Vale has been taking prompt and thorough measures to repair the damage caused by (B1) dam breach at Córrego do
Feijão mine, in Brumadinho (Minas Gerais), focusing on assistance for those affected, environmental recovery,
and measures to improve safety of operations, including de-characterization of its upstream structures. The
actions aim not only to recover Brumadinho and the affected cities along Paraopeba river, but also to develop
them socially, environmentally and economically.
After eight months, the company is providing emergency payments for more 107,000 people and offering housing,
water, food, medicines, medical and psychological assistance, clothing, transportation, as well as social and
economic development projects for the communities. The company has also provided affected cities and state
government institutions with financial support for animal care, tailings removal, dam de-characterization, and
urban infrastructure improvement.
To structure its work, Vale created the Special Executive Board for Recovery and Development, which reports
directly to the company's CEO. The whole structure consists of more than 400 employees dedicated to ensuring
close assistance to communities through open dialogue and actions on four recovery areas (social, environmental,
construction works, and safety).
Full Support and Assistance for those Affected
In addition to financial support, Vale also provided medical, psychological and social assistance, addressing
more than 12,000 cases; affected people and residents of the recovering regions have been reallocated in
temporary housing paid by the company. By September 22, almost 382 million liters of water for human, animal and
agricultural use had been distributed.
Besides protection for those affected, Vale is supporting the development of affected cities. Full Assistance
Program for Affected People guides residents of the region in planning for the future, also providing financial
education; support and consultancy services for purchase of residential, rural, or commercial properties; rural
and administrative technical assistance; and training courses to resume and strengthen commercial or service
activities.
Vale is collaborating with social institutions in humanitarian aid workshops, in Brumadinho, and affected
districts to strengthen the collective and productive potential of communities and help population to resume
their routines and regain their self-esteem.
Indemnities and Donations
The company has provided a financial safety net for families to initiate negotiations on individual indemnities.
107,000 residents of Brumadinho and those living within 1km from Paraopeba river channel are receiving monthly
emergency compensation, guaranteed for a period of one year.
Previously, Vale provided humanitarian financial support – in the form of donation – amounting to R$100 thousand
for representatives of the deceased or uncontactable people. A R$50 thousand donation has also been provided for
each family who lived in the Self-Rescue Zone of the Emergency Action Plan for Mining Dams (PAEBM, Plano de Ação
de Emergência de Barragens de Mineração), while those who do not live in the Self-Rescue Zone but developed
rural or commercial activities received R$15 thousand.
Furthermore, the company is committed to expedite the signing of individual indemnity agreements, by family or
labor group.
Support for Municipalities and Institutions
Vale provided R$80 million as financial compensation to Brumadinho after the shutdown of the company's
activities, while maintaining the amounts generated by the Financial Compensation for Mineral exploration (CFEM,
Compensação Financeira pela Exploração Mineral). R$14.5 million were also invested in an advertising campaign to
encourage tourism in the city, in addition to investments in equipment purchase, emergency hiring of
multidisciplinary health professionals, and transfer of funds to the Health and Social Assistance services of
Brumadinho, which added up to R$32.6 million.
To address assistance for other cities affected by shutdown of the company's activities, Vale signed an
agreement with the Minas Gerais and Brazilian Mining Municipalities Association (Amig, Associação de Municípios
Mineradores de Minas Gerais e do Brasil) that resulted in two contributions of R$100 million.
In recognition of the work carried out by the Military Fire Brigade of Minas Gerais in Brumadinho, Vale
established a R$20 million contribution for equipment purchase, structural improvement, and professional
training for the fire unit. Investments in Civil Defense will add up to R$5 million, while the agreement signed
with Military Police amounts R$4 million. Furthermore, Vale allocated R$6.5 million for the acquisition of
cutting-edge equipment for the Forensic Medical Institute (IML, Instituto Médico Legal) of Belo Horizonte to
streamline the identification of victims and to refurbish the Institute.
Monitoring of Paraopeba River
As a measure established on January, Vale continues monitoring quality of the water of Paraopeba river. The
company analyzed almost three million water based on 393 parameters. Currently, there are 67 water quality
monitoring points along 2.6km from Ferro-Carvão stream to São Francisco river mouth, including the main
tributaries of Paraopeba river.
Analyses carried out by Vale and the Water Management Institute of Minas Gerais (IGAM, Instituto Mineiro de
Gestão das Águas) point out that sediments have not reached São Francisco river. Since the end of March, mercury
and lead levels detected by IGAM in Paraopeba river are within the legal limits. Then, water withdrawal from
Paraopeba river remains prohibited as a preventive measure.
Recovery of the Water Supply System
Vale will invest almost R$450 million in a series of construction works on water withdrawal and supply systems
for the metropolitan area of Belo Horizonte. According to an agreement signed with the Prosecution Office of
Minas Gerais, with the participation of Copasa (Sanitation Company pf Minas Gerais), the state of Minas Gerais,
and the Federal Prosecution Office, Vale will carry out the following investments:
– Construction of a new water withdrawal system in Paraopeba river, upstream of the confluence of the river and
Ferro-Carvão stream in Brumadinho;
– Implementation of preventive measures related to water withdrawal from Rio das Velhas;
– Hiring of an external audit company to analyze the projects and monitor the water volume stored in reservoirs
of the metropolitan area of Belo Horizonte.
