Public records requests and disclosure

Records available on our website

Instant records search

Many public records are available on our website at no cost. First, try looking in our databases. Our publications are also searchable.

Water right certificates

You can request a water right certificate by submitting a Records Request on this page or by contacting the Water Rights Help Desk for your region. Find out about water rights and find contact information on our water rights page.

Index of Interpretive and Policy Statements and Declaratory and Final Orders

You can access Ecology’s Interpretive and Policy Statements and find information on Declaratory and Final Orders.

Things to know before submitting a request

What is a public record?

A public record is any recorded information relating to the conduct of government or the performance of any governmental or proprietary function prepared, owned, used, or retained by any state or local agency, regardless of physical form or characteristics. 

Recorded information includes:

• paper records
• electronic records
• emails
• photographs
• recordings, etc.

An identifiable record is a record that can be reasonably located by agency staff.

Records exempt from public disclosure

Certain records are exempt from production under the Public Records Act, RCW 42.56, and other statutes that contain additional exemptions. If we withhold records or black out portions (redact) under an exemption, we will include a description of the record withheld, the statute relied on for the exemption, and a brief explanation of how the exemption applies.

• See a list of common exemptions.

Submit a records request

Still not finding what you need? You can request public records by filing a records request. All public record requests must be directed to the agency Public Records Officer using one of these options.

• Submit a request online 
• If you do not have access to email you may download our Records Request Form and use it to submit your request by mail to:
  Public Records Officer
  WA Dept. of Ecology
  PO Box 47600
  Olympia WA 98504-7600
• If you need assistance with the options above, please contact us at: recordsofficer@ecy.wa.gov or 360-407-6040.

In your request, please describe in detail the records you are requesting. Failure to provide sufficient information to locate the records you request may cause delay. 

How we will respond to your request

Within five business days of receipt of your request, we will do one of the following:

• request clarification of the request,
• provide the record,
• provide a link to access the records if available online,
• deny the request, or
• provide a date of when we estimate we can provide you the records.

We will search for, gather, review the records, and redact any exempt information in the records, if necessary. We will contact you to provide:

• dates available to review the records at an Ecology office, and/or
• estimated cost of copying or scanning the records (estimates are based on our copy fee schedule).

If the request is large, we may provide the records in installments.

What does it cost to obtain copies of public records?

There is no charge to inspect public records. If you want copies of records, please see our copy fee schedule.

• If you request records mailed to you, we will add postage charges to the total cost.
• We do not charge copy fees less than $25.00. Some requests may require a 10 percent deposit, per RCW 42.56.120.