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The Exchange Network: A Tool for Better Environmental Management. Jonathan Jacobson US Environmental Protection Agency. Exchange Network Vision.
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The Exchange Network:A Tool for Better Environmental Management Jonathan Jacobson US Environmental Protection Agency
Exchange Network Vision “The Exchange Network is a partnership to support better environmental decisions through improved access to, and exchange of environmental information.”
What is the Exchange Network? An Internet and standards-based method for securely exchanging environmental information between partners
Why the Exchange Network? • A better method for data exchange among states, tribes, & US EPA • Efficient business processes to reduce operational costs • Better environmental decisions through improved data quality and access
How Can the Exchange Network Help Tribes? • Access to environmental and health concern information • Example: methamphetamines, water quality • Provide evidence to Congress to obtain funds to address environmental issues • Example: solid, hazardous wastes, clean water • Share information with other agencies • Example: open dump information to EPA and the Indian Health Service • Comply with federal regulations • Example: Air Quality System (AQS) data
Tribal Participation in Governance • Exchange Network Leadership Council (ENLC) • Robert Holden, Director, Emergency Management and Radioactive Waste Programs, NCAI • Network Operations Board (NOB) • Bruce Gold, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission • Network Partnership & Resources Group (NPRG) • Angie Reed, Penobscot Tribe • Network Technical Group (NTG) • Tony Hartrich, Quinault Tribe
EN Grants: Current Status • Eighth year of Grant Program • FY 2008 awards completed September 2008 • $13.3 million awarded in total • $1.8 million awarded to 8 tribes, including 3 new tribes • FY 2009 Grants Currently in Processing • $11.2 million to be awarded in total • $2 million to be awarded to 8 tribes • Selection letters will be going out in the next few weeks • Final awards expected in July/August
Tribal Grants and Exchange Network Participation • To date: 100 Tribal Grants (through 2008) have been awarded ($15.1 M Total) • ~ 58 tribes have received grants • ~ 28 tribes intend to use the Network to exchange information • Eight tribes have established nodes (data exchange hardware/software) • Several tribes are close to having working nodes
Open Dump Inventory • Started by Cherokee Nation with other Tribes, EPA Regional, and HQ assistance • Primary mechanism for reporting open dump information to EPA and the Indian Public Health Service • The Open Dump Data Flow is an eligible Grant Proposal activity
Water Quality Exchange • Used by states and tribes to report water quality monitoring data • Physical, chemical & fish tissue data • Capable of handling biological data • WQX feeds directly to the publicly-accessible national data warehouse ─ Yurok, Wind River, St. Regis Mohawk Tribes tested WQX
Air Quality System - AQS • Handles air quality data • Permits data exchanges from Tribes to EPA and among Tribes • Allows public access (with tribal permission)
Climate Change Reporting • US EPA to use Clean Air Act authority to: • Publish new rule by June 2009 requiring mandatory greenhouse gas emissions reporting at appropriate thresholds • Tribal/State/EPA Agreement: • Exchange Network to be used for reporting greenhouse gases from industry to EPA to states, tribes
Montana’s MethNet • Data Elements: • Location • Property Owner • Meth Cooking Method • Chemicals on Site • Impacts to Structures & Property • Benefits: • Improved communication & data access • Timely and accurate reporting • More informed public • Improved environmental protection • MethNet will connect: • Department of Justice • Department of Environmental Quality • Department of Public Health & Human Services
Exchange Network Basics How do you…?
Resources and Contacts • EPA Exchange Network http://www.epa.gov/exchangenetwork • Exchange Network http://www.exchangenetwork.net • Exchange Network Coordinator mitch.west@exchangenetwork.net • Robert Holden: rholden@ncai.org • Tony Hartrich: thartrich@quinault.org • Angie Reed: angie.reed@penobscotnation.org • Jonathan Jacobson: jacobson.jonathan@epa.gov • Karl Alvarez: alvarez.karl@epa.gov • Michael Beaulac: beaulacm@michigan.gov