Styria Environment Information Law. Country/Territory Austria Territorial subdivision Steiermark Document type Legislation Date 2005 Source FAO, FAOLEX Long titleLaw regulating the access to environmental information. Subject Environment gen. Keyword Access-to-information Data collection/reporting Pollution control Institution Basic legislation Geographical area Alps, Europe, Europe and Central Asia, European Union Countries, Western Europe Entry into force notes The present Law enters into force on 1 September 2005. Abstract The present Act regulates the procedures and conditions under which the general public may acquire access to environmental information kept by public bodies. Save for restrictions imposed by the need to keep certain information confidential, data on natural resources (air, soil, water, fauna, flora) and on pollution (waste, noise, etc.) are freely accessible to the public, who may obtain it upon oral or written application. The public may challenge refusals to supply this information. Moreover, the text – consisting of 19 articles – deals with the following aspects: purpose of the Law, definition of «environment information”, competent authorities, free access to environment information, motivation for refusal to supply information, treatment of office secrets, legal protection, publication of environmental information, environment protection report, coordination of environmental information, duty to give information and penalties. Full text German Website www.ris.bka.gv.at References - Legislation Implements Commission Decision 2003/241/EC amending Commission Decision 1999/391/EC of 31 May 1999 concerning the questionnaire relating to Council Directive 96/61/EC concerning integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC) (implementation of Council Directive 91/692/EEC) Legislation | European Union | 2003 Keyword: Pollution control, Access-to-information, Data collection/reporting, Freshwater pollution Source: FAO, FAOLEX