draft EIA report for
inspection in select offices, public libraries, or any other suitable location. They shall
also additionally make available a copy of the draft EIA report to the above five
authorities/offices as mentioned above.

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The Member-Secretary of the concerned SPCB or UTPCC shall finalize the date,
time and exact venue for the conduct of public hearing within seven days of the date
of the receipt of the draft EIA 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.
No postponement of the date, time, venue of the public hearing shall be undertaken,
unless some untoward emergency situation occurs and only then on the
recommendation of the concerned District Magistrate 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
UTPCC
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 and notified afresh as per
the procedure.
The District Magistrate 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.
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.
The attendance of all those who are present at the venue shall be noted and annexed
with the final proceedings
There shall be no quorum required for attendance for starting the proceedings
Every 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 vernacular
language and the agreed minutes shall be signed by the District Magistrate or his or
her representative on the same day and forwarded to the SPCB/UTPCC concerned.
A statement of the issues raised by the public and the comments of the proponent
shall also be prepared in the local language or the official state language and in
English and annexed to the proceedings.
The proceedings of the public hearing shall be conspicuously displayed at the office
of the Panchayats within whose jurisdiction the project is located, office of the
concerned Zilla Parishad, District Magistrate, 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, may be sent directly to the concerned
regulatory authorities and the Applicant concerned.
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 send the public hearing proceedings to the concerned
regulatory authority within 8(eight) days of the completion of the public hearing. The
proponent may also directly forward a copy of the approved public hearing

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proceedings to the regulatory authority concerned along with the final EIA 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 the action plan and financial allocation, item-wise to address those concerns.
Upon receipt of the same, the Authority will place executive summary of the report
on the website to invite responses from other concerned persons having a plausible
stake in the environmental aspects of the project or activity.
If SPCB/UTPCC is unable to conduct the public hearing in the prescribed time, the
Central Government incase of Category A projects and State Government in case of
Category B projects at the request of the SEIAA or project proponent can engage a
public agency for conducting the public hearing process within a further period of 45
days. The respective governments shall pay the appropriate fee to the public agency
for conducting public hearing.
A public agency means a non-profit making institution/ body such as
technical/academic institutions, government bodies not subordinate to the concerned
Authority.
If SPCB/Public Agency authorized for conducting public hearing informs the
Authority, stating that it is not possible to conduct the public hearing in a manner,
which will enable the views of the concerned local persons to be freely expressed,
then Authority may consider such report to take a decision that in such particular
case, public consultation may not have the component of public hearing.
Often restricting the public hearing to the specific district may not serve the entire
purpose, therefore, NGOs who are local and registered under the Societies Act in the
adjacent districts may also be allowed to participate in public hearing, if they so
desire.
Confidential information including non-disclosable or legally privileged information
involving intellectual property right, source specified in the application shall not be
placed on the website.
The Authority shall make available on a written request from any concerned person
the draft EIA report for inspection at a notified place during normal office hours till
the date of the public hearing.
While mandatory requirements will have to be adhered to, utmost attention shall be
given to the issues raised in the public hearing for determining the modifications
needed in the project proposal and the environmental management plan to address
such issues.
Final EIA report after making needed amendments, as aforesaid, shall be submitted
by the applicant to the concerned Authority for prior environmental clearance.
Alternatively, a supplementary report to draft EIA and EMP addressing all concerns
expressed during the public consultation may be submitted.
4.10 Appraisal
Appraisal means the detailed scrutiny by the EAC or SEAC of the application and the
other documents like the final EIA report, outcome of the public consultation including
public hearing proceedings submitted by the applicant for grant of environmental
clearance.
The appraisal shall be made by EAC to the Central Government or SEAC to SEIAA.

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Project proponent either personally or through consultant can make a presentation to

EAC/SEAC for the purpose of appraising the features of the project proposal and also
to clarify the issues raised by the members of the EAC/SEAC.
On completion of these proceedings, concerned EAC/SEAC shall make categorical
recommendations to the respective Authority, either for grant of prior environmental
clearance on stipulated terms & conditions, if any, or rejection of the application with
reasons.
In case EAC/SEAC needs to visit the site or obtain further information before being
able to make categorical recommendations, EAC/SEAC may inform the project
proponent accordingly. In such an event, it should be ensured that the process of
environmental clearance is not unduly delayed to go beyond the prescribed
timeframe.
Upon the scrutiny of the final report, if EAC/SEAC opines that finalized ToR at the
scoping stage has not been comprehensively covered by the proponent, then the
project proponent may be asked to provide such information. If such information is
declined by the project proponent or is unlikely to be provided early enough so as to
complete the environmental appraisal within prescribed time of 60 days, the
EAC/SEAC may recommend for rejection of the proposal with the same reason.
Appraisal shall be strictly in terms of the finalized ToR at the scoping stage and the
concerns expressed during public consultation.
This process of appraisal shall be completed within 60 days from the receipt of the
updated EIA report and EMP report, after completing public consultation.
The EIA report will be typically examined for following:
− Project site description supported by topographic maps & photographs – detailed
description of topography, land use and activities at the proposed project site and
its surroundings (buffer zone) supported by photographic evidence.
− Clarity in description of drainage pattern, location of eco sensitive areas, vegetation
characteristics, wildlife status - highlighting significant environmental attributes
such as feeding, breeding and nesting grounds of wildlife species, migratory
corridor, wetland, erosion and neighboring issues.
− Description of the project site – how well the interfaces between the project related
activities and the environment have been identified for the entire project cycle i.e., ,
construction, operation and decommissioning at the end of the project life.
− How complete and authentic are the baseline data pertaining to flora and fauna and
socio economic aspects?
− Citing of proper references, with regard to the source(s) of baseline data as well as
the name of the investigators/ investigating agency responsible for collecting the
primary data.
− How consistent are the various values of environmental parameters with respect to
each other?
− Is a reasonable assessment of the environmental and social impact made for the
identified environmental issues including project affected people?
− To what extent the proposed environmental plan will mitigate the environmental
impact and at what estimated cost, shown separately for construction, operation
and closure stages and also separately in terms of capital and recurring expenses

4-37
along with details of agencies that will be responsible for the implementation of
environmental plan/ conservation plan.
− How well the concerns expressed/highlighted during the Public hearing have been
addressed and incorporated in the EMP giving item wise financial provisions and
commitments (in quantified terms)?
− How far the proposed environmental monitoring plan will effectively evaluate the
performance of the EMP? Are details for environmental monitoring plan provided
in the same manner as the EMP?
− Identification of hazard and quantification of risk assessment and whether
appropriate mitigation plan has been included in the EMP?
− Does the proposal include a well formulated time bound green belt development
plan for mitigating environmental problems such as fugitive emission of dust,
gaseous pollutants, noise, odour, etc.
− Does EIA makes a serious attempt to guide the project proponent for minimizing
the requirement of natural resources including land, water energy and other non
renewable resources?
− How well the EIA statement has been organized and presented so that the issues,
their impact and environmental management strategies emerge clearly from it and
how well organized was the power point presentation made before the expert
committee?
− Is the information presented in the EIA adequately and appropriately supported by
maps, imageries and photographs highlighting site features and environmental
attributes?
4.11 Decision-making
The Chairperson reads the sense of the Committee and finalizes the draft minutes of the
meeting, which are circulated by the Secretary to all the core members and sectoral
experts invited to the meeting. Based on the response from the members, the minutes are
finalized and signed by the Chairperson. This process for finalization of the minutes
should be so organized that the time prescribed for various stages is not exceeded.
Approval / Rejection / Reconsideration

The Authority shall consider the recommendations of concerned appraisal Committee and
convey its decision within 45 days of the receipt of recommendations.
If the Authority disagrees with the recommendations of the Appraisal Committee,

then reasons shall be communicated to concerned Appraisal Committee and applicant
with in 45 days from the receipt of the recommendations. The Appraisal Committee
concerned shall consider the observations of the Authority and furnish its views on
the observations within further period of 60 days. The Authority shall take a decision
with in the next 30 days based on the views of appraisal Committee.
If the decision of the Authority is not conveyed within the time, then the proponent
may proceed as if the environmental clearance sought has been granted or denied by
the regulatory authority in terms of the final recommendation of the concerned
appraisal Committee. For this purpose, the decision of the Appraisal Committee will
be public document, once the period specified above for taking the decision by the
Authority is over.

4-38
Incase of the Category B projects (B1 & B2), application shall be received by the
Member-Secretary of the SEIAA and clearance shall also be issued by the same
SEIAA.
If approved
The concerned Authority (MoEF/SEIAA) will issue an Environmental Clearance for

the project.
The project proponent should make sure that the award of Environment Clearance is
properly publicized in at least two local newspapers of the district or state where the
proposed project is located. For instance, the executive summary of the
Environmental Clearance may be published in the newspaper along with the
information about the location (website/office where it is displayed for public) where
the detailed Environmental Clearance is made available. The MoEF and the
SEIAA/UTEIAA, as the case may be, shall also place the environmental clearance in
the public domain on Government Portal. Further copies of the environmental
clearance shall be endorsed to the Heads of local bodies, Panchayats and Municipal
bodies in addition to the relevant offices of the Government
The Environmental Clearance will be valid from the start date to actual
commencement of the production of the developmental activity.
4.12 Post-clearance Monitoring Protocol
The MoEF, Government of India will monitor and take appropriate action under the EP
Act, 1986.
The project proponent must submit half-yearly compliance reports in respect of the
stipulated prior environmental clearance terms and conditions in hard and soft copies to
the regulatory authority concerned, on 1st June and 1st December of each calendar year.
All such compliance reports submitted by the project management shall be public
documents. Copies of the same shall be given to any person on application to the
concerned regulatory authority. The latest such compliance report shall also be displayed
on the web site of the concerned regulatory authority.
The SPCB shall incorporate EIA clearance conditions into consent conditions in respect
of Category A and Category B projects and in parallel monitor and enforce the same.

