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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20060515Protective agreement.pdfPR OTECTIVE AGREEMENTBETWEEN : c MAGIC WIND LLC, IDAHO POWER COMPANY AND ' . IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION STAFF C; .-,..;, : . 0' ) oj , , -tV This Protective Agreement is entered into this 4- day of May 2006 by Magic Wind LLC, Idaho Power Company and the Idaho Public Utilities Commission Staff ("Staff' Recitals: 1. WHEREAS, Magic Wind desires to make available to Idaho Power and the Staff certain information respecting Magic Wind's Petition to detelmine exemption status (Case No. IPC-05-34). 2. WHEREAS , Idaho Power and Staff desire to receive such information. 3. WHEREAS , Magic Wind, Idaho Power and Staff anticipate that Magic Wind may provide , or make available for review , certain information considered by Magic Wind to be of a trade secret , privileged or confidential nature (as defined in Idaho Code 9 9-340 et seq. and 9 48-801 et seq. 4. WHEREAS, Magic Wind, Idaho Power and Staff anticipate that Magic Wind may provide, or make available for review, certain infOlmation considered by third parties to be of a trade secret, plivileged or confidential nature (as defined in Idaho Code 9 9-340 et seq. and 9 48-801 et seq.for which Magic Wind has an obligation, pursuant to a duly authorized confidentiality agreement between Magic Wind and each of said third parties, to protect said information. 5. WHEREAS, Magic Wind, Idaho Power and Staff agree that entering into a Protective Agreement will expedite the production of documents; will afford the necessary protection to Magic Wind', Idaho Power s and Staff's employees and/or representatives in this proceeding who might review the information and subsequently be requested to reveal its contents by setting forth clear cut parameters for use of Confidential Information, and will protect Confidential Information which might be provided hereafter IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED AND AGREED AS FOLLOWS: 1. (a) Confidential Information All documents, data, information , studies and other materials furnished that are claimed to be of trade secret , proprietary or confidential nature (herein referred to as PROTECTIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN MAGIC WIND LLC, IDAHO POWER COMPANY AND IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION STAFF Confidential Information ) shall be so marked by Magic Wind by stamping the same with a designation indicating its trade secret, proprietary or confidential nature and printed on "colored" paper. Any claim of confidentiality must be accompanied by an attorney s certificate that the material is protected by law from public disclosure and cite the specific legal authority to SUPPOlt the claim. IDAPA 31.01.01.067 and 31.01.01.233. Access to and review of Confidential Information shall be strictly controlled by the terms of this Agreement. (b) Use of Confidential Information All persons who may be entitled to review , or who are afforded access to any Confidential Information by reason of this Agreement shall neither use nor disclose the Confidential Information for purposes of business or competition , or any purpose other than the purpose of preparation for and conduct of Case No. IPC-05-34 and then solely as contemplated herein, and shall keep the Confidential Information secure as trade secret , confidential or proprietary information and in accordance with the purposes and intent of this Agreement. (c) Persons Entitled to Review Access to Confidential Information shall be limited to counsel of the undersigned parties, employees, experts, agents or representatives of the undersigned parties who have executed an Exhibit AA= to this Agreement. protected from unauthorized public disclosure. Such information will be clearly marked and (d) Nondisclosure Agreement. Confidential Information shall not be disclosed to any person who has not signed a nondiscloslire agreement on this form, which is attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and incorporated herein. The nondisclosure agreement or Exhibit "A" shall require the person to whom disclosure is to be made to read a copy of this Protective Agreement and to celtify in wliting that he or she has reviewed the same and has consented to be bound by its telTIlS. The Agreement shall contain the signatory s full name , permanent address and employer. Such agreement shall be delivered to counsel for Magic Wind and acknowledged and approved by Magic Wind before disclosure is made. PROTECTIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN MAGIC WIND LLC, IDAHO POWER COMPANY AND IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION STAFF 2. (a) Copies. No copies or transcriptions of the Confidential Information shall be made by Staff and/or Idaho Power except as necessary to make the information available to individuals who have executed an Exhibit "A" to this Protective Agreement. (b) Return of Confidential Information Upon request of Magic Wind, all original documents and copies of the Confidential InfOlTIlation shall be: 1) returned to Magic Wind, or 2) shredded by the holder of such documents. Unless otherwise ordered, Confidential Information, including transcripts or depositions containing information to which a claim of confidentiality is made, shall remain under seal, shall continue to be subject to the protective requirements of this Agreement, and shall likewise, be returned to counsel for Magic Wind within thilty (30) days after final settlement or conclusion of the proceedings before the Commission which Confidential Information is relevant including administrative or judicial review thereof. After return of documents pursuant to this Paragraph, and upon request, a written receipt verifying return shall be provided by counsel. (c)Return of Notes. Any notes maintained by a recipient of Confidential Information which embody or reflect any of the Confidential Information provided under this Agreement shall, upon request of Magic Wind, be either returned to Magic Wind or, at the option of the recipient, destroyed. 