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Requesting Data From the TSS
TSS collects cave and karst data for Texas to support exploration,
scientific, educational, and conservation purposes. That information is
generally available to responsible persons and organizations but to meet
its responsibility to cavers and cave owners who have trusted TSS with
their cave data, TSS reserves the right not to distribute certain information
if it could result in the exploitation or degradation of cave or karst
resources. As a result, requests for TSS data are into two types, depending on
the type and amount of sensitive information that is requested.
Types of Data Request
The casual request
will usually be made by members of the caving community. The
formal request will usually be made by agencies,
consultants and organizations. There is a link at the top and
bottom of this page listing the TSS
requirements for a formal data request.
Casual Data Requests
Most cavers will almost exclusively use the first type, which TSS
calls a casual data request. Casual requests are those where the release
of the requested data would not likely pose a risk of harm to caves, karst
features, their contents, or their owners and can be made and responded
to orally. If you are a caver looking for information on a cave or a few
caves and need the locations and owner information, you can call, e-mail or write
TSS and TSS will generally consider such a request a low risk of harm to
caves, owners, and cavers, and will provide the information. This assumes
the cave is not highly sensitive to visitation and you seem responsible
and competent enough to safely visit the cave.
How does TSS know who is responsible and competent?
The same way virtually all cavers do when asked for caving information. We
either know the person making the request or contact cavers who know the person.
If that person does not seem to have the skills to safely navigate the cave or
if TSS can’t find anyone who knows the person, then TSS will try to redirect the
person to a cave that is safer and less vulnerable to impacts or completely turn
down the request. If the person is responsible and cares about caves, then he or
she will understand and appreciate TSS’ hesitance in fulfilling the request.
With a little time in situations like these, TSS has built trusting and valued
relationships with previously unfamiliar cavers.
Formal Data Requests
The formal data request is used where the volume of sensitive data
requested is potentially significant and/or where a greater degree of assurance
is desired from the requestor that the data won’t be misused. This request
is most commonly used by agencies and consulting firms working in karst
areas who want information on the caves they may encounter. TSS requires
that their request be in writing and provide information such as the requestor’s
name, address, and qualifications, and a description of the data requested,
explanation on the intended use of the data, assurance that the data will
not be used to “directly or indirectly harm, degrade or destroy caves,
karst features, or their contents, nor to harass or otherwise disturb the
owners of caves and karst features,” promise not to publish sensitive data,
and an agreement to provide TSS a copy of the resulting data or report
when the work is complete. TSS has successfully executed several formal
requests. The full procedure for making
a formal data request is provided here:
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