Request a Public Record

Email, write or fax asking for the records you would like to receive. All requests must be in writing. If you are unable to write, please contact us by telephone or in person and we will assist you with this task. Your public records request must include the following information:

  1. Contact information – your name, mailing address and telephone number. Feel free to include any other information you may feel to be useful, such as your e-mail, fax or cell phone number.
  2. Description of the specific records being requested. The request must be specific enough for the NWESD to identify the records being requested.
  3. Date of request.

You will receive a response within five business days.

Local governments are not required to create documents to comply with a request for specific information. Rather, they must produce existing records for review and copying. Also, local governments are not obligated to compile information from various records so that information is in a form that is more useful to the requestor.

The Public Records Officer will make records available for inspection and copying by appointment during normal business hours, excluding legal holidays. Requestors will not remove documents from the viewing area or disassemble or alter any document.

The requestor will indicate which documents he or she wishes the NWESD to copy.

Response to Records Requests

Within five business days of receipt of the request, the Public Records Officer or designee will do one of the following:

  1. Make the records available for inspection or copying.
  2. Send copies to requestor if payment has been received.
  3. Provide a reasonable estimate when records will be available.
  4. Contact requestor to request clarification.
  5. Deny the request citing reason for denial.

If a requestor does not receive a response within five days, he or she should contact the Public Records Officer to determine the reason.

Special Considerations

If a requestor has not reviewed or claimed records within thirty days of notice that records are available or fails to make payment, the Public Records Officer may close the request.

If requested records contain information that may affect rights of others, before providing the records, the Public Records Officer or designee may give notice and allow time for action by the other parties.

After a request has been filled, if the Public Records Officer becomes aware of additional documents existing at the time of the request, these will be provided to the requestor on an expedited basis.

See the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) for more information.  RCW 42.56