Federal Register: October 16, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 199)
DOCID: FR Doc E6-17086
OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
Management and Budget Office
NOTICE: NOTICES
ACTION: Reports and guidance documents; availability, etc.:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Proposed Implementation Guidance for Title V of the E-Government Act, Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002 (CIPSEA)
DATES: To ensure consideration during the final decision-making process, written comments must be provided to OMB no later than December 15, 2006.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
The Confidential Information Protection andStatistical Efficiency Act of 2002 (CIPSEA) can provide strong confidentiality protections for statistical information collections, such as surveys and censuses, as well as for other statistical activities, such as data analysis, modeling, and sample design, that are sponsored or conducted by Federal agencies. The purpose of the proposed CIPSEA implementation guidance is to inform agencies about the requirements for using CIPSEA and clarify the circumstances under which CIPSEA can be used. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requests comments on the proposed Implementation Guidance for Title V of the EGovernment Act, the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002. The complete text of the proposed guidance is available on the OMB Web site at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/inforeg/statpolicy.html.
Authority: 31 U.S.C. 1104(d); 44 U.S.C. 3504 (specifically (a)(1)(B)(iii) and (v), (e)(1), (3) and (5), and (g)(1)); Pub. L. 107347 503(a), 44 U.S.C. 3501 note.
SUMMARY:
Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002; implementation of Title V,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Background
Statistics collected and published by the Federal Government constitute a significant portion of the available information about the United States' economy, population, natural resources, environment, and public and private institutions. There are more than 70 Federal agencies or organizational units that carry out statistical activities as their principal mission or in conjunction with other program missions, such as providing services or enforcing regulations. In addition to these 70 agencies, many other Federal agencies or units may collect statistical information to use for specific program needs.
Prior to the enactment CIPSEA, a patchwork of legislative
protections governed the confidentiality of data gathered for
statistical purposes by the different agencies and units. Some agencies
had strong statutory authority to protect the confidentiality of the
data they gathered for statistical purposes, while other agencies had
weak or no legislative authority to protect confidentiality. In
addition, the ability of the designated statistical agencies to share information to improve the
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efficiency of the Federal statistical system was limited by statutory constraints affecting those agencies.
By establishing a uniform policy for all Federal statistical collections, this law will reduce public confusion, uncertainty, and concern about the treatment of confidential statistical information by different Federal agencies. By establishing consistent rational principles and processes to buttress confidentiality pledges, the guidance that implements the law will harmonize confidentiality claims and set minimum standards for safeguarding confidential statistical information. Such consistent protection of confidential statistical information will, in turn, reduce the perceived risks of more efficient working relationships among statistical agencies, relationships that can reduce both the cost and reporting burden imposed by statistical programs.
Development and Review
In 2003, OMB and the other members of the Interagency Council on Statistical Policy (ICSP) formed an interagency group to discuss issues that OMB and the agencies anticipated would arise in the implementation of CIPSEA. OMB was particularly interested in understanding the questions and concerns that these statistical agencies had about the new law and how it would affect their activities. OMB also sought to incorporate the best practices of these agencies for handling confidential statistical information.
An initial draft of this implementation guidance was reviewed by the ICSP members, and OMB revised the draft guidance in response to the comments that we received. Based on the use of the law by agencies over the past three years, OMB has also addressed in the proposed guidance specific issues that have arisen, such as nonstatistical agencies' use of CIPSEA.
Issues for Comment
With this notice, OMB requests comments on the proposed
Implementation Guidance for Title V of the EGovernment Act, the
Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of
2002 (CIPSEA). OMB seeks comments from interested parties on all
aspects of this proposed guidance. In particular, OMB seeks comments on
the appropriate use of CIPSEA by statistical and nonstatistical
agencies, and the appropriate wording for CIPSEA and nonCIPSEA
pledges. OMB also seeks comments on the necessary elements for
contracts and written agreements for agents covered in Appendix A of the guidance.
Steven D. Aitken,
Acting Administrator, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. [FR Doc. E617086 Filed 101306; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 311001P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Brian Harris-Kojetin, Ph.D., Statistical and Science Policy Office, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, NEOB, Room 10201, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503. Telephone: 2023953093.