3. Nonwaiver of Objection to Admissibility. The furnishing of any document, information , data, study or other materials pursuant to this Protective Agreement shall in no way limit or waive the right of the providing party to object to its relevance or admissibility in any proceedings before this Commission. 4. Challenge to Confidentiality. (a)Initial Challenge This Protective Agreement establishes a procedure for the expeditious handling of information Magic Wind claims is confidential. In any proceeding before the Commission, Staff and/or Idaho Power may challenge the characterization of any information, document, data or study claimed by Magic Wind to be a trade secret, proprietary or confidential information. If seeking to challenge the confidentiality of any information Staff and/or Idaho Power shall first PROTECTIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN MAGIC WIND LLC, IDAHO POWER COMPANY AND IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION STAFF contact counsel for Magic Wind and attempt to resolve any difference by stipulation. Resolution may include removing the confidential classifications , creating a non-confidential summary, refOlmatting the information, etc. (b)Subsequent Challenge In the event that the parties cannot agree as to the character of the information challenged, Staff and/or Idaho Power may challenge the confidentiality of the information by petitioning in any proceeding in which the information is relevant the Commission to rule upon the disputed information. The Petition shall be served upon the Commission and all parties to the proceeding who have signed on Exhibit "A" as provided in this Protective Agreement. The Petition shall designate with specificity the document or material challenged and state the grounds upon which the subject material are deemed to be non-confidential by Staff and/or Idaho Power. (c)Challenge Hearing Staff and/or Idaho Power shall request that the Commission conduct an in camera proceeding where only those persons duly authorized to have access to such challenged materials under this Protective Agreement shall be present This hearing shall be commenced no earlier than five (5) business days after serving the Petition on Magic Wind, Idaho Power/Staff and the Commission. The record of the in camera hearing shall be marked "CONFIDENTIAL n Subject to Protective Agreement." To the extent necessary, the transcript of such hearing shall be separately bound, segregated, sealed, and withheld from public inspection by any person not bound by the terms of this Agreement. (d)Determination. The parties will ask the Commission to issue an Order determining whether any challenged information or material is not properly deemed to be exempt from public disclosure pursuant to the Idaho Public Records Act. (Idaho Code 9 9-335 et seq.If information is found to be not exempt from disclosure, Staff and/or Idaho Power shall not disclose such challenged material or use it in the public record, or otherwise outside the proceedings for at least five (5) business days unless Magic Wind consents to such conduct. This procedure enables the providing party to seek a stay or other relief from the Commission s Order removing the restrictions of this Agreement from material claimed to be confidential. Such relief may be sought from the Commission or a court of competent jurisdiction. PROTECTIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN MAGIC WIND LLC, IDAHO POWER COMPANY AND IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION STAFF 5. (a) Receipt Into Evidence Provision is hereby made for receipt into evidence in this proceeding of materials claimed to be confidential in the following manner: (1)If Staff and/or Idaho Power intends to use Confidential Information or to make substantive reference to Confidential Information supplied to it under this Agreement, it shall give reasonable prior notice of such intention to Magic Wind and shall provide copies of the used Confidential Information or substantive reference to Confidential Information only to the providing party, and such other parties, if any, who have executed an Exhibit "A" to this Protective Agreement. (2)One (1) copy of the used Confidential Information or substantive reference to Confidential Information or substantive reference to Confidential Information described in Paragraph 5(a)(1) shall be placed in the sealed record. (3)Only one (1) copy of the documents designated to be placed in a sealed record shall be made, which copy shall be supplied by the providing party. (4)The copy of the documents to be placed in the sealed record shall be tendered by counsel for Magic Wind to the Commission , and shall be (b) maintained in accordance with the terms of this Protective Agreement. Seal. While in the custody of the Commission , materials containing Confidential Information shall be marked CONFIDENTIAL - SUBJECT TO ATTORNEY' CERTIFICA