Presidency

H. E. Joseph N. Boakai, Sr.

President of Liberia

H. E. Zegben J. K. Koung

Vice President of Liberia

EPA's ESIA Process Stages

Environmental Permitting

An Environmental permit is a regulatory requirement that allows you to carry on a particular activity which may have an impact on the environment and human health and says what restrictions there are to minimize damage to the environment and human health.

The permit gives clear instructions on how the environment must be protected from permitted activity. It is not transferable and is issued base on activity and site specifics.  

·         Permits can cover:

·         Land degradation

·         water and air pollution

·         radioactive contamination and

·         Other environmental hazards

The standards of protection take account of the nature of the hazard, the cost and the risks to the environment and human health. These permits maintain a careful balance between human activity and environmental protection, and are based on the evidence of the science therein.

Legal and Regulatory Requirement

Part III Section 9 (1.a) and 10 (1); of the Environmental Protection and Management Law of Liberia (EPML) 2003, requires a  project proponent/applicant to timely prepare the required documents in accordance with all procedures and guidelines prescribed by the Agency prior to the implementation of a proposed project.

What Activities Need A Permit?

Environmental permits are needed for a wide range of activities. These include anything from emissions from power stations and sewage treatment plant, to scrap metal yards, and other activities that might pollute the air, water or land.

Type of Permits

There are two types of permit available: Standard and Conditional

A Standard Permit is a simple permit that requires the permit‐holder to abide by a set of standard rules. Each category of activity has its own fixed set of rules, previously consulted on with industry by the EPA. As they are part of a standardized system, these standard permits are quicker to apply   for, involve simpler processing and have clear guidance.

If the activity does not fit into the standard rules due to the nature of the environmental risk or the nature of the activity, a conditional permit is required.

A Conditional Permit has conditions that are specific to the activity that the permit‐holder is performing.

Permitting Process
Permits are Issued and or renewed base on Impact Assessment and its Mitigation Plan; or an Audit Report of the activity covered by the expired permit. To obtain a permit for a proposed project, the following steps are to be followed: See chart below.

Flowchart of the ESIA Process

A Flowchart of the ESIA's ESIA Process Stages.