A large portion of environmental fines arises less from unlawful conduct and more from a lack of proper guidance. Contrary to common belief, penalties are not limited to cases of large-scale environmental damage.

In daily operations, fines often result from routine practices that end up being non-compliant with regulations, such as:

• Improper waste disposal;

• Missing or expired licenses;

• Authorized operations carried out outside technical requirements;

• Deficiencies in environmental records and supporting documentation.

The real point of concern is not the business activity itself, but rather the lack of environmental management integrated with legal oversight.

Once a notice of violation is issued, the impact typically affects three fronts: costs, operational continuity, and institutional reputation.