The Tarballs Management Rules, 2026

REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 The Gazette of India CG-DL-E-04042026-271565 EXTRAORDINARY PART II-Section 3-Sub-section (i) PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 232] NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2026/ CHAITRA 13, 1948 MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE DRAFT NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 3rd April, 2026 G.S.R. 252(E).—In exercise of the powers conferred by sections 3, 6 and 25 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986), the Central Government hereby makes the following draft rules, as required under sub-rule (3) of the rule 5 of the Environment (Protection) rules 1986, for the information of the public and other stakeholders likely to be affected thereby; and notice is hereby given that the said draft notification shall be into consideration on or after the expiry of a period of sixty days from the date on which copies of the Gazette containing this notification are made available to the public. Any person interested in making any objections or suggestions on the proposals contained in the draft notification may forward the same in writing, for consideration of the Central Government within the period specified above to the Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, Jor Bagh Road, New Delhi – 110 003, or send it to the email address: [email protected] and [email protected] . 1. Short title and commencement. (i) These rules may be called the Tar-balls Management Rules, 2026. (ii) They shall come into force after one year from the date of publication of final notification in the Official Gazette. 2. Application: (i) These rules apply to all persons who generate, collect, receive, store, transport, treat, dispose or handle Tar-balls in any manner, including oil extraction and exploration facilities, ships, oil tanker, oil facility owner, or authorized person in this behalf. 3. Definition.— (1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires, - a) "Act" means the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986); b) "Authorisation" means permission granted by the prescribed authority for the-collection, reception, storage, transportation, treatment, disposal and/or any other form of handling of Tar-balls in accordance with these rules and any guidelines issued by the Central Government; c) “Authorized person” means an occupier or operator authorized by the prescribed authority to collect, receive, store, transport, treat, dispose and/or handle Tar-balls in accordance with these rules and any guidelines issued by the Central Government; d) "Co-processing" means use of tar-balls having calorific value exceeding 1500 kcal as raw material or as a source of energy or both to replace or supplement the natural mineral resources or fossil fuels in industrial processes, mainly in energy intensive industries like cement production; e) “Generator” means any institution causing spillage of oil or spillage of Tar-balls intentionally or unintentionally, which includes an oil tanker, oil company, ships or oil facility owner or any transporter; f) "Incineration” means an engineered process involving burning or combustion of waste to thermally degrade waste materials at high temperatures; g) "Oil facility owner" means a person or company who owns or controls or operates a facility/ship/vessel where oil (crude or fuel or both) is extracted, explored, used, transport or handle as the case may be; h) "Occupier” in relation to tar balls, means a person, agency or institution who has, physical and/or administrative control over tar balls as the case may be, after its generation and before its final disposal; i) "Operator of Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility for Tar-balls” means a person who owns or controls or operates a facility for the collection, reception, storage, transport, treatment, disposal or handling of Hazardous waste including tar-balls; j) "Pre-processing” is defined as pre-treatment of waste streams to make it suitable/homogenized for feeding into the kiln system to avoid process fluctuations; k) "Schedule" means the Schedule appended to these rules; l) "Storage" means storing of tar balls after collection and before its final disposal; m) "Tar-balls” means a weathered product of oil spills due to offshore oil exploration activities, oil tanker/ship/vessel accidents, oil-well blowouts, pipeline leakages, release of bilge containing mixture of water oil and other contaminants, industrial effluent from ships and tankers as well as from natural oil seepage etc., which usually develops through various physical, chemical, and biological processes; n) "transportation" means conveyance of tar-ball, either treated, partly treated or untreated from a location to another location in an environmentally sound manner through specially designed and covered transport system so as to prevent the foul odour, littering and unsightly conditions; o) “treatment” means the method, technique or process designed to modify physical, chemical or biological characteristics or composition of tar balls so as to reduce its volume and potential to cause harm; p) "Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility for Tar-balls": means any facility wherein treatment & disposal of hazardous waste including tar-balls or processes incidental to such treatment or disposal is carried out; CHAPTER I MANAGEMENT OF TAR-BALLS (PREVENTIVE MEASURE) 4. (1) The owner of an oil facility to whom the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 and the rules made thereunder apply shall take all preventive measures as prescribed under the said Act and rules made thereunder and as prescribed by Ministry of Port, Shipping and Waterways from time to time to prevent oil spills. (2) The owner of an oil facility for offshore oil exploration to whom the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act, 1948 and the rules made thereunder apply shall take all preventive measures as prescribed under the said rules and other measures as prescribed by Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas from time to time to prevent oil spills. (3) The owner of an oil facility shall follow the mechanism for prevention of oil spills and response operation as per