The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has imposed fines totaling US$965,000 on several companies for violating environmental laws, the agency’s Executive Director has disclosed.
Dr. Emmanuel Urey Yarkpawolo told a Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism (MICAT) press conference in Monrovia last week that violations for which the companies were fined ranged from operating without environmental permits and discharging pollutants into water sources to unauthorized construction projects in wetlands and flood-prone areas.
The companies that suffered the EPAโs wrath include Iron Ore giant, China Union Investment J.M. Mining Company Inc., Randall and Oretha Doe Multi-purpose Company, Resource Liberia Limited, Jimmy E. Qualah Private Facility, and Monrovia Food Construction Company.
The fines imposed on the companies varied based on the nature of the violations, with amounts ranging from US$25,000 to US$140,000, Yarkpawolo said. This enforcement action by the EPA underscores the agencyโs commitment to upholding environmental regulations and holding companies accountable for their actions.
The fines serve as a deterrent to other organizations and emphasize the importance of complying with environmental laws to protect natural resources and communities.
Yarkpawolo highlighted that China Union Investment Company, an Iron Ore Mining Company in Bong Mines, Bong County, has been transporting ores to the Freeport of Monrovia via the old Bong Mines Railway without proper environmental permits and effluent discharge licenses. Additionally, the Company initiated the construction of a new processing plant without EPA approval, emphasizing that a medium tailings processing plant was previously constructed without the necessary permit from the EPA.
The EPA boss also disclosed that J.M. Mining Company, Oretha Doe Multi-purpose, and Resources Limited Liberia violated several sections of EPA laws related to water pollution. J.M. Mining Company was operating a Class B gold mine in Gbarpolu County without an environmental permit, resulting in a fine of US$95,000.
ย The Randall and Oretha Doe Multi-purpose Company faced a fine of US$140,000. Resources Liberia Limited was required to pay US$135,000 to the Liberia Revenue Authority. The Jimmy E. Quapah private facility in Monrovia backfilled a wetland and constructed a fence without EPA approval, prompting concerns of potential flooding.
The company received a fine of US$50,000. Similarly, the Food construction company received a fine of US$25,000 for constructing in a floodplain. In March 2024, the EPA fined three companies โUS$70,998 for violating environmental laws, including East International, Quetz Mining Corporation, and Quetz Company.
These fines showcase the EPAโs commitment to enforcing environmental regulations as a deterrent to future violations.
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