Circular 1367

U.S. Geological Survey

Fundamental Science Practices

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Circular 1367

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

U.S. Geological Survey

Fundamental Science Practices

By the Fundamental Science Practices Advisory Committee 
Suggested citation:

Fundamental Science Practices Advisory Committee, 2011, U.S. Geological Survey Fundamental Science Practices: 

U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1367, 8 p.

U.S. Department of the Interior

KEN SALAZAR, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Marcia K. McNutt, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2011

This and other USGS information products are available at http://store.usgs.gov/

U.S. Geological Survey

Box 25286, Denver Federal Center

Denver, CO 80225

To learn about the USGS and its information products visit http://www.usgs.gov/

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Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the 

U.S. Government.

Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to 

reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report.
iii

Contents

Background.....................................................................................................................................................1

Fundamental Science Practices .................................................................................................................2

FSP Web Sites .......................................................................................................................................2

Roles and Responsibilities ..................................................................................................................2

The Peer Review Process ............................................................................................................................6

USGS Peer Review Requirements .....................................................................................................6

Federal Peer Review Requirements .................................................................................................7

The Bureau Approval Process.....................................................................................................................7

Scientific Integrity .........................................................................................................................................7

Functions Supporting FSP ............................................................................................................................7

Science Publishing Network ..............................................................................................................7

Information Product Data System .....................................................................................................8

For More Information ...................................................................................................................................8

Fundamental Science Practices Advisory Committee

Cindi Barton, Science Center Director, Tacoma, Washington

Terry D’Erchia, Assistant Director, Core Science Informatics, Denver, Colorado (past member)

Keith Kirk, Bureau Approving Official, Santa Cruz, California

Lenny Konikow, Publishing Scientist, Reston, Virginia

Rama Kotra, Program Coordinator, Reston, Virginia 

Mike Jawson, Science Center Director, La Crosse, Wisconsin 

Bill Orem, Publishing Scientist, Reston, Virginia

Phil Redman, IPDS Administrator, Madison, Wisconsin

Carolyn Reid, Policy Coordinator, Reston, Virginia

Jonathan Stock, Publishing Scientist, Menlo Park, California

Tom Suchanek, Publishing Scientist, Sacramento, California

Ione Taylor, Associate Director, Reston, Virginia

Charles Van Riper III, Publishing Scientist, Tucson, Arizona

Randy Updike, Area Executive, Denver, Colorado
iv
No matter what policies and guidelines are developed, the responsibility 

for science excellence remains where it has always been—in the hands 

and minds of the dedicated scientists of the USGS.

—Charles G. Groat, 13th Director, USGS

U.S. Geological Survey

Fundamental Science Practices

By the Fundamental Science Practices Advisory Committee

Background

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) was established during the final session of the 

45th Congress by the Organic Act of March 3, 1879 (20 Stat. 394; 43 U.S.C. 31). The USGS 

was placed in the Department of the Interior and was charged with a unique combination of 

responsibilities: “...classification of the public lands, and examination of the geological structure, 

mineral resources, and products of the national domain.” The legislation stemmed from a 

report by the National Academy of Sciences, which in June 1878 had been asked by Congress 

to provide a plan for surveying the Territories of the United States that would secure the best 

possible results at the least possible cost. The necessity for communication of the best possible 

results led to the establishment of an ongoing tradition of internal and external publication of 

USGS information products and the longstanding USGS reputation for scientific excellence 

guided by the internal quality standards and processes applied when developing these products. 

The USGS is an independent science agency that serves the Nation by providing reliable 

scientific information to describe and understand the Earth; minimize loss of life and property 

from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance 

and protect our quality of life. With no regulatory or management mandate, the USGS is 

able to provide impartial science to address the needs of our changing world. A diversity of 

scientific expertise enables the USGS to carry out multiscale, multidisciplinary 

investigations that continue to add to the base of knowledge about the 

Earth. Through these efforts, the USGS provides citizens and decision 

makers at all levels of government with information needed to 

address critical societal issues. USGS Circular 1309, “Facing 

Tomorrow’s Challenges—U.S. Geological Survey Science in 

the Decade 2007–2017” (http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/2007/1309/) 

describes current Bureau science emphases, all of which are 

supported by USGS Fundamental Science Practices (FSP).
2 U.S. Geological Survey Fundamental Science Practices

Fundamental Science Practices

The USGS has a long and proud tradition of objective, 

unbiased science in service to the Nation. A reputation 

for impartiality and excellence is one of our most 

important assets. 

