In exceptional cases, the government may be fully responsible for implementation and costs of a project

In exceptional cases, the government, i.e. the Finnish Supervisory Agency, may organise the investigation or remediation of a contaminated area and bear the full costs. 

Exceptional cases are as follows:

  • From a general environmental benefit standpoint, investigation or remediation is necessary due to: the urgency of a given matter; systematic investigation of areas; lack of a responsible party; safeguarding the conservation purpose of an area protected under nature conservation legislation; securing the extraction of a groundwater area used for water supply; or another comparable reason.
  • Contamination poses or threatens to pose a particularly serious hazard or harm to health or an individual’s living environment.

Organising is discretionary and can only be undertaken within the limits of the appropriations allocated by the Ministry of the Environment. The requirements for organising a project are the same as for awarding government grants. In addition, it is required that investigation or remediation of a contaminated site is necessary from a general environmental and health benefit standpoint.

Organising may be initiated by the Finnish Supervisory Agency on the basis of risk site scores given in the Clean Soil Programme. Another party may also make a free-form initiative or proposal on organising. The Finnish Supervisory Agency issues a decision on the organising wherein the interested parties, such as the owner or holder of the property, and, if necessary, the authorities of the municipality concerned, are consulted. The decision may be appealed.