Presentation
The highlight in this edition of the Environment Report is Mineração Rio do Norte’s licensing process to operate its new mine: Almeidas. For the first time along its activities, a MRN’s undertaking was submited to a Public Hearing. The operating license was granted on 1 st August 2002. This licensing was preceded by a number of actions and considerable effort, such as to have the Chestnut Tree Forest inventoried. Once again and in a broader sense, MRN evidences its commitment with the sustainable development. Factually, MRN explores the Brazilian soil, however, its topmost commitment is the environment preservation and respect to the society.

Yet on the Almeidas mining activities, this edition of the Environment Report will cover the expansion of MRN’s nursery plant and destination of the tailing from the bauxite washing process from the new mine. Additionally, other subjects are covered in this edition, such as the novelties on the reforested areas’ monitoring program and on the Batata lake rehabilitation follow-up made in 2001 and not yet published.