Dated: 19.02.2025

Ref:        (1) Office Order No.: GPCB/ HAZ/ GEN-611(B)(1)/ 828714, dt.07/12/2024.

(2) Office Order No.: GPCB/HAZ/GEN-611(B)(1)/783301, dt. 08/02/2024

All applications for authorization under Rule 9 of the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules (HOWMR), 2016, with published Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), are currently evaluated by the Committee of Experts.

Now, to streamline the process and align with the objectives of Ease of Doing Business initiatives and the Right of Citizens to Public Service Act’s time framework, a quicker approach for handling Rule 9 applications is needed.

Further, a number of SOPs are developed by Central Pollution Control Board wherein no need to evaluate compliance by an expert committee. Also officers of the Board have developed experience to verify compliances of SOPs.

Therefore, after careful consideration, the following methodology is decided to be followed for the processing and decision of application for authorization under Rule 9.:-

A. Case-1: CPCB’s SOP that does not necessitate expert committee evaluation:

1. The Regional Officer (RO) shall accept CCA application from industry seeking reception of hazardous waste, along with a detailed compliance report of CPCB’s SOP besides all other mandatory documents.

2. The Regional Officer (RO) shall carry out inspection of the industry and shall verify compliance to minimum requisite facilities provided by the applicant as per the SOP and submit the detailed report in prescribed format for the decision on application along with recommendations.

3. The Regional Officer (RO) & concerned Unit Head (UH) shall carry out additional compliance verification, particularly for solvent distillation units and drum decontamination units for the area adequacy as well as for number of drums that can be permitted for decontamination.

4. The application shall be decided by the competent authority as per the power delegation on the merits.

5. On grant of application, Unit Head/Regional Officer shall submit the copy of OPS/ CCA to the Hazardous Waste Branch with following information:

• CPCB’s SOP number and issue date:
• Name and category of hazardous waste:
• Quantity of hazardous waste for which permission is granted.

6. Unit head- Hazardous Waste Branch shall issue the passbook and maintain records.

B. Case- II: SOP that necessitate expert committee evaluation:

1. The Regional Officer (RO) shall accept CCA application from industry seeking reception of hazardous waste, along with a complete presentation & detailed compliance report of CPCB’s SOP besides all other mandatory documents.

2. On receiving the application from the industry, the presentation along with compliance report to minimum requisite facility as submitted by the applicant shall be forwarded to the Unit head Hazardous Waste Branch with copy to concerned Unit Head.

3. The Regional Officer (RO) shall carry out inspection of the industry and shall verify compliance to minimum requisite facilities provided by the applicant as per the SOP and submit the detailed report in prescribed format for the decision on application along with recommendations.

4. The Unit head Hazardous Waste Branch shall place the case before the Committee of Experts for evaluation.

5. The recommendations of the Committee shall be communicated to the concerned Regional Officer or Unit Head by UH-Haz. Branch.

6. The application shall be decided by the competent authority as per the power delegation on the merits after receiving inspection report and recommendations of expert committee.

7. On grant of application, Unit Head/Regional Officer shall submit the copy of OPS/CCA to the Hazardous Waste Branch with following information:

• CPCB’s SOP number and issue date:
• Name and category of hazardous waste:
• Quantity of hazardous waste for which permission is granted.

8. Unit head- Hazardous Waste Branch shall issue the passbook and maintain records.

Flow chart of the methodology is attached herewith as annexure-I. All concerned are instructed to adhere to this new methodology.

Ref: File. No.: GPCB/HAZ-GEN-611(B)(1)/854503