By Grace Q. Bryant
The acting Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA) Emmanuel Urey Yarkpawolo, on Tuesday fined EAST International Company US$55,000, to be paid to LRA within 72 hours with official receipt presented to the EPA for violating the Environmental Protection and Management Law of Liberia.
The EPA’s decision was based on several complaints and outcries by the public, as well as an invitation extended by the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Public Works and Rural Development and Health, to address issues relative to toxic dust, which is allegedly causing lung disease and other illnesses along the RIA road project.
On Monday, February 26, during the investigation, a team of environmental technicians investigated the ongoing construction activities of EAST International Company along the RIA road.
The objective of the assessment was to conduct an air quality assessment at random points along the construction area, initiate physical inspections, and gather residents’ views about the dust pollution situation.
According to the findings, East International Company’s current EPA permit has expired and the company has a series of occupational health and safety issues.
“There is no record of quarterly and terminal monitoring reports submitted by the company to the EPA. The company has not put in adequate personal protective equipment for the workers, among other violations. Additionally, East International does not follow regulations,” the report maintained.
The report furthered that the East International Company emits three times Particulate Matter 2.5 or PM2.5, which is a dust particle that can easily be inhaled and causes some respiratory problems, more than the WHO recommended limit.
“The majority (83 percent) of the people we interviewed reported that dust occurs constantly in their environment during the afternoon hours. Some people reported respiratory problems, such as coughing and asthma, as the major health issues affecting them,” the report emphasized.
“This is a violation of Part III, Section 6 of the Environmental Protection and Management Law of Liberia (EPML), and Section 37 of the EPA Act (2003), while the air pollution violated Part IV, Section 36 of the Environmental Protection and Management Law of Liberia,” the report disclosed.
The reports noted that failure to regularly suppress dust along the road corridor violates Section 5.2, Count 9 of the Environmental Permit, and is subject to punitive measures consistent with Section 112 of the EPML.
“In lieu of these violations, East International is hereby fined US$55,000, to be paid in Government Revenue at the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) with an official receipt presented to the EPA within 72 hours of the receipt of the official fined letter from the EPA. East International is also requested to renew its expired permit and follow all the environmental protection laws of Liberia,” the report ordered.
Meanwhile, the Fengshou International Rock Quarry has been ordered closed until a more sustainable method is approved by the EPA.
According to the report, the EPA has investigated the activities of Fengshou International, an affiliate of East International, which operates a rock quarry in Ben’s Town, Margibi County.
The report from the investigation showed that Fengshou has unsustainably backfilled a portion of the Marshall wetland without reference to the EPML.
The findings revealed that Fengshou International backfilled and constructed a 2 km road within the Marshall wetland, while it extended its rock quarry into the wetland, and also backfilled and constructed a rock sale point within the wetland.
“These acts by Fengshou International violate Part VI, Section 75 of the EPML, which calls for the protection of rivers, lakes, and wetlands,” the report added.
