NASA Procedures and Guidelines
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NPR 8621.1 Eff. Date: June 02, 2000 Cancellation Date: February 11, 2004	NASA Procedures and Guidelines for Mishap Reporting, Investigating, and Recordkeeping
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It is NASA policy to make timely release of information from NASA mishap investigation reports, as appropriate, consistent with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a). (See NPD 8621.1 ,"NASA Mishap Reporting and Investigating Policy.")

1.2 Procedures (Applies to investigation boards or other investigations with media attention)

1.2.1 NASA will make available to the news media and public the full report (excluding any privileged information) of a mishap investigation. However, it is the option of the Associate Administrator for Public Affairs in conjunction with the mishap investigation Chairperson, the Appointing Official, and the General Counsel to determine if a full report or a summary only will be released. Normally, a news release will be issued summarizing the results of the mishap investigation. In some cases, a press conference may be conducted.

1.2.2 The appropriate public affairs office will issue the news release within 5 workdays of the formal Headquarters approval of the full report. The report will be made available (but not necessarily reproduced and distributed) at the same time.

1.2.3 Advice of the General Counsel is required before issuance of mishap report releases to avoid inadvertent publication of information which may be restricted by statute, be privileged, or have a bearing upon a current or prospective lawsuit in which the government could be involved.

1.2.4 Regarding the Office of Public Affairs involvement in the activities of any NASA mishap investigation:

1.2.4.1 When an investigation board is formed, a public affairs advisor to the board will be appointed by the Associate Administrator for Public Affairs. This appointment authority may be delegated to the Center public affairs director for type B and C investigations.

1.2.4.2 The public affairs advisor will attend board meetings, have access to all investigative material, travel with the board, and advise the board chairperson and members on the release of information.

1.2.4.3 The public affairs advisor will prepare a press release to accompany the investigation report when it is forwarded to the official who convened the board.

1.2.4.4 When the Approving Official approves the report, the Associate Administrator for Public Affairs will assume that appropriate coordination and concurrence regarding the release and/or summary have been obtained and the news release will be made as noted above.

1.2.4.5 Generally the news release on the report will be made simultaneously at Headquarters and the appropriate Center.

1.3 Responsibility

1.3.1 The Associate Administrator for Public Affairs is responsible for the following:

1.3.1.1 Determining the method of release and procedures concerning public release of mishap investigation reports by NASA Headquarters.

1.3.1.2 Determining whether a mishap report, whatever its origin, will be issued from NASA Headquarters or the cognizant NASA Center.

1.3.1.3 Establishing guidelines for NASA Headquarters and NASA Centers regarding release of mishap investigation reports.

1.3.2 When the release is made by the cognizant NASA Center, the Center public affairs director will be the source of information on the mishap investigation report.

1.3.3 Release will be coordinated with the General Counsel, appropriate NASA Headquarters officials, and NASA Center Directors.

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