§2217. Public access to information

Copies of any document, report, statement, or information received or sent by the Director or the Administrator shall be made available to the public pursuant to the provisions of section 552 of title 5: Provided, That, notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of such section and of section 1905 of title 18, the Director may disclose information which concerns or relates to a trade secret—

(1) upon request, to other Federal Government departments and agencies for official use;

(2) upon request, to any committee of Congress having jurisdiction over the subject matter to which the information relates;

(3) in any judicial proceeding under a court order formulated to preserve the confidentiality of such information without impairing the proceedings; and

(4) to the public when he determines such disclosure to be necessary in order to protect health and safety after notice and opportunity for comment in writing or for discussion in closed session within fifteen days by the party to which the information pertains (if the delay resulting from such notice and opportunity for comment would not be detrimental to health and safety).

(Pub. L. 93–498, §20, Oct. 29, 1974, 88 Stat. 1547; Pub. L. 106–503, title I, §110(a)(2)(B)(viii), Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2302.)

Amendments

2000—Pub. L. 106–503 substituted “Director” for “Secretary” in two places in introductory provisions.

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of all functions, personnel, assets, components, authorities, grant programs, and liabilities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including the functions of the Under Secretary for Federal Emergency Management relating thereto, to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, see section 315(a)(1) of Title 6, Domestic Security.

For transfer of functions, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including the functions of the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see former section 313(1) and sections 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.

Functions of National Fire Prevention and Control Administration [now United States Fire Administration] and National Academy for Fire Prevention and Control generally transferred to Federal Emergency Management Agency. For further details see Transfer of Functions note set out under section 2202 of this title.