The environmental license renewal for Refit in 2024 was granted after pressure from the senior leadership of Governor Claudio Castro's administration (PL), even despite technical studies that indicated soil contamination risks. On the eve of the vote that approved the renewal, the newly appointed Bernardo Rossi, now a candidate for federal deputy for União Brasil, directly coordinated with the president of the State Environmental Institute (Inea), Renato Jordão Bussière, to grant the license.
Messages included in the Federal Police report reveal celebrations by both after the license approval, as well as insults directed at representatives from Ibama and UERJ, who had warned about the risk of environmental impacts resulting from the renewal.
According to the Federal Police investigation, the message exchange demonstrates the existence of a criminal organization operating within the environmental protection agencies of the State of Rio de Janeiro, which served the illicit interests of private entities, disregarding the technical opinions of their own structures.
