Is a nondisclosure disclaimer statement to peer reviewers required? [053]

Yes. Manuscripts submitted for external peer review by any outside entity, including peer-reviewed journals, that have not received Bureau approval must carry the disclaimer statement about not disclosing or releasing the information being reviewed (refer to SM 502.3). The disclaimer statement to be used (also found on Guidance on Disclaimer Statements Allowed in USGS Science Information Products) is "This draft manuscript is distributed solely for purposes of scientific peer review. Its content is deliberative and predecisional, so it must not be disclosed or released by reviewers. Because the manuscript has not yet been approved for publication by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), it does not represent any official USGS finding or policy." This statement must appear on the title page of the manuscript (at the bottom or in the footer of the page) at a minimum but may also be included on all pages. The author needs to ensure this statement is deleted before the product is published and before the accepted manuscript is placed in the IPDS.