The Federal Public Ministry (MPF) has advised the state of Pará's Department of Environment, Climate, and Sustainability (Semas) and the company Ciclus Amazônia to annul a public hearing held to discuss the licensing of a Waste Treatment Center in Acará. This recommendation follows incidents of chaos during the meeting, where there was significant disorder involving local residents, the company's security personnel, and police forces. Furthermore, the MPF has called for the suspension of any Preliminary Licenses (LP) pending the correction of identified technical and social irregularities.

The public hearing, which took place on February 20, was marred by turmoil, marked by disproportionate police force and obstruction of popular participation, as asserted by the MPF. Community access to the hearing was reportedly restricted by police barriers and around 200 private security agents hired by Ciclus Amazônia, raising concerns about the transparency and legitimacy of the licensing process. The MPF has sought feedback from Semas and Ciclus regarding the issues raised and is awaiting their response.

This situation highlights broader challenges in environmental governance in Brazil, particularly in relation to community involvement in decision-making processes pertaining to environmental projects. The MPF's intervention reflects a growing concern over ensuring proper regulatory compliance and safeguarding public participation in such critical hearings, which ultimately affects local communities and their environment.