Monrovia-The Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia has with immediate effect, fined the Bea Mountain Mining Corporation for reported water pollution in Gola Konneh district, Grand Cape Mount County.
By Augustine Bill Kollie-augustinekollie87@yahoo.com
The company has been fined 99-thousand 9,99 US Dollars and 99 cents to be paid in Government revenue through the Liberia Revenue Authority with an official receipt presented to the EPA within 72 hours.
A release from the EPA says on July 10, 2018, a team of EPA technicians made an impromptu visit at the New Liberty Gold mines in Gola Konneh district in Grand Cape Mount County to investigate alleged water pollution reported by some residents of the downstream communities.
According to the release, following the investigation, the EPA discovered that the company was in violation of several provisions of the environmental laws of Liberia.
Meanwhile, the EPA has ordered the Bea Mountain Mining Corporation is to remedy the pollution within 15 days and provide drinking water for the affected communities.
At the same time, the company has been mandated to commission a resettlement action plan by an independent Environmental Evaluator to determine compensation for the affected community.
The findings of Bea Mountains Mining Corporation’s Violation are as follow:
- Environmental Permit, condition 5.2: Ensure that the limit of free Cyanide in wastewater from the TSF-R does not exceed o.1 mg/L. According to the laboratory result from the July 10,2018 visit, the level of free TSF-R Cynide was 0.394 mg/L. The result implies that the level of free Cyanide is nearly four times the maximum discharge limit.
- Part V Section 61Sub section 1 of the Environmental Protection and Management Law of Liberia: Water pollution prohibited: Any person who discharges or implies, or permits any person to dump or discharge any poison, toxic, noxiou or obstructing mater, radioactive waste or other pollutant into any waters of Liberia, which is likely to cause harm to human health or aquatic environment in contravention of the water pollution control standards established under this law shall be guilty of an offense.
- Part Vl Section 75 Subsection 2 of the Environmental Protection and Management Law of Liberia: Protection of Rivers, Lakes and Wetlands: no person shall deposit any substance in a River, Lake, Wetlands or under its bed, which is likely to have adverse environmental effects on the Rivers, Lakes or Wetlands.
- Part V Section 56 Subsection 1 of the Environmental Protection and Management Law of Liberia: Prohibition of Discharge of Hazardous substances, Chemicals or Materials or Oil into the Environment and spellers Liability: No person shall discharge any Hazardous substance, chemicals, Oil or mixture containing Oil in any waters or any other segment of the Environment, except in accordance with guidelines prescribed by the Agency in consultation with the relevant Line Ministry
The Environmental Protection Agency also warned that failure to comply with the notice of violation within the stipulated period may lead to drastic penalties, including but not limited to additional fines, imprisonment or criminal prosecution where applicable.
The EPA renews its commitment to sustainable environmental management and protection in Liberia.