National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOSDCP) promulgated by Indian Coast Guard (ICG). (4) The owner of an oil facility not covered under sub rule (1), (2) and (3) above shall take all preventive measure to avoid oil spill as prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board from time to time. CHAPTER II PROCEDURE FOR MANAGEMENT OF TAR-BALLS 5. Responsibilities of State Governments and District Administration for environmentally sound management of Tar-balls. (1) State Level Crisis Management Groups under the NOSDCP shall establish centralised reporting system for reporting of tar-balls sighting by the general public. (2) The State Governments shall ensure the collection of tar-balls and the cleaning of the shoreline. (3) The District Administration shall be responsible for the collection, handling, and transportation of tar balls deposited along the district shoreline and ensure that the District Disaster Management Plan may also include tar-ball management. (4) The State Governments shall undertake the compilation of time-series data of oil spills and tar-balls formation events and tie up with R&D institutes to develop mathematical models to make advanced predictions, preparations, and to have a better decision-making. (5) The State Governments shall undertake response activities including collection, storage, cleaning, and disposal of Tar balls, through involvement of District Administration and other relevant state level or district level or both, agencies viz. District Disaster Management Authority, Transport Department, Coastal Zone Management Authority, Environment and Forest Department, Port/Harbour Authorities, and if required, Local Civil Society Groups may be engaged in the process. (6) The State Governments shall ensure the collection, temporary storage and transportation of tar ball to the Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility (TSDF) in an environmentally sound manner through concerned district administration. (7) The State Government shall conduct a training program with the involvement of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), suitable National Institutes and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) for the environmentally sound management of tar balls. (8) The State Governments shall declare the pollution due to Tar Ball in the coastal area as State disaster. (9) The State Governments shall take action under the Disaster Management Act. 6. Responsibilities of Ministry of Defence (Indian Coast Guard) for environmentally sound management of Tar-balls. (1) The Indian Coast Guard shall implement National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOS-DCP) to effectively manage oil spill management and tar-balls formation. (2) The Indian Coast Guard shall undertake regular aerial and surface surveillance for oil spill in Indian EEZ and inform relevant stakeholders for necessary preparedness and response measures. (3) It may utilise advanced technologies, such as remotely operated vehicles (ROV), automated underwater vehicles (AUV) etc. for the detection and management of underwater oil plumes during spill events. (4) It will send immediate emergency alerts on offshore oil spill events/cases, if any. (5) Indian Coast Guard shall provide quarterly oil leakage or spill incident reports beyond territorial water to nearby Coastal State Governments, including the concerned State Pollution Control Boards or Pollution Control Committees and Central Pollution Control Board. 7. Responsibilities of Central Pollution Control Board, State Pollution Control Board and Pollution Control Committee for environmentally sound management of Tar-balls: (1) The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) shall render technical assistance to State Government and Union Territories through the State Pollution Control Boards or Pollution Control Committees with regard to implementation of these rules. (2) The State Pollution Control Board/Pollution Control Committee in the concerned coastal region shall maintain a database on tar-ball incidents in the State/Union Territory, including data on, the area affected by tar balls, quantity of tar balls collected & processed and disposal outcomes as per format prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board. (3) The Central Pollution Control Board and the concerned State Pollution Control Board/Pollution Control Committee shall publish the list of authorized disposal/treatment facilities for tar balls in the State/Union Territory. (4) The Central Pollution Control Board shall prepare a model Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for management of tar-balls including its collection and cleaning of shoreline. The State Government and Union Territory may adopt the model Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) prepared by CPCB or may modify the same as per its local requirement, as the case may be. (5) The Central Pollution Control Board shall develop an online system within a period of one year, for the implementation of these rules. (6) The Central Pollution Control Board shall develop guidelines for the utilization/disbursement of the amount collected through environment compensation under Rule 21. (7) The State Pollution Control Boards shall undertake activities for the management of Tarball through its own funding or budget line and support from the concerned State Government. 8. Responsibilities of Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Directorate General of Shipping for environmentally sound management of Tar-balls. – (1) The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways shall coordinate tar ball clean-up activities at ports, jetties, wharves, and other structures constructed within their jurisdiction, and at beach/ shoreline owned by the port authority. 9. Responsibilities of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas through its offshore installations for environmentally sound management of Tar-balls. – (1) Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas through its offshore installations shall provide quarterly oil leakage or spill incident reports of every installation (up to 500 meters) to Indian Coast Guard, nearby Coastal State Governments, including the concerned State Pollution Control Boards or Pollution Control Committees and Central Pollution Control Board. (2) Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas shall take all preventive steps to control oil spill from offshore oil exploration installations/facilities. 