1/27/22 at 4:30 pm
Vallourec closes agreement with the State of Minas Gerais and the Public Ministry
Term was built in less than 20 days and is signed by different government agencies and institutions, in addition to the company itself
Belo Horizonte, January 27, 2022 – Vallourec today signed an agreement with the Public Prosecutor’s Office regarding the impacts caused by the overflow of the Lisa Dam, on January 8, 2022. The pre-agreement includes the implementation of emergency actions, many of which are already underway, the commitment to the environmental recovery of the affected area and among other measures.
The signing of the pre-agreement in less than 20 days reflects the company’s position by not measuring efforts to mitigate the disruption caused by the overflow. From the outset, Vallourec has taken all measures to ensure the safety of people, the site, fauna and flora. More than 160 emergency actions have been carried out or are in progress, including the release of the highway, the relocation and ongoing assistance to the residents of the only house located in the flood zone and the transfer of more than 600 wild animals from Ibama’s Wild Animal Rehabilitation Center (Cras) to nurseries and hatcheries accredited by environmental agencies.
Throughout the entire process, the company acted with agility and remained very active in identifying the impacts and available to provide all the necessary information and clarifications. In a demonstration of greater openness to dialogue with society, the Vallourec Mining unit also implemented an 0800 channel available to all.
Main points of the agreement
- It establishes the obligations for the execution of emergency measures related to the overflow, most of which have already been carried out or are in progress;
- Defines the reimbursement of extraordinary expenses of public bodies, directly related to the overflow;
- Establish a minimum financial guarantee to ensure the implementation of the measures provided for in the agreement;
- Reinforces the commitment to comprehensive remediation of all impacts caused by the overflow.
Lisa Dike
On January 8, as a result of heavy rains in the first days of this year, a landslide occurred and solid material was washed from the Cachoeirinha basin to the Lisa Dike, causing the overflow of this dam, which is located near the BR-040 highway, in Nova Lima. The dam in question is a rainwater and sediment retention structure. It is important to clarify that the dam is intact and that there was no rupture of the structure.
1/10/22 at noon
Vallourec informs that, even with the heavy rainfall of the last few days, the Santa Bárbara Dam is operating normally, controlling the flow of rainwater. It is also important to clarify that the dam’s structure does not present any anomaly and that the overflow of the Dike Lisa, which occurred this morning (1/8), has nothing to do with the Santa Barbara Dam.
Vallourec also stresses that the Lisa Dam and the Santa Bárbara Dam are distinct structures located at different Pau Branco Mine points.
The Santa Bárbara Dam – which does not contain mining rejects, but water and sediments -, located near Piedade do Paraopeba, returned to criticality level zero in December 2021, after work on the structure’s spillway. With the intervention, the Santa Bárbara Dam remains prepared to receive intense precipitation, now with a Reference Rate (TR) of ten thousand years – the so-called decamillennial recurrence rain.
1/10/22 at 9:00 am
Since the flooding of Lisa Dike, on the date: 8/1/22, Vallourec has spared no effort, working together with the competent departments and authorities, to minimize the disturbances that occurred and restore the situation to the normality condition.
This morning, traffic on BR-040 was cleared in both directions according to the security protocols that were signed with the authorities and the Highway number 040.
Vallourec also informed that, after all the actions implemented and inspections carried out together with the same competent departments, the National Mining Agency (ANM) authorized the reclassification of the emergency level of Lisa Dike from 3 to 2.
The Company remains committed to adopting the necessary measures to minimize the impacts.
1/9/22 at 1:30 pm
Vallourec informs that on 8/1/22, the level of the Lisa Dike was changed to three. This rating signifies a high emergency situation that requires the implementation of the PAEBM in a more stringent condition. The Company clarifies that the dam’s structure, whose function is to control the flow of rainwater, remains stable and reiterates that there are no records of fatalities from the aforementioned occurrence.
There is a need for evacuation at level three, and the few people residing in areas within the flood area have already been removed – a measure already implemented even before the level classification change. The same care is being taken with the animals. Together with wildlife specialists, Vallourec is arranging for the removal of more than 400 wild animals to breeding grounds and nurseries accredited by environmental agencies.
Vallourec also stresses that the Lisa Dam and the Santa Bárbara Dam are distinct structures located at different Pau Branco Mine points. The dam in question, located in Nova Lima, was operating normally, at a zero-criticality level and within the parameters foreseen in the legislation in force.
The Santa Bárbara Dam – which does not contain mining rejects, but water and sediments -, located near Piedade do Paraopeba, returned to criticality level zero in December 2021, after work on the structure’s spillway. With the intervention, the Santa Bárbara Dam increased its capacity and is prepared to receive intense precipitation, with a Reference Rate (TR) of ten thousand years – the so-called decamillennial recurrence rain.
The Company reinforces that it is working together with the competent agencies and authorities and remains committed to minimizing the inconvenience and restoring the normality of the situation.
1/8/22 at 8:50 am
Vallourec informs that, due to the overflowing of the Lisa Dike, which occurred yesterday, 1/8/2022, the operations at Pau Branco Mine were interdicted as of the same date by the National Mining Agency (ANM).
The Company is working with competent agencies and authorities to minimize the inconvenience and restore the situation to normal.
The Company also informs that it has changed the emergency level of the Lisa Dike to three.
Finally, Vallourec informs that it has not been notified about any judicial measure.
1/8/22 at 3:30 pm
Vallourec informs that, even with the heavy rainfall of the last few days, the Santa Bárbara Dam is operating normally, controlling the flow of rainwater. It is also important to clarify that the dam’s structure does not present any anomaly and that the overflow of the Dike Lisa, which occurred this morning (1/8), has nothing to do with the Santa Barbara Dam.
1/8/22 at 1:00 pm
Vallourec informs that there was no dam rupture in its Mining unit. Due to excessive rainfall in the last few days, there has been a carry-over of solid material from the Cachoeirinha pile to the Lisa Dike, located in Nova Lima, causing the overflow of this dike, which is close to the BR 040 highway.
Therefore, the dike in question is a stormwater containment structure and is not a mining rejects dam. It is also important to clarify that the massif is intact, and there was no break in the structure.
As a result of this overflow and in accordance with the PAEBM, the sirens were duly activated this Saturday morning (1/8) at 10:31 AM. Consequently, BR 040 was immediately blocked by the highway administrator.
The Company has already contacted the competent bodies and is working together with the authorities to minimize the inconvenience. According to preliminary findings, no casualties have been reported.
1/8/22 at 8:40 am
Vallourec informs that a dam located at Pau Branco Mine, in Nova Lima, overflowed. It is not about dam rupture. Teams are working on the site.
