Scientific Integrity, 10671-10672 [E9-5443]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 46 / Wednesday, March 11, 2009 / Presidential Documents 10671 Presidential Documents Memorandum of March 9, 2009 Scientific Integrity Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies Science and the scientific process must inform and guide decisions of my Administration on a wide range of issues, including improvement of public health, protection of the environment, increased efficiency in the use of energy and other resources, mitigation of the threat of climate change, and protection of national security. The public must be able to trust the science and scientific process informing public policy decisions. Political officials should not suppress or alter scientific or technological findings and conclusions. If scientific and technological information is developed and used by the Federal Government, it should ordinarily be made available to the public. To the extent permitted by law, there should be transparency in the preparation, identification, and use of scientific and technological information in policymaking. The selection of scientists and technology professionals for positions in the executive branch should be based on their scientific and technological knowledge, credentials, experience, and integrity. rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with MISCELLANEOUS By this memorandum, I assign to the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (Director) the responsibility for ensuring the highest level of integrity in all aspects of the executive branch’s involvement with scientific and technological processes. The Director shall confer, as appropriate, with the heads of executive departments and agencies, including the Office of Management and Budget and offices and agencies within the Executive Office of the President (collectively, the ‘‘agencies’’), and recommend a plan to achieve that goal throughout the executive branch. Specifically, I direct the following: 1. Within 120 days from the date of this memorandum, the Director shall develop recommendations for Presidential action designed to guarantee scientific integrity throughout the executive branch, based on the following principles: (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 VerDate Nov<24>2008 18:52 Mar 10, 2009 Jkt 217001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4790 Sfmt 4790 E:\FR\FM\11MRO1.SGM 11MRO1 10672 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 46 / Wednesday, March 11, 2009 / Presidential Documents the integrity of scientific and technological information and processes on which the agency relies in its decisionmaking or otherwise uses or prepares. 2. Each agency shall make available any and all information deemed by the Director to be necessary to inform the Director in making recommendations to the President as requested by this memorandum. Each agency shall coordinate with the Director in the development of any interim procedures deemed necessary to ensure the integrity of scientific decisionmaking pending the Director’s recommendations called for by this memorandum. 3. (a) Executive departments and agencies shall carry out the provisions of this memorandum to the extent permitted by law and consistent with their statutory and regulatory authorities and their enforcement mechanisms. (b) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. 4. The Director is hereby authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register. THE WHITE HOUSE, Washington, March 9, 2009 [FR Doc. E9–5443 Filed 3–10–09; 11:15 am] VerDate Nov<24>2008 18:52 Mar 10, 2009 Jkt 217001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4790 Sfmt 4790 E:\FR\FM\11MRO1.SGM 11MRO1 OB#1.EPS</GPH> rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with MISCELLANEOUS Billing code 3170–W8–P

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 11, 2009)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 10671-10672]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-5443]




                        Presidential Documents 



Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 46 / Wednesday, March 11, 2009 / 
Presidential Documents

[[Page 10671]]


                Memorandum of March 9, 2009

                
 Scientific Integrity

                Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and 
                Agencies

                Science and the scientific process must inform and 
                guide decisions of my Administration on a wide range of 
                issues, including improvement of public health, 
                protection of the environment, increased efficiency in 
                the use of energy and other resources, mitigation of 
                the threat of climate change, and protection of 
                national security.

                The public must be able to trust the science and 
                scientific process informing public policy decisions. 
                Political officials should not suppress or alter 
                scientific or technological findings and conclusions. 
                If scientific and technological information is 
                developed and used by the Federal Government, it should 
                ordinarily be made available to the public. To the 
                extent permitted by law, there should be transparency 
                in the preparation, identification, and use of 
                scientific and technological information in 
                policymaking. The selection of scientists and 
                technology professionals for positions in the executive 
                branch should be based on their scientific and 
                technological knowledge, credentials, experience, and 
                integrity.

                By this memorandum, I assign to the Director of the 
                Office of Science and Technology Policy (Director) the 
                responsibility for ensuring the highest level of 
                integrity in all aspects of the executive branch's 
                involvement with scientific and technological 
                processes. The Director shall confer, as appropriate, 
                with the heads of executive departments and agencies, 
                including the Office of Management and Budget and 
                offices and agencies within the Executive Office of the 
                President (collectively, the ``agencies''), and 
                recommend a plan to achieve that goal throughout the 
                executive branch.

                Specifically, I direct the following:

1. Within 120 days from the date of this memorandum, the Director shall 
develop recommendations for Presidential action designed to guarantee 
scientific integrity throughout the executive branch, based on the 
following principles:

(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

[[Page 10672]]

the integrity of scientific and technological information and processes on 
which the agency relies in its decisionmaking or otherwise uses or 
prepares.

2. Each agency shall make available any and all information deemed by the 
Director to be necessary to inform the Director in making recommendations 
to the President as requested by this memorandum. Each agency shall 
coordinate with the Director in the development of any interim procedures 
deemed necessary to ensure the integrity of scientific decisionmaking 
pending the Director's recommendations called for by this memorandum.

3. (a) Executive departments and agencies shall carry out the provisions of 
this memorandum to the extent permitted by law and consistent with their 
statutory and regulatory authorities and their enforcement mechanisms.

(b) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise 
affect:

(i) authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the 
head thereof; or

(ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget 
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or 
benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, by any 
party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, 
its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

4. The Director is hereby authorized and directed to publish this 
memorandum in the Federal Register.


                    (Presidential Sig.)

                THE WHITE HOUSE,

                    Washington, March 9, 2009

[FR Doc. E9-5443
Filed 3-10-09; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3170-W8-P
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