FINLAND Law and Practice Contributed by: Tarja Pirinen, Fiiu Linninen, Teija Lius and Marko Koski, HPP Attorneys Ltd
also be cancelled if the activities are estimated to jeopardise national defence, security of sup - ply, the operation of infrastructure necessary for the functioning of society or other comparable national security interests. If the deficiencies, violations or neglect can be corrected or are insignificant, the permit authority shall set a time limit for the permit-holder in question to rectify the defect, violation or neglect, before making an above-mentioned decision. An exploration permit or a mining permit may be assigned to another party. The assignee shall fulfil requirements corresponding to those applicable to the permit-holder under the Min - ing Act. Furthermore, the assignee of a mining permit concerning the production of uranium or thorium shall hold a permit for mining operations as specified in the Nuclear Energy Act. Assign - ment may be cancelled on the basis of national security (please see the paragraph above).
suojelulaki ); the Act on Environmental Impact Assessment Procedures, the EIA Act (No 252/2017, laki ympäristövaikutusten arvioin- timenettelystä ), the Water Act (No 587/2011, vesilaki ), which governs water-related construc - tion projects and the use of water resources and the aquatic environment; the Waste Act (No 646/2011, jätelaki ), which governs waste man - agement and littering, the prevention of waste generation, and the prevention of danger and harm to human health and the environment caused by waste; the Nature Conservation Act (No 9/2023, luonnonsuojelulaki ), which governs nature and landscape conservation and man - agement; the Land Use and Building Act (No 132/1999, maankäyttö- ja rakennuslaki ), which governs planning of areas and the construc - tion and use of areas (as of 1 January 2025, the Act will be divided into the Land Use Planning Act (No 132/1999, alueidenkäyttölaki ), govern - ing the planning, construction and use of land, and the Building Act (751/2023, rakentamislaki ), governing the planning, construction and use of buildings); and the Chemicals Act (No 599/2013, kemikaalilaki ), which governs the enforcement of European Union chemicals legislation and cer - tain national obligations regarding chemicals. Environmental Authorities The main general authority to control environ - mental policy, draft environmental legislation and guide other authorities’ work relating to environmental issues is the Ministry of the Envi - ronment ( ympäristöministeriö ). The competent permitting authorities for envi - ronmental permits relating to mining operations are the Regional State Administrative Agencies ( aluehallintovirasto ), which are charged with issuing environmental permits for activities with major environmental impacts, as well as all per - mits under the Water Act.
2. Impact of Environmental Protection and Community Relations on Mining Projects 2.1 Environmental Protection and Licensing of Mining Projects Environmental Legislation
Environmental issues are regulated by many dif - ferent national environmental laws and policies. As Finland is a European Union member state, a considerable share of Finnish environmental legislation and policies are based on EU environ - mental policy and regulation, either as directly applicable EU regulations or through the imple - mentation of EU directives. The principal environmental laws affecting the mining industry include the Environmental Pro - tection Act, the EPA, (No 527/2014, ympäristön-
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