Code Section

25538.  

(a) If a stationary source believes that any information required to be reported, submitted, or otherwise provided to the unified program agency pursuant to this article involves the release of a trade secret, the stationary source shall provide the information to the unified program agency and shall notify the unified program agency in writing of that belief. Upon receipt of a claim of trade secret related to an RMP, the unified program agency shall review the claim and shall segregate properly substantiated trade secret information from information that shall be made available to the public upon request in accordance with the California Public Records Act (Division 10 (commencing with Section 7920.000) of Title 1 of the Government Code). As used in this section, “trade secret” has the same meaning as in subdivision (f) of Section 7924.510 of the Government Code and Section 1061 of the Evidence Code.

(b) Except as otherwise specified in this section, the unified program agency shall not disclose any properly substantiated trade secret that is so designated by the owner or operator of a stationary source.

(c) The unified program agency may disclose trade secrets received by the unified program agency pursuant to this article to authorized officers or employees of other governmental agencies only in connection with the official duties of that officer or employee pursuant to any law for the protection of health and safety.

(d) Any officer or employee or former officer or employee of the unified program agency or any other government agency who, because of that employment or official position, has possession of or access to information designated as a trade secret pursuant to this section shall not knowingly and willfully disclose the information in any manner to any person not authorized to receive the information pursuant to this section. Notwithstanding Section 25515, any person who violates this subdivision, and who knows that disclosure of this information to the general public is prohibited by the section, shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six months or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment.

(e) Any information prohibited from disclosure pursuant to any federal statute or regulation shall not be disclosed.

(f) This section does not authorize any stationary source to refuse to disclose to the unified program agency any information required pursuant to this article.

(g) (1) Upon receipt of a request for the release of information to the public that includes information that the stationary source has notified the unified program agency is a trade secret pursuant to subdivision (a), the unified program agency shall notify the stationary source in writing of the request by certified mail, return receipt requested. The owner or operator of the stationary source shall have 30 days from receipt of the notification to provide the unified program agency with any materials or information intended to supplement the information submitted pursuant to subdivision (a) and needed to substantiate the claim of trade secret. The unified program agency shall review the claim of trade secret and shall determine whether the claim is properly substantiated.

(2) The unified program agency shall inform the stationary source in writing, by certified mail, return receipt requested, of any determination by the unified program agency that some, or all, of a claim of trade secret has not been substantiated. Not earlier than 30 days after the receipt by a stationary source of notice of the determination, the unified program agency shall release the information to the public, unless, prior to the expiration of the 30-day period, the stationary source files an action in an appropriate court for a declaratory judgment that the information is subject to protection under subdivision (b) or for an injunction prohibiting disclosure of the information to the public, and promptly notifies the unified program agency of that action.