; and (B) to the maximum extent practicable, and subject to any Federal law applicable to the Secretary regarding retention of records, return to the eligible entity all information that the Secretary received from the eligible entity. (f) Use of information (1) Information provided for assistance Any information that is provided by an eligible entity to the Secretary for the purpose of obtaining assistance under subsection (b) may not be used as a basis for any order, rule, opinion, or decision of the Secretary. (2) Information obtained by other means Subject to applicable law, if the information described in paragraph (1) is obtained by the Secretary in a manner other than the manner described in that paragraph, the Secretary may use that information in any manner that the Secretary determines to be appropriate if— (A) the Secretary segregates the information described in paragraph (1) from information that is obtained by the Secretary in a manner not described in that paragraph; and (B) the information described in paragraph (1) has been and is reviewed only by individuals authorized by the Secretary to provide assistance under subsection (b). (3) Informal staff advice An officer, employee, agent, or contractor of the Secretary may advise an eligible entity that information provided to the Secretary for the purpose of obtaining assistance under subsection (b) should also be provided to the Secretary for purposes unrelated to assistance under subsection (b). (g) Effect Nothing in this section— (1) authorizes the Secretary to require any eligible entity to adopt any advice, report, recommendation, best practice, finding, model, tool, method, plan, analysis, or assessment made by the Secretary under this section; or (2) relieves an eligible entity from any obligation to comply with a lawful order or rule of the Secretary. (h) Reports for eligible entities (1) In general The Secretary may prepare reports— (A) for an eligible entity that requests assistance under subsection (b)