10. Responsibilities of National Remote Sensing Agency for environmentally sound management of Tar-balls. (1) National Remote Sensing Agency shall conduct Surveillance and Detection of oil-spills incidences and tar-balls hot-spots through satellite, aerial, drones, sensor-equipped buoys, or by any other means and shall support the combat agencies. 11. Responsibilities of the occupier and operator of Tar-balls - (1) It shall be the duty of every occupier and operator handling tar ball to take all the steps to ensure that tar-balls is handled without any adverse effect on human health and the environment. (2) The occupier and operator shall be responsible for safe and environmentally sound management of Tar- balls. (3) The Tar-balls collected shall be sent to an authorized person for disposal in an environmentally sound manner. (4) The occupier who intends to get its tar-ball treated and disposed of by the operator of a treatment, storage and disposal facility shall give to the operator of that facility, such specific information as may be needed for safe storage and disposal. (5) The operator shall ensure disposal of tar-balls in an environmentally sound manner, which may include through waste to energy, co-incineration in a cement plant or common incineration in the Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facility (TSDF). (6) The occupier and operator shall take all the steps while managing Tar-balls to- (a) Contain contaminants and prevent accidents and limit their consequences on human beings and the environment; and (b) Provide persons handling the tar ball with appropriate training, equipment and the information necessary to ensure their safety. CHAPTER - III TREATMENT, STORAGE AND DISPOSAL FACILITY FOR TAR-BALLS 12. Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility for Tar-balls. - (1) The State Government, occupier, operator of a facility or any association of occupiers shall individually or jointly or severally be responsible for identification of sites for establishing the facility for treatment, storage and disposal of the Tar-balls in the State. (2) The operator of facility or occupier of a captive facility, shall design and set up the treatment, storage and disposal facility as per technical guidelines issued by the Central Pollution Control Board in this regard from time to time and shall obtain approval from the State Pollution Control Board for design and layout as specified by CPCB in this regard. (3) The State Pollution Control Board shall inspect the operation of the facility or captive treatment, storage and disposal facility, regularly on quarterly basis. (4) The operator of facility or occupier of a captive facility shall be responsible for safe and environmentally sound operation of the facility and its closure and post closure phase, as per guidelines or standard operating procedures issued by CPCB from time to time. (5) The operator of facility or occupier of a captive facility shall maintain records of Tar-balls handled as per Form 3. (6) The operator of facility or occupier of a captive facility shall file an annual return in Form 4 to the State Pollution Control Board on or before the 30th day of June, every year, following the financial year to which that return relates. (7) The occupier, operator of a facility shall follow the Standard Operating Procedure for collection, packaging, labelling, transportation, storage of tar-ball and guidelines for pre-processing and co-processing of tar-ball in Cement Plant issued by CPCB from time to time. (8) The existing Treatment Storage and Disposal Facility, subject to its operating conditions, for Hazardous Waste may also be utilised for the disposal of Tarballs. CHAPTER - IV COLLECTION, PACKAGING, LABELLING AND TRANSPORT OF TAR-BALLS 13. Collection: (1) The District Administration shall be responsible for collection, handling, and transportation of tar balls deposited along the district shoreline. (2) The District Administration shall maintain a local response team to undertake shoreline clean-up when intimated about the tar-balls on shore. (3) All deployed personnel shall be provided with appropriate training and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including gloves, boots, face masks, and protective clothing. (4) The clean-up activity shall be overseen by a field officer engaged by District Administration and a logbook shall be maintained for documenting (a) Date and time of collection; (b) Location coordinates; (c) Type and volume of material collected; (d) Equipment and personnel deployed. (5) The Indian Coast Guard and District Disaster Management Authority shall provide guidance and expert advice to District Administration in collection, handling, transportation, and clean-up activities. (6) The District Administration shall obtain the authorisation from the concerned SPCB for collection, handling, and transportation of tar balls. (7) The District Administration shall ensure that after collection of tar balls the same may be handed over to authorized person for further action viz. storage, transportation, treatment, disposal, co-processing. (8) The District Administration shall submit the quarterly reports to the concerned SPCB/PCC outlining clean-up activities, quantities managed, and challenges faced. (9) As a proactive measure, District Administration may conduct regular shoreline monitoring to enable early detection and timely reporting of tar-ball deposition, especially during high-risk periods like monsoon or post-cyclonic events. 14. Packaging and Labelling. - (1) Any occupier handling Tar-balls and operator of the treatment, storage and disposal facility shall ensure that the Tar-balls are packaged in a manner suitable for safe handling, storage and transport. The labelling shall be done as per Form 5. (2) The label shall be of non-washable material, weather proof and easily visible. 