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Re: NARA to Destroy LandSat Photos



One can access The Federal Register at:
http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/aces140.html      The Federal
Register will post, for lack of a better term, an announcement, regarding a
matter. It will often state a deadline for interested parties (who read the
publication) to respond to this matter. Often the time frame is a couple
years, although it can probably be a shorted period of time. It is my
understanding that if no one, or no company, or no entity comes forward, to
comment on this matter or its deadline, that matter then goes into effect
right after the deadine date. I have seen it numerous times, particularly in
the environmental or chemical areas, where I worked for a number of years.
Pharmaceutical companies and chemical companies what this publication
vigilantly. When the hard copy of The Federal Register came in, you can
believe the company toxicologist and the legal beagles had first look at it
to check for emissions proposals and the like. I guess the assumption is
that the prudent company law department or someone will monitor The Federal
Register and keep abreast of what has been proposed. Often deadlines for
environmental compiance are posted there, and companies must comply with
those announcements, or rebut them, as the case may be. It is a forum for
input from the industry should proposed guidelines be onerous, and that sort
of good stuff.  Again, I don't have lots of time, nor do most of us, to
monitor The Federal Register. However, I feel Mr. Becker has made a very
golden point in alerting all of us to this 'mechanism' that can, without our
knowledge, result in the destruction of very valuable information sources.
It would behoove the listserve to perhaps set up some sort of protocol
within its members to monitor this daily (Washington, DC work day)
publication.   Thank you, Mr. Becker, for bringing this matter to everyone's
attention

Sharon Lee Butcher
Reference Librarian
AEDC Technical Library
100 Kindel Drive, Ste C212
Arnold AFB, TN  37389-3212
931-454-4430
Fax:  931-454-5421
sharon.butcher@arnold.af.mil

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Eddie Becker [SMTP:ebecker@CNI.ORG]
> Sent: Monday, February 12, 2001 8:27 AM
> To:   ARCHIVES@LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU
> Subject:      NARA to Destroy LandSat Photos
>
> Ian Thomas uses LandSat satellite photos to track migratory birds patterns
> - which change over time and like the canary in the mine - may predict
> environmental hot zones.  Unfortunately NARA and the USGS are about to
> routinely destroy the older LandSat data collection.  Disaster may have
> been averted  since Ian, having stumbled onto the Federal Register (FR)
> destruction Notice - blew the whistle.  I would hope that NARA, could do a
> better job of letting the research community know of impending record
> destruction.  The Federal Register, is not a routine read for most folks.
>  There's just a lot of stuff to wade through.  The wise policy is for NARA
> to keyword each Federal Record entry, and set up an automated e-mail
> notice
> sot that could subscribe, under sets of keywords, to receive timely
> notices
> of the records that interest them most.  But for now, folks may be finding
> out at the last moment - like Ian - Today, Monday February 12th, is the
> last day for comments.    Eddie Becker  ebecker@cni.org
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> -----------------------------------------
> Very Urgent: Important Landsat Archive will be destroyed, please help
> by Ian Thomas 9:12pm Sat Feb 10 '01
> phone: (301)497-5636 ian_thomas@usgs.gov
> Please forward this message to all with an interest in saving and
> increasing public access to one of the most important international
> environmental datasets. If you are unfamiliar with Landsat, a very quick
> non-technical introduction to why the issue below is important can be
> found
> at the following web page:
> Earthshots: Satellite Images of Environmental Change
> http://edc.usgs.gov/earthshots/slow/tableofcontents
> Please forward this message to all with an interest in saving and
> increasing public access to one of the most important international
> environmental datasets. If you are unfamiliar with Landsat, a very quick
> non-technical introduction to why the issue below is important can be
> found
> at the following web page:
> Earthshots: Satellite Images of Environmental Change
> http://edc.usgs.gov/earthshots/slow/tableofcontents
>
>
> WHY IS THIS EMAIL URGENT?
>
> One of only two existing archives of early Landsat satellite photographs
> is
> in danger of being destroyed. The archive in question contains all data
> and
> photographs from Landsat 1, 2 & 3 satellites, taken up to the year 1978.
> The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), the current
> custodian of the data placed a notice in the U.S. Federal Register seeking
> public comment on the decision to destroy this archive.
