Documents and Guidelines Related to the Appeal

for Submitting to the Panel

May 31, 2014

RE USGS IQA Web page: http://www.usgs.gov/info_qual/coal_tar_sealants.html: The list below

is in reverse chronological order. The Panel should focus only on the bolded itemsthe
questions to be addressed regarding the appeal (1) and the appeal itself (3) and the USGS final
response to the original complaint (4). The remaining documents are for background and
reference.

1. Some questions to be answered by the Panel regarding the appeal:

Was the IQA process followed in the USGS response to the complainant?
Did the USGS publications meet the requirements of peer review to ensure no
"unwarranted assumptions or defective methodologies" were introduced?
What is the appropriate use of "later-published" information in terms of correcting peer
reviewed scientific literature deemed erroneous through the IQA?

2. USGS initial reply to PCTC appeal (4/15/14, PDF 115KB):

http://www.usgs.gov/info_qual/documents/initial_USGS_response_to_appeal_041514.pdf.

3. Appeal from PCTC to USGS Response (4/8/14, PDF 26 MB) 29 pages with numerous
Exhibits included as attachments:
http://www.usgs.gov/info qual/documents/appeal to final USGS response040814.pdf.

4. USGS final response to PCTCs original complaint (3/19/14, PDF 1.18 MB):
http://www.usgs.gov/info qual/documents/Final USGS Response signed031914.pdf.

5. PCTCs second complaint- (5/31/13, PDF 5.3 MB):

http://www.usgs.gov/info_qual/documents/Edwards-Wildman-Palmer_PCTC_Second-IQA-Info-
Correction-Request053113.pdf.

6. PCTCs original complaint (5/15/13, PDF 8.13 MB):

http://www.usgs.gov/info qual/documents/Edwards-Wildman-Palmer PCTC IQA-Info-
Correction-Request051513.pdf.

7. Three USGS products about which PCTC complained (Note Press Releases are exempt from
IQA): http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/home_maps/sealcoat.html, and
http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2011/3010/pdf/fs2011-3010.pdf.

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8. USGS Information Product Data System internal documentation on review and approval for
USGS Fact Sheet 2011-3010 and Science Center review and approval of Website: To be supplied
if needed.

9. USGS Information Quality Guidelines: (http://www.usgs.gov/info_qual/.

Guidance for the Panel

Review the appeal and make an objective written recommendation to the USGS Director
who will issue the USGS response to the appeal. Statements to document that the review
was objective and unbiased will be included in the response.
o Review the process, not science: The Panel should consider whether or not the
IQA complaint was properly handled and the complexity of the request, but not
debate the science itself. For example, the Panel should consider whether or not
the peer review was valid, but not about a position taken in a review, or by the
complainant, or even in the original work. Generally speaking, USGS
publications go through peer review which is considered the "gold standard" in
terms of any science being considered in an IQA issue.
In coordination with the Facilitator (Dr. Rama K. Kotra, rkotra@usgs.gov), the Panel will
initially develop a timeline for their work and a meeting schedule and venue (such as
weekly meetings that will be held face-to-face, by telephone, or electronically (for
example WebEx).