2000 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 

    HIST: 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