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5.
STAKEHOLDERS’ ROLES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES
Prior environmental clearance process involves many stakeholders i.e., Central

Government, State Government, SEIAA, EAC at the National Level, SEAC, the public
agency, SPCB, the project proponent, and the public.
The role and responsibilities of the organizations involved in different stages of prior
environmental clearance are given in Table 5-1.
Organization-specific functions are listed in Table 5-2.
In this Chapter, constitution, composition, functions, etc., of the Authorities and the
Committees are discussed in detail.
Table 5-1: Roles and Responsibilities of Stakeholders Involved in

Prior Environmental Clearance
Stage MoEF/ EAC/SEAC Project EIA SPCB/ Public and

SEIAA Proponent Consultant Public Interest
Agency Group
Screening Receives Advises the Submits Advises and

application MoEF/SEIAA application assists the
and takes (Form 1) and proponent by
advise of provides providing
EAC/SEAC necessary technical
information information
Scoping Approves Reviews the Submits the Prepares ToR
the ToR, ToR, visits the draft ToR to
communicat proposed site, MoEF/SEIAA
es the same if required and and facilitates
to the recommends the visit of the
project the ToR to the EAC/SEAC
proponent MoEF/SEIAA members to
and places the project site
the same in
the website
EIA Report Reviews Submits Prepares the Reviews Participates
& Public and detailed EIA EIA report EIA report in public
Hearing forwards report as per and hearings
Presents and
copies of the finalized conducts and offers
appraises the
the EIA ToR public comments
likely impacts
report to hearing in and
Facilitates the and pollution
SPCB the manner observation
public hearing control
/public prescribed s.
by arranging measures
agency for
presentation proposed in Submits Comments
conducting
on the project, the public proceedings can be sent
public
EIA and EMP hearing and views of directly to
hearing
– takes note of SPCB, to the SEIAA

5-1
Stakeholders’ Roles and Responsibilities
Stage MoEF/ EAC/SEAC Project EIA SPCB/ Public and

SEIAA Proponent Consultant Public Interest
Agency Group
Places the objections and Authority through

summary of updates the and the Internet in
EIA report EMP project response to
in the accordingly proponent as the
website well summary
placed in
Conveys the website
objections
to the
project
proponent
for update,
if any.
Appraisal Receives Critically Submits Provides
and updated examines the updated EIA , technical
Clearance EIA reports, EMP reports to advise to the
presentation of MoEF/SEIAA. project
Takes
the proponent proponent
advise of Presents the
and appraises and if
EAC/ overall EIA
MoEF/SEIAA necessary
SEAC, and EMP
(recommendati presents the
approves including
ons are proposed
EIA and public
forwarded to measures for
attaches the concerns to
MoEF/SEIAA) mitigation of
terms and EAC/SEAC
likely impacts
conditions
(terms and
conditions of
clearance)
Post- Implements Conducts Incorporates
clearance environmental periodic the
Monitoring protection monitoring clearance
measures conditions
prescribed and into
submits appropriate
periodic consent
monitoring conditions
results and ensures
implementat
ion
Table 5-2: Organization-Specific Functions
ORGANIZATION FUNCTIONS
Central Constitutes the EAC

Government Considering recommendations of the State Government, constitutes the SEIAA &
SEAC
Receives application from the project proponent in case of Category A projects or
Category B projects attracting general condition
Communicated the ToR finalized by the EAC to the project proponent.
Receives EIA report from the project proponent and soft copy of summary of the
report for placing in the website

5-2
ORGANIZATION FUNCTIONS
Summary of EIA report will be placed in website. Forwards the received responses
to the project proponent
Engages other public agency for conducting public hearings in cases where the
SPCB does not respond within time
Receives updated EIA report from project proponent incorporating the
considerations from the proceedings of public hearing and responses received
through other media
Forwards updated EIA report to the EAC for appraisal
Either accepts the recommendations of EAC or asks for reconsideration of specific
issues for review by the EAC.
Takes the final decision – acceptance/ rejection – of the project proposal and
communicates the same to the project proponent
State Government Identifies experts as per the composition specified in the Notification and
subsequent guidelines to recommend to the Central Government.
Extends funding support to fulfill the functions of SEIAA/SEAC
Engages other public agency for conducting public hearings in cases where the
SPCB does not respond within time
State Governments will suitably pay the public agency for conducting such activity
EAC Reviews Form 1 and its attachments
Visits site(s), if necessary
Finalizes ToR and recommends to the Central Government, which in turn
communicates the finalized ToR to the project proponent, if not exempted by the
Notification
Reviews EIA report, proceedings and appraises their views to the Central
government
If the Central Government has any specific views, then the EAC reviews again for
appraisal
SEIAA Receives application from the project proponent
Considers SEAC’s views for finalization of ToR
Communicates the finalized ToR to the project proponent
Receives EIA report from project proponent
Uploads the summary of EIA report in the website in cases of Category B projects
Forwards the responses received to the project proponent
Receives updated EIA report from project proponent incorporating the
considerations from the proceedings of public hearing and responses received
through other media
Forwards updated EIA report to SEAC for appraisal
Either accepts the recommendations of SEAC or asks for reconsideration of
specific issues for review by SEAC.
Takes the final decision and communicates the same to the project proponent
SEAC Reviews Form 1
If necessary visits, site(s) for finalizing the ToR
Reviews updated EIA - EMP report and
Appraises the SEIAA
SPCB Receives request from project proponent and conducts public hearing in the manner
prescribed.
Conveys proceedings to concerned authority and project proponent
Public Agency Receives request from the respective Governments to conduct public hearing
Conducts public hearing in the manner prescribed.
Conveys proceedings to the concerned Authority/EAC /Project proponent

5-3
5.1 SEIAA
SEIAA is constituted by the MoEF to take final decision regarding the

acceptance/rejection of prior environmental clearance to the project proposal for all
Category ‘B’ projects.
The state government may decide whether to house them at the Department of
Environment or at any other Board for effective operational support.
State Governments can decide whether the positions are permanent or part-time. The
Central Government (MoEF) continues to follow the model of paying fee (TA/DA,
accommodation, sitting fee) to the Chairperson and the members of EAC. As such,
the State Government is to fund SEIAA & SEAC and decide the appropriate
institutional support for them.
A. Constitution
SEIAA is constituted by the Central Government comprising of three members
including a Chairperson and the Member-Secretary to be nominated by the State
Government or UT Administration concerned.
The Central Government will notify as and when the nominations (in order) are
received from the State Governments, within 30 days from the date of receipt.
The Chairperson and the non-official member shall have a fixed term of three years,
from the date of Notification by the Central Government constituting the Authority.
The form used by the State Governments to submit nominations for Notification by the
Central Government is provided in Annexure V.
B. Composition
Chairperson shall be an expert in the EIA process
Member-Secretary shall be a serving officer of the concerned State Government/ UT
Administration familiar with the environmental laws.
Member-Secretary may be of a level equivalent to the Director, Dept. of Environment
or above – a full time member.
All the members including the Chairperson shall be the experts as per the criteria set
in the Notification.
The Government servants can only serve as the Member-Secretary to SEIAA and the
Secretary to SEAC. All other members including Chairperson of the SEIAA and
SEAC shall not be comprised of serving Government Officers; industry
representatives; and the activists.
Serving faculty (academicians) is eligible for the membership in the Authority and/or
the Committees, if they fulfill the criteria given in Appendix VI to the Notification.
This is to clarify that the serving Government officers shall not be nominated as
professional/expert member of SEIAA/SEAC/EAC.
Professionals/Experts in the SEIAA and SEAC shall be different.
Summary regarding the eligibility criteria for Chairperson and Members of the SEIAA is
given in Table 5-3.

5-4
C. Decision-making process
The decision of the Authority shall be arrived through consensus.
If there is no consensus, the Authority may either ask SEAC for reconsideration or
may reject the approval.
All decisions of the SEIAA shall be taken in a meeting, considering the majority
Table 5-3: SEIAA: Eligibility Criteria for Chairperson / Members / Secretary
S. No. Requirement
Attribute Members Member-Secretary Chairperson
1 Professional qualification Compulsory Compulsory Compulsory

as per the Notification
2 Experience a Professional Professional Professional

Qualification + 15 Qualification + 15 Qualification + 15
(Fulfilling any one of
years of experience in years of experience in years of experience
a, b, c)
one of the expertise one of the expertise in one of the
area mentioned in the area mentioned in the expertise area
Appendix VI Appendix VI mentioned in the
Appendix VI
b Professional Professional Professional
Qualification +PhD+10 Qualification Qualification
years of experience in +PhD+10 years of +PhD+10 years of
one of the expertise experience in one of experience in one of
area mentioned in the expertise area the expertise area
Appendix VI mentioned in the mentioned in the
Appendix VI Appendix VI
c Professional Professional -------------
Qualification +10 years Qualification +10
of experience in one of years of experience in
the expertise area one of the expertise
mentioned in the area mentioned in the
Appendix VI + 5 years Appendix VI + 5 years
interface with interface with
environmental issues, environmental issues,
problems and their problems and their
management management
3 Test of independence Shall not be a serving Only serving officer Shall not be a
(conflict of interest) government officer from the State serving government
and minimum grade Government (DoE) officer
Shall not be a person
of the Secretary of familiar with
engaged in industry Shall not be a
the Authority environmental laws
and their associations person engaged in
not below the level of
industry and their
Shall not be a person Director
associations
associated with
environmental activism Shall not be a
person associated
with environmental
activism
4 Age Below 67 years at the As per State Below 72 Years at

5-5
S. No. Requirement
Attribute Members Member-Secretary Chairperson

time of Notification of Government Service the time of the
the Authority Rules Notification of the
Authority
5 Other memberships Shall not be a member Shall not be a member Shall not be a
in Core Committees in any in any member in any
and/or as Sectoral SEIAA/EAC/SEAC SEIAA/EAC/SEAC SEIAA/EAC/SEAC
expert
6 Tenure of earlier Only one term before Not applicable Only one term
appointment this in continuity is before this in
(continuous) permitted continuity is
permitted
7 Eminent Desirable Desirable Compulsory
environmental
expertise with
understanding on
environmental
aspects and impacts
8 Expertise in the Desirable Desirable Compulsory
environmental
clearance process
NOTE:
1. A member after continuous membership in two terms (six years) shall not be considered for
further continuation. His/her nomination may be considered after a gap of one term (three years),
if other criteria meet.
2. Chairperson/Member (core or sectoral expert) once notified may not be removed prior to the
tenure of three years without cause and proper enquiry.
5.2 EAC and SEAC
EAC and SEAC are independent Committees to review each developmental activity and
offer its recommendations for consideration of the Central Government and SEIAA
respectively.
A. Constitution
EAC and SEAC shall be constituted by the Central Government comprising a
maximum of 15 members including a Chairperson and Secretary. In case of SEAC,
the State Government or UT Administration is required to nominate the
professionals/experts for consideration and Notification by the Central Government.
The Central Government will notify as and when the nominations (in order) are
received from the State Governments, within 30 days from the date of receipt.
The Chairperson and the non-official member shall have a fixed term of three years,
from the date of Notification by the Central Government.
The Chairperson shall be an eminent environmental expert with understanding on
environmental aspects and environmental impacts. The Secretary of the SEAC shall
be a State Government officer, not below the level of a Director/Chief Engineer.

5-6
The members of the SEAC need not be from the same State/UT.
In case the State Governments/ UTs so desire, the MoEF can form regional EAC to
serve the concerned States/UTs.
State Governments may decide to their convenience to house SEAC at the
Department of Environment or at SPCB or at any other department, to extend support
to the SEAC activities.
B. Composition
Secretary to EAC/SEAC shall invite a maximum of two sectoral professionals/experts
with the prior approval of the Chairperson, if desired.
The Secretary of each EAC shall be an officer of the level equivalent to or above the
level of Director, the MoEF, GoI.
The suggested model for appraisal committees is a composition of Core expert
members and joined by sectoral experts. This means, core group expert members will
be common to all the developmental projects in a group, whereas the sectoral experts
join the core group when specific sectoral project is being appraised.
The desired composition of state or central appraisal committee for this industry
includes the following:
− Environmental management specialist/ environmental regulator/ environmental
planner
− Air and Noise quality expert
− Occupational health
− Geology/geo-hydrology
− Ecologist
− Transportation specialist
− Safety and health specialist
− Social scientist, etc.
C. Decision-making
The EAC and SEAC shall function on the principle of collective responsibility. The
Chairperson shall endeavor to reach a consensus in each case, and if consensus cannot be
reached, the view of the majority shall prevail.
D. Operational issues
Secretary may deal with all correspondence, formulate agenda and prepare agenda
notes. Chairperson and other members may act only for the meetings.
Chairperson of EAC/SEAC shall be one among the core group having considerable
professional experience with proven credentials.
EAC/SEAC shall meet at least once every month or more frequently, if so needed, to
review project proposals and to offer recommendations for the consideration of the
Authority.
EAC/SEAC members may inspect the site at various stages i.e., during screening,
scoping and appraisal, as per the need felt and decided by the Chairperson of the
Committee.

