Site Information > Privacy Notice
Washington State Department of Ecology
Privacy Notice
Section A. Introduction
Thank you for visiting the Department of Ecology's Web site and reviewing our
Privacy Notice. This statement addresses collection, use and security of and
access to information that may be obtained through use of Ecology's Web site.
This notice covers the following topics:
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Section B. Information Collected and How it is Used
What information we collect if you only browse this site.
If you do nothing during your visit to our Web site but browse, read pages,
or download information, we will automatically collect and store the following
information about your visit:
- The Internet Protocol address and domain name used. The Internet Protocol
address is a numerical identifier assigned either to your Internet service
provider or directly to your computer. We use the Internet Protocol address to
direct Internet traffic to you. This address can be translated to determine the
domain name of your service provider (e.g. xcompany.com or yourschool.edu);
- The type of browser and operating system you used;
- The date and time you visited this site;
- The Web pages or services you accessed at this site; and
- The Web site you visited prior to coming to this Web site.
The above information does not identify you personally. This
information is logged and used by Ecology only to determine how our Web site is
being used, so that we may improve the site's usefulness to the public.
What information we collect if you volunteer it.
If during your visit to our Web site you participate in a survey, send an
e-mail, or perform some other transaction on-line, the following additional
information will be collected:
- Your e-mail address and the contents of e-mail, if you communicate with us
via e-mail.
- Other information volunteered by you.
The information collected is not limited to text characters and may include
audio, video, and graphic information formats you send us.
We use your e-mail to respond directly to you, to address issues you identify
in your e-mail, and/or to forward to another agency for appropriate action.
Survey information is used for the purposes identified in the surveys.
Information from other on-line forms is used for the purposes identified on each
form.
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Section C. Personal Information and Choice
You may choose whether to provide personal information on-line.
"Personal information" is information about a natural person that is readily
identifiable to that specific individual. Personal information includes such
things as an individual's name, address, and phone number. A domain name or
Internet Protocol address is not considered personal information.
We do not collect personal information about you unless you voluntarily
provide it to us by sending us e-mail, participating in a survey, or completing
an on-line form. You may choose not to contact us by e-mail, participate in a
survey or to provide any personal information using an on-line form. Your choice
to not participate in these activities will not impair your ability to browse
Ecology's Web site and read or download any information provided on the site. If
you choose to not use e-mail, participate in a survey or use an on-line form,
you can contact the agency by mail or telephone; see Ecology
Directory.
If personal information is requested on the Web site or volunteered by the
user, state law and the federal Privacy Act of 1974 may protect it. However,
this information is a public record once you provide it, and may be subject to
public inspection and copying if not protected by state or federal law.
If you believe that your personal information is being used for a purpose
other than what was intended when submitted, you may contact Ecology as shown in
the Contact Information section at the end of this Notice.
Users are cautioned that the collection of personal information requested
from or volunteered by children on-line or by e-mail will be treated the same as
information given by an adult, and may be subject to public access.
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Section D. Public Access to Information
In the State of Washington, laws exist to ensure that government is open and
that the public has a right to access appropriate records and information
possessed by state government. At the same time, there are exceptions to the
public's right to access public records that serve various needs, including the
privacy of individuals. Exceptions are provided by both state and federal laws.
All of the information collected at this site becomes public records that may
be subject to inspection and copying by members of the public, unless an
exemption in law exists. RCW 42.17.260(1) states that
Each agency, in accordance with published rules, shall make available for
public inspection and copying all public records, unless the record falls within
the specific exemptions of subsection (6) of this section, RCW 42.17.310,
42.17.315, or other statute which exempts or prohibits disclosure of specific
information or records. To the extent required to prevent an unreasonable
invasion of personal privacy interests protected by RCW 42.17.310 and 42.17.315,
an agency shall delete identifying details in a manner consistent with RCW
42.17.310 and 42.17.315 when it makes available or publishes any public record;
however, in each case, the justification for the deletion shall be explained
fully in writing.
In the event of a conflict between this Privacy Notice and the Public Records
Act or other law governing the agency’s disclosure of records, the Public
Records Act or other applicable law will control.
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Section E. Nondisclosure of Certain Personal Information
Ecology may request or require you to provide certain personal information in
order to obtain selected information or service from the agency. You may choose
not to provide this information, but if you choose not to provide it, we will be
unable to provide the selected information or service, and you will have to seek
the information or service in person, by phone or by mail.
The following laws may prevent Ecology from disclosing the personal
information about you:
RCW 42.17.130,
42.17.260,
42.17.255,
42.17.310,
43.21A.160,
70.94.205,
70.105.170 and
90.52.020.
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Section F. Review and Correction of Personally Identifiable Information
You can review any personally identifiable information we collect about you
by using the information in the Contact Information section at the end of this
Notice. You may recommend changes to your personally identifiable information
you believe to be inaccurate by submitting a written request that credibly shows
the inaccuracy. We will take reasonable steps to verify your identity before
granting access or making corrections. (RCW
43.105.310)
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Section G. Cookies
To better serve our users, we use "cookies" to customize your browsing
experience on some parts of Ecology's Web site and to better understand user
behavior to help guide ongoing site enhancements. Cookies are simple text files
stored on your computer by your Web browser. We use cookies only to store a
randomly generated identifying tag on your computer. Cookies created on your
computer by using this Web site do not contain personally identifying
information and do not compromise your privacy or security.
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Section H. Security
This agency takes precautions to safeguard personal information you provide
through our Web services. This should not be construed in any way as giving
business, legal, or other advice, or warranting as fail proof, the security of
information provided via Ecology's Web site.
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Section I. Links to Other Web Sites
Ecology's Web site has many links to other Web sites. These include links to
Web sites operated by other government agencies, nonprofit organizations and
private businesses. When you link to another site, you are no longer on
Ecology's Web site and this Privacy Notice will not apply. When you link to
another Web site, you are subject to the privacy policy of that site.
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Section J. Ecology Contact Information
You may contact Ecology as follows:
To review your personal information, or request correction of your personal
information:
Public Records Officer
Department of Ecology
PO BOX 47600
Olympia, WA 98504-7600
360-407-6046
360-407-7231 (FAX)
dpra461@ecy.wa.gov
To offer comments about Ecology's Web site or about the information presented
in this Privacy Notice:
Web Manager
Department of Ecology
PO BOX 47600
Olympia, WA 98504-7600
360-407-6585
360-407-6493 (FAX)
bmon461@ecy.wa.gov
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Last revised: June 28, 2007
