Fwd: President Bowen's Response to OMB Clarifying Changes on

[dae...@cs.tamu.edu]

>From: "Watson, Cathy - RGS" <c...@RGS.TAMU.EDU>
>Organization: VP for Res. and AP for Grad. Stu.
>To: a lot of people
>Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 15:53:10 -0500
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>Subject: President Bowen's Response to OMB Clarifying Changes on Release
>of Data
>CC: rbo...@ntmail.tamu.edu, rdou...@ntmail.tamu.edu
>X-Confirm-Reading-To: "Watson, Cathy - RGS" <c...@RGS.TAMU.EDU>
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>Priority: urgent
>
>From: "Foxworth, Gregory - RGS"
><g...@RGS.TAMU.EDU>
>Organization: VP for Res. and AP for Grad. Stu.
>Date sent: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 14:53:01 -0500
>Subject: President Bowen's Reponse to OMB
>Clarifying Changes on Release of Data
>Send reply to: g-fox...@tamu.edu
>From: Foxworth, Gregory - RGS <g...@RGS.TAMU.EDU>
>
>To: Addressees
>
>
>
>On August 11, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
>published in the Federal Register a second notice regarding a
>recent law that makes university research data accessible to the
>public under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Specifically,
>the law enacted last year, authored by Sen. Richard Shelby
>(R- Ala.), requires OMB to amend its Circular A-110 to permit FOIA
>requests for research data generated by federally sponsored
>awards to universities, medical schools, teaching hospitals, and
>non-profit institutions.
>
>The OMB invited public comment on this latest notice, to be
>received no later than September 10, 1999, and intends to
>implement the revisions, in compliance with the Shelby statute, by
>September 30.
>
>
>Dr. Robert A. Kennedy asked me to forward to you a copy of Dr.
>Bowen's response to OMB's Request for Comments on Clarifying
>Changes to Proposed Rules on Access to Research Data. If you
>are not familiar with the issue or just want additional information,
>please click on the web site below:
>http://whitehouse.gov/OMB/fedreg/2ndnotice-a110.html
>
>I will also be happy to answer any questions you might have.
>
>Gregory L. Foxworth
>Director, Office of Sponsored Projects
>318 Williams Administration Bldg.
>Telephone Number: 409-845-1812
>Fax: 409-847-9363
>e-mail:g-fox...@tamu.edu
>
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------
>------------------------ Dr. Bowen's e-mail read as follows:
>
>September 10, 1999
>
>Mr. F. James Charney, Policy Analyst
>Office of Management and Budget
>Ref.: 64 FR 43786 (8/11/99)
>
>Dear Mr. Charney:
>
>I am writing in response to the Office of Management and
>Budget’s (OMB) request for comments on clarifying changes
>to a proposed revision of OMB Circular A-110 regarding
>public access to research data. I appreciate and support what
>the OMB has done in its "clarifying changes."
>
>One of the major concerns about the proposed revision of
>Section ____.36 of Circular A-110 is the definition and
>appropriate release of research data. Texas A&M University,
>like most academic institutions, has many research contracts
>that protect the proprietary information of the non-public
>entities with which we work. Equally important, universities
>have a responsibility to protect the privacy of individuals who
>agree to participate in our studies. Finally, as a university and
>member of the scientific community, we must be allowed to
>conduct and publish our research in an environment that is
>consistent with established academic standards—standards
>which clearly have been the cornerstone of the American
>University System and the backbone of the world’s strongest
>economy.
>
>It appears that the OMB is suggesting a set of rules that is
>workable and yet sensitive to the needs of various sectors,
>including the academic research community, regarding the
>definitions of “data published” and “used by the federal
>government in developing a regulation.” I also strongly
>support limiting the scope of the proposed revision to
>regulations that meet the $100-million threshold as the
>indicator for significant economic impact of federal
>regulation.
>
>Finally, I have great concern over the impact of the cost to
>universities to deal with analyses and reviews of records, as
>required by such a request. It seems reasonable to establish
>some mechanism to ensure reimbursement for universities.
>
>In closing, I urge Congress to reconsider this revision. The
>rendition offered by OMB might well be the final point of
>negotiation. However, with the intensity of this issue, there is
>the climate for further compromise and erosion toward an
>unacceptable position.
>
>Sincerely
>
>
>Ray M. Bowen
>cc: Ronald G. Douglas
> Robert A. Kennedy
>
>
>
>
>
>Judith Ann Bishop
>Administrative Assistant
>Office of the Vice President for Research
>and Associate Provost for Graduate Studies
>Texas A&M University
>312 Administration Building
>College Station, Texas 77843-1112
>------- End of forwarded message -------
>------- End of forwarded message -------
>
>Gregory L. Foxworth, Director
>Office of Sponsored Projects
>Texas A&M University
>Ph: (409) 845-1812
>Fax: (409) 847-9363
>

__________________________________
C. Roland Haden | email: r-h...@tamu.edu
Vice Chancellor | telephone: (409) 845-7203
Texas A&M Engineering Program | fax: (409) 845-8986
Dean, Dwight Look College of Engineering
Director, Texas Engineering Experiment Station

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