Critical events such as the disruption of the Fundão tailings dam, considered the biggest technological disaster in Brazil and the biggest of its kind in the world, test the responsiveness of organizations responsible for protecting the environment. In the process of liability for damages, lawsuits initially proposed were replaced by agreements negotiated between companies, state agencies and the Public Prosecution Service, which previously stipulated amounts for remedial actions and environmental compensation. The economic valuation of environmental damage, despite being a tool capable of assisting in the quantification of environmental compensation, has not yet been adequately used in the initiatives to hold the Fundão dam case accountable. Preliminary diagnoses of the disaster have not sufficiently detailed the estimated economic values for environmental and socioeconomic repair, nor have they discriminated against the reparable damages of those irreparable damages that must be compensated. Due to the lack of clear definition of competence for the economic valuation of environmental damages, Brazilian environmental protection institutions have not developed standardized procedures for this purpose, except in an incipient, experimental or private way for certain types of damages. The implementation of accountability agreements based on diagnoses and values not well delimited can compromise their effectiveness and perpetuate, without compensation, the damage to Brazilian environmental heritage.

06 - The technological disaster of the Fundão dam and the (in)experience in the economic valuation of environmental damage in Brazil