Loading (50 kb)...'
(continued)
top
(a) A business which wishes to designate a person or office as the proper addressee of communications from EPA to the business under this subpart may do so by furnishing in writing to the Headquarters Freedom of Information Operations (1105), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, the following information: The name and address of the business making the designation; the name, address, and telephone number of the designated person or office; and a request that EPA inquiries and communications (oral and written) under this subpart, including inquiries and notices which require reply within deadlines if the business is to avoid waiver of its rights under this subpart, be furnished to the designee pursuant to this section. Only one person or office may serve at any one time as a business's designee under this subpart.
(b) If a business has named a designee under this section, the following EPA inquiries and notices to the business shall be addressed to the designee:
(1) Inquiries concerning a business's desire to assert a business confidentiality claim, under §2.204(c)(2)(i)(A);
(2) Notices affording opportunity to substantiate confidentiality claims, under §2.204(d)(1) and §2.204(e);
(3) Inquires concerning comments, under §2.205(b)(4);
(4) Notices of denial of confidential treatment and proposed disclosure of information, under §2.205(f);
(5) Notices concerning shortened comment and/or waiting periods under §2.205(g);
(6) Notices concerning modifications or overrulings of prior determinations, under §2.205(h);
(7) Notices to affected businesses under §§2.301(g) and 2.301(h) and analogous provisions in §§2.302, 2.303, 2.304, 2.305, 2.306, 2.307, and 2.308; and
(8) Notices to affected businesses under §2.209.
(c) The Freedom of Information Officer shall, as quickly as possible, notify all EPA offices that may possess information submitted by the business to EPA, the Regional Freedom of Information Offices, the Office of General Counsel, and the offices of Regional Counsel of any designation received under this section. Businesses making designations under this section should bear in mind that several working days may be required for dissemination of this information within EPA and that some EPA offices may not receive notice of such designations.
[41 FR 36902, Sept. 1, 1976, as amended at 43 FR 40001, Sept. 8, 1978]
§ 2.214 Defense of Freedom of Information Act suits; participation by affected business.
top
(a) In making final confidentiality determinations under this subpart, the EPA legal office relies to a large extent upon the information furnished by the affected business to substantiate its claim of confidentiality. The EPA legal office may be unable to verify the accuracy of much of the information submitted by the affected business.
(b) If the EPA legal office makes a final confidentiality determination under this subpart that certain business information is entitled to confidential treatment, and EPA is sued by a requester under the Freedom of Information Act for disclosure of that information, EPA will:
(1) Notify each affected business of the suit within 10 days after service of the complaint upon EPA;
(2) Where necessary to preparation of EPA's defense, call upon each affected business to furnish assistance; and
(3) Not oppose a motion by any affected business to intervene as a party to the suit under rule 24(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
(c) EPA will defend its final confidentiality determination, but EPA expects the affected business to cooperate to the fullest extent possible in this defense.
[43 FR 40001, Sept. 8, 1978]
§ 2.215 Confidentiality agreements.
top
(a) No EPA officer, employee, contractor, or subcontractor shall enter into any agreement with any affected business to keep business information confidential unless such agreement is consistent with this subpart. No EPA officer, employee, contractor, or subcontractor shall promise any affected business that business information will be kept confidential unless the promise is consistent with this subpart.
(b) If an EPA office has requested information from a State, local, or Federal agency and the agency refuses to furnish the information to EPA because the information is or may constitute confidential business information, the EPA office may enter into an agreement with the agency to keep the information confidential, notwithstanding the provisions of this subpart. However, no such agreement shall be made unless the General Counsel determines that the agreement is necessary and proper.
(c) To determine that an agreement proposed under paragraph (b) of this section is necessary, the General Counsel must find:
(1) The EPA office requesting the information needs the information to perform its functions;
(2) The agency will not furnish the information to EPA without an agreement by EPA to keep the information confidential; and
(3) Either:
(i) EPA has no statutory power to compel submission of the information directly from the affected business, or
(ii) While EPA has statutory power to compel submission of the information directly from the affected business, compelling submission of the information directly from the business would—
(A) Require time in excess of that available to the EPA office to perform its necessary work with the information,
(B) Duplicate information already collected by the other agency and overly burden the affected business, or
(C) Overly burden the resources of EPA.
(d) To determine that an agreement proposed under paragraph (b) of this section is proper, the General Counsel must find that the agreement states—
(1) The purpose for which the information is required by EPA;
(2) The conditions under which the agency will furnish the information to EPA;
(3) The information subject to the agreement;
(4) That the agreement does not cover information acquired by EPA from another source;
(5) The manner in which EPA will treat the information; and
(6) That EPA will treat the information in accordance with the agreement subject to an order of a Federal court to disclose the information.
