Environmental Protection Agency - EPA of Liberia

31/08/2026

For Environmental Violations, EPA Fines ArcelorMittal Liberia US$400,000, Orders Additional US$100,000 Payment

MONROVIA, Liberia, August 31, 2026 — The Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia (EPA) has imposed a US$400,000 administrative fine on ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML) and ordered the company to pay an additional US$100,000 to the Agency following reported environmental pollution and regulatory violations associated with its mining operations in Nimba County.

The measures were announced by EPA Executive Director Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo, who read the Agency's press statement during a press engagement at the EPA headquarters in Monrovia Monday, August 31.

According to Dr. Yarkpawolo, the EPA's decision followed a formal complaint filed on August 11, 2026, by residents of Bolo Town, Gba Clan, Yarmein Administrative District, Nimba County, alleging serious pollution of community water sources, damage to crops, and impacts on livelihoods linked to AML's mining operations around Mount Gangra and Mount Yulleton.

He said the EPA responded promptly by dispatching a preliminary investigation team to the affected area on August 13, 2026, where the team inspected watercourses and farmlands, engaged AML's environmental management team, and consulted with traditional leaders, women, youths, elders, community representatives, and persons with disabilities.

“The preliminary investigation found visible evidence that substantially supported the community's complaint,” Dr. Yarkpawolo said.

He explained that EPA investigators observed iron-rich, sediment-laden discharges from mining areas at Mount Gangra and Mount Yulleton entering nearby water resources through six discharge points.

Mining-related sediment was also observed in the Karn River and 11 creeks identified by community members, including Yeewaa, Wenein, Neneyee, Ponpeles, Wehee, Sayemeyee, and Yeehwaatoluzah.

The EPA Executive Director further said the investigation found damage to vegetation and impacts on farmlands used by residents to cultivate rubber, cocoa, oranges, rice, and other crops.

According to him, the situation is particularly serious because the affected water sources and farmlands are directly connected to the communities' health, food security, and livelihoods.

“These findings are especially serious because the affected water resources and farmlands are directly connected to the health, food security, and economic survival of the surrounding communities,” Dr. Yarkpawolo emphasized.

Dr. Yarkpawolo said the EPA's review also established regulatory failures on the part of ArcelorMittal Liberia.

He explained that AML failed to notify the EPA of the reported pollution incidents as required by the conditions of its environmental permit.

He added that the company also failed to submit its mandatory Environmental Monitoring Report for the second quarter of 2026 within the required period.

According to Dr. Yarkpawolo, the EPA engaged AML through conferences and written communications and provided a final compliance deadline of August 25, 2026, but the outstanding violations were not satisfactorily addressed.

“Despite conferences, written communications, and a final compliance deadline of August 25, 2026, the outstanding violations were not satisfactorily addressed,” he said.

As a result of the regulatory action, the EPA has imposed an administrative fine of US$400,000 on AML.

Dr. Yarkpawolo said the amount must be paid into the Government of Liberia Consolidated Account through the Liberia Revenue Authority within 10 working days.

In addition, AML is required to pay US$100,000 to the Environmental Protection Agency within 10 working days.

He said the additional US$100,000 will support further monitoring, sampling, technical research, and environmental assessment necessary to determine the extent and trend of the reported pollution and guide restoration measures.

Together, the two payments amount to US$500,000, although the EPA clarified that the US$100,000 is separate from the administrative fine.

Dr. Yarkpawolo also announced that AML must fully fund a comprehensive environmental assessment to be led by the EPA.
The assessment will determine the geographic extent and severity of the reported pollution and its impacts on water resources, farmlands, livelihoods, vegetation, and the wider landscape.

He said that based on the verified results, AML will be required to compensate affected persons and communities for documented crop and livelihood losses, in accordance with applicable law.
The company has also been ordered to provide safe alternative water for immediate community use and support appropriate interim livelihood measures while the assessment and restoration process are ongoing.

Dr. Yarkpawolo cautioned that payment of the fine and additional assessment funds does not release AML from its other environmental obligations.

“Payment of these amounts does not relieve AML of its continuing obligations under the Environmental Protection and Management Law, its environmental permits, or any other applicable laws and regulations,” he said.

He added that following further monitoring and assessment, the EPA may issue an Environmental Restoration Order specifying additional remedial and restorative measures.

While announcing the enforcement action, Dr. Yarkpawolo stressed that the EPA recognizes the importance of responsible investment and the contribution of concessionaires to Liberia's development.
He noted that mining and other concession activities contribute to employment, infrastructure, public revenue, and economic development.

However, he maintained that such investments must not come at the expense of communities or the environment.

“No investment can be considered sustainable when communities bear avoidable environmental costs or when permit conditions are disregarded,” Dr. Yarkpawolo said.

