The following provides general guidelines and rationale, but each site should be prepared to defend its own policy through the site and peer review process. Data are available upon request without review. Data are available for specific scientific purposes one year after generation. Original measurements by individual researchers.
Data are available for specific scientific purposes two years after generation.
Data can be released earlier with permission of the researcher. Unusual long-term data collected by individual researchers. The principal investigator of the LTER site can designate that such data can be withheld for longer periods. Such action should be rare and justified in writing.