Making a Public Records Request at MassDEP

“An Act to Improve Public Records" took effect on June 3, 2016, enhancing public access to information. While diligent efforts are made every day across the Executive Branch to respond to a large number of public record requests, this law provides standards that will improve our approach so as to reduce delays and costs that burden accessibility.

For additional information about making a request or filing an appeal, see Chapter 121 of the Acts of 2016.

Tips for Making Your Request

The information you're seeking may already be available online which can expedite your access. See MassDEP Environmental Look-ups and Online Servicesfor links to our information and data sources.

Environmental issues are addressed by different agencies and offices under the Secretariat of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Consider the information you're seeking as your request may be more appropriately directed to a related environmental agency. Each secretariat and agency has a designated Records Access Office to receive and respond to public records requests.

Consider how to can narrow the scope of your request to expedite the production process.  The first four hours of work performed to respond to a public records request (PRR) will be performed at no cost.  After that, the agency may charge up to $25 per hour.  

Consider how to revise your PRR to exclude records containing personally identifiable information. Public agencies must adhere to the law requiring them to secure personally identifiable information and prevent unwarranted invasions of privacy.  Documents containing such information must be redacted carefully before releasing which increases the time needed for production.

Records Access Officers

MassDEP has designated Records Response Coordinators (RRCs) who serve as Secondary Records Access Officers for each of its bureaus, offices and regions.  If you know the program or region for the record you seek, please contact that program or region directly from the Records Response Coordinators (RCC) listed below. This will help ensure the most expeditious and accurate response to your request.

MassDEP has also designated the following employee as the Primary Records Access Officer (RAO) to assist requesters in fulfilling their requests.

Rachel M. Cohen, Primary RAO
Title:  MassDEP Records Manager
Business address: MassDEP, 100 Cambridge St, 9th Fl, Boston, MA 02114
Business Telephone Number: 781-877-3369
Business email*: rachel.m.cohen@mass.gov
PRR email: DEP.PublicRecords@mass.gov

*Only questions pertaining to the PRR process or a PRR status should be sent to the business email account of the Primary RAO.

Please Note: While requests for public records may be made orally in person to the Primary Records Access Officer (RAO), or Secondary RAOs, such requests may not be the subject of an appeal. Telephone requests may be accepted at the discretion of the RAOs.

The information or data that you are seeking may be available online and searchable from MassDEP databases. 

Many records are also available from program Web sites indexed under MassDEP A to Z Quicklinks.

File review is available in-person at our regional offices. 

Public records requests may be made to Records Response Coordinators directly or you may submit a public records request form.