EPA Trains Law Enforcement, Custom Officers

The Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia (EPA) will on Monday, 24 April 2023 commenced a three-day training for environmental inspectors, law enforcers and customs officers aimed at building their capacities in inspecting and monitoring the mining, forestry and the energy sectors.

The training workshop is also intended to empower environmental inspectors, law enforcers and custom officers of the anti-smuggling division of the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), and environmental and port officers of the National Port Authority (NPA) on how to monitor radiation and chemical management, as well as other related and emerging environmental issues.  

According to a release from the EPA, technicians of the Agency who work borders on conducting environmental appraisal including compliance inspection and monitoring, water, soil & air quality testing and analysis, investigation of environmental emergency, dissemination, awareness and education of environmental information, enforcing environmental compliance, verification of environmental studies report submitted to the Agency would also participate in the training.

Madam Danise Love Dennis Dodoo, head of corporate media and communications at the EPA said the training is part of on-going capacity development programs under the auspices of the Department of Compliance and Enforcement.

The Department of Compliance and Enforcement is among many others charged with the responsibilities of overseeing the environmental and social impact assessment process and compliance monitoring and inspection of projects, firms and other environmental factors that are likely to negatively impact the environment.

Madam Dodoo disclosed that the previous edition of the training was done in 2021 with key focus on monitoring high voltage transmission lines.

This year’s training, she noted will focus on the development of technical capacity of inspectors to adequately inspect and monitor mining sector since it is hugely contributing to environmental degradation in the country.

She indicated that the training is in fulfillment of Section 95 of the Environmental Protection and Management Law of Liberia (EPML), which provide for the recruitment and training of environmental inspectors to serve as field agents of the Agency.

“Section 95 of the EPML also empowered the inspectors to “carry out the periodic inspections of all establishments and undertakings within such District limits of jurisdiction which manufacture, produce as by-products, import, export, store, sell, distribute, or use any substances and materials that are likely to have a significant impact on the environment to ensure that the provisions of this Law are complied with,” Madam Dodoo explained.