United States

Environmental Protection

Agency

Research and

Development

(8101)

EPA/600/R-97/086

August 1997

Strategic Plan for the

Office of Research and

Development

Information Management

Component

Printed on paper that contains at least 20% postconsumer fiber.
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT iii

Contents

Glossary/List of Acronyms ............................................................................. v

Summary ..................................................................................................... vii

Section 1: Introduction ................................................................................. 1

ORD Success Factors ....................................................................................................................................... 1

ORD Information Management Strategy Group ................................................................................................ 2

External Review ............................................................................................................................................... 2

Coordination of This Strategic Plan ................................................................................................................... 2

The Information Technology Management Reform Act................................................................................. 3

Next Steps....................................................................................................................................................... 3

Section 2: ORDs Vision, Mission, and Goals for

Information Management ........................................................... 5

Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 5

Vision Statement.............................................................................................................................................. 5

Mission Statement ........................................................................................................................................... 6

Goals ............................................................................................................................................................... 6

Section 3: ORD Information Management Needs,

Opportunities, and Benefits ....................................................... 9

Needs ............................................................................................................................................................. 9

ORD User Council ...................................................................................................................................... 9

ORD Stakeholders .................................................................................................................................... 10

ORD Senior Executives ............................................................................................................................. 11

ORD Program Managers and Administrative Personnel .............................................................................. 12

ORD Scientists and Engineers ................................................................................................................... 13

Opportunities and Benefits ............................................................................................................................ 14

Section 4: Strategy for Managing ORDs Information ................................17

Intoduction.................................................................................................................................................... 17

Strategic vs. Implementation Plans ........................................................................................................... 17

Planning: Strategy Component 1 ................................................................................................................... 19

ORDs Strategic Planning Process ............................................................................................................. 19

Planning for Information Management ...................................................................................................... 19

Integrating IM Planning Into ORD Research Planning Documents .............................................................. 20

QA Program Interface ............................................................................................................................... 20

Centralized Coordination of Data Management ......................................................................................... 22
iv INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT

Awareness: Strategy Component 2................................................................................................................ 22

Access: Strategy Component 3 ..................................................................................................................... 23

ORD ScienceNet ...................................................................................................................................... 23

ORD Intranets .......................................................................................................................................... 23

LAN/WAN ................................................................................................................................................. 24

Status of Access Components .................................................................................................................. 26

Incentives for Sharing Data ....................................................................................................................... 26

Usability: Strategy Component 4 ................................................................................................................... 26

Security and Access Control...................................................................................................................... 27

Training .................................................................................................................................................... 28

Standards ................................................................................................................................................. 28

User Support Services .............................................................................................................................. 28

Navigational Aids ...................................................................................................................................... 28

Policies .................................................................................................................................................... 29

Specialized Tools ...................................................................................................................................... 29

Specialized Information Resources............................................................................................................ 31

ORD Science Information Management Coordination Board ........................................................................... 31

Timing ...................................................................................................................................................... 31

External Coordination ............................................................................................................................... 32

Appendix A: The Information Technology Management Reform Act

of 1996 (ITMRA)..................................................................... 35

Appendix B: ORDs Strategic Research Planning Process .......................... 37

Appendix C: Inventory of ORD-Related Databases.................................... 41

Appendix D: The Office of Research and Development Organization........51
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT v

Glossary/List of Acronyms

architecture In the context of an information management system, architecture means the overall logical and

physical definition of the system.

browser An electronic tool for reviewing information in a database. Also referred to as a database

browser.

catalog A set of detailed documentation about a number of data sets that helps users determine which

data sets may be useful for a particular application. A catalog provides much more detailed

information than a directory.

CBEP EPAs Community-Based Environmental Protection initiative.

CD-ROM Literally, Compact Disc-Read-Only Memory. A type of compact disc that is used to store

software, databases, and reusable information.

CENR The White House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.

CIO Chief Information Officer; the person who has been officially designated as having the overall

responsibility and authority for information management activities, policies, and direction in an

organization.

client/server Use of distributed client computer systems linked to a central server in order to share

common software tools/applications and capability.

data set A logical meaningful grouping or collection of similar or related data.

DCD directory/catalog/dictionary.

dictionary A set of basic information about individual components of a single data set. For example, a

dictionary for a scientific data set would include format information and a short scientific

description of the parameters or variables in the data set.

directory A set of information about a large number of data and information products that informs users

which products are available and generally what they contain.

GIS Geographic Information System; a collection of computer hardware, software, and geographic

data designed to capture, store, update, manipulate, analyze, and display geographically

referenced data.

GPRA The Government Performance and Results Act.

hypertext A form of electronic document that contains links to other electronic documents. Typically, users

activate the links by clicking on highlighted portions of their screen. This instantly displays the

screen for the linked document.

IM Information management.

Internet International Communications Network.
Glossary/List of Acronyms

vi INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT

Intranet A limited access network that uses the Internet to link computers together. Access is limited to

those individuals whose computers are on the Intranet network.

ITMRA Information Technology Management Reform Act of 1996.

Java A computer language for general purpose programming. Primarily used to write interactive

Internet applications.

LAN Local Area Network; a set of computers within a particular location (typically a building or part

of a building) that have been physically connected together to enable shared communication

and resources, such as printing, files, and dial-out capabilities.

LIPs Laboratory Implementation Plans; detailed planning documents prepared by ORD Laboratories

for all research to be conducted in-house or under a contract or cooperative agreement. Each

LIP provides detailed information on the tasks to be conducted under a specific research

project, the resources needed, and the research products that will be generated.

metadata Data or information that describe a set of data or information. For example, scientific metadata

describe how, when, and where the scientific data were collected.

model Mathematical or physical representation of data or a system that accounts for all or some of its

known properties.

NASA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

NOAA The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

object A data or information product. For example, objects in ORDs ScienceNet may include data sets,

databases, projects, analytical products, and documents.

OIRM EPAs Office of Information Resources Management.

OMIS ORD Management Information System; an ORD-wide integrated computerized management

information system containing several modules for planning, financial management, project

tracking, and human resources management.

QAPPs Quality Assurance Project Plans; research planning documents, developed to ensure that data

of the appropriate type and quality will be generated.

ScienceNet The name ORD has selected for its Internet-based network of publicly available ORD science

and engineering data and information. The ORD ScienceNet will be ORDs home page and

front door on the Internet. It will contain printed documents, reports, and journal articles, as

well as databases, data sets, models, and software applications. ORD hopes that the ORD

ScienceNet will catalyze the creation of two larger scientific information networks: an EPA-wide

ScienceNet and a broader U.S. ScienceNet developed collaboratively by EPA and other federal

research agencies.

server See client/server.

STAR Science To Achieve Results; ORDs external research grants program.

USGS U.S. Geological Survey.

WAN Wide Area Network; a group of Local Area Networks that have been connected together

independently of the Internet to enable shared communication and resources, such as printing,

files, and dial-out capabilities.

WWW World Wide Web; a hypertext system for finding and accessing Internet resources.
Summary

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT vii

Summary

This document, the Information Management Component of the Office of Research

and Developments (ORDs) Strategic Plan,

describes a consistent, organizationwide

approach for efficiently planning for, collecting,

documenting, manipulating, exchanging, archiving,

and communicating ORDs research data and science

information products.

As the science arm of the Agency, the results of ORD

research provide the scientific foundation for environmental decision-making at EPA. With increasingly complex and multidisciplinary environmental

research problems and programs, a new level of

interaction and collaboration is required between

different fields, specialties, scientists, and organizations that formerly may have operated independently. ORDs success as a federal-level R&D

organization within this changing environment is

defined by two factors:

n The scientific quality of our R&D.

n The degree to which our many EPA and external

stakeholders and research partners have open

access to and can use the information and data

we generate.

ORDs IM Strategic Plan is structured around four

themes that provide a robust framework for transforming ORD into a state-of-the-art information

provider:

n Planning for information management.

n Making potential users aware that information

exists.

n Making the information accessible.

n Making the information usable.

The strategic approach is comprehensive, offering a

solution to ORDs wide range of information management needs, and addresses both paper and

electronic information; interoperability and data

management issues; policies and standards; data

users and user needs; and electronic information

technologies.

Central to this information management framework

is the creation of an Internet-based ORD ScienceNet,

the front door to ORDs scientific information.

Through ScienceNet, a wide range of usersincluding researchers and data managers at other federal

agencies, extramural scientists at all kinds of nongovernment laboratories, and the public at large

will be able to search for, access, and download data

and information, as well as aggregate, manipulate,

and analyze downloaded data sets using a variety of

tools available via the World Wide Web. The ability

to aggregate data may particularly aid environmental

decision-makers, who often must synthesize large

amounts of information during the decision-making

process. For scientific data, users will be able to

access metadata that describe the context and

assumptions under which the data were collected.

Also, users will be able to link from the ScienceNet

website to other information or scientific databases

(such as STORET and Envirofacts) via hypertext

links.

The newly formed ORD Science Information

Management Coordination Board will begin developing implementation plans for this strategy in

August 1997. The Board will also be recommending

an appropriate FY 1998 and 1999 budget to support

high-priority ORD science information systems

infrastructure.

Successful implementation of this strategy will move

ORD from an organization that uses information

technology for administration to one that uses it to

further its scientific mission.
Introduction

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT 1

The Power of Information: Quality information is

central to all aspects of environmental decisionmaking. Government, businesses, and citizens

need information about prevailing and projected

environmental conditions and trends; about the

effects of pollution; about the success of mitigation

strategies; and about the costs and benefits of these

strategies. Businesses need quality information to

identify opportunities to prevent pollution and

save money. Citizens need access to information

to participate in decision-making in a meaningful

and informed manner. Alternative performancebased systems of environmental protectionsuch

as facility-, sector-, and community-based

approachescan only succeed if high-quality

information is available and can be easily accessed.

President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al

Gore, Reinventing Environmental Regulation, March 16, 1995.

Section 1:

Introduction

Section 1:

Introduction

The Office of Research and Development

(ORD) of the U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA) is unique among scientific

institutions in this country in combining

research, analysis, and integration of scientific and

engineering information across the full spectrum of

health and ecological issues and across both risk

assessment and risk management. ORD is responsible for leadership in science at EPA and for the bulk

of EPAs R&D work. The results of ORD research

provide the scientific foundation for environmental

decision-making at EPA. They also are used by other

government agencies, academia, nongovernment

organizations, and the private sector for environmental science and management purposes at local,

state, regional, national, and international levels.

ORD Success Factors

ORDs success as a federal-level R&D organization is

defined by two factors:

n The scientific quality of our R&D.

n The degree to which our many EPA and external

stakeholders have open access to and can use the

information and data we generate.1

The recent explosion of tools and systems for information management and disseminationrelational

databases, client/server computing, the Internet and

World Wide Web, and compact disks, for example

offer extraordinary opportunities to enhance both

the quality and application of ORD science. As never

before, effective information management has the

potential to:

n Increase ORDs R&D efficiency, quality, and

accountability, sharpen the focus and value of our

research, and catalyze rich collaborations with

leading environmental researchers around the

world.

n Vastly enlarge the constituency and potential

applications for the data and information generated by ORD research. Recent technological

advances make it possible for ORD to provide

more usable information and data of documented

quality, to more customers in more compelling

formats, in a more timely manner, and at a lower

cost than ever before.

1

Throughout this strategy document, the term “ORD information” is

used to signify the entire spectrum of ORD’s science and administrative

data and information.
Introduction

2 INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT

ORD Information Management Strategy

Group

In 1995, ORD instituted dramatic changes to transform itself into a world-class research institution to

support risk-based decision-making. Specifically, we

restructured our organization and instituted a new

research planning process based on the widely

utilized risk assessment/risk management paradigm.

Our new risk-based planning process is described in

our Strategic Plan for the Office of Research and Development, published for the first time in May 1996, and

updated in April 1997.

To further enhance the quality and value of our

work, we now have charted a course for ORD to take

strategic advantage of the powerful information

management opportunities enabled by recent

technological developments. In February 1996, at the

request of ORDs Deputy Assistant Administrator for

Science, ORD created an Information Management

Strategy Group consisting of representatives from all

of ORDs Laboratories and Centers, the EPA

Administrators Office, and the EPA Office of Information Resources Management (see inside back

cover). This group was charged with developing an

innovative and coherent strategic plan for information management in ORD. This document, which is

a formal addendum to ORDs Strategic Plan, sets

forth that strategy.

Written for ORD staff and our EPA and external

stakeholders, this plan provides a clear and practical

blueprint for transforming ORD into a state-of-theart information provider. This strategy is firmly

grounded on a set of fundamental economic, technological, and strategic principles to ensure that ORDs

approach to information management will be

realistic, successful, and take maximum advantage of

available resources and opportunities.

The plan begins by defining a vision, mission, and

goals for ORD information management (Section 2)

and examining the needs of ORD staff and stakeholders (Section 3). Based on these needs, the plan

sets forth a four-part strategy for managing information and defines a number of specific actions ORD

will take to implement the strategy (Section 4).

Finally, this document will guide detailed implementation planning, which will begin in late summer,

1997. A newly formed ORD Science Information

Management Coordination Board, composed of

senior information officers from each ORD Laboratory and Center and chaired by a member of ORDs

Executive Council, will initially focus on:

n Development of plans for implementation of this

strategy; and

n Recommendations for appropriate allocation of

resources to be set aside in FY 1998 and 1999 to

support high-priority ORD science information

systems infrastructure.

2

It will be important for the new ORD Science Information Management

Coordination Board to continue these efforts, by coordinating

implementation planning with relevant activities and organizations

outside of ORD (Section 3).

n Build on and coordinate ORDs existing information management capabilities.

n Be ORD-wide and flexible (rather than monolithic or centralized).

n Minimize the cost and disruption to ORDs

current operations.

n Be integrated with Agency-wide information

management planning.

n Take advantage of rapidly evolving information

management tools.

n Leverage resources from other agencies.

Strategic Principles for ORD

Information Management

External Review

On March 20, 1997, an outside team of experienced

information systems managers (drawn from NASA,

NOAA, USGS, CENR, and EPAs OIRM) conducted a

one-day review of this strategy. The review committee stated that they were very impressed with the

quality and commitment within ORD to this effort,

and made a number of insightful comments and

suggestions for refining our information management planning and implementation. Their recommendations have been incorporated into this strategy.

Coordination of This Strategic Plan2

Both ORD and the Agency as a whole already have

made significant investments in information management systems. This strategy builds on those

efforts by proposing an approach based on organizing and enhancing existing ORD and EPA systems

and resources.

The proposed approach is also comprehensive,

serving as a unifying plan of action for managing all

levels and types of ORD informationfrom the
Introduction

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT 3

scientific data and information resulting from ORDs

in-house or extramural research (e.g., raw data

collected at field sites, health or ecological risk

assessments, aggregated data sets, research plans) to

the administrative information needed to manage

ORDs research (e.g., resource data, grant award

information, Laboratory Implementation Plans).

In addition, this strategy has been coordinated and is

consistent with relevant organizations and related

activities, such as the Agency Information Resources

Management Strategic Plan and the new Office of

Planning, Analysis, and Accountability. It is also

responsive to the Government Performance and

Results Act (GPRA) and the Information Technology

Management Reform Act, which was signed into law

in February 1996 and requires a fundamental change

in the way government agencies perform information management.

The Information Technology Management

Reform Act

The Information Technology Management Reform

Act (ITMRA) of 1996 establishes a set of information

technology acquisition and management requirements for government agencies.

These requirements, summarized in Appendix A, are

designed to maximize the value of government

investments in information technology while minimizing the risk.

One ITMRA requirement is that EPA establish a

Chief Information Officer for the Agency (currently

the Acting Assistant Administrator for Administration and Resources Management), responsible for

ensuring Agency-wide compliance with ITMRA.

Concomitantly, ORD must ensure that its IM activities and systems conform with the ITMRA requirements. Essentially, this means approaching each

potential information technology investment as a

business case and apply rigorous cost-benefit analyses to it.