(e) EPA will treat any information acquired pursuant to an agreement under paragraph (b) of this section in accordance with the procedures of this subpart except where the agreement specifies otherwise.
[43 FR 40001, Sept. 8, 1978]
§§ 2.216-2.300 [Reserved]
top
§ 2.301 Special rules governing certain information obtained under the Clean Air Act.
top
(a) Definitions. For the purpose of this section:
(1) Act means the Clean Air Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
(2)(i) Emission data means, with reference to any source of emission of any substance into the air—
(A) Information necessary to determine the identity, amount, frequency, concentration, or other characteristics (to the extent related to air quality) of any emission which has been emitted by the source (or of any pollutant resulting from any emission by the source), or any combination of the foregoing;
(B) Information necessary to determine the identity, amount, frequency, concentration, or other characteristics (to the extent related to air quality) of the emissions which, under an applicable standard or limitation, the source was authorized to emit (including, to the extent necessary for such purposes, a description of the manner or rate of operation of the source); and
(C) A general description of the location and/or nature of the source to the extent necessary to identify the source and to distinguish it from other sources (including, to the extent necessary for such purposes, a description of the device, installation, or operation constituting the source).
(ii) Notwithstanding paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section, the following information shall be considered to be emission data only to the extent necessary to allow EPA to disclose publicly that a source is (or is not) in compliance with an applicable standard or limitation, or to allow EPA to demonstrate the feasibility, practicability, or attainability (or lack thereof) of an existing or proposed standard or limitation:
(A) Information concerning research, or the results of research, on any project, method, device or installation (or any component thereof) which was produced, developed, installed, and used only for research purposes; and
(B) Information concerning any product, method, device, or installation (or any component thereof) designed and intended to be marketed or used commercially but not yet so marketed or used.
(3) Standard or limitation means any emission standard or limitation established or publicly proposed pursuant to the Act or pursuant to any regulation under the Act.
(4) Proceeding means any rulemaking, adjudication, or licensing conducted by EPA under the Act or under regulations which implement the Act, except for determinations under this subpart.
(5) Manufacturer has the meaning given it in section 216(1) of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 7550(1).
(b) Applicability. (1) This section applies to business information which was—
(i) Provided or obtained under section 114 of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 7414, by the owner or operator of any stationary source, for the purpose (A) of developing or assisting in the development of any implementation plan under section 110 or 111(d) of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 7410, 7411(d), any standard of performance under section 111 of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 7411, or any emission standard under section 112 of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 7412, (B) of determining whether any person is in violation of any such standard or any requirement of such a plan, or (C) of carrying out any provision of the Act (except a provision of Part II of the Act with respect to a manufacturer of new motor vehicles or new motor vehicle engines);
(ii) Provided or obtained under section 208 of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 7542, for the purpose of enabling the Administrator to determine whether a manufacturer has acted or is acting in compliance with the Act and regulations under the Act, or provided or obtained under section 206(c) of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 7525(c); or
(iii) Provided in response to a subpoena for the production of papers, books, or documents issued under the authority of section 307(a) of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 7607(a).
(2) Information will be considered to have been provided or obtained under section 114 of the Act if it was provided in response to a request by EPA made for any of the purposes stated in section 114, or if its submission could have been required under section 114, regardless of whether section 114 was cited as the authority for any request for the information, whether an order to provide the information was issued under section 113(a) of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 7413(a), whether an action was brought under section 113(b) of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 7413(b), or whether the information was provided directly to EPA or through some third person.
(3) Information will be considered to have been provided or obtained under section 208 of the Act if it was provided in response to a request by EPA made for any of the purposes stated in section 208, or if its submission could have been required under section 208, regardless of whether section 208 was cited as the authority for any request for the information, whether an action was brought under section 204 of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 7523, or whether the information was provided directly to EPA or through some third person.
(4) Information will be considered to have been provided or obtained under section 206(c) of the Act if it was provided in response to a request by EPA made for any of the purposes stated in section 206(c), or if its submission could have been required under section 206(c) regardless of whether section 206(c) was cited as authority for any request for the information, whether an action was brought under section 204 of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 7523, or whether the information was provided directly to EPA or through some third person.
(5) Information will be considered to have been provided or obtained under section 307(a) of the Act if it was provided in response to a subpoena issued under section 307(a), or if its production could have been required by subpoena under section 307(a), regardless of whether section 307(a) was cited as the authority for any request for the information, whether a subpoena was issued by EPA, whether a court issued an order under section 307(a), or whether the information was provided directly to EPA or through some third person.
(c) Basic rules which apply without change. Sections 2.201 through 2.207, §2.209 and §§2.211 through 2.215 apply without change to information to which this section applies.
