Dissemination of scientific and technical information (STI) resulting from Department of Energy (DOE) research and development programs to promote scientific progress and public understanding has been a fundamental requirement since the founding of the Department and its predecessor agencies. A number of laws require the Department to make its information available, while others place some limits on the dissemination of scientific and technical information for which the unauthorized release would be detrimental to national interests. DOE O 241.1B provides the overall DOE objective, requirements, and responsibilities within which these mandates are to be met. Following are laws, policies, schedules and other guidance relevant to the management of STI.
Calls for Federal agencies that conduct scientific research to develop agency specific policies and procedures regarding the public release of data and results of research.
Establishes a program for the dissemination of unclassified scientific and technical information and for the control, dissemination, and declassification of Restricted Data, subject to appropriate safeguards, so as to encourage scientific and industrial progress (42 U.S.C. Sec. 2013, 2051, and 2161).
Provides for maintaining a central source of information and disseminating information (42 U.S.C. Sec. 5916, 7112).
“The Secretary, through the Office of Scientific and Technical Information, shall maintain with the Department publicly available collections of scientific and technical information resulting from research, development, demonstration, and commercial applications activities supported by the Department.”
Provides responsibilities for developing, collecting, distributing, and making scientific and technical information available for distribution (42 U.S.C. Sec. 2161, 5813, 5817).
Provides for public access to Federal agency records, which would include records containing scientific and technical information created with Federal funding (5 U.S.C. 552 et seq.).
Establishes policies and procedures for the identification and protection of UCNI.
Subject: Transparency and Open Government, January 21, 2009.
Subject: Scientific Integrity, March 9, 2009.
Subject: Open Government Directive, December 8, 2009.
Establishes a separately organized agency within the Department of Energy in 2000.