In response to ITMRA, EPA already has:

n Initiated an Agency-wide Strategic Information

Technology Architecture Plan process.

n Established a Capital Planning and Investment

Control Strategic Project Committee to define

EPAs process for capital planning and investment

control, determine best practices, and implement

a new method of evaluating information technology investments, as required by ITMRA.

To keep pace with and help shape these developments, ORD must proceed without delay to participate in these efforts.

Next Steps

The time to act is now. Other EPA programs and

offices are currently exploring new information

management concepts, such as electronic permitting,

reporting and pesticide registration, and virtual

government pilot projects are being discussed with

other federal agencies to develop better interagency

connections. At this critical juncture, ORD has the

opportunity to lead the Agency in the development

of a coordinated information network for science

an ORD ScienceNet (described in Section 4)at a

time when the need for defensible and credible

environmental research information has never been

greater. Given that so much is now possible in

electronic networking and publishing, this is an

exciting time for ORD to make dramatic progress by

leapfrogging over obsolete technologies and

approaches for information management and into

cutting edge systems that hold dramatic promise for

enhancing both ORDs and the Agencys stature as a

world-class environmental institution.
ORDs Vision, Mission, and Goals for Information Management

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT 5

Many of EPAs scientific data sets are either

incomplete, obsolete, or missing altogether, a

problem that extends across all media areas.

These problems have made it difficult for the

Agency to conduct scientifically based risk

assessments and to measure the results of

environmental programs. The Agencys

problems in obtaining quality data are

exacerbated by difficulties in managing the

data that are available. In particular, EPAs

data management systems have been

designed to track or manage information

about environmental conditions and results

for each environmental medium, thus

making scientific assessments of risk across

media cumbersome and costly.

Peter F. Guerrero, GAO, May 12, 1995,

testimony before the Senate Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent

Agencies.

Introduction

The evolution of environmental science in

general and ORDs program in particular, is

distinguished by several trends that have

important implications for information

management. First, research problems and programs

are becoming increasingly multidisciplinary, requiring collaborations and interaction between different

fields and specialties that formerly may have progressed independently. Second, environmental

science in the U.S. is benefiting from growing

coordination and partnering among multiple federal

agencies, each of which is bringing its own resources

and research communities to contribute to more

integrated federal efforts. Third, ORDs development of a broader extramural component to its

research efforts, e.g., through the Science To Achieve

Results (STAR) program of research grants, means

that the community of scientists who are playing key

roles in many research programs now are located at

many different institutions in addition to ORDs own

laboratories. And finally, there is a growing interest

on the part of researchers who are not directly

involved in the research programs for which data are

initially produced, and on the part of the general

public, to have access to EPA data sets. The consequence of all these trends is that ORDs approach to

IM must place a priority on making data openly

available to a wide range of users, including researchers and data managers at other federal agencies, extramural scientists at all kinds of non-government laboratories, and the public at large.

In its 1996 Strategic Plan, ORD set forth a new

organizational vision, mission, and goals to provide

the framework for risk-based research planning.

Similarly, ORD has developed a vision, mission, and

goals for information management. This framework

is designed to ensure that ORD manages information

in the way that will best support risk-based research

planning and the new trends in environmental

decision-making. As described below, the IM framework directly parallels and supports ORDs broader

organizational vision and mission.

Vision Statement

ORDs vision for information management is based

on the key role that ORD science plays within EPA,

and within the broader context of our nations

environmental research agenda. Building upon

Section 2:

ORDs Vision,

Mission, and

Goals for

Information

Management

Section 2:

ORDs Vision,

Mission, and

Goals for

Information

Management
ORDs Vision, Mission, and Goals for Information Management

6 INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT

ORDs organizational vision statementORD will

provide the scientific foundation to support EPAs mission

ORD will likewise support the Agencys mission

by conforming to its vision for information management:

ORDs mission is to perform research and development

n ORDs IM mission is to make internal and

external stakeholders aware of and able to access

and use the data and information generated by

ORDs research and development.

ORDs mission is to provide technical support

n ORDs IM mission is to provide research information and supporting electronic communications

to customers in a manner that meets world-class

standards for quality of content and delivery.

ORDs mission is to integrate scientific research

n ORDs IM mission is to foster interactive communication, collaboration, and information sharing

with scientific partners.

ORDs mission is to provide scientific leadership

n ORDs IM mission is to provide leadership in the

Agencys use of information technology for

science.

The parallel structure clearly indicates how ORD will

use information management to support its organizational mission and reflects ORDs critical role as an

information provider.

Goals

This strategy is structured around four themes that

provide a robust framework for effective ORD

information management:

n PlanningIM planning must be an integral

component of ORD research planning to ensure that

the information generated by all of ORDs

research projects can be made available to

potential users.

n AwarenessOnce information is available,

stakeholders need to be aware that it exists.

n AccessibilityThen, they need access to the

information.

n UsabilityFinally, the information must be

usable.

These four themes form the basis for a set of broad,

customer-oriented IM goals (Table 2-1) to fulfill

ORDs IM mission. Section 4 describes a strategy to

achieve these goals.

At the same time, ORD will increase its capacity to

exchange environmental information with and

integrate the work of ORDs scientific partners,

including EPAs Program and Regional Offices,

academia, the private sector, and other government

agencies.

Mission Statement

As EPAs science arm, ORD has a clear role to identify

and provide defensible and credible data and

information. Such information is critical to achieving

the Agencys mission of protecting human health

and the environment. Effective environmental

decisions depend on scientific and engineering data

that are accurate, reliable, and adequate for their

intended use (see QA Program Interface). And

defensible environmental decisions are backed up by

documentation of both the science data and the risk

assessment procedures and analytical methods that

were used to develop them. ORD plays a leadership

role in developing these tools and information and in

providing, coordinating, and exchanging information

with decision-makers inside and outside the Agency.

ORD also supports Agency-wide internal information and data needs for strategic planning, budgeting, and accountability.

The ORD IM mission statement parallels the fourcomponent structure of ORDs overall mission

statement, set forth in the Strategic Plan for ORD:

ORD will provide timely and reliable scientific

data to support EPAs mission, and will exchange environmental information with the

public and other stakeholders.

ORDs

Information Management Vision

The ORD information management vision statement

provides a standard against which the future ORD

information management environment can be

judged. By living up to this standard, ORD will

support the Agencys mission and will also serve as a

public resource for reliable scientific, engineering,

and risk assessment/risk management information.
ORDs Vision, Mission, and Goals for Information Management

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT 7

P s lanning A s warenes A y cces Usabilit

ORD will integrate IM

planning into its research

planning process to

ensure that all of ORD's

research information can

be made available to

potential users in a

timely, effective, and

efficient manner.

ORD will provide the

awareness tools and

services needed to make

its internal and external

stakeholders aware of

ORD's information.

ORD will provide the

communication paths

and equipment that allow

internal and external

stakeholders access to

ORD's information.

ORD will provide the

policies and standards,

training, user tools, and

planning needed to make

ORD's information usable

to internal and external

stakeholders.

Table 2-1. ORDs Long-Term Goals for Information Management
ORD Information Management Needs, Opportunities, and Benefits

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT 9

Scientists can now perform environmental research that increases our

understanding of the Earth system at

all spatial scales, enhances resource

management and environmental

decision-making, and improves our

capabilities for predicting changes in

the environment. Over the past

decade, in particular, the observational, computational, and communications technologies have enabled the

scientific community to understand a

broad range of interdisciplinary

environmental research and assessment programs.

The National Research Council,

Finding the Forest in the Trees.

Needs

ORD currently employs almost 1,900

scientists, engineers, and professional

and support staff. These individuals

perform or support research in human

and ecological health, methods and model development, and risk management. ORD staff also provide

technical support to EPAs Program and Regional

Office staff as well as external stakeholders.

These activities generate four categories of information, each used primarily by different audiences

(Table 3-1):

n Scientific information (risk assessments, research

products, the Integrated Risk Information

System, and so on)primarily used by ORD

stakeholders.

n Integrated scientific, management, and administrative information (e.g., planning, budgeting,

and accountability information)primarily used

for making strategic, policy-level decisions by

ORD senior executives.

n Science management information (i.e., information related to managing and administering ORD

research including planning and resource

information)primarily used on a more tactical

level by ORD project managers and administrative personnel.

n Science data (e.g., monitoring data, analytical

data, epidemiological data, and so on)primarily

used in the development of research products by

ORD scientists and engineers.

As described below, each of these user groups has

specific information management needs that, when

fulfilled by the strategy presented in Section 4, will

greatly enhance their ability to access and utilize

information that directly or indirectly contributes to

ORDs ability to be a world-class environmental

research institution.

ORD User Council

The degree to which our many EPA and external

stakeholders use the information and data we

generate is listed in Section 1 as one of two ORD

success factors. It is critical, therefore, for ORD to

Section 3:

ORD Information

Management

Needs,

Opportunities,

and Benefits

Section 3:

ORD Information

Management

Needs,

Opportunities,

and Benefits
ORD Information Management Needs, Opportunities, and Benefits

10 INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT

* Examples are given only to illustrate that there are several broad categories of ORD information that, for the most part, are needed by

different user groups. Some overlap between categories does occur.

Table 3-1. The Need for ORD Information*

Who needs ORD

information?

What information

is needed?

Examples:

ORD

Stakeholders

Science Information Products

 Risk

assessments

 Research

publications

 Integrated Risk

Information

System (IRIS)

ORD Sr. Executives

Integrated Scientific,

Management &

Administrative

Information

 Planning

information

 Budgeting

information

 Accounting

information

ORD Project

Managers &

Administrative

Personnel

Science Management

Information

 Planning

information

 Resource

information

 Laboratory

Implementation

Plans

 Grant award information

ORD Scientists &

Engineers

Science Data

 Human health &

ecological effects

data

 Human health &

ecological exposure

data

 Risk management

data

 Methods & models

data

 Monitoring &

analytical data

have external user communities actively involved

with our information management program. These

stakeholders must be involved from the outset in

ORDs planning, so that they buy into the process

and their needs for information are met.

Because of their key role, ORD will establish a User

Council to ensure that we adequately coordinate

with and provide for the information needs of our

external user community. The appropriate membership of the User Council and other specifics will be

addressed by the ORD Science Information Management Coordination Board during implementation

planning.

ORD Stakeholders

EPA Program, PAA, and Regional Offices

ORD is the primary provider of scientific and

technical information, as well as technical assistance,

to EPAs Program and Regional Offices. ORD staff

need ready access to the information and data

necessary to meet the information and assistance

needs of the Program and Regional Offices. The

needs and activities of the Agencys Planning,

Analysis, and Accountability Office also will need to

be met. In addition, as appropriate, the Program and

Regional Offices should have direct access to relevant information and data generated by ORD.

Federal Entities (Agencies, Tribes, Institutions, and

Committees)

Federal entities, including agencies, institutions,

tribes, and committees, are key ORD partners and

stakeholders in several ways:

n Federal research institutionssuch as the National Academy of Sciences, the National Science

Foundation, the National Aeronautics and Space

Administration, and the U.S. Department of

Energyare important research partners of

ORD. Often, these agencies help establish

standards for best uses of information technology

for research purposes.

n ORD represents EPA on federal-level committees,

such as those of the National Science and Technology Council, which coordinates the research

activities of the federal government.

n ORD also participates in major interagency

research initiativessuch as the work of the

Federal Geographic Data Committee to build the
ORD Information Management Needs, Opportunities, and Benefits

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT 11

National Spatial Data Infrastructure, and the

National Biological Services effort to build the

National Biological Information Infrastructure.

n Environmental research information forms an

important pillar of the National Information

Infrastructure and the Global Information

Infrastructure.

n Finally, ORD and tribes have collaborated on

research.

Current trends in government policy and technology

are driving ORD toward greater networking with its

federal research partners and customers. This

networking is essential to exchange information and

coordinate activities so that ORD and other federal

institutions can most effectively leverage their

increasingly scarce resources. ORD needs to learn

from the experiences and efforts of the other research

agencies and make its information management

program synergistic with theirs.

States and Communities

Increasingly, the Agency is moving toward facilitating regional, state, and local action to identify and

solve environmental problems where appropriate

and feasible. For example:

n Facilitating and supporting stakeholder partnerships for environmental improvement is one of

the key strategic directions cited in EPAs FiveYear Strategic Plan, published in 1994.

n The National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology (NACEPT), a federal

advisory committee, has been providing recommendations to the EPA Administrator on how the

Agency can most effectively catalyze communitybased environmental protection efforts.

NACEPTs 1996 Community-Based Environmental Protection Committee has identified information as one of the primary ways that EPA can

catalyze community-based environmental

protection (CBEP) efforts.

As ORD works to meet information management

needs, it should consider what types of ORD information may be valuable for state and community-led

environmental protection efforts and find ways to

make this information readily accessible to these

stakeholders. Remote sensing and GIS data may be

of particular value to these stakeholders.

ORD Senior Executives

ORDs executive leadership provides strategic,

policy-level decision-making for ORD. The senior

executives define ORDs vision, goals, and objectives,

determine how best to ensure the success of ORDs

efforts, and define priorities for the content and

direction of ORDs research program. They also

identify critical gaps in ORDs management or

science agenda and take steps to address those gaps.

ORD senior executives need a variety of science,

management, and administrative information to

support effective decision-making. ORD has a finite

set of resources that can be allocated in different

ways to support activities critical to EPAs mission.

The management challenge for senior executives is to

focus ORD research activities on those areas where

the greatest benefit can be achieved most efficiently

and cost-effectively. With the right kinds of information, this type of decision-making is facilitated and

defensible.

To move up to the next generation of strategic

research planning and directing, ORD senior executives need not only ready access to administrative

information, but will need the ability to integrate it

with ORDs science information. Examples of improved research planning facilitated by using

integrated administrative and science information as

a strategic resource include:

n Allocation of resources to specific geographic

initiatives.

n Knowing what data are available and what

projects are ongoing in a specific geographic

region may allow improved decisions on where

research can be most efficiently conducted.

n Choosing an area already rich in relevant, welldocumented data may reduce the resource needs

for data collection efforts and significantly

shorten the time needed to produce project

results.

n Knowledge of ongoing projects within EPA and

other organizations.

n Access to information describing projects will

significantly reduce the potential for redundant

research efforts on the part of ORD. This type of

information can be extracted from administrative

data describing internal projects, grants, contracts, and interagency and cooperative agreements. Similar information for external entities

can be found at their Internet sites.

n Knowledge of existing capability and capacity of

EPA and external organizations.

n Access to information about expertise in EPA and

other organizations can lead to the development
ORD Information Management Needs, Opportunities, and Benefits

12 INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT

of strategic partnerships that will allow ORD to

more efficiently accomplish its mission.

n Ability to access and evaluate research results in

order to direct further activity.

n Access to information on research results will

allow ORD to be more effective and timely in

responding to Congressional and other inquiries.

ORD Program Managers and

Administrative Personnel

As described below, ORD program managers and

administrative personnel need tools and services that

allow them to effectively:

n Plan and manage ORD research programs.

n Manage the financial and human resources that

support the research programs.

Program Planning and Management Needs

To effectively plan and manage ORD research

programs, ORD program managers and administrative personnel need:

n Information about ongoing research.

n Information about the needs and operation of the

Agencys Planning, Analysis, and Accountability

function.

n Reliable and easily obtainable resource information about intramural and extramural research

projects.

n Information about publications and other end

products of ORD research.

n In some cases, desktop access to scientific and

administrative data on the Internet and other

sources for use in risk assessment and risk

management decision-making.

For example, when proposing or designing an

ecological research project, an ORD program manager could access the RaDiUs (Research and Development in the U.S.) dedicated server to determine

what research U.S. government agencies are conducting on that particular ecological issue. This

information will allow the program manager to

determine what funds have been allocated to this

area of research and will facilitate networking with

other researchers. The ready availability of this type

of information will be invaluable for reducing

overlap and duplication of effort and will enable

ORD laboratories to target their research based on a

comprehensive understanding of other similar

research efforts.

