Environmental Information Regulations (EIR)
The Environmental Information Regulations (EIR)
give members of the public the right to access environmental
information held by public authorities.
What is Environmental Information?
The regulations have broadened the definition of
environmental information. Environmental information covers
information on the state of the environment, such as:
- Air, water, soil, land, flora and fauna
(including human beings),diversity, genetically modified
organisms
- Information on emissions and discharges, noise,
energy, radiation, waste and other such substances
- Measures and activities such as policies, plans
and agreements
- Reports, cost benefit and economic
analyses
- The state of human health and safety,
contamination of the food chain
- Cultural sites and built structures (as they may
be affected by environmental factors)
Further information on the EIR is available here (pdf.
document) or you can visit the Information Commissioners
web site.
Charging for access to information
Under EIR, a public
authority cannot make a charge for allowing
you:
- Access to any public register or lists of environmental
information or
- To examine the information (at a place chosen by the public
authority)
However, charging for the provision of the information is at our
discretion. Current rates for information which is classed as
chargeable in our Publication Scheme is £6.31 for extraction of the
document and £0.56 per photocopy. For provision of information
involving a search of records including statutory public records
the charge is £35.25 per hour with a minimum of £70.50 per
search.
Additional guidance on the Freedom of Information
Act and the Environmental Information Regulations are available on
the Information Commissioner's Office website at
http://www.ico.gov.uk/ (link will open in a
new browser window)
Contact details:
Environmental Services
FOI Co-ordinator
Weeley Offices,
Weeley, Essex, CO16 9AJ
01255
686775
foienvironmentalservices@tendringdc.gov.uk
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