To help preserve this vital asset, in 2004 the Executive 

Leadership Team (ELT) of the USGS was charged by the 

Director to develop a set of fundamental science practices, 

philosophical premises, and operational principles as the 

foundation for all USGS research and monitoring activities.

In a concept document, “Fundamental Science Practices 

of the U.S. Geological Survey,” the ELT proposed “a 

set of fundamental principles to underlie USGS science 

practices.” The document noted that protecting the reputation 

of USGS science for quality and objectivity requires the 

following key elements:

• Clearly articulated, Bureau-wide fundamental science 

practices. 

• A shared understanding at all levels of the organization 

that the health and future of the USGS depend on 

following these practices.

• The investment of budget, time, and people to ensure 

that the USGS reputation and high-quality standards 

are maintained. 

FSP encompass all elements of research investigations, 

including data collection, experimentation, analysis, writing 

results, peer review, management review, and Bureau 

approval and publication of information products. The 

focus of FSP is on how science is carried out and 

how products are produced and disseminated. FSP 

is not designed to address the question of what

work the USGS should do; that is addressed in 

USGS science planning handbooks and other 

documents. 

Building from longstanding existing 

USGS policies and the ELT concept 

document, in May 2006, FSP policies 

(refer to http://www.usgs.gov/fsp/

policies.asp) were developed 

with input from all parts 

of the organization and 

were subsequently 

incorporated into 

the Bureau’s Survey Manual. In developing an implementation 

plan for FSP policy, the intent was to recognize and incorporate 

the best of USGS current practices to obtain the optimum 

overall program for our science. In January 2009, the USGS 

moved to full implementation of FSP. The FSP Advisory 

Committee (FSPAC) was formed to serve as the Bureau’s 

working and standing committee to ensure the objectivity and 

quality of the Bureau’s science information products and to 

provide support for the full implementation of FSP.

FSP Web Sites

The FSP Intranet site (http://internal.usgs.gov/fsp/

policies.html) serves as a resource for USGS employees, 

particularly USGS scientists, supervisors, managers, reviewers, 

approving officials, and publishing professionals. The Intranet 

site helps USGS employees find the information and guidance 

they need to ensure that we are continually maintaining the 

objectivity and quality of USGS science and how information 

products are developed, reviewed, approved, and released. 

The FSP Internet site (http://www.usgs.gov/fsp/) is the 

primary resource for our stakeholders, partners, and the public 

to obtain information about FSP. The site provides users with 

quick and easy navigation to FSP policy and procedural 

and guidance materials.

Roles and Responsibilities

 FSP are the collective and shared responsibility of 

everyone in the USGS. Designated officials and offices have 

specific roles, authorities, and functions in establishing the 

policies that underpin these practices:

• The Director of the USGS has final authority 

and responsibility for FSP and for the excellence, 

integrity, and objectivity of USGS science and of its 

information products. 

•	 Associate Directors set policy for how scientific 

investigations, research, and activities are carried out 

and how information products are reviewed and 

approved for release and dissemination. They provide 

oversight for the processes and policies that govern FSP. 

They collaborate with Area Executives to address issues 

or take corrective action with regard to these policies. 

