In order to improve
the quality and credibility of the scientific information we use to make
regulatory decisions, the Fish and Wildlife Service has implemented a
formal "peer review" process for influential scientific documents.
While we have always consulted experts to ensure that our decisions are
based on sound science, through this peer review process we follow the
guidelines for Federal agencies spelled out in the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) "Final
Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review," (PDF, 263 KB)
released December 16, 2004. Promulgation of annual
hunting regulations by the Service relies on a well-defined process of
monitoring data collection and scientific assessment. At key points during
that process, Flyway technical committees, Flyway Councils (State agencies),
consultants, and the public (and in some instances international regulatory
agencies) review and provide valuable input on technical assessments or
other documents related to proposed regulatory decisions. All assessments
pertaining to the setting of annual harvest regulations are deemed “highly
influential,” however they are exempted (see waiver below) from
strict application of IQA peer-review guidelines due to the compressed
time schedule associated with the regulatory process. Therefore, peer-review
plans for technical assessments which influence annual hunting regulations
decisions will not be posted on this page. While assessments influential
to annual regulatory decision-making are covered under the general waiver,
the DMBM has a long-history of subjecting applicable portions of such
technical assessments to formal peer-review through submission to scientific
journals, or other means, in addition to the review and scrutiny received
as part of the annual regulatory process. All other regulatory and non-regulatory
technical reports are subject to IQA peer-review guidelines and will have
peer-review plans posted here.
Part of the peer review process is to provide information on the Web about
how each peer review is to be conducted, as described in this checklist.
Peer Review Agenda
We have identified
the following documents and are in the process of developing peer review
plans to meet OMB requirements.