N.J. Admin. Code § 7:1E-8.3

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 7:1E-8.3 - Substantiation of confidentiality claims

(a) If the Department has determined that any assertedly confidential information may be confidential information, and notified the claimant pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:1E-8.2(a) and (b), the claimant shall substantiate the confidentiality claim by submitting information to the Department in the following areas within the time allotted in N.J.A.C. 7:1E-8.4:

1. Measures taken by the claimant to prevent disclosure of the information to others, including evidence that the information is not contained in materials which are routinely available to the general public, including without limitation initial and final orders in contested case adjudications, press releases, copies of speeches, pamphlets and educational materials;

2. The extent to which the information has been disclosed to others and whether it was disclosed to other persons either by the claimant (except in a manner which protects the confidentiality of the information) or without the consent of the claimant (other than by subpoena or by discovery based on a showing of special need in a judicial proceeding, arbitration, or other proceeding in which the claimant was required to disclose the information to such other persons, as long as the information has not become available to persons not involved in the proceeding), and the precautions taken to prevent further disclosure;

3. If the Department, EPA or any other agency has previously made a confidentiality determination relevant to the pending confidentiality claim, copies of all such confidentiality determinations;

4. A description of any substantial harmful effects which disclosure would have upon the claimant's competitive position or national security, an explanation of why such harmful effects are substantial, and an explanation of the causal relationship between disclosure and such harmful effects;

5. Evidence that no law, regulation (including, without limitation, N.J.A.C. 7:1E-8.10 or any other regulations of the Department), or order by a court or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction specifically requires disclosure of the information or provides that the information is not confidential information;

6. The period of time for which the claimant desires that the Department treat the assertedly confidential information as confidential information; and

7. Any other substantiation which is relevant in establishing that the assertedly confidential information is confidential information.

(b) The claimant may assert a confidentiality claim for any information submitted to the Department by the claimant as part of his or her substantiation pursuant to this section. If the claimant fails to assert a confidentiality claim for such information at the time of submission, the claimant shall be deemed to have waived all such claims with respect to the information.

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:1E-8.3

Amended by R.1996 d.462, effective 10/7/1996.
See: 28 New Jersey Register 2730(a), 28 New Jersey Register 4424(b).