General overview of the Environment (Protection) (Amendment) Rules, 2022

Enacted in 1986, the Environment (Protection) Rules were intended to authorize the central government to safeguard and improve environmental quality and control and reduce pollution from the sources. Furthermore, the rules aimed to prevent or restrict the operation and setting of any industrial facility on environmental grounds. The latest notification has amended these rules, termed the Environment (Protection) (Amendment) Rules, 2022.

Recently, the (MoEF&CC) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued a notification further to amend the Environment (Protection) Rules 1986. According to the new notification, the rules mentioned in it will be termed the Environment (Protection) (Amendment) Rules, 2022. Moreover, these rules will be enforced after a year from their publication in the Official Gazette.

Changes made in the Environment (Protection) (Amendment) Rules, 2022

Following are the salient features of the Environment (Protection) Amendment Rules, 2022 –

• The new rules have changed serial number 55 (B) associated with the Treatment Effluent Quality of the Common Effluent Treatment Plantin Schedule Iofthe Environment (Protection) Rules 1986.
• The terminology for the general quality parameter “Fixed Dissolved Solids (FDS), (Concentration in mg/l), is replaced by the “Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)”.
• Furthermore, the available quality parameter "Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)3, 27°C"(Concentration in mg/l) gets substituted by the term “Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)3,270C”.
• As per the Environment (Protection) Amendment Rules, 2022, the current term “Shall not exceed more than 5°C above ambient water temperature” for the specific quality parameter "Temperature (◦C)" must be exchanged by the phrase "Shall not exceed more than 5°C above the ambient temp of the receiving water body".
• Moreover, “Total Chromium” must be used in place of the specific quality parameter "Trivalent Chromium".
• Note no. 5 must be added, "For a CETP, if the sectoral standards of the predominant contributing industrial sector are strict than the CETP standards, the same must be applicable and replace the CETP norms for those certain quality parameters”.
• Note no. 2 must be replaced: "The maximum permissible Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)limit concerning the treated effluent from a CommonEffluent Treatment Plant must be 2100 mg/l. However, the limit may be eased by specific PCC (Pollution Control Committee)/SPCB (State Pollution Control Board) in situations where TDS in intake (supplied) water to the member industries is more than 1100 mg/l and a maximum contribution of up to1000 mg/l is allowed, given that the maximum value of 3100 mg/l is not surpassed in the treated effluent from CETP”.

Procedure for submission of samples for analysis

• Specimens taken for analysis must be sent to the environmental lab by registered post or via special messenger along with a Form IIby the Central Government or the authorized officer.
• A copy of Form II along with the sample impression of seals of the officer authorized to take samples along with the marks/seals must be sent separately in a sealed cover to the environmental laboratory.
• The observations are filled in Form III in three copies and signed by the government Analyst. This is then posted to the officer from whom the specimen is collected for analysis.
• Upon receiving the report, the officer must send a photocopy of the report to the person from whom the specimen was collected for analysis. On the other hand, the second copy must be retained by him. However, the third copy must be kept by him to be produced in court.

SUBMISSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL 2[STATEMENT]

Every person running an operation, industry or process needs consent under section 21 of the Air (Control & Prevention of Pollution) Act, 1981(14 of 1981) or under Section 25 of the Water (Control & Prevention of Pollution) Act, 1974 (6 of1974) or both or authorization under the Hazardous Wastes (Management &Handling) Rules, 1989 released under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of1986) must submit an environmental 2[statement] for the financial year ending the 31st March inForm V. This must be submitted to the concerned SPCB on or before the30^th September every year, beginning 1993.

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