Environmental Protection Agency

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established by the Environmental Protection Agency Act of 2008 and is responsible for the protection of Sierra Leone's environment.

=Organisation=

The EPA is governed by an executive board which provides general policy guidance and supervises the work of the Agency.

The Board is headed by the Executive Chairman who is responsible to the Office of the President and assisted by the Director and three Deputy Directors. The Executive Chairman also supervises the staff of the Agency.

Administratively, EPA-SL consists of six Departments namely:


 * Chemical Control and Management Department
 * Information, Education and Communication Department
 * Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Department
 * Inter-Sectoral and International Cooperation Department
 * Finance and Administration Department
 * Natural Resources Management Department

Current office holders
As of October 2013, the following positions are held by:

Haddijatou Jallow (Executive Chairman), Dr Kolleh Bangura (Director), Victor H. O. Sawyerr (Deputy Director in charge of policy, planning and research), and Syl-Brians Kamara (Deputy Director in charge of field operations and extension).

=Functions=

The EPA has the following key functions:


 * ensuring compliance with any environmental impact assessment procedures in the planning and execution of development projects
 * acting as the focal point on all issues concerning the environment

=Clarification of mandate=

As part of the Extractive Industries Technical Assistance Project (EITAP) a set of regulations addressing environmental and social issues was drafted

As of July 2013, it is unclear whether the EPA or the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources is responsible for taking forward these draft regulations to the Cabinet and as to who has responsibility for enforcing them.

=References=