Pertaining to iron ore mines in Goa, the expert appraisal committee (EAC) will not clear the environment clearances (ECs) of mining leases lying within 10 km of protected areas until the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) decides on buffer zones or the mining leases have permission from the national wildlife board. EAC is examining environment clearances (EC) of 139 iron ore mines in Goa, suspended by MoEF in October 2012.

The expert appraisal committee will examine the ECs of just four mining leases of the 54 leases that had been inspected by MoEF's Bangalore regional office to verify whether they fulfilled the EC conditions. MoEF sources said none of the mining leases within 10 km of a protected zone have permissions from the national wildlife board.

EAC is also scrutinizing reports of all 139 operational and non-operational mines in Goa. Of the 54 mining leases whose reports have been submitted to EAC, 49 were found to be within 10km of wildlife sanctuaries (WLS) and national parks (NP), four beyond 10 km of WLS and NP and one within a protected area.