Federal prosecutors from Minas demand interventions in 18 Vale dams after intense rainfalls

Eighteen Vale-owned mining tailings dams in Minas Gerais will have to undergo preventive interventions due to the effects of heavy rains in December and January, according to a statement issued by the Minas Gerais Public Ministry on Wednesday.

According to the governmental body, the specific interventions required in the 18 dams were identified following an analysis of 31 dam structures by the Public Ministry of Minas Gerais (MP-MG) and the state government, through the State Foundation for the Environment (Feam).

The analyses were based on documents provided by mining companies at the agencies’ request. According to the agency, ArcelorMittal and Minérios Nacional dams were also evaluated, and their structures did not show any damage or anomalies caused by the rains and continued to function properly during the rainy season.

Feam and MP-MG will notify Vale this Wednesday, via official letter, so that mitigation measures can be taken in each of the structures.

The mining company will have ten days to announce which measures were implemented or to disclose the timeline for any actions taken.

Vale stated that it will take all due measures as soon as it is officially notified.

Among the Vale dams that will undergo interventions, three were evaluated at emergency level III (Sul Superior, B3/B4, and Forquilha III dams), according to the MP.

However, despite the emergency level of these structures, according to a joint analysis by Feam and the MP from Minas, “these dams did not show visible damage, only difficulties in accessing the structures.” The notifications for these dams request “measures to treat erosive processes in the surroundings and to ensure the structures’ maintenance.

Source: Money Times

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https://www.moneytimes.com.br/mp-de-minas-demanda-intervencoes-em-18-barragens-da-vale-vale3-apos-intensas-chuvas/

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