(d) [Reserved]
(e) Substantive criteria for use in confidentiality determinations. Section 2.208 applies to information to which this section applies, except that information which is emission data, a standard or limitation, or is collected pursuant to section 211(b)(2)(A) of the Act is not eligible for confidential treatment. No information to which this section applies is voluntarily submitted information.
(f) Availability of information not entitled to confidential treatment. Section 2.210 does not apply to information to which this section applies. Emission data, standards or limitations, and any other information provided under section 114 or 208 of the Act which is determined under this subpart not to be entitled to confidential treatment, shall be available to the public notwithstanding any other provision of this part. Emission data and standards or limitations provided in response to a subpoena issued under section 307(a) of the Act shall be available to the public notwithstanding any other provision of this part. Information (other than emission data and standards or limitations) provided in response to a subpoena issued under section 307(a) of the Act, which is determined under this subpart not to be entitled to confidential treatment, shall be available to the public, unless EPA determines that the information is exempt from mandatory disclosure under 5 U.S.C. 552(b) for reasons other than reasons of business confidentiality and cannot or should not be made available to the public.
(g) Disclosure of information relevant to a proceeding. (1) Under sections 114, 208 and 307 of the Act, any information to which this section applies may be released by EPA because of the relevance of the information to a proceeding, notwithstanding the fact that the information otherwise might be entitled to confidential treatment under this subpart. Release of information because of its relevance to a proceeding shall be made only in accordance with this paragraph (g).
(2) In connection with any proceeding other than a proceeding involving a decision by a presiding officer after an evidentiary or adjudicatory hearing, information to which this section applies which may be entitled to confidential treatment may be made available to the public under this paragraph (g)(2). No information shall be made available to the public under this paragraph (g)(2) until any affected business has been informed that EPA is considering making the information available to the public under this paragraph (g)(2) in connection with an identified proceeding, and has afforded the business a reasonable period for comment (such notice and opportunity to comment may be afforded in connection with the notice prescribed by §2.204(d)(1) and §2.204(e)). Information may be made available to the public under this paragraph (g)(2) only if, after consideration of any timely comments submitted by the business, the General Counsel determines that the information is relevant to the subject of the proceeding and the EPA office conducting the proceeding determines that the public interest would be served by making the information available to the public. Any affected business shall be given at least 5 days' notice by the General Counsel prior to making the information available to the public.
(3) In connection with any proceeding involving a decision by a presiding officer after an evidentiary or adjudicatory hearing, information to which this section applies which may be entitled to confidential treatment may be made available to the public, or to one or more parties of record to the proceeding, upon EPA's initiative, under this paragraph (g)(3). An EPA office proposing disclosure of information under this paragraph (g)(3), shall so notify the presiding officer in writing. Upon receipt of such a notification, the presiding officer shall notify each affected business that disclosure under this paragraph (g)(3) has been proposed, and shall afford each such business a period for comment found by the presiding officer to be reasonable under the circumstances. Information may be disclosed under this paragraph (g)(3) only if, after consideration of any timely comments submitted by the business, the EPA office determines in writing that, for reasons directly associated with the conduct of the proceeding, the contemplated disclosure would serve the public interest, and the presiding officer determines in writing that the information is relevant to a matter in controversy in the proceeding. The presiding officer may condition disclosure of the information to a party of record on the making of such protective arrangements and commitments as he finds to be warranted. Disclosure to one or more parties of record, under protective arrangements or commitments, shall not, of itself, affect the eligibility of information for confidential treatment under the other provisions of this subpart. Any affected business shall be given at least 5 days notice by the presiding officer prior to making the information available to the public or to one or more of the parties of record to the proceeding.
(4) In connection with any proceeding involving a decision by a presiding officer after an evidentiary or adjudicatory hearing, information to which this section applies may be made available to one or more parties of record to the proceeding, upon request of a party, under this paragraph (g)(4). A party of record seeking disclosure of information shall direct his request to the presiding officer. Upon receipt of such a request, the presiding officer shall notify each affected business that disclosure under this paragraph (g)(4) has been requested, and shall afford each such business a period for comment found by the presiding officer to be reasonable under the circumstances. Information may be disclosed to a party of record under this paragraph (g)(4) only if, after consideration of any timely comments submitted by the business, the presiding officer determines in writing that (i) the party of record has satisfactorily shown that with respect to a significant matter which is in controversy in the proceeding, the party's ability to participate effectively in the proceeding will be significantly impaired unless the information is disclosed to him, and (ii) any harm to an affected business that would result from the disclosure is likely to be outweighed by the benefit to the proceeding and to the public interest that would result from the disclosure. The presiding officer may condition disclosure of the information to a party of record on the making of such protective arrangements and commitments as he finds to be warranted. Disclosure to one or more parties of record, under protective arrangements or commitments, shall not, of itself, affect the eligibility of information to confidential treatment under the other provisions of this subpart. Any affected business shall be given at least 5 days notice by the presiding officer prior to making the information available to one or more of the parties of record to the proceeding.
