[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 85 (Monday, May 3, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 24182]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-9956]



[[Page 24182]]

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DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

Geological Survey


Request for Public Comments on Guidelines for Providing 
Appropriate Access to Geospatial Data in Response to Security Concerns

AGENCY: Geological Survey, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The guidelines provide procedures to identify sensitive 
information content of geospatial data sets. Should such content be 
identified, the guidelines help organizations decide what access to 
provide to such data and still protect sensitive information content. 
The geospatial data community's use of a common, standardized approach 
to identify data sets that have sensitive content and to restrict such 
information will increase the effectiveness of individual 
organization's actions.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 2, 2004.

ADDRESSES: The proposed guidelines are available through http://www.fgdc.gov/fgdc/homeland/index.html. All comments concerning these 
proposed guidelines should be submitted by electronic mail to 
[email protected] or by postal mail to FGDC HSWG Guidelines Review, 
511 National Center, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, Virginia 
20192.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Domaratz, Co-chair, Federal 
Geographic Data Committee Homeland Security Working Group, 703-648-4434

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Many public, private, and non-profit 
organizations originate and publicly distribute geospatial data sets. 
It is conceivable that the content of some of these data sets could 
prove useful to an adversary of the United States. The guidelines help 
organizations decide on reasonable access to sensitive data and avoid 
unnecessary restrictions. They do so by helping organizations identify 
content that might be sensitive. They then guide organizations to take 
appropriate actions by evaluating the sensitive content in the context 
of other available information, the benefits lost by restricting data 
access, and the options for restricting data.
    Additional instructions for comment accompany the guidelines. The 
working group will use the comments to improve the guidelines and to 
plan ways to encourage their adoption. It will summarize major or 
recurring themes from the comments and the working group's responses, 
and post the information through the working group's home page at 
http://www.fgdc.gov/fgdc/homeland/index.html.
    The Federal Geographic Data Committee will issue the guidelines 
under the authority provided by U.S. Office of Management and Budget 
Circular A-16 to establish procedures necessary and sufficient to carry 
out interagency coordination and the implementation of the National 
Spatial Data Infrastructure. The U.S. Geological survey, which houses 
the committee's secretariat, provides this notice on behalf of the 
committee.

Ivan DeLoatch,
Staff Director, Federal Geographic Data Committee.
[FR Doc. 04-9956 Filed 4-30-04; 8:45 am]
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