Environmental Information Regulations (EIR)
The Environmental Information Regulations 2004 provides members of the public with the right to access environmental information held by public authorities.
What is environmental information?
The Regulations divide Environmental information into the following six areas:
- The state of the elements of the environment, such as air, water, soil, land, fauna (including human beings)
- Emissions and discharges, noise, energy, radiation, waste and other such substances
- Measures and activities such as policies, plans, and agreements affecting or likely to affect the state of the elements of the environment
- Reports, cost-benefit and economic analyses
- The state of human health and safety, contamination of the food chain
- Cultural sites and built structures (to the extent they may be affected by the state of the elements of the environment)
Making a request for environmental information
Requests for environmental information can be made to Gloucester City Council by letter, email, telephone or in person.
The Council is legally obliged to provide environmental information within 20 working days, unless the information is exempt from disclosure.
Review and Complaints
Similar to complaints relating to Freedom of Information requests, complaints regarding the way in which requests under the Environmental Information Regulations have been dealt with should be directed (in writing) to the Council's Business Improvement Team in the first instance. If the applicant remains dissatisfied with the Council's response, they will have the right to apply to the ICO for a decision.
To make a request for environmental information email - foi@gloucester.gov.uk
For more detailed information relating to both the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 visit the Information Commissioner's Office website at: ico.org.uk