(h) Disclosure to authorized representatives. (1) Under sections 114, 208 and 307(a) of the Act, EPA possesses authority to disclose to any authorized representative of the United States any information to which this section applies, notwithstanding the fact that the information might otherwise be entitled to confidential treatment under this subpart. Such authority may be exercised only in accordance with paragraph (h) (2) or (3) of this section.
(2)(i) A person under contract or subcontract to the United States government to perform work in support of EPA in connection with the Act or regulations which implement the Act may be considered an authorized representative of the United States for purposes of this paragraph (h). For purposes of this section, the term “contract” includes grants and cooperative agreements under the Environmental Programs Assistance Act of 1984 (Pub. L. 98–313), and the term “contractor” includes grantees and cooperators under the Environmental Programs Assistance Act of 1984. Subject to the limitations in this paragraph (h)(2), information to which this section applies may be disclosed:
(A) To a contractor or subcontractor with EPA, if the EPA program office managing the contract first determines in writing that such disclosure is necessary in order that the contractor or subcontractor may carry out the work required by the contract or subcontract; or
(B) To a contractor or subcontractor with an agency other than EPA, if the EPA program office which provides the information to that agency, contractor, or subcontractor first determines in writing, in consultation with the General Counsel, that such disclosure is necessary in order that the contractor or subcontractor may carry out the work required by the contract or subcontract.
(ii) No information shall be disclosed under this paragraph (h)(2), unless this contract or subcontract in question provides:
(A) That the contractor or subcontractor and the contractor's or subcontractor's employees shall use the information only for the purpose of carrying out the work required by the contract or subcontract, shall refrain from disclosing the information to anyone other than EPA without the prior written approval of each affected business or of an EPA legal office and shall return to EPA all copies of the information (and any abstracts or extracts therefrom) upon request by the EPA program office, whenever the information is no longer required by the contractor or subcontractor for the performance of the work required under the contract or subcontract, or upon completion of the contract or subcontract (where the information was provided to the contractor or subcontractor by an agency other than EPA, the contractor may disclose or return the information to that agency);
(B) That the contractor or subcontractor shall obtain a written agreement to honor such terms of the contract or subcontract from each of the contractor's or subcontractor's employees who will have access to the information, before such employee is allowed such access; and
(C) That the contractor or subcontractor acknowledges and agrees that the contract or subcontract provisions concerning the use and disclosure of business information are included for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, both the United States government and any affected business having an interest in information concerning it supplied to the contractor or subcontractor by the United States government under the contract or subcontract.
(iii) No information shall be disclosed under this paragraph (h)(2) until each affected business has been furnished notice of the contemplated disclosure by the EPA program office and has been afforded a period found reasonable by that office (not less than 5 working days) to submit its comments. Such notice shall include a description of the information to be disclosed, the identity of the contractor or subcontractor, the contract or subcontract number, if any, and the purposes to be served by the disclosure.
(iv) The EPA program office shall prepare a record of each disclosure under this paragraph (h)(2), showing the contractor or subcontractor, the contract or subcontract number, the information disclosed, the date(s) of disclosure, and each affected business. The EPA program office shall maintain the record of disclosure and the determination of necessity prepared under paragraph (h)(2)(i) of this section for a period of not less than 36 months after the date of the disclosure.
(3) A State or local governmental agency which has duties or responsibilities under the Act, or under regulations which implement the Act, may be considered an authorized representative of the United States for purposes of this paragraph (h). Information to which this section applies may be furnished to such an agency at the agency's written request, but only if—
(i) The agency has first furnished to the EPA office having custody of the information a written opinion from the agency's chief legal officer or counsel stating that under applicable State or local law the agency has the authority to compel a business which possesses such information to disclose it to the agency, or
(ii) Each affected business is informed of those disclosures under this paragraph (h)(3) which pertain to it, and the agency has shown to the satisfaction of an EPA legal office that the agency's use and disclosure of such information will be governed by State or local law and procedures which will provide adequate protection to the interests of affected businesses.
[41 FR 36902, Sept. 1, 1976, as amended at 43 FR 40002, Sept. 8, 1978; 43 FR 42251, Sept. 20, 1978; 50 FR 51662, Dec. 18, 1985; 58 FR 461, Jan. 5, 1993; 58 FR 5061, Jan 19, 1993; 58 FR 7189, Feb. 5, 1993]
§ 2.302 Special rules governing certain information obtained under the Clean Water Act.
top
(a) Definitions. For the purposes of this section:
(1) Act means the Clean Water Act, as amended, 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.
