Vision for Environmental Information Management Wendy Cleland-Hamnett, Deputy Director Office of Information Collection US EPA Office of Environmental Information January 9, 2001

Overview Where we are now EPA’s Vision How EPA is working to achieve that vision Why we are here today

Our Environmental Information Legacy Separate environmental media legislation Separate program regulations & procedures Separate data repositories Incremental approaches to change Equals barriers to effective and efficient collection and use of environmental data

State/EPA Drivers for Information Reform Federal Legislation/ Mandates  Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA) of 1998  E-Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (E- SIGN) of 2000 Resource Issues Demand for Integration Burden Reduction/Customer Service Improved Data Quality

EPA’s Vision for Environmental Information Management Improved Collection, Management, and Use of Environmental Information through... Efficient data collection and exchange Integration of environmental information Improved access and analysis

State/EPA Principles for Information Management Data collected should have a specific and demonstrable use Share core environmental information based on compatible data standards and system design Leverage and share existing and future state and federal IT investments Share information while recognizing need for transparency and respect in use and dissemination Improve collection, management, and sharing of environmental information to achieve our respective and shared environmental goals/priorities

EPA and the States Working Together To... Manage information in new ways  Establishment of New Information Office Leverage State & EPA knowledge, experience, and resources Build the infrastructure Work to achieve better data standards and integration

State/EPA Progress State/EPA Information Management Workgroup (IMWG) EPA’s Information Integration Initiative (I-3) The National Environmental Information Exchange Network

Major Activities for Office of Information Collection Increased Outreach to our State Partners and Stakeholders Data Quality  Integrated error correction program  Data quality strategic plan Information Policies (e.g. CBI, FOIA) Burden Reduction Data Standards Efforts Federal Registry System Cross- Media Electronic Reporting and Record-keeping Rule CROMERRR) Central Data Exchange

Why Are We Here Today To continue to push the envelope and explore the challenges state and federal government faces in this new world of information management; To share ideas; discuss complex legal and technical issues; explore potential solutions; and To listen to and learn from our state colleagues.