Public Disclosure

WSDA is committed to providing the fullest access possible to the agency's public records, in accordance with the state Public Records Act. Certain records are exempt from disclosure under the Public Records Act and other laws. If a record is exempt from disclosure we will provide the exemption and an explanation of how it applies.

You may file a records request by visiting our online Public Records Request Center. Here, you can submit your request, track the progress of your request, and retrieve the responsive records as soon as they are available.

You may also make your request by email or by phone using the contact information listed at the top of this page. An account will be created for you in the Request Center, where you will be able to follow your request and retrieve responsive records.

• Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW
• Public Records, Chapter 16-06 WAC
• What types of records do you have and how long are they kept? 

Below are exemptions that may apply to records. This list is not exhaustive and other exemptions may apply.

RCW 42.56.070(1) 
Each agency, in accordance with published rules, shall make available for public inspection and copying all public records, unless the record falls within the specific exemptions of subsection (8) of this section, this chapter, or other statute which exempts or prohibits disclosure of specific information or records. To the extent required to prevent an unreasonable invasion of personal privacy interests protected by this chapter, an agency shall delete identifying details in a manner consistent with this chapter when it makes available or publishes any public record; however, in each case, the justification for the deletion shall be explained fully in writing.
 

Subject	EXEMPTION
Agency Party to Controversy	RCW 42.56.290 Records that are relevant to a controversy to which an agency is a party but which records would not be available to another party under the rules of pretrial discovery for causes pending in the superior courts are exempt from disclosure under this chapter.
Aggrieved Person (Effected Complainant) - Pesticide Investigations	RCW 17.21.340(1)(a)(ii) (1) A person aggrieved by a violation of this chapter or the rules adopted under this chapter: (a)….If an inspection is conducted, the person requesting the inspection shall: (ii) Be entitled, on request, to have his or her name protected from disclosure in any communication with persons outside the department and in any record published, released, or made available pursuant to this chapter: PROVIDED, That in any appeal proceeding the identity of the aggrieved person who requests the inspection shall be disclosed to the alleged violator of the act upon request of the alleged violator.
American Ginseng	RCW 42.56.380(6)  The following information relating to agriculture and livestock is exempt from disclosure under this chapter:  (6) Information obtained regarding the purchases, sales, or production of an individual American ginseng grower or dealer, except for providing reports to the United States fish and wildlife service under RCW 15.19.080. RCW 15.19.080 The department shall not disclose information obtained under this chapter regarding the purchases, sales, or production of an individual American ginseng grower or dealer, except for providing reports to the United States fish and wildlife service. This information is exempt from public disclosure required by chapter 42.56 RCW.
Animal Disease Testing	RCW 42.56.380(10) The following information relating to agriculture and livestock is exempt from disclosure under this chapter:  (10) Results of testing for animal diseases from samples submitted by or at the direction of the animal owner or his or her designee that can be identified to a particular business or individual.
Attorney-Client Privileged Information	RCW 5.60.060(2)(a) An attorney or counselor shall not, without the consent of his or her client, be examined as to any communication made by the client to him or her, or his or her advice given thereon in the course of professional employment.
Bank or other Financial Information (Personal Information)	RCW 42.56.230(5) The following personal information is exempt from public inspection and copying under this chapter:  (5) Credit card numbers, debit card numbers, electronic check numbers, card expiration dates, or bank or other financial information as defined in RCW 9.35.005 including social security numbers, except when disclosure is expressly required by or governed by other law.
Bid Submissions and Bid Evaluations	RCW 39.26.030(2) Bid submissions and bid evaluations are exempt from disclosure until the agency announces the apparent successful bidder.
Complainant Information	RCW 42.56.240(2) The following investigative, law enforcement, and crime victim information is exempt from public inspection and copying under this chapter:  (2) Information revealing the identity of persons who are witnesses to or victims of crime or who file complaints with investigative, law enforcement, or penology agencies, other than the commission, if disclosure would endanger any person's life, physical safety, or property. If at the time a complaint is filed the complainant, victim, or witness indicates a desire for disclosure or nondisclosure, such desire shall govern. However, all complaints filed with the commission about any elected official or candidate for public office must be made in writing and signed by the complainant under oath.
