Information Quality

In Section 515(a) of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001, Congress directed the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue governmentwide guidelines that “provide policy and procedural guidance to Federal agencies for ensuring and maximizing the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of information (including statistical information) disseminated by Federal agencies.”

The USGS guidelines and complaint process will apply to all information disseminated on or after October 1, 2002. Information disseminated prior to October 1, 2002, but not archived and still being used in a decision-making process is not exempt from these guidelines. Information records disseminated from studies completed and archived before October 1, 2002, are exempt from the guidelines.

Contact - If you have questions on USGS data and information accuracy, contact:

USGS Information Quality Officer

Mail Stop 807

National Center

USGS

Reston, VA 20192