April 24, 2008
Ask EPA is an online interactive forum where you can discuss a wide range of environmental and human health issues with EPA's senior officials.
Today's Session
Molly O'Neill, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Environmental Information and Chief Information Officer, will highlight EPA's National Dialogue on Access to Environmental Information and take ideas for improving access, including suggestions to improve EPA's home page.
Molly O'Neill: I’m glad you are able to join me this afternoon to share your thoughts on how EPA can provide better access to environmental information. You may have noticed that today the epa.gov web site is focused on several areas involving my office at EPA, the Office of Environmental Information. It’s a great example of how we can currently provide and receive information in a variety of formats – videos, audio podcasts, blogs, and on-line forums like this. These technologies certainly help facilitate information sharing, but there’s more we can do.
One of my priorities at EPA is to improve access to environmental information – there is so much information out there that navigating through it can be a challenge. At EPA, we are also challenged with making this information available to such a wide range of audiences.
I will gladly begin taking your questions, and hopefully, hear some suggestions on how EPA might improve access to information, including our web-site.
From: Patrick
In: Arlington
Question: There are many antiquated EPA databases that reside only in the individual branches/divisions/offices. They are in serious need of upgrading but those who are tasked with upgrading the databases may not be very well-versed in selecting the best option for what database to use. OEI should be taking the lead and onus of responsibility to query each office about their databases and provide guidance on how to upgrade/improve these databases.
Molly O'Neill: You are correct, over the 30+ year history of EPA and technology, databases have proliferated. When that happens, integration becomes harder - and therefore access to data as well. I think EPA's on the right road to make this a thing of the past. We now have a detailed inventory of Agency systems publicly available in our Registry of EPA Applications and Databases (READ). Also, EPA's Enterprise Architecture provides the blueprint for future systems modernization efforts, and a key component of that is integration and/or data sharing. It's important that we continue to treat data and information as a strategic asset - collect it once, and share it to be used often.
From: Anni
In: Seattle
Question: I just found this ask session. I'm a teacher and one thing I
really look for is ready-to-go information I can use in my classes.
Environmental conditions are really useful for us. Not just technical
data points, but what it all means, like, the state of the environment.
It seems like EPA just doesn't release much easy-to- understand
information for the rest of us, about conditions.
Molly O'Neill: Under the "For Kids" section of our Web site, we have an area for teachers - www.epa.gov/teachers/. This might be a helpful resource for your classroom. I'm not sure what age your students are, so let me provide a couple of other information sources: Window to My Environment (www.epa.gov/enviro/wme/) gives you a map with the facilities we regulate, water monitoring locations, streams, etc. Also basic statistics about the area, population, what watershed you and your students are in. Also the "Your Environment" component provides basic information about the environment in your area.
From: Glen
In: Portland
Question: Web 2.0 breaks the traditional large database application development model and sits very comfortably on a service oriented architecture such as the exchange network node. How can the user community be brought into the combining of these two resources given the funding structure currently in place and is there a way to be more nimble and targeted in the development of new uses of environmental data?
Molly O'Neill: Web 2.0 is changing the paradigm for development, among other processes where collaboration tools can be used. The National Environmental Information Exchange Network (Exchange Network) is a partnership between EPA and state and tribal environmental departments who are using the Internet to exchange environmental data between each other, using standard web services. The nodes, are the point on the Exchange Network that listen and respond to the requests for information. Because of the partnership and collaboration of this Exchange Network, web 2.0 tools provide new opportunities to collaborate on new technology, software code, and even development of XML schema and other tools for the Exchange Network. I'd suggest that the Exchange Network User Community get together to discuss opportunities around Web 2.0 tools including funding or grant opportunities.
From: geremy
In: north carolina
Question: who is the head of the ageny, what are the responsibilities of the agency and when was this agency created, list sum facts u learned about the agency
Molly O'Neill: Stephen L. Johnson, the Administrator, is the head of EPA. Learn more about the Administrator at http://www.epa.gov/adminweb/administrator/index.htm ; on the right side of www.epa.gov , you'll see his picture with some links.
For more on EPA's responsibilities see the following two web sites: http://www.epa.gov/epahome/aboutepa.htm , and http://www.epa.gov/history/topics/epa/15b.htm .
In 1970, President Richard Nixon created EPA with a mission to protect human health and the environment. For more history: http://www.epa.gov/history/origins.htm
Here's a cool timeline that has more facts that put the Agency's history into perspective: http://www.epa.gov/history/timeline/index.htm
BTW, EPA's currently redesigning our Web site. Hopefully these simple resources will soon be easier to find!
From: Ron Ramsingh, Esq
In: Key West, Fl
Question: Hi. I am assistant city attorney here in Key West and a Commissioner wants to look into regulating loud motorcycles more than our general noise ordinance already does. Our ord 26-196 defers to FL stat 403.415 which limits motorcycles to 83dBA. Are there any EPA rules that are more restrictive that would pre-empt our state law?
Molly O'Neill: Please reference our FAQ database at http://publicaccess.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/publicaccess.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1765 . This central knowledge database is growing all the time; many citizens are accessing it to find answers to questions like yours. FAQ database home page: http://publicaccess.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/publicaccess.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php
From: Rosemary
In: Seattle, WA
Question: I worked for an environmental engineering firm for years, and
was always frustrated by how hard it was to get access to data. Can you
please describe how things have improved? Are there new mechanisms for
accessing EPA's collected data? Thank you!
