Environment
Environment
What are the ongoing environmental programs?
Considering this period of pre-installation of Porto Central, the following programs were or are in progress: – Noise and Vibration Monitoring Program; – Groundwater Monitoring Program; – Surface Water Resources Monitoring Program (continental); – Coastline Morphodynamic Monitoring Program; – Water Quality and Marine Sediments Monitoring Program; – Baseline Survey of the Adaptive Dredging Management Plan (Hydrodynamics and Turbidity/CSS Monitoring; Sedimentation Rate Monitoring; Rhodolith Banks Monitoring); – Flora Protection Program (Germplasm Rescue Subprogram and Compensatory Planting Subprogram); – Terrestrial Fauna Monitoring Program; – Continental Aquatic Biota Monitoring Program; – Fauna Running Over Monitoring Program; – Pelagic Biota Monitoring Program (marine); – Monitoring Program for Benthic (marine) Communities; – Turtle Monitoring Program (Line: Satellite Monitoring); – Social Communication Program; – Environmental Education Program; – Fishing Landing Monitoring Program; – Professional Training Program; – Archaeological Prospecting and Heritage Education Program; – Interference Mitigation Program in the Road System; – Socioeconomic Monitoring Program. – Labor Mobilization and Demobilization Program – Regional Development Support Program – PADR – Quilombola Basic Environmental Plan (being updated with the communities of Cacimbinha and Boa Esperança) – Historical and Cultural Heritage Protection Program, associated with the Nossa Senhora das Neves Church |
What are the environmental initiatives adopted by the port?
Porto Central is committed to complying with a series of Environmental Programs agreed with the federal environmental authority, Ibama. These programs seek environmental excellence by ensuring compliance with legislation and applicable environmental standards during the implementation and operation phases of the port complex.
We can mention some of these, aimed at protecting terrestrial physical environments and continental biodiversity: Terrestrial Fauna and Continental Ichthyofauna Rescue Program, Flora Protection Program, Terrestrial Fauna Monitoring Program, Continental Aquatic Biota Monitoring Program, Tracked Fauna Monitoring, Groundwater Monitoring Program, Noise and Vibration Monitoring Program, Waste Management Program, Effluent Management Program, Atmospheric Emissions Monitoring Program, Surface Water Resources Monitoring Program and Recovery Program of Degraded Areas.
When it comes to the socioeconomic area, we have the Social Communication Program, Environmental Education Program, organized into five Lines of Action relevant to the relationship with society (Communities, Workers, Health, Traffic and Compensation for Fishing Activities), Monitoring Program Fishing Landing Program, Professional Training Program, Archaeological Prospecting and Heritage Education Program, Interference Mitigation Program in the Road System, Socioeconomic Monitoring Program, Labor Mobilization and Demobilization Program and Regional Development Support Program – PADR.
Regarding programs aimed at protecting the coastal and marine environment, including its biodiversity, we can mention: Coastline Morphodynamic Monitoring Program; Water Quality and Marine Sediments Monitoring Program; Pelagic Biota Monitoring Program, Benthic Communities Monitoring Program, Chelonian Monitoring Program (turtles), Cetacean Monitoring Program (whales and dolphins); Marine Noise and Vibration Monitoring Program and Ballast Water Management Program (avoid introduction of exotic species).
It is also worth highlighting special care regarding dredging activities, which have specific and robust programs based on the Adaptive Dredging Management Plan (PGDA), and including the Turbidity Plume Tracking Program, the Hydrodynamics and Turbidity/CSS, the Sedimentation Rate Monitoring Program and the Rhodolith Banks Monitoring Program, in addition to all environmental control measures provided for in the Dredging Plan.
With regard to obligations towards the bodies involved in the licensing process, in the case of Porto Central, the bodies responsible for the protection of quilombola peoples, initially the Fundação Cultural Palmares (FCP) and currently Incra, and the Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage National (Iphan), Archaeological, Land and Marine Prospecting and pre-installation activities of the Heritage Education Program have already been carried out. Regarding the specificities of the quilombola communities present less than 8 km from the project site, Cacimbinha and Boa Esperança, Porto Central, based on a prior hearing process with the communities, prepared and presented to the FCP, in 2015, its PBA proposal Specific to the Quilombola Component. Considering the lapse of time since then, Porto Central has been conducting a new stage of dialogue with quilombola communities to confirm or review/update the PBA Quilombola, which consists of several programs aimed at protecting the environment, valuing and disseminating cultural assets and protection of the territory of these communities. |
How does the port minimize its impact on the local ecosystem?
Throughout the environmental licensing process, several impact mitigation and measures approved by Ibama were foreseen and which are included both in the various environmental programs and incorporated into the construction project of the project, which seeks good sustainability practices. |
Will there be a system for continuous monitoring of the port's environmental impacts? Will the community have access to this information?
Porto Central has several environmental monitoring programs that must be carried out during its installation and operation. The information generated in these monitoring processes will be available to the community through its public licensing process at IBAMA.
