MONROVIA — The Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia (EPA) has fined telecommunications provider Lonestar Cell MTN US$15,000 for violating noise pollution regulations, following months of complaints from residents living near the company’s generator installation site.
EPA Executive Director Dr. Emmanuel Urey Yarkpawolo announced the penalty during a Friday press conference, citing the company’s failure to implement noise mitigation measures after initial recommendations were issued on April 8.
“The company was given ten days to comply with our recommendations,” Yarkpawolo said. “However, our follow-up inspection between April 7 and 24 found that noise levels remained excessive and the company had not sufficiently addressed the concerns.”
EPA investigators recorded noise levels as high as 84.6 decibels—significantly above the 60-decibel daytime threshold set by both the EPA and the World Health Organization for residential areas.
Despite Lonestar Cell MTN’s claims of compliance, the agency said several key mitigation steps were either neglected or insufficiently addressed. These included:
- Silencer installation: No new silencers were added. Existing silencers were determined to be ineffective in reducing noise.
- Exhaust stack height: Only partial extensions were made, falling below EPA standards.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): No documentation was submitted to confirm PPE had been distributed to staff.
- Relocation plan: The company relocated a generator without EPA approval and failed to submit a formal relocation plan.
“The generators are emitting excessive noise. Some residents cannot even sleep due to the disturbances. This is unacceptable,” Yarkpawolo said.
Under Section 42 of the Environmental Protection and Management Law of Liberia, the EPA imposed the fine and gave the company 72 hours to deposit the amount into the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) account. A violation notice was also forwarded to the Ministry of Justice.
“This money is not for the EPA,” Yarkpawolo emphasized. “It must be paid to the LRA. If the company fails to comply within two weeks, further action, including the shutdown of the generator operations, will follow.”
The EPA warned that similar noncompliance by any company would draw equivalent sanctions. Yarkpawolo urged corporate entities to adhere to national environmental regulations.
“This is not about targeting any specific company. It’s about upholding environmental standards and protecting public welfare,” he said.
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