Public Hearing is mandatory for environmental clearance in the case of development projects. Interested public and the residents of the locality thereby get a chance to understand the benefits and impacts of the proposed project. They also air their apprehensions and seek remedies before the public hearing panel. The Executive Summary of the Project is made available for scrutiny of the interested public, environmental activists, NGOs etc. at the Concerned Deputy Commissioner's office, The District Industries Center, the Local Body, the Head office and Regional Office of the Board and the Department of Environment and Forests.

Public Notice of environmental public hearing is published by the Board in at least two daily newspapers of which one is in the local language. There after the public may submit suggestions or objections within thirty days. They can participate in the hearing and present their views directly to the public hearing panel constituted with the following members:

Representative of the Board (from Head Office); Representative of the Board (from concerning Regional Office); Deputy Commissioner or nominee; Representative of State Government dealing with the project; Representative of the Department of Environment and Forests. Not more than three representatives of the local- bodies; Not more than three senior citizens of the area nominated by District Collector.

Public hearing is completed within 60 days of receipt of application. The project proponent has to submit the application to the Board and submit fee as prescribed below .

List of Completed Public Hearings:

The Pollution Control Board, Assam completed quite a number of Public Hearing since its inception which covers various projects running under the Public Sector Industries in Assam, viz.

a. IOCL, Guwahati Refinery, Guwahati b. IOCL, AOD, Digboi Refinery, Digboi c. BRPL, Dhaligaon, Bongaigaon d. NRL, Numaligarh, Golaghat; e. BVF (earlier HFC), Namrup

The latest public hearings done by the Board are listed below:

NO DATE OF PUBLIC HEARING TOOK PLACED STATUS OF WORKS 1. 09/04/2001 1000 MW Subansiri Lower Project of M/S National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Ltd. (A Govt. of India Enterprise), at Gerukamukh, Dhemaji. 2. 18/09/2001 Diesel Hydrotreatment Project (DHTP) of M/s Bongaigaon Refinery & Petrochemicals Ltd. (BRPL) 3. 09/10/2001 LPG Bottling Plant of M/S Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL), Numaligarh within Refinery's complex at Golaghat. 4. 25/03/2003 Coke Calcination Unit (CCU) of M/S Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL), Numaligarh within Refinery's complex at Golaghat. 5. 27/02/2003 Production of Metallurgical Coke Unit by M/S National Hydrocarbon at Digboi. 6. 31/07/2003 Motor Spirit Unit (MSU) of M/S Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL), Numaligarh within Refinery's complex at Golaghat.