Privacy Policy of The Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research, more briefly known as the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology (OFCM)
This policy covers user privacy, system security, and Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology (OFCM) information collection practices. This Privacy Policy Statement applies only to OFCM web sites. Some organizations within NOAA may have other information collection practices. You are encouraged to check Privacy Policies when going to another web site.
These World Wide Web pages are provided as a public service by the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology (OFCM).
Unless otherwise noted, all information presented on these pages is considered public information and may be distributed or copied. Use of appropriate byline/photo/image credits is requested.
Site
Management Data
Use of "cookies"
Consent to Voluntary Information Collection and Sharing
How e-mail is handled
How information is used
How long information is retained
Interaction with Children
Privacy Act System of Records
Information Protection
Conditions under which the information may be shared
with other Federal agencies
Your Rights Under the Privacy Act
Dispute Resolution
Site Management
Data:
OFCM Web servers automatically collect information for site management and for
statistical purposes. This government computer system uses software programs
to create summary statistics, which are used for such purposes as assessing
what information is of most and least interest, determining technical design
specifications, and identifying system performance or problem areas.
The use of "cookies":
OFCM does not use "persistent cookies" or other persistent tracking
technology.
Consent to Voluntary Information Collection and Sharing:
All the information users submit to OFCM is done on a voluntary basis. When
a user clicks the "Submit" button on any of the Web forms found on
OFCM's sites they are indicating voluntarily consent to the conditions outlined
in this policy. We do not collect personally identifiable information (e.g.,
name, address, phone number, e-mail address) unless you provide it. In all cases,
the information collected is used to respond to user inquiries or to provide
services requested by our users. Any information provided through one of our
Web forms is removed from Web servers within seconds, increasing the protection
for this information.
How e-mail is handled:
We use information you send us by e-mail only for the purpose for which it is
submitted (e.g., to answer a question, to send information). In addition, if
you do choose to provide information, it is only used to respond to your request
(e.g., addressing a package to send you pamphlets or booklets) or to provide
a service you are requesting (e.g., email notifications). Information we receive
by e-mail is disclosed to the public only pursuant to the laws and policies
governing the dissemination of information. However, information submitted to
OFCM becomes an agency record and therefore might be subject to a Freedom of
Information Act request.
How information is used:
The information OFCM collects is used for a variety of purposes. We make every
effort to clearly disclose at the point of collection how information is used
and allow our Web site visitor to determine whether they wish to provide the
information.
How long information is retained:
We destroy the information we collect when the purpose for which it was provided
has been fulfilled unless we are required to keep it longer by statute, policy
or both.
Interaction with Children:
OFCM offers no content specially aimed at children under 13. No personally identifiable
information is collected from these visitors unless voluntarily submitted as
a request for information or services. The information collected is used to
respond to user inquiries or to provide services requested by our users.
Privacy Act System of Records:
The OFCM does not maintain and retrieve information submitted to it based upon
personal identifiers (name, email addresses, etc.). Consequently, OFCM Web sites
do not use or collect information for any Privacy Act System of Records.
Information Protection:
For site security purposes and to ensure that this service remains available
to all users, this government computer system employs software programs to monitor
network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information,
or otherwise cause damage to the information on our Web sites. Unauthorized
attempts to upload information or change information on this service are strictly
prohibited and may be punishable under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986
and the National Information Infrastructure Protection Act.
Except for authorized law enforcement investigations, no other attempts are made to identify individual users or their usage habits. Raw data logs are used for no other purposes and are scheduled for regular destruction in accordance with National Archives and Records Administration General Schedule 20.
Conditions under which the information may be shared with other Federal
agencies:
OFCM may share information received from its Web sites with other Federal agencies.
For example, if a breach of our IT security protections were to occur, the information
collected by our servers and staff could be shared with appropriate law enforcement
and homeland security officials.
Your Rights Under the Privacy Act:
Privacy Act Reference Materials and NOAA Freedom Of Information Act.
Dispute Resolution:
If for some reason you believe this site has not adhered to these principles,
please notify the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology (OFCM) by
e-mail at ofcm.mail@noaa.gov. If our web pages are not fully in compliance with
our stated policies, they will be corrected.