Two environmental advocacy institutions, Africa Environmental Watch (AEW) and Environmental Eyes Consultancy and Advocacy Firm Inc.
(EECAF), have formally requested access to key environmental assessment and compliance documents related to the operations of Bea Mountain Mining Corporation in Grand Cape Mount County.
In a communication addressed to the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Emmanuel K. Yarkpawolo, the organizations cited Liberia’s 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.
According to the groups, their action follows what they described as “persistent and well-documented reports” of recurring chemical spillages, environmental contamination, and the alleged forceful relocation of residents of Jikando Village.
They claim 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.
The organizations said access to the documents would enable independent assessment of identified environmental and social risks, approved mitigation measures, monitoring and reporting mechanisms, and compliance obligations designed to prevent pollution and protect host 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 standards and studies by institutions including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the groups emphasized that mining-related chemical spills, if poorly managed, can pose significant risks to water sources, soil quality, food security, and human health—particularly in rural communities.
They further noted that involuntary displacement linked to environmental degradation is widely recognized as an environmental justice concern under global frameworks such as the World Bank Environmental and Social Standards and the IFC Performance Standards.
AEW and EECAF expressed concern that the reported environmental damage and displacement of residents may point to gaps in the implementation, monitoring, or enforcement of approved environmental safeguards.
The groups have urged the EPA to provide the requested documents within a reasonable timeframe, in keeping with national laws and Liberia’s commitments to transparency, environmental protection, and sustainable development.
