The council of the Minas Gerais state environment police, Copam, has confirmed that the Vale, BHP owned pellets producer Samarco was fined BRL 112 million ($31.7 million), following a deadly iron ore waste dam burst in November.
Samarco has 20 days to appeal the decision to a Copam’s normative chamber. If the appeal is denied, the Minas Gerais state environment secretariat can then enforce the pellet producer to pay the fine, which can be made in 72 installments.
Samarco can appeal the fine at a court as well, according to several media reports.