5-7
The respective Governments through the Secretary of the Committee may

pay/reimburse the participation expenses, honorarium etc., to the Chairperson and
members.
i. Tenure of EAC/SEIAA/SEAC
The tenure of Authority/Committee(s) shall be for a fixed period of three years. At the
end of the three years period, the Authority and the committees need to be re-constituted.
However, staggered appointment dates may be adopted to maintain continuity of
members at a given point of time.
ii. Qualifying criteria for nomination of a member to EAC/SEIAA/SEAC
While recommending nominations and while notifying the members of the Authority and
Expert Committees, it shall be ensured that all the members meet the following three
criteria:
Professional qualification
Relevant experience/Experience interfacing with environmental management
Absence of conflict of interest
These are elaborated subsequently.
a) Professional qualification
The person should have at least
5 years of formal University training in the concerned discipline leading to a

MA/MSc Degree, or
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
Other professional degree (e.g. Law) involving a total of 5 years of formal University
training and prescribed practical training, or
Prescribed apprenticeship/articleship and pass examinations conducted by the
concerned professional association (e.g. MBA/IAS/IFS). In selecting the individual
professionals, experience gained by them in their respective fields will be taken note
of.
b) Relevant experience
Experience shall be related to professional qualification acquired by the person and be

related to one or more of the expertise mentioned for the members of the Core group
or the Sectoral Experts. Such experience should be a minimum of 15 years.
When the experience mentioned in the foregoing sub-paragraph interfaces with
environmental issues, problems and their management, the requirement for the length
of the experience can be reduced to a minimum of 10 years.
c) Absence of conflict of interest
For the deliberations of the EAC/SEAC to be independent and unbiased, all possibilities
of potential conflict of interests have to be eliminated. Therefore, serving government

5-8
officers; persons engaged in industry and their associations; persons associated with the
formulation of development projects requiring environmental clearance, and persons
associated with environmental activism shall not be considered for membership of
SEIAA/ SEAC/ EAC.
iii. Age
Below 70 years for the members and below 72 years for the Chairperson of the
SEIAA/SEAC/EAC. The applicability of the age is at the time of the Notification of the
SEIAA/SEAC/EAC by the Central Government.
Summary regarding the eligibility criteria for Chairperson and Members of the EAC/
SEAC are given in Table 5-4.
Table 5-4: EAC/SEAC: Eligibility Criteria for Chairperson / Members / Secretary
S. Requirement
No.
Attribute Core Secretary Chairperson
Members/Sectoral
Expert members
1 Professional Compulsory Compulsory Compulsory

qualification as per
the Notification
2 Experience a Professional Professional Professional
Qualification + 15 Qualification + 15 years Qualification + 15
(Fulfilling any
years of experience in of experience in one of years of experience in
one of a, b, c)
one of the expertise the expertise area one of the expertise
area mentioned in the mentioned in the area mentioned in the
Appendix VI Appendix VI Appendix VI
b Professional Professional Professional
Qualification +PhD+10 Qualification +PhD+10 Qualification +PhD+10
years of experience in years of experience in years of experience in
one of the expertise one of the expertise area one of the expertise
area mentioned in the mentioned in the area mentioned in
Appendix VI Appendix VI Appendix VI
c Professional Professional -------------
Qualification +10 years Qualification +10 years
of experience in one of of experience in one of
the expertise area the expertise area
mentioned in the mentioned in the
Appendix VI + 5 years Appendix VI + 5 years
interface with interface with
environmental issues, environmental issues,
problems and their problems and their
management management

5-9
S. Requirement
No.
Attribute Core Secretary Chairperson
Members/Sectoral
Expert members
3 Test of independence Shall not be a serving In case of EAC, not less Shall not be a serving
(conflict of interest) government officer than a Director from the government officer
and minimum grade MoEF, Government of
Shall not be a person Shall not be a person
of the Secretary of the India
engaged in industry engaged in industry and
Committees
and their associations their associations
Shall not be a person Incase of SEAC, not Shall not be a person
associated with below the level of associated with
environmental activism Director/Chief Engineer environmental activism
from the State
Government (DoE)
4 Age Below 67 years at the As per state Government Below 72 Years at the
time of Notification of Service Rules time of the Notification
the Committee of the Committee
5 Membership in Core Only one other than Shall not be a member in Shall not be a member
committees this nomination is other SEIAA/EAC/SEAC in any other
permitted SEIAA/EAC/SEAC
6 Membership of Only three other than Shall not be a member in
Sectoral Experts this nomination is other SEIAA/EAC/SEAC
permitted
7 Tenure of earlier Only one term before Not applicable Only one term before
appointment this in continuity is this in continuity is
(continuous) permitted permitted
8 Eminent Desirable Not applicable Compulsory
environmental
expertise with
understanding on
environmental aspects
and impacts
NOTE:
1. Core members are the members in EAC/SEAC, who are common for all the types of
developmental activities, whereas, sectoral expert members will join for the specific developmental
sectors. Core members may be limited to about 12.
2. Sectoral expert members: Sectoral Expert members are the members who join the EAC/SEAC,
when corresponding sector is being reviewed/appraised. At a given sectoral review, a maximum
of three sectoral expert members may join. Therefore the total number of expert members in
EAC/SEAC does not exceed 15.
3. A member after continuous membership in two terms (six years) shall not be considered for
further continuation. His/her nomination may be reconsidered after a gap of one term (three
years), if other criteria meet.
4. Chairperson/Member (core or sectoral expert) once notified may not be removed prior to the
tenure of 3 years with out cause and proper enquiry. A member after continuous membership in
two terms (6 years) shall not be considered for further continuation. The same profile may be
considered for nomination after a gap of three years, i.e., one term, if other criteria are meeting.

5-10
E. Other conditions
An expert Core Committee member of one State/UT, can have at the most another
State/UT Committee membership (core or sectoral expert member), but in no case
more than two Committees at a given point of time.
Sectoral experts (not being a member in a Core Committee) can have membership in
not more than four states.
An expert member of a Committee (core or sectoral expert) shall not have
membership continuously in the same committee for more than two terms, i.e. six
years. They can be nominated after a gap of three years, i.e., one term. When a
member of Committee has been associated with any development project, which
comes for environmental clearance, he/she may not participate in the deliberations
and the decisions in respect to that particular project.
At least four members shall be present in each meeting to fulfill the quorum.
If a member does not consecutively attend six meetings, without prior intimation to
the Committee his/her membership may be terminated by the Notifying Authority.
Prior information for absence due to academic pursuits, career development and
national/state-endorsed programmes may be considered as genuine grounds for
retention of membership.

5-11
ANNEXURE I
Form 1 (Application for Obtaining EIA Clearance)
FORM 1
(I) BASIC INFORMATION
S. No. Item Details
1. Name of the project/s

2. S.No. in the schedule
3. Proposed capacity/area/length/tonnage to be
handled/command area/lease area/number of
wells to be drilled
4. New/Expansion/Modernization
5. Existing Capacity/Area etc.
6. Category of Project i.e., ‘A’ or ‘B’
7. Does it attract the general condition? If yes,
please specify.
8. Does it attract the specific condition? If yes,
Please specify.
9. Location
Plot/Survey/Khasra No.
Village
Tehsil
District
State
10. Name of the applicant
11. Registered Address
12. Address for correspondence:
Name
Designation (Owner/Partner/CEO)
Address
Pin Code
E-mail
Telephone No.
Fax No.
13. Details of alternative Sites examined, if any Village-District-State
location of these sites should be shown on a 1.
toposheet.
2.
3.
1
S. No. Item Details
14. Interlined Projects

15. Whether separate application of interlined
project has been submitted
16. If yes, date of submission
17. If no, reason
18. Whether the proposal involves
approval/clearance under:
The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
The C.R.Z. Notification, 1991
19. Forest land involved (hectares)
20. Whether there is any litigation pending against
the project and/or land in which the project is
propose to be set up
Name of the Court
Case No.
Orders/directions of the Court, if any and its
relevance with the proposed project.
(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.)
Details thereof (with

approximate quantities
/rates, wherever
S.No. Information/Checklist confirmation Yes/No possible) with source of
information data
1.1 Permanent or temporary change in land use,

land cover or topography including increase
in intensity of land use (with respect to local
land use plan)
1.2 Clearance of existing land, vegetation and
buildings?
1.3 Creation of new land uses?
1.4 Pre-construction investigations e.g. bore

houses, soil testing?
1.5 Construction works?
2
/rates, wherever
information data
1.6 Demolition works?
1.7 Temporary sites used for construction works

or housing of construction workers?
1.8 Above ground buildings, structures or
earthworks including linear structures, cut
and fill or excavations
1.9 Underground works including mining or
tunneling?
1.10 Reclamation works?
1.11 Dredging?
1.12 Offshore structures?
1.13 Production and manufacturing processes?
1.14 Facilities for storage of goods or materials?
1.15 Facilities for treatment or disposal of solid
waste or liquid effluents?
1.16 Facilities for long term housing of operational
workers?
1.17 New road, rail or sea traffic during
construction or operation?
1.18 New road, rail, air waterborne or other
transport infrastructure including new or
altered routes and stations, ports, airports etc?
1.19 Closure or diversion of existing transport
routes or infrastructure leading to changes in
traffic movements?
1.20 New or diverted transmission lines or
pipelines?
1.21 Impoundment, damming, culverting,
realignment or other changes to the hydrology
of watercourses or aquifers?
1.22 Stream crossings?
1.23 Abstraction or transfers of water form ground
or surface waters?
1.24 Changes in water bodies or the land surface
affecting drainage or run-off?
1.25 Transport of personnel or materials for
construction, operation or decommissioning?
3
/rates, wherever
information data
1.26 Long-term dismantling or decommissioning

or restoration works?
1.27 Ongoing activity during decommissioning
which could have an impact on the
environment?
1.28 Influx of people to an area in either
temporarily or permanently?
1.29 Introduction of alien species?
1.30 Loss of native species or genetic diversity?
1.31 Any other actions?
2. 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):

