The CAA’s Environmental Work

The Ministry of Transport and Communications did not set any special environmental objectives for the CAA for the review year. Instead, the CAA has followed the ministry’s operating policy on environmental matters which it published in the spring of 2005 for the whole administrative sector. The most important points in the programme as far as aviation is concerned cover noise control, prevention of water and soil pollution and the rehabilitation of polluted land. During the review year, the aircraft noise area around Helsinki- Vantaa Airport was studied, environmental surveys were made for Kuopio and Oulu and polluted areas of land have been rehabilitated at Pori and Vantaa.

In contrast to other communications infrastructure institutions, the maintenance of the CAA’s service network mainly requires official environmental permission under the environmental protection Act. By the end of the review year, environmental permits had been sought for six airports, which were Tampere-Pirkkala, Turku, Mariehamn, Utti, Oulu and Helsinki-Malmi. Of these, the decision on Utti was received on November 1st 2005. The CAA felt that as far as civilian activity is concerned, the decision allows sufficient scope for the development of the airport and therefore did not appeal against it.

In addition to the airports mentioned, a decision on the necessity of a permit has either been made or the timetable for a permit application is already known regarding five other airports. In respect of two airports, the regional environmental centre has felt that it is as yet unnecessary to apply for an environmental permit under the environmental protection Act. As far as the CAA is concerned, managing the environmental permit process is still one of the more important ways in which it can meet the demands set by society for its activities.