He stressed that the EPA's approach is “firm, fair, and consistent,” explaining that the Agency will acknowledge companies that take corrective action while enforcing the law when environmental harm and regulatory violations are established.

Dr. Yarkpawolo also acknowledged corrective measures recently undertaken by AML at its Buchanan facility in Grand Bassa County.
He said that during a nationwide environmental monitoring and compliance-enforcement exercise conducted in early May, EPA technical teams identified concerns at the facility, including improper disposal of waste and poorly structured sedimentation ponds.

Following the findings, the EPA communicated corrective measures to AML and required the company to bring its operations into compliance with environmental laws and permit conditions.
According to Dr. Yarkpawolo, the company has since taken corrective action and is complying with the measures communicated by the EPA.

He said the development demonstrates that the EPA's objective is not simply to penalize companies but to ensure that environmental violations are corrected and compliance is sustained.

“Environmental regulation must not only identify violations; it must also secure timely correction and sustained compliance,” Dr. Yarkpawolo said.

The EPA Executive Director warned industrial and concession operators across Liberia to comply with environmental laws and permit conditions.

“Protect the environment, respect the law, comply with your permits, and honor the communities in which you operate,” he cautioned.

He reaffirmed the EPA's commitment to working constructively with investors and businesses while making clear that the Agency “will not compromise the health, safety, and livelihood of the Liberian people.”

31/08/2026

EPA Announces Compliance and Enforcement Actions Concerning ArcelorMittal Liberia

27/08/2026

EPA Begins Three-Day Workshop to Strengthen Climate-Responsive Development Planning and Budgeting

Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, August 27, 2026 — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia through the Enhancing the Resilience of Vulnerable Coastal Communities in Sinoe County of Liberia (ERVCCS) Project, with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has begun a three-day workshop aimed at strengthening climate-responsive development planning and budgeting, with a focus on ensuring that climate resilience is better integrated into Liberia’s development priorities and investments.

The workshop, which runs from August 27–29, 2026, at Hotel Buchanan in Grand Bassa County, is being held under the theme: “From Plans to Funded Action: Strengthening Inclusive, Climate and Gender-Responsive Development Planning and Budgeting in Liberia.”

The workshop brings together development planners and technical officers from key government ministries, agencies, county and municipal authorities, and development partners to examine how climate change considerations can be integrated into existing development planning and budgeting processes.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Executive Director for Administration of the EPA, Hon. Anthony S. Kollie, said climate change is no longer an abstract concept for Liberia but a daily reality, particularly for communities along the country's coastline.

Representing the EPA Executive Director and Management, Hon. Kollie said coastal communities are increasingly experiencing coastal erosion, rising sea levels, recurrent flooding, saltwater intrusion, and unpredictable weather patterns.

He noted that these impacts are undermining livelihoods, damaging public infrastructure, degrading natural resources, and threatening the social and economic stability of vulnerable communities.

Hon. Kollie acknowledged Liberia’s progress in incorporating climate change into national policies, strategies, and international commitments but stressed that a critical gap remains in translating those commitments into county development plans, sector strategies, annual work plans, public investment plans, and budget frameworks.

“Without closing this gap, our policies will not deliver the resilience our people urgently need,” Hon. Kollie said.

He explained that the EPA, through the ERVCCS Project, is working to strengthen the capacity of planning and budgeting institutions to integrate climate change adaptation, Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM), and sea and river defence risk management into development processes across Liberia’s nine coastal counties.

According to Hon. Kollie, the workshop is intended to produce concrete changes to existing planning and budgeting systems, ensuring that development plans, annual work plans, and budgets adequately reflect climate risks and support climate-smart investments.

He emphasized that the process is not about creating parallel systems, but strengthening existing government planning and budgeting mechanisms.

Hon. Kollie encouraged participants to actively engage in the discussions, share their experiences and challenges, and work collectively to develop practical recommendations that can be implemented following the workshop.

Providing the background and rationale for the workshop, J. Komoty Gee Zean, Administration and Finance Officer and Acting Project Manager of the ERVCCS Project, said climate change continues to pose significant threats to Liberia’s coastal communities.

He said counties such as Sinoe are increasingly experiencing coastal erosion, sea-level rise, flooding, saltwater intrusion, and changing weather patterns, affecting communities, livelihoods, infrastructure, and natural resources.

Zean noted that while Liberia has made considerable progress in incorporating climate change into national policies and development strategies, those commitments are yet to be fully reflected in county development plans, sector plans, annual work plans, public investment plans, and budget frameworks.

He explained that the ERVCCS Project is supporting government institutions to address this gap by strengthening their capacity to integrate climate change adaptation measures, Integrated Coastal Zone Management principles, and Sea and River Defense Investment Management Plan interventions into development planning and budgeting.