Resource Management Needs

To effectively manage the financial and human

resources that support ORD research programs,

ORD program managers and administrative personnel need to:

n Develop effective Laboratory Implementation

Plans.

n Link task-based tracking of operating budgets

and products.

n Maintain an audit trail of how resources were

reallocated.

n Plan and track travel and miscellaneous expenditures.

n Support the research planning process from

planning, through budget execution, to results

tracking.

n Provide complete records of intramural and

extramural research plans, activities, and accomplishments.

n Help ORD keep in sync with the Agencys

Integrated Financial Management System and

the needs and activities of the Planning, Analysis,

and Accountability Office.

In 1996, ORD launched the ORD Management

Information System (OMIS), which has been designed to meet these needs. OMIS is an ORD-wide

integrated computerized system containing several

modules for planning, financial management, project

tracking, and human resources management. The

component modules are:

n The Integrated Resources Management System.

n The in-house accounting module.

n The human resources module.

n The Laboratory Implementation Plan module

and other tracking system modules under

development.

By the end of FY97, OMIS will hold complete and

organizationally consistent information on ORD

research projects and tasks; commitments, obligations, and expenditures; grants and contracts; and

training plans. OMIS is expected to meet ORDs

administrative information management needs and

is designed to be consistent with all the Agencys

budgeting and accounting requirements.

Concurrently, the Agencys administrative information management systems are being reformed. The
ORD Information Management Needs, Opportunities, and Benefits

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT 13

new or updated systems will provide useful tools for

meeting ORD resource management needs. For

example, under the ARI, or Administrative Reduction

Initiative, EPA is adding a variety of new systems

capable of electronic routing. These systems will

allow ORD managers to electronically receive,

review, approve, and act on repetitive processes

such as leave slips, executive correspondence,

purchase requests, travel authorizations and travel

vouchers, and time and attendance information.

Finally, ORD is piloting groupware computer

software that will allow ORD program managers and

administrative personnel to participate in the many

initiatives that will become the standard for EPA

administrative processes within the next 18 months

to 2 years.

ORD Scientists and Engineers

To play a leadership role in environmental R&D,

ORD scientists and engineers need information

management capabilities that allow them to:

n Plan and discuss projects.

n Locate and understand data, information, and

documents.

n Access data, information, and documents.

n Collect, store, manipulate, and analyze data and

information.

n Publish research data and results.

The need for these capabilities is discussed below.

Need To Plan and Discuss Projects

Increasingly, cross-disciplinary teamwork is needed

to conceive and conduct research that addresses

complex and emerging environmental concerns,

which often are multimedia in nature. To work

effectively in teams, researchers need the capability

to develop plans using an iterative process that

incorporates input from multiple sources and

encompasses both the strategic and tactical levels.

There are three basic stages of IM needs during

planning:

n ORD researchers located at different geographic

locations need to be able to communicate and

interact electronically when developing project

concepts.

n Once project concepts are formulated, ORD

researchers in different locations need an efficient

mechanism to develop, discuss, and review

Laboratory Implementation Plans containing

milestones, deliverables, and task descriptions.

n Finally, when the research project is underway,

ORD scientists and engineers need to consolidate

updates from multiple sources to assess impacts

and progress toward achieving project objectives

on an ongoing basis.

ORDs local and wide area information management

environment must support and facilitate planning

activities at all three stages.

Need To Locate and Understand Data, Information,

and Documents

ORD scientists and engineers need to work with

their own data and with secondary data (i.e., data

generated by others). To effectively use secondary

data, ORD users must be able to locate the data and

readily determine whether it is appropriate for their

needs.

Increasingly, government agencies, nongovernment

organizations, and academia are providing data and

information on the Internet that is well-documented

and potentially useful to ORD staff. Emerging

metadata (information that describes data) standards

like those adopted by the Government Information

Locator Service (GILS) and the Federal Geographic

Data Committee standard for spatial data documentation help ensure that these data and information

are appropriately documented and can be readily

located.

To stay abreast of the latest scientific developments,

ORD scientists and engineers need the capability to:

n Search the Internet for relevant data.

n Perform more traditional literature searches via

commercial or government services (such as

those supplied by the National Institutes of

Health and the U.S. Department of Agriculture).

Need To Access Data, Information, and Documents

Once ORD users have located appropriate data, they

must be able to access the data, as well as metadata

and documentation, using an appropriate tool set.

Examples of access scenarios include:

n Selecting a particular geographic coverage on an

Internet server, using an Internet client that

supports file transfer protocol to download the

selected coverage, and then displaying it using a

geographic information system (GIS).

n Using a database browser tool, statistical package,

or GIS to examine the content of data in a database management system.
ORD Information Management Needs, Opportunities, and Benefits

14 INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT

n Using the wide variety of valuable scientific data,

information, and documents available on CDROM.

Need To Collect, Store, Manipulate, and Analyze

Data and Information

Much of ORDs data is originally generated by field

and laboratory work that is either conducted or

sponsored by ORD. These data need to be managed

from their origin in the field or laboratory through

the analytical process. To do this effectively, ORD

users need access to a wide variety of computer tools,

including laboratory information systems, field data

recording equipment, and analytical tools. General

categories of tools include modeling, scientific

visualization, geographic information systems,

statistical, spreadsheets, Internet and Intranet servers

and browsers, and scientific database management

tools.

Need To Publish Research Data and Results

ORDs success at meeting its mission will be largely

judged on what it publishes. Forms of publication

include journal articles, databases, data sets,

metadata that describe the databases and data sets,

models and software applications developed by

ORD, and documents. ORDs Science To Achieve

Results (STAR) program is currently generating a

large body of research data and scientific results that

will become part of ORDs information collection in

the future.

Electronic publishing is important for internal and

external review of draft materials and public access

to final materials. To publish electronically for

internal purposes, ORD staff need a robust capability

that allows them to work in groups to develop,

review, and track documents internally. To publish

electronically for external purposes, ORD personnel

must be able to work on the Internet.

Opportunities and Benefits

Until a few years ago, limitations of information

technologies made it difficult, if not often impossible,

to set up comprehensive, integrated, and effective IM

systems across large organizations such as ORD.

During the 1990s, however, information technology

and management approaches have made revolutionary progress:

n Key technologies include the Internet and its

associated software tools (especially the World

Wide Web and Java).

n Emerging management approaches include the

concept of creating a Chief Information Officer to

oversee information management, as well as a

number of other strategic IM approaches that

government agencies are now required to implement under the Information Technology Management Reform Act of 1996 (see Appendix A).

These new technologies and approaches provide

ORD with important opportunities to achieve the six

long-term goals set forth in ORDs 1996 Strategic

Plan (Table 3-2) and to meet the information management needs described in this section. In particular,

they enable ORD to:

n Integrate its many discrete databases.

n Integrate its information activities with the rest of

EPA.

n More readily communicate with and provide

information to external partners and stakeholders.

These new opportunities have the potential to bring

many benefits both to ORD staff members and to

ORD as a whole. For example:

n ORD researchers will be better able to collaborate

with research partners, conduct multidisciplinary

research, and use GIS and other emerging

software tools to readily visualize and make sense

of large quantities of data. Sharing of data sets

with others will help to correct errors and to clear

up misunderstandings in the metadata.

n ORD researchers will have increased awareness

of ORD data, and better quality data sets and

metadata will lead to better research.

n Better long-term archiving and documentation

will protect data sets for future use by ORD and

other researchers.

n ORD scientists and engineers will gain substantially increased visibility for and recognition of

their work.

n Improved information management has substantial potential to enhance ORDs stature, improve

decision-making and accountability, and enhance

efficiency and employee satisfaction.

In short, enhanced information management is

imperative if ORD is to serve as a world-class provider of environmental data and information in the

next century. Section 4 of this document sets forth an

ORD IM strategy to effectively meet the many needs

of ORD staff and stakeholders described above.
ORD Information Management Needs, Opportunities, and Benefits

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT 15

Table 3-2. ORDs Long-Term Goals

n To develop scientifically sound approaches to assessing and characterizing risks to human health and the

environment.

n To integrate human health and ecological assessment methods into a comprehensive multimedia assessment methodology.

n To provide common sense and cost-effective approaches for preventing and managing risks.

n To provide credible, state-of-the-art risk assessments, methods, models, and guidance.

n To exchange reliable scientific, engineering, and risk assessment/risk management information among

private and public stakeholders.

n To provide leadership and encourage others to participate in identifying emerging environmental issues,

characterizing the risks associated with these issues, and developing ways of preventing or reducing these

risks.
ORD Information Management Needs, Opportunities, and Benefits

16 INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT

Benefits to ORD of Enhanced Information Management

n Improved research. The potential benefits to ORD research of enhanced IM are exponential:

 ORD researchers will be able to stay abreast of important scientific developments in a timely and efficient manner.

 ORD research will be enriched by new opportunities for data exchange and collaboration with internal and

external researchers.

 Enhanced sharing of data sets will stress the importance of adequate metadata and ultimately lead to metadata

improvements.

 Better long-term archiving and documentation will protect data sets for future use.

 Use of ORD data sets will increase substantially due to improved accessibility, preservation, and metadata quality.

n Increased stakeholder appreciation of ORDs work. Using new IM technologies, ORD can now make its

products available to stakeholders in the U.S. and around the world more efficiently and effectively than ever before.

Both ORD and stakeholders benefit:

• Many more stakeholders will be able to readily identify, access, and use ORD tools and information for environmental research, decision-making, and improvement.

• Taxpayers get a better return on their investment through enhanced application of ORDs work.

• External accessibility to ORD products brings positive recognition and increased support for ORDs work. NASA

gained tremendous public visibility and appreciation for its work by placing Hubble telescope images of Jupiter on

the Internet and by providing a forum for public interaction on the event. ORD could use the Internet for similar

purposes.

n Greater efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Improved access to key information will enhance decision-making at all

levels of ORD. It also will facilitate effective planning that provides maximum leverage of ORDs resources. This will

help ORD conserve resources and become more cost-effective.

n Enhanced accountability. Enhanced management of ORD scientific, management, and financial information will

provide an essential foundation for transparency and accountability to stakeholders. Also, better documentation of

ORDs data holdings will improve the defensibility of ORD and EPA decisions.

n Enhanced employee understanding and satisfactions. By publishing the ORD employee handbook and other

key resources on-line, ORD can better guide employees through its processes and organization. Also enhanced IM

will provide ORD employees with tools and information that offer important opportunities for improving performance and efficiency.
Strategy for Managing ORDs Information

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT 17

Section 4:

Strategy for

Managing

ORDs

Information

Section 4:

Strategy for

Managing

ORDs

Information

EPA must have the ability to

collect, process, and analyze

the information needed to

ensure that it is managing for

and achieving real environmental results.

EPAs Five-Year Strategic

Plan: The New Generation

of Environmental Protection, U.S. EPA, July 1994.

Intoduction

This section describes ORDs four-part

strategy for managing its information that

is based on several fundamental tenets of

successful information management (Figure

4-1):

n Planning for information management.

n Making potential users aware that information

exists.

n Making the information accessible to users.

n Making the information usable.

Described in this section is an approach for information management that:

n Will meet ORDs information management needs

(described in Section 3) using a comprehensive

approach that addresses: both paper and electronic information; research planning; science

data management; policies and standards; user

needs and support services; and electronic

information technologies.

n Takes advantage of the unprecedented information technology opportunities now available.

n Provides a consistent, organizationwide approach

to enable ORD to efficiently plan for, collect,

document, archive, manipulate, and distribute

scientific and management informationincluding the information generated by both intramural

and extramural research.

n Builds on and integrates ORDs existing information capabilitiesincluding tools, services, communication paths, communication equipment,

and standards.

Strategic vs. Implementation Plans

ORDs plan for information management is presented in this document at a strategic level, focusing

on the direction ORD intends to take, not specifically

how it will be accomplished. Specifics will be left, for

the most part, for implementation plans that will be

developed and coordinated across the organization

by the ORD Science Information Management

Coordination Board (Section 1). These implementation plans will spell out exactly how ORD will

execute this strategy.
Strategy for Managing ORDs Information

18 INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT

Figure 4-1. Strategic Approach.*

*ORDs information management strategy is not an Internet planit is a comprehensive approach that

addresses paper-based and electronically stored information; research planning processes; science data

management; administrative information systems; policies and standards; and user needs and support

servicesas well as information technologies.

n Policies, guidance & standards

n Training & help desks

n User tools (GIS, models)

n Management, staff & budget

n Policies, guidance & standards

n Training & help desks

n User tools (GIS, models)

n Management, staff & budget

n Printed publications

n ORD ScienceNet

n ORD Science Intranets

n LANs/WANs

n Link to OMIS, other

information products, etc.

n Database integration

n Printed publications

n ORD ScienceNet

n ORD Science Intranets

n LANs/WANs

n Link to OMIS, other

information products, etc.

n Database integration

n Outreach activities

n Search capabilities

n Comprehensive index

n Pointers to the location of

information, electronic as well

as paper

n Outreach activities

n Search capabilities

n Comprehensive index

n Pointers to the location of

information, electronic as well

as paper

n ORD Strategic Plan

n Research Plans

n LIPs

n QAPPs

n RFAs

n ORD Strategic Plan

n Research Plans

n LIPs

n QAPPs

n RFAs

Provide tools &

services to promote

awareness of ORDs

information products,

data sets, databases,

etc.

Develop

communication paths

& equipment to allow

access to ORD data &

information

Build IM planning into

ORDs research

planning process

Provide the

infrastructure to

develop and maintain

ORDs IM system and

ensure productive use

PLANNING

AWARENESS

ACCESS

USABILITY
Strategy for Managing ORDs Information

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT 19

However, a few specific implementation items are

included in this Strategic Plan, either to provide

concrete examples so that the reader has a better

understanding of the issue being discussed, or

because noteworthy progress has already been made

in a certain area.

Planning: Strategy Component 1

As mentioned in Section 1, ORD currently has in

place a strategic planning process that determines

the highest priorities for intramural and extramural

research based on risk assessment and risk management principles. This process was finalized in 1996

and published in the Strategic Plan for the Office of

Research and Development. The 1997 edition of the

Strategic Plan was issued in the spring of this year,

and now includes information management considerations.

The vast majority of the data and information that

ORD will make available under this IM strategy

stems directly from the process and products of ORD

research. Therefore, as described below, planning for

information management must become an integral

part of ORDs research planning process.

ORDs Strategic Planning Process

ORDs risk-based planning process is described in

Appendix B. The process involves soliciting stakeholder input, identifying potential research topics,

evaluating these topics to select the most appropriate

ones for ORDs research agenda, and then defining

specific research needs for the selected topics.

Once ORD has identified specific research needs,

ORD staff develop a series of planning documents,

including Research Plans, Laboratory Implementation Plans, Quality Assurance Project Plans, and

Requests for Applications (see the section after next

for more detail). Research then is conducted based

on these plans. The research products are delivered

to stakeholders and provide input into the next

strategic planning cycle.

Planning for Information Management

Three considerations are paramount if ORD is to

successfully integrate IM planning into the research

planning process:

n Begin IM Planning UpfrontInformation

management planning should commence as soon

as ORD has identified its specific research needs. This

is the optimal point for ORD to begin planning for

the data and information that will be generated by

the specific research projects.

n Include a Budget for IMORD management and

budget decisions must be made considering the

entire research project, from data collection through

long-term archiving of data sets.

n Consider All Research TypesInformation

management planning must, to differing degrees,

encompass all ORD research projects, including

in-house research and extramural research that

ORD funds with contracts, cooperative agreements, and grants.

Information included in Appendix B describes the

portions of the overall ORD research planning

process that should involve planning for information

management.

Examples of IM Planning Questions to Consider

at All Stages of ORD Research Planning

n What is the purpose or use for which the data

were collected?

n What data quality indicators were met supporting

the data quality objectives?

n How much data will the program/project

generate?

n Who and where are the data users?

n What are the possible long-term archival uses?

n Is there an archive ready to accept and handle the

data?

n Who will set standards, delivery requirements,

milestones, etc.?

n Who will deliver, document, manage, and

distribute the data?

n Are data sets part of deliverables or products for

ORD partners or clients?

n What are the requirements for added-value

processing? What computing, data management,

distribution capabilities are needed? Where do

these capabilities reside?

n Who will budget for IM and who will allocate

resources among participants?

n How will evolutions in IM technology be

accommodated over the life of the project (this

question is particularly relevant for long-term

projects that extend over many years)?

n Who will set the policy on data access?
Strategy for Managing ORDs Information

20 INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT

When planning for information management, ORD

should be guided by the awareness, access, and

usability principles (described below) of this IM

strategy. In other words, ORD research planners

should consider not only what information the

research will generate, but also how best to:

n Make potential information users (including

clients and stakeholders) aware that the information exists.

n Describe, organize, and display the information so

that it will have maximum accessibility and utility

to users.

