There is an increasing drive towards greater transparency and disclosure of environmental information.
However, the obligation to disclose is not unlimited, and organisations need to understand where the boundaries lie and how legitimate interests in confidentiality can be protected.
The Environmental Information Regulations are increasingly being used by activists, objectors, journalists and competitors to obtain access to commercially sensitive information relating to major projects and day-to-day operations.
This session will provide a practical overview of the EIR regime and the challenges it presents for organisations involved in infrastructure, energy, environmental and regulated sectors. Our experts will also discuss key actions that organisations can take to strengthen their approach to environmental information management, protect legitimately confidential information and disclosure risk.
Topics covered will include:
- When organisations may become subject to EIR obligations.
- The growing use of EIR requests as a tactical tool by third parties.
- Practical information governance steps to reduce disclosure risk.
- Managing environmental information throughout the lifecycle of a project.
- Common exceptions, including commercial confidentiality and other grounds for withholding information.
- Recent trends and lessons learned from EIR disputes and regulatory investigations.
- The ability to protect confidential and commercially sensitive information provided to environmental regulators, including as part of the environmental permitting process.
