Public Records Request
The Washington State Public Disclosure Law (RCW 42.17) requires public access to all records. All documents produced by an agency are considered records and are therefore considered public records. The exemptions to public review are quite specific and narrowly defined.
The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) is a public agency obligated to provide copies of public records to members of the public upon request. The agency has a Records Management Policy and Public Information Request Procedures document approved by its Board of Directors July, 1998. ORCAA is not obligated to compile information from various records so that information is in a form which is more useful to the requester. For example, if somebody would like to see the complaints about a source for the time period 1990-1995, ORCAA only needs to provide copies of all complaints.
Information requests must be made in writing in person, by mail, fax or e-mail.
Within five business days of receiving a request for public records, ORCAA shall acknowledge receipt of request by either:
- Providing the record for inspection and/or copying;
- Providing a reasonable estimate of the time necessary to respond or Denying the request. If denied, a written statement must be included setting out the reason therefor.