[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 172 (Friday, September 5, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 52739]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-22667]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Forest Inventory and Analysis Data Management

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of issuance of agency interim directive.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service Forest is issuing an interim directive (ID) 
to Forest Service Handbook (FSH) 4809.11, chapter 10, to guide Forest 
Inventory and Analysis employees in managing information in the Forest 
Inventory and Analysis Database (FIADB) in a manner consistent with the 
data privacy provisions of Section 1770 of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (7 U.S.C. 2276). The FIADB contains detailed plot and tree level 
data with approximate plot coordinates that allow flexible spatial data 
analysis. The direction adopted in the ID allows for increased location 
accuracy of the data from within 1.0 mile to 0.5 for each Forest 
Inventory plot, while requiring data masking procedures to ensure data 
privacy as required by Section 1770 of the Food Security Act. This 
interim directive is issued as ID 4809.11-2003-1 to FSH 4809.11, 
chapter 10.

DATES: This interim directive is effective September 5, 2003.

ADDRESSES: This interim directive (ID 4809.11-2003-1) is available 
electronically from the Forest Service via the World Wide Web/Internet 
at http://www.fs.fed.us/im/directives. Additional information regarding 
data access guidelines may be directed to Richard Guldin, Science 
Policy, Planning, Information, and Inventory Staff--Forest Service, 
Mail Stop 1119, Washington, DC 20090-6090; by electronic mail to 
[email protected]; or by fax to (703) 605-5131. Documents are also 
available for inspection in the office of Science Policy, Planning, 
Inventory and Information Staff at 1601 North Kent Street, Arlington, 
VA, Suite 4110, between regular business hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 
p.m. Monday through Friday. To facilitate entrance into the building, 
visitors are encouraged to call ahead (703-605-4177).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: W. Brad Smith, Science Policy, 
Planning, Information and Inventory Staff by phone at (703) 605-4177 or 
by e-mail to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Through its research organization, the 
Forest Service conducts continuous State-wide inventories of the 
Nation's forest resources to ascertain trends in the extent, condition, 
ownership, quantity, and quality of the forest resources as required by 
the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 (16 
U.S.C. 1600, 1641-1648). This information is collected in the Forest 
Inventory and Analysis Database. Forest statistics and subsequent 
analyses are released as State, Regional, and National reports and are 
based on data collected at sample locations on all land ownerships 
across the United States. Access to Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) 
data is generally available to the public through direct electronic 
links within 6 months for standard plots and within 12 months for 
forest health plots after completion of the annual field data 
collection season for each State.
    The direction adopted in the interim directive (ID) provides for 
increased accuracy of publicly available plot locations from plus or 
minus 1 mile, to plus or minus one-half mile. Due to the increased 
spatial precision of data locations, additional masking measures are 
now necessary to ensure data privacy required by the Food Security Act. 
In addition, the ID provides further guidance concerning agency 
objectives and policy for the FIA program; direction for the use of 
authorized agents; and procedures to follow when releasing FIA data and 
information.

    Dated: August 29, 2003.
Robert Lewis, Jr.,
Deputy Chief, Research and Development.
[FR Doc. 03-22667 Filed 9-4-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P