Website Policies and Important Links

This page provides a comprehensive overview of the policies of this federally sponsored website, consistent with guidance established by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as implemented by the U.S. Department of Energy.

1. Disclaimer
2. Acceptable Use Policy
3. User Privacy
4. Copyright, Restrictions, and Permissions Notice
5. Accessibility
6. Website Security
7. Linking to OSTI Website
8. Linking to Outside Websites
9. Data Rights
10. Freedom of Information
11. Information Quality
12. No Fear Act
13. Schedule for Posting Information
14. Comments Policy
15. USAJOBS
16. Grants
17. Regulations
18. USA.gov

1. Disclaimer

   
   

   This system is made available by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned right. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of originators expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.

   
   

   Any or all uses of this system and all files on this system may be intercepted, monitored, recorded, copied, audited, inspected, transferred and disclosed to authorized site, Department of Energy, and law enforcement personnel, as well as authorized officials of other agencies, both domestic and foreign. By using this system, the user consents to such interception, monitoring, recording, copying, auditing, inspection, transfer and disclosure at the discretion of authorized site or Department of Energy personnel.




2. Acceptable Use Policy




This site employs an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) to help safeguard and enhance the use of publicly accessible Government information by prohibiting excessive content requests or activities that may constitute a denial of service (DoS) attack. This includes requests initiated by any network host, individual user, or automated means to query, capture, or download data from this system.




As of October 3, 2011 the following thresholds have been established to identify excessive activity within a 24 hour period.



• 5,000 Full-text Downloads
• 100,000 Byte-range Requests
• 25,000 General Requests



Threshold exemptions may be granted to individuals or organizations on a case by case basis.




3. User Privacy

   
   

   Information Collected

   
   

   Web Traffic

   
   

   For each page that is visited on OSTI.gov, the following technical information is automatically captured in what is called a web server log file:

   
   
   • Date and time of access
   • URL address of the webpage visited
   • Internet domain and IP address from which our website was accessed
   • Type of browser and operating system used to access our site (if provided by the browser)
   • URL address of the referring page (if provided by the browser)
   • Completion or success status of the request for a web page or other on-line item
   • File size of the webpage visited
   
   

   This information does not contain personally identifiable information nor do we use this information to remember a user’s online interactions with our site. This information is used to track server load, identify operational problems, to prevent fraud and to improve the effectiveness, security and integrity of the site.

   
   

   Web Measurement and Tracking

   
   

   This site employs the use of two separate types of cookies, session and persistent, to collect non-personal information related to how users traverse the website. A cookie is a small file that a website transfers to your computer to allow the retrieval of specific information about your session while you are connected to a website.

   
   
   • Session cookies last only as long as your browser is open; once the browser is closed the cookie disappears.
   • Persistent cookies will remain on your hard drive until it reaches its expiration date or is deleted by you. This type of cookie is stored on your computer so the website that placed it there can recognize and remember when you return visit and keep track of which pages on their website you visit.
   
   

   The federal government has guidelines on the use of persistent cookies related to web measurement and tracking. The goals of the guidelines are to enable the useful functioning of federal websites while protecting individual privacy.

   
   

   This site does not automatically collect or store personal information in identifiable form about users. Certain non-personally identifiable information is collected and stored automatically via session cookies, including:

   
   
   • the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the domain from which you access the Internet (i.e., 123.456.789.012) whether yours individually or provided as a proxy by your Internet Service Provider (ISP);
   • the domain from which you access the Internet;
   • the date and time you accessed the site;
   • the search queries, bibliographic citations viewed, and reports viewed; and
   • the Internet address of the Website from which you linked directly to our site.
   
   

   This information is used to compile summary statistics to help us make the site more valuable to its users. It is not shared with anyone beyond the professional support staff of this site, except when required by Law Enforcement investigation, and is used only as a source of anonymous statistical information.

   
   

   The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) classifies the use of this type of technology as Tier 1 usage, since we are utilizing a single session web measurement technology that does not collect any personally identifiable information (PII).