He said the initiative seeks to promote climate-resilient investments and strengthen the resilience of vulnerable coastal communities across Liberia.

Welcoming participants to Grand Bassa County, Moses G. Henry, Grand Bassa County Development Officer, expressed appreciation to the EPA and its partners for choosing Buchanan as the venue for the important national engagement.

Henry extended a warm welcome to participants from government ministries, agencies, counties, and partner institutions, noting that Grand Bassa was pleased to host the gathering.

He said the county was particularly pleased to provide a hospitable environment for participants and expressed hope that their presence would contribute to meaningful discussions and outcomes from the workshop.

“We are very happy to welcome all of you to Grand Bassa County. We are pleased to have you here and hope you will feel at home during your stay with us,” Henry said in his welcoming remarks.

He further thanked the organizers and participants for making the trip to Buchanan and encouraged them to take advantage of the opportunity to engage in the discussions.

The workshop brings together approximately 50 development planners and technical officers from relevant government institutions and development partners.

Participating institutions include the Environmental Protection Agency, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Mines and Energy, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Public Works, National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority, National Disaster Management Agency, Ministry of Local Government, National Climate Change Secretariat, county-level planning authorities, and development partners.
Participants will review existing planning and budgeting processes, identify gaps and entry points for mainstreaming climate resilience, and develop proposed changes that can be incorporated into existing government systems.

The workshop methodology includes technical presentations, sector-based group discussions, practical exercises, plenary presentations, peer review, and the development of an action plan.

The three-day engagement is expected to produce a review of existing planning and budgeting processes, identify opportunities for integrating climate resilience, and develop draft proposals for changes to relevant planning and budgeting procedures.

Participants are also expected to develop practical recommendations and an action plan outlining institutional responsibilities, timelines, priority actions, and resources required to implement the proposed changes.

Ultimately, the EPA expects the workshop to contribute to more climate-responsive annual work plans and budgets, stronger coordination among government institutions, and improved alignment between development priorities, budgetary allocations, and climate risks.

27/08/2026

Liberia to Host UN Side Event on Climate, Conflict and Natural Resources

MONROVIA, Aug. 27, 2026 — Dr. Emmanuel King Urey Yarkpawolo, Executive Director of Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency, has announced that Liberia will host a high-level side event during the United Nations Security Council and General Assembly meetings in New York next month.

Dr. Yarkpawolo made the announcement at the Ministry of Information’s regular press briefing on Thursday .

The event, titled “The Nexus Between Climate, Conflict, and Natural Resources: Pathways to Peace, Resilience, and Sustainable Development,” is scheduled for Sept. 23, 2026, from noon to 2 p.m. The venue will be announced later.

The initiative is being organized under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with Liberia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations and with technical support from the United Nations Development Programme.

It is expected to bring together senior government officials, UN representatives, development partners, experts, civil society organizations, private-sector actors and affected communities.
Dr. Yarkpawolo said climate change does not automatically cause conflict but can act as a “threat multiplier” by worsening poverty, displacement, food and water insecurity, competition over land and natural resources, weak governance and existing social tensions.

He said the issue is particularly important for Liberia, which depends heavily on its forests, minerals, wetlands, coastal ecosystems, water resources and biodiversity. These resources face growing pressures from coastal erosion, flooding, deforestation, wetland encroachment, unsustainable mining, pollution and other environmental challenges.

Dr. Yarkpawolo warned that unequal distribution of resource benefits, weak enforcement of environmental laws and climate-related livelihood losses could deepen inequality and fuel disputes.

“Peace cannot be separated from the environment,” he said, emphasizing that sustainable peace requires the fair, transparent and responsible management of natural resources.

The planned event will highlight Liberia’s Nationally Determined Contribution, adaptation priorities, natural-resource governance reforms and emerging carbon-market framework. Discussions will also focus on connecting climate action with conflict prevention, peacebuilding, community resilience, job creation and inclusive development.

Organizers expect the meeting to produce policy recommendations for integrating climate security, conflict prevention and natural-resource governance into national, regional and international decision-making.

The event will also seek to strengthen partnerships and identify opportunities for climate finance, technical assistance and investment in vulnerable communities, particularly those affected by coastal erosion, land degradation, deforestation, mining and livelihood insecurity.

Dr. Yarkpawolo said the meeting would promote stronger institutions, transparent governance, equitable benefit-sharing and the participation of women, young people, Indigenous peoples and local communities in decisions concerning natural resources.

The initiative reflects President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr.’s vision of promoting peace, responsible environmental governance and inclusive national development, according to the statement.

In closing , Dr. Yarkpawolo urged Liberian media organizations to help inform the public about the connections among climate change, peace and natural-resource governance.

