Legislação ambiental e degradação ambiental do solo pela atividade petrolífera no Brasil

The aims of this study are: i) to analyze the environmental degradation resulting from intense anthropic activity, particularly the soil contamination, from the perspective of sustainable development and Brazilian environmental legislation, and ii) to contribute to overcoming the gaps found in the regulation and public policies aimed at soil protection in the country and to future empirical evaluation of actual and potential environmental impacts caused by oil and its derivatives to soil. A literature review was conducted with bibliography on soil, public policies, sustainable development, environmental law, National Environmental Policy, and legal framework related to federal legislation in force until March 2012. Also, based on the perspective of sustainable development, points of approach and distance between legal and conceptual provisions about sustainability and the governmental practices related to soil quality maintenance in Brazil are highlighted. We conclude stating the lack of clear regulation about soil pollution caused by oil and its derivatives, and the treatment of this pollution being considered secondarily, hindering an integration between the development of oil activity in the country and preservation of soil quality for present and future generations