Environmental Information Regulations 2004

The draft regulations will allow the public the right to request access a variety of environmental information held by public authorities on air, water and land, to flora and fauna, natural sites, food, the built environment and health. The new regulations implement provisions relating to access to environmental information of the Aarhus Convention and provisions of Council Directive 2003/4/EC on public access to environmental information. The amended regulations will mean information can only be withheld if the public interest in doing so clearly outweighs the public interest in disclosure.(Original source: http://www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/what_is_sd/pdf/eir2004-draftsi.pdf)