The Public Ministry of the State of Rio de Janeiro (MPRJ) and the City of Barra do Piraí formalized an agreement to collect essential data and studies for the environmental recovery of the old landfill at Mansão Celestial. This pact stipulates a 120-day period to define the actions to be implemented at the site, which has accumulated solid waste irregularly over several decades.
The area in question is located in a water source zone of the Paraíba do Sul River basin and has been the subject of a public civil action filed by the MPRJ since 1990. In 1998, the municipality committed to rehabilitating the land through a Conduct Adjustment Term (TAC) that was validated by the Judiciary, although these responsibilities have not yet been fully met.
Under the new agreement, signed on Wednesday (21st), the city must monitor the environmental investigation conducted by the State Environmental Institute (Inea) and submit a report within 60 days, detailing the interventions already carried out and the current state of the region.
Additionally, by the 105th day, the municipality must deliver a final report covering the demands of the environmental agency, the measures taken, the planning for subsequent phases, and financing options for the recovery. The MPRJ will monitor the work plan through regular meetings, preferably monthly.
To enable the conduct of the studies, the Public Ministry requested the suspension of the judicial action by the 2nd Court of Barra do Piraí for 120 days. At the end of this period, the results obtained may support a review of the terms of the 1998 agreement, which will require a new document approved by the Judiciary. If there is no agreement between the parties, the process will restart, potentially including the collection of fines due for non-compliance with the previous agreement.
It is important to note that this new term does not annul the 1998 TAC, nor does it modify the previously established obligations and penalties. The city maintains its immediate responsibility to implement the necessary measures to prevent and address environmental risks in the area. In a statement, the municipal administration classified the agreement as a 'historic step.'