•	 The Office of Science Quality and Integrity

executes FSP policies, including the appointment of 

officials who approve information products for release 

(refer to http://www.usgs.gov/usgs-manual/200/205-18.

html). This Office collaborates with Associate Directors 

and Area Executives to address issues or take corrective 

action regarding the execution of these policies 

and maintains the policy documents and 

procedures that pertain to FSP. 
 3

USGS information products that are reviewed and 

approved in accordance with FSP policies follow a standard 

workflow (p. 4–5) that includes other specific roles and 

responsibilities as follows: 

•	 Science Center Managers or their equivalents 

ensure that standards for scientific quality are met; 

that is, methodology is documented, and accepted 

metadata standards are used. They determine if a 

planned product qualifies as influential scientific 

information or highly influential scientific assessment 

(as defined in the Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) directive available at http://www.usgs.gov/

peer_review/) and therefore must adhere to the 

OMB requirements for peer review of influential 

products. They ensure that only properly peer 

reviewed products are forwarded to Bureau Approving 

Officials (for products that contain new interpretive 

information) and alert these officials about potential 

high-visibility products or policy-sensitive issues. 

They have delegated authority for Bureau Approval 

of information products that do not contain new 

interpretive information, all abstracts (except extended 

abstracts), and all poster and presentation materials 

disseminated to the public or left with the meeting 

sponsor. They also ensure that information products 

conform to USGS publishing requirements (refer to 

SM Part 1100, Publishing at http://www.usgs.gov/usgsmanual/t500.html#pubs) and that official 

records are archived at their 

centers or placed in 

the Information Product Data System (IPDS) 

document vault. 

•	 Bureau Approving Officials are responsible for using 

consistent and uniform practices for information 

product review and approval across the Bureau. 

They ensure that appropriate peer review has been 

sought and applied, that authors have considered and 

adequately responded to peer review comments, and 

that the product is clear in its presentation with the 

intended audience in mind. They ensure that strict 

objectivity regarding the relation of science to public 

policy is upheld, thus preserving the reputation of the 

USGS as a source of high-quality and policy-relevant 

but policy-neutral science. They alert appropriate 

officials and offices of the progress of policy-sensitive 

or high-visibility information products that are 

likely to be of interest or potentially controversial 

to the Bureau, the Department of the Interior, and 

other Federal agencies; State, local, and Tribal 

governmental organizations; the scientific community; 

the public; and any specific industry or interest. They 

communicate effectively with one another and with 

Associate Directors and Area Executives to share 

knowledge and expertise relative to review, approval, 

and release practices. They grant Bureau Approval on 

behalf of the Director. They share the Bureau Approval 

responsibility, one acting on behalf of another as 

needed and in accordance with their 

educational background and 

science expertise. 

Fundamental Science Practices
4 U.S. Geological Survey Fundamental Science Practices

BAO ensures all required reviews are performed, 

validates peer review reconciliation, identifies 

any revisions needed, and returns (for additional 

review or revision) approved or unapproved 

package to SC Manager or equivalent.

Author prepares first draft of 

information product, a metadata 

record is created in the USGS 

Information Product Data System 

(IPDS), and draft manuscript is 

forwarded to supervisor with 

recommendations for 

peer reviewers.

Author

Supervisor

Science Center Manager

Bureau Approving Official

Supervisor reviews manuscript to 

determine if it is ready for peer 

review, accepts author’s suggested 

reviewers, or identifies other peer 

reviewers, monitors whether 

manuscript could be considered 

as influential scientific information

or highly influential scientific 

assessment for the OMB Peer 

Review Agenda process.

Supervisor determines whether 

response to peer review is 

adequate, and whether editorial 

review is required and then 

forwards to Science Center (SC) 

Manager or equivalent.

SC Manager or equivalent reviews all 

documentation and, if appropriate, 

forwards package to Bureau 

Approving Official (BAO) for approval. 

U.S. Geological Survey Fundamental Science Practices (FSP) 

Information Product Workflow

1.

2.

4.

5. 

6.

3.

Author receives peer review 

comments, modifies manuscript, 

and prepares reconciliation 

documentation. Author forwards 

revised manuscript, peer reviews, 

and reconciliation documentation 

to supervisor.
 5

Author responds to revisions 

recommended and (or) 

required by BAO.

SC Manager or equivalent 

sends package to author for 

appropriate action. 

