2006 Minnesota Statutes

299F.63 RECORDS, REPORTS, INSPECTIONS.
    Subdivision 1. Commissioner's duties and powers. (a) The commissioner may, to the extent
necessary to carry out the enforcement responsibilities of sections 299F.56 to 299F.641, conduct
investigations, make reports, issue subpoenas, require the production of relevant documents
and records, take depositions, and conduct research, testing, development, demonstration, and
training activities.
(b) The commissioner may require each person who engages in the transportation of gas or
hazardous liquid or who owns or operates pipeline facilities to establish and maintain records, and
to make reports and provide information to the commissioner. The records and other information
must be made available as the commissioner orders to enable the commissioner to determine
whether the person has acted or is acting in compliance with sections 299F.56 to 299F.641 and the
standards adopted or orders issued under sections 299F.56 to 299F.641.
(c) Officers, employees, and agents authorized by the commissioner, on presenting
appropriate credentials to the person in charge, may enter upon, inspect, and examine, at
reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, the records and properties of a person subject to
regulation under sections 299F.56 to 299F.641 to the extent the records and properties are relevant
to determine whether the person has acted or is acting in compliance with those sections and
the standards adopted under those sections.
(d) An accident report made by an officer, employee, or agent of the Office of Pipeline Safety
is available for use in a civil, criminal, or other judicial proceeding arising out of the accident. The
officer, employee, or agent may be required to testify in the proceedings as to the facts developed
in the investigation. A report made available to the public need not identify individuals. Reports
on research projects, demonstration projects, and other related activities are public information.
(e) All information reported to or otherwise obtained by the commissioner under sections
299F.56 to 299F.641 that contains or relates to a trade secret referred to in United States Code,
title 18, section 1905, is confidential for the purpose of that section, and is private or nonpublic
data as defined in section 13.02. However, the information may be disclosed to other officers or
employees authorized to enforce sections 299F.56 to 299F.641. Nothing in this section authorizes
the withholding of information by the commissioner from a duly authorized committee of the
legislature or the United States Congress.
    Subd. 2. Inspection program. The commissioner must establish and implement an
inspection program to enforce the standards adopted under section 299F.57. The program must be
established and implemented in a manner that complies with requirements for state certification
under United States Code, title 49, section 1674. In the course of the exercise of duties and
responsibilities under sections 299F.56 to 299F.641, the commissioner shall wherever practicable
employ a practice of spot checking, with respect to persons subject to sections 299F.56 to
299F.641.
    Subd. 3.[Repealed by amendment, 1989 c 244 s 15]
    Subd. 4.[Repealed, 1988 c 624 s 23]
History: 1969 c 988 s 8; 1984 c 654 art 3 s 84; 1986 c 444; 1987 c 353 s 20; 1988 c 624 s
16; 1989 c 244 s 15