Consignment Information - Phytosanitary Certificates	RCW 42.56.380(4) The following information relating to agriculture and livestock is exempt from disclosure under this chapter:  (4) Consignment information contained on phytosanitary certificates issued by the department of agriculture under chapters 15.13, 15.49, and 15.17 RCW or federal phytosanitary certificates issued under 7 C.F.R. 353 through cooperative agreements with the animal and plant health inspection service, United States department of agriculture, or on applications for phytosanitary certification required by the department of agriculture.
Copyright Infringement	17 U.S.C, Chapter 5, § 504
Criminal Terrorist Acts – Unique Vulnerability Assessments or Response and Deployment Plans	RCW 42.56.420(1) The following information relating to security is exempt from disclosure under this chapter: (1) Those portions of records assembled, prepared, or maintained to prevent, mitigate, or respond to criminal terrorist acts, which are acts that significantly disrupt the conduct of government or of the general civilian population of the state or the United States and that manifest an extreme indifference to human life, the public disclosure of which would have a substantial likelihood of threatening public safety, consisting of: (a) Specific and unique vulnerability assessments or specific and unique response or deployment plans, including compiled underlying data collected in preparation of or essential to the assessments, or to the response or deployment plans; and (b) Records not subject to public disclosure under federal law that are shared by federal or international agencies, and information prepared from national security briefings provided to state or local government officials related to domestic preparedness for acts of terrorism.
Dairies, AFOs, and CAFOs – Information in Plans, Records, and Reports	RCW 42.56.610 The following information in plans, records, and reports obtained by state and local agencies from dairies, animal feeding operations, and concentrated animal feeding operations, not required to apply for a national pollutant discharge elimination system permit is disclosable only in ranges that provide meaningful information to the public while ensuring confidentiality of business information regarding: (1) Number of animals; (2) volume of livestock nutrients generated; (3) number of acres covered by the plan or used for land application of livestock nutrients; (4) livestock nutrients transferred to other persons; and (5) crop yields. The department of agriculture shall adopt rules to implement this section in consultation with affected state and local agencies. RCW 90.64.190 This section applies to dairies, AFOs, and CAFOs, not required to apply for a permit. Information in plans, records, and reports obtained by state and local agencies from livestock producers under chapter 510, Laws of 2005 regarding (1) number of animals; (2) volume of livestock nutrients generated; (3) number of acres covered by the plan or used for land application of livestock nutrients; (4) livestock nutrients transferred to other persons; and (5) crop yields shall be disclosable in response to a request for public records under chapter 42.56 RCW only in ranges that provide meaningful information to the public while ensuring confidentiality of business information. The department of agriculture shall adopt rules to implement this section in consultation with affected state and local agencies.   See WAC 16-06-210(29) for ranges
Deliberative Process/Draft Documents Not Final	RCW 42.56.280 Preliminary drafts, notes, recommendations, and intra-agency memorandums in which opinions are expressed or policies formulated or recommended are exempt under this chapter, except that a specific record is not exempt when publicly cited by an agency in connection with any agency action.
Driver's License Information	RCW 42.56.050  A person's "right to privacy," "right of privacy," "privacy," or "personal privacy," as these terms are used in this chapter, is invaded or violated only if disclosure of information about the person: (1) Would be highly offensive to a reasonable person, and (2) is not of legitimate concern to the public. The provisions of this chapter dealing with the right to privacy in certain public records do not create any right of privacy beyond those rights that are specified in this chapter as express exemptions from the public's right to inspect, examine, or copy public records. Driver Privacy Protection Act, 18 U.S.C. Chapter 123, § 2721(a)(1) (a) In General.—A State department of motor vehicles, and any officer, employee, or contractor thereof, shall not knowingly disclose or otherwise make available to any person or entity: (1) personal information, as defined in 18 U.S.C. 2725(3), about any individual obtained by the department in connection with a motor vehicle record, except as provided in subsection (b) of this section.
