Police investigate environmental crime at Muhos data centre worksite – Google subsidiary suspected
Oulu police have initiated a preliminary investigation into environmental damage at Tuike Finland's Muhos data centre project. The investigation concerns drainage and water management.
Police suspect environmental crime at Google subsidiary's data centre worksite in Muhos
Oulu police have initiated a preliminary investigation on the charge of environmental damage relating to preparatory work at Tuike Finland's Muhos data centre worksite, according to ksml.fi. Tuike Finland is a Google subsidiary.
A total of five investigation requests have been filed in the matter, which are being handled in the same criminal investigation. Based on initial information, there have been irregularities and deficiencies in the worksite's drainage and water management, police announced on Thursday.
"Due to the scope of the matter, the preliminary investigation is estimated to take a long time, and efforts will be made to complete it during 2027," police stated in their announcement.
The Permits and Supervision Authority (LVV) filed an investigation request with police a week ago concerning the project. The LVV had previously urged Tuike Finland to suspend preparatory activities for the data centre projects at both Muhos and Kajaani's Otanmäki site until environmental impact assessment procedures have been completed.
In Muhos, 330 hectares of forest were felled, and in Kajaani, nearly 200 hectares, which Google confirmed to the national broadcaster Yle. The company has held that the logging and preparatory work were lawful under forest use notifications and section 109 of the Building Act.
The LVV has requested additional information from Tuike Finland regarding maintenance, security and environmental protection measures in the project areas by 5 November. The authority assessed that the methods presented in the notification could not adequately demonstrate proper management of water system impacts with sufficient certainty. Monitoring results provided by the company have already revealed changes indicative of acidification.
Source: Google News FI — Crime (fi)