The Environment Protection Agency Act, no. 15 of 2022.

This Act, consisting of 78 articles, divided into twelve chapters, provides for the continuation of the Sierra Leone Environment Protection Agency, and for more effective and efficient protection and management of the environment. The Act concerns: air pollution; airspace; chemical elements, including agro-chemicals, public health chemicals, explosives, chemicals used for mining purposes, petrochemicals; chlorofluorocarbon; climate change; controlled substances; waste water; sewage; air borne emissions; disposal of waste in land, water and airspace; greenhouse gas; mitigation measures; monitoring; water resources management, including atmospheric, surface and subsurface and underground water resources, in territorial waters, exclusive economic zone or any area under the jurisdiction of the country; wetlands. Matters covered by this Act concern: continuation in existence of the Environment Protection Agency, appointment of its Board and members, definition of its powers and functions, including: ensure compliance with prescribed environmental impact assessment procedures; advise the Minister on the formulation of policies on all aspects of the environment including the protection of the environment; supervision of the generation, treatment, storage, transportation and disposal of waste; promotion of studies, research, surveys and analysis for the improvement and protection of the environment, promotion of national standards and guidelines concerning ambient air, water and soil quality, all the form of environmental pollution, conduction of environmental hazard mapping, risk and vulnerability assessment and development of plans for environmental related disaster risk reduction, issuance of permits.
Other matters covered by this Act include: administrative and financial provisions; toxic and hazardous substances and prohibition of their import, export and limitation on their disposal; authorised officers, designation of analytical and reference laboratories; information, education and public awareness on environmental management and protection; judicial proceedings; establishment of multilateral environmental coordination agreements committee; incentives for good environmental behaviour; criminal offences; provisions concerning identification and demarcation of land where trees may be cut or forest burned; provisions on environmental audit; management, protection and development of marine coastal environment, fisheries resources, oil and gas exploration; support the development of marine spatial planning and promotion of conservation of marine resources and critical marine ecosystems.