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Minute of meeting of 18th EAC (Non-coal Mining) held during 22-24 June, 2020 GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (IMPACT ASSESSMENT DIVISION) NON-COAL MINING SECTOR *** SUMMARY RECORD OF 18th MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE EXPERT APPRAISAL COMMITTEE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL APPRAISAL OF NON-COAL MINING PROJECTS CONSTITUTED UNDER THE EIA NOTIFICATION, 2006. The 18th meeting of the Expert Appraisal Committee for Environmental Appraisal of Mining Projects (Non-Coal) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change was held during June, 22-24, 2020 through video conference. The list of participants is annexed herewith. After login of the Committee Members through video conference link provided by NIC, discussion on each of the Agenda Items was taken up ad-seriatim. (1.1) Deliberation & Circulation on the Minutes of the 17th EAC Meeting held during May, 28-29, 2020 and 1st June, 2020 and Special EAC Meeting held on 12th June, 2020 The minutes of 17th EAC Meeting held during May, 28-29, 2020 and 1st June, 2020 and Special EAC Meeting held on 12th June, 2020 was placed before the members of the Committee. The committee confirmed the minutes. 2.1 Sukinda Mines (Chromite) by M/s Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys Ltd with expansion of production from 3.51 LTPA to 6 LTPA, change in mining technology from opencast to opencast & underground and establishment of chrome ore beneficiation plant (COBP) of 40 TPH over a lease area of 116.76 ha located at Village- Kaliapani, Tehsil- Sukinda, District- Jajpur, State- Odisha (File No: J-11015/204/2015-IA. II(M); Proposal No: IA/OR/MIN/114264/2007; Consultant: Perfact Enviro Solutions Pvt. Ltd)-Consideration of Environmental Clearance. 1. The proposal of M/s Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys is for enhancement in production of chromite from 3.51 Lakh TPA to 6.0 Lakh TPA with change in technology from opencast to combination of opencast and underground mining and establishment of chrome ore beneficiation plant of 40 TPH feed capacity in the mining lease area of 116.76 ha. The mining lease area of 116.76 ha is situated at Khasra No. 488 (p),502, 627 (p), 628 (p), 629, 630 (p), 641 (p), 691 (p), 888 (p), 889 (p), 892 (p), 894 (p), 895 (p), 627/1010(p), 627/1011 (p), 883 (p) of Village Kaliapani, Tehsil Sukinda, District Jajpur, Orissa. The mine lease area falls in the Survey of India Topo sheet 73-G/16 (OSM Sheet no. F45N16) with latitude 21°01′45.51″N to 21°2′33.81″ N & longitude is 85°45′35.91″ E to 85°46′42.03″ E. The Committee previously asked that PP needs to submit details of total Page 1 of 222 Minute of meeting of 18th EAC (Non-coal Mining) held during 22-24 June, 2020 excavation (in same unit) including mineral, overburden (OB), inter-burden (IB), side burden (SB) and waste/topsoil production and etc. The PP in its reply submitted on 31.01.2020 mentioned that the total excavation is 28.0 LTPA including mineral (6.0 LTPA), and overburden (OB) (22.0 LTPA). 2. As per EIA Notification dated 14th September, 2006 as amended from time to time, the project falls under Category “A”, Project or Activity 1(a) as the Mining lease area is more than 100 Ha. 3. The PP applied for ToR vide proposal no IA / OR / MIN / 28526 / 2015 dated 09.06.2015 and the proposal was considered in EAC in its 36th meeting held during July 29–30, 2015. ToR has been granted by the Ministry vide letter No J11015/204/2015-IA-II (M) dated 24th August 2015. PP submitted that the public hearing was completed on 23.06.2017 and submitted EIA report to Ministry for appraisal. The proposal was placed in the EAC meeting held during August 23-24, 2018. However, PP vide email dated 20.08.2018 mentioned that the consultant has been changed and the new consultant may take some time to validate the data and accordingly requested to defer the proposal. Therefore, the Committee deferred the proposal and delisted. Subsequently, PP applied online on 30.08.2018 for extension of validity of ToR for 1 year from 24.08.2018 to 23.08.2019. The proposal was considered in the EAC meeting held during October 23-24, 2018 and the extension in validity of ToR (i.e. 24.08.2018 to 23.08.2019) was granted by Ministry vide letter no. J-11015/204/2015-IA-II (M) dated 29th July 2019. The PP applied for EC vide proposal No IA/OR/MIN/114264/2007 along-with EIA/EMP report to Ministry at PARIVESH Portal on 13.08.2019. The EDS was raised and PP again submitted the proposal on 12.09.2019. The proposal was then placed in EAC meeting held during 21-22 October, 2019 wherein the Committee deferred the proposal