This involves considering who will use the data and

how, defining a schedule and resources for IM

activities, finding the appropriate home for the

information, and establishing standards and access

policies. The text box on page 19 provides examples

of the types of questions ORD managers should

address when planning research.

Integrating IM Planning Into ORD Research

Planning Documents

During research planning, ORD develops several

types of documents that set forth the scientific

questions to be addressed and specify schedules,

milestones, resources, quality assurance, peer review

requirements, and so on. These include:

n ORD Research Plans, which provide a broad,

overall context and strategic direction for ORD

research projects/programs.

n Laboratory/Center Research Plans, which are prepared by ORDs National Laboratories and

Centers as planning tools to identify, prioritize,

and justify their overall research programs.

n Division and Cross-Division Research Plans, which

define, prioritize, and justify the research program

to be conducted by a single division within an

ORD Laboratory or Center or by multiple divisions collaborating within or across ORD Laboratories and Centers.

n Laboratory Implementation Plans, which provide

detailed information on discrete tasks for use by

ORD in planning and managing research conducted in-house or under a contract or cooperative agreement.

n Quality Management and Quality Assurance Project

Plans (QMPs & QAPPs), which include sections on

assuring the appropriate type and quality of

scientific and engineering data.

n Requests for Applications (RFAs), which invite

research grant applications from the external

scientific community in areas of special interest to

EPAs mission.

Figure 4-2 shows the relationship of these ORD

planning documents.

To ensure coordinated information management

within ORD, each of these documents should

explicitly specify how the data and information to be

generated by the research will be managed. Upfront

information planning will help ensure that the

results of ORD research are captured and disseminated efficiently, rapidly, and as broadly as is appropriate in a way that will be most useful to science

data users. Appendix B describes specific recommendations for each type of ORD research planning

document.

QA Program Interface

Attention to quality cannot be overstated, particularly in the context of IM planning. The existing EPA

Quality System provides a framework and structure

by which environmental programs produce results,

including environmental data, that are of the type

and quality needed and expected for their intended

use. This is an Agency-wide, mandatory quality

assurance program that includes all EPA intramural

and extramural environmental data collection

activities.1

Under Delegation of Authority-I-41, Mandatory

Quality Assurance Program, ORD is the focal point

in the Agency for quality management system policy.

The Assistant Administrator for Research and

Development (AA/ORD) is designated as the Agency

Senior Management Official for Quality Management. The Quality Assurance Division within

ORDs NCERQA effects these responsibilities by

developing quality assurance (QA) and quality

control (QC) requirements and by overseeing

Agency-wide implementation of the EPA Quality

System.

Utilizing this Agency-wide system, ORD organizations implement approved quality management

plans (QMPs) documenting their quality policy and

quality system for applicable environmental programs. Quality systems include roles and responsibilities and processes for handling of documents and

records and computer hardware and software.

1

Environmental data include any information collected or produced

from measurements, analyses, or models of environmental processes or

conditions, or from experimental systems representing such processes

and conditions, including results from laboratory analyses.
Strategy for Managing ORDs Information

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT 21

Figure 4-2. ORD Research Planning Documents

* Each organization has its own quality assurance system, with its policies, procedures and structure described

in its Quality Management Plan.

ORD Research

Plans

Lab/Center

Research Plans

As needed:

 Division Research Plans

 Cross-Division Research

Plans

How will the

research be

conducted?

How will the

research be

conducted?

In-house or externally

under a contract or

cooperative agreement

In-house or externally

under a contract or

cooperative agreement

Externally

under a grant

Externally

under a grant

Laboratory

Implementation

Plans

Quality Assurance

Project Plans

Requests for

Applications

Quality

Assurance

Project Plans
Strategy for Managing ORDs Information

22 INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT

Approved Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs),

or equivalent documents defined by the

organizations QMP, are implemented for all applicable projects and tasks involving the collection or

use of environmental data. QAPPs define and

document the type and quality of data needed for

the project and how specific QA and QC activities

will be implemented and assessed during a particular

project. Data management and handling of documentation and records are also elements defined in a

QAPP. EPA QA/R-5, EPA Requirements for Quality

Assurance Project Plans for Environmental Data

Operations, specify the QAPP data management

requirements, which include:

n Describe the project data management scheme,

tracing the path of the data from their generation

in the field or laboratory to their final use or

storage.

n Describe or reference the standard record-keeping

procedures, document control system, and the

approach used for data storage and retrieval on

electronic media.

n Discuss the control mechanism for detecting and

correcting errors and for preventing loss of data

during data reduction (i.e., calculations), data

reporting, and data entry to forms, reports, and

databases.

n Identify and describe all data handling equipment

and procedures to process, compile, and analyze

data. This includes procedures for addressing

data generated as part of the project as well as

data from other sources.

n Include any required computer hardware and

software and address any specific performance

requirements for the hardware/software configuration used. Describe the procedures that will be

followed to demonstrate acceptability of the

hardware/software configuration required.

The guidance document Technical Guidance G-5

Data Management Appendix (EPA QA/G-5) provides additional guidance on the range of scientific

and technical operations that involve generating,

collecting, manipulating, and archiving environmental data.

Centralized Coordination of Data

Management

The new ORD Science Information Management

Coordination Board will give more detailed consideration to data collection, quality checking, and archival issues, including the possible role of a centralized

data management function for ORD, such as that

performed by NASAs National Space Science Data

Center and NOAAs National Geophysical Data

Center.

Awareness: Strategy Component 2

ORD has long utilized traditional outreach mechanisms (announcements, newsletters, publication lists,

etc.) to make potential users aware of its publications.

Under the awareness component of this IM strategy,

ORD will add to its outreach portfolio electronic

outreach via the Internet. Internet outreach will

enable ORD to greatly expand:

n The number of people within and outside the

Agency who are aware of ORD information

resources.

n The information resources they are aware of

since the Internet offers the opportunity to readily

create and update comprehensive, searchable

directories of available information resources.2

Specific electronic outreach activities will include:

n Registering ScienceNetORDs home page and

front door on the Internetwith search services

that then will direct interested users to ORDs

home page. (The Access section provides more

information on ScienceNet.)

n Listing ScienceNets Internet address in all printed

ORD publications.

n Establishing links from ScienceNet to other appropriate Internet sites and working to establish links

to ScienceNet from these sites.

n Establishing effective search capabilities and links

within ScienceNet so that users who access ORDs

home page will clearly know what types of ORD

information resources they can access and how.

As described in the Access section, some information, such as draft reports and peer review documents, will be made available to selected EPA

personnel and external partners under the ORDwide Intranet or a special-purpose Intranet. For

these items, ORD will conduct more targeted electronic outreach, via such mechanisms as electronic

mail and brochures, to notify the appropriate audiences when the material becomes available.

2

 “Available information resources” can include a wide range of

information, such as electronic and hardcopy information, ORD and

external information, and data sets, databases and information products.
Strategy for Managing ORDs Information

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT 23

ORD also will take steps to increase awareness

among ORD staff of how to use the Internet as a

powerful research tool. Finally, ORD will conduct

outreach to publicize to ORD clients and stakeholders the fact that ORD will be strategically

managing its information and making it available to

them.

Access: Strategy Component 3

ORD will continue to utilize some of the traditional

mechanisms for providing access to informationfor

example, the Air and Radiation Docket, which

enables individuals to inspect and make copies of

documentsmany of which have been in place for

some time. Now, the Internet and other state-of-theart information management technologies make it

possible for ORD to:

n Greatly expand who has access to ORD information, how rapidly they can access it, and how

much information they have access to.

n Tailor access to specific users or groups as appropriate for certain types of information. This

tailoring is achieved by establishing limited access

networks, called Intranets, that can be used to

facilitate electronic information exchange among

targeted groups or individuals both within and

outside ORD.

Under this IM strategy, ORD will take full advantage

of these possibilities by using the Internet (and

specifically the World Wide Web) as the primary

vehicle for enabling access to ORD data and information. Specifically, ORD will develop a coordinated

information network that provides electronic access

to its data and information through three mechanisms:

n An ORD ScienceNet (i.e., ORDs home page) that

will be accessible by all EPA employees and the public

via the Internet.

n A series of Science Intranets that restrict access to

specific users who may include selected EPA staff,

ORD staff, and authorized partners.

n Local and Wide Area Networks (LAN/WANs),

which will be established for specific ORD user

groups.

These components of the ORD information network

are illustrated in Table 4-1 and described below.

ORD ScienceNet

As the front door to ORDs public scientific information, the ORD ScienceNet will be designed to

provide a lively, exciting view of ORDs research.

Through ScienceNet, users will have access to the

published results of ORD research, which include

printed documents, reports, and journal articles, as

well as databases, data sets, models, and software

applications (Figure 4-3).

Using a variety of tools (see the Specialized Tools

section) available via the World Wide Web, users will

be able to access, search, and download this information, as well as aggregate, manipulate, and analyze

downloaded data. The ability to aggregate data may

particularly aid environmental decision-makers, who

often must synthesize large amounts of information

during the decision-making process. For scientific

data, users will be able to access metadata that

describe the context and assumptions under which

the data were collected (see the Specialized Tools

section). Also, users will be able to link from the

ScienceNet website to other information or scientific

databases (such as STORET and Envirofacts) via

hypertext links.

ScienceNet will supplement and, where appropriate,

replace some of the more traditional delivery mechanisms (such as mailing hard copy) that ORD has

historically used to disseminate information to the

scientific community and the public. This will

increase the effectiveness of ORD information

dissemination, while lowering the cost.

One goal for ScienceNet is that it serve as a model

and catalyst for creating two larger scientific information networks:

n An EPA-wide ScienceNet that would include the

ORD ScienceNet.

n A broader U.S. ScienceNet developed

collaboratively by EPA and other federal research

agencies that would include EPA/ORD ScienceNet

as one of many components.

ORD Intranets

ORD will develop a series of Intranets to share its

internal scientific, management, and administrative

information among EPA and ORD personnel.

Intranets use the Internet to network computers

together. Access is limited to those individuals

whose computers are on the Intranet network. By

using the Internet, Intranets circumvent the user

incompatibility problems that may occur with
Strategy for Managing ORDs Information

24 INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT

LANssuch as incompatibility between PCs and

LAN software. The ORD Intranets will have two

important purposes:

n First, they will provide access to materials that are

either not relevant or appropriate for broader

public access. These include:

• Draft documents not yet cleared for public

access.

• Internal databases.

• Administrative information in ORDs Management Information System needed for accountability, performance, and results tracking.

n Second, the ORD Intranets will provide a valuable

mechanism for facilitating internal ORD processes

that require a high degree of coordinationsuch

as developing risk assessments, peer review,

project collaboration, and coauthoring or reviewing draft documents. Temporary and permanent

ORD Intranets can be established to accommodate

these needs.

To fulfill these two purposes, ORD will establish two

types of Intranets:

n A permanent ORD-Wide Intranet restricted to

ORD staff and authorized EPA and external

partners. This Intranet has already been established.

n Special-purpose Intranets to serve the particular

communication and coordination needs of specific

ORD groups, including established groups (such

as a particular ORD Laboratory or Center) and ad

hoc groups that exist for limited periods to conduct specific projects. Special-purpose Intranets

will be created on an as-needed basis. They may

be permanent or temporary.

The Intranets essentially will replace some of the

current uses of ORDs LAN/WAN systems. To make

the transition to Intranets as efficient, effective, and

user-friendly as possible, the Intranet capabilities will

build on and integrate the current LAN/WAN

systems.

LAN/WAN

In recent years, ORDs LAN/WAN systems have

served as the primary venue for internal ORD

communication. LAN/WAN information transfer is

primarily accomplished by a gateway server that

transmits information via dedicated lines to servers

Table 4-1. ORDs Information Management Network

N l etwork Component W ? hat Information Wil B ? e Available Who Will Have Access

ORD ScienceNet ORD information appropriate for release to

the public. For example, users will be able

to access published reports, data

sets/databases, and grant & fellowship

information.

All EPA employees and the

public

ORD Intranets

E e PA-Wide Intranet ORD information appropriate for us

within the Agency. For example, EPA

programs will have ready access to draft

research plans and can comment

electronically.

All EPA personnel

O r RD-Wide Intranet ORD information appropriate fo

distribution within ORD. ORD currently

has an Intranet established for use by ORD

employees.

ORD staff and authorized EPA

and external partners

SP s pecial- u c rpose Intranet ORD information relating to specifi

research projects or groups within ORD.

Specific groups within ORD

ORD LAN/WAN Access ORD electronic mail and specific

administrative functions, such as OMIS.

All ORD staff
Strategy for Managing ORDs Information

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT 25

Figure 4-3. The ORD ScienceNet

ORD

ScienceNet

ORD

ScienceNet

How do I find

information on

the risk of

specific

chemicals?

How do I obtain

benthic

monitoring data?

How do I locate

documents

related to the

proposed Cancer

Guidelines?

How do I find out

what research

ORD is

conducting?

How do I apply

for a fellowship?

Integrated Risk

Information System

(IRIS) Home Page

Integrated Risk

Information System

(IRIS) Home Page

Environmental

Monitoring and

Assessment Program

(EMAP) Home Page

Environmental

Monitoring and

Assessment Program

(EMAP) Home Page

Located in the Air &

Radiation Docket

(address for public

inspection and copying

and mailing addresses)

Located in the Air &

Radiation Docket

(address for public

inspection and copying

and mailing addresses)

Index

to ORD Research

Information

Index

to ORD Research

Information

NCERQA

Home Page

NCERQA

Home Page
Strategy for Managing ORDs Information

26 INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT

at various ORD laboratories and/or via the Internet

to targeted recipients.

As mentioned above, ORD will shift certain LAN/

WAN uses to the Intranet where the latter approach

offers important advantages. However, where it

does not, ORD will continue to use, and will enhance

as appropriate, its existing Local and Wide Area

Networks. Future uses envisioned for the LAN/WAN

systems include:

n Electronic mail and groupware such as Lotus

Notes.

n Various scientific and administrative software

applications such as GIS, visualization, and

statistical tools that are not yet Internet enabled.

n Certain administrative and management functions, such as OMIS.

Status of Access Components

Internet Operating Plan

Development of ORDs electronic information

network is well underway. ORDs National Risk

Management Research Laboratory in Cincinnati,

Ohio, is finalizing an Internet Operating Plan that

defines the resources, policy oversight, and services

ORD will need to achieve its electronic information

access goalsincluding development of the ORD

ScienceNet and the ORD Intranets. The Internet

Operating Plan will form the basis for ensuring that

the ORD ScienceNet and Intranets are state-of-theart information management systems supported by

up-to-date telecommunication and other transmission equipment.

Development of ScienceNet

In addition to the operating plan discussed above,

ORD will inventory current electronic products

already created by ORD staff and determine which

should reside on or be linked to on the ORD

ScienceNet. Candidates for ScienceNet include

ORD-relevant databases (an inventory of these

databases is provided as Appendix C) and the home

pages that already have been created by many ORD

groups.

Status of OMIS Implementation

This action also is well underway. By the end of

FY97, OMIS will hold complete and organizationally

consistent information on ORD research projects and

tasks, commitments, obligations, and expenditures;

grants and contracts; and training plans. This

information will be updated on an annual basis.

Currently, ORD staff access OMIS via the ORDs

LAN/WAN system. One action item for OMIS is to

decide whether to shift OMIS access to the ORD

Intranet. This decision will be made after evaluating

the potential benefits of such a change.

LAN/WAN Maintenance

LAN/WAN systems already are well established at

ORD. ORD will continue and, where appropriate,

enhance their use to support electronic mail, some

administrative and management functions (e.g.,

OMIS), and limited file sharing (O-drive) capabilities.

