This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'NIRS reports for Stubbers Green Nature Reserve- Walsall West Midlands'.



 
 
 
 
 
Mr Carroll 
Our Ref: 177617 
Sent by Email: 
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx 
Date: 17 September 2020 
 
 

Dear Mr Carroll 
Re: Internal Review of Freedom of Information/Environmental Information 
Request in respect of information relating to incident reports for Stubbers 
Green Nature Reserve, Walsall, West Midlands in January to June 2020 
 
I refer to your e-mail dated 13 July 2020, in which you requested a review of the 
information provided following your Freedom of Information requests of 6 June and 
15 June 2020.  
 
The Environment Agency received the requests and we responded to those emails 
on 15 June and 26 June 2020 respectively. 
 
Review 
I have conducted an internal review which has concluded that the blank pages in the 
reports were not due to withheld information. For the incident reported on 27 May 
2020 NIRS 018109819 there were a further 9 reports (NIRS refs: 01810994, 
01811002, 01811007, 01811061, 01811343, 01811474, 01811559, 01811828 and 
01812988) that were recorded as ‘duplicates’ of the first incident. The incident details 
were only recorded on the initial incident report NIRS 018109819 hence the blank 
pages in the other reports. 
 
I have concluded that personal information was withheld correctly in accordance with 
EIR Regulations 13(1) and the provisions of the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018. We 
redacted the names of identifiable living individuals (not including Environment 
Agency staff) from our previous response dated 26 June 2020, as we are unable to 
provide you with information which would identify those people. The 
withheld/redacted information was indicated in the report as ‘xx’.   
 
In regards to NIRS ref 01810981, this report was not closed at the time of your 
information request since the investigation was still in progress. The incident is now 
closed and I enclose the completed incident summary. 
 
Additional Information 
I am now able to clarify your other queries. The initial incident assessment was that it 
was a Category 3 incident, however in light of further information this was escalated 
to a Category 1 incident. The Environment Agency managed the incident response 
remotely due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions. Severn Trent Water Ltd 
attended the site to assess the impact of the reported discharge from their asset and 
to investigate the cause.  The cause of the sewage discharge was a blocked sewer 
due to third party vandalism. 
Sentinel House, 9 Wellington Crescent, Fradley Park, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 8RR 
Customer services line: 03708 506 506 
Email:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx 
www.gov.uk/environment-agency  
 

 
The cause of the fish deaths is unknown, most likely a combination of natural factors 
such as low water level, high water temperature, and low oxygen levels associated 
with the hot weather, fish spawning and the sewage input.    
 
NIRS 01772647 on 22 January 2020 was a report of oil, source unknown 
NIRS 01794466 on 1 April 2020 was a due to sewage liquor from a blocked sewer 
but the location was on the watercourse downstream of Stubbers Green Nature 
Reserve so would not affect this site.  
  
Please refer to Open Government Licence which explains the permitted use of the 
above information. 
 
Information Withheld 
We have redacted the enclosed document, as we are not able to disclose any 
information which would identify living individuals (not including Environment Agency 
staff) as this is personal data under the DPA 2018 and to disclose it would breach 
the First Data Protection Principle of the DPA.  
 
As a public body we are required under the Freedom of Information 
Act/Environmental Information Regulations to give reasons for this refusal. We also 
need to show that we have considered the Public Interest balance between refusal 
and disclosure. However, there is no requirement to conduct a public interest test 
where the refusal relates to the exception for personal data. 
 
The information requested is therefore exempt due to Regulation 13(1) of the 
Environmental Information Regulations 2004, which explains that: 
 
“To the extent that the information requested includes personal data of which the 
applicant is not the data subject, a public authority must not disclose the personal 
data if— 
(a) the first condition is satisfied…” 
 
The ‘first condition’ referred to above is further explained in Regulation 13(2A): 
“The first condition is that the disclosure of the information to a member of the public 
otherwise than under these Regulations— 
(a) would contravene any of the data protection principles…” 
 
The First Data Protection Principle requires that we are fair to individuals when we 
collect and use their personal data. In this case it would be unfair to disclose the 
names of individuals who make requests for information, as those individuals have a 
reasonable expectation that their names, given to the Environment Agency, would 
remain confidential. 
 
Right of Appeal 
If you are not satisfied with this review of our decision not to supply the requested 
information you can make an appeal to the Information Commissioner, who is the 
statutory regulator for freedom of information.   
The address is: 
 

Information Commissioner’s Office,  
Wycliffe House,  
Water Lane,  
Wilmslow,  
Cheshire  
SK9 5AF.  
 
Tel: 0303 123 1113 (local rate) or 01625 545 745 (national rate). 
Fax: 01625 524 510.  
Email: xxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx.   
Website: http://www.ico.org.uk 
 
Yours sincerely 
 
 
Jan Cope 
Tame & Upper Avon Land and Water Team Leader 
 
For further information please contact the Customers & Engagement team on  
Tel. 02084 747856 
Direct e-mail:- xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx