Requesting Public Records

Requesting Public Records. A. Freedom of Information Officer. The Freedom of Information Officer (“FOI Officer”), located in MDEQ, is responsible for overseeing compliance with the Act. Persons requesting public records maintained by MDEQ must submit a public records request to the FOI Officer within the agency. Although the FOI Officer oversees compliance with the Act, other staff members may process the request. The public records request must be made and addressed specifically to MDEQ and not any other agency or other governmental entity. B. Format of Request. Any person requesting public records maintained by MDEQ must make a formal written request to the FOI Officer. The formal written request must include the following information: 1. Name of requestor; 2. Address of requestor; 3. Specifics1 on the type of information requested; 4. Name of facility (if applicable); 5. City and county where facility is located (if applicable); 6. Other contact information, including telephone number and any e-mail address; and 7. The date and time of day of the request. A variety of records are available on the MDEQ website at http://www.deq.state.ms.us/mdeq.nsf/page/Main_Home?OpenDocument and more specifically http://opc.deq.state.ms.us/default.aspx. Requestors are encouraged to view the documents available on the web-site prior to submitting a records request. C. Record Request Submission. Public record requests must be submitted either by mail, e- mail, or fax to one of the following locations: Mail: Freedom of Information Officer Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality P.O. Box 2261 Jackson, MS 39225 E-mail: FOI_Mail@deq.state.ms.us Fax: (601) 354-6356 Additional contact and other information can be found on MDEQ’s web-site located at http://www.deq.state.ms.us/mdeq.nsf/page/legal_foiaInquiries?OpenDocument.