Environmental permit applications and notifications
Environmental permit applications and notifications
The necessity for an environmental permit or notification is based on the Environmental Protection Act.
Environmental permit applications and notifications
An environmental permit application or notification is required whenever an activity or project poses a risk of adverse effects on the environment. In practice, this concerns most industrial activities, but the Environmental Protection Act provides more detailed grounds for the need for permit. By means of the environmental permit procedure, an authority can ensure that limits set for environmental impacts in the affected area, e.g. emissions to air, water and soil, are considered when planning and implementing activities.
Compared to an environmental permit, an environmental notification is a lighter procedure that applies to activities whose environmental impact is less significant or predictable. During the notification procedure, the operator informs the authority of the activities, and the authority may impose restrictions if necessary.
The processing of environmental permit applications
01
Preparation and submission of an environmental permit application
The operator prepares and submits an environmental permit application to the permit authority in writing. According to the Environmental Protection Act, the writer must have sufficient expertise to compile the application. Depending on the project, the relevant authority is either the Regional State Administrative Agency (AVI) or the municipal environmental protection authority.
02
Supplementing the environmental permit application
The authority reviews the environmental permit application and, if necessary, asks for clarification and more information to support their decision-making at different stages of the permit process. The operator also has a chance to change or supplement their application during the permit process.
03
Announcement
When the application and supplements to it provide sufficient information about the project and its effects and the application meets the requirements of the Environmental Protection Act, the authority informs the parties concerned about the permit application, i.e. announces it. The public notice period is 30 days at a minimum, during which the parties whose right or interest may be affected can express their opinions and submit reminders. The parties involved may be, for example, residents or businesses in the affected area. In addition, the authority requests statements from other relevant authorities. At the end of the public notice period, the applicant can provide their response to opinions, reminders and statements.
04
Decision
While preparing their decision, the authority considers not only the environmental permit application and its supplements, but also the statements made during the public notice period and the operator’s response to them. An issued permit decision is published. During the appeal period (30 days) stated in the permit decision and the announcement, the permit holder and the parties concerned may appeal the decision. Appeals against environmental permit decisions made by both AVI and the municipal authority are filed with the Vaasa Administrative Court. Anyone dissatisfied with the decision of the Vaasa Administrative Court can further appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court should it grant leave to appeal.
05
Schedule
Starting early is a good idea, as the preparation of an environmental permit application may take up to several months depending on the extent of the activity. The Regional State Administrative Agency states an average processing time of 12 months, or 10 months when it comes to new activities, while the municipal authority may have slightly shorter processing times.
Expert assistance streamlines the permit process
Relying on an expert to help prepare the environmental permit application is a wise decision, as the permit process requires in-depth expertise in both environmental legislation and the process itself. A well-drafted application reduces the risk of significant clarification and supplement requests, which considerably speeds up the processing of the application.
Choosing Envineer as your partner provides you with expert support throughout the permit process and ensures that your application meets the requirements of the environmental authority. Having gone through hundreds of permit processes, we are able to estimate the information and documents needed and a productive way to present them to make the process as smooth as possible.
Contact our experts
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Heli Uimarihuhta
Heli’s areas of expertise include environmental impact assessments related to waste management, the circular economy, and mining, as well as environmental permit applications and their associated supplementary studies.
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Janne Nuutinen
Janne’s expertise includes a wide range of environmental studies and modelling, including work related to noise, air quality, and emission measurements. Janne also has extensive experience with environmental permit applications.
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Joni Kivipelto
Joni’s areas of expertise include environmental safety in the mining industry, cooperation with authorities, administrative procedures, environmental permitting and EIA processes, as well as related preliminary design and overall project management. He has particular experience with mining environments and mine environmental protection.