Employee, Personal Demographics	RCW 42.56.250(11) The following employment and licensing information is exempt from public inspection and copying under this chapter: (11) Voluntarily submitted information collected and maintained by a state agency that identifies an individual state employee's personal demographic details. "Personal demographic details" means race or ethnicity, sexual orientation as defined by RCW 49.60.040(26), immigration status, national origin, or status as a person with a disability. This exemption does not prevent the release of state employee demographic information in a deidentified or aggregate format.
Employee, Photographs and Month and Year of Birth	RCW 42.56.250(8) The following employment and licensing information is exempt from public inspection and copying under this chapter:  (8) Photographs and month and year of birth in the personnel files of employees or volunteers of a public agency, including employees and workers of criminal justice agencies as defined in RCW 10.97.030. The news media, as defined in RCW 5.68.010(5), shall have access to the photographs and full date of birth. For the purposes of this subsection, news media does not include any person or organization of persons in the custody of a criminal justice agency as defined in RCW 10.97.030.
Employment, Application for Public	RCW 42.56.250(2) The following employment and licensing information is exempt from public inspection and copying under this chapter:  (2) All applications for public employment other than for vacancies in elective office, including the names of applicants, resumes, and other related materials submitted with respect to an applicant.
Export Market Development Projects Financial and Commercial Information and Records	RCW 43.23.270  Except for release of statistical information not descriptive of any readily identifiable person or persons, all financial and commercial information and records supplied by persons to the department with respect to export market development projects shall be kept confidential unless confidentiality is waived by the party supplying the information. For purposes of this section, persons include any natural person, joint venture, firm, partnership or association, private or public corporation, or governmental entity. RCW 42.56.270(3) The following financial, commercial, and proprietary information is exempt from disclosure under this chapter:  (3) Financial and commercial information and records supplied by private persons pertaining to export services provided under chapters 43.163 and 53.31 RCW, and by persons pertaining to export projects under RCW 43.23.035.
Farm Plans Developed by Conservations Districts (Trade Secret Information - Farms)	RCW 42.56.270(17)(a) The following financial, commercial, and proprietary information is exempt from disclosure under this chapter:  (17)(a) Farm plans developed by conservation districts, unless permission to release the farm plan is granted by the landowner or operator who requested the plan, or the farm plan is used for the application or issuance of a permit.
Feed Distribution Reports, Commercial	RCW 15.53.9018(10) The report required by subsection (1) of this section shall not be a public record, and any information given in such report which would reveal the business operation of the person making the report is exempt from public disclosure under chapter 42.56 RCW, and information obtained by the department from other governmental agencies or other sources that is used to verify information received in the report is exempt from public disclosure under chapter 42.56 RCW. However, this subsection does not prevent the use of information concerning the business operation of a person if any action, suit, or proceeding instituted under the authority of this chapter, including any civil action for collection of unpaid inspection fees, which action is hereby authorized and which shall be as an action at law in the name of the director of the department.
Fertilizer Distribution Reports, Commercial	RCW 15.54.362(5) It is a misdemeanor for any person to divulge any information provided under this section that would reveal the business operation of the person making the report. However, nothing contained in this subsection may be construed to prevent or make unlawful the use of information concerning the business operations of a person in any action, suit, or proceeding instituted under the authority of this chapter, including any civil action for the collection of unpaid inspection fees, which action is authorized and which shall be as an action at law in the name of the director of the department. RCW 42.56.380(2) The following information relating to agriculture and livestock is exempt from disclosure under this chapter:  (2) Information provided under RCW 15.54.362.
Financial and Commercial Information or Records	RCW 42.56.270(4) The following financial, commercial, and proprietary information is exempt from disclosure under this chapter: (4) Financial and commercial information and records supplied by businesses or individuals during application for loans or program services provided by chapters 43.325, 43.163, 43.160, 43.330, and 43.168 RCW, or during application for economic development loans or program services provided by any local agency.