15. Transportation of Tar-balls. - (1) The transport of the tar-balls shall be in accordance with the provisions of these rules and the rules made by the Central Government under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. (2) The occupier shall provide the transporter with the relevant information in Form 6, regarding the hazardous nature of the tar-balls and measures to be taken in case of an emergency and shall label the tar- balls containers as per Form 5. (3) In case of transportation of Tar-balls for final disposal to a facility existing in a State other than the State where it is generated, the sender shall obtain 'No Objection Certificate' from the State Pollution Control Board of both the States. (4) In case of transportation of tar-balls for utilisation including co-processing, the sender shall intimate both the State Pollution Control Boards and utilising/co-processing unit before handing over the tar-balls to the transporter. (5) In case of transit of tar-balls for utilization including co- processing or disposal through a State other than the States of origin and destination, the sender shall obtain specified routes for transporting tar ball, equipped with emergency response units and shall give prior intimation to the concerned State Pollution Control Board of the States of transit before handing over the wastes to the transporter. (6) In case of transportation of tar-balls, the responsibility of safe transport shall be either of the sender or the receiver whosoever arranges the transport and has the necessary authorisation for transport from the concerned State Pollution Control Board. This responsibility should be clearly indicated in the manifest. (7) The authorisation for transport shall be obtained either by the sender or the receiver on whose behalf the transport is being arranged. 16. Manifest system (Movement Document) for Tar-balls to be used within the country only. - (1) The sender of the tar-balls shall prepare seven copies of the manifest in Form 7 comprising of colour code indicated below and all seven copies shall be signed by the sender: +---------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Copy number with colour | Purpose | | code (1) | (2) | +===========================+====================================================================================================================================================================================+ | Copy 1 (White) | To be forwarded by the sender to the State Pollution Control Board after signing all the seven copies. | +---------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Copy 2 (Yellow) | To be retained by the sender after taking signature on it from the transporter and the rest of the five signed copies to be carried by the transporter. | +---------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Copy 3 (Pink) | To be retained by the receiver (actual user or treatment storage and disposal facility operator) after receiving the waste and the remaining four copies are to be duly signed by the | | | receiver. | +---------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Copy 4 (Orange) | To be handed over to the transporter by the receiver after accepting waste. | +---------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Copy 5 (Green) | To be sent by the receiver to the State Pollution Control Board. | +---------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Copy 6 (Blue) | To be sent by the receiver to the sender. | +---------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Copy 7 (Grey) | To be sent by the receiver to the State Pollution Control Board of the sender in case the sender is in another State. | +---------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ (2) The sender shall forward copy 1 (white) to the State Pollution Control Board, and in case the tar-balls is likely to be transported through any transit State, the sender shall intimate State Pollution Control Boards of transit States about the movement of the waste. (3) No transporter shall accept tar ball from the sender for transport unless it is accompanied by signed copies 3 to 7 of the manifest. (4) The transporter shall submit copies 3 to 7 of the manifest duly signed with date to the receiver along with the tar ball consignment. (5) The receiver after acceptance of the tar ball shall hand over copy 4 (orange) to the transporter and send copy 5 (green) to his State Pollution Control Board and send copy 6 (blue) to the sender and the copy 3 (pink) shall be retained by the receiver. (6) The copy 7 (grey) shall only be sent to the State Pollution Control Board of the sender, if the sender is in another State. CHAPTER-V AUTHORIZATION FOR MANAGEMENT OF TAR-BALLS 17. Grant of authorisation for managing tar ball. - (1) Every occupier who is engaged in handling, collection, storage, packaging, transportation, use, treatment, processing, recycling, recovery, pre- processing, co-processing, utilisation, offering for sale, transfer or disposal of the tar balls shall be required to make an application in Form 1 to the State Pollution Control Board and obtain an authorisation from the State Pollution Control Board within a period of sixty days from the date of publication of these rules. Provided that an application for renewal of authorisation may be made three months before the expiry of such authorisation. (2) On receipt of an application complete in all respects for the authorisation, the Pollution Control Board/ Pollution Control Committee may, after such inquiry as it considers necessary, and on being satisfied that the applicant possesses appropriate facilities for collection, storage, packaging, transportation, treatment, processing, use, destruction, recycling, recovery, pre-processing, co-processing, utilisation, offering for sale, transfer or disposal of the hazardous and other waste, as the case may be, and after ensuring technical capabilities and equipment complying with the standard operating procedure or other guidelines specified by the Central Pollution Control Board from time to time and through site inspection, grant within a period of one hundred and twenty days, an authorisation in Form 2 to the applicant, which shall be valid for a period of five years subject to such conditions as may be laid down therein. Provided that in the case of an application for renewal of authorisation, the State Pollution Control Board may, before granting such authorisation, satisfy itself that there has been no violation of the conditions specified in the authorisation