INTRODUCTION

On February 3rd, 2002, the New York Times published an article entitled “Top Secret: When the Government Doesn’t Tell,” saying that more than any of its recent predecessors, the current administration has a penchant for government secrecy and that “The White House has steadfastly refused to tell Congress about contacts last year between corporate executives and a task force to develop energy policy.”

As the Enron scandal shows, people want to know what government is doing when it comes to environmental policy. It reiterates the need for freedom of information and that’s why SERC has created a template for a strong state open records law.

Photo courtesy of the U.S. National Archives & Records Administration

Any citizen can use a strong state open records law to help defend the environment. For instance, using the State Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), you can:

  • Look at hazardous waste sites and chemical company records to see if any poisons have leaked into your neighborhood or to see what types of chemicals are stored nearby.
  • Determine what is being dumped in a landfill near your home.
  • Find out if an oil company has the authority to drill off the beach by your community.
  • Locate zoning information and the cost of a planned expressway behind your house.
  • Know the facilities that manufacture, process, or use more than 100 pounds of lead, which is highly toxic, and release it into the air, land, and water.

The Federal FOIA does not always cover state records, and many states do not have a strong open records law in place. The Florida FOIA is one of the strongest in the country, but has recently come under attack in the state legislature.

This website offers the tools necessary for you to use a strong FOIA to defend the environment in your state, including a sample bill, talking points, a sample FOIA request letter, a press release, press clips, a fact pack, research, and other background information.

We may have other useful materials on this subject which are not posted on our website. Please feel free to contact us at info@serconline.org or call our office in Madison, WI at (608) 252-9800.

If you’ve used this site and found it helpful or, if you have suggestions about how it could be made more helpful, please let us know. Please feel free to use the sample bill text included here in your state. If you do, please notify us.
This package was last updated on July 29, 2003.
State Environmental Resource Center
106 East Doty Street, Suite 200 § Madison, Wisconsin 53703
Phone: 608-252-9800 § Fax: 608-252-9828
Email: info@serconline.org