About the Region 3 Library
People ... "are inherently
capable of making proper judgments when they are properly informed."-- Thomas Jefferson
Region 3 Library
The Region 3 Library, provides information services to EPA staff and the general public. It includes the following functions:
- Scientific / Technical Library
The Region 3 Library contains a library of 25,000 titles in paper and 150,000 titles in microfiche. The Library has an extensive collection of EPA Reports. The Region 3 Library also collects materials on environmental conditions within Region 3, such as state geological survey publications and reports by state environmental agencies.
- Region 3 National Priorities List (NPL) Public Docket
The EPA Region 3 NPL Public Docket contains documents that form the basis for EPA's evaluation and scoring of sites in the Middle Atlantic Region where known or threatened releases of hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants make the sites' cleanup a high priority. Sites on the NPL are eligible for long-term remedial action financed under the trust fund established by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980 (commonly known as Superfund), as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986. Information on Region 3 Superfund sites is available from the Region 3 Hazardous Site Cleanup Division's website: http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/. An explanation of how sites are listed on the NPL can be found at http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/npl_hrs/nplon.htm.
- Law Library
The Michael F. Vaccaro Memorial Law Library, adjacent to the main Region 3 Library collection, contains over 1,500 items, including a collection of environmental law materials, current editions of all 50 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) titles, with back issues of titles 3,33, and 40, the complete Federal Register dating back to 1970 and a collection of Region 3 State Codes, Rules and Regulations. The collection also features the U.S. Code Annotated, U.S. Code Congressional and Administrative News, the Federal Reporter, Federal Supplement, Atlantic Reporter, Southeastern Reporter, Federal Practice Digest and Atlantic Digest.
- OCA (Offsite Consequences Analysis) Reading Room
The Region 3 Library is one of 50 OCA Reading Rooms across the country. The Reading Rooms provide, on a limited basis, risk management information for potential chemical accidents. Access to OCA information is governed by the Chemical Safety Information, Site Security and Fuels Regulatory Relief Act (Public Law 10640). Further details can be found at http://yosemite.epa.gov/oswer/CeppoWeb.nsf/content/csissfrra.htm
- Region 3 Library Partnerships
In order to provide quality information service to the public, the Region 3 Library works in coordination with Region 3's Customer Service Hotline, Public Information Center and Business Assistance Center.
Hours of Operation
The Region 3 Library is open to the public from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. It is physically located on the 2nd floor of the EPA Region 3 Office at 1650 Arch Street (on the southeast corner of 17th and Arch Streets) in Philadelphia, PA. This location is adjacent to many mass transit routes. A map of the area and directions are available for those driving or taking public transportation. Please be aware that all visitors to the Region 3 (Mid Atlantic) office must present a picture ID, such as, a driver's license, at the security desk in the lobby.
Printed Collections
The Region 3 Library's printed collections contain over
25,000 books and reports on paper and 150,000
items on microfiche. Subject coverage includes the environmental sciences
with an emphasis on environmental conditions Delaware, the District of Columbia,
Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Electronic Information
In addition to the printed collections, the Region 3 Library is equipped with public access workstations offering access to online full-text journals, the World Wide Web, CD-ROMs, and other electronic resources.
Borrowing Materials/Interlibrary Loan
The Region 3 Library's holdings are cataloged on OCLC (library code EJA) and are also in the EPA Library Network's Online Library System. Nearly all items can be borrowed via interlibrary loan through your school, university, public or corporate library. The Region 3 Library does not charge for interlibrary loans. The public is welcome to use the Region 3 Library's materials onsite and there is no charge for small amounts (under 50 pages) of photcopying. Items cannot be borrowed directly by visitors.