By law, under the Inspection of Public Records Act, every person has the right to inspect public records of the Valencia Soil & Water Conservation District. The Act also makes compliance with requests to inspect public records an integral part of the routine duties of the employees of the VSWCD.
A person desiring to inspect records may submit a request to the records custodian orally or in writing. However, the procedures and penalties prescribed by the Act apply only to written requests. A written request must contain the name, address and telephone number of the person making the request. The request must describe the records sought in sufficient detail to enable the records custodian to identify and locate the requested records.
The Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) is a New MExico state law that provides the public and media access to public information. The requires open access to almost all public records in state and local government, with few exceptions. Under IPRA, the public has the right to take legal action if they are denied access to public records, an important mechanism to empower the public.
The Attorney General has the statutory authority to enforce IPRA, as do district attorneys. Below is a printable copy of the Attorney General’s IPRA Compliance Guide.
Additional information regarding IPRA can be found on the State of New Mexico Office of the Attorney General’s website (Links & Resources).
Valencia SWCD
PO Box 170
Belen, NM 87002
Whitfield Wildlife Conservation Area
2424 Hwy 47
Belen, NM 87002
505-864-8914
[email protected]