Families affected by the Belo Monte dam staged protests for having lost their homes. The families were occupying the office of Ibama (Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources) in Altamira, Pará, and had also blocked the Transamazônica highway in protest. After protests Ibama, Norte Energia, Federal Government and Public Defender of the Union negotiated reallocation of families. The Norte Energia company had filed a lawsuit against the families who were protesting.