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Prepared for:
Hindustan Oil Exploration Company Limited
Lakshmi Chambers', 192, St. Mary's Road, Alwarpet, Chennai - 600 018,
Tamil Nadu, India
Prepared by:
SENES Consultants India Pvt. Ltd.
August, 2014
PROPOSED TERMS OF REFERENCE
FOR
Environmental Clearance for 6 Developmental Wells,
GGS, Pipeline and GPP in the Block AAP-ON-94/1
Dirok, Assam
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ToR for Environmental Clearance for 6 Developmental Wells, GGS, Pipeline and GPP
in the Block AAP-ON-94/1Dirok, Assam
Table of Contents
1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................1
1.1 Objectives of the EIA Study .......................................................................................... 1
1.2 Structure of The ToR ..................................................................................................... 2
2 Project Overview ...........................................................................................................2
2.1 Scope of Environment Impact Assessment ................................................................... 2
2.2 Overview of the Project ................................................................................................. 2
3 Environmental & Social Baseline Studies .....................................................................3
3.1 Understanding of Project area ........................................................................................ 3
3.2 Study Area ..................................................................................................................... 3
3.3 Primary Monitoring ....................................................................................................... 4
3.4 Targeted Surveys and Studies ........................................................................................ 5
3.4.1 Ecological Survey ................................................................................................ 5
3.4.2 Socioeconomic Analysis ...................................................................................... 6
4 Impact Assessment.........................................................................................................6
4.1 Impact Identification ...................................................................................................... 7
4.2 Impact Prediction ........................................................................................................... 7
4.3 Impact Evaluation .......................................................................................................... 7
5 Environment Safeguards ................................................................................................7
5.1 Environmental Management Plan (EMP) ...................................................................... 8
5.2 Environmental Monitoring Strategy .............................................................................. 8
6 EIA Reporting ................................................................................................................8
List of Tables
Table 3.1: Details of Monitoring Program for Environmental Components .............................4
Table 3.2: Details of Ecological Survey of the Study Area .......................................................6
List of Figures
Figure 3.1: Study Area for EIA..................................................................................................9
Figure 3.2: Air, Noise and Meteorology Monitoring Location Map .......................................10
Figure 3.3: Soil and Water Monitoring Location Map ............................................................11
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ToR for Environmental Clearance for 6 Developmental Wells, GGS, Pipeline and GPP
in the Block AAP-ON-94/1Dirok, Assam
August, 2014 1 HOEC
1 Introduction
Hindustan Oil Exploration Company Limited (HOEC) has drilled exploratory & appraisal
wells in AAP-ON-94/1 Block in Tinsukia District Assam during exploration stage. HOEC
now intends to carryout, the following activities as a part of Dirok Field Development.
Three drilled wells will be put on production;
Three new development wells will be drilled and completed for production.
Setting up of Gas Gathering Station (GGS)
Setting up a Gas Processing Plant (GPP)
Two parallel pipelines (High Pressure & Low Pressure) shall be laid to transport
the unprocessed natural gas from the manifold at the GGS to the GPP and
processed natural gas shall be transported from the GPP to the sales gas offtake
point at Kusijan
The proposed project activity falls under the Activity of offshore and onshore oil and gas
exploration, development & production [categorized as 1(b)] vide Notification dated 14th
September, 2006 which have to take environment clearance from the Central level based on
appraisal of EIA as per the EIA Notification promulgated by the Ministry of Environment and
Forests (MoEF) in September, 2006. To initiate the environmental clearance (EC) process,
HOEC has to submit Form-1 of the EIA Notification along with a Terms of Reference (ToR)
for the EIA for approval by the MoEF before undertaking the EIA study.
SENES Consultants India Pvt. Ltd. has been assigned by HOEC to undertake the
environmental analysis and document the same as an Environment Impact Assessment report
so that HOEC obtain necessary environmental clearance from regulatory authorities in India.
This draft Term of Reference (ToR) intends to set the scope of the EIA study as per the EC
process.
