Prosecutor drops environmental crime investigation into Kevitsa mine

The prosecutor’s office has closed a preliminary investigation into alleged environmental crimes at the Kevitsa mine in Sodankylä, northern Finland, after determining that the mine’s current management did not commit any offenses, Yle reports.

The investigation, launched in 2025 following complaints by environmental groups Rajat Lapin kaivoksille and Villilohi, found that the mine’s tailings pond had released harmful emissions into the environment in violation of its original permit. However, prosecutors concluded that no criminal liability could be assigned to the current operator, Boliden Kevitsa Mining, as key personnel and responsibilities had changed repeatedly since the violations occurred.

Prosecutors emphasized that the company’s current leadership had taken corrective action, including cooperative measures with regulatory authorities and the implementation of protective pumping to mitigate environmental damage. The investigation found no evidence that the mine’s operations had breached groundwater protection laws or posed ongoing risks to public health.

The environmental groups had also called for an investigation into whether officials at the regional environmental authority (now the Permit and Supervision Agency) had neglected their duties by failing to address the mine’s environmental impact. No further action was taken on those allegations.

Background reports from 2023 had previously highlighted concerns over metal leakage from the mine’s tailings pond into groundwater and surface water.