S.No. Information/checklist confirmation Yes/No approximate quantities
/rates, wherever possible)
with source of
information data
2.1 Land especially undeveloped or agricultural
land (ha)
2.2 Water (expected source & competing users)

unit: KLD
2.3 Minerals (MT)
2.4 Construction material – stone, aggregates, sand
/ soil (expected source – MT)
2.5 Forests and timber (source – MT)
2.6 Energy including electricity and fuels (source,
competing users) Unit: fuel (MT), energy (MW)
2.7 Any other natural resources (use appropriate
standard units)
4
3. Use, storage, transport, handling or production of substances or
materials, which could be harmful to human health or the environment or raise
concerns about actual or perceived risks to human health.

approximate
quantities/rates,
S.No Information/Checklist confirmation Yes/No wherever possible) with
source of information
data
3.1 Use of substances or materials, which are

hazardous (as per MSIHC rules) to human health
or the environment (flora, fauna, and
water supplies)
3.2 Changes in occurrence of disease or affect disease
vectors (e.g. insect or water borne diseases)
3.3 Affect the welfare of people e.g. by changing
living conditions?
3.4 Vulnerable groups of people who could be
affected by the project e.g. hospital patients,
children, the elderly etc.,
3.5 Any other causes
4. Production of solid wastes during construction or operation or

decommissioning (MT/month)

approximate
quantities/rates,
S.No. Information/Checklist confirmation Yes/No wherever possible) with
data
4.1 Spoil, overburden or mine wastes

4.2 Municipal waste (domestic and or commercial
wastes)
4.3 Hazardous wastes (as per Hazardous Waste
Management Rules)
4.4 Other industrial process wastes

4.5 Surplus product
4.6 Sewage sludge or other sludge from effluent
treatment
4.7 Construction or demolition wastes
4.8 Redundant machinery or equipment
5
approximate
quantities/rates,
data
4.9 Contaminated soils or other materials

4.10 Agricultural wastes
4.11 Other solid wastes
5. Release of pollutants or any hazardous, toxic or noxious substances to air

(kg/hr)

approximate
quantities/rates,
S.No Information/Checklist confirmation Yes/No wherever possible) with
data
5.1 Emissions from combustion of fossil fuels from

stationary or mobile sources
5.2 Emissions from production processes
5.3 Emissions from materials handling including
storage or transport
5.4 Emissions from construction activities including
plant and equipment
5.5 Dust or odours from handling of materials
including construction materials, sewage and
waste
5.6 Emissions from incineration of waste
5.7 Emissions from burning of waste in open air (e.g.
slash materials, construction debris)
5.8 Emissions from any other sources
6
6. Generation of Noise and Vibration, and Emissions of Light and Heat:
S.No. Information/Checklist confirmation Yes/No Details thereof (with

approximate
quantities/rates, wherever
possible) with source of
information data with
source of information data
6.1 From operation of equipment e.g. engines,

ventilation plant, crushers
6.2 From industrial or similar processes
6.3 From construction or demolition
6.4 From blasting or piling
6.5 From construction or operational traffic
6.6 From lighting or cooling systems
6.7 From any other sources
7. Risks of contamination of land or water from releases of pollutants into

the ground or into sewers, surface waters, groundwater, coastal waters or the
sea:

approximate
quantities/rates,
data
7.1 From handling, storage, use or spillage of

hazardous materials
7.2 From discharge of sewage or other effluents to
water or the land (expected mode and place of
discharge)
7.3 By deposition of pollutants emitted to air into
the land or into water
7.4 From any other sources
7.5 Is there a risk of long term build up of pollutants
in the environment from these sources?
7
8. Risk of accidents during construction or operation of the Project, which
could affect human health or the environment

approximate
S.No Information/Checklist confirmation Yes/No possible) with source of
information data
8.1 From explosions, spillages, fires etc from

storage, handling, use or production of hazardous
substances
8.2 From any other causes
8.3 Could the project be affected by natural disasters
causing environmental damage (e.g. floods,
earthquakes, landslides, cloudburst etc)?
9. 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

approximate
S. Information/Checklist confirmation Yes/No
No.
possible) with source of
information data
9.1 Lead to development of supporting facilities,

ancillary development or development
stimulated by the project which could have
impact on the environment e.g.:
Supporting infrastructure (roads, power
supply, waste or waste water treatment,
etc.)
housing development
extractive industries
supply industries
other
9.2 Lead to after-use of the site, which could have an

impact on the environment
9.3 Set a precedent for later developments
9.4 Have cumulative effects due to proximity to
other existing or planned projects with similar
effects
8
(III) ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY
S.No. Areas Name/ Aerial distance (within 15

km.)
Identity
Proposed project location
boundary
1 Areas protected under international conventions,

national or local legislation for their ecological,
landscape, cultural or other related value
2 Areas which are important or sensitive for
ecological reasons - Wetlands, watercourses or
other water bodies, coastal zone, biospheres,
mountains, forests
3 Areas used by protected, important or sensitive
species of flora or fauna for breeding, nesting,
foraging, resting, over wintering, migration
4 Inland, coastal, marine or underground waters

5 State, National boundaries
6 Routes or facilities used by the public for access
to recreation or other tourist, pilgrim areas
7 Defence installations
8 Densely populated or built-up area
9 Areas occupied by sensitive man-made land uses
(hospitals, schools, places of worship,
community facilities)
10 Areas containing important, high quality or
scarce resources (ground water resources,
surface resources, forestry, agriculture,
fisheries, tourism, minerals)
11 Areas already subjected to pollution or
environmental damage. (those where existing
legal environmental standards are exceeded)
12 Areas susceptible to natural hazard which could
cause the project to present environmental
problems (earthquakes, subsidence, landslides,
erosion, flooding or extreme or adverse climatic
conditions)
9
(IV) PROPOSED TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR EIA STUDIES
“I hereby given undertaking that the data and information given in the application and
enclosure 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 give, if any to the project will be
revoked at our risk and cost.
Date:______________
Place:______________
Signature of the applicant
With Name and Full Address
(Project Proponent / Authorized Signatory)
NOTE:
1. The projects involving clearance under Coastal Regulation Zone
Notification, 1991 shall submit with the application a C.R.Z. map duly
demarcated by one of the authorized, agencies, showing the project
activities, w.r.t. C.R.Z. and the recommendations of the State Coastal Zone
Management Authority. 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 projects to be located within 10km 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
recommendations or comments of the Chief Wildlife Warden thereon.”
10
ANNEXURE II
Types of Monitoring and Network Design Considerations
TYPES OF MONITORING AND NETWORK DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
A. Types of Monitoring
Monitoring refers to the collection of data using a series of repetitive measurements of
environmental parameters (or, more generally, to a process of systematic observation). The
environmental quality monitoring programme design will be dependent upon the monitoring
objectives specified for the selected area of interest. The main types of EIA monitoring activities
are:
Baseline monitoring is the measurement of environmental parameters during the pre-project

period for the purpose of determining the range of variation of the system and establishing
reference points against which changes can be measured. This leads to the assessment of the
possible (additional available) assimilative capacity of the environmental components in pre-
project period w.r.t. the standard or target level.
Effects monitoring is the measurement of environmental parameters during project
construction and implementation to detect changes which are attributable to the project to
provide the necessary information to:
− verify the accuracy of EIA predictions; and
− determine the effectiveness of measures to mitigate adverse effects of projects on the
environment.
− Feedback from environmental effect monitoring programs may be used to improve the
predictive capability of EIAs and also determine whether more or less stringent mitigation
measures are needed
Compliance monitoring is the periodic sampling or continuous measurement of
environmental parameters to ensure that regulatory requirements and standards are being met.
Compliance and effects monitoring occurs during the project construction, operation, and
abandonment stages. The resources and institutional set-up should be available for the monitoring
at these stages. All large-scale construction projects will require some construction stage
monitoring. To control the environmental hazards of construction as specified in the EIA, a
monitoring program should be established to ensure that each mitigation measure is effectively
implemented. There are numerous potential areas for monitoring during operations.
The scope of monitoring topics discussed in this chapter is limited to Baseline and Effects
monitoring. In addition, this chapter will also discuss the Compliance monitoring during the
construction phase. Post-project monitoring requirements are discussed in the EMP.
Before any field monitoring tasks are undertaken there are many institutional, scientific, and fiscal
issues that must be addressed in the implementation of an environmental monitoring program.
Careful consideration of these issues in the design and planning stages will help avoid many of
the pitfalls associated with environmental monitoring programs. Although these issues are
important but the discussions here are confined to the monitoring network design component.
B. Network Design
Analysis of Significant Environmental Issues
At the outset of planning for an environmental monitoring network, the EIA manager may not
know exactly what should be monitored, when monitoring should begin, where it should monitor,
which techniques should be employed, and who should take responsibility for its conduct.
Because there are usually a number of objective decisions associated with network design to be
i
made, it is important to start with an analysis of environmental issues. The scoping phase of an
EIA is designed to identify and focus on the major issues. Scoping should provide a valuable
source of information on the concerns that need to be addressed by the monitoring network
design. These are project specific as well as specific to the environmental setting of the location
where the project is proposed to be located
Hence, the network designs are associated with questions like:
What are the expected outputs of the monitoring activity?

Which problems do we need to address to? etc.
Defining the output will influence the design of the network and optimize the resources used for
monitoring. It will also ensure that the network is specially designed to optimize the information
on the problems at hand
What to Monitor?
The question of what to monitor is associated with the identification of VECs.
VECs are generally defined as environmental attributes or components of the environment that are
valued by society as identified during the scoping stage of the project. They are determined on
the basis of perceived public concerns. For example, changes to water quality and quantity could
have implications on fish by affecting habitat, food supply, oxygen, and contaminant uptake.
Similarly, employment and business, and economies are both VECs that serve as pathways.
The choice of VECs is also related to the perceived significant impact of the project
implementation on important environmental components. In general, the significance or
importance of environmental components is judged based on:
legal protection provided (for example, rare and endangered species)

political or public concerns (for example, resource use conflicts and sustainable development)
scientific judgment (for example, ecological importance); or
commercial or economic importance
However, in addition to their economic, social, political or ecological significance, the chosen
VEC should also have unambiguous operational ease, be accessible to prediction and
measurement; and be susceptible to hazard. Once the VECs are defined, the VECs may be
directly measured (for example, extent of habitat for an endangered species). In cases where it is
impossible or impractical to directly measure the VECs, the chosen measurement endpoints or
environmental indicators must correspond to, or be predictive of assessment endpoints.
The chosen environmental indicators must be: 1) measurable; 2) appropriate to the scale of
disturbance/ contamination; 3) appropriate to the impact mechanism; 4) appropriate and
proportional to temporal dynamics; 5) diagnostic; and 6) standardized; as well as have: 1) a low
natural variability; 2) a broad applicability; and 3) an existing data series.
Where, How and How Many Times to Monitor?
These are the other components of Monitoring Network Design. These questions are best
answered based on local field conditions, capacity and resources available, prevailing legal and
regulatory priorities, etc. For this screening or reconnaissance Surveys of the study area also
necessary. This may also include some simple inexpensive measurements and
assimilative/dispersion modeling. The data will give some information on the prevailing special
and temporal variations, and the general background air pollution in the area. The number of
monitoring stations and the indicators to be measured at each station in the final permanent
network may then be decided upon based on the results of the screening study as well as on the
ii
knowledge of the sources of the proposed development and prevailing local
environmental/meteorological conditions. The best possible definition of the air pollution
problem, together with the analysis of the resources: personnel, budget and equipment available,
represent the basis for the decision on the following questions:
What spatial density (number) of sampling stations is required? How many samples are
needed and during what period (sampling (averaging) time and frequency)?
Where should the stations be located?
What kind of equipment should be used?
What additional background information is needed?
− meteorology
− topography
− population density
− emission sources and emission rates
− effects and impacts
How will the data be made available/communicated?
C. Site Selection
This normally means that for designing a monitoring programme in an (study) area which might
have an impact, several monitoring stations are needed for characterizing the baseline conditions
of the impacted area. When considering the location of individual samplers, it is essential that the
data collected are representative for the location and type of area without the undue influence
from the immediate surroundings. In any measurement point in the study area the total ambient
concentration is the representative of:
natural background concentration

regional background
impact of existing large regional sources such as Industrial emissions
To obtain the information about the importance of these different contributions it is therefore
necessary to locate monitoring stations so that they are representative for different impacts. In
addition to the ambient pollution data, one would often need other data governing the variations
such as meteorological data for air pollution, to identify and quantify the sources contributing to
the measurements.. When considering the location of individual samplers, it is essential that the
data collected are representative for the location and type of area without undue influence from
the immediate surroundings.
iii
ANNEXURE III
Guidance for Assessment of Baseline Components and Attributes
Guidance for Assessment of Baseline Components and Attributes*
Attributes Sampling Method of Remarks

