EPA Holds Lee Group of Enterprises Accountable for Polluting Nyanvor River

Published: August 30, 2024

Monrovia – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found Lee Group of Enterprises, a Chinese rubber processing company operating in Corneh Farm, Salala District, Bong County, guilty of polluting the Nyanvor River, which forms the boundary between Margibi and Bong Counties.

The EPA’s investigation was prompted by a report from The Liberian Investigator on the operations of Lee Group of Enterprises in the area. The report established that the company was discharging wastewater from its facility through a canal into the Nyanvor River, contaminating it with chemicals and raw rubber particles. The river is the only source of basic livelihood for the local communities, who have reported suffering from skin rashes as a result of the polluted water.

Delivering an official statement at the Ministry of Information’s regular press briefing on Thursday, August 29, 2024, EPA Executive Director, Dr. Emmanuel Yarkpawolo, stated that the EPA launched a comprehensive investigation on August 3, 2024. The investigation included water quality testing, site assessments, and a community survey.

Dr. Yarkpawolo noted that the EPA’s findings show that Lee Group of Enterprises is responsible for significant contamination of the river with chemicals.

“Several water quality parameters, including pH, phosphate, ammonia, and dissolved oxygen, were found to exceed the permissible limits of Liberia’s water quality standards at various points around the Lee Group facility and within the Nyanvor River,” the findings revealed.

The investigation also highlighted the company’s poor handling and storage of chemicals at its facility, noting the absence of proper signage, labeling, and safety training for the custodians.

Furthermore, the report confirmed that the water contamination has had a significant impact on community residents, many of whom rely on the Nyanvor River for their daily water needs, including drinking, cooking, and bathing. “Most of the residents are affected by skin rashes and other health issues due to the contaminated water,” Dr. Yarkpawolo added.

The EPA has recommended immediate actions to mitigate the pollution of the Nyanvor River. These include the provision of alternative clean water sources by Lee Group and the enforcement of strict environmental monitoring and safety compliance at the company’s facility.