Nature conservation organisations are calling for the Kevitsa mine to change its operations in order to prevent or at least minimise environmental pollution.
The Finnish League for Nature Conservation’s Lapland District and Rajat Lapin kaivoksille ry have submitted a petition to the Lapland Environment Protection Centre to force Boliden’s Kevitsa mine to make changes to prevent or at least reduce the impact on the Koitelainen Nature Reserve, groundwater, small waters, Mataraoja and the Kemijoki River Kitinen water body under the EU Water Framework Directive.
As a supervisory authority under the Environmental Protection Act, the Environmental Protection Agency should, according to the associations, also investigate whether Boliden Kevitsa has organised its operations in full compliance with the provisions of the permit in force, environmental legislation and the obligations of the directives.
Traces in nature are visible in satellite images
According to the Association of Lapland Mines, traces of mining are already visible in the water, snow, needle, lava and permit samples collected from the Natura area north of the mine.
A reindeer herder spotted a puppy worm and black holes
– On the last sledging trips of spring, I have noticed that when Huutomaa aava is in full summer and it is lilting black, Loueaava and other surrounding aavas are still in full winter. There’s something there that shouldn’t be. In Huutomaa-aava, the water is already the color of coffee, while elsewhere it is completely clear, compares reindeer herder Juhani Maijala to the situation around Kevitsa.
Maijala has followed the region since the 1980s and has noticed that a change has taken place. Maijala no longer goes to the east side of Kevitsa with her reindeer, because the area has already decreased so much that there is not enough food for the reindeer.
– In some areas in the fells, the lupo has completely run out. It’s unlikely that the border of climate change goes exactly at this point, laughs reindeer herder Juhani Maijala.
Regulatory activities, if not more
– The operation has been under control and the environmental impact has been minimized by anticipating and using these best practices, says Holm.
According to Holm, Kevitsa operates in accordance with the mining responsibility model and develops its operating methods to be even more responsible.
– Our operations actually exceed the requirements laid down by law, says Holm.
However, Holm says that the mine takes actions like the launch seriously and says that it listens with a sensitive ear to the messages of stakeholders. He takes a calm approach to the launch itself.
– Now let’s see what the supervisory authority says and act accordingly. We trust the professionalism of the authorities, says Johanna Holm from Boliden’s Kevitsa mine.