Financial and Commercial Information or Records - Commodity Boards/Commissions	RCW 42.56.380(5) The following information relating to agriculture and livestock is exempt from disclosure under this chapter: (5) Financial and commercial information and records supplied by persons (a) to the department of agriculture for the purpose of conducting a referendum for the potential establishment of a commodity board or commission; or (b) to the department of agriculture or commodity boards or commissions formed under chapter 15.24, 15.28, 15.44, 15.65, 15.66, 15.74, 15.88, 15.115, 15.100, 15.89, or 16.67 RCW with respect to domestic or export marketing activities or individual producer's production information.
Food and Drug Administration, Non-Public Information	RCW 42.56.380(15) The following information relating to agriculture and livestock is exempt from disclosure under this chapter:  (15) Information or records obtained pursuant to a food and drug administration contract or commissioning agreement, in accordance with RCW 15.130.150. RCW 15.130.150 The following information or records obtained from the federal food and drug administration pursuant to a contract or commissioning agreement is exempt from public inspection and copying under chapter 42.56 RCW to the extent it is exempt from disclosure under 5 U.S.C. Sec. 552, the federal freedom of information act: Trade secrets; confidential commercial information; information under the federal deliberative process privilege; information compiled for law enforcement purposes; and information expressly required to be kept confidential by other federal laws. 5 U.S.C § 552(b), FOIA
Food Facilities, Registration of	U.S. Code, Title 21, Section 350d(5)
Grain Dealer License, Application for	RCW 22.09.045(7) All financial statement information required by this subsection shall be confidential information not subject to public disclosure.
Grain Inspection Services – Business Records	Access to records and facilities. 7 CFR § 800.26(b) Disclosure of business information. FGIS employees or persons acting for FGIS under the Act shall not, without the consent of the elevator operator or merchandiser concerned, divulge or make known in any manner, any facts or information acquired pursuant to the Act and regulations except as authorized by the Administrator, by a court of competent jurisdiction, or otherwise by law.
Herd Inventory Management	RCW 42.56.380(9) The following information relating to agriculture and livestock is exempt from disclosure under this chapter:  (9) Information submitted by an individual or business to the department of agriculture under the requirements of chapters 16.36, 16.57, and 43.23 RCW for the purpose of herd inventory management for animal disease traceability. This information includes animal ownership, numbers of animals, locations, contact information, movements of livestock, financial information, the purchase and sale of livestock, account numbers or unique identifiers issued by government to private entities, and information related to livestock disease or injury that would identify an animal, a person, or location. Disclosure to local, state, and federal officials is not public disclosure. This exemption does not affect the disclosure of information used in reportable animal health investigations under chapter 16.36 RCW once they are complete.
Hop Grower Lot Numbers and Laboratory Results	RCW 42.56.380(14) The following information relating to agriculture and livestock is exempt from disclosure under this chapter:  (14) Hop grower lot numbers and laboratory results associated with the hop grower lot numbers where this information is used by the department of agriculture to issue export documents.
Invasion of Privacy	RCW 42.56.050 A person's "right to privacy," "right of privacy," "privacy," or "personal privacy," as these terms are used in this chapter, is invaded or violated only if disclosure of information about the person: (1) Would be highly offensive to a reasonable person, and (2) is not of legitimate concern to the public. The provisions of this chapter dealing with the right to privacy in certain public records do not create any right of privacy beyond those rights that are specified in this chapter as express exemptions from the public's right to inspect, examine, or copy public records.
Investigative, Law Enforcement, Crime Victim Information	RCW 42.56.240(1) The following investigative, law enforcement, and crime victim information is exempt from public inspection and copying under this chapter: (1) Specific intelligence information and specific investigative records compiled by investigative, law enforcement, and penology agencies, and state agencies vested with the responsibility to discipline members of any profession, the nondisclosure of which is essential to effective law enforcement or for the protection of any person's right to privacy.
List of Individuals Requested for Commercial Purposes	RCW 42.56.070 (8) This chapter shall not be construed as giving authority to any agency, the office of the secretary of the senate, or the office of the chief clerk of the house of representatives to give, sell or provide access to lists of individuals requested for commercial purposes, and agencies, the office of the secretary of the senate, and the office of the chief clerk of the house of representatives shall not do so unless specifically authorized or directed by law: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That lists of applicants for professional licenses and of professional licensees shall be made available to those professional associations or educational organizations recognized by their professional licensing or examination board, upon payment of a reasonable charge therefor: PROVIDED FURTHER, That such recognition may be refused only for a good cause pursuant to a hearing under the provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW, the administrative procedure act.
