[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 104 (Thursday, May 30, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37873-37878]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-13458]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[Notice 02-065]


Guidelines for Ensuring and Maximizing the Quality, Objectivity, 
Utility, and Integrity of Information Disseminated by the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Notice of guidelines and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Section 515 of the Treasury and General Government 
Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (Pub. L. 106-554) directed the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue government-wide 
information quality guidelines. OMB's final guidelines, re-published on 
February 22, 2002, require each Federal agency to issue Agency-specific 
implementing guidelines for ensuring the quality of disseminated 
information. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 
is seeking comments on its draft information quality guidelines. The 
draft sets out guidelines for ensuring the quality, objectivity, 
utility, and integrity of NASA's information and describes an 
administrative mechanism for seeking correction of information publicly 
disseminated by NASA.

DATES: Written comments regarding NASA's draft information quality 
guidelines must be submitted on or before 30 days after date of 
publication in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to Nancy R. Kaplan, Code AO, 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC 20546-
0001. Comments may also be e-mailed to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy R. Kaplan, Code AO, National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC 20546-0001. 
Telephone: (202) 358-1372.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Draft Guidelines for 
Ensuring the Quality of Information

A. Purpose

    Section 515 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations 
Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (Pub. L. 106-554; H.R. 5658; hereafter 
referred to as Section 515) directed the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) to issue government-wide information quality guidelines. 
OMB's final guidelines, entitled ``Guidelines for Ensuring and 
Maximizing the Quality, Objectivity, Utility, and Integrity of 
Information Disseminated by Federal Agencies,'' were re-published on 
February 22, 2002 (67 FR 8451.) The OMB guidelines require each Federal 
agency to issue their own, Agency-specific, implementing guidelines for 
ensuring the quality of disseminated information.
    This document outlines the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration's (NASA's) information quality guidelines; details 
corresponding

[[Page 37874]]

procedures, administrative mechanisms, and reporting requirements; and 
establishes NASA's responsibilities for ensuring that its information 
adheres to the quality guidelines. Included in this document are the 
procedures for affected persons to seek and obtain correction of 
information disseminated by NASA.

B. Background

    Section 203(2)(3) of the National Aeronautics and Space Act, Public 
Law 85-568, as amended, chartered NASA to ``provide for the widest 
practicable and appropriate dissemination of information concerning its 
activities and the results thereof.'' NASA makes available a diverse 
wealth of information to government, industry, academia, and the 
public. Some examples include scientific and technical information from 
its world-class research and operational programs, such as reports, 
journal articles, data, and imagery; information concerning its current 
vision, mission, goals, programs, and performance, such as performance 
plans and reports; information regarding the missions it aspires to 
pursue, such as strategic plans; and educational information, such as 
curricula, lesson and technology plans, and educational briefs, for K-
12 through post-graduate students.
    Information from NASA's missions and programs is used by a number 
of organizations and individuals including, but not limited to, 
government, national, and international policymakers formulating public 
policy; NASA's scientists and others cooperating with NASA to pursue 
their important work; the media reporting on the importance of NASA's 
research; the educational community educating a new generation of 
citizens in science, math, and engineering; and members of the public 
learning about NASA's goals and accomplishments.

