Energy Sources and Environmental Protection Regulations

Energy Classifications

Primary Energy: Energy available directly in the wild.

High Energy (Processed): These are processed energy sources, such as diesel.

Non-Renewable and Renewable Energy

• Non-Renewable Energy: Energy that is consumed solely during its processes of transformation and consumption. Examples include oil, coal, and nuclear power.
• Renewable Energy: Energy that may or may not be consumed during transformation, but remains available on a human scale.
• ERNC (Unconventional Renewable Energy): Natural resources that are not exhausted and require new technology. Examples include wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, oceans, hydraulics, and tides.

Environmental Legislation

Basis of Environmental Law

The basis of environmental law is to regulate the right to live in a pollution-free environment, protect the environment, and ensure the conservation of nature and heritage.

Environmental Standards

• Primary Standard: Addresses risks to the health of the population.
• Secondary Standard: Addresses risks to the environment.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and DIA

An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is required when a project poses a risk to health and the natural environment. A DIA (Environmental Impact Declaration) represents a commitment regarding possible risks.

The EIA and DIA are authorized by a national commission led by the regional Intendente and involved state agencies.

SEIA and Project Management

The owner of a company or project matrix is responsible for presenting the EIA. The goal is to ensure that activities are conducted in a sustainable way.

How the SEIA Operates: It involves state bodies with environmental competence and sectoral environmental agencies related to the project.

COREMA Composition: Includes the Regional Chair, provincial governors, Regional Secretaries, the CONAMA Council, four regional directors, and the Regional Director of CONAMA.

Environmental Protection and Ecosystems

The study of the environment considers a set of elements:

• Abiotic: Water, air, soil, and solar energy.
• Biotic: Living organisms on Earth.
• Biosphere: The support and home of all living things.

Pollution and Soil Health

Eutrophication: Occurs when excess energy and mass enter an ecosystem, exceeding its maximum metabolic capacity.

Water Pollutants: These can affect water surface tension and create fat emulsions, impacting the amount of water that can be incorporated into systems.

Soil Health: Physiologically, healthy soil is free of contamination, remains in balance, purifies and degrades substances, and decomposes or transforms elements.

Waste Disposal and Landfills

The stages of waste disposal include:

1. Generation
2. Processing and Transport
3. Disposal
4. Monitoring and Control

Landfills: These serve waste management, land reclamation, and the recycling of materials. Leachate (Percolating liquid) is generated through waste accumulation and compaction.