Monrovia – The management of Bea Mountain Mining Corporation (BMMC) has expressed dismay over the US$99,999.00 fine imposed on the company by the Environmental Protection Agency for alleged cyanide spillage in its operation area, claiming the company was not given due diligence during the investigation.
According to the company, it was informed by the EPA through a letter that testing done by the EPA determined high levels of free Cyanide at one of the sampling points associated with mine’s process plant which breached environmental laws and hence the fine.
The company stated that upon receipt of the letter, it requested a meeting with the EPA, however, while the EPA was yet to acknowledge their request, went ahead and published the fine.
According to the company, on July 10, 2018, the team from the EPA along with members of BMMC’s Environmental Department, extracted samples from various points associated with the Tailings Storage Facility at the New Liberty
Gold Mine.
“As samples were being tested by the EPA at its in-house laboratory, duplicates were also tested by the independent ALS New Liberty Laboratory located at the Mine. The ALS Lab in Liberia is a branch of the ALS Prague Environmental Laboratory International, a point closer to the plant are lower and compliant.
“To our utmost surprise, BMMC received the letter of Notice and imposition of a fine, without any due process. For the record, BMMC must indicate that since the issuance of the Effluent Discharge Permit in 2016 and its renewal in 2017, BMMC has remained very diligent in
meeting ALL the limits prescribed by the Permit,” BMMC noted in a statement.
According to BMMC, it installed an upgraded detoxification circuit and improved its ability to test for all harmful forms of cyanide.
“BMMC has also provided timely reports on its daily sampling and testing as analyzed by the onsite lab and corroborated by their main lab in Prague. Additionally, the Compliance Team from the EPA has also made regular site visits and collected and tested samples with there being no results exceeding the limits.
“Hence our surprise that the Agency would neither test further or grant due process, by inviting BMMC for a discussion, but proceed so quickly to penalize and make a public statement of its action. BMMC wonders as to the motive,” the statement further noted. BMMC further clarified that the camp that houses all of its staff uses water obtained from ground sources for livelihood.
“To affect it, is to affect ourselves. There have been no reports from our downstream communities as is alleged. BMMC Community Relations and Environmental Team actively monitor these stakeholders and the Fauna and Flora around us,” the statement averred.
The company called on the EPA to grant due process that will allow for proper scientific approach to testing and independent third-party involvement. It is in all of our best interest.