27/08/2026

Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia, through the Enhancing the Resilience of Vulnerable Coastal Communities in Sinoe County of Liberia (ERVCCS) Project, Presents 3-Day Workshop for Development Planners in Relevant Sectors to Draft Changes to Planning and Budgeting Processes.

Theme:
“From Plans to Funded Action: Strengthening Inclusive, Climate- and Gender-Responsive Development Planning and Budgeting in Liberia”

Venue: Hotel Buchanan, Grand Bassa County

27/08/2026

Press Conference: Liberia to Host High-Level UN Security Council and UNGA Side Event on Climate, Conflict and Natural Resources

26/08/2026

MEDIA ADVISORY

"THE NEXUS BETWEEN CLIMATE, CONFLICT AND NATURAL RESOURCES"

Venue: Ministry of Information at 12:00 Noon

25/08/2026

Vacancy Alert !!!
National Consultants Needed

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Liberia’s smallholder fishers and farmers are experiencing increasing climate change-related risks to their livelihoods. Flooding of agricultural land after heavy rainfall events, especially in combination with high average temperatures and the occurrence of extreme heat spells are a direct cause ...

24/08/2026

EPA Staff Complete One Health Frontline Epidemiology Training

Monrovia, Liberia – August 24, 2026-Two staff members of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia have successfully completed the Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) One Health Frontline Course, strengthening their capacity to identify, monitor, and respond to public health and environmental threats.

The two EPA staff are Victor S. B. Gblee, Jr., EPA County Head in B**g County, and Victoria Jones Harmon, an EPA Environmental Inspector assigned to Margibi County.

The training was held at the Headquarters of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) in Monrovia from March 30 to August 21, 2026.

Organized by the National Public Health Institute of Liberia, the training focused on strengthening frontline skills in field epidemiology through the One Health approach, which recognizes the close connection between human, animal, and environmental health.

The program provided participants with practical knowledge and skills in disease surveillance, field investigation, prevention, and response to public health threats. It also promoted collaboration among professionals and institutions working across the human health, animal health, and environmental sectors.

The certificates awarded to Gblee and Harmon recognize their successful completion of the One Health Frontline Course, with the program involving collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET).

For the EPA, the participation of the two staff members represents an important step in strengthening the Agency's capacity to address environmental issues that may have implications for public health.

The training is particularly relevant to the EPA's mandate, as environmental conditions such as pollution, unsafe water, poor sanitation, and other environmental hazards can contribute to public health challenges.

The EPA continues to invest in professional development opportunities for its personnel as part of efforts to build a technically stronger workforce capable of responding effectively to emerging environmental and public health challenges.

24/08/2026

EPA Highlights Liberia’s Climate Priorities Ahead of COP31

MONROVIA, Liberia — August 24, 2026_With Liberia preparing for the upcoming COP31 climate conference, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has highlighted the need for stronger national action, scientific innovation, and meaningful youth participation in addressing climate change.

The message was delivered Friday, August 14, 2026, by Mr. Arthur R.M. Becker, Director of the Department of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), who represented EPA Executive Director/CEO Hon. Dr. Emmanuel King Urey Yarkpawolo at the Liberia National Students’ Union (LINSU) National STEM Symposium 2026 in Monrovia.

Held at the AME University Graduate and Professional School Theater, the symposium brought together students, policymakers, academics, development partners, climate experts, and civil society representatives for discussions on STEM, climate change, innovation, and national development.

Mr. Becker, who served as the EPA’s official representative of the Special Guest of Honor, used the occasion to outline Liberia’s climate priorities and underscore the importance of preparing the next generation to contribute to the country’s climate response.

He emphasized Liberia’s commitment to implementing its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) and the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2020–2030, noting that achieving these commitments will require stronger coordination, scientific research, innovation, technology, and investment.

According to Mr. Becker, Liberia is already experiencing the effects of climate change through coastal erosion, flooding, changing rainfall patterns, biodiversity loss, and growing threats to livelihoods and communities.

He therefore called for increased collaboration among government institutions, development partners, academic institutions, the private sector, and young people to translate Liberia’s climate commitments into practical actions.

As Liberia looks toward COP31, Mr. Becker stressed the need to ensure that national climate priorities are backed by evidence, innovation, adequate financing, and strong institutional coordination.

He also emphasized that young Liberians should not simply be viewed as beneficiaries of climate programs but as active partners and future decision-makers in climate governance, environmental management, renewable energy, research, and sustainable development.

The LINSU National Climate Engagement Initiative, under which the symposium was organized, was welcomed by the EPA as an important platform for expanding public understanding of climate change and encouraging young people to participate in national climate discussions.

The EPA reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening climate governance, supporting climate finance mobilization, promoting research and innovation, and ensuring that youth and women remain central to Liberia’s climate response as the country advances its environmental and sustainable development priorities.