(2)(i) Effluent data means, with reference to any source of discharge of any pollutant (as that term is defined in section 502(6) of the Act, 33 U.S.C. 1362 (6))—
(A) Information necessary to determine the identity, amount, frequency, concentration, temperature, or other characteristics (to the extent related to water quality) of any pollutant which has been discharged by the source (or of any pollutant resulting from any discharge from the source), or any combination of the foregoing;
(B) Information necessary to determine the identity, amount, frequency, concentration, temperature, or other characteristics (to the extent related to water quality) of the pollutants which, under an applicable standard or limitation, the source was authorized to discharge (including, to the extent necessary for such purpose, a description of the manner or rate of operation of the source); and
(C) A general description of the location and/or nature of the source to the extent necessary to identify the source and to distinguish it from other sources (including, to the extent necessary for such purposes, a description of the device, installation, or operation constituting the source).
(ii) Notwithstanding paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section, the following information shall be considered to be effluent data only to the extent necessary to allow EPA to disclose publicly that a source is (or is not) in compliance with an applicable standard or limitation, or to allow EPA to demonstrate the feasibility, practicability, or attainability (or lack thereof) of an existing or proposed standard or limitation:
(A) Information concerning research, or the results of research, on any product, method, device, or installation (or any component thereof) which was produced, developed, installed, and used only for research purposes; and
(B) Information concerning any product, method, device, or installation (or any component thereof) designed and intended to be marketed or used commercially but not yet so marketed or used.
(3) Standard or limitation means any prohibition, any effluent limitation, or any toxic, pre-treatment or new source performance standard established or publicly proposed pursuant to the Act or pursuant to regulations under the Act, including limitations or prohibitions in a permit issued or proposed by EPA or by a State under section 402 of the Act, 33 U.S.C. 1342.
(4) Proceeding means any rulemaking, adjudication, or licensing conducted by EPA under the Act or under regulations which implement the Act, except for determinations under this part.
(b) Applicability. (1) This section applies only to business information—
(i) Provided to or obtained by EPA under section 308 of the Act, 33 U.S.C. 1318, by or from the owner or operator of any point source, for the purpose of carrying out the objective of the Act (including but not limited to developing or assisting in the development of any standard or limitation under the Act, or determining whether any person is in violation of any such standard or limitation); or
(ii) Provided to or obtained by EPA under section 509(a) of the Act, 33 U.S.C. 1369(a).
(2) Information will be considered to have been provided or obtained under section 308 of the Act if it was provided in response to a request by EPA made for any of the purposes stated in section 308, or if its submission could have been required under section 308, regardless of whether section 308 was cited as the authority for any request for the information, whether an order to provide the information was issued under section 309(a)(3) of the Act, 33 U.S.C. 1319(a)(3), whether a civil action was brought under section 309(b) of the Act, 33 U.S.C. 1319(b), and whether the information was provided directly to EPA or through some third person.
(3) Information will be considered to have been provided or obtained under section 509(a) of the Act if it was provided in response to a subpoena issued under section 509(a), or if its production could have been required by subpoena under section 509(a), regardless of whether section 509(a) was cited as the authority for any request for the information, whether a subpoena was issued by EPA, whether a court issued an order under section 307(a), or whether the information was provided directly to EPA or through some third person.
(4) This section specifically does not apply to information obtained under section 310(d) or 312(g)(3) of the Act, 33 U.S.C. 1320(d), 1322(g)(3).
(c) Basic rules which apply without change. Sections 2.201 through 2.207, 2.209, 2.211 through 2.215 apply without change to information to which this section applies.
(d) [Reserved]
(e) Substantive criteria for use in confidentiality determinations. Section 2.208 applies to information to which this section applies, except that information which is effluent data or a standard or limitation is not eligible for confidential treatment. No information to which this section applies is voluntarily submitted information.
(f) Availability of information not entitled to confidential treatment. Section 2.210 does not apply to information to which this section applies. Effluent data, standards or limitations, and any other information provided or obtained under section 308 of the Act which is determined under this subpart not to be entitled to confidential treatment, shall be available to the public notwithstanding any other provision of this part. Effluent data and standards or limitations provided in response to a subpoena issued under section 509(a) of the Act shall be available to the public notwithstanding any other provision of this part. Information (other than effluent data and standards or limitations) provided in response to a subpoena issued under section 509(a) of the Act, which is determined under this subpart not to be entitled to confidential treatment, shall be available to the public, unless EPA determines that the information is exempt from mandatory disclosure under 5 U.S.C. 552(b) for reasons other than reasons of business confidentiality and cannot or should not be made available to the public.
(g) Disclosure of information relevant to a proceeding. (1) Under sections 308 and 509(a) of the Act, any information to which this section applies may be released by EPA because of the relevance of the information to a proceeding, notwithstanding the fact that the information otherwise might be entitled to confidential treatment under this subpart. Release of information to which this section applies because of its relevance to a proceeding shall be made only in accordance with this paragraph (g).
