Regularização ambiental de atividades minerárias em Minas Gerais

Abstract

The demand for minerals, especially for commodities in the world, nowadays driven by China, accelerated the process of mineral production in Brazil, especially in Minas Gerais and Pará states, the biggest producers of iron ore. The increasing in minerals production was accompanied by the development of an environmental regulation, especially from the 80s. Classified as an activity of significant environmental impact, the mining activity was forced to adjust to the new rules. There are many rules governing the relationship between mining and environment, since the National System of Environment allows states and municipalities to establish their own regulations, more specific and restrictive than the federals. In this context the main objective of this paper is to guide who is interested in establishing a mining project in Minas Gerais what are the necessary procedures required to obtain the environmental licence. In order to achieve this goal, a review of the main environmental regulations governing the mining activities was made. This review showed that the procedures area complexes and takes a long time. At the same time it was presented the social and economic impact of mining in order to establish a parallel between production of minerals and sustainable development.