Rhode Island General Laws Title 46. Waters and Navigation § 46-25-25.5. Public access to information

(a) Any permit, or permit application, or effluent data shall be available to the public for inspection and copying.

(b) Other records, reports, or information obtained under this section also may be made available to the public for inspection and copying, provided, that upon a showing, satisfactory to the commission, by any person that the records, reports, or information or any part thereof, except as provided in subsection (a), would, if made public, divulge methods or processes entitled to protection as trade secrets of the person, the commission shall consider, treat, and protect the record, report, or information, or part thereof, as confidential; provided, however, that the record, report, or information accorded confidential treatment may be disclosed or transmitted to other officers, employees, or authorized representatives of this state or of the United States concerned with carrying out § 46-25-25 et seq., or when relevant in any proceeding under those sections.