INFORMATION ON THE INSPECTORATE/COUNTY OFFICES
Background
The Act that established the Environmental Protection Agency or the EPA Act was approved by the National Legislature in November, 2002 and printed into handbill in April, 2003. Following this the EPA functioned only in Monrovia with few field visits to the counties until 2007 when the first batch of 25 environmental inspectors were trained and deployed into six counties (Montserrado, Margibi, Bomi, Bassa, Grand Gedeh and Maryland) thus leading to the beginning of the Inspectorate Section of the EPA. Subsequently, in 2009 and 2011, other batches of inspectors were trained and deployed under the erstwhile Department of Outstation and Inspectorate. In late 2011, upon assuming the mantle of authority at the EPA, Madam Anyaa Vohiri, the new Executive Director merged Outstation and Inspectorate with the Department of Monitoring, Assessment and Conservation to form the present Department of Compliance and Enforcement thus leading to the informal creation of the Inspectorate Section of C&E.
Today, the EPA has offices in ten of the fifteen counties in which a number of environmental inspectors are assigned to carry out the mandate of the EPA at county level. While planning to establish offices in the remaining counties (Gbarpolu, Cape Mount, Rivercess, Grand Kru and River Gee) environmental issues emanating from these counties without EPA offices are attended to by inspectors assigned in the closest county as indicated in the table below. Presently, EPA is considering dividing its county offices into regions similar to the method used by the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) to administer its offices in the counties.
Mandate of the inspectors
Several Sections of the Environmental Protection Agency Act and the Environmental Protection and Management Law of Liberia spelt out the duties of the inspectors. Prominent among them is Section 95(1b) which specifically provides that inspectors are to "carry out 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 significant impact on the environment to ensure that the provisions of this Law are complied with;".
In monitoring and inspection, inspectors are required to monitor and/or inspect projects/activities that are likely to significantly impact the environment at least four times a year or on a quarterly basis. However, in instances where there are significant issues that required timely attention of the EPA, inspectors can pay as many visits as necessary. During inspection, inspectors are required to point out all noncompliant activities or attitude of the project being inspected and document findings for action. Depending on the nature of the non-compliance, the inspector may take immediate action or refer the issue to the central office through the Inspectorate Section for action.
Collaboration with other ministries, agencies and NGOs
The Environmental Protection and Management Law of Liberia (EMPL) also calls for collaboration with other relevant ministries, agencies and NGOs in dealing with environmental issues in the country. In view of this EPA inspectors have worked in collaboration with other line ministries and agencies to address issues affecting the environment. There are many typical examples or cases to point to in the last few years. For instance, during the Ebola epidemics, EPA inspectors worked with several entities including Ministries of Health and Internal Affairs and NGOs to assess and select sites for the construction of Ebola Treatment Units (ETUs) and burial grounds for Ebola victims in Nimba, Bong, Lofa, Bomi and Montserrado Counties. Also during the caterpillar (army worms) infestation that affected many counties, EPA inspectors collaborated with the Ministry of Agriculture to fight the infestation in Grand Gedeh, Nimba, Bong, Lofa, Margibi and Grand Bassa Counties. During the process, EPA inspectors guided Ministries of Agriculture's technicians in the use of chemicals to kill the caterpillars that were massively consuming leaves of plants in these counties without affecting other forms of life in the environment. Inspectors have also worked with the Ministries of Public Works and Health and some NGOs and other entities to address water, sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) issues. For example, inspectors in Bong, Nimba and Lofa Counties have been monitoring the international NGO, (the Global Communities') activities in these counties which include WASH projects such as installation of hand pumps, latrines and training communities to become "open defecation free"(ODF).
As members of the Superintendent's Cabinet
Inspectors are direct representatives of the EPA in the counties in which they are assigned. Hence, Inspectors in the counties are members of the Superintendent Cabinet which is the body that meet on a monthly basis to review and make decision on issues affecting the county. As member of the Cabinet, inspectors seek to obtain the cooperation of county authorities in solving environmental issues. For instance, in Harper City, Maryland County, when some residents were illegally mining beach sand, the County Attorney and the City Mayor assisted the EPA inspectors in prosecuting the violators in the Magisterial Court. Similarly, illegal sand miners were also prosecuted in Sanniquellie, Nimba County through the cooperation of the City Mayor and the County Attorney.
