[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 190 (Tuesday, October 1, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61701-61702]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-24459]


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OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET


Guidelines for Ensuring and Maximizing the Quality, Objectivity, 
Utility, and Integrity of Information Disseminated by Federal Agencies

AGENCY: Office of Management and Budget, Executive Office of the 
President.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is giving notice of 
availability of its Information Quality Guidelines. These Information 
Quality Guidelines describe OMB's predissemination information quality 
control and an administrative mechanism for requests for correction of 
information publicly disseminated by OMB. The Information Quality 
Guidelines are posted on OMB's Web site: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/
inforeg/infopoltech.html.

DATES: OMB's predissemination review applies to information that OMB 
first disseminates on or after October 1, 2002. OMB's administrative 
mechanism for correcting information that OMB disseminates applies to 
information that OMB disseminates on or after October 1, 2002, 
regardless of when OMB first disseminated the information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brooke J. Dickson, Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 
Washington, DC 20503. Telephone (202) 395-3785 or e-mail to: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OMB published a notice of availability for 
proposed information quality guidelines in the Federal Register on May 
1, 2002 (67 FR 21779). OMB amended its proposed guidelines to reflect 
guidance provided to all the agencies in a Memorandum from John D. 
Graham for the President's Management Council, ``Agency Draft 
Information Quality Guidelines'' (June 10, 2002) and a Memorandum from 
John D. Graham to the President's Management Council, ``Agency Final 
Information Quality Guidelines'' (September 5, 2002). These memoranda 
are available on OMB's Web site: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/inforeg/
infopoltech.html. OMB also received a few agency-specific textual 
comments that were helpful in clarifying the guidelines. A summary of 
significant amendments to the proposed guidelines follows, in order of 
the text.
    In the introductory paragraph to these guidelines, OMB establishes 
these guidelines as its performance standard, as called for at page 7 
in the June 10, 2002 memorandum. (See also, paragraph III.1 of the 
Agency-wide Guidelines, 67 FR 8452 (February 22, 2002)).
    In a new paragraph I.A.6, OMB adds more specific language involving 
the dissemination of influential scientific, financial, or statistical 
information. (See June 10, 2002 memorandum, page 9; Agency-wide 
Guidelines, paragraph V.b.ii.B).
    OMB clarified its predissemination review procedures in renumbered 
paragraph I.A.7.
    In a new paragraph I.A.9, OMB links its clearance of proposed 
collections of information under the Paperwork Reduction Act with 
ongoing implementation of these information quality guidelines (See 
June 10, 2002 memorandum, p. 10).
    In the introduction to section II, OMB stresses that the purpose of 
any corrective action will be to serve the genuine and valid needs of 
OMB without disrupting OMB processes, and to deal with information 
quality matters, not to resolve underlying substantive policy or legal 
issues. (See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION to interim final Agency-wide 
Guidelines, 66 FR 49718, 49721 (September 28, 2001)).
    In paragraph II.1, OMB stresses that the person seeking correction 
of information has the burden of proof with respect to the necessity 
for correction as well as with respect to the type of correction 
requested. (See June 10, 2002 memorandum, page 11). In addition, OMB 
adds a description of the kinds of information that a person seeking 
correction of information needs to provide to help meet that burden of 
proof.
    In paragraph II.9, OMB points out that if it needs to extend the 
time it will take to notify the person seeking correction, it will 
provide a reasoned basis for the extension and an estimated decision 
date. (See September 5, 2002 memorandum, Appendix, topic (3)).
    In a new paragraph II.10, OMB adds a provision stating that 
requests for correction of information will be considered, in cases 
where OMB disseminates a study, analysis, or other information for 
public comment, prior to disseminating the final OMB action or 
information product if (1) an earlier response would not unduly delay 
dissemination of the OMB action or information product; and (2) the 
requestor had shown a reasonable likelihood of suffering actual harm 
from the dissemination if the correction were not made until 
dissemination of the final OMB action or information

[[Page 61702]]

product. (See September 5, 2002 memorandum, Appendix, topic (2)).
    In paragraph III.3, OMB points out that if it needs to extend the 
time it will take to notify the person seeking reconsideration of an 
OMB response to a request for correction, it will provide a reasoned 
basis for the extension and an estimated decision date. (See September 
5, 2002 memorandum, Appendix, topic (3)).
    In paragraph IV.2, OMB modifies the exemption for a press release 
to provide that the information in the press release has been 
previously disseminated by OMB or another Federal agency in compliance 
with the Agency-wide Guidelines or the these OMB guidelines. (See June 
5, 2002 memorandum, page 4).
    In paragraph IV.4, OMB deletes from the exclusion from the 
definition of ``information'' the provision referring to statements 
that may reasonably be expected to become the subject of litigation. 
(See June 5, 2002 memorandum, page 5).
    Otherwise, the OMB amendments were technical and conforming textual 
edits, designed to clarify the OMB guidelines and conform them to the 
Agency-wide Guidelines.

    Dated: September 20, 2002.
John D. Graham,
Administrator, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 02-24459 Filed 9-30-02; 8:45 am]
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