Thank you for visiting the OPA web site and for reviewing our Privacy Policy. Our policy is clear:

We collect no information about you, other than information automatically collected and stored (as defined below) when you visit our web site, unless you choose to provide additional information to us.

Information Automatically Collected and Stored:
When you browse through any web site, certain personal information about you can be collected. We automatically collect and temporarily store the following information about your visit:

• the name of the domain you use to access the Internet (i.e., aol.com, if you are using an American Online account, or stanford.edu, if you are connecting from Stanford University's domain);
• the date and time of your visit;
• the pages you visited; and
• the referring web site address.

We use this information for statistical purposes only, and to help us make our site more useful to visitors. Unless it is specifically stated otherwise, no additional information will be collected.

Personally Provided Information:
You do not have to give us personal information to visit our web sites. If you choose to provide us with additional information about yourself through an e-mail message, form, survey, etc., we will only maintain the information as long as needed to respond to your question or to fulfill the stated purpose of the communication. E-mail addresses are used solely to respond to a question, comment or request via the email address provided. We use mailing addresses, if submitted, solely for the purpose of issuing a written response to an inquiry in the case of an inoperable or incorrect e-mail address, and for requested placement on the OPA Clearinghouse mailing lists.

All communications addressed to the HHS Secretary or the OPA Webmaster are maintained, as required by law, for historical purposes. These communications are archived on a monthly basis, but are also protected by Privacy Act regulations which restrict our use of them, yet permits certain disclosures.

Disclosure:
OPA does not disclose, give, sell or transfer any personal information about our visitors, unless required by law enforcement or statute.

Intrusion Detection:
This site is maintained by the U.S. Government. It is protected by various provisions of Title 18, U.S. Code. Violations of Title 18 are subject to criminal prosecution in Federal court.

For site security purposes and to ensure that this service remains available to all users, we employ software programs to monitor traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise cause damage. In the event of authorized law enforcement investigations, and pursuant to any required legal process, information from these sources may be used to help identify an individual.

Systems of Records:
Should OPA implement electronic processes that allow for the electronic submission of information originally collected through traditional paper systems (i.e., electronic commerce transactions and information updates), then that electronically submitted information would be maintained and destroyed pursuant to the Federal Records Act. In some cases that information could also be subject to the Privacy Act. If information that you submit is to be used in a Privacy Act system of records, there will be a Privacy Act Notice provided.