>
> The decision to destroy the NARA Landsat archive has apparently been
> approved by the USGS National Mapping Division based on the assumption
> that
> the archive is an exact duplicate of a USGS Landsat archive. It is unclear
> how National Mapping Division came to this conclusion when there is no
> catalogue of the NARA Landsat archive. In particular, it is of great
> concern that there may be "value added" materials within the NARA Landsat
> archive that are NOT present in the USGS Landsat archive.
>
> These materials may include currently unavailable interpreted images,
> photo
> enlargements and large area mosaics that would take much labor and cost to
> recreate. In addition, the decision to rely on a single copy of these
> datasets is questionable especially considering that the storage media
> (both film and tape) is now almost three decades old and variable quality.
>
> WHAT YOU CAN DO
>
> The deadline for public comments is close of business, Monday, February
> 12,
> 2001. It is urgent that concerned scientists and members of the public
> email Marie Allen, Director of the Life Cycle Management Division at
> National Archives mailto:records.mgt@arch2.nara.gov or FAX to
> (301)-713-6852 and please express the opinion that this invaluable archive
> should not be destroyed but should in fact be opened up for greater public
> access. Please be sure to cite the following reference information in your
> email: "item 20 (N2-77-01-1) posted in the NARA notice, Federal Register,
> December 29, 2000"
>
> At a minimum your email should contain the following message:
>
> "In reference to item 20 (N2-77-01-1) Copies of satellite imagery files
> posted in the NARA notice, Federal Register, December 29, 2000. I strongly
> oppose the decision to destroy this invaluable global environmental
> dataset. Instead, I urge the National Archives to make all possible
> efforts
> to make the data in question freely available for public access. I request
> all information necessary for me to be able to fully comment further on
> the
> decisions of the National Archives with regard to this matter."
>
>
> BACKGROUND ON THE ARCHIVE
>
> In 1972 the United States launched the first of the Landsat satellites.
> Since then five other Landsat satellites have been successfully launched.
> Landsat 7 is currently taking pictures today continuing the critical
> monitoring of forests, ice sheets, agriculture, mining and other human
> activities that is so important if we are to understand more about how our
> environment is changing either from climate change or from direct human
> actions. To understand and measure environmental change you need to have
> the historic perspective.
>
> The Landsat program represents the most important remote sensing program.
> It has recorded in great detail changes in the global environment over a
> period of almost three decades. No other satellite program has achieved
> such a continuous, complete and detailed record of Earth.
>
> In 1978 the archive of photographs taken by Landsat 1, 2 & 3 was
> transferred from NASA and sent to two other agencies, the United States
> Geological Survey (USGS) and the Army Corps of Engineers. The USGS Landsat
> archive is now maintained by the National Mapping Division at the EROS
> Data
> Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The other Landsat archive (the
> archive
> now at NARA) was used by the Army Topographic Laboratory at Fort Belvoir
> and by the Defense Mapping Agency until its transfer to the National
> Archives. Although National Archives has held this Landsat archive for
> some
> years it has been inaccessible to the public. The archive is not listed in
> any public finding aid and is uncatalogued. Requests to view even sample
> materials have been denied as the material is kept in cold storage.
>
>
> AN ALTERNATIVE COURSE OF ACTION
>
> The availability of two archives presents a unique opportunity. USGS
> should
> continue to preserve its Landsat archive at the highest standards.
> Currently Landsat 1, 2 & 3 images are available from USGS through the
> Global Land Information System (GLIS) online ordering for a cost of
> $200.00
> per image (see http://edc.usgs.gov/glis/glis.html)
>
> The NARA Landsat archive should be opened up to the general public for
> direct access at National Archives or should be donated to any other
> organization willing to maintain and provide public access to what is an
> invaluable resource.
>
>
>
>
> Ian Thomas
>
> United States Geological Survey
> Biological Resources Division
> GIS & Remote Sensing Unit
> Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
> 11510 American Holly Drive
> Laurel, MD 20708-4015
> phone: (301)497-5636
> fax: (301)497-5666
> email: ian_thomas@usgs.gov
> http:\\www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov
>
>
>
> REFERENCES:
> The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
>
> Notice in the US Federal Register: December 29, 2000 (Volume 65, Number
> 251) [Page 83100-83102]
>
> From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
> [DOCID:fr29de00-111]
>
> NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION
> Records Schedules; Availability and Request for Comments
>
> AGENCY: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
> ACTION: Notice of availability of proposed records schedules; request
> for comments.