The intention of the proposed EIA is to support the project for obtaining necessary
environmental clearance from the MoEF. In this perspective, SENES would strive to fulfill the
project objectives delineated in the section below.
1.1 OBJECTIVES OF THE EIA STUDY
The overall objectives of the EIA study will be as follows:
Establish the prevailing baseline environmental and socio-economic condition of the
project site and its surroundings
Assess environmental, socio-economic and health impacts arising out of the
construction and operation of proposed wells, GGS and pipeline and associated
activities
Recommend appropriate preventive and mitigation measures to minimize pollution,
environmental and social disturbances during the life-cycle of the project;
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ToR for Environmental Clearance for 6 Developmental Wells, GGS, Pipeline and GPP
in the Block AAP-ON-94/1Dirok, Assam
August, 2014 2 HOEC
Integrate mitigative measures with existing HSE program of HOEC so that they can
be implemented, monitored and suitable corrective action can be taken in case of
deviations;
Identify residual and cumulative impacts that may arise from the project and suggest
suitable measures to minimize them.
1.2 STRUCTURE OF THE TOR
This ToR has been prepared to assist in undertaking the EIA study within the ambit of an
established and agreed upon scope and in a systematic and structured manner. The draft ToR
would be submitted to MoEF for approval of the scope for the EIA study. The other key
purpose of the ToR is to identify the key issues for the Environmental Baseline Monitoring,
Impact Assessment Methodologies and developing Mitigation Measures at a later stage.
The ToR is structured as follows
Section 2: Project Overview
Section 3: Environmental and Social Baseline Studies
Section 4: Impact Assessment
Section 5: Environment Safeguards
Section 6: EIA Reporting
2 Project Overview
2.1 SCOPE OF ENVIRONMENT IMPACT ASSESSMENT
The EIA report shall be prepared in accordance with the following Terms of Reference based
on the EIA Notification (14th
September 2006) and any other legislation and notification which
may apply to the Project. The EIA report will:
a) Assist the public and government in understanding the environmental and socio-
economic consequences of the Project’s construction and operation plans,
b) Address:
i. Project impacts;
ii. Mitigation options; and
iii. Residual effects relevant to the assessment of the project
2.2 OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT
This section of the EIA report will provide an overview of the project in terms of:
Regional Setting
Project Accessibility and Transport Linkage
Project Area
Water requirement & sourcing.
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ToR for Environmental Clearance for 6 Developmental Wells, GGS, Pipeline and GPP
in the Block AAP-ON-94/1Dirok, Assam
August, 2014 3 HOEC
Solid waste generation and its management procedure
Source of Power Supply
A map of the project area highlighting location of the project will be provided in the EIA
Report.
3 Environmental & Social Baseline Studies
3.1 UNDERSTANDING OF PROJECT AREA
To provide an understanding of the project area the EIA study will involve reconnaissance
visits and compilation of secondary information present as following.
Location of the proposed well sites, GGS and pipeline
Location of settlements in the vicinity
Location of sensitive environmental receptors in the project area
Land use of the area and its vicinity
Location of the sensitive ecosystem and wildlife habitat
Drainage network of the area and its vicinity
Existing transport infrastructure (e.g., roads/ railways)
3.2 STUDY AREA
More intensive data collection will be conducted within the study area i.e. area with a radius
of about 10 km around the center of the proposed wells which may be impacted by the
operation of the development activity (Fig. 3.1). In addition to that, 500 m buffer area along
the entire stretch of the proposed pipeline would also be included under the study area. An
area of 2 km around the GPP would also be included under the study area. This delineation
has been done based on the nature of the project and also after gaining understanding of the
surrounding areas through the initial reconnaissance surveys. During the course of the study,
if the need is felt, a flexible approach will be taken to expand the study area further. The
following features will be considered within the study area:
Present land use of site and in the study area (delineated forest area, agricultural land,
wildlife sanctuary, human settlement, etc)
Topography in the study area
Sensitive Environmental Resources: Sensitive Natural Habitats
Surface water resources and drainage network in the project site and study area
Ground water resources in the project site and study area
Details of the physical and socio-economic features along with manmade structures
Road Network
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ToR for Environmental Clearance for 6 Developmental Wells, GGS, Pipeline and GPP
in the Block AAP-ON-94/1Dirok, Assam
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Proneness to Natural Disasters
Sensitive Social Resources: Human habitats, Public Utilities, Valuable Common
Property Resources.