earlier granted by it and same shall be recorded in the inspection report. (3) The authorisation granted by the State Pollution Control Board under sub-rule (2) shall be accompanied by a copy of the field inspection report signed by that Board indicating the adequacy of facilities for collection, storage, packaging, transportation, treatment, processing, use, destruction, recycling, recovery, pre-processing, co-processing, utilisation, offering for sale, transfer or disposal of the hazardous and other wastes and compliance to the guidelines or standard operating procedures specified by the Central Pollution Control Board from time to time. (4) The State Pollution Control Board may, for the reasons to be recorded in writing and after giving reasonable opportunity of being heard to the applicant, refuse to grant any authorisation under these rules. (5) Every occupier authorised under these rules, shall maintain a record of Tar Balls managed by him in Form 3 and prepare and submit to the State Pollution Control Board, an annual return containing the details specified in Form 4 on or before the 30th day of June following the financial year to which that return relates. (6) The State Pollution Control Board shall maintain a register containing particulars of the conditions imposed under these rules for management of Tar Balls and it shall be open for inspection during office hours to any interested or affected person. (7) The authorised actual user of Tar Balls shall maintain records of Tar Balls purchased in a passbook issued by the State Pollution Control Board along with the authorisation. (8) Handing over of the Tar Balls to the authorised actual user shall be only after making the entry into the passbook of the actual user. (9) No person or entity shall engage in the collection, transportation, storage, or disposal of tar balls without valid authorisation. 18. Power to suspend or cancel an authorisation. - (1) The State Pollution Control Board, may, if in its opinion the holder of the authorisation has failed to comply with any of the conditions of the authorisation or with any provisions of the Act or these rules and after giving him a reasonable opportunity of being heard and after recording reasons thereof in writing cancel or suspend the authorisation issued under Rule 17 for such period as it considers necessary in the public interest. (2) Upon suspension or cancellation of the authorisation, the State Pollution Control Board may give directions to the person whose authorisation has been suspended or cancelled for the safe storage and management of the Tar Balls, and such occupier shall comply with such directions. 19. Utilisation of Tar Balls - (1) The utilisation of Tar Balls as a resource or after pre-processing either for co-processing or for any other use, shall be carried out only after obtaining authorisation from the State Pollution Control Board on the basis of standard operating procedures or guidelines provided by the Central Pollution Control Board. (2) Where standard operating procedures or guidelines are not available for specific utilisation, the approval has to be sought from Central Pollution Control Board which shall grant approval on the basis of trial runs and thereafter, standard operating procedures or guidelines shall be prepared by Central Pollution Control Board: Provided, if trial run has been conducted with respect to particular utilisation and compliance to the environmental standards has been demonstrated, authorisation may be granted by the State Pollution Control Board with respect to the same, without need of separate trial run by Central Pollution Control Board. Central Pollution Control Board shall intimate all the State Pollution Control Board regarding the successful trial runs. (3) No trial runs shall be required for co-processing of Tar Balls in cement plants for which guidelines by the Central Pollution Control Board are already available. However, the actual users shall ensure compliance to the standards notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986), for cement plant with respect to co-processing of waste; 20. Authorization for pre-processing and/or co-processing: (1) Application for grant/renewal of authorisation for collection or storage or transport or reception or reuse or recovery or pre-processing or co-processing or utilisation or treatment or disposal of Tar-balls shall be as per Form 1. (2) SPCBs may grant authorization to cement plants for co-processing of tar-balls as per Form 2. Further, SPCBs may also grant consent to the cement plants under Air (Prevention & Control) Act, 1981 for co- processing of any wastes not listed in Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016. (3) While co-processing all such wastes, cements plants shall comply with the emission standards prescribed for co-processing of wastes notified by MoEF&CC vide G.S.R No. 497 (E) dated 10.05.2016. (4) Use of tar-balls for co-processing in cement kilns does not warrant the requirement of Environment Clearance (EC) as per MoEF&CC Notification No. S.O.3518 (E) dated 23.11.2016. (5) Cement plants may co-process or pre-process the tar-balls in their captive pre-processing facilities only after obtaining such authorization. (6) Every TSDF or standalone pre-processing facility or cement plant who is engaged in pre-processing of wastes for co-processing shall have minimal requisite infrastructure facilities & operational controls as per the CPCB's guidelines. CHAPTER-VI ENVIRONMENTAL COMPENSATION 21. Environment Compensation. - (1) Where any oil facility owner fails to manage oil in an environmentally sound manner and lead to any oil spill thereby causing loss, damage or injury to environment or public health including formation of tar balls, it shall be liable to pay environmental compensation which may be equal to such loss, damage or injury and expenditure incurred or to be incurred by District Administration towards management of tar-balls. (2) Environmental compensation may also be levied on occupier, transporter, co-processor and operator or occupier of treatment facilities if they fail to manage or handle the tar balls in an environmentally sound manner. (3) CPCB shall formulate a guideline for payment of environmental compensation toward meeting the damage caused by tar balls including the