Environmental Information Regulations

The Environmental Information Regulations (EIRs) give a right of access to obtain information about the environment held by public authorities, subject to exceptions. Like the Freedom of Information Act, the EIRs were brought in to encourage openness within the public sector.

Requests under the EIRs can be made by letter, email or verbally via telephone or in person.

Environmental information is divided into the following six main areas:

1. The state of the elements of the environment, such as air, water, soil, land, fauna (including human beings)
2. Emissions and discharges, noise, energy, radiation, waste and other such substances
3. Measures and activities such as policies, plans, and agreements affecting or likely to affect the state of the elements of the environment
4. Reports, cost-benefit and economic analyses
5. The state of human health and safety, contamination of the food chain
6. Cultural sites and built structures (to the extent they may be affected by the state of the elements of the environment)

The contact details to be used in order to submit a request under the Environmental Information Regulations can be found here on the FOI make a request page.