Liberian study finds US rubber company polluting

Associated Press
10/29/2009

By Jonathan Paye-Layleh

Liberia's government says waste products from the American-owned Firestone Rubber Plantation Company are polluting nearby creeks.

Firestone spokesman Rufus Karmoh said Thursday that Firestone will continue to work with the country's Environmental Protection Agency to address the recommendations in the government's report. He declined to comment further.

The government's report following a three-month investigation cited high levels of orthophosphate. Apart from asking Firestone's management to take steps to correct the situation, the report appears silent on whether the company will pay any fines.

Firestone signed a 99-year concession agreement with the Liberian government in the 1920s to grow and export rubber in the West African nation.