Approved manuscript is 

submitted for internal release 

(USGS Series) or for external 

publication and citation, and 

related metadata are entered 

into IPDS by author or alternate. 

7.

8.

9. 

FSP Information Product Workflow
6 U.S. Geological Survey Fundamental Science Practices

• The Senior USGS Author (or the first USGS author 

in instances of collaborative external publications) is 

responsible for ensuring that appropriate USGS review 

and approval of information products occur prior to 

public release. Authors suggest peer reviewers and 

inform their supervisors and Approving Officials if 

changes in drafts of products require or warrant 

further review and approval prior to publication. 

• The Senior USGS Author’s Supervisor collaborates 

with the Science Center Manager to determine if a 

planned information product qualifies as influential 

scientific information or highly influential scientific 

assessments. The supervisor accepts the author’s 

suggested peer reviewers or identifies other qualified 

reviewers and facilitates transmission of the manuscript 

package to peer reviewers. The supervisor also ensures 

that peer reviews are adequate, that all review comments 

are addressed by the author (that is, addressed in a 

reconciliation document), and forwards the manuscript 

to the Science Center Manager or equivalent. 

• The FSPAdvisory Committee (FSPAC) reports to 

the Director’s Office and coordinates closely with the 

Office of Science Quality and Integrity. The FSPAC was 

established in 2008 and is the Bureau’s 

working and standing advisory 

committee charged 

with monitoring 

full implementation of FSP. Members of the FSPAC 

include scientists, Science Center Managers, Bureau 

Approving Officials, and publishing managers. 

Membership is deliberately broad to provide optimum 

benefit from various perspectives across the Bureau 

and to ensure continuity of FSP. The FSPAC is the 

primary contact for questions and concerns regarding 

FSP and serves as a resource to USGS management by 

offering recommendations and advice to help ensure 

that the Bureau continues to produce high-quality, 

objective science information products. The FSPAC 

conducts periodic reviews to determine how FSP 

policy and practices are working to quantify benefits 

and assess the added value to the Bureau. 

The Peer Review Process

USGS Peer Review Requirements

Peer review, as a cornerstone of scientific practice, 

validates and ensures the quality of published USGS science. 

Also referred to as “refereeing,” “technical 

peer review,” or “scientific peer 

review,” peer review is 

scrutiny of work or 
 7

ideas by one or more scientists (peers) who are sufficiently 

well qualified, who are without conflict of interest, and who 

are not associated with the work being performed. A peer 

is defined as one who is of equal standing with another; in 

science, the implication is that education and (or) experience 

qualify one to comment on the work of others in a particular 

field of expertise. Peer reviewers may be internal or external 

to the USGS. 

Peer review is required for all information products, 

regardless of media (print, digital, audiovisual, or Web),

• whether published and disseminated by the USGS or 

by an outside entity,

• whether the work was funded in whole or in part by 

the USGS,

• and as long as USGS affiliation is identified with 

authorship (refer to http://www.usgs.gov/usgsmanual/500/502-3.html).

In keeping with practices in the broader scientific 

community, directives from Government authorities, and 

FSP, the following, in part, is USGS peer review policy:

• Peer reviews must include at least two qualified 

scientists who have no stake in the outcome of the 

review, who are not associated with the work being 

performed, and who are without conflict of interest. 

• Only peer-reviewed information products may be 

forwarded to an Approving Official for Bureau 

Approval. Information products sent to an Approving 

Official must include reconciliation documentation 

indicating how review comments were addressed.

Federal Peer Review Requirements 

The OMB directive, Final Information Quality Bulletin 

for Peer Review, dated December 16, 2004, requires that there 

be a “systematic process of peer review planning” and access 

to a list of information products for official dissemination 

that will be peer reviewed as either influential scientific 

information or highly influential scientific assessments (as 

defined in the OMB directive). The OMB requirements do 

not replace or duplicate the USGS peer review requirements. 

The USGS has the responsibility to maintain and conduct the 

appropriate peer review process for its products and to identify 

products as influential according to the OMB definitions.

