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Columns Picture here. Delivering Access to Environmental Information: Challenges & Opportunities Áine Ryall EPA Water Event, Galway, 13 June 2013. Back to Basics. Why is access to environmental information so important? How best to engage the public in protecting water quality?.

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  1. Columns Picture here Delivering Access to Environmental Information: Challenges & Opportunities ÁineRyall EPA Water Event, Galway, 13 June 2013

  2. Back to Basics Why is access to environmental information so important? How best to engage the public in protecting water quality?

  3. Back to Basics What are the best means of delivering access to environmental information? The public/NGOs = a very diverse body of “tough critics” – and rightly so!

  4. Public attitudes to information on drinking water quality? Is there a strong demand for info on drinking water quality? Who is looking for this info? Will the demand/public expectation increase when water charges are introduced?

  5. Legal Framework Aarhus Convention ↓ EU environmental law ↓ Set of International & EU law standards

  6. Legal Framework Aarhus Convention Dir 2003/4/EC on public access to environmental information AIE Regs 2007 to 2011 And, of course, specific water legislation at EU & national level

  7. Rationale behind the right of access to environmental information? Aarhus Convention - Rights & duties - Justifications for Aarhus rights - Public authorities hold environmental information in the public interest

  8. Dir 2003/4/EC Guarantees a right of access to environmental information held by, or for, public authorities (Article 3(1)) Right is subject to certain exceptions (Article 4)

  9. Dir 2003/4/EC Dissemination of environmental information (Article 7) Speaks of “active and systematic dissemination” of environmental information to the public Strong emphasis on ICT and electronic databases

  10. Dir 2003/4/EC Quality of environmental information (Article 8) Speaks of “up to date, accurate and comparable” information

  11. AIE Regulations 2007 to 2011 Based on Dir 2003/4/EC Commissioner for Environmental Information General duties of public authorities New Guidance Notes on AIE Regs (May 2013)

  12. Case study: info on water quality A member of the public’s perspective & experience with two random scenarios: - Drinking water quality info for Cork City - Bathing water quality info for Castlegregory Co Kerry

  13. Case study: info on water quality What is a (non-expert/lay) member of the public looking for in terms of water quality info?

  14. Public expectations? Information – as opposed to raw data - that is: - Up to date (how do you define this?) - Accurate/complete - Easily accessible - preferably online & free of charge

  15. Public expectations? - Understandable/user-friendly - Comparable with other relevant data sets - Reliable/independently verified - Oversight of compilation/verification etc

  16. Drinking water quality info – Cork City Cork City Council website EPA website

  17. Cork City Council – www.corkcity.ie Home page – link - ‘Drinking Water Quality’ With links to: 2013 Results – Test results - Quarter 1 2012 Results 2011 Results

  18. Cork City Council – www.corkcity.ie Additional info for 2011: - Non-compliances in 2011 - Summary of public water supply quality in 2011

  19. EPA website – www.epa.ie Cork City Council – Drinking water quality Water – Drinking Water EPA Report, The Provision & Quality of Drinking Water in Ireland 2011 (2012) Drinking Water Audits

  20. EPA website – www.epa.ie Online Drinking Water Notification System for Water Services Authorities Username and password required to log notification of exceedances of parametric values

  21. EPA website – www.epa.ie EPA Remedial Action List (RAL) Quarter 1 – 2013 Cork City Water Supply is listed on the RAL What does this mean to a member of the public?

  22. Levels of compliance with Circular Letter WSP 6/09 Ministerial Circular on the Publication of Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Results Referenced in EPA Annual Reports on Drinking Water Quality – e.g. 2011 & 2010

  23. Bathing water quality info - Castlegregory Kerry County Council – www.kerrycoco.ie Beaches – Beach Water Quality Up to 21 beaches monitored in Kerry during the season - June 1- Sept 15

  24. Bathing water quality info - Castlegregory 2013 Results Castlegregory data (dated 22.5.13) Also – Splash – EPA online bathing water system EPA, The Quality of Bathing Water in Ireland 2012

  25. European Environment Agency - EEA State of bathing waters portal http://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/water/interactive/bathing/state-of-bathing-waters Multi-media presentation - ‘Share your information on bathing water’

  26. Challenges & Opportunities? Challenges: To deliver useful, relevant & up to date information on water quality to the public Proactive delivery of information & ongoing engagement with the public

  27. Challenges & Opportunities? Demonstrate leadership & innovation Meet/exceed public expectations Thinking outside the box

  28. Future directions? Information and awareness about environmental rights & obligations Greater public engagement on water quality issues Role of the media?

  29. Future directions? Political will to deliver on environmental rights? Resources to support environmental rights? – active dissemination of environmental information

  30. Future directions? Champion the right of access to environmental justice → enforcement of environmental rights Role of social media in terms of promoting public engagement

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