INVESTIGATIONS.

(a) The executive director may conduct investigations of facilities that are listed on the state registry, or that the executive director has reason to believe should be included on the state registry, in accordance with Sections 361.032, 361.033, and 361.037.

(b) If there is a reasonable basis to believe there may be a release or threatened release of a hazardous substance at a facility, the executive director may submit requests for information and requests for the production of documents to any person who has or may have information or documents relevant to:

(1) the identification, nature, or quantity of materials that have been generated, treated, stored, or disposed of at a facility or transported to a facility;

(2) the identification of soils, groundwater, or surface water at a facility that have been or may be affected by an actual or threatened release of a hazardous substance;

(3) the nature or extent of a release or threatened release of a hazardous substance at or from a facility; or

(4) the ability of a person to pay for or to perform a remedial action.

(c) If the requested information or documents are not produced in a timely manner, the commission may issue an order directing compliance with the requests for information or production of documents. Information or documents requested under Subsection (b) or this subsection are public records, except that the commission shall consider the copied records as confidential if a showing satisfactory to the commission is made by the owner of the records that the records would divulge trade secrets if made public. This subsection does not require the commission to consider the composition or characteristics of hazardous substances being processed, stored, disposed of, or otherwise handled to be held confidential.

(d) The commission shall adopt rules regarding the provision of notice and an opportunity for a hearing before the commission on whether the requested information or documents should be produced.