1. A visit to the local environmental office
We are pupils in the 8th grade at Lovisanejdens högstadium. We
have all chosen an optional course called Planet Earth, where
we work with topics related to nature and the environment.
For our Comenius task we went to visit the local environmental
office and interviewed Maud Östman about the Finnish
environmental laws. Finland´s nature is clean and beautiful
because we have very strict laws and usually observe them.

2. . 1. Why did you want to work with environmental issues? For how long have you
been working?
• I got interested in biology at high school. After that I studied biology at Åbo
Akademi. I came to the region of Östra Nyland and Lovisa by mere chance.
I've worked in Lovisa since 1994.
2. Can you describe your different tasks at work?
• I have to follow the laws, more specifically The Environmental Protection Act,
which is the law protecting nature in Finland. I work with permit issues, for
example permissions for bigger operations like local powerplants and soil
resources.
3. Do you have any power to change/decide what people have to do?
I don't have a great deal of power, but if there are two options to choose from I
am usually allowed to give my opinion.

3. 4. Are crimes against the environmental laws common? What kinds of crimes are
they? What are the consequences?
- There are different kinds of crimes. I have a lot of other things to do, so some
offences may continue for some time before anyone notices them. A typical
example would be waste disposal in the wrong way, that people leave waste in the
wrong places. We also carry out inspections at building sites to make sure that
everything is done according to regulations. The consequences for smaller crimes;
correct the wrongdoing. For bigger crimes; fines and, of course, there is prison. In
order to make the punishments fit the crime we cooperate with the police.

4. 5. Which laws are the most important
ones in your opinion?
- The Environmental Protection Act
and the Air Protection Law.
6. Which laws are the most effective
ones?
- The Enviromental Protection Act. It
should be observed at all times.
7. Which laws have the biggest impact
on young people?
- Noise laws. For example, if you are
at a concert there must be certain
limits to how loud the music can be
played so that it doesn't disturb
anyone