Latest News on the Mining Saga
in February 2007 the judge in Muriaé issued a court order suspending all bauxite mining activities in the buffer zone of the Serra do Brigadeiro Park on pain of a penalty of R$10,000 per day on the grounds that the correct licensing procedures were not followed. This order continues in force until such time as the case is judged.
Previous News on the Mining Saga
Bauxite Mining Proposal: In November 2006, in response to our requests, the Government arranged public meetings - not the legally the same as hearings, but nevertheless significant - in the towns of Divino, Miradouro and Muriaé. These were attended by State and Federal Government agencies and by a representative of the Minas Gerais State Legislative Assembly. It was an historic occasion, the first in which a mining company has taken the trouble to explain publicly its plan and discuss the consequences.
In the meeting, two important declarations were made by Government: firstly, that they will require the mining company to seek the approval of the State Park authorities for all mining undertakings within the Park buffer zone and, secondly, the Park Authority stated that it would not give such approval without the agreement of the State Park council, on which representatives of the local communities and other concerned bodies (including Iracambi). This is a major step forward in recognising the necessity of more serious discussion of the protection of the areas biodiversity.
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