New Delhi, Oct. 12 -- The Union environment ministry has proposed to exempt common municipal solid waste management facilities and Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) from obtaining prior environmental clearance. In separate draft notifications published on October 3 and October 1, the ministry proposed to exempt these sectors because of their low pollution potential. The draft notifications state that the expert appraisal committee has observed that environmental essential services (EES) projects such as solid waste management facilities are governed under the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. "The regulatory regime under these statutes...