C. Policy and Procedures

C.1. Scope
    These guidelines are applicable to NASA Headquarters and Centers, 
including Component Facilities; and to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory 
and other contractors where specified by contract. They prescribe 
policy and procedures for a wide variety of dissemination media, such 
as printed, electronic (including websites), and other forms of 
publication.
    The definitions of information, dissemination, quality, and other 
terms used within this document were adapted from those established by 
OMB in its government-wide quality guidelines. Where appropriate, NASA 
has expanded on the OMB definitions to provide guidance that is more 
applicable to Agency-specific information.
    The guidelines for pre-dissemination review in this document shall 
apply to information that NASA first disseminates on or after October 
1, 2002. Other guidelines in this document shall pertain to information 
disseminated on or after October 1, 2002, regardless of when it was 
first disseminated by NASA.
C.2. Guidelines
    NASA will ensure and maximize the quality, including the utility, 
objectivity, and integrity, of its disseminated information, except 
where specifically exempted. Categories of information that are exempt 
from these guidelines are detailed in Section C.3.
    NASA's ``disseminated information'' includes any communication or 
representation of knowledge, such as facts or data, conveyed in any 
media or form, such as textual, numerical, graphic, cartographic, 
narrative, or audiovisual, whether on paper, film, or electronic media, 
and whether disseminated via formal publication, recording, machine-
readable data, or website.
C.2.a. Basic Standard of Information Quality
    This section outlines the basic standard of information quality 
that NASA's disseminated information must meet. NASA will treat 
information quality as integral to every step of its development of 
information, including creation, collection, maintenance, and 
dissemination.
    A level of information quality assurance greater than the basic 
standard is required in those situations that involve influential 
scientific, financial, or statistical information. The quality standard 
for influential information is defined in Section C.2.b. Additionally, 
principles of information quality beyond the basic standard may be 
adopted as appropriate for specific categories of NASA's disseminated 
information. Section C.2.c outlines principles of information quality 
that may apply to certain categories of NASA's information.
    The basic standard of information quality, for the purposes of 
these guidelines, has three components: utility, objectivity, and 
integrity. The guidelines sometimes refer to these terms collectively 
as ``quality.'' In ensuring the quality of its disseminated 
information, NASA must ensure that all of these components are 
sufficiently addressed.
    C.2.a.1. Utility. The measure of utility refers to the extent that 
the information can be used for its intended purpose, by its intended 
audience. The following principles relate to these dimensions of 
information utility:
Intended Purpose
    [sbull] To provide useful, relevant information, NASA will stay 
informed about the information needs of its stakeholders and develop 
new data, models, and information where appropriate.
    [sbull] When currency of information is critical, NASA will ensure 
that relevant information is made available in a timely manner and 
updated as appropriate.
    [sbull] NASA's information will be reviewed by content owners, at a 
frequency appropriate to the type of information, to ensure that it 
remains relevant and timely.
Intended Audience
    [sbull] NASA's information dissemination process will make the 
Agency's information widely available and broadly accessible, as 
appropriate and practical for the target audience.
    [sbull] NASA will ensure that its information is accessible to all 
potential users, including individuals with disabilities, per Federal 
law, statute, and Agency guidance.
    C.2.a.2. Objectivity. The measure of objectivity refers to the 
extent that the information is accurate, clear, complete, and unbiased. 
The following principles relate to these dimensions of information 
objectivity:
Accuracy
    [sbull] Information disseminated by NASA will be based on reliable, 
accurate data that has been validated.
    [sbull] NASA's information will be proofread before release to 
ensure that they are free from typographical and grammatical errors.
    [sbull] Where feasible and appropriate, NASA will inform users of 
corrections to the Agency's information resulting from discovery of 
errors.
Clarity
    [sbull] NASA's information will be reviewed before release to 
ensure clarity and coherence of the material presented.
Completeness
    [sbull] NASA's information will include, to the extent feasible, 
the proper context to ensure completeness of the material presented.
    [sbull] Where feasible, data presented by NASA will have full and 
accurate

[[Page 37875]]

