FLASHBACK: Images from the area last month (May)
Investigation by Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has confirmed that the Marvoe Creek and Mafa River in the Western Grand Cape Mount County recently suffered Cyanide chemical pollution from the Bea Mountain Tiling Starage facility that contaminated the water source of inhabitants in the area.
“The presence of excess cyanide led to the contamination of the water sources and that the situation has severely disrupted and injured the livelihood of the communities that depend on that water resources for their livelihood,” according to findings by the EPA contained in a press release issued today, Friday, June 3, 2022.
Cyanide is defined as “a rapidly acting, potentially deadly chemical that can exist in various forms. Cyanide can be a colorless gas, such as hydrogen cyanide (HCN) or cyanogen chloride.”
On May 23, 2022, citizens of Jekandor Town, Gola Konneh District in Cape Mount fled the town after they discovered dead fishes over the Marvor Creek and Mafa river with photos be spread on social media.
The residents accused Bea Mountain Mining Company in Kinjor of polluting the Creek with a dangerous chemical, which they used that entered into the water. But Bea Mining Corporation swiftly denied the reports, saying that it had nothing to do with pollution.
Based on the outcome of the investigation, the EPA has called on BMMC to continue its ongoing effort to provide safe drinking water, fish, and other protein sources to residents of downstream communities.
The EPA has spoken of the need for further probe “when there are other conditions that could cause this degree of distress and or death of the aquatic fauna.”
But the EPA management is cautioning all affected communities to “desist from using and or consuming anything from the water bodies and or using these contaminated water sources for any purpose.”
The agency is also calling on the public to “remain calm and non-speculative”, as the EPA “continues this very methodical, rigid, and scientific, but necessary process.”
Below is full text of the EPA press release.
REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AGENCY 4th Street Sinkor, Tubman Boulevard, 1000 Monrovia, 10 Liberia
P.O. Box 4024
June 3, 2022
PRESS RELEASE
REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AGENCY 4th Street Sinkor, Tubman Boulevard, 1000 Monrovia, 10 Liberia
P.O. Box 4024
June 3, 2022
PRESS RELEASE
INVESTIGATION OF AN ALLEDGED WATER POLLUTION AT MARVOE CREEK and MAFA RIVER, GRAND CAPE MOUNT COUNTY
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia informs the Public that, on Wednesday May 25, 2022, a high-level technical team from the EPA visited the communities where allegations of water pollution by Bea Mountain Mining Corporation were raised.
The EPA’s visit was based on reported deaths of aquatic species in the Marvoe Creek and the Mafa River in Grand Cape Mount County as conveyed on several media platforms and corroborated by an Incident Notice filed by Bea Mountain Mining Corporation on May 24, 2022.
During the visit, the team conducted scientific investigations downstream of Bea Mountain operations and continued upstream to assess the quality of the water, probe the authenticity of the alleged pollution and trace plausible source (s) of pollution. The initial phase of the investigation included samples collection, social interviews, community engagement, environmental scoping, geospatial data and drone imagery. The EPA is pleased to report the following preliminary findings:
- That there were deaths to aquatic species including fish, crabs, crawfish, and other fauna inhabitants; and these fatalities were caused by asphyxiation (deprivation of oxygen needed to sustain life under water).
That, the analysis results showed higher than permissible level of free cyanide (with source from the BMMC Tiling Storage Facility) resulting into a corresponding reduction in dissolved oxygen level. However, at the time of sampling, the level of free cyanide was below the limits scientifically required to cause such fatality as found in the circumstance. We need to and will probe further especially when there are other conditions that could cause this degree of distress and or death of the aquatic fauna.
- That the presence of excess cyanide led to the contamination of the water sources and that the situation has severely disrupted and injured the livelihood of the communities that depend on that water resources for their livelihood.
Consistent with its standard operating procedures, the EPA convened an emergency technical sitting and BMMC was presented with the findings of our initial investigation.
Based on the outcome of the investigation, the EPA has called on BMMC to continue its ongoing effort to provide safe drinking water, fish, and other protein sources to residents of downstream communities.
Meanwhile, the Agency advises that until a final determination is made as to full remedial actions and their orderly implementation, all affected communities should desist from using and or consuming anything from the water bodies and or using these contaminated water sources for any purpose.
In the coming days, the Agency will conduct additional investigation to pinpoint other elements that may have also contributed to the asphyxiation. Where necessary, a third-party, EPA certified consultant/Laboratory will be called in to assist with these investigations.
Furthermore, a detailed assessment of the water streams will be conducted to determine the magnitude and extent of the quality of the water streams and to conduct an aquatic ecological assessment of the riverine systems. Following this additional scientific intervention, a full restoration plan (corrective measures) will be designed and implemented under the supervision of the Environmental Protection Agency.
The Agency calls on the public to remain calm and non speculative the Agency continues this very methodical, rigid, and scientific, but necessary process.
The Agency reaffirms its commitment to ensuring a clean, healthy, and safe environment for this and succeeding generations.
Signed: Danise Love Dennis
Head of Media & Corporate Communications