Livestock Importation, International	RCW 42.56.380(11) The following information relating to agriculture and livestock is exempt from disclosure under this chapter:  (11) Records of international livestock importation that can be identified to a particular animal, business, or individual received from the United States department of homeland security or the United States department of agriculture that are not disclosable by the federal agency under federal law including 5 U.S.C. Sec. 552. 5 U.S.C. Sec. 552 (Federal Records)
Cannabis Processors	RCW 69.07.200(4) Information about processors otherwise exempt from public inspection and copying under chapter 42.56 RCW is also exempt from public inspection and copying if submitted to or used by the department.
Cannabis Producers, Processors, and Retailers	RCW 15.125.050 Information about cannabis producers, cannabis processors, and cannabis retailers otherwise exempt from public inspection and copying under chapter 42.56 RCW is also exempt from public inspection and copying if submitted to or used by the department.
Network Security Records	RCW 42.56.420(4) The following information relating to security is exempt from disclosure under this chapter:  (4) Information regarding the public and private infrastructure and security of computer and telecommunications networks, consisting of security passwords, security access codes and programs, access codes for secure software applications, security and service recovery plans, security risk assessments, and security test results to the extent that they identify specific system vulnerabilities, and other such information the release of which may increase risk to the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of security, information technology infrastructure, or assets.
Organic Products – Business Related Information	RCW 42.56.380(1)  The following information relating to agriculture and livestock is exempt from disclosure under this chapter: (1) Business-related information under RCW 15.86.110. RCW 15.86.110  (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the department shall keep confidential any business related information obtained under this chapter concerning an entity certified under this chapter or an applicant for such certification and such information shall be exempt from public inspection and copying under chapter 42.56 RCW. (2) Applications for certification under this chapter and laboratory analyses pertaining to that certification shall be available for public inspection and copying. Requirements of Certifying Agents, 7 U.S.C. Chapter 94 § 6515(f) Confidentiality Except as provided in section 6506(a)(9) of this title, any certifying agent shall maintain strict confidentiality with respect to its clients under the applicable organic certification program and may not disclose to third parties (with the exception of the Secretary or the applicable governing State official) any business related information concerning such client obtained while implementing this chapter.
Packers and Shippers of Fruits and Vegetables for the Issuance of Certificates of Compliance	RCW 42.56.380(7)  The following information relating to agriculture and livestock is exempt from disclosure under this chapter:  (7) Information collected regarding packers and shippers of fruits and vegetables for the issuance of certificates of compliance under RCW 15.17.140(2) and 15.17.143.
Personal Information on Public Agency Employees	RCW 42.56.230(3) The following personal information is exempt from public inspection and copying under this chapter:  (3) Personal information in files maintained for employees, appointees, or elected officials of any public agency to the extent that disclosure would violate their right to privacy.
Personnel Investigations - Pending (Discrimination or Harassment)	RCW 42.56.250(6) The following employment and licensing information is exempt from public inspection and copying under this chapter:  (6) Investigative records compiled by an employing agency in connection with an investigation of a possible unfair practice under chapter 49.60 RCW or of a possible violation of other federal, state, or local laws or an employing agency's internal policies prohibiting discrimination or harassment in employment. Records are exempt in their entirety while the investigation is active and ongoing. After the agency has notified the complaining employee of the outcome of the investigation, the records may be disclosed only if the names of complainants, other accusers, and witnesses are redacted, unless a complainant, other accuser, or witness has consented to the disclosure of his or her name. The employing agency must inform a complainant, other accuser, or witness that his or her name will be redacted from the investigation records unless he or she consents to disclosure.