expenditure incurred towards its handling, cleaning of shores and additional penalty based on polluter pay principle. (4) No environmental compensation shall be imposed under this rule without an opportunity of being heard in this matter. (5) The State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) or Pollution Control Committee (PCC) may impose the environmental compensation in accordance with these rules. (6) The fund collected as environmental compensation under this rule shall be kept by SPCB or PCC in a separate account and shall be utilised only for meeting the expenditure incurred towards collection, storage, transportation, disposal of tar balls by the District Administration. In addition to this, fund so collected may also be utilised for research and assistance to District Administration for meeting the expenditure where the generator of tar ball in not known. CHAPTER VII MISCELLANEOUS 22. Establishment of a Steering Committee: (1) The Central Government shall constitute a steering committee comprising representative from Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW), Ministry of Defence (Indian Coast Guard), Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Science and Technology and Other stakeholders. The State Pollution Control Board/Pollution Control Committee shall be represented, as and when required. The Steering Committee may co-opt a knowledge partner or subject matter expert as a member, as and when required. (2) The committee shall advise the Government of the coastal State/Union Territory and the other stakeholders about matters related to the implementation of these rules. 23. Records and returns. - (1) The occupier handling Tar-balls and operator of disposal facility shall maintain records of such operations in Form 3. (2) The occupier handling tar-balls and operator of disposal facility shall send annual returns to the State Pollution Control Board in Form 4. (3) The State Pollution Control Board based on the annual returns received from the occupiers and the operators of the facilities for disposal of tar-balls shall prepare an annual inventory of the tar-balls generated, recovered, utilised including co-processed and disposed and submit to the Central Pollution Control Board by the 30th day of September every year. The State Pollution Control Board shall also prepare the inventory of actual occupiers, common and captive disposal facilities and shall submit the information to Central Pollution Control Board every two years. (4) The Central Pollution Control Board shall prepare the consolidated review report on management of tar-balls and forward it to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, along with its recommendations before the 30th day of December every year. 24. Accident reporting. – (1) Where an accident occurs at the facility of the occupier handling Tar-ball and operator of the disposal facility or during transportation, the occupier or the operator or the transporter shall immediately intimate the State Pollution Control Board through telephone, e-mail about the accident and subsequently send a report in Form 8. 25. Action for contravention of these rules.- Any person who fails to comply or contravenes the provision of these rules may be liable to be proceeded with in accordance with the provisions of section 15 of the Act. 26. Power to remove difficulties: The Steering Committee shall examine issues leading to difficulty in the smooth implementation of these regulations and have the power to remove any such difficulty, and may refer any such issues, as deemed fit, for consideration of the Central Government. 27. Verification and audit.- (1) The Central Pollution Control Board by itself or through SPCBs/PCCs or Registered Environment Auditor as defined under Environment Audit Rules, 2025, shall undertake the compliance assessment of entities viz. Generator, Oil facility owner, Occupier, Operator of Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility etc. regarding environmentally sound management of the tar-balls and other provisions of these rules through inspection and periodic audit, as deemed appropriate, and take actions against violations under rules of these rules. (2) The corpus fund account and environmental compensation account shall be audited, annually, by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG). 28. Appeal. - (1) Any person aggrieved by an order of suspension or cancellation or refusal of authorisation or its renewal passed by the State Pollution Control Board may, within a period of thirty days from the date on which the order is communicated to him, prefer an appeal in Form 9 to the Appellate Authority, namely, the Environment Secretary of the State/ Union Territory. (2) The Appellate Authority may entertain the appeal submitted after the expiry of the said period of thirty days, if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal in time. (3) Every appeal filed under this rule shall be disposed of within a period of sixty days from the date of its filing. FORM 1 [See rules 17(1), 20 (1)] Application required for grant/renewal of authorisation for collection or storage or transport or reception or reuse or recovery or pre-processing or co-processing or utilisation or treatment or disposal of Tar-balls Part A: General (to be filled by all) 1. (a) Name and address of the unit and location of facility: (b) Name of the occupier of the facility or operator of disposal facility with designation, Tel, Fax and e-mail: (c) Authorisation required for (Please tick mark appropriate activity or activities: +-------------------+ | (i) Collection | +-------------------+ | (ii) Storage | +-------------------+ | (iii) | | Transportation | +-------------------+ | (iv) Reception | +-------------------+ | (v) Pre-processing| +-------------------+ | (vi) Co-processing| +-------------------+ | (vii) Utilisation | +-------------------+ | (viii) Treatment | +-------------------+ | (ix) Disposal | +-------------------+ | (x) Incineration | +-------------------+ 2. (a) Nature and quantity of tar-balls handled per annum (in metric tonne or kilo litre) (b) Nature and quantity of tar-balls stored at any time (in metric tonne or kilo litre) 3. Provide copy of the Emergency Response Plan (ERP) which should address procedures for dealing with emergency situations (viz. Spillage or release or fire). Such ERP shall comprise the following, but not limited to: a) Containing and controlling incidents so as to minimise the effects and to limit danger to the persons, environment and property; b) Implementing the measures necessary to protect persons and the environment; c) Description of the actions which should be taken to control the conditions at events and to limit their consequences, including a description of the safety equipment and resources available; d) Arrangements for training staff in the duties which they are expected to perform; e) Arrangements for informing concerned authorities and emergency services; and f) Arrangements for providing assistance with off-site mitigatory action. 