U.S. Geological Survey
I. Introduction
1. Mission
2. Vision
III. Guidelines
1. Overview of USGS Information Quality Guidelines
2. USGS Data Collection and Research
3. USGS Review and Approval Process
4. Paperwork Reduction Act
5. Third-Party Data
IV. Information Correction Requests
1. Administrative Process
2. Requirements
3. Evaluation
4. Appeal Procedure
VI. Information Quality - USGS Peer Review Agenda
In the Information Quality Act, Congress directed the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue government-wide guidelines that “provide policy and procedural guidance to Federal agencies for ensuring and maximizing the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of information (including statistical information) disseminated by Federal agencies” (Public Law No. 106–554, § 515(a)). OMB’s Guidelines for Ensuring and Maximizing the Quality, Objectivity, Utility, and Integrity of Information Disseminated by Federal Agencies, published in the Federal Register on February 22, 2002 (67 FR 8452), directs agencies subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 USC 3502) to:
The policies and procedures provided constitute the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Information Quality Guidelines, which applies to all USGS information disseminated to the public on or after October 1, 2002. The OMB and the Department of the Interior (DOI) information quality guidelines, standards, and definitions will also apply to the USGS guidelines.
— Information with distribution limited to agency employees, contractors or grantees; — Information intended for intra- or inter-agency use or communication, even if the information becomes public (for example, providing comments to another federal agency on its environmental impact statement); — Responses to requests for records under the Freedom of Information Act, the Privacy Act, the Federal Advisory Committee Act or other similar laws; — Correspondences with individuals; — Public filings; — Testimonies and other submissions to Congress; — Adjudicative proceedings; — Press releases, press conferences, or similar communications in any medium that announce, support the announcement, or give public notice of the availability of information USGS has or will disseminate or that summarize recent events or agency actions; — Draft and unpublished documents, data, and information distributed for the purpose of peer review (but that has not been formally disseminated by USGS); — Archival records, including library holdings; — Information distributed by outside parties unless the distribution was conducted at the direction or sponsorship of the USGS; — Information accessed via hyperlinks to non-USGS web sites; and — Distributions of information by outside parties unless a disclaimer is attached explaining that the information is an official USGS view or position.
1. Mission
The USGS serves the Nation by providing reliable scientific information to describe and understand the Earth; minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and protect our quality of life.
2. Vision
The USGS is a world leader in the natural sciences through its scientific excellence and responsiveness to society's needs.
1. Overview of USGS Information Quality Guidelines
The USGS provides unbiased, objective scientific information upon which other entities may base judgments. Since its inception in 1879, the USGS has maintained comprehensive internal and external procedures for ensuring the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of data, analyses, and scientific conclusions. These Information Quality Guidelines cover all information produced by the USGS in any medium, including data sets, web pages, maps, audiovisual presentations in USGS-published information products, or in publications of outside entities. These guidelines provide an administrative process for persons to seek correction of information maintained and disseminated by the USGS that they believe is in error. Factors, such as imminent threats to public health or homeland security, statutory or court-ordered requirements, or other circumstances beyond our control, may limit or preclude applicability of these guidelines.
These guidelines are intended to improve the management of the USGS activities related to compliance with the OMB information quality requirements. Nothing in these guidelines is intended to create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable by law or equity by a party against the United States, its agencies, its offices, or any other person. These guidelines do not provide any right to judicial review.
2. USGS Data Collection and Research
USGS data collection and research activities are carried out in a consistent, objective, and replicable manner that has been vetted through a vigorous and open process of peer review to ensure that the best possible results are achieved and that there are no weaknesses or errors in the data or conclusions. USGS scientific information is subject to a high degree of transparency about the data and methods used to facilitate the reproducibility of such information by other qualified scientists. Data collected for publication must be documented to describe the methods or techniques used to collect, process, and analyze data; the structure of the output; description of accuracy and precision; standards for metadata; and quality assurance processes. If access to data and methods cannot occur due to compelling interests such as privacy, trade secret, intellectual property, and other confidentiality protection, USGS will, to the extent practicable, verify information and documents to ensure that quality assurance steps were taken (refer to (http://www.usgs.gov/usgs-manual/500/502-2.html).
3. USGS Review and Approval Process
USGS information is published in many media. Due to the scientific nature of the information, it passes through many quality assurance reviews, including rigorous peer review, prior to approval and release to ensure the reliability, objectivity, and integrity of the information. These review and approval standards and requirements are available at http://www.usgs.gov/usgs-manual/500/502-3.html and http://www.usgs.gov/usgs-manual/500/502-4.html.
4. Paperwork Reduction Act
All USGS offices will apply OMB's Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) clearance process to help improve the quality of information that the bureau collects and disseminates to the public. All proposed PRA clearance submissions to OMB should demonstrate that the proposed collection of information will result in information that will be collected, maintained, and used in a manner consistent with the OMB and DOI quality guidelines.
5. USGS Third-Party Data
The USGS takes steps to ensure that the quality and transparency of data and information provided by external sources are sufficient for the intended use. Reference to and use of third party data and information is complex and requires extensive collaboration with the scientific and technical community and other external data providers. Third-party data may carry inherent accuracy weaknesses in that the data content often cannot be checked nor their accuracy controlled. In instances where the referenced information is not verifiable, the source will be made transparent to the public, and such information will not be subject to these guidelines.
