Public Access to Historical Records Act

Bill: 113-s-106
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2013-01-23
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Atmospheric science and weather

Census and government statistics

Climate change and greenhouse gases

Environmental assessment, monitoring, research

Government information and archives
Latest action: action_date: 2013-01-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Summaries:
action_date: 2013-01-23
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>Public Access to Historical Records Act - Directs the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to establish an official dataset on the historical temperature record. </p> <p>Requires NASA to use the raw data related to temperature that is collected by applicable stations and vessels and to quantify the statistical uncertainty of each temperature observation and any subsequent products based on that observation. </p> <p>Requires the gaps that exist in temperature station and temperature reading data to be clearly and fully identified. </p> <p>Creates a panel to assist the Administrator in the establishment of the dataset. </p> <p>Requires the Administrator, at least once every three years, to contract with an appropriate independent entity to perform a verification and validation of the dataset and requires the publication of any algorithms utilized, and any determinations made, in verifying and validating the dataset. </p> <p>Requires persons and entities engaged in global climate research funded by the federal government to use the dataset as a source of data on the historical temperature record. </p> <p>Directs the Secretary of Commerce to provide for the immediate release of: (1) all raw temperature station data from cooperative observers and automated stations collected by the National Climatic Data Center, and (2) an analysis of the differences between raw and final temperature datasets collected by the Center. </p>