Incentives for Sharing Data

In addition to expanding access to information

through better use of information technologies, ORD

will promote an organizational culture of sharing

data. Examples of how ORD will more strongly

encourage this include:

n Establishing an internal reward system for researchers who publish data sets.

n Developing a policy that affords researchers a

certain time period for data collection, analysis,

and publication, after which the data will be

generally available to others.

n Requiring that milestones for data delivery be

included in ORD Research Plans.

n Requiring that an external grant-holder submit

data collected during the research project, along

with appropriate documentation, for subsequent

use by other researchers.

As part of its implementation planning, the ORD

Science Information Management Coordination

Board will expand on these four examples and fully

address how ORD should establish mandates and

incentives for individual researchers and programs

to make their data and information generally available.

Usability: Strategy Component 4

Usabilitymaking sure that the access system as

well as the data and information provided by the

system are usable to internal and external usersis

vital to the success of this IM strategy. This is true for

ORDs traditional access mechanisms as well as the

more recent electronic ones. To optimize usability

ORD must:

n Design the information access mechanism/network

to meet users needs (described in Section 3) in as

complete and efficient as manner as possible.
Strategy for Managing ORDs Information

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT 27

n Provide the infrastructure and support to enable

ORD staff to place important information on the

system in a timely manner, manage the information, and effectively utilize the hardware and

software components of the system.

n Ensure that adequate documentation can be

obtained so that ORD data and information that is

located and retrieved is also usable.

Though a robust infrastructure will require investment, the potential returns are substantial. As

discussed in Section 3, a well-functioning information management system will greatly enhance ORDs

internal functions and external profile.

Usability involves a number of components:

n Security and access control.

n Training.

n Standards.

n User support services.

n Navigational aids.

n Policies.

n Specialized tools.

n Specialized information resources.

These components are discussed below. The following text box on Cars and Information Systems

provides insight into why they are important.

Security and Access Control

Security measures guard against hackers who seek to

tamper with information and damage information

systems. Access controls ensure that only authorized

users can create, read, modify, and delete information. Access control is particularly important for

sensitive information, such as personnel and budget

data.

A well-managed and adequately staffed security and

access control program is essential to safeguard the

integrity of the information and data that will be

housed in ORDs system. Without these safeguards,

ORD would be vulnerable to accidental and deliberate disruptions to its ability to use its information.

Such disruptions can be very expensive.

Using guidance from EPAs Office of Information

Resources Management, ORD will perform an indepth security risk assessment that covers all ORD

data centers. Based on the outcome of this assessment, ORD will take the required steps to ensure the

integrity of its data collection. These steps will

include:

Of Cars and Information Systems: Why Usability is Important

Driving a car provides a useful analogy for why usability is vital to a successful information system. Just as drivers need far

more than cars to reach their destinations, information consumers need far more than technology (hardware and software) alone to successfully access and use information. In both cases, success depends on a robust infrastructure:

n Security and access control/permission. Automobile drivers need permissions to driveinsurance, registration,

drivers licenses, etc. Computer users need analogous permissions, such as valid software licenses and authorizations

to create, read, modify, and delete appropriate categories of information.

n Training. Computer users need their own version of drivers ed: a well-conceived training program that teaches

them how to use their information technology efficiently and take advantage of new software applications.

n Standards and policies. Standards establishing rules of conduct are crucial for safe and pleasant driving. Likewise,

baseline standards and policies for information technology are important to make users experiences predictable,

productive, and even pleasant. For example, ORD users would benefit from clear and concise policies about sharing

data and information, security practices, and training.

n User support services. Drivers need support services, including service stations and other facilities, to help them

when they require assistance. Similarly, computer users need user support services to help them when their computer

breaks down or when they get lost in cyberspace.

n Navigational aids. Drivers need navigational systems, including signs, signals, and maps, to help them reach their

destination efficiently and safely. Information users need equivalent aids to help them navigate around information

resources. These may include, for example, metadata that explain how information was developed and aid understanding of how it can be used and standard mechanisms to help users understand where they are and how to go

home.
Strategy for Managing ORDs Information

28 INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT

n Developing security policies, procedures, and

standards that leverage security documentation

and tools already used by the Agency.

n Investigating tools that can aid ORD in meeting its

security objectives in a client/server and Internet

environment.

Training

ORD traditionally has relied on Agency-sponsored

training on discrete topics. Training sessions have

tended to use conventional formats, such as topic

experts training relatively small groups. This approach has limitations. In particular, it tends to

create a situation where the educational needs of

ORD staff are met sporadically and inconsistently.

For information management, ORD needs a comprehensive, coordinated, and strategic approach to

training to ensure that:

n All staff receive training in basic skill areas necessary for information use.

n More specialized training in a timely manner is

available to those who need it.

To achieve these goals, ORD will expand its portfolio

of training approaches to include computer-based

training, video conferencing, and outsourcing

training. Also, ORD will develop and deliver to ORD

staff:

n An ongoing training and certification program for

core competencies in the basic ORD information

environment.

n As-needed training for higher levels of expertise in

key areas such as GIS and risk assessment.

Standards

ORD will search out and adopt appropriate information management standards at the highest level

applicable, for example, those developed and promulgated by ISO, ANSI, and NIST. When appropriate standards do not exist, ORD will develop them to

ensure that its information is usable. For scientific

data, standards will include descriptive information

about the data (metadata). For example, ORD staff

will be better able to utilize archived scientific data

for future research if they have access to metadata

they can use to evaluate the quality, relevance, and

practical utility of the archived data (see also the

Specialized Tools section).

Currently, descriptive elements and quality assurance codes established in 1987 under the EPA Standards for the Electronic Transmission of Laboratory

Measurement Results (EPA Order 2180.2) are the only

scientific metadata requirements available. These

requirements will be updated, expanded to cover

field data, and made consistent with ORD record

retention schedules.

The Agency has a number of other standards that

address various aspects of information management:

n Uniform Rulemaking Docket Manual.

n Facility Identification Standard.

n EPA Hardware and Software Standards.

n Security Audit Standards for LANs and PCs (i.e.,

Enterprise Security Manager).

These standards will be updated as needed to

respond to the additional needs of ORDs new

information management approach.

User Support Services

ORD users will need support services to help them

when they have questions or encounter difficulties.

Since user needs will vary considerably, ORD will

develop a broad spectrum of service response

mechanisms as it implements this strategic plan.

Examples of the types of support services ORD may

provide to its users include:

n An electronic HELP menu to assist users by topic

areamuch like the help menu in a software

package. The help menu will be included as an

integral component of directories, catalogs, and

dictionaries (see the Specialized Tools section).

n An electronic mail and/or telephone hotline, staffed by

IM specialists to aid users in locating, accessing,

collecting, and analyzing data. When developing

the hotline, ORD will research current EPA

hotlines to identify appropriate models for the IM

hotline.

n A published (electronic) inventory of ORD IM specialists and their respective areas of expertise, as well

as extramural data processing and analysis

mechanisms available to Agency users.

Navigational Aids

ORD information usability will benefit from a

navigational framework that includes standard

mechanisms to help users understand where they

are in information space, how to go home, how to

get help, and so on. For key information areas,
Strategy for Managing ORDs Information

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT 29

such as risk assessment, the equivalent of tour

guides may prove very useful for helping ORD

researchers understand how they can apply these

information resources in their work.

ORD will integrate into ORD ScienceNet a navigational framework that includes standard web search

engines and the ability to easily browse ORDs

information (Figure 4-3). The ScienceNet also will

contain a highlights section that will focus on novel

applications of IM technologies in environmental

research, many of which will come from ORDs own

research programs.

In addition, ORD will develop topic search agents

that ORD staff can use to automatically search the

Internet and locate information pertinent to their

research.

Policies

Appropriate policies are crucial for fostering information use. ORD may want to establish a policy

encouraging the sharing and publication of information, based on a reward system for researchers who

publish data sets. Another simple example involves

credit and control. Information suppliers want

credit for the information they supply, typically in

the form of appropriate citations and acknowledgments comparable to the norm in scientific publications. Similarly, they want to feel they have some

control over how the information they supply is

used. These issues can be addressed by simple

policies that promote adequate documentation of:

n Data sources and contacts.

n The purpose for which the data were collected.

n The documented quality of the data.

n The fact that the data were validated as appropriate for the intended use.

The federal government, EPA and ORD currently

have a number of policy and guidance materials for

using ORD information systems, including:

n IRM Policy Manual (2100).

n IRM Privacy Act Manual (2190).

n System Design and Development Guidance.

n EPA Operation and Maintenance Manual.

n Records Management Manual.

n Enterprise Technology Services Division (OIRM/

ETSD) Operational Directives.

While these policies are largely sufficient in their

current form, not everyone in ORD is familiar with

them, and overlap and conflict among all of these

policies undoubtedly exists. ORD will first reconcile

differences and fill gaps in the policy and guidance

materials and then widely disseminate them among

its staff through training programs. It will provide

regular oversight and support to ensure that these

policies are implemented.

Specialized Tools

Some ORD information users will need specialized

tools that synthesize, analyze, and display data and

information to generate new information and

knowledge. Key tool categories include:

n Geographic Information Systems.

n Statistical tools.

n Computer models of all sorts (including those

needed for risk assessment and risk management).

n Visualization systems that help users visualize

what data mean.

ORD will identify priority needs for these tools and

make sure they are available to ORD and external

users who need them.

One particularly noteworthy tool that ORD will

provide to make its science data more usable is a

searchable directory/catalog/dictionary database

system that will be available on the ORD ScienceNet.

From the ScienceNet, this database tool will enable

any user to rapidly search ORDs science data

collections, identify data relevant to the users

particular need, understand its constraints, and

determine whether it is useful for the users purpose.

The directory, catalog, and dictionary components of

this system are illustrated in Figure 4-4 and described

below.

Directory

The ORD directory will consist of a database containing information about the scientific information

products produced by or relevant to the ORD

mission. Types of information products include data

sets, databases, models, projects, analytical products,

and documents.

The ORD data directory will provide sufficient

information to enable ScienceNet users to determine

which of the available ORD science data products (or

objects) may be relevant to their needs. For each

product (or object), the directory will provide

information on:
Strategy for Managing ORDs Information

30 INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT

n Why the data were collected.

n Who collected the data.

n Where the data were collected.

n How they were collected.

n When they were collected.

n The format of the data set.

n What fields the data set includes.

n Other information as appropriate.

Catalog

The ORD catalog provides an evaluation mechanism

to assist consumers in deciding if a product, such as a

model or data set, will be useful in meeting their

needs. The ORD catalog will provide detailed

information on:

n The general purpose for which the data were

collected.

n The originator of the data.

n Sampling and laboratory methods.

n Descriptions of the data and any manipulations or

transformations of the data.

n Related quality control/quality assurance measurements.

n Procedures necessary for data access.

n References to publications that use the data set.

The level of detail provided in the ORD catalog will

allow most data users to decide whether the data are

adequate for the intended use.

Dictionary

A dictionary provides a further level of detail for

science data users: descriptive information about

individual fields or attributes in data sets and databases.

This is in contrast to the directory and catalog that

relate information to entire data sets (as well as other

types of information products).

Status of DCD System Implementation

ORDs National Center for Environmental Assessment currently is assisting EPA Region 10, the Office

of Water Surf Your Watershed program, OIRMs

Envirofacts, and ORD NERL in developing and

implementing a directory, catalog, and dictionary

(DCD) system called the Environmental Information

Management System (EIMS) to manage environmental data relevant to assessment activities. These

systems are currently operational.

The EIMS is being evaluated for use as an Agencywide metadata management system. The ORD EIMS

will be available to users through the World Wide

Web and will have the following capabilities:

n The directory and catalog have both update and

browse capability.

n The catalog will provide detailed information on

the quality of data sets, the methods employed to

create the data sets, and other information consumers can use to determine the appropriateness

of the data for their purposes.

Figure 4-4. Components of a Searchable Database (the DCD System) that Will Describe the Information

Available on ORD ScienceNet

A DIRECTORY contains initial

information about ORD data and

information products

A CATALOG contains more

detailed information on ORD

data and information products

A DICTIONARY contains

information about individual

components of data sets

Directory Directory

Catalog Catalog

Dictionary Dictionary
Strategy for Managing ORDs Information

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT 31

n The dictionary will provide information for all

fields within the ORD data set and database

collection. It will be fully integrated and

nonredundant with the directory and catalog.

To be successful, ORDs DCD system must be

supported by a strong data administration program

that establishes:

n What documentation ORD staff should provide to

the system.

n How they should provide it.

n Where to provide it.

n When to provide it.

n Who is responsible for providing it.

n Why it should be provided.

ORD will develop data administration policies,

standards, and procedures that address these

questions and establish consistent ground rules for

both contributors and consumers of ORD metadata

to follow when populating and using the DCD

system.

Specialized Information Resources

Some ORD users will need specialized information

resources that come from suppliers outside of ORD

and, often, outside of EPA. A good example is remote

sensing data. For research themes like ecosystem

protection, remote sensing data can provide tremendously improved insights and synergy with other

data.

ORD will survey its staff to determine which specialized data resources are needed. Then ORD will

work with the providers of these data (such as the

National Aeronautics and Space Administration and

the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and use interagency mechanisms (such as the

Committee on Environment and Natural Resources

and its subcommittees and task forces) to make its

needs known. Finally, ORD will prepare a compendium of specialized data resources with information

about what they contain and how to access them and

distribute the compendium to ORD staff.

ORD Science Information Management

Coordination Board

The newly formed ORD Science Information Management Coordination Board, as described in Section

1, will be responsible for developing implementation

plans for this strategy and for recommending an

appropriate FY 1998 and 1999 budget to support

high-priority ORD science information systems

infrastructure.

Timing

The need for IM capabilities within ORD is so great

that many IM activities or systems already are being

implemented by individuals or groups within ORD.

This is inherently inefficient because the time and

resources to establish these systems independently is

far greater than a coordinated effort. Also, the end

results often are incompatible with other ORD

systems or, at the very least, far less accessible and

useful to others than they could be. For example,

several large ORD initiatives, such as the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program

(EMAP), have an urgent need for a coordinated data

management system. If ORD does not implement a

Range of IM Needs Among ORD Laboratories and Centers

n The primary mission of ORDs three Laboratories is to conduct research. This generally involves collecting and analyzing large amounts of data. The initial users of these data are the ORD and cooperating scientists conducting the

research.

n By contrast, the mission of ORDs National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) is to provide support for ORD

and stakeholder use of risk assessment and conduct risk assessments as a secondary data user. NCEA typically

synthesizes data generated by ORD Laboratory research, conducts secondary analysis of this data (e.g., uses it to

perform a risk assessment), and disseminates the results to its customers and stakeholders.

n With its grants and fellowship program management, quality assurance, and peer review responsibilities, ORDs

National Center for Environmental Research and Quality Assurance (NCERQA) has yet another distinct set of information

management needs to be able to provide adequate management for ORDs extramural grant and fellowship programs

and ensure that the best approaches to environmental data quality and documentation are incorporated throughout

ORD.
Strategy for Managing ORDs Information

32 INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT

coordinated IM strategy in the very near future, this

program and others likely will be forced to act on

their own to stay on schedule with the project goals

and milestones.

In general, the more time that passes before an ORDwide IM system can be created, the greater will be

the inefficiencies and the greater will be the cost to

integrate existing IM components into a unified

system.

External Coordination

Many organizations within and outside EPA are

planning for and implementing information management systems for a variety of purposes. The Board

will need to be proactive in contacting and communicating with other groups in EPA, with ORDs stakeholders, and with our partners to obtain feedback on

this plan before and during implementation and to

stay abreast of and coordinate with initiatives, plans,

and programs related to our IM efforts. This coordination will be accomplished in part by the outreach

activities discussed earlier in this section, which will

serve to make ORDs stakeholders and partners

within and outside the Agency aware of ORDs IM

activities. For example, in the near term, the Board

will need to coordinate with EPAs efforts to implement a consolidated planning, budgeting, and

accountability system. Also, as described in Section

1, the Board should coordinate with EPA in its efforts

to comply with the Information Technology Management Reform Act.

