Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 89.djvu/1018

 89 STAT. 958

Geological or geophysical information, disclosure.

Penalties.

Ante, p. 949. Annual report to Congress.

PUBLIC LAW 94-163—DEC. 22, 1975 information which was the subject of such examination, or financial information in the case of a vertically integrated petroleum company, directly to such committee of the Congress and any such information obtained and such report shall be deemed the property of such committee and may not be disclosed except in accordance with the rules of the committee and the rules of the House of Representatives or the Senate and as permitted by law. (e)(1) Any information obtained by the Comptroller General or any officer or employee of the General Accounting Office pursuant to the exercise of responsibilities or authorities under this section which relates to geological or geophysical information, or any estimate or interpretation thereof, the disclosure of which would result in significant competitive disadvantage or significant loss to the owner thereof shall not be disclosed except to a committee of Congress. Any such information so furnished to a committee of the Congress shall be deemed the property of such committee and may not be disclosed except in accordance with the rules of the committee and the rules of the House of Representatives or the Senate and as permitted by law. (2) Any person who knowingly discloses information in violation of paragraph (1) shall be subject to the penalties specified in section 5(a)(3)(B) and (4) of the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act of 1973, as amended by section 452 of this Act. (f) The Comptroller General shall prepare and submit to the Congress an annual report with respect to the exercise of its authorities under this part, which report shall specifically identify any deficiencies in energy information or financial information reviewed by the Comptroller General and include a discussion of action taken by the person or company so examined, if any, to correct any such deficiencies. ACCOUNTING PRACTICES

42 USC 6383.

SEC. 503. (a) For purposes of developing a reliable energy data base related to the production of crude oil and natural gas, the Securities and Exchange Commission shall take such steps as may be necessary to assure the development and observance of accounting practices to be followed in the preparation of accounts by persons engaged, in whole or in part, in the production of crude oil or natural gas in the United States. Such practices shall be developed not later than 24 months after the date of enactment of this Act and shall take effect with respect to the fiscal year of each such person which begins 3 months after the date on which such practices are prescribed or made effective under authority of subsection (b)(2). (b) In carrying out its responsibilities under subsection (a), the Securities and Exchange Commission shall— (1) consult with the Federal Energy Administration, the General Accounting Office, and the Federal Power Commission with respect to accounting practices to be developed under subsection (a), and (2) have authority to prescribe rules applicable to persons engaged in the production of crude oil or natural gas, or make effective by recognition, or by other appropriate means indicating a determination to rely on, accounting practices developed by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, if the Securities and Exchange Commission is assured that such practice will be observed by persons engaged in the production of crude oil or natural gas to the same extent as would result if the Securities and Exchange Commission had prescribed such practices by rule.

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