Data Quality Issues

1
Data Quality Issues

• Annual
• Vital Signs Monitoring Meeting
• August 2003

Lisa Nelson and John Gross IM Program
2
Data Quality and the IM Program

• Programmatic Guidance
• Directors Order 11B
• TQM
• Approaches by other Agencies

3
Directors Order 11BEnsuring Quality of
Information

• Section of DO 11 Information Management (TBD)
• Effective 10/16/2002 (through 10/16/2006)
• Prompted by clause in 2001 Appropriations Act
  directing OMB to issue govt-wide guidelines on
  ensuring/maximizing information quality,
  objectivity, utility and integrity Data
  Quality Act
• No right of judicial review granted to non-agency
  parties
• http//data2.itc.nps.gov/npspolicy/DOrders.cfm

4
Directors Order 11BSpecific Guidance

• Data Reliability
• Accurate and Timely
• Demonstrate compliance with Laws, Regs, Policy
• Applies to information submitted or developed by
  a third party

5
Directors Order 11BExemptions

• Press Releases, Public Filings
• scientific publication
• congressional testimony
• inadvertent or unauthorized disclosures
• individual correspondence
• records covered by FOIA or Privacy Act
• archived records of info disseminated prior to
  October 2, 2002

6
Directors Order 11BPoints to Consider

• Public dissemination requires prior approval of
  program or Regional office appropriate
  documentation
• Affected persons may seek and obtain correction
  of information maintained and disseminated by the
  agency (emphasis mine)
• Similar to petition process for endangered
  species appeal process

7
Directors Order 11BProgrammatic Implications

• Data management QA/QC
• Lake Mead Quality Plan
• Contracting specifications
• Scientific validity (assailable?)
• Data analyses documentation, validity
• Web site content

8
Data Quality FAQ(What does it mean for me?)

• Exemptions?
• Third-party implications (cooperators/contracts)?
  
• Level of implementation?