The Environment Agency is an Executive Non-Departmental Public body responsible to The Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, and an Assembly Sponsored Public body responsible to The National Assembly of Wales. Established in 1997 its principal aims are to protect and improve the environment, and to promote sustainable development. It plays a central role in delivering the environmental priorities of central government and the Welsh Assembly Government through its functions and roles.
As a key player in the regulation and monitoring of the rattlechain site, we asked The Environment Agency a number of FOI questions. These were answered under The Environmental Information Regulations 2004. These requests were asked in such a way as to obtain information which could lead to further requests based on that information- sometimes leading to unexpected pathways of information opening up. In general to get the best out of this Act, you have to be very inventive.