Note:  For general information about MDEQ programs, please call our Environmental Assistance Center at 1-800-662-9278. 

Mailing Address:

FOIA Coordinator
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 30473
Lansing, MI 48909-7973

Telephone (FOIA only):  517-241-8166
Fax: 517-241-7428

The Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Public Act 442 of 1976, regulates and sets requirements for the disclosure of public records by all public bodies in the state. In general, all records except those specifically cited as exceptions are covered by the FOIA.

A public body may charge a fee for the necessary copying of a public record for inspection or providing a copy of a public record to a requester. A public body may also charge for search, examination, and review and the separation of exempt information in those instances where failure to charge a fee would result in unreasonably high costs to the public body. The fee must be limited to actual duplication, mailing, and labor costs. The first $20 of a fee must be waived for a person who is receiving public assistance or presents facts showing inability to pay because of indigency.

To request information from MDEQ under the Michigan FOIA, please make your request in writing to the MDEQ FOIA Coordinator.  There is no form you must complete in order to file a request for MDEQ information under FOIA.  Mail or fax your written request to the address or fax number provided above.   Please provide as much detail as possible about the information you are seeking, including the street address of a facility or property if you are seeking information relative to a facility or property.  Include your name, return address, and daytime telephone number in case we need to contact you for clarification.  If you want us to provide an estimate of the cost of fulfilling your request BEFORE we take action to fill it, please indicate that in your request.

Select this link for the FOIA Fact Sheet (pdf).

The following link provides an overview of the divisions: http://www.deq.state.mi.us/documents/deq-ead-guide-deqguide.pdf

The following link provides access to information currently maintained on the DEQ Internet Site:
http://michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135--54665--,00.html