Containment and Removal of Tailings
Three large containment structures (two hydraulic filtration barriers and a dike) and 24 small stabilizing
barriers have been installed between B1 and the confluence of Ferro-Carvão stream and Paraopeba river. The
purpose of these interventions is to retain sediment flow into Paraopeba river. Construction works are in
progress and shall be complete by the end of this year.
In addition to these structures, a curtain of metal piles was installed near the confluence of Ferro-Carvão
stream and Paraopeba river. This measure allowed cleaning of the river stretch where the major concentration of
sediments is located. And, since May 27, the solid flow into Paraopeba river was stopped.
To complement recovery of Paraopeba river, a River Water Treatment Plant (ETAF, Estação de Tratamento de Água
Fluvial) was set up near the confluence of Ferro-Carvão stream and Paraopeba river. From May 9, when operations
started, until the beginning of September, ETAF returned to Paraopeba river 1.5 billion liters of clean water in
accordance with the legal standards defined by the National Council for the Environment (Conama, Conselho
Nacional de Meio Ambiente).
All structures can be decommissioned; that is, they can be disassembled from the moment they are no longer
required for stabilization of the affected areas.
Since mid-May, Vale has been dredging tailings from the affected stretch of Paraopeba river. This process is
essential for recovery of the river. Dredging removes the tailings from the silted area of the river. The
material removed is stored and dehydrated in large bags (geotextile bags). The water drained from these bags is
pumped to a treatment plant and returned clean to Paraopeba river. Dredging activities are planned to continue
until 2020, beginning at the confluence of Ferro-Carvão stream and Paraopeba river, and extending almost 2km
downstream.
Since the breach of B1 dam, Vale and the Fire Service have been working together in the planning and
implementation of tailings removal activities.
To support the tailings removal activities, Vale built a 3.6km access road where the old rail branch of Córrego
do Feijão mine operated. The road is already in use and it is exclusive for construction works vehicles,
especially those used for tailings handling. The road goes from the bridge over Alberto Flores avenue to the
mine. With such action, the traffic of heavy vehicles has been significantly reduced on local roads, improving
road flow, safety, and comfort for the communities.
Infrastructure for Communities
Vale is conducting a series of construction works to streamline the recovery of damage. These actions were
defined and improved through dialogue with the communities and relevant authorities. The most recent
construction work is the walkway on the new bridge over Alberto Flores avenue, in Brumadinho, inaugurated on
September 23. The structure enables safe crossing over the bed of Ferro-Carvão stream, since the walkway is
separate from the traffic lane.
Other construction works already delivered include the bridge over Alberto Flores avenue and Nossa Senhora das
Dores church, located in Córrego do Feijão, and a new access road connecting Córrego do Feijão community to the
central area of Brumadinho. The 3.5km-long road is being paved, as the roads that will provide Córrego do Feijão
with mobility and will restore traffic safety.
Dam Safety and De-Characterization
Vale invested R$7.1 billion to de-characterize its dams raised with the upstream construction method. In
September, more than three thousand workers were involved in the containment works, which are expected to be
complete by 2020.
Measures taken to eliminate risks at Vargem Grande dam of Abóboras mine, in Nova Lima (Minas Gerais), have
helped to change dam’s emergency level from 2 to 1, since June 4. This change is the result of several
improvements made by Vale, including lowering the water level of the reservoir; cleaning of drainage channels,
and sensitivity studies with the auditing company to assess how lowering the water level can affect stability of
the dam.
Decommissioning is the process of ending use of a dam permanently. After the construction works are complete,
the remaining structure is fully stable and reincorporated into the relief and the environment. The projects
were filed with the State Department of Environment and Sustainable Development (SEMAD, Secretaria de Estado de
Meio Ambiente e Desenvolvimento Sustentável) of Minas Gerais, the State Prosecution Office, and Brazil’s
National Mining Agency (ANM, Agência Nacional de Mineração).
Animal Care
As part of the Fauna Protection Plan, Vale initiated reintegration of wild animals into their natural habitats,
providing all required care. The company also returned domestic animals to their owners and held an adoption
event for dogs and cats rescued in Brumadinho. Among the wild animals, 16 have been carefully reinserted in
nature, and another 17 of 11 different species are being treated at the Veterinary Field Hospital or at the
Fauna Shelter Farm (FAF, Fazenda Abrigo de Fauna). Among the domestic animals, 127 have already been returned to
their owners or adopted at fairs held by Vale – all neutered, vaccinated and dewormed.
All rescue and care for the animals affected in Brumadinho and surroundings is being carried out by more 229
professionals, including veterinarians, biologists, zoo technicians, and professionals from several
environment-related fields. Animals in need of treatment are sent to the Veterinary Field Hospital. The
structure comprises a surgical area, hospitalization wards, diagnostic imaging room (with X-ray and ultrasound),
laboratory, etc. Healthy animals are accommodated in the Fauna Shelter Farm. The site rented by Vale has
facilities to receive both domestic and wild animals, including ambulatory care center, pharmacy, kennel,
cattery, corral, chicken coops, and lake for ducks. The sites are inspected by the Brazilian Environmental
Institute (IBAMA) and the Regional Council of Veterinary Medicine.