documentation, and circumstances affecting data quality will be 
identified and disclosed to users.
Lack of Bias
    [sbull] NASA will utilize systematic analysis and review processes 
to remove potential biases from its information.
    [sbull] To the extent possible, NASA will ensure that information 
is presented without the appearance of bias.
    C.2.a.3. Integrity. The measure of integrity refers to the 
protection of NASA's information from unauthorized access, revision, 
modification, corruption, falsification, and unintentional or 
inadvertent destruction. The following principles relate to information 
integrity:
    [sbull] NASA employees responsible for classified information, 
draft materials, and otherwise sensitive information will utilize 
appropriate security controls and mechanisms to protect the information 
from improper dissemination.
    [sbull] When information integrity has been compromised, NASA will 
take immediate steps to remedy the situation and facilitate correction 
of the compromised information.
    A key aspect of information integrity is ensuring that NASA's 
computer systems remain protected from unauthorized access or other 
threats that could damage the information residing therein. NASA's 
Information Technology (IT) Security Program is the responsibility of 
the NASA Chief Information Officer (CIO). The roles and 
responsibilities of the CIO with respect to IT Security are outlined in 
detail in NASA Procedures and Guidelines (NPG) 2810.1, ``Security of 
Information Technology.''
C.2.b. Quality Level for Influential Information
    NASA requires a higher standard of quality for information that is 
considered influential. Influential scientific, financial, or 
statistical information is defined as NASA information that, when 
disseminated, will have or does have clear and substantial impact on 
important public policies or important private sector decisions.
    Each NASA organizational director will be responsible for 
determining which of its disseminated information falls into this 
limited category. Where information is considered influential, the 
responsible organization shall document the safeguards and policies 
that are in place to ensure the quality (utility, objectivity, and 
integrity) of the information.
    OMB requires more stringency for ensuring the quality of 
influential scientific, financial, or statistical information. For 
these categories of influential information to be considered compliant 
with quality guidelines, the information must be transparent and 
reproducible to the greatest possible extent (see C.2.b.1 and C.2.b.2 
for definitions of these terms). It is important to note that applying 
the reproducibility standard to all influential data may not be 
practical or warranted; i.e., where it may be impractical or unethical 
to duplicate the circumstances of an experiment or investigation.
    Principles related to ensuring the transparency and reproducibility 
of information are outlined below.
    C.2.b.1. Transparency. The measure of transparency refers to the 
extent that information, particularly that of a scientific or 
statistical nature, has supporting data documented and made available.
    [sbull] In disseminating information of an influential nature, NASA 
will specifically describe the data used, the various assumptions 
employed, the specific analytic methods applied, and the statistical 
procedures utilized.
    C.2.b.2. Reproducibility. The measure of reproducibility refers to 
the extent that the information is capable of being substantially 
reproduced, subject to an acceptable degree of imprecision. In other 
words, independent analysis of the original or supporting data using 
identical methods would generate similar analytic results, subject to 
an acceptable margin of error.
    [sbull] Each NASA organization will be responsible for determining 
which categories of original and supporting data will be subject to the 
reproducibility requirement.
    [sbull] NASA will make the information it disseminates and the 
methods used to produce this information as transparent as possible so 
that they can, in principle, be reproducible by qualified individuals.
    [sbull] When it is not practical to apply the reproducibility 
standard to data or information, NASA will ensure greater transparency 
of the methods used to produce the data or information.
C.2.c. Principles for Specific Categories of Information
    OMB's information quality guidelines encourage Federal agencies to 
address principles of quality for specific categories of information 
that they produce. NASA's experience has been that the information used 
in conducting the Agency's daily business falls into five categories, 
as documented in NPG 2810.1.
    NASA will ensure the quality of information in each information 
category by adhering to the key principles outlined below.
C.2.c.1. Mission Information
    This category consists of information that directly supports NASA's 
human space flight, launch operations, space vehicle operations, wind 
tunnel operations, training simulation vehicles, and other mission-
related activities.
    [sbull] NASA will use special protections to preserve its mission 
information from alteration or destruction, particularly where 
proprietary or sensitive information is involved.
    [sbull] NASA will exercise special care in handling, disseminating, 
and ensuring the protection of information pertaining to missions 
involving human life.
    [sbull] NASA will protect information related to individuals 
involved in NASA's missions, per the requirements of the Privacy Act of 
1974 (5 U.S.C 552A, as amended.)
    OMB's guidelines require special considerations for analysis of 
risks to human health, safety, and the environment. OMB directs 
agencies to adopt or adapt the quality standards contained in the 1996 
amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act for analysis of these types 
of risks. With respect to information in this category, NASA will 
ensure that it has analyzed and/or documented, to the extent practical:
    [sbull] Each population addressed by any risk estimate and the 
expected risk for each population;
    [sbull] Acceptable upper and lower bounds of risk;
    [sbull] Uncertainties identified during the risk assessment process 
and how the uncertainties were or will be addressed;
    [sbull] Peer review studies related to risk estimates;
    [sbull] Methodologies used to reconcile inconsistencies in the 
scientific data.
C.2.c.2. Business and Restricted Technology Information
    This category consists of information related to financial, legal, 
payroll, personnel, procurement, source selection, and other business 
and restricted technology activities. NASA is required by law to 
protect much of the information in this category.
    [sbull] NASA will ensure that categories of information requiring 
protection or restricted access under law or statute (i.e., Export 
Administration Regulations and International Traffic in Arms 
regulations) are appropriately handled and protected from inappropriate 
dissemination.

[[Page 37876]]

