FSP FAQs: Publication Approval

The FSP review and approval requirements apply to a USGS scientist who is a coauthor even if a non-USGS scientist is the lead or senior author. If the FSP requirements are not followed, the USGS scientist may not be listed as a coauthor.

For USGS data products stored in non-USGS repositories, review, approval, release, and preservation requirements apply. A copy of the metadata record that describes the data asset and includes a resolvable Digital Object Identifier (DOI), must be added to the USGS Science Data Catalog, using the individual metadata upload page. [Read more]

News releases, opinion pieces (commonly called op-eds), and letters to the editor are under the purview of the USGS Office of Communications and Publishing (OCAP) and are governed by review, approval and release processes as detailed in SM 500.5. Refer to delegated Bureau approval authority for additional information about approval of scientific news media products. [Read more]

Depending on the product or product content, Bureau approval authority (formerly Director's approval) is delegated to Science Center Directors and to Bureau Approving Officials (BAO)s in the Office of Science Quality and Integrity (OSQI). Refer to SM 205.18 for detailed information on the approval authority for various scientific information products. [Read more]

Approval is granted via the IPDS. The following documents are required: original manuscript; revised manuscript; for USGS-series and journal submissions, editor comments and directions in original form; all original peer reviewers' comments and all manuscript markups; a reconciliation document addressing all substantive peer review comments and any directions from the editor. [Read more]

For brief comments, the BAOs will use the comment box in the IPDS and indicate changes needed on the manuscript as necessary. For more extensive comments, the BAOs will provide a memorandum attached as a supporting document in the IPDS or as notes and tracked changes in the approved manuscript that indicates changes needed in the manuscript as necessary. [Read more]

Issues in clear violation of FSP policy and procedures or other policies can result in rejection of a manuscript with a request for revision and resubmittal for approval. These issues include inappropriate/inadequate peer reviewers, incomplete peer review or reconciliation, inappropriate criticism of others, advocacy in presentation of results, lack of product endorsement disclaimers. [Read more]

The BAOs recognize poorly written/edited manuscripts as not acceptable under general USGS standards for science presentation and clarity of expression and will return them for further work. Texts with editorial issues of sufficient scope and scale such that one cannot focus on content usually result in rejection. [Read more]

In FY2017 the average approval time was six business days, but the length of time for Bureau approval depends on a number of factors including length and complexity. Contacting your BAO in advance is recommended. [Read more]

The product’s lead or senior USGS author will receive an automated notice from the IPDS when a scientific information product has received Bureau approval. [Read more]

After Bureau approval, the author returns the manuscript to the PSC [USGS Series Reports] or submits to the outside entity [e.g. journal editor, cooperator, etc]. For outside publications, author uploads approved manuscript and disseminates [IPDS record is closed and goes to the dark archive]. [Read more]

The author is informed by the Science Center Director or designee after he/she receives a rejection notification from the IPDS.

Selection of the appropriate USGS publication series or external outlet is made by the author and Science Center Director, and may include consultation with PSC staff, managers and BAOs. [Read more]

Information related to obtaining Bureau approval for USGS science information products is found in SM 502.4 and who has the authority to approve is found in SM 205.18. A table summarizing these requirements and short FSP training modules are available. [Read more]

The IPDS record of the manuscript must contain the IP number and DOI of the accompanying data/software release. [Read more]

Bureau approval of USGS-authored products being published in journals occurs after the authors have reconciled the peer-review comments but before the products are sent back to the journals for acceptance. [Read more]

Not necessarily. The author may resubmit the Bureau-approved manuscript to another journal. However, if substantial revisions are made in response to subsequent reviews, the IP could require further BAO review and approval. [Read more]

In contrast to approved software, provisional or preliminary scientific software is subject to change and is not approved as a USGS information product but may be shared informally through a publicly accessible code repository following Science Center approval. [Read more]

Scientific software is ready for approval and public release when a version of the software is no longer under development, includes the appropriate documentation, and has been reviewed in accordance with IM OSQI 2019-01 requirements. [Read more]

USGS scientific software releases are approved by the Science Center Director, the authoritative copy is maintained on a USGS hosting platform (e.g. code.usgs.gov). Nonauthoritative copies can be shared on externally hosted platforms but the DOI must point to the USGS hosting platform. [Read more]

FSP review and approval of project progress depends on the content (new and interpretive findings versus noninterpretive or previously published information) and intended distribution of the report. [Read more]