The sites and the surrounding study areas would be depicted on GIS maps through satellite
imagery to help understanding the status of environment and impacts. The following section
details out the Sampling Plan for the study.
3.3 PRIMARY MONITORING
The sampling plan for primary monitoring will be drawn up based on the findings of the
reconnaissance survey and the understanding of the proposed project activities. The sampling
plan will also take into consideration of receptor locations that could potentially be affected by
the proposed activities. The monitoring stations and sampling locations for each environmental
component along with the parameters to be monitored, frequency and number of samples to be
taken are presented in the environmental matrix given in Table 3.1.
TABLE 3.1: DETAILS OF MONITORING PROGRAM FOR ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENTS
Component Meteorology
No. of Stations 1 Station
Frequency & Duration One season
Parameters Wind speed, Wind Direction, Rainfall, Temperature, Relative Humidity &
Cloud Cover
Locations Dirok Tea Estate
Component Air Quality
No. of Stations 8 Stations
Frequency & Duration 24hrs / 8 hrs, 2 times a week for one season (excluding monsoon)
Parameters PM 10, SO2, NO2, Methane Hydrocarbon, non methane hydrocarbon, VOC
Locations Dirok Tea garden colony 1, Likhajan Tea garden colony, Dirok Tea
garden colony 2, Margherita tea garden colony 1, Margherita tea garden
colony 2, Namdang Tea Garden labour Lines, Golai Basti, Balijan
Component Surface Water Quality
No. of Stations 4 samples
Frequency & Duration Grab sample – once in the season
Parameters
Color, pH, Total Dissolve Solids, Total suspended Solids, Oil and Grease,
DO, BOD, COD, chlorides, sulphates, Total hardness, Salinity (Na)
Salinity (K), Lead, Iron, Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium, Total Coliforms,
Faecal Coliforms
Locations Burhi Dihing River downstream of project site, Burhi Dihing River
upstream of project site, Ongchap Jang nala, Likhajan Nala
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ToR for Environmental Clearance for 6 Developmental Wells, GGS, Pipeline and GPP
in the Block AAP-ON-94/1Dirok, Assam
August, 2014 5 HOEC
Component Ground Water Quality
No. of Stations 6 samples (From Open Wells, Dug Wells & Tube Wells in Villages)
Frequency & Duration Grab sample – once in the season
Parameters Color, Odor, Taste, pH, Turbidity, Total hardness, Iron, Chloride,
Residual free chlorine, Dissolved solids, Nitrates, Fluoride, Cadmium,
Lead, Arsenic
Locations Dirok Tea garden colony 1, Likhajan Tea garden colony, Dirok Tea
garden colony 2, Margherita tea garden colony , Margherita tea garden
colony 2, Golai Basti,
Component Soil Quality
No. of Stations 5 samples
Frequency & Duration Grab sample – once in the season
Parameters Texture, pH, Electrical Conductivity, Cation Exchange Capacity Porosity,
Water Holding Capacity, Sodium Absorption Ratio (SAR), Nitrogen,
Phosphorous, Potassium (NPK) Values, Copper, Zinc.
