1. Building A Core Set of Indicators September 27, 2004 www.epa.gov/indicators Heather Anne Case Office of Environmental Information USEPA

2. Today’s Presentation  Vision  EPA Report Framework and Approach  Challenges  Discussion Questions

3. Vision  Environmental indicators tell us about national, regional, state, and local conditions  Establish and maintain agreed upon set of indicators  Indicators deemed credible and informative by internal and external decision makers  Indicators are the basis for Agency strategic planning  Supporting data is collected and made accessible in a manner that makes them relevant to decision makers.

4. From Discovery to Refinement  Establish and maintain agreed upon set of indicators… Why a Core Set?  A focus that enables: - efficiency - scalability envisioned - reproducibility and trends - familiarity/comprehension - credibility and trust

5. Towards a “Core Set”

6. Report on the Environment Framework FrameworkExample  Chapter (Theme)Water  TopicDrinking Water  Question“What is the quality drinking water?”  Indicator(s)Pop. served by community water systems that meet all health-based standards Answer also includes studies and discussion of gaps and limitations Question driven….

7. Presenting the indicators- 2003  In general indicators- emissions, ambient conditions, exposure, and health and ecological effects  National level information whenever possible  Best available scientific information and indicators were proposed and documented  Peer review of indicators –supported by sound collection methods, data management systems, and quality assurance procedures Indicators supported by comparable, national-level data collected for more than one time period were designated “Category 1” and indicators supported by comparable data at sub-national levels or that were one-time collections were designated “Category 2” indicators

8. Refining the Indicators- 2006  Questions were posed to be answered using indicators and some research citations  A priori definition of indicator – emphasis of indicators supported by measured data – limited use of models  National and regional indicators are being proposed and documented  Peer review of indicators –Using scientific assessment factors

9. Challenges  Breadth of the report  Many stakeholders and data partners  Not the only indicators report “game in town,” e.g. CEQ National System of Indicators, other federal agency reports;  Balancing refinement with new priorities and data

10. Discussion Questions

11.  Is a core set a discrete, smaller number that best meets the needs of multiple interests or a larger set from which smaller sets are drawn?  In building a core set, how do you balance interests of multiple stakeholders?  What are criteria for selection?  How to balance strengthening/maintaining core set with new priorities and data collection?

12. Discussion Copy of presentation: E-mail Heather Case 202-566-0613 case.heather@epa.gov