LEGAL ASPECTS ON SAFETY OF MINING REJECT DAMS: IMPLICATIONS FOR AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND MULTIPLE WATER USES IN THE UPPER RIO DAS VELHAS BASIN (MINAS GERAIS STATE, BRAZIL)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22409/GEOgraphia2019.v21i45.a14478Keywords:
Mining, Environmental risks, “Quadrilátero Ferrífero” (iron quadrangle)Abstract
The construction of dams to store and contain mineral tailings is a common practice in the Minas Gerais state, Brazil, mainly in the so-called “Quadrilátero Ferrífero” geological region (iron quadrangle). The environmental risks associated with the collapse of these structures favored the elaboration of legal parameters that regulate this sector in Brazil. These parameters are established through the national policy on dam’s safety and the national information system on dam’s safety. The Alto Rio das Velhas basin is totally inserted in the “Quadrilátero Ferrífero”, where mining excels in different contexts of land use and occupation around the water courses. Therefore, it is important to carry out studies that address the legal aspects and instruments related to the safety of mining tailings dams, motivating reflections about the implications and risks inherent to the their installation and maintenance in the region. In this sense, this article presents an overview of the juridical, legal and administrative aspects that involve the safety of mining tailings dams installed in the region and reflects on their spatial context, pointing out the problems, risks and consequences for environmental quality around maintaining commitment of water multiple uses in the basin.
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