From: Allan Erickson
Sent: Sunday, April 19, 2009 2:04:29 PM
Subject: MAP: Obama & "scientific integrity"


THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
_________________________________________
For Immediate Release March 9, 2009

MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
SUBJECT: Scientific Integrity

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 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. 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.

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.

BARACK OBAMA