TE OF CONFIDENTIALITY" and shall not be examined by any person except under the conditions set forth in this Agreement , if applicable. (c)In Camera Hearing and Transcripts Any Confidential Information that must be orally disclosed at a hearing in the proceedings shall be offered at an in camera hearing, attended only by persons authorized to have access to the information under this Protective Agreement. Similarly, any transcription of any examination or other reference to Confidential Information (or that pOltion of the record containing Confidential InfOlmation) shall be marked and treated as provided herein for Confidential InfOlmation. See IDAPA 31.01.01.287. PROTECTIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN MAGIC WIND LLC, IDAHO POWER COMPANY AND IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION STAFF (d)Access to Record. Access to sealed testimony, records , and information shall be limited to the Commission and persons who have signed an Exhibit "A" as provided in this Protective Agreement, unless such information is released from the restrictions of this Agreement either through agreement of the parties or after notice to the parties and hearing, pursuant to the order of the Commission and/or the final order of a court having final jurisdiction. (e)Appeal. Should an appeal from the proceeding be taken, sealed portions of the record may be forwarded to any COlllt of competent jurisdiction for purposes of an appeal , but under seal as designated herein for the information and use of the court. If a portion of the record is forwarded to a court under seal for the purposes of an appeal , the providing party shall be notified which portion of the sealed record has been designated by the appealing party as necessary to the record on appeal. 6. Destruction r or Return Unless otherwise ordered, Confidential InfOlmation provided pursuant to a discovery request and this Agreement, including transcripts of any discovery depositions to which a claim of confidentiality is made, shall remain under seal, shall continue to be subject to the protective requirements of this Agreement, and shall be destroyed (shall be returned to counsel for the providing party) within thirty (30) days after final settlement or conclusion of this matter including administrative or judicial review thereof. 7. Use in Pleadings Where references to Confidential Information in the sealed record or with the custodian is required in pleadings, briefs, arguments , or motions (except as provided in Paragraph 5), it shall be by citation to title or exhibit number or some other description that will not disclose the substantive Confidential Information contained therein. Any use of or substanti ve references to Confidential Information shall be placed in a separate section of the pleading or brief and submitted to the Commission pursuant to Paragraph 5. This sealed section shall be serviced only on counsel of record who have signed the non-disclosure agreements set forth in Exhibit "A" attached to this Protective Agreement, and may, in turn, be disclosed by them only to individuals who likewise signed Exhibit " PROTECTIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN MAGIC WIND LLC, IDAHO POWER COMPANY AND IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION STAFF 8. Summary of Record If deemed necessary by the Commission , Magic Wind shall prepare a written summary of the Confidential Information referred to in Orders to be issued to the public and the parties. 9. This Protective Agreement shall become effective on the date hereof. DATED this -I- L(':---day of May 2006. MAGIC WIND LLC IDAHO POWER COMPANY (ltttL- Dean J. Miller McDevitt & Miller LLP PO Box 2564 Boise, ID 83701-2564 Barton L. Kline Senior Attorney 1221 West Idaho Street Boise, ID 83702 Attorneys Representing Magic Wind LLC IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION STAFF By ~;a((2?tvJ Scott D.Woodbury / Deputy Attorney General Idaho Public Utilities Commission 472 West Washington Street Boise , ID 83702 Attorney Representing Idaho Public Utilities Commission Staff PROTECTIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN MAGIC WIND LLC, IDAHO POWER COMPANY AND IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION STAFF 8. Summary of Record If deemed necessary by the Commission Magic Wind shall prepare a written summary of the Confidential Information referred to in Orders to be issued to the public and the parties. 9. This Protective Agreement shall become effective on the date hereof. DATED this day of May 2006. MAGIC WIND LLC IDAHO POWER COMPANY ~\~ Barton L. Kline Senior Attorney 1221 West Idaho Street Boise, ID 83702 Dean J. Miller McDevitt & Miller LLP PO Box 2564 Boise, ID 83701-2564 Attorneys Representing Magic Wind LLC IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION STAFF Scott D. Woodbury Deputy Attorney General Idaho Public Utilities Commission 472 West Washington Street Boise, ID 83702 Attorney Representing Idaho Public Utilities Commission Staff PROTECTIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN MAGIC WIND LLC, IDAHO POWER COMPANY AND IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION STAFF EXHIBIT" I have reviewed the Protective Agreement dated this 4th day of May 2006 in Case No. IPC-05-34 and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of such Agreement. 7\ t.:r. d ,'5l.&~ Rick Sterling Idaho Public Utilities Commission Employer or Firm 472 W. Washington Street Business Address Commission Staff Party Date .:5/'11 tJ?