The Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia has shut down the Fengshou International rock quarry for backfilling the Marshall wetlands in Sheliflin Town. The firm that owns the quarry, Eastern International, has been cited with several violations under the Liberian Environmental Protection and Management Law (EMPL) and the company’s environmental permit.
Environmental Law and Permit Violations
The quarry was built for Eastern International to conduct its reconstruction project of the Roberts International Airport Highway. Dredging and filling the surrounding wetlands was not included in the scope of the environmental permit issued for the operation of the rock quarry. The firm applied for an additional permit to construct an access road through the Marshall wetlands from the quarry to the highway. In October 2022, the EPA conducted an environmental assessment for the prospective permit and determined the project would not be feasible without causing degradation to the wetlands. The permit was then denied, and the company was urged to abstain from building the road. Against the assessment of the EPA, Eastern International filled in the wetland to construct the access road.
Eastern International has been cited for non-compliance under their environmental permit and violation of Section IV: Part 75 under the EMPL. Unless the firm restores the wetland to its original condition, they could be subject to a $5,000 fine or imprisonment for at least two years. Director of the Liberian EPA, Wilson Tarpeh, stated the company neglected to conduct an Environmental Social Impact Assessment. This is an important compliance procedure that is integral to Liberia’s contribution to the Ramsar Convention.
Ramsar Wetlands
The wetlands in question were designated as a Ramsar wetland in 2006; thereby heightening the severity of the environmental consequences. In 1971, the Ramsar Convention agreement was signed by eighteen nations to recognize the ecological importance of wetlands and promote the wise use of wetlands worldwide. The Ramsar organization has made impressive strides in wetland conservation through its Wetlands of International Importance initiative (Ramsar sites). In signing the agreement, each signatory nation is required to designate at least one wetland as a Ramsar site. These wetlands are determined to be sites of social and ecological significance to the respective nation. As a fellow signatory of the Ramsar Convention, Liberia has designated five sites, including the Marshall wetlands
Current Status
On January 4, 2023, Wilson Tarpeh issued an order to shut down the production of the rock quarry. The order will remain in place until the wetlands are fully restored and approved by the EPA. It is currently unknown how this will impact the Marshall wetlands’ status as a Ramsar site or the nature of Ramsar’s involvement in this issue.
Sources
Front Page Africa. (2023). Liberia: EPA Shuts Down East Int’l, Sino Liberia Rock Quarry for Massively Backfilling Wetland in Marshall. Retrieved from https://frontpageafricaonline.com/news/liberia-epa-shuts-down-east-intl-sino-liberia-rock-quarry-for-massively-backfilling-wetland-in-marshall/
Ramsar. (n.d.). Wetlands of International Importance. Ramsar. Retrieved from https://www.ramsar.org/sites-countries/wetlands-of-international-importance