Measurement
Network Frequency
A. Land Environment
Soil One surface sample Season-wise Collected and analyzed The purpose of impact
Particle size distribution from each landfill as per soil analysis assessment on soil (land
Texture and/or hazardous reference book, environment) is to assess
pH waste site (if M.I.Jackson and soil the significant impacts
Electrical conductivity applicable) and prime analysis reference book due to leaching of wastes
Cation exchange capacity villages, (soil samples by C.A. Black or accidental releases and
Alkali metals be collected as per contaminating
Sodium Absorption Ratio BIS specifications) in
(SAR) the study area
Permeability
Porosity
B. Land Use/Landscape
Location code At least 20 points Drainage once in the Global Drainage within the plant
Total project area along with plant study period and positioning area and surrounding is
Topography boundary and general land use categories system very important for storm
Drainage (natural) major land use from secondary data Topo-sheets water impacts.
Cultivated, forest categories in the (local maps) and Satellite From land use maps
plantations, water bodies, study area. ` satellite imageries Imageries sensitive receptors
roads and settlements (1:25,000) (forests, parks,
Satellite mangroves etc.) can be
Imageries identified
(1:25,000)
C. Solid Waste
Quantity: For green field unites Process wise or Guidelines
Based on waste generated it is based on activity wise for
i
Measurement
Network Frequency
from per unit production secondary data base respective raw IS 9569 : 1980
Per capita contribution of earlier plants. material used. IS 10447 : 1983
Collection, transport and Domestic waste
IS 12625 : 1989
disposal system depends upon the
season also IS 12647 : 1989
Process Waste
Quality (oily, chemical, IS 12662 (PTI) 1989
biological)
General segregation into Grab and Composite Process wise or Analysis
biological/organic/inert/haz samples activity wise for IS 9334 : 1979
ardous respective raw
IS 9235 : 1979
Loss on heating material used.
pH Domestic waste IS 10158 : 1982
Electrical Conductivity depends upon the
Calorific value, metals etc. season also
Quality: Grab and Composite Process wise or Analysis Impacts of hazardous
Permeability And porosity samples. Recyclable activity wise for IS 9334 : 1979 waste should be
Moisture pH components have to respective raw performed critically
IS 9235 : 1979
Electrical conductivity analyzed for the material used. depending on the waste
recycling IS 10158 : 1982 characteristics and place
Loss on ignition
Phosphorous requirements of discharge. For land
Total nitrogen disposal the guidelines
should be followed and
Cation exchange capacity
impacts of accidental
Particle size distribution
releases should be
Heavy metal assessed
Ansonia
Flouride
D. Biological Environment (aquatic)
Primary productivity Considering probable Season changes are Standards techniques Seasonal sampling for
ii
Measurement
Network Frequency
Aquatic weeds impact, sampling very important (APHA et. Al. 1995, aquatic biota
Enumeration of points and number of Rau and Wooten 1980) One season for terrestrial
phytoplankton, zooplankton samples to be decided to be followed for biota, in addition to
and benthos on established sampling and vegetation studies during
Fisheries guidelines on measurement monsoon season
Diversity indices ecological studies
Preliminary assessment
based on site eco-
Trophic levels Microscopic analysis of
environment setting
Rare and endangered plankton and
within 10/25 km
species meiobenthos, studies of
radius from the
Sanctuaries / closed areas / proposed site macrofauna, aquatic
Coastal regulation zone vegetation and
(CRZ) Samples to collect
application of indices,
from upstream and
Terrestrial viz. Shannon, similarity,
downstream of
Vegetation – species, list, dominance IVI etc
discharge point,
economic importance, Point quarter plot-less
nearby tributaries at
forest produce, medicinal method (random
down stream, and
value sampling) for terrestrial
also from dug wells
Importance value index close to activity site vegetation survey.
(IVI) of trees
Wild animals
Avifauna For forest studies, Secondary data to collect
Rare and endangered chronic as well as from Government
species short-term impacts offices, NGOs, published
Sanctuaries / National park should be analyzed literature
/ Biosphere reserve warranting data on Plankton net
micro climate
Sediment dredge
conditions
Depth sampler
Microscope
iii
Measurement
Network Frequency
Field binocular
E. Socio-economic
Demographic structure Socio-economic Different impacts Primary data collection Secondary data from
Infrastructure resource base survey is based on occurs during through R&R surveys census records, statistical
Economic resource base proportionate, construction and (if require) or hard books, toposheets,
Health status: Morbidity stratified and random operational phases community survey are health records and
pattern sampling method of the project based on personal relevant official records
Cultural and aesthetic interviews and available with Govt.
attributes questionnaire agencies
* Project Specific
iv
ANNEXURE IV
Sources of Secondary Data Collection
Annexure IVA: Potential Sources of Data For EIA
Information Source
Air Environment
1. Meteorology- Temperature, Rainfall, Humidity, Indian Meteorology Department, Pune
Inversion, Seasonal Wind rose pattern (16 point
compass scale), cloud cover, wind speed, wind
direction, stability, mixing depth
2. Ambient Air Quality- 24 hourly concentration of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB),
SPM, RPM, SO2, NOx, CO State Pollution Control Board (SPCB),
Municipal Corporations
Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF)
State Department of Environment (DoEN)
Water Environment
3. Surface water- water sources, water flow (lean Central Water Commission (CWC),
season), water quality, water usage, Downstream Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB),
water users State Pollution Control Board (SPCB), Central Water
Command area development plan and Power Research Institute (CWPRS), Pune
Catchment treatment plan State Irrigation Department
Hydel Power generation organizations such as
NHPC, State SEBs
4. Ground Water- groundwater recharge Central Ground Water Board (CGWB)
rate/withdrawal rate, ground water potential Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA)
groundwater levels (pre monsoon, post monsoon), State Ground Water Board (SGWB)
ground water quality, changes observed in quality National Water Development Authority (NWDA)
and quantity of ground water in last 15 years
5. Coastal waters- water quality, tide and current data, Department of Ocean Development, New Delhi
bathymetry State Maritime Boards
Naval Hydrographer’s Office, Dehradun
Port Authorities
National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa
Biological Environment
6. Description of Biological Environment- inventory District Gazetteers
of flora and fauna in 7 km radius, endemic species, National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA),
endangered species, Aquatic Fauna, Forest land, Hyderabad
forest type and density of vegetation, biosphere, Forest Survey of India, Dehradun
national parks, wild life sanctuaries, tiger reserve, Wildlife Institute of India
elephant reserve, turtle nesting ground, core zone World Wildlife Fund
of biosphere reserve, habitat of migratory birds, Zoological Survey of India
routes of migratory birds Botanical Survey of India
Bombay Natural History Society, (BNHS), Mumbai
State Forest Departments
State Fisheries Department
Ministry of Environment and Forests
State Agriculture Departments
State Agriculture Universities
Land Environment
7. Geographical Information-Latitude, Longitude, Toposheets of Survey of India, Pune
Elevation ( above MSL) National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA),
Hyderabad
Space Application Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad
REPORT ON SECONDARY DATA COLLECTION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION CENTRE 1

Information Source
8. Nature of Terrain, topography map indicating Survey of India Toposheets
contours (1:2500 scale) National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA),
Hyderabad
State Remote Sensing Centre,
Space Application Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad
9. Hydrogeology- Hydrogeological report (in case of NRSA, Hyderbad
ground water is used/area is drought Survey of India Toposheets
prone/wastewater is likely to discharged on land) Geological Survey of India
Geomorphological analysis (topography and State Geology Departments
drainage pattern) State Irrigation Department
Geological analysis (Geological Department of Wasteland Development, Ministry of
Formations/Disturbances- geological and structural Rural Areas
maps, geomorphological contour maps, structural National Water Development Authority (NWDA)
features, including lineaments, fractures, faults and
joints)
Hydrogeological analysis (disposition of permeable
formations, surface-ground water links, hydraulic
parameter determination etc)
Analysis of the natural soil and water to assess
pollutant absorption capacity
10. Nature of Soil, permeability, erodibility Agriculture Universities
classification of the land State Agriculture Department
Indian Council for Agriculture Research
State Soil Conservation Departments
National Bureau of Soil Survey and Landuse Planning
Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI),
Jodhpur
11. Landuse in the project area and 10 km radius of the Survey of India- Toposheets
periphery of the project All India Soil and Landuse Survey; Delhi
National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA),
Hyderabad
Town and County Planning Organisation
State Urban Planning Department
Regional Planning Authorities (existing and proposed
plans)
Village Revenue Map- District Collectorate
Directorate of Economics and Statistics-State
Government
Space Application Centre, Ahmedabad
12. Coastal Regulation Zones- CRZMP, CRZ Urban Development Department

classification, Demarcation of HTL and LTL∗ State Department of Environment
State Pollution Control Board
Space Application Centre*
Centre for Earth Sciences Studies,
Thiruvanthapuram*
Institute of Remote Sensing, Anna University
Chennai*
Naval Hydrographer’s Office, Dehradun*
National Institute of Oceanography, Goa*
National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai
Centre for Earth Science Studies
∗ Agencies authorized for approval of demarcation of HTL and LTL

