EIR2023/00242: Gairloch Gold Project (IDA 292463)
Case reference EIR2023/00242
Published 31 May 2023
Request
Request Received: 1 May 2023
Dear British Geological Survey,
Please treat this email as a Freedom of Information request.
I understand that a firm called Galantas Gold has begun work to establish a potential gold mine near Gairloch: https://galantas.com/gairloch-project/overview/
Please could you provide me with copies of all records held by BGS that relate to communications or project materials sent between BGS, Galantas Gold or agents acting on their behalf with regards to this project?
This may include, but should not be limited to, power point presentations, meeting notes, project reports, permit application documents and email communications.
I look forward to hearing from you in due course.
Response
Response Sent: 31 May 2023
Thank you for your request made under the Freedom of Information Act. Because the information you have requested is environmental in nature, we have considered your request under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.
I can confirm that BGS does hold information within the scope of your request. BGS holds no communications or project materials sent between BGS and Galantas Gold, however we do hold some emails between BGS and one company acting as an agent of Galantas Gold. This correspondence is attached.
Some of the information is exempt under Regulation 12(3) and 13 which provides an exemption for information that is the personal data of an individual other than the applicant where disclosure to any member of the public would contravene any of the data protection principles as set out in the Data Protection Legislation. We consider that information identifying individuals (in this case, the name) is personal data as defined by the current UK Data Protection Legislation. It is our view that to release information identifying individuals would be a breach of GDPR principles and associated legislation: it would be unfair to the individuals concerned as they had no expectation that their names would be released.
Some information from the body of the emails has been withheld as it is out of scope of the request, in that it does not pertain to the Gairloch project.
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Kind regards
BGS Enquiries Service
Documents
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