Locations Tea garden and agricultural land areas that may be affected by
construction of drill sites, GGS and pipeline
Component Ambient Noise
No. of Stations 8 Stations (Sensitive receptors around the proposed site, residential,
commercial and industrial zones)
Frequency & Duration Once in the season over 24 Hours (daytime / night time)
Parameters Equivalent sound level in dB (A) – Leq and Lmax
Locations
Dirok Tea garden colony 1, Likhajan Tea garden colony, Dirok Tea
garden colony 2, Margherita tea garden colony 1, Margherita tea garden
colony 2, Namdang Tea Garden labour Lines, Golai Basti, Balijan
Proposed Monitoring Location Map of air, noise, traffic and met is enclosed in Figure. 3.2 and
soil and water monitoring locations are shown in Figure 3.3
3.4 TARGETED SURVEYS AND STUDIES
3.4.1 Ecological Survey
The ecological profile of the area would be drawn up based on secondary data review and
primary field surveys. Secondary data will be obtained from Forest Department and local
people. Preliminary studies show that Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary and Upper Dihing
Reserve Forest are located within 10 km of the centre of the well sites.
The primary data relating to flora, fauna, livestock and agricultural diversity of the area will be
generated by visiting the site area and its surroundings. The study area will be delineated as the
area with 10 km. radius around the proposed site. The baseline surveys will be carried out to
determine the existing environmental conditions and to facilitate an adequate assessment of the
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ToR for Environmental Clearance for 6 Developmental Wells, GGS, Pipeline and GPP
in the Block AAP-ON-94/1Dirok, Assam
August, 2014 6 HOEC
Project’s impacts upon ecology and the development of appropriate mitigation measures.
Efforts will also be made to find protected species in the area which can be of conservation
importance. The ecological survey plan is presented below in Table 3.2
TABLE 3.2: DETAILS OF ECOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE STUDY AREA
3.4.2 Socioeconomic Analysis
Assessment of the socioeconomic profile forms an integral part of any EIA Study. The baseline
socioeconomic scenario will focus on demographic structure, economic activity, education,
literacy profile, infrastructure facilities of the villages located within the study area. Secondary
data for this purpose will be utilized from Census of India, 2001 and 2011 (as available).
Socioeconomic profiling will involve diagnosis of baseline status of the villages of the study
area in relation to human environment with respect to:
Socio-Cultural resources - which refer to demographic structure, total population,
density, housing, sex ratio, literacy, employment level and cultural facilities
Infrastructure resources - refer to educational facilities, health services,
transportation, water supply, communication, other service etc.
4 Impact Assessment
The EIA study will aim to identify, characterize and evaluate potential impacts arising out of
the project and prioritize them so that they can be effectively addressed through Environment
Management Plans and Project designing and planning.
Terrestrial Ecosystem
Forest Resources Delineated Forest (Reserve Forest, Protected Forest, etc.), scrub forest,
village forest.
Vegetation Survey Forest types and vegetation cover with the help of Satellite image and field
surveys
General vegetation survey of plants, their relative abundance and
identification of endangered and threatened species
Quantitative analysis of vegetation by using Transect and quadrant method
Wildlife Habitat
Survey Sanctuaries, Elephant Reserve.
Migratory habitat, migratory path/corridor (viz. elephant corridors)
Terrestrial
Wildlife Survey Survey of mammals, birds, reptiles and relative abundances, identification of
endangered and threatened species in the study area
Aquatic Ecosystem
Aquatic Habitat
Survey Survey of aquatic habitat in the habitat in the study area
Aquatic Flora &
Fauna Survey Survey of aquatic macrophytes, Aquatic fauna and their relative abundances
Plankton survey Sampling of analysis of relative abundance of plankton and analysis in the
representative locations.
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ToR for Environmental Clearance for 6 Developmental Wells, GGS, Pipeline and GPP
in the Block AAP-ON-94/1Dirok, Assam
August, 2014 7 HOEC
4.1 IMPACT IDENTIFICATION
The preliminary identification of the potential impacts will be carried out based on the
understanding of the project gained during the scoping exercise and field visit, consultation
with representatives of the project proponent and professional judgment of the SENES team.
4.2 IMPACT PREDICTION
Environmental and socioeconomic impacts would be predicted based on baseline conditions on
site, professional judgment and by using network methodology. The quantitative prediction
would be carried out for air and noise quality status.
