Environmental Information Regulations 2004

The Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) are European legislation and very similar to the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000. You do not need to know the difference as it is up to us to treat your request for information correctly.

The most important differences to note are:

FOI requests must be in writing, EIR requests can be verbal;
More bodies are subject to the EIR than the FOI Act;
Any environmental information in our 'physical possession' is subject to the EIR.

It is your right to ask us for any environmental information you think we might hold and it is our duty to:

Tell you if we hold this information;
Offer you advice and assistance; and
Provide you with the information if we hold it and no exceptions apply.

In certain limited situations we will not supply information where an exception applies, eg where release would damage the environment. We will tell you why an exception applies. You may ask for a review of any decision not to supply information and have a right of appeal to the Information Commissioner.

A request can be made verbally or in writing (letter, email or form) and must include the name of the applicant, an address for correspondence (an email address is fine) and a description of the information required. Requests can be made to:

Freedom of Information Officer
Buckinghamshire County Council
County Hall, Walton Street
Aylesbury
Buckinghamshire HP20 1UA

We will respond within 20 working days and will not charge for the information unless you ask us for a very large quantity of information.

For more information call 0845 3708090 or email foi@buckscc.gov.uk

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