Environment Agency
- Date 25 January 2023
- Sector Central government
- Decision(s) EIR 12.5.a: Not upheld, EIR 14: Upheld, EIR 5.2: Upheld
The complainant has requested engineering reports on a reservoir. The above public authority eventually provided some information but relied on regulation 12(5)(a) of the EIR in order to withhold the remainder. The Commissioner’s decision is that the public authority has correctly engaged regulation 12(5)(a) of the EIR and that the balance of the public interest favours maintaining this exception. As the public authority disclosed information and issued its refusal notice outside of the 20 working day timeframe, it breached regulations 5(2) and 14 of the EIR respectively. The Commissioner does not require further steps. First-tier tribunal (General Regulatory chamber) information rights appeal UA-2024-000548-GIA PTA refused.