C.2.c.3. Scientific, Engineering, and Research Information
    This category consists of information that supports basic research, 
engineering, and technology development, but that is less protected 
than mission information.
    OMB's guidelines give special consideration to scientific, 
technical, and statistical information. OMB regards information in this 
category that has been subject to formal, independent, external peer 
review as presumptively objective and therefore of higher quality. With 
respect to NASA's peer reviewed scientific, engineering, and research 
information, the following principles for ensuring information quality 
apply:
    [sbull] NASA will ensure that peer reviews conducted by the Agency 
are performed in an open and rigorous manner
    [sbull] Reviewers in NASA-sponsored peer reviews will be selected 
on the basis of technical expertise and will be requested to disclose 
prior technical or policy positions that may affect the issues at hand 
and to disclose sources of personal and institutional funding that may 
affect or appear to affect their technical judgment.
    It is important to note that some types of scientific, engineering, 
and research information disseminated by NASA may be exempt from NASA's 
information quality guidelines. Specifically, when scientists and 
researchers use the ``academic process'' to communicate their findings, 
i.e., through conference presentations and papers, peer reviewed 
journal articles, peer reviewed summary and assessment reports, and 
other dissemination practices that are standard in the research 
community, their research data, conclusions, and results may not 
represent an official product or position of the Agency. If this is the 
case, the information disseminated should clearly indicate via a 
disclaimer or other means that the views expressed are the author's, 
and not necessarily those of NASA. More specifics about this exception 
are outlined in Section C.3, Exempted NASA Information.
C.2.c.4. Administrative Information
    This category consists of information such as electronic or written 
correspondence, briefing information, program/project status documents, 
organizational documentation, strategic plans, and other information of 
an administrative or general nature.
    [sbull] NASA will ensure that administrative information is 
reviewed regularly to ensure its continued relevance and accuracy.
C.2.c.5. Public Access Information
    This category consists of information that is intended for public 
use, such as material related to NASA's educational programs.
    [sbull] NASA will ensure that its key information is made available 
to the general public through the widest possible dissemination.
    [sbull] NASA will carefully review references and links to external 
sources of information to ensure that they are business related and 
will not lead to an apparent conflict of interest, inappropriate 
endorsement, or embarrassment to the Agency.
C.3. Exempted NASA Information
    The OMB information quality guidelines permit exceptions for 
certain types of information. These categories of information do not 
have to meet a minimum standard of information quality.
    The biggest category of information that is exempt from this policy 
is information that is disseminated by but neither authored by NASA nor 
adopted as representing NASA's views. This category includes, but may 
not be limited to:
    [sbull] Information communicated by scientists and researchers via 
the ``academic process'' (as defined in Section C.2.c.3);
    [sbull] Information that is funded by NASA but published by a 
contractor, grantee, or other government organization without NASA's 
direction.
    The following types of information dissemination are also exempted 
from this policy:
    [sbull] Information in which distribution is limited to government 
employees, Agency contractors, or grantees, including intra-agency use 
or sharing of information;
    [sbull] Responses to requests for Agency records under the Freedom 
of Information Act (FOIA), the Privacy Act, the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (FACA), and other applicable laws and regulations;
    [sbull] Correspondence with individuals or persons;
    [sbull] Press releases;
    [sbull] Public filings, subpoenas, or other adjudicative processes;
    [sbull] Archival information;
C.4. Ongoing Process for Ensuring NASA's Information Quality
    NASA currently has a number of policies and processes in place to 
ensure that information produced and disseminated by the Agency meets a 
basic level of quality. Much of the information that NASA issues in the 
Agency's name, uses to support policy, or utilizes to reach mission 
decisions is subject to independent, external peer review, and the 
remainder is generally subject to one or more levels of quality review.
    The review and approval process for NASA's disseminated information 
will be documented as much as possible and practical. The level of 
documentation will be commensurate with the importance of the 
information.
    Some of the review processes utilized by NASA are described below. 
These review processes are utilized at the discretion of the 
organizations that produce NASA's content, depending on the type of 
information, intended audience, and other factors relevant to the 
situation.

Editorial Review

    Much of NASA's information is subject to editorial review by a 
qualified technical editor or other professional. The editorial review 
ensures that spelling, grammatical, and punctuation errors are 
discovered and corrected before an information product is disseminated.

Compliance Review

    The author, technical monitor, or other NASA official responsible 
for an information product will ensure that, when appropriate, the 
information is reviewed for compliance with Federal law, statute, and 
NASA policy. NASA's information may be subject to limited dissemination 
if export control limitations, International Traffic in Arms 
Regulations, confidentiality considerations, proprietary or copyright 
concerns, or other circumstances dictate the information's protection.

Content Review

    NASA's information is subject to content review to ensure its 
quality and integrity. The author, content owner, or other NASA 
official responsible for an information product ensures that content 
reviews are conducted before the information is disseminated. As 
described in NPG 2200.2, ``Management of NASA Scientific and Technical 
Information,'' scientific and technical information undergoing formal 
publication by NASA is subject to review before release. These reviews 
assess the quality of the information product in terms of readability, 
its communication of information, and its suitability for a particular 
audience.

