The ruling coalition secured committee approval for amendments to Argentina’s Glacier Protection Law (26,639) and is expected to bring the bill to the floor of the Chamber of Deputies this Wednesday. On Tuesday, the debate focused on the final round of public hearings, with participation from national authorities and representatives from mining provinces.
By Panorama Minero
During his presentation, San Juan’s Mining Minister, Juan Pablo Perea, called for a more precise definition of the law’s scope of protection, with a focus on periglacial landforms and their effective role in watershed systems.
The central argument emphasized the distinction between glaciers in the strict sense and periglacial features, noting that the protection of glaciers themselves is not under discussion.
Regarding rock glaciers, the official stated that studies conducted in the province, based on methodologies from the International Permafrost Association, indicate no significant impact on hydrological systems.
In that context, he cited estimates suggesting that even under extreme scenarios, the contribution of these formations to the flow of the San Juan River would be marginal in percentage terms.
Jurisdiction and regulatory framework
The minister framed the discussion within Argentina’s system of shared competencies between the federal government and the provinces, highlighting provincial ownership of natural resources.
He argued that the law requires case-by-case evaluation criteria, supported by technical evidence, rather than broad definitions applied to the entire periglacial environment.
He also noted that the proposed reform maintains the precautionary principle, as landforms would remain protected until their hydrological function is verified.
Provincial technical capacity
San Juan outlined its environmental review system, which includes multiple technical assessment stages, a provincial glacier inventory, and the involvement of specialized institutions, including the National University of San Juan.
According to the presentation, this framework has enabled shorter evaluation timelines while maintaining technical review processes for each project.
Legislative outlook
The bill proposes to redefine the scope of strictly protected periglacial areas, limiting it to landforms with verifiable hydrological contribution.
The initiative is supported by lawmakers from mining provinces, while opposition groups and environmental organizations have raised concerns about potential changes to the current level of protection.
The debate will move to the floor this Wednesday, where lawmakers are expected to decide on the bill’s next step.
