Environmental Permit

Under the Environmental Protection Act, activities that involve the risk of environmental pollution require an environmental permit. A permit must be obtained if the activity may cause pollution of land, ditches, springs, streams or other water bodies. Environmental permits are also required for water management projects that pose a risk of environmental pollution but do not require a permit under the Water Act.

Activities requiring environmental permits include forestry, metal and chemical industries, energy production, large animal shelters, professional or industrial waste treatment, mining, fur farming, fish farming, and port and airport operations. An environmental permit must also be obtained if the activity may cause unreasonable burden on nearby residents. An environmental permit must be applied for if the activity expands or begins to generate emissions or if any other significant change occurs.

Requirements

  • Permit requirement: Activities involving risk of environmental pollution (e.g., pollution of land, water bodies).
  • Activities requiring permit: Forestry, metal and chemical industries, energy production, large animal shelters, waste treatment, mining, fur farming, fish farming, port and airport operations.
  • Unreasonable burden: Permit required if activity may cause unreasonable burden on nearby residents.
  • Changes: Permit must be applied for if activity expands, begins to generate emissions, or undergoes other significant change.
  • Exceptions: Environmental permit not required for short-term, experimental activities (e.g., testing new technology). Lighter notification procedure applies to certain activities.
  • EEA operators: If a business operator is established in another EEA state and provides services temporarily in Finland, the same obligations apply as for operators established in Finland.

Application procedure

  • Applicant: Operator of the activity.
  • Authority: Municipal environmental protection authority or Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes). In unclear situations, authorities will advise on the correct authority.
  • Coordination: If the project involves other environmental permits in addition to the environmental permit, the applicant can request coordination of permit procedures from the permit authority, which synchronizes the processing stages of different permit procedures.