for want of requisite information. PP submitted the information online on 31.01.2020 but as the proposal was not available online for inclusion in agenda list the proposal could not be considered. The proposal is now placed in EAC meeting held during 22-24 June, 2020 wherein the Committee deliberated on the following information submitted by PP. Sl. ADS dated Reply No. 13.12.2019 i. PP collected baseline One-month data for the period data during October November 2019 has been collected 2015 - December 2015 and analyzed by NABL accredited which is 3 years old. The laboratory. Test reports are attached Committee asked the PP as Annexure 1ato the letter by PP. to collect fresh 1-month Comparative data and trend analysis baseline data and considering the values obtained analysis the data. In during earlier EC appraisal, baseline addition, the PP needs to data collected during Oct-Dec 2015 submit comparative data period, regular monitoring and fresh 1- and tend analysis month baseline data for all relevant Page 2 of 222 Minute of meeting of 18th EAC (Non-coal Mining) held during 22-24 June, 2020 considering the values parameters has been carried out obtained during earlier which is attached as Annexure 1b to EC appraisal, baseline the letter by PP. data collected during Oct – Dec 2015 period, regular monitoring and fresh 1-month baseline data for all relevant parameters ii. PP submitted certified Updated Certified compliance report compliance report from has been obtained vide letter no 101- RO, MoEF&CC, 409/08/EPE dated 06.12.2019 and Bhubaneswar vide letter is attached as Annexure 2a to the no.101-409/EPE dated letter by PP. RO has observations on 20.02.2017 which is two points regarding plantation and about 2 year old and settling pond vide letter no 101- reveals that some of the 409/08/EPE Dated 10.12.2019 conditions are in process which has been duly complied with of complying. The and replied vide letter no Committee is of the view IMFA/MPC/SMC/2019/92 Dated that EC obtained on 16.12.2019. 2002 and still in the The letters are attached as 2b process of complying the and 2c respectively to the letter conditions, so PP needs by PP. to submit updated compliance report for existing EC conditions. iii. PP proposed for chrome Cumulative effect of mining and ore beneficiation plant beneficiation plant and Techno- (40 TPH), so, PP should economic benefit of the Chrome Ore perform the cumulative Beneficiation Plant have been effect of mining and prepared and is attached as beneficiation plant in the Annexure 3 to the letter by PP. EIA studies and submit As per the report the beneficiation the report separately. plant is viable considering the fact that The report should also subgrade chrome ore mining will not highlight the techno- incur any cost as it has already been economic benefit of mined out and stacked within the beneficiation plant. lease area. The sale price of the beneficiated product will outweigh the cost of beneficiation plant. Since beneficiation will be done through wet process hence there will be minimal impact on the environment due to this plant as given in Annexure 3 to the letter by PP. iv. Free Silica needs to be Free Silica has been analyzed by analyzed and NABL documented by carrying Page 3 of 222 Minute of meeting of 18th EAC (Non-coal Mining) held during 22-24 June, 2020 fresh study from an accredited lab and attached as accredited laboratory Annexure 4to the letter by PP. v. PP submitted that as Details of plantation carried out in part of the existing EC safety zone, overburden dump, other condition, PP made areas in the ML area, photos of plantation, however, the plantation and compliance of existing PP was unable to EC condition is attached as Annexure show/explain the same 5to the letter by PP. KML file in KML. PP needs to showing the plantations in different submit the revised KML areas as mentioned above attached. file with plantation area and their corresponding coordinates. PP also requires to submit the details of plantation carried out in safety zone and along the lease boundary. PP needs to submit the photographic images of the same. In addition, PP requires to show the compliance status of the existing EC condition (xvi). vi. PP needs to submit Total excavation is 28.0 LTPA details of total including mineral (6.0 LTPA), and excavation (in same overburden (OB) (22.0 LTPA). unit) including mineral, overburden (OB), interburden (IB), side burden (SB) and waste/topsoil production and etc. vii. The site specific wildlife Compliance status given by DFO conservation plan is Cutback on Approved site-specific approved on conservation plan is attached as 18.11.2015, PP needs to Annexure 6 to the letter by PP.