Source: https://lexisweb.co.uk/si/2004/3301-3400/environmental-information-regulations-2004
Timestamp: 2018-03-21 16:30:41
Document Index: 51118529

Matched Legal Cases: ['art2', 'art 3', 'art3', 'art4', 'art5', 'arts 2']

Environmental Information Regulations 2004 | LexisWeb
Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (2004 No 3391)
These Regulations may be cited as the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 and shall come into force on 1st January 2005.
“the Act” means the Freedom of Information Act 2000;
“the Directive” means Council Directive 2003/4/EC on public access to environmental information and repealing Council Directive 90/313/EEC;
(a) a body referred to in section 80(2) of the Act; and
(b) insofar as not such a body, a Scottish public authority as defined in section 3 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002;
(4) The following expressions have the same meaning in these Regulations as they have in the Data Protection Act 1998, namely—
(a) “data” except that for the purposes of regulation 12(3) and regulation 13 a public authority referred to in the definition of data in paragraph (e) of section 1(1) of that Act means a public authority within the meaning of these Regulations;
(b) “the data protection principles”;
(c) “data subject”; and
(d) “personal data”.
Data Protection99 Human Rights & Civil Liberties95 Freedom of Information95 Information Technology & Telecommunications99
(1) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), these Regulations apply to public authorities.
(a) is in the authority's possession and has been produced or received by the authority; or
4 Dissemination of environmental information
Part2Access to Environmental Information Held by Public Authorities 4Dissemination of environmental information
(1) Subject to paragraph (3), a public authority shall in respect of environmental information that it holds—
(a) the information referred to in Article 7(2) of the Directive; and
(b) facts and analyses of facts which the public authority considers relevant and important in framing major environmental policy proposals.
(1) Subject to paragraph (3) and in accordance with paragraphs (2), (4), (5) and (6) and the remaining provisions of this Part and Part 3 of these Regulations, a public authority that holds environmental information shall make it available on request.
(1) Where an applicant requests that the information be made available in a particular form or format, a public authority shall make it so available, unless—
(a) explain the reason for its decision as soon as possible and no later than 20 working days after the date of receipt of the request for the information;
(b) provide the explanation in writing if the applicant so requests; and
(c) inform the applicant of the provisions of regulation 11 and of the enforcement and appeal provisions of the Act applied by regulation 18.
7Extension of time
(1) Where a request is made under regulation 5, the public authority may extend the period of 20 working days referred to in the provisions in paragraph (2) to 40 working days if it reasonably believes that the complexity and volume of the information requested means that it is impracticable either to comply with the request within the earlier period or to make a decision to refuse to do so.
(a) regulation 5(2);
8Charging
(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) to (8), where a public authority makes environmental information available in accordance with regulation 5(1) the authority may charge the applicant for making the information available.
(a) to make available the information requested; or
(b) to comply with regulations 6 or 14,
9 Advice and assistance
9Advice and assistance
(1) A public authority shall provide advice and assistance, so far as it would be reasonable to expect the authority to do so, to applicants and prospective applicants.
10 Transfer of a request
10Transfer of a request
(1) Where a public authority that receives a request for environmental information does not hold the information requested but believes that another public authority or a Scottish public authority holds the information, the public authority shall either—
(a) transfer the request to the other public authority or Scottish public authority; or
(b) supply the applicant with the name and address of that authority,
11 Representations and reconsideration
11Representations and reconsideration
(1) Subject to paragraph (2), an applicant may make representations to a public authority in relation to the applicant's request for environmental information if it appears to the applicant that the authority has failed to comply with a requirement of these Regulations in relation to the request.
(b) the action the authority has decided to take to comply with the requirement; and
(c) the period within which that action is to be taken.
12 Exceptions to the duty to disclose environmental information
Part3Exceptions to the Duty to Disclose Environmental Information 12Exceptions to the duty to disclose environmental information
(1) Subject to paragraphs (2), (3) and (9), a public authority may refuse to disclose environmental information requested if—
(a) in a case where the information falls within any of paragraphs (a) to (d) of the definition of “data” in section 1(1) of the Data Protection Act 1998, that the disclosure of the information to a member of the public otherwise than under these Regulations would contravene—
14 Refusal to disclose information
14Refusal to disclose information
(1) If a request for environmental information is refused by a public authority under regulations 12(1) or 13(1), the refusal shall be made in writing and comply with the following provisions of this regulation.
(a) any exception relied on under regulations 12(4), 12(5) or 13; and
15 Ministerial certificates
15Ministerial certificates
(1) A Minister of the Crown may certify that a refusal to disclose information under regulation 12(1) is because the disclosure—
(a) would adversely affect national security; and
(b) would not be in the public interest under regulation 12(1)(b).
(a) a Minister of the Crown may designate a person to certify the matters in that paragraph on his behalf; and
(b) a refusal to disclose information under regulation 12(1) includes a response under regulation 12(6).
(a) shall be conclusive evidence of the matters in that paragraph; and
(b) may identify the information to which it relates in general terms.
16 Issue of a code of practice and functions of the Commissioner
Part4Code of Practice and Historical Records 16Issue of a code of practice and functions of the Commissioner
(1) The Secretary of State may issue, and may from time to time revise, a code of practice providing guidance to public authorities as to the practice which it would, in the Secretary of State's opinion, be desirable for them to follow in connection with the discharge of their functions under these Regulations.
(a) a public authority is a reference to a public authority within the meaning of these Regulations;
(b) the requirements or operation of the Act, or functions under the Act, includes a reference to the requirements or operation of these Regulations, or functions under these Regulations; and
(c) a code of practice made under section 45 of the Act includes a reference to a code of practice made under this regulation.