Peer Review

    The use of peer review helps NASA to ensure the quality of its 
information. In general, NASA evaluates program

[[Page 37877]]

merit and priorities on the basis of peer review and advice from 
committees broadly representative of NASA's customers. NASA strives to 
form diverse, expert review panels that encompass the full range of 
scientific and technical expertise required.
    While the general principle regarding the use of peer review 
applies across the Agency, there is not a uniform peer review process 
for all types of information, and not all of NASA's information 
requires peer review. Different approaches are warranted by differences 
in goals, customer base, etc. among the various disciplines.

Other Review Processes

    NASA Enterprise, Center, Mission, Program, Project, or other 
organizational managers may establish and apply their own guidelines 
related to the quality review and dissemination of their own 
information. This is acceptable as long as the component organizations' 
guidelines do not conflict with the Agency's information quality 
guidelines.

D. Administrative Mechanisms

    The NASA CIO will establish administrative mechanisms allowing 
affected persons to seek and obtain, where appropriate, timely 
correction of information maintained and disseminated by the Agency if 
the information, upon further review, does not comply with NASA's 
quality standards. The administrative mechanisms are intended to be 
flexible, appropriate for the nature of NASA's information 
dissemination activities, and complementary to NASA's existing 
information resources management and administrative practices.
    For the purposes of these guidelines, affected persons are defined 
as persons who may benefit from or be harmed by the disseminated 
information. The term persons includes groups, organizations, and 
corporations as defined by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995.
    NASA will address genuine and valid needs of its users without 
disrupting Agency processes. NASA can reject claims made in bad faith 
or without justification, and can decide upon and undertake the degree 
of correction deemed appropriate to fit the nature and timeliness of 
the information involved.
D.1. Requesting Correction of Information by NASA
    If an affected person believes that information disseminated by 
NASA does not meet the guidelines for quality (utility, objectivity, 
and integrity), he or she may seek correction of the information.
    Requestors wishing to seek correction of information under NASA's 
information quality guidelines must follow the procedures outlined 
below. These procedures apply only to requests for the correction of 
information relevant to the information quality guidelines.
    [sbull] Requests must be in writing, and may be submitted by 
regular mail, electronic mail, or fax. (Final guidelines will include 
explicit submission mechanisms, such as addresses)
    [sbull] Requests must indicate that the correction of information 
is requested under NASA's information quality guidelines.
    [sbull] Requests must include the requestor's name, phone number, 
preferred mechanism for receiving a written response from NASA (fax, e-
mail, regular mail) with applicable contact information, and 
organizational affiliation (if any).
    [sbull] Requests must clearly describe the information that the 
requestor believes needs correcting, and include the name of the report 
or information source, the location if electronic, and the date of 
issuance.
    [sbull] Requests must indicate how the requestor is an affected 
person for the purposes of these guidelines (as defined in Section D, 
Administrative Mechanisms, and Section F, Definitions).
    [sbull] Requests must state specifically what information should be 
corrected and what changes to the information, if any, are proposed. If 
possible, provide supporting evidence to document the claim.
    The NASA CIO will have the responsibility for receiving suggestions 
for correction of information. The CIO will coordinate with such Agency 
officials as appropriate, including technical experts, content owners, 
legal counsel, and others, to determine whether or not to correct the 
information.
    In its review, NASA will determine if the information in question 
does not meet the appropriate quality standards and needs to be 
corrected. The review of the information will be limited to that part 
or parts of the information that are indicated to be in error.
    If NASA decides that correction of the information is warranted, 
NASA will correct the information in accordance with existing statutes, 
regulations, and procedures. The NASA CIO will inform the requester in 
writing of the decision and the action taken.
    If NASA decides not to correct the information, the requester shall 
be informed promptly in writing by the CIO of the decision not to 
correct the information, the reason for refusal, the date of the 
refusal, and the opportunity for appeal.
    NASA will respond to a request for correction of information within 
60 calendar days of receipt of the information. NASA may extend the 60-
day response period if additional time is required to review the 
request for correction of information. NASA will contact the requestor 
if an extension of response time is needed, and will indicate the 
reason for the delay in responding and an estimated decision date.
    NASA may reject a request for information correction without taking 
action on it if NASA determines that:
    [sbull] The requestor is not an affected person (as defined in 
Section F., Definitions);
    [sbull] The information required to process a review is not 
provided in full;
    [sbull] The request for correction is frivolous.
    The NASA CIO will maintain file records of each request for 
information correction, including copies of the original request, the 
response from NASA, and notification to the requestor of NASA's 
decision and action taken.
D.2. Appeal Process
    If a requestor disagrees with NASA's decision, he or she may file 
an appeal in writing within 30 calendar days of the decision. [Final 
guidelines will include explicit appeal submission mechanisms] The 
request for appeal will be considered by an internal review panel, 
convened by the CIO. The exact membership of the appeals panel will 
vary depending on the specifics of the information under review, but 
will include representatives from appropriate scientific and technical, 
legal, policy, and other functional areas as needed. The appeals panel 
will not include any personnel who were involved in the original review 
of the correction request.
    If, after review, the appeals panel determines that the original 
decision should be overturned, the appeals panel will notify the CIO, 
who will in turn advise the requestor of NASA's decision. If 
applicable, NASA will then correct the information in accordance with 
existing statutes, regulations, and procedures. If the appeals panel 
determines that correction of the information is not warranted, the CIO 
will advise the requestor of the denial and the reason and authority 
for the denial.
    All appeals will be processed within 30 calendar days unless NASA

