July 6, 1995 
 
 
 
Dr. Charles F. Kennel 
Chairman, Task Force on Observations and Data Management 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
Washington, D.C.   20546 
 
 
Dear Dr. Kennel: 
 
	We are pleased to review and approve the interagency  
Data Access System Guideline. The Guideline is an important  
effort to encourage the Committee on Environment and Natural  
Resources(CENR) agencies to coordinate environmental data  
access systems and to improve data dissemination and  
information sharing. 
 
	CENR members should quickly adopt this guideline to  
facilitate interoperable searches by worldwide users of our  
environmental and natural resources data and information. It  
is only through such standards that a broad national view  
can be developed covering the full scope of environmental  
information ranging from global change to biological  
systems, and from science to legislation to policy. 
	 
	We commend the Task Force for pursuing this important  
initiative and coordinating it with other Federal  
interagency data access systems. 
 
 
 
Sincerely, 
 
 
Robert Watson 
	White House Co-Chair, CENR 
 
D. James Baker 
	Co-Chair, CENR 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Environment and Natural Resource  
Data Access System Guideline 
 
In order to facilitate an interoperable data and information  
user search capability across all of the agencies  
participating in environment and natural resources research,  
the agencies will develop their individual data and  
information access and search systems with at least the  
following: 
 
	1.  Internet Connectivity 
 
	2.  Compliance with ANSI Z39.50/ISO 10162/10163 open 	 
		standards for information search and retrieval. 
 
1.  Internet Connectivity 
 
	Computer networks such as Internet  allow for a  
decentralized approach to information dissemination. In this  
approach, many different information sources can be  
maintained separately yet any user can choose to view them  
as a whole.  In the U.S., the Internet forms the mainstream  
for wide area networking among the research community and a  
broad spectrum of other users.  Connectivity is possible at  
a wide variety of speeds, but the goal of the CENR  
participating agencies should be at least 1 Mbps.  While  
this will not allow easy on line data transfers of very  
large files, it will allow easy user access to metadata and  
browse files using graphical user interfaces and the ability  
to search multiple data and information sources  
simultaneously. 
 
2.  Open standards for information search and retrieval. 
 
	An open systems design assures that many different  
information systems can be separately developed yet be  
interoperable when implemented. Interoperability depends on  
a stable reference, known as an application profile, that is  
openly negotiated among implementors, documented, and made 
widely known.   Using at least the ANSI Z39.50 open search  
and retrieval standards will enable users to search  
participating agency directories and on line information  
sources, regardless of format or location.  Additionally,  
users will have the option of using either free access  
software or more sophisticated commercially available  
alternatives.