LVV orders Google to suspend Muhos and Kajaani site work after 530 hectares cleared without EIA

LVV issued the suspension notice following inspections that documented tree felling, topsoil stripping and road construction at Muhos (330 ha) and Kajaani (200 ha). The authority determined these actions altered the environment in ways the EIA procedure is required to evaluate before approval. Google must submit a written response by next Wednesday and cannot resume significant changes until the assessment finishes later this year.

The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation recorded both sites reduced to sand, with no remaining forest structure. LVV head Tommi Muilu stated the measures produce impacts whose identification is a core EIA objective. Google acknowledged it fell short of internal standards while claiming good-faith compliance with the Forestry Act and prior nature surveys. It committed to planting trees on 130 hectares at Muhos.

The pattern reflects accelerated permitting under demand pressure for AI infrastructure. Small municipalities lack capacity to enforce EIA sequencing when multiple €13 billion projects compete for northern Finland sites. Similar rushed clearances have occurred in other Nordic jurisdictions where land-use rules lag behind hyperscale buildouts.

If Google misses the deadline, LVV can initiate enforcement fines and compulsory restoration orders. The ongoing EIA will determine whether additional mitigation or site redesign is mandated before full construction resumes.