About

The Environmental Information Regulations 2004

Making requests

The Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) give you a general right of access to environmental information held by public authorities, including BODC. As with the Freedom of Information Act (FOI), the EIR sets out exemptions to that right and place obligations on public authorities such as BODC. Under EIR, any member of the public can apply for access to environmental information held by public sector bodies.

Requests for environmental information under EIR can be made verbally or in writing (letter or email) and BODC will respond in writing. We may contact you if a request is considered too general, to try to determine what information is required.

The time limit for us to deal with your request for information is 20 working days following receipt of the request. Where the request is complex we may exercise our option to extend the time limit to 40 days. Should this happen, we will inform you within the original 20 working days. We can make a reasonable charge for providing you with environmental information under EIR. Information on our charges can be obtained through our enquiry service.

Under EIR, there are a number of exemptions, which may mean we cannot provide you with the environmental information requested. If this happens, we will explain our decision in a refusal notice. This may involve an explanation of the reasons why it is in the public interest to withhold the information.

If we do not hold the information you request, we will do our best to forward your request (with your permission) to another public authority that does hold it.

If you are dissatisfied with the way we deal with your request, you can complain. You must apply in writing within 40 working days of receipt of our refusal notice. We will respond to your complaint within 40 working days and, if you are still dissatisfied with our response, you have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner.