Privacy Policy

Last Updated: 2026

Introduction

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect information when you use the NEXUS Public Comment Portal (the "Portal"). This policy applies to all information collected through the Portal and any related services.

Information We Collect

Information You Provide

When you submit a public comment through the Portal, we may collect:

  • Comment Content: The text of your comment or uploaded files
  • Identification Information:
    • If you choose to identify yourself: First name, last name
    • If you choose to remain anonymous: No personal identifying information
    • If you choose to represent an organization: Organization name
  • Project Information: The project ID and name associated with your comment
  • Submission Metadata: Date and time of submission, submission method (text or file upload)

Automatically Collected Information

When you visit the Portal, we may automatically collect:

  • Technical Information: IP address, browser type, device type, operating system
  • Usage Information: Pages visited, time spent on pages, click patterns
  • Cookies and Tracking: We use Google reCAPTCHA v3 to protect against spam and abuse. This service may collect information about your interaction with the Portal. For more information, see Google's Privacy Policy.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

  • Process and record your public comments on NEPA projects
  • Analyze comments using AI-powered tools to identify themes, concerns, and recommendations
  • Improve the Portal's functionality and user experience
  • Ensure security and prevent fraud or abuse
  • Comply with legal obligations and respond to lawful requests
  • Generate aggregated, non-identifiable statistics for reporting purposes

Public Records

Important: Comments submitted through this Portal become part of the public record in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This means:

  • Your comments, including any personal information you provide, may be publicly accessible
  • Comments may be subject to FOIA requests
  • Comments may be included in project documentation and decision records
  • If you choose to remain anonymous, your comment will still be part of the public record but without personal identifying information

Data Sharing and Disclosure

We may share your information:

  • With Project Managers: Comments are shared with Forest Service personnel responsible for the project
  • Public Disclosure: As part of the public record, comments may be disclosed to the public
  • Service Providers: With third-party service providers who assist in operating the Portal, including cloud hosting services and AI analysis tools. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information
  • Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or government regulation
  • Security: To protect the rights, property, or safety of the Forest Service, users, or others

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

  • Encryption of data in transit and at rest
  • Secure cloud infrastructure with regular security updates
  • Access controls limiting who can view or modify data
  • Regular security assessments and monitoring

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Your Choices

You have the following choices regarding your information:

  • Anonymous Comments: You may choose to submit comments anonymously, in which case we will not collect personal identifying information
  • Identification Level: You can choose to identify as an individual, organization, or remain anonymous
  • Browser Settings: You can control cookies through your browser settings, though this may affect Portal functionality

Note: Once submitted, comments become part of the public record and cannot be deleted or modified except in exceptional circumstances and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Children's Privacy

The Portal is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately.

Third-Party Services

The Portal uses the following third-party services:

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of the Portal after such changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact:

USDA Forest Service
NEXUS Program
Email: nexus@usda.gov
Website: www.fs.usda.gov

For questions about specific projects or comments, please contact the project manager listed on the project detail page.

Additional Resources