Right of access to environmental information

Access to environmental information plays an essential role in raising environmental awareness and educating society, and is an indispensable tool for informed participation in public affairs.

Any natural or legal person, as well as their associations, organisations and groups, may request or receive environmental information held by public administrations and entities and by private entities that perform public functions or provide public services, regardless of their nationality or domicile.

Citizens' rights

In accordance with Article 3 of Law 27/2006, of 18 July, the rights regarding access to environmental information are: 

1. To access environmental information held by public authorities, which is a universal public right:
   • Without the obligation to declare a specific interest,
   • Regardless of nationality or place of residence.
2. To be informed of their rights under the law and to be advised on how to exercise them correctly. 
3. To be assisted in the search for information: in order to comply with the second  and third points, the Administration must make mechanisms available to citizens to enable them to exercise these rights. In the case of the Regional Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, the Information and Citizen Service (SIAC)
4. To receive the requested information within a maximum period of one month. Exceptionally, this period may be extended to two months if the volume and/or complexity of the request does not allow the one-month deadline to be met. In this case, and always before the end of the month, the applicant must be informed of the extension and the reasons for it.
5. To receive the information in the chosen form or format. On this point, it should be noted that this right has its limits when: 
   • The information has already been disseminated in another form or format that is easily accessible to the applicant. In this case, the competent public authority shall inform the applicant where they can access the information or shall send it to them in the available format.
   • The public authority considers it reasonable to make the information available to the applicant in another form or format and justifies this adequately.
6. To know the reasons why the requested information is denied, in whole or in part.
7. To know the list of fees and prices that may be charged for receiving the information: currently, the Regional Ministry provides environmental information upon request free of charge.