tv_txt: II 113th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 106 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 23 (legislative day, January 3), 2013 Mr. Vitter introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To provide for the establishment, on-going validation, and use of an official set of data on the historical temperature record, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Public Access to Historical Records Act . 2. Official dataset on historical temperature record (a) Establishment of official dataset by NASA The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall establish an official dataset on the historical temperature record. (b) Requirements for dataset (1) Use of raw data In establishing the dataset required by this section, the Administrator shall use the raw data relating to temperature collected by each applicable station and vessel and shall, for that purpose, reexamine applicable records collected by such stations and vessels and accurately quantify the statistical uncertainty (including estimates of random and bias errors) of each temperature observation and any subsequent products based on such observation. (2) Clear and full identification of gaps in data In establishing the dataset, the Administrator shall clearly and fully identify each gap that exists in temperature station data and temperature reading data. (3) Fill-in data If in establishing the dataset the Administrator supplies or fills in data to address a gap in temperature station data or temperature reading data, or for any other reason, the Administrator shall— (A) clearly and fully identify the data so supplied or filled in as fill-in data; and (B) clearly and fully explain the rationale for supplying or filling in such data. (c) Panel on use of data for establishment of dataset (1) In general The Administrator shall establish a panel to assist the Administrator in the establishment of the dataset required by this section. (2) Members The panel shall consist of seven individuals appointed by the Administrator from among individuals in the private sector with acknowledged expertise in meteorology and statistics who— (A) do not have a significant financial interest in taking a position on the matter of global climate change; and (B) have not received funding from any department, agency, or entity of the Federal Government for activities relating to global climate research within the past five years. (3) Duties The panel shall assist the Administrator in establishing the dataset required by this section by— (A) determining which land surface, sea surface, and satellite records shall be used in the establishment of the dataset; (B) establishing standards and criteria for determining confidence levels for the interpolation and extrapolation of historical average global temperatures over successive 25-year periods in the past; and (C) establishing a rationale for an average historical global temperature and a means of analysis for assessing the accuracy of such average. (d) Independent verification and validation of dataset (1) In general Not less often than once every three years, the Administrator shall enter into a contract with an appropriate entity that is independent of the Federal Government to perform a verification and validation of the dataset established under this section. (2) Appropriate entities An entity with which the Administrator enters into a contract under this subsection shall be an entity with personnel having the skills and expertise appropriate for the verification or validation (as the case may be) of the dataset, including the following: (A) For the verification, personnel with skills and expertise relating to computer programming and computer software development (including error handling). (B) For the validation, personnel with expertise in statistics and meteorology. (3) Responsibilities In carrying out the verification or validation of the dataset under a contract under this subsection, an entity shall carry out such activities with respect to the dataset as the Administrator shall specify in the contract, including a review of any data interpolation codes for purposes of identifying and eliminating bias. (4) Publication Any algorithms used, and any determinations made, in the verification and validation of the dataset pursuant to this subsection shall be made available to the public. 3. Use of dataset in global climate research (a) Use as sole source of data Upon the completion of the establishment of the dataset on the historical temperature record required by section 2, any person or entity engaged in global climate research that is funded in whole or in part with funds from the Federal Government shall use the dataset as the source of data on the historical temperature record. (b) Use among multiple sources of data In publishing any findings or hypothesis on global climate change, any person or entity engaged in global climate research that is funded in whole or in part with funds from the Federal Government shall use the dataset described in subsection (a) as the primary source, or at least one of the primary sources, for historical global temperatures if such person or entity elects to consider multiple sources of such data. 4. Public release of temperature station data (a) Release of raw data required The Secretary of Commerce shall provide for the immediate release to the public, in unadjusted form, of all raw temperature station data from cooperative observers and automated stations collected by the National Climatic Data Center as of the date of the enactment of this Act. The data shall be released to the public in a digital electronic format. (b) Release of certain analyses The Secretary shall provide for the immediate release to the public of an analysis of the differences between the raw temperature datasets and the final temperature datasets collected and administered by the National Climatic Data Center as of the date of the enactment of this Act. The analysis shall be released to the public in digital numerical tabular form and in graphical form. One such graph shall show the raw temperature dataset line overlain with the final temperature dataset line over time. 5. Accuracy of data processing and data adjustment (a) Data processing (1) Release to public The applicable Federal official shall publish on the Internet website of the agency concerned that is available to the public any coding or other algorithm used by such official in processing data for purposes of complying with the requirements of section 2 or 4, as the case may be, together with a notice of the availability of the review and correction of such coding or algorithm for quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity by such agency pursuant to the administrative mechanisms applicable to such agency under section 515(b)(2)(B) of the Information Quality Act. (2) Review Any request for the correction of coding or other algorithm under paragraph (1) shall be processed in accordance with the guidelines of the Information Quality Act applicable to the agency concerned not later than 30 days after receipt of such request by such agency. (b) Data adjustment (1) Methods to comply with Information Quality Act The applicable Federal official may not use a method for the adjustment of data for purposes of complying with the requirements of section 2 or 4, as the case may be, unless such official ensures and certifies that such method complies with the guidelines of the Information Quality Act, including, but not limited to, requirements as follows: (A) To make available to the public (including through the Internet website of the agency concerned that is available to the public) the computer coding and a detailed explanation of the processes used in such adjustment of data. (B) To make available to the public (including through such Internet website) all peer review comments relating to the data being adjusted and the processes and algorithms used in such adjustment of data. (C) To make available to the public (including through such Internet website) a description of any previous changes in the data being adjusted and of the effect of such changes on trends, averages, and other statistical categories of such data. (D) To cite all applicable studies, reports, and peer reviewed papers using the data being adjusted or any earlier iterations of such data. (E) To use in such adjustment of data only data and adjustment processes and algorithms that are non-proprietary in nature. (F) To require that any agents and contractors relied upon in such adjustment of data are subject to section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Freedom of Information Act ), regarding their activities in such adjustment of data. (2) Availability upon request Not later than 10 days after the date of receipt of a request therefor, the applicable Federal official shall make available the certification with respect to a method for the adjustment of data under paragraph (1), together with a description of such method sufficient to permit independent replication of the adjustment made by such method. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) The term applicable Federal official means the following: (A) The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for purposes of actions under section 2. (B) The Secretary of Commerce for purposes of actions under section 4. (2) The term Information Quality Act means section 515 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 2001 (as enacted into law by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2001 ( Public Law 106–554 ; 114 Stat. 2763A–153)).