Environment Agency

In a five part request, the complainant has requested information associated with the operation of the sewerage system at Whitburn, and information associated with a previous request for information he had submitted to it.  The Environment Agency (EA) refused to comply with parts 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the request.  EA complied with part 5 of the request. EA subsequently confirmed to the Commissioner that it is relying on regulation 12(4)(b) (manifestly unreasonable request). The Commissioner’s decision is that parts 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the request are manifestly unreasonable under regulation 12(4)(b) of the EIR - by virtue of being vexatious - and that the public interest favours maintaining the exception. The Commissioner does not require the EA to take any remedial steps. Information Tribunal appeal EA/2019/0347 allowed.