   
   

   This site may also use session cookies to provide salient session-related information and to enable product-specific functions not related to web measurement and tracking. In no case will cookies be used to capture information that might compromise or threaten personal privacy.

   
   

   Visitors to this site who have JavaScript enabled are by default anonymously tracked with persistent cookies using a web measurement technology known as Google Analytics. Google Analytics collects the following types of information from users:

   
   
   • Type of user agent (web browser) used, software manufacture, and version number.
   • Type of operating system
   • Screen colors (color processing ability of the users screen)
   • JavaScript support
   • Flash version
   • Screen resolution
   • Network location and IP address
   • Can include country, city, state, region, county, or any other geographic data.
   • Hostname
   • Bandwidth (internet connection speed)
   • Time of visit
   • Pages visited
   • Time spent on each page of the website
   • Referring site statistics
   • The website (URL) the user came through in order to arrive at this website (for example: clicking on a hyperlink from www.osti.gov that took the user to this website)
   • Search engine query used (example: typing in a phrase into a search engine like Google, and clicking on a link from that search engine)
   
   

   Google Analytics data is shared with Google. For more information on Google's Privacy Policies, visit: http://www.google.com/privacy.html

   
   

   The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) classifies the use of this type of technology as Tier 2 usage, since we are utilizing a multi-session web measurement technology that does not collect any personally identifiable information (PII).

   
   

   The information collected by Google Analytics is used to optimize our website; helping us determine top tasks, improve our user interface and diversify our content offerings to meet the needs of our customers. No personally identifiable information is collected, so the anonymity of the end user is protected. The measurement data that is collected is retained for as long as is needed for proper analysis and optimization of the website and is accessible only to employees whose job function requires it.

   
   

   Users who do not wish to participate in these web measurement and tracking activities may visit http://www.osti.gov/optout for step-by-step instructions of how to opt-out. Google also provides a browser plug-in that will allow you to opt-out of all Google Analytics measurements, which you can find at http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout. Please note that opting-out in no way affects your access to content within the site.

   
   

   Users may choose to provide personal information containing comments or questions or to enable use of specialized site features. This information is only used to provide service to the user or to respond to a user inquiry.




4. Copyright, Restrictions, and Permissions Notice

   
   

   Government information at DOE websites, including the OSTI site, is in the public domain. Public domain information may be freely distributed and copied, but it is requested that in any subsequent use the Department of Energy be given appropriate acknowledgement. When using the OSTI website, you may encounter documents, illustrations, photographs, or other information resources contributed or licensed by private individuals, companies, or organizations that may be protected by U.S. and foreign copyright laws. Transmission or reproduction of protected items beyond that allowed by fair use as defined in the copyright laws requires the written permission of the copyright owners.

   
   

   Images on our website which are in the public domain may be used without permission. If you use images from our website, we ask that you credit us as the source. Please note that some images on our site may have been obtained from other organizations. Permission to use these images should be obtained directly from those organizations.

   
   

   The OSTI website has links to many other websites. Once you access another site through a link that we provide, you are subject to the copyright and licensing restrictions of the new site.




5. Accessibility

   
   

   • Persons with Disabilities

     
     This website complies with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, which requires that individuals with disabilities who are members of the public or are Federal employees have access to and use of information and data comparable to that provided to the public at large, unless it is determined that such access would impose undue burden or compromise functionality of the website.
   
   

   • PDF or Other Image Based Documents

     
     If you use assistive technology (such as a Braille reader, a screen reader, TTY, etc.) and the format of any material on this website interferes with your ability to access the information, please contact the designated contact individual listed on the "Contact Us" or "Feedback" page.
   
