Four men fined for environmental damage in Kittilä as companies avoid penalties
Wednesday 30th September 2026 on 06:15 in
Finland
Four men have been fined for environmental damage at a gravel extraction area in Kittilä, while the companies involved were found guilty but spared corporate fines, Yle reports.
The Lapland District Court found that fuel and oil tanks were kept directly on the ground at the Ruoppajärvi gravel extraction area, which is in a groundwater zone, without the protective structures required by the permits. The court said the practices posed a risk of contaminating soil and groundwater. Petroleum hydrocarbon levels above guideline values were found in the soil.
About 225 tonnes of contaminated soil had to be removed from an area of roughly 100 square metres in 2022.
The fines were imposed on a representative of Destia and representatives of two subcontractors. The court found that they had acted with gross negligence by failing to ensure compliance with permit conditions and prevent harmful substances from entering the soil during fuel and oil handling.
Destia had originally held the permits for the site but transferred the extraction rights to another company by agreement without notifying the authorities. Work began in July 2021 without the required financial guarantee or an opening inspection. Authorities discovered deficiencies during inspections in November 2021. Destia held the permits and had primary legal responsibility for complying with and monitoring the permit conditions.
The court also found the companies guilty of negligence but did not impose corporate fines, citing their prompt corrective action and payment for the soil cleanup. Destia was ordered to forfeit 3,000 euros in proceeds from the offence.
Jukka Salovaara, Destia’s regional director for Northern Finland, said by email that the damage resulted from human error and that the company regretted it. He said the damage had been repaired and the negligence no longer posed an environmental risk.
Charges including excessive extraction, digging too deep and operating without a water management permit were dismissed for lack of evidence. A person who had worked as Destia’s environmental specialist was also acquitted. The judgment is not final.