(2)–(4) The provisions of §2.301(g) (2), (3), and (4) are incorporated by reference as paragraphs (g) (2), (3), and (4), respectively of this section.
(h) Disclosure to authorized representatives. (1) Under sections 308 and 509(a) of the Act, EPA possesses authority to disclose to any authorized representative of the United States any information to which this section applies, notwithstanding the fact that the information might otherwise be entitled to confidential treatment under this subpart. Such authority may be exercised only in accordance with paragraph (h)(2) or (h)(3) of this section.
(2)–(3) The provisions of §2.301(h) (2) and (3) are incorporated by reference as paragraphs (h) (2) and (3), respectively, of this section.
[41 FR 36902, Sept. 1, 1976, as amended at 43 FR 40003, Sept. 8, 1978]
§ 2.303 Special rules governing certain information obtained under the Noise Control Act of 1972.
top
(a) Definitions. For the purposes of this section:
(1) Act means the Noise Control Act of 1972, 42 U.S.C. 4901 et seq.
(2) Manufacturer has the meaning given it in 42 U.S.C. 4902(6).
(3) Product has the meaning given it in 42 U.S.C. 4902(3).
(4) Proceeding means any rulemaking, adjudication, or licensing conducted by EPA under the Act or under regulations which implement the Act, except for determinations under this subpart.
(b) Applicability. This section applies only to information provided to or obtained by EPA under section 13 of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 4912, by or from any manufacturer of any product to which regulations under section 6 or 8 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 4905, 4907) apply. Information will be deemed to have been provided or obtained under section 13 of the Act, if it was provided in response to a request by EPA made for the purpose of enabling EPA to determine whether the manufacturer has acted or is acting in compliance with the Act, or if its submission could have been required under section 13 of the Act, regardless of whether section 13 was cited as authority for the request, whether an order to provide such information was issued under section 11(d) of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 4910(d), and whether the information was provided directly to EPA by the manufacturer or through some third person.
(c) Basic rules which apply without change. Sections 2.201 through 2.207 and 2.209 through 2.215 apply without change to information to which this section applies.
(d) [Reserved]
(e) Substantive criteria for use in confidentiality determinations. Section 2.208 applies without change to information to which this section applies; however, no information to which this section applies is voluntarily submitted information.
(f) [Reserved]
(g) Disclosure of information relevant to a proceeding. (1) Under section 13 of the Act, any information to which this section applies may be released by EPA because of its relevance to a matter in controversy in a proceeding, notwithstanding the fact that the information otherwise might be entitled to confidential treatment under this subpart. Release of information because of its relevance to a proceeding shall be made only in accordance with this paragraph (g).
(2)–(4) The provisions of §2.301(g) (2), (3), and (4) are incorporated by reference as paragraphs (g) (2), (3), and (4), respectively, of this section.
[41 FR 36902, Sept. 1, 1976, as amended at 43 FR 40003, Sept. 8, 1978]
§ 2.304 Special rules governing certain information obtained under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
top
(a) Definitions. For the purposes of this section:
(1) Act means the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.
(2) Contaminant means any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter in water.
(3) Proceeding means any rulemaking, adjudication, or licensing process conducted by EPA under the Act or under regulations which implement the Act, except for any determination under this part.
(b) Applicability. (1) This section applies only to information—
(i) Which was provided to or obtained by EPA pursuant to a requirement of a regulation which was issued by EPA under the Act for the purpose of—
(A) Assisting the Administrator in establishing regulations under the Act;
(B) Determining whether the person providing the information has acted or is acting in compliance with the Act; or
(C) Administering any program of financial assistance under the Act; and
(ii) Which was provided by a person—
(A) Who is a supplier of water, as defined in section 1401(5) of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 300f(5);
(B) Who is or may be subject to a primary drinking water regulation under section 1412 of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 300g–1;
(C) Who is or may be subject to an applicable underground injection control program, as defined in section 1422(d) of the Act, 42 U.S.C.300h–1(d);
(D) Who is or may be subject to the permit requirements of section 1424(b) of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 300h–3(b);
(E) Who is or may be subject to an order issued under section 1441(c) of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 300j(c); or
(F) Who is a grantee, as defined in section 1445(e) of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 300j–4(e).
(2) This section applies to any information which is described by paragraph (b)(1) of this section if it was provided in response to a request by EPA or its authorized representative (or by a State agency administering any program under the Act) made for any purpose stated in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, or if its submission could have been required under section 1445 of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 300j–4, regardless of whether such section was cited in any request for the information, or whether the information was provided directly to EPA or through some third person.
