By Vaye Abel Lepolu
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has rejected claims of regulatory failure, issuing a detailed rebuttal to a recent investigative report on the Bea Mountain Mining Corporation (BMMC).
The report, published by the Associated Press and the Gecko Project on January 30 and updated February 4, 2026, alleged pollution impacts from mining operations in Jikandor and nearby communities.
While acknowledging the role of journalism in accountability, the EPA criticized the report for lacking “accuracy, balance, and proper institutional context.”
The Agency clarified that the alleged incidents occurred between 2016 and 2023, prior to the current administration taking office in February 2024. Since then, the EPA asserts it has prioritized rigorous enforcement under Liberia’s Environmental Protection and Management Law.
Contradicting narratives of inaction, the EPA listed specific regulatory measures taken in response to past incidents, including:
Formal investigations with field inspections and laboratory testing.
Public disclosure of findings and presentations to affected communities.
Legally binding directives to BMMC, which included providing safe drinking water and food to impacted residents.
Mandating independent environmental assessments and engineering corrections to the Tailings Storage Facility (TSF).
Overseeing the structured relocation of Jikandor Village, which was in the TSF’s immediate footprint, through a formal agreement with community representation and compensation.
The EPA also noted it imposed a $99,999 penalty on BMMC in 2018, of which $25,000 was collected following an appeal under the previous leadership.
Highlighting reforms since 2024, the EPA pointed to:
Expanded deployment of inspectors to mining counties.
Mandatory independent audits of Tailings Storage Facilities.
International technical training for staff on mine waste management.
The operationalization of a modern national environmental laboratory for real-time effluent analysis.
The Agency confirmed it provided detailed written responses to the Associated Press during its reporting but expressed disappointment that the published article minimized these regulatory actions and corrective measures.
Reaffirming its mandate, the EPA stated that “no company is above the law” and committed to addressing legacy challenges and ensuring responsible resource management. It concluded by encouraging media partners to uphold factual balance and context, and expressed readiness for continued engagement to support accurate, science-based environmental reporting.
