Regulation for Environmental Clearance of Projects 2016.

This Regulation provides for the issuance and enforcement of environmental clearances for individual projects. It defines responsibilities and procedures for the implementation of the Environmental Assessment Act, 2000 concerning environmental assessment process for projects. The Regulation consists of 96 Sections divided into 7 Chapters: Preliminary (I); Application for Environmental Clearance (II); Environmental Assessment Process (III); Environmental Clearance (IV); Renewal of Environmental Clearance (V); Public Consultation (VI); Monitoring, Enforcement and Reporting (VII).
An application for Environmental Clearance must adhere to the relevant environmental assessment guidelines and Initial Environmental Examination form (sec.7). The Secretariat or Competent Authority shall screen the application for Environmental Clearance as per the sectoral guidelines and Initial Environment Examination form within time limit as per Annex 1 (sec.19). The applicant shall send a written notice for public consultation of the proposed project along with project prospectus to the concerned local authorities. The concerned local authority shall provide reasonable and appropriate time for the public consultation (sec. 41). The remaining part of the Regulation makes provisions on the monitoring, inspection and reporting of projects on the implementation and enforcement of the EA Act, 2000, offences, and sanctions and compensation, etc.