291.15 Confidentiality of records.

(1) Records. Except as provided under sub. (2), any records or other information furnished to or obtained by the department in the administration of this chapter are public records subject to s. 19.21.

(2) Confidential records.

(a) Application. An owner or operator of a hazardous waste facility may seek confidential treatment of any records or other information furnished to or obtained by the department in the administration of this chapter.

(b) Standards for granting confidential status. Except as provided under par. (c), the department shall grant confidential status for any records or information received by the department and certified by the owner or operator of the solid waste facility as relating to production or sales figures or to processes or production unique to the owner or operator of the solid waste facility or which would tend to adversely affect the competitive position of the owner or operator if made public.

(c) Emission data; analyses and summaries. The department may not grant confidential status for emission data. Nothing in this subsection prevents the department from using records and other information in compiling or publishing analyses or summaries relating to the general condition of the environment if the analyses or summaries do not identify a specific owner or operator or the analyses or summaries do not reveal records or other information granted confidential status.

(d) Use of confidential records. Except as provided under par. (c) and this paragraph the department or the department of justice may use records and other information granted confidential status under this subsection only in the administration and enforcement of this chapter. The department or the department of justice may release for general distribution records and other information granted confidential status under this subsection if the owner or operator expressly agrees to the release. The department or the department of justice may release on a limited basis records and other information granted confidential status under this subsection if the department or the department of justice is directed to take this action by a judge or hearing examiner under an order which protects the confidentiality of the records or other information. The department or the department of justice may release to the U.S. environmental protection agency or its authorized representative records and other information granted confidential status under this subsection if the department or the department of justice includes in each release of records or other information a request to the U.S. environmental protection agency or its authorized representative to protect the confidentiality of the records or other information. The department or the department of justice shall provide to the department of children and families or a county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) the name and address of an individual, the name and address of the individual's employer and financial information related to the individual that is contained in records or other information granted confidential status under this subsection if requested under s. 49.22 (2m) by the department of children and families or a county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5).

History: 1981 c. 374; 1987 a. 384; 1995 a. 227 s. 692; Stats. 1995 s. 291.15; 1997 a. 191; 2007 a. 20.