Environmental Permits and EIA

Environmental Permits

HaminaKotka Satama Oy has separate environmental permits for the ports of Hamina and Kotka. Environmental permits were obtained for port operations and contain reservations for the changing circumstances of the ports. The permit regulations will next be re-examined in 2013. The permits do not include the private licensed operators. Additionally, extension projects, such as dredging and landfills, require their own permit processes.

Environmental permits require the Ports to observe environmental issues continuously. The observation program includes monitoring of usage, emission and impact. The monitoring of emissions includes emission to the air and sea in addition to monitoring waste and noise pollution.

Monitoring of the impact includes the water and air quality. The monitoring is done together with other operators in the area.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

An environmental impact assessment`s (EIA) main objective is to explain environmental issues in financial and technical terms already from the project`s planning phase. The EIA increases information given to people and to other parties and improves their chances for participating in, and making an impact on, plans.

An EIA is not a permit process; rather, it produces background information for securing the environmental permit later.

HaminaKotka Satama Oy’s ports have implemented three EIA’s between 2006 and 2007. These are the Port of Hamina Extension EIA, the Hietanen Harbour dredging and landfill project’s EIA and Mussalo Harbour’s extension EIA.

More information on EIA:

Finlands environmental administration