You have the right to request environmental information held by public authorities under the Environmental Information Regulations. You can make requests by letter, email, telephone or in person. The regulations are designed to create a culture of openness.
Unless exceptions apply, the public authority must aim to meet your requirements regarding the form or format of the information, if stated.
If you are dissatisfied with the way the public authority has dealt with your request, you may put your comments to the public authority and it must then reconsider its decision. If you are still dissatisfied after the reconsideration procedure, you make a complaint to us and we will investigate the case independently and act on its conclusions.
The applicant can appeal the ICO's decision to the Information Tribunal.
Responding to requests
The public authority must respond to the applicant within 20 working days by providing the information or issuing a refusal notice. The time limit can only be extended (to 40 working days) if the information requested is complex and voluminous.
Public authorities must provide advice and assistance to applicants when necessary. A reasonable charge may be made for environmental information. No charge may be made for environmental information held in registers or lists or for viewing the information at the public authority's premises. There is no 'appropriate limit' to the cost of providing environmental information.
If the public authority refuses access to information, it must explain which exception applies and why releasing the information is not in the public interest.