The minister of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) Alexandre de Moraes.| Photo: Carlos Moura/SCO/STF.

The Minister of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) Alexandre de Moraes decided this Wednesday (31) to send for judicial conciliation the discussion on the construction of Ferrogrão, the new railroad that will link Sinop, in the north of Mato Grosso (MT), to Itaituba, in Pará (PA). The definitive analysis of the case was scheduled for this afternoon’s session of the Court, but it was not appreciated due to the judgment that condemned former Senator Fernando Collor.

According to the decision, the matter will be evaluated by the STF’s Center for Alternative Litigation Solutions, informed Agência Brasil. In the same order, Moraes upheld his decision, which suspended, in March 2021, Law No. 13,452/2017. The norm changed the limits of the Jamanxim National Park to allow the construction of the railroad.

“The reduction in the level of environmental protection resulting from the exclusion of approximately 862 hectares from the Jamanxim National Park, during the legislative process, justifies maintaining the suspension of the effectiveness of the law, since there is a plausible risk that the contested act will produce irreversible effects”, decided the minister.

The case reached the Supreme Court through a lawsuit filed by PSOL, which questioned non-compliance with environmental measures. Last week, the Advocacy General of the Union (AGU) sent an opinion to the STF in which it changed its position and started to defend the unconstitutionality of the law. In the government of former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL), the body was in favor of the law.

The construction of Ferrogrão has been articulated since the government of former President Michel Temer. Investments of R$ 8.4 billion are expected in the concession project. With a length of 933 kilometers, the railroad project intends to solve problems of transporting agricultural production from Mato Grosso to the north of the country.