Website Policies
The Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency (hereinafter “the Agency”) provides this website to you subject to the following terms. By visiting this website, users agree that they will not use the site for any unlawful activity or use it in any way that would violate the following terms and conditions. Please read the terms below carefully.
1. Accessibility
The mission of this website, and all the websites the Agency hosts, is to provide all users with quick and easy online access to information about the Agency, its programs, projects, people, services, and news. The Agency is committed to ensuring equal access to all its programs and services, including this website. In an effort to ensure equal access, the information featured on this website is accessible to all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, as required under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. While not every need can be anticipated nor every barrier avoided, there are some key issues we have tried to address in an effort to maximize accessibility of this site:
- Simple, consistent page layout and standard navigation throughout the site to assist people with learning disabilities and others who may have difficulty following less organized presentations.
- Mandatory white page backgrounds to provide contrast for users with low vision or colorblindness.
- Standard HTML ensuring that site content can be accessed by all browsers.
- Use of ALT tags making alternative text information available for graphical features.
- Menu alternatives for image maps to ensure that embedded links are accessible for readers using text-based browsers.
- Smart use of tables, ensuring that tables are formatted so as to be accessible by non-standard browsers.
- Limited use of applets and plug-ins.
If you encounter a problem accessing any portion of this website or would like to provide the Agency with feedback that the format of any material on our website interferes with your ability to access it, please complete and submit this form.
2. General disclaimer
This website has many links to other websites. These include links to websites operated by other government agencies, nonprofit organizations and private businesses. When you link to another site, you are no longer on this website and these terms of use will not apply. When you link to another website, you are subject to the terms and policies of that new site. Neither the Agency, nor any Agency officer or employee, warrants the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of any information published by this site, nor endorses any content, viewpoints, products, or services linked from this site. Portions of such information may be incorrect or not current. Any person or entity that relies on any information obtained from this site does so at their own risk. The Agency assumes no liability for any information published on this site and shall not be held liable for any losses caused by reliance on the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of such information.
3. Public access to information
In the State of Washington, laws exist to ensure that government is open and that the public has a right to access appropriate records and information possessed by state government. At the same time, there are exceptions to the public’s right to access public records that serve various needs including the privacy of individuals. Exceptions are provided by both state and federal laws. All of the information collected at this site becomes public records that may be subject to inspection and copying by members of the public, unless an exemption in law exists. RCW 42.56.070 states: “Each agency, in accordance with published rules, shall make available for public inspection and copying all public records, unless the record falls within the specific exemptions [of RCW 42.56] or other statute which exempts or prohibits disclosure of specific information or records. To the extent required to prevent an unreasonable invasion of personal privacy interests protected by RCW 42.56, an agency shall delete identifying details in a manner consistent with RCW 42.56 when it makes available or publishes any public record; however, in each case, the justification for the deletion shall be explained fully in writing.” In the event of a conflict between these terms and the Public Records Act or other laws governing the Agency’s disclosure of records, the Public Records Act or other applicable laws will control. To make a public records request to the Agency, please submit this form, or call (509) 477-4727.
4. Copyright
All content on this website, including but not limited to text, graphics, video, logos, button icons, databases and images, is the property of the Agency or its content suppliers and is protected by copyright laws. The collection, arrangement and assembly of all content on this website are the exclusive property of the Agency and are protected by copyright laws. This website’s content is provided for the user’s convenience and is intended to serve only as an information resource. Any other use, including the reproduction, modification, distribution, transmission, republication, framing, display or performance, without prior permission the Agency, is strictly prohibited. Express written permission is required from the Agency to distribute the text or graphics to others in any fashion, or to “mirror” this information on your server. Copies of the information may be printed for your own personal use. Questions about this Copyright statement and requests from the media, other organizations, or individuals to use the content of this website should be directed to the Agency at (509) 477-4727. Individuals or organizations receiving permission to use images that are the property of the Agency should credit the Agency for such use (i.e. “Photo courtesy of the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency”).
5. Trademarks
The Agency has registered trademarks, including but not limited to, the Agency’s name and logo. The Agency’s trademarks may not be used in connection with any product or service that is not an Agency product or service; in any manner that is likely to cause confusion among customers; or in any manner that disparages, discredits, or misrepresents the Agency. Other products or company names mentioned on the Agency website may be trademarks of their respective owners.
6. The Agency’s website is governed by the laws of Washington
This website is governed and construed by the laws of the State of Washington. Any use of the website shall comply with all Agency and State of Washington laws and regulations, as well as with all federal laws and regulations. Any lawsuit or claim arising from this website shall be brought in Spokane County Superior Court, Spokane, Washington.
7. Linkage
This website links to external websites in the hope that users will find reference material on air-quality related subjects. Because the Agency cannot control those sites, it assumes no responsibility or liability for content included in them. Moreover, in no way should an external link be considered any form of endorsement by the Agency.
8. Use of communication forums
The Agency website, and/or websites the Agency hosts, have or may contain threaded discussions, chat rooms, and other communication forums. By participating in any of these forums, users agree to send and receive messages that are both proper and related to the forum topic. The following actions are prohibited:
- Defaming, harassing, threatening or otherwise violating the legal rights of others, including their privacy (see below).
- Misrepresenting one’s person, background, affiliation, or character.
