Environmental Information: New Administration’s Approach to Quality, Access, and Understanding

1. Environmental Information: New Administration’s Approach to Quality, Access, and Understanding System of Registries Conference 2009 Lisa Schlosser Director, US EPA Office of Information Collection

2. “Science must be the compass guiding our environmental protection decisions. We cannot make the best decisions unless we have confidence in the integrity of the science on which we rely. Therefore, it is my promise that scientific integrity will be the backbone of my leadership of the Agency…The Quality Program further ensures that the data relied upon for decision making is of known and documented quality and is based on sound scientific principles.” EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, Memorandum Dated May 8, 2009, Scientific Integrity: Our Compass for Environmental Protection

3. Setting the Stage Quality…A River Flowing with Opportunities – Let’s Let the Numbers Prove it… 3 5 17 25,000 7-1.8-430 475 10.5

4. Setting the Stage Quality…A River Flowing with Opportunities – Let’s Let the Numbers Prove it… 3 Administrator’s Core values – Science, Rules, Transparency 5

5. Setting the Stage Quality…A River Flowing with Opportunities – Let’s Let the Numbers Prove it… 3 Administrator’s Core values – Science, Rules, Transparency 5 Priorities-Reduce GHG, Improve Air, Manage Chemical Risks, Clean-Up, Protect Water 17

6. Setting the Stage Quality…A River Flowing with Opportunities – Let’s Let the Numbers Prove it… 3 Administrator’s Core values – Science, Rules, Transparency 5 Priorities-Reduce GHG, Improve Air, Manage Chemical Risks, Clean-Up, Protect Water 17 April 17: Historic Announcement Recognizing Danger of GHGs 25,000

7. Setting the Stage Quality…A River Flowing with Opportunities – Let’s Let the Numbers Prove it… 3 Administrator’s Core values – Science, Rules, Transparency 5 Priorities-Reduce GHG, Improve Air, Manage Chemical Risks, Clean-Up, Protect Water 17 April 17: Historic Announcement Recognizing Danger of GHGs 25,000 Emissions Level Requiring Entities to Track, Document, and Report 7-1.8-430

8. Setting the Stage Quality…A River Flowing with Opportunities – Let’s Let the Numbers Prove it… 3 Administrator’s Core values – Science, Rules, Transparency 5 Priorities-Reduce GHG, Improve Air, Manage Chemical Risks, Clean-Up, Protect Water 17 April 17: Historic Announcement Recognizing Danger of GHGs 25,000 Emissions Level Requiring Entities to Track, Document, and Report 7-1.8-430 $7B=Recovery, $1.8B Obligated,$430M Largest Grant Ever

9. Setting the Stage Quality…A River Flowing with Opportunities – Let’s Let the Numbers Prove it… 3 Administrator’s Core values – Science, Rules, Transparency 5 Priorities-Reduce GHG, Improve Air, Manage Chemical Risks, Clean-Up, Protect Water 17 April 17: Historic Announcement Recognizing Danger of GHGs 25,000 Emissions Level Requiring Entities to Track, Document, and Report 7-1.8-430 $7B=Recovery, $1.8B Obligated,$430M Largest Grant Ever 475

10. Setting the Stage Quality…A River Flowing with Opportunities – Let’s Let the Numbers Prove it… 3 Administrator’s Core values – Science, Rules, Transparency 5 Priorities-Reduce GHG, Improve Air, Manage Chemical Risks, Clean-Up, Protect Water 17 April 17: Historic Announcement Recognizing Danger of GHGs 25,000 Emissions Level Requiring Entities to Track, Document, and Report 7-1.8-430 $7B=Recovery, $1.8B Obligated,$430M Largest Grant Ever 475 FY10 Budget for New, Multi-Agency Initiative to Protect the Great Lakes 10.5

11. Setting the Stage Quality…A River Flowing with Opportunities – Let’s Let the Numbers Prove it… 3 Administrator’s Core values – Science, Rules, Transparency 5 Priorities-Reduce GHG, Improve Air, Manage Chemical Risks, Clean-Up, Protect Water 17 April 17: Historic Announcement Recognizing Danger of GHGs 25,000 Emissions Level Requiring Entities to Track, Document, and Report 7-1.8-430 $7B=Recovery, $1.8B Obligated,$430M Largest Grant Ever 475 FY10 Budget for New, Multi-Agency Initiative to Protect the Great Lakes 10.5 EPA’s FY10 Presidential Budget, Largest in our 39-Year History

12. Quality Information to Support the Core Environmental Mission of EPA • Toxics Release Inventory Program: OEI supports the public’s right to know by collecting data on releases and transfers of certain toxic chemicals from industrial facilities, and making the data available to the public. • Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule:OEI is supporting OAR with developing a reporting mechanism for data under the proposed GHG rule. • Endangered Species Data: OEI partnered with Program and Regions and the not-for-profit corporation NatureServe to define requirements and to make this critical data available to all Agency staff. • Exchange Network: OEI’s Exchange Network Program supports the collection of data for use by the Agency and State partners for air (AQS, NEI), water (e-BEACHES, SDWIS), toxics and wastes (TRI, RCRA Info) to name only a few. • Water Data: OEI partnered with seven Federal agencies and all 50 states to expedite the completion of a nationally consistent National Watershed Boundary Dataset, accessible online, at a scale for which it is easier to measure and report program progress and outcomes. Quality • Geospatial Information Program: OEI leads the Agency's Geospatial Program to apply geographic approaches to environmental problems. This includes extensive work providing data and tools that streamline regulatory decision making and lead to positive environmental outcomes. • Visualization Lab Support: OEI’s National Computer Center provides High Performance Computing support for modeling and scientific studies.

13. Role of Metadata • Metadata is needed now more than ever as complex environmental programs grow and cross organizational boundaries • What data can be used for what decisions? • What data can be shared, compared, exchanged, or integrated? • What is unique? What is duplicative? • Where is the data? • EPA’s centralized registries and services help EPA and its partners manage and maintain their valuable metadata

14. Support for Quality

15. Support for Access

16. Support for Understanding

17. Bottom Line:We are in an unprecedented time of Environmental Opportunity…The Metadata Management Community Has An Important Role