Rhode Island § 46-12-19 - Water Pollution

§ 46-12-19. Public access to information.

(a) Any permit, permit application, or effluent data shall be available to the public for inspection and copying.

(b) Other records, reports, or information obtained under this chapter also may be made available to the public for inspection and copying; provided, that upon a showing, satisfactory to the director by any person, that the records, reports, or information or any part thereof, except as provided in subsection (a) of this section, would if made public divulge methods or processes entitled to protection as trade secrets of the person, the director shall consider, treat, and protect the record, report, or information, or part thereof, as confidential; provided, however, that the record, report, or information accorded confidential treatment may be disclosed or transmitted to other officers, employees, or authorized representatives of this state or of the United States concerned with carrying out this chapter or, when relevant, in any proceeding under this chapter.