(1) Any person whom the board or the commissioner has reason to believe is causing, or may be about to cause, pollution, or any person having information concerning such person, shall furnish the board or the commissioner, upon request by the board or commission, all pertinent information required by the board or the commissioner in the discharge of the board's or commissioner's duties under this part.
(2) Under this section, information includes data relating to processes or methods of manufacture or production required by the board, the commissioner, or officers of the United States in the administration of their duties, including secret formulae and proprietary manufacturing processes.
(3) All information shall be used by the board only for purposes of water quality control. The board or the commissioner has the power to issue protection orders to prevent public dissemination of any secret formulae or proprietary manufacturing processes, except that such orders shall not extend to information concerning waste products discharged into the waters of the state.
(4) In addition to providing information, persons may be required to keep such records as deemed necessary by the board or the commissioner to facilitate the discharge of their duties.
(5) Any information obtained by the board or commissioner, except secret formulae or proprietary manufacturing processes, pursuant to this section, shall be available to the public for reasonable inspection and copying.