[Federal Register: September 5, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 172)]
[Notices]
[Page 52739]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05se03-24]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Forest Inventory and Analysis Data Management
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of issuance of agency interim directive.
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SUMMARY: The Forest Service Forest is issuing an interim directive (ID)
to Forest Service Handbook (FSH) 4809.11, chapter 10, to guide Forest
Inventory and Analysis employees in managing information in the Forest
Inventory and Analysis Database (FIADB) in a manner consistent with the
data privacy provisions of Section 1770 of the Food Security Act of
1985 (7 U.S.C. 2276). The FIADB contains detailed plot and tree level
data with approximate plot coordinates that allow flexible spatial data
analysis. The direction adopted in the ID allows for increased location
accuracy of the data from within 1.0 mile to 0.5 for each Forest
Inventory plot, while requiring data masking procedures to ensure data
privacy as required by Section 1770 of the Food Security Act. This
interim directive is issued as ID 4809.11-2003-1 to FSH 4809.11,
chapter 10.
DATES: This interim directive is effective September 5, 2003.
ADDRESSES: This interim directive (ID 4809.11-2003-1) is available
electronically from the Forest Service via the World Wide Web/Internet
at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.fs.fed.us/im/directives. Additional information regarding
data access guidelines may be directed to Richard Guldin, Science
Policy, Planning, Information, and Inventory Staff--Forest Service,
Mail Stop 1119, Washington, DC 20090-6090; by electronic mail to
SPPII@fs.fed.us; or by fax to (703) 605-5131. Documents are also
available for inspection in the office of Science Policy, Planning,
Inventory and Information Staff at 1601 North Kent Street, Arlington,
VA, Suite 4110, between regular business hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30
p.m. Monday through Friday. To facilitate entrance into the building,
visitors are encouraged to call ahead (703-605-4177).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: W. Brad Smith, Science Policy,
Planning, Information and Inventory Staff by phone at (703) 605-4177 or
by e-mail to bsmith2@fs.fed.us.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Through its research organization, the
Forest Service conducts continuous State-wide inventories of the
Nation's forest resources to ascertain trends in the extent, condition,
ownership, quantity, and quality of the forest resources as required by
the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 (16
U.S.C. 1600, 1641-1648). This information is collected in the Forest
Inventory and Analysis Database. Forest statistics and subsequent
analyses are released as State, Regional, and National reports and are
based on data collected at sample locations on all land ownerships
across the United States. Access to Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA)
data is generally available to the public through direct electronic
links within 6 months for standard plots and within 12 months for
forest health plots after completion of the annual field data
collection season for each State.
The direction adopted in the interim directive (ID) provides for
increased accuracy of publicly available plot locations from plus or
minus 1 mile, to plus or minus one-half mile. Due to the increased
spatial precision of data locations, additional masking measures are
now necessary to ensure data privacy required by the Food Security Act.
In addition, the ID provides further guidance concerning agency
objectives and policy for the FIA program; direction for the use of
authorized agents; and procedures to follow when releasing FIA data and
information.
Dated: August 29, 2003.
Robert Lewis, Jr.,
Deputy Chief, Research and Development.
[FR Doc. 03-22667 Filed 9-4-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P