GEO Brasil - UNEP

and São Paulo), or by elaborating specific laws, as in
Rondônia (Law n. 547/1993 – State Environmental Policy).
This also occurs by the creation of specific codes, as in Rio
Grande do Sul (Law n. 11.520/2000), which establishes
directives for the restoration and protection of degraded
areas, protection of palaeontological wealth, and necessary
anticipated licensing for mining activities. It must also be
highlighted that such public action is the result of broad
involvement by the government and by society.
In the counties, such concern is reflected in the elaboration
of environmental control codes, as well as in the creation of
municipal councils that serve the same purpose, where
mineral sector matters are discussed.
It should be noted that the National Environmental
Education Policy’s inception (Law nº 9,795/1999), which was
supplemented at the state level, seeks to spread
environmental preservation associated concepts to society
as a whole, and that it shall certainly reach the mineral sector.
a) Subsoil and Energy
The need to cater to the internal market and to seek ,
self-sufficiency has caused the petrol industry to
intensify exploration both of hydrocarbons and of gas.
This has taken place both within the country and in the
ocean, hydrocarbons and gas both generate significant
environmental impacts most notably in the form of
abandoned fields and/or leaks from transport lines or
tankers. This situation is subject to the enforcement of
National Environmental Policy, of the Federal
Constitution and, more recently, of Law nº 9.966/2000,
which establishes penalties for jemission of oil or other
harmful or dangerous substances in waters under
national jurisdiction. Environmental control
mechanisms were also established by CONAMA’s
resolutions n. 265, from 01.27.2000 and 273, of
11.29.2000. However, the abandoned petrol fields’
environmental debt still persists (Reconcavo Region,
in Bahia).
b) Subsoil and Urbanisation
The constant growth of Urban areas’ causes the
demand for immediate use materials for the
construction industry. The production of these
materials is a very dynamic activity. This coupled with
insufficient control, represents the most significant set
of environmental liabilities. This becomes even more
apparent when added to prospecting for gold and
precious stones plus the small and medium mining
companies. This situation stems from the lack of
technical knowledge, financial capacity and official
support. To a lesser degree it was caused by the lack of
a social conscience or good will to adapt to the new
environmental reality.
There has been a gradual return to the development of
Mining Director Plans in Belo Horizonte, Porto Alegre,
Brasilia, Recife and Curitiba. This began again in 2002
with DNPM, in association with SMM/MME and CPRM.
These agencies brought new life to the organisation of
metropolitan regions mining activities. They were also
able to define parameters for medium sized cities. The
City Statute, which was consolidated by Law no. 10,257/
2001 and tackles the state of degradation in Brazilian
cities is another partner in this search for a new urban
area mining development framework.
CPRM’s 2000 Annual Report presents the geophysical
air survey of 1.57 million km² in the Amazon region as
one of its goals, as well as geological and mineral
resources studies on a 1:250,000 scale by the year 2005.
Such information shall allow the discovery of new
mineral deposits, specially gold, copper, zinc, soldering
tin and diamonds.
The coal industry from the South Region of the country,
which has been operating since the beginning of the
last century, has been producing a large set of
environmental liabilities, specially as far as hydra
resources contamination goes. Mining companies, by
means of restricted and isolated actions, have
produced few advances towards the rehabilitation of
the degraded areas. In Santa Catarina, this scenario
led to the creation of a Managing Committee in the
year 2000 , which was sanctioned by a presidential decree
in 14/12/2000, with the purpose of restoring the coal
basin.
According to Barreto (2001), mining is one of the sectors
that has the best chances of harmony with environmental
protection. This is due to its representing temporary land
use, to its spatially restricted character, and to the ease of
monitoring this area. This is mostlybecause of available
technology and of the legal norms to which it is subjected.
This norms demand control and environmental protection
for the mined areas, as well as restoration and devolution
to society at the end of the mine’s lifespan. This devolution
requires in equal or better conditions than the originally
existing ones.
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