Information Source
Social
13. Socioeconomic - population, number of houses Census Department
and present occupation pattern within 7 km from District Gazetteers- State Government
the periphery of the project District Statistics- District Collectorate
International Institute of Population Sciences,
Mumbai (limited data)
Central Statistical Organisation
14. Monuments and heritage sites District Gazetteer
Archeological Survey of India,
INTACH
District Collectorate
Central and State Tourism Department
State Tribal and Social Welfare Department
Natural Disasters
15. Seismic data (Mining Projects)- zone no, no of Indian Meteorology Department, Pune
earthquakes and scale, impacts on life, property Geological Survey of India
existing mines
16. Landslide prone zone, geomorphological Space Application Centre
conditions, degree of susceptibility to mass
movement, major landslide history (frequency of
occurrence/decade), area affected, population
affected
17. Flood/cyclone/droughts- frequency of occurrence Natural Disaster Management Division in

per decade, area affected, population affected Department of Agriculture and Cooperation
Indian Meteorological Department
Industrial
18. Industrial Estates/Clusters, Growth Centres State Industrial Corporation
Industrial Associations
State Pollution Control Boards
Confederation Indian Industries (CII)
FICCI
19. Physical and Chemical properties of raw material Material and Safety Data Sheets
and chemicals (Industrial projects); fuel quality ENVIS database of Industrial Toxicological Research
Centre, Lucknow
Indian Institute Petroleum
20. Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene- Central Labour Institute, Mumbai
major occupational health and safety hazards, Directorate of Industrial Safety
health and safety requirements, accident histories ENVIS Database of Industrial Toxicological Research
Centre, Lucknow
National Institute of Occupational Health,
Ahmedabad
21. Pollutant release inventories (Existing pollution Project proponents which have received EC and have
sources in area within 10 km radius) commenced operations
22. Water requirement (process, cooling water, DM EIA Reports

water, Dust suppression, drinking, green belt, fire National and International Benchmarks
service)

Annexure IVB: Summary of Available Data with Potential Data Sources for EIA
Agency Information Available

1. Archaeological Survey of India Inventory of monuments and sites of national importance- Listing and
Department of Culture documentation of monuments according to world heritage, pre
Government of India historic, proto historic and secular, religious places and forts
Janpath, New Delhi - 110011
[email protected]
2. Botanical Survey Of India Photodiversity documentation of flora at National, State and District
P-8, Brabourne Road Calcutta level and flora of protected areas, hotspots, fragile ecosystems, sacred
700001 groves etc
Tel#033 2424922 Identification of threatened species including endemics, their
Fax#033 2429330 mapping, population studies
Email: [email protected]. . Database related to medicinal plants, rare and threatened plant species
Red data book of Indian plants (Vol 1,2, and 3)
RO - Coimbatore, Pune, Jodhpur, Manual for roadside and avenue plantation in India
Dehradun, Allahabad, Gantok,
Itanagar, Port Blair
3. Bureau of Indian Standards Bureau of Indian Standards Committees on Earthquake Engineering
Manak Bhawan, 9 Bahadur Shah and Wind Engineering have a Seismic Zoning Map and the Wind
Zafar Marg, New Delhi 110 002 Velocity Map including cyclonic winds for the country
Tel#3230131, 3233375, 3239402 (10
lines)
Fax : 91 11 3234062, 3239399,
3239382
Email- [email protected]
4. Central Water Commission (CWC) Central Data Bank -Collection, collation and Publishing of
Sewa Bhawan, R.K.Puram Hydrological, Hydrometeorological, Sediment and Water Quality
New Delhi - 110066 data-.
[email protected] Basin wise Master Plans
Flood atlas for India
RO- Bangalore, Bhopal, Flood Management and Development and Operation of Flood
Bhubaneshwar, Chandigarh, Forecasting System- CWC operate a network of forecasting stations
Coimbatore/Chennai, Delhi, Over 6000 forecasts are issued every year with about 95% of the
Hyderabad, Lucknow, Nagpur, forecasts within the permissible limit.
Patna, Shillong, Siliguri and Water Year Books, Sediment Year Books and Water Quality Year
Vadodara Books.
Also actively involved in monitoring of 84 identified projects through
National, State and Project level Environmental Committees for
ensuring implementation of environmental safeguards
5. Central Ground Water Board surveys, exploration, monitoring of ground water development
(HO) N.H.IV, New CGO
Complex,
Faridabad - 121001
RO - Guwahati, Chandigarh,
Ahemadabad, Trivandrum,
Calcutta, Bhopal, Lucknow,
Banglore, Nagpur, Jammu,
Bhubneshwar, Raipur, Jaipur,
Chennai, Hyderabad, Patna
16
Based on web search and literature review

6. Central Pollution Control Board National Air Quality Monitoring Programme
Parivesh Bhawan, CBD-cum-Office National River Water Quality Monitoring Programme- Global
Complex Environment Monitoring , MINARS
East Arjun Nagar, DELHI - 110 032 Zoning Atlas Programme
INDIA Information on 17 polluting category industries (inventory, category
E-mail : [email protected] wise distribution, compliance, implementation of pollution control
programmes
7. Central Arid Zone Research AGRIS database on all aspects of agriculture from 1975 to date
Institute, Jodhpur Also have cell on Agriculture Research Information System;
Working on ENVIS project on desertification
Email : [email protected] Repository of information on the state of natural resources and
desertification processes and their control
Regional Centre at Bhuj in Gujarat The spectrum of activities involves researches on basic resource
inventories; monitoring of desertification, rehabilitation and
management of degraded lands and other areas
8. Central Inland Capture Fisheries Data Base on

Research Institute, Barrackpore- Ecology and fisheries of major river systems of India.
743101, Biological features of commercially important riverine and estuarine
Tel#033-5600177 fish species.
Fax#033-5600388 Production functions and their interactions in floodplain wetlands.
Email : [email protected] Activities - Environmental Impact Assessment for Resource
Management ; Fisheries Resource surveys
9. Central Institute of Brackish Water Repository of information on brackish water fishery resources with
Aquaculture systematic database of coastal fishery resources for ARIS
141, Marshalls Road, Egmore , Agricultural Research Information System (ARIS) database covers
Chennai - 600 008, State wise data on soil and water quality parameters, land use pattern,
Tel# 044-8554866, 8554891, production and productivity trends,
Director (Per) 8554851 Social, economic and environmental impacts of aquaculture farming,
Fax#8554851, Guidelines and effluent standards for aquaculture farming
10. Central Marine Fisheries Research Assessing and monitoring of exploited and un-exploited fish stocks in
Institute (CMFRI), Cochin Indian EEZ
Monitoring the health of the coastal ecosystems, particularly the
endangered ecosystems in relation to artisanal fishing, mechanised
fishing and marine pollution
The institute has been collecting data on the catch and effort and
biological characteristics for nearly half a century based on
scientifically developed sampling scheme, covering all the maritime
States of the country
The voluminous data available with the institute is managed by the
National Marine Living Resources Data Centre (NMLRDC)
11. Central Water and Power Research Numerical and Physical models for hydro-dynamic simulations
Station, Pune
Tel#020-4391801-14; 4392511;
4392825
Fax #020-4392004,4390189
12. Central Institute of Road Transport, Repository of data on all aspects of performance of STUs and a host
Bhosari, Pune of other related road transport parameters
411 026, India.
Tel : +91 (20) 7125177, 7125292,
7125493, 7125494

13. Department of Ocean Development Assessment of environment parameters and marine living resources
(primary and secondary) in Indian EEZ (Nodal Agency NIO Kochi)
Stock assessment, biology and resource mapping of deep sea shrimps,
lobsters and fishes in Indian EEZ (Nodal agency-Fisheries Survey of
India)
Investigations of toxical algal blooms and benthic productivity in
Indian EEZ (Nodal agency- Cochin University of Science and
technology)
Coastal Ocean Monitoring and Prediction System (COMAP) -
monitoring and modelling of marine pollution along entire Indian
coast and islands. Parameters monitored are temp, salinity, DO, pH,
SS, BOD, inorganic phosphate, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, total
phosphorus, total nitrite, total organic carbon, petroleum
hydrocarbons, pathogenic vibros, pathogenic E.coli, shigella,
salmonella, heavy metals (Cd, Hg, Pb) and pesticide residues (DDT,
BHC, Endosulfan). Monitoring is carried out along the ecologically
sensitive zones and urban areas (NIO Mumbai- Apex coordinating
agency).
Sea Level Measurement Programe (SELMAM)- sea level measurement
at selected stations (Porbandar, Bombay, Goa, Cochin, Tuticorin,
Madras, Machilipatnam, Visakhapatnam, Paradeep, Calcutta and
Kavaratti (Lakshadweep Island)) along Indian coast and islands using
modern tide gauges
Detailed coastal maps through Survey of India showing contour at 1/2
a metre interval in the scale of 1:25000. (Nellore- Machhalipatnam work
already over)
Marine Data Centre (MDC) IMD for Ocean surface meteorology,
GSI for marine geology, SOI for tide levels, Naval Hydrographic
Office for bathymetry, NIO Goa for physical chemical and biological
oceanography, NIO Mumbai for marine pollution, CMFRI for
coastal fisheries, Institute of Ocean Management Madras for coastal
geomorphology
DOD has setup Indian National Centre for Ocean Information
Services (INCOIS) at Hyderabad for generation and dissemination of
ocean data products (near real time data products such as sea surface
temperature, potential fishing zones, upwelling zones, maps, eddies,
chlorophyll, suspended sediment load etc). MDC will be integrated
with INCOIS
Integrated Coastal and Marine Area Management (ICMAM)
programme - GIS based information system for management of 11
critical habitats namely Pichavaram, Karwar, Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of
Khambat, Gulf of Kutch, Malvan, Cochin, Coringa mangroves,
Gahirmata, Sunderbans and Kadamat (Lakshadeep)
Wetland maps for Tamil Nadu and Kerala showing the locations of
lagoons, backwaters, estuaries, mudflats etc (1:50000 scale)
Coral Reef Maps for Gulf of Kachch, Gulf of Mannar, Andaman and
Nicobar and Lakshadeep Islands (1:50,000 scale) indicating the
condition of corals, density etc
14. Environment Protection Training Environment Information Centre- has appointed EPTRI as the
and Research Institute Distributed Information Centre for the Eastern Ghats region of India.
Gachibowli, Hyderabad - 500 019, EIC Collaborates with the Stockholm Environment Institute Sweden
India Phone: +91-40-3001241, Database on Economics of Industrial Pollution Prevention in India
3001242, 3000489 Database of Large and Medium Scale Industries of Andhra Pradesh
Fax: +91-40- 3000361 Environmental Status of the Hyderabad Urban Agglomeration
E-mail: [email protected] Study on ‘water pollution-health linkages’ for a few Districts of A.P

Environment Quality Mapping
Macro level studies for six districts in the State of Andhra Pradesh
Micro level studies for two study zones presenting the permissible
pollutant load and scoping for new industrial categories
Zonation of the IDA, Parwada which helped APIIC to promote the
land for industrial development
Disaster management plan for Visakhapatnam Industrial Bowl Area
15. Forest Survey of India (FSI) State of Forest Report (Biannual)