Pesticide Registration	RCW 15.58.060(1)(c)  (1) The applicant for registration shall file a statement with the department which shall include: (c) The complete formula of the pesticide, including the active and inert ingredients: PROVIDED, That confidential business information of a proprietary nature is not made available to any other person and is exempt from disclosure as a public record, as provided by RCW 42.56.070. RCW 15.58.065 (1) In submitting data required by this chapter, the applicant may: (a) Mark clearly any portions which in the applicant's opinion are trade secrets or commercial or financial information; and (b) Submit such marked material separately from other material required to be submitted under this chapter. (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter or other law, the director shall not make public information which in the director's judgment should be privileged or confidential because it contains or relates to trade secrets or commercial or financial information except that, when necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter, information relating to unpublished formulas of products acquired by authorization of this chapter may be revealed to any state or federal agency consulted and may be revealed at a public hearing or in findings of fact issued by the director when necessary under this chapter. (3) If the director proposes to release for inspection information which the applicant or registrant believes to be protected from disclosure under subsection (2) of this section, the director shall notify the applicant or registrant in writing, by certified mail. The director shall not thereafter make available for inspection such data until thirty days after receipt of the notice by the applicant or registrant. During this period, the applicant or registrant may institute an action in the superior court of Thurston county for a declaratory judgment as to whether such information is subject to protection under subsection (2) of this section.
Produce Safety Program	RCW 42.56.380(13) The following information relating to agriculture and livestock is exempt from disclosure under this chapter:  (13) Information obtained from the federal government or others under contract with the federal government or records obtained by the department of agriculture, in accordance with RCW 15.135.100. RCW 15.135.100 (1) Any information or record obtained directly from the federal government or from others under a contract with the federal government is exempt from public inspection and copying under chapter 42.56 RCW if the information or record is exempt from disclosure under federal law including, but not limited to, the federal freedom of information act. (2) Any portion of a record obtained by the department pursuant to this chapter is exempt from public inspection and copying under chapter 42.56 RCW if it is personal financial information, proprietary data, or trade secrets and the person submitting the record to the department has designated the information as personal financial information, proprietary data, or trade secrets.
Production or Sales Records Used to Determine Assessment Levels	RCW 42.56.380(3) The following information relating to agriculture and livestock is exempt from disclosure under this chapter:  (3) Production or sales records required to determine assessment levels and actual assessment payments to commodity boards and commissions formed under chapters 15.24, 15.26, 15.28, 15.44, 15.65, 15.66, 15.74, 15.88, 15.115, 15.100, 15.89, and 16.67 RCW or required by the department of agriculture to administer these chapters or the department's programs.
Prohibited Agricultural Products Imported	RCW 42.56.380(12) The following information relating to agriculture and livestock is exempt from disclosure under this chapter: (12) Records related to the entry of prohibited agricultural products imported into Washington state or that had Washington state as a final destination received from the United States department of homeland security or the United States department of agriculture that are not disclosable by the federal agency under federal law including 5 U.S.C. Sec. 552. 5 U.S.C. Sec. 552 (Federal Records)
Public Employee Residential and Personal Information	RCW 42.56.250(4) The following information held by any public agency in personnel records, public employment related records, volunteer rosters, or included in any mailing list of employees or volunteers of any public agency: Residential addresses, residential telephone numbers, personal wireless telephone numbers, personal email addresses, social security numbers, driver's license numbers, identicard numbers, payroll deductions including the amount and identification of the deduction, and emergency contact information of employees or volunteers of a public agency, and the names, dates of birth, residential addresses, residential telephone numbers, personal wireless telephone numbers, personal email addresses, social security numbers, and emergency contact information of dependents of employees or volunteers of a public agency.
Public Livestock Market Financial Statements	RCW 42.56.380(8) The following information relating to agriculture and livestock is exempt from disclosure under this chapter:  (8) Financial statements obtained under RCW 16.65.030(1)(d) for the purposes of determining whether or not the applicant meets the minimum net worth requirements to construct or operate a public livestock market. RCW 16.65.030(1)(d) (1) No person shall operate a public livestock market without first having obtained a license from the director. Application for a license shall be in writing on forms prescribed by the director, and shall include the following: (d) A financial statement, audited by a certified or licensed public accountant, to determine whether or not the applicant meets the minimum net worth requirements, established by the director by rule, to construct and/or operate a public livestock market. If the applicant is a subsidiary of a larger company, corporation, society, or cooperative association, both the parent company and the subsidiary company must submit a financial statement to determine whether or not the applicant meets the minimum net worth requirements. All financial statement information required by this subsection is confidential information and not subject to public disclosure.
