(1)   

      (a)    The department shall make available to and provide facilities for the public to inspect and copy completed permit application forms, fact sheets, draft permits, or any public document thereon.

      (b)    The department shall make available to the U.S. environmental protection agency any completed permit application forms, fact sheets, draft permits, or any public comments thereon, and shall also make available any other records, reports, plans or other information obtained by the department under this chapter.

   (2)   The department shall protect as confidential any information, other than effluent data, contained in permit application forms, or in other records, reports or plans, that is found to be confidential under s. 283.55 (2) (c).

   (3)   Any information afforded confidential status may be disclosed by the department to the U.S. environmental protection agency or its authorized representative.