The Fish and Wildlife Service is committed to using sound science in its decision-making and to providing the American public with information of the highest quality possible.

Federal agencies are required to publish guidelines for ensuring the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of information we use and disseminate, and to provide mechanisms for allowing the public to seek correction of that information.

This web site is intended to meet those requirements. In addition to our information quality guidelines and those of the Department of the Interior, we also present here our responses to inquiries concerning the quality of information on specific topics.

Please note: in order to view the "pdf" files below, you may need to install Adobe Acrobat Reader, available free of charge from the Adobe web site.

Section 515 of Public Law 106-554 (the Information Quality Act)

Department of the Interior's Information Quality Guidelines (pdf)

Fish and Wildlife Service Information Quality Guidelines (pdf)

Following are links to your information quality questions, and our responses, on a number of topics. Dates refer to when correspondence began.

FY2003 (October 1, 2002 - September 30, 2003)

• Information Quality Guideline 2003 Annual Report.pdf
• Atlantic salmon
• Manatee
• Pygmy owl (Chilton Ranch and Cattle Company)
• Pygmy owl (National Association of Homebuilders)
• Slickspot pepper grass
• Trumpeter swan

FY2004 (October 1, 2003 - September 30, 2004)

• Florida panther
• Osage Hydroelectric Company
• Sage grouse (Owyhee County Board of Commissioners)
• Sage grouse (Partnership for the West)
• Sand Mountain blue butterfly