Seed Reports	RCW 15.49.370(8) The department shall have the authority to:  (8) Publish reports of official seed inspections, seed certifications, laboratory statistics, verified violations of this chapter, and other seed branch activities which do not reveal confidential information regarding individual company operations or production.
Social Security Numbers	RCW 42.56.230(4) The following personal information is exempt from public inspection and copying under this chapter:  (4) Information required of any taxpayer in connection with the assessment or collection of any tax if the disclosure of the information to other persons would: (a) Be prohibited to such persons by RCW 84.08.210, 82.32.330, 84.40.020, 84.40.340, or any ordinance authorized under RCW 35.102.145; or (b) violate the taxpayer's right to privacy or result in unfair competitive disadvantage to the taxpayer.
Test/Interview Questions and Answers	RCW 42.56.250(1) The following employment and licensing information is exempt from public inspection and copying under this chapter:  (1) Test questions, scoring keys, and other examination data used to administer a license, employment, or academic examination.
Trade Secret Information (General)	RCW 42.56.270(1) The following financial, commercial, and proprietary information is exempt from disclosure under this chapter:  (1) Valuable formulae, designs, drawings, computer source code or object code, and research data obtained by any agency within five years of the request for disclosure when disclosure would produce private gain and public loss.
Trade Secrets or Commercial or Financial Information Submitted under chapter 17.24 RCW (Insect Pests and Plant Diseases)	RCW 17.24.061 (1) In submitting data required by this chapter, the applicant may: (a) Mark clearly portions of data which in his or her opinion are trade secrets or commercial or financial information; and (b) submit the marked material separately from other material required to be submitted under this chapter. (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter or other law, the director shall not make information submitted by an applicant or registrant under this chapter available to the public if, in the judgment of the director, the information is privileged or confidential because it contains or relates to trade secrets or commercial or financial information. Where necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter, information relating to unpublished formulas of products acquired by authorization of this chapter may be revealed to any state or federal agency consulted and may be revealed at a public hearing or in findings of fact issued by the director. (3) If the director proposes to release for inspection or to reveal at a public hearing or in findings of fact issued by the director, information that the applicant or registrant believes to be protected from disclosure under subsection (2) of this section, he or she shall notify the applicant or registrant in writing, by certified mail. The director may not make this data available for inspection nor reveal the information at a public hearing or in findings of fact issued by the director until thirty days after receipt of the notice by the applicant or registrant. During this period, the applicant or registrant may withdraw the application or may institute an action in the superior court of Thurston county for a declaratory judgment as to whether the information is subject to protection under subsection (2) of this section.
Warehouse License, Application for	RCW 22.09.040(9) All financial statement information required by this subsection shall be confidential information not subject to public disclosure.
Whistleblower	RCW 42.40.040(2) Subject to subsection (5)(c) of this section, the identity or identifying characteristics of a whistleblower is confidential at all times unless the whistleblower consents to disclosure by written waiver or by acknowledging his or her identity in a claim against the state for retaliation. In addition, the identity or identifying characteristics of any person who in good faith provides information in an investigation under this section is confidential at all times, unless the person consents to disclosure by written waiver or by acknowledging his or her identity as a witness who provides information in an investigation.
Workplace Sexual Harassment/Stalking Investigations	RCW 42.56.660(1) Except by court order issued pursuant to subsection (3) of this section, an agency may not disclose as a response to a public records request made pursuant to this chapter records concerning an agency employee, as defined in subsection (5) of this section, if: (a) The requestor is a person alleged in the claim of workplace sexual harassment or stalking to have harassed or stalked the agency employee who is named as the victim in the claim; and (b) After conducting an investigation, the agency issued discipline resulting from the claim of workplace sexual harassment or stalking to the requestor described under (a) of this subsection.