[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 17, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22805-22806]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9198]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR


Scientific Integrity: Statement of Policy

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Labor.

ACTION: Soliciting comments on Department of Labor Draft Policy on 
Scientific Integrity.

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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Labor (DOL) is developing its 
policy on Scientific Integrity in response to the March 9, 2009, 
Presidential Memorandum on Scientific Integrity, and the December 17, 
2010, Memorandum from the Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy. DOL is soliciting comments on its draft policy.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  E. Christi Cunningham, Associate 
Assistant Secretary for Regulatory Policy, U.S. Department of Labor, 
200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room S-2312, Washington, DC 20210, 
[email protected], (202) 693-5959; (this is not a toll-free 
number). Individuals with hearing impairments may call 1-800-877-8339 
(TTY/TDD).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In March of 2009, the President articulated 
six principles federal agencies should follow to preserve and promote 
scientific integrity. The President also assigned the Director of the 
Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) with the creation of 
guidelines for Federal Agencies to ensure the highest level of 
integrity in all aspects of the science and technological processes. 
This Scientific Integrity policy establishes standards for DOL for 
ensuring accuracy and integrity in all scientific activities informing 
rulemaking and public policy decisions in accordance with the memoranda 
from the President and OSTP.
    Scientific Integrity of DOL scientific personnel is vital to the 
public interest and critical to conducting DOL's mission. Scientific 
activities provide data to inform many of DOL's decision makers 
regarding the production of leading economic indicators, evaluation of 
programs funded by DOL, protection of the health and safety of our 
Nation's workers, and implementation of labor laws that address 
conditions of employment, benefits and compensation.
    Request for Comments: As part of our development of the DOL 
scientific integrity principles, we are soliciting public comments. 
Your input is important to us. To facilitate receipt of the 
information, the Department will create an Internet portal specifically 
designed to capture your input and suggestions, http://dolscientificintegrity.ideascale.com/. This portal will contain a 
series of questions designed to gather information on how DOL can best 
meet these requirements. The portal is expected to open to receive 
comments on April 11, 2012 and accept comments for 30 days. Please 
provide responses that are supported with specific examples and data, 
where possible.

DATES: The portal is expected to open to receive comments starting 
April 11, 2012. Comments would then need to be received before May 11, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments through http://dolscientificintegrity.ideascale.com/.
    All comments will be available for public inspection at http://dolscientificintegrity.ideascale.com/.
    Questions for the Public: The Department of Labor intends the 
questions on the portal to represent a starting point for discussion of 
the scientific integrity principles. The questions are meant to 
initiate public dialogue, and are not intended to restrict the issues 
that may be raised or addressed. The questions were developed with the 
intent to probe a range of areas.

[[Page 22806]]

    The Department of Labor is issuing this request solely to seek 
useful information as it develops its policy. While responses to this 
request do not bind the Department of Labor to any further actions 
related to the response, all submissions will be made available to the 
public on http://dolscientificintegrity.ideascale.com/.

Authority: U.S.C. 301, March 9, 2009, Presidential Memorandum on 
Scientific Integrity, and the December 17, 2010, memorandum from the 
Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

    Dated: April 11, 2012.
William E. Spriggs,
Assistant Secretary for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2012-9198 Filed 4-16-12; 8:45 am]
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