Section 340. Confidentiality of information

A. The board, the department, or the VSMP authority may require every state permit applicant or state permittee to furnish when requested such application materials, plans, specifications, and other pertinent information as may be necessary to determine the effect of his discharge on the quality of state waters, or such other information as may be necessary to accomplish the purposes of the Act and this chapter. Any personal information shall not be disclosed except to an appropriate official of the board, department, or VSMP authority or as may be authorized pursuant to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq. of the Code of Virginia). However:

1. Disclosure of records of the department, the board, or the VSMP authority relating to (i) active federal environmental enforcement actions that are considered confidential under federal law and (ii) enforcement strategies, including proposed sanctions for enforcement actions is prohibited. Upon request, such records shall be disclosed after a proposed sanction resulting from the investigation has been determined by the department, the board, or the VSMP authority.

2. Any secret formula, secret processes, or secret methods other than effluent data submitted to the department pursuant to this chapter may be claimed as confidential by the submitter in accordance with 40 CFR 122.7. Any such claim must be asserted at the time of submission in the manner prescribed on the application form or instructions or, in the case of other submissions, by stamping the words "secret formulae," "secret processes" "secret methods" on each page containing such information. If no claim is made at the time of submission, the department may make the information available to the public without further notice. If a claim is asserted, the information will be treated in accordance with the procedures in the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq. of the Code of Virginia).

3. This section shall not be construed to prohibit the disclosure of records related to inspection reports, notices of violation, and documents detailing the nature of any land-disturbing activity that may have occurred, or similar documents.

B. Claims of confidentiality for the following information will be denied:

1. The name and address of any state permit applicant or state permittee;

2. State permit applications, state permits, and effluent data.

C. Information required by state permit application forms provided by the department may not be claimed confidential. This includes information submitted on the forms themselves and any attachments used to supply information required by the forms.

Historical Notes

Former 4VAC50-60-340 derived from Volume 21, Issue 03, eff. January 29, 2005; amended, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 04, eff. November 21, 2012; amended and renumbered, Virginia Register Volume 30, Issue 02, eff. October 23, 2013.

Statutory Authority

§§ 62.1-44.15:25 and 62.1-44.15:28 of the Code of Virginia.