   

6. Website Security

   
   

   This website is part of a Federal computer system used to accomplish Federal functions. The Department of Energy uses software programs to monitor this website for security purposes to ensure it remains available to all users and to protect information in the system. By accessing this website, you are expressly consenting to these monitoring activities. Unauthorized attempts to defeat or circumvent security features; to use the system for other than intended purposes; to deny service to authorized users; to access, obtain, alter, damage; or destroy information; or otherwise to interfere with the system or its operation are prohibited. Evidence of such acts may be disclosed to law enforcement authorities and result in criminal prosecution under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986 and the National Information Infrastructure Protection Act of 1996, codified at section 1030 of Title 18 of the United States Code, or other applicable criminal laws.




7. Linking to OSTI Websites

   
   

   Links may be made to the OSTI website from other personal and organizational websites as long as OSTI endorsement or approval is not implied. We request that you link to the OSTI site rather than downloading portions of it to another web server, so that our viewers will see our most up-to-date information.




8. Linking to Outside Websites

   
   

   Links are maintained with websites and databases whose administration and operation are outside the purview of this website. We disclaim any liability for the accuracy of content; validity of systems; effectiveness of tools or technologies; or adherence to privacy, security, accessibility, or other policies. When you follow a link to another site, you are subject to the policies of the outside website. Linking to an outside website does not constitute any explicit or implicit endorsement of the product, organization, information or services by DOE.




9. Data Rights

   
   

   Government information publicly accessible via the web is in the public domain. Such information may be freely distributed and copied, but it is requested that in any subsequent use the appropriate Federal source be acknowledged. When using OSTI websites, you may encounter documents, illustrations, photographs, or other information resources contributed or licensed by private individuals, companies, or organizations that may be protected by U.S. and foreign copyright laws. Transmission or reproduction of protected items beyond that allowed by Fair Use as defined in the copyright laws requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Outside websites are not within the purview of the Federal government and data rights policies and practices of those websites govern information contained therein.

   
   

10. Freedom of Information

    
    

    You may pursue the acquisition of information via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

    To access previously-released information requested under FOIA, go to the Oak Ridge DOE Information Center.




11. Information Quality

    
    

    As appropriate, this website complies with OMB Specific Information Quality, specifically the Guidance for Ensuring and Maximizing the Quality, Objectivity, Utility and Integrity of Information Dissemination by Federal Organization.




12. No Fear Act

    
    

    As appropriate, this website provides information in compliance with the "No Fear" Act . You may review Government-wide data pertaining to the "No Fear" Act.

    
    

13. Schedule for Posting Information

    
    

    Information is posted to this website on an intermittent basis as it is made available from a wide variety of disparate sources, unless otherwise required by law.

    
    

14. Comments Policy

    
    

    On websites where comments and submission of web links are accepted and posted, we look forward to civil discourse on a variety of science and technology information topics. We will review comments prior to posting and we reserve the right to not post comments.
    
    Preference will be given to comments and links that are specific to the subject under discussion.
    
    You are fully responsible for everything that you submit and all posted comments are in the public domain. This means that your comments could be distributed widely.
    
    You may comment anonymously. Your name, website, and email are not required.
    
    By selecting the preview button, submit button, and/or by submitting anti-spam answers, you accept these terms and conditions.

    
    

15. USAJOBS

    
    

    USAJOBS is the official online, one-stop jobsite of the U.S. federal government.




16. Grants

    
    

    Grants.gov is an online resource to find and apply for federal government grants. It is a central storehouse for information on over 1,000 grant programs and provides access to approximately $500 billion in annual awards.




17. Regulations

    
    

    Regulations.gov is an online resource for all regulations (or rulemakings) issued by U.S. government agencies. On this site, the following can be found:

    
    
    • All Federal regulations that are open for public comment (i.e., proposed rules) and closed for comment (i.e., final rules) as published in the Federal Register.
    • Many Federal agency notices published in the Federal Register.
    • Additional supporting materials, public comments, and Federal agency guidance and adjudications.



18. USA.gov

    
    

    USA.gov is an interagency initiative administered by the U.S. General Services Administration. The site provides official information and services from the U.S. government.