IPNEWS-Monrovia: The Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia (EPA) says it has dispatched a team of investigators to mafa River within the BeaMountain Concession reports of alleged water pollution by BEA Mountain Mining Corporation resulting to the death of some aquatic species in the Mafa and Morvor Rivers, in Grand Cape Mount County.
A release from the EPA stated that its Executive Director, Prof. Wilson K. Tarpeh, has commissioned a team from the Agency’s regional office in Tubmanburg along with scientists from its head office in Monrovia to immediately investigate the alleged incident. The team will ascertain the gravity of the pollution and urges the public to remain calm they await a technical report from the team.
The EPA further advised residents of the alleged affected communities to avoid usage of the water and not to consume any dead aquatic species especially fishes until further notice.
Meanwhile, in contrast to the EPA release, the authoritative Independent Probe (IPNEWS) has discovered that about a year ago, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) dispatched a team of environmental technicians and scientists from the agency for a field assessment of the operational activities of the Turkish mining company BeaMountain, where chemicals containing lead, Mercury and Arsenic where found to be in used by the company for exploration and mining purposes.
An EPA source confided in IPNEWS that EPA Executive Director, Wilson Tarpeh was fully briefed about the outcome of the field assessment report in the BeaMountain concession area in 2021, in regards to the presence of Lead, Mercury and Arsenic chemicals being used he to wash its extracted gold and other minerals
The source furthermore hinted that the EPA field assessment team recommended to the agency boss, Prof. Tarpeh about the outcome of the findings, stating that there was an urgent need for BeaMountain to create a Dam that would be used to dump waste waters after minerals had been washed with the chemical to avoid environmental degradation and contamination within the operational areas of BeaMountain but to no avail.
IPNEWS further uncovered through its sources at the EPA that the Executive Director and his lieutenants failed to adhere to the recommendation of the assessment team to Cape Mount since 2022 following such critical environmental assessment of BeaMountain operational areas.
Impacts of Lead, Mercury and Arsenic on human/public health
Lead in water
Long time exposure to lead can cause cancer, damage nervous system in children, brain disorders, autoimmunity (the immune system attacking itself), kidneys problems, miscarriages, reduced fertility in men and the circulatory system.
Mercury in water
Mental disturbance, speech impairment, hearing loss and difficulties in movements are health problems that may arise from mercury toxicity. In addition, tremor, irritability, learning disabilities, reduced cognitive functions, immune suppression, nervousness, memory loss, excessive shyness, lack of sleep, muscle weakness, headaches, and hallucinations (false visions) are other health effects associated with mercury ingestion (WHO, 2003, ATSDR, 2014; Park and Zheng, 2012; Ray et al., 2014; Homes et al., 2009).
Arsenic in water
Arsenic is the main source for so many public health problems in some parts of the world. Its consumption in water is related to the development of cancer at several areas of the body (skin, bladder, and lungs), developmental effects, cardiovascular disease, neurotoxicity and diabetes (WHO, 2011, FAO/WHO, 2011a; FAO/WHO, 2011b). Furthermore, arsenic had been considered one of the most common heavy metals that pose health threat to human lives.
Fast forward to May 2022, over the weekend tension was said to be running high in Grand Cape Mount County, following reports of the contamination of water sources in ten communities by chemical product allegedly used by multi-million Dollar Turkish gold mining company BeaMountain.
According to IPNEWS reporter who arrived late Monday evening, at least 10 communities within the Kinjor, Gola Konneh District of Grand Cape Mount County are affected by the dangerous chemicals following it being spilled over into the Mafa River and Morvor River.
According to report, the chemical spilled into the two rivers occurred during Saturday evening heavy downpour of rain. The Mafa River serves as the major water source, especially for drinking cooking and washing for several communities.
IPNEWS reporter said that there were several dead animals and fishes laying along the Mafa river bank and surrounding bushes in Kinjor the seat of BeaMountain operations.
EPA’s Intervention after Three Days
Three days into the spillage of the chemicals into water sources in the Gola Konneh District in Grand Mount County, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a press release stating that it has dispatched a team of EPA investigators into the area to ascertain the facts leading to the reported chemical spillage.
The EPA release says the agency is concerned about reports of alleged water pollution by BeaMountain Mining Company resulting to the death of some aquatic species in the Mafa and Morvor Rivers in Grand Cape Mount County, as depicted in posts on social media.
The agency says its Executive Director Prof. Tarpeh has commissioned a team from its regional office in Tubmanburg along with scientists from its head office in Monrovia to immediately investigate the alleged incident.
“The team will be dispatched to the alleged site to ascertain the gravity of the pollution,” the release added.
Meanwhile, the EPA has urged residents in the affected areas to be calmed and await report from the investigation to the affected area. The EPA also advises residents of the alleged affected communities to avoid usage of the water and not to consume any dead aquatic species especially fishes until further notice.
The agency then assures that it remains committed to its core values of ensuring a clean, healthy and safe environment for all and urged the public to report any pollution across the country.
Meanwhile environmental experts in chat with IPNEWS frowned on the late intervention of the EPA to send in investigation three days after a chemical spillage that reportedly killed aquatic species, a dog and led to residents fleeing the area for safety.
“Did it have to take three days with EPA regional office right in Bomi County which is a stone-throw to Cape Mount following reports that a devastation had befallen the communities in which BeaMountain operates before the agency commission an investigation? I think it must be a deliberate attempt to ignore what happened at BeaMountain for reasons best known to it or is it intentional not to send in investigators on time to ascertain facts surrounding the reported chemical spillage in water sources in the county,” a local environmental pundit wondered.
With EPA now dispatching a team to investigate the reported spillage of chemicals in water sources in BeaMountain operational areas, Liberians anxiously await the outcome. The bookmakers are watching.
