Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004

The Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 provide a right of access to environmental information held by Scottish Public Authorities. The definition of environmental information is very broad and includes:

• the state of elements of the environment and their interaction (air, water, soil, land and landscape, natural sites, flora and fauna);
• discharges, emissions, noise, radiation, waste;
• measures and activities affecting the environment (e.g. policies, legislation, plans, activities);
• reports on implementation of environmental legislation;
• cost benefit and economic analysis;
• effects of the environment on conditions of human life (including flood, buildings).

The Regulations are governed by the Scottish Information Commissioner, who is also responsible for the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.