Molly O'Neill: For many years, database development was about storage for a distinct set of users. Things are changing now and they are at EPA too. We have access to most of the large data sets via a web interface so you can query and view the data. And we have provided some of these data sets in a more integrated fashion. Check out Envirofacts (http://www.epa.gov/enviro/ ), Windows to My Environment (http://www.epa.gov/enviro/wme/ ) as examples.
Even better, for those people who want to use the data, we are making more and more data available through web services where you can download it. Check out geodata.epa.gov/data.html. Here you can download data on Superfund sites, air data, water quality data, and TRI data to use in your own analysis.
From: Lou
In: Helena, Montana
Question: A January news article quoted EPA Chicago PR guy saying the
library for that region would open in late February. So, is that library open now?
Molly O'Neill: Sorry for the confusion. In February, we started planning for reestablishing a physical library in Region 5 (Chicago). We are currently working with stakeholders on the final plans so that the library may open on or before September 30, 2008. Details on the plans for reopening EPA libraries are included in EPA's Report to Congress posted on our Web site at http://www.epa.gov/libraries/news.html#RTC .
From: kacy
In: louisiana
Question: What does one do about mold growing in the work place and no
one doing anything about it?
Molly O'Neill: I'm no expert in mold issues, but I may be allergic! Our Office of Air and Radiation deals with indoor air quality and offers information and resources about mold in commercial buildings at the following site - http://www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/ . You can also try to contact the Occupational Safety and Health Administration at http://osha.gov/ .
From: Jenna
In: Danville, VA
Question: Recently I tried to access the web site to obtain information
on when and how to know if an area business is breaking laws, as well as
causing extreme damage to our area. I was unable to ascertain if this
was a legitimate concern and if so, how to report this.
(This involves dumping large amounts of gasoline from old boat engines
and then washing it down the incline behind this business which backs up
to a church and several homes.)
Any suggestions on where to find local information?
Molly O'Neill: Jenna, I notice that you're from Virginia, so I'd suggest that you contact the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to obtain assistance. The VA DEQ investigates pollution complaints. If you have a question about or wish to report a pollution incident in your community, contact the Virginia DEQ at 1-800-592-5482 or via their website at http://www.deq.state.va.us/ .
I notice that we've received quite a few questions about disposing of hazardous waste materials or reporting environmental violations. You can report them anonymously at http://www.epa.gov/tips .
From: Dave
In: Annapolis, MD
Question: Is the concern of security limiting the collaborative effort
Web 2.0 offers the government space?
Molly O'Neill: Dave,
This is a great question! Web 2.0 technology offers the government so much flexibility, but with anything relatively new, we are always mindful of security. Today, as we speak, EPA is taking advantage of many Web 2.0 technologies, including social networking and bookmarking sites, such as Flickr, Facebook, Digg, del.ici.ous, and blogs. In fact, EPA has launched a new blog this week in honor of Earth Day. I hope you'll check out the blog at: http://blog.epa.gov/blog/ and my recent entry on compact fluorescent lightbulbs.
Security is not limiting Web 2.0. As with any new technology, we consider appropriate security controls to ensure that the effort can be relied on in terms of maintaining appropriate data confidentiality, data integrity and availability.
From: Richard
In: Washington, DC
Question: Where is EPA information on the State Of The Environment? Someone else asked about this, too. Not data points, not where I live. Overall, how's America?
Molly O'Neill: Richard, EPA's draft 2007 Report on the Environment (ROE) www.epa.gov/roe answers a series of important questions about trends in the environment and human health using the most reliable indicators currently available. A final version should be issued in late Spring 2008.
With respect to "how's America," that's a pretty complicated question. That said, while we still have new environmental challenges, our rivers are no longer on fire, our air is cleaner, toxic waste dumps are getting cleaned up, and Americans in general are much more aware, and are engaged in, environmental stewardship. I think that's progress.
Molly O’Neill: Thanks for your participation today! As one might expect, there were lots of interesting questions from many different topics that all seem to focus on how to access certain information at EPA and how this process can be improved. There are three important drivers are that make improving access to environmental information a priority for me:
- the fact that our mission at EPA requires an intense level of collaboration with partners,
- the thirst for environmental information by the public, and
- the explosion of information on the Internet as it becomes the virtual “place” for communities to collaborate. The good news is that technology can help.
Information technology should be the catalyst for progress, not the thing that holds us back. It’s the information that’s important, the technology is the means. So many thanks again for your valuable suggestions and please continue to participate in our on-going effort the National Dialogue on Access to Environmental Information at http://www.epa.gov/nationaldialogue.
Please join us for the next Ask EPA session. May is Asthma Awareness Month and we'll have EPA experts on hand to answer questions on EPA's role in helping people effectively manage Asthma and how the environment can affect this condition. Learn some surprisingly easy ways to reduce indoor "environmental triggers", such as dust or pet dander, and ways to help prevent asthma attacks -- because even one attack is one too many.
EPA Experts:
- Kristy Miller, Campaign Director, EPA-Ad Council Childhood Asthma Campaign
- Tracey Mitchell, Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) with EPA
- Alison Davis, EPA Senior Advisor for Outdoor Air and Asthma, Office of Air Quality Planning & Standards
Date: Tuesday, May 13
Time: 1:00-2:00 ET
Submit questions: May 9 until the end of the
session.