Successful implementation of ORDs IM Strategic

Plan will also require substantive input and involvement by all ORD Laboratories, Centers, and Offices.

Therefore, during the execution of this plan over the

coming years, an effective staffing structure with

sufficient management support and resources to

operate effectively and responsively will be crucial to

ensuring ORD-wide coordination and participation.

This is particularly important because ORD is a large

organization distributed across the United States

(Appendix D), which heightens both the need for

and challenges of ORD-wide IM management and

coordination.

Each of ORDs five Laboratories and Centers and

three Offices currently has its own IM staff (see Table

4-2) responsible for meeting the internal IM needs of

its own researchers, managers, and administrative

personnel in a way that aligns with its mission. What

is currently lacking is a unifying mechanism providing cohesion and overarching coordination among

these staff on an organizational level. It is, therefore,

recommended that the Board initially look not only

at resource needs, but at a staffing structure that will

enable ORDs IM staff to more effectively coordinate

IM activities across ORD. The challenge for ORD

will be to increase coordination, training opportunities, and other support to our scientists and engineers, while avoiding unnecessary bureaucracy.
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT 33

Table 4-2. Current ORD Information Management Staff*

ORGANIZATIONAL ABBREVIATIONS:HQ - HeadquartersNCEA - National Center for Environmental AssessmentNCERQA - National Center for Environmental Research and Quality AssuranceNERL - National Exposure Research LaboratoryNHEERL - National Health and Environmental Effects Research LaboratoryNRMRL - National Risk Management Research Laboratory

* Many of these individuals perform duties outside the strict definition of information management, such as responding to Freedom of Information Act requests, producing r

documents, managing contracts, and handling review and clearance of products.

Organization Site

ComputerSpecialist/

Engineer/

Assistant

InformationManagement

Specialist/

Assistant

TechnicalInformation

Specialist/

Assistant

ComputerGraphic/Visual

Information

Specialist

ManagemenProgram An

HQ Washington, DC

RTP, NC

4

1

3

NCEA Washington, DC

Cincinnati, OH

RTP, NC

1

6

11

1

NCERQA Washington, DC 1 NERL RTP, NC

Cincinnati, OH

Las Vegas, NVAthens, GA

6

1

2

1

11

1

NHEERL RTP, NC

Narragansett, RI

Corvallis, OR

Duluth, MN

Gulf Breeze, FL

10

111

2

1

1

1 1

11

NRMRL Cincinnati, OH

Ada, OKRTP, NC

7

11

1 
Appendix A

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT 35

Appendix A:

The Information Technology

Management Reform Act of 1996

(ITMRA)

A fundamental change in the way government

agencies perform the work of information management was signed into law in February 1996. The

ITMRA repeals large portions of the Brooks Act and

establishes a new statutory scheme for information

technology management and acquisition. The

ITMRA formally establishes the position of Chief

Information Officer (CIO). The CIO must put in

place a process to meet new requirements for Information Technology Capital Planning and Investment

Control.

The CIO will consider mission accomplishment first

in approving major systems, overarching policies,

agency acquisition strategies and budget. Policy

issues will be resolved before major system automating efforts begin.

These new requirements raise several challenges for

the Agency to meet the goal of the Act, namely to

maximize the value of our investments in information technology while minimizing risks:

n Work Process Reengineering as a prerequisite

before investing in automation, along with

determining whether processes should even be

automated or should be performed by entities

other than EPA. If we are going to continue to do

the work, we must insure that we automate the

best approach to the work.

n Return on Investment, including explicit measures

of cost and benefits to be realized, as well as cost

avoidance, and least costing option. In many

cases, the risk on investment will not necessarily

be all quantitative but qualitative as well. Investments will be ranked and prioritized that meet

Agency thresholds ($25 million/life cycle, $5

million /year). Questions of aggregation of

technology and the application of granularity

must be answered.

n Risk Management, including explicit criteria for

evaluating risk, leading to relative rankings of the

associated risks across IT projects considered for

investment.

n Performance Measurement, leading to tracking of

systems as being on time and on budget plus

meeting requirements objectives. The legislation

specifies that the Agency must achieve a 5%

reduction in costs due to automation.

n Portfolio Management, including dealing with

systems in several stages of life cycle, risk, and

cost. Major investments must come before an

investment board (i.e., EPAs Executive Steering

Committee) with an accompanying Business Case

Analysis that will summarize the mission benefit

as well as the newly introduced Return on Investment and Risk measures.

n We must define investment and thresholds which

includes the ongoing costs of operating systems,

all life cycle investment, and at the appropriate

level of management, rank and prioritize these

systems based upon mission accomplishment.

EPA must merge the existing and new processes to

the greatest extent possible to create the necessary

Capital Planning and Investment Control process.

Action

ORD must approach each information technology

investment as a business case and apply rigorous cost

benefit analyses. An Agency-wide architectural
Appendix A

36 INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT

process has begun that will drive home the need for

a cultural change. The fundamental change required

is that no added costs or time delays to systems may

be incurred. We must begin now to:

1. Invest human resources in the Strategic Information Technology Architecture Plan (SITAP) process.

2. Participate in the ITMRA Capital Planning and

Investment Control Strategic Project Committee to

define the Agency process for capital planning

and investment control, determine best practices,

and implement the new method of determining

information technology investments.
Appendix B

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT 37

Appendix B:

ORDs Strategic Research Planning

Process

Selecting Research Topics. We narrow the pool of

potential research topics by retaining only those

that are either within ORDs mission or clearly

mandated. To the mission-related topics, we

apply a series of human health, ecological health,

methods/models, and risk management criteria to

compare the topics according to their potential to

support effective risk reduction and/or produce

broadly applicable results. We then further

narrow the pool of topics by retaining only those

where ORD can make a significant contribution to

environmental science. Based on this analysis, we

prioritize the research topics.

Determining Specific Research Needs. For each

selected topic, we then determine what the

specific research needs are within each component of the risk paradigm (effects, exposure, risk

assessment, risk management). As appropriate,

we may develop strategic plans for broad,

overarching topic areas to guide more detailed

planning.

Detailed Planning. The next step involves

translating these needs into a research program.

At this stage, we develop detailed research plans

for each project. We also develop operating and

laboratory implementation plans for each project

to be conducted intramurally or under a contract

or cooperative agreement. We develop Requests

for Applications for projects to be conducted

under grants.

Conducting the Research. Once planning is

completed, the research is conducted intramurally

or extramurally. The research products and

results provide input into future planning efforts.

As described in Section 1, ORD has instituted a

strategic planning process to determine research

priorities based on risk assessment and risk management principles. This process was finalized in 1996

and published in the Strategic Plan for the Office of

Research and Development. This strategic plan established the framework by which ORD determines the

highest priority research to which intramural and

extramural research efforts are directed.

The risk-based research planning process involves

soliciting stakeholder input, identifying potential

research topics, evaluating these topics to select the

most appropriate ones for ORDs research agenda,

and then defining specific research needs for the

selected topics. Once ORD has identified specific

research needs, plans are developed that define longterm directions as well as the immediate research

that will be carried out during the next few years.

The ORD laboratories then prepare plans that

describe how they will implement the intramural

component of the research, and complementary

solicitations are prepared for extramural research

that will be carried out by universities and other

research institutions. Research is conducted based

on these plans; the research products are delivered to

stakeholders and provide input into the next strategic planning cycle. Steps in the research planning

process include:

Obtaining EPA and Stakeholder Input. The first

step in ORDs research planning process involves

seeking input from all parts of EPA (including

ORD and the EPA Program and Regional Offices),

as well as external stakeholders, to identify the

most important and relevant areas for our research efforts. At this stage, we also consider the

status and results of our recent research activities.

Based on this information, we identify potential

research topics.
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT 38

R

ESE

A

R

C

H

T

O

P

I

C

S

Examples:< Particulate

matter in air

< Integrated

ecosystemprotection

< Endocrine

disruptors

< Etc.

R

I

S

KC

R

I

T

E

R

I

A

< Human health

& ecosystemresearch

< Risk

managementresearch

< Risk

assessmentmethods &modelsresearch

< Technical

support

< ORD Labs< Programs &

Regions

< External

ScienceCommunity

< Industry< Others

S

T

AK

E

H

O

L

D

E

R

S

I

N

C

L

P

EE

RR

E

V

Research

Plans & Lab

Implementation Plans or

RFAs

I

N

C

L

P

EE

RR

E

V

Research

Products

PotentialResearchTopics

PrioritizeUsing RiskBased Criteria

Effect

Research

Topic

Initiate

Detailed

Planning

Conduct

Research

Delivery

of

Research

to

Stakeholders

ORD Research Planning Process

IM planningtakes placeat these stagesof ORDsplanningprocess:

Relationship of IM Planning to ORDs Research Planning Process
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT 39

Recommendations for Integrating IM Planning Into the Development of ORD Research Planning Doc

Planning Document Description Contents

Current Guidance on

IM Planning

ORD Research Plans Delineate overarching research strategies in the

broad topic areas identified for ORD research

(e.g., ecosystem protection, drinking water).

Used by ORD and its stakeholders, including

peer review panels, EPA Program and RegionalOffices, and external stakeholders.

ORD Research Plans describe:

How and why the topic was selected for ORD research (i.e.,what criteria were applied, who the research clients are, and

how the research will meet their needs).Specific research efforts and major products.

ORD Guidelines for Research Plan(October 13, 1995) do notrequire that Research Plans

address IM planning.

Laboratory, Center ResearchPlans

Prepared by ORD 's National Laboratories and

Centers as planning tools to identify, prioritize,

and justify their overall programs.

Lab/Center Research Plans:

Broadly define major research areas. Describe anticipated products or accomplishments and how

the research will contribute to addressing /reolving Agencyproblems. Provide information on the current researchprogram and future directions.

There currently are no formal

guidelines for preparing theseplans.

Divisional Research Plans Prepared by individual division within an ORD

Laboratory or Center, these research plansdefine, prioritize, and justify the research

program to be conducted by the division.

Divisional Research Plans: 

Provide detailed information on specific research areas,disciplines, or themes.Describe the relationship of the research to specific ORD

research strategies.

Describe the anticipated products/accomplishments and

how they will contribute to addressing/resolving identified

data gaps.

There currently are no formal

guidelines for preparing theseplans.

Cross-Divisional Research

Plans

Prepared by cross-divisional research teams,

these plans describe research to be conducted

collaboratively across divisions within or across

ORD Laboratories and Centers.

Cross-Divisional Research Plans describe the:

Problem and its importance.Research approaches.Anticipated research products/accomplishments.

There currently are no formal

guidelines for preparing theseplans.

Laboratory ImplementationPlans (LIPS)

Prepared by ORD Laboratories for all research

to be conducted in-house or under a contract or

cooperative agreement. Used by ORD

managers and scientists to track and prioritizeproducts (reports, data and metadata,publications) that present the science data andinformation gathered by the research. All LIPinformation resides in the LIP module of theORD Management Information System (OMIS).

Laboratory Implementation Plans: 

Provide detailed descriptions of the specific research

projects and tasks to be conducted.

Include data on extramural resources and FTEs (full-timeequivalents), products to be generated, and the acquisitionor assistance mechanism for the research.

Show how the resources will be used to implement theresearch programs and objectives.

Divides the research into a set of discrete tasks, eachassigned a unique task number.

Specify what mechanism will be used to conduct the task(i.e., intramural, contract, cooperative agreement) and whatproducts (i.e., research plans, reports, etc.) will be generated

under the task.

There currently are no formal

guidelines for preparing theseplans.
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT 40 Recommendations for Integrating IM Planning Into the Development of ORD Research Planning Doc

Planning Document Description Contents Current Guidance on IM Planning Request for Applications (RFAs) Prepared under ORD's Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Program to solicit investigator- initiated grant applications from universities and other external research institutions in areas of special interest to EPAs mission. RFAs specify the requirements and provisions for the research grant. As appropriate, RFAs may also: Require the investigator to summarize in the proposal the plans for data management. Make these plans one of the selection criteria. Require that the investigator submit data collected during the project, along with appropriate documentation, to an EPA data archive for subsequent distribution and use by other investigators. Require the investigator to describe in the proposal how the data will be preserved and made available to others for future research studies. There currently are no formal guidelines for preparing RFAs. 

Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs) Prepared for all applicable projects and tasks involving collection or use of environmental data, to define QA/QC activities and records. Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs): Define and document the type and quality of the data needed to meet the intended use of the project. Describe how specific quality assurance and quality control activities will be implemented, assessed and documented during a particular project. EPA QA/R-2 and R-5 require that data management and handling of documentation and records be defined in a QAPP. 
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT 41

Appendix C:Inventory of ORD-Related Databases

[Compiled by Sidney Draggan, February 27, 1996]

Medium Name (*denotes Multiagency) Description [Number of Sites] Responsible EPA Organization Contact/ Telephone World Wide Web/ Internet/Source Rema

Air and

Radiation

*Clean Air Status and Trends

Network (CASTNet)

Deposition network quantifying status and trends of airemissions, depositions and air quality [EPA 51/Total 235].

Office of Research and

Development, NERL

Rick Linthurst919.541.4909Jay Messer919.541.1425

EPA/600/A-94/194

*GLAD Deposition of atmospheric trace elements and nutrients in

precipitation to the Great Lakes [EPA 7].

*IADN Identify persistent and bioaccumulative toxic pollutants,

estimate their total deposition, and determine sources and

relative loadings to the Great Lakes [5].

*IMPROVE Establish current background visibility levels; identify

chemical species and emissions sources responsible forexisting manmade visibility impairment and document

long-term spatial and temporal trends [53].

*NAMS/SLAMS/SPM Air quality data for areas with high pollutant

concentrations and high population exposure [507].

*PAMS Comprehensive and representative data on ozone

pollution non-attainment areas [144].

Aerometric InformationRetrieval System (AIRS)

National repository for airborne pollution in the United

States and various World Health Organization (WHO)member countries.

Office of Air Quality

Planning and

Standards; Information

Transfer and ProgramIntegration Division

1-800-333-7909 http://www.epa.gov/

airs/airs.html

(AQS) Air Quality Subsystem Contains measurements of air pollutants and

meteorological data from about 10,000 monitoring stations

operated by EPA, state and local agencies, and WHO

member countries.

(AFS) AIRS FacilitySubsystem

Contains data for nearly 150,000 air pollution point

sources monitored by the U.S. EPA and/or state and localair regulatory agencies.

(GCS) Geographic, Common,

and Maintenance Subsystem

Contains reference data shared by the AQS, AFS, and AG

subsystems.

(AG) AIRS Graphics Integrates data from multiple AIRS subsystems into maps

and charts that show patterns, trends, and anomalies inair pollution data.

(AE) AIRS Executive An IBM PC program that contains a select subset of data

extracted from the AIRS database.

Support Center for

Regulatory Air Models

(SCRAM)

Provides regulatory air quality model computer code,

meteorological data, documentation, and modelingguidance.

Office of Air Quality

Planning and

Standards
Appendix C

42INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT

Medium Name (*denotes Multiagency) Description [Number of Sites] Responsible EPA Organization Contact/ Telephone World Wide Web/ Internet/Source Remarks

Clearinghouse forInventories/Emission Factors

(CHIEF)

Contains information on air emission inventories andemission factors, provides access to tools for estimatingemissions of air pollutants and performing air emission

inventories for both criteria and toxic pollutants.

Office of Air QualityPlanning andStandards

UV-B Monitoring Information supporting international program for groundlevel measurement of UV-B [7].Southern Oxidants Study

(SOS)

Photochemical; oxidants-related ambient and emissions

management data collected in the Southeastern U.S.

Office of Research and

Development (ORD),

NERL-AtmosphericSciences Modelling

Division

Basil Dimitriades919.541.2706

An Operation System for

Predicting the PopulationHealth Effects from Disposalof Radioactive Waste byShallow Trenches

(PRESTO-POP)

Designed to calculate the population health effectsresulting from the disposal of low-level radioactive wastein shallow trenches; employs simple radionuclidetransport and exposure submodels.

