Environmental regulation of mining activities in Minas Gerais state

structuring and decision-making processes in the mining activities agency

Abstract

Mining activities have been present in the territory of Minas Gerais since the period of its colonization, but from the 20th century onwards, the industrial scale of the exploration of mineral resources was intensified and the sector became one of the main economic pillars of the state. Frequently associated with important environmental impacts, the mining industry, consequently, started to attract the attention and criticism of sectors of society concerned with environmental quality. Environmental and political pressures resulted in a process of evolution of Minas Gerais mining legislation, mainly from the 2000s and with more emphasis after the disasters of the Mariana (2015) and Brumadinho (2019) ore dam failures. In this scenario of strong political and economic influences from mining, on the one hand, and pressing pressures, risks, and socio environmental impacts, on the other, this paper addresses the issue of environmental licensing of mining activities within the decision-making processes of the Minas Gerais Mining Activities Chamber. The article is based on the analysis of the current legal apparatus and random minutes, seeking to identify trends in lines of thought, interests, and possible correlations of votes throughout the decision-making process. The analysis showed a relevant correlation of votes between the political sector (values ​​of up to 100%) and a notorious disparity between representatives of civil society. These trends indicate the need for legal changes that raise the decision-making structure with the real collective implications of mining in economic, political, and socio-environmental terms.