(a) The Department shall make raw data and information obtained as a result of carrying out exploratory activities and submitted by the permittee or a third party available to the public upon submittal to the Congress of the report required by subsection (h) of the Act in accordance with subsection (e)(2)(C) of the Act, this section, and the procedural requirements of the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552, and 43 CFR part 2. The Department shall withhold from the public all processed, analyzed and interpreted data or information obtained as a result of carrying out exploratory activities and submitted by the permittee or a third party, if they have been properly marked and correctly identified in accordance with § 37.53(e), until 10 years after the submission of such data or information to the Regional Director or until 2 years after any lease sale including the area within the refuge from which such data or information were obtained, whichever period is longer, by invoking subsection (e)(2)(C) of the Act and exemption 3 to the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(3). Thereafter, the Department shall treat such data or information as raw data and information. The Department shall make all other records, except exploration plans which must be published in accordance with § 37.22(b), submitted by a permittee or a third party relating to the activities covered by the Act and this part available to the public in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552, and 43 CFR part 2.

(b) The Department reserves the right to disclose any data and information obtained as a result of carrying out exploratory activities and submitted by a permittee or a third party and any other information submitted by a permittee or a third party which may be exempt from public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552, to an agent or third party in order to carry out the Department's statutory authorities. When practicable, the Department shall notify the permittee who provided the data or information of its intent to disclose the data or information to an agent or third party. Prior to any such disclosure, the recipient shall be required to execute a written commitment not to transfer or to otherwise disclose any data or information to anyone without the express consent of the Department. The recipient shall be liable for any unauthorized use by or disclosure of such data or information to other third parties.

(c) The Department reserves the right to disclose upon proper request any processed, analyzed and interpreted data and information and any other confidential information to the State of Alaska, to the Congress and any committee or subcommittee of the Congress having jurisdiction over the refuge or this exploration program, and to any part of the Executive and Judicial Branches of the United States for official use. The recipient shall be responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of such data and information in accordance with the Act.

(d) Commercial use by any person of data or information obtained as a result of carrying out exploratory activities and disclosed pursuant to this section is prohibited. No person shall obtain access from the Department, pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section, to any data or information obtained as a result of carrying out exploratory activities and submitted by the permittee or a third party until such person provides the Department with a statement certifying that person's awareness of the prohibition contained in this paragraph and the disqualification stated in the first sentence of § 37.4(b).