AMAZONAS, BRAZIL - Auto Posto Lima, responsible for an area affected by a fire in Industrial District 2 in Manaus, was fined R$ 5.555 million (about $1.11 million) by the Amazonas Environmental Protection Institute (Ipaam). During the inspection on Wednesday (7), officials found tires, plastics and materials containing oil and paint residues at a site licensed only to receive inert construction waste.

The fire began on Tuesday (6) and affected more than 15,000 square meters. According to the Fire Department, the remaining hotspots could take 24 to 48 hours to be brought under control.

Ipaam said the fine was based on violations of the environmental license conditions and air pollution caused by the burning of the materials. The institute will also assess possible impacts on soil and groundwater.

The company said it holds valid environmental licenses and will submit a defense after being officially notified. It has up to 20 days to file an administrative defense or pay the fine.

“We will still determine what has been contaminated, whether the soil or even the groundwater. We do not know the depth, partly because we were unable to access the area due to the fire and smoke. But we used a drone to detect anything,” explained Ipaam environmental analyst Maria do Carmo.

Amazon Agency