Iowa Code Title XI. Natural Resources [Chs. 455-485] § 455K.7. Review of privileged documents

1. The privileges created in this chapter shall not apply to criminal investigations or proceedings. An environmental audit report, supporting documents, and testimony relating thereto may be obtained by a prosecutor's subpoena pursuant to the rules of criminal procedure. If an environmental audit report is obtained, reviewed, or used in a criminal investigation or proceeding, the administrative and civil evidentiary privilege established in this chapter is not waived or made inapplicable for any purpose other than for the criminal investigation or proceeding.

2. Notwithstanding the privilege established in this chapter, the department may review information in an environmental audit report, but such review does not waive or make the administrative and civil evidentiary privilege inapplicable to the report. A regulatory agency shall not adopt a rule or impose a condition that circumvents the purpose of this chapter.

3. If information is required to be made available to the public by operation of a specific state or federal law, rule, or permit condition, the governmental authority shall notify the person claiming the privilege of the potential for public disclosure prior to obtaining such information under subsection 1 or 2.

4. If privileged information is disclosed under subsection 2 or 3, on the motion of a party, a court or the presiding officer in an administrative hearing shall suppress evidence offered in any civil or administrative proceeding that arises or is derived from review, disclosure, or use of information obtained under this section if the review, disclosure, or use is not authorized under section 455K.6. A party having received information under subsection 2 or 3 has the burden of proving that the evidence offered did not arise and was not derived from the review of privileged information.