- Posting any defamatory, infringing, obscene, false, or unlawful material.
- Selling, advertising, or exchanging any goods or services unless expressly allowed.
- Posting any copyrighted material owned by a third party.
- Posting executable programming of any kind, such as viruses, worms, spyware or any form of malicious or benign computer programming.
Also, communication forum users agree to use any forum on the Agency website or any forums on websites hosted by the Agency at the user’s own risk. The Agency cannot guarantee that violations of the above code will not occur on any communication forum. The Agency may, in its sole discretion but without any obligation, remove content that does not meet the above guidelines or is otherwise inappropriate.
9. Privacy Notices
A. Introduction
These Privacy Notices address the collection, use and security of and access to information that may be obtained through use of this website.
B. Information Collected and How it is Used
Information collected if you only browse this site and the Agency’s use of “Cookies”:
If you do nothing during your visit to this website but browse, read pages or download information, the Agency gathers and stores certain information about your visit. This information does not identify you personally. The Agency automatically collects and stores the following information about your visit:
- The Internet Protocol address and domain name used. The Internet Protocol address is a numerical identifier assigned either to your Internet service provider or directly to your computer. We use the Internet Protocol address to direct Internet traffic to you. This address can be translated to determine the domain name of your service provider (e.g. xcompany.com or yourschool.edu);
- The type of browser and operating system you used;
- The date and time you visited this site;
- The web pages or services you accessed at this site;
- The website you visited prior to coming to this website; and
- Search phrases used.
This website uses “cookies” to customize your browsing experience on this website. Cookies are simple text files stored on your computer by your web browser. Cookies created on your computer by using this website do not contain personally identifying information, do not compromise your privacy or security and cannot be accessed by any other website. The Agency uses cookies to store randomly generated session identifiers which allow our web server to ensure data continuity across individual page requests. Choosing not to accept cookies may cause some interactive web applications on our website to function incorrectly, but will not affect your general ability to browse this site. The information the Agency automatically collects or stores is logged and used by the Agency to improve the content of our web services and to help us understand how people are using our services. The Agency analyzes this information to determine how this website is being used so that we may continually improve the site’s usefulness to the public. The Agency also uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. (“Google”). Google uses cookies to help the Agency analyze how users use this site. The information generated by the cookie about your use of the website (including your IP address) will be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States. Google uses this information for the purpose of evaluating your use of the website, compiling reports on website activity for website operators and providing other services relating to website activity and internet usage. Google may also transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law or where such third parties process the information on Google’s behalf. You may refuse the use of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser, however, please note that if you do this you may not be able to use the full functionality of this website. By using this website, you consent to the processing of data about you by Google in the manner and for the purposes set out above.
What we collect if you volunteer information:
If during your visit to this website you participate in a survey, send an e-mail, or perform some other transaction online, the following additional information will be collected:
- The e-mail address, and contents of e-mail, for those who communicate with us via e-mail.
- Information volunteered in response to a survey.
- Information volunteered through an online form for any other purpose. The information collected is not limited to text characters and may include audio, video and graphic information formats you send us.
The Agency uses your e-mail to respond appropriately. This may be to respond to you to address issues you may identify; to further improve our website; or to forward the e-mail to another agency for appropriate action. Survey information is used to evaluate and improve programs. Information from other online forms is used for business purposes.
C. Personal Information and Choice
You may choose whether to provide personal information online “Personal information” is information about a natural person that is readily identifiable to that specific individual. Personal information includes such things as an individual’s name, address and phone number. A domain name or Internet Protocol address is not considered personal information. The Agency collects no personal information about you unless you voluntarily provide it by sending an e-mail, participating in a survey, or completing an online form. You may choose not to contact the Agency by e-mail, participate in a survey or to provide any personal information using an online form. Your choice to not participate in these activities will not impair your ability to browse this website and read or download any information provided on the site. If personal information is requested on the website or volunteered by the user, state law and the federal Privacy Act of 1974 may protect it. However, this information is a public record once you provide it, and may be subject to public inspection and copying if not protected by federal or state law. If you believe that your personal information is being used for a purpose other than what was intended when submitted, you may contact the Agency at (509) 477-4727. Users are cautioned that the collection of personal information requested from or volunteered by children online or by e-mail will be treated the same as information given by an adult, and may be subject to public access.
D. Review and Correction of Personally Identifiable Information
You can review any personally identifiable information we collect about you by requesting such information using the Contact Information at the end of these notices. You may recommend changes to your personally identifiable information you believe to be inaccurate by submitting an e-mail or written request that credibly shows the inaccuracy. The Agency will take reasonable steps to verify your identity before granting access or making corrections. See RCW 43.105.310.
E. Security
The Agency takes precautions to safeguard personal information you provide through our web services. These precautions are designed and intended to prevent corruption of data; to block unknown or unauthorized access to the Agency systems and information; and to provide reasonable protection of private information in the Agency’s possession. This section should not be construed in any way as giving business, legal or other advice, or warranting as fail proof, the security of information provided via the this website. F. Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency Contact Information To review your personal information or request correction of your personal information, please contact the Agency at (509) 477-4727.
10. Updates
The Agency reserves the right to revise and update the above terms at any time without notice by posting such revised terms on this website.