Defense of Freedom of Information Act suits; participation by affected business.

§ 2.214 Defense of Freedom of Information Act suits; participation by affected business. (a) In making final confidentiality determinations under this subpart, the EPA legal office relies to a large extent upon the information furnished by the affected business to substantiate its claim of confidentiality. The EPA legal office may be unable to verify the accuracy of much of the information submitted by the affected business. (b) If the EPA legal office makes a final confidentiality determination under this subpart that certain business information is entitled to confidential treatment, and EPA is sued by a requester under the Freedom of Information Act for disclosure of that information, EPA will: (1) Notify each affected business of the suit within 10 days after service of the complaint upon EPA; (2) Where necessary to preparation of EPA's defense, call upon each affected business to furnish assistance; and (3) Not oppose a motion by any affected business to intervene as a party to the suit under rule 24(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. (c) EPA will defend its final confidentiality determination, but EPA expects the affected business to cooperate to the fullest extent possible in this defense. [43 FR 40001, Sept. 8, 1978]