# Presentation: 698197

## XML Technical Advisory GroupU.S. Environmental Protection Agency

- Federal CIO XML Working Group
- February 2002

## The Innocents

**XML Emerging as the Data Exchange Format**
**XML is web enabled**
**Major software vendors are building XML capabilities into their products**
**XML Schema specs permit data typing**

## The Proselytizers

**Need Standard Vocabularies **
**XML only provides the syntax for data exchange format, **
**Business consortia are developing XML vocabularies **
**Need own industry compatible  standards and vocabularies **

## The Evangelists

**Technology will solve the problems**
**XLST**
**Registries**
**Born Optimists**

## Martyrs

**Basis in Standards **
**Policy framework and process for naming conventions, schema design, namespaces, etc.**
**Coordinate with external standards bodies**
**Reconcile/harmonize data definitions, TAG names, XML components**

## Outline

**EPA’s XML “Partnerships”**
**XML TAG Activities **
**Issues and Concerns**

## Partnership Components

**Central Data Exchange**
**The Exchange Network**

## Central Data Exchange

**EPA’s portal for electronic reporting**
**Web Forms**
**EDI**
**Flat Files**
**XML**
**Central registration of users**
**Tiered security and access control**

## Central Data Exchange (CDX)

## Network Exchange

**Delegated Federal Programs**
**57 States and territories**
**Tribes**
**Each semi-autonomous, but with reporting requirements**
**Many developing their own electronic portals**

## XML Technical Advisory Group 

**Policy Workgroup**
**Chartered**
**Broad Participation**

## XML Technical Advisory Group

**Primary Activities**
**Policy and Guidelines Development**
**Standards Coordination**
**Registry and Repository **
**Education and Outreach**
**Support the Exchange Network**

## Policy and Guidelines

**Tag Naming Conventions **
**Guidelines and Rules for XML tag names**
**Follow emerging voluntary standards**
**Based on ISO 11179 Naming Conventions**

## Policy and Guidelines

**Overall Policy**
**Technical Specifications**
**Business Standards**
**Component Naming Conventions**
**Design Rules**
**Schema**
**Style Sheets**
**Transformation**
**Name Spaces**

**Encryption**
**Digital Signatures**
**Communications**
**Storage**
**CPP and Agreements**
**Federal Agency Interactions**
**Voluntary Standards Body**
**Internal Coordination**
**Metadata**

-   **Policy Manual**

## Policy and Guidelines

**XML Design Guidelines**
**Format for developing XML schema for data exchange**
**Promote consistent design and interoperability across Exchange Network**
**Support components**

## Policy and Guidelines ‘02

**Complete policy manual**
**Namespace**
**Metadata**
**Digital signatures and encryption**
**Additional checklists and guidance**
**Formalize “TAG Recommendations” **

## Standards Coordination

**Based on work of Superfund Contract Lab Program**
**Workgroup **
**Water**
**Air**
**Superfund/Solid Waste**
**Pesticides and Toxics**
**R&D**
**EPA Regional Offices**
**Federal and State Data Standards Council  using data set as basis for Data Standard**

## Standards Coordination ‘02

**Continue development of Environmental Data Standard and Schema**
**Harmonize ongoing collections**
**Process and guidance on tying data standards process to XML development**
**Begin core components development**

## Registry and Repository

**LMI Report “Requirements for an  XML Registry”**
**Partnering with NIST in development of pilot registry**

## Registry and Repository ‘02

**Additional features**
**Namespaces**
**Components**
**Link to EPA’s data standards registry**
**Administrative guidance **
**Security requirements**
**Permanent site and resources**

## Education and Outreach

**Sponsor training for EPA and States**
**Introduction to XML**
**DTD/Schema Development**
**XLST**
**Web Services**

## Education and Outreach ‘02

**Introductory XML**
**EPA/Network Policy framework**
**Expanded curriculum of technical training **

## Support Exchange Network ‘02

**Technical assistance to states**
**Schema harmonization**
**Data mapping to CDX data flows**
**Guidance and checklists**

## Issues and Concerns

**Underlying Agency Architecture**
**Competing Agenda’s**
**Large number of constituents **
**Resources**
**People and expertise**
**Extramural**

## Contacts

**Central Data Exchange**
- _[https://epacdx.lmi.org](https://epacdx.lmi.org/)_
**Matthew Leopard**
**202/260-2468**
- _[leopard.matthew@epa.gov](mailto:leopard.matthew@epa.gov)_
**National Environmental Information**
**Exchange Network**
- _[http://www.sso.org/ecos/eie](http://www.sso.org/ecos/eie)_
**Mary Blakslee**
**Maryb@sso.org**

## Contacts:

_**XML Technical Advisory Group**_
**Steve Vineski****	****	****Mark Crawford, LMI**
**202/260-6155****	****	****703/917-7177**
- _[vineski.steve@epa.gov](mailto:vineski.steve@epa.gov)__	__[mcrawford@lmi.org](mailto:mcrawford@lmi.org)_
_**XML Laboratory Data Workgroup**_
_**http://www.epa.gov/oerrpage/superfund/programs/clp/sedd.htm**_
**David Eng****	****	****	****Brand Niemann**
**703/603-8827****	****	****202/260-2510**
- _[eng.david@epa.gov](mailto:eng.david@epa.gov)__	__[niemann.brand@epa.gov](file:///D:/niemann.brand@epa.gov)_