4. Provide undertaking or declaration to comply with all provisions including the scope of submitting bank guarantee in the event of spillage, leakage or fire while handling the Tar-balls. Part B: To be filled by Occupier of Tar-balls other than Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility operators, pre-processors or co-processors 2. Provide following details for Collection, Storage, or Reception: (i) Location of storage site with layout map; (ii) Storage capacity; (iii) Arrangement for transportation to TSDF; (iv) Firefighting systems; (v) Details of the environmental safeguards and environmental facilities provided for safe handling of the tar-balls. Part C: To be filled by Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility operators 2. Provide details of the facility including: (i) Location of site with layout map; (ii) Safe storage of the tar-balls and storage capacity; (iii) The treatment processes and their capacities; (iv) Secured landfills; (v) Incineration, if any; (vi) Leachate collection and treatment system; (vii) Firefighting systems; (viii) Environmental management plan including monitoring; and (ix) Arrangement for transportation of tar-balls from generators. Part D: To be filled by pre-processors or co-processors of tar-balls 1. Nature and quantity of different tar-balls received per annum from domestic sources: 2. Installed capacity as per registration issued by the District Industries Centre or any other authorised Government agency. Provide copy: 3. Provide details of secured storage of tar-balls including the storage capacity: 4. Process flow sheet indicating equipment details, outputs (emissions, waste water, etc.). Attach separate sheets: 5. Provide details of pollution control systems such as Effluent Treatment Plant, scrubbers, etc. including mode of disposal of waste: 6. Provide details of occupational health and safety measures: 7. Has the facility been set up as per Central Pollution Control Board guidelines? If yes, provide a report on the compliance with the guidelines: 8. Arrangements for transportation of tar-balls to the facility: Date................... Place.................. Signature of the Applicant Designation FORM 2 [See rules 17(2), 20 (2)] FORM FOR GRANT OR RENEWAL OF AUTHORISATION BY STATE POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD TO THE OCCUPIERS, RE-PROCESSORS, CO-PROCESSORS AND OPERATORS OF DISPOSAL FACILITIES 1. Number of authorisation and date of issue: 2. Reference of application (No. and date): 3. .....................of ..............................is hereby granted an authorisation based on the enclosed signed inspection report for collection, reception, storage, transport, pre-processing, co-processing, treatment, disposal of Tar-balls on the premises situated at....................................................................................... Details of Authorisation +------------------------------------------+--------------------+ | Authorised mode of disposal or | Quantity | | Co-processing, etc. | (ton/annum) | +==========================================+====================+ | | | +------------------------------------------+--------------------+ (1) The authorisation shall be valid for a period of ............................................................................... (2) The authorisation is subject to the following general and specific conditions (Please specify any conditions that need to be imposed over and above general conditions, if any): Date: Signature of Issuing Authority Designation and Seal FORM 3 [See rules 12 (5), 17(5), 23(1)] 1. Name and address of the facility : 2. Date of issuance of authorisation and its reference number: 3. Description of tar-balls handled (Collected or Received): +----------+-----------------------+------------------+------------------------------+ | Date | Total Quantity (in MT)| Method of Storage| Destined to or received from | +==========+=======================+==================+==============================+ | | | | | +----------+-----------------------+------------------+------------------------------+ 4. Date wise description of management of tar-balls sent and to whom in case of pre-processor: 5. Date of environmental monitoring: Date................... Place.................. Signature of occupier FORM 4 [See rules 12(6), 17(5), 23 (2)] FORM FOR FILING ANNUAL RETURNS [To be submitted to State Pollution Control Board by 30th day of June of every year for the preceding period April to March] 1. Name and address of facility: 2. Authorisation No. and Date of issue: 3. Name of the authorised person and full address with telephone, fax number and e-mail: 4. Generation during the year, wherever applicable Part A. To be filled by Tar-balls Occupiers 1. Total quantity of tar-balls collected 2. Quantity dispatched (i) to disposal facility (ii) to co-processors or pre-processor (iii) others 3. Quantity utilised in-house, if any - 4. Quantity in storage at the end of the year - Part B. To be filled by Treatment, storage and disposal facility operators 1. Total quantity of tar-balls received - 2. Quantity in stock at the beginning of the year - 3. Quantity treated - 4. Quantity disposed in landfills as such and after treatment - 5. Quantity incinerated (if applicable) - 6. Quantity processed other than specified above - 7. Quantity in storage at the end of the year - Part C. To be filled by recyclers or co-processors or other users 1. Quantity of tar-balls received during the year 2. Quantity in stock at the beginning of the year - 3. Quantity co-processed- 4. Quantity disposed - 5. Quantity in storage at the end of the year – Date................... Place.................. Signature of the Occupier or Operator of the disposal facility FORM 5 [See rules 14 (1), 15(2)] LABELLING OF CONTAINERS OF TAR-BALLS +-----------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------+ | Handle with care | | +=========================================+=================================================+ | Tar-balls and characteristics | Incompatible wastes and substances..............