Law No 6938 of 1981 - National Environmental Policy

This legislation establishes the National Environmental Policy. In addition to setting certain environmental principles, strategies and standards, the legislation requires that actors—either government or private—carry out an environmental impact assessment and obtain a permit prior to undertaking any potentially polluting activity. It provides competent environmental institutions with the power to enforce permit conditions and pertaining environmental legislation, conduct inspections and otherwise control potentially polluting developments.  An amendment made by the Law nº 10.165 of 2000 lists activities subject to permitting, amidst which is the exploration and production of oil and gas as well as the exploration and processing of minerals.

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