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Guide for requesting public information

The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act requires the MPCA to keep its data easily accessible for convenient use. The public has the right to inspect and copy public data maintained by the MPCA at reasonable times and places and, upon request, be informed of their meaning.

Information available on our website

Many reports, environmental data on pollution sources and conditions, and white papers are available on our website at no cost.

Records available upon request

A public record is any recorded information relating to the conduct of government or the performance of any governmental or proprietary function prepared, owned, used, or retained by any state or local agency. As long as the information is recorded or stored in some way by a government entity, they are government data, no matter what physical form they are in, or how they are stored or used. Government data may be stored on paper, in electronic form, on audio or video files, on charts, maps, etc.

All government data is public unless a statute, a temporary classification issued by the Commissioner of Administration, or a federal law classifies the data as, with respect to data on individuals, private or confidential; or, in the case of data not on individuals, as nonpublic or protected nonpublic. Per state statute, information regarding specific enforcement and compliance actions is made public after the conclusion of the investigation.

Submit an information request

If you were unable to find the information you were looking for on our website, you can file an information request using one of these options. In your request, please describe in detail the records you are requesting. Incomplete, insufficient, or inaccurate requests may be returned or delayed. Submit an online for each information request. Any questions about information requests may be directed to the MPCA Records Management staff (651-757-2728, 844-828-0942).

Possible costs for requests

There is no charge to review public records at our offices. If you want copies of records, the MPCA charges a $25.70/hour fee for record requests that take longer than three hours to complete. Use our worksheet to estimate your information-request charges:

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