Lacunas e estratégias do licenciamento ambiental na proteção do Sítio Arqueológico Nova Marabá: estudo de caso da duplicação da ponte rodoferroviária sobre o Rio Tocantins, em Marabá - Pará

Abstract

GENERAL ABSTRACT Environmental licensing is a fundamental instrument for the sustainable management of infrastructure projects, through which environmental and cultural impacts are adequately mitigated. Particularly in the Brazilian context, it also plays a central role in the protection of archaeological heritage, in accordance with the technical and legal standards established by the National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage (IPHAN).The general objective of this dissertation is to evaluate how environmental licensing instruments were applied to the protection of the Nova Marabá Archaeological Site within the context of the Duplication Project of the Road-Rail Bridge over the Tocantins River, in Marabá (PA), aiming to identify operational gaps and propose improvements in the archaeological management of large-scale transport infrastructure projects. with a focus on identifying operational gaps and proposing improvements in archaeological management for large-scale transport infrastructure projects. The methodology adopted across different chapters combined bibliographic and documentary research with a systematic literature review, enabling an analysis of current environmental and archaeological legislation in Brazil, as well as applied research through a case study of the Nova Marabá Site.The systematic review supported the critical analysis and the formulation of practical recommendations for archaeological management in environmental licensing processes, as well as providing a foundation for the case study analysis. The case study detailed the steps of the procedure conducted by IPHAN, including the classification of the project's level and the subsequent approval required for the issuance of the Installation License (LI) by the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA). Archaeological rescue actions were also examined, resulting from the identification of archaeological remains and the consequent suspension of construction activities in affected areas. Although the preliminary FCA assessment indicated low archaeological risk and IPHAN confirmed the classification as Level I — representing areas with low archaeological potential — the discovery of significant remains during the initial construction activities and subsequent delimitation, prospecting, and rescue phases required adjustments to the rescue strategy due to the archaeological complexity identified in the field. The adoption of a phased plan, combined with the issuance of partial rescue reports without compromising quality and effectiveness, proved effective in reconciling heritage protection with project continuity, allowing for the progressive release of areas already excavated and approved by IPHAN while laboratory analyses were conducted in parallel.This approach ensured the continuation of the project without jeopardizing the safeguarding of archaeological remains. Furthermore, coordination among archaeologists, developers, and the specialized company enabled more agile and wellfounded decision-making by IPHAN. As the main technical contribution, the study proposes an innovative Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Level I projects, incorporating partial reports as a strategic preservation tool and a solution to operational challenges, optimizing decision-making and reducing interruptions. It is concluded that the effectiveness of environmental licensing depends not only on regulatory compliance but also on the adaptation of guidelines to the realities of infrastructure projects, ensuring a balance between progress and cultural preservation.