1.    To the extent the agriculture diversification and development committee determines the materials or data provided under section 4.1-01.1-07 consist of trade secrets or commercial, financial, or proprietary information of individuals or entities applying for grants with the committee, materials and data submitted to, made by, or received by the committee, are not public records subject to section 44-04-18 and section 6 of article XI of the Constitution of North Dakota, and are subject to section 44-04-18.4.

Terms Used In North Dakota Code 4.1-01.1-09

  • following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute means the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • Person: means an individual, organization, government, political subdivision, or government agency or instrumentality. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49

2.    A person may file a request with the committee to have material designated as confidential under subsection 1. The request must contain any information required by the committee and must include at least the following:

a.    A general description of the nature of the information sought to be protected; b.    An explanation of why the information derives independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to other persons; c.    An explanation of why the information is not readily ascertainable by proper means of other persons; d.    A general description of any person that may obtain economic value from disclosure or use of the information, and how the person may obtain this value; and e.    A description of the efforts used to maintain the secrecy of the information.

3.    A request under subsection 2 is confidential. The committee shall examine the request and determine whether the information is relevant to the matter at hand and is a trade secret under the definition in section 47-25.1-01 or 44-04-18.4. If the committee determines the information is not relevant or not a trade secret, the committee shall notify the requester and the requester may ask for the return of the information and the request within ten days of the notice. If no return is sought, the information and request are public records.

4.    The names or identities of independent technical reviewers on a project or program are confidential, may not be disclosed by the committee, and are not public records    subject to section 44-04-18 or section 6 of article XI of the Constitution of North Dakota.