[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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