Short-term impact on ambient air quality due to air emissions from multiple sources (from
moving source) such as aircrafts, surface vehicles and point sources such as DG Sets will be
predicted using relevant models.
Noise during constructional and operational phase is generated by construction equipments,
DG Sets and vehicular traffic. Suitable model will be chosen for predicting the increase in
noise levels. Noise contours showing the areas and the number of dwellings exposed to various
noise levels will be shown clearly.
Impacts resulting from ground water cutting and depletion will be assessed. Surface runoff
from the proposed site and its impact on surface water resources and adjacent agricultural land
will be undertaken. Also socioeconomic surveys of stakeholders will be carried out to predict
socio-economic and health impacts.
4.3 IMPACT EVALUATION
An environmental matrix will be developed to formally present an overview of the predicted
impacts. The matrix structure will take into account the environmental issues as well as the
concerns of the community.
The first step in the elaboration of the matrix will consist of defining the main activities or
aspects of the project that possibly can generate negative or positive impacts through extensive
consultations with representatives of the project proponent. The second steps will aim at
establishing a list of environmental elements (biophysical and human) found in the project
area. Potential interrelations between the impact sources and these elements will be established
to identify the impact.
5 Environment Safeguards
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ToR for Environmental Clearance for 6 Developmental Wells, GGS, Pipeline and GPP
in the Block AAP-ON-94/1Dirok, Assam
August, 2014 8 HOEC
The EIA study would prepare guidelines for mitigating any adverse impact identified due to
the proposed project. The site specific mitigation plan will specifically address impacts that
would be generated as a result of the proposed project.
5.1 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN (EMP)
The Environmental Management Plan (EMP) will recommend specific, structured and
targeted management plans to mitigate the significant impacts and bring them to a level that
would be acceptable to both the regulatory authorities and the community. The EMP will be
formulated in close cooperation with the client team to delineate action plans that are
economically feasible. The EMP would be laid down in a manner that the plans can be
integrated with the proponent’s existing environment management measures. The EMP
would also include recommendations for necessary pollution prevention, control as well as
conservation and compensatory measures. In addition, a systematic environmental
monitoring plan for assessing the adequacy of the mitigation measures and for understanding
changes in environmental quality due to the proposed project would also be part of the EMP.
5.2 ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING STRATEGY
To measure the effectiveness of the implementation of the EMP a monitoring strategy (Plan)
for activities during construction phase and also during the post construction phase will be
prepared. The Plan must include the monitoring activities and corresponding schedules.
6 EIA Reporting
Reporting on all activities conducted during the project will be prepared, collated and
submitted in the form of an EIA Report. The report will include supporting documents as
necessary, a list of findings, impacts and proposed mitigation measures. Following would be
the structure of the report as per the guideline set by the EIA 2006 Notification:
Executive Summary
Introduction
Description of Project
Description of Environment
Impact Assessment
Environmental Management Plan & Framework
Environmental Monitoring Program
Disclosure of Consultants
The draft EIA report would be further finalized by incorporating comments and views obtained
from different stakeholders during the public hearing and through letters/ representations
before being submitted to the appraisal committee. Annexed to the report, there would also be
the notes and proceedings of the public hearing, list of references and other relevant
documents, photographs etc.
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ToR for Environmental Clearance for 6 Developmental Wells, GGS, Pipeline and GPP
in the Block AAP-ON-94/1Dirok, Assam
August, 2014 9 HOEC
FIGURE 3.1: STUDY AREA FOR EIA
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ToR for Environmental Clearance for 6 Developmental Wells, GGS, Pipeline and GPP
in the Block AAP-ON-94/1Dirok, Assam
August, 2014 10 HOEC
FIGURE 3.2: AIR, NOISE AND METEOROLOGY MONITORING LOCATION MAP
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ToR for Environmental Clearance for 6 Developmental Wells, GGS, Pipeline and GPP
in the Block AAP-ON-94/1Dirok, Assam
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FIGURE 3.3: SOIL AND WATER MONITORING LOCATION MAP