Title 49TransportationRelease 119-73

§30167 Disclosure of information by the Secretary of Transportation

Title 49 › Subtitle SUBTITLE VI— - MOTOR VEHICLE AND DRIVER PROGRAMS › Part PART A— - GENERAL › Chapter CHAPTER 301— - MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER IV— - ENFORCEMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE › § 30167

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Limits how the Secretary of Transportation can share information that is confidential under 18 U.S.C. 1905. The Secretary may only share it with agency staff doing the work, when it is needed in a case under this chapter, with the public if confidentiality is preserved, or when the Secretary decides sharing is needed to carry out section 30101. Under those limits, the Secretary must disclose defect or noncompliance information that will help carry out sections 30117(b) and 30118–30121 or that section 30118(a) requires. That duty is in addition to section 552 of title 5. A manufacturer who objects because of higher costs must give detailed cost information (their cost and cost to retail buyers). The Secretary must review that information, and unless barred by the confidentiality rules above, make it and the review public and publish a notice in the Federal Register. Committees of Congress that are allowed the information must be given it.

Full Legal Text

Title 49, §30167

Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Information obtained under this chapter related to a confidential matter referred to in section 1905 of title 18 may be disclosed only in the following ways:
(1)to other officers and employees carrying out this chapter.
(2)when relevant to a proceeding under this chapter.
(3)to the public if the confidentiality of the information is preserved.
(4)to the public when the Secretary of Transportation decides that disclosure is necessary to carry out section 30101 of this title.
(b)Subject to subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary shall disclose information obtained under this chapter related to a defect or noncompliance that the Secretary decides will assist in carrying out section 30117(b) and 30118–30121 of this title or that is required to be disclosed under section 30118(a) of this title. A requirement to disclose information under this subsection is in addition to the requirements of section 552 of title 5.
(c)A manufacturer opposing an action of the Secretary under this chapter because of increased cost shall submit to the Secretary information about the increased cost, including the manufacturer’s cost and the cost to retail purchasers, that allows the public and the Secretary to evaluate the manufacturer’s statement. The Secretary shall evaluate the information promptly and, subject to subsection (a) of this section, shall make the information and evaluation available to the public. The Secretary shall publish a notice in the Federal Register that the information is available.
(d)This section does not authorize information to be withheld from a committee of Congress authorized to have the information.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 30167(a)15:1397(a)(1)(B) (related to 15:1401(e) (1st sentence)), (D) (related to 15:1418(a)(2)(B)), (E) (related to 15:1401(e) (1st sentence)).Sept. 9, 1966, Pub. L. 89–563, § 108(a)(1)(B) (related to § 112(e)), (D) (related to § 158(a)(2)), (E) (related to § 112(e)), 80 Stat. 722; Oct. 27, 1974, Pub. L. 93–492, § 103(a)(1)(A), (2), (3), 88 Stat. 1477, 1478. 15:1401(e) (1st sentence).Sept. 9, 1966, Pub. L. 89–563, § 112(e), 80 Stat. 725; Oct. 27, 1974, Pub. L. 93–492, § 104(b), 88 Stat. 1480. 15:1402(b)(2) (1st sentence).Sept. 9, 1966, Pub. L. 89–563, 80 Stat. 718, § 113; added Oct. 27, 1974, Pub. L. 93–492, § 105, 88 Stat. 1480. 15:1418(a)(2)(B).Sept. 9, 1966, Pub. L. 89–563, 80 Stat. 718, § 158(a)(2); added Oct. 27, 1974, Pub. L. 93–492, § 102(a), 88 Stat. 1476. 30167(b)15:1397(a)(1)(D) (related to 15:1418(a)(2)(A), (C)). 15:1418(a)(2)(A), (C). 30167(c)15:1402(a), (b)(1), (c)–(e). 30167(d)15:1397(a)(1)(B), (E) (as 1397(a)(1)(B), (E) relates to 15:1401(e) (last sentence)). 15:1401(e) (last sentence). 15:1402(b)(2) (last sentence). In this section, the text of 15:1397(a)(1)(B) (related to 15:1401(e)), (D) (related to 15:1418(a)(2)), and (E) (related to 15:1401(e)) is omitted as surplus. In subsection (a), before clause (1), the words “Except as otherwise provided in section 1418(a)(2) and section 1402(b) of this title” in 15:1401(e) (1st sentence) are omitted, and the words “Information obtained under this chapter related to a confidential matter” are substituted for “all information reported to or otherwise obtained by the Secretary or his representative pursuant to this subchapter which information contains or relates to a trade secret or other matter” in 15:1401(e) (1st sentence) and “described in subparagraph (A)” in 15:1418(a)(2)(B), because of the restatement. The words “shall be considered confidential for the purpose of that section” are omitted as surplus. The words “may be disclosed only in the following ways” are substituted for “except that such information may be disclosed” in 15:1401(e) (1st sentence) and 15:1402(b)(2) (1st sentence) and “and shall not be disclosed; unless” in 15:1418(a)(2)(B) to eliminate unnecessary words. Clause (3) is substituted for 15:1402(b)(2) (1st sentence words before 2d comma) to eliminate unnecessary words. In subsection (b), the words “Subject to” are substituted for “Except as provided in” for consistency. The words “to the public so much of any” and “which is” are omitted as surplus. The words “which relates to motor vehicle safety” and “with an applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standard” are omitted because of the restatement. The words “the purposes of” and “and not in lieu of” are omitted as surplus. In subsection (c), the words “For purposes of this section, the term ‘cost information’ means” and “such cost information” are omitted because of the restatement. The words “alleged”, “both”, and “resulting from action by the Secretary, in such form” are omitted as surplus. The words “Such term includes” are omitted because of the restatement. The words “to evaluate” are substituted for “to make an informed judgment” to eliminate unnecessary words and for consistency in the subsection. The words “(in such detail as the Secretary may by regulation or order prescribe)” are omitted as surplus because of 49:322(a). The word “thereafter” is omitted as surplus. The word “evaluate” is substituted for “prepare an evaluation of” to eliminate unnecessary words. The words “The Secretary” are added for clarity. The text of 15:1402(d) is omitted as surplus because of 49:322(a). The text of 15:1402(e) is omitted as surplus because of the restatement. In subsection (d), the words “by the Secretary or any officer or employee under his control” and “duly” are omitted as surplus. The words “to have the information” are added for clarity.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

49 U.S.C. § 30167

Title 49Transportation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73