The following duties are handled under the Environment and Natural Resources area of responsibility:
Reporting and monitoring the state of the environment
ELY Centres monitor the state of the environment and any changes within it. Such monitoring work is conducted using biological, physical and chemical variables, among others, and analysing their interaction.
As a basis for their decisions, statements and plans, the ELY Centres use information on environmental load, collected through environmental monitoring and research. They also collect and publish information on the state of the environment in their area; such information can be used by other parties, such as regional councils and citizens.
The regional algae situation is also monitored by ELY Centres. Alongside other algae observers, municipal officers responsible for environmental affairs deliver reports on algae findings at monitoring locations to their regional ELY Centres. The Centres forward this information to the Finnish Environment Institute. Every Wednesday during the summer monitoring period, the Institute compiles the information and prepares a national information bulletin and map illustrating the algae situation.
Environmental and landscape protection
ELY Centres protect natural diversity by establishing nature conservation areas on private land and acquiring land for the state, for the purposes of nature conservation. These efforts aid the preservation of vital stocks and the distribution of native and established species. Within their areas, ELY Centres conduct inventories of habitat types as per the Nature Conservation Act. They also determine the boundaries of habitat types in the field.
The ELY Centres promote and supervise environmental and landscape protection. They are particularly involved in projects to restore and care for valuable traditional landscapes. The Centres also safeguard nature values in land use planning.
Environmental protection
ELY Centres promote the protection of the air, waters and ground and attend to their statutory environmental protection duties. In order to increase environmental awareness, ELY Centres co-ordinate regional co-operation in environmental education. In addition to the general promotion of environmental protection, the centres also handle permit and monitoring tasks as laid down by the Environmental Protection Act, the Water Act and the Waste Act. For instance, ELY Centres handle decisions on notifications of contaminated soil.
The ELY Centres supervise decisions on environmental and water permits issued by the regional state administrative agencies and protect the public interest in environmental and water issues. Environmental permits are issued by the regional state administrative agencies and municipal environmental protection authorities. Activities that require an environmental permit are supervised throughout their duration. ELY Centres and municipal environmental protection authorities act as control authorities.
As laid down in the Act on Environmental Impact Assessment Procedures, ELY Centres act as contact authorities in assessment procedures. They also issue statements on the environmental assessment process for plans and programmes. Assessing environmental impacts means identifying and evaluating the negative and positive impacts of individual projects or plans, and programmes, on humans, nature, the built environment and natural resources.
As a single authority responsible for oil spill response, the ELY Centres prevent and respond to environmental damage and hazards. Dangerous or explosive substances released into the soil, water, sewage system or air constitute such environmental damage. Situations of this kind include oil spills, factory fires, chemical accidents and a tank truck or train transporting dangerous substances swerving off the road, being derailed or crashing.
In an accident, alongside the rescue authorities, the ELY Centres evaluate the environmental damage caused, assist the authorities and any operator involved, provide information on the situation, make decisions on follow-up measures to cope with the damage, organise monitoring of the situation and the environment from an environmental protection perspective, and issue instructions for the avoidance of an emergency situation.
Steering and monitoring of land use
ELY Centres promote and steer the planning of land use by municipalities and the arrangement of construction functions. They participate in the preparation of regional land use plans, steer and supervise local master plans and local detailed plans in municipalities, and decide on exceptional permits for coastal construction, for instance.
The ELY Centres promote the maintenance of cultural environments and the preservation of heritage sites by steering land use planning in municipalities, granting assistance for the maintenance of built heritage and deciding on the preservation of buildings in accordance with the Act on the Protection of Buildings.
Use and management of water resources
ELY Centres promote the good condition and usability of waters by providing expert assistance in their restoration and participating in the planning and implementation of projects together with municipalities, other officials and those carrying out the restoration project. Centres also ensure flood protection and prevention, for example by steering construction outside flood risk areas. They also participate in prevention measures during floods.
The ELY Centres supervise and steer the regulation of inland waters so that water levels and flows correspond to the objectives set for water use and the state of the environment. They also ensure the safety of dams.
Municipalities are responsible for the general development and arrangement of water supply. ELY Centres are responsible for monitoring the water supply, steering the related planning, and steering financial support within their own areas.
For further information on environmental matters, see the website of Finland's environmental administration.