A body of public prosecutors in the state of Minas Gerais (MPMG) has filed an appeal within Copam, the state council for environmental policy, to revoke a Vale’s recently approved preliminary license for its Maravilhas 3 dam.
Vale has received a preliminary license for its Maravilhas 3 iron ore waste dam, which will allow the Brazilian miner to continue activities at its Vargem Grande complex in the city of Nova Lima, as well at its Pico mine in the city of Itabirito, both in the state of Minas Gerais.
According to MPMG, the project will put at risk the lives of hundreds of people, as there are families living some 500-meter near the area where the dam will be built. MPMG said a potential burst of the dam would leave no time for the community to exit the area.
MPMG’s complaint follows a recent tragedy at a Samarco’s iron ore waste dam, which burst in Mariana city in Minas Gerais last year killing 19 people.