Asking for environmental information, in writing, is very similar to requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act.

If you ask for environmental information under FOI Act the authority should treat it as an EIR request. It does not have to be specifically outlined as an EIR request.

As there are differences between the EIR and FOI legislation it always worth making it clear when you are asking for environmental information. The following can be used to make an EIR request:

Dear [Authority name]

I am writing to you under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 to request the following from [inset public authority name/department]:

[Insert details of environmental information, which is being asked for, here]

Please provide the information in the form [insert form that you want the information to be received in here]

In accordance with Regulation 9 please can you provide any advice and assistance that may help my request to be more effective? In any case if my request is too general please provide advice and assistance as to how it can be refined.

I look forward to your response within 20 working days, as stipulated by Regulation 5.

If you have any queries please don’t hesitate to contact me via email or phone, my details are outlined below.

Best wishes,

[Name]


 

I am a journalist and author. I am a journalist at the UK edition of WIRED magazine. In 2015, my first book Freedom of Information: A Practical Guide for UK Journalists, was published. My second book Reed Hastings: Building Netflix, was published in March 2020. I created FOI Directory in 2012 and have maintained it in my spare time ever since.