Office of Research and

Development

Hung, Cheng-Yeng202.233.9204

Model

Indoor Air Quality in LargeOffice Buildings

Contains ORD and OAR data; characterizes the temporaland spatial variability of important physical,environmental, and comfort parameters influencingoccupant perceptions of indoor air quality. A

standardized investigative protocol was employed touniformly collect and report indoor air quality data fromrandomly selected office work environments in randomlyselected public and private office buildings.

Office of Air andRadiation

Susan WombleORIA/OAR202.233.9057Ross HighsmithNERL/ORD919.541.7828

WWW/Internet:

Anticipated

availability date April

15, 1996.

Selected data summaries and reports to be

placed on WWW. Validated data availablethrough OAR, Susan Womble, (202) 233-

9057.

PerFluorocarbon [?] Tracer

Database

Data related to indoor air modeling and exposure

assessments; a comprehensive compilation of several

survey studies of residential house volumes, air exchangerates, and infiltration rates.

Office of PollutionPrevention and Toxics

Pat Kennedy

(OPPT)

202.260.3916

As yet, undergoing quality assurance

procedures by U.S. EPA contractor.

Source Ranking Database Data related to indoor air and exposure assessment. Office of Air and

Radiation

Christine Cinelli

(OAR)

202.260.3913

Temporal Allocation Factors

File (TAFF)

Contains national level default temporal allocation

factors for use in developing temporally allocated

emissions inventories.

Office of Research and

Development,

NRMRL/APPCD/ECPB

Charles Mann919.541.4593

mann.chuck@

epamail.epa.gov.

No Internet; ASCII

text file; Microsoft

Access

Solvent Alternatives GuidE

(SAGE)

Computer software system using a decision tree format

to identify cleaning options for various surfaces.

Office of Research and

Development,

NRMRL/APPCD/ECPB

Charles H. Darvin919.541.7633E-mail: none

ENVIRO$EN$EHTTP://WASTENOT.INEL.GOV:80/ENVIRO$EN$E/

TTN (919)541-5742

Coating Alternatives GuidE

(CAGE)

Computer-based software program, to assist in reducing

VOC and air toxic emissions from metal parts andproduct coating operations.

Office of Research and

Development,

NRMRL/APPCD/ECPB

Michael Kosusko

919.541.2734

mkosusko@

engineer.aeerl.epa.gov

No Internet

Adhesives Alternatives GuidE

(AAGE)

Computer-based package on selection and use ofadhesives and low-and-no-VOC substitutes for solventbased adhesives.

Office of Research and

Development,

NRMRL/APPCD/ECPB

Chester Vogel919.541.2827cvogel@engineer.aeerl.epa.gov

No Internet
Appendix C

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT 43

Medium Name (*denotes Multiagency) Description [Number of Sites] Responsible EPA Organization Contact/ Telephone World Wide Web/ Internet/Source Remarks

Biogenic EmissionsInventory System (BEIS-II)Land Use Database

Contains county land use data for the contiguous 48

states.

Office of Research and

Development,NRMRL/APPCD/ECPB

Christopher D.Geron

919.541.4639cdg@aesn02.aeerl.epa.gov.

TTNBBS.RTPNC.EPA.GOV

Global Technology (GloTech) Contains information on cost, environmental releases,

and other technology data which can be compared,summed and ranked.

Office of Research and

Development,NRMRL/APPCD/APB

Lee Beck919.541.0617

lbeck@engineer.aeerl.epa.gov

HTTP://WWW.EPA.GOV/DOCS/CRB/BROCHURE/GWCB/GLOTECH.HTM. Software only. Beta test 96.

Water Ocean Data Evaluation

System (ODES)

Effluent, water quality and biological monitoring data

from all coastal sewage treatment plants that have or may

submit 301(h) reports.

Office of Marine and

Estuarine Protection

EPA 503/8 -90-007

(NFTDR) National Fish

Tissue Data Repository

Collection and storage of fish and shellfish contaminants

data, will be part of a larger EPA database and computersystemOcean Data Evaluation System (ODES).

Office of Water EPA/823/B-93/003

Accession Number:212076

Biological Data Management

System (BIOS)

National biological data management system linked to

STORETresults from data requirements survey of field

biologists.

Exposure Analysis Modeling

System (EXAMS-II)

An interactive modeling system allowing specification andstorage of chemicals properties and ecosystemcharacteristics for evaluation of probable aquatic fate ofsynthetic organic chemicals.

Office of Research and

Development

Model

Coordinator706.546.3549

National Compendium ofFreshwater Fish and WaterTemperature Data

(FISHTEMP)

Historical fish distribution data with accompanying water

temperature data from 1930-present for over 300 species

of freshwater fish from 250,000 locations in the U.S.Provides a nationwide compendium of freshwater fish

populations in relation to water temperature regimes.

Office of Research and

Development

John Eaton218.720.5557

Aquatic Toxicity InformationRetrieval (AQUIRE)

Information on the toxic effects of chemicals to aquaticorganisms and plants; toxicity test results and related

testing information for any individual chemical fromlaboratory and field aquatic toxicity tests; acute, sublethal

and bioconcentration effects are recorded for fresh waterand marine organisms.

Office of Research and

Development

Christine L.

Russom218.720.5709

Assessment Tools for theEvaluation of Risk (ASTER)

Assists Regional and State regulators in performingecological risk assessments; an integration of the AQUIRE

toxic effects database and the QSAR system, a structure

activity based expert system.

Office of Research and

Development

Christine L.

Russom218.720.5709

Quantitative Structure

Activity Relationships

System (QSAR)

Expert system providing information on physicalchemical properties, fate and effects of organic chemicals

to the environment.

Office of Research and

Development

Christine L.

Russom218.720.5709

Food and Gill Exchange ofToxic Substances (FGETS)

Databases and model predicting temporal dynamics of a

fish's whole body composition ( g chemical/(g live weightfish)) of non-ionic, non-metabolized, organic chemicalsthat are bioaccumulated from water only, or water andfood.

Office of Research and

Development, NERL,ERD-Athens

Frank Stancil

706.546.3197

stancil.frank@epamail.epa.gov Database/Models
Appendix C

44 INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT Medium Name (*denotes Multiagency) Description [Number of Sites] Responsible EPA Organization Contact/ Telephone Worl Wide Web/ Internet / Source Remarks Lake Analysis Management System (LAMS) A system of data bases and models, with GIS capability, developed for the Great Lakes and watersheds. Data bases and models, containing Great Lakes data collected since 1971 and Canadian Great Lakes data collected since 1968, assist in environmental decision-making for the Great Lakes. Office of Research and Development Russell G. Kreis 313.692.7615 Database/Models Green Cross Solar (GCSOLAR) Computes direct photolysis rates and half-lives of pollutants in the aquatic environment. Office of Research and Development Model Coordinator 706.546.3549 Model Stream Quality Model (QUAL2E) Permits simulation of water quality constituents in a branching stream system using a finite difference solution to the one-dimensional advective-dispersive mass transport and reaction equation; conceptual representation is a stream reach divided into a number of subreaches or computational elements equivalent to finite difference elements. Office of Research and Development Model Coordinator 706.546.3180 Model River Reach Files (RF1, RF2, RF3) A series of hydrologic databases of the surface waters of the continental United States and Hawaii. The structure and content of these databases were created to establish hydrologic ordering, to perform hydrologic navigation for modeling applications, and to provide a unique identifier for each surface water feature, i.e., the reach code. Office of Water Karen Klima klima.karen@ epamail.epa.gov 800.424.9067 http://www.epa.gov/ OWOW/gis/reach. html The Waterbody System (WBS) Database provides convenient means for storing assessment information organized around water quality resource units called waterbodies. Assessment inform- ation is entered on beneficial use status or causes and sources of pollution for each waterbody. The program can generate lists and summary tables for preparation of Section 305(b) reports. Office of Water Karen Klima klima.karen@ epamail.epa.gov http://www.epa.gov/ OWOW/NBSFlash/ NBSFlash.html STOrage and RETrieval Sys- em for Water and Biological Monitoring Data (STORET) Utility maintained for storage and retrieval of parametric data pertaining to the quality of waterways within and contiguous to the US. Has evolved to a comprehensive family of systems, performing range of functions, including data availability summaries; tabular data reports; statistical data analyses; graphics and maps; and

data preparation for down-load to other systems.

Office of Water Phil Lindenstruth http://www.epa.

gov/OWOW/STORET/ STORET@

epamail.epa.gov

*National Estuaries Program(NEP)

Identifies nationally-significant estuaries to protect and

improve their water quality and to enhance their livingresources [21].

*National Water Quality

Monitoring Program

US water quality monitoring and assessment guidelines,

protocols and programs for Clean Water Act 305(b)reporting.

Discharge MonitoringReport-Quality Assurance

Studies (DMR-QA)

Annual analysis of inorganic synthetic wastewatersamples by 7,000 to 7,500 major National PollutionDischarge Elimination System (NPDES) dischargers;

provides basis for evaluating quality of routinemonitoring required in NPDES permits.

Office of Research and

Development

Paul Britton513.569.7216

Database

Water Pollution LaboratoryPerformance Evaluation

Studies (WP)

Semi-annual analyses of synthetic wastewater samples forup to 80 organic and inorganic analytes by routine

wastewater analysis laboratories.

Office of Research and

Development

Paul Britton513.569.7216
Appendix C

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT 45

Medium Name (*denotes Multiagency) Description [Number of Sites] Responsible EPA Organization Contact/ Telephone World Wide Web/ Internet/Source Remarks

Water Supply Laboratory

Performance EvaluationStudies (WS)

Semi-annual analyses of synthetic drinking water samples

for up to 170 organic and inorganic analytes bylaboratories seeking U.S. EPA certification to analyze

drinking waters.

Office of Research and

Development

Paul Britton513.569.7216

Treatability Database Compendium of peer-reviewed treatability data on a

wide range of environmental contaminants, largely in an

aqueous medium but with some information on

hazardous wastes.

Office of Research and

Development,

NRMRL/STD

Jerry Waterman

513.569.7834

North American Wetlands for

Water Quality Treatment

Compilation of information of wetlands used to treat

wastewater.

Office of Research and

Development,

NRMRL/WSWRD/

WQMB

Don Brown

513.569.7630

brown.donald@

epamail.epa.gov

EARNS Notifications of oil and hazardous substance releases to

the environment.

*HUC Code Digitization Details USGS HUCs (watershed boundaries) to subwatershed delineations.

PCS Data on National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System

permit-holding facilities.

Soil Dougherty Plain Database Four-year database on leaching of aldicarb, metolachlor

and bromide in a 3.9 ha peanut field. Data includesapplication rates, pesticide/bromide concentration

profiles, plant uptake, soil water retention, hydraulic

conductivity and daily weather.

Office of Research and

Development (ORD),

NERL, ERD-Athens

Charllie Smith706.546.2247

smith.charllie@

epamail.epa.gov

Watkinsville Database Four-year database on runoff of atrazine, cyanazine,

diphenamid, propazine, trofluralin, 2,4-D and fertilizer

from four small agricultural watersheds (1.32.7 ha) for usein development and testing of runoff transport models.Data include pesticide and fertilizer runoff by rainfall

event, application rates, soil characteristics, pesticideand fertilizer concentration profiles, and daily weather

records.

Office of Research and

Development (ORD),

NERL, ERD-Athens

Charllie Smith706.546.2247

smith.charlie@

epamail.epa.gov

Unsaturated Soil Hydraulic

Database (UNSODA)

Database provides field and laboratory measured soilhydraulic and physical properties for use in unsaturatedzone models. The database includes the Retention Curve

(RETC) code for the estimation of hydraulic parameters

for use in these models.

Office of Research and

Development ,

NRMRL/SPRD Center

for SubsurfaceModeling Support

(CSMoS).

Joe. R. Williams405.436.8608

http://www.epa.gov/

ada/kerrlab.html

Database was developed in cooperationwith the USDA Soil Salinity Laboratory in

Riverside, California. The database iscurrently being made ready for distribution

via the CSMoS WWW Site listed.

Soil andGround

Water

Model Annotation and

Retrieval System (MARS)

Database of subsurface computer models containinginformation on over 500 models for the unsaturated andsaturated zone. System allows the user to search formodels by specific model application needs.

Office of Research and

Development,

NRMRL/SPRD Center

for SubsurfaceModeling Support

(CSMoS).

Joe. R. Williams405.436.8608

Currently notavailable on the

WWW site.

This database was developed under

cooperative agreement with theInternational Ground Water Modeling Center

(IGWMC) and is being maintained and

marketed by IGWMC. The updated version

can be obtained by contacting IGWMC at

(303) 273-3103.
Appendix C

46 INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT Medium Name (*denotes Multiagency) Description [Number of Sites] Responsible EPA Organization Contact/ Telephone World Wide Web/ Internet/Source Remarks Multi- Media *Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) Interdisciplinary, multiple US ecological resource program to monitor status and trends with known confidence. Embodies a comprehensive information management system. National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory Gilman Veith, NHEERL Tom Murphy, NHEERL Robert Shepanek, NCEA http://epawww.epa. gov/emaphome Agricultural Lands Status and trends in the condition of the nation's agricultural lands which include land used for crops, pasture, and livestock; adjacent land; and the associated atmosphere, underlying soils, ground water, and drainage networks. National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory Charles Lee Campbell 919.515.3311 http://www.epa.gov/ emap/html/resrcgrp/ agroland/ Estuaries Status and trends in the condition of the nation's estuaries extending inland to the head of tide. This includes to coastal embayments, bays, inland waterways, tidal rivers, coastal wetland areas, and salt-water marshes. National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory Kevin Summers 904.934.9244 http://www.epa.gov/ emap/html/resrcgrp/ estuary/ http://dolphin.gbr. epa.gov Forests Status and trends in the condition of the nation's forests, including areas formerly covered by trees, but not currently built-up or developed for agricultural use. National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory Sam Alexander 919.549.4020 Beth Eastman 919.549.4059 http://www.epa.gov/- emap/html/resrcgrp/f- orests/ Great Lakes Status and trends in the condition of the Great Lakes, the nation's largest and most unique group of surface waters. National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory Stephen Lozano 218.720.5594 http://www.epa.gov/- emap/html/resrcgrp/- greatlak/ Landscape Ecology Studies of the structure, function, pattern, and changes in the nation's heterogenous land areas using remote sensing and geographic information systems. National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory Bruce Jones 702.798.2671 http://www.epa.gov/- emap/html/resrcgrp/l- andecol/ Rangelands Status and trends in the condition of the nation's deserts, grasslands, and other arid lands. National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory Dan Heggem 702.798.2278 http://www.epa.gov/- emap/html/resrcgrp/r- angland/ Surface Waters Status and trends in the condition of the nation's surface waters including lakes, streams and rivers downstream to the head of tide, and inland wetland areas. National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory Steve Paulsen 503.754.4428 http://www.epa.gov/ emap/html/resrcgrp/ surfwatr/

Interagency TaxonomicInformation System (ITIS)

Provide an electronic, taxonomic reference that

promotes scientific excellence and is fully supported bythe world taxonomic community.

National Health andEnvironmental EffectsResearch Laboratory

Gary Collins513.569.7174

http://trident.ftc.nrcs

.usda.gov:80/itis/dev/

Methods Database on selection and development of appropriate

methods for collecting data. Encourages the use ofstandardized methods within resource groups to ensure

comparability of data and helps to develop strategies for

standardizing methods across resource groups.

National Health andEnvironmental EffectsResearch Laboratory

Gary Collins513.569.7174

http://www.epa.gov/

docs/emap/html/coordgrp/methods/

Indicators Database on basic research concerning the development

and selection of biological and other indicators for use inEMAP.

National Health andEnvironmental EffectsResearch Laboratory

Kay Austin http://www.epa.gov/

docs/emap/html/coordgrp/indicatr/

*Multi-resolution Land

Characteristics Consortium

(MRLC)

Interagency program to produce a consistent US landcover database; integrates data and information across

temporal and spatial scales.

