National Environmental Information Exchange Network

1. National Environmental Information Exchange Network Kim Nelson Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Wendy Cleland-Hamnett U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Bob Zimmerman Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control

2. The State/EPA Shared Vision The States and EPA are committed to a partnership to build locally and nationally accessible, cohesive and coherent environmental information systems that will ensure that both the public and regulators have access to the information needed to document environmental performance, understand environmental conditions, and make sound decisions that ensure environmental protection. (March 1998)

3. A National Network that Enables States and EPA to Share and Exchange Data Electronically

4. The Network • Is standards-based • technical and data • Leverages State and EPA investments • Provides flexibility “The core of the Network is not technology. . .it is a commitment to change the way data is exchanged.”

5. States and EPA have created a Blueprint that • Refines the network vision • Describes its components • Identifies • technical issues and options • critical policy and political issues • Describes specific, visible benefits the network will produce as it is implemented

6. Network Administration Registration, process support, communication Technical Infrastructure Uses standard Internet tools Exchange Network Components Data Exchange Templates Common way to package shared data Data Standards Common way to define shared terms Trading PartnerAgreement How information flows between partners Member Infrastructure Capacity to participate Network Principles Implemented through

7. Network is Based on Four Principles • Stewardship of specific data established by mutual agreement between two or more trading partners • Stewards are responsible for the quality and availability of their data • Network members are responsible and accountable for ensuring the integrity and currency of those copies • Network members agree to use the network technology standards

8. Network Benefits • Delivers reliable, standardized and consistent data to the public, government officials, industry, environmental groups and others • Uses a data-centric approach focused on data and data quality • Reduces reporting burden • Enhances potential for data integration • Gives agency more control over its own data

9. Current Work: Three Essential Elements • Build States’ capacity to construct a Network node and to participate in Network data exchanges • Create the infrastructure to support the Exchange • Build EPA’s capacity to construct a Network node (Central Data Exchange) and to participate in Network data exchanges

10. Related State/EPA Activities • State/EPA Information Management Workgroup (IMWG) • Established an Environmental Data Standards Council • Developed facility identification data exchange standard • Adopted additional data standards • Facility Registry System Action Team • Network Blueprint Team • Prototype Network DET Registry Test Bed

11. Related State/EPA Activities continued • Central Data Exchange Action Team • CDX Rollout • Security • Active Data Retrieval • CDX Design

12. Near-Term NetworkInvestment Priorities • Implementing Flows (air emissions, permit compliance, drinking water, facility data) • Data Standards Development • Data Exchange Template Development • CDX Technical Infrastructure • Network Steering • Security • Outreach

13. Timeframes and Goals End of 2001 • Test the major data exchange infrastructure elements • States and EPA prepare to make major network infrastructure decisions and investments First Half of 2002 • Network supports official flows across program areas with a stable, secure infrastructure