FLOWCHART
HANDLING REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION UNDER THE ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION 
REGULATIONS 2004
Receive request. 
Assign to the most appropriate person, or if not for 
Is the information readily available 
Advise the applicant 
Confirm EIR (written or 
your department, inform applicant the information is 
on the publication scheme/available 
YES
where to find the 
oral) request – 20 
not held, and either transfer the request or suggest 
publicly/held by another public 
information
working day clock 
applicant re-applies
authority?
starts
NO
Send letter to the applicant 
requesting clarification/more 
Is clarification of the request 
Is the request vexatious, a 
Consult EIR specialist on 
information – 20 day clock stops
YES
required/is the request formulated 
NO
repeated request or part of 
YES
action and respond to 
and restarts on receipt of 
in too general a manner?
a campaign?
theapplicant as appropriate
clarification
NO
Does the complexity and volume of the information requested make it impracticable to 
Search relevant records and establish that the information is held
respond within 20 working days?
NO
YES
Advise the applicant that it will not be possible to deal with 
Is there an obvious reason to apply an exception to disclosure, and does the public interest in maintaining the 
the application within 20 working days and that the time for 
exception outweigh the public interest in disclosing it? Information on emissions must usually be disclosed.
responding will be extended for a maximum of a further 20 
working days
NO
YES
Estimate the cost of complying with the request.  Does it 
Consult EIR specialist regarding writing a refusal 
exceed the appropriate FOI limit?  Decide whether charges 
letter
are appropriate.
NO
YES
Consider whether there is any information that may be of interest to the applicant that is 
Collect and provide the 
available free of charge and provide the information promptly.  Issue the applicant with a 
information promptly
schedule of charges and stop the clock
Fee received within 60 working days of 
the original request/applicant prepared to 
NO
pay the fee
YES
Collect and provide the information 
Advise the applicant that as the fee has not been 
promptly
received the request is considered closed

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