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> SUMMARY: The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
> publishes notice at least once monthly of certain Federal agency
> requests for records disposition authority (records schedules). Once
> approved by NARA, records schedules provide mandatory instructions on
> what happens to records when no longer needed for current Government
> business. They authorize the preservation of records of continuing
> value in the National Archives of the United States and the
> destruction, after a specified period, of records lacking
> administrative, legal, research, or other value. Notice is published
> for records schedules in which agencies propose to destroy records not
> previously authorized for disposal or reduce the retention period of
> records already authorized for disposal. NARA invites public comments
> on such records schedules, as required by 44 U.S.C. 3303a(a).
>
> DATES: Requests for copies must be received in writing on or before
> February 12, 2001. Once the appraisal of the records is completed, NARA
> will send a copy of the schedule. NARA staff usually prepare appraisal
> memorandums that contain additional information concerning the records
> covered by a proposed schedule. These, too, may be requested and will
> be provided once the appraisal is completed. Requesters will be given
> 30 days to submit comments.
>
> ADDRESSES: To request a copy of any records schedule identified in this
> notice, write to the Life Cycle Management Division (NWML), National
> Archives and Records Administration (NARA), 8601 Adelphi Road, College
> Park, MD 20740-6001. Requests also may be transmitted by FAX to 301-
> 713-6852 or by e-mail to mailto:records.mgt@arch2.nara.gov.
>
> Requesters must cite the control number, which appears in parentheses
>
> after the name of the agency which submitted the schedule, and must
> provide
> a mailing
> address. Those who desire appraisal reports should so indicate in their
> request.
>
> FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marie Allen, Director, Life Cycle
> Management Division (NWML), National Archives and Records
> Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001.
> Telephone: (301) 713-7110. E-mail records.mgt@arch2.nara.gov.
>
> SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Each year Federal agencies create billions
> of records on paper, film, magnetic tape, and other media. To control
> this accumulation, agency records managers prepare schedules proposing
> retention periods for records and submit these schedules for NARA's
> approval, using the Standard Form (SF) 115, Request for Records
> Disposition Authority. These schedules provide for the timely transfer
> into the National Archives of historically valuable records and
> authorize the disposal of all other records after the agency no longer
> needs them to conduct its business. Some schedules are comprehensive
> and cover all the records of an agency or one of its major
> subdivisions. Most schedules, however, cover records of only one office
> or program or a few series of records. Many of these update previously
> approved schedules, and some include records proposed as permanent.
>
> No Federal records are authorized for destruction without the
> approval of the Archivist of the United States. This approval is
> granted only after a thorough consideration of their administrative use
> by the agency of origin, the rights of the Government and of private
> persons directly affected by the Government's activities, and whether
> or not they have historical or other value.
>
> Besides identifying the Federal agencies and any subdivisions
> requesting disposition authority, this public notice lists the
> organizational unit(s) accumulating the records or indicates agency-
> wide applicability in the case of schedules that cover records that may
> be accumulated throughout an agency. This notice provides the control
> number assigned to each schedule, the total number of schedule items,
> and the number of temporary items (the records proposed for
> destruction). It also includes a brief description of the temporary
> records. The records schedule itself contains a full description of the
> records at the file unit level as well as their disposition. If NARA
> staff has prepared an appraisal memorandum for the schedule, it too
> includes information about the records. Further information about the
> disposition process is available on request.
>
> Schedules Pending
>
> [NON RELEVANT ITEMS DELETED]
>
> 20. National Archives and Records Administration, Office of Records
> Services (N2-77-01-1, 1 item, 1 temporary item). Copies of satellite
> imagery files in the custody of the National Archives that were
> accumulated by the Army Corps of Engineers between 1970 and 1978.
> Records consist of black and white satellite film and such related
> textual materials as indexes, camera specifications, and catalogs.
> Recordkeeping copies of these files held by the U.S. Geological Survey
> were previously approved for permanent retention.
>
> Original Post from the DC Independent Media Center Web
>   http://www.dc.indymedia.org/display.php3?article_id=7189
>  << File: DC Indymedia - webcast news.htm >>

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