Kaulagarh Road, P.O., IPE National Forest Vegetation Map (Biannual exercise) (on 1: 1 million
Dehradun - 248 195 scale)
Tel# 0135-756139, 755037, 754507 Thematic mapping on 1:50,000 scale depicting the forest type, species
Fax # 91-135-759104 composition, crown density of forest cover and other landuse National
E-Mail : [email protected] Basic Forest Inventory System
[email protected] Inventory survey of non forest area
Forest inventory report providing details of area estimates,
RO- Banglore, Calcutta, Nagpur topographic description, health of forest, ownership pattern,
and Shimla estimation of volume and other growth parameters such as height and
diameter in different types of forest, estimation of growth,
regeneration and mortality of important species, volume equation and
wood consumption of the area studied
16. Geological Survey of India Environmental hazards zonation mapping in mineral sector
27 Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Calcutta Codification of base line information of geo-environmental
700 016, India Telephone +91-33- appreciation of any terrain and related EIA and EMP studies
2496941 FAX 91-33-2496956 Lineament and geomorphological map of India on 1:20,000 scale.
[email protected] Photo-interpreted geological and structural maps of terrains with
limited field checks.
17. Indian Council of Agriculture A total of 80,000 profiles at 10 kms grid across the country were
Research, analyzed to characterize the soils of India.
Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi, Detailed soil maps of the Country (1:7 million), State (1:250,000) and
Tel#011-338206 districts map (1:50,000) depicting extent of degradation (1:4.4 millions)
have been prepared.
Thematic maps depicting soil depth, texture drainage, calcareousness,
− ICAR complex, Goa- Agro salinity, pH, slope and erosion have been published
metrology Agro-climate characterization of the country based on moisture,
− Central Arid Zone Research thermal and sunshine regimes
Institute- Agro forestry Agro-ecological zones (20) and sub-zones (60) for the country were
− Central Soil salinity Research delineated based on physiography, soils, climate, Length of Growing
Institute, Period and Available Water Content, and mapped on 1:4.4 million
− Indian Institute of Soil Science scale.
− Central Soil and Water Digitization of physiography and soil resource base on 1:50,000 scale
Conservation Research and for 14 States have been completed.
Training Institute .Soil fertility maps of N,P,K,S and Zn have also been developed
− National Bureau of Soil Survey Water quality guidelines for irrigation and naturally occurring
and Landuse Planning saline/sodic water
Calibration and verification of ground water models for predicting
water logging and salinity hazards in irrigation commands
18. Indian Bureau of Mines National mineral inventory for 61 minerals and mineral maps
Indira Bhawan, Civil Lines Nagpur Studies on environmental protection and pollution control in regard
Ph no - 0712-533 631, to the mining and mineral beneficiation operations
Fax- 0712-533 041 Collection, processing and storage of data on mines, minerals and
mineral-based industries, collection and maintenance of world mineral
intelligence, foreign mineral legislation and other related matters

19. Indian Meteorology Department Meteorological data
Shivaji nagar, Pune 41100 Background air quality monitoring network under Global
Atmospheric Watch Programme (operates 10 stations)
RO- Mumbai, Chennai, Calcutta, Seismicity map, seismic zoning map; seismic occurrences and cyclone
New Delhi, Nagpur, Guwahati hazard monitoring; list of major earthquakes
Climatological Atlas of India , Rainfall Atlas of India and
Agroclimatic Atlas of India
Monthly bulletin of Climate Diagnostic Bulletin of India
Environmental Meteorological Unit of IMD at Delhi to provide
specific services to MoEF
20. INTACH Listing and documentation of heritage sites identified by
Natural Heritage, 71 Lodi Estate, New municipalities and local bodies (Listing excludes sites and buildings
Delhi-110 003 under the purview of the Archaeological Survey of India and the State
Departments of Archaeology)
Tel. 91-11-4645482, 4632267/9,
4631818, 4692774, 4641304 Fax : 91-
11-4611290
E-mail : [email protected]
21. Industrial Toxicology Research Activities include health survey on occupational diseases in industrial
Centre workers, air and water quality monitoring studies, ecotoxicological
Post Box No. 80, Mahatma Gandhi impact assessment, toxicity of chemicals, human health risk
Marg, Lucknow-226001, assessment
Phone: +91-522- Five databases on CD-ROM in the area of environmental toxicology
221856,213618,228227; Fax : +91- viz: TOXLINE, CHEMBANK, POISINDEX, POLTOX and
522 228227 PESTBANK. The Toxicology Information Centre provides
Email: [email protected] information on toxic chemicals including household chemicals
ENVIS centre and created a full-fledged computerized database
(DABTOC) on toxicity profiles of about 450 chemicals
22. Indian Institute of Forest Consultancy and research on joint forest management (Ford
Management Foundation, SIDA, GTZ, FAO etc)
Post Box No. 357, Nehru Nagar
Bhopal - 462 003
Phone # 0755-575716, 573799,
765125, 767851
Fax # 0755-572878
23. Indian Institute of Petroleum Fuel quality characterisation

Mohkampur , Dehradun, India, Emission factors
248005
0135- 660113 to 116
0135- 671986
24. Ministry of Environment and Survey of natural resources

Forest National river conservation directorate
Environmental research programme for eastern and western ghats
National natural resource management system
Wetlands conservation programme- survey, demarcation, mapping
landscape planning, hydrology for 20 identified wetlands National
wasteland identification programme
25. Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Mumbai Urban Transport Project

Development Authority Mumbai Urban Development Project
Mumbai Urban Rehabilitation Project
Information on MMR; statistics on councils and corporations Regional
Information Centre- Basic data on population, employment, industries
and other sectors are regularly collected and processed

26. Municipal Corporation of Greater Air Quality Data for Mumbai Municipal Area
Mumbai Water quality of lakes used for water supply to Mumbai
27. Ministry of Urban Development Identification of hazard prone area
Disaster Mitigation and Vulnerability Atlas showing areas vulnerable to natural disasters
Vulnerability Atlas of India Land-use zoning and design guidelines for improving hazard resistant
construction of buildings and housing
Building Materials & Technology State wise hazard maps (on cyclone, floods and earthquakes)
Promotion Council
G-Wing,Nirman Bhavan, New
Delhi-110011
Tel: 91-11-3019367
Fax: 91-11-3010145
E-Mail: [email protected]
28. Natural Disaster Management Weekly situation reports on recent disasters, reports on droughts,
Division in Department of floods, cyclones and earthquakes
Agriculture and Cooperation
29. National Bureau Of Soil Survey & NBSS&LUP Library has been identified as sub centre of ARIC
Land Use Planning (ICAR) for input to AGRIS covering soil science literature generated
P.O. Box No. 426, Shankar Nagar in India
P.O., Nagpur-440010 Research in weathering and soil formation, soil morphology, soil
mineralogy, physicochemical characterisation, pedogenesis, and landscape-
Tel#91-712-534664,532438,534545 climate-soil relationship.
Fax#:91-712-522534 Soil Series of India- The soils are classified as per Soil Taxonomy. The
described soil series now belong to 17 States of the country.
RO- Nagpur, New Delhi, Banglore, Landuse planning- watershed management, land evaluation criteria, crop
Calcutta, Jorhat, Udaipur efficiency zoning
Soil Information system is developed state-wise at 1:250,000 scale.
Presently the soil maps of all the States are digitized, processed and
designed for final output both digital and hardcopy. The thematic layers
and interpreted layers of land evaluation (land capability, land
irrigability and crop suitability), Agro-Ecological Zones and soil
degradation themes are prepared.
Districts level information system is developed for about 15 districts at 1:
50, 000 scale. The soil information will be at soil series level in this system.
Soil resource inventory of States, districts water-sheds (1:250,000;
1:50,000; 1:10,000/8000)
30. National Institute of Ocean Waste load allocation in selected estuaries (Tapi estuary and Ennore
Technology, creek) is one the components under the Integrated Coastal and Marine
Velacherry-Tambaram main road Area Management (ICMAM) programme of the Department of
Narayanapuram Ocean Development ICMAM is conducted with an IDA based credit
Chennai, Tamil Nadu to the Government of India under the Environmental Capacity
Tel#91-44-2460063 / 2460064/ Building project of MoEF (waste assimilation capacity of Ennore
2460066/ 2460067 creek is over)
Fax#91-44-2460645 Physical oceanographic component of Coastal & Ocean monitoring
Predictive System (COMAPS) a long term monitoring program under
the Department of Ocean Development
Identification of suitable locations for disposal of dredge spoil using
mathematical models & environmental criteria
EIA Manual and EIA guidelines for port and harbour projects
31. National Institute of Oceanography, Coastal Ocean Monitoring and Predictions(COMAP)-Monitoring of
Goa coastal waters for physicochemical and biological parameters
including petroleum hydrocarbons, trace metals, heavy metals, and
RO- Mumbai, Kochi biomass of primary (phytoplankton) and secondary (zooplankton,
microbial and benthic organisms)
Marine Biodiversity of selected ecosystem along the West Coast of
India

32. National Botanical Research Dust filtering potential of common avenue trees and roadside shrubs
Institute, has been determined, besides studies have also been conducted on
Post Box No 436 Rana Pratap Marg heavy-metals accumulation potential of aquatic plants supposedly
Lucknow- 226001, useful as indicators of heavy metal pollution in water bodies and
Tel: (+91) 522 271031-35 Fax: (+91) capable of reducing the toxic metals from water bodies.
522 282849, 282881 Assessment of bio-diversity of various regions of India
Lucknow
33. National Geophysical Research Exploration, assessment and management of ground water resources
Institute, Uppal Road, Hyderabad including ground water modelling and pollution studies
Telephone:0091-40-7171124,
FAX:0091-40-7171564
34. National Environmental National Air Quality Monitoring (NAQM) for CPCB
Engineering Research Institute, Database on cleaner technologies of industrial productions
Nagpur
RO- Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai,
Calcutta, Ahmedabad, Cochin,
Hyderabad, Kanpur
35. National Hydrology Institute, Basin studies, hydrometeorological network improvement,
Roorkee hydrological year book, hydrological modelling, regional flood
RO- Belgaum (Hard Rock Regional formulae, reservoir sedimentation studies, environmental hydrology,
Centre), Jammu (Western watershed development studies, tank studies, and drought studies.
Himalayan Regional Centre),
Guwahati (North Eastern Regional
Centre), Kakinada (Deltaic Regional
Centre), Patna (Ganga Plains North
Regional Centre), and Sagar (Ganga
Plains South)
36. National Institute Of Urban Affairs, Urban Statistics Handbook
India Habitat Centre, New Delhi
37. National Institute of Occupational epidemiological studies and surveillance of hazardous occupations
Health including air pollution, noise pollution, agricultural hazards, industrial
Meghaninagar, Ahmedabad hazards in organised sectors as well as small scale industries,
carcinogenesis, pesticide toxicology, etc
RO- Banglore, Calcutta WHO collaborative centre for occupational health for South East Asia
region and the lead institute for the international programme on
chemical safety under IPCS (WHO)
38. NRSA Data Centre Satellite data products (raw data, partially processed (radiometrically
Department of Space, Balanagar, corrected but geometrically uncorrected), standard data
(radiometrically and geometrically corrected), geocoded data(1:50,000
Hyderabad 500 037
and 1:25000 scale), special data products like mosaiced, merged and
Ph- 040-3078560 extracted) available on photographic (B?W and FCC in form of film of
3078664 240 mm X 240mm or enlargements/paper prints in scale varying
[email protected] between 1:1M and 1:12500 and size varying between 240mm and
1000mm) and digital media (CD-ROMs, 8 mm tapes)
39. Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Database for groundwater using remote sensing technology (Regional
Water Mission Remote Sensing Service Centre involved in generation of ground
water prospect maps at 1:50,000 scale for the State of Kerala,
Karnataka, AP, MP and Rajasthan for RGNDWM)
40. Space Application Centre National Natural Resource Information System
Value Added Services Cell (VASC) Landuse mapping for coastal regulation zone (construction setback
Remote Sensing Application Area line) upto 1:12500 scale
Ahmedabad 380 053 Inventory of coastal wetlands, coral reefs, mangroves, seaweeds
079-676 1188 Monitoring and condition assessment of protected coastal areas

