Ipaam refutes Sovel’s allegation and confirms that environmental crimes were found in Lake Oscar
October 6, 2021
09:10
Victória Sales – from Cenarium
MANAUS – The paper company Sovel da Amazônia Ltda. – responsible for the spilling of toxic waste in Lake Oscar, in the East zone of Manaus, pointed, in response to Civil Inquiry No. 06.2021.00000308-6 of the Public Ministry of Amazonas (MP-AM), irregularities in the inspection actions of the Institute of Environmental Protection of Amazonas (Ipaam). However, in contrast, the agency said that the allegations are unfounded and that environmental crimes were found at the site.
According to information published by a Manaus portal, the company claimed “irregularities and lack of evidence to justify the administrative notice and other tax actions of Ipaam. The MP-AM continued the process and forwarded to the institute the arguments informed by Sovel, for contestation.
The company is responsible for spilling toxic waste at the site, also known as Lake Aleixo, since 2007. In 2020, the Federal Court convicted the company of the environmental crime, but the case became final and the sentence was not enforced. In 2013, the Federal Public Ministry of Amazonas (MPF-AM) sued the company and, in 2019, the Court partially judged the requests and ordered Sovel to stop the dumping of effluents at the site.
In June this year, the Justice ordered the company to prove, within 30 days, that it has complied with the sentence determinations that required it to stop dumping toxic and untreated material into the lake or any area of Lake Aleixo. The decision was issued by Federal Judge Maria Elisa Andrade, holder of the 7th Federal Environmental and Agrarian Court of the Amazonas Judiciary Section (SJAM).
Positioning
In a note to CENARIUM, the Ipaam informed that the allegations of irregularities in the inspection actions carried out in the company Sovel da Amazônia Ltda. are unfounded. “The environmental crimes were found in the location and widely documented after complaints made by the media”, said the agency.
The institute also emphasized that, at the site, the Ipaam environmental analysts found “significant water pollution caused by waste from the company’s production process”, noting also that Sovel is recidivist and has been investigated for environmental illegalities for more than ten years.
Process
The company needed to prove, by Friday, 1st, that it complied with the sentence for environmental damages in January 2020. Sovel was summoned, in early August this year, to comply with the sentence by the 7th Federal Environmental and Agrarian Court of the Federal Regional Court of the 1st Region (TRF1). But, according to information from the Federal Court, so far there are no manifestations in the process records. Thus, the company must prove that it has stopped the discharge of untreated effluents into the creek.