17 Historical and transferred public records
17Historical and transferred public records
(1) Where a request relates to information contained in a historical record other than one to which paragraph (2) applies and the public authority considers that it may be in the public interest to refuse to disclose that information under regulation 12(1)(b), the public authority shall consult—
(a) the Lord Chancellor, if it is a public record within the meaning of the Public Records Act 1958; or
(b) the appropriate Northern Ireland Minister, if it is a public record to which the Public Records Act (Northern Ireland) 1923 applies,
(a) subject to paragraph (4), a determination on whether it may be in the public interest to refuse to disclose that information under regulation 12(1)(b) shall be made by the responsible authority;
(b) the responsible authority shall communicate its determination to the appropriate records authority within such time as is reasonable in all the circumstances; and
(c) the appropriate records authority shall comply with regulation 5 in accordance with that determination.
(a) the Lord Chancellor, if the transferred public record is a public record within the meaning of the Public Records Act 1958; or
(b) the appropriate Northern Ireland Minister, if the transferred public record is a public record to which the Public Records Act (Northern Ireland) 1923 applies,
(a) the obligations of a responsible authority under paragraphs (3)(a) and (b) and (4); and
(b) the imposition of any requirement to furnish information relating to compliance with regulation 5.
18 Enforcement and appeal provisions
Part5Enforcement and Appeals, Offences, Amendment and Revocation 18Enforcement and appeal provisions
(1) The enforcement and appeals provisions of the Act shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations as they apply for the purposes of the Act but with the modifications specified in this regulation.
(a) Part IV of the Act (enforcement), including Schedule 3 (powers of entry and inspection) which has effect by virtue of section 55 of the Act; and
(b) Part V of the Act (appeals).
(a) for any reference to—
(i) “this Act” there shall be substituted a reference to “these Regulations”; and
(ii) “Part I” there shall be substituted a reference to “Parts 2 and 3 of these Regulations”;
(b) any reference to a public authority is a reference to a public authority within the meaning of these Regulations;
(c) for any reference to the code of practice under section 45 of the Act (issue of a code of practice by the Secretary of State) there shall be substituted a reference to any code of practice issued under regulation 16(1);
(d) in section 50(4) of the Act (contents of decision notice)—
(i) in paragraph (a) for the reference to “section 1(1)” there shall be substituted a reference to “regulation 5(1)”; and
(ii) in paragraph (b) for the references to “sections 11 and 17” there shall be substituted references to “regulations 6, 11 or 14”;
(e) in section 56(1) of the Act (no action against public authority) for the words “This Act does not confer” there shall be substituted the words “These Regulations do not confer”;
(f) in section 57(3)(a) of the Act (appeal against notices served under Part IV) for the reference to “section 66” of the Act (decisions relating to certain transferred public records) there shall be substituted a reference to “regulations 17(2) to (5)”;
(g) in paragraph 1 of Schedule 3 to the Act (issue of warrants) for the reference to “section 77” (offence of altering etc records with intent to prevent disclosure) there shall be substituted a reference to “regulation 19”; and
(h) in paragraph 8 of Schedule 3 to the Act (matters exempt from inspection and seizure) for the reference to “information which is exempt information by virtue of section 23(1) or 24(1)” (bodies and information relating to national security) there shall be substituted a reference to “information whose disclosure would adversely affect national security”.
(a) for the reference to a certificate under section 24(3) of the Act (national security) there shall be substituted a reference to a certificate issued in accordance with regulation 15(1);
(b) subsection (2) shall be omitted; and
(c) in subsection (3), for the words, “the Minister did not have reasonable grounds for issuing the certificate” there shall be substituted the words “the Minister or person designated by him did not have reasonable grounds for issuing the certificate under regulation 15(1)”.
Constitutional Law92 Public Order & Protection of the Public92
19 Offence of altering records with intent to prevent disclosure
19Offence of altering records with intent to prevent disclosure
(a) a request for environmental information has been made to a public authority under regulation 5; and
(b) the applicant would have been entitled (subject to payment of any charge) to that information in accordance with that regulation,
(a) in England and Wales, except by the Commissioner or by or with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions; or
(1) Section 39 of the Act is amended as follows.
(b) regulations made under section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 for the purpose of implementing any Community obligation relating to public access to, and the dissemination of, information on the environment.”.
(a) The Environmental Information Regulations 1992 and the Environmental Information (Amendment) Regulations 1998 except insofar as these apply to Scottish public authorities; and
(b) The Environmental Information Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993 and the Environmental Information (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998.
These Regulations implement Council Directive 2003/4/EC on public access to environmental information and repealing Council Directive 90/313/EEC (OJ No L 41, 14.2.2003, p 26), except in relation to Scottish public authorities (as specified in section 80(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and defined in section 3 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002). Separate Regulations will be made by Scottish Ministers to implement this Directive in respect of Scottish public authorities.
Regulation 2 contains definitions of expressions in these Regulations, including the definition of environmental information, which is the same as in Council Directive 2003/4/EC Except as provided in these definitions, expressions in these Regulations which appear in Council Directive 2003/4/EC have the same meaning in these Regulations as they have in that Directive.
Regulation 21 revokes previous Environmental Information Regulations: SI 1992/3240, as amended by SI 1998/1447, except insofar as these apply to Scottish public authorities; and the Environmental Information (Northern Ireland) Regulations 1993 (SR 1993 No 45) as amended by the Environmental Information (Northern Ireland) Regulations 1998 (SR 1998 No 238).
Freedom of Information93 EU European Communities92 Human Rights & Civil Liberties93 Data Protection99 Information Technology & Telecommunications99 EU Science, Information, Education & Culture94 European Union Law92 EU Freedom, Security & Justice92