Recent accidents involving tailings and industrial waste dams are attracting attention. This is because the number of these dams increases as industrial production increases. In Minas Gerais, the State Environmental Foundation (FEAM) conducts the registration and classification of dams according to the methodology called Potential Environmental Damage. According to this classification, the dams must be periodically submitted to technical and safety audits every one, two or three years. In partnership with FEAM, data from 124 tailings and industrial waste dam was applied in a model for potential-risk evaluation; in principle, developed for conventional dams. The model, which considers factors of danger, vulnerability and strategic importance, is presented as an additional tool to support decision-making, allowing focusing attention on those dams that present the most critical risk potential for environmental damage. The results showed that no dam presented the Very High/Emergency potential risk. However, 30% of the dams showed Medium/Alert potential risk, which shows the need to prioritize attention and intervention in these structures.
Tailings; industrial waste; dam safety; dam classification; risk potential; environmental damage potential