The results of Socioeconomic Monitoring will be monitored every six months at the CAMPOC General Assembly and issues relevant to each period will be discussed in the 5 (five) Working Groups created, covering all topics under monitoring, which will have monthly or bimonthly meetings, depending on need and decision of each group. CAMPOC has already been formed and its current constitution covers the majority of collectives present in AID. New institutions may be admitted by the Commission, upon request and justification, which is accepted by the current components, including Porto Central.
What conditions will be imposed on companies that set up in Porto Central in relation to environmental licensing and the use of local labor?
The conditions will be defined by the competent environmental body, depending on each case. Porto Central will implement its Socio-Environmental and Sustainability Policy (harmonious actions between the enterprises that will be installed in Porto Central).
Does the port have an action plan for environmental emergencies?
Yes, Porto Central developed environmental risk analysis studies (ARA) and prepared the plans below: · Risk Management Program (PGR); · Emergency Action Plan (PAE). When the port operates, there will also be the implementation of the Individual Emergency Plan (PEI), associated with the Area Plan, which will organize collaboration and exchange of information between neighboring ports to deal with possible environmental emergency situations. |
Will the port harm sea turtles?
The environmental impacts on sea turtles and the mitigation and monitoring actions were considered in the Porto Central environmental licensing process, and are included in the various environmental programs and incorporated into the project’s construction project.
It is worth noting that, despite the occurrence of spawning, the area of influence of Porto Central is not a priority area, since the concentration of spawning is low in relation to the other areas of the Espírito Santo and Campos basins. Even so, the Porto Central project is guided and authorized by ICMBIO/Centro Tamar within its environmental licensing process, regarding the controls necessary for the preservation of sea turtles. |
Will Porto Central make noise when operating?
In Phase 1, noise sources will be insignificant. The level of noise emission should increase as the port facility grows in the next phases of the project, which will be the subject of socio-environmental analyzes prior to each of the new phases of installing the port infrastructure.
Porto Central already monitors the current noise level and will continue to monitor it regularly from the beginning of the installation to take care, or have its contractors take care of it, so that the possible increase in noise level does not exceed legal limits.
As for future customers, they will also be subject to the same legal limits. |
Will the operation of Porto Central require water collection? From where?
For the implementation of Phase 1 of Porto Central, it will not be necessary to capture water from the Itabapoana River, as the water supply will be through capture from deep aquifer wells (underground water).
For the overall port project (Masterplan), water capture is expected from the Itabapoana River, and Porto Central already has Grant No. 1797/2014 for this with the National Basic Sanitation Water Agency (ANA). |
Will Porto Central pay for the water it consumes?
Currently, in the State of Espírito Santo there is no regulation regarding charging for the use of groundwater. The legislation in force at the time when water capture from the Itabapoana River is necessary will be observed by Porto Central. |
How will Porto Central deal with waste from its operations (garbage, sewage and other types of waste)?
Porto Central has a Solid Waste Management Program (PGRS) and a Liquid Effluent Management Program (PGEL), which are programs approved by Ibama and establish waste and effluent management criteria.
Solid waste must be segregated at its origin, temporarily stored in appropriate locations and identified considering its characteristics in accordance with ABNT NBR 10.004. Subsequently, this waste must be sent to duly licensed companies and can be reused, recycled and used in co-processing or, if another use is not possible, sent to a landfill suitable for receiving the waste.
For Phase 1, it is planned to capture all the effluent generated, which, after properly treated, can be reused in wetting roads, gardening or flushing toilets (in the case of gray water). The effluent may also be collected and sent to a company duly licensed for its treatment and disposal.
For the global project (Masterplan), it is planned to collect effluents which, after adequate treatment, will be sent to the sea via a submarine outfall. |
Will the implementation of Porto Central cause deforestation? If yes, how will compensation be made?
For the implementation of Porto Central, it will be necessary to remove vegetation, and for all vegetation to be removed, the recovery of degraded areas is expected in a forest compensation of equivalent area, with the addition of compensatory areas, provided for in legal provisions , depending on the type and location of the vegetation that will be removed.
For Phase 1, vegetation removal of 65,582 ha is planned and, in return, forest compensation will be 96,387 ha. |
How can I access the Environmental Impact Report (Rima)?
The Environmental Impact Study (EIA) and Rima are available on the Ibama website. |
For construction and operation, will Porto Central interfere with coral reefs?
No coral reefs were identified in the marine region of Porto Central’s area of influence.
What conditions will be imposed on companies that set up in Porto Central?
The conditions for companies that set up in Porto Central will be defined by the competent environmental body, depending on the activity of each company (all will undergo environmental licensing), but based on Porto Central’s environmental licensing.
Porto Central will implement its Socio-Environmental and Sustainability Policy aiming at harmonious and synergistic actions between the enterprises that will be installed at the TUP (Private Use Terminal). |
