Mariana tragedy: five cities confirmed as affected areas

The Federal Regional Court of the 6th Region (TRF6) has included five municipalities on the coast of Espírito Santo, in the neighboring state of Minas Gerais, on the list of those affected by the dam collapse in Mariana, which occurred in 2015. Following the court's ruling, São Mateus, Linhares, Aracruz, Serra, and Conceição da Barra have been officially recognized as impacted by the environmental disaster.

The acknowledgment of these areas as eligible for reparations stemmed from a 2017 decision made by the Interfederative Committee. This decision faced opposition from Samarco Mineração, the company operating the dam, as well as its parent companies, BHP Billiton Brasil and Vale.

The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office, advocating for the inclusion of communities from the five municipalities, asserted that the mining companies argued against the committee's authority to recognize the affected areas, claiming it lacked enforcement power. Additionally, they requested the production of new expert evidence.

The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office noted that estuarine, coastal, and marine areas had already been accounted for in the Transaction and Conduct Adjustment Agreement (TTAC) signed between the mining companies and public bodies. This agreement aimed to address and provide reparations for the damages caused by the disaster.

The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office highlighted that numerous studies have been conducted to assess the impacts on these sites. Additionally, the office addressed the significance of the Inter-Federative Committee's decisions, pointing out its authority as the final administrative body empowered to levy fines in case of non-compliance. It emphasized that the committee's establishment was stipulated in the agreement between the Brazilian federal government, the states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, and the mining companies.

The Renova Foundation, established by the mining companies to oversee reparation projects, is engaged in initiatives across approximately 40 municipalities affected by the disaster in Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo. Samarco, through its press office, declined to comment on the court's decision.