Law No. 6.938, of August 31, 1981, which establishes the Provisions of the National Environmental Policy, its purposes and mechanisms of formulation and application, and dictates other provisions.

The objective of the National Environmental Policy is to preserve, improve and restore environmental quality conducive to life, with a view to ensuring the conditions for the socioeconomic development of the country, the interests of national security and the protection of the dignity of human life.