§5916. Central source of nonnuclear energy information; acquisition of proprietary and other information; availability of information to public, Government agencies, Federal agencies and agency heads for execution of duties and responsibilities, and chairmen of Congressional committees; disclosure restrictions

The Secretary shall promptly establish, develop, acquire, and maintain a central source of information on all energy resources and technology in furtherance of the Secretary's research, development, and demonstration mission carried out directly or indirectly under this chapter. When the Secretary determines that such information is needed to carry out the purposes of this chapter, he may acquire proprietary and other information (a) by purchase through negotiation or by donation from any person, or (b) from another Federal agency. The information maintained by the Secretary shall be made available to the public, subject to the provisions of section 552 of title 5 and section 1905 of title 18, and to other Government agencies in a manner that will facilitate its dissemination: Provided, That upon a showing satisfactory to the Secretary by any person that any information, or portion thereof, obtained under this section by the Secretary directly or indirectly from such person, would, if made public, divulge (1) trade secrets or (2) other proprietary information of such person, the Secretary shall not disclose such information and disclosure thereof shall be punishable under section 1905 of title 18: Provided further, That the Secretary shall, upon request, provide such information to (A) any delegate of the Secretary for the purpose of carrying out this chapter, and (B) the Attorney General, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Interior, the Federal Trade Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, the General Accounting Office, other Federal agencies, when necessary to carry out their duties and responsibilities under this chapter and other statutes, but such agencies and agency heads shall not release such information to the public. This section is not authority to withhold information from Congress or any committee of Congress upon request of the chairman.

(Pub. L. 93–577, §17, as added Pub. L. 94–187, title III, §312, Dec. 31, 1975, 89 Stat. 1075 ; amended Pub. L. 95–91, title III, §301, title VII, §§703, 707, Aug. 4, 1977, 91 Stat. 577 , 606, 607.)

Codification

In cl. (B), the words "the Federal Energy Administration," and "the Federal Power Commission," following "the Federal Trade Commission," and "the Environmental Protection Agency,", respectively, omitted from text in view of termination of Federal Energy Administration and Federal Power Commission and transfer of their functions (with certain exceptions) to Secretary of Energy pursuant to sections 301, 703, and 707 of Pub. L. 95–91, which are classified to sections 7151, 7293, and 7297 of this title. This transfer would result in cl. (B) being redundant in that it would require Secretary of Energy to provide information to himself. See Transfer of Functions note below.

Transfer of Functions

"Secretary" and "Secretary's", meaning Secretary of Energy, substituted in text for "Administrator" and "Administrator's", respectively, meaning Administrator of Energy Research and Development Administration, pursuant to sections 301(a), 703, and 707 of Pub. L. 95–91, which are classified to sections 7151(a), 7293, and 7297 of this title and which terminated Energy Research and Development Administration and transferred its functions and functions of Administrator thereof (with certain exceptions) to Secretary of Energy.