Study of environmental impact assessment as an analytical instrument in environmental forensic practices

Abstract

This study aims to use a methodology for analyzing environmental impacts in a scenario of practices of use and management of the Paraibuna River, where two hydroelectric uses called Small Hydroelectric Plants (SHP) Monte Serrat and Bonfante are located and an area licensed for the extraction of sand from the bed of said river. The study assisted forensic investigations into the environmental impacts caused by hydroelectric uses, after 12 years of construction and operation, on the polygon of sand extraction. For this purpose, we used specialized literature and field data collection, from the surveys that went around the Areas of The SHP and the polygonal licensed sand extraction, collecting subsidies to better weave the qualified observations of the environmental impacts incident. For the characterization of the environmental diagnosis, we used methods and tools of analysis in AIA, adopting the so-called "checklist", or the control list associated with the "ad hoc", which consisted in the identification of the main environmental impacts that affect the studied stretch. The analysis and classification of the integrated environmental impacts listed were followed by a qualitative and interpretative evaluation of these impacts. It was observed that the use of the EIA in the study of environmental impacts represents a technical instrument of efficient and effective analysis in the survey of evidence of environmental impact caused by the activities of the SHP Monte Serrat and Bonfante in the water resource, regarding the reduction of transport of sediments downstream of these that impacted the economic activities of the company studied.