Environmental Protection Agency - EPA

EPA to Brief House on Environmental Monitoring Findings Today

Monrovia, Liberia, July 1, 2026 – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia is today expected to brief the House of Representatives on the results and key outcomes of its recently concluded nationwide environmental compliance monitoring exercise.

The two weeks nationwide monitoring exercise, which began in the second week of May 2026, was carried out across all 15 counties with EPA technical teams deployed in the field to assess environmental compliance in mining operations, industrial sites, coastal areas, and waste management facilities.

The engagement takes place during a public hearing convened by the Joint Committees on Mines and Natural Resources, Environment, Hydrocarbon, and Judiciary, where key institutions are gathered to discuss developments in Liberia’s mining and environmental sectors.

Lawmakers are expected to engage the EPA on these findings, particularly as they consider Senate Engrossed Bill #5, which seeks to address reforms in Liberia’s mining and environmental governance framework.

Other institutions, including the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, the Law Reform Commission, and the Chamber of Mines, will also present updates on the state of the sector.

From the EPA’s perspective, the exercise was not only a regulatory inspection but also a strong enforcement drive aimed at ensuring compliance with environmental laws and protecting communities and natural ecosystems from degradation.

During the monitoring period, EPA field teams carried out inspections that led to enforcement actions including shutdown of illegal operations, issuance of non-compliance notices, and halt orders against activities found to be in violation of environmental regulations.

The Agency collaborated with the Liberia National Police (LNP) to enforce environmental laws and ensure compliance on the ground.

The EPA is further expected to inform lawmakers that the exercise uncovered significant environmental concerns, including land degradation, water pollution, and illegal mining activities operating without valid environmental permits.

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EPA Liberia has launched a four-day capacity-building workshop to support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in aligning their businesses with Liberia’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) while boosting competitiveness, productivity, and climate resilience.

Implemented with the UNIDO GROW-2 Project and the Youth Entrepreneur Network of Liberia (YEN-L), the training is being held in Monrovia and Buchanan, bringing together MSMEs and key partners from six counties to strengthen private sector participation in Liberia’s climate agenda.

Opening the workshop, EPA Executive Director/CEO Dr. Emmanuel King Urey Yarkpawolo emphasized that climate change is already impacting businesses—through flooding, coastal erosion, disrupted rainfall patterns, rising energy costs, and poor waste management—and that MSMEs are central to both the challenges and the solutions.

Participants are receiving practical guidance on Liberia’s NDCs, climate-smart production, energy efficiency, renewable energy, waste reduction, circular economy approaches, and sustainable resource management—culminating in action plans that can reduce emissions, improve efficiency, and build resilience.

The EPA remains committed to working with government institutions, development partners, financial institutions, the Liberia Chamber of Commerce, and the private sector to create an enabling environment for green enterprise development and accelerated climate action.