Metadata (information that characterizes and describes data, including how, when, and by whom the data were collected) are one tool used by the USGS to maximize information quality, utility, objectivity, and transparency of third-party data. Metadata plays a key role in describing the specific quality procedures that were followed, as well as documenting methods and techniques used in studies. USGS conforms to established national and international standards for metadata, such as the Federal Geographic Data Committee Geospatial Metadata Standards.
IV. Information Correction Requests
1. Administrative Process
Information correction requests should be addressed to the Associate Director, Office of Science Quality and Integrity (OSQI), USGS, 108 National Center, Reston VA 20192 and emailed to InfoQual@usgs.gov. The OSQI coordinates the USGS process for complying with information quality guidelines for scientific information and data, maintains records on each request, and prepares a fiscal year report that describes the number, nature, and resolution of requests for submission to the DOI by December 31 of each year. The OSQI will forward the request to the appropriate USGS office (generally the office responsible for the information product being challenged). The USGS office receiving the request will copy the OSQI office on all responses related to the request. In addition, the receiving USGS office, in coordination with OSQI, will maintain a public Web page titled "Information Quality - Information Correction Request" (for an example, refer to http://www.usgs.gov/global_change/info_quality.asp). This page will clearly indicate receipt of an information correction request related to information disseminated by the USGS. The page must also contain the subject of the request and documentation related to the request, including (1) a link to the USGS information product that was disseminated; (2) a link to the complainant’s information correction request; (3) the USGS response to the request (including any supporting material, for example a news release); and (4) a link to the USGS Information Quality website (http://www.usgs.gov/info_qual/).
2. Requirements
A request for information correction must include the following:
3. Evaluation and Response
Within 10 business days, the OSQI will notify the complainant of receipt of their information correction request. The appropriate office will evaluate the request in question and prepare the response. If the USGS determines that the correction request is without merit, the complainant will be so notified. If the USGS determines that the correction request has merit, the complainant will be notified of this finding and of the corrective steps proposed. Generally, within 60 calendar days of receipt, USGS will issue a response to the complainant. The timing for evaluating an information correction request and issuing the USGS response may change based on factors such as the complexity involved, impact on science, or level of coordination needed. If USGS determines additional time is needed, the complainant will be informed and if possible, will be given an estimated response date. The USGS will also determine the schedule and procedure for correcting any challenged information that it deems is in error.
A second correction request received on the same subject, before the USGS issues a final response to the first request will be considered simultaneously with the first request. The second complainant will be notified within 10 business days that an overlapping evaluation is in progress and be advised of its status. The first and any subsequent correction requests will be combined and the timing for issuing the USGS response to all parties will follow that for the first correction request received.
If a second correction request on the same subject is received any time after the USGS has issued a response to a previous request, then the second correction request will require a new 60 calendar day schedule for issuing a USGS response. Unless substantial new information has been submitted, the USGS response to the earlier request shall suffice.
4. Appeal Procedure
If complainants are dissatisfied with the USGS response to their information correction request, they may appeal the decision to the Director, USGS, through the OSQI.
Appeals requesting reconsideration of the decision must be received by USGS within 21 calendar days of the date of the USGS response to the original correction request and must contain the following:
Within 10 business days, the OSQI will notify the complainant of receipt of their appeal request. The OSQI will provide the appeal request to the appropriate offices and will coordinate the appeal process. USGS will decide, on a case-by-case basis, the method to use in evaluating an appeal to determine whether it has merit. For example, USGS may consult internally/externally with technical experts, scientific literature, and other resources; convene a panel consisting of Directorate-level officials from the USGS and, when available, another DOI agency such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; or use other methods that are deemed appropriate by USGS. Those evaluating the appeal will make an objective recommendation to the Director, USGS, who will make the final decision on the appeal.
If the USGS determines that the appeal request is without merit, the complainant will be so notified. If the USGS determines that the appeal request has merit, the USGS will notify the complainant of this finding and include the corrective steps proposed. The Director, USGS or a designated representative thereof, will issue a response to the appeal, generally within 60 calendar days of receipt. If USGS determines additional time is needed the complainant will be informed and if possible, will be given an estimated response date. The USGS will determine the schedule and procedure for correcting any appeal-challenged information that it has deemed is in error. The appeal and response documents will be posted on the same web page that contains documentation about the original information correction request.
These guidelines are intended only to improve the internal management of the USGS relating to information quality. Nothing in these guidelines is intended to create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable by law or equity by a party against the United States, its agencies, its offices, or any other person. These guidelines do not provide any right to judicial review.
FY 2004 - No requests received.
FY 2005 - No requests received.
FY 2006 - No requests received.
FY 2007:
FY 2008:
FY 2009:
FY 2010:
VI. Information Quality - USGS Peer Review Agenda
In December 2005, the OMB issued the Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review. The Bulletin, issued under the Information Quality Act and OMB’s general information quality authorities, establishes requirements regarding peer review of scientific information disseminated to the public by the Federal Government, which is defined by OMB as “influential scientific information” and "highly influential scientific assessments.” The USGS Peer Review Agenda may be viewed at http://www.usgs.gov/peer_review.
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