DELAWARE COUNTY REGIONAL WATER QUALITY CONTROL AUTHORITY

Download Right To Know Request Form

POLICY REGARDING REQUESTS FOR RECORDS PURSUANT TO THE PENNSYLVANIA RIGHT-TO-KNOW LAW

This policy is made pursuant to Act 3 of 2008, the Pennsylvania Right-To-Know Law (the “Law”). All requests for Authority records covered by the Law will be governed by both the Law and this policy.

1. The Authority shall only be required to respond to requests for records made under the Law if submitted in writing. Nothing in this policy shall prohibit the Authority from responding to oral requests for such records, but it shall not be required to do so.
2. The Authority designates Barbara Bonnett as “Right-to-Know Officer.”
3. Documents requested as provided herein and deemed public records shall be available for inspection, retrieval, and duplication at the Authority’s administrative offices during established business hours (8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.) with the exception of weekends and holidays.
4. Written requests for records under the Law may be submitted in person, via mail, via fax or via e-mail. All written requests must state an address to which the response shall be sent.

1. Written requests for records under the Law submitted in person may be submitted at 100 East Fifth Street, Chester, Pennsylvania. Requests submitted in person must be enclosed in an envelope labeled:
   

   RIGHT-TO-KNOW REQUEST
   ATTN:  RIGHT-TO-KNOW OFFICER

2. Written requests for records submitted via mail must be addressed as follows:

Right-to-Know Officer

DELCORA

P.O. Box 999

Chester, Pennsylvania  19016-0999

 c. Written requests for records submitted via fax shall be sent to (610) 876-2728, and shall include a cover sheet which conspicuously states:

RIGHT-TO-KNOW REQUEST
ATTN:  RIGHT-TO-KNOW OFFICER

d. Written requests for records submitted via e-mail shall be sent to bonnettb@delcora.org, and shall state “Right-to-Know Request” in the subject line.

5. The Authority shall make a good-faith effort to provide the requested public records as promptly as practical. The Right-to-Know Officer shall cooperate with those requesting records to review and/or duplicate original Authority documents while taking reasonable measures to protect such documents from theft, damage and/or modification.

The Right-to-Know Officer shall review all written requests for access to public records. As soon as practical, but no later than five (5) business days after receiving a written request to access public records, the Right-to-Know Officer shall respond to such requests in writing consistent with Act 3 of 2008, the Right-to-Know Law.

If access to a record is denied, the response shall include a reason for denial, as stipulated in Act 3 of 2008, the Right-to-Know Law.

6. If a written request is denied, or deemed denied, the requester may file an appeal in writing to Terry Mutchler, Executive Director, Office of Open Records, Commonwealth Keystone Building, 400 North Street, Plaza Level, Harrisburg, PA  17120-0225.

Appeals shall be filed within fifteen (15) business days of the mailing date of the Authority’s response, or within fifteen (15) days of a deemed denial, as the case may be. The appeal shall state the grounds upon which the requester asserts the records are public records and shall address any grounds stated by the Authority for delaying or denying the request.

7. If a request is granted, the documents responsive thereto may be duplicated. The requester shall be liable to the Authority in the amount of twenty five cents ($.25) per page, or per side for two-sided documents, for duplication, plus the cost of postage if the requested documents are reproduced by the Authority and mailed to the requester. Specialized documents including, but not limited to blue prints, color copies and non-standard sized documents shall be charged the actual cost of reproduction. The requester may also have documents certified by the Authority.  Certification shall be made at the cost of one dollar ($1.00) per document. Any amount due from the requester to the Authority pursuant to this paragraph must be paid upon receipt of the documents; provided, however, the Authority shall require prepayment if the costs under this paragraph are anticipated to exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00).