| +-----------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------+ | Total quantity | Date of storage | +-----------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------+ | Physical State of the Tar ball | (Solid/Semi-solid/liquid): | +-----------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------+ | Sender's name and address | Receiver's name and address | +-----------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------+ | Phone................... | Phone................... | +-----------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------+ | E-mail.................. | E-mail.................. | +-----------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------+ | Tel. and Fax No.......... | Tel. and Fax No.......... | +-----------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------+ | Contact person........... | Contact person........... | +-----------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------+ | In case of emergency please Contact ....| | +-----------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------+ Note: 1. Background colour of label - fluorescent yellow. 2. The word, 'TAR-BALLS' and ‘HANDLE WITH CARE' to be prominent and written in red, in Hindi, English and in vernacular language. FORM 6 [See rule 15 (2)] TRANSPORT EMERGENCY (TREM) CARD [To be carried by the transporter during transportation of tar-balls, provided by the sender of tar-balls] 1. Characteristics of tar-balls: +-------+------+-------------------+---------------------+-------------------+---------------------+ | S. No.| Type | Physical | Chemical | Exposure | First Aid | | | | Properties | constituents | hazards | requirements | +=======+======+===================+=====================+===================+=====================+ | | | | | | | +-------+------+-------------------+---------------------+-------------------+---------------------+ 2. Procedure to be followed in case of fire : 3. Procedure to be followed in case of spillage/accident/explosion: 4. For expert services, please contact: (i) Name and Address: (ii) Telephone No.: (Name, contact number and signature of sender) Date................... Place.................. FORM 7 [See rule 16 (1)] MANIFEST FOR TAR-BALLS +-----------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------+ | 1. Sender's name and mailing address | | | (including Phone No. and e-mail) | | +-----------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------+ | 2. Sender's authorisation No. | | +-----------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------+ | 3. Manifest Document No. | | +-----------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------+ | 4. Transporter's name and address: | | | (including Phone No. and e-mail) | | +-----------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------+ | 5. Type of vehicle | (Truck/Tanker/Special Vehicle) | +-----------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------+ | 6. Transporter's registration No. | | +-----------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------+ | 7. Vehicle registration No. | | +-----------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------+ | 8. Receiver's name and mailing address | | | (including Phone No. and e-mail) | | +-----------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------+ | 9. Receiver's authorisation No. | | +-----------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------+ | 10. Waste description | | +-----------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------+ | 11. Total quantity | ...................................m3 or MT | | No. of Containers | ...................................Nos. | +-----------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------+ | 12. Physical form | (Solid/Semi | | | Solid/Sludge/Oily/Tarry/Slurry/Liquid) | +-----------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------+ | 13. Special handling instructions and | | | additional information | | +-----------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------+ | 14. Sender's Certificate | I hereby declare that the contents of the | | | consignment are fully and accurately described | | | above by proper shipping name and are | | | categorised, packed, marked, and labelled, and | | | are in all respects in proper conditions for | | | transport by road according to applicable | | | national government regulations. | +-----------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------+ FORM 8 [See rule 24(1)] FORMAT FOR REPORTING ACCIDENT [To be submitted by the facility or sender or receiver or transporter to the State Pollution Control Board] 1. The date and time of the accident : 2. Sequence of events leading to accident : 3. Details of tar-balls involved in accident : 4. The date for assessing the effects of the accident on health or the environment : 5. The emergency measures taken : 6. The steps taken to alleviate the effects of accidents : 7. The steps taken to prevent the recurrence of such an accident : Date: Place Signature: Designation: FORM 9 [See rule 28 (1)] APPLICATION FOR FILING APPEAL AGAINST THE ORDER PASSED BY STATE POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD 1. Name and address of the person making the appeal : 2. Number, date of order and address of the authority, which passed the order, against which appeal is being made: (Certified copy of the order be attached) 3. Ground on which the appeal is being made: 4. Relief sought for: 5. List of enclosures other than the order referred in point 2 against which the appeal is being filed: Signature................... Name and address........... Date: [F. No. HSM-11/22/2022-HSM] NEELESH KUMAR SAH, Jt. Secy. Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064 and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.