Law No. 15.190 providing for environmental licensing; regulating item IV of § 1 of art. 225 of the Federal Constitution, amending Environmental Crimes Law, and other legislation.

This Law, known as the General Environmental Licensing Law, establishes general rules for the licensing of activities or enterprises that use environmental resources and are actually or potentially polluting, in any way, of causing environmental degradation, as provided for in Article 10 of Law No. 6.938 of 31 August 1981. It applies to environmental licensing carried out by agencies and entities of the Union, States, the Federal District, and Municipalities that are part of the National Environmental System (Sisnama), in compliance with the powers established in Complementary Law No. 140 of 8 December 2011. Environmental licensing must prioritize public participation, transparency, the public interest, speed and procedural efficiency, prevention of environmental damage, sustainable development, and analysis of impacts and, where applicable, environmental risks. The guidelines for environmental licensing are: conducting environmental impact assessments according to technical procedures that seek sustainable development; public participation, as provided by law; transparency of information, with public availability of all studies and documents that comprise the licensing process, at all stages; strengthening inter-institutional relationships and mediation and conciliation tools, in order to ensure legal certainty and avoid litigation of disputes; effectiveness, efficiency, and effectiveness in managing the impacts arising from activities or projects that use environmental resources, which actually or potentially cause pollution or other forms of environmental degradation; cooperation among federated entities, pursuant to Complementary Law No. 140 of 8 December 2011.