Fax- 079-6762735 Wetland mapping and inventory
Mapping of potential hotspots and zoning of environmental hazards
General geological and geomorphological mapping in diverse terrain
Landslide risk zonation for Tehre area
41. State Pollution Control Board State Air Quality Monitoring Programme
Inventory of polluting industries
Identification and authorization of hazardous waste generating
industries
Inventory of biomedical waste generating industries
Water quality monitoring of water bodies receiving wastewater
discharges
Inventory of air polluting industries
Industrial air pollution monitoring
Air consent, water consent, authorization, environment monitoring
reports
42. State Ground Water Board
43. Survey of India Topographical surveys on 1:250,000 scales, 1:50,000 and 1:25,000
scales
Digital Cartographical Data Base of topographical maps on scales
1:250,000 and 1:50,000
Data generation and its processing for redefinition of Indian Geodetic
Datum
Maintenance of National Tidal Data Centre and receiving/ processing
of tidal data of various ports.
Coastal mapping along the Eastern coast line has been in progress to
study the effect of submergence due to rise in sea-level and other
natural phenomenon. Ground surveys have been completed for the
proposed coastal region and maps are under printing.
District planning maps containing thematic information (135 maps)
have been printed out of 249 maps covering half the districts of India.
Districts planning maps for remaining half of the area are being
processed by National Atlas and Thematic Mapping Organisation
(NATMO)
44. Town and Country Planning Urban mapping - Thematic maps and graphic database on towns
Organisation (under progress in association with NRSA and State town planning
department)
45. Wildlife Institute of India Post Bag Provide information and advice on specific wildlife management
No. 18, Chandrabani Dehradun - problems.
248 001, Uttaranchal National Wildlife Database
Tel#0135 640111 -15,
Fax#0135 640117
email : wii@wii .
46. Zoological Survey of India Red Book for listing of endemic species
Prani Vigyan Bhawan Survey of faunal resources
'M' Block, New Alipore
Calcutta - 700 053
Phone # 91-33-4786893, 4783383
Fax # 91-33-786893
RO - Shillong, Pune, Dehradun,
Jabalpur, Jodhpur, Chennai, Patna,
Hyderabad, Canning, Behrampur,
Kozikode, Itanagar, Digha, Port
Bliar, Solan

ANNEXURE V
Form through which the State Governments/Administration of
the Union Territories Submit Nominations for SEIAA and SEAC
for the Consideration and Notification by the
Central Government
Form for Nomination of a professional/expert as Chairperson / Member / Secretary of the SEIAA / EAC /
SEAC
1 Name (in block letters)
2 Address for communication
3 Age & Date of Birth

(Shall be less than 67 years for the members
and 72 years for the Chairman)
4 Area of Expertise (As per
Appendix VI)
Professional Qualifications Qualification(s) University Year of Percentage of
(As per Appendix VI) passing marks
6 Work experience Position Years of association Nature of work. If

From to Period in required, attach
(High light relevant experience years separate sheets
as per Appendix VI)
Serving Central / State Government Office? Yes/No

Engaged in industry or their associations? Yes/No
Present position and nature of Associated with environmental activism? Yes/No
7
job
If no is the answer for above three, please
specify the present position and name of the
organization
Whether experienced in the Yes/No.
8 process of prior environmental If yes, please specify the experience in a separate sheet (Please restrict to
clearance? 500 words)
Yes/ No
Whether any out-standing
9 If yes, please provide details in a separate sheet (Please restrict to 500
expertise has been acquired?
words).
10 Any other relevant information? May like to attach separate sheets (Research projects, consultancy projects,
publications, memberships in associations, trainings undergone,
international exposure cum experience etc.)
The Government of……………………is pleased to forward the Nomination of Dr./Sh.

…………………...…. for the position of Chairperson / Member / Secretary of the SEIAA / SEAC / EAC
to the Ministry of Environment & Forests, the Government of India for the Notification.
(Authorized Signature with Seal)

REFERENCES
Ministry of Environment and Forest, GoI - “Environment Impact Assessment Notification”
S.O.1533 dated 14th September 2006.
Ministry of Environment and Forest, GoI – “Environment Impact Assessment Notification

2006 – Amendment” S.O. 195 (E) dated 19th January 2009.
Ministry of Environment and Forest, GoI – Charter on Corporate Responsibility for

Environment Protection Action Points for 17 Categories of Industries, CPCB, March 2003.
Larry W. Canter, “Environmental Impact Assessment”, Second Edition, McGraw Hill,

University of Oklahoma, 1997.
European Commission - Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC): Reference

Document on Best Available Techniques for the Tanning of Hides and Skins” , February
2003.
International Finance Corporation (IFC) - Environmental, Health and Safety Guidelines for
Tanning and Leather Finishing, World Bank Group.
International Association for Impact Assessment in Cooperation with Institute of

Environmental Assessment, UK – “Principles of Environmental Impact Assessment Best
Practice, 1996
Central Pollution Control Board – “Environmental Management in Tannery Sector: Status &
Needs”
Central Pollution Control Board – “Waste Management in Tanneries: Review Report”,

March 2000
Central Pollution Control Board – General Environmental Standards and Industry Specific
Standards.
Ministry of Environment and Forest - Charter on Corporate Responsibility for

Environmental Protection, MoEF, March 2003.
Dr. Rajamani, CLRI - Presentation on Waste Minimization Options and Inplant and Effluent
Treatment - Case Studies.
Ecosmart India Ltd., - Report on Secondary Data Collection for Environmental Information
Centre, submitted to Ministry of Environment and Forests, 28th March 2003

Referred Websites
http://envfor.nic.in/divisions/iass/eia.htm
http://www.iaia.org
http://www.cpcb.nic.in/

IL&FS Ecosmart Limited
Flat # 408, Saptagiri Towers
Begumpet
Hyderabad – 500 016
Ph: + 91 40 40163016
Fax: + 91 40 40032220
For any queries or technical inputs kindly mail:
[email protected]
[email protected]

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Final Draft

TECHNICAL EIA GUIDANCE MANUAL

Project Coordination Dr. (Mrs.) Nalini Bhat

Core Project Coordination Team Mr. Mahesh Babu

Resource Person Dr. S. Rajamani

1. INTRODUCTION TO THE TECHNICAL EIA GUIDANCE MANUALS PROJECT 1-1

Technical EIA Guidance Manual for Tanneries September 2009

4. OPERATIONAL ASPECTS OF EIA 4-1

Technical EIA Guidance Manual for Tanneries September 2009

Table 3-2: Pollution Load per tonne of Hides/Skins Processed...........................................................3-8

Table 3-3: Characteristics of Tannery Effluent....................................................................................3-9

Table 3-4: Sources of Air Emissions and Preventive Methods..........................................................3-12

Table 3-5: Odour Emissions to Air ....................................................................................................3-12

Table 3-7: Tanneries – Effluent Standards ........................................................................................3-28

Table 4-1: Advantages and Disadvantages of Impact Identification Methods ..................................4-11

Table 4-2: Matrix of Impacts .............................................................................................................4-13

Table 4-4: Mitigation Measures for Construction Phase ...................................................................4-29

Table 4-5: Mitigation Measures for Operation Phase ........................................................................4-30

Table 4-6: Structure of EIA Report....................................................................................................4-32

Table 5-2: Organization-Specific Functions ........................................................................................5-2

Table 5-4: EAC/SEAC: Eligibility Criteria for Chairperson / Members / Secretary...........................5-9

Technical EIA Guidance Manual for Tanneries September 2009

Figure 2-2: Types of Impacts .............................................................................................................2-14

Figure 2-3: Cumulative Impact ..........................................................................................................2-15

Figure 3-1: Location of Tanneries in India ..........................................................................................3-2

Figure 3-2: Tanning Process ................................................................................................................3-3

Figure 3-3: Input vs. Output in the Tanneries ......................................................................................3-7

Figure 3-4: Tannery Effluent Treatment System ...............................................................................3-11

Figure 4-3: Approach for EIA Study .................................................................................................4-20

Figure 4-4: Elements of Mitigation Plan............................................................................................4-28

Technical EIA Guidance Manual for Tanneries September 2009

Form 1 (Application Form for Obtaining EIA Clearance)

Types of Monitoring and Network Design Considerations

Guidance for Assessment of Baseline Components and Attributes

Sources of Secondary Data

Form through which the State Governments/Administration of the Union Territories

Technical EIA Guidance Manual for Tanneries September 2009

Technical EIA Guidance Manual for Tanneries September 2009

IUE International Union of Environment

Technical EIA Guidance Manual for Tanneries September 2009

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a process of identifying, predicting,

 Decentralization of clearing powers to the State level/Union Territory (UT) level

Technical EIA Guidance Manual for Tanneries September 2009

 Newly added developmental activities for prior environmental clearance, etc.

 Conceptual facets of an EIA

Technical EIA Guidance Manual for Tanneries September 2009

1.2 Project Implementation

1.3 Additional Information

Technical EIA Guidance Manual for Tanneries September 2009

2.1 Environment in EIA Context

Sustainable development is built on three basic premises i.e., economic growth,

Figure 2-1: Inclusive Components of Sustainable Development

2.2 Pollution Control Strategies

Technical EIA Guidance Manual for Tanneries September 2009

Many a number or combination of techniques could be adopted for treatment of a specific

Management Based Tools Process Based Tools Product Based Tools

Environmental Management Environmental Technology Assessment Industrial Ecology

These tools are precisely discussed in next sections.

2.3 Tools for Preventive Environmental Management

The tools for preventive environmental management can be broadly classified in to

Decentralization of clearing powers to the State level/Union Territory (UT) level

Newly added developmental activities for prior environmental clearance, etc.

Conceptual facets of an EIA

Tools for assessment and analysis

Identification of costly resource inefficiencies

Something delivered by technical systems engineered by experts rather than the

Goal must be continuous improvement of quality instead of acceptable quality

Type I: Multiple criteria base; third party (Govt. or non-commercial private

Mass: There is an opportunity to significantly reduce mass burdens (raw materials,

Target objectives (emission limit values/standards)

Purposive- should inform decision makers and result in appropriate levels of