Environmental permit

An environmental permit on the basis of the Environmental Protection Act is needed for any activity that causes a risk of environmental pollution. These activities include the forest, metal and chemical industries, energy production, animal production. The Environmental Protection Act and the Environmental Protection Decree issued under it determine whether the operation requires a permit. A prerequisite for granting the permit is that the activities must not cause health hazards or significant environmental pollution or a risk thereof.

A permit is required for new activities subject to a permit and for a substantial change in the activities. You may not start the activities subject to a permit before the permit is granted. If it is unclear whether a permit is needed, you should contact the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre) or the municipal environmental protection authority.

The Environmental Protection Act and Decree and the Water Act specify the situations in which a permit is required. Activities requiring an environmental permit are listed in the list of plants in the Environmental Protection Decree, but other activities may also be subject to a permit. An application for an environmental permit is submitted to the permit authority specified in the Environmental Protection Act or further in the Decree.

The environmental permit authority will inform of the application with a public notice. The authorities issue a statement on the application. The parties involved may make reminders, and residents of the area affected by the project may express their opinions on the matter. After hearing the applicant about the statements and reminders, the Regional State Administrative Agency makes a decision on the matter. The permit decision can be appealed to the Vaasa Administrative Court and its decision to the Supreme Administrative Court.

The applicant must pay a fee for the processing of the permit application.

Do the following

The application is submitted electronically to the environmental protection authority.

To whom and on what terms

An environmental permit will not be required for activities of short duration (where the purpose is to test new technology or to carry out other similar tasks).

A notification procedure, which is simpler than the permit procedure, is applied to a number of activities referred to in the Environmental Protection Act.

If a trader has established their business in another country within the European Economic Area and intends to provide their services temporarily in Finland, the trader is subject to the same obligations as all other traders established in Finland.

Background information

Under the Environmental Protection Act, an environmental permit will be required for activities that involve the risk of environmental pollution. A permit is required if the activities can pollute land areas, streams, springs, rills or other waterways.

An environmental permit must also be obtained for water management projects that may cause environmental pollution but that do not require a permit under the Water Act. You are required to apply for an environmental permit if you expand your operations, begin to produce emissions or intend to make any other significant changes to your operations.

An environmental permit is required for such activities as forestry, metal and chemical industries, energy production, animal shelters, professional waste management, waste management in plants mining, fur farming, fish farming and port and airport operations. You must also apply for an environmental permit if the activities can cause unreasonable stress to nearby residents.

If other environment-related permits are required for the applicant’s project in addition to the environmental permit, the applicant may request coordination of the permit procedures from the permit authority. The processing stages of the different permit procedures will then be synchronised. Coordination will ensure that the timing of the different phases of the permit procedures will be harmonised.

Land extraction permit and notification

Apply for a permit under the Land Extraction Act for the extraction of land materials for removal transport, on-site storage and processing. Apply for a permit in writing from the city of Rauma environment and permission committee.

Attach an extraction plan to your permit application, which contains details on the extraction of land materials and the management of the environment.

A permit under the Land Extraction Act is not necessary if the materials are taken for one’s own normal household use.

Do the following

You can use the state environmental administration form as the application form.

To whom and on what terms

If a trader has established their business in another country within the European Economic Area and intends to provide their services temporarily in Finland, the trader is subject to the same obligations as all other traders established in Finland.

Background information

A permit in accordance with the Land Extraction Act is required for the extraction of land materials, i.e. rock, gravel, sand, clay and soil for removal transport, on-site storage or processing.

If the extraction of land material in the same operating area involves simultaneous rock extraction and a stone crushing plant, an environmental permit is usually required in addition to the land materials permit. You can apply for permits with one permit application, in which case the applications are processed together and decided on with one decision.

If other environment-related permits are required for a project in addition to the land materials permit, the applicant may request coordination of the permit procedures from the permit authority, in which case the processing stages of the different permit procedures will be synchronised.

The holder of a land extraction permit shall submit an annual notification of the quantity and nature of the land materials extracted. The notification usually submitted via an electronic notification form.

Permit in accordance with the Act on Cross-country Traffic

Driving in the terrain with a motorised vehicle always requires permission from the landowner, the right of public access does not permit driving in the terrain.

A permit from the municipal environmental protection authority is required for recurring or permanent competitions or practices arranged in the terrain with motorised vehicles. A permit must also be applied for if considerable disruption to nature, residents, public recreational use of the area or fishing can be expected from an individual event.

To whom and on what terms

If a trader has established their business in another country within the European Economic Area and intends to provide their services temporarily in Finland, the trader is subject to the same obligations as all other traders established in Finland.

Background information

Natural terrain refers to an area that is not a road and is not meant for transport. Motor vehicles must not be driven there without the landowner’s permission. If competitions are organised for motor vehicles or motor vehicles practice over natural terrain on a regular basis, a permit must be applied for also from the municipal environmental authorities. A permit must also be applied for if considerable disruption e.g. to nature, residents, public recreational use of the area and fishing can be expected from an individual event.

A permit is not required if the area already has an environmental permit or if the local detailed plan specifies that the purpose of the area is the use motor vehicles.

Permit in accordance with the Water Traffic Act

A permit from the municipal environmental protection authority is required for a repeated or permanent competition or practising, carried out with motorboats or other motorised watercraft. If the event covers several municipalities, the permit application will be processed by the ELY centre. You must apply for a permit if the event is recurring or will be organised regularly. A permit must also be applied for an individual event if it can be expected to cause considerable disruption to nature, the environment, residents, public recreational use of the area and fishing.

A permit as provided in the Water Traffic Act is not required, if the operation already has an environmental permit or if the local plan specifies that this sort of activity is the primary purpose of the area.

To whom and on what terms

If the entrepreneur has established itself in another country in the European Economic Area and temporarily offers services in Finland, the same permits are required as from entrepreneurs established in Finland.

Background information

You must apply for a permit from the municipal environmental authority for a competition or practising carried out with motorboats or other motorised watercraft. If the event covers several municipalities, the permit application will be processed by the ELY centre. You must apply for a permit if the event is recurring or will be organised regularly. A permit must also be applied for an individual event if it can be expected to cause considerable disruption to nature, the environment, residents, public recreational use of the area and fishing.

A permit as provided in the Act on Waterborne Traffic is not required if the area already has an environmental permit or if the local plan specifies that this sort of activity is the primary purpose of the area.

Permit in accordance with the Water Traffic Act

A permit from the municipal environmental protection authority is required for a repeated or permanent competition or practising, carried out with motorboats or other motorised watercraft. If the event covers several municipalities, the permit application will be processed by the ELY centre. You must apply for a permit if the event is recurring or will be organised regularly. A permit must also be applied for an individual event if it can be expected to cause considerable disruption to nature, the environment, residents, public recreational use of the area and fishing.

A permit as provided in the Water Traffic Act is not required, if the operation already has an environmental permit or if the local plan specifies that this sort of activity is the primary purpose of the area.

To whom and on what terms

If the entrepreneur has established itself in another country in the European Economic Area and temporarily offers services in Finland, the same permits are required as from entrepreneurs established in Finland.

Background information

You must apply for a permit from the municipal environmental authority for a competition or practising carried out with motorboats or other motorised watercraft. If the event covers several municipalities, the permit application will be processed by the ELY centre. You must apply for a permit if the event is recurring or will be organised regularly. A permit must also be applied for an individual event if it can be expected to cause considerable disruption to nature, the environment, residents, public recreational use of the area and fishing.

A permit as provided in the Act on Waterborne Traffic is not required if the area already has an environmental permit or if the local plan specifies that this sort of activity is the primary purpose of the area.