[Federal Register: April 23, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 77)]
[Notices]               
[Page 18596-18597]                        

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OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY

 
March 9, 2009 Presidential Memo on Scientific Integrity: Request 
for Public Comment

ACTION: Request for public comment on response to Presidential 
Memorandum.

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SUMMARY: On March 9, 2009, the President issued a memorandum for the 
heads of executive departments and agencies on the subject of 
scientific integrity (http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/
Memorandum-for-the-Heads-of-Executive-Departments-and-Agencies-3-9-09/
). The memorandum requires the Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy (OSTP) to craft recommendations for Presidential 
action to ensure scientific integrity in the executive branch. This 
notice solicits public input to inform the drafting of those 
recommendations. The notice asks a series of questions to help guide 
the public in responding to this request.

DATES: There is a 21 day period for public comment from April 23, 2009 
to May 13, 2009.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
    Web Site--http://www.ostp.gov. Click the link to ``Scientific 
Integrity'' and follow the instructions for submitting comments 
electronically.
    Electronic Mail_scientificintegrity@ostp.gov.
    Mail--Office of Science and Technology Policy, Attn: Scientific 
Integrity Recommendations, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20502.
    Please note that all submissions may be posted without change to 
http://www.ostp.gov, including any personal information provided.
    The public comment period will close on May 13, 2009 at 5 p.m. EST. 
Any comments received after the close of the comment period will not be 
considered.
    The full text of the Presidential memorandum is posted at http://
www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Memorandum-for-the-Heads-of-
Executive-Departments-and-Agencies-3-9-09/. The fact sheet on the 
Presidential memorandum is posted at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_
press_office/

[[Page 18597]]

Fact-Sheet-on-Presidential-Memorandum-on-Scientific-Integrity/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  For information regarding this 
Notice, please contact scientificintegrity@ostp.eop.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  In his March 9, 2009 memorandum on 
Scientific Integrity, the President states that ``science and the 
scientific process must inform and guide decisions of my Administration 
on a wide range of issues'' and assigns the Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy (the Director) responsibility for 
ensuring scientific integrity throughout the executive branch. To this 
end, the memorandum requires the Director to submit within 120 days a 
set of recommendations for Presidential action to ensure scientific 
integrity. If possible, for each comment you submit, please note to 
which of the six principles below your comment relates. This will 
assist in properly categorizing the public comments and responding to 
the President's memorandum on Scientific Integrity. The six principles 
from the memorandum are as follows:
    (a) The selection and retention of candidates for science and 
technology positions in the executive branch should be based on the 
candidate's knowledge, credentials, experience, and integrity;
    (b) Each agency should have appropriate rules and procedures to 
ensure the integrity of the scientific process within the agency;
    (c) When scientific or technological information is considered in 
policy decisions, the information should be subject to well-established 
scientific processes, including peer review where appropriate, and each 
agency should appropriately and accurately reflect that information in 
complying with and applying relevant statutory standards.
    (d) Except for information that is properly restricted from 
disclosure under procedures established in accordance with statute, 
regulation, Executive Order, or Presidential Memorandum, each agency 
should make available to the public the scientific or technological 
findings or conclusions considered or relied on in policy decisions;
    (e) Each agency should have in place procedures to identify and 
address instances in which the scientific process or the integrity of 
scientific and technological information may be compromised; and
    (f) Each agency should adopt such additional procedures, including 
any appropriate whistleblower protections, as are necessary to ensure 
the integrity of scientific and technological information and processes 
on which the agency relies in its decision-making or otherwise uses or 
prepares.
    Comments from the public will help the OSTP determine what should 
be included in these recommendations. Respondents are invited to 
suggest: (1) Recommendations that would be responsive to the aims of 
the President, (2) specific implementing strategies, and (3) data and 
empirical evidence related to the effectiveness of strategies to 
promote scientific integrity. Comments submitted are encouraged to:
     Be as succinct as possible (1000 words or less 
recommended);
     Specify which of the prior six principles (a-f) are being 
addressed with each comment;
     Explain views and reasoning clearly; and
     Describe how the success of particular strategies might be 
evaluated or measured.

M. David Hodge,
Operations Manager, OSTP.
[FR Doc. E9-9307 Filed 4-22-09; 8:45 am]

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