Alabama § 22-30-18 - Reporting of Wastes Generated; When Reports Deemed Trade Secrets.

§ 22-30-18. Reporting of Wastes Generated; When Reports Deemed Trade Secrets.

Every generator, transporter, and owner and operator of a treatment, storage or disposal facility of hazardous wastes shall establish and maintain such records for a three-year period, make such reports and furnish such information pertaining to the generation, transportation, treatment, storage or disposal of said waste, and install, use and maintain such monitoring equipment or methods, sample such wastes, materials, soils or waters, in accordance with such methods and procedures, at such locations and times, as the department shall require. The retention period for all records required to be maintained by this chapter or rules and regulations promulgated under this chapter is automatically extended during the period of any unresolved enforcement action regarding the facility or as requested by the department. Any records, reports or information obtained under this chapter shall be available to the public; except, that upon a showing satisfactory to the department by the person submitting the records, reports or information that the records, reports or information, or a particular part thereof, other than manifests and reports showing the quantities and characteristics of hazardous wastes generated, transported, treated, stored or disposed by any person, to which the department has access, if made public, would divulge production or sales figures or methods, processes or production unique to such person or would otherwise tend to affect adversely the competitive position of such person by revealing trade secrets, the department shall consider such record, report or information, or a particular part thereof, confidential in the administration of this chapter. If the department denies a request for information and the requester substantially prevails on judicial review, the court may award reasonable attorney fees, and other litigation costs reasonably incurred, to the requester. Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent disclosures of any such reports, records or information to federal, state or local representatives as necessary for the purposes of the administration of any federal, or state hazardous waste control laws or when relevant in any proceeding under such laws.