Department Head:
John K. Jallah, Jr. Manager, Department of Compliance & Enforcement
Email: jjallah@epa.gov.lr 0888121715
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Unit’s Heads
- Edward G. Wingbah Asst. Manager County Coordination& Administration 0886 576-150/ 0770-194-493; Email: edwingbah@epa.gov.lr
- R. Baiyezenah W. Brown Asst. Manager for Technical Services 0886-536-831/0776-041-998 Email: rbrown@epa.gov.lr
- Louise M. D. Soko Asst. Supervisor for Technical Services 0886-677-499/0777-037-901
- Charles D. Cole Asst. Supervisor for County Coordination 0777-342-971
|
# |
County/Staff |
Position |
Telephone # |
County |
|
1 |
Stephen Gongehn
|
Sam Dugbeh
|
Edwin P. Kezele
|
Lorenzi Fahnbulleh
|
Edwin B. Fahnbulleh
|
Olivia Griffiths Chea
|
|
County Head
|
Inspector
|
Inspector
|
Inspector
|
Inspector
|
Inspector
|
|
0886407745/0777395868
|
0888-894-090
|
0886-481-002
|
0886-625-998
|
0886-837-476/0770-372-533
|
0886-685-267/0777-058-342
|
|
Montserrado |
|
2 |
Wellington L. Ben
|
David Barlat
|
William Gibson
|
Forgbana Yarsiah
|
Kou Quaie
|
|
County Head
|
Inspector
|
Inspector
|
Inspector
|
Inspector
|
|
0886-690-984
|
0886-464-643
|
0880-988-937
|
0886-667-612
|
0886-594-122
|
|
Bomi
|
|
3 |
Daniel Larwubah
|
Richard Wheaton
|
Darius Toe
|
|
County Head
|
Inspector
|
Inspector
|
|
0886-487-138
|
0775-205-874
|
0886-826-952/0777-277-632
|
|
Grand Bassa
|
|
4 |
Anthony S. Kollie
|
Victoria Jones
|
Sylvester Lumeh
|
|
County Head
|
Inspector
|
Inspector
|
|
0886-454-519/0775-921-482
|
0880-944-469/0770-155-389
|
0886-929-720
|
|
Margibi
|
|
5 |
F. Victor Gbelee, Jr.
|
Tithe Clarke
|
Stephen Mantor
|
Christiana Kollie Kai
|
|
County Head
|
Inspector
|
Inspector
|
Inspector
|
|
0886-734-058
|
0886-884-943
|
0880-312-768
|
0886-411-505
|
|
Bong
|
|
6 |
Ambrose A.B.C. Jamina
|
Albert Tanwreh
|
|
Acting County Head
|
Inspector
|
|
0880-694-882
|
0880-960-078
|
|
Lofa
|
|
7 |
David Subah
|
Kingston David
|
Joseph Kpantee
|
Rebecca Korboi
|
|
County Head
|
Inspector
|
Inspector
|
Inspector
|
|
0886-731-116/0776-357-081
|
0880-535-893
|
0886-008-638
|
0886-463-728
|
|
Nimba
|
|
8 |
Roland Chea
|
William Dorbor
|
|
|
0886-525-393/0777-077-113
|
0886-972-683
|
|
Sinoe
|
|
9 |
Perry Z. Newray
|
Johnson Nowon
|
Helen Johnson – Goe
|
|
County Head
|
Inspector
|
Inspector
|
|
0886-496-476/0776-161-464
|
0886-830-942
|
0886-451-481
|
|
Grand Gedeh
|
|
10 |
Ezekiel K. Kpehe
|
Samuel Nagbe
|
|
|
0880-679-178/0776-798-239
|
0886-821-112
|
|
Maryland
|
|
Total Inspector: 34