OMB Issues First-Year Report on Data Quality Act

The first year of federal agency life under the Data Quality Act has seen a number of controversies flare. But overall, it’s too early to tell how the DQA is going to work out, according to the first annual review, released May 3, 2004, by the Office of Management and Budget’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (“Information Quality: A Report to Congress”).

The DQA (now often called the Information Quality Act) was born when a few lines were slipped at the last minute into the fiscal 2001 appropriations bill. The language created procedures for ensuring accuracy of information disseminated by federal agencies, and allows groups and citizens to challenge what is perceived as inaccurate information. Agencies must then respond and either defend their information or change it as necessary.

Environmentalists’ first perception of the Act, which went into effect in October 2002, was that it was a potential tool that people could use to thwart new regulations. Advocates said it would help improve government.

In the first year, the Act has been tested by a variety of challengers (companies, legislators, environmentalists, government agencies, etc.), on issues ranging from minor data format problems to pesticide regulation and a major report on climate change.

But overall, the first year has been less onerous than environmentalists feared, says OMB Watch’s Sean Moulton. However, he suspects that may be because regulation foes haven’t needed the Act much under the Bush administration. He remains concerned about how the Act will be shaped, especially when court rulings - none of which have been made yet - begin to define it more clearly.

Another angle he and others are watching is the degree to which states may adopt their own data quality regulations. Only Michigan has woven similar language into legislation so far, he says, but other states may do so.

The Center for Regulatory Effectiveness, whose members helped create the Act, agrees that the effect of the Act has been minor so far, but also is awaiting a legal ruling to see how the Act will flesh out.

OMB says in its report that agencies still need to make their information quality processes more transparent; respond quicker; make the issue a higher priority among staff; and coordinate more with OMB.

-- OMB, Kathryn Smith, 202-395-7254, report and related info. Agency links for DQA information.

-- The Center for Regulatory Effectiveness, Jim Tozzi, 202-265-2383.

-- OMB Watch, Sean Moulton, 202-234-8494, overview of selected challenges, and state efforts

For more information on DQA challenges, see WatchDogs of Nov. 19 and Oct. 22, 2003, and the Dec./Jan. 2002-2003 issue of Environment Writer .