A list of USGS information products peer reviewed 

as influential scientific information or highly influential 

scientific assessments can be found at http://www.usgs.gov/

peer_review/.

The Bureau Approval Process

All information products must receive review and 

approval by line supervisors of the senior USGS author 

before subsequently receiving final Bureau Approval. Bureau 

Approval validates the scientific excellence of the information 

product and includes a policy review to ensure that all policy 

requirements relevant to FSP are met and to identify policysensitive issues including those that may have implications 

related to current policy or that may involve matters of 

national interest, security, or potential commercial gain. 

Bureau Approval also ensures that all appropriate reviews, 

such as peer review, have been conducted. Review of products 

for Bureau Approval addresses criteria such as integrity and 

objectivity, conflict of interest, impartiality and nonadvocacy, 

methodology and documentation, public benefit and access, 

natural hazards, and (or) public or wildlife health. Delegations 

of authority to officials who grant Bureau Approval are 

detailed in the Survey Manual (http://www.usgs.gov/usgsmanual/200/205-18.html).

Scientific Integrity 

In January 2007, USGS released a policy on 

scientific integrity (refer to http://www.usgs.gov/usgsmanual/500/500-25.html) that describes our requirements 

“for ensuring scientific integrity in the conduct of scientific 

activities and procedures for reporting, investigating, and 

adjudicating allegations of scientific misconduct by USGS 

employees and volunteers.” The policy contains a “code of 

scientific conduct” that not only documents research standards 

but also assures customers, partners, and the general public 

that USGS abides by them in all aspects of scientific work 

performed. A USGS Scientific Misconduct/Integrity Review 

Panel has also been in place since 2007.

Functions Supporting FSP

Science Publishing Network

Building upon its reputation for publishing excellence, 

the USGS implemented a Bureau-wide publishing approach 

through the Science Publishing Network (SPN) that 

directly supports all employees of the USGS as well 

as the many partners, suppliers, and consumers of 

Functions Supporting FSP
USGS data and information products and services. Production 

support is coordinated at Publishing Service Centers located 

across the Nation, thus ensuring workload balancing and 

optimizing network efficiencies throughout the Bureau. 

SPN services include technical and scientific editing, 

graphics support, publication layout and design, Web and 

print release of all USGS series publications, and customized 

support for other USGS products including abstracts, posters, 

journal articles, books, presentation materials, Web pages, 

internal documents, and outreach materials. Additional 

information on USGS publishing is available at 

http://www.usgs.gov/publishing/.

Information Product Data System 

The standard workflow steps for products that are 

reviewed and approved in accordance with FSP requirements 

(p. 4–5) have been incorporated into IPDS, the Bureau’s 

official tracking system for managing the development steps 

of USGS information products that require Bureau Approval. 

IPDS workflows track and document the review and approval 

process as it occurs. The resulting IPDS workflow history 

Prepared by the USGS Lafayette Publishing Service Center

8 U.S. Geological Survey Fundamental Science Practices

provides documentation to show that proper procedures have 

been followed and that the necessary steps have been taken. 

IPDS also manages the documents that support the review and 

approval process. Peer review comments, author peer review 

reconciliation documents, and other archival records that are 

stored in IPDS provide documentation of compliance with 

FSP and, in accordance with USGS requirements (http://www.

usgs.gov/usgs-manual/schedule/432-1-s1/index1.html) and 

the National Archives and Records Administration, satisfy 

requirements for storing these documents. IPDS is used to 

document and certify that Bureau Approval has been granted.

For More Information 

The primary sources of FSP information for USGS 

employees are their immediate supervisors, Science Center 

Managers, Bureau Approving Officials, and the internal FSP 

Web site. Additionally, USGS employees, as well as all other 

parties, should contact the FSPAC (by email at gs_fspac@

usgs.gov) for FSP-related questions and concerns or visit the 

public FSP Web site at http://www.usgs.gov/fsp/.
Fundamental Science Practices Advisory Committee—U.S. Geological Survey Fundamental Science Practices—Circular 1367