Information Quality Resources

USDA Quality of Information Guidelines

OMB Quality of Information Materials

How to Request Correction of Information Disseminated by Rural Development

Background
Information Covered
Information Not Covered
Before Filing a Request
Where to Submit a Request
Quality of Information Officers
Information to Include
The Review Process
The Response Process
Information Open to Public
      Comment
Requesting Reconsideration
Reconsideration Process
Reconsideration Review
Reconsideration Response
Public Disclosure of Requests
Privacy Act Statement

Requests and Responses

Under Section 515 of the 2001 Appropriations Act (Public Law 106-554), Congress directed the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to create guidelines for Federal agencies to ensure that the information they disseminate has quality and integrity. In February 2002, OMB published final guidelines titled, "Guidelines for Ensuring and Maximizing the Quality, Objectivity, Utility, and Integrity of Information Disseminated by Federal Agencies" (PDF file*).

The guidelines require agencies to:

1. Issue their own information quality guidelines for the materials they disseminate,
2. Establish a process that allows people to obtain corrections of information disseminated, on or after October 1, 2002, if it does not comply with the OMB or agency guidelines; and
3. Report annually to OMB on complaints received regarding compliance with the OMB and agency guidelines, and how they were resolved.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) has developed Quality of Information Guidelines that apply to most types of information USDA circulates. USDA has also developed supplementary guidelines for major categories of information disseminated by the Department, including scientific research information, statistical and financial information, and information related to regulatory activities; categories of particular importance in OMB's guidelines. Additionally, USDA has developed supplementary guidelines for information about the Department's programs and services, general reference information, and information pertaining to the organization and administration of the Department, its agencies and offices.

Rural Development is committed to the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of information that we disseminate to the public, and we are complying with the USDA and OMB guidelines.

* PDF files require the Adobe Acrobat Reader.