E Discovery

From EITLC Wiki

Rating of this issue is closed Thank you for providing your ratings on this issue as a potential focus for an EITLC Priority Action Team. Results of voting and top issues will be announced shortly.

Issue Overview

The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality has experienced an increasing volume of e-discovery requests, subpoenas, FOIA (freedom of information act) enquiries, etc. Demands for document production range from simple requests for specific permits, to requests for all documents (from the beginning of time) on a particular topic, city, person, etc., including letters, e-mails, text messages, voice mail, etc., residing on servers, PCs, flash drives, personal PCs and on and on. Many of these requests require weeks or months of data collection from IT, program staff, and attorneys.

Opportunity Space/Problem Statement

The purpose of this commentary is to simply relate our experiences and our approach to this increasingly thorny issue. The technology that is making it easier to collect, store and retrieve environmental information is also making it possible to collect, store and retrieve information for those who are involved in lawsuits and investigations. In Oklahoma, the Attorney General has issued several rulings making it very clear business communications, regardless of the media, should be retained and available for public review.