42 U.S.C. § 6381 — Verification examinations

any person who is required to submit energy information to the Secretary^*, the Department of the Interior, or the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission pursuant to any rule, regulation, order, or other legal process of such Secretary, Department or Commission;

any person who is engaged in the production, processing, refining, transportation by pipeline, or distribution (at other than the retail level) of energy resources—

any vertically integrated petroleum company with respect to financial information of such company related to energy resource exploration, development, and production and the transportation, refining and marketing of energy resources and energy products.

The term “verification examination” means an examination of such books, records, papers, or other documents of a person or company as the Comptroller General determines necessary and appropriate to assess the accuracy, reliability, and adequacy of the energy information, or financial information, referred to in subsection (a).

The term “energy information” has the same meaning as such term has in section 796(e)(1) of title 15.

The term “person” has the same meaning as such term has in section 796(e)(2) of title 15.

The term “vertically integrated petroleum company” means any person which itself, or through a person which is controlled by, controls, or is under common control with such person, is engaged in the production, refining, and marketing of petroleum products.