(c) Basic rules which apply without change. Sections 2.201 through 2.207, 2.209, and 2.211 through 2.215 apply without change to information to which this section applies.
(d) [Reserved]
(e) Substantive criteria for use in confidentiality determinations. Section 2.208 applies to information to which this section applies, except that information which deals with the existence, absence, or level of contaminants in drinking water is not eligible for confidential treatment. No information to which this section applies is voluntarily submitted information.
(f) Nondisclosure for reasons other than business confidentiality or where disclosure is prohibited by other statute. Section 2.210 applies to information to which this section applies, except that information which deals with the existence, absence, or level of contaminants in drinking water shall be available to the public notwithstanding any other provision of this part.
(g) Disclosure of information relevant to a proceeding. (1) Under section 1445(d) of the Act, any information to which this section applies may be released by EPA because of the relevance of the information to a proceeding, notwithstanding the fact that the information otherwise might be entitled to confidential treatment under this subpart. Release of information to which this section applies because of its relevance to a proceeding shall be made only in accordance with this paragraph (g).
(2)–(4) The provisions of §2.301(g) (2), (3), (4) are incorporated by reference as paragraphs (g) (2), (3), and (4), respectively, of this section.
(h) Disclosure to authorized representatives. (1) Under section 1445(d) of the Act, EPA possesses authority to disclose to any authorized representative of the United States any information to which this section applies, notwithstanding the fact that the information otherwise might be entitled to confidential treatment under this subpart. Such authority may be exercised only in accordance with paragraph (h)(2) or (h)(3) of this section.
(2)–(3) The provisions of §2.301(h) (2) and (3) are incorporated by reference as paragraphs (h) (2) and (3), respectively, of this section.
[41 FR 36902, Sept. 1, 1976, as amended at 43 FR 40003, Sept. 8, 1978]
§ 2.305 Special rules governing certain information obtained under the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended.
top
(a) Definitions. For purposes of this section:
(1) Act means the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended, including amendments made by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.
(2) Person has the meaning given it in section 1004(15) of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 6903(15).
(3) Hazardous waste has the meaning given it in section 1004(5) of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 6903(5).
(4) Proceeding means any rulemaking, adjudication, or licensing conducted by EPA under the Act or under regulations which implement the Act including the issuance of administrative orders and the approval or disapproval of plans (e.g. closure plans) submitted by persons subject to regulation under the Act, but not including determinations under this subpart.
(b) Applicability. This section applies to information provided to or obtained by EPA under section 3001(b)(3)(B), 3007, or 9005 of the Act, 42 U.S.C 6921(b)(3)(B), 6927, or 6995. Information will be considered to have been provided or obtained under sections 3001(b)(3)(B), 3007, or 9005 of the Act if it was provided in response to a request from EDA made for any of the purposes stated in the Act or if its submission could have been required under those provisions of the Act regardless of whether a specific section was cited as the authority for any request for the information or whether the information was provide directly to EPA or through some third person.
(c) Basic rules which apply without change. Sections 2.201 through 2.207 and 2.209 through 2.215 apply without change to information to which this section applies.
(d) [Reserved]
(e) Substantive criteria for use in confidentiality determinations. Section 2.208 applies without change to information to which this section applies; however, no information to which this section applies is voluntarily submitted information.
(f) [Reserved]
(g) Disclosure of information relevant in a proceeding. (1) Under sections 3007(b) and 9005(b) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 6927(b) and 6995(b)), any information to which this section applies may be disclosed by EPA because of the relevance of the information in a proceeding under the Act, notwithstanding the fact that the information otherwise might be entitled to confidential treatment under this subpart. Disclosure of information to which this section applies because of its relevance in a proceeding shall be made only in accordance with this paragraph (g).
(2)–(4) The provisions of §2.301(g) (2), (3), and (4) are incorporated by reference as paragraphs (g) (2), (3), and (4), respectively, of this section.
(h) Disclosure to authorized representatives. (1) Under sections 3001(b)(3)(B), 3007(b), and 9005(b) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 6921(b)(3)(B), 6927(b), and 6995(b)), EPA possesses authority to disclose to any authorized representative of the United States any information to which this section applies, notwithstanding the fact that the information might otherwise be entitled to confidential treatment under this subpart. Such authority may be exercised only in accordance with paragraph (h)(2) or (h)(3) of this section.
(2)–(3) The provisions of §2.301(h) (2) and (3) are incorporated by reference as paragraphs (h) (2) and (3), respectively, of this section.
(4) At the time any information is furnished to a contractor, subcontractor, or State or local government agency under this paragraph (h), the EPA office furnishing the information to the contractor, subcontractor, or State or local government agency shall notify the contractor, subcontractor, or State or local government agency that the information may be entitled to confidential treatment and that any knowing and willful disclosure of the information may subject the contractor, subcontractor, or State or local government agency and its employees to penalties in section 3001(b)(3)(B), 3007(b)(2), or 9005(b)(1) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 6921(b)(3)(B), 6927(b), or 6995(b)).
