# 40 C.F.R. § 2.206 (2026): Advance confidentiality determinations > Federal · Regulations · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T40_P2_S2_206 ## Section - **Citation:** 40 C.F.R. § 2.206 (2026) - **Heading:** Advance confidentiality determinations - **Jurisdiction:** Federal - **Kind:** Regulations - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** Title 40 CFR: Protection of Environment / Chapter I / Part 2 / Subpart B / § 2.206: § 2.206 Advance confidentiality determinations. ## Text (a) An advance determination under this section may be issued by an EPA legal office if— (1) EPA has requested or demanded that a business furnish business information to EPA; (2) The business asserts that the information, if submitted, would constitute voluntarily submitted information under § 2.201(i); (3) The business will voluntarily submit the information for use by EPA only if EPA first determines that the information is entitled to confidential treatment under this subpart; and (4) The EPA office which desires submission of the information has requested that the EPA legal office issue a determination under this section. (b) The EPA office requesting an advance determination under this section shall— (1) Arrange to have the business furnish directly to the EPA legal office a copy of the information (or, where feasible, a description of the nature of the information sufficient to allow a determination to be made), as well as the business's comments concerning the matters addressed in § 2.204(e)(4), excluding, however, matters addressed in § 2.204 (e)(4)(iii) and (e)(4)(iv); and (2) Furnish to the EPA legal office the materials referred to in § 2.204(f) (3), (7), (8), and (9). (c) In making a determination under this section, the EPA legal office shall first determine whether or not the information would constitute voluntarily submitted information under § 2.201(i). If the information would constitute voluntarily submitted information, the legal office shall further determine whether the information is entitled to confidential treatment 2.204(f) (3), (7), (8), and (9). (c) In making a determination under this section, the EPA legal office shall first determine whether or not the information would constitute voluntarily submitted information under § 2.201(i). If the information would constitute voluntarily submitted information, the legal office shall further determine whether the information is entitled to confidential treatment. (d) If the EPA legal office determines that the information would not constitute voluntarily submitted information, or determines that it would constitute voluntarily submitted information but would not be entitled to confidential treatment, it shall so inform the business and the EPA office which requested the determination, stating the basis of the determination, and shall return to the business all copies of the information which it may have received from the business (except that if a request under 5 U.S.C. 552 for release of the information is received while the EPA legal office is in possession of the information, the legal office shall retain a copy of the information, but shall not disclose it unless ordered by a Federal court to do so). The legal office shall not disclose the information to any other EPA office or employee and shall not use the information for any purpose except the determination under this section, unless otherwise directed by a Federal court. (e) If the EPA legal office determines that the information would constitute voluntarily submitted information and that it is entitled to confidential treatment, it shall so inform the EPA office which requested the determination and the business which submitted it, and shall forward the information to the EPA office which requested the determination. ## Nearby sections - [40 C.F.R. § 2.201 (2026) § 2.201 Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T40_P2_S2_201.md) - [40 C.F.R. § 2.202 (2026) § 2.202 Applicability of subpart; priority where provisions conflict; records containing more than one kind of information.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T40_P2_S2_202.md) - [40 C.F.R. § 2.203 (2026) § 2.203 Notice to be included in EPA requests, demands, and forms; method of asserting business confidentiality claim; effect of failure to assert claim at time of submission.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T40_P2_S2_203.md) - [40 C.F.R. § 2.204 (2026) § 2.204 Initial action by EPA office.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T40_P2_S2_204.md) - [40 C.F.R. § 2.205 (2026) § 2.205 Final confidentiality determination by EPA legal office.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T40_P2_S2_205.md) - [40 C.F.R. § 2.206 (2026) § 2.206 Advance confidentiality determinations.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T40_P2_S2_206.md) - [40 C.F.R. § 2.207 (2026) § 2.207 Class determinations.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T40_P2_S2_207.md) - [40 C.F.R. § 2.208 (2026) § 2.208 Substantive criteria for use in confidentiality determinations.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T40_P2_S2_208.md) - [40 C.F.R. § 2.209 (2026) § 2.209 Disclosure in special circumstances.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T40_P2_S2_209.md) - [40 C.F.R. § 2.210 (2026) § 2.210 Nondisclosure for reasons other than business confidentiality or where disclosure is prohibited by other statute.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T40_P2_S2_210.md) - [40 C.F.R. § 2.211 (2026) § 2.211 Safeguarding of business information; penalty for wrongful disclosure.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T40_P2_S2_211.md) - [40 C.F.R. § 2.212 (2026) § 2.212 Establishment of control offices for categories of business information.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T40_P2_S2_212.md) - [40 C.F.R. § 2.213 (2026) § 2.213 Designation by business of addressee for notices and inquiries.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T40_P2_S2_213.md) - [40 C.F.R. § 2.214 (2026) § 2.214 Defense of Freedom of Information Act suits; participation by affected business.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T40_P2_S2_214.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T40_P2_S2_206. 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