IPNews-Monrovia: Its been nearly four months since President George Weah suspended the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency-EPA, for bridging Health protocols at the Roberts International Airport in March,  leaving in-charge academic fraudster Randall M. Doboyou. Since than, investigation into the performance of Mr. Dobayou into the administration of the EPA has been marked by mere public relations rather than actual performance. It now appears that the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) , under this academic fraudsters is currently reneging on its statutory mandate of ensuring the Health and safety of the Liberian populace by taking further action against sachet mineral water companies that were branded by the very institution as producing unsafe drinking water. An investigation conducted by a team of Journalist have discovered that most of the water companies recently announced by the EPA in its usual public relations style are still operational as there have been no substantive measures taken by the regulatory body to ensure that the environment at these various mineral water companies are conducive. One of the mineral water companies listed on the EPA’s first batch released to the public, Mekki Pure Mineral Water situated in the Sinkor belt, is still operating in an absolutely unpleasant environment, yet the Michael Jackson dress star, has not done anything in reprimanding them as in the case of the York Trading Inc. located in the Via town community. During a partial tour of the facility Thursday, June 25, particularly the (water producing centers), it was observed that the guys who package the Sac of water are still using bare-hands to package the water sac instead of wearing a protective glove. It was also noticed that the ‘compilers’ were not properly attired as they were seen without wearing safety nose-mask though there is a compulsory wearing of mask mandate by thw Government of Liberia. Some of the workers at the packaging’s machine were wearing short trouser while people were seen moving in and out of the centers without observing any mandatory health procedure. The yard of Mekki’s Pure Mineral Water was extremely flirty including the bathroom available for public use, while the production sites appear like they have not tasted paint for years. While at the site, individuals in top management position refused open up as they failed to address inquiries relative to some of the critical points raised against them by EPA. One of the ladies in the employed of Mekki’s boastfully told out team of reporters that they were was tin there time as the EPA is in the pocket. Even though this claimed could not be independently verified, yet, there has been similar comments by owners of the York Trading Inc. when inspectors of the EPA tried to enforce environmental laws. The Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia (EPA) recently made a scaring health disclosure regarding the danger of consuming water packaged in sachets. The EPA warned that sachet water is absolutely unsafe for drinking. The EPA stated that its pronouncement was predicated on a scientific outcome from a specialized bacteriological analysis conducted by technicians from the Environment Research and Standard Laboratory, yet the acting Executive Director has refused to effect major decisions due to his unattended office posture according to sources. “Technicians from the Environmental Research and Standards Laboratory at Liberia Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have analyzed the qualities of 18 sachet water brands in the country and realized that 17 out of the 18 sachet water brands tested are unsafe for drinking,’ A source from the  EPA disclosed to IPNews bagging not to be named for fear of dismissal by the powerful Randall Dobayou. The Source further indicated that the lab result established that 17 of the 18 sachet water brands are unsafe for human consumption based on the parameters analyzed. Sachet water is the major source of drinking water for a majority of Liberia’s urban population simply because it is readily available and cheap compared to the bottled brand. “Microbial quality of the water is used as an indicator of the nature of the environment under which the water is produced;” “It is against this backdrop, that technicians from the ERS Laboratory at the EPA have taken steps to analyze the quality of sachet water brands in the country to determine selected bacteriological quality and suitability for public consumption,” “The EPA would invite a first batch of producers whose brands were tested for bacteria for a meeting beginning, today Friday, June 26, 2020, including the National Water Sanitation and Hygiene Commission (WASH) to institute an approach for the immediate shutdown of unsafe water producers. Days after the released of its bacteriological analysis, the EPA released the first batch to mineral water companies that they claimed are producing unsafe sachet water for public consumption. The big question that continues to linger is, will the EPA still take the requisite action against those culpable of producing water in an unsafe environment? Meanwhile, the General Manager of Mekki’s Pure Mineral Water company only identified as Kelvin, said he could not speak to the issue as he had gone to attend a meeting at the EPA’s office. Kelvin also failed to make follow up. Investigation continues. It may further be recalled, Dobayou was was implicated in suspicious engagement into alleged bribery scame involving he and some folks at the York Trading Inc. in Via town, Bushrod Island. Notably this paper-Independent Probe, uncovered a systematic fraudulent academic dealing by Randall Dabayou, professing to hold a Master of Science Degree in Environmental Science from the United States, without having a first degree from any institution. Now Dobayou is at the center stage of taking bribe during the closure of the York Trading Inc. in Via Town some time ago. Furthermore, it may be recalled, when the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) imported hazardous chemicals in the country, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fined them US$10,000. This happened in January 2020. Now, a private company, York Trading Inc., committed the same offense in April and the acting Executive Director, Randall Dobayou fines them US$1,400 – the least fine ever in the EPA’s history. The discrepancy is raising eyebrows. Documents obtained by the Independent Probe Newspaper detail that York Trading Inc. imported 25,920kg of concentrated sulfuric acid contained in a 20ft container marked MRKU978068422G1. The import originated from The Netherlands. Sulfuric acid is an industrial chemical which has multiple applications all of which have environmental impacts. Importation