[43 FR 40003, Sept. 8, 1978, as amended at 50 FR 51662, Dec. 18, 1985]
§ 2.306 Special rules governing certain information obtained under the Toxic Substances Control Act.
top
(a) Definitions. For the purposes of this section:
(1) Act means the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.
(2) Chemical substance has the meaning given it in section 3(2) of the Act, 15 U.S.C. 2602(2).
(3)(i) Health and safety data means the information described in paragraphs (a)(3)(i) (A), (B), and (C) of this section with respect to any chemical substance or mixture offered for commercial distribution (including for test marketing purposes and for use in research and development), any chemical substance included on the inventory of chemical substances under section 8 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 2607), or any chemical substance or mixture for which testing is required under section 4 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 2603) or for which notification is required under section 5 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 2604).
(A) Any study of any effect of a chemical substance or mixture on health, on the environment, or on both, including underlying data and epidemiological studies; studies of occupational exposure to a chemical substance or mixture; and toxicological, clinical, and ecological studies of a chemical substance or mixture;
(B) Any test performed under the Act; and
(C) Any data reported to, or otherwise obtained by, EPA from a study described in paragraph (a)(3)(i)(A) of this section or a test described in paragraph (a)(3)(i)(B) of this section.
(ii) Notwithstanding paragraph (a)(3)(i) of this section, no information shall be considered to be health and safety data if disclosure of the information would—
(A) In the case of a chemical substance or mixture, disclose processes used in the manufacturing or processing the chemical substance or mixture or,
(B) In the case of a mixture, disclose the portion of the mixture comprised by any of the chemical substances in the mixture.
(4) [Reserved]
(5) Mixture has the meaning given it in section 3(8) of the Act, 15 U.S.C. 2602(8).
(6) Proceeding means any rulemaking, adjudication, or licensing conducted by EPA under the Act or under regulations which implement the Act, except for determinations under this subpart.
(b) Applicability. This section applies to all information submitted to EPA for the purpose of satisfying some requirement or condition of the Act or of regulations which implement the Act, including information originally submitted to EPA for some other purpose and either relied upon to avoid some requirement or condition of the Act or incorporated into a submission in order to satisfy some requirement or condition of the Act or of regulations which implement the Act. Information will be considered to have been provided under the Act if the information could have been obtained under authority of the Act, whether the Act was cited as authority or not, and whether the information was provided directly to EPA or through some third person.
(c) Basic rules which apply without change. Sections 2.201 through 2.203, 2.206, 2.207, and 2.210 through 2.215 apply without change to information to which this section applies.
(d) Initial action by EPA office. Section 2.204 applies to information to which this section applies, except that the provisions of paragraph (e)(3) of this section regarding the time allowed for seeking judicial review shall be reflected in any notice furnished to a business under §2.204(d)(2).
(e) Final confidentiality determination by EPA legal office. Section 2.205 applies to information to which this section applies, except that—
(1) Notwithstanding §2.205(i), the General Counsel (or his designee), rather than the regional counsel, shall make the determinations and take the actions required by §2.205;
(2) In addition to the statement prescribed by the second sentence of §2.205(f)(2), the notice of denial of a business confidentiality claim shall state that under section 20(a) of the Act, 15 U.S.C. 2619, the business may commence an action in an appropriate Federal district court to prevent disclosure.
(3) The following sentence is substituted for the third sentence of §2.205(f)(2): “With respect to EPA's implementation of the determination, the notice shall state that (subject to §2.210) EPA will make the information available to the public on the thirty-first (31st) calendar day after the date of the business' receipt of the written notice (or on such later date as is established in lieu thereof under paragraph (f)(3) of this section), unless the EPA legal office has first been notified of the business' commencement of an action in a Federal court to obtain judicial review of the determination and to obtain preliminary injunctive relief against disclosure.”; and
(4) Notwithstanding §2.205(g), the 31 calendar day period prescribed by §2.205(f)(2), as modified by paragraph (e)(3) of this section, shall not be shortened without the consent of the business.
(f) [Reserved]
(g) Substantive criteria for use in confidentiality determinations. Section 2.208 applies without change to information to which this section applies, except that health and safety data are not eligible for confidential treatment. No information to which this section applies is voluntarily submitted information.
(h) Disclosure in special circumstances. Section 2.209 applies to information to which this section applies, except that the following two additional provisions apply to §2.209(c):
(1) The official purpose for which theinformation is needed must be in connection with the agency's duties under any law for protection of health or the environment or for specific law enforcement purposes; and (continued)