Columbia River Crossing - Privacy Statement

Privacy Statement

A. Introduction

Thank you for visiting the Columbia River Crossing Project (CRCP) Web site and reviewing our Privacy Notice. This notice addresses the collection, use and security of and access to information that may be obtained through use of the CRCP Web. This notice covers the following topics:

Information Collected and How it is Used
Personal Information and Choice
Public Access to Information
Nondisclosure of Certain Personal Information
Review and Correction of Personally Identifiable Information
Cookies
Security
Disclaimer
Contact Information

B. Information Collected and How it is Used

What information we collect if you only browse this site.

If you do nothing during your visit to our Web site but browse and read Web pages, our Web server will record certain information about your visit. None of this information is tied to your personal identity; you can browse our site anonymously. We collect and store 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. This address translates into the domain name of your service provider. (e.g. xcompany.com or yourschool.edu);
The type of Web browser software and operating system software you used;
The date and time you visited this site;
The Web pages or services you accessed at this site; and
The Web site you visited prior to coming to this Web site.

The information CRCP automatically collects is used only to help us understand how people are using our services. CRCP analyzes this information to determine how our Web site is being used, so that we may continually improve the site's usefulness to the public.

What information we collect if you volunteer it.

If during your visit to our Web site you participate in a survey, send us email, download software, or perform some other transaction on-line, the following additional information will be collected:

The email address, and contents of email, for those who communicate with us via email.
Information volunteered in response to a survey.
Information volunteered through an on-line 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.

We use your email to respond directly to you, to address issues you identify in your email, to further improve our Web site, or to forward to another agency for appropriate action. Survey information is used to continually improve our services. Information from other on-line forms is used to provide you with a particular service.

C. Personal Information and Choice

You may choose whether to provide personal information on-line.

"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.

We do not collect personal information about you unless you voluntarily provide it to us by sending us e-mail or completing an on-line form. You may choose not to contact us by email or to provide any personal information using an on-line form. Your choice not to participate in these activities will not impair your ability to browse CRCP Web and view the information provided on the site.

If personal information is requested on the Web site 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 state or federal 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 CRCP Ombudsman as shown in the Contact Information section of this notice.

Users are cautioned that the collection of personal information requested from or volunteered by children on-line or by email will be treated the same as information given by an adult, and may be subject to public access.

D. Public Access to Information

In Washington, laws exist to ensure that state 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. The provisions of RCW 42.17.260(1) state that:

"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 subsection (6) of this section [RCW 42.17.260(6)], RCW 42.17.310, 42.17.315, 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 42.17.310 and 42.17.315, an agency shall delete identifying details in a manner consistent with RCW 42.17.310 and 42.17.315 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 this Privacy Notice and the Public Records Act or other law governing the agency’s disclosure of records, the Public Records Act or other applicable law will control.

E. Nondisclosure of Certain Information

CRCP may require you to provide certain personal information in order to complete a specific transaction. The information is required in order to provide you with specific services. You may choose not to provide this information, but if you choose not to provide it we will be unable to provide these services, and you will have to complete your transaction either in person or by mail.

Although information collected at this site may be subject to public inspection, members of the general public do not have a right to inspect your credit card numbers, debit card numbers, electronic check numbers, card expiration dates, or bank or other financial account numbers that are supplied to an agency for the purpose of electronic transfer of funds, except when disclosure is expressly required by law. RCW 42.17.310(1).

F. Review and Correction of Personally Identifiable Information

You can review any personally identifiable information we collect about you by using the information in the Contact Information section at the end of this Notice. You may recommend changes to your personally identifiable information you believe to be inaccurate by submitting a written or email request that credibly shows the inaccuracy. We will take reasonable steps to verify your identity before granting access or making corrections. (RCW 43.105.310)

G. Cookies

CRCP occasionally uses "cookies" to customize your browsing experience on the CRCP Web. Cookies are simple text files stored on your computer by your Web browser. Generally, we use the cookie feature only to store a randomly generated identifying tag on your computer that identifies your computer as a returning visitor to the CRCP Web.

If you choose to download software from CRCP, we do request that you provide personal information so that we may offer software support. This information is collected from an online form and stored on your computer in the form of a cookie. While this cookie will simplify your process for obtaining additional software, you may elect to decline this cookie.

H. Security

CRCP takes precautions to safeguard the personal information you provide through our Web services.

This 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 CRCP Web sites.

For site security purposes and to ensure that this service remains available to all users, this site may monitor network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise cause damage. If security monitoring reveals evidence of possible abuse or criminal activity, system personnel may provide the results of such monitoring to appropriate officials. Except for authorized law enforcement investigations no attempts are made to identify individual users or their usage habits. Unauthorized attempts to upload information or change information on this service are strictly prohibited and may be punishable under the state law and federal statutes including the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986 and the National Information Infrastructure Protection Act of 1996.

I. Disclaimer

The CRCP Web has many links to other sites on the World Wide Web. These include links to sites operated by other government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private businesses. When you link to another site, you are no longer on the CRCP Web and this Privacy Notice will not apply. When you link to another Web site, you are subject to the privacy policy of that new site.

Neither the State of Washington or the State of Oregon, nor any agency, officer, or employee of the State of Washington or the State of Oregon warrants the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of any information published by this Web site, nor endorses any content, viewpoints, products, or services linked from this Web site, and shall not be held liable for any losses caused by reliance on the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of such information. Portions of such information may be incorrect or not current. Any person or entity that relies on any information obtained from this Web site does so at their own risk.

J. CRCP Contact Information

You may contact CRCP as follows:

To review your personal information, or request correction of your personal information, or if you believe that your personal information is being used for a purpose other than what was intended when submitted:

E-mail: webmaster@columbiarivercrossing.org