by permit affords EPA the opportunity to know the end users and also ensure that the end users are trained to use the product in order minimize its impacts on the environment. Like the LEC, the company failed to obtain a permit from the EPA for the importation of the hazardous substance which led to its confiscation by the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), especially so because it was their second time breaching the EPA law. This was in March of 2020. LRA action was part of custom regional enforcement operations under the auspices of the World Custom Organization (WCO) for combating the illicit flow of precursor chemicals used to produce improvised explosive devices (IEDs). In its communication to the EPA, Commissioner of Customs informed the EPA of the chemicals and requested the EPA to investigate the nature of the chemicals. The EPA then took charge of the container on April 10 and began investigation into the matter. During a meeting held with the York Trading Inc., the EPA informed them of the gravity of their offense and how it would cost them a fine not exceeding US$50,000. “Your invitation to a conference with EPA is predicated upon your recent application to EPA for importation of chemicals when, in fact, the chemicals was already in the Free Port of Monrovia. Your application to EPA was prompted by the confiscation of the chemical by the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) for lacking EPA permit.” “This act is a complete violation of Part V; section 55 of the Environmental Protection and Management Law of Liberia which is punishable by a fine not exceeding 50,000 US DOLLARS or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 20 years or to both,” the citation to York Inc. stated. The EPA further stated in their citation: “It was also revealed by LRA that this round of importation is the second time in 2020 which clearly indicates that your entity has been importing chemicals into Liberia for a protracted period.” Highly placed sources within the environmental sector informed IPNews that the EPA often fine for that nature of offense between US$10,000 and US$50,000. “He instructed the committee to put in the report that they recommended the fine of US$1,400. That is the lowest fine ever in the history of the EPA. Even if the committee recommended that, as acting head of the entity, can’t you see the company is a multiple offender and must be punished appropriately?” An EPA Source told IPNews Bribery or Poor Discretion? Sources within the sector and the EPA familiar with the York Trading Inc. saga iinformed IPNews that Mr. Dobayou after privately meeting with the company instructed that they be fined US$1,400. “He instructed the committee to put in the report that they recommended the fine of US$1,400. That is the lowest fine ever in the history of the EPA. Even if the committee recommended that, as acting head of the entity, can’t you see the company is a multiple offender and must be punished appropriately?” the source said. The source added, “The fine is supposed to be not less than US$10,000 and not more than US$50,000. That’s what the law says. That’s what we’ve been going by and after they’ve paid the fine into government’s revenue account, they have to come into compliance with the EPA. They’ll have to fulfill all the requirements for the importation of such chemical before getting a permit. It is after they get the permit before the chemical can be released to them.” The source also wondered why Mr. Dobayou held a private meeting with the company after they were cited. “Just when the team had finalized their report and a fine of not less than US$10,000 was about to be imposed, Mr. Dobayou instructed that they be fined US$1,400. In fact, we had contacted York Trading Inc., but they said they had already spoken to the boss,” the source said. Why EPA Didn’t Bring York Trading Inc. Into Compliance During his Wednesday, April 29, 2020 appearance on Spoon FM, the Deputy Executive Director and Acting EPA boss  alluded that York Trading Incorporation had fully submitted the required Environmental Management Plan report, and fulfilled the Environmental Social Impacts Assessment Process (ESIA), which is a statutory requirement prior to the EPA’s approval of York Trading Incorporated request to import chemical. The case of York Trading Incorporated has existed for more than four years, therefore, as per the ESIA Procedural Guidelines of 2017, the company is required to submit to the following: application, preparation and submission of an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) by Project Consultant; Payment of Permit processing fees by Project Owner; Review of EMP by the Technical Committee; Site verification by the Technical Committee; Presentation of key findings from site verification to Technical committee. It is after all these requirements are fulfilled that the EPA issues the permit. In fulfillment of the Environmental Protection & Management Law 2002/03 and adherence to the updated ESIA Procedural Guidelines 2017, these requirements are to be fulfilled prior to the authorization of any company, industry or corporation, especially when found operating in violations to continue operation. Additionally, EPML 2002/03 Section 55 subsection 1, 5 & 6; states the following; No person shall illegally import into Liberia any hazardous waste or substance; Any person who imports any hazardous waste or substance into Liberia contrary to subsection (1) shall be responsible for the removal of the waste from Liberia and for its safe disposal; In addition, any person who imports into Liberia, exports out of Liberia, and transports within Liberia, hazardous waste except as prescribed by the provisions of this section commits an offence and is on conviction liable to a fine not exceeding 50,000 US DOLLARS or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 20 years or to both. Without fulfilling any of these requirements, Mr. Dobayou ordered the containers be to the released to the company, according to documents obtained by IPNews. This clearly contravenes the ESIA Procedural Guideline of 2017, a source told IPNews. The containers of hazardous substance was released to the company without any evidence of an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) report submitted to the EPA by York Trading Incorporated; No evidence of Consultant that was hired by York Trading Inc. that prepared the EMP as claimed; No evidence of the payment of the ESIA permit processing fees; no evidence of the Date of review of the EMP; No site verification report and name of technical staff who participated in the review process; and No evidence of inputs or review outcomes from the review of the EMP. (Courtesy of ~Writes D. Webster Cassell, Guest Writer & IPNews)