BRAZIL
last revision May 17, 2000

CONTENTS

I. REGULATORY AND LEGAL OVERVIEW

A. Generally
B. Legislative/Regulatory Framework

1. The 1988 Constitution
2. National Environmental Policy (Política Nacional do Meio Ambiente, Law 6.938/81)
3. Environmental Crimes Law (Law 9.605/98 and Decree 3.179/99)
4. Federal Laws, Decrees, and Resolutions
5. State Law and Standards
6. Municipal Regulations

C. Administrative Framework

1. Federal
2. State
3. Municipal

D. Local Legal Resource

II. LICENSING

A. Introduction
B. Licensing Generally
C. Affected Sources
D. Competent Authorities

1. Federal Authorities
2. State Authorities
3. Municipal Authorities

E. Types of Licenses

1. Preliminary License (Licença Prévia or “LP”)
2. Installation License (Licença de Instalação or “LI”)
3. Operating License (Licença de Operação or “LO”)

F. Licensing Process
G. Administrative Revocation or Modification
H. Simplified Licensing Processes
I. Special Provisions for Existing Facilities
J. Offset Considerations
K. Licensing in Certain Industrial Sectors

1. Mining
2. Electricity
3. Petroleum
4. Proposed Licensing for Co-Processing in Clinker Ovens

III. Registry of Potentially Polluting Activities and Users of Environmental Resources

IV. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

A. Generally
B. Sources of Regulation
C. Definitions
D. Competent Authorities
E. Applicability
F. EIA and RIMA Contents

1. EIA Guidelines
2. RIMA Guidelines

G. EIA/RIMA Procedures, Generally
H. EIA/RIMA in Certain Industrial Sectors

V. ZONING

A. Generally
B. Existing Facilities (Located Prior to 1980)
C. New Facilities (Located After 1980)
D. Other Considerations

VI. AIR POLLUTION

A. Sources of Regulation

1. The 1988 Constitution
2. CONAMA Resolutions
3. State Laws and Regulations

B. Competent Authorities
C. Standards

1. Ambient Air Quality Standards
2. Maximum Emission Limits for Stationary Sources

D. Licenses (Permits)
E. Sanctions

VII. WATER POLLUTION

A. Generally
B. Sources of Regulation

1. The 1988 Constitution
2. Law 9.433/97 (Política Nacional de Recursos Hídricos or National Water Resources Policy)
3. CONAMA Resolutions
4. State Laws

C. Competent Authorities

1. Jurisdiction
2. Authorities

D. Water Quality Standards

E. Wastewater Discharge Limits

F. Licenses/Permits

1. Wastewater Discharge Permits
2. Concessions for Water Use
3. Implementation of the Concession and Fees

G. Sanctions

VIII. HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT

A. Introduction
B. Sources of Regulation

1. The 1988 Constitution
2. Federal Regulations
3. State Regulations
4. Brazilian Technical Standards (Normas Brasileiras or “NBR”)

C. Competent Authorities
D. Hazardous Waste Management

1. Generally
2. Agrotoxins
3. Wastes from Airports, Ports, Hospitals, Railway and Bus Stations
4. Used or Contaminated Lubricant Oil
5. Used Batteries
6. Used Tires
7. Draft Resolution on Co-Processing Wastes in Clinker Ovens

E. Transport
F. Import and Export
G. Sanctions

IX. SUITS AND SANCTIONS

A. Civil Suits Against Alleged Polluters

1. Generally
2. Civil Public Actions (Ação Civil Pública)
3. Other Civil Actions
4. Conclusions

B. Sanctions under the Environmental Crimes Law

1. Introduction
2. Important Innovations
3. General Structure of Law 9.605/98 and Decree 3.179/99
4. Certain Crimes and Administrative Infractions
5. Environmental Administrative Infractions
6. Consent Agreements

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