Public access to information

In addition to the provisions of section 33.1-16-01-07, the department shall provide the following: 1. Facilities for the public inspection of all information relating to national pollutant discharge elimination system forms, including monitoring data, and a machine or device for the copying of those papers and documents at a reasonable fee. 2. A copy of any request for the confidential treatment of any information relating to a North Dakota pollutant discharge elimination system permit application to the regional administrator, together with all information related to such request. 3. If the department determines that certain information should be accorded confidential status for reason of being a trade secret, it shall disclose such information to the administrator upon the latter's request; the administrator shall maintain the disclosed information in confidence, unless the administrator determines that such information, if made public, would not divulge methods of processes entitled to protection as trade secrets. 4. Information required by national pollutant discharge elimination system application forms may not be claimed confidential. This includes information submitted on the forms and any attachments used to supply information required by the form. In no case shall the name and address of any applicant or permittee, permit applications, permits, or effluent data be considered confidential by the department.