[[Page 37878]]

determines that a fair review cannot be made within this time frame. 
NASA will contact the requestor if an extension of response time is 
needed, and will indicate the reason for the delay in responding and an 
estimated decision date.
    The NASA CIO will maintain file records of each appeal request, the 
response from NASA, and notification to the requestor of the appeal 
decision.

E. NASA Reporting Requirements

    Pursuant to OMB requirements, the NASA CIO will submit an annual 
report on the number and nature of complaints received by the Agency 
regarding the accuracy of the information it disseminates. The report 
will contain, as appropriate, both quantitative and qualitative 
information about the complaints received, the resolution of the 
complaints, and the number of NASA staff hours that were devoted to 
handling requests related to the information quality guidelines. The 
report will also include an explanation of Agency decisions to deny or 
limit corrective action. The first annual report, due to OMB by January 
1, 2004, will document requests received and actions taken during 
FY2003.

F. Definitions Based on OMB Guidance

F.1. Affected persons
    Persons who may benefit from or be harmed by the disseminated 
information. This includes persons who are seeking to address 
information about themselves as well as persons who use information. 
``Persons'' includes groups, organizations and corporations as defined 
by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995.
F.2. Dissemination
    NASA-initiated, -directed, or -sponsored distribution of 
information to the public. Dissemination does not include distribution 
limited to government employees or contractors or grantees or sharing 
of government information or responses to requests for records under 
the Freedom of Information Act, the Privacy Act, the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act or other similar law. This definition also does not 
include distribution limited to correspondence with individuals or 
persons, press releases, archival records, public filings, subpoenas or 
adjudicative processes.
F.3. Influential
    When used in the context of scientific, financial, or statistical 
information, influential means that NASA can reasonably determine that 
dissemination of the information will have or does have clear and 
substantial impact on important public policies or important private 
sector decisions.
F.4. Information
    Any communication such as facts or data, in any media or form, 
including text, numerical, graphic, cartographic, narrative, or 
audiovisual forms. This definition includes information that NASA 
disseminates from a web page, but does not include the provision of 
hyperlinks to information that others disseminate. This definition does 
not include opinions, where it is made clear that that what is being 
offered is someone's opinion rather than fact or NASA's views.
    This includes information in any media, such as paper, electronic, 
web page, CD-ROM, etc.
F.5. Integrity
    Integrity means the security of information (e.g., that it is 
protected from unauthorized access or revision so that it is not 
compromised through corruption or falsification)
F.6. Objectivity
    Objectivity means that the information is accurate, clear, 
complete, and unbiased.
F.7. Quality
    Quality is an encompassing term comprised of three elements: 
integrity, objectivity, and utility. Therefore, the terms are sometimes 
referred to collectively as ``quality.'' Integrity, objectivity, and 
utility are individually defined within this document.
F.8. Reproducibility
    The information is capable of being substantially reproduced, 
subject to an acceptable degree of imprecision. With respect to 
analytic results, ``capable of being substantially reproduced'' means 
that independent analysis of the original or supporting data using 
identical methods would generate similar analytic results, subject to 
an acceptable degree of imprecision or error.
F.9. Transparent/Transparency
    Information that has transparency is clear and well documented. For 
scientific information, transparency refers to the extent that 
underlying assumptions, methodologies, and analytical processes are 
made available as context.
F.10. Utility
    Utility means that the information can be used for its intended 
purpose to its intended audience.

Lee B. Holcomb,
Chief Information Officer, Office of the Administrator.
[FR Doc. 02-13458 Filed 5-29-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7510-01-P