Overview
- Following Thursday’s second public hearing, the Chamber of Deputies left the schedule open and moved to hold an extra briefing with mining governors, putting the initial April 8 target in doubt.
- The bill would relax national bans on mining and oil exploration in periglacial zones and shift more power to provinces to decide which ice and frozen‑ground areas stay protected.
- Prominent legal voices, including former lawmaker Graciela Camaño and a national network of environmental prosecutors, warned the process and text could violate Article 41 of the Constitution and the non‑regression rule in environmental law.
- Opposition deputies filed a project for a binding referendum asking voters whether to allow mining projects in glacier and periglacial areas before Congress proceeds.
- The environmental lawyers’ group Aadeaa filed a criminal complaint against Senator Flavia Royon over alleged conflicts of interest tied to energy and mining roles, a case now assigned to Federal Court No. 12.