
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC6382]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                     CHAPTER 77--ENERGY CONSERVATION
 
                    SUBCHAPTER IV--GENERAL PROVISIONS
 
             Part A--Energy Data Base and Energy Information
 
Sec. 6382. Powers and duties of Comptroller General


(a) Subpenas; discovery and inspection; oaths; search

    For the purpose of carrying out his authority under section 6381 of 
this title--
        (1) the Comptroller General may--
            (A) sign and issue subpenas for the attendance and testimony 
        of witnesses and the production of books, records, papers, and 
        other documents;
            (B) require any person, by general or special order, to 
        submit answers in writing to interrogatories, to submit books, 
        records, papers, or other documents, or to submit any other 
        information or reports, and such answers or other submissions 
        shall be made within such reasonable period, and under oath or 
        otherwise, as the Comptroller General may determine; and
            (C) administer oaths.

        (2) the Comptroller General, or any officer or employee duly 
    designated by the Comptroller General, upon presenting appropriate 
    credentials and a written notice from the Comptroller General to the 
    owner, operator, or agent in charge, may--
            (A) enter, at reasonable times, any business premise or 
        facility; and
            (B) inspect, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, 
        any such premise or facility, inventory and sample any stock of 
        energy resources therein, and examine and copy books, records, 
        papers, or other documents, relating to any energy information, 
        or any financial information in the case of a vertically 
        integrated petroleum company.

(b) Information in possession of Federal agencies

    The Comptroller General shall have access to any energy information 
within the possession of any Federal agency (other than the Internal 
Revenue Service) as is necessary to carry out his authority under this 
section.

(c) Transmission of examination results to Federal agencies

    (1) Except as provided in subsections (d) and (e) of this section, 
the Comptroller General shall transmit a copy of the results of any 
verification examination conducted under section 6381 of this title to 
the Federal agency to which energy information which was subject to such 
examination was furnished.
    (2) Any report made pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include the 
Comptroller General's findings with respect to the accuracy, 
reliability, and adequacy of the energy information which was the 
subject of such examination.

(d) Report to Congressional committees

    If the verification examination was conducted at the request of any 
committee of the Congress, the Comptroller General shall report his 
findings as to the accuracy, reliability, or adequacy of the energy 
information which was the subject of such examination, or financial 
information in the case of a vertically integrated petroleum company, 
directly to such committee of the Congress and any such information 
obtained and such report shall be deemed the property of such committee 
and may not be disclosed except in accordance with the rules of the 
committee and the rules of the House of Representatives or the Senate 
and as permitted by law.

(e) Disclosure of geological or geophysical information

    (1) Any information obtained by the Comptroller General or any 
officer or employee of the General Accounting Office pursuant to the 
exercise of responsibilities or authorities under this section which 
relates to geological or geophysical information, or any estimate or 
interpretation thereof, the disclosure of which would result in 
significant competitive disadvantage or significant loss to the owner 
thereof shall not be disclosed except to a committee of Congress. Any 
such information so furnished to a committee of the Congress shall be 
deemed the property of such committee and may not be disclosed except in 
accordance with the rules of the committee and the rules of the House of 
Representatives or the Senate and as permitted by law.
    (2) Any person who knowingly discloses information in violation of 
paragraph (1) shall be subject to the penalties specified in section 
754(a)(3)(B) and (4) \1\ of title 15.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ See References in Text note below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Pub. L. 94-163, title V, Sec. 502, Dec. 22, 1975, 89 Stat. 957; Pub. L. 
104-316, title I, Sec. 122(p), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3838.)

                       References in Text

    Section 754 of title 15, referred to in subsec. (e)(2), was omitted 
from the Code pursuant to section 760g of Title 15, Commerce and Trade, 
which provided for the expiration of the President's authority under 
that section on Sept. 30, 1981.


                               Amendments

    1996--Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 104-316 struck out subsec. (f) which read 
as follows: ``The Comptroller General shall prepare and submit to the 
Congress an annual report with respect to the exercise of its 
authorities under this part, which report shall specifically identify 
any deficiencies in energy information or financial information reviewed 
by the Comptroller General and include a discussion of action taken by 
the person or company so examined, if any, to correct any such 
deficiencies.''

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 6384 of this title.
