30/06/2024
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๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ข๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ฏ๐ข๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฐ๐ฌ, ๐๐๐ ๐
๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ข๐๐ฌ
By: Staff Writer
The government of Liberia regulates activities that impact the environment through a complex scheme of statutes and agency regulations.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) bears the responsibility for carrying out the regulations set forth in through the means of legislation but also wields the authority to promulgate additional regulations of its own.
These regulations impact the depth and course of streams, plant life, wildlife habitats, animals, soil quality, air quality, water quality, control of hazardous waste, limits on greenhouse gas emissions, and effects on recreational locations.
However, compliance with environmental regulations usually requires the expenditure of significantly increased overhead for businesses. In an attempt to avoid these additional costs, some businesses will refuse to comply with the regulations.
Sometimes, businesses openly refuse to comply , this is exactly what we witnessed on Thursday June 27 at the Ministry of Information , when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia imposed fines on seven companies operating in three of Liberiaโs fifteen Counties for violating the environmental laws of the country .
The Executive Director of the EPA, Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo said the total fines imposed on the seven companies amounted to US$965,000.00 and are to be paid in the account of the Liberia Revenue Authority.
Dr. Urey Yarkpawolo named J.M Mining Company Inc., the Randall and Oretha Doe Multi-Purpose Company, the Scott Investment Incorporated, and the BAO CHICO Resources, all in Gbarpolu County.
Others are , China Union Investment in B**g County, Jimmy E. Qualah Private Facility and a Food Construction Company in Monrovia respectively.
He said J.M Mining Company Inc., has been operating a class โBโ gold mine in Gbarpolu County since March 2024 and does not have an environmental permit, and at the same time diverted the Maher River.
He listed water pollution caused by diversion of waterway and sediment deposition by the company and discharging effluent without an effluent discharge permit, disclosing that the failure of the company to apply or obtain an effluent discharge permit, and operating without an environmental permit are all in violation of sections 61, 57, 58, as well as 6, 105 of the environmental laws of Liberia and as such, the entity is being fined US$95,000.00.
According to EPA boss, Randall and Oretha Doe Multi-Purpose Company, also in Gbarpolu County operates a class โBโ gold Mines without an environmental permit and has completed mining activities at two sites, and moved to a third site.
Dr. Yarkpawolo cited that the companyโs activities at the new site have caused massive sediment deposits into the creek while the previous two sites were abandoned without restoration.
He said water pollution caused by sediment deposition, discharging effluents without an effluent discharge permit and the companyโs failure to apply or obtain an effluent discharge permit, as well as operation without environmental permits for the two sites, and abandonment of mines sites without restoration also violates sections 61, 57, 58, 6 and 105 as well as 90 and 107 and has been fined US$140,000.00
Another company , Scott Investment Incorporated was also fined US400,000.00 for violating the same sections violated by Randall and Oretha Doe Multi-Purpose Company .
He further said BOA CHICO Resources which operates Iron Ore has an environmental permit for its operation but does not have an effluent discharge license. โThere are currently three mining pits, and all are surrounded by wetlands (swamp)โ he disclosed.
The EPA Boss then disclosed that Bao CHICO Resources has violated sections 61, 57, 58 as well as 24 and 112 of the environment laws of Liberia and has been fined US$135,000.00
Dr. Yarkpawolo asserted that China Union which operates an Iron Ore Mine in B**g County is operating without an environment permit and effluent discharge license while the company has commenced the construction of a new processing plant without the approval of the EPA among others.
He also narrated that China Union Investment in B**g County has been fined US$120,000.00 for violating sections 61, 57 and 58 as well as violating 6 and 105 twice.
For the construction of a retaining wall without an EPA permit and backfilling of a wetland without EPA approval by Jimmy E. Qualah, a private Facility, Dr. Yarkpawolo said violates sections 6 and 105 and is amounted to a fine of US$50,000.00.
A Food Construction Company was fined US$25,000.00 for constructing a facility in a flood plain which according to the EPA is in violation of sections 24 and 112.
At the same time Dr. Yarkpawolo has called on the Ministry of Justice to aid the EPA in order to ensure environmental laws across the country.
โThe public is advised to avoid acts that tend to pollute the environment: building in the waterways, backfilling wetlands, diversion of waterways, construction and operation without EPA approval, cutting of mangroves, etc, EPA remains committed to work with the p***c in ensuring a clean, safe and healthy environment for all, he said.
Early in March of this year, the EPA fined three other companies amounting to US$ 70,998.00.
If these fines imposed on proponents are paid as they were imposed, one may say that the EPA as of June 27, have contributed about US$ 1,035,998, to the revenue generation of the country.
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