Environmental Groups Demand EPA Disclosure

-Compliance records sought on Bea Mountain

Amid growing public concern over reported environmental incidents in Grand Cape Mount County, two environmental advocacy organizations have formally petitioned Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to disclose key compliance and assessment records relating to the operations of Bea Mountain Mining Corporation. The groups argue that transparency is essential to determine whether approved safeguards are being effectively implemented and whether affected communities are adequately protected under national environmental laws.

In a communication addressed to EPA Executive Director Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo, Africa Environmental Watch (AEW) and Environmental Eyes Consultancy and Advocacy Firm Inc. (EECAF) invoked the Freedom of Information Act (2010), the EPA Act of 2002, and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations of 2001 as the legal basis for their request.

The organizations said their action follows what they described as “persistent and well-documented reports” of recurring chemical spillages, environmental contamination, and the alleged forced relocation of residents of Jikando Village. They contend that the reported incidents are linked to environmental and public health risks associated with Bea Mountain’s mining activities.

AEW and EECAF are seeking copies of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) conducted for or by Bea Mountain Mining Corporation, the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) approved by the EPA, and the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) currently guiding the company’s operations.

According to the groups, access to the requested documents would enable independent review of identified environmental and social risks, approved mitigation measures, monitoring and reporting mechanisms, and compliance obligations intended to prevent pollution and safeguard affected communities.

They referenced Liberia’s Environmental Protection and Management Law (2003), which guarantees public access to environmental information and promotes transparency and community participation in environmental governance.

Citing international environmental standards and research by institutions such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the organizations emphasized that mining-related chemical spills, if inadequately managed, pose significant threats to water sources, soil quality, food security, and human health — particularly in rural communities.

The petitioners further noted that involuntary displacement arising from environmental degradation is widely recognized as an environmental justice concern under global frameworks, including the World Bank Environmental and Social Standards and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standards.

They expressed concern that the reported environmental damage and alleged displacement of residents could indicate gaps in the implementation, monitoring, or enforcement of approved environmental safeguards.

AEW and EECAF have called on the EPA to provide the requested documentation within a reasonable timeframe, consistent with national legislation and Liberia’s commitments to transparency, environmental protection, and sustainable development.