1 The Exchange Network: A Tool for Better Environmental Management Jonathan Jacobson US Environmental Protection Agency

2 Exchange Network Vision “The Exchange Network is a partnership to support better environmental decisions through improved access to, and exchange of environmental information.”

3 What is the Exchange Network? An Internet and standards-based method for securely exchanging environmental information between partners

4 Why the Exchange Network?  A better method for data exchange among states, tribes, & US EPA  Efficient business processes to reduce operational costs  Better environmental decisions through improved data quality and access

5 How Can the Exchange Network Help Tribes? Access to environmental and health concern information –Example: methamphetamines, water quality Provide evidence to Congress to obtain funds to address environmental issues –Example: solid, hazardous wastes, clean water Share information with other agencies –Example: open dump information to EPA and the Indian Health Service Comply with federal regulations –Example: Air Quality System (AQS) data

6 Tribal Participation in Governance Exchange Network Leadership Council (ENLC) –Robert Holden, Director, Emergency Management and Radioactive Waste Programs, NCAI Network Operations Board (NOB) –Bruce Gold, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission Network Partnership & Resources Group (NPRG) –Angie Reed, Penobscot Tribe Network Technical Group (NTG) –Tony Hartrich, Quinault Tribe

7 EN Grants: Current Status Eighth year of Grant Program FY 2008 awards completed September 2008 –$13.3 million awarded in total –$1.8 million awarded to 8 tribes, including 3 new tribes FY 2009 Grants Currently in Processing –$11.2 million to be awarded in total –$2 million to be awarded to 8 tribes –Selection letters will be going out in the next few weeks –Final awards expected in July/August

8 Tribal Grants and Exchange Network Participation To date: 100 Tribal Grants (through 2008) have been awarded ($15.1 M Total) ~ 58 tribes have received grants ~ 28 tribes intend to use the Network to exchange information Eight tribes have established nodes (data exchange hardware/software) Several tribes are close to having working nodes

9 Tribal Exchange Network Partners Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians Samish Indian Tribe Yurok Tribe Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Tribes (Wind River) Salt River Pima Maricopa India Community Tribe Navajo Nation Cherokee Nation St. Regis Mohawk Tribe

10 Open Dump Inventory Started by Cherokee Nation with other Tribes, EPA Regional, and HQ assistance Primary mechanism for reporting open dump information to EPA and the Indian Public Health Service The Open Dump Data Flow is an eligible Grant Proposal activity

11 Water Quality Exchange Used by states and tribes to report water quality monitoring data –Physical, chemical & fish tissue data –Capable of handling biological data WQX feeds directly to the publicly-accessible national data warehouse ─ Yurok, Wind River, St. Regis Mohawk Tribes tested WQX

12 Air Quality System - AQS Handles air quality data Permits data exchanges from Tribes to EPA and among Tribes Allows public access (with tribal permission)

13 Climate Change Reporting US EPA to use Clean Air Act authority to: –Publish new rule by June 2009 requiring mandatory greenhouse gas emissions reporting at appropriate thresholds Tribal/State/EPA Agreement: –Exchange Network to be used for reporting greenhouse gases from industry to EPA to states, tribes

14 Montana’s MethNet Data Elements: –Location –Property Owner –Meth Cooking Method –Chemicals on Site –Impacts to Structures & Property Benefits: –Improved communication & data access –Timely and accurate reporting –More informed public –Improved environmental protection MethNet will connect: –Department of Justice –Department of Environmental Quality –Department of Public Health & Human Services

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16 Exchange Network Basics How do you…?

17 Resources and Contacts EPA Exchange Network Exchange Network Exchange Network Coordinator Robert Holden: Tony Hartrich: Angie Reed: Jonathan Jacobson: Karl Alvarez: Michael Beaulac: