India’s Hydrocarbon Outlook 2024 192 A Report on Exploration & Production Activities May 2022: Extension of Validity of EC, Simplifying Public Hearings EC Validity: The GoI has extended the tenure of Environmental Clearances (EC) granted for existing or new projects. Hydrocarbon Projects would now have a valid EC for a period of ten (10) years. A provision for one (01) year extension has also been incorporated. Easing out of Public Hearing process: To streamline the public hearing process and reduce undue delays, the EIA Notification was amended on 09.05.2022. This amendment allows the District Magistrate/District Collector/ Deputy Commissioner to authorize an officer not below the rank of Sub-Divisional Magistrate to supervise and preside over public hearings, if the project or activity is confined to one subdivision. This measure addresses the frequent postponements due to the unavailability of higher-ranking officials. Additionally, the amendment mandates a fifteen-day notice period for rescheduling public hearings, ensuring the public has adequate time to submit written responses. June 2022: Standardizing the validity of Baseline data, streamlining the issuance process of certified compliance report Standardizing the validity of Baseline data: The MoEF&CC in its OM dated 08.06.2022 standardized the validity of baseline data and public consultation reports for submission of proposal within the validity period of terms of Reference (ToR) under the provisions of the EIA Notification, 2006. The OM clarifies that the baseline data and the Public Hearing shall not be more than three (03) years at the time of submission of the application for consideration of EC. Streamlining the issuance process of certified compliance report(CCR) In the oil and gas sector, the drilling of additional exploration and development wells is considered an expansion project and requires a Compliance Certification Report (CCR) from the Integrated Regional Office (IRO) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). This process can be timeconsuming. However, the MoEFCC issued an Office Memorandum (OM) on June 8, 2022, regarding the requirements and validity of CCRs, establishing a three-month timeframe for the issuance of CCRs from the date of application by the project proponent. This measure aims to facilitate the timely issuance of CCRs. April 2023: Provision of split EC transfer As per EIA notification amendment S.O. 1832(E) dated 21.04.2023, a prior-Environmental Clearance granted for a specific project, except mining projects may be split amongst two or more legal persons, entitled to undertake the project and transferred during the validity to another legal person on application made by the transferor in the format specified on PARIVESH portal to the concerned Regulatory Authority along with requisite documents. The concerned Regulatory Authority shall split and transfer the prior-Environmental Clearance, on the recommendation of the concerned Expert Appraisal Committee to the other legal persons for the respective projects. 8.2 Forest Clearance: Forest Clearance is a crucial process which requires permission from the Govt of India to divert forestland for non-forest purposes, such as mining, industrial projects, highways, and other infrastructure development projects. This approval is governed by the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980. The approval is granted only after a detailed examination of the proposal and its impact on the forest and its biodiversity, as well as the rights of local communities. A multitude of policy changes/additions have taken place in the last 6 years which have facilitated the E&P O&G industry to a great extent. The narrative placed below explain the said reforms in detail:
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