National Health andEnvironmental EffectsResearch Laboratory

Denice Shaw

919.541.2698

http://www.epa.gov/

docs/grd/mrlc/
Appendix C

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT 47

Medium Name (*denotes Multiagency) Description [Number of Sites] Responsible EPA Organization Contact/ Telephone World Wide Web/ Internet/Source Remarks

Exposure Models Library andIntegrated Model EvaluationSystem (IMES)

Selection of over 70 fate and transport models forexposure assessments in various environmental media.Facilitates selection of best fate model for a particular riskassessment problem as well as information on validationof the models.

Office of Research and

Development, NCEAWashington.

Richard

Walentowicz

202.260.8922

EPA/600/C-92/200

*Developmental and

Reproductive Toxicity

(DART) Database

On-line, bibliographic information and data ondevelopmental and reproductive toxicity.

Office of Research and

Development, NCEAWashington

Carol Kimmel202.260.7331

ORD Bibliography Searchable, downloadable, electronic database of ORD

publication citations with abstracts (1976-present).

Office of Research and

Development,

NRMRL/TTSD

Randy Revetta513.569.7358

Accessible through ORD Bulletin Board

(ORDBBS). (513) 569-7610 (513) 569-7700(513) 569-7272 (voice)

*Ecotoxicology Database

Retrieval System (ECOTOX)

Computer-based system that provides chemical-specific

toxicity values for aquatic life, terrestrial plants, andwildlife; useful in developing consistent ecosystemmanagement decisions within the EPA and other federal,state, local, and international governmental agencies.

Office of Research and

Development, NHEERL

Christine L.Russom218.720.5709Steve Bradbury218.720.5527

http://www.epa.gov/

docs/ORD/BBS.html

Developed by ORD with funding from the

U.S. Department of Defenses StrategicEnvironmental Research Defense Program.

EMMI Database of ~ 2,600 EPA regulated substances; includes

regulatory limits, method detection limits and abstracts.

Soil Transport and Fate

Database and ModelManagement System (STF)

Database providing degradation, transformation, toxicity,bioaccumulation, and partitioning information on

approximately 400 chemicals (organic and some

inorganic) in the soil environment. Includes the RITZ andVIP models.

Office of Research and

Development,

NRMRL, Center forSubsurface ModellingSupport (CSMoS)

David S. Burden405.436.8606

http://www.epa.gov/

ada/kerrlab.html

Database/Models

Pesticide Assessment Tool

for Rating Investigation ofTransport (PATRIOT)

Datasets on daily rainfall (10 years) from 200 NOAAweather stations, properties and occurrences of 8000soils, pesticides properties and cropping practices

complement the PATRIOT Model for rapid assessment of

groundwater vulnerability to pesticide contamination inthe contiguous U.S.

Office of Research and

Development, NERL,

ERD-Athens

Frank Stancil706.546.3130

stancil.frank@

epamail.epa.gov

Databases/Model

Pesticide and IndustrialChemical Risk Analysis andHazard Assessment

(PIRANHA) Program

Includes a geographical database for locating biological

resources potentially at risk from pesticides; useful in

applying chemical, ecotoxicological and environmental

sciences to ecological risk assessment.

Office of Research and

Development, NERL,

ERD-Athens

Lawrence Burns706.546.3511

burns.lawrence@

epamail.epa.gov

Databases/Model

National EnvironmentalSupercomputing Center

(NESC)

Computational resources necessary to carry out scientific

modeling efforts; provides computer support for many

critical environmental models.

Director, National

EnvironmentalSupercomputingCenter

517.894.7600 Fax:894.7676Cullati.Art@epamail.epa.gov

http://www.epa.gov/

accessepa/chapter8/

s1-1.html

Sparc Provides AutomatedReasoning in Chemistry

(SPARC)

Expert system for estimating chemical and physical

reactivity estimates on a broad scope and inexpensively.

Office of Research and

Development (ORD),

NERL, ERD-Athens

Mac Long

706.546.3349

long.mac@

epamail.epa.gov

Expert System

Environmental FateConstants Database (FATE)

Provides interactive retrieval of kinetics and equilibriumconstants used in modeling and assessing chemical (300and growing) fate in the environment.

Office of Research and

Development (ORD),

NERL, ERD-Athens

Brenda Kitchens706.546.3198

kitchens.brenda

@epamail.epa.

gov
Appendix C

48 INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT Medium Name (*denotes Multiagency) Description [Number of Sites] Responsible EPA Organization Contact/ Telephone World Wide Web/ Internet/Source Remarks Guide to National Environmental Statistics Tool for locating sources of national-level environmental statistics available from the U.S. Government; a reference to national-level, time-series environmental statistics; not intended to be inclusive; data sources from 23 offices in 7 agencies: USDA, DOI, DOC, DOT, DOE, EPA, DHHS. Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation Brand Niemann 202.260.3726 Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) EPA's primary vehicle for communication of chronic non- caner and cancer health hazard information for over 500 substances. IRIS contains substance specific hazard identification and dose-response information. Office of Research andDevelopment, NCEA-CIN 513.569.7254 Hotline # FAX 513.569.7159 IRIS Hotline 513.569.7254 Total Human Exposure Risk database and Advanced Simulation Environment (THERdbASE) Data and model management system containing such total human exposure information as census data, state activity pattern studies, EPAs National Human Activity Pattern Study, TEAM and NOPES data, inhalation and dermal models, or indoor air models. Office of Research and Development (ORD), NERL CRD John Quackenbos 702.798.2442 http://eeyore.lv-hrc. nevada.edu/ therdbase.html Quantitative-Structure Toxicity Relationships (QSTR) Enables computation of a probable value of toxicity for a given chemical structure, for various health endpoints. Office of Research andDevelopment, NCEA-CIN R. Bruce 513.569.7569 Treatability Data Base (TDB) Assist users in selecting technologies or estimating the degree of treatment achievable for specific chemicals in all types of waters, wastewaters, soils, sediments, and debris; data extracted from a variety of sources. Office of Research andDevelopment Glenn M. Shaul 513.569.7408 Government Information Locator Service (GILS) Virtual card catalog" of government information. The EPA's GILS website offers access to records that describe the agency's information resources. http://www.epa.gov/ gils/ ACCESS EPA Directory provides contact information and description of services for more than 300 of EPA's major information resources, including databases, models and EPA libraries. Office of Administration and Resources Management http://www.epa.gov/ docs/Contacts/Acces s/chapter5.txt.html; EPA 220-B-93-008 Hazardous Waste and

Superfund

CERCLIS Superfund database with information on all identified

U.S. hazardous waste sites.

Sediment Toxicity Database Sediment chemistry and toxicity measurements from

saltwater and freshwater sites.

Office of Research and

Development, NECAWashington.

Sue Norton202.260.8922

OHMTADS Chemical properties, regulatory information, toxicity and

safety data, and response information on hazardoussubstances.

RODS Tracks site cleanups under the Superfund program.RCRIS Tracks events and activities related to facilities that

generate, transport, treat, store, or dispose of,hazardous waste.

PIN Pesticide monitoring inventory, environmental fate, and

effects data.

TRI Facility and substance identification for toxic chemicals

released directly to air, water or land, or that istransported off-site.
Appendix C

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT 49

Medium Name (*denotes Multiagency) Description [Number of Sites] Responsible EPA Organization Contact/ Telephone World Wide Web/ Internet/Source Remarks

Bioremediation in the FieldSearch System (BFSS)

Information on over 500 sites where bioremediation is

being tested, implemented, or has been completed.

Office of Research and

Development,

NRMRL/TTSD

Fran Kremer513.569.7346

Accessible through Alternative Treatment

Technology Information Center (ATTIC);

(703) 908-2137. Also accessible through

ORD Bulletin Board (ORDBBS);(513) 569-7610; (513) 569-7700 (513) 569-7272

(voice).

Treatment TechnologyDatabase

Provides information on biological, chemical, physical,

solidification/stabilization, and thermal treatmentprocesses.

Office of Research and

Development,

NRMRL/WSWRD

Daniel Sullivan

908.321.6677

Accessible through Alternative Treatment

Technology Information Center

(ATTIC).Hotline (703) 908-2137

Treatability Study Database Compendium of peer-reviewed treatability data on a

wide range of environmental contaminants, largely in an

aqueous medium, but with some information on

hazardous wastes.

Office of Research and

Development,

NRMRL/STD

Jerry Waterman

513.569.7834

Accessible through Alternative Treatment

Technology Information Center

(ATTIC).Hotline (703) 908-2137

Underground Storage Tank

Database

Information on underground storage tank correctiveactions, surface spills, and remedial action. Allows

retrieval of information to help select appropriate, costeffective solutions.

Office of Research and

Development,

NRMRL/WSWRD/UWMB

Daniel Sullivan

908.321.6677

Accessible through Alternative Treatment

Technology Information Center

(ATTIC).Hotline (703) 908-2137

Oil/Chemical Spill Database

(SPILLS)

Information on the treatment and disposal of spilled oiland chemicals.

Office of Research and

Development,

NRMRL/WSWRD/UWMB

Daniel Sullivan

908.321.6677

Accessible through Alternative Treatment

Technology Information Center

(ATTIC).Hotline

703.908.2137

Database/Model

Alternative Treatment

Technology Information

Center (ATTIC)

Provides information on innovative treatment

technologies. Includes case studies providinginformation on such technologies in support ofhazardous waste clean-up.

Office of Research and

Development (ORD),

NRMRL-Edison.

Daniel Sullivan

908.321.6677

http://www.epa.gov/

attic/attic.html

Vendor Information Systemfor Innovative TreatmentTechnologies (VISITT)

Current information on availability, performance and costof innovative technologies to remediate soil and

groundwater contaminated by hazardous and petroleumwastes.

Office of Solid Wasteand EmergencyResponse, TechnologyInformation Office

Available within

CLU-IN BBS

(301.589.8366;

File=visit3.zip)

Other Research Tracking System

(RTS)

Tracks research technical information: projects,tasksmilestones; publications produced by Midcontinent Ecology Division scientists.

Office of Research and

Development

Judy L. Stagner

218.720.5605

Criteria ReferenceInformation Bank (CRIB)

Contains bibliographic information identifying sourcescited in air quality criteria and other documents

produced by the National Center for Environmental

Assessment - RTP Office (NCEA-RTP Office).

Office of Research and

Development

Douglas B. Fennel

919.541.3789

Athens Chemical Inventory

System (ACIS)

In-house chemical inventory is maintained for the

purpose of chemical hygiene and environmental

compliance.

Office of Research and

Development

Frank Stancil706.546.3197

Technical AssistanceDatabase (TAD)

Internal system used to maintain a database of technical

support provided to the user community, inside and

outside of EPA, by the Center for Exposure Assessment

Modeling (CEAM).

Office of Research and

Development

Robert Ryans706.546.3306

NIST/EPA/NIH/Mass Spectral

Database

Library of mass spectra used on-line by mass

spectrometers for compound identification.

Office of Research and

Development, NERL

CRD/ASB/ACR

Ed Heitmar702.798.2626

N/A Database is copyrighted by other

organizations and licensed to ORD only for

use with specific instruments.
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT 50 Medium Name (*denotes Multiagency) Description [Number of Sites] Responsible EPA Organization Contact/ Telephone World Wide Web/ Internet/Source Rem

Report Locator Data Base Identifies aerial photographic interpretation projects and reports completed by Environmental Photographic Interpretation Center (EPIC) over the past 20 years. Office of Research and Development, NERL, CRD For internal use only. D

VAX; but needs to be cunder ORACLE softwar

Pesticide Treatability Database Compendium of information specific to pesticides, their formulation, and treatment options. Office of Research and Development, NRMRL/STD/MTB Dave Ferguson 513.569.7518 Enviro$en$e Hosts an expert architecture known as the Solvent Umbrella, allowing users to access solvent alternative information through a single, easy-to-use command structure. EPA/DOD/DOE Idaho National Engineering Laboratory http://www.epa.gov/I- daho.html Please send any comments, additions, modifications or corrections to Sidney Draggan via electronic mail.
Appendix D

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT 51

Appendix D:

The Office of Research and

Development Organization

ORDs organization, depicted below, mirrors the risk

assessment/risk management paradigm. The locations of ORDs National Laboratories, Centers, and

Offices are shown on the following page; their

functions are described in the ORD Strategic Plan.

ORDs New Risk-Based Organization

Office of Resource

Management and

Administration

Office of Resource

Management and

Administration

Assistant Administrator for Research and

Development

Assistant Administrator for Research and

Development

Office of Science Policy Office of Science Policy

National Center

for Environmental

Assessment

National Center

for Environmental

Assessment

National Center National Center

for Environmental

Research and

Quality Assurance

National Risk

Management

Research

Laboratory

National Risk

Management

Research

Laboratory

Water Supply and

Water Resources

Division

(Cincinnati, OH)

Land Remediation

and Pollution Control

Division (Cincinnati,

OH)

Sustainable

Technology Division

(Cincinnati, OH)

Air Pollution

Prevention and

Control Division

(RTP, NC)

Subsurface Protection

and Remediation

Division (Ada, OK)

Technology Transfer

and Support Division

(Cincinnati, OH)

Technology

Coordination Staff

(Washington, DC)

Environmental

Engineering Research

Division (Washington,

DC)

Environmental

Sciences Research

Division (Washington,

DC)

Quality Assurance

Division (Washington,

DC)

Peer Review Division

(Washington, DC)

Deputy Assistant

Administrator for

Science

Deputy Assistant

Administrator for

Management

National Health and

Environmental Effects

Research Laboratory

National Health and

Environmental Effects

Research Laboratory

Management and

Coordination Division

(RTP, NC/

Washington, DC)

Research and

Administrative

Support Division

(RTP, NC)

Developmental

Toxicology Division

(RTP, NC)

Environmental

Toxicology Division

(RTP, NC)

Environmental

Carcinogenesis

Division (RTP, NC)

Neurotoxicology

Division (RTP, NC)

Human Studies

Division (RTP, NC)

Gulf Ecology Division

(Gulf Breeze, FL)

Mid-Continent

Ecology Division

(Duluth, MN)

Western Ecology

Division

(Corvallis, OR)

Atlantic Ecology

Division

(Narragansett, RI)

NCEA RTP, NC

Office

NCEA Washington,

DC Office

NCEA Cincinnati, OH

Office

National

Exposure

Research

Laboratory

National

Exposure

Research

Laboratory

Communications and

Liaison Staff

(Washington, DC)

Program Operations

Staff (RTP, NC)

Atmospheric

Processes Research

Division (RTP, NC)

Air Measurements

Research Division

(RTP, NC)

Atmospheric

Modeling Division

(RTP, NC)

Air Exposure

Research Division

(RTP, NC)

Human Exposure

Research Division

(Cincinnati, OH)

Ecological Research

Division

(Cincinnati, OH)

Characterization

Research Division

(Las Vegas, NV)

Ecosystems Research

Division

(Athens, GA)
Appendix D

52 INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COMPONENT

Location of ORDs National Laboratories and Centers

Newport, OR

Corvallis, OR

Las Vegas, NV

Gulf Breeze, FL

Athens, GA

Research

Triangle Park, NC

Washington, DC

Edison, NJ

Narragansett, RI

Cincinnati, OH

Grosse le, M I I

Duluth, MN

Ada, OK
This document was developed by the ORD Information Management Strategy Group,

composed of:

Laurie Schuda (Chair), ORD Immediate Office of the Assistant Administrator

Owen Bricker, ORD Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program

Sidney Draggan, EPA Office of the Administrator

Carol Finch, ORD Immediate Office of the Assistant Administrator

Dick Garnas, ORD National Exposure Research Laboratory

Stephen Hale, ORD National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory

John Ireland, ORD National Risk Management Research Laboratory

Linda Kirkland, ORD National Center for Environmental Research and Quality Assurance

Scott Minamyer, ORD National Risk Management Research Laboratory

Bob Shepanek, ORD National Center for Environmental Assessment

Charissa Smith, ORD Office of Resources Management and Administration

Linda Tuxen, ORD National Center for Environmental Assessment

Jeanette Wiltse, ORD National Center for Environmental Assessment

Steve Young, EPA Office of Information Resources Management
United States Environmental Protection Agency

(8101)

Washington, DC 20460

Official Business

Penalty for Private Use

$300