EPA shuts down two companies

Laboratory analysis of water samples from a shut-down water company confirmed that the water it produced was unsafe for human consumption.

By Kruah Thompson

Monrovia, August 30, 2024: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia has shut down two companies for environmental violations.

The companies are China Union Iron Ore Mines in Bong Mines, Bong County, and the Grandma Mineral Water Factory in Jacob Town, Paynesville.

The EPA has warned that legal action will be pursued as prescribed by the Environmental Protection and Management Law (EPML) if this closure mandate is breached.

On August 28, 2024, the EPA closed the China Union Iron Ore Mines due to numerous environmental violations.

These include operating without an effluent discharge license and transporting ores via the Bong Mines railway without an environmental mitigation plan.

The company was also closed for constructing a new and medium tailings processing plant without environmental permits and discharging tailings into a nearby wetland without regulation.

On August 6, 2024, the EPA, in collaboration with the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), shut down the Grandma Mineral Water Factory.

This decision followed a joint investigation conducted from July 29 to August 2, 2024, which uncovered significant violations of environmental and public health standards.

Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo, Executive Director of the EPA, addressed the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) press briefing on August 29, 2024, and laid out the concerns leading to a decision against the companies.

Dr. Yarkpawolo said the actions of the China Union violated multiple provisions of the EPML.
“Given these serious violations, the EPA issued a notice of violation and imposed a fine of USD 120,000 on China Union on June 28, 2024,” he explained. “However, the company did not respond to this communication.”

Subsequently, another letter was sent on August 8, 2024, demanding compliance with the fine and the initiation of remedial actions.

Despite these notices, China Union continued to operate without environmental permits and persisted in its environmental degradation.

“In light of China Union’s ongoing non-compliance and refusal to engage with the EPA, the company’s operations were shut down in accordance with Section 38 of the EPA Act,” Dr. Yarkpawolo noted.

This directive will remain in effect until full compliance is achieved and all identified environmental issues are resolved.

Regarding the Grandma Mineral Water Factory, the joint inspection revealed that the facility was operating without the necessary permits and was in an unsanitary condition, raising serious concerns about water safety.

Laboratory analysis of water samples from the facility confirmed that the water was unsafe for human consumption.

“In response to these findings, the EPA and NPHIL have closed the Grandma Mineral Water Factory to safeguard public health and ensure adherence to environmental and public health regulations,” Dr. Yarkpawolo concluded.

In another development, the Government of Liberia, through the EPA, the Ministry of Mines and Energy, and the National Disaster Management Agency, has completed an investigation into the recent earth vibrations in Yegbedu Town, Foya District, Lofa County. 

According to Dr. Yarkpawolo, this assessment, conducted from August 14 to 17, 2024, was initiated in response to unexpected seismic activities experienced by the local population starting on July 26 of this year and intensifying from August 8 onward.

“Historically regarded as geologically stable, the region’s sudden vibrations caused significant alarm and disruption within the community,” Dr. Yarkpawolo said. 

According to him, the investigation identified that Yegbedu’s steep hills and history of deforestation have exacerbated the town’s vulnerability to landslides, soil erosion, and other ground movements.

He further noted that key findings from the investigation indicate that while no immediate catastrophic damage was observed, the terrain’s inherent instability presents significant long-term risks.

“The ongoing vibrations, although not currently causing visible soil displacement or structural damage, have instilled widespread fear, resulting in the displacement of approximately 70% of Yegbedu’s 2,500 residents.”

Considering these findings, he said the investigative team has recommended relocating Yegbedu Town due to the identified slope instability.

Relocating Yegbedu Town to a safer area is deemed imperative to prevent potential future disasters.

It was also recommended that further Geological Studies be conducted to monitor and map fault lines in detail to predict and mitigate future seismic events, not only in Yegbedu but also in other similarly vulnerable regions.