Illinois Department of Natural Resources


Freedom of Information


Introduction to Freedom of Information (FOIA)

FOIA is the state Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140), records in possession of public agencies may be accessed by the public upon written request. [Illinois FOIA statute] Pursuant to 5 ILCS 140, Section 2 ( c ), a public record is any records, reports, forms, writings, letters, memoranda, books, papers, maps, photographs, cards, tapes, recordings, electronic data processing records, recorded information and all other documentary materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics, having been prepared, or having been or being used, received, possessed or under the control of any public body.

Some records are, however, not subject to release via the FOIA process; these types of records are described under 5 ILCS 140, Section 7 (1) (a) thru (pp). And some records may also be subject to confidentiality provisions imposed by other state statutes; the FOIA process for disclosure of information does not supercede these other applicable statutory and judicial mandates.

The FOIA program for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is managed separately from similar FOIA programs of other state and/or federal government entities. The administrative regulations for the IDNR FOIA program is 2 Ill. Adm. Code 826. [FOIA regulations] These regulations provide further details about the IDNR procedures for its FOIA program, including fees, forms, appeals, etc.

Access to IDNR Information

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources was created by the consolidation of five separate State agencies, effective July 1, 1999, which included the Department of Conservation, the Department of Mines and Minerals, the Abandoned Mined Lands Reclamation Counsel, the Department of Transportation’s Division of Water Resources, and the Illinois State Museum and state scientific surveys (e.g., Illinois Geological Survey, Illinois Water Survey and Illinois Waste Management Research Center) from the Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources.

Each IDNR program is relied upon for responses to a FOIA request. Prior to submitting a FOIA information request, you should search the IDNR website information concerning the various natural resources programs of the IDNR. Your search may help you:

1) To obtain information that are free and immediately available;
2) To obtain information already available at a minimal fee;
3) To focus your information request by directing the FOIA request to the appropriate IDNR program(s); or
4) To contact IDNR program staff who can answer questions and assist defining your written information request; or
5) To contact other state agency(s) that may also have relevant information.

IDNR Offices: Administration | Office of Architecture, Engineering and Grants | Director's Office | Law Enforcement | Land Management (State Parks/Camping/outdoor recreation info) | Legal | Legislation | Mines & Minerals | Public Events, Programs & Promotions | Public Services | Realty & Environmental Planning | Resource Conservation | Scientific Research and Surveys | Water Resources

HOW TO SUBMIT FOIA REQUEST

To access natural resources information from these IDNR programs, you need to submit a written request pursuant to the Illinois FOIA (5 ILCS 140). [FOIA request form] At this time, IDNR does not accept electronic FOIA requests.

Your FOIA request must be submitted in written form by means of fax (217 /785-2438), the US mail or special carrier, and addressed to: IDNR One Natural Resources Way, FOIA Officer, Springfield, IL 62702-1271.

IDNR Records

IDNR public records are maintained and organized by each separate IDNR offices by their programs such as site location, facility name, grant/contract project, annual chronology, individual name, date, etc. Consequently, it is important to provide specific descriptive information when requesting information through the FOIA process in order to identify the appropriate IDNR office, file, database, archive, etc.

IDNR public records are also maintained in various media format that include paper, microfilm, digital images, and computerized records. In certain situations, information cannot be cost effectively extracted onto a paper or an electronic format. In those situations, special arrangements, such as onsite viewing or your use of commercial copy vendors, may be necessary.

Commonly asked questions about the FOIA process are here.

Authority

This website information concerning the IDNR FOIA program is being provided as required by Section 4 of the FOIA (5 ILCS 140/4). This website information may be revised and/or updated in the future.

 
 
Link to Governor's pageLink